What if we could place a meal on the table differently and then hear, finally, the simple things—laughter, rain, and the smell of the sea? What if the dark is spilling the impossible blue on each one who passes by, breaking our hearts open until we see that everything gleams with light—until we are no longer able to “pass by like […]

Image: Saint Cecilia | photo by Jill Watson | flickr Saint Cecilia Saint of the Day for November 22 (d. 230?) https://wp.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODNov22.mp3  Saint Cecilia’s Story Although Cecilia is one of the most famous of the Roman martyrs, the familiar stories about her are apparently not founded on authentic material. There is no trace of honor being paid her in early times. A fragmentary inscription of the late fourth century refers to a church named after her, and her feast was celebrated at least in 545. According to legend, Cecilia was a young Christian of high rank betrothed to a Roman named Valerian. Through her influence, Valerian was converted, and was martyred along with his brother. The legend about Cecilia’s death says that after being struck three times on the neck with a sword, she lived for three days, and asked the pope to convert her home into a church. Since the time of the Renaissance she has usually been portrayed […]

Reading 1 Rv 4:1-11 I, John, had a vision of an open door to heaven,and I heard the trumpetlike voicethat had spoken to me before, saying,"Come up here and I will show you what must happen afterwards."At once I was caught up in spirit. A throne was there in heaven, and on the throne sat onewhose […]

Old TestamentEzekiel 41, Ezekiel 42New Testament1 Peter 1, 1 Peter 2:1-3Psalms & ProverbsPsalm 131:1-3 […]