A Master of Prayer
Learning How to Pray from Blessed Marmion Blessed Abbot Marmion’s prayers are, at once, biblical, profoundly theological, deeply personal, and altogether shaped by the language...
Dom Guéranger: A Prophet
In his commentary on the lessons for the Ember Saturday in Lent, Dom Guéranger (1805-1875) writes: Does one want to understand the solidity of a...
What has God got to do with fasting?
Just it is indeed and fitting, right and for our lasting good, that we should always and everywhere give thanks to thee, Lord, holy Father,...
In the Wilderness
Draw Me After Thee The First Sunday of Lent sets before us the mystery of Our Lord’s forty-day fast in the wilderness. But we are...
Audivit Dominus et misertus est mihi
Saturday After Ash Wednesday At the Introit: The Lord hath heard, and hath had mercy on me: the Lord became my Helper. V. I will...
Audi, Benigne Conditor
As Holy Lent goes forward, I am offering my own translation of some of the hymns for the Divine Office. Although not strictly literal, my...
Iam, Christe, Sol Iustitiae
This is, I think, my favourite Lenten Office hymn. I cannot help but pair it with one of Turner’s magnificent sunrises. You can find the...
Precemur Omnes Cernui
Lauds I Come, weep before the Judge, and seek With broken hearts his grace to win; Be bold, and trusting meet his gaze, And trembling...
Iesu, Quadragenarie
Vespers II Jesus! You taught and sanctified Observance of this Lenten tide; Be pleased our fast to consecrate, And by it mend our broken state....
The Virgin of the Passion
Commemoration of the Compassion of the Blessed Virgin Mary Did you know that tomorrow, Friday in the Fifth Week of Lent (Passiontide), is the Commemoration...
Singing the Mystery of the Cross
My doctoral dissertation — it seems so long ago — focused on the Proper Chants of the Paschal Triduum in the Graduale Romanum. The chants...
Fulget Crucis Mysterium
Our Lady Saint Mary, Saint John the Beloved Disciple, and the Wounded Side of Christ With First Vespers of the Fifth Sunday of Lent we...
Jesu, Quadragenariae
VESPERS II Jesus! You taught and sanctified Observance of this Lenten tide; Be pleased our fast to consecrate, And by it mend our broken state....
Et justificata est sapientia a filiis suis
Not a Caravaggio, although it could be taken for one! This painting of Saint John the Baptist is by the Spaniard Bartolomé González y Serrano...