All Else Confusion

Congratulations to the Lazy Wife, who had a baby girl on Sunday, June 25 and Jason at Sirach 40:20, whose wife had a baby boy, named Issac Maximilian.

(If either of you needs advice, go ask Dom!)

Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy:

‘Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has looked favourably on his people and redeemed them.
He has raised up a mighty saviour for us
in the house of his servant David,
as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.
Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors,
and has remembered his holy covenant,
the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham,
to grant us that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies,
might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness
before him all our days.
And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
to give knowledge of salvation to his people
by the forgiveness of their sins.
By the tender mercy of our God,
the dawn from on high will break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.’

The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he appeared publicly to Israel.

Luke 1:67-80

Almighty God, by whose providence thy servant John the Baptist was wonderfully born, and sent to prepare the way of thy Son our Savior by preaching repentance: Make us so to follow his doctrine and holy life, that we may truly repent according to his preaching; and after his example constantly speak the truth, boldly rebuke vice, and patiently suffer for the truth's sake; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Labels: Feast Day

Father, we rejoice in the gifts of love we have received from the heart of Jesus your Son. Open our hearts to share his life and continue to bless us with his love. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Collect for the Mass for the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Labels: Feast Day

Happy Feast of St. Thomas More, Patron of Lawyers, to all my lawyer friends and family!

Prayer of St. Thomas More, composed after his final confession.

Good and gracious Lord, as you give me grace to acknowledge my sins, so give me grace in both word and heart to repent them and utterly forsake them. And forgive me those sins which my pride blinds me from discerning.
Glorious God, give me your grace to turn my back on the things of this world, and to fix my heart solely on you.

Give me your grace to amend my life, so that I can approach death without resentment, knowing that in you it is the gateway to eternal riches.

Glorious God, take from me all sinful fear, all sinful sorrow and self-pity, all sinful hope and all sinful desire. Instead give me such fear, such sorrow, such pity, such hope and such desire as may be profitable for my soul.

Good Lord, give me this grace, in all my fear and agony, to find strength in that great fear and agony which you, sweet Savior, had on the Mount of Olives before your bitter passion.

Almighty God, take from me all desire for worldly praise, and all emotions of anger and revenge. Give me a humble, lowly, quiet, peaceable, patient, generous, kind, tender and compassionate mind.

Grant me, good Lord, a full faith, a firm hope and a fervent love, that I may desire only that which gives you pleasure and conforms to your will.

And, above all, look upon me with your love and your favor.


For an interesting article on why St. Thomas More remains a figure of relevance for our time, check out this article by Robert Bork.

Labels: Feast Day

Sorry for the lack of posts over the last week or so. I've had some thoughts, but no time to develop them what with packing for school and moving down to Virginia. I arrived at my friends' house in Fairfax early Sunday morning (2:15 am) after a very uneventful drive, went to a brunch in DC for Ave Maria College graduates, all of whom were at least 10 years younger than me (one of whom was a former student of mine when I used to teach high school - she was there with her husband (Yikes!)), and finally found Christendom College in Front Royal.

Yesterday, I had my first classes - New Testament in the morning and Philosophical Errors after lunch. The schedule allows time to attend Mass everyday and there is a Holy Hour every night. And, there are lots of religious around, taking classes at the Grad school and also in the VCI (Vocations Institute). It's so awesome to see all the sisters in their different habits and to be able to talk with them during meals.

There are a few other women staying the full 6 weeks with me. Last night we went into town and figured out where the grocery store, Domino's, and the K-Mart are. It's amazing how quickly I've slipped back into college life!

Worcester is a big city with a small city feel. Somewhere between the urbanity of Boston and ..... Podunk?

Please pray for the wife and baby (in utero) of Patrick Coffin of Seize the Dei (and fellow Steubenville alum). During the month of May, Patrick and his wife have been dealing with several potential problems for their unborn baby.

My reason [for not blogging in May] is not trivial, though. I've been distracted by several life disruptions, the most difficult being the news that our baby, curently in utero, may have some serious health problems. Dads are hardwired to protect and comfort, but I find myself reduced to flailing on the sidelines, completely helpless.

Almost completely, that is. As Servant of God Archbishop Fulton Sheen said, "it's impossible to lose your footing on your knees."

Thankfully, the doctors have ruled out their first suspicion, trisomy 18, a condition in which the baby dies on the day of birth. Now the doctors are checking on possible heart defects.

Patrick and his wife are asking for the intercession of John Paul II in their prayers.

We're asking our Catholic brethren to ask especially for John Paul the Great's intercession. My wife and I got to meet him briefly in Rome on our honeymoon. We have a picture on our wall capturing the moment when we asked for his prayers and pledged ours for him.

Through the interecession of John Paul II and Mary, mother of Christ, may God grant healing to their baby and give them the strength to accept His will. Amen.

Happy Birthday to one of my favorite stars. Born June 10, 1922, Judy Garland could act. She could dance. She was funny. And, boy, could she sing. (All that in a tiny package. She was only 4' 11")

Judy Garland made 32 pictures in all, mostly musicals, winning an Academy Award in 1939 for The Wizard of Oz and being nominated in 1954 for A Star is Born and again in 1961 for Judgement at Nuremburg.

The filming of On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe, Academy Award winning song from The Harvey Girls illustrates Judy's talent. After watching a stand in do a walk through, Judy declared herself ready to shoot the scene. She did her part in the 8 minute musical production in one take, getting it dead on the first time.





So, how much do you know about Judy Garland movies?

From And You Thought You Knew Classic Movies! by John DiLeo:

Match the performer to the film in which he/she is related to Judy Garland.

1. Gloria DeHaven (her sister)
2. Charley Grapewin (her uncle)
3. Gladys Cooper (her aunt)
4. Robert Walker (her husband)
5. Stuart Erwin (her brother)
6. Billie Burke (her mother)
7. George Murphy (her father)
8. Liza Minnelli (her daughter)
9. Nancy Walker (her cousin)
10. Leon Ames (her father)


a. The Pirate
b. Everybody Sing
c. Meet Me in St. Louis
d. The Clock
e. In the Good Old Summertime
f. Summer Stock
g. Pigskin Parade
h. Girl Crazy
i. The Wizard of Oz
j. Little Nellie Kelly

On Wednesday, as part of the St. Paul's Music Festival, I was privileged to hear the debut concert of a new chamber orchestra, the Worcester Collegium. They opened the concert with an amazing piece by Telemann, Concerto for Viola in G. major. The piece features orchestra with viola solo. Incredible. Being, once upon a time, a strings player myself, I am always amazed at the playing of first-rate musicians.

Of course, I'm not an expert when it comes to music. I like what I like, and I enjoy watching people make music. But, you don't have to take my word for it that the Worcester Collegium's debut was wonderful. Here's the rave review from the Worcester Telegram.

The Worcester Collegium is composed of professional musicians and also college and high school students. As such, it's not the typical orchestra. One violin player in particular caught my eye. He was wearing a tight black t-shirt and looked like a teenager who might be hanging out on a street corner with his friends, talking about - well, whatever teenage boys talk about. And, there he was, playing Mozart and Telemann.

The aim of the Worcester Collegium is to provided the best possible musical performances to as many people as possible. With their mix of players and their debut on Wednesday night I'd say they were well on their way to attracting all kinds of people.

The World Cup begins today!

I grew up playing soccer, but that wasn't what made me a World Cup fan. I became a fan when I lived in Holland during the 1998 World Cup in France. The Oranje made it to the quarterfinals, and I've never seen such excitment overtake an entire country. It was like New England when the Red Sox make it to the World Series, only for the whole country. Oranje fans are some of the craziest out there. And, they're very easy to spot!

Of course, I'll be rooting for the USA in the next month. They're in the "Group of Death" for the first round, a group that includes the Czech Republic, Italy, and Ghana. Just making out of that group will be a success for American Soccer. Still, the US team has developed since 2002 and certainly since their last place finish in 1998. And they still have a chance to win. At lease their coach believes they do.

Which is why, after admitting that if the Czechs and the Italians play their best possible games, "chances are they'll beat us," Arena then declares, "But I'm here to tell you they are not going to play their best possible game against us. So we have a chance."

So, I'll be watching:

WORLD CUP - GROUP E FIXTURES
• 12 June: USA v Czech Republic
• 17 June: Italy v USA
• 22 June: Ghana v Italy

And, I just might sneek a peak at Oranje.

If you like labeling things... (and I wonder what they count as ethics?)

Your Political Profile:

Overall: 75% Conservative, 25% Liberal

Social Issues: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal

Personal Responsibility: 50% Conservative, 50% Liberal

Fiscal Issues: 75% Conservative, 25% Liberal

Ethics: 50% Conservative, 50% Liberal

Defense and Crime: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal

I'm as big a fan of romance movies and romance books as any woman. But, it's true that they very rarely depict a relationship that would have staying power in real life. We always want the guy to get his girl, no matter how manufactured the relationship is.

There are some movies, of course, that depict true love that we know will never, ever die. "The Princess Bride," "The Wedding Singer," "Shrek." All classics in their own right.

But for our money, more moviemakers should give us good break-ups. After all, it's better to have loved and lost than to be stuck with someone unsuitable, unstable or — egads! — boring.

Or maybe, movies should give us more relationships that will work. Like the depiction of Frank and Helen Beardsley in the 1968 movie Yours, Mine, and Ours. This movie is about a real life couple, though, so maybe it doesn't count. At any rate, it has the single best line about married love that I’ve ever heard in a movie:

It's giving life that counts. Until you're ready for it, all the rest is just a big fraud. All the crazy haircuts in the world won't keep it turning. Life isn't a love in, it's the dishes and the orthodontist and the shoe repairman and ... ground round instead of roast beef. And I'll tell you something else: it isn't going to a bed with a man that proves you're in love with him; it's getting up in the morning and facing the drab, miserable, wonderful everyday world with him that counts.

I don't think there's much more to add to that.

The man jumping in the middle of this picture is my grandfather. He was a member of the 29th Division, 121st combat engineers who landed on Omaha Beach June 6, 1944. His squad was responsible for blowing the double wall blocking the exit off the beach into Vierville-Sur-Mer, remnants of the Maginot line, brought to Normandy by Field Marshal Rommel.

In 1958, my grandfather contacted Frances Ward, research assistant to Cornelius Ryan and was interviewed for and eventually included in his classic book on D-dayThe Longest Day:

Dear Miss Ward,

I have just seen a copy of Veterans Newsletter wanting to contact Veterans of the D-Day Invasion of Normandy Beachheads.

I can proudly say I was there. I was squad leader of the 9th squad, Company C, 121stEngineer Combat Battalion, 29th Division which landed on Omaha Beach in the fourth wave June 6, 1944.

It was my detail that blew the wall at exit D which enabled the tanks and trucks to get off the beach into the village of Vierville.

T/Sgt. Edward Brennan, from around Boston, stacked 40 cases of TNT against the wall and John Alensck of Scranton, PA set off the charge which took out the double wall at one time.

I am now married and the father of 8 wonderful children. My fondest wishes would be to go back and retrace my steps as I read so many do each year.

Unfortunately, I cannot afford it. I am a leg amputee, having lost it in a mine field in Germany, also lost sight in my right eye – and badly scarred left forearm.

I am very proud to say that I have been decorated three times. Silver Star and Brown Star with Cluster, besides the Purple Heart.

However, I consider myself one of the very fortunate ones. I am more than thankful to my government for taking such good care of me.

I would be thrilled to have Mr. Ryan interview me.

Salmon Falls, NH
August 12, 1958

I am happy to say that my grandfather has made it back to Normandy several times beginning with the 45th anniversary, making many friends in Vierville-Sur-Mer. His latest trip was in April of 2005, when he took his wife, 2 daughters, 3 sons and 2 granddaughters on a tour of the area – and was hugely welcomed as a hero.

Just a reminder that the 2006 St. Paul's Music Festival - Celebrating Mozart begins tonight.

If you can only mark your calendar for 1 or 2 events, check out these:

Saturday, June 10 7:00 p.m. Wine, Cheese, and Mozart
Ian Watson and Friends
CD launch with special guest, Monica Hatch
admission free (as are the wine and cheese)

Sunday, June 11 4:00 p.m. Final Concert: The Glory of Mozart
Mozart Requiem - St. Paul’s Festival Choir and Orchestra, directed by Ian Watson
admission free

St. Paul’s Music Festival 2006CATHEDRAL MUSIC IN WORCESTER presents Celebrating Mozart St Paul's Cathedral, Worcester

Sunday, June 4 7:00 p.m. Young Musicians of Worcester All Saints Church, Worcester, Youth Choirs and Students from Pakachoag Music School
admission free

Monday, June 5 1:00 p.m. Organ Concert Scott Lamleinadmission free
7:00 p.m. The LaBarre Family Singers with Jonathan Clark, trumpet and Ian Watson, piano $10 adults, $5 students, seniors, and children

Tuesday, June 6 1:00 p.m. Organ Concert Joseph Policelli admission free
7:00 p.m. The Beautiful Voice Jane Shivick, soprano and Olga Rogach, piano $10 adults, $5 students, seniors, and children

Labels: choir

Veni Sancte Spiritus, et emitte caelitus, lucis tuae radium.
Veni Pater pauperum, veni dator munerum, veni, lumen cordium.
Consolator optime, dulcis hospes animae, dulce refrigerium.
In labore requies, in aestu temperies, in fletu solacium.
O lux beatissima, reple cordis intima, tuorum fidelium.
Sine tuo numine, nihil est in homine, nihil est innoxium.
Lava quod est sordidum, riga quod est aridum, sana quod est saucium.
Flecte quod est rigidum, fove quod est frigidum, rege quod est devium.
Da tuis fidelibus, in te confidentibus, sacrum septenarium.
Da virtutis meritum, da salutis exitum, da perenne gaudium.
Amen, alleluia.





Come, Holy Spirit, and send down from heaven the ray of your light.
Come, father of the poor, come, giver of gifts, come, light of our hearts.
Best consoler, sweet host of the soul, sweet refresher.
Rest in work, shade in heat, comfort when in tears.
O blessed light, fill the innermost hearts of your faithful.
Without you nothing is in man, nothing innocent.
Wash what is soiled, water what is arid, heal what is wounded.
Bend what is rigid, warm what is frigid, straighten what is crooked.
Grant to your faithful who trust in you, your sevenfold holy gift:
The reward of virtue, final salvation, eternal joy.
Amen, alleluia.

As often happens at important Masses, our choir was joined at this morning's ordinations by two trumpet players. I assume they weren't Catholic since they had brought along books to read, and retired to the back row of the choir to read them during the ordinations. It was strange to look over during the solemn and holy moment of ordination, as the bishop was calling down the Holy Spirit upon the two men to be ordained and see these men reading.

Stranger still, one of the men was reading The Da Vinci Code. I guess no one told him that it was an anti-Catholic book. Or maybe he's bought into that nice, gentle lie that it's just a good story and Catholics are being over-sensitive.

He thought for a moment and said: "I shall try to look like a small black cloud. That will deceive them."
"Then you had better have the blue balloon," you said; and so it was decided.
Well, you both went out with the blue balloon, and you took your gun with you, just in case, as you always did,
and Winnie-the-Pooh went to a very muddy place that he knew of, and rolled and rolled until he was black all
over;



I'm beginning to feel like Winnie-the-Pooh's little black rain cloud. After almost 2 weeks of rain before right before I left for my sister's wedding, it's raining again. My yard is beginning to look like a prairie field with all the rain and no time to mow!

Did I mention that it rained when I was in Oregon, too? I'll bet it's nice and sunny now that I've left.

Well, actually, it's one spur, hanging from my rear view mirror. I've inherited the spur from my sister who was married last weekend. She's married now, so she couldn't keep it.

I don't remember who started it, but once upon a time, there was a single woman with a spur and Gene Autry:

I've got spurs that jingle, jangle, jingle
As I go ridin' merrily along
And they sing, Oh, ain't you glad you're single
And that song ain't so very far from wrong

When that woman got married, she passed the spur on to a friend. And, that friend in turn passed on the spur, and so on until it was passed to my sister. And, now I have it. The badge of single womanhood. I hope one day to pass it on in turn.

But, until then I plan to enjoy it!

Have you ever been waiting and planning for something, only to realize with shock that it's just around the corner and you're no where near ready? I got back from my sister's wedding and turned my sights on the next project - six weeks in Virigina beginning my Master's in Theology. And, then I realized that I leave in only 2 weeks. Yikes! I have so much to do to get my house in order and all my outstanding projects completed, not to mention getting packed and buying my books, before I leave.

I'm going to the summer school at The Notre Dame Graduate School of Christendom College. I've been wanting to return to school for some time, but I wasn't happy about the idea of working full time and taking a class or two at night. I did that once already and it was difficult. So, when I found this program, that allows me to separate school and work, I was excited. Of course, I owe special thanks to my work as well for letting me take the time off to pursue something I love.

Of course, I'm a great procrastinator, so I'll probably be trying to fit everything into next week!

Please pray for the 2 men being ordained to the priesthood in the Worcester Diocese Saturday morning.

Bishop McManus is to ordain Deacon Walter James Riley, of Worcester, and Deacon Anthony Mpagi, of Uganda, at a 10 a.m. Mass June 3 at St. Paul Cathedral.
The date has special meaning for Deacon Mpagi, the diocese’s first priestly vocation from Africa. June 3 is a public holiday in Uganda because it is the Feast of the Ugandan Martyrs, St. Charles Lwanga and Companions, he said.

A Prayer for Priests

Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit!
Increase the number of our priests! Make them strong in faith,
always alert to your people's needs, ever profoundly spiritual,
understanding and charitable.
Grant to priests zeal in their vocation, success in their labors.
May they do all things for love of You and love of neighbor. Amen.
Pray for priests, O Holy Mother of God, that they may be made worthy
of the promises of Christ. Amen.

Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Thursday on their marriage!! I didn't get to see the Bride as she came down the aisle, but I've been told that she couldn't wait to meet her groom. I'm sure it's true.

It was really amazing watching my sister get married. She was so obviously certain that she was doing the right thing. And, having had the chance to see her with Thursday, I have to say that I agree with her. I haven't been able to see either my sister or Thursday very much since they both live in the middle of the country, but I'm looking forward to getting to know my new brother.

As a Dorothy Sayers fan, I just love the title of this year's summer conferences at Franciscan University. The first conference, for young adults, starts tomorrow.