Stolen pears are never sweet. In our family, we remember this principle every August, when we make pear crisp for the feast of Saint Augustine (recipe attached below). While we eat, we tell our children the story of Augustine as a teenager and his infamous theft of pears. It seemed fun at the time, but…
A Heart at Rest in Christ: Four Lessons from St. Augustine
Augustine is no tin saint… he’s like you and me. As we’ll see, he was a great sinner who was made a great saint by our great Savior.
Skin in the Game: Bartholomew and the Resurrection of the Body
Church tradition teaches that every apostle died a martyr. Some were crucified, some beheaded, and some stoned. But according to an ancient Armenian text, Bartholomew has the dubious distinction of what may be the most gruesome death of them all: being skinned alive. Christian artists have made much of this story, especially Michelangelo, whose Last…
St. Oswald: the Evangelist King
After a period of embracing Christianity, people in Northumbria returned to the Pagan beliefs they held before the gospel first reached the British shores. It would take a young Christian king returning from exile with a zeal for evangelism to begin a revival of faith that would last for centuries.
St. Alban: First Martyr of Britain
Alban stands as a reminder of the radical change God can bring about in a person’s life and the way he may use even the most ordinary among us in a brief time.
The Axe of St. Boniface and the Virtue of Discretion
Saint Boniface, the 7th-century English bishop, missionary to Germany, and martyr, was a master of discretion. Guided by the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit, he knew the importance of choosing the right action at the right time. Boniface knew when to take up the axe, and he knew when to put it down. The Discretion…
Standing Firm in God’s Love with Athanasius
“Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” – 1 John 4:8 “God is love.” This is a sentiment that we all, well, love. We love to say it, and we love to believe it. But what does it mean? Love implies a relationship between two or more persons. And…
Saint Thomas Sunday: A Rookie Anglican Guide
The Sunday after Easter is also called “Saint Thomas Sunday.” This Sunday, we read the story of the apostle Thomas, his doubts about the news of the resurrection, and his confession of faith when Jesus showed him his wounds. It is a day to acknowledge skepticism and celebrate belief. Most importantly, Saint Thomas Sunday is…
George Herbert: A Rookie Anglican Guide to the Priest and Poet
George Herbert, perhaps the greatest devotional poet in the English language, was also a faithful pastor to a small country church. When I was a student, Herbert helped lead the way of my pilgrimage to Christ. As an adult disciple and priest, I have continually refreshed my spirit by dipping back into Herbert’s prose and…
Reclining On Christ: Saint John’s Example of Intimacy with Jesus
Saint John was an apostle, an evangelist, and a bosom friend to Jesus, who set an example of reclining on Christ. John’s feast is December 27th, and we also remember him on Maundy Thursday and any time we read from his Gospel. A Bosom-Friend I call John a bosom friend because it was he, “the…
