Integral Holiness

Mystical writers pretty much from the earliest years of the Christian era have insisted that the unavoidable first step in walking the way of the mysteries is to embrace a life of holiness. Not so much that we can just decide “I want to be holy now,” like someone decides they’ll learn how to play the guitar; for holiness is a grace given, not a skill achieved. Nevertheless, since Divine gifts are not foisted upon us without our consent, holiness demands that we at least choose to cooperate with the dynamics of grace at work in our lives.

But what does it mean to be holy?

Feast of the Visitation

Today is the Feast of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary to Elizabeth. This morning during mass the monks chanted this lovely hymn to the Mother of God:

Alleluia.
Ave, Stillans Melle Alvearium;
Ave, Veri Salomonis Ferculum;
Ave, Verbi Dei Tu Sacrarium;
Ave, Deitatis Receptaculum,
Maria.

Here it is again in English:

Alleluia.
Hail, Beehive Dripping with Honey;
Hail, Offspring of the True Solomon;
Hail, Shrine of the Word of God;
Hail, Recepticle of the Godhead,
Mary.

Thanks to Youtube and Robin Meyers, the UCC “Bouncer” Ad Lives On…

I’m reading Robin Meyers’ wonderful if infuriating book Why the Christian Right is Wrong (I plan on posting a review once I’m finished). Today I’m reading the chapter on the Christian right’s hostility to gay and lesbian persons, and Meyers mentions the ad that the United Church of Christ attempted to run on national television in 2004, but couldn’t because the major networks deemed it “too controversial.” In honor of that ad, which deserves to be seen by everyone, I’m happy to note that some good folks have made sure that it lives on in Youtube, which of course allows me to embed it here: