Saturday Good Reads

As Advent draws to a close, you might consider reading some of the poetry inspired by the “O Antiphons.” Historically used at Vespers during the last seven days of Advent, the “Os” have inspired poets for more than a thousand years (“O Come, O Come Emmanuel” is one example). A Clerk of Oxford has the story.

George Cruikshank (1792-1878) is best known for being one of the illustrators for the serialized novels of Charles Dickens. But he worked for many other authors and publications. Spitalfields Life has a selection of his drawings for the Christmas season.

A few weeks ago, The New York Times profiled a white nationalist, and caused all kinds of protest because, people claimed, the account made him seem almost normal. That’s exactly the point, says Trevin Wax at The Gospel Coalition. Evil often is “almost normal,” and it can lurk inside all of us. Exaggerating it into caricatures of Hitler inevitably trivializes it.

Lisa Deam has an Advent prayer from Bernard of Clairvaux, there are all kinds of wonderful photographs this week, two lost articles by C.S. Lewis have been found, and the Southern Seminary Vocal Ensemble invite you to come behold the wondrous mystery.

Poetry

Meditation on Soteriology – Karen An-Hwei Lee at Image Journal.

The Anglo-Saxon O Antiphons: O Caelorum Domine, Lord of the Heavens – A Clerk of Oxford.

Stand if you are able - Jared Gilbert at Christian Poets & Writers.

Life and Culture

E Pur Si Muove – Sam Altman.

Bill Clinton Should Have Resigned –Matthew Yglesias at Vox.

Chronicler of Islamic State “killing machine” goes public – Lori Hennant and Maggie Michael at Associated Press.

When evil has nice manners – Trevin Wax at The Gospel Coalition.

Faith

A prayer for Advent from Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) – Lisa Deam at The Contemplative Writer.

Shelter Series: Welcome – Simply Mella at The Frozen Moon.

We Three Kings of Orient Aren't - Greg Lanier at The Gospel Coalition.

Music

Ten Odd Facts about Handel’s “Messiah” – Terez Rose at The Imaginative Conservative.

British Stuff

George Cruikshank’s Festive Season in London and Wonderful London – Spitalfields Life.

Art and Photography

The Brutal Charm of the Soviet Bus Stops – Christopher Herwig.

The Fallen Series and Into the Sun - Morning Woods-scapes – Tim Good.

Till the Day Break – Tom Darin Liskey at Literary Life.

Hyde Park in the Morning Light #1, Most Holy Trinity – Chris Naffziger at St. Louis Patina.

Sticks View – Winter – Paul Stebbleton via Facebook.

Writing and Literature

Christmas and Cricket: Rediscovering Two Lost C. S. Lewis Articles After 70 Years – Stephanie Derrick at Christianity Today.

What to Do When You Suspect It’s (Your Writing) is Not Enough – Mick Silva.

Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery – Southern Seminary Vocal Ensemble

Painting: George Herbert and His Mother, oil on canvas by Charles West Cope (1811-1890).