Light of the East

Whether he is Santa Claus or St. Nicholas, the liturgical celebration of the Feast of St. Nicholas is a witness to how Eastern Churches evangelize and live in the both-and.

Mysticism is what keeps men sane. This is something the Eastern Churches have known for many centuries. The sense of the mystical is not the only gift of the Eastern Church.

Periochoresis, Theoria Theologica, Apatheia, Theosis... strange and complex sounding terms that point to a very simple mystery. The spiritual life is about spiritual warfare and our own deification.

We have begun the penitential season in preparation for the Incarnation of Our Lord in the flesh. Known as Advent in the west and the Philip's Fast in the east, this preparatory period helps us become people of gratitude.

The penitential period of preparation for Our Lord's Nativity, known as the Phillip's Fast is coming upon us. To help our spiritual preparation we will turn to one of our best resources.

The health of a Church is measured by monasticism. In the Eparchy of Parma in the Eastern Lung of the Church a particularly healthy sign are the sisters at the Christ the Bridegroom Monastery.

The growing popularity of icons is a good thing in the Church today both east and west. This is all the more reason to preserve the integrity of how icons are seen, used and created.

People often make Pope Francis out to be what they want him to be. At the risk of doing the same, we will look at Pope Francis in light of Eastern Spirituality.

The Sacramental-Liturgical world view of Eastern Christianity can help the world understand one of the most controversial teachings of the Church in modern times. The author of a new book will help us understand how.

It is often asked if the Eastern Churches acknowledge things like Lourdes and Fatima. There is a particular way that the Eastern Churches do approach visions and revelations especially in regard to the Mother of God.

There are implications for the church and for civilization from the stream of refugees pouring into Europe from the Middle East. Our special guest will provide insight into the situation that will not be heard elsewhere.

It is not, "Go west young man! but, Turn east young man!" as one fine group of young men are doing and we will see how this can make a difference in the Church and for society.

As both lungs of the Church liturgically place the triumph of the Cross in full view, so too does the complementary nature of both lungs of the Church come into full view.

Moral relativism and the rejection of absolute truth is leaving many people of good will confused and restless. The Liturgies of the Eastern Churches, so ancient yet so relevant, can provide a constant for answers.

The history of the Eastern Catholic Churches should not remain just history lessons. The spirituality of the Christian East is also a reservoir to be tapped to confront the hot button issues of our day.

Are we beginning to prepare or preparing to begin? The prayer of the Eastern Churches models and reminds us of something essential for every endeavor of life, most espeially for proper prayer and worship

The story of Jonah and the Ninevites like all stories in the Bible are not just history lessons. They are our stories today, our lived experience. This is particularly true today.

The Feast of the Assumption or Dormition of the Mother of God is a sterling example of how the church East and West breathe together. Yet this feast is also profoundly relevant for our times.

On top of Mount Tabor, Jesus Christ revealed to his apostles and to us, not only his divinity but the true origins and destiny of the human person.

What is the diffenece between a Roman Catholic and Eastern Catholic Church? This simple question cannot be answered simply. But there are some comparisons that can be helpful.

Throughout history when the teachings of the Church were challenged, it was always the work not of a single person, but of entire councils which established and preserve the true belief passed down to us today.

Marriage is the primordial sacrament. It is our sharing in the way God loves. To attempt to redifine this in any way will have disasterous effects for civilization and humanity to redefine marriage. We will see how and what we can do.

What do the words economy, ecumenism and ecology all have in common? We will find out with the help of a Byzantine theologian and the words of the Ecumenical Patriarch as he comments on the Pope's encyclical.

The Sacrament or Holy Mystery of Matrimony in the Byzantine spirituality is not so much a covenant between a couple as it is an entrance of the couple into the life of the Trinity and of the Church.

It is June, the lazy, hazy days of summer, those days of ordinary liturgical time, but also applying the Eastern liturgical version of what not to wear.