October 15, 2007

Societas Scholasticorum

While it isn't in my line of things, this website generated by a group of DC area professors and students may be of interest to many readers.

I consider this kind of thing a really wonderful opportunity to those so inclined--for me it is a temptation to get wrapped up in my own intellect and spend all of my time perpetual gazing into the mirror of my own intellectual vanity (and believe me, I do too much of that as it is). So I have to stay away from such endeavors, even while heartily recommending them to those of firmer constitution than myself. Go and see if this is something that interests you and support them if so.

Thanks.

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October 7, 2007

Catholics for Ron Paul

Here.

On Mr. Paul, I have no coherent opinion--I offer this for those who are less than well-acquainted with this dark horse presidential candidate. Some things sound good, but others sound benighted. One would have to see how they played out and I'm not sure I'm willing to take the risk. But then, I don't suspect I'll get the chance--in which case his name makes as good a write-in as NOTA.

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September 11, 2007

Psalm Settings

This site--The St. Noel Habanel Responsorial Psalm Project looks like it may have some really good materials--there is sheet music for organ and voice that is based on Gregorian modes for chanting the psalms. Unfortunately, the several times I've tried to get into some of the more interesting stuff on my Mac, the site has forced a crash of the browser. So, Mac user just be aware.

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July 10, 2007

A New Link

Thanks to TSO, a link to a blog new to me For Keats' Sake.

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March 9, 2007

The Spirit of Vatican II v. Traditionalism

At the Roving Medievalist--priceless.

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March 6, 2007

Being the Body

At Disputations a beautiful meditation that requires no further comment.

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February 28, 2007

The First First Friday in Lent

And I'd like to remind everyone of the effort being joined by our Dallas Blogging friends to bring an end to the scourge of abortion.

Mark has some things to say about first Friday devotions and elsewhere on his and Julie D.'s site is their statement of solidarity in the cause. Please join your prayers to those of our blogging friends in Dallas as they continue on their prayer crusade.

Thank you.

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February 16, 2007

A Joint Effort

Please join our Dallas Blogger Friends in their prayerful effort to put an end to abortion.

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January 31, 2007

Ladies Against Feminism

Found via the very elegant Tea at Trianon, Ladies Against Feminism has so much of interest one hardly knows where to begin. Insightful reading for persons of both sexes. (NOT genders, if you please--a word that has only a linguistic meaning and subject of much abuse [if you think not, look into "gender studies" courses that give a minimum of seven mind-boggling genders--following the cultured example of the sites I have cited, I shall not assault your sensibilities.])

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January 11, 2007

On Wealth and Enough

This, from TSO, seems right on target:

I'm often puzzled by those who are resentful of the rich and who are bothered by disparities of income. Disparity is minutiae, what counts is how much the poor have, whether their needs are met, and that the "floor" be as high as possible.

This is the roadmap for the end of envy (at least in matters material). The focus should not be on taking away from someone in order to even out the playing field, but rather on supplying those who are in want with the things they need in order to live a decent life. Now, some systems are better at this than others and the difficulty often seems to be how to make the desirable result come about without undesirable consequences for everyone else.

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January 10, 2007

A Powerful Reflection

At Disputations:

And if we think that, apart from Him Who is the Truth and the Life, we aren't captives and prisoners, then no wonder the devil doesn't work any harder at oppressing us. Even today, "all those who are oppressed by the devil" means all of us.

Read the whole thing.

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January 9, 2007

You Tube etc.

Intrigued by some of the finds Erik has made at You Tube, I was provoked to go and find some things of my own. I was amazed at the variety and number of things I could find.

However, I hesitate to post them because I am uncertain of their copyright status and I certainly would not want to inadvertently bring down the wrath of the lawyers upon this little place.

But the internet is truly amazing. I can see the Peter Gabriel Genesis, including both Foxtrot and The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. I found several clips from Curved Air including the very lovely "Melinda, More or Less," and the haunting "Marie Antoinette" (both from the superb album Phantasmagoria. I was able to find some of the Annie Haslam Renaissance and performances of works by Gentle Giant, Christian Vander's Magma (a jazz rock fusion group that sings songs of alien societies in a completely made up language), the Robert Fripp incarnation of King Crimson, Aphrodite's Child (which gave us Vangelis), T. Rex with Elton John playing "Bang a Gong," John Foxx, Ultravox, Gary Numan, Lene Lovich, and too many others even to list. Suffice to say a cornucopia of the odd, the weird, the wonderful, the beautiful, and the absurd. What an archive of culture. Where else might you find performances by The Residents (including an excerpt from The Third Reich and Roll Album and Tuxedomoon (a mention of which at Erik's site sent me off on this search to start with.

Now my Amazon Wish-List is crammed full of what I used to listen to and had largely forgotten when my vinyl became more or less obsolete. Bill Nelson, Be-Bop Deluxe, Klaus Schulze, PFM, Nash the Slash, Joy Division, Nick Drake. . .


and so it continues. Amazing things. There were very few even very obscure artists who were not available--Peter Hammill, Jan Akkerman, Steve Hackett (not that these are necessarily terribly obscure--but try it and see.)

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January 8, 2007

Small is Still Beautiful

I don't know what to think about the economic theories of Schumacher etc., although I readily admit to being charmed by the notion of self-limitation, however, here is a blog, Small is Still Beautiful that features the writing of Joseph Pearce. Thanks due to Joshua, The Western Confucian

I don't know what to make of the "subsidiarist" movement. Were it to catch on, I strongly doubt my own abilities to participate in anything like a meaningful contributive way; but then, do I really participate in a capitalist system in any way that regulates the system or makes it a just economic system under which to live? Do any of us "buy responsibly" at all times, or even most of the time?

I must read more about this subject, but as my agenda is full to the brim, it may take a while to get around to it. As I tend to like the prose of Mr. Pearce, it may well be that his "follow-up" will be the first work I tackle.

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December 24, 2006

Merry Christmas, Joyeux Noel, Feliz Navidad

And all other greetings of this festive and Holy Season

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December 19, 2006

The Catholic Church of the Future

Elliot, at Claw of the Conciliator, reviews an e-book of short fiction dedicated to the future of the Catholic Church. Sounds good.

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November 28, 2006

Making New Acquaintances

I don't get out much.

Not even in the blog world.

Frankly, there are just too many blogs of interest and I often can't keep up with the very limited, but very worthy list of blogs in my side column.

So as a result, I am often last to the party, but I often arrive.

I just found a blog by a priest that really struck me. Bonfire of the Vanities has been around for a while, but as I am not particularly drawn to priestly or religious blogs (by sheer virtue of them being priestly or religious) and because I had not encountered Fr. Fox elsewhere, I missed this wonderful blog.

And what is most wonderful is the providence that brought me there during a very difficult time I am having over a number of issues, personal and faith-related.

What should I find there when I arrive, but this very consoling, very pastoral post:

So: there's a lot of ferment in matters of liturgy -- and yet, a great number of God's people are tired of it all. They've seen a lot of tinkering and monkeying around with liturgy, a lot of changes mandated from the bishops or Rome, and they would like to pray.

Well, there are a number of keyboard combatants out there who say that if a priest doesn't immediately start offering Mass, all in Latin, ad orientem, without extraordinary ministers, with only male servers, etc., etc., he "lacks courage" and seeks a "lowest common denominator" liturgy.

I will leave it to your imagination as to why they have so much time to lecture pastors via the Internet, as well as why their own pastors don't listen to them.

I have said before, I am not a traditionalist. It would be pretension on my part to claim to be so. I came into the Church during the reign of JPII. I came in with a lot of struggle and a lot of turmoil and it has taken me a long time to shed many of my protestant trapppings. And honestly, they aren't all gone yet. Nor do I think they will ever be. And that's all right because it is part of who I am. But I am not a traditionalist.

And I am turned off by the anger and bitterness of many traditionalists. (Not that I don't understand it, I do. And I even sympathize. But the rigidity that it often instills isn't particular attractive nor conducive to showing the wonders of the Catholic Faith. On the other hand, if in one fell swoop all that you loved and all the supported you and held you up through years of faith life were swept away and simultaneously the secular revolution entered a phase that brought faith-life to a stand-still. . . well, you get the point. It isn't that traditionalists are wrong or don't have good reason for how they feel, it's just that for some the bitterness of that feeling leaks into the conversations and interactions they have in general. For a long time I thought I was opposed to the Latin Mass and the return thereto; it took me a while to figure out that what I was opposed to was the personal offensiveness of a small number of people who ardently desired that return.)

And I have to admit to be numbed, aggravated, and confused by much of the trumpeting and crowing and partial announcements and indecisions--"We'll have a full indult." "No the French Bishops delayed it." "This is the right translation." "No, that is the literal translation, this is the actual meaning."

It tends to put my faith-life and my worship completely out of focus. I am so focused on the accidents that I miss entirely that God is present. I am so flustered and bothered by the noise in my head that I can't see God or engage in prayer in any fruitful way.

And so I happen upon this voice of calm and reason, this voice that says to me, at least in this passage and for this time, "There are many valid ways of being Catholic. Don't let precision destroy intimacy. God is present."

Thank you, Father Fox, even if it wasn't what you intended to say, God gave me a great consolation through your words.

(And if I have inadvertently offended any who call themselves traditionalists, please forgive me, I certainly was not trying to tar all with the same brush, and my anecdotal experiences may not be typical of an ordinary interaction.)

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November 27, 2006

Prayer for the Pope's Trip to Turkey

I had intended to post this prayer; however, Blog-by-the-Sea saved me the trouble.

Thank you.

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November 21, 2006

Fulton Sheen

I can't vouch for how good the site may or may not be, but here's a place where you can download Fulton Sheen talks.

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Must Read

TSO's Spanning the Globe is an unusually good round-up in a column that is always top-notch. Go and see.

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November 8, 2006

Greeting in a Different Light

At Disputations.

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November 5, 2006

From Evil Comes Evil

From, A Penitent Blogger, a useful reminder:

The scary truth is that evil actions always have evil results even when there was not evil intent or when there was an impeccable excuse.

It should therefore be no surprise that the world around us is piled high with the evil effects of innumerable evil deeds - ours and others. Both the deliberate and the well-intentioned evils of humanity have woven a web of evil consequences that a thousand years of altruism alone could not undo.

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November 2, 2006

Roman Catholic Search Engine

Developed by a St. Blogs Parishioner.

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October 28, 2006

MamaT's Homeschool Contribution

MamaT posted a link to Pachelbel's Canon, a piece Sam is currently learning for a future piano recital.

Here's my response to MamaT:

Dear MamaT,

Thank you! You just contributed to a homeschool lesson about why it's important to practice your piano. Sam loved that piece and he's learning it on piano now. I pointed out to him that once he learned enough piano playing and theory he'd be able to build his own Canon.

"And my own music?"

"And your own music."

"And other people would play it?"

"Yes."

Thanks again MamaT.

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October 25, 2006

Look! Look! A St. Blogger's Book

Because Mrs. Nancy Brown was gracious enough to stop by, leave a comment, and an address whereby I might find her, I discovered that she has out (or will have out shortly) A Study Guide to G. K. Chesterton's St. Francis of Assisi. If this is cover proof, we may soon see the book. Go, admire, ooh and aah, and wish Nancy the best on her new publication!

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October 16, 2006

Congratulations!

I'm guessing from a post on Roz's blog that Detroit won the world series. So my congratulations to all those Detroit Fans--Roz, Goodform, etc.

Now for a bit of embarrassing revelation--I didn't even know the series was going on until I glanced at her blog a week ago and then I divined only that it involved Detroit and somebody else. Talking to someone of Saturday night, I had no idea that the last game was being played.

You know, if it doesn't involve water (or books) it just doesn't seem to impinge on my consciousness at all. I suppose I should be chagrined and shame-faced over this, but I just can't muster up any shame. Never have paid attention and at this late date, doubt that I shall start.

But that doesn't stop me from congratulating all of those to whom it did matter.

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September 22, 2006

Powerful Advice

I snatch the quotation below from a very fine piece by TSO:

Reminds me of what a bishop (I think it was a bishop) once said. He said he usually prays for three minutes. But it takes thirty minutes of prayer to get there.

A lot of encouragement in very few words. Persistence, another face of humility.

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September 11, 2006

In Memoriam

I'm too distraught to say anything, and probably should be observing the silence I intended to keep today; however, Suburban Banshee at Aliens in This World posts a remarkable tribute to help remember those who lost their lives on this day five years ago.

Mr. Blosser provides another.

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August 30, 2006

A Return to St. Blogs

Santificarnos has returned with some excellent stuff. Go and see.

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August 3, 2006

Please Use the Comments Box and Say Hello!

I miss out on so much because my stats counter doesn't filter a lot of stuff and after the first few days of the month people who visit from distant lands are pushed to the bottom that I cannot read while the spiders rule. This month I was fortunate enough to find among my visitors a very interesting site with a most interesting name and epigraph Jelly-Pinched Theatre appears to be a site interested both in Relgion and, most interestingly, The Literary Gothic--one of my very favorite sites. I never fail to be amazed when I encounter persons with similar taste among the faithful; but then I suppose that is why we are the Catholic Church rather than the "almost-Catholic Church."

Visit if you're so inclined for a nice review of Lady in the Water among other delights.

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August 1, 2006

Florence King on Ann Coulter

Here. Thanks to Brandon.

I'd like to play in this game, but I can't because I dislike Ann Coulter's approach to things in the same way I dislike Maureen Dowd's, Molly Ivin's, and Al Franken's. For me, she unman's any point she may have to make with a vitriolic diatribe directed at tearing down a person--an unacceptable way to relate to others and a poor example. And its a shame because she has some good points. But rather than viewing her points as serious arguments, I'm afraid I look upon her as a largely self-aggrandizing, vicious clown--rather the terrestrial version of Killer Klowns from Outer Space. But that's just my view--I've little patience for those whose mode of argument is embellished with ad hominem remarks of, as Florence would have it, the sledgehammer sort.

Nevertheless, the article is good, and its King's rapier that is my own preferred mode of operation if one must--but mostly one mustn't.

"I can't afford to hate people. I don't have that kind of time."


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July 31, 2006

I Will Fight No More Forever

Jeff Culbreath might not agree with Chief Joseph's statement above, but in the close examination of conscience and with a clear eye as to what was happening to his people, Chief Joseph made this promise. I think he was considering the same things Jeff writes about in two posts.

And the answer to Jeff's question is very simple--unless that little girl was walking into your house, country, public place, with a bomb strapped onto her back and the trigger in her hand, it is never licit. Collateral damage is one of those horrible Minitruth phrases that covers up the hideous reality. When we condone even the use of the term "collateral damage," we are complicit in depriving mothers of their children, fathers of their families, and innocents of their lives. The proper term is "civilian deaths and casualties."

"All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." Granted none of us are good, but surely some of us are good enough to recognize that the slaughter of innocents is not "collateral damage"--it is sheer evil dressed up as necessity. Any person who does not mourn when this happens has become a monster.

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July 28, 2006

Speaking of Cultural Conversations

TSO links to Ulysses meets Fred Flinstone, a prime example of how art advances by the interactions of one artist with another. A modification to which no exception should be taken, and extremely amusing.

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June 14, 2006

Semicolon

Semicolon

I don't know if Semicolon qualifies for St. Blogs, but if you haven't discovered this utterly delightful blog, you owe yourself the treat. Books and faith.

That's it, what more need be said, except that the Blogmaster imagines herself at tea with Tasha Tudor, Madeleine L'Engle, P.D. James and others.

Except that she had a nice long post on the observed differences between her girls and boys.

Except that she really, really, really likes, perhaps even loves books and sharing her reading with us.

I need to visit more often, and I encourage everyone to stop by and say hello. You'll be glad you did.

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May 11, 2006

A Must Read

Disputations

A short and lovely discussion of Christian charity. Now, how to move from cistern to fountain. . . ah, Grace. . .

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April 28, 2006

Dylan's Return?

more last than star


Or at least a sound from silence. Go and say hello.

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April 27, 2006

Good Lord, Forgive me

Here is a reconstruction of the psalm to indicate my particular experiences over at Zippy's and Disputations of recent date:

Revised Psalm 131

1] O LORD, my heart is way lifted up,
my eyes are ever raised too high;
I stuff myself full of things
too great and too marvelous for me.
[2) And I have incited and roiled-up my soul,
like a child unfed and squalling at its mother's breast;
like a child that is mid-squall is my soul.
[3] Nevertheless, I hope in the LORD
from this time forth and for evermore.

I don't know why I engage in these ways. I haven't the intellectual wherewithal to do it, and it amounts to mere temptation to pride. But at least the two discussion have been fruitful and I think I begin to understand some things that have never made much sense to me. If you're inclined to do so the comments at ,DNR at Disputations can be quite mind-boggling. The discussion centers around the question of what post-resurrection bodies are/will be/ can only be and whether or not they are the "same" bodies that are present here and now. (I was going to write, that we "possess" now, but that seems rather wrong for a whole raft of reasons I'm unready to reel off.) But the discussion is exemplary of the way an exchange of ideas may take place that helps those attentive to and desirous of the truth to move toward the truth even if its fullness eludes them.

Nevertheless, it would be pure and damnable hubris to claim that I am in any way up to the discussion and that to engage in it is not engaging things far beyond my own capacity. I only hope that by listening and asking questions I can come to fuller knowledge--God will be merciful even as I am not.

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April 5, 2006

Note to Self

Remember this, when on occasion in the future you feel the impulse to write about matters controversial.

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March 6, 2006

Amateur Catholics

Amateur Catholic


A group blog--some of these characters you already know.

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On The Way of the Cross

Disputations

To demonstrate just how few heebee-jeebies this particular Carmelite has, I direct your attention to a very interesting set of posts chez Disputations. Tom is doing a really fine job of helping us to understand just what it means to take up your Cross and follow Jesus.

Another reason to thank God for the many parishioners of St. Blogs.

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February 22, 2006

From Summa Minutiae

Latin Proverb of the Day

Some neat insights into some Latin proverbs. I particularly like

Non mihi sapit qui sermone sed qui factis sapit.

Go and read.

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February 21, 2006

A Probably Not Terribly Interesting Factoid

Those of you who have been around St. Blog's for a while know that I absolutely love numbers. I love what they say and what they don't say.

Let's take a look at the recent Catholic Blog Awards. There were sixteen categories. Look at the relative number of votes in the various categories and you'll see an interesting trend.

The absolute lowest number of votes (1022) occurred in the "Most Devotional Blog" award category. I suppose this is meet and fit as St. Blog's would not want to disturb those of us nominated from our lofty contemplations by the stampeding roar of voter's feet. Then we have "New Blog" at 1284, and "Most Creative" at 1293.

That 300 fewer votes occurred in the "Most Devotional Blog" is significant. It implies that St. Blogs parishioners are even more afraid of devotional things than they are of New things or Creative things.

How can we eradicate devotiophobia? I'm uncertain, but I do know that it is the next crusade. Next year, people should be more afraid of New things than of devotional things.

Of course, perhaps it is the fearsome thought of disturbing God's intimates that keeps the droves away. Or perhaps St. Blogs is wise enough to realize that "sleeping dogs" and "rapt contemplatives" belong in the same category of attentions. Disturb a rapt contemplative and you'll probably get an earful of something that as Samuel typified it, "He sure talks a lot and I don't understand a thing he's saying. . ."

So my campaign for next year is already outlined--get more people to vote for devotional blog than for one other category. Penultimate next year, as for the future--Ante-penultimate and beyond--the sky's the limit.

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Hooray Julie! Hooray Father Jim!

I don't know how she pulled it off, but Julie D. of Happy Catholic won best blog by a woman. Remarkable, truly remarkable.

Congratulations--I know I was pulling for you--I'm just astounded and pleased. (Not that I would be any less pleased for Ms. Welborn--it's just that, well, I've MET Julie!)

Congratulations again.

And congratulations to Father Jim, one of my very favorite blogs!

And congratulations to all of the winners and to all who have enjoyed the proceedings.

And a heartfelt thanks to the people who went to such pains to organize the whole proceedings.

Of course, do keep in mind, these are preliminary results. And those of us in the great State of Florida are already agitating for a recount! It's our very favorite kind of count. Dangling and pregnant Chads--woohoo!!

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February 19, 2006

The Catholic Blog Awards

I realize how very ungracious I have been, not thanking the wonderful parishioners for the real honor they have tendered me in nominating me for "Best Devotional Blog." Thank you all, thank you very much.

If you are so inclined, please go and vote there. Vote for Julie D. and for Rick Lugari, and when you're faced with the difficult choices in devotional blogs, I would ask you to vote for A Penitent Blogger-Penitens. While I can, once in a while offer something in the devotional mode, it is a rare day when Penitens does not. All devotion, all the time. I realize that is not the most popular mode of blogging, but Penitens does it so well--and if St. Blogs is to honor someone whose work really does focus on devotion and glorifying God, then I would suggest that Penitens should be the one. This is a blog I look up to and admire deeply. I cannot sustain the depth that is there, although I can swim in those depths every day.

But once again, I can't thank everyone who participated in this nomination enough. I am very pleased that this blog is seen as being of service. Thank you all, and my sincere apologies in being so slow to acknowledge this debt of gratitude.

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February 12, 2006

One Way of Saying Thanks

Happy Catholic

If there is someone on your blogroll who makes your world a better place just because that person exists and who you would not have met (in real life or not) without the internet, then post this same sentence on your blog.

And the place where I found this, is, in fact, one of several. You others know who you are.

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January 31, 2006

Notes for Puzzled Dominicans

Our resident highly intelligent, but overly-complicated resident Dominican, Brother Thomas of Disputations says that Pope Benedict XVI gave us an encyclical without clear instruction in what to do next. I begged to differ, and Brother Thomas restated the case that there was nothing explicit--no steps. Well, of course there are no steps, I reply in the spirit of collegiality and Carmelite Simplicity. Steps imply complexity and to be in God is to be in simplicity, hence no need for steps. Ironic, is it not, that simplicity comes to those who haven't really got a clue what it's about, but for those who can define it, articulate it, and spell it out for the rest of us it's a major challenge. Anyway, the unadulterated text of a potential reply follows.


Dear Tom,

Sheesh! You Dominicans seem to need a roadmap for everything. Three steps to prayer, seven steps to the perfect sermon, nineteen steps to Christian service.

Goodness, the Pope said follow the ascending line of purified eros to the point where the intertwining of eros and agape lead you to intimacy with the Lord. There you learn your particular and peculiar mission and are sent forth on it. Said mission is to be prosecuted with the maximum of Christian Charity and a minimum of personal agenda. Seems to me that without a visit to your house, the Pope couldn't get much more explicit about how to go about what you were supposed to be doing!

In short as with some sports shoe or another--"Just do it!"

Evidently, one man's marching orders are another man's pleasant and moving reflection. The Lord speaks to us through the same vehicles, but ultimately says what each one needs to hear through who we are. So maybe I shouldn't be so hard on the Dominicans.

(Nah! What fun would that be?)

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The Catholic Blog Awards

The 2006 Catholic Blog Awards

Helas, I'm having trouble nominating people, but I will continue--probably use a different browser. For those with functioning broswers, please rush over and nominate your favorite blogs. Nominations close on Friday of this week.

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January 30, 2006

Hurrah--TSO Is Home Again

With a report on his cruise.

Welcome back TSO. In the words of the famous song--"It's so nice to have you back where you belong!"

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December 1, 2005

An Amusing Innovation--The Angli-Can

The Waffling Anglican: Angli-Can


One of those cases where I am not in the position to say it, but someone from within is certainly entitled. Amusing a la Curt Jester.

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November 20, 2005

Beautiful, Touching Story at TSO's

Video meliora, proboque; Deteriora sequor

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A New Home

Blog by-the-Sea

Blog-by-the-Sea has moved to other shores. Please stop by and welcome Ms. Polk to her new digs.

Posted by Steven Riddle at 10:56 AM | TrackBack

November 9, 2005

"Perspective on Faith"

Disputations


Do yourself a favor and head over to read this wonderful reflection and the comments that accompany it. They blessed me for the last two days. Thanks Tom.

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November 2, 2005

A Gentle Reminder/Request

Frappr!

Because my map is now so far buried under the avalanche of yesterday and today, if you're of a mind to, it would be very nice for you to add your name and location to my map. If not, that's fine too--no pressure. But I wanted to make sure that everyone who wanted to had the opportunity.

Posted by Steven Riddle at 10:27 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

November 1, 2005

To All the Saints. . .

Happy Catholic

From Julie D. at Happy Catholic:
Jean at Catholic Fire is expressing gratitude to her favorite saints for their help on the way by listing them with a few of the traits she admires most. Great idea!

Julie shares her list, and I shall share mine. I'm certain that much of it will surprise no one--but there may be a few surprises.

St Augustine--his real and arduous struggle against the sins of the flesh and his ecstatic love of God.

St. Benedict--level-headedness and clarity, as well as charity in the development of the rule for relilgious life.

St. Catherine of Siena--her determination, her courage, her hard work

Dorothy Day--her sheer grit and determination, her love for the poor, her humility

St. Frances de Sales--his brilliant writing, his pastoral personality

St. Ignatius of Loyola--his missionary zeal, his solid teaching and training in prayer

St. John of the Cross--his poetry, his gentleness, his humor, and his solid, clear teaching.

St. Katherine Drexel--her love for the poor and underprivileged, her life of total self-giving

The Martyrs of Compeigne--their faithful, true and abiding witness to the truth, their prayer for their country, their intercession in bringing about the end of the reign of terror

St. Maximilian Kolbe--his imitation of Christ, his example of love

St. (Blessed?) Nils Stensen--his perfect combination of pastoral ministry as bishop and profound exploration of science. (We have him to thank for the principle of superposition, the principle of original horizontality, his Prodromus--all of which paved the way for the scientific pursuit of paleontology; and Steno's law, or the first law of crystolography [the angles between corresponding faces of a crystal remain constant and characteristic.

St. Paul--his intellect, his will, and his sheer vision and power and his ability to make some of the most complex things simple (and some of the simplest things complex).

St. Teresa of Avila--her down-to-earth humor, her practicality, her rich spirituality.

St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross--her love for her people, her intellect, and her passion.

St. Teresa Margaret Redi--Her pure and simple love of God, her self-sacrificing service

St. Teresa of the Andes--her pure and abiding love and drive toward God

Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta--her joy, her simplicity, her example of service

St. Therese of Lisieux--her strength, her simplicity, her deep love

St. Thomas More--his integrity, his consistency, his nobility, his love of wife and family


My, what a lot of Teresas and derivitives!

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Christ's Knowledge of Self

speculative catholic: Anne Rice's 'Christ the Lord'

An interesting discussion is occurring in the comments column of this review of Anne Rice's new book. If there are those who understand better what the Church teaches about Christ's knowledge and understanding of self, I'm sure your input would be helpful. If not, go and enjoy the speculation.

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Blessed Feast of All Saints

A Chain of Thoughts for All Saints Day

May you find food for thought, prayer, and meditation throughout the day in this selection of offerings from our Carmelite Saints and from others. Thanks Teresa--this post is by way of my comment to you--hoping to send many to profit from your hard work.

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An End to Anger?

Disputations

Tom has been posting a beautiful series of posts on anger. An excerpt of one of the most recent appears below:

from Disputations

We are, of course, obliged to pray for our enemies, an obligation that would seem to extend to those who aren't our enemies so much as people we flat don't like. It is, I find, a very liberating experience -- animosity and anger being what we're liberated from -- to simply pray that God give them the graces they need to fulfill God's will for them, without reminding God what His will for them is. That is, to pray, "Fill his heart with Your love," without adding, "so that he'll finally stop being such an idjit."

Haloscan appeared to have problems communicating with my browser this morning. I had left the message that follows as a comment in the thread, but I don't know if it ever took. so I take the liberty of posting a response here.

Dear Tom,

Perhaps the best way of avoiding anger--and here I'm talking about the general disseminated anger that is so debilitating--is to cultivate a more immediate response that is not anger.

Often anger emerges from fear. We are angry because it gives us a more "proactive" approach to what we fear. People angry about the liturgy fear the loss of meaning that they perceive. People angry about this or that abuse fear the destruction such abuses may cause. Not all anger stems from fear, but much does.

We turn to the Bible and see that "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment." (1 John 4:18 KJV) Perfect love casts out fear--the same fear that can give rise to this dissipative, poisonous anger. When we look at Jesus in the temple, we can see the difference between His anger and our own. His anger is "zeal for the House of His Father." There is no touch of fear or dread. When His fear was greatest and nearly overwhelming, He poured out His love as drops of blood and was able to do His Father's will in perfect forgiveness, joy, and peace. There is no trace of anger in the passion--though He certainly had cause.

So perhaps if we cultivate this perfect love in prayer, if we spend time with Jesus in the Scriptures, if we learn to trust Him and hold Him up as our example, if, in short we learn to Love Him as perfect Love demands, then anger will become an "also-ran," a secondary recourse, a support from the framework of love--rare, zealous, and perfecting.

shalom,

Steven

I just felt it went with the theme of the day, and the theme on which I hope to rebuild much of my faith and devotion.

God bless and keep everyone who visits here today. And may He bless you especially with the blessings of His Joy, Peace, and Love. May the joy of the Lord be your strength and shield from this day forward.

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October 30, 2005

Following the Lead of Dappled Things

Frappr!

A neat mapping thing. Please feel free to add yourselves. Or not.

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October 7, 2005

A French Progressive Blog

Pens�es libres de-rebus-variis le blog de Marie

Again, via Talmida. My French is fairly good--probably not good enough to write, but reasonable for reading, and this would give me reason enough to practice. It's nice to add a new member to the family.

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October 4, 2005

Joining the World Birthday Celebration

The Lesser of Two Weevils

Talmida wishes the world a happy birthday! 5766 years ago today, by tradition.

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October 2, 2005

A Blog from India

Jesuvera: Spiritual Adventures of a Catholic


I love insights from people living in other countries--it serves to broaden my own rather laser-like perspective. The blog-owner in this instance hails from India--a place to which I look for the coming renaissance in literature worth reading.

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September 27, 2005

Anyone Who Says What Peter Singer Really Is. . .

Secondhand Smoke

. . . (i.e. misguided and very, very far from brilliant) is a person I need to read more of.

Persons interested in the dignity of the human person might do well to check out the blog listed above. Many thanks to Speculative Catholic.

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Maria Lectrix

Maria Lectrix


Found via Aliens in this World (thank you!!). A site from a woman who reads public domain e-books for public domain audiobooks--rather like podcasts. And the books she has read!

I saw listed The Sword of Welleran and Annus Mirabilis by John Dryden.

What a wonderful service!!

I just can't use enough exclamation points about this!!!

Seriously, I'll have to plow through the archives of this site and see what all had been produced and then send a very nice thank you letter to the person who produced them all.

Thank you Maria Lectrix if you stop by here. If not, I'll be writing soon.

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September 22, 2005

Holy Souls Prayer Books

Bethune Catholic: Paying the bills .....

Bethune Catholic offers a nice selection of books, including a book perfect for the month of November. In addtion, they are in need of some cashflow, so let's preserve another fine Catholic Press while offering suffrages for the poor souls in Purgatory.

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September 11, 2005

A Trip to Boston

TSO shares with us some of the highlights from his trip to Boston.

I love Boston as a city. For one thing it is so walkable, and even where it is not walkable the T (is it?) goes nearly every place. (All of which is a good thing given that the rotaries are among the most horrifying traffic configurations to ever strike an urban setting.)

I love the Freedom Trail, the magnificent the museums, and the proximity of such things as Walden Pond, Branson Alcott's (and Louisa May Alcott--his daughter) Home, Hawthorne's Home, and Emerson's house which overlooks the field in which was fired "the shot heard round the world." And let us not forget the residence of the gone but not forgotten Dylan. May he grow to prosper and may he always be remembered in our prayers.

Of course, as you might guess from my present location, in my estimation it suffers a trifle in terms of weather. But that triviality aside, it is certainly one of the more entertaining cities to visit for those of us who like to poke about historical settings.

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September 7, 2005

Predominant Faults

Sweet music to my ears over at Father Jim's. Nothing I didn't already know, but nevertheless it is good to hear it confirmed. It is very disheartening to be repeating nearly the same thing week after week after week with no discernable progress. But, as Father Jim points out, there is good cause for hope.

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September 2, 2005

Some Wonderful Places I've Stumbled On

I love the beginning of the month. The way my stats work, it accumulates lists of places from which I get hits, so that as we near the end of the month and the spiders are more and more combing through the site, I have little opportunity to get back to visitors who stop by quietly and leave no comment. To my mind this is the one purpose site stats serve. I can't make head nor tails of mine most of the time because they are so overrun by automated search engines. However, because of the low number I was able to find some very nice, interesting sites that are new to me.


Your Pastoral Coach


And God's First

Speculative Catholic, who has an interesting entry on Science Fiction and Catholicism (thanks to Don at Mixolydian Mode).

Later: And they keep on rolling in

Darwin Catholic

If you're a visitor, just leave a comment anywhere. I'd really like to know you visited and would love to visit your site. I try hard to do so for everyone who comments and even for those who merely refer others to my site. You come by the most interesting places, people, and comments this way.

Thanks.

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