All Else Confusion

At my graduate school, the new social director (that's me) has started a monthly classic movie series. It all started with a Theology on Tap talk by Fr. James Searby entitled, Lights, Camera, Faith! A Catholic at the Movies. Fr. Searby talked about the importance of viewing good films and of developing our understanding of films by becoming involved, by relating to the story in they way that we do when we attend a theater performance. That is, we need to put something of ourselves into our viewing - not just passively absorb the images on the screen. Fr. Searby also asked who in the audience had seen some great old movies like Citizen Kane or The African Queen, which started some friends asking questions about those movies - questions that I was more than happy to answer! So, we came up with the monthly classic movie night. Each month I pick a classic movie to show connected to the previous month's movie by a supporting character. Before showing the movie I try to give some background into the making of the movie, the historical situation in which is was made, and the effect that the movie had when it was released on the culture.
Last month we watched Mr. Smith Goes to Washington starring Jimmy Stewart and Jean Arthur. This month, following supporting actor Claude Rains, we're going to be watching Casablanca. Next month, following Peter Lorre from Casablanca, we're moving to zany comedy with Arsenic and Old Lace. I thought that I would share my research into the background, themes and effect of each movie. Hopefully, the next time you watch that movie, you'll be able to relate more and have a deeper appreciation for the movie.

Labels: movies

I guess that every state has its own version of bad drivers. Here in Virginia drivers make a habit of driving in the left lane very slowly and refusing to move over even when the lane next to them is empty and there is a car behind them. They seem to think that as long as they're doing a few miles over the speed limit they have every right to that left lane. In fact this habit is so entrenched that drivers frequently move all the way into the left lane even when there is no slower traffic ahead of them in other lanes. Tonight I even saw a car move over into the left lane seemingly on a whim - I simply couldn't understand why, when he had been driving along so well in his lane, he suddenly needed to move over. There certainly wasn't a car in front of him. Maybe it was to let the car behind him pass. Though why he didn't move over into the empty right lane I have no clue. The result of all this is that drivers here have developed the very bad habit of passing on the right. There is nothing like attempting to move over after passing a car only to find that the space you wanted to move into suddenly occupied by someone coming around on the right!

Labels: Virginia observations

Is it outrageous to expect that they dress nicely for important events and that they spend a day, every once in a while, quietly? One of the rules for our Confirmation retreat is a dress code which stipulates no jeans, sweat pants, or shorts. One of the parents suggested that maybe we were being a bit unreasonable to expect that 8th graders would actually show up not wearing jeans. I realize that most teenagers hardly ever wear anything but jeans, but is it really that unreasonable to ask them to wear something just a little nicer for one day? Or how about spending a day quietly? Are 13 year olds really so incapable of spending several hours without running around, playing games, etc.? I am tired of the argument that no one will live up to the standards we set and so we should not set them at all. It's time to start demanding more from people and stop expecting less - even if it is only to ask that jeans not be worn on a retreat.

Labels: DRE

Baseball is grass, chalk, and dirt displayed the same yet differently
In every park that has ever heard the words play ball.
Baseball is a passion that bonds and divides all those who know it.
Baseball is a pair of hands stained with newsprint,
A set of eyes squinting to read a boxscore,
A brow creased in an attempt to recreate a three-hour game
From an inch square block of type.
Baseball is the hat I wear to mow the lawn.
Baseball is a simple game of catch
and the never-ending search for the perfect knuckleball.
Baseball is Willie vs Mickey, Gibson vs Koufax, and Buddy Biancalana vs the odds.
Baseball links Kansan and Missourian, American and Japanese,
But most of all father and son.
Baseball is the scent of spring,
The unmistakable sound of a double down the line,
And the face of a 10-year-old emerging from a pile of bodies
With a worthless yet priceless foul ball.
Baseball is a language of very simple words that tell unbelievably magic tales.
Baseball is three brothers in the same uniform on the same team for one brief summer
Captured forever in a black and white photo on a table by the couch.
Baseball is a glove on a shelf, oiled and tightly wrapped,
Slumbering through the stark winter months.
Baseball is a breast pocket bulging with a transistor radio.
Baseball is the reason there are transistor radios.
Baseball is a voice in a box describing men you've never met,
In a place you've never been,
Doing things you'll never have the chance to do.
Baseball is a dream that you never really give up on.
Baseball is precious.
Baseball is timeless.
Baseball is forever.

Baseball Is by Greg Hall ©

Labels: baseball

He is truly risen! Alleluia!!

Labels: Feast Day

O Deus Ego Amo Te
O God, I love thee, I love thee -
Not out of hope of heaven for me
Nor fearing not to love and be
In the everlasting burning.
Thou, thou, my Jesus, after me
Didst reach thine arms out dying,
For my sake sufferedst nails and lance,
Mocked and marred countenance,
Sorrows passing number,
Sweat and care and cumber,
Yea and death, and this for me,
And thou couldst see me sinning:
Then I, why should not I love thee,
Jesu, so much in love with me?
Not for heaven's sake; not to be
Out of hell by loving thee;
But just the way that thou didst me
I do love and I will love thee;
What must I love thee, Lord, for then?
For being my king and God. Amen

Gerard Manley Hopkins

Labels: Feast Day

Lord, we thank you for your gifts of the Eucharist and the priesthood. We pray that you bless our priests, who represent you on this earth. Make them more profoundly aware of the grace that you pour out through them when they minister the sacraments, and help them to fall more deeply in love with you after each and every Mass that they celebrate. Amen

Labels: Feast Day

Yum!!!

Labels: food

My brother and sister-in-law welcomed a little boy to their family this morning. He joins his two older sisters. I hope to go visit my two nieces and new nephew this evening!

Labels: family

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Br. Paschal, OSB, from the Abbey of St. Benedict, who died yesterday morning. I first met Br. Paschal almost 20 years ago when I was a student at Trivium School and we would go there every Wednesday for Mass. Even then, Br. Paschal was a hunchback and one of the most cheerful persons I have ever met. As he aged, Br. Paschal became confined to a wheelchair, but that did not affect his cheerfulness. I was always amazed that he could remember my name and the names of my brothers and sisters!

Labels: prayer request

Welcome Sophia! My friends', Dom's and Melanie's, new little one has arrived!

Also, please say a quick prayer for my sister-in-law who is due on Sunday. Can't wait for the arrival of my new niece or nephew!

Labels: Babies