Author Archives: johnaroop

Apostles Anglican ChurchFr. John A. Roop Introduction To The Apocrypha The Lord be with you.And with your spirit.Let us pray. Blessed Lord, who caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, … Continue reading →

Apostles Anglican ChurchFr. John A. Roop Introduction To The Apocrypha: Susanna SUSANNA (Chapter 13 of the Greek version of Daniel) 1 There was a man living in Babylon whose name was Joakim. 2 He married the daughter of Hilkiah, named … Continue reading →

St Paul, reflecting on the plurality and untidiness of the communities that are springing up, is driven to conclude that what is happening in these assemblies (the Greek word we translate as ‘church’ originally meant something like a convocation, a … Continue reading →

Following is an “opinion piece” that I recently read online: It’s hard for us to remember that people became saints and were able to live a “legitimate” spiritual life for nearly five centuries before the Church fell into it’s “monastic … Continue reading →

From a letter written by C. S. Lewis to an Italian Roman Catholic priest and frequent correspondent: August 10, 1953 Dearest Father, I think almost all the crimes which Christians have perpetrated against each other arise from this, that religion … Continue reading →

There is grace in every moment, grace sufficient for that moment: not grace as a theological abstraction, not grace as the general, favorable disposition of God, but grace as the presence and power of God working for good and for … Continue reading →

All throughout the discernment process for ordination and, indeed, all throughout my priesthood until this very day, a verse from Psalm 69 has been a haunting refrain and prayer. It is not coincidence, I am sure, that it was appointed … Continue reading →

Are we alone in the universe? Certainly not: there are angels and archangels and all the company of heaven, and there are powers and principalities neither good nor even benign. The former aid us in the war we wage against … Continue reading →

Apostles Anglican ChurchFr. John A. Roop The Feast of Pentecost: God With Us and God In Us(Gen 11:1-9, Ps 104:24-35V, Acts 2:1-21, John 14:8-17) Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful and kindle in them the fire of … Continue reading →

I know a priest who, as he approaches the altar at the beginning of the Eucharist, discretely and reverently bows to reverence the altar with a kiss. It is, after all, the place where heaven and earth meet and where … Continue reading →