Monthly Archives: December 2016

December 24, 2016 This photo was taken, probably by my Dad, in 1946.  Dr. Redeman, a family friend, was Santa. He visited the homes of parents with children on Christmas Eve in our small town. Three of us four children … Continue reading →

Tuesday, December 23  —   “my little heart loses its limits in joy” Advent ends today: three plus weeks of prophecy daring us to see the world, realistically,  as  beautiful and beloved.   That dare can shake us when Advent’s antiphons … Continue reading →

Thursday  December 22  “I have found you in the story again” Joy Harjo has written a new book this fall, “Conflict Resolution for Holy Beings.”   A young friend — living in immediate grief when one of his soul friends … Continue reading →

Wednesday, December 21  –  O Oriens” At Detroit’s latitude we will have 9 hours and 3 minutes of daylight, 14 hours and 57 minutes of night time. Our shortest day. Today’s O Antiphon, “O Oriens” (“O Rising Sun”) tells us … Continue reading →

Tuesday December 20 This morning I’ll be driving down the Ohio Turnpike to the working class suburb of Pittsburgh, Baden.  Spending some of the days deepest into Advent hanging out with 5 or 6 Sisters of St. Joseph of Baden, … Continue reading →

Monday December 19 Today’s Antiphon, “O Root of Jesse,” grew out of two Biblical texts recounting the geneology of Jesus (Luke 3:23 and Matthew 1:1)  Both versions locate the new born baby as Jesus, a human being, more than as … Continue reading →

Sunday, December 18  –  “to ease attention off when overtight” We are 4 days out from the winter solstice, the shortest day, the sun rising as far south as it gets before turning round to begin its 6 months march … Continue reading →

Saturday, December 17 Campuses are quiet, winter chilly, and slushy.  Last final exams went down this morning.  We are beginning to button up for the heart and soul of Advent,  then the feast of Jesus’ birth, then the New Year … Continue reading →

Friday, December 14  –   “I am going to smuggle some more of your laughter into this poem” Today has a feeling of wrapping things up for this academic term — even though academic work remains in many parts of the … Continue reading →

Thursday, December 15 Yesterday was busy with lots of valuable things,  didn’t make it to the day’s post. Here.  One of my deepest poetry loves.  Read it out loud.   More tomorrow. john sj   Yesterday’s post  Denise Levertov, from “Conversations … Continue reading →