Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Another Prayer Request
I received word yesterday that my ex-boyfriend's 17 year old nephew collapsed and stopped breathing after a high school track meet. He was revived, but is still unconscious and is in critical condition. Please pray for his recovery and for his family.
Update: I received word this morning that he was pronounced dead at the hospital yesterday. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.
Update: I received word this morning that he was pronounced dead at the hospital yesterday. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.
Labels: prayer request
Thursday, April 17, 2008
What about the music?!
The blogs are humming with commentary on the Papal Mass in Washington, D.C., especially about the music. Check out Fr. Z for a round-up of all the opining.
My seat was in Section 317, Row A - which meant that I was sitting in the front row of a section 2 levels above the field boxes and slightly to the right of home plate. In fact, we were just enough right of home plate to be directly over the steps leading into the dugout through which the Pope entered and exited the stadium. I tried to get some pictures as he exited the stadium and was facing me, but I only had my cell camera, so I'm not sure how the pictures turned out. When I figure out how to get them off the phone and onto my computer, I'll post some.
My position in the ballpark meant that I was facing the altar almost head-on, and that I was on the opposite side of the stadium from the choir.
I found the Mass itself beautiful and prayerful. Though I noted the heavy predominance of African and Latin influences, they didn't bother me enough to take my attention away from the Mass itself. The altar was simple and the actions of the Mass according to the prescribed rite. The Holy Father's homily was wonderful - pedagogical, hopeful, encouraging. I loved his repetitive use of the word "apostolic" as well his exhortation to return to the sacrament of Penance. Being a catechist, I especially appreciated his reminder to catechists that their work is important in forming young people. But, he said, it is not only the work of the catechists, but their own formation itself which is important. Speaking to bishops, priests, religious, teachers and catechists he said:
The fidelity and courage with which the Church in this country will respond to the challenges raised by an increasingly secular and materialistic culture will depend in large part upon your own fidelity in handing on the treasure of our Catholic faith. Young people need to be helped to discern the path that leads to true freedom: the path of a sincere and generous imitation of Christ, the path of commitment to justice and peace. Much progress has been made in developing solid programs of catechesis, yet so much more remains to be done in forming the hearts and minds of the young in knowledge and love of the Lord. The challenges confronting us require a comprehensive and sound instruction in the truths of the faith. But they also call for cultivating a mindset, an intellectual "culture", which is genuinely Catholic, confident in the profound harmony of faith and reason, and prepared to bring the richness of faith’s vision to bear on the urgent issues which affect the future of American society.
I noted a few things while at the stadium: The thing that bothered me the most was the over done multi-culturalism. I know that America is a melting pot, but at times I feel like we give preference to every other culture except our own. And, I don't know why, in a Mass that is celebrated in English, there has to be one reading in Spanish. It's frustrating to go to an event in my own country and not be able to understand what's being said. I also noticed that all the lectors were women (again with the African/Latin theme) which I thought interesting. I have to admit that the one musical piece that did really jar me was the responsorial psalm. Whoever thought that was a good idea was crazy! Of all the modern, discordant nonsense. I really didn't pay a lot of attention to the other music, and contrary to most, I didn't find it overwhelming or distracting. It does seem, from what I've heard, that the music sounded louder and more overwhelming on television than it did for me in the stadium. The selection itself was interesting. I just wonder why it is necessary to always have a more modern setting for tradition pieces? Why isn't the tradtional setting good enough? At any rate, Placido Domingo sang the Panis Angelicus beautifully. I just wish that people had not started clapping for him at the beginning. As for one person's complaint of liturgical abuse because the choir sang the doxology with the Pope, it wasn't the choir singing, but all the bishops and priests in union with the Pope.
So, do I think that the music could have been better? Of course. Do I think that the entire Mass was a travesty? Not at all.
My seat was in Section 317, Row A - which meant that I was sitting in the front row of a section 2 levels above the field boxes and slightly to the right of home plate. In fact, we were just enough right of home plate to be directly over the steps leading into the dugout through which the Pope entered and exited the stadium. I tried to get some pictures as he exited the stadium and was facing me, but I only had my cell camera, so I'm not sure how the pictures turned out. When I figure out how to get them off the phone and onto my computer, I'll post some.
My position in the ballpark meant that I was facing the altar almost head-on, and that I was on the opposite side of the stadium from the choir.
I found the Mass itself beautiful and prayerful. Though I noted the heavy predominance of African and Latin influences, they didn't bother me enough to take my attention away from the Mass itself. The altar was simple and the actions of the Mass according to the prescribed rite. The Holy Father's homily was wonderful - pedagogical, hopeful, encouraging. I loved his repetitive use of the word "apostolic" as well his exhortation to return to the sacrament of Penance. Being a catechist, I especially appreciated his reminder to catechists that their work is important in forming young people. But, he said, it is not only the work of the catechists, but their own formation itself which is important. Speaking to bishops, priests, religious, teachers and catechists he said:
The fidelity and courage with which the Church in this country will respond to the challenges raised by an increasingly secular and materialistic culture will depend in large part upon your own fidelity in handing on the treasure of our Catholic faith. Young people need to be helped to discern the path that leads to true freedom: the path of a sincere and generous imitation of Christ, the path of commitment to justice and peace. Much progress has been made in developing solid programs of catechesis, yet so much more remains to be done in forming the hearts and minds of the young in knowledge and love of the Lord. The challenges confronting us require a comprehensive and sound instruction in the truths of the faith. But they also call for cultivating a mindset, an intellectual "culture", which is genuinely Catholic, confident in the profound harmony of faith and reason, and prepared to bring the richness of faith’s vision to bear on the urgent issues which affect the future of American society.
I noted a few things while at the stadium: The thing that bothered me the most was the over done multi-culturalism. I know that America is a melting pot, but at times I feel like we give preference to every other culture except our own. And, I don't know why, in a Mass that is celebrated in English, there has to be one reading in Spanish. It's frustrating to go to an event in my own country and not be able to understand what's being said. I also noticed that all the lectors were women (again with the African/Latin theme) which I thought interesting. I have to admit that the one musical piece that did really jar me was the responsorial psalm. Whoever thought that was a good idea was crazy! Of all the modern, discordant nonsense. I really didn't pay a lot of attention to the other music, and contrary to most, I didn't find it overwhelming or distracting. It does seem, from what I've heard, that the music sounded louder and more overwhelming on television than it did for me in the stadium. The selection itself was interesting. I just wonder why it is necessary to always have a more modern setting for tradition pieces? Why isn't the tradtional setting good enough? At any rate, Placido Domingo sang the Panis Angelicus beautifully. I just wish that people had not started clapping for him at the beginning. As for one person's complaint of liturgical abuse because the choir sang the doxology with the Pope, it wasn't the choir singing, but all the bishops and priests in union with the Pope.
So, do I think that the music could have been better? Of course. Do I think that the entire Mass was a travesty? Not at all.
Labels: Pope Benedict
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Welcome Pope Benedict XVI and Happy Birthday!
Pope Benedict XVI touched down at Andrews Air Force Base yesterday afternoon. Here in Virginia everyone is excited - even the country radio station this morning played I Saw God Today by George Strait in honor of the Pope's birthday because "seeing the Pope is the closest we will come to seeing God." Pretty amazing! Here, our Religious Education classes all said prayers for a spiritual bouquet for Pope Benedict's visit and his birthday. They wrote their prayer pledges on flower cut-outs and yesterday I spent the day arranging those paper flowers into a bouquet on our bulletin board. We also documented all the prayer pledges and put them into a letter to Pope Benedict. It was pretty cool seeing "His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, Apostolic Palace, 00120 Vatican City" on the envelope! Tomorrow, I go to to see the Pope in person at the Mass at Nationals Stadium!!
American Papist as always has great coverage of the Pope and if you have time for some reading check out Benedict in America.
Labels: Pope Benedict
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Prayer Request
We had some very sad news this morning about the high school aged son of one of our catechists who "died unexpectedly" yesterday. I don't have any other details at the moment. Please pray for the repose of his soul and for his family in this difficult time.
Labels: prayer request
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
As promised, here are my notes introducing last month's movie, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington:
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington was directed by famed director, Frank Capra, director of It’s a Wonderful Life, It Happened One Night, and Meet John Doe. It stars Jimmy Stewart as an idealistic, naive young man who is appointed to a senate seat only to find that the politics of his state are run by a political machine which is sponsoring a bill for graft. (Note: no political party is ever identified in the movie)
Stewart’s character represents the powerful forces of American freedom, democracy and morality over oppression and evil. It is the movie that made Jimmy Stewart a major movie star. The film also stars Jean Arthur, the queen of screwball comedy, and a superb supporting cast including the incomparable Claude Rains as Senator Taylor. Look also for Beulah Bondi as Ma Smith, perhaps most recognizable as Ma Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life and Thomas Mitchell as the newspaper man Diz Moore, also in It’s a Wonderful Life as Uncle Billy.
The film was shot entirely on a sound stage at Columbia, where Capra had an exact replica of the senate chambers constructed. The exception (to the sound stage) was Stewart’s sightseeing tour. The scenes where James Stewart wanders around in amazement at the Washington monuments were "stolen", since the US Parks Service had denied the studio permission to film near them. Not only is the representation of the senate chambers accurate, the film also accurately portrays senate rules and procedures – I don’t remember how old I was when I first saw the film, but I remember being shocked when hearing of a senate filibuster and realizing that it was being staged by a group of senators and not just one!
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is ranked #26 on the American Film Institute’s list of the 100 Greatest Movies. It is ranked #5 on AFI’s list of the 100 Most Inspiring Movies of All Time. That same list is headed by another Frank Capra and Jimmy Stewart film – It’s a Wonderful Life. Jimmy Stewart’s character, Jefferson Smith, was voted #11 on the AFI list of 50 greatest film heroes.
At the time the movie was released it caused an uproar in Washington. The Washington Press Club sponsored a premiere showing for more than 4000 viewers – including congressmen, senators and supreme court justices. About 2/3 of the way through people began walking out, including the senator from Montana. Some shouted “Outrage” and “Insult” The Washington Press denounced Capra for daring to show graft in the Senate. According to Capra, he received a cablegram from Joseph P. Kennedy, then the U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain, saying that the film would damage "America's prestige in Europe" and should therefore be withdrawn from European distribution. Ironically, while American politicians were upset over the film’s portrayal of political corruption, the film was banned in fascist states for fear that it showed democracy working! And, In 1942, when a ban on American films was imposed in German-occupied France, the title theaters chose Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) for their last movie before the ban went into effect. One Paris theater reportedly screened the film nonstop for thirty days prior to the ban.
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington received 11 Academy Award nominations, but up against stiff competition in 1939 from Gone with the Wind, Stagecoach, Goodbye, Mr. Chips, Wuthering Heights and The Wizard of Oz, it won only one Oscar – for Best Original Screenplay. The 1939 Best Actor Oscar went to Robert Donat for Goodbye Mr. Chips. The following year Jimmy Stewart would win the Best Actor Oscar for his role in The Philadelphia Story, which was largely considered a consolation prize for losing on his more impressive performance in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington was directed by famed director, Frank Capra, director of It’s a Wonderful Life, It Happened One Night, and Meet John Doe. It stars Jimmy Stewart as an idealistic, naive young man who is appointed to a senate seat only to find that the politics of his state are run by a political machine which is sponsoring a bill for graft. (Note: no political party is ever identified in the movie)
Stewart’s character represents the powerful forces of American freedom, democracy and morality over oppression and evil. It is the movie that made Jimmy Stewart a major movie star. The film also stars Jean Arthur, the queen of screwball comedy, and a superb supporting cast including the incomparable Claude Rains as Senator Taylor. Look also for Beulah Bondi as Ma Smith, perhaps most recognizable as Ma Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life and Thomas Mitchell as the newspaper man Diz Moore, also in It’s a Wonderful Life as Uncle Billy.
The film was shot entirely on a sound stage at Columbia, where Capra had an exact replica of the senate chambers constructed. The exception (to the sound stage) was Stewart’s sightseeing tour. The scenes where James Stewart wanders around in amazement at the Washington monuments were "stolen", since the US Parks Service had denied the studio permission to film near them. Not only is the representation of the senate chambers accurate, the film also accurately portrays senate rules and procedures – I don’t remember how old I was when I first saw the film, but I remember being shocked when hearing of a senate filibuster and realizing that it was being staged by a group of senators and not just one!
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is ranked #26 on the American Film Institute’s list of the 100 Greatest Movies. It is ranked #5 on AFI’s list of the 100 Most Inspiring Movies of All Time. That same list is headed by another Frank Capra and Jimmy Stewart film – It’s a Wonderful Life. Jimmy Stewart’s character, Jefferson Smith, was voted #11 on the AFI list of 50 greatest film heroes.
At the time the movie was released it caused an uproar in Washington. The Washington Press Club sponsored a premiere showing for more than 4000 viewers – including congressmen, senators and supreme court justices. About 2/3 of the way through people began walking out, including the senator from Montana. Some shouted “Outrage” and “Insult” The Washington Press denounced Capra for daring to show graft in the Senate. According to Capra, he received a cablegram from Joseph P. Kennedy, then the U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain, saying that the film would damage "America's prestige in Europe" and should therefore be withdrawn from European distribution. Ironically, while American politicians were upset over the film’s portrayal of political corruption, the film was banned in fascist states for fear that it showed democracy working! And, In 1942, when a ban on American films was imposed in German-occupied France, the title theaters chose Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) for their last movie before the ban went into effect. One Paris theater reportedly screened the film nonstop for thirty days prior to the ban.
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington received 11 Academy Award nominations, but up against stiff competition in 1939 from Gone with the Wind, Stagecoach, Goodbye, Mr. Chips, Wuthering Heights and The Wizard of Oz, it won only one Oscar – for Best Original Screenplay. The 1939 Best Actor Oscar went to Robert Donat for Goodbye Mr. Chips. The following year Jimmy Stewart would win the Best Actor Oscar for his role in The Philadelphia Story, which was largely considered a consolation prize for losing on his more impressive performance in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.
Labels: movies
April Fools' Day
I'm afraid that I don't have my own April Fool's Day joke to share with you, so I point you to The Top 100 April's Fool Day Hoaxes. Eating and drinking while reading hoaxes not recommended.
#1: The Swiss Spaghetti Harvest
In 1957 the respected BBC news show Panorama announced that thanks to a very mild winter and the virtual elimination of the dreaded spaghetti weevil, Swiss farmers were enjoying a bumper spaghetti crop. It accompanied this announcement with footage of Swiss peasants pulling strands of spaghetti down from trees. Huge numbers of viewers were taken in. Many called the BBC wanting to know how they could grow their own spaghetti tree. To this the BBC diplomatically replied that they should "place a sprig of spaghetti in a tin of tomato sauce and hope for the best."
Some of my other favorites include the Taco Bell Liberty Bell and the Australian Iceberg. Enjoy!
Labels: fun
