"Don't you think she looks tired?"

Two popes, one retired and one new. Both showing us Christ's face in their own personal, unique ways. The reactions I see are so often simply reflections of the people speaking. How do we take the truth and act upon it? The choice is ours.

=========

There is a way of living and thinking that I would name negative, another that I would name active. The first consists in seeing always what is defective in people and institutions, not so much to remedy them as to dominate them, in always looking back, and in looking for whatever separates and disunites. The second consists in joyfully looking life and its responsibilities in the face, looking for the good in everyone in order to develop and cultivate it, in never desparing of the future, the fruit of our will, and in understanding human faults and miseries, expressing that strong compassion which results in action and no long allows us to live a useless life.

Whoever searches for the truth will find God.

As we go along, let us spread ideas, words, and desires, without looking back to see who gathers them up.

Servant of God Elisabeth Leseur

The most surprising thing I've noticed in these first days of Pope Francis are how many people, in the words of Elisabeth Leseur, bring negative thinking instantly to bear.

I am also surprised that I am so surprised when it happens.

I had a rare moment of being in the public eye when Pope Francis was announced. The Takeaway had me on one line and Father Matthew Gamber, a Jesuit priest and senior counselor at Jesuit High School in Florida, on the other line. I was trying to watch streaming coverage from my laptop while listening and responding appropriately. I must say that one of the best parts of that memory was listening to everyone at the Jesuit High School go nuts when Pope Francis was announced.

Due to an understandable lack of coordination considering the event, I wasn't sure when I was done, so Skype was still running for the next guest. I don't recall who it was ... some "known name" in Catholicism ...  but I was stunned at her cold tones saying, "Your previous guests may be cheering because he's a Jesuit or because he took the name Francis, but we don't know who this man is. Some priests cooperated with the death squads in Argentina."

I quit Skype, completely amazed that there was not one sentiment of interest, excitement, or even polite good will from that person.

As it turns out, the Argentinian government was probably cheering to have "a known Catholic name" make such comments because, according to the Wall Street Journal, they "immediately began a campaign to smear the new pontiff's character and reputation at home and in the international news media." (Read more about that in Behind the Campaign to Smear the Pope.)

This is the danger of habitual negative thinking versus active thinking. We can fall right into the Enemy's hands. I'm talking about a supernatural Enemy, of course, who loves to sow discord and separation. This causes doubt and is a great danger to others who may trust and believe that negative thinking.

That is not to mention the danger it does to our own souls.

In RCIA last week we were covering some of the ten commandments. I was particularly struck by our priest's insistence on making sure the distinction between detraction and calumny was very clear.

2477 Respect for the reputation of persons forbids every attitude and word likely to cause them unjust injury. He becomes guilty:

- of rash judgment who, even tacitly, assumes as true, without sufficient foundation, the moral fault of a neighbor;

- of detraction who, without objectively valid reason, discloses another's faults and failings to persons who did not know them;

- of calumny who, by remarks contrary to the truth, harms the reputation of others and gives occasion for false judgments concerning them.

I now had the precise word for what I'd heard: calumny.

=========

Ironically, just yesterday, I had an example of a different sort of destruction of reputation from a nice church-going acquaintance when we were chatting in the parking lot after Mass.

She was praising Pope Francis. I mentioned that we were lucky because we had the example of two great popes in John Paul II and Benedict XVI and now could watch how Francis built upon their work in his own way.

She made a little face of distaste and said, "Oh. Benedict. I think he was mostly too sick and tired too do much. But we can hope Francis will change things!"

I was stunned. (Yes. Again.)

What?

The man who gave us a new liturgy ... wrote three stunning encyclicals ... a series of teaching homilies that can be treasured for ages to come ... named new bishops and cardinals to replace many who needed it ... who journeyed to many places where faith needed to be seen in that special way only a pope can bring ...

Were we thinking of the same man?

I told Tom this morning. He laughed aloud and shook his head. Then he looked at me and said, "'Don't you think she looks tired?'"

I began laughing too.

He nodded. "Benedict said it himself. He retired because he was 85 and tired. That's all she can remember."

[NOTE TO ROSE - SLIGHT DR. WHO SPOILER]

We'd just seen David Tennant's first episode as Dr. Who, when he taught someone a lesson in a similar fashion.

The Doctor: Don't challenge me, Harriet Jones. 'Cause I'm a completely new man. I could bring down your Government with a single word.

Harriet Jones: You're the most remarkable man I've ever met. But I don't think you're quite capable of that.

The Doctor: No, you're right. Not a single word. ... Just six.

Harriet Jones: I don't think so.

The Doctor: Six words.

Harriet Jones: Stop it!

The Doctor: Six.

The Doctor [whispers in Alex's ear]: Don't you think she looks tired?

Dr. Who, The Christmas Invasion, 2005

Those six words lead to a vote of confidence as worries about Jones' health snowballed beyond all other news.

Since this was the first episode of Dr. Who with David Tennant, his companion, Rose, was struggling to reconcile this "new" Doctor with the one she'd known before. As was I. The writers cleverly used Rose's struggles to help us all accept this Doctor.

It struck me that this was a bit of what I was struggling with myself. So much of what I love about Pope Emeritus Benedict is very different from what I see initially in Pope Francis. And yet, I like very much what I have seen of Pope Francis so far. I believe both are holy men. I believe both are showing us a different aspect of Christ.

It is natural to struggle with change, even when it is a good change. It is natural to our natures, so I've been told lately, to tend toward the negative rather than the positive.

I try to take it all in with that "active thought" of Elisabeth Leseur's. To be joyful, to look for the good, to work with compassion. To find truth ... and God.

Getting to Know Pope Francis

I have long maintained that the best way to "get to know" your pope is to read his writing, whether that is in the form of homilies, speeches, encyclicals, letters, books, or whatever.

This is how I learned to love John Paul II and Benedict XVI.

Now we have Pope Francis who has a dearth of books but who, as pope, is going to be given numerous opportunities to speak.

Luckily, we don't even have to track down what the pope says. We have the impressive team of Jimmy Akin and Jeff Miller making everything easily accessible.

Jeff formats the readings for Kindle and other e-readers. Jimmy hosts the links to each document on the Vatican site where you can simply read it on your computer. Just click the image above to click through.

I loved reading what Pope Emeritus Benedict said every week and am thrilled that I'll be able to do this with our new pope. Thanks guys!

Assassin's Code by Jonathan Maberry

Assassin's Code by Jonathan Maberry

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In my trade, confidence is built on a platform whose legs are made up of good intelligence, continuous training, proper equipment, and field support. I had a sick dog, a dead man’s gun, a stolen briefcase, a vampire hunter’s stake in my belt, and a cell phone…

Joe’s dealt with zombies, the island of Dr. Moreau, and the Seven Plagues of Egypt. Surely nothing can surprise him now. At least that’s what he thinks.

After rescuing American college students held hostage in Iran, Joe is contacted with the alarming news that the Iranians want his help in locating six stolen nuclear bombs. Nukes are soon the least of Joe’s problems when he’s attacked by super-powered killers who are probably genetically engineered and may actually be unbeatable. Certainly, it’s the first time he’s been told to “run away” when he calls Mr. Church for orders. The mysterious assassin Violin, with her mommy issues, adds an intriguing element that I liked, although her name made me snicker. Whose side is she really on? Toss in the mysterious Book of Shadows together with an age-old Holy Inquisition* that’s gone off the rails and you’ve got a fast-paced thriller with the usual slight touch of science needed to make us wonder “could it happen…” As usual Joe is sarcastic but has the heart of a warrior so he never quits.

As always, Ray Porter IS Joe Ledger. As I’ve said before, his narration is the reason I wait for the audio books instead of snapping up the printed versions. He’s got a direct, blunt delivery that can go from sarcastic to heart-felt to outraged in 60 seconds. Believably. That’s good because sometimes that’s the way Joe’s day goes.

The fourth entry to the Joe Ledger series piles surprise upon surprise until there are so many moving parts you need a score card to keep up. That’s ok. The ride is most of the fun anyway. It was refreshing to see Echo Team on an assignment that didn’t involve anything supernatural or genetically engineered. It also explained why Joe is sometimes incredulous about the strange situations in which he becomes embroiled. He’s so deep into rescuing college kids that he just plain forgets about his first zombie killing assignment.

Yeah right.

That excuse doesn’t really work for the many times that people who should know better protest, “What? Supernatural? That’s just crazy!” That really is the weakest part of these stories. Shouldn’t Echo Team be surprised if there isn’t a monster or super-villain somewhere in the shadows?

This was a return to the Joe Ledger adventure style of the first book in a way, which I liked very much. It also satisfactorily tied up some loose ends that had been accumulating through the last book or two. Highly recommended for those who enjoyed the previous books.

NOTE: This book was originally reviewed for SFFaudio.

* Catholics needn’t worry. Maberry plays fast and loose with elements but he’s generally respectful of religions. Any Catholics involved in this were lied to, folks. Lied to!

Pope Francis at the Hotel

Dolan is still sleeping? Please give me a key to his room and a bucket of ice water.

Scott Danielson topped our email caption exchange with this one. It still makes me laugh.

Of course, by now most know that Pope Francis insisted on paying his bill and picking up his luggage yesterday.

Also, is anyone else having to stop themselves from saying "St. Francis" instead of "Pope Francis" ... it just rolls off the tongue. Guess I'll get used to it soon enough.

Worth a Thousand Words: Himalayan Blue Poppy

Himalayan Blue Poppy
courtesy of Father Pitt, where you may see many other gorgeous spring flowers

The Largest Kickstarter Project of All Time in the Universe

Hey I liked Veronica Mars, especially the first season, and I enjoyed seeing the video they put together to get fundraising started for the $2 million needed to make a Veronica Mars movie.

Turns out I'm not the only person who liked Veronica Mars.

Holy moly.

While I was all wrapped up in finding out who the new pope was, they launched the project ... and within about 10 hours, $2.5 million cool ones were pledged.

That's gotta be some sort of record.

I just hope they make the movie as good as that first season.

Twilight Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko

Twilight Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Sergei Lukyanenko is back to full form in the third of the books looking at the Light versus the Dark. Intriguingly this book begins with the joint statements:

This book is of no relevance to the cause of the Light. -- The Night Watch

This book is of no relevance to the cause of the Darkness -- The Day Watch

Those statements seem like a clever follow up to those of the first two books but the reader soon realizes that they have more significance than one would think. The three novellas that make up this book are fast-paced, interesting, and pose difficult questions to Anton, from whose perspective they are told.

In the first, he must investigate a tip that it is possible to change humans into Others. In the second there is an almost fairy tale set up with small children wandering in a forest who meet a lovely lady. The third turns into an unlikely alliance seeking a renegade on a train in what feels like a James Bond-esque thriller at times. All three stories are satisfying alone, but together they build to give new information about Others and humans, Light and Dark. And let us not forget the Inquisition who has a larger role than ever in these stories.

One of the things I enjoy most about these stories is that they show insight into Russian culture and attitudes. For example, Anton never buys anyone a Coca Cola, although he knows they would enjoy it. He buys the Russian cola because he feels there has been enough American takeover of culture. Kids and teenagers routinely go to stay at Young Pioneers camps in the country side which sound something akin to summer camp except that these were begun under the communist regime. Condos that didn't have enough units sold were abandoned by the builders, leaving tenants to make regular payments despite not having a shower or other necessary amenities. Lukyanenko makes a definite statement about communism in this book thanks to analyzing the Others' roles in government.

Most of all, of course, what I enjoy is the compelling story telling which keep me turning the pages until much too late at night. Highly recommended.

In which Virgilia tells the shocking truth ...

... more of The Unforeseen at Forgotten Classics. We're near the end. Just one more episode before the mystery is solved!

Pope Francis' Election: "This is a mandate."

For the cardinal-electors to have gone out of Europe for the first time in over a millennium, to have gone to a Jesuit for the first time ever, and to have gone to the runner-up at the last Conclave in all of five ballots – with more than half the electorate changed over since last time – is not merely decisive....

Indeed, it's epic.

And make no mistake about it – this is a mandate.

Rocco at Whispers in the Loggia makes a point that hadn't struck me until I saw his comments about the voting. When we look with joy at the newness in so many ways of Pope Francis, we are also seeing what the other cardinals from around the world know ... the qualities we already value in him from this short acquaintance are what matter if you are Catholic, nay if you are Christian.

Go read it all.

A Plenary Indulgence on All Media Watchers and LIsteners...

... I knew I liked this new pope! SQPN sez:

I have to verify this with Fr. Roderick, who is fluent in Italian. But it sounded like the Pope said that everybody who was watching via the media received a plenary indulgence. This is awesome!

And my friend Rita added:

And on listeners too.

===========

Also I don't see any books by him on Amazon. Which is another blessing. It's going to take me years to work my way through Benedict XVI's homilies and writing.

Thank you, Papa!

We Have a Pope: POPE FRANCIS

The moment of silent prayer that the new Pope asked for before he blessed us all ... speaks volumes. It brought me to tears.

After his blessing was given and the people broke into cheers, he had such a humble but kind look on his face as he surveyed the crowd.

I think of what St. Francis of Assisi did for the Church. He had a deep love of Christ, a love for the poor, a self sacrificial nature ... and he was tasked by God with building His Church.

That is what we need in any age.

It certainly is what we need in our age.

I do not know anything about Cardinal Bergoglio aside from the fact that he's the first Jesuit and the first South American elected pope. Those are facts.

But we are beginning to know Pope Francis. We saw a touch of his heart today.

It's a good beginning.

WE HAVE A POPE --- I'M SO VERY EXCITED!

Who knew there'd be a pope so soon!

That means it was super-clear.

NOW ... the waiting ... to find out who our Holy Father is!

C.S. Lewis - A Life by Alister McGrath

C. S. Lewis a Life: Eccentric Genius, Reluctant Prophet by Alister E. McGrath

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a book written by someone who discovered Lewis through his writings, for others who have come to know Lewis in the same way. …

Why so? As Lewis emphasized throughout the 1930s, the important thing about authors is the texts that they write. What really matters is what those texts themselves say. Authors should not themselves be a "spectacle"; they are rather the "set of spectacles" through which we as readers see ourselves, the world, and the greater scheme of things of which we are a part. Lewis thus had surprisingly little interest in the personal history of the great English poet John Milton (1608-1674), or the political and social context within which he wrote. What really mattered were Milton's writings--his ideas. The way Lewis believed we should approach Milton must be allowed to shape the way we in turn approach Lewis. Throughout this work, wherever possible, I have tried to engage with his writings, exploring what they say, and assessing their significance.

Unfortunately, since I rarely read biographies, I was hoping that Dr. Alister McGrath would follow that approach much more than he actually did in C.S. Lewis--A Life. There were long swathes of the book where Lewis's life was the only story told and, honestly, I cared little for unvarnished biography without some concurrent literary engagement.

I realize this particular complaint is largely my own fault. To be fair, McGrath also says in his introduction that this is a critical biography and it is called "A Life" so I should have been expecting a lot of biographical material. Unfortunately, McGrath was often more interested in setting chronology straight or identifying vague sources from letters or notes than in engaging with Lewis' writing.

I was interested in C.S. Lewis, like many Americans as it turns out, because my love of J.R.R. Tolkien's writing led to an interest in his famous friend and fellow Inkling. (The Inklings were an informal literary discussion group in which both took an active part when professors at Oxford University.) I have long been fascinated by Lewis's versatility as an author. Anyone who could write The Screwtape Letters, The Chronicles of Narnia, 'Til We Have Faces, Mere Christianity, and A Grief Observed had not only popular appeal but amazing range.

What I found revealed in C.S. Lewis--A Life was a complex person who was both an accomplished liar and a sincere Truth seeker, someone who was downcast upon discovering God was a real person and yet wrote inspiringly about the joy of faith, a man who carried on scandalous romances but whose commitments were sincere. In other words, Lewis was thoroughly human.

I recognized myself in him more than I care to admit, largely in the contradictions between my faults and my aspirations, somewhat in my blind spots, but most of all in my love of the way that story tells us Truth in a way that facts cannot.

Lewis fits into a broader pattern at this tie--the conversion of literary scholars and writers through and because of their literary interests. Lewis's love of literature is not a backdrop to his conversion; it is integral to his discovery of the rational and imaginative appeal of Christianity. … Lewis's reading of the classics of English literature forced him to encounter and evaluate the ideas and attitudes that they embodied and expressed. And to his chagrin, Lewis began to realize that those who were grounded on a Christian outlook seemed to offer the most resilient and persuasive "treaty with reality."

I wasn't converted by literature but once that conversion took place I gradually began to see the layering of Truth within story in ways I couldn't before. McGrath is at great pains to point out how Lewis's fiction reflects Truth, albeit in a different way than Tolkien, of course.

The contrast with Tolkien's Lord of the Rings is important here. The complex and dark narrative of The Lord of the Rings is about finding a master ring that rules the other rings--and then destroying it, because it turns out to be so dangerous and destructive. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia are about finding a master story that makes sense of all other stories--and then embracing that story with delight because of its power to give meaning and value to life. Yet Lewis's narrative nevertheless subtly raises darker questions. Which story is the true story? Which stories are merely its shadows and echoes? And which are mere fabrications--tales spun to entrap and deceive?

As someone who came to the Chronicles of Narnia as an adult and also before my conversion, I find McGrath's commentary upon Lewis's fiction particularly helpful. I haven't yet tried the Ransom Trilogy which is science fiction, but this will undoubtedly help when I do.

Anyone interested in Lewis's writing will find fascinating information in sections of this book. Those also coming to it with an interest in Lewis's actual life will probably really love it. That I didn't was, as I mentioned, due to my own interests and is no fault of the authors.

NOTE: I wrote this for the Patheos Book Club. Publishers pay for the Patheos Book Club to feature their books ... and I received a review copy free. However, my opinions are my own and I love or hate a book on its own merits.

On The Takeaway - UPDATED with audio

The Takeaway is a radio show produced by PRI and WNYC, with The New York Times. In fact, I very much enjoy the podcast of their movie review show, Movie Date.

They are having two or three Catholics on for a few minutes as the conclave starts in Rome, wanting to know as a Catholic, what are you thinking as the conclave convenes to select the next Pope? What are your hopes for the next Pope, and the future of the Catholic Church?

I was not sure they would be interested in my thoughts but once I spoke to the producer, they said they hadn't run into those views before. You'll have to wait to find out what those views are.

It will air at 8:10am Central Time.

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

It went well, I think. At least it did according to a delighted Hannah who happened to get in the car and turn on NPR just in time to be surprised by her mother being introduced.

A few other people heard it and were very kind. At some point I think they put it up as a podcast and then I can hear what the other people said!

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

Houston, we have audio! One billion Catholics wonder what's next but I actually get to talk about it!

Optimism Defined: Taking "Carry-On" Baggage into the Conclave

I hope the conclave will not go on too long. All I know is that I’m just taking in a small “carry-on” piece of baggage. If we’re in there too long, and if they show photographs of St. Martha’s from outside Vatican City, my room will be the one with the laundry hanging in the window to dry!

That's Cardinal Dolan for you. Practical, humorous, and optimistic!

I've been enjoying reading his occasional blog posts from the pre-conclave gathering. This last post before heading off was a bit like a peek inside.

The veteran cardinals tell me that the conclave is almost like a retreat. We of course concelebrate Mass every morning to begin the day, and pray the liturgy of the hours together. Obviously, we can visit and talk with each other at St. Martha’s House during our meals and brief time off between the actual voting, but, I’m told the actual hours in the Sistine Chapel, carried out scrupulously according to the traditional protocol, are done in an atmosphere of silence and prayer; it’s almost, the old-timers tell me, like a liturgy.

Go read it all.

The Doors Are Closed ... Come Holy Spirit

Come Holy Spirit,
fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in them the fire of your divine love.
Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created.
And You shall renew the face of the earth.

O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit,
did instruct the hearts of the faithful,
grant that by the same Holy Spirit
we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations,
Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.

Collect from the Mass for the Election of the Roman Pontiff.

O God, eternal shepherd
who govern your flock with unfailing care,
grant in your boundless fatherly love
a pastor for your Church who will please you
by his holiness and to us show us watchful care.
Through our Lord, Jesus Christ your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God, forever and ever.

Amen.

Now we wait.

Image from Electing the Pope

Upstream Color - What the What?

Upstream Color

2013 Directed by Shane Carruth

Synopsis

A man and woman are drawn together, entangled in the lifecycle of an ageless organism. Identity becomes an illusion as they struggle to assemble the loose fragments of wrecked lives.

 

 

I saw this over on Letterboxd and as I was struggling to understand the description I came across this comment from a reviewer: "Further proof that Shane Carruth makes films that you don't watch to understand, you feel them."

I suddenly thought, "Wait a minute. What was that super-weird sf mystery that we never could make heads or tails of?"

Ah, yes. Primer. Directed by Shane Carruth. It all makes sense now. Note to self ... remember this name, so you can avoid at all costs.

Farmer in the Sky by Robert Heinlein

The Earth is crowded and food is rationed, but a colony on Ganymede, one of the moons of Jupiter, offers an escape for teenager Bill Lermer and his family. Back on Earth, the move sounded like a grand adventure, but Bill realizes that life on the frontier is dangerous, and in an alien world with no safety nets nature is cruelly unforgiving of even small mistakes.

I have always enjoyed Heinlein’s tales for juveniles more than his other writing. Having been told many times that I should read this book, I jumped at the chance to review the audiobook for SFFaudio. Bill is an Eagle Scout which comes in handy more than once and which reminds listeners of the original audience. In some ways this is like listening to the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder as Bill details homesteading on Ganymede. Heinlein does a good job of transferring standard pioneer problems and opportunities to a hostile environment in outer space. The tale is absorbing and I really enjoyed every detail of it.

It is funny listening to this book so long after it was written. It takes me back, in some ways, because the protagonist and his father are emigrating to Ganymede because population pressures and lack of available food make life pretty miserable. It isn’t quite as extreme as the movie Soylent Green portrays, but definitely is trending in that direction. If someone made Farmer in the Sky into a movie today, they’d be repurposing it to fit current worries over the environment or lowering birth rates in industrialized countries. It is like a time capsule of past worries, via an adventure/emigration tale.

Nick Podehl’s narration is excellent. I’m not sure how he manages to pull off sounding like a teenager without sounding wimpy, but he does. You get everything from awe at the things Bill encounters, panic at extreme danger, or the annoyance of a teenage boy at his father.

I don’t think that Farmer in the Sky is Heinlein’s best work for juveniles. I reserve that praise for my favorite, Citizen of the Galaxy. That said, Farmer in the Sky is a solid book that I can highly recommend.

Note: This review originally appeared at SFFaudio.

5 Things You Should Know About Aquinas and More

Aquinas and More has a fundraising update: After 150 hours they are past $38,000, which is 15% of their goal. Woohoo! However, they do begin their one week to deadline countdown tomorrow. So if you have been meaning to donate, now is the time. Details are below.

In other news, Ian says:

I have received some feedback about our campaign. The most surprising thing is what some of our customers or online fans didn't know about Aquinas and More! Yes, we are truly "not just a bookstore".

So today I thought I'd let you know 5 Ways why Aquinas and More is really a mission.

1) We have a No-China Products Policy : Because of the horrible human rights abuse and forced abortions in that country, we refuse to sell products made-in-China. What does this mean for you? Better quality and safer products, and not compromising on principles. I have a video here that you can view and share with other pro-lifers.

2) We have a Good Faith Guarantee:  We guarantee that the books we sell are faithfully Catholic. How do we do that?  We make sure what you are getting tells the truth about what the Church teaches. We are so confident about our product being authentically Catholic, that if you find something that is not Catholic – we will pay for you to send it back, remove the product, and give you a gift card to say Thank You. Where else can you find that? That's our Good Faith Guarantee. Here's a video that explains more.

3) Our Military Chaplaincy Registry: A few years ago, we created this program to help Catholic chaplains serving U.S. military personnel around the world. There is a great need, especially among chaplains in Iraq and Afghanistan, for resources to help meet service member's spiritual needs. Through this program we have been able to send thousands of Catholic gifts, Bibles, rosaries, catechisms, patron saint medals, prayer books and other items to our registered chaplains. Be sure to check out our registry.

4) Tiber River: Tiber River is a website is dedicated to providing authentically Catholic information and opinions about different areas of Catholic culture and to promote liturgical education throughout the Catholic world. The support of family values through our work will help to rebuild a truly Catholic culture that can be the salt of the earth and a light on the hill. 

5) Catholic Church Supply: We carry over a thousand church supply items to help furnish the sanctuary and sacristy at Catholic parishes, as well as vestments and clergy shirts. We even have a seminarian registry to help our young men prepare for their vocation to the priesthood. 

So there you have it. Five ways why Aquinas and More is more than just a bookstore!

I also wanted to take the time to give you an update after 150 hours. We are past $38,000, which is 15% of our goal. For all who have donated so far, I heartily thank you!

What does this mean for our campaign? Well, we still have a long way to go. Tomorrow we will be a week into our two-week campaign, so we are short of where we would like to be right now.

Can you help?

First, please remember to pray. Yesterday, we began the Novena to St. Joseph. We are using Pray More Novenas if you would like to join us! We are also praying the St. Michael the Archangel prayer daily.

Second, please be sure to share:

• If you can share the good news about Aquinas and More – and all the other good work we do – we will meet our goal!
   
• If you can post on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, or just forward this newsletter to your family, friends, and parishes – we will meet our goal!
   
• If you can share our crowdfunding page on your blogs and websites, we will meet our goal!

As we eagerly await the news of our next Pope, we realize that, like the Papal Conclave, our "Aquinas Angels" campaign is in His Hands. Thank you for all your support for these last 10+ years, and we look forward to meeting our goal and serving you for many more years to come.

Cardinal Dolan Reports From Rome ...

Heartfelt thanks for your prayers!  We need them!  We feel them!  Keep them up!  An old-timer told me that the days between the passing of one Pontiff and the election of a new one are like the days in Jerusalem after Our Lord’s Ascension to heaven.  The whole Church prayed, prayed hard, prayed long, united with the apostles and the Mother of Jesus, who were locked-up in the Cenacle, awaiting the supreme gift of the Holy Spirit!  That’s happening now, if your abundant and gracious notes and messages are any indication.

And we cardinals sure are praying a lot.  Every day we each begin with the most effective prayer of all, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.  In our sessions we pray from the Divine Office, begin each meeting with the ancient prayer to the third Person of the Most Blessed Trinity, the Veni Sancte Spiritus, and we break at lunch with the beautiful words of theAngelus.  Wednesday, we cardinals made a Holy Hour of adoration before Jesus, really and truly present in the Blessed Sacrament, at the Altar of the Chair in Saint Peter’s Basilica.

Cardinal Dolan checks in from Rome. He says much more and I personally found it inspiring. Go read it all.

Atheist Penn Jillette Defends the Church to Catholic Journalist ... and Gets It Right

Now here's something you don't see every day. The Catholic journalist gets it all wrong.

Oh, wait, we do see that far too often.

However, atheist Penn Jillette defends the Pope and Catholicism accurately. And respectfully. Thank you, Mr. Jillette!

This is only 3 minutes long so do watch it.

Via Scott Danielson, my partner in crime at A Good Story is Hard to Find, who blogs at The Pool Room. He found it at First Things Blog.

Wool by Hugh Howey

Wool Omnibus by Hugh Howey

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I finished this book today, the same day that the Wall Street Journal had a piece about author Hugh Howey's "Underground Hit." See that's a joke because he's making a fortune self-publishing it as an e-book and the story is about people living underground in a silo underground ... oh never mind.

I enjoyed the piece, happy to see that a paperback version will be available soon, and Howey seems to be a savvy marketer. I can vouch for that because at the end of the book there is a Q&A set with him. Usually I don't read those but I'm glad I did because not only is he funny, but because the book's Epilogue follows. (Ha! He's a tricksy one, he is.)

He is also a pretty good author, I'm happy to report.

The Wool Omnibus contains five novellas telling the story of a civilization existing within an underground silo with 147 floors. Sole access to the outdoors is a window aboveground which shows a dreary landscape littered with bodies here and there. That's because the ultimate punishment is to be sent outside for Cleaning. Fitted out in a space suit, the condemned go out to clean the window so that everyone else can see the outside world. No one ever makes it much past that, collapsing from exposure to the toxic environment as they try to head over a hill for a better look at outdoors.

Major crimes involve things like the treason of mentioning Cleaning or wanting a change in one's situation. The right to try to have a baby is determined by The Lottery. We can see that this is a bleak world both inside and outside the silo. With control this tight we aren't surprised to see that something shady's going on in the way things are run. Different characters discover a Big Secret and, as they act upon their knowledge, everything in the silo begins to unravel. As always in such situations, will our heroes be able to see that right prevails?

The initial tale, Wool, was followed by stories which are connected but told from different perspectives. I enjoyed the double entendre of naming subsequent stories with titles proper both to knitting and to the internal action (Proper Gauge, Casting Off, Unraveling, Stranded). The overall story is well told and I was intrigued both with different aspects of silo civilization and the answers to the many questions that pop up as the story develops. The five-story structure allows Howey to not only include cliff hangers, but to make many characters multi-dimensional, even the villains who you long to send for a good Cleaning.

I did feel that the fifth story, Stranded, was much too long. I could have done without some of the diving descriptions for one thing. That said, it may be that I missed important facts because I was reading so fast. The story weaves between three perspectives ... or Strands - get it? ... and each has a vital mystery to be solved.

I am not sure I'll be interested in Silos, which is the set of prequel stories Howey has written. However, I enjoyed this so much that I am definitely going to be looking for more of his work.

Downpour - A Worthy Competitor to Audible With No DRM

Downpour.com, Blackstone Audio’s online audiobook store, is a genuine competitor to Audible.com.

It offers audiobook downloads of titles, from Blackstone Audio’s extensive catalogue, and also those from many other audiobook publishers like Recorded Books, Harper Audio, Penguin Audio, Hachette Audio, and AudioGo.

Their subscription service is almost identically priced to Audible’s, each offers one credit per month for about $15. And, like an Audible credit Audible.com, a Downpour credit almost always gets you one audiobook.

And they have no DRM.

Jesse at SFFaudio's been using Downpour and loving it. Read his review for more about DRM and Downpour.

Scott peels an orange. Julie avoids toll booths. Neither dares mention any "offers they can't refuse."

That epic mob movie that director Stanley Kubrick said was possibly the greatest movie ever made, and had without question the best cast ... The Godfather ... is discussed at A Good Story is Hard to Find. Scott chose it. Julie had never seen it. Her verdict? Listen and find out.

The Woodcutter by Kate Danley

The Woodcutter by Kate Danley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I was interested in this book after reading a few reviews that said the author told a story referencing fairy tales, but in a way that made the tale itself something brand new ... yet faithful to fairy tales.

And this review pulled me in.

A thoroughly enjoyable retelling and combining of fairy tales from various sources.The message the same, even if the meaning is a little different: True love conquers all.

In this case however, true love is not the romantic, Disneyfied stuff. It is love that comes without enchantment or disguise. It is the love that contains a willingness for sacrifice and the quiet, comfortable warmth of true understanding and acceptance of another.

Reading the Kindle sample sealed the deal and I began waiting for the new month to roll around so I could borrow it free from the Kindle library.

Having read it at lightning speed, I concur with those marveling at the newness, yet faithfulness, of this fairy tale. It is indeed something more. When the mansion and the Gentleman comes up, I suddenly felt a resonance with Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell because that story is faithful to the old meaning of faery, rather than the Tinkerbell focus that is so seen today.

I'm supposed to receive the audiobook for review and I can't wait to reread this in that form. I really loved this book.

The Beverly Papabilies

Genius. I've said it before and I'll say it again. Jeff Miller is a genius. Here's a bit, then go read it all at The Curt Jester. (Ok, admit it. You're singing it just like I am ...)

Come and listen to a story about a man renamed Peter
A poor fisherman, barely kept his family fed,
Then one day Andrew brought Simon to see him,
And Jesus invites them to be fishers of men

Messiah he is, Son of God, Second person of the Trinity

Creamy Italian Dressing

I've never cared one way or the other about Italian Dressing which probably only goes to show that we didn't have it when I was growing up. My husband, however, did and when I tried out a Cook's Country recipe he was delighted. I, too, was delighted despite lack of previous experience. It is a delicious salad dressing.

Get it at Meanwhile, Back in the Kitchen.

Blogging Around: Vatican-Centric Edition

ELECTING THE POPE
Dorian Speed, who I have the pleasure of having met, has put together a site with answers to all your papal election questions: Electing the Pope.


THE VATICAN DIARIES
A book I never heard of but which sounds like it is wonderful. Here's a bit of The Anchoress's review. Go read it all.

John Thavis, Catholic News Service’s recently-retired Rome bureau chief, spent a quarter of century watching the Vatican main players and seemingly talking to everyone, and all of that has translated into a thumping good read. His timely book The Vatican Diaries:A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Power, Personalities and Politics at the Heart of the Catholic Church grabbed me at the intro and held my attention for six solid hours, to the finish; along the way I found myself laughing out loud at images of reporters trying to punch each other in the face, Cardinals offering their opinions on how to work the stove in the Sistine Chapel like “men around a backyard grill”, hungry Vatican workers gobbling surreptitious bits of banana as the princes and diplomats pass by, and a plane full of liquored-up Vatican correspondents getting face-time with a pope. I found the book so interesting that I demanded attention of my family and read portions aloud until they made me stop interrupting them.

THE NEXT POPE
Brandon Vogt broke his Lenten embargo on blogging long enough to give us the link to hear him on NPR. I'm glad he did because, as always, he's got it right.  I'm always glad when NPR gets someone to interview who I trust.

UPDATES FROM ROME
Cardinal Dolan is in Rome and has the link where we can hear his daily online updates on the papal election.

Now That's Tasty ...

... two recommendations to look for at the store ... HEB's Limited Edition Mexican Chocolate Ice Cream and Blue Plate Mayonnaise. At Meanwhile, Back in the Kitchen.

Why Public Schools Should Teach the Bible

Roma Downey and Mark Burnett make the case that we can't be considered literate without a basic knowledge of the Bible as text in this Wall Street Journal editorial.

Have you ever sensed in your own life that "the handwriting was on the wall"? Or encouraged a loved one to walk "the straight and narrow"?

Have you ever laughed at something that came "out of the mouths of babes"? Or gone "the extra mile" for an opportunity that might vanish "in the twinkling of an eye"?

If you have, then you've been thinking of the Bible.

These phrases are just "a drop in the bucket" (another biblical phrase) of the many things we say and do every day that have their origins in the most read, most influential book of all time. The Bible has affected the world for centuries in innumerable ways, including art, literature, philosophy, government, philanthropy, education, social justice and humanitarianism. One would think that a text of such significance would be taught regularly in schools. Not so. That is because of the "stumbling block" (the Bible again) that is posed by the powers that be in America.

Read it all. Downey and Burnett, both TV veterans whose European educations included reading the Bible, came up with The Bible  docudrama for The History Channel to help demonstrate their point.

It is possible to dig into the Bible as a literary text, which I did when requested to read Genesis on my podcast. Granted, I occasionally would stray into personal commentary, but t'was all to the good since that's what I do for every book I read there.

The promoters didn't have a screener and I don't have cable, so y'all will have to give me your opinions after it airs. Here's the link for The Bible.

The Christus Experiment by Rod Bennett

The Christus Experiment by Rod Bennett

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

He’s been divinized, demonized, demythologized, and decoded. He’s been spoken for and spoken against, the best loved, least understood, most controversial figure in human history. All of which makes Jesus of Nazareth the single most tempting target for haunted Georgia billionaire Anson MacDonald and his pricy team of time-traveling scientists and historians. What if you could capture Christ?—bring him to our own time, make him sit for modern questions and get his answers on tape? Would he do miracles? Start a revolution? Would he disappoint his followers—or disappoint the skeptics?...

When I came across this book a month ago or so on Amazon I was intrigued. For one thing I knew that Rod Bennett was the author of Four Witnesses: The Early Church in Her Own Words, which was widely acclaimed by those I trusted to be a great book. That seemed an unlikely follow up, a techno-thriller based around going back in time to grab Jesus Christ out of a crowd and bring him back to the present day for studying.

It was available free to borrow from Amazon Prime and it sat on my Kindle while I finished up other books. Then I read Jeff Miller's review (a key person I trust in book reviewing) and decided it was time to finally read it. Having read the Kindle sample which included Bennett's introduction, I knew he approached it in the right spirit.

This book is a spiritual and psychological adventure story full of wild and irresponsible religious conjecture, equally indefensible whether taken as theology or speculative fiction.

I enjoyed the adventure this book presents. I was very impatient through the first third of it because we were being teased with the identity of the person that "experts" were being gathered to meet in the billionaire's remote Utah compound. Thanks to the concept of the book, the "who" was no surprise and I wanted to get a look at the author's "Jesus." As it turns out, I really liked what the author did when pulling the Son of Man into modern time to be studied in a laboratory to see if he really was both God and man. Interestingly, just as in real life, it all depends on the person and their mindset as to whether they think Jesus is real or a fake. It is in the characters' thoughts that we see mirrors of our own doubts, dreams, and fears when it comes to God.

What I found most touching was the way that Jesus approached that characters, with a question that touched my own heart and made me think of my prayer time with a slightly guilty conscience. I will leave it to you to read the book and experience that question for yourself.

I also really enjoyed the way that Bennett handled the science fiction aspect of the story. There is inclusion of an element that made me flash straight back to Buffy the Vampire Slayer ... and I actually laughed out loud. Bennett handled the tension and adventure equally deftly so that I was zipping through the last part of the book in an agony of suspense to see the final outcome.

Theologically, as far as I could tell, the book was right on target for the faithful. As I mentioned already, several aspects of the book got me to thinking about my own spiritual life. In a way, this book reminds me of what C.S. Lewis might have done in the thriller genre. Narnia and Perelandra are but other names for what Bennett has given us.

I think I may have to get an actual printed copy. No higher praise exists because that means I'm going to start pushing it on my friends and family.

TV Talk

I haven't mentioned TV much lately although, like practically everyone in America, we do watch a fair amount of it at our house. We tend to reserve it for the weekends except for a half hour of some favorite sitcom before we go to bed. That's a habit still held from when the girls lived at home. It was our family's gathering together before the official end of the day.

At any rate, here's what we've been into:

• Person of Interest - a favorite of ours since the series initially aired, this show topped itself with last week's episode which was co-written by series creator Jonathan Nolan and directed by him as well. It showed the other (legitimate) side of the machine's use, with the point of view of someone who was interestingly involved on both sides of the "number" game. As a result we saw the main characters for maybe 10 minutes tops. Well written, well directed, and worth watching. Though two people have told us that you can't find this show online any more. Tom looked around and saw that it was #2 in the Nielsen ratings. Maybe that's why.
  
  
• 3rd Rock From the Sun (seasons 1 and 2) - we watched this when it came out long ago and then forgot about it. Hannah found DVD sets of the seasons for $5 each and began pushing it at us, talking about how well it holds up. She's right. If you can find this it is well worth your time. Funny, charming, and insightful about American life.
  
  
• Dr. Who (reboot, season 1, 2005) - WorldCon is in San Antonio this year and we're talking about going. I've always meant to watch the reboot and this is as good an excuse as any. Hannah is way ahead of us, as usual, and began pushing us to catch up. About 9 episodes in, I am liking it much more than Tom does. For me it is a sort of 3rd Rock From the Sun, British-style. I love the way Dr. Who looks at some of the most dangerous situations with a wacky grin as if he's ready to see what entertainment it offers. Hannah approves of his moral sense, which she says is always right ... she's on season 4.
  
  
• The Mindy Project - funny every time. But if they'd stop tweaking support characters I'd like it better. Especially last week's episode which inserted into the office statt a decidedly unfunny old woman who doesn't understand the computer. Were they trying to dumb it down for middle America? Don't. Just let it alone and see where it goes, for heaven's sake!
  
  
• Shakespeare Uncovered - PBS - Six one-hour episodes of the best appetite whetting looks at some of the Bard's plays, hosted by a different major talent in each cast. It made me begin writing down movies of various plays, as well as some directors to seek out. Believe me, if this series could do that, it is extraordinary.
  
  
• Malcolm in the Middle - season 2 - we've had the 1st season on dvd for a long time and I gave up looking for any others to come out (music rights problems). Rose had the welcome news that it is streaming on Netflix and we found (huzzah!) that it is streaming free on Amazon Prime. It is doubly funny because we don't remember most of the episodes ... what a pleasure this show is.
  
  
• Community - the new writing team is barely getting back up to speed by the third episode of this season (after kicking out season creator last year). Having begun watching Dr. Who did let us really appreciate the Inspector Spacetime convention though ...
  
  
• Vegas - we came for Dennis Quaid, we stayed for Michael Chiklis. And now we've gotten hooked. A genuine seeming 60s look, mostly interesting episodic mysteries, and intriguing enough over-arching stories about the mob and Vegas's development as the casino town it is now.
  
  
• Golden Boy - will premiere this week. We're coming for Chi McBride who is a lure even Tom succumbs to, despite confusing trailers. Also the WSJ review made it sound top-notch. Looking forward to seeing McBride in action again and hoping it doesn't turn out to be a sinking ship as when we watched Last Resort for Andre Braugher (heavens I love that man's acting).

This makes it look as if we do nothing except watch TV. How do we do it? Not sure. But most evenings are our own ... not the tellie's. 

In which Virgilia and Dr. Franks ... and Nan and Perry ... sort things out.

Chapter 11 of The Unforeseen by Dorothy MacArdle at Forgotten Classics.

How A Pope Is Elected

This little presentation from Vatican Insider does a nice job of explaining the procedure to get us to Habemus Papem (we have a pope).

Via Kathy Schiffer.

Scott struggles to get systems back online while Julie rolls poisoned eggs to the Velociraptors.

Yes, we're discussing Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton at A Good Story is Hard to Find podcast. Join us, if you dare!

When Pope Benedict's Your Competition Then You Know You Did Something Right

When I was voting for all the About.com Catholicism Awards yesterday I couldn't help but feel sorry for the Twitter and Book finalist. Pope Benedict was nominated in both categories and was kicking ... well, he had a dominant lead, let's just say.

I heard from Emmaus Road Publishing this morning (I do layout on books for them):

Dear friends, ERP’s title Navigating the Interior Life: Spiritual Direction and the Journey to God by Dan Burke has been selected by the readers of the About.com Catholicism GuideSite (http://Catholicism.About.com) as one of the five finalists for Best Catholic Book of 2012 in the 2013 About Catholicism Readers' Choice Awards!  Please take a minute and vote for our title.  We have some pretty steep competition.  Currently Navigating is in second place behind Pope Benedict.  If we have to come in 2^nd I can’t think of a better person to lose to.  If you get a minute I would appreciate you taking the time to vote.  The link is below and you can vote once every 24 hours.  Thanks

If you haven't gone by the awards definitely check out the finalists. You can't lose, actually, because everything I've seen is worth your time.

(Ahem ... and if you wind up in the podcast category, check out ... and maybe even vote for ... A Good Story is Hard to Find.)

Day Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko

Day Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Loneliness, dejection, the contempt or pity of people around you--these are unpleasant feelings. But they are precisely the things that produce genuine Dark Ones.

As with the previous book in the series, Night Watch, this is comprised of three stories. Unlike the previous book, this is told from the Dark Ones' point of view and by three different protagonists. Intriguingly, it begins with statements opposite to those which open Night Watch. We are told that this text is not approved because it is deleterious to the cause of Light (signed the Night Watch) and deleterious to the cause of Dark (signed the Day Watch).

The first story is told from a Dark witch's point of view as she is sent to recover from a difficult assignment. It was definitely dark and almost kept me from continuing. It's funny because it isn't as if the story contained anything that I haven't encountered in other books and it definitely isn't because it is told from the dark point of view. There was just something about it that made me not want to read it, which is a tribute to the author's ability to convey atmosphere in his storytelling.

I thoroughly enjoyed the second story which was a mystery within a mystery as a man riding a train realizes he has amnesia ... and is an Other. The third story brought the other two together in a climactic trial by The Inquisition.

As in Night Watch, each story examined a facet of Dark or Light. I was especially interested in the third story where most of it is shown from the point of view of Edgar, a Dark Other, or Anton, our familiar Light Other from the first book. Several times each was judging the other for the very same thing while thinking, "Just like a Light/Dark Other..." In this story we also hear about how Inquisitors see things and it was an interesting contrast to the Others.

Day Watch uses these engrossing stories to examine good, evil, love, and sacrifice, continuing the themes found in Night Watch. As such it gave me pause while I thought about the author's representation of the very thin line that separates good from evil, and true love from a self-serving pretense of love.

It was quite good overall, although it was not quite as good as Night Watch. Definitely recommended. I am eagerly anticipating receiving the next book from the library.

Good Story Podcast is Finalist in 2013 About.Com Awards

Now this is fun! And exciting!

A Good Story is Hard to Find podcast is a finalist in the 2013 About.com Catholicism Awards.

And I like their description:

Rather than create a podcast about Catholic books and movies, Julie Davis and Scott D. Danielson discuss classic books and movies "as Catholics."

They get us! They really get us! (Ok, no more channeling Sally Fields...)

I saw we are in there with Fr. Barron, Pray-As-You-Go (a regular listen of min) and other big podcasts I admire. What honorable company Scott and I have risen to!

We haven't a chance, but we're the only one of our sort. Mostly. iPadre being a different sort of conversation. (That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!)

Perhaps we'll get some folks dropping by to try us out though, which would be the best! We can always do with new book-and-movie lovin' pals.

Check it out, and be sure to look at the other categories too. The blogs, books, and suchlike that I recognize are top-notch. Which means I'm definitely going to be checking out the ones I don't know.

And vote ... of course ... definitely vote.

I don't want to have to bring the Hypno-Toad out for this one. But you know. I'll do what I have to.

Weekend Joke: Exact Change

This is from Seth Peters, who regularly supplies me with great jokes. As he said, "It's a doozy!" Thank you Seth!

A man walks into a restaurant with a full-grown ostrich behind him.

The waitress asks them for their orders.

The man says, "A hamburger, fries and a coke," and turns to the ostrich, "What's yours?"

"I'll have the same," says the ostrich.

A short time later the waitress returns with the order. "That will be $9.40 please." The man reaches into his pocket and pulls out the exact change for payment.

The next day, the man and the ostrich come again and the man says, "A hamburger, fries and a coke." The ostrich says, "I'll have the same." Again the man reaches into his pocket and pays with exact change.

This becomes routine until the two enter again. "The usual?" asks the waitress.

"No, this is Friday night, so I will have a steak, baked potato and a salad," says the man.

"Same," says the ostrich.

Shortly the waitress brings the order and says, "That will be $32.62."

Once again the man pulls the exact change out of his pocket and places it on the table.

The waitress cannot hold back her curiosity any longer. "Excuse me, sir. How do you manage to always come up with the exact change in your pocket every time?"

"Well," says the man, "several years ago I was cleaning the attic and found an old lamp. When I rubbed it, a Genie appeared and offered me two wishes. My first wish was that if I ever had to pay for anything, I would just put my hand in my pocket and the right amount of money would always be there."

"That's brilliant!" says the waitress. "Most people would ask for a million dollars or something, but you'll always be as rich as you want for as long as you live!"

"That's right. Whether it's a gallon of milk or a Rolls Royce, the exact money is always there," says the man.

The waitress asks, "What's with the ostrich?"

The man sighs, pauses and answers, "My second wish was for a tall chick with long legs who agrees with everything I say..."

Blogging Around: The Benedict Edition

I'm out of touch, more or less, because it is our semi-annual Beyond Cana marriage retreat for our parish. Tom and I are part of the presentation team and so have turned our focus elsewhere.

In the meantime, here are some good things to read from other places.

 IS IT HYPOCRISY? 

The Curt Jester addresses those with this complaint:

Catholics who eulogized Pope John Paul II for serving to the bitter end now praise Pope Benedict for quitting. Make up your minds.

Being Catholic is the both/and approach that doesn’t try to flatten all things into a decision tree with simple yes/no paths. The Curt Jester nails it. As always.

 DISCERNING GOD'S WILL 

Scott Danielson talks about our remarkable Pope and the one thing that struck him most in the resignation.

One thing that strikes me in Benedict’s statement is his explanation of how he made this decision. He did not say, “God told me to.”

 WE'RE MARKED MEN 

Archbishop Timothy Dolan on Ash Wednesday and Pope Benedict's continual gift to us in his leadership.

And now, he lets us know that, he, too, is a marked man, closer to death, slowed down and frail, more and more in need of God’s grace and mercy, humbly admitting his mortality, his own sinfulness, eager to prepare to be united with His Lord and Savior in His dying and rising.

Learning to Love the Pope Through His Writing

I did glance over some of the pieces in the Wall Street Journal this morning about Pope Benedict's pending resignation. They were more even-handed than many of the pieces I saw elsewhere which led off with inflammatory opinion. (For shame Reuters! I knew you when you were cool!)

However, even these were putting forth points of view which baffled me. Until I recalled that these people were outsiders. Those of us on the inside, who had learned to love Pope Benedict in these short eight years could not simply call him a "bridge" or "placeholder" after a historic pope.

As I mentioned yesterday, it was through the Pope's writing that I learned to love this gentle shepherd who spoke of sin in order to keep us safe, not to make us feel shame.

So it was with great pleasure that I read Will Duquette's tribute which puts my own thoughts into much better words. Here's part of it.

In these books I discovered a teacher, a man who wished always to speak the truth, but who could speak the truth in love and gentleness. I discovered a pastor, one with great compassion for human frailty, but who refused to water down the gospel just to make people feel better about their sins. Sin is a moral illness; what we need is a cure, not an anesthetic. In these books, in which the future pope spoke of the problems of the day, he addressed all of the problems I was familiar with from my time in the Episcopal Church, the forces that were driving that communion to schism and irrelevancy. Not only did we need a cure; the Cardinal was familiar with the cure we needed.

I went on to read books he’d written himself (I’ve got a whole shelf of them now, many of which I’ve read and many I’ve not gotten around to yet). I discovered a clear thinker, and a clear speaker, a man I could learn from. And in a short time, I came to love this man, Joseph Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI. I still do.

Pope Benedict's Resignation

I wrote some of this to send to our RCIA small group since this a papal resignation has startled most of us, much less those getting reading to enter the Church.

My take, which I did not send to anyone is sheer gratitude for God's having given us Pope Benedict for eight years.

My goodness, think of what that man has done for us. The homily series full of teaching about saints, apostles, Fathers of the Church, prayer, and more. The Jesus of Nazareth books and the encyclicals. The trips all over the world. Assigning bishops who will be true good shepherds to us. And then preparing to spend his days in prayer for us.

I think that reading his general audience homilies, courtesy of the Curt Jester, has taken my appreciation and love of our Papa to a new level, so perhaps I feel this more than others might.

For anyone wanting more of my opinion, I think that reading the essence of what I advised our RCIA group about will give an answer. So, here it is ...

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

I did want to offer a bit of guidance about Pope Benedict's resignation, based on my experience as a Catholic when Pope John Paul II died and Pope Benedict was elected.

You'll hear:

• Speculation about the reasons for the resignation and why it is good / bad.
  
  
• How bad / good this is for the Church. Especially at this particular moment in history!
  
  
• How we need a more progressive / conservative pope than Pope Benedict.
  
  
• Speculation about who will be elected as the next pope. That speculation is rarely correct, by the way. Very few, if any would have picked Josef Ratzinger to be the next pope.

In other words, you will hear a lot of talk that mostly reflects the people talking, rather than the truth about the situation.

I tend to ignore it as much as possible.

And most of it doesn't matter to us much anyway because this is an election that only the cardinals will take part in. (Here's how the election works, if you want to know more.)

What we can do that is helpful is to pray.

Pray for Pope Benedict's future. I myself am so thankful that we were given such a good shepherd, who did so very much in 8 years, as Pope Benedict.

Pray that the cardinals will be guided by the Holy Spirit and select the person God wants to be our good shepherd.

Since the rules call for the cardinals to gather within 15 days of the pope leaving (whether by death or resignation) we will likely have a new pope before Easter.

If you get your news from the Vatican instead of American media, that may help filter out some of the extra chatter.

==========

The full text of the Pope's announcement follows. I got this from CNA (Catholic News Agency) which is a trustworthy source.

Dear Brothers,

I have convoked you to this Consistory, not only for the three canonizations, but also to communicate to you a decision of great importance for the life of the Church. After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry. I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only with words and deeds, but no less with prayer and suffering.

However, in today’s world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to govern the bark of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me. For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter, entrusted to me by the Cardinals on 19 April 2005, in such a way, that as from 28 February 2013, at 20:00 hours, the See of Rome, the See of Saint Peter, will be vacant and a Conclave to elect the new Supreme Pontiff will have to be convoked by those whose competence it is.

Dear Brothers, I thank you most sincerely for all the love and work with which you have supported me in my ministry and I ask pardon for all my defects. And now, let us entrust the Holy Church to the care of Our Supreme Pastor, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and implore his holy Mother Mary, so that she may assist the Cardinal Fathers with her maternal solicitude, in electing a new Supreme Pontiff. With regard to myself, I wish to also devotedly serve the Holy Church of God in the future through a life dedicated to prayer.

From the Vatican, 10 February 2013
BENEDICTUS PP XVI

Blogging and Google

My question for you is how do you manage to make your blog easily discoverable by google? I have heard there are tricks of the trade. I am not nearly as internet savvy as you are.

I was asked this question recently when my blog popped up as a likely match for someone using Google. They then mentioned that they haven't done much with their blog but had this question.

Like most bloggers I get this question a lot. Here's my answer.

I post every day. I post authentic content. In other words, I'm out there.

That's all that Google wants. Real posts by real people saying something that is their own.

Rest assured that there may be tricks, but like most of life the best way is just to do the job. In that way, blogging is just like real life.

Show up. Do the job. Eventually when you've got 8,000+ posts, Google will notice.

And if Google doesn't notice, you'll still have the satisfaction of having blogged. Which is the real point of blogging in the first place, after all.

Blogging Around: Seeing the Other Side

AMERICA IN FILM Here's an interesting question. You want to teach someone about America, using movies. Which movies do you choose? Rose has one for being American and another for pop culture. The discussion has begun at Double Exposure ... check it out.

LETTERBOXD NOW OPEN TO ALL
Letterboxd is like Goodreads, but for movies. I have been enjoying it for a while but it was invitation only. No longer. Jump in. It's a free for all!

SUPER BOWL BETTER BECAUSE OF "THE BLIND SIDE"
Whenever we watch the Baltimore Ravens play, Tom always points out the real life player who was portrayed in The Blind Side. Watching the Super Bowl was just that much better because we knew about his story. Tony Rossi gives the Christopher Closeup inside story of the family behind the movie.

Many of you have seen the Christopher Award-winning movie “The Blind Side,” which told the story of Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy (played by Tim McGraw and Sandra Bullock) adopting homeless teen, Michael Oher, supporting him and his education, and helping to launch his football career with the Baltimore Ravens. It was a happy ending by both Hollywood and real-life standards.

That ending got even happier this past Sunday when the Ravens won the Super Bowl with a little help from Michael Oher, whose adopted family was with him.

MUSHROOM STROGANOFF
This looks delicious, whether one has Lent on the horizon or not. Veronica at My Catholic Kitchen came up with it. I'm going to put back in the Worcestershire sauce instead of the soy sauce because fish is allowed for Lent. As well as chicken broth (guess what's going to happen to that 1 cup of water and the vegetable bouillon cube? yep ... ).

BISHOPS' STATEMENT ON NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING REGARDING HHS MANDATE
Archbishop Dolan gives us the scoop and the link to the bishops' actual statement. Accept no substitutes.

Yesterday, I issued a statement in my role as President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding the HHS mandate. Unfortunately, there were some news reports today that claimed the bishops “rejected” the White House proposal, ignoring the fact that we bishops said, “we welcome and will take seriously the Administration’s invitation to submit our concerns through formal comments, and we will do so in the hope that an acceptable solution can be found that respects the consciences of all.”

LORD, OPEN MY HEARD
CWG Blog features the devotional I wrote last year ... and is very, very kind. Thank you, Jen!

If you are a looking for a bigger, sweeter piece of devotional pie, also consider Julie's book Happy Catholic. You'll feel like you're cheating, since it's fun and interesting and not at all penitential, but it's a great way to kickstart the habit of seeing God in every day life.

Julie and Scott cooked this up using a recipe that has been in their families for centuries.

A good movie for Valentine's Day (at least that's why I chose it), Mostly Martha is the topic of conversation at A Good Story is Hard to Find podcast. Bon appetit!

Keep Your Fork ...

Lynne is reading over Happy Catholic posts starting from the very beginning. I am in awe. Certainly I've never done that! It's interesting to hear her observations so far.

One thing that's not really representative of the blog from the beginning is that I usually go back and remove the old art and quotes that are over a year old. This is because Blogger only lets me access 5,000 posts (only! ha!) so if I need to update or access an old post, such as a Bible study or novena for example, then I can't get to it.

Unfortunately, this means that not only does Lynn not get to see all the old quotes and art, but sometimes I still can't access old stuff.

So I may be replacing things now as she lets me know about outdated links that led to things we all liked around here.

Here's the first, a charming story about a lady who wants to be buried with a fork. Go read it because it is still just as good as way back in 2004 when I first posted about it.

Thanks Lynne!

Lent begins next week.

Should I panic now?

No. I'll wait until next Tuesday.

As Ecclesiastes tells us, there is a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to live for today and a time to choose Lenten penance.