Matthew Burden's Blog, page 20

Quote of the Week

"Do not let your heart become troubled by the sad spectacle of human injustice. Even this has its value in the face of all else. And it is from this that one day you will see the justice of God rising with unfailing triumph."
- Padre Pio

The Evangeliad

(Click here for an introduction and previous installments of the Evangeliad)
Section 28, extended (corresponding to John 7:40-46)
Many who heard were amazed and cried out,"This is the one, can there be any doubt?""He is the prophet!" said some, "No, the Christ!--But is Bethlehem's son from Galilee's heights?"
The crowd was torn, no one sure what to do;Some wanted him seized; some thought his words true.The guards who were sent by the priests went back,Now having observed the people react.
The priests and Pharisees challenged the men,"You found him? Why not take him in, then?"But the guards said, "Have you heard this man talk?There's never been anyone like him, we thought!"

Photo of the Week

Peace, perfect peace, our future all unknown?Jesus we know, and he is on the throne.
- from a hymn by Henry Edward Bickersteth

Quote of the Week

"We are too busy to pray, and so we are too busy to have power. We have a great deal of activity, but we accomplish little."
- R. A. Torrey

Brief Break from Blogging

Friends, I'm currently engaged in helping to start (and teach at) a new start-up Christian school in my town. It has me fairly busy at the moment, so I'm going to take a few weeks away from the blog, until I get my new schedule figured out. I'll return to my regular posting in the last week of September.

Church History: The Medieval Catholic Church

(Click here for the church history series page)

Lecture audio: The Medieval Catholic Church (click here to listen or right-click to download)

Lecture Notes Outline

Monastic revival – Cluny & the Cistercians

     - Bernard of Clairvaux

     - Hildegard of Bingen

Chasing down heretics – Waldensians, Albigensians, and the Inquisition

     - Expulsion of the Jews

A new form of monastic ministry – the Franciscans & Dominicans

     - Francis & Clare

Papal corruption & schism – “the Babylonian Captivity” in Avignon

     - Catherine of Siena

The Black Death & the Anglo-French wars

     - Julian of Norwich

Scholasticism

     - Thomas Aquinas

Art & architecture

Age of discovery begins

The Renaissance begins to bloom

Calls for Reformation

     - John Wyclif

     - Devotio Moderna

     - Jan Hus

The Evangeliad

(Click here for an introduction and previous installments of the Evangeliad)
Section 28, extended (corresponding to John 7:37-39)
It had come to the final day of the feast,The festival's high point, when all the priestsGathered to read out the prophecies old,Where the wellspring of God's grace was foretold.
And there in the midst of the gathered throng,Christ stood and he spoke, his voice loud and strong:"If anyone thirsts, come drink from my well,For I am the one the prophets foretell;
From the hearts of all who believe in meWill come forth what scripture has said would be:Living water, pouring joyful and free,In rivers that run with the fullness of peace!"
(These words predicted the Spirit's descent,The Spirit whose powerful presence was sentOn all who'd believe in Christ and his name,When he was glorified, risen to reign.)

Photo of the Week

Jesus, I am resting, resting in the joy of what Thou art;I am finding out the greatnessof Thy loving heart.Thou hast bid me gaze upon thee,as Thy beauty fills my soul,for by Thy transforming power,Thou hast made me whole.
- from a hymn by Jean Sophia Pigott

Quote of the Week

"Do not be angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be."
- Thomas a Kempis, The Imitation of Christ

A Prayer from Thomas Merton (abridged)

Let me use all things for one sole reason: to find my joy in giving you glory. Therefore, keep me, above all things, from sin. [...] Give me the strength that waits upon you in silence and peace. Give me humility in which alone is rest, and deliver me from pride which is the heaviest of burdens. And possess my whole heart and soul with the simplicity of love. Occupy my whole life with the one thought and the one desire of love, that I may love not for the sake of merit, not for the sake of perfection, not for the sake of virtue, not for the sake of sanctity, but for you alone. Amen.