Tag: Avellina Balestri
Day of Wrath: Sweeney Todd and the Search for Salvation
I have some Catholic reflections on the haunting use of the traditional Latin requiem chant Dies Irae in "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street", the 1979 musical by Stephen Sondheim, which was turned…
The Stigmata of St. Francis
Seraph-spread wings And the wings of the tree Branches like outstretched arms And hands pinioned, punctured The taste of honey and vinegar Agony and Ecstasy Rough-wool clad Naked unto God Seraph-sealed lips And the eyes…
Blood From an Ancient Stone: A Movie Review of “Robin and Marian”
Has anybody out there seen the film "Robin and Marian" with an over-the-hill Sean Connery and Audrey Hepburn? I watched chunks of it last year on YouTube, but decided to re-watch it on DVD this…
The Talk of the Three-in-One: Meditations on the Trinity
Trinity Sunday is often joked about in Christian circles as that day anyone can easily fall into heresy via poor analogies for an incomparable mystery. Some insist the topic should not even be broached unless…
Paschal Mystery: The Death of God and the Paradox of Salvation
One of the objections that has been raised frequently against the Christian concept of redemption through the cross, is that God would not require a blood sacrifice in order to forgive sins, nor indeed that…
Broken Things: A Game of Thrones Story
“What have you done? By the all the gods, what have you done to the poor girl?” “Dearest Uncle, I’ve made her a present for you! I’ve made her worthy of you! I’ve conquered her,…
Begotten Seed: A Reflection between Christmas and Lent
Christmas ebbs out and, and Lent ebbs in - so flows the cycle of the liturgical life of the Church. This particular change invigorates me the most, because it unfolds a deeper mystery yet, it…
An Eerie Stillness: A Movie Review of “The Day the Earth Stood Still”
Year: 1951 Filming: Black & White Length: 92 minutes Genre: Drama/Sci-Fi Maturity: G (Suitable for All Ages) Cast: Michael Rennie (Klaatu), Patricia Neal (Helen Benson), Sam Jaffe (Professor Jacob Barnhardt), Hugh Marlowe (Tom Stevens), Lock…
Mary, Did You Know?: A Catholic Theological Reflection
I used to dislike the song "Mary, Did You Know?", as a lot of Catholics tend to, taking it rather literally, and there are still a few points of theology I might quibble over. But…