Undusted Texts

In two previous posts ( here and here ), I discussed the theology behind icons. Now I'm going to begin a series on some famous icons and types of icons that will be entitled Iconic Icons (yes, the pun is very much intended). The first icon I'll cover is the basic icon: the Pantocrator (Παντοκρατωρ), which can be translated either "Almighty" or "Ruler of All." It is the icon of He who is the core of the Christian faith: Jesus Christ Himself. During the iconoclastic period of the 8th and 9th centuries (roughly), the main thing attacked was the icon of Christ. Of course, icons of the Theotokos and the saints were also attacked, but when reading the main defenses of icons, it seems like they focus most on defending icons of Christ, and then they use those arguments (expanded) to argue for icons of Theotokos and the saints. (For a good review of the debate over the icon of Christ, see Cardinal Cristoph Schönborn's book God's Human Face: The Christ-I...

The following are two prayers one of my professors gave us to be used before and after class. Though he usually forgets to pray the latter, we always the pray the former. They are obscure prayers translated, I think, by my professor from a 17th-century Franciscan book. Through the use of them, I hope we can all dedicate all of our work and all of our time to Christ Jesus our Lord. Before Class Most high God of truth, Enlighten our minds. Love of the Holy Trinity, Hasten to help us. May charity set our minds on fire, may truth bring us to love: so that as much as we know you, so much may we love you. To the praise of your glory, Direct our studies: So that after the course of this life We may enjoy you in heaven. R./ Amen. After Class Through you, Jesus, be directed The work of our minds. In you Jesus, be ended The class of this day. O Mary, Good Mother, May our hearts not be cold. But through these sacred studies, Serve better in love. What we have accomplished in...

I already discussed the defense of icon veneration in my post on a writing by St. Gregory Palamas , who succinctly summarized the arguments of icon defenders against iconoclasts. I just wished to add a few more thoughts on this topic taken from two of the true victors against the iconoclasts: St. Theodore the Studite, with his Refutation of the Iconoclasts , and St. John of Damascus, with his Apology Against Those Who Attack the Divine Images . One of the very common arguments make against icon veneration is that through it we "worship the creature rather than the Creator," "bestowing on objects of stone or wood the name that ought not to be shared," "appealing for health to a thing that is weak, praying for life to a thing that is dead" (cf. Rom 1:25, Wis 14:21, 13:18). Iconoclasts accuse us of praying to idols made with our own hands, praying to the material itself, believing the icon itself to be a god. That is not the way of the faithful, thoug...

Venerable Clara Fey, P.C.J. (1815-1884) was the foundress of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Poor Child Jesus. One day she saw a vision of a poor child standing in front of a building asking for alms for him and his many brothers and sisters who were also poor: this child was the Child Jesus, and the building He stood in front of became the first motherhouse for the Congregation. The point of this post is not to discuss the Congregation, but rather it is to discuss the spirituality of its founder, particularly her focus on living in God's Presence. The Lord told us to "pray always," and thus we should always keep our minds on Him: "Even while working our heart should be with Him" (90). One quote by Mother Fey sums up her teaching well: "Our Lord does not wish to dwell in us in a transient way through Holy Communion. No, His spiritual dwelling in us should be continual. He remains in us. The same Lord Who enters our heart in the morning accompa...