by Peter James | Apr 4, 2025 | Sir Francis Drake
I’m more interested in the prayer attributed to Francis Drake (1540-1596) than with Francis himself. While he is a colorful figure of history, he represents a mixed bag in matters of faith. His letters bear witness to genuine belief, yet his actions...
by Peter James | Apr 3, 2025 | St. Ignatius
At a slave auction block at Boston harbor on July 11, 1761, “A small, frail, female child was sold…for a trifle.” Her only covering was a scrap of carpet, and her owner was in a hurry to sell her, convinced she wouldn’t survive. Suzanna...
by Peter James | Apr 2, 2025 | St. Bernard of Clairvaux
I preached a sermon series a few years ago on The Song of Songs (alternatively Song of Solomon). It’s an intriguing Old Testament book, given that it reads like a love sonnet between a prospective bride and groom. God’s name is conspicuously absent from...
by Peter James | Apr 1, 2025 | St. Basil
The Roman Emperor Valens sent into exile any church bishop who displeased him. As a supporter of Arius, who denied Jesus was coeternal with God, Valens was gunning for bishops who did not conform to his way of thinking. He sent Modestus, a high-ranking court...
