Numbers 2–Opposites or Puzzle Pieces? Victoria Ryan, June 10, 2021July 15, 2021 Duality is often the symbolic meaning of the number two in biblical texts: either opposing entities like light/dark, good/evil, Alpha/Omega; or complementary elements like material world/spiritual world, human/divine, male/female. Two may symbolize a pair, a couple, twins, or a choice. Modern Christians often think of Old Testament/New Testament, two of…
Numbers 1–Is the Bible Wrong??? Victoria Ryan, June 8, 2021July 15, 2021 One symbolizes primacy, singleness, individual, absoluteness, first or best. There is one butterfly in this image, and one source of light. Your church has one altar, one tabernacle, one baptismal font and one pulpit. We have one Communion. There is one Lord of all. In the words of Saint Terese…
Numbers Zero and God Victoria Ryan, June 3, 2021June 3, 2021 We begin our Summer Fun with Biblical Numbers with a guided meditation on zero. Step 1: Still yourself and your surroundings. Step 2: Start with the Sign of the Cross, welcome God, and read today’s prompt: Zero has an interesting history. Many ancient cultures had no numeral for it. The…
Pentecost Pentecost: Happy Birthday, Church! Victoria Ryan, May 27, 2021May 27, 2021 READ the IMAGE: Mary, the Mother of God, the Apostles and disciples are gathered together. The elevated floor and steps refer to the “upper room” where the disciples prayed until God sent them “help”; the “Paraclete” who is the third Person of the Holy Trinity. Mary is center stage because…
Ascension Feast of the Ascension Victoria Ryan, May 25, 2021May 24, 2021 READ the IMAGE: This holy card, like the vast majority of Ascension art, has both a heaven and an earth element. Jesus ascends into “heaven” with His full resurrected body. This shows that He retains His humanity and divinity forever. The people watching Jesus from earth vary from artist to…
Gifts Fruits of Holy Spirit 9th Fruit: Self Control Victoria Ryan, May 20, 2021May 24, 2021 Today is the last installment of the Fruits of the Holy Spirit mini-meditations. Check below for what’s coming next. INTRODUCTION (you can skip this if you are already following the Fruits of the Holy Spirit series.) We continue our mini-meditations on the Fruits of the Holy Spirit. Saint Paul’s letter…
Gifts Fruits of Holy Spirit 7th & 8th Fruits: Faithfulness and Humility Victoria Ryan, May 18, 2021May 24, 2021 INTRODUCTION (you can skip this if you are already following the Fruits of the Holy Spirit series.) We continue our mini-meditations on the Fruits of the Holy Spirit. Saint Paul’s letter to the Galatians lists nine of them: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control. The Catechism…
Gifts Fruits of Holy Spirit 5th & 6th Fruits: Kindness and Goodness Victoria Ryan, May 13, 2021May 11, 2021 INTRODUCTION (you can skip this if you are already following the Fruits of the Holy Spirit series.) We continue our mini-meditations on the Fruits of the Holy Spirit. Saint Paul’s letter to the Galatians lists nine of them: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control. The Catechism…
Gifts Fruits of Holy Spirit 4th Fruit: Patience Victoria Ryan, May 11, 2021May 11, 2021 INTRODUCTION (You can skip this if you are already following the Fruits of the Holy Spirit series.) We continue our mini-meditations on the Fruits of the Holy Spirit. Saint Paul’s letter to the Galatians lists nine of them: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control. The Catechism…