Art and Beauty Tuesday--Back To School

Today's Art and Beauty Tuesday is Back to School by Igor Babailov.  Babailov is a contemporary American artist featured on the Art Renewal Center's website as a Living Master.

This work shows  a pensive girl, perhaps dressed in a uniform, ready for her first day back at school.  She is probably wondering how the year will be, if she will make friends and if she will like her teachers.  Her face shows a quiet hopefulness that often pervades the coming of Autumn.

I like how her face is bathed in light, even though the rest of the portrait is in darkness.  Youth, childhood and education combine to give her hope and light.

Art and Beauty Tuesday--Back To School

Today's Art and Beauty Tuesday is Back to School by Igor Babailov.  Babailov is a contemporary American artist featured on the Art Renewal Center's website as a Living Master.

This work shows  a pensive girl, perhaps dressed in a uniform, ready for her first day back at school.  She is probably wondering how the year will be, if she will make friends and if she will like her teachers.  Her face shows a quiet hopefulness that often pervades the coming of Autumn.

I like how her face is bathed in light, even though the rest of the portrait is in darkness.  Youth, childhood and education combine to give her hope and light.

Music Monday--Rutter Gloria

This is the first movement of John Rutter's Gloria.

I had the joy and privilege of singing this piece when I was in college.  I could hardly believe my good fortune that year.

Next week I will continue with the second movement.

Below are the Latin lyrics and English translation of this first movement.

Glória in excélsis Deo et in terra pax homínibus bonae voluntátis. Laudámus te, benedícimus te, adorámus te, glorificámus te, grátias ágimus tibi propter magnam glóriam tuam, Glória in excélsis Deo

Glory be to God on high. And in earth peace towards men of good will. We praise thee. We bless thee. We worship thee. We glorify thee. We give thanks to thee for thy great glory. Glory be to God on high.

Music Monday--Rutter Gloria

This is the first movement of John Rutter's Gloria.

I had the joy and privilege of singing this piece when I was in college.  I could hardly believe my good fortune that year.

Next week I will continue with the second movement.

Below are the Latin lyrics and English translation of this first movement.

Glória in excélsis Deo et in terra pax homínibus bonae voluntátis. Laudámus te, benedícimus te, adorámus te, glorificámus te, grátias ágimus tibi propter magnam glóriam tuam, Glória in excélsis Deo

Glory be to God on high. And in earth peace towards men of good will. We praise thee. We bless thee. We worship thee. We glorify thee. We give thanks to thee for thy great glory. Glory be to God on high.

Sunday Snippets, A Catholic Carnival

Sunday Snippets is brought to you each week by RAnn at a This, That and the Other Thing. This has been another huge week of posting.  Music Monday, we shared Vaughan Williams, Art and Beauty Tuesday, we spent time in A Shady Spot, Poetry Wednesday looked at the classic, The Owl and the Pussycat and Scripture Saturday talked about Spiritual Diligence and Wisdom.

In between times, we looked at St. Rose of Lima, St. Monica, some worthy non-profit organizations promoting peace, the blog Homeless in America, and new color pictures of the Great Depression from the Library of Congress.

Have a great week, everybody!

Sunday Snippets, A Catholic Carnival

Sunday Snippets is brought to you each week by RAnn at a This, That and the Other Thing. This has been another huge week of posting.  Music Monday, we shared Vaughan Williams, Art and Beauty Tuesday, we spent time in A Shady Spot, Poetry Wednesday looked at the classic, The Owl and the Pussycat and Scripture Saturday talked about Spiritual Diligence and Wisdom.

In between times, we looked at St. Rose of Lima, St. Monica, some worthy non-profit organizations promoting peace, the blog Homeless in America, and new color pictures of the Great Depression from the Library of Congress.

Have a great week, everybody!

Scripture Saturday--Spiritual Diligence and Wisdom

Friday's Mass readings talk about diligence--the virtue for the month of August.  The story of the wise and foolish virgins illustrates the importance of sticking with our faith even in tough times.  Mother Teresa of Calcutta was said to have endured a dark night of the soul for decades--a time when she even wondered if God existed.

Both she and St. Monica, whose feast was yesterday, lived out the faith even when it was difficult.

The first reading from Corinthians asks "Where is the wise one? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength."  


Jesus then tells us in the Gospel from Matthew, "Stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour."    


The wise virgins made sure they had enough oil to last them the night.  When the bridegroom came, they were ready.  Do we have enough "oil" to "last the night"?  Do we avail ourselves of the Sacraments, sacred reading and prayer to fill our own lamps with holy oil in anticipation of a long, dark night ahead?  


Today's "wisdom" is self serving and transitory.  Strength and diligence is necessary for the wisdom that comes from God. 

Scripture Saturday--Spiritual Diligence and Wisdom

Friday's Mass readings talk about diligence--the virtue for the month of August.  The story of the wise and foolish virgins illustrates the importance of sticking with our faith even in tough times.  Mother Teresa of Calcutta was said to have endured a dark night of the soul for decades--a time when she even wondered if God existed.

Both she and St. Monica, whose feast was yesterday, lived out the faith even when it was difficult.

The first reading from Corinthians asks "Where is the wise one? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength."  


Jesus then tells us in the Gospel from Matthew, "Stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour."    


The wise virgins made sure they had enough oil to last them the night.  When the bridegroom came, they were ready.  Do we have enough "oil" to "last the night"?  Do we avail ourselves of the Sacraments, sacred reading and prayer to fill our own lamps with holy oil in anticipation of a long, dark night ahead?  


Today's "wisdom" is self serving and transitory.  Strength and diligence is necessary for the wisdom that comes from God. 

St Monica

Today is the feast of St. Monica, the mother of St. Augustine.  She is known for her tireless prayer for her husband who was an abusive and ill-tempered  pagan and for her son, who had left the faith.

St. Monica is the patron of wives and mothers, abuse victims, alcoholics, victims of verbal abuse, widows, victims of adultery and unfaithfulness, and those in difficult marriages.

St. Monica is the saint to pray for a variety of painful situations.

St. Monica, pray for us!

St Monica

Today is the feast of St. Monica, the mother of St. Augustine.  She is known for her tireless prayer for her husband who was an abusive and ill-tempered  pagan and for her son, who had left the faith.

St. Monica is the patron of wives and mothers, abuse victims, alcoholics, victims of verbal abuse, widows, victims of adultery and unfaithfulness, and those in difficult marriages.

St. Monica is the saint to pray for a variety of painful situations.

St. Monica, pray for us!

The Great Depression was Real

The Library of Congress has released some never before seen color photos taken during the Depression.  This one was taken some time during 1941 or 1942 in Washington, DC.  The color in these photos takes the Depression years from a nebulous black and white dream time, into reality.

Right away I noticed a couple of things.  First, the number of children.  Back then, there were lots of children and they played together around the neighborhood(s).  Second, the gender differentiation.  The girls are all in dresses and the boys all have sticks they are using as toy guns.  Third, the fact that their toys are self-made (the sticks, anyway--I do see a bike on the right.)

 I bet that building still stands in Washington.

The Great Depression was Real

The Library of Congress has released some never before seen color photos taken during the Depression.  This one was taken some time during 1941 or 1942 in Washington, DC.  The color in these photos takes the Depression years from a nebulous black and white dream time, into reality.

Right away I noticed a couple of things.  First, the number of children.  Back then, there were lots of children and they played together around the neighborhood(s).  Second, the gender differentiation.  The girls are all in dresses and the boys all have sticks they are using as toy guns.  Third, the fact that their toys are self-made (the sticks, anyway--I do see a bike on the right.)

 I bet that building still stands in Washington.

Poetry Wednesday--The Owl and The Pussycat

This is one of my favorite poems and has been since I was a child.  Edward Lear's The Owl and the Pussycat is a children's classic.

My son had this book on tape when he was a kid.

Poetry Wednesday--The Owl and The Pussycat

This is one of my favorite poems and has been since I was a child.  Edward Lear's The Owl and the Pussycat is a children's classic.

My son had this book on tape when he was a kid.

Homeless in America

I found a powerful and challenging blog--Homeless in America.  It is a Catholic blog, complete with quotes and inspiration on the sidebar by Dorothy Day, Mother Teresa and Saint Bernadette.  Yet, it does not (that I've seen) argue or pontificate about what style of liturgy is the "right" style.  It doesn't wring its hands about the minutia of daily worship.  It doesn't spend its time and waste its space complaining about how horrible things are in the Church.

Instead, it challenges its readers to think about the "least" in the world; in America.  It reaches beyond a particular political fashion du jour and gets to the meat of Christianity--seeing God in the poor; living our faith in Jesus by getting out of our spiritual and financial navel gazing and putting our values where our faith is.

This is where Catholicism excels--although not nearly as much as it could.  The Church built the first schools.  The Church built the first hospitals.  The Church has nurtured men and women who have literally given up everything to serve God's people year after year for their entire lives.

We are being made impotent as a church by infighting about things that even Jesus admitted would not last. It is time we wake up.  It is time we live our faith.  It is time we become Christian.

Homeless in America

I found a powerful and challenging blog--Homeless in America.  It is a Catholic blog, complete with quotes and inspiration on the sidebar by Dorothy Day, Mother Teresa and Saint Bernadette.  Yet, it does not (that I've seen) argue or pontificate about what style of liturgy is the "right" style.  It doesn't wring its hands about the minutia of daily worship.  It doesn't spend its time and waste its space complaining about how horrible things are in the Church.

Instead, it challenges its readers to think about the "least" in the world; in America.  It reaches beyond a particular political fashion du jour and gets to the meat of Christianity--seeing God in the poor; living our faith in Jesus by getting out of our spiritual and financial navel gazing and putting our values where our faith is.

This is where Catholicism excels--although not nearly as much as it could.  The Church built the first schools.  The Church built the first hospitals.  The Church has nurtured men and women who have literally given up everything to serve God's people year after year for their entire lives.

We are being made impotent as a church by infighting about things that even Jesus admitted would not last. It is time we wake up.  It is time we live our faith.  It is time we become Christian.

New Category--Promoting Peace

I wanted to call attention to a new category in my sidebar (second to the last).  It is called Promoting Peace and highlights organizations that help people of greatest need internationally.

The first is Anti Slavery International. This is the world's oldest human rights organization and works exclusively to stop slavery, which still exists today (even in the United States--there was recently a story about a woman who was held without pay and without freedom as a "housekeeper" in Montgomery County, Maryland.)  Horrible things are happening to people, most especially, children, all over the world and it is up to us to stop it.

Catholic Relief Services are all over the world, often the first responders to disasters as they happen.  They are recognized as one of the most effective organizations in the world.

Central Asia Institute and its related websites, Pennies for Peace and  Three Cups of Tea, was founded by Greg Mortenson, a former mountain climber turned philanthropist.   After a failed attempt to climb K2, the world's second highest mountain, Greg lost his way and was rescued by local people in the Pakistani village he wandered into.  Afterwards, he promised them he would build them a school, and, literally, went back to America and started to fund raise from scratch.  He went on to build a bridge and school for that town, and 144 more schools.   Visit his websites, and look in your library for his books.

The other worthy organization is SOS Children's Villages.  They house orphans around the world, not in orphanages, but in homes with family based care.

Please consider giving to one or more of these organizations and promote true peace in the world.

Michele has let me know of a Catholic organization that works internationally to help children and the elderly in need throughout the world.  Chalice is a Canadian Catholic sponsorship program that operates in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Europe and Haiti.  Chalice is considered one of Canada's best charities.

New Category--Promoting Peace

I wanted to call attention to a new category in my sidebar (second to the last).  It is called Promoting Peace and highlights organizations that help people of greatest need internationally.

The first is Anti Slavery International. This is the world's oldest human rights organization and works exclusively to stop slavery, which still exists today (even in the United States--there was recently a story about a woman who was held without pay and without freedom as a "housekeeper" in Montgomery County, Maryland.)  Horrible things are happening to people, most especially, children, all over the world and it is up to us to stop it.

Catholic Relief Services are all over the world, often the first responders to disasters as they happen.  They are recognized as one of the most effective organizations in the world.

Central Asia Institute and its related websites, Pennies for Peace and  Three Cups of Tea, was founded by Greg Mortenson, a former mountain climber turned philanthropist.   After a failed attempt to climb K2, the world's second highest mountain, Greg lost his way and was rescued by local people in the Pakistani village he wandered into.  Afterwards, he promised them he would build them a school, and, literally, went back to America and started to fund raise from scratch.  He went on to build a bridge and school for that town, and 144 more schools.   Visit his websites, and look in your library for his books.

The other worthy organization is SOS Children's Villages.  They house orphans around the world, not in orphanages, but in homes with family based care.

Please consider giving to one or more of these organizations and promote true peace in the world.

Michele has let me know of a Catholic organization that works internationally to help children and the elderly in need throughout the world.  Chalice is a Canadian Catholic sponsorship program that operates in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Europe and Haiti.  Chalice is considered one of Canada's best charities.

Art and Beauty Tuesday--A Shady Spot

This painting, A Shady Spot on a Summer's Day by Henry William Banks Davis, really made me think of the cows that live up the street from us and huddle under the tree that boarders the stream they drink from.  I love looking at them when I drive by, especially the babies.  In spite of the title, what I notice in this painting is the light.  Everywhere there seems to be light.  And, in spite of the proliferation of light, Davis really turns up the amperage on the stream where the water blindingly reflects the sunlight.  This definitely captures the heat of midsummer.

Art and Beauty Tuesday--A Shady Spot

This painting, A Shady Spot on a Summer's Day by Henry William Banks Davis, really made me think of the cows that live up the street from us and huddle under the tree that boarders the stream they drink from.  I love looking at them when I drive by, especially the babies.  In spite of the title, what I notice in this painting is the light.  Everywhere there seems to be light.  And, in spite of the proliferation of light, Davis really turns up the amperage on the stream where the water blindingly reflects the sunlight.  This definitely captures the heat of midsummer.

St. Rose of Lima--August 23

Today is the feast of one of my favorite saints, Rose of Lima.

Rose was born in Lima, Peru in 1586.  She was named Isabelle but called Rose because of her beauty and rosy cheeks.  When she was 11 years old, she took the name Rose as a confirmation name.

She supported her family by her lace making and embroidery.

She dedicated herself to God early in her life and endured a decade of pressure from her parents to marry.

She was a third order Dominican and was the first American born saint.

She is the patroness of the Americas, needle workers, florists and gardeners.

St. Rose of Lima--August 23

Today is the feast of one of my favorite saints, Rose of Lima.

Rose was born in Lima, Peru in 1586.  She was named Isabelle but called Rose because of her beauty and rosy cheeks.  When she was 11 years old, she took the name Rose as a confirmation name.

She supported her family by her lace making and embroidery.

She dedicated herself to God early in her life and endured a decade of pressure from her parents to marry.

She was a third order Dominican and was the first American born saint.

She is the patroness of the Americas, needle workers, florists and gardeners.

Music Monday--Vaughan Williams

This is the third movement of Vaughan Williams' Folk Song Suit--another favorite of wind ensembles and one of my favorites.

Sorry about the complete lack of visuals with this--not my choice!

Music Monday--Vaughan Williams

This is the third movement of Vaughan Williams' Folk Song Suit--another favorite of wind ensembles and one of my favorites.

Sorry about the complete lack of visuals with this--not my choice!

Sunday Snippets, A Catholic Carnival

Sunday Snippets is brought to you each week by RAnn at a This, That and the Other Thing.

Music Monday this week featured Percy Grainger.  Art and Beauty Tuesday highlighted the most exquisite sculpture of The Assumption by Egid Assam and Poetry Wednesday was a reprise of Billy Collins' poem, Forgetfulness.  I reviewed 2 books this week: The Essential Jesus and The Great Emergence.  For Scripture Saturday, I talked about Jesus' prescription for worry and how trusting in God could change society.  Also on Saturday, I talked about calumny and detraction as a sin against peace.

On a lighter note, I posted a picture of 2 alpacas that I saw on the square at the farmer's market this morning.

Have a wonderful week, everyone.

Sunday Snippets, A Catholic Carnival

Sunday Snippets is brought to you each week by RAnn at a This, That and the Other Thing.

Music Monday this week featured Percy Grainger.  Art and Beauty Tuesday highlighted the most exquisite sculpture of The Assumption by Egid Assam and Poetry Wednesday was a reprise of Billy Collins' poem, Forgetfulness.  I reviewed 2 books this week: The Essential Jesus and The Great Emergence.  For Scripture Saturday, I talked about Jesus' prescription for worry and how trusting in God could change society.  Also on Saturday, I talked about calumny and detraction as a sin against peace.

On a lighter note, I posted a picture of 2 alpacas that I saw on the square at the farmer's market this morning.

Have a wonderful week, everyone.

Calumny and Detraction--a Sin Against Peace

I was thinking of calumny and detraction today.  They are 2 big words which encompass the sin of gossip. Gossip can be a sin whether or not what we say is true.

Detraction is saying something against another person that is not true--spreading falsehood against one's neighbor.

Calumny is harming another's reputation by saying something that is, nevertheless, true.

Both are sins against the 8th commandment and both are discouragingly easy to do.

They are also both sins against peace. If we are to have peace we are to be peace.  It is difficult, but everything is possible through the grace of God.

Our Lady, Queen of Peace, 

Pray for us! 

Calumny and Detraction--a Sin Against Peace

I was thinking of calumny and detraction today.  They are 2 big words which encompass the sin of gossip. Gossip can be a sin whether or not what we say is true.

Detraction is saying something against another person that is not true--spreading falsehood against one's neighbor.

Calumny is harming another's reputation by saying something that is, nevertheless, true.

Both are sins against the 8th commandment and both are discouragingly easy to do.

They are also both sins against peace. If we are to have peace we are to be peace.  It is difficult, but everything is possible through the grace of God.

Our Lady, Queen of Peace, 

Pray for us! 

Alpacas on the Square

For a complete change of pace, I wanted to share a picture of these 2 alpacas I saw today at the farmer's market. They were selling lots of cool things made from their wool.  Or, perhaps I should say, lots of warm things! ;)

Alpacas on the Square

For a complete change of pace, I wanted to share a picture of these 2 alpacas I saw today at the farmer's market. They were selling lots of cool things made from their wool.  Or, perhaps I should say, lots of warm things! ;)

Scripture Saturday--Against Anxiety

Look at the birds above your head
     they neither plant nor reap
     they neither store nor hoard

Look at the flowers beneath your feet
     they neither card nor spin
    they neither sow nor weave
yet King Solomon shone less brightly than they. 

So why worry about your life
     what you will get to eat
     what you will have to wear. 

Matthew 6:25-33 

Power is wielded by inducing anxiety, and in our day it is all pervading. We are made to be anxious over everything from our appearance and possessions to the possibility of contracting a rare and fatal disease to the supposed imminent apocalypse.

What if no one bought into the anxiety? If those on the bottom of the social scale lived as though they had no anxieties, think of how this could change society.

Scripture Saturday--Against Anxiety

Look at the birds above your head
     they neither plant nor reap
     they neither store nor hoard

Look at the flowers beneath your feet
     they neither card nor spin
    they neither sow nor weave
yet King Solomon shone less brightly than they. 

So why worry about your life
     what you will get to eat
     what you will have to wear. 

Matthew 6:25-33 

Power is wielded by inducing anxiety, and in our day it is all pervading. We are made to be anxious over everything from our appearance and possessions to the possibility of contracting a rare and fatal disease to the supposed imminent apocalypse.

What if no one bought into the anxiety? If those on the bottom of the social scale lived as though they had no anxieties, think of how this could change society.

Book Review--Great Emergence

The Great Emergence: How Christianity Is Changing and Why by Phyllis Tickle
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Great Emergence by Phyllis Tickle is a sociological study on the history and possible future of Christianity.

This text is unusual for its inclusion of and respect for both Catholicism and Orthodoxy in its 163 pages of exploration on how Christianity has changed, from just prior to the Reformation until today.

Its basic thesis is that society, and as a result, the church, changes drastically every 500 years, beginning with the rise of Monasticism about 500 years after Christ, with the transition periods being the most disruptive.

She talks about the effect of a myriad number of things on Christianity including such diverse phenomena as Charles Darwin, Alcoholics Anonymous, Rosy the Riveter and Leave it to Beaver.

The book really is a hopeful one all in all, of the survival of Christianity and even leaves us, in the footnotes, with a prophesy by Joachim of Fiore, that divides Christianity into bi-millennial units emphasizing the Father (from the beginning of time to the birth of Christ) , the Son (up to the year 2000), the Holy Spirit (from 2000-4000) and a glorious union of the three from the years 4000-5000 AD.  

View all my reviews »

Book Review--Great Emergence

The Great Emergence: How Christianity Is Changing and Why by Phyllis Tickle
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Great Emergence by Phyllis Tickle is a sociological study on the history and possible future of Christianity.

This text is unusual for its inclusion of and respect for both Catholicism and Orthodoxy in its 163 pages of exploration on how Christianity has changed, from just prior to the Reformation until today.

Its basic thesis is that society, and as a result, the church, changes drastically every 500 years, beginning with the rise of Monasticism about 500 years after Christ, with the transition periods being the most disruptive.

She talks about the effect of a myriad number of things on Christianity including such diverse phenomena as Charles Darwin, Alcoholics Anonymous, Rosy the Riveter and Leave it to Beaver.

The book really is a hopeful one all in all, of the survival of Christianity and even leaves us, in the footnotes, with a prophesy by Joachim of Fiore, that divides Christianity into bi-millennial units emphasizing the Father (from the beginning of time to the birth of Christ) , the Son (up to the year 2000), the Holy Spirit (from 2000-4000) and a glorious union of the three from the years 4000-5000 AD.  

View all my reviews »

Book Review--The Essential Jesus

  The Essential Jesus: Original Sayings and Earliest Images by John Dominic Crossan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Essential Jesus by John Dominic Crossan takes what he believes are sayings by the so-called "historical Jesus" and interprets them in light of Jesus' mission to bring the Kingdom of God on earth.

He translates key bible verses reflecting this opinion and sheds new light on some confusing and somewhat routine verses of scripture.  His translations are fresh, eye opening and very poetic.  

For example, Matthew 5:13 is normally translated along the lines of "You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned?"  It is a verse that I could never make complete sense of as it stands.  

Crossan translates it thusly:

What if those who are salt,
must themselves be seasoned?

In other words, "What if those who are supposed to have all the answers and wisdom, need answers themselves?"  

It is easy to see, after reading this book, why Jesus was executed.  His teachings were not all about nebulous good feelings for all, but about how the current power structure was not living up to its purported level of insight and how the only people truly blameless in a corrupt society were the truly destitute (as opposed to "the [mere] poor").

Crossan translates the famous verse from the Sermon on the Mount (Luke 6:20: "Blessed are the poor for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven") as

Only the destitute
are innocent.

The implication being that only those with absolutely nothing have not participated in any way in the corrupt power structures of society and are therefore innocent and living the Kingdom of God on earth.   

Much food for thought in this short and easy to read book. 

View all my reviews

Book Review--The Essential Jesus

  The Essential Jesus: Original Sayings and Earliest Images by John Dominic Crossan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Essential Jesus by John Dominic Crossan takes what he believes are sayings by the so-called "historical Jesus" and interprets them in light of Jesus' mission to bring the Kingdom of God on earth.

He translates key bible verses reflecting this opinion and sheds new light on some confusing and somewhat routine verses of scripture.  His translations are fresh, eye opening and very poetic.  

For example, Matthew 5:13 is normally translated along the lines of "You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned?"  It is a verse that I could never make complete sense of as it stands.  

Crossan translates it thusly:

What if those who are salt,
must themselves be seasoned?

In other words, "What if those who are supposed to have all the answers and wisdom, need answers themselves?"  

It is easy to see, after reading this book, why Jesus was executed.  His teachings were not all about nebulous good feelings for all, but about how the current power structure was not living up to its purported level of insight and how the only people truly blameless in a corrupt society were the truly destitute (as opposed to "the [mere] poor").

Crossan translates the famous verse from the Sermon on the Mount (Luke 6:20: "Blessed are the poor for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven") as

Only the destitute
are innocent.

The implication being that only those with absolutely nothing have not participated in any way in the corrupt power structures of society and are therefore innocent and living the Kingdom of God on earth.   

Much food for thought in this short and easy to read book. 

View all my reviews

Poetry Wednesday--Billy Collins

For Poetry Wednesday this week, we are featuring Billy Collins' poem, Forgetfulness.   The older I get, the more I identify with this poem.

Poetry Wednesday--Billy Collins

For Poetry Wednesday this week, we are featuring Billy Collins' poem, Forgetfulness.   The older I get, the more I identify with this poem.

Art and Beauty Tuesday--The Assumption

This is a detail of a sculpture of The Assumption of the Virgin by Egid Quirin Asam who was an 18th century German sculptor and architect. Portraying the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, commemorated on Sunday, is not an easy thing to do in 3 dimensions. Somehow Mary is suspended in the air, wearing a gorgeously patterned gilt dress and being helped to heaven by 2 angels, wearing gold sandals and trailing golden robes.

When looking at the sculpture as a whole, we can see the sculpted clouds above her head as she is taken into heaven and below, the astonished disciples look up into the sky while one (Thomas, perhaps?) reaches into her tomb in disbelief.

The level of artistry in this piece is almost unfathomable. I never cease to be dumbfounded at the skill it must take to turn something like stone into a living form.

There is probably no one who has inspired more great art in the history of mankind, just might be the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Art and Beauty Tuesday--The Assumption

This is a detail of a sculpture of The Assumption of the Virgin by Egid Quirin Asam who was an 18th century German sculptor and architect. Portraying the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, commemorated on Sunday, is not an easy thing to do in 3 dimensions. Somehow Mary is suspended in the air, wearing a gorgeously patterned gilt dress and being helped to heaven by 2 angels, wearing gold sandals and trailing golden robes.

When looking at the sculpture as a whole, we can see the sculpted clouds above her head as she is taken into heaven and below, the astonished disciples look up into the sky while one (Thomas, perhaps?) reaches into her tomb in disbelief.

The level of artistry in this piece is almost unfathomable. I never cease to be dumbfounded at the skill it must take to turn something like stone into a living form.

There is probably no one who has inspired more great art in the history of mankind, just might be the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Music Monday--Percy Grainger

This is part VI of Lincolnshire Posy by Percy Grainger and is a favorite among wind ensembles.  As its title suggests, Lost Lady Found is a joyful and upbeat piece.  

Music Monday--Percy Grainger

This is part VI of Lincolnshire Posy by Percy Grainger and is a favorite among wind ensembles.  As its title suggests, Lost Lady Found is a joyful and upbeat piece.  

Sunday Snippets, A Catholic Carnival

Sunday Snippets is brought to you each week by RAnn at a This, That and the Other Thing.

This week, we continued our Novena to Our Lord of the Transfiguration.  Music Monday featured vintage band music with my friend, Dr. Elisa Koehler.  For Art and Beauty Tuesday we went modern with the art of Karen Edelmann  and for Poetry Wednesday I featured a poem written by yours truly along with an illustration by Jean Eugene Buland.  Scripture Saturday talked about rain, cleansing and trials.  

Have a great week, everyone! 

Sunday Snippets, A Catholic Carnival

Sunday Snippets is brought to you each week by RAnn at a This, That and the Other Thing.

This week, we continued our Novena to Our Lord of the Transfiguration.  Music Monday featured vintage band music with my friend, Dr. Elisa Koehler.  For Art and Beauty Tuesday we went modern with the art of Karen Edelmann  and for Poetry Wednesday I featured a poem written by yours truly along with an illustration by Jean Eugene Buland.  Scripture Saturday talked about rain, cleansing and trials.  

Have a great week, everyone! 

Novena to Our Lord of the Transfiguration

Prayer

 Father of mercies, you glorified your heavenly Son and revealed yourself in the bright cloud, grant that we may listen in faith to have a love for the word of Christ. Amen.

      Profession of Faith

   I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit; born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended to the dead, on the third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From thence, He shall come again to judge the living and the dead. 
 I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. Amen.

     Concluding prayer* 

            God, our Father, in the transfigured glory of Christ your Son, you strengthen our faith by confirming the witness of your prophets and by showing to us the splendor of your beloved Son, help us to become heirs to the eternal life with Him, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Ninth Day
Day 9.  The event of the transfiguration marks a decisive moment in the ministry of Jesus. A revelatory event which prefigures the glory of the Resurrection, it was given to the disciples to prepare them for the tragedy of the Cross. The resurrection of Jesus is the epiphany of the Trinity. The Father raises Jesus from the dead and the first gift of the glorification is the sending of the Holy Spirit.

 Prayer.  O Christ, you will reform our lowly body and make it like your glorious one, we pray for our brothers and sisters who have died that they may share your glory forever. Amen.

Novena to Our Lord of the Transfiguration

Prayer

 Father of mercies, you glorified your heavenly Son and revealed yourself in the bright cloud, grant that we may listen in faith to have a love for the word of Christ. Amen.

      Profession of Faith

   I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit; born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended to the dead, on the third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From thence, He shall come again to judge the living and the dead. 
 I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. Amen.

     Concluding prayer* 

            God, our Father, in the transfigured glory of Christ your Son, you strengthen our faith by confirming the witness of your prophets and by showing to us the splendor of your beloved Son, help us to become heirs to the eternal life with Him, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Ninth Day
Day 9.  The event of the transfiguration marks a decisive moment in the ministry of Jesus. A revelatory event which prefigures the glory of the Resurrection, it was given to the disciples to prepare them for the tragedy of the Cross. The resurrection of Jesus is the epiphany of the Trinity. The Father raises Jesus from the dead and the first gift of the glorification is the sending of the Holy Spirit.

 Prayer.  O Christ, you will reform our lowly body and make it like your glorious one, we pray for our brothers and sisters who have died that they may share your glory forever. Amen.

Scripture Saturday

For I know the Lord is great,
that our Lord is high above all gods.
The Lord does whatever he wills,
in heaven, on earth, in the seas.

He summons clouds from the ends of the earth;
makes lightning produce the rain;
from his treasuries he sends forth the wind.

~Psalm 135 Friday, April 13, 2010, Evening Prayer

It rained this week. It was the first real rain we'd had in a long, long time. It was as if God was sending us a heavenly cleansing.

Another symbolism of rain is one of sadness or trial. Evening Prayer for Friday also tells us to rejoice in our trials. Very hard to do. It is very difficult when our faith is tested, but scripture tells us that it leads to maturity.

My brothers and sisters, count it pure joy when you are involved in every sort of trial. Realize that when your faith is tested this makes for endurance. Let endurance come to its perfection so that you may be fully mature and lacking in nothing.

~James 1:2-4

Scripture Saturday

For I know the Lord is great,
that our Lord is high above all gods.
The Lord does whatever he wills,
in heaven, on earth, in the seas.

He summons clouds from the ends of the earth;
makes lightning produce the rain;
from his treasuries he sends forth the wind.

~Psalm 135 Friday, April 13, 2010, Evening Prayer

It rained this week. It was the first real rain we'd had in a long, long time. It was as if God was sending us a heavenly cleansing.

Another symbolism of rain is one of sadness or trial. Evening Prayer for Friday also tells us to rejoice in our trials. Very hard to do. It is very difficult when our faith is tested, but scripture tells us that it leads to maturity.

My brothers and sisters, count it pure joy when you are involved in every sort of trial. Realize that when your faith is tested this makes for endurance. Let endurance come to its perfection so that you may be fully mature and lacking in nothing.

~James 1:2-4

Novena to Our Lord of the Transfiguration

Prayer

 Father of mercies, you glorified your heavenly Son and revealed yourself in the bright cloud, grant that we may listen in faith to have a love for the word of Christ. Amen.

      Profession of Faith

   I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit; born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended to the dead, on the third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From thence, He shall come again to judge the living and the dead. 
 I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. Amen.

     Concluding prayer* 

            God, our Father, in the transfigured glory of Christ your Son, you strengthen our faith by confirming the witness of your prophets and by showing to us the splendor of your beloved Son, help us to become heirs to the eternal life with Him, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Eighth Day

Day 8.  The Transfiguration of the Lord is one shining moment in the life of the apostles that prepares them for the trials ahead. Peter, James and John experience the glory in the mountain of Transfiguration. This is a foretaste of the glory that will be theirs in the Father’s kingdom, and it will let them see them through the “terrible” days when Jesus undergoes His passion and death, and when they themselves are persecuted in his name. 

Prayer.  O Christ, upon the mountaintop you let the light of your face shin over Moses and Elijah. We ask your blessing upon your people who call on your name, who want to belong to the kingdom of light and life. Amen.

Novena to Our Lord of the Transfiguration

Prayer

 Father of mercies, you glorified your heavenly Son and revealed yourself in the bright cloud, grant that we may listen in faith to have a love for the word of Christ. Amen.

      Profession of Faith

   I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit; born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended to the dead, on the third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From thence, He shall come again to judge the living and the dead. 
 I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. Amen.

     Concluding prayer* 

            God, our Father, in the transfigured glory of Christ your Son, you strengthen our faith by confirming the witness of your prophets and by showing to us the splendor of your beloved Son, help us to become heirs to the eternal life with Him, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Eighth Day

Day 8.  The Transfiguration of the Lord is one shining moment in the life of the apostles that prepares them for the trials ahead. Peter, James and John experience the glory in the mountain of Transfiguration. This is a foretaste of the glory that will be theirs in the Father’s kingdom, and it will let them see them through the “terrible” days when Jesus undergoes His passion and death, and when they themselves are persecuted in his name. 

Prayer.  O Christ, upon the mountaintop you let the light of your face shin over Moses and Elijah. We ask your blessing upon your people who call on your name, who want to belong to the kingdom of light and life. Amen.

Novena to Our Lord of the Transfiguration

 Prayer

 Father of mercies, you glorified your heavenly Son and revealed yourself in the bright cloud, grant that we may listen in faith to have a love for the word of Christ. Amen.

      Profession of Faith

   I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit; born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended to the dead, on the third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From thence, He shall come again to judge the living and the dead. 
 I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. Amen.

     Concluding prayer* 

            God, our Father, in the transfigured glory of Christ your Son, you strengthen our faith by confirming the witness of your prophets and by showing to us the splendor of your beloved Son, help us to become heirs to the eternal life with Him, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Seventh Day

Day 7.  Without the Risen Christ, Transfiguration has no meaning. It would appear to be just futile show without a happy ending. But the Resurrection confirms the golry that was shown during the transfiguration and which rightly belongs to Jesus. The golry will be manifested eventually in His second coming for the last judgment.

 Prayer.  O Christ, you gave light to the world when the glory of the Creator arose over you. We pray for the men and women of good will that they walk in your light. Amen.