I don’t know if there is a competition for “Most Interesting Person” in the Middle Ages, but today I’d like to nominate St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153). August 20 is his feast day. What a rich and varied influence he had. He was a shaker and mover in the Cistercian monastic reform. Clearly his gifts […]
A New View of Contemplative Prayer, from St. Clare of Assisi
I first knew of St. Clare of Assisi (c. 1193-1254) through one of my favorite films: Franco Zeffirelli’s Brother Son, Sister Moon (1972). I was totally smitten by Judi Bowker’s portrayal of the young noblewoman who risked all to live in poverty with St. Francis, joining him in serving Christ in the poor. Today is her […]
A Better Way to Think About Heaven, via St. Gregory of Nyssa
Christians in our culture have a pretty odd default view of life after death. We call it “heaven” and tell the world they ought to make sure they get to go there, but we portray it as frankly boring. You know the schtick: sitting forever on a cloud holding a harp you don’t know how to play. […]
Want to Improve Your Praise Band? Consider St. Ephrem the Syrian
It seems like every church has a praise band leading worship these days, or wants to have one. But let’s face it: a lot of modern worship music, whether praise songs or hymns, is theologically and spiritually shallow. A lot of it focuses on us and our feelings rather than on the glory of God. When it points beyond […]
St. Boniface: Monk, Missionary, Martyr
Today the Church remembers St. Boniface who died at the hands of a violent mob on this day in 754. He is called the “Apostle to the Germans” for his work as a missionary bishop. I want to highlight three things worth learning from his life today. First, Boniface shows us the counter-intuitive power of medieval […]
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