In the Roman Catholic and Orthodox traditions, today is the feast day of several saints who were hermits: St. Stylianos of Paphlagonia (fifth century), and Alypius the Stylite and Basolus of Verzy (both seventh century). Regardless of your views on saints, it is worth considering what the practices of these men can tell us about… Continue reading November 26: Hermits and Contemplation
Category: Character formation
November 25: Isaac Watts
Today is the commemoration, in the Lutheran and Anglican traditions, of the death of Isaac Watts in 1748. Regardless of your religious persuasion, if you have been in the United States or Canada or Great Britain at Christmas, you’ve run into at least one of his many hymns, “Joy to the World”, in some form… Continue reading November 25: Isaac Watts
November 22: Aftermath
Sixty years after the event, I can tell you exactly what I was doing during my school lunch break on November 22, 1963: I was sitting on a bench, reading Madeleine L’Engle’s The Moon by Night, and waiting for my turn at handball. The handball court was at the far end of the playground, so… Continue reading November 22: Aftermath