I was raised as a Baptist, in a house across the street from a Roman Catholic church. Every day I marveled at the Catholics I saw, how different they were. The Baptist faith of my youth was cut from plain cloth, with simple rules: Everything I did or thought of doing was wrong, and I [...]
Archive for the ‘Religion’ Category
Father Klauder
Posted in Religion on August 18, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
An Invention of the Devil
Posted in Chess, Religion on July 15, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
“I went straight from Houston to New York over the Iron Mountain Railroad. I anticipated a rather solitary trip; but, fortunately, I met General Baird, whom I knew, and some other Army officers, who had been down on the Mexican border to settle some troubles in the ‘free zone.’ We amused ourselves on the long [...]
For My Part
Posted in Film, Literature, Religion on June 24, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
“For my part, even at my then early age (and ever since), I preferred those of any church or creed that could be religious without becoming professional or doing a lockstep.”
– William S. Hart in My Life East and West (1903)
San Cayetano
Posted in Art, Incense, Religion on May 26, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
San Cayetano/San Gaetano/Saint Cajetan (1480-1547) sought out the sick and poor, and served them, and sought to reform the Roman Catholic Church itself, rather than withdraw from it in the manner of the Protestants.
He founded a hospital for incurables at Venice, where he was devoted to spiritual healing as well as the physical kind. He [...]
The Angel Zadkiel
Posted in Art, Incense, Religion on May 21, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Zadkiel, “righteousness of God,” is the angel of freedom, benevolence and mercy. He is the patron angel of those who forgive. Zadkiel was said to be the Angel who prevented Abraham from sacrificing his son, Isaac, and is often pictured, paradoxically, holding a dagger.
In studying the lore of angels, I have found that there are [...]
The Angel Jophiel
Posted in Art, Incense, Religion on May 21, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Jophiel, whose name means “beauty of God,” is another candidate for guardian of the Tree of Knowledge and expeller of Adam and Eve. Day to day, he is the enemy of all who pursue vain knowledge and is often pictured with a flaming sword that he wields to prevent humanity’s return to the Garden of [...]
The Angel Uriel
Posted in Art, Incense, Religion on May 21, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Uriel’s name means “Light of God” and he is often pictured with a scroll and book. In the apocryphal book of Esdras, he serves as a teacher of God’s ways. In heaven, Uriel is said to be the head of all angels of salvation, light, and peace. He is the light bearer for the Gospel [...]
The Angel Raphael
Posted in Art, Incense, Religion on May 21, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Raphael’s name means “God’s healing” and he heals sickness of the spirit and the body. In the apocryphal Book of Tobit, he cures Tobit’s blindness, restores his family’s wealth, and makes it possible for Tobit’s son to marry his beloved; after all this, Raphael reveals himself as an angel sent by God to accomplish these [...]
The Angel Chamuel
Posted in Art, Incense, Religion on May 20, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
In the nineteenth century, Chamuel was said to be “the wrath of God,” and leader of the forces that expelled Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden. He was also believed to be the angel who wrestled with Jacob.
More recently, however, Chamuel has been identified as the angel who comforted Jesus in the Garden [...]
The Angel Michael
Posted in Art, Incense, Religion on May 20, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Michael is the only angel recognized by name in both Christian and Jewish scriptures. He is usually shown carrying a sword or spear with which he has battled Satan in the war of heaven; he is the guardian of the Orthodox faith, a fighter against heresies, the patron saint of warriors.
He is shown above on [...]
