Jerusalem, that great city on a hill, had had her virtues turned against her. A strong Syrian army had encircled and besieged her, thereby enlisting starvation as a military weapon. The people of Jerusalem were famished and destitute. The encircling army was...

Years ago, in a small French village, a Roman Catholic priest finally gained appointment as bishop at the relatively late age of 65, and was installed in a palatial house adjacent to a small, dilapidated hospital. After observing events in and around the hospital for...

Thomas Hemerken, better known to the world as Thomas a’ Kempis, was born late in the 14th century. Born of poor parents, he entered the monastery in 1399 and worked there for an astounding seventy-two years. He was widely known as a preacher and spiritual advisor, but...

“And they compelled a passer-by, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross.” I have listened to numerous Easter cantatas and watched many Easter dramas, but none have ever mentioned Alexander and Rufus....

All of the ancient manuscripts of the Gospel of Mark end with these words: “Entering the tomb they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, ‘Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was...