On March 27 at Historic St. Luke’s, New Orleans, an Evensong was held to celebrate Blessed Frances Joseph-Gaudet, a turn-of-the-century educator, prison reformer, and juvenile justice advocate. The officiant was the Rt. Rev. Morris K. Thompson, Jr.; cantor, the Rev. Jane-Allison Wiggin; homilist, the Rev. Lindsey Ardrey; with music provided by the St. Luke’s Choir. Special presentation and prayers led by the Gaudet Fund Committee, Commission for Racial Healing, and the Gaudet Legacy Committee.
Christianity is both spiritual faith and physical practice—hope and action. We choose to be a Christian, but we rarely speak about how we practice being Christian. We tend to compartmentalize our practice, taking off our faith like our church outfit and sliding it...
Today, we celebrate Timothy and Titus. It is no accident that we celebrate these two young companions of Paul on the day after we remember his conversion. I like that their day falls this way. We always have to be reminded that no chieftain, no prophet, not even a...
For Paul, a revelation from God (and his ensuing conversion) was a blinding light. Mine came while I was sitting on a mountain outcrop, overlooking the Arkansas River Valley on a brisk fall day. As the breeze blew gently, I simply knew without a doubt that ....(View...
Some of you may know how easy it is to become lost in the New York City subway system. I got turned around down there once myself. I simply stood on the platform, staring blankly at the lighted information board. A wonderful man from India politely asked me....(View...
While on a sabbatical in the winter of 1865, beloved clergyman and poet Phillips Brooks arranged to be in Bethlehem. On Christmas Eve, he visited the shepherds’ fields and wrote the hymn, “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” It was a tumultuous year in the U....(View this...
The first time I saw the Sea of Galilee with my own eyes, I remember thinking, “This is nothing more than a big lake!” I began to wonder about stories like this one from Mark, where great gales are reported. I remember sitting at sunset by the sea, peac....(View this...
Agnes and Cecilia are among only seven women, including the Virgin Mary, commemorated by name in the Canon of the Mass of the Roman Catholic Church. Agnes was twelve years old when she was martyred. Cecilia was older and married when she was put to death. Un....(View...
Fabian was an unlikely pope. He wasn’t even an ordained priest on the day of his election in 236 CE. According to tradition, as he stood in a crowd in Rome, a dove came and alighted upon Fabian’s head. The multitude began to shout, “He is worthy, he is worthy!” Just...
We have two families—the family we get and the family that we make for ourselves. Jesus points to a kinship above and beyond the reality of blood. I think the old gospel song, “Blessed Be the Tie that Binds,” preaches this word, too. What Jesus is sugg....(View this...
“Who do you say that I am?” My spiritual director gave this question to me to contemplate for a liturgical season. She was clear: “Don’t try to spiritualize the question. Don’t try to be abstract with it or mystical: Just look at every word and think about your...