Family of Nations

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were …

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Why Greek in a Latin Mass?

If one were to read through the Bible, one would find the phrase "have mercy on" quite frequently, especially in the Psalms and Gospels. Possibly the most recognizable verse is from Psalm 51, the psalm in which David repents of his sins of adultery and murder. David says, Have mercy on me, O God, according …

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A Great Man and a Greater Source

As many of my literary friends may know, today marks the day that Shakespeare died and, likely, was born. Shakespeare was a great man; Shakespeare was a writer. He was a man who took old stories, history, and lessons and crafted them into plays and poems that have stood the test of time. Little more …

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On One Palmy Day

As Palm Sunday is coming up, I thought a post on the etymology of the word palm was in order. I was originally only going to look up the word palm, but I came across palmy and decided it needed to be added as well. Yes, palmy is a word - a word coined by Shakespeare no …

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Hymns: “Be Thou My Vision”

  "Be Thou My Vision" is a well-known and well-loved hymn. Though it was originally written over 1400 years ago, it was not translated from its Old Irish text until the early 1900's. The hymn is attributed to a monk nicknamed Dallán Forgaill; the first name meant "blind one," though he supposedly regained his sight. …

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