Triumph of Bacchusca. 1890
Luigi Frullini Italian, On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 556
The central scene of this relief shows the Triumph of Bacchus. The wine god symbolizes the unrestrained life force that is also made manifest in the spiraling fruit and flowering branches. The presence of hounds, hare, and stag, refers to the hunt symbolizing a darker side of nature and death. 

First Sunday of Advent

St. Paul writes his letter to the Roman instructing Christians to put off the 'works of darkness' and put on 'the armor of light.'  Probably he was referring to dark and twisted pagan rituals such as the Cult of Dionysius and Lupercalia. Donna Tartt's 1992 novel "The Secret History" plays with these understandings in her murder mystery at an Ivy League school. In OVC this week, Fr. John explores St. Paul, Euripides' play "The Bacchae" and Tartt's novel. 

The Secret History
by Donna Tartt




Readings for the First Sunday of Advent: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/112722.cfm