Zenit: On The Fruits of Conversion
"It Is There, in Our Conduct, That We Must Show That We Are Following His Will"

Deneen Responds to Schlueter

Re: Natural Law Liberalism - Beyond Wishful Thinking: A Response to Schlueter

Znamenny Chant by Fr. Simon Pimen

(via Byzantine, TX)

Another Interview with Fr. Gabriel

Pravmir: One Cannot Be Anything More Than a Christian: A Conversation with Fr. Gabriel (Bunge)

Father Peter Galadza on Light of the East

Light of the East: #427: Father Peter Galadza (mp3)

I think Fr. Galadza touches upon the question of married priests in the Eastern churches.

Related: #426: The Maronite Church (mp3)
The Light Of The East #424: An Eastern Monk (mp3)

Beatitudes, Mode 1

Crisis Magazine: “Go Read Your Thomas” by Brian Jones

"Following and expanding upon the tradition handed down to him, St. Thomas taught that reality had an intelligible order to it which aligned with our internal knowledge-based development."

??? I will have to think about what the author is trying to say here...

"Modern man is frequently provided with more education than ever before, but seems to understand himself less and less. There is no metaphysical framework that allows us to understand ourselves, the world we are in, how we ought to act, and ultimately, God. College has become the summum bonum for the youth, but it has not proven to be a community that truly helps young people to ask the deepest questions concerning life that make it more authentically human."

Metaphysics is important and the highest of the naturally knowable sciences, but it is unlikely to be attained by more than a few. There is no "metaphysical framework" because our society at large has rejected Christianity and continues to do so, while lacking the intellectual "elites" lack the requisite skills and moral character to recognize their ignorance.

Byzantine, TX: Chrysostom Seminar in Rome discusses clerical celibacy

Alexander Schmemann on the Ordained Priesthood

Synaxis: Remembering Father Alexander Schmemann: Ministry and Vocation

Father Schmemann strongly argues that there is no special or unique vocation of the priesthood other than to reveal to others the common vocation of the entire people of God: to always offer thanksgiving to God. He was adamant that any theological or doctrinal separation between the vocations of the clergy and the laity is a false one, which reduces the priesthood to a separate caste of people, much like the Levites in the Old Testament, and thereby encourages clericalism. According to Schmemann, “If there are priests in the Church, if there is the priestly vocation in it, it is precisely in order to make the whole life of all the liturgy of the Kingdom, to reveal the Church as the royal priesthood of the redeemed world.” Thus the priest fulfills the calling of everyone who is a member of the royal priesthood, to offer prayer and praise to God and become fully a priest over creation, always giving thanks for everything.

Continue reading.

Related:
Elder Paisios On Those Called To Be Clergymen
Today's Need for Bright and Transparent Cassocks
Elder Ephraim Katounakiotis: On the Priesthood (1)

Reflections on the Final Volume of Pope Benedict XVI's "Jesus of Nazareth"

Tonight's panel discussion at the DSPT will be streamed live. The discussion commences at 7:30 P.M. (PST).

The Beatitudes- Znamenny Chant (English)

Is a notion of ritual impurity sustainable in Christianity?

Via Byzantine, Texas: Purify Her Uncleanness by Carrie Frederick Frost
December 11, 2012

"Gregory" attempts to explain certain practices not through "ritual impurity" but concerns about physical integrity and safeguarding the mysteries, or something. Do the prayers and practices admit of this interpretation? This topic is somewhat new to me.

Sister Vassa Larin's opinion. And a response to Sister Vassa Larin by Fr. Sergei Sveshnikov. (He also has a follow-up article.)

Also from Byzantine, TX: Confession and the contrite heart

Will we return to this practice?

Infant Communion: The Ancient Western Tradition by Fr. John A. Peck

He cites the work of Archimandrite Robert Taft, S.J.

Some Catholics similarly advocate that Confirmation be restored to its place right after Baptism.

Natural Law Liberalism

Is this how we should understand the American founding fathers?

Sustainable Liberalism by Nathan Schlueter (via First Thoughts)

Previously...
Better than Our Philosophy: A Response to Muñoz by Patrick J. Deneen

Why Social Conservatives Should Be Patriotic Americans: A Critique of Patrick Deneen by Vincent Phillip Muñoz

Rome Reports: Benedict XVI and Cardinal Marc Ouellet open Americas conference at the Vatican


Zenit: Pope Benedict Addresses International Congress on "Ecclesia in America"
Calls on Participants to Focus on Problems Due to Secularism
Pope's Address to Participants of "Ecclesia In America" International Congress [2012-12-10]
Cardinal Ouellet Presides Over Opening Mass of International Congress on "Ecclesia in America"
Three Day Congress Will Focus on Evangelization in North and South America
Cardinal Ouellet's Homily at Opening Mass of the International Congress on "Ecclesia in America" [2012-12-10]

Rome Reports: Pope honors Our Lady on the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception


Zenit: Pope Venerates Image of Virgin Mary on Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
Traditional Tribute Takes Place in Rome
Pope's Immaculate Conception Address at the Spanish Steps
"Mary Immaculate Teaches Us to Listen to the Voice of God that Speaks in Silence" [2012-12-09]

The Christian Origins of Islam by Peter J. Leithart

Dr. Leithart refers to Christoph Luxenberg's The Syro-Aramaic Reading of the Koran and to a collection of essays, The Hidden Origins of Islam.

Dr. Kevin White on the Consequences of Introducing the Microphone to Liturgy

Citing Marshall McLuhan... Drop the Mic (via First Thoughts)

Zenit: ON AWAITING THE COMING OF THE LORD
"Let us Prepare to See, with the Eyes of Faith, Gods Salvation in the Humble Grotto of Bethlehem"

Interview with Metropolitan Tikhon of the OCA

OCN airs interview with Metropolitan Tikhon - OCN (mp3)

Alleluia: Tota Pulchra Es, Maria (Immaculate Conception)

More at Stephan George's YT channel.