Dear Friends, The wonderful preacher and teacher Fr. James Schall, S.J. presents us with another beautiful reflection on this season of Christmas: What is "growing" at Christmas? In his book, Jesus of Nazareth, Benedict XVI often repeated his central theme. The world is not particularly different if Jesus of Nazareth was simply another Jew born at a certain time.
Dear Friends, (continued from last week’s The Four Last Things by Fr. Martin Von Cochem) The ascension into Heaven will next take place. Can one venture to describe this also? The sweetest strains of music will fill the air. St. Michael will head the glorious procession, carrying the cross whereon Christ died. For the cross and all the other instruments of the Passion will be preserved in Heaven at least such is the opinion of several learned theologians.
Dear Friends, (continued from last week’s The Four Last Things by Fr. Martin Von Cochem) It appears to me that judgment will be passed upon the good somewhat after this manner: The guardian Angels will lead those who have been committed to their charge to the judgment-seat of God, and then the just will fall before Him in lowly adoration.
Dear Friends, During Advent, we contemplate not only the coming of Christ Incarnate at Christmas (His First Coming), but also His Second Coming at the end of the world, in glory. Over the next few weeks, I’d like to provide reflections on those things which concern the Second Coming. The reflections are taken from The Four Last Things by Fr. Martin Von Cochem: