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worth noting . . .
CURRENT ATTACK ON RATIONALITY . . . A new word that has confused many people is “post-modernism.” In order to know what that means, one must know what “modern” means; and that is preceded by what is called the “pre-modern.” In this issue I am happy to offer you an article by Mr. Thomas Storck who takes us through each of these terms and explains them. What characterizes “post-modernism” is its attack on humanism and rationality. These latter have much to do with what is called the “modern” in literary and philosophical circles. A disturbing aspect of post-modernism is its rejection of all claims to truth.
THE WOMAN AND THE DRAGON . . . Who is the woman hated by the dragon in Revelation 12? Is she the Church? Is she Mary, the Mother of Jesus? Who is the Child? and who is the dragon? In this issue Dr. James Leon Holmes, a convert from Protestantism, offers us his reflections on the text. By comparing the text with quotes from the Old Testament, he shows that the woman is Mary, that the Child is Jesus the Christ, and that the dragon is Satan. This is surely not a new interpretation, but it does highlight the special place in salvation history of Mary, the Mother of the Redeemer.
ROME AND EASTERN ORTHODOXY . . . Occasionally I receive requests for more articles in HPR about the Byzantine Catholic Churches and Eastern Orthodoxy. So this month I am pleased to offer you an article on the relations between Eastern orthodoxy and Rome by Mr. James Likoudis who is a convert from Orthodoxy and has written two books on the subject. Progress is being made towards reunion of the two churches, but there are writers and theologians of the Orthodox persuasion who are very hostile to Rome and the historic claims of the papacy. Mr. Likoudis answers some of their objections.
BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST TOGETHER . . . One of the ways to avoid Communion in the hand, and the lack of the proper reverence that should accompany receiving Communion, is to offer the Body and Blood of Christ at the same time by “intinction.” This means that the priest places the host in the chalice of the Precious Blood and then puts it on the tongue of the communicant. In this issue Mrs. Lisa Marie Contini explains how well this worked in a parish she belonged to in Texas. She says there was a great sense of reverence in that parish — an external sign that promotes belief in the Real Presence.
Back to Homiletic & Pastoral Review Table of Contents January 2001