The Original Church
Spirituality/Belief
The Original Church, with Dr. James L. Papandrea, is an ecumenical Christian community exploring our common roots in the early Church for the purposes of spiritual growth and practicing the Christian faith. No politics, debates, or proselytizing, just "faith seeking understanding" from the perspective of the early (and medieval) Church and the Church fathers. Jim Papandrea is an author and Professor of Church History and Historical Theology.
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The Cafe - The Feast of the Holy Innocents

Today is the commemoration of the slaughter of the innocents - when Herod ordered the death of all children, two years or younger, in and around the city of Bethlehem. The story is found in Matthew 2, but it's also referenced in Revelation 12:4, when "the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth, to devour her child when she gave birth." Of course the dragon-empowered king failed to kill Jesus, but succeeded in killing other innocent babies.

One of my favorite Christmas carols, from back in the day when I used to sing in madrigal groups, is a song called the Coventry Carol. You might not think that someone would write a Christmas carol about the slaughter of the innocents - and as a lullaby, no less - but it' s a song you never forget. Here's a link to just one version of it on YouTube, with the lyrics (for you musicians, I tried to find a version without the abomination that is the picardy third, but I couldn't - sorry). I'm sure there are better versions of the song out there, but for those who have never heard it, here's the link:

https://youtu.be/6-Kt2Fal4aA?si=46OGXf0UZa2V1s2j

Of course I can't fail to mention that the slaughter of the innocents goes on to this day, to the intolerable shame of our otherwise great country. Planned Parenthood alone has now killed more people than Hitler, and that's no exaggeration. If you haven't yet seen the film Unplanned, I highly recommend it. I'm not sure if it's available on any of the streaming services, but if you can find it, it will be worth the effort. There is actually cause for "feasting" in the progress the pro-life movement has made over the last several years, but the attacks of the culture of death and the multi-billion dollar abortion industry are only increasing, so keep praying for the innocent ones!

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Message to the Original Church Community

Dear friends - Please take 10 minutes to watch this personal update from me:

00:11:14
Sneak Peek into my NEW OFFICE!

I'm back, up and running, and ready to go - I should have a new JOURNEY episode within the next week or so - and because you are my loyal peeps, here is an exclusive, just-for-you, behind the scenes SNEAK PEEK into my new office:

00:02:17
In case you missed it, here's my Gospel Reflection

This was for March 24th, recorded for the Ascension App

00:02:57
Here's another song... Come Let Us Climb the Lord's Mountain

I mentioned in The Journey that I wrote a song based on Isaiah 2, which is one of my favorite OT passages:

In days to come, the mountain of the Lord’s house
shall be established as the highest mountain, and raised above the hills.
All nations shall stream toward it. Many peoples shall come and say:
“Come, let us go up to the Lord’s mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, That he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths.” For from Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations, and set terms for many peoples.
They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again. House of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!

I hope you like the song!

Here's another song... Come Let Us Climb the Lord's Mountain
Here's the latest from the Way of the Fathers Podcast

St. Albert the Great - teacher and mentor of St. Thomas Aquinas

Unboxing of the NEW BOOK!

The Original Church

And don't forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel if you haven't already...

Thought for the day

The problem with us men is that often we don't have the wisdom to be a father until we're a grandfather.

This may sounds like some ironic statement that makes you nod your head in agreement but shrug your shoulders in resignation, thinking, well there's nothing we can do about that. But the practical application of that is that it demonstrates how important it is for kids to grow up around their grandparents. But as in our culture the family becomes ever more fractured and spread out, that is harder and harder to do.

Lately I've been thinking that part of the problem is the whole concept of college. It used to be that everyone thought a person had to go to college to make a good living. Not only is that not the case (truck drivers make more money than I do) but now college has gone from useless to actually ruining our kids. But when I went to college, what you were supposed to do is figure out what career you wanted (as if anyone knows that at age 18) and then go away to the college ...

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