All Else Confusion

Never Forget

2009-06-06T13:57:00.002-04:00

Susan G. Komen Foundation

2009-06-05T15:59:00.002-04:00

The Susan G. Komen Foundation's Race for the Cure is this weekend in Washington, D.C. As a prelude to the Race, Fox News did a segment this afternoon with the founder of Susan G. Komen, Nancy Brinker. Nancy's sister was Susan G. Komen, who died of breast cancer in 1980. Nancy promised her sister before she died that she would spend her life in eradicating the scourge of breast cancer. It's a very touching story. The problem is that Susan G. Komen also supports abortion. Susan G. Komen affiliates have given grants worth several hundred thousand dollars per year to Planned Parenthood clinics. Also, Susan G. Komen refuses to recognize that there may be a link between abortion and breast cancer, listing abortion as one of the things that do not cause breast cancer. Encouraging people to donate to help research to cure breast cancer is one thing - but people deserve to know that their money may be going to support abortion as well.

I've never done so before, but I wrote the following letter to Martha McCallum, the Fox News host who conducted the interview with Nancy Brinker:

Dear Martha,

I watched your segment with Susan G. Komen founder Nancy Brinker with interest. As a woman with great interest in women's issues (I'm currently working toward a Master's degree in Systematic Theological Studies with an emphasis on understanding the Catholic Church's teachings on the feminine) I would love to support this initiative. However, a perusal of various organizations which are supported by Susan G. Komen brings up a very disturbing connection between the organization and Planned Parenthood clinics. Many clinics have receives thousands of dollars in grants from Susan G. Komen. Furthermore, Susan G. Komen refuses to acknowledge at least the possibility that abortion is a contributor to breast cancer. Several studies, including the 2004 study of a leading cancer epidemiologist, Janet Daling, who is pro-choice, show a link between abortion and breast cancer. I am aware that there are studies which also show no link between breast cancer and abortion, but the existence of the studies which do show such a link indicate to me that there should be more research in this area, not less, and more acknowledgments of at least the possibility that abortion could be a factor in breast cancer. This St. Louis Archdiocesan Letter lays out the objections to Susan G. Komen which I have discussed above.

I bring these facts to your attention because I believe that people who may be inclined to donate to Susan G. Komen deserve to know that their money may actually be going to Planned Parenthood clinics. I pray that Susan G. Komen will sever connections with Planned Parenthood and focus strictly on research for curing cancer. If they do so, I will be happy to put my money behind their efforts.

Now Playing

2009-06-05T15:56:00.003-04:00

Being a huge classic movie fan, I've been wanting to order TCM's monthly movie guide for years, mostly because of the Classic Movie Crossword in each issue. Today, my first issue arrived. I can't wait to test my movie knowledge! Somebody find me a pencil!

Catie's Wish

2009-04-23T22:28:00.003-04:00

Catie O'Brien died on January 25th of this year, but she left behind two precious gifts. Her dying wish was for friends and family to raise enough money to cover all of the operating costs for St. Jude Hospital for one day each year in her name, preferably on her birthday, April 23rd. That amounts to a $1.4 million donation. Though her family only had a few months to raise the money this year, they had $1.96 million to present to the hospital today, Catie's birthday.

But, Catie wished to take care of the spiritual needs of her friends at St. Jude's as well as their physical ones. Unable to find a patron saint of pediatric cancer, Catie told her parents that she wanted to someday be that saint.

I pray that Catie gets both her wishes.

To donate:

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
In Memory of Catie O'Brien, Code #21824409
501 St. Jude Place
Memphis, TN 38105

The Arlington Catholic Herald has a beautiful story about Catie.

Bishop Conlon of Steubenville issues an invitation to Friday Abstinence

2009-04-23T20:15:00.003-04:00

Though it may seem a trivial thing, the loss of Friday Abstinence in the American Church has had profound effects. As Amy Welborn once observed in a letter to First Things about the post-Vatican II era: "The transformation, in less than a decade, is staggering. The most concrete symbol of this feeling is something seemingly minor but actually not: the abandonment of the Friday abstinence. Something that Catholics had been taught was deeply expressive of both individual and corporate Catholic identity was simply dropped." Losing this symbol of Catholic identity meant that other markers of Catholic identity were viewed as variable as well. In Chapter 3 of her 1970 book, Natural Symbols, anthropologist Mary Douglas explored the phenomenon of the Bog Irish in London and linked their loss of identity and assimilation into London's secular culture to the abolishing of the Friday abstinence observing that though abolishing the obligation was done with the well-meant expectation that Catholics would thereby be freed to continue their penances with greater choice, the opposite happened. Douglas wrote, "To take away one symbol that meant something is no guarantee that the spirit of charity will flow in its place." In fact its loss played a role in severing individual Catholics from identification with the group.

All this is by way of introduction to the letter by Bishop Conlon of Steubenville to his flock inviting them to return to Friday abstinence. He states:

... The resumption of year-round abstinence in the Diocese of Steubenville will begin after this coming Easter, one week after Good Friday (April 17). Although the practice will not be a requirement of law, and failing to keep it will not constitute a sin, I hope every one who is old enough to receive Holy Communion and well enough to come to church will take it seriously. Our parishes, schools and organizations should provide meatless food at their Friday activities.

Though Bishop Conlon still leaves Friday abstinence in the realm of the optional, I hope that his invitation to return to this ancient tradition will be a start of reminding Catholics what was lost when we moved from corporate penance to individual choice. As Eamon Duffy writes in this wonderful essay from First Things, "There are no quick fixes: tradition cannot be rebuilt to a neat program and by orders from Rome. Our shared past can only be excavated by shared endeavor, by a painful and constant process of reeducation and rediscovery; in that process, we start from where we are, not where we wish we had stayed." Bishop Conlon has made a wonderful start toward "reeducation and rediscovery."

h/t to Thomas Peters at American Papist

R.I.P. Dr. Thomas Dillon

2009-04-15T21:33:00.003-04:00

I just found out that Dr. Thomas Dillon, the President of Thomas Aquinas College in California and whose children went to high school with me, was killed today in a car accident in Ireland. The following is posted on TAC's website:

On Wednesday, April 15, 2009, Dr. Thomas E. Dillon, the president of Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula, California, was killed in an automobile accident in Ireland, where he was traveling with his wife, Terri, on behalf of the college. Mrs. Dillon was only slightly injured and is hospitalized for the time being. Family members and a representative of the College are en route to Ireland to bring Mrs. Dillon back to California and to accompany Dr. Dillon’s body.

A rosary was said and Mass offered for the repose of Dr. Dillon’s soul at 3:00 p.m. today in Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel. Information concerning funeral arrangements will be posted at a later time.

Please pray for the happy repose of Dr. Dillon’s soul, and for the consolation of his family.

ND Student Response

2009-03-25T21:27:00.003-04:00

Notre Dame's decision to host President Barack Obama, who in the short time he has been in office has already enacted several Presidential orders which attack the dignity of life, including rescinding the Mexico City Policy, lifting the restriction of federal dollars being spent for embryonic stem cell research, and removing conscience protections, has far reaching and serious consequences. As America's most notable Catholic University, her example has the ability, like few others, to make a clear statement to the larger American culture of Catholicism's defense of the dignity of life. Instead Notre Dame has chosen to give a platform to the most pro-choice man to ever occupy the office of President of the United States. Though Fr. Jenkins, president of Notre Dame has tried to separate honoring Barack Obama the pro-choice politician from honoring Barack Obama the leader who has inspired "hope" in so many, the truth is that a person is a whole and cannot be so sub-divided. The minds of many across America, Catholic and non-Catholic, will not remember Fr. Jenkins' careful parsing. Instead, they will only remember the picture of the staunchly pro-choice Barack Obama standing at the podium of the most famously Catholic university in America. If a picture says a thousand words, those are words that can never be revoked.

Notre Dame student groups have issued a press release in response to the news released last Friday that President Barack Obama will be the commencement speaker and receive an honorary law degree at the graduation ceremonies in May. The following groups are co-signers of this statement:

Notre Dame Right to Life
The Irish Rover Student Newspaper
Notre Dame College Republicans
The University of Notre Dame Anscombe Society
Notre Dame Identity Project
Militia of the Immaculata
Children of Mary
Orestes Brownson Council
Notre Dame Law School Right to Life
Notre Dame Law St Thomas More Society
The Federalist Society at Notre Dame Law School

Also, here is the statement released by Bishop John D'Arcy, the bishop of Fort Wayne, Indiana, the diocese in which Notre Dame is located. Bishop D'Arcy has decided that he cannot attend the Notre Dame graduation ceremonies.

And, the Cardinal Newman Society petition continues gathering signatures. As of this moment it has collected almost 150,000 signatures.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T13:26:00.002-05:00

George Washington's 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to "recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the 3d day of October, A.D. 1789.

Catholic Cuisine

2008-11-17T14:27:00.002-05:00

If you're looking for the perfect recipe to celebrate any feast day, look no further than this blog, Catholic Cuisine.

Which Austen Heroine Are You?

2008-11-17T14:23:00.001-05:00

Take the Quiz here!

Sarah Palin

2008-11-08T15:53:00.002-05:00

I'm a fan of Sarah Palin. Unapologetically. Unlike some I did not just watch the Katie Couric interview and judge Sarah Palin. I actually took a look at her record, watched interviews with those who work with her in Alaska, heard what some of her former opponents had to say about her, and read previous interviews. I listened to the interviews that she gave to talk radio and on Fox. Having spent the time, I can say one thing with surety: Sarah Palin is no dummy. As Fred Barnes notes, people who actually take the time to talk with her, whether they like her or not, all agree that she's intelligent. All the talk about her lack of basic knowledge is ridiculous and people who believe it are frankly dumber than the media and whoever the leak is from the McCain campaign are trying to portray her. As for Palin's supposed lack of knowledge about Africa and other foreign policy matters, she's being supported by Steve Biegun, the former Bush NSC aid who briefed her on foreign policy. His take?

In general, according to Beigun, Palin had a steep learning curve on foreign issues, about what you would expect from a governor. But she has "great instincts and great core values," and is "an instinctive internationalist."

I'm not saying that you can't have policy differences or questions about whether or not she was ready for a national role. But please, can we quit participating in the media's effort to paint the woman as stupid?

Conservative Women's Network

2008-11-08T10:02:00.003-05:00

Recently, through a National Review article, I discovered the Clare Booth Luce Policy Institute for advancing the ideas of conservative women. The Institute, along with the Heritage Foundation, holds a monthly luncheon called the Conservative Women's Network. This month's CWN was yesterday and featured Kate Obenshain & Diana Furchtgott-Roth discussing the 2008 election. There was quite a lively discussion focusing on where conservatives, and especially conservative women go from here. As you can imagine, Sarah Palin and her impact on the 2008 presidential race as well as her impact on feminism was discussed. Several people told me that it was one of the best attended luncheons - standing room only. The CWN discussions are often carried on C-SPAN, so even if you're not in the DC area, you can still participate. The next CWN luncheon will be on December 12.

Fall weather

2008-11-07T10:00:00.000-05:00

Like any place, there are things to love and hate about Virginia - one thing to love? November 7 and I am wearing short sleeves and no jacket!

Long time, no post

2008-10-30T23:12:00.003-04:00

I've finally caught up with all my school work, so now I have time again to post! I'm heading out to my brother's to help with my nieces for Halloween this weekend. My sister-in-law is trying to convince both my nieces to dress as saints, so I'm bringing out some the pieces of the costumes we used in the saints skits for Vacation Bible School this summer. I have a blue veil with little golden stars on it that we used for an Our Lady of Guadalupe costume that I'm hoping my oldest niece will like for her costume. I can't wait to see the girls dressed up!

A beauty contest for nuns?

2008-08-27T19:22:00.002-04:00

Interesting article. An Italian priest is setting up a beauty contest for nuns to emphasize the fact that nuns are beautiful, happy women who possess a special "discreet charm." I'm not sure what I think - having a beauty contest for nuns sounds a little strange - but letting people know that young, happy, beautiful women are being attracted to the religious life is a great thing.

Chaput's the Man!

2008-08-27T18:09:00.002-04:00

Archbishop Chaput sets Nancy Pelosi straight in no uncertain terms on Church teaching and Church history about abortion. Here's is my favorite part:

Since Speaker Pelosi has, in her own words, studied the issue "for a long time," she must know very well one of the premier works on the subject, Jesuit John Connery's Abortion: The Development of the Roman Catholic Perspective (Loyola, 1977).

Welcome to the ring with the big boys Speaker Pelosi!

License Plates

2008-07-22T21:30:00.002-04:00

Today was a banner day for license plate spotting. We lost power for a while, so I went out to do some shopping for our VBS program (more about that later). After I parked I noticed that I was parked next to a car with Hawaii plates. I don't think that I've ever seen Hawaii plates before. On the way back I also saw Alabama, Oklahoma and Texas. Northern Virginia is great if you like counting license plates like I do!

Champions!

2008-06-18T00:18:00.002-04:00

I hate interleague play

2008-06-16T20:10:00.002-04:00

The novelty has worn off - though I never really liked it to begin with. What's the fun in watching Bartolo Colon swing and miss three times after Lugo just hit a double to put runners on second and third? I love how all the fans cheer louder and louder at every strike - as if they were actually fearing that he might get a hit. Every year this time, I can't wait to get back to "normal" baseball.

Montessori Catechesis

2008-06-16T18:09:00.002-04:00

My co-worker's wife was a Montessori teacher and so I've been learning a little about the Montessori method. Thus far I really like what I've discovered. So, as I've been trying to figure out how to make our Religious Education program better, I've been wondering if it would be possible incorporate aspects of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd into what we're already doing. Right now we're using the Faith and Life Series from Ignatius Press, which I like, but there are still several problems with it. The biggest problem is that the series is really designed for a 5 day a week religion class, not an hour a week CCD class. So, we've begun to the process of weeding out the books and trying to give the teachers specific guidelines as to which chapters we really want to cover. It's slow going - we're only focusing on grades 7 and 8 (the Confirmation years) at the moment. However, I also want to do something with kindergarten and first grade as I don't think that they benefit from the books. What is the point of giving text books to children who can't read? That's where the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd comes in.

I don't have any trained Montessori catechists, so I'm looking for ways to incorporate hands on, Montessori type activities with the typical Religious Education format - once a week, for an hour. In doing some research I found the Home Catechesis Manual by Moira Farrell which is designed for homeschooling moms who don't necessarily have a background in Montessori. I also found a nice blog called Wildflowers and Marbles that had some good suggestions and further resources to check out. Finally, I found some great books through a friend (though they're not Montessori) that teach children about the Mass and about making little acts of love for Jesus. So, I'm slowly trying to pull all these pieces together into something that my untrained catechists can teach comfortably, that the children will enjoy, and most importantly that will build devotion in the children. If you have any experience with the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd or building a CCD program for kindergarten and first grade, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Sister Agnes Marie of the Eternal High Priest

2008-06-03T11:27:00.003-04:00

Congratulations to Sister Agnes Marie of the Eternal High Priest of the Carmelite Sisters of Buffalo who made her Final Profession this past Saturday. I knew Sister Agnes Marie 8 years ago in Worcester, right after she had graduated from Christendom College. At the time she was Teresa Gallagher and was working for some other Christendom graduates in the area. I had just moved back to the area after living in Europe. Together, with a small group of friends, we started the first Young Adult group at St. Paul's Cathedral. I'm so happy to see her looking so radiant and joyful!

Throwing away flowers

2008-05-19T00:37:00.000-04:00

This year I got one of the best birthday presents - a beautiful arrangement of flowers delivered to my office. I love being sent flowers! It gives you a great feeling that someone thinks of you enough to send them. And while they last it's so exciting to come home to beautiful flowers - they just add so much to a room. I always find it sad to throw them away though, even when they really don't look too good anymore. So, I had a poignant moment tonight when I finally threw away my birthday flowers. That beautiful gift is all gone.

Prayer Request

2008-05-18T23:33:00.003-04:00

Please pray for the repose of the soul of my roommate's grandmother who died of cancer yesterday morning at the age of 93. Her funeral will be Thursday.

May the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace.

Parishes closing in Worcester

2008-05-18T20:30:00.003-04:00

Bishop McManus announced yesterday that 4 parishes will be closing in the city of Worcester and that their congregations will be joining other nearby parishes. This is just the first step in a reconfiguration which will next move to the surrounding towns in the diocese with a re-evaluation of the parishes in the city itself to occur in 5 years. Bishop McManus cited low Mass attendance (only 32% of the cities Catholics contribute to the weekly offerings) and lack of religious education and sacramental life for the main reasons for the closings. While many of us in the diocese have recognized for some time that this day would come, it is still a sad time now that it is finally here. Please pray for those whose parishes are affected and for continued wisdom and prudence by those making decisions on reconfiguration.

St. Francis Chapel

2008-05-08T22:17:00.002-04:00

The Oblates of the Blessed Virgin Mary are doing good things in Boston.

What was that?

2008-05-06T15:07:00.003-04:00

I was sitting at my desk this afternoon around 1:30 when all of a sudden there was a loud bang that shook the building. My first thought was that the roof had fallen in, or one of the maintenance workers had dropped something big up on the roof. A check of the facilities showed that thankfully everything was alright. Then we started to hear reports that Fort Belvoir was blasting nearby, only the blasting wasn't supposed to start until 4:15 today. Further, a call to the police revealed that they were swamped with calls wanting to know what happened from as far away as Vienna and Falls Church (10 miles away) and they didn't know what had happened either. Turns out it was a 1.8 magnitude earthquake!

Fr. Frank Pavone on You Tube

2008-05-01T10:12:00.002-04:00

Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life has posted two You Tube videos in which he demonstrates the two most common types of abortion - dismemberment and suction. I received a request from Priests for Life to post information about these videos:

I blog to you on behalf of Fr. Frank Pavone and Priests for Life. Fr. Pavone recently posted two videos on You Tube in which he describes and demonstrates the two most common abortion techniques, using the actual instruments of abortion and the words found in medical textbooks and court testimony.

You can view these videos:
Dismemberment abortion and Suction abortion.

These videos are part of a new project called, "Is This What You Mean?" It aims to educate the public about the nature of abortion and to challenge public officials and candidates who support the legality of abortion to admit what it is.

As Fr. Pavone has quoted in endless homilies and talks about public servants who are pro-choice, there is a difference between serving the public and killing the public. Abortion has lost its meaning and is just a word to some politicians. In fact, as long as it has been since Jan.22 1973, the public is still not aware of what an abortion is and what it looks like.

Another Prayer Request

2008-04-22T09:38:00.000-04:00

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.

What about the music?!

2008-04-17T21:44:00.001-04:00

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.

Welcome Pope Benedict XVI and Happy Birthday!

2008-04-16T19:34:00.004-04:00

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.

Prayer Request

2008-04-02T09:54:00.003-04:00

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.

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

2008-04-01T19:51:00.002-04:00

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.

April Fools' Day

2008-04-01T19:50:00.005-04:00

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!

Classic Movie Series

2008-03-27T23:13:00.004-04:00

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.

A rant about Virginia drivers

2008-03-27T22:45:00.003-04:00

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!

What can we expect of 13 year olds?

2008-03-27T21:35:00.004-04:00

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.

Opening Day

2008-03-25T11:26:00.002-04:00

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 ©

Christ is Risen!

2008-03-24T12:08:00.002-04:00

He is truly risen! Alleluia!!

Good Friday

2008-03-21T09:00:00.006-04:00

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

Holy Thursday

2008-03-20T11:15:00.003-04:00

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

How to use left over blueberries

2008-03-13T16:11:00.001-04:00

Yum!!!

It's a boy!

2008-03-06T10:14:00.001-05:00

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!

R.I.P. Brother Paschal

2008-03-06T10:00:00.000-05:00

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!

New Babies

2008-03-05T10:20:00.002-05:00

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!

Prayer Request

2008-02-10T20:35:00.000-05:00

Please pray for a senior girl at Franciscan University of Steubenville who died this afternoon. She was taken to the hospital by ambulance this morning around 10 and died in the hospital around 3. I don't have a lot of details, but I've been told that she was sick, but it didn't seem seriously so. She was around with friends last night. There is a question of pneumonia, but the hospital isn't exactly sure what killed her. They will be performing an autopsy soon to figure it out and also to determine if they need to test and/or treat the other students on campus.

Please pray also for her family. She is from Vermont and is one of four girls. She is also a twin.

Please pray as well for the other students at Steubenville, especially the girls of Marian Hall (including my sister) where she lived.

Lourdes 150th Anniversary

2008-02-09T14:39:00.000-05:00

Monday, February, 11 is the 150th Anniversary of Mary's first apparition at Lourdes to St. Bernadette. During this time, the Pope has granted a special indulgence. Here are the details:

Pilgrims who visit any public sanctuary, shrine or other worthy place dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes may receive the indulgence Feb. 2-11. Feb. 11 is the day the first of 18 apparitions occurred and is the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. Feb. 2 is the feast of the Presentation of the Lord.

Cardinal Stafford said that to obtain the special indulgence one must fulfill the normal requirements set by the church for all plenary indulgences; these include the person going to confession within a reasonably short period of time, receiving the Eucharist and praying for the intentions of the pope, all in a spirit of total detachment from the attraction of sin.

Here is a description February 11, 1859 from EWTN:

It was very cold on February 11, 1858, the day that was to mark the beginning of such an extraordinary series of events at the rock of Massabeille. When Bernadette returned from school her mother gave her permission to go down by the river to pick up driftwood and fallen branches. Toinette Marie, aged nine, and Marie Abadie, aged twelve, a neighbor's child, went with her. When the three girls reached the Massabeille, the two younger ones took off their wooden shoes to wade across an icy mill-stream which here joined the river. Bernadette, more sensitive, hung behind. Standing alone beside the river, she had started to remove her stockings when she heard a noise like a sudden rush of wind. Looking up towards the grotto she saw some movement among the branches, then there floated out of the opening a golden cloud, and in the midst of it was the figure of a beautiful young girl who placed herself in a small niche in the rock, at one side of the opening and slightly above it. In the crannies around this niche grew stunted vines and shrubs, and in particular a white eglantine. Bernadette, staring in fascination, saw that the luminous apparition was dressed in a soft white robe, with a broad girdle of blue, and a long white veil that partially covered her hair. Her eyes were blue and gentle. Golden roses gleamed on her bare feet. When the vision smiled and beckoned to Bernadette, the girl's fear vanished and she came a few steps nearer, then sank reverently to her knees. She drew her rosary from her pocket, for, in moments of stress, she habitually said her beads. The mysterious being also had a rosary, of large white beads, and to quote Bernadette's own account: "The Lady let me pray alone; she passed the beads of the rosary between her fingers, but said nothing; only at the end of each decade did she say the Gloria with me." When the recitation was finished, the Lady vanished into the cave and the golden mist disappeared with her. This experience affected Bernadette so powerfully that, when the other girls turned back to look for her, she was still kneeling, a rapt, faraway look on her face. They chided her, thinking she had passed the time praying to escape the task of gathering fuel. Tying up their twigs and branches into faggots, they started for home. Too full of her vision to keep quiet about it, before they had gone far Bernadette burst out with the whole wondrous story; she asked the girls to say nothing at home. But Toinette told Madame Soubirous that same evening, and soon the news spread further.

First Penance Workshop

2008-02-08T22:47:00.000-05:00

Last Saturday we held our first workshop for the children about to go to Confession for the first time. The second one is tomorrow morning. We have about 120 students making their First Penance and First Communion this year so we have to do things in shifts!

Since both of us are doing this for the first time, I was nervous about how it would go, but things went very smoothly.

We built a 1/2 hour coffee and muffin period into the day so that everyone was present by the time we were ready to start and we were able to pass out all the materials. To begin we sent the children out in 4 groups to make Act of Contrition Holy Cards. We had pre-printed the Act of Contrition on index cards and provided the students with crayons to color them. We also gave them each a piece of paper so that they could write the Act of Contrition themselves to help with familiarization. While the children were working on their project, the DRE spoke to the parents about the importance of Confession and also gave some specific instructions about the night of First Penance such as the importance of being dressed properly. After the children returned, we showed them a video on making a good confession from the Truth in the Heart Series by the Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist. Then it was one of the priest's turn to answer some questions (we had a question box set out for the parents and children and they surprised us by stuffing the box with questions!) and then to perform a mock confession so that the children could see what will happen in the confessional. Finally, it was time to take them all to the church so that they could take a tour of the confessionals.

We tried to emphasize the importance of frequent confession - DRE, father, and sister in the video all noted how important it is make frequent use of the sacrament. One of the parents afterward told me that she really enjoyed the workshop and that it made her think about confession again. And, she went on to say that in her family they were going to schedule a monthly Saturday confession. Hallelujah!!

President Bush's speech to March for Life

2008-01-31T00:57:00.000-05:00

At the March for Life, it's very difficult to hear the speeches. Therefore, it wasn't until today that I came across President Bush's remarks on the occasion. One paragraph in his remarks stuck out to me.

Thirty-five years ago today the United States Supreme Court declared and decided that under the law an unborn child is not considered a person. But we know many things about the unborn. Biology confirms that from the start each unborn child is a separate individual with his or her own genetic code. Babies can now survive outside the mother's womb at younger and younger ages. And the fingers and toes and beating hearts that we can see on an unborn child's ultrasound come with something that we cannot see: a soul.

March for Life 2008

2008-01-24T21:10:00.000-05:00

For the first time this year, I attended the March for Life as a chaperone for several youths from the parish where I work. We left early in the morning hoping to attend the youth rally at the Verizon Center, but it was already full when we got there. We later heard that the Verizon Center was full by 8 o'clock in the morning. So, instead we headed to a nearby church which was set up as a satellite location. At the church we attended Mass - celebrated by a priest who is a leader of the pro-life movement in France. It was one of a series of firsts for the teens since it was a Tridentine Mass.

After the Mass we headed to the Mall to eat lunch and then hear the speeches. It was interesting being on the Mall as the crowd was gathering. It's always fun to see how many states are represented and how many colleges are there. As always, the official numbers are disputed and woefully under-reported in the Press - a friend told me that he saw a blurb in the Washington Post that stated there were 2000 people there. However, I think - and several other people said the same - that there seemed to be many more people there than there have been over the last few years. The only unfortunate part of the day was that because the speeches lasted so long and it took us so long to start marching the kids couldn't complete the entire March and had to leave before getting to the Supreme Court so that they could catch the Metro and get home in time for their parents to pick them up. Hopefully next year we'll be able to take them the whole way.

Sundays with Jane

2008-01-13T15:48:00.001-05:00

Heaven for all Jane Austen fans!! PBS' Masterpiece Theater devotes the next several Sundays to Jane Austen beginning tonight at 9 with a new adaptation of Persuasion (which is my favorite behind Pride and Prejudice). Besides Persuasion, the series includes new adaptations of Mansfield Park, Sense and Sensibility, and Northanger Abbey as well as the Kate Beckinsale Emma and Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth (shown on 3 consecutive Sundays). A biopic, Miss Austen Regrets, will also be shown.

I confess

2008-01-12T20:08:00.000-05:00

I went to Confession today. One thing I love about going to Confession here in the Arlington Diocese is how many other people are going to Confession also. In Worcester, I was usually the only one at the Church for the half hour Confession slot. Here I've never been to a church that had fewer than 3 priests hearing Confessions for an hour with a line at each Confessional. Today I was at the end of a line of 5 people and there was no one behind me when I entered the Confessional. When I came out a line of 4 more people had reformed. Amazing!

RCIC

2008-01-12T19:46:00.000-05:00

I taught my first RCIC class last Wednesday night. In our parish, RCIC is a class for children over 7 who need to be baptized, for children in 3rd grade or above who need to make their First Communion, and for high school students who have not yet been confirmed. Because of the great disparity in ages and sacraments for which the students are preparing we've separated the high school students from the rest of the class with another teacher. So, I have close to 10 students ages 7-13 to prepare for baptism, Penance, First Communion and Confirmation. We have to go over Confirmation with them also because any child baptized over the age of reason receives all the Sacraments of Initiation together (something I learned at my new job).

I was a little nervous before the first class because I've never taught children this young before. Usually I teach middle school or high school. But, the class went really well and the children really seemed to enjoy it. In fact, as they were leaving the classroom, one of the boys said, "That was kind of fun!"

There are no texts for an RCIC class, so I'm having to make up things as I go along. With some help from our textbook series Life in Christ, the 1st and 2nd grade DVD's from the Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, and what materials I've been able to find on-line, I've been able to put together something. This week we discussed sacraments and the story of Adam and Eve in preparation for talking about Baptism next week. I think that their favorite part was discussing Original Sin. Modifying an idea from the Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, I used 2 empty, clear tumblers to signify us and filled them with water from a big pitcher to show people filled with grace. When we talked about Original Sin, I had them dump the water back into the pitcher. Then I asked them to give some grace to another student. Of course, they couldn't.

So, we'll see next week how well they retained this lesson. Next up - playacting a baptism.

Happy New Year!

2008-01-03T19:41:00.000-05:00

I resolve to post at least once a week - really, I mean that!

All Saints

2007-11-01T20:23:00.000-04:00

"The glorious company of the apostles praise Thee.
The goodly fellowship of the prophets praise Thee.
The white-robed army of martyrs praise Thee.
All Thy saints and elect with one voice do acknowledge Thee,
O Blessed Trinity, one God!"

-- Feast of All Saints (November 1), Antiphon at Lauds. from the Te Deum

Can you believe it!

2007-10-29T08:06:00.000-04:00

2007 World Series Champions!!!

Dawn Eden at St. Paul's Cathedral

2007-10-19T12:54:00.000-04:00

Dawn Eden, Director of the Love and Responsibility Program at the Cardinal Newman Society, will give a talk at St. Paul's Cathedral entitled Preventing Teen Pregnancy: The Catholic Approach: What Holy Cross Could Have Done to Address This Critical Problem in response to Holy Cross hosting a Teen Pregnancy conference which features presentations by Planned Parenthood. The talk will be on Oct. 23 at 7pm, the night before the conference at Holy Cross.

Update: Bishop McManus has especially asked young people to attend the talk as a sign of solidarity with the Church. If you are able, please attend the talk and show your support for the bishop as he engages in this battle to preserve our Catholic identity.

Holy Cross battle continued

2007-10-16T20:00:00.000-04:00

Dr. Jeff Mirus at CatholicCulture.org notes the battle between The College of the Holy Cross and Bishop McManus of Worcester.

Happily one of the critics is the local ordinary, Bishop Robert J. McManus, who issued a statement on October 10th warning Holy Cross that “it is my pastoral and canonical responsibility to determine what institutions can properly call themselves ‘Catholic’.” The bishop urged the administration of the College to “unequivocally disassociate itself from the upcoming conference…so that the college can continue to be recognized as a Catholic institution.” However, Fr. McFarland has thus far defied even Bishop McManus.

Mirus goes on to question whether or not Bishop McManus has the heart for the prolonged battle that may ensue from his confrontation with Fr. McFarland and Holy Cross. From one who has had the chance to see Bishop McManus at work up close, believe me - he does.

Will Holy Cross still be able to call itself a Catholic college?

2007-10-11T20:22:00.000-04:00

The College of the Holy Cross is causing controversy once again in Worcester. This time they are hosting the 2007 Teen Pregnancy Institute. The problem is that the Institute includes 3 workshops by Planned Parenthood, included one entitled "Learn the latest and greatest of protection methods." In addition, pro-abortion, pro-gay marriage Governor Deval Patrick is scheduled to give a talk to the participants and will receive a "Leadership Award." Fr. Michael McFarland, president of Holy Cross, responded to complaints by claiming that since the conference had been booked over a year before it could not be canceled.

Here is the statement from Bishop McManus:

STATEMENT FROM MOST REVEREND ROBERT J. MCMANUS

BISHOP OF WORCESTER

A controversy has arisen at the College of the Holy Cross that has resulted from the College's renting space for a conference sponsored by the Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy. The conference involves workshops presented by members of Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts. Both organizations promote positions on artificial contraception and abortion that are contrary to the moral teachings of
the Catholic Church.

I have received numerous complaints from people who are shocked and outraged that a Catholic institution like Holy Cross would have anything to do with such groups. They have appealed to me to ask Father Michael McFarland, president of the College of the Holy Cross, to revoke the College's agreement to rent space to the Massachusetts Teen Alliance. I have done so.

As Bishop of Worcester, it is my pastoral and canonical responsibility to determine what institutions can properly call themselves Catholic. This is a duty that I do not take lightly since to be a Catholic institution means that such an institution conducts its mission and ministry in accord with Catholic Church teaching, especially in cases of faith and morals.

The moral teaching of the Catholic Church on respect for life at all stages of its development is manifestly clear. Life is a fundamental good that must be protected and respected from the moment of fertilization to natural death. This teaching is so basic and important that it provides the foundation upon which much of the Church's moral and social doctrine rests. It is beyond modification and compromise.

Both Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice are notorious for their policies and practices that directly reject the Church's teaching on artificial contraception and abortion. The College of the Holy Cross should recognize that any association with these groups can create the situation of offering scandal understood in its proper theological sense, i.e., an attitude or behavior which leads another to do evil.
Certainly it is understandable how people of good will could interpret the college's allowing presentations to be made by such groups as truly scandalous.

I strongly contend that the confusion and upset to the Catholic faithful and others that flow from the perception that the administration of the College of the Holy Cross supports positions contrary to the fundamental moral teaching of the Church must be avoided. To deny Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice a forum in which to present their morally unacceptable positions is not an infringement of the exercise of academic freedom but a defensible attempt to make unambiguously clear the Catholic identity and mission of the College of the Holy Cross.

It is my fervent wish that the administration of the College of the Holy Cross will unequivocally disassociate itself from the upcoming conference sponsored by the Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy so that the college can continue to be recognized as a Catholic institution committed to promoting the moral teaching of the Roman Catholic church.

For Friday

2007-10-08T11:11:00.000-04:00

Lately, I've become addicted to logic problems from a book entitled England's Best Logic Problems,102 Logic Puzzles Imported From England. Here's one I came across yesterday:

Three Men in Five Boats

The Malt Shovel is a rather nice pub on the bank of Ringworth Broad, one of the Norfolk Broads; it's much favoured by the sailing fraternity, and the last time I was there five sailing dinghies tied up at the pub's landing stage, crewed by three men and two women and each also carrying a dog. From the clues below, can you work out the name of each dingy, the name of the person sailing it, and the name and breed of the dog on board?

NB: Men are Colin Beatty, Edmund Drake and Gavin Fisher, and women are Gillian Hood and Moira Nelson.

Dinghies are Dolphin, Goblin, Nomad, Rebecca, and Wild Goose.

Dogs are named Boodie, Fido, Joey, Prince, and Sparky and are a bulldog, corgi, fox terrier, labrador, and whippet.

1. Boodie the whippet was a passenger in the dinghy sailed by one of the men.

2. Gillian Hood's dinghy was called the Dolphin; while I was chatting to her, her dog played with the fox terrier.

3. Edmund Drake's canine companion was a corgi.

4. Gavin Fisher's dog was called Prince.

5. The Nomad wasn't Colin Beatty's dinghy, and Joey wasn't the labrador.

6. Fido travelled in the Goblin, which wasn't Moira Nelson's sailing dinghy.

7. It was the bulldog that arrived at the Malt Shovel with the man on the Wild Goose.

One down, two to go

2007-10-07T19:58:00.000-04:00

The Red Sox handily dispatched of the Angels to win the American League Division Series. Next up - the winner of the Cleveland/New York series. I really have no idea who to root for in that series. Either way, I hope it goes 5.

I'm watching game 3 of Indians/Yankees right now and I just realized something: all 4 teams in the AL post season have at least one member of the 2004 championship team.

PS. I just want to state that I got 3 out of 4 pitchers for the trivia question Friday night (I was pretty proud of myself!) - Name the 4 pitchers to have a 17 win season and a 38 save season (I think those were the numbers). Do you know?

Our Lady of the Rosary

2007-10-07T10:49:00.000-04:00

The Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary was originally established as the Feast of Our Lady of Victory by Pope Pius V in 1572. The Feast was established to commemorate the victory of the Christian forces, under the command of Don Juan of Austria, over the Turkish forces in the Battle of Lepanto. This was the first decisive naval victory of the Christian forces over the Turks and prevented the Turks from taking full control of the Mediterranean. Perhaps the biggest effect of the victory was the confidence it gave Christians that Turkish victory in battle was not inevitable.

The victory in the Battle of Lepanto is attributed to the intercession of Our Lady. Pope Pius V urged all Christians to pray the rosary for success in battle. This paining by Paolo Veronese depicts the saints imploring Mary for victory. EWTN gives these details:

Knowing that the Christian forces were at a distinct material disadvantage, the holy pontiff, St. Pope Pius V called for all of Europe to pray the Rosary for victory. We know today that the victory was decisive, prevented the Islamic invasion of Europe, and evidenced the Hand of God working through Our Lady. At the hour of victory, St. Pope Pius V, who was hundreds of miles away at the Vatican, is said to have gotten up from a meeting, went over to a window, and exclaimed with supernatural radiance: "The Christian fleet is victorious!" and shed tears of thanksgiving to God.

What you may not know is that one of three admirals commanding the Catholic forces at Lepanto was Andrea Doria. He carried a small copy of Mexico's Our Lady of Guadalupe into battle. This image is now enshrined in the Church of San Stefano in Aveto, Italy. Not many know that at the Monastery of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Spain, one can view a huge warship lantern that was captured from the Moslems in the Battle of Lepanto. In Rome, look up to the ceiling of S. Maria in Aracoeli and behold decorations in gold taken from the Turkish galleys. In the Doges' Palace in Venice, Italy, one can witness a giant Islamic flag that is now a trophy from a vanquished Turkish ship from the Victory. At Saint Mary Major Basilica in Rome, close to the tomb of the great St. Pope Pius V, one was once able to view yet another Islamic flag from the Battle, until 1965, when it was returned to Istanbul in an intended friendly token of concord.

Feast of St. Francis of Assisi

2007-10-04T16:18:00.000-04:00

The Prayer of Saint Francis

O Lord, make me an instrument of Thy Peace!
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is discord, harmony;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light, and
Where there is sorrow, joy.
Oh Divine Master, grant that I may not
so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand; to be loved
as to love; for it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Rockies/Phillies

2007-10-04T16:17:00.000-04:00

I'm watching the Rockies/Phillies game 2 right now. It's nice to hear Don Orsillo (the voice of the Red Sox) calling the game.

Feast of the Guardian Angels

2007-10-02T22:48:00.000-04:00

My good Angel, Thou comest from heaven;
God has sent thee to take care of me.
Oh, shelter me under thy wings.
Lighten my path, direct my steps.
Do not leave me, stay quite near me
and defend me against the spirit of evil.
But above all come to my help in the last struggle of my life.
Deliver my soul so that with thee it may praise,
love and contemplate the goodness of God forever and ever.
Amen

Back on track

2007-10-02T22:16:00.000-04:00

While I've been settling into my new job and finally getting my life back to some sort of routine, blogging has been slow - actually practically non-existent - and I've missed some major feast days such as the Feast of the Archangels on September 29, which also happens to be the beginning of the Lepanto Novena. The Lepanto Novena ends on October 7, the anniversary of the Battle of Lepanto and the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary because it was through her intercession that the battle was won. The Blue Boar, a neat blog devoted to G.K. Chesterton, our Lady, home brewing, inns, Distributism, good literature, the lost art of Catholic drinking, and other crucial elements of Catholic culture, has the details:

Nine days from now is October 7, the anniverary of the Battle of Lepanto, fought on October 7, 1571, in which a Catholic fleet commanded by Don John of Austria defeated a Turkish fleet bent on invading the Italian peninsula. It was one of the most significant naval battles in history, and the victory of the Catholic Holy League has always been attributed to the intercession of our Lady. Every man in the Holy League was issued a rosary, which they prayed fervently. And in the churches of Rome and throughout Italy, at the behest of Pope St. Pius V, thousands of Catholics gathered to pray their rosaries for deliverance from the Turk threat.

Our lady heard their prayers, and the Christians won the day. In honor of that, October 7 is commemorated as the feast of the Holy Rosary. And we in the Chestertonian community mark the nine days from today to October 7 with a novena, in which we offer thanksgiving for our Lady's intercession and, this year, pray for the intention of the defeat of the powers of darkness.

The blog is also reproducing Chesterton's great poem Lepanto. Check The Blue Boar for ongoing coverage of the Novena and other great posts.

h/t Fumare

Bella Sneak Peek

2007-10-01T23:16:00.001-04:00

"There comes a time in everyone's life when something happens that changes them forever and their life will never be the same. If it hasn't happened to you yet...it will. BELLA is a true love story that shows how one day in New York City changed three people's lives forever. Powerful, passionate and always unpredictable, BELLA reminds us of the surprises that await us in each new day and that sometimes it takes no more than a moment to transform our lives forever."

I was invited to a private showing of the movie Bella last night. This movie has generated quite a buzz due to it's pro-life content and surprise People's Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival. The background of the movie is fascinating. The movie's star, Eduardo Verástegui, started in a boy band before becoming famous in Mexico as a soap opera star. But, he knew that there was something deeper inside of him, so he left the path he was following to join with Alejandro Monteverde and Leo Severino, both of whom have similar stories, to start Metanoia films. Eduardo also tells an amazing story about preparing for his character in Bella. Because his character spends much of the film listening, and because they didn't yet have an actress with whom he could rehearse, Eduardo decided to go to an abortion clinic for research. He had never been to an abortion clinic before. At the abortion clinic, he was overwhelmed by the sight of young women entering the clinic. He joined a group who was praying and was soon approached by a woman who wondered if he would speak to a couple who didn't speak any English. Not knowing what to say, but wanting to help, he agreed and ended up spending nearly an hour talking to the couple. Several months later, after returning home from filming Bella, Eduardo received a call from the man. They had a son and wanted permission to name him Eduardo.

The mission of Metanoia films is to "entertain, engage, and inspire," and they've started out with a bang in their first film. Bella is the story of two people who are hurting and are able to open up to each other. Nina is a waitress who discovers she is pregnant. José is a chef at his brother's restaurant who has closed up following tragedy. Together they discover the healing and hopeful power of love. This is a love story, but not a romance. It's about the love of family and the love of friendship. It's about risking everything for someone else.

The producers of the movie have made a conscious decision not to market the movie as a pro-life movie. They've made this movie for all the Nina's of the world, and they're hoping that not emphasizing the pro-life message in the advertising will enable them to get the movie out to mainstream audiences to touch those Nina's. Unfortunately, the movie isn't opening in Boston. The closest theater will be New York. But, I hear that Cardinal O'Malley will be hosting a screening.

The Extraordinary Form of the Mass

2007-10-01T20:42:00.000-04:00

Because our CCD classes run from 7:30-12:15 on Sunday mornings, my choices for Sunday Mass are limited. I could go on Saturday afternoons, but I really don't want to do that on a regular schedule because not going to Mass on Sunday itself makes it harder for me to keep Sunday, especially when I'm working for part of it. I could also attend Sunday evening Mass, but I'm not really a fan of late Mass on Sunday because it seems to be the Mass attended by everyone who put off that "obligation" until the last minute. So, all things considered, my best option seems to be the 12:30 1962 Mass at a parish down the street. The Mass goers are reverent and the church is as nice a church as I've found in Northern Virginia. There are beautiful statues and it's smaller than many which gives it a more intimate feel.

It's going to take me a little while to get used to the extraordinary form of the Mass, though. The problem isn't the Latin - I've attended the Novus Ordo in Latin since I was young - the problem for me is the silence. It's a bit disconcerting, when you are used to hearing all the prayers of the Mass, to not be able to hear a word of the Eucharistic prayer except for the words of consecration themselves. It's also strange to not make any responses, but just to sit silent for the most part. A co-worker explained to me that the silence is intended to shroud the actions of the Mass in mystery. Just as in the Eastern Church the mysteries are hidden visually, so in the Roman Church the mysteries are hidden in silence. He said that he thought it was better that way. I'm not convinced - I like knowing what's going on and it's a lot easier for thoughts to wander when you can't tell what's happening. Maybe I'll get used to it - looks like I'll be attending this Mass for quite a while.

Feast Day of St. Thérèse of Liseux

2007-10-01T12:20:00.001-04:00

Prayer

In honour of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus of the Holy Face and to beg favours through her intercession.

O Father in Heaven, Who through St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus of the Holy Face, dost desire to remind the world of the Merciful Love that fills Thy Heart, and the childlike trust we should have in Thee, humbly we thank Thee for having crowned with so great glory Thine ever faithful child, and for giving her wondrous power to bring unto Thee, day by day, innumerable souls who will praise Thee eternally.

St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus of the Holy Face, remember thy promise to do good upon earth, shower down thy roses on those who invoke thee and obtain for us from God the graces we hope for from His infinite goodness.

(here mention your requests)

Best in the East!

2007-09-29T15:10:00.000-04:00

Success in job hunting

2007-09-28T12:45:00.000-04:00

After nearly a month and a half of job searching, I was finally offered a position in the Religious Education Office of a local parish. I'd been wanting to find a job either teaching in a Catholic school or working in religious education, so I'm pretty happy about it.

It's been quite an experience adjusting Catholic life in Northern Virginia. The parishes, for example, are much larger than the parishes at home. Most parishes here seem to have thousands of families and several hundred children in CCD. Yesterday, I met the Director of Religious Education for a parish that has over a thousand children in CCD!

UN Secretary General or Star Wars Character?

2007-09-28T12:39:00.000-04:00

You've scored 91%!

You're either a complete Star Wars nerd or a complete United Nations history nerd. I don't know which is worse. Take your pick.

UN Secretary General or Star Wars character?
Take More Quizzes

You're either a complete Star Wars nerd or a complete United Nations history nerd...or a really good guesser!!

In Virginia

2007-08-30T20:35:00.000-04:00

Well, the big move happened on Monday and I am now a Virginia resident. The issue of how to get myself, my car, and all my stuff to my new home was nicely fixed by my father who very generously drove a rented cargo van from Massachusetts to Virginia on Monday and then drove it back again on Tuesday and then proceeded to use the van to transport my furniture from my house to my parents' house. What a father!

All in all, it was a smooth trip, though we had to pack the van around the guys who showed up to finish replacing my front door that was damaged in the robbery back in January. Unloading was a cinch as several friends and my roommate were there to help. I've spent the last couple of days unpacking and am happy to find that almost everything fits in my room. I had a little trouble with my clothes - it's tough going from a huge walk in closet to a closet with about a quarter of the space - but it's not too bad. Today I spent some time on the phone with the router company and got the wireless set up before heading out to explore. I now know where Target, Safeway (the grocery store), the Post Office, and CVS are. It's a start. Though there are still a lot of issues to be dealt with - like finding a job and a renter for my house - it's nice to finally be here and to be getting settled in.

Star of the Day - Maureen O'Hara

2007-08-17T15:49:00.000-04:00

I was once paid the ultimate compliment of being compared to Maureen O'Hara. In reality, we look nothing alike except for our red hair, but I'll still take it! Born August 17, 1920 in Ranelagh, Ireland, Maureen O'Hara, with her red hair and green eys, was perfectly suited to technicolor. A versatile actress, O'Hara excelled in both comedic and dramatic roles. Her athletic talents were frequently on display, especially in movies with her most famous co-star, John Wayne. In several adventure movies her prowess with a sword proved her the movies' only genuine female swashbuckling star.

In 1941 John Ford cast Maureen O'Hara in How Green Was My Valley, the beginning of a long professional and personal friendship between the two. Together they would make 4 more films including The Quiet Man. Ford considered O'Hara "the best bloody actress in Hollywood."

Check out The Wings of Eagles tonight at 6:00
Maureen O'Hara and John Wayne play in the true story of Frank "Spig" Wead, directed by John Ford. Wead was a personal friend of Ford's and the picture is as true to life as he could make it. Look for an outstanding performance by John Wayne as "Spig" Wead.

As Wead, John Wayne is excellent. He's a difficult fellow to like, especially because he turns away from his wife and family so often, but the Duke's full, 3-dimensional performance movingly captures the frustrations and dreams of this tragic character. In a sign of his commitment to the role, Wayne even went without his toupee for sequences as the older Wead. He's still John Wayne, though... Look for him doing the dishes in one scene; no one ever made it look more manly.

Read the rest of the TCM write-up here.

Hey Juliet!

2007-08-10T23:56:00.000-04:00

Star of the Day - Myrna Loy

2007-08-09T15:55:00.000-04:00

Today TCM features one of my two favorite red-headed actresses (the other being Maureen O'Hara whose day is later in the month). Dubbed "The Perfect Wife" for her portrayal of Nora Charles in the 6 Thin Man movies and Milly Stephenson in The Best Years of Our Lives. (which she considered her best role), Myrna Loy was the epitome of style, wit and perfect comedic timing. After the original Thin Man movie catapulted her and co-star William Powell to stardom in 1934, she was voted "Queen of the Movies" by the fans in 1936 to Clark Gable's "King." Witty, intelligent, wise-cracking, and always feminine, she held her own against such stars as Clark Gable, Cary Grant, and especially William Powell with whom she would make 14 movies.

Fun Trivia: Myrna Loy was supposedly John Dillinger's favorite actress. It was her picture Manhattan Melodrama that he had just seen before he was gunned down in front of Chicago's Biograph Theater on July 22, 1934.

Check out: The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer 11:30 PM Winner: Best Original Screenplay (Sidney Sheldon) 1947

Susan Turner, a teenager from a family of judges, falls for artist Richard Nugent, an older man, which causes complications, especially when her older sister, Judge Margaret Turner, falls for the same man. When Susan sneeks into Richard's apartment Judge Turner, following her uncle's advice, sentences him to "date" her teenage sister with the hope that Susan will soon tire of Richard. The result leaves both Susan and Margaret's boyfriends jealous and Richard acting like a teenager with Susan and trying to court Margaret. Also starring Cary Grant, Shirley Temple (as a teenager), and Rudy Vallee.

This film is filled with great one-liners. Watch for this exchange - it gets lots of play at my house:

Richard Nugent: Hey, you remind me of a man.
Susan Turner: What man?
Richard Nugent: Man with the power.
Susan Turner: What power?
Richard Nugent: Power of hoodoo.
Susan Turner: Hoodoo?
Richard Nugent: You do.
Susan Turner: Do what?
Richard Nugent: Remind me of a man...

The New Catholic Manliness

2007-08-08T16:41:00.000-04:00

My friend Todd M. Aglialoro has a new Crisis article about recovering manliness in the Church. He is not advocating a return to a strict, aloof paternalism, but a recovery of understanding of the "natural gender differences" between men and women. This includes acknowledging that the masculine - not simply men, but truly masculine men - is needed in the Church.

Msgr. Stuart Swetland, director of Pre-Theology at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland, agrees that in Christian spirituality “the default position is always going to be the feminine,” because we are fundamentally called “to be receptive to God, to give way to His agenda.” But he insists that “there is a way to do this without being ‘effeminate’—a properly masculine way to yield to God’s active principle.”

As Todd points out, the new breed of seminarian is learning this "properly masculine way to yield to God" as are many young men, especially young family men.

h/t AMSCOL Pioneer

Star of the Day - Dana Andrews

2007-08-08T15:26:00.000-04:00

Dana Andrews was born January 1, 1909. He was an accountant with the Gulf Oil Company before making his debut at the Pasedena Playhouse in 1935 and signing a contract with Samuel Goldwyn abd 20th Century Fox. He was a popular leading mann of the 1940's, propelled to stardom in part because of a shortage of leading men in Hollywood during World War II. His laconic, matter of fact style was perfectly suited for his most famous role as Homicide Detective Mark McPherson obsessed with a murder victim in Laura.

Andrews suffered from alcholism and became the spokesman for the National Council on Alcholism once his own battle with alchol was under control. He also served as President of the Screen Actors Guild from 1963-1965.

Check out: The Best Years of Our Lives 8:00 PM Winner - Best Picture of 1947
Three men returning from World War II struggle to get readjusted to civilian life. Al Stephenson comes home to a family that has grown up while he was away. Fred Derry faces a job shortage and war bride he barely knows. Wounded, Homer Parrish has a harder time facing the pity and helpfulness of others than adjusting to physical challenges. This film deals perceptively and sensitively with the issues facing soliders and their families as they return home from war and remains just as pertinent today as in 1947. Also starring Myrna Loy, Fredric March (winner - Best Actor), Teresa Wright, Viginia Mayo and Hoagy Carmichael.

Look for an especially outstanding performance by Harold Russell who earned the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Homer Parrish, the wounded sailor, and a special Oscar "for bringing hope and courage to his fellow veterans." Russell lost both his hands in an accident while working on an army film in 1944. William Wyler, director of The Best Years of Our Lives, saw him in an army training film and asked him to play the part of Homer, changed from a spastic to amputee, in the movie. Wyler encourgaged Russell to finish college after making the movie, noting that there are not many parts for someone without hands. Russell followed that advice, earning a business degree from Boston University and becoming a successful businessman as well as advocate for the handicapped. He lived in Massachusetts until his death in 2002. Russell is the only actor ever to win two Oscars for the same role.

It's my favorite time of the year...

2007-08-08T15:06:00.000-04:00

Time for Summer Under the Stars on TCM. Every August, Turner Classic Movies devotes each day to a different star. It's a great way to get to know about some new stars or to see some lesser known work of a big star - or to revisit a classic. This year started with a day of Elizabeth Taylor movies, followed by days dedicated to Peter O'Toole, Joan Crawford, William Holden, Jimmy Stewart, Robert Mitchum, and Jane Russell. Today's star is Dana Andrews. One of the fun things about Summer Under the Stars is that it's not always the same big stars who get a day. Elizabeth Taylor started it and Sean Connery is ending it, but in between there are days dedicated to Joan Bennett, Rosalind Russell, Ann Miller, and Broderick Crawford. And then there are a few stars whose names you might know, but whose movies you don't. Check out August 24 when Ronald Reagan is featured or August 28 with Roy Rogers or get acquainted with Hollywood in the early days with Buster Keaton on August 30.

So pop some popcorn, sit back, and enjoy some of the best Hollywood has to offer.

I hate packing!

2007-08-08T14:59:00.001-04:00

I remember when I moved into my house almost 4 years ago. I had just bought the house and my sister and I were moving from smaller rented space. On the day of the move, my parents came over along with some friends and we proceded to drive back and forth across the city all day with truck loads of stuff. How we had so much stuff, I have no idea! I vowed then that I was staying where I was forever. No more packing and moving!

Turned out to be a short forever. Now, not quite 4 years later I am sorting through my things and preparing to move again. The difference this time is that I won't be taking everything I own with me. There isn't space in my tiny Virginia apartment. Still the rest of my things need to be packed and stored. Or maybe I'll just give them away; it would certainly help the next time I have to move. If only I could reconcile myself to getting rid of a box or two of books - or movies!

In Defense of Franciscan University

2007-08-06T15:18:00.000-04:00

I don't like to get into battles, even in com boxes, but I couldn't help commenting when I found the following on a Mark Shea post about Ave Maria:

Don't want to hijack the thread, but here is what one very trustworthy person said to me about FUS.

Here's what Jerry Wegemer, a professor of English at the University of Dallas, said when asked to compare UD to FUS: "Both schools assign a lot of the same books, but only at UD do the students actually read the books." The weak link at FUS is the students. Not bad people by any stretch, but just not all that bright. Hence, the lower standards.

I'm sick of hearing about the lower standards of Franciscan from people who don't know much about the school. I will readily admit that FUS is not Harvard (thank goodness), and that it is possible to graduate from there without a rigorous education. But, please don't insult those of us who worked hard there and did receive a great education. There was an ongoing fight while I was at FUS as to which was the best program. I still place my money behind the Humanities and Catholic Culture program. In that program, I read the books (most of which are still on my bookshelves) and learned how to write papers. That education has stood me in good stead as I've worked in a variety of areas - everything from teaching the humanities to high school students to accounting, and now in grad school.

So please, I don't want to hear any more about the low standards at Franciscan or the supposed lack of quality of its students.

Update: Just to clarify - I don't know if Professor Wegemer actually spoke the words attributed to him and in what context they could have been spoken. As such, I am not making any judgement about Professor Wegemer. On the other hand, for someone to publish these words in a combox on a widely read blog without clarification is insulting and irresponsible - not to mention untrue.

Countdown is on....

2007-06-12T19:00:00.000-04:00

Five days until I leave for Virginia. Things are crazy around here, so I won't have much time for blogging. Hopefully, I'll find some time once I get to Virginia.

Grrrr!

2007-06-05T23:52:00.000-04:00

This is ridiculous! The Red Sox are losing to Lenny Dinardo - Lenny Dinardo! I think the sky might be falling.

National Celibacy Awareness Month

2007-06-05T22:24:00.000-04:00

Apparently, June is National Celibacy Awareness Month. Who knew! I ran across this headline on the dating page on MSN of all things - Celebrating Your Celibacy. Of course, I had to check it out!

Of course, what is really meant is chastity not celibacy. Chastity is the virtue that allows a person to live his sexuality in a manner that is consistent with his state in life. For the single person, this means abstention from sexual activity because the single person is not able to give himself totally, faithfully, fruitfully to another. Celibacy goes a step further. The celibate refrains from sexual activity in order to devote himself to God alone.

The article points out several reasons to celebrate living chastely including more secure relationships and better health and suggests that living chastely reminds us to turn outward in service to others.

"A great way for both single men and women to celebrate their celibacy is by mentoring teens in their church or local community,” suggests Shannon Ethridge, author of the Every Woman’s Battle series. “Teach young people that they don’t need to have sex to be worthy of love. If anything, knowing how to have a healthy relationship without sexual involvement sets them up for faithfulness in future relationships—we all have to learn to say ‘no’ at some point. You will also help them avoid consequences that can negatively impact their lives such as unplanned pregnancy, STDs, infertility, low self-esteem, etc. As you pour wisdom into impressionable minds and realize what a difference these values could make in their lives, you’ll feel proud that you’ve made the commitment to celibacy and can be a great role model to others.”

MSN is an unexpected place to find a positive story about chastity, but I'll take it.

Two are better than one....

2007-06-04T23:42:00.000-04:00

Dom posted this ad over at his site and I just had to steal it. You'll see why once you watch it.

Getting ready for Virginia

2007-05-31T23:20:00.000-04:00

I finally made the decision - it's time to go to Virginia. Last summer, I had a wonderful time being a student. I loved studying, and I even loved it when I came back home and had to write papers (despite all the complaining!). So, I decided that I wanted to be able to go to school all year round - not just for a few weeks during the summer. But, in order to do that, I have to move to Virginia. This was not an easy decision - it means leaving a job that I've held for almost 7 years (not necessarily a bad thing, but it's comfortable) and figuing out what to do with my house as well as leaving my family and friends here in Massachusetts. And, of course, it means the dreaded job hunting in Virginia. So, while I'm very excited about all these changes about to happen in my life, I'm a little nervous too.

St. Paul's Cathedral Music Festival

2007-05-31T22:37:00.000-04:00

The annual St. Paul's Music Festival begins this weekend. The Festival is a week of the best music in the Worcester area - which is really very good. Here's the schedule:

Sunday, June 3
The New England Ringers

New England’s premier handbell virtuosi ring in the 2007 Festival. The uplifting and joyful sound of bells will make you smile from the first note to the last!

$10 Adults $5 students and children

www.newenglandringers.org

Monday June 4
1:00 pm Organ Concert

Admission free

7:00 pm Worcester Chamber Music Society

Tracy Kraus, Peter Sulski, Mark Berger, Maria Ferrante, Ian Watson and Jonathan Yasuda perform a lively program featuring the C minor Piano Quartet, Op 60 of Johannes Brahms. Also on the program are piano music for 4 hands by Mozart, Rossini songs, and a little known gem by Friedrich Kuhlau, the Flute Quintet, Op. 51 for flute and string quartet.

$20 adults $15 seniors $10 students and children

www.worcesterchambermusic.org

Tuesday June 5
1:00 pm Organ Concert

Admission free

7:00 pm
Worcester Collegium Strings

Serenade in E minor - Edward Elgar

Chamber Symphony - D. Shostakovich

Serenade - A. Dvorak

This concert is preceded at 6.15 by a 20 minute concert by Worcester Collegium Youth strings

$10 adults $5 children

Wednesday, June 6

1:00 pm Organ Concert

Admission free

7:00 pm Harpsichord Fest! - Arcadia Players play Vivaldi and Bach

One of New England’s finest period-instrument ensembles, Arcadia Players present not only a harpsichord extravaganza, but Vivaldi, Bach and Vivaldi arranged by Bach. Not to be missed!

Harpsichordists: Gregory Hayes, Donald Meineke, Allan Taylor

Arcadia Players Baroque Ensemble, Ian Watson harpsichord/director

$10 adults $5 students and children

www.arcadiaplayers.org

Thursday June 7
1:00 pm Organ Concert

Admission free

7:00 pm
The Dynamics – Umass Amherst’s hottest A Capella group!

$10 adults $5 students and children

www.dynamicsacappella.com

Friday June 8

1:00 pm Organ Concert

Admission free

7:00 pm Worcester Collegium World Premiere performance

Simple Symphony - Benjamin Britten

Fantasia on Greensleeves - R. Vaughan Williams

Divertimento in F - W.A. Mozart

Sonata for Viola and Orchestra - Rebecca Clarke (World Premiere)

Peter Sulski solo viola; Ian Watson, conductor

Adults $20 Seniors $15 Children $10

www.rebeccaclarke.org

Saturday June 9
7:00 pm American Traditions – New and Old

Jointly sponsored by Salisbury Singers and Mastersingers of Worcester

In preparation for our joint concert tour to Europe, the Salisbury Singers and the Mastersingers of Worcester will once again collaborate in presenting the best in American musical traditions. Spirituals, folk songs, and new arrangements of traditional songs will fill the magnificent space of the Cathedral of St. Paul and the choruses will premiere a new work by Gwyneth Walker, New England Journey. The concert will also feature a performance of the popular Missa Kenya by Paul Basler.

$20 adults $18 seniors, students and children

www.salisburysingers.org

Sunday June 10
4:00 pm Festival Finale

Concerto for Organ & Orchestra in G minor - Francis Poulenc

"Nelson" Mass in D minor - Franz Joseph Haydn

St. Paul's Cathedral Choir, St. Paul's Festival Orchestra

Monica Hatch, soprano; Paulette Labarre, alto;
Raymond Delisle, tenor; Jonathan Labarre bass
Jeffrey Wood, organ; Ian Watson, conductor

Admission Free

Resquiescat in Pacem

2007-05-24T22:01:00.000-04:00

I just received word that my sister's mother-in-law died this morning after a long battle with cancer. Please pray for the repose of her soul and for the comfort of her family.

May the Lord have mercy on her and may the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace.

Rain, Rain, Go Away

2007-05-19T11:45:00.000-04:00

I'm going to the Red Sox game tonight! It's a long story, but the conclusion is that I'm going to the game with the Past State Deputy of Massachusetts for the Knights of Columbus. He has season tickets at the curve by Pesky's Pole ON THE FIELD. Yup, front row tickets by Pesky's Pole.

Magnificat Academy

2007-05-19T11:25:00.000-04:00

Last night I attended a wonderful Vespers Service and Concert by the students of Magnificat Academy and Choir School in Warren, MA. Started in 2005, the students of Magnificat Academy have already been invited to sing for the Mass at the Worcester Diocese's priests' retreat a couple of weeks from now.

In addition to their choral program, the school focuses on a traditional liberal arts education with a focus on the Great Books. They will have their first graduate this year, and she will be continuing on to the University of Dallas in the Fall.

Good things are happening at Magnificat Academy.

Prayer Request

2007-05-19T11:15:00.000-04:00

Please pray for my sister's mother-in-law. She is suffering from cancer and hasn't been doing well lately. Last night my sister called to say that the family had been called because they didn't think she'd make it through today. Please also pray for her family, especially her husband, as they go through this difficult time.

Welcome to my new niece!

2007-03-29T12:52:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to Thursday and Friday! At about 7:45 this morning they welcomed their daughter in the world. She weighed 6lbs, 8 ozs and scored a perfect 10 on the Apgar scale. According to Friday, she has reddish brown hair. Thursday was there for the birth, getting in around midnight. Mother and child are both doing well.

Prayer Request

2007-03-28T16:58:00.000-04:00

Please pray for my sister (Friday). She was scheduled for a C-section Friday morning because her baby is breech and sitting on her feet. However, she went in for a scheduled doctor's appointment today and they decided to admit her to the hospital and to move the C-section up to tomororw morning because of some concern that the baby is measuring small, though the tests so far have come back fine. Her husband (Thursday and regular contributor to Fumare) is in the army in basic training at the moment (about 2 hours away), so the Red Cross is trying to get him home in time for the birth.

Notice to all my loyal readers (you know who you are)

2007-03-28T16:54:00.000-04:00

I apologize for the lack of posts. Not having a computer at home really makes it difficult and I don't like to post from my work computer. I haven't given up blogging; I'm just on a temporary hiatus until I get a new computer, which I hope will be soon.

Ave Maria School of Law Board of Govenors votes to relocate school

2007-02-20T17:26:00.000-05:00

Fumare is reporting on the Ave Maria School of Law Board of Govenors vote to relocate the school to Florida, where Ave Maria University is located. There has been much opposition to this decision and to the overall govenance of the school from Faculty, Alumni, and students - much of which has been chronicled on Fumare and other blogs.

Mardi Gras!

2007-02-20T17:18:00.000-05:00

Several years ago, I attended Mardi Gras with a good friend from New Orleans. We had been planning to get together for some time, but hadn't found the right time. Then, she told me that she would be entering the convent soon. So, the next opportunity (which just happened to be the week of Mardi Gras) I boarded a plane to visit. I'll never forget how much fun Mardi Gras was, and how real the transition from the parties of Carnival to the starkness was Ash Wednesday felt. Since then, I have made it a point to host my own Mardi Gras party each year, a party that ends promptly at midnight with a prayer for a good Lent.

A snow storm!

2007-02-03T15:10:00.000-05:00

I never thought I'd see the day when I would be happy to have a snow storm. But, after a winter of almost no snow - Arizona, Texas, and North Carolina have had more snow than us up here in Massachusetts - it was nice to see the white stuff coming down last night. The storm only left about 3 inches - not bad for shoveling and since it's a nice sunny day today it's melting very nicely off the pavement - but it does look pretty. And, my nephew couldn't wait to get into his snow pants!

I certainly don't mind a little winter when I know that winter's almost gone (Punxsutawney Phil didn't see his shadow yesterday so there's only 4 weeks left of winter)!

Prayer Request

2007-02-03T15:06:00.000-05:00

Please pray for a friend from college who is suffering from breast cancer. She was diagnosed a few years ago, and underwent a treatment of chemo. She and her husband were out East for a baptism last spring and she looked great. The tests had come back that she was cancer free. However, I just got word that the lastest test showed that the cancer had come back and had spread to her bones. Right now, the doctors are saying she has 2-3 years.

Please pray for her, for her husband, and for their young children.

Feast of St. Blase

2007-02-03T14:44:00.000-05:00

Today is the Feast of St. Blase, bishop and martyr. St. Blase was martyred in his episcipal city of Sebastea, Armenia, in 316. Legend has it that as St. Blase was being dragged off to prison, a mother brought him her young son who had a fish bone stuck in her throat. At Blase's command, the chid was able to cough up the bone. Thus, St. Blase became the patron of those with throat ailments. Annually, Catholics in the United States receive a special blessing of their throats (usually on the Sunday closest to the feast) in which the intercession of St. Blase is invoked to protect against all throat ailments.

“Through the intercession of St. Blase, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from ailments of the throat and from every other evil. In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”

Watch out for Juror No. 0677

2007-01-24T22:01:00.000-05:00

My sister pointed out this post about the Scooter Libby trial by David Corn of The Nation. Corn writes:

And then there's Juror No. 0677. She is a television producer. She claimed she had paid attention to the case in a "circumfery" manner, and she has booked some of the journalists involved in the case. She was questioned about her ties to these reporters and whether she could evaluate their testimony without favor. She said yes. As for Cheney, she said, "I don't have any objective feelings about whether he would be more or less credible in this case."

She also mentioned that she was once an intern at the National Journalism Center and then an intern at The Washington Times, the conservative newspaper owned by Sun Myung Moon's Unification Church. There were no queries from the judge and lawyers about these connections. Yet might she be a conservative harboring pro-administration inclinations? Though the National Journalism Center has a bland name, it is a rightwing outfit that trains young conservative journalists and finds them jobs. Not all of its graduates are ideologically minded. But the group was launched in part by the American Conservative Union. It has received funding from the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation and the John M. Olin Foundation, leading conservative foundations. (The John M. Olin Foundation funded itself out of business in 2005.) Several years ago, the National Journalism Center was taken over by another conservative group, the Young Americas Foundation.

Jurors ought not be blackballed for their political views. But if a National Journalism Center graduate makes it on to the jury, the Libby legal team would have reason to be pleased. Fitzgerald might want to ask her a few more questions.

Juror no. 0677 just happens to be an old friend from high school. She's actually the producer of a program for the U.S International Broadcasting Bureau's Voice of America. The VOA broadcasts news and other programs in 44 languages to countries around the world. I find it very amusing that Corn is so worried about her. A conservative harboring pro-administration inclinations - sounds dangerous doesn't it?

March for Life 2007

2007-01-24T21:05:00.000-05:00

The March for Life 2007 was chaotic as usual with thousands of people converging on the Mall and surronding area in Washington, D.C. on Monday. It was a cold day, and muddy, but that didn't stop the groups who arrived from all over the country to show their support of life.

I love to read all the signs at the March to see where people are from. Here's a rundown on the states I saw present: New Hampshire, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Virignia, North Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisianna, Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona, North Dakota, Kentucky, Kansas.

My friend and I drove 8 hours to attend the March, but many of these people spent many more hours on buses to attend. I'm always impressed by the time and difficulty that these people endure just walk for 2 hours, often in bitter cold, and then go home again. One day sacrifices like these will pay off big.