Worth a Thousand Words: Ural Owl

Ural Owl

taken by the brilliant Remo Savisaar

Well Said: Jesus of Nazareth II - Taking His Bread and Betraying Him

Today's excerpt from  Jesus of Nazareth II: Holy Week: From the Entrance Into Jerusalem to the Resurrection by Pope Benedict looks at Jesus' answer to the beloved disciple who asked at the last supper who would betray him. Jesus answered, "It is he to whom I shall give this morsel when I have dipped it." (John 13:23-26).

I have always wondered why that didn't tip off the disciples instantly when Jesus does that very thing by giving bread to Judas. Pope Benedict breaks this wide open in an unexpected direction. Also, notice what is said about Jesus' classic way of speaking. That was clearly and beautifully put and enlightened me (or perhaps reminded me) of something to keep in mind when reading Jesus' words.

Jesus' answer, as given here, is quite unambiguous. Yet the evangelist says that the disciples still did not understand whom he meant. So we must assume that John retrospectively attributed a clarity to the Lord's answer that it lacked at the time for those present. John 13:18 brings us onto the right track. Here Jesus says, "The Scripture must be fulfilled: 'He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me'" (cf. Ps 41:9; Ps 55:13). This is Jesus' classic way of speaking: he alludes to his destiny using words from Scripture, thereby locating it directly within God's logic, within the logic of salvation history.

[...]

John gives a new depth to the psalm verse with which Jesus spoke prophetically of what lay ahead, since instead of the expression given in the Greek Bible for "eating," he chooses the verb trogein,* the word used by Jesus in the great "bread of life" discourse for "eating" his flesh and blood, that is, receiving the sacrament of the Eucharist (Jn 6:54-58). So the psalm verse casts a prophetic shadow over the Church of the evangelist's own day, in which the Eucharist was celebrated, and indeed over the Church of all times: Judas' betrayal was not the last breach of fidelity that Jesus would suffer. "Even my bosom friend, in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me" (Ps 41:9). The breach of friendship extends into the sacramental community of the Church, where people contineue to take "his bread" and to betray him.

Jesus' agony, his struggle against death, continues until the end of the world, as Blaise Pascal said on the basis of similar considerations (cf. Pensees VII, 553). We could also put it the other way around: at this hour, Jesus took upon himself the betrayal of all ages, the pain caused by betrayal in every era, and he endured the anguish of history to the bitter end.

* I just read, a couple of days ago, commentary from the Ignatius Study Bible that says the word "trogein" is used only four times (memory fails ... either in the New Testament or in the Gospel of John ... I'll check this). It means to chew or gnaw and is usually used in Greek to indicate animals eating. It is used four times in the bread of life discourse and the fifth time is here, which lends further emphasis to Benedict's point.

Space Aliens, a Priest, and the Black Death

One marvelous novel has it all: Eifelheim.

Father Dietrich is the village priest of Eifelheim, in the year 1348, when the Black Death is gathering strength. To his astonishment, Dietrich makes first contact between humanity and an alien race from a distant star, when their ship crashes in the nearby forest. Flynn gives us the full richness and strangeness of medieval life, as well as some terrific aliens.

Scott and I discuss the book, whether aliens have religion, disagree over Connie Willis' Blackout, and a whole lot more at A Good Story is Hard to Find.

Young, Fun and Catholic

Looking for answers? Or just want something clean to read? Got questions about your Catholic faith and don't know what answers you can trust to be true to the Vatican? Here is the blog for you! For ages 20 - 30. It's a place for younger Adult Catholics to find some answers and read about other Catholics trying to live the right way!

From what I saw it is perfectly named. Drop by and take a look around.

A Free Mind: Brede, No Treacle: St. Therese and Rumer Godden

Cutting through the "treacle" of St. Therese brings forth the strong personality and deep faith of a woman willing to embrace the challenge of a Carmelite cloister. And we know how challenging that could be thanks to a Rumer Godden classic novel.

What broke open connecting with St. Therese for me? A good translation and a second book: my latest column at Patheos.

Clarification
Treacle = British for molasses (sort of)

Wikipedia sez: The most common forms of treacle are the pale syrup that is also known as golden syrup and the darker syrup that is usually referred to as dark treacle or black treacle. Dark treacle has a distinctively strong flavour, slightly bitter, and a richer colour than golden syrup,[3] yet not as dark as molasses

Au Revoir Les Enfants: There's Another 105 Minutes I'll Never Get Back*

I'll do what director Louis Malle should have. I'm going to make this mercifully brief and to the point.

A young, privileged French boy in a Catholic boarding school in Nazi-occupied France mostly despises and later befriends another young boy who has a touch of mystery about him. It is just a touch. The audience can tell fairly easily that the boy is Jewish and is being hidden at the school by the priest.

Although beautifully photographed, this story goes nowhere as slowly as possible, failing to develop characters enough for us to care about them until around the last twenty minutes of the movie. At that point it became interesting as the Nazis made their usual menacing selves more obvious.

The biggest crime in the movie is that Malle showed us nothing new. Autobiographical or not, the characters are those we've seen before, as are the motivations and the lessons.

I'm not against slow movies. Babette's Feast was also almost ponderously slow and beautifully shot. The difference, and it is crucial, is that Babette's Feast showed us something new and gave us much food for thought at the end. There was a payoff and it was one that kept us talking about it for weeks.

This story mattered to Louis Malle because it was semi-autobiographical. It didn't to me or the three others who watched it with me.

Update:
I meant to say that we researched Louis Malle's other films after seeing this. Upon seeing that he also directed My Dinner with Andre, Tom reevaluated his review, "I now realize that for Malle this was a sprightly and fast-paced look at school days." Which tells you all you need to know about our view of that movie, which we never made it through despite our best efforts. 'Nuff said.

*I'll just say it now ... yes, I'm in the minority, based on the many acclaims the movie has received. I remain unmoved by them and stick to my guns on this.

Worth a Thousand Words: Two Cooks

Two Cooks

by Edward B. Gordon

Well Said: Jesus of Nazareth II - What Was and What Will Be

More from  Jesus of Nazareth II: Holy Week: From the Entrance Into Jerusalem to the Resurrection by Pope Benedict. This continues the theme from the previous excerpt of the "already" and the "not yet."

Speaking about things to come using words from the past strips these discourses of any temporal frame of reference. What we have here is not a newly formulated account of the future, such as one might expect from a clairvoyant, but a realignment of our perspective on the future within the previously given word of God, manifesting both the perennial validity and the open potentialities of that word. It becomes clear that the word of God from the past illumines the essential meaning of the future. Yet it does not offer us a description of tht future: rather it shows us, just for today, the right path for now and for tomorrow.

Jesus' apocalyptic words have nothing to do with clairvoyance. Indeed, they are intended to deter us from mere superficial curiosity about observable phenomena (cf. Lk 17:20) and to lead us toward the essential: toward life built upon the word of God that Jesus gives up; toward an encounter with him, the living Word; toward responsibility before the Judge of the living and the dead.

A Zombie and Two Protestants Walk Into a Book Store

I am tickled pink to see that a zombie was the first purchaser of an autographed copy of Happy Catholic at the HC store.

He was followed closely by two of my Protestant besties ... Scott, with whom I've argued over many a movie review, and Hey Jules, with whom I've pondered many a theological question.

Just seems right somehow.

Though I see the fellow mackerel-snappers are joining in now also. Which definitely is a good thing!

======

On another note, I am super-swamped today ... this may be the only post I can muster.

Sorry!

The HC Book Store is Ready to Serve You

Finally!

Step right up to get your autographed copies ... we're set up for domestic sales in the form and will be happy to handle international requests also (though those will take a little more hands-on work).

I made my first personal sale this evening. It's true, I'm shameless. None of Hannah's friends are safe when they come over to go running. Though to be fair, she does read the blog.

Rest In Peace: Diana Wynne Jones

Thank you to the various people who, knowing of my new-found passion for Diana Wynne Jones' books, wrote to let me know that she died this weekend.

Neil Gaiman wrote a splendid and moving tribute to this author, who was also his literary godmother.

As an author she was astonishing. The most astonishing thing was the ease with which she'd do things (which may be the kind of thing that impresses other writers more than it does the public, who take it for granted that all writer are magicians.But those of us who write for a living know how hard it is to do what she did). The honest, often prickly characters, the inspired, often unlikely plots, the jaw-dropping resolutions.

Indeed, yes.

I also liked reading his description of visiting her in the hospital the day before she died.

Read it all here: Being Alive. Mostly about Diana.

Just this weekend I was thinking about confession ...

... during my wrestling with keeping my thoughts on Mass, one of the wanderings my too-active brain did was a realization that Reconciliation (a.k.a. confession) is the only sacrament, other than the Eucharist, which can be repeated frequently in ordinary life and which we need no other prompting than to get ourselves to the confessional.

(Quick refresher here - the seven sacraments are: Baptism, Eucharist (communion), Reconciliation, Confirmation, Marriage, Holy Orders, Annointing of the Sick)

I don't know why this never dawned on me in quite that way, but it made it more special. It is so important, like the Eucharist, that God wanted us to be able to get it whenever we needed it. Often. Frequently.

But do we think of it that way? I do not. Which is, in itself, something I need to think about.

As if to underscore that realization, today I had a question pop up on an old post explaining Penance (yet, another term for Reconciliation and Confession). You just get yourselves over there to see what it was, but it made me look up the results of Confession. I gotta love that online Catechism.

1496 The spiritual effects of the sacrament of Penance are:

• reconciliation with God by which the penitent recovers grace;
• reconciliation with the Church;
• remission of the eternal punishment incurred by mortal sins;
• remission, at least in part, of temporal punishments resulting from sin;
• peace and serenity of conscience, and spiritual consolation;
• an increase of spiritual strength for the Christian battle.

It is Lent. Time for confession, penance, and reconciliation with God. What else do I need to think about?

Nothing really.

Worth a Thousand Words: Melded

Melded

5.5 x 6.5 Watercolor on Paper, Belinda Del Pesco

I'm not positive, but I think he's reading to her from Happy Catholic. It's why they look so content.

Saintly Sisters' Nun Dolls

I am pleased to announce that I have started my own Catholic Nun Doll business! Today on the feast of the Annunciation Saintly Sisters officially opened its doors! Saintly Sisters is a family owned and operated business. It's my sincerest hope that vocations will be inspired by these dolls. I love love thinking about the possible vocations that might come blossom from our dolls!

These are super-cute dolls. Go check out Saintly Sisters' grand opening!

Well Said: Jesus of Nazareth II - The Word

I am working my way more slowly than I'd like through Jesus of Nazareth II: Holy Week: From the Entrance Into Jerusalem to the Resurrection by Pope Benedict. For one thing I made too many reading promises. Despite my best intentions, I am like St. Therese in that way. I want it all. For another thing, on matters of Holy Week, we know we're going to be wading in deep waters and must go slowly to absorb it all.

Despite all that, there are still some wonderful nuggets that I think can stand alone well enough to enrich everyone's daily thought. So I'm going to share some this week. This first quote follows thought on the past, present and future and Jesus' person as the focus of events. I have never seen a better job done of explaining what our pastor calls "the tension between the 'already' and the 'not yet.'" (If that makes sense...)

This relativization of the cosmic, or, rather, its focusing onto the personal, is seen very clearly in the closing words of the apocalyptic section: "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away" (Mk 13:31). The word--which seems almost nothing in comparison to the mighty power of the immeasurable material cosmos, like a fleeting breath against the silent grandeur of the universe--the word is more real and more lasting than the entire material world. The word is the true, dependable reality: the solid ground on which we can stand, which holds firm even when the sun goes dark and the firmament disintegrates. The cosmic elements pass away; the word of Jesus is the true "firmament" beneath which we can stand and remain.

The new Happy Catholic book's here!

Navin R. Johnson: The new phone book's here! The new phone book's here!

Harry Hartounian: Boy, I wish I could get that excited about nothing.

Navin R. Johnson: Nothing? Are you kidding? Page 73 - Johnson, Navin R.! I'm somebody now! Millions of people look at this book everyday! This is the kind of spontaneous publicity - your name in print - that makes people. I'm in print! Things are going to start happening to me now.

The Jerk

I have in my hands the actual printed book! Not too shabby! And this'll tell you what a layout geek I am ... I actually really like the spine.

Yes. The spine. You'll just have to get your own to see what I mean.

Sadly, I've already found a couple of things that need fixing. Isn't that always the way? The first things you turn to are the shockers that stop your heart.

I am going to look at these as the touches that tell us that real human beings worked on these, just as in Gutenberg's day. Yeah. That's my story and I'm sticking with it! Although they will be fixed in the ebook editions so anyone buying those will be just that little bit closer to perfection!

(I haven't been in advertising for so long without learning how to tap that dance in both directions, y'all. The crazy thing? I mean it! Both ways!)

Ok, I'm getting the store set up. Cross my heart. As soon as I can get Tom off the phone.

Did you read ...?

This makes me think of being on SFFaudio. There's no way I can ever keep up with those guys' encyclopedic science fiction reading. Thanks to Tante Leonie for this.

Weekend Joke: Art and the Thief

Thanks to Seth for this one!

A thief in Paris planned to steal some paintings from the Louvre.

After careful planning, he got past security, stole the paintings, and made it safely to his van.

However, he was captured only two blocks away when his van ran out of gas.

When asked how he could mastermind such a crime and then make such an obvious error, he replied,

"Monsieur, that is the reason I stole the paintings. I had no Monet

To buy Degas

To make the Van Gogh."

In which Abraham and Isaac go to the mountaintop and Abraham buys at top dollar.

That's right! We're heading with Abraham into the event that everyone knows him for, whether they've ever read the Bible or not. Hear it all, plus the podcast highlight, at Forgotten Classics.

Worth a Thousand Words: Fukami Jikyu

Fukami Jikyu

1887, Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, Ink on paper/woodcut

See more about this painting, as well as more wonderful art at the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam site, by clicking through on the link above.

Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord

Leonardo da Vinci. The Annunciation.
Detail. c. 1472-1475. Oil and tempera on wood. Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy.

On today's feast the Church celebrates the mystery of the Incarnation and, at the same time, the vocation of Our Lady. It was her faithful response to the angel's message, her fiat, that began the work of redemption...

The setting of this feast day, March 25th, corresponds to Christmas. In addition, there is ancient tradition that the creation of the world and the commencement and conclusion of the Redemption all happened to coincide at the vernal equinox.

As the greatest proof of his love for us, God had his only Son become man to save us from our sins. In this way Jesus merited for us the dignity of becoming children of God. His arrival signalled the fullness of time. St. Paul puts it quite literally that Jesus was born of a woman. (cf The Navarre Bible, Romans and Galatians, note to Gal 4:4) Jesus did not come to earth as a spirit. He truly became man, like one of us. He received his human nature from Our Lady's immaculate womb. Today's feat, therefore, is really in honour of Jesus and Mary. That is why Fr. Luis de Granada has pointed out: It is reasonable to consider, first and foremost, the purity and sanctity of the Woman whom God chose 'ab aeterno' to give form to his humanity.

When God decided to create the first man, he first took care to create a fitting environment for him, which was the Garden of Eden. It makes sense, then, that when god made ready to send his Son, the Christ, he likewise prepared for him a worthy environment, namely, the body and soul of the Blessed Virgin. (Life of Jesus Christ, I)

As we consider the significance of this Solemnity, we find Jesus very closely united to Mary. When the Blessed Virgin said Yes, freely, to the plans revealed to her by the Creator, the divine Word assumed a human nature: a rational soul and a body, which was formed in the most pure womb of Mary. The divine nature and the human were united in a single Person: Jesus Christ, true God and, thenceforth, true Man; the only-begotten and eternal Son of the Father, and from that moment on, as Man, the true son of Mary. ... (J. Escriva, Friends of God, 274)

In Conversation with God,
Vol. 6: Special Feasts: January to June

Have you ever noticed how many annunciation paintings have Mary interrupted at her reading? This is because of Mary's association with the Word. I never noticed this myself until I had to look through many paintings on the subject for a book I was laying out.

Also, it's a feast day, y'all! No fasting. That not only means meat on Friday (woohoo!) but no Lenten sacrifice. So Hannah can play Baldur's gate, Tom can have some ice cream, and I ... well, I am actually kind of enjoying not checking emails at home, but I do not enjoy not checking podcast updates. Oh yeah. That's gonna happen.

Lagniappe: Books and mirrors

From my quote journal.

A book is a mirror. If an ass peers into it, you can't expect an apostle to peer out.

Lichtenberg

Reviewing Gilgamesh The King by Robert Silverberg

The Epic of Gilgamesh is one of the earliest known works of literature, being from around 2200 B.C. It tells of Gilgamesh the king of Uruk (a city-state in Sumer) who is half human and half god.

[...]

After a story has been around as long as the Epic of Gilgamesh, it is not surprising that there are several versions which have been recovered on ancient clay tablets. What is surprising is that Gilgamesh’s story is alive and well in different versions in modern culture, ranging from music to television to video games. That makes it more understandable that Robert Silverberg, that prolific master of science fiction, brought his talents to bear on retelling the tale in 1984. One wonders how earlier authors missed taking advantage of a story with such fantastic elements: a demi-god, slayer of monsters and master warrior, searching for the key to immortality.

Read it all at SFFaudio.

Worth a Thousand Words: B-25

B-25

painted by James Neil Hollingsworth

Do click through on the link above and look at some of the details that he shares on his blog. This is an amazing painting. You can't get a real fell for its complexity here. I made it a bit larger than it should have been to give you an idea so it is a little fuzzy looking ... now go look at the real thing.

Happy Catholic: Knitting Madonna

I wanted to share another sample and this is a piece that didn't make it into Happy Catholic (the book!) for lack of space. Perhaps it is just as well because the book doesn't include images and it would be a shame to pass by the chance to see this lovely image of Mary knitting for baby Jesus.

Knitting Madonna

Detail from Visit of the Angel, from the right wing of the Buxtehude Altar, 1400-1410

Master Bertram von Minden, (1345-1415) (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

… Mary is knitting a shirt with sleeves on double-pointed needles while her child, stretched out on the flower-bedecked grass, his toys cast aside, looks up from his book and over his left shoulder at two angels. … In the symbolic context of Christ’s whole life, the shirt becomes his coat, described in the Gospel of John (19:23-24) as “without seam, wrought from the top throughout.” Its miraculous manufacture prompted the four soldiers who had crucified Christ to cast lots for it, rather than cut it into four parts, as they had done with his other garments. Although a sleeved shirt can’t be woven without seams, making a shirt with sleeves but no seams is one of the great advantages with circular knitting. Taking liberties with the scripture by having the Virgin knit from bottom to top, which makes the shape of the garment clear, Mister Bertram used an invention of the Arabs to give form to an article of Christian faith.

Interweave Knits

You never can tell where you will find food for thought. From a favorite knitting magazine came information that made me think about the Holy Family’s home life in the small details.

Of course, the Christ Child probably had toys but it never occurred to me to think about it. Mary probably didn’t actually knit as knitting was invented around the 8th or 9th century as far as knitting historians can tell (yes, knitting historians do exist). They like to look at this painting as one of the earliest pieces of evidence that knitting spread to Europe by the 1400s.

I like to look at it as a reminder. In everything I do, whether knitting, cooking, gardening, or sweeping, there is a way that I can relate to the sheer humanity of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. They cooked, washed, worked, played, and laughed in all the ways that my family does now. The difference is that they may have recognized easily that the daily things of life had a dual meaning, such as a seamless garment being more than just a piece of clothing. Master Bertram who painted this masterpiece recognized that fact. We should keep an eye out so we recognize it too.

For another sample, click through on the link above.

Happy Catholic will be available early April from Catholic bookstores like Aquinas and More as well as regular booksellers like Borders and Amazon. AND there will be e-book and Kindle formats! We're super-modern around here, y'all!

I'll be setting up my bookstore on PayPal soon to take orders for autographed copies with an extra favorite quote that didn't make it into the book. (I've got 5 quote journals and am working on #6 ... there are a lot of quotes that just wouldn't fit!)

Lagniappe: Cast Iron

From my quote journal.

As they passed the rows of houses they saw through the open doors that men were sweeping and dusting and washing dishes, while the women sat around in groups, gossiping and laughing.

"What has happened?" the Scarecrow asked a sad-looking man with a bushy beard, who wore an apron and was wheeling a baby carriage along the sidewalk.

"Why, we've had a revolution, your Majesty -- as you ought to know very well," replied the man; "and since you went away the women have been running things to suit themselves. I'm glad you have decided to come back and restore order, for doing housework and minding the children is wearing out the strength of every man in the Emerald City."

"Hm!" said the Scarecrow, thoughtfully. "If it is such hard work as you say, how did the women manage it so easily?"

"I really do not know," replied the man, with a deep sigh. "Perhaps the women are made of cast-iron."

L. Frank Baum, The Marvellous Land of Oz

Worth a Thousand Words: Carcassonne

Chateau Comtal, Carcassonne, France

Source, via State of Play

A Movie You Might Have Missed: 27

You'll laugh. You'll cry. You'll fall in love all over again with a little mermaid. Believe it or not, all from a documentary.

27. Waking Sleeping Beauty

The Black Cauldron is universally agreed to be Disney's lowest point in animated movies. This documentary takes us from the time that movie is being created in 1984 through Disney's golden animation renaissance that began with The Little Mermaid and ended with The Lion King in 1994. How the studio went in a  mere ten-year period the depths to the heights of animation is the subject of this behind-the-scenes tale from the point of view of the animators. Everything is told through stills and archive footage although with new audio interviews by several of the principal figures. Much of the footage shot by the animators themselves while at work.

The business side of the company is also examined, including what was really responsible for Disney's rise and subsequent fall after The Lion King, the monumental egos of Roy Disney, Michael Eisner and Jeffrey Katzenburg. Hearing the animators' side of these much loved movies is fascinating. The movie clips played remind us that it has been all too long since we watched The Little Mermaid or Beauty and the Beast. As well, you will appreciate Howard Ashman as never before for his creative genius and the passion he gave to his work. It is an engrossing and surprisingly fast-paced work that any Disney movie fans will enjoy.

Well Said: Sitting in the Sun

From my quote journal.

Sister Briege McKenna likes to tell the story of King Badouin of Belgium, who remarked that sitting before the Blessed Sacrament was like sitting in the sun; nothing is required of you but to come out of the shade, and you only feel the strength of its effects, later.

Via The Anchoress

Mail Bag: Three Interesting Things

NY Lenten Video Scholarship Contest with a $25,000 Prize

In an effort to help promote New York’s All Day Confessions event, happening Monday April 18th, The Diocese of Brooklyn in conjunction with both the Archdiocese of New York and Diocese of Rockville Centre are launching a grassroots digital campaign called i-Confess. Using both social and digital media, the goal of this campaign is to generate interest in the act of Confession throughout New York State.

As part of the i-Confess campaign and beginning March 8th local New York area students will have the opportunity to create and submit short (up to 1 minute in length) YouTube stylized videos for a chance to win the top prize of $25,000 towards an educational scholarship and the school will receive an additional $25,000. A second place prize of $10,000 and the school will receive an additional $10,000, multiple third place prizes of $1,000 each will be awarded. The winning video may also be featured in the official All Day Confessions campaign TV commercial airing throughout NY.

Find out more here. Thanks to The Anchoress for the heads up on this.

Shower Curtains to Sing About

Find them here. Via Rose, whose selection you see above.


The History of Science Fiction

 I especially like the way that pulp magazines have an artery leading to Astounding Magazine that leads to L. Ron Hubbard, with a vein going to Scientology. That gives you the flavor. I printed it out to peruse at leisure. This is a low res image just to give you a feel for it. Go to slashfilm to see the high res image. Also via Rose.

B-16's History Lessons: Reviewing "The Fathers, Volume II"

In this treatise on the combat between the vices and the virtues, [Ambrose] Aupert sets contemptus mundi (contempt for the world) against cupiditas (greed), which becomes an important figure in the spirituality of monks. This contempt for the world is not a contempt for Creation, for the beauty and goodness of Creation and of the Creator, but a contempt for the false vision of the world that is presented to us and suggested us us precisely by covetousness. It insinuates that "having" is the supreme value of our being, of our life in the world, and seems important.

It is often lamented that Pope Benedict XVI writes on a very high level. What is overlooked are his homilies, which he gives a great number of every year.

Homilies of necessity must be fairly easy to follow as they are delivered to the widely varying crowds of the congregation for Mass. Luckily for us, Pope Benedict likes to take a theme and follow it to a logical end, which may cover the course of a year. In this case, he followed the theme of the Fathers of the Church, which is a long one indeed. Equally luckily for us Our Sunday Visitor has published the pope's homilies gathered into books which makes them handy for contemplative reading or simply for learning more about the fathers' lives and times.

I was eagerly anticipating this book, having really been inspired after having read the first Fathers volume as well as his homilies about the apostles. I was not disappointed and, if anything, found this even more valuable as it covered many people who I hadn't heard of before. Although factual information is naturally important, the books really shines when Pope Benedict uses their lives to show how God worked through them and then deftly brings us face-to-face with our own similar need for God today.

... I think that Rabanus Maurus is also addressing these words to us today: in periods of work, with its frenetic pace, and in holiday periods we must reserve moments for God. We must open our lives to him, addressing to him a thought, a reflection, a brief prayer, and above all we must not forget Sunday as the Lord's Day, the day of the Liturgy, in order to perceive God's beauty itself in the beauty of our churches, in our sacred music and in the word of God, letting him enter our being. Only in this way does our life become great, become true life.

We might think that the Fathers of the Church are too difficult to understand or to relate to, that they don't have anything to teach us. Pope Benedict shows us that nothing could be further from the truth.

This is a long over-due review for The Catholic Company who provided this book. My thanks to Chris Cash for his patience!

You can find all active reviews of this book here.

A great piece of advice for those who wish to achieve dominance over their dog.

"Ignoring attention-seeking behaviors is the highest form of dominance." (Now stop yelling at the dog when he barks at the mailman.)

From a review that I was reading to see if I wanted to accept a review copy of this book. Everyone at our house can agree on this truth. Ignoring our dogs except when we call them to us has really made a huge difference.

The only greater truth is that growling at the dog will stop that behavior (thank you again, Bark Busters). Of course, we praise the dog as soon as they stop, which is usually instantaneous. It's the language they understand. Truly miraculous.

Worth a Thousand Words: Milk Pitcher Roses

Milk Pitcher Roses

by the exquisite Belinda Del Pesco

Lagniappe: First Lines

Via Mystery Scene magazine, comes these first lines that make me want to read the book (and, yes, I put them in my quote journal).

The Rhythm Bar was a brick barnacle clinging to the underbelly of Hell's Kitchen on Manhattan's West Side. You wouldn't want to be caught dead there, although a lot of people had been.

Charles Kipps, Hell's Kitchen Homicide

Worth a Thousand Words: Swedish Subway System

Swedish Subway System

found in JHill Design's eye candy
(click through to see more fascinating designs for subway stations)

And Now a Word From Our Sponsor

From my quote journal.

How long, O Lord? I cry for help but you do not listen! ...

Then the Lord answered me and said: Write down the vision clearly upon the tablets, so that one can read it readily. For the vision still has its time, presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint; if it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not be late.

Habakkuk 1:2, 2:2-3

God Bestows Silence for Lent Although We May Not Always Recognize It as a Blessing

What a weekend.

First came the notice that not enough people have signed up for either of our CRHP retreats to make them viable. The March retreats are being postponed until October. We were asked to pray and to ask God to guide us in the future of the retreat at the parish. The decision was given with regret and only after much deliberation, but it prompted many emails in support of action, immediate action. That is a very understandable response as we are, of course, Americans which means that immediate action fixes many ills and is the first thing we think of. Sometimes, though, there is no helpful action to take. We must practice patience, prayer, and obedience. Ouch! The triple threat, but such a needed reminder, especially during Lent.

There was a young woman in the pew next to me on Sunday who quietly wept during a good portion of Mass. She had been whispering about the retreat to her friends before it began and my surmise was that she felt, as Tom thought must be the case for those who had gone through CRHP recently, "as if there were a death in the family." I felt sorry for her, but also hoped that she could take those feelings into the desert with Christ ... it can be a blessing though it never feels like it at the time.

Then came the news that Father Corapi, a much admired priest by many people I know, announced that he has been accused of sexual impropriety, among other things. Read about it at The Anchoress where there are many other good links and good reflections, with which I agree.

I myself have no particular feelings about Father Corapi either way, except to be quite surprised at his angry comments about the Church immediately putting him on administrative leave. Has he read the news for the past few years? What does he expect? I think of how many saints were, to use modern terminology, put on administrative leave for various attitudes and "offenses" against the Church. They took it in a spirit of obedience. Quite a contrast. Perhaps this is part of God's provision of Lenten silence for the good father. I pray for his accuser and for him, that justice and mercy may be meted to both as needed by the authorities and by God, especially in this time of Lent.

Finally, Tom happened across Archbishop Dolan's interview on 60 Minutes (watch it or read the transcript here), a show we never normally watch. He was very impressed and reported a lot of it to us over dinner. Luckily, it pushed The Amazing Race back far enough that my taping of that show caught most of the interview and we were able to watch it for ourselves. If he is the new face of the Church, then we are blessed. (Read his telling of an airport encounter here to see how much.) He seems not only well spoken but to understand real people, which is key. Some of my favorite bits:

He is unwavering on what he calls the "settled" questions: abortion, birth control, ordination of women, gay marriage and celibacy.

"No question that you're conciliatory, that you like to have dialog, but underneath that you're an old-fashioned conservative. I mean, in the sense that of right-wing conservative," Safer remarked.

"I would bristle at being termed right wing. But if somebody means enthusiastically committed and grateful for the timeless heritage of the church, and feeling that my best service is when I try to preserve that and pass that on in its fullness and beauty and radiance, I'm a conservative, no doubt," Dolan said.

=============

"Do you fear that aftereffects of these [sex] scandals are just gonna live on and on and on?" Safer asked.

"In some ways I don't want it to be over because this was such a crisis in the Catholic church, that in a way we don't wanna get over it too easily. This needs to haunt us," Dolan said.

============

Dolan says he wants people to celebrate the beauty, charity and timelessness of the church, and not focus so much on what the church prohibits. "Instead of being hung up on these headline issues, let's get back to where the church is at her best," he told Safer.

"But the headline issues are where people are living their lives. And an awful lot feel that the church is going down the wrong road," Safer said.*

"Yeah, I guess, you got two different world views there," Dolan replied.

"And you ain't gonna change," Safer remarked.

"I'm in one world. You're in the other," Dolan replied, laughing. "I'm glad you're visitin'."

What does that have to do with Lent and silence?

This statement: In some ways I don't want it to be over because this was such a crisis in the Catholic church, that in a way we don't wanna get over it too easily. This needs to haunt us.

We like to forget that we are fallible, that we don't know the best way, that we have to turn in humility to God. Sometimes only prayer, patience, and obedience are what we can do. Lent forces us to contemplate true perspective, true reality, and let it sink into our souls. We may not recognize it as a blessing, but it is one indeed.

Updates:

• Mark Shea says what needs to be said about Fr. Corapi and about any other accused priest and the process of investigation. He essentially says what was the initial reaction at our house. Good common sense.
• Meant to link to this updates post as well as to The Anchoress's post above. More good common sense.
• Fr. Dwight Longenecker has an excellent reflection on Priests and Pedestals, based upon once being mistaken for Fr. Corapi.

2nd Update: St. Macarius the Great
Hannah was trying to think of the name of the saint whose story she told us ... a priest or monk who was accused of sexual impropriety and reacted in a praiseworthy, Christ-like manner, as she told the story. I don't think it was Desert Father, St. Macarius the Great, but he is a wonderful example ... and we can thank Frank at Why I Am Catholic for telling us his story. I meant to link to this yesterday, actually, but got sidetracked ... shame on me! Go read and let us all reflect upon the times when we could have been more Christ-like and ask for God's grace to do so in the future. Which is the point of Lent, right?

*Note: this took us aback and was a real insight into how journalists think. We, actually, are evidently not in his world view because we do not live our lives by headline issues. What a dreary world that would be.

Weekend Joke: Boudreaux and Lent

Boudreaux walks into a bar and orders three beers. The bartender raises his eyebrows, but serves Boudreaux three beers, which Boudreaux drinks quietly at a table, alone.

An hour later, Boudreaux has finished the three beers and orders three more. This happens yet again.

The next evening at the bar, Boudreaux again orders and drinks three beers at a time, several times.

This happens for several nights.

Soon, the people up and down the bayou are whispering about Boudreaux going to the bar and always drinking three beers at a time.

Finally, a week later, the bartender says "Boudreaux, I don't mean to be nosey, but everybody around here is wondering why you always order three beers at one time?"

Boudreaux replies, "You see, I have two brothers. One moved to Texas and de udder one to Mississippi. We promised each other dat we would always order an extra two beers whenever we drank as a way of keepin up de Boudreaux bond."

Everybody on the bayou was impressed with Boudreaux's explanation, and Boudreaux was the talk of the bayou.

Then, one day, Boudreaux comes in to the bar and orders only two beers.

The bartender pours them with a heavy heart. This continues for the rest of the evening ... Boudreaux always orders only two beers. The word flies up and down the bayou. Prayers are offered for the soul of one of the Boudreaux brothers.

The next day, the bartender says to Boudreaux, "People on the bayou and I want to offer condolences to you for the death of your brother. You know - the two beers and all."

Boudreaux ponders this for a moment, then replies, "You'll be happy to hear dat my two brothers are alive and well. It's jus dat me, myself, has decided to give up drinkin' for Lent."

For more Beaudreaux jokes, go here.

Solemnity of Saint Joseph

Joseph with Infant Christ. Bartolomé Esteban Murillo.

The season of Lent is interrupted by the Solemnity of Joseph, Husband of Mary. With the exception of Our Lady, there is no greater saint in Heaven than Saint Joseph. This feast originated in the fifteenth century and was then extended to the whole church in 1621. In 1847 Pope Pius IX named Saint Joseph Patron of the Universal Church. Pope John XXIII had Saint Joseph's name included in the Roman Canon.

Here was an ordinary man to whom God granted extraordinary graces. Joseph was to fulfill a most singular mission in the salvific design of God. He experienced indescribable joys along with the trials of doubt and suffering. We recall his perplexity at the mystery of Mary's conception, at the extreme of material poverty in Bethlehem, at the prophecies of Simeon in the Temple, at the hurried flight into Egypt, at the difficulties of having to live in a foreign land, at the return from Egypt and the threat posed by Archelaus. Joseph proved himself always faithful to the will of God. He showed himself always ready to set aside his own human plans and considerations.

The explanation for this remarkable fidelity is that Jesus and Mary were at the centre of Joseph's life. Joseph's self-giving is an interweaving of faithful love, loving faith and confident hope. His feast is thus a good opportunity for us to renew our commitment to the Christian calling God has given each of us. (St. J. Escrivá, Christ is passing by)

In Conversation with God,
Vol. 6: Special Feasts: January to June

Is Society Purposely Messing With Boys' Heads?

What ever happened seeing the dignity and worth of the human person alone, and why are we still less focused on the content of one’s character than the character of one’s chromosomes?

The question can be applied in other instances, as well. I once asked a religious sister, who insisted on expunging as many male pronouns from the liturgy as she could get away with (she hit a wall when she tried to de-sex Jesus) why she was so manic on the subject. She kindly explained that “some women have been hurt by men, and they don’t have good feelings about fathers, so it’s important that we not perpetuate the idea of God-as-Father, or as having gender at all.”

I replied, “well I’m a woman, and I’ve been hurt by men and don’t have good feelings about my father; that’s one reason I’ve always been so grateful to have the idea of a Heavenly Father who is perfect; what about women who feel as I do? Why do we get short shrift? Why can’t we echo Jesus and say ‘Abba…’”

Sister was so taken aback that she actually took “a step back” from me and said — with wide-open-eyes — “you are the first woman I have ever heard express that sentiment.”

An absolutely wonderful piece by The Anchoress and the above is just a fraction of it.

It is the fraction that spoke to me most, though, since my Catholic women's book club recently had a conversation about how our fathers helped or hindered our ability to see God as Father.

Two friends talked about how much they loved their fathers, gave them tribute, and then said that they thought it was why they could think so easily about God the Father. Another said that her father was extremely difficult to live with but that it was that very thing which made her long for God the Father ... and always think of Him as the "Abba" (Daddy) that she hadn't experienced on earth.

So we pull toward our Father in Heaven via different routes. But we all need that Father.

Catholic Trailers

Starting Monday, March 21, I will begin a blog countdown of the Vatican’s Top 100 Greatest Films. Every few days, I’ll post one of the classic films from the Vatican list. I’ll give a short synopsis of each film, links to reviews, highlight any surprising information, and even post any available video clips or trailers so readers can experience these works firsthand. Plus, I hope your readers might engage in commentary about the films as well, sharing their thoughts and any resources they may have found on the web.

Catholic Trailers has videos about saints, the pope, interviews, and even a nun commercial. There is enthusiasm and talent abounding there. Check out the St. Patrick's video from yesterday or the St. Joseph video that is up and ready for the feast day tomorrow and you'll see what I mean.

Worth A Thousand Words: The Letter "H"

LetterCult highlights artists and designers doing remarkable work with Custom Letters. This group includes type designers,  letterers, sign painters, graffiti artists, stone carvers,  calligraphers, poster artists, and graphic designers.

More samples from LetterCult: last year's AlphaBattle "H".   It was held to offer designers a chance to express themselves letter by  letter. They are working their way through numbers right now so do drop by there.

Here is another sample to entice you to explore "H" all for yourselves.

Well Said: Take the Cross

From my quote journal.

Take the cross He sends, as it is, and not as you imagine it to be.

Cornelia Connolly

Quiz Show: Temptation, Confession, and God the Father

Scott chose the perfect movie to discuss during Lent, Quiz Show from 1994. And the spoilers don't get discussed until close to the end (with warnings) ... hear it all in Episode 6 of A Good Story Is Hard To Find.

Myth Busters: Christians, the Dark Ages, and Statistics

A couple of books I recently came across that look like information we could use.

The Genesis of Science: How the Christian Middle Ages Launched the Scientific Revolution
by James Hannam

Maybe the Dark Ages Weren’t So Dark After all…

Here are some facts you probably didn’t learn in school:

People in the Middle Ages did not think the world was flat—in fact, medieval scholars could prove it wasn’t

The Inquisition never executed anyone because of their scientific ideas or discoveries (actually, the Church was the chief sponsor of scientific research and several popes were celebrated for their knowledge of the subject)

It was medieval scientific discoveries, methods, and principles that made possible western civilization’s “Scientific Revolution”

If you were taught that the Middle Ages were a time of intellectual stagnation, superstition, and ignorance, you were taught a myth that has been utterly refuted by modern scholarship.

You can read some of the author's articles here.  I know I liked some of them well enough to ask for notification when the book was published. It is now on my wish list.

Christians Are Hate-Filled Hypocrites...and Other Lies You've Been Told: A Sociologist Shatters Myths From the Secular and Christian Media
by Bradley R.E. Wright

According to the media, the church is rapidly shrinking, both in numbers and in effectiveness. But the good news is, much of the bad news is wrong. Sociologist Bradley R. E. Wright uncovers what's really happening in the church: evangelicals are more respected by secular culture now than they were ten years ago; divorce rates of Christians are lower than those of nonbelievers; Christians give more to charity than others do. Wright reveals to readers why and how statistics are distorted, and shows that God is still effectively working through his people today.

You know, I think that I used that "well known" myth that Christians get just as many divorces as other people when Scott and I discussed The Castle a few weeks ago. My apologies. But now I know better. The story that brought this to my attention may be read at GetReligion.

"... the bank couldn't handle all the donations made through their ATMs."

What it looks like from Japan ... from the friend of a friend in Japan at Ruth Reichl's.

Donate to relief efforts through your preferred charity, or you can use the one I remembered that helped Tom's father when no one else would help him get home after his service as a Marine in the Pacific during WWII:

The Salvation Army

Worth a Thousand Words: Clark Hulings' Paintings

Clark Hulings' paintings will be on show at the Forbes Galleries in New York. See more of his work and find out more at lines and colors. If I lived near there I would definitely go to the show. Click through to take a look at the samples posted. They are amazing.

Well Said: Crosses and Upsets

From my quote journal.

Crosses and upsets prove to us how little Christ-like we are, and how quickly the thermometer of supposed heroism falls to zero when put to the test.

Cornelia Connolly

Lent and the Zombie Apocalypse

Y'all knew I couldn't stay away from zombies for very long, right?

I now inflict them on the readers of A Free Mind, my Patheos column. Read it here (if you dare ...).

Update:
I should have mentioned that Scott Danielson and I discussed this book on the first episode of A Good Story Is Hard To Find. He concurs that it is a good Lenten read.

St. Patrick's Breastplate, Irish Cream, and other Irish Things

One of the other Irish things is me, like so many Americans.

I believe it was my great-grandfather who was named Reeves. That then lead to some thought that the surname was actually an occupation as well, which I hadn't thought of. And so it was, according to Wikipedia at any rate.

Reeve may refer to:

• High-reeve, a title taken by some English magnates during the 10th and 11th centuries
• Reeve (England), an official elected annually by the serfs to supervise lands for a lord
• Reeve (Canada), an elected chief executive in counties
• Shire reeve, an office position that originated the term Sheriff

So I come from a proud line of middle managers. Ah, tradition ...

Now here is a wonderful Irish prayer from St. Patrick, The Lorica (Breastplate)

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through the belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness
Of the Creator of Creation.

I arise today
Through the strength of Christ's birth with his baptism,
Through the strength of his crucifixion with his burial,
Through the strength of his resurrection with his ascension,
Through the strength of his descent for the judgment of Doom.

I arise today
Through the strength of the love Cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In prayers of patriarchs,
In predictions of prophets,
In preaching of apostles,
In faith of confessors,
In innocence of holy virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven, (God the Father)
Light of sun, (God the Son)
Radiance of moon, (Our Blessed Lady)
Splendor of fire, (God the Holy Ghost)
Speed of lightning, (Saint Michael)
Swiftness of wind, (Saint Gabriel)
Depth of sea, (Saint John the Baptist)
Stability of earth, (Saint Joseph)
Firmness of rock. (Saint Peter)

I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me:
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptations of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in multitude.

I summon today all these powers between me and all evils,
Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.

Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me abundance of reward.

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise.

Christ in the heart and mind of every one who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me or to me,
Christ in every eye that sees me or my works,
Christ in every ear that hears me or hears of me.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness,
Of the Creator of Creation.

I picked that up from Recta Ratio's initial post about St. Patrick's Day where you will also find posts about Irish food (there's a recipe for Irish Cream there, by the way that looks like I might have to try it), Skellig Michael (don't ask, just go read), and of course music.

The Anchoress swears by her Italian mother-in-law's Irish Soda Bread, which looks tasty, very tasty.

Margaret at ten thousand places has a long poem of a different sort about St. Patrick, by Ogden Nash. It is delightful and amusing. Here is the first bit. Now go read the rest. I think St. Patrick enjoys reading it himself, truth be told. (Didn't you know they read Ogden Nash in Heaven? Well, now you know something new.)

Saint Patrick was a proper man, a man to be admired;
Of numbering his virtues I am never, never tired.
A handsome man, a holy man, a man of mighty deeds,
He walked the lanes of Erin, a-telling of his beads.
A-telling of his beads, he was, and spreading of the word.
I think that of Saint Patrick’s Day, Saint Patrick hadn't heard.

Blogging Around: Many Lent-y Things ... and A Few Not So Lent-y

What Will You Murder in Order to Pray?

The major obstacle in most of our lives to just saying yes to prayer, the most popular and powerful excuse we give for not praying, or not praying more, or not praying regularly, is that we have no time.

The only effective answer to that excuse, I find, is a kind of murder. You have to kill something, you have to say no to something else, in order to make time to pray. Of course, you will never find time to pray, you have to make time to pray. And that means unmaking something else. The only way to install the tenant of prayer in the apartment building of your life is to evict some other tenant from those premises that prayer will occupy. Few of us have any empty rooms available.

Peter Kreeft has a good and practical article at Integrated Catholic Life. Via New Advent.

Lent in Hawaii

I hate the idea of wasting time. I spend every moment of the day in a whirlwind of tasks, which gives me a dangerous energy, unanchored, frenetic. ...
The church calendar, unlike my way of inhabiting time, is more merciful, patient, and consistent. It reacquaints us with redemption through the steadiness of liturgy, practice, memory, sacrament.

The church calendar recasts time like a net, pulling us into a rhythm that returns us, season after season, to God.

Read it all at Good Letters.

Stuttering and the King's Speech

The connection between handedness and speech runs deep. Speech is controlled by the left side of the brain and so is motor control of the usually dominant right hand. It is possible that this connection says something about the evolutionary origin of language, if language was first expressed through gestures rather than speech.

Curiously, stuttering is not really a speech disorder. Some deaf people stutter in sign language, too. This is just one of the ways that sign language shares all the characteristics of spoken language.

Matt Ridley's Saturday science column at the Wall Street Journal is consistently a favorite of mine. This one looks at the idea that sound may have come second in language development.

Is Happiness Overrated?

Happiness research, a field known as "positive psychology," is exploding. Some of the newest evidence suggests that people who focus on living with a sense of purpose as they age are more likely to remain cognitively intact, have better mental health and even live longer than people who focus on achieving feelings of happiness.

I'd like to say, "well, DUH!" but a Lenten quality of charity leads me to simply say that they wrote a whole lot more in support of this thesis if you would like to read statistics and suchlike. From the Wall Street Journal.

We know what we like, and it's not modern art! How gallery visitors only viewed work by Damien Hirst and Tracy Emin for less than 5 seconds

I think that pretty much says it. As an uneducated art viewer who only knows what she likes, this is another "Well, DUH" moment for me. But the article was very interesting. Read it here. Thanks to Margaret from ten thousand places for pointing this out to me.

Of Gods and Men ... the Perfect Lenten Movie?

It looks to me as if it might be. Read Father James Martin's review at Patheos and Steven D. Greydanus's review at National Catholic Register and you'll see why I think so.

Where to Get Good Information about Nuclear Reactors in Japan

Hint: not from the mainstream media.

While the events at the Fukushima plant reactors are serious, they also underline how many layers of redundancy and safety measures are built into modern nuclear power plants.

DarwinCatholic has the links we need to the real experts. As we would expect.

God is in Her Hand

I use the terms “God” and “love” interchangeably. But these concepts I merely ponder. As for belief, I believe in acts of love. I believe that God asks me to fill the empty hand of the beggar. I believe that God poses the question every time I see the hand my student raises. I believe that I find God as I type the poem, the one I begin without knowing where I will end.

An essay from the This I Believe series. It is brief but excellent and something we need to ponder during Lent. Or perhaps something that I need to ponder. Listen to the podcast or read the essay at the link.

Don't forget that I link many interesting articles in my Google reader also. It's in the sidebar.

Worth a Thousand Words: Carp Leaping Up a Cascade

Carp Leaping up a Cascade, Katsushika Hokusai

via Wikipedia

Well Said: An Exciting Sort of Explosion in My Mind

From my quote journal.

But there's this -- I know that in my work, I don't get very far forward unless there comes a moment when everything suddenly rushes together in an exciting sort of an explosion in my mind. Your uncle and the others -- they must have times like that, or they couldn't do what they do. But it's awfully hard to describe. So they fake it, and say what they think people want to hear.

Diana Wynne Jones, Deep Secret

These are words from a fictional character. However, given the setting, which is at a science fiction convention, I think that the author is describing what she herself feels. And I know that even in writing plain old nonfiction those same moments come. When the sentences and ideas and way of expressing oneself on paper come together in a whoosh that is supremely exciting and satisfying.

In which Sarah becomes a sister once again, we meet a noble king, and unto Abraham and Sarah a child is born.

Yes indeedy, we've got chapters 20-21 of Robert Alter's translation of Genesis over at Forgotten Classics. With some mysterious fiction in the podcast highlights.

Worth a Thousand Words: Tuna Catch

Joaquín Sorolla ~ The Tuna Catch

via Sorolla Paintings where you will find more information about this painting and many others.

Well Said: God, who you wish to find ...

From my quote journal.

There is a great book: the very appearance of created things. Look above you! Look below you! Note it. Read it. God, whom you want to discover, never wrote that book with ink. Instead He set before your eyes the things that He had made. Can you ask for a louder voice than that? Why, heaven and earth shout to you: "God made me!"

St. Augustine, City of God, 11:22

Favorite Catholic Media - Updated

As part of Catholic Media Promotion Day, let's take a look at our three favorite Catholic blogs, podcasts, and more ...

3 CATHOLIC BLOGS

I'm going to assume you're on board with my "go to" spots like
The Anchoress, The Curt Jester,  Darwin Catholic, and B-Movie Catechism
(just to name a few) so we'll look at three newer places that I love:

1. Ten Thousand Places
   (and we're going to ignore the fact that when I was getting her url I saw that she's listed me everywhere in her Catholic Media ... that's got nothing to do with why I am listing her) As Margaret points out, "It is a daily chronicle of many things I love: the Faith, books & literature, food, food, food, art, random and wonderful news, style and design, food." How could I not love this place? That's everything I love too. And she's putting up quotes from In This House of Brede, people. How could I not force you to go read her blog?
   
2. Roman Catholic Cop
   Jamie says, "I am a cradle Catholic who has refound his faith in the last ten years. I have been a police officer for the last 14 years. This blog contains catholic apologetics as well as spirtual thoughts as I grow in my interior life." Also, I'll tell you that his job keeps him grounded in a way that many of us need. His experience as a husband and father lead to further reflections that are solid gold to people of either sex. What can I say? I'm a fan.
3. Bad Catholic
   Marc is a high school student and passionate about his Catholic faith. He speaks up often and loudly about various aspects of our faith. I gotta love that. Plus he's hilarious. In an in-your-face way. Which I also gotta love. And he tells it like it happens, "I was giving a talk on Mary to a group of middle schoolers, and, as a joke to get them thinking, I asked whether she had appeared to any of them recently. It was with some surprise, then, that I watched hands shoot up..."

3 CATHOLIC PODCASTS

I harangue everyone with the same list all the time. But here are the three I can't live without.

1. Catholic Stuff You Should Know
   Modeled after the popular podcast Stuff You Should Know, this podcast explains a wide range of topics ... everything from Stylites (standing on pillars in style) to Ethiopian Christianity to Bishop's Wear and beyond. (iTunes link, website link)
2. St. Irenaeus Ministries
   Scripture study that is practical. The teacher is extremely insightful in giving connections between scripture and daily life. He keeps it real and although he has an orthodox Catholic point of view, this is the podcast I recommend to nonCatholics. This is one that I listen to every week and since I tend to be behind on it, sometimes daily. An essential. (iTunes link, website link)
3. Two Edge Talk
   Deacon Tim and Cyndi talk about how to live our faith ... ranging from specific understanding of Catholic teachings to more general questions such as just how do we live an abundant life of faith when we’re so darned busy just surviving? I was alerted to this after seeing several nonCatholics mention how they had learned about Catholic teachings “so they make sense” by listening to this podcast. This is a must listen when it comes in every other week. (iTunes link, website link)  

 3 OTHER CATHOLIC MEDIA

This is my weak area because I don't watch videos (no, not even those "you'll be sorry to miss this" videos). So, we will go with websites because that's all I've got. Though perhaps after reading other people's Catholic Media lists I'll have more resources for this area.

1.  Patheos Catholic Portal
   A gigantic religion site that has a great Catholic section full of columns and features by a fascinating variety of Catholic writers, run by The Anchoress. (Hey, I was reading this way before I was asked to write for them ... I'm just lucky is all.)
2. New Advent
   Tons of fresh links to relevant, important Catholic stories from around the interwebs. Plus you can find the Catholic Encyclopedia online here.
3. Gryphon Rampant
   Deacon Lawrence Klimecki produces stunning contemporary versions of traditional Christian art. He also writes about art, truth, beauty, and Catholicism.

 3 RANDOM CATHOLIC THINGS ONLINE

Heavens to Betsy, this just keeps getting tougher. Here goes ...

1. Catholic bookstores
   Use them instead of Amazon if you have a choice. My two "go to" stores are Aquinas and More and The Catholic Company.
2. Peter Kreeft Online
   I'm partial to his writing but he's got audio files and tons of stuff there.
3. Papal Encyclicals Online
   'Nuff said. Right?

MY VARIOUS CATHOLIC PROJECTS

1. Happy Catholic
   Duh. I assume y'all have looked around but if you are used to reading through the RSS feed then my sidebar may be of interest. It is changed up almost daily what with the Google links and the Goodreads book updates and the quotes and suchlike.
2. A Good Story is Hard to Find podcast
   Scott Danielson and I have tons of fun discussing the "one reality" that we can glimpse under the surface of our favorite books and movies. Episode 6 will be up on Thursday, a movie for Lent - Quiz Show.
3. A Free Mind
   My biweekly column for Patheos.com. This Thursday the second one will be posted. Yes, it is really new.
4. Forgotten Classics podcast
   Not Catholic per se, but we are reading Robert Alter's translation of Genesis right now and that may go on for a long, long time. Plus, as my non-Catholic listeners know, I have a hard time not being Catholic sometimes. They always know when it's Lent for example!
5. Happy Catholic - the book
   It isn't Jesus of Nazareth II, but we little flowers need books too. And sometimes we write one. (See, I did get something out of The Story of a Soul!)

Your turn! What are you favorites?  Speak up, either in the comments or if you have a blog (etc.) by posting. Don't forget to post your link here.

Updated:
I know there is one big place to find all this but if you're not as comfortable with Facebook (yes, I am doing this for myself, thank you very much), then here are some other places to find great lists.

• The Curt Jester - he didn't stop at three for his lists and he listens to tons more Catholic podcasts than I do.
• Snoring Scholar - Sarah not only listed three of everything but then went around again and listed more which she'll be reviewing later. So that's at least two for the price of one! 
• The B-Movie Catechism: I'm happy to see that spaceships and zombies were enough to pull A Good Story Is Hard To Find onto this list. (Must find a way to include more of those ... because a gal can never have too many zombies, right? )
• Zombie Parent's Guide ... ok really at Life's Enchanting, Noteworthy Tidings but I clicked through from Zombie Parent's Guide (and plus I hadn't mentioned zombies for a while ... didn't want to let anyone down): Joseph is the guy who is picking and recording those great folk tales for Forgotten Classics so you know that his media list is just as varied and interesting as those tales.