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The Nativity Fast in the Byzantine Catholic Tradition
(The following is a piece I wrote for Horizons, the official newspaper of the Eparchy of Parma, in 2016. It was syndicated by CNS and made the rounds. Happy reading-Fr. Andrew) A 40-day period known as the Philip’s Fast, which began Nov. 15, is accompanying the faithful of the Byzantine Catholic Church as they prepare […]
Our Father 5: Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us
“Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Gregory of Nyssa tells us that these petitions function together in a unit. We need to experience forgiveness in order to give it away. He writes: “If we approach the Benefactor, we should ourselves be benefactors; if we go to Him who is good and […]
Our Father 4: Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread
“Give us this day our daily bread…” The humble English translation of this petition hides the peculiarity of the Greek adjective: “epiousios.” It most literally means something like “supersubstantial.” It is common among contemporary biblical scholars to concede a terrestrial meaning to this petition, asking for what us is essential for the coming day. Even […]
The Attitudes of your Personal Playlist and the Psalms: The Byzantine Catholic Difference
Music critic Steven Hyden wrote a smart book that I am currently devouring called Your Favorite Band is Killing Me. He uses classic pop musical rivalries like Nirvana vs. Pearl Jam, Beatles and the Stones, etc. as a jumping off point to discuss what we value as people and how we use music to mobilize […]
Our Father 3: On Earth as it is in Heaven
“On Earth as it is in Heaven” Moving on in Our Father, we hear the next petition, “Thy will be done,” though specified “on earth as it is in heaven.” Origen, always interested in offering the deeper hidden meaning of a text explains the passage in this way: “And when this will of God is done by us on earth […]
Our Father Part 2: hallowed be thy name
With the phrase, “hallowed be thy name,” we move into the first petition of the Our Father. Exiting from the descriptive, indicative mood, where we declare God to be in the heavens, we now enter the imperative. Why should we demand that God’s name be sanctified? Isn’t that a given? Then why don’t we just […]
Pharaoh’s Chariot and Contorting Plato: The Byzantine Catholic Difference
Irmosi sung at Matins are some of the most beautiful pieces of liturgical poetry we have in the Byzantine Tradition. They serve as a bridge between two worlds, making the hymns of the Old Testament speak to the celebration of the Feast at hand in Church. We often pass over these hymns as quickly as […]
Our Father Part 1: What it means to be a Son of the Father
Welcome to St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Blog! Here we will be posting articles to help us explore the treasures of the Eastern Catholic experience, with hopes to draw our readers nearer to the living God. The following is the first in a series on the Our Father that explores the Lord’s Prayer in light […]
