What does the cross mean to you? The cross: when you see it on a landscape, a building, in church, by the side of a road; the sign of the cross when you make it on yourself, when it is made over you, over others, over an object,…? Are there different types of crosses that
I am delighted to have uncovered another shared collect. Let us pray (in silence) [that our hope in God may influence us daily] Pause Keep the household of your church, O God, [or Keep the whānau of…] safe in your tender compassion, so that we who entrust ourselves totally to your heavenly grace may always
reviving a common collect Read More »
This post will move from local points to general principles that, hopefully, you can find relevance for in your own context – wherever you are. Outside the park-like green frame that will encircle the new central city of Christchurch, and sited in what will be the car-park for the planned city’s new stadium, is rising
planning inside out Read More »
I wrote recently about the danger of using ordination to devalue lay ministry. There has just been an extremely high-profile example of ordination-as-reward. Georg Gänswein is the well-known, photogenic Principal Private Secretary to the Pope. In January the pope episcopally ordained (consecrated) him and made him an archbishop. Often the Vatican makes such people the
Ordination as reward Read More »
First Initiation into Carthusian Life If you have been a regular here for a while, or poked around this site a bit, you will know of my love for Carthusians. We have started discussion on this site about the issue of sourcing Christian spirituality from the monastic more than the domestic. I think that is
Giovanni Bosco lived in Turin, Italy. He was mostly known as Don (“Father”) Bosco. Today (31 January) is his feast day. I am honoured to bear his name. His feast day is celebrated at least by Roman Catholics and Anglicans (Church of England, The Episcopal Church, Celebrating Eucharist). Don Bosco was a priest in nineteenth
In publishing my first edition of a Book of Prayers in Common I highlighted my discovery that not only do Roman Catholics and Anglicans (Episcopalians) share many collects in common – but pray them ON THE SAME DAY. No one else appears to have noticed this – or can explain why/how. [If you have not
Catholics and Anglicans pray on the same day Read More »
So you say: “I believe everything in the Bible”. Which one? Which Bible? Does that include everything in 2 Esdras? What about Judith? Ummmm… Tobit? What about that book so popular in the early church: Ecclesiasticus (even called by a churchy name)? “Ummm…”, says Average Christian, “just a minute, let me look them up…” “Hey,
