Undermining the Narrative : St Francis of Assisi

Do penance, performing worthy fruits of penance, because we shall soon die … Blessed are those who die in penance for they shall be in the kingdom of heaven. Woe to those who do not die in penance, for they shall be children of the devil whose works they do and they shall go into everlasting fire.

--St Francis of Assisi

Oh, and that whole "preach the gospel at all times; when necessary, use words" line that makes such a great bumper sticker? Guess he didn't actually say that one.

Epiphany Around the World

The Boston Globe's "Big Picture" photoblog shares a beautiful roundup of the Christmas season around the world. It's fascinating for two reasons: 1) to see a major media outlet recognize that the Christmas season ends in January, not on Boxing Day, and 2) it features a great many pictures of Christmas and Epiphany celebrations from parts of the world it is easy to think of as being somehow "outside" Christendom, like China, Iraq, Gaza, and Turkey.