by Peter James | Mar 21, 2023 | Favorite, Hildegard of Bingen
I first learned about Hildegard of Bingen (ca. 1098-1179) in a Washington Post article about beer. This twelfth-century abbes (leader) of a convent in Germany was the first person to document the use of hops in making beer. I have come to find out she was no ordinary...
by Peter James | Mar 20, 2023 | Reginald Heber
What do you do when the people in your church sing poorly? Reginald Heber (1783-1826) was called to pastor a small church along the coast of England. Reginald, also a competent musician, found the singing rather dreadful. So, he started writing hymns to accompany...
by Peter James | Mar 19, 2023 | George MacDonald
George MacDonald’s (1824-1905) initial foray into preaching was short-lived. His congregation complained that his sermons were overly imaginative and not dogmatic enough–so much so that he resigned after three years and took up writing, specializing in...
by Peter James | Mar 18, 2023 | St. Patrick Breastplate 3rd
Legend has it that Patrick (385-461) used a shamrock to teach the Irish people about the Trinity. Since the shamrock is a three-leafed plant, it’s an ideal metaphor to illustrate our three-in-one God. But there is no mention of a shamrock anywhere in Patrick’s...
by Peter James | Mar 17, 2023 | St. Patrick Breastplate 2nd
Patrick (385-461) arrived in Ireland to begin his missionary work in 432. He faced fierce opposition over the next thirty years particularly from Druids, sorcerers who practiced dark magic and cast evil spells on people. They made repeated attempts on Patrick’s life...
