The first time I encountered this phrase, I thought it was snark, that Jesus was taunting the Pharisees because they couldn't understand what he was saying.

Matthew 9:13 "But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy and not sacrifice: For I am not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentence." (Ach imichibh agus fòghlumaibh ( Read more... )

Yesterday I was chatting with a friend about Christmas. In short, I was explaining how the darkness begins to deepen after the cross-quarter celebration of Oidhche Shamhna - Halloween - until it reaches its darkest on the longest night - the Winter Solstice. Then there is a slow increase of light until the cross-quarter celebration of Imbolc - St ( Read more... )

I just logged into the Dragon Cave, went to the forum and ... no new egg announcement. This was a huge shock because I've been distracted this morning and so sorta kinda forgot about the new eggs until just then (ironic, that, as I have been hyping and reminding all and sundry ... and what is a sundry anyway ... about the new drop, and then I go ( Read more... )

I was looking up "pearls" of wisdom for the 12 Days (which I decided not to post after all) and came across this bit of advice.

Faodaidh fearg sealltainn a steach 'an cridh' an duine ghlic, ach còmhnaichidh i'n cridh' an amadain. Anger may look in on a wise man's heart, but it abides in the heart of a fool ( Read more... )

from Litir do Luchd-ionnsachaidh #738 & 739

Back before St. Columba returned to the Isle of Ile, there was a priest of his community who went visiting folk on the Isle of Skye.

( Priest to the Little People )

The Serenity Prayer God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference.
I've been concentrating on the prayer-invocations to be found in the Carmina Gadelica (http://www.sacred-texts. ( Read more... )

A friend reminded me of this the other day.

1 Corinthians 13: 4 - 7

4 Tha an gràdh fad-fhulangach, agus caoimhneil; cha ghabh an gràdh farmad ; cha dèan an gràdh ràiteachas, cha'n 'eil e air a shèideadh suas, Love is long suffering and kind ; Love is not envious ; Love is not boastful ; Love does not flatter itself,
5 Cha ghiùlain se e ( Read more... )

... it popped into my mind this morning ( Read more... )

An entry in the Dictionary of Phrase and Fable ( Read more... )

Behold the Virgin, Child at breast ( Read more... )