Elliott M

JAMES MERRILL CHRISTMAS TREE From loes torn hamin Had been fed, looked after, kept still, Meant, I knew— of course I knew - That it would be only a matter of weeks, That there was nothing more to do. Warmly they took me in, made much of me, The point from the start was to keep my spirits up. I could assent to that. For honestly, It did help to be wound in jewels, to send Their colors flashing forth from vents in the deep Fragrant sables that cloaked me head to foot. Over me then they wove a spell of shining — Purple and silver chains, eavesdripping tinsel, Amulets, milagros: software of silver, A heart, a little girl, a Model T Two staring eyes. Then angels, trumpets, BUD and BEA (The children's names) in clownlike capitals, Somewhere a music box whose tiny song Played and replayed I ended before long By loving. And in shadow behind me, a primitive IV To keep the show going. Yes, yes, what lay ahead Was clear: the stripping, the cold street, my chemicals Plowed back into the Earth for lives to come — No doubt a blessing, a harvest, but one that doesn't bear, Now or ever, dwelling upon. To have grown so thin. Needles and bone. The little boy's hands meeting About my spine. The mother's voice: Holding up wonderfully! No dread. No bitterness. The end beginning. Today's Dusk room aglow For the last time With candlelight. Faces love-lit, Gifts underfoot. Still to be so poised, so Receptive. Still to recall, to praise.

James Merril’s poem “Christmas Tree,” written while he was dying of AIDS. 1995.

A Year of Contrasts 2025 saw the eclipse of Donald Trump as the most important American in the world.

"The second-most-important American leader seems intent on implementing policies that go against nearly every Catholic moral priority."

@heidischlumpf.bsky.social: 2025 will be remembered for two U.S.-born leaders who couldn’t be more different.
www.commonwealmagazine.org/leo-trump-po...

Don’t Let the Beasts from Revelation Distract You from Your Expense Reports Thanks for coming in. Have a seat. I realize there’s a lot going on right now between work and the seven-headed dragon that is here to brutally mur...

"If I’m being honest, I’ve seen a serious dip in your overall performance ever since the beast of the sea emerged."

when the priest doesn't know about keeping the homily to 8 minutes

I know Pope Leo has a mixed record on LGBTQ issues, but I still like him. He is very much a Catholic Social Thought-centered pope, and I appreciate that.

Check out Dr. Miguel A. De La Torre! He's written a bunch of books and everything I've read is awesome.

Made this art the other day. It's about Our Lady of the Rosary. Digital painting, the background is a photograph of rosaries cofiscated by immigration officers.

It turns out that reading liberation theology is, for me, both extremely comforting and extremely uncomfortable. Which might sound weird to someone who hasn't read liberation theology, but I'm pretty sure it's meant to have that effect.

Gay saint John Henry Newman and his "earthly light" Ambrose St. John shared romantic friendship John Henry Newman, a 19th-century British scholar, theologian and cardinal, was canonized by the Pope as a Roman Catholic saint amid rampant speculation that he was gay. Newman had a "romantic friends...

John Henry Newman, an official Catholic saint and 19th-century British scholar-priest, had a “romantic friendship” with Ambrose St. John. They lived together for 32 years and share the same grave. Newman’s Catholic feast day is Oct. 9. #faithfullyLGBT qspirit.net/john-henry-n...

OMG it's non binary

i have gotten really into liberation theology recently!

Come, Holy Spirit, show us your beauty,
reflected in all the peoples of the earth,
so that we may discover anew
that all are important and all are necessary,
different faces of the one humanity
that God so loves. Amen.
-Pope Francis (3/3)

Grant that we Christians may live the Gospel,
discovering Christ in each human being,
recognizing him crucified
in the sufferings of the abandoned
and forgotten of our world,
and risen in each brother or sister
who makes a new start. (2/3)

O God, Trinity of love,
from the profound communion of your divine life,
pour out upon us a torrent of fraternal love.
Grant us the love reflected in the actions of Jesus,
in his family of Nazareth,
and in the early Christian community. (1/3)

"We need to develop the awareness that nowadays we are either all saved together or no one is saved."

-Pope Francis (1936-2025)

If anyone has Easter song recs, let me know

Jesus on the Main Line playing now. There's a lot on this from the Lead Me Guide Me hymnal <3

made an Easter playlist largely constituted of hymns, chants, gospel, and 20th-century folk. Heartily singing along to If I Had a Hammer, Come to the River, Magnificat (Taize), and Talkin' About a Revolution. Perfect for Easter afternoon.

Holy Saturday: Harrowing Hell, Together I am called to harrow every Hell I encounter.

technically wrote this for yesterday, but as I am slowly transitioning to bluesky I want to put this on here (a day late lol). a substack post about Holy Saturday, God-less American politics, and the Harrowing of Hell.

if this is a "christian nation," why are my student loans accruing interest....?

Christ the Eucharist in the tabernacle of repose on Holy Thursday, surrounded by flowers and candles

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Were you there when they deported Him to a concentration camp in El Salvador?

Were you there when they cut off Her medical aid in South Sudan?

Were you there when they bombed Her house in Gaza?

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Holy Week Shows the Power of Public Outcry Pilate used fear and blame to mask unjust actions; there's a lesson for us as Trump defies court orders.

"We may not be able to change Trump’s authoritarian actions, but we can unmask them by refusing to offer them the veneer of normalcy and the popular mandate that he seeks."

San Francisco’s Hunky Jesus Contest stirs up controversy, community and 'courage' SAN FRANCISCO (RNS) — Hosted by a global order of drag nuns, the Easter event draws thousands to what some call sacrilege but its participants say is liberating, joyful, even sacred.

#SanFrancisco’s Hunky Jesus Contest stirs up controversy, community and 'courage' religionnews.com/2025/04/17/s...

[Washing my hair with 3-in-1 shampoo]

ST. PATRICK: Did you know,

Very possible I will one day make a tearful video entitled "LEAVE AUGUSTINE ALONE!!!"

I am extremely passionate and will discuss them forever, if given the chance.

I'm realizing that the way i feel about various medieval saints is the way that some other people feel about, like, Britney Spears.

Key subtext: For years, many evangelicals have touted the plight of persecuted Christians as a preeminent concern. Rev. Franklin Graham, a prominent Trump supporter, even convened conferences on it.

But now that persecuted Christians are unable to enter the country as refugees, there’s no outcry.