Snow-covered Fir Trees

Snow-covered trees in Kuusamo, Finland

Living the Word: Catholic Women's Bible - with promotional discount

"Women's Bible" usually makes me roll my eyes — they're not my cup of tea. I've never been very "girlie" and my experience with the "women's" label has resulted in a lot of emotional, sentimental interpretations accompanied by a lot of pictures of flowers. That's not how I roll.

However, this women's Bible is something special. It is solid and realistically written — not sappy — and just looking at the samples gave me a few moments of stopping to think about different perspectives than I usually come across for scripture. The few contributors' names I recognizes are really good Biblical scholars — as well as being women.

It was too expensive for them to send the entire book but I asked for the Book of Genesis as a pdf so I could properly look at the extras. I liked what I saw. There is an emphasis on lectio divina (divine reading) throughout.  Readers are given several ways to begin prayerful scripture reading. There are a few essays explaining how to do it as well as several well interesting reading plans and a scriptural rosary guideline. Also, each essay has an interesting point or question for meditation. For example, the essay on Sarah in Genesis turns a major plot point of her laughing at God into a question for the reader: "When was the last time God made you laugh?" (Answer — all the time.) It's a great way to start that  conversation with God.

A variety of essays both focus on women of the Bible in prayer and their lives while other series cover topics like the sacraments, Catholic practices and life with God. Most of these  feature ideas for further reading, both inside and outside the Bible. The scripture itself doesn't have many notes, except for cross-referencing with the Catechism and occasional points of clarification about context to make the text more understandable. Each biblical book has a specially written, theologically sound introduction.

I especially liked the fact that there are women highlighted who I've never seen anyone focus on. For example Lot's wife is examined as an example of spiritual sloth and then contrasted with Martha and Jesus' parable of the talents. Potiphar's wife, who tries to seduce Joseph when he's a slave in Egypt, leads to a discussion of  virtues and vices. Then her story is contrasted with Susanna from the Book of Daniel. These are discussions that are pertinent to our times and also lead the reader to think more deeply about scripture as a whole. All of it opens the door to conversation with God.

This Bible is practically perfect although I do wish they'd have included brief bios of the quoted saints in the back. Also the script used for quotes is very pretty but also occasionally extremely hard to read. These are very minor points but perhaps a second edition will pick up these elements.

The art throughout is nice, the colors are pleasing, the paper is not wafer-thin as in some Bibles, and the format leaves generous margins for note taking. There are flowers but I liked the art so ... it worked for me.

You may recall that I said at the beginning of this review that I roll my eyes at "Women's Bibles." Not this time. 

Reader, I bought one.

Go forth and do likewise.

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PROMOTIONAL DISCOUNT for ordering from Ave Maria

LIVINGWORD23: $59.95 + Free shipping on the women's Bible. Exp. 2.28.23.

Love of Winter

Love of Winter, George Bellows

A Movie You Might Have Missed #78 — The Little Foxes

It's been 12 years since I began this series highlighting movies I wished more people knew about. I'm rerunning it from the beginning because I still think these are movies you might have missed.

Bette Davis in The Little Foxes

Regina Hubbard Giddens (Bette Davis) and her scheming brothers plan to get rich from a cotton mill, but first they must tap into the wealth of Regina's sickly husband, Horace (Herbert Marshall). When that plan fails, their schemes devolve into theft and blackmail, driving an irreparable wedge between family members.

Bette Davis killed it in this one. To be fair, so did Herbert Marshall who wowed us by having to do all his acting while in a chair or bed due to his character's bad heart.

This was part of our William Wyler series where we are slowly working our way through his movies. I'd been putting off watching this one because I don't usually like melodramas and I certainly don't like venomous family arguments. However, this one grabbed me and didn't let up to the very end. I was very worried about how sweet Zan (daughter of the family) would turn out. I have to admit that I was also captivated by Davis's costumes and hair. The photo above captures the style of this film which is set in the South in 1900.

Throughout Wyler used all his skill with light and shadow, positions on staircases or balconies and all the other trademark moves. That last shot of Davis looking out the window framed by two bars and withdrawing behind lace curtains should be required on film school tests about effective symbolism.

Booking Around the Web

Sherlock Holmes Goes Public in 2023

I like to point out that people in the early 20th Century saw Holmes just the way we see James Bond today. The Bond stories were originally written in the 1950s and ‘60s, but the movies began in the ‘60s and have gone on from there. Thus we think of Bond as a contemporary. We assume he’s operating in 2022 (soon 2023), and that he carries a cell phone and uses a PC, among other things. The fact that this is a very different level of technology from what’s found in Ian Fleming’s original stories doesn’t bother us at all.

Lars Walker at Brandywine Books talks about the Sherlock Holmes story copyrights running out as of this year in the U.S. 

Word & Song by Anthony Esolen

Word & Song is the place to go for meditations on the beauty and sometimes the wildness of the English language, on English poetry and hymns, and on the sometimes forgotten gems of the Golden Age of film. What’s a teacher but someone who says, “Come, look at the great thing I’ve found!” Well then, we’ll be looking at — and listening to — some great things!

I came across this daily newsletter halfway through Advent and it was a delightful accompaniment to the season. Every day I'm treated to the latest entry in one of the categories like Word of the Week, Hymn of the Week, Movie of the Week, and much more. They are short but substantial.

 Good Company: Mickey Haller and the Enduring Appeal of the 'Lincoln Lawyer'

Dan Riordin writes for Crime Reads that his father and uncle reread the first book of the series and talked about it often, especially since Dan is a lawyer. When they died, he decided to read the entire series, watch the movie, and take in the Netflix series. His piece is compelling. I'm requesting the first book from the library. (Via the Close Reads newsletter.)

What Can We Learn From Barnes & Nobles' Surprising Turnaround?

Barnes & Noble is flourishing. After a long decline, the company is profitable and growing again—and last week announced plans to open 30 new stores. In some instances, they are taking over locations where Amazon tried (and failed) to operate bookstores.

How did they do it? As has been done for a long time — by taking it away from the accountants and letting someone who loves books run it. I still remember Lee Iacocca's love of cars being a major factor in his ability to revive Chrysler in the 1980s after the accountants had run it into the ground. A really great piece is at The Honest Broker. (Again via the Close Reads newsletter.)

The Magpie

The Magpie, Claude Monet

 

Best of 2022 — Rereading and Rewatching

 How long's it been since you reread or rewatched these? Pardner, that's too long.

My top picks from last year. In no particular order.

Serenity

The perfect popcorn movie — a fantastic, fast moving adventure crackling with wit and set 500 years in the future.
(My review here.)

Haider

Hamlet — Indian style. Told as a statement about police action and terrorism in Kashmir in 1995.

(My review here.)

Master and Commander

Brilliantly conveys the essence of the first three of Patrick O'Brian's novels with  artistry,  realism, and wonderful acting and directing.

Hell or High Water

This heist film crossed with a modern western follows two West Texas brothers who begin robbing banks but only take loose bills and target branches of one particular bank. They are pursued by a crusty Texas Ranger (Jeff Bridges) nearing the end of his career. The opening with the deliberate framing of the three crosses begs the question throughout the film — is there a "good thief" and what does that mean beyond the easy Hollywood cliche of good intentions?

 

Lagaan

Peasants versus the Raj in an epic cricket match.
Charming and a celebration of the human spirit.

(My review here.)

Barfi

Barfi is a magical fairy tale of a romantic comedy, somewhat like an Indian-style Amelie.  We see four interwoven timelines, a rarity for Indian movies, chronicling a romance, a crime spree (of sorts), life in the big city with a childhood friend, and present day.

(My review here.)

Return to Me

As a lovely fable of romance, community, faith, companionship and humor it hits practically every mark. It shows Catholic community and life at its best without ever leaving the mainstream movie genre.

Adaptation

This is famous screenwriter Charlie Kaufman's meta-film about adapting The Orchid Thief novel into a screenplay. Above all it reminds you that Nicholas Cage is a great actor when he wants to be. Though it seems to drag as you approach the halfway point, it suddenly picks up and turns into an entirely different beast and you realize how the first half was necessary to setting up the inspired insanity of the second half. Not for everyone, but if you like an intellectual look at movies, then this is brilliant.

 

 

Bleak House

by Charles Dickens

I read this for my book club. Bleak House is a riveting blend of mystery,  horror,  romance, a look at character (or the lack thereof), and much more ... all laced with a self awareness that I find startlingly modern. O Dickens. 
(More here.)

The Man Who Was Thursday

by G.K. Chesterton

I read this along with the Pints with Chesterton podcast. This grabbed me by the throat all over again and I read it with delight at the humor, intelligence, plot twists, and adventure.

(My review here.)

The City Not Long After

by Pat Murphy

This tale of post-apocalyptic America had a dreamy, fantastic quality that I really liked. I especially liked Murphy's imaginings of how artists would shape the raw material of an abandoned city to show their vision.
(My review here.)

The Case of the Missing Servant

by Tarquin Hall

Vish Puri, Most Private Investigator, usually investigates candidates for arranged marriages. However, a serious case arises when he has to save a crusading lawyer's reputation while discovering what happened to the missing servant the lawyer is rumored to have murdered. This started me down the path of reading the rest of the series, which I highlighted in my Best of 2022 Books list.
(My review here.)

Prince of Foxes

by Samuel Shellabarger

Set in Renaissance Italy, this classic of American popular fiction is the story of Andrea Orsini, a peasant boy who rises to perform delicate political, military, and romantic missions for Cesare Borgia.

 

This description doesn't do it justice but it is a beginning. I absolutely love this author's historical fiction and this is my favorite of his books. He doesn't shy away from describing faith in attitudes proper to the time period which often leads to inspirational moments without being unbelievable to readers of any persuasion.

Catechism in a Year podcast

You may recall that a couple of years ago Father Mike Schmitz read the Bible in a year in what proved to be a wildly popular podcast. I really liked it a lot and really wished that he'd do the Catechism in a year also. And that wish has been granted! 

As he did with the Bible, he will read the entire Catechism in 365 bite-sized pieces, providing explanation and insights along the way. These are early days, meaning that it will be easy to catch up if you're a stickler for sticking to a schedule. Full confession, I took two years to go all the way through the Bible in a Year and it was very fruitful. So if you like a slower pace, this will work for you too. 

 I have read the entire Catechism, very slowly, and it is a rich book, perfectly made to answer a simple question or with deeper treasures for us to reflect upon. As I have been listening to these first few episodes it has struck me that the Catechism is the Church's version of when Mary "ponders" events in her heart."

Pondering" is also translated as reflecting, treasuring in her heart, and meditating, depending on the Biblical translation. What better way to spend the year than pondering the miracle of God's love for us in the Catholic Church?

Here's the home page but you can pick this up wherever you get your podcasts.

Best of 2022 — Podcasts

My top picks from podcasts I discovered last year. As always, they may be old, but my listening was brand new in 2022. In no particular order. Links are mostly in the podcast name.

The Art of History

Episodes from history, viewed through great works of art. No pre-reqs required! New episodes every month. Hosted by Amanda Matta, art historian.

Every so often I go looking for a good podcast on art. This one combines two of my favorite things, explaining the meaning of a painting beyond my cursory knowledge ("hey, I like that one!") and going in-depth into the history that prompted the art in the first place.

 

Library of Lost Time

Every week: two new books and an irresistible distraction. 

 

Sure, you have important things to do. But it takes just a 10 minutes or so to learn about two upcoming book releases and something fascinating about the world. 

 

 The Library of Lost Time is a weekly podcast where we share two new book releases at the top of our TBR, then celebrate a fun book- or travel-related distraction.

This podcast is short and sweet, with a wide range of books and distractions offered. I've discovered a lot of new things thanks to the Library of Lost Time.

Every Knee Shall Bow

Lay Catholic evangelists Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle bring you a podcast series that teaches you how to confidently share your Catholic faith with your family members, friends, co-workers, and the strangers you meet on airplanes. Every episode, Mike and Dave give you five steps you can take each week to become an instrument God uses to spread the Gospel, heal hearts, and renew his Church. Be inspired by stories of miraculous conversions and be reminded that God still powerfully intervenes to transform people's lives.

 

This is a podcast about how to evangelize, which always brings up memories of Hyde Park. No thank you. Then my daughter Rose, who listens to such things to help with RCIA conversations, recommended it. And she was right! The hosts have good chemistry and are fun to listen to. They understand the things that make most of us cringe away from evangelizing and have a lot of helpful tips — some of which I've actually used. Definitely give this one a try.

The Les Miserables Reading Companion Podcast

The Podcast about Victor Hugo's Les Misérables. In each episode, professor Briana Lewis comments on a section of the book, to make it a bit less daunting, and hopefully help you enjoy it a bit more. This podcast is created with a non-academic, non-expert, non-French-speaking audience in mind--that is, anyone who'd like to dive into this classic!

Briana Lewis truly makes Les Miserables accessible and I especially enjoy the way she will read various French phrases, translating them herself, to make points. If you have ever struggled with Les Mis, and I'm one of those people, then this is a chance to make your way through the novel with help by your side.

Sticky Notes

Sticky Notes is a classical music podcast for everyone. Whether you are a beginner just looking to get into classical music but don't know where to start, or a seasoned musician interested in the lives and ideas of your fellow artists, this podcast is for you.

 

The host is a professional conductor but he could easily be a popular teacher because his love of music is infectious. He never forgets that most of us (me, anyway) don't know even the basics about music or what it's like to live around the classical music world. So I've learned that The Nutcracker Suite has a lot of marches in it that don't sound like marches. That the Schubert Cello Quintet was ignored until 50 years after it was first written. That film music began as the solution to cover up the really noisy film projectors. And much more.

Opera for Everyone

Opera for Everyone makes opera understandable, accessible, and enjoyable for all. Pat Wright hosts the show, inviting guest co-hosts for lively discussions of operas. Music soars. Epiphanies abound. Hilarity ensues.

I never figured I'd keep listening to this one but Pat Wright makes even a 2-hour opera podcast fun. Each opera's story is described so that the pieces of music we hear (all in order) make sense. It includes history, musical information, and a lot of good humor.

Unspooled

Each episode of Unspooled covers a single film and analyzes its artistic, thematic, and historical significance. It has been described as a "book club where we are watching movies once a week." — Wikipedia

 

I came across this when looking for reviews of RRR, which I was surprised to see getting so much coverage in the podcast world. Paul and Amy seemed to have the best take overall, as well as the most enjoyment. Among all those I tried this is the one that stuck with me through the year as I listened to them talk about other films. I especially like the the hosts' give and take as they talk over elements they disagree on. They cover both old and new so it's easy to find something you like.

The Symbolic World

Jonathan Pageau looks at symbolism in all its forms, from its source in sacred stories and images to contemporary culture and ultimately how it shapes the very world we encounter.
 

Pageau looks at symbolism in our culture (ancient and current) and shows us meanings that we had long forgotten but that make real sense. Any reader of Scripture will recognize the way he dives through layers of meaning and pulls out the essence for us to consider. He'll also do interviews ranging from Jonathan Peterson, Bishop Barron and many more. Simply fascinating. He does both videos and podcasts.

Best of 2022 — Movies and TV

Here are my top picks from our year of viewing. We watched  over 130 movies last year.  Our television viewing was not as extensive but we discovered some that were pure gold.

As always, the movies may be old, but my viewing was brand new in 2022. In no particular order.

I began my "Best of" lists way back in 2008. To see them, check the label cloud in the sidebar under "Best of ..."

2022 BEST MOVIES

Minnal Murali (Superhero)

We were interested to watch this as Indian films don't have superhero movies the way that we do. It was an origin story with both the hero and villain getting hit by lightning at the same time and developing super powers gradually. These parallel tracks were really interesting and villain's journey was as interesting as the hero's. In many ways, we could empathize with some of his grievances. I loved the little nephew who knew all about American superheroes (they're what makes America great) and glories as each new power is discovered.

The Best Years of Our Lives

We watched this as part of our occasional William Wyler series. It focuses on the aftermath in three American military men's lives after the war is over and they return home. Over 70 years later, some of the story lines may seem conventional at first, but we soon saw the relevance to modern life. For one thing it kept coming up in conversation around the house which is one of the surest sign of a movie that speaks to the universal condition.

(My review here.)

RRR

This was surprisingly well-loved in America as we saw review after review praising it. RRR is the director's dream about two revolutionaries who never met but might have been besties if they had. It has great choreography for singing and action, exciting dances, and a lot of heart. It delivers an over-the-top bromance the likes of which would be hard to top. It also embodies personal sacrifice and love of country, naturally, since these are celebrated revolutionaries who fought for India's independence.

(My review here.)

A Taxi Driver

In 1980, a foreign journalist hires a down-on-his-luck taxi driver to take him to Gwangju, South Korea. They soon arrive to find a city under siege by student protesters and the military. The taxi driver, Mr. Kim, is the perfect character through whose eyes we should view the military lockdown of Gwangju. We'd never heard of this event and were gripped by the movie.

(My review here.)

Dune

Let's face it, if someone says " Denis Villeneuve directs" then I'm saying "which theater do I go to?" I love his style. You've doubtless heard all the naysayers and champions of the movie so I won't go into that. I myself was nervous about him directing such a difficult story to transition from a novel to film but came very happy. It was simply amazing.

The Outfit

A gripping and masterful thriller in which an expert tailor (Mark Rylance) must outwit a dangerous group of mobsters in order to survive a fateful night.

This little film is like a puzzle in a box. Every time you think you know how the pieces fit, another twist comes up to throw the viewer (and our master tailor) for a loop.

(My review here.)   

 

The Big Country

Another in our series watching William Wyler's movies chronologically. Gregory Peck's character was refreshingly different from the usual powerful Western hero. He had such self-confidence that he could turn down a fight in front of a crowd and not care what they thought of him. Charlton Heston was surprisingly low-key and subtle a lot of the time (good directing William Wyler!). I loved the themes and all the actors, especially Chuck Connors as the slimy bad guy and Burl Ives as the father bad guy who knew how to act honorable even if he didn't do it sll the time.

 The Admiral: Raging Currents

Based on a true story, this is the astonishing tale of a legendary battle against overwhelming odds: the embattled Koreans with 12 ships against the invading Japanese navy with 300 ships. And also of the extraordinarily talented Admiral Yi  Sun-sin who masterminded a victory. 

We'd never heard of this admiral or battle because it is from halfway around the world and long ago. It's always nice to find another fascinating story from history while you're watching a great movie.

(My review here.)

U Turn

This thriller is perfect for the wind up to Halloween. One of the most shocking things about it is something that Western audiences will find inexplicable — to have the divider between opposite sides of a highway made simply of large bricks which anyone can move so they can do a U-turn anywhere they feel like it. This blew our minds.

A young reporter, Rachana, is investigating the number of U-turns. Her theory is that this leads to a lot of accidents and deaths. She's right, but not in the way that she originally thinks.

(My review here.)

 

 

 

2022 BEST TV

The Brokenwood Mysteries

Set in the quiet New Zealand town of Brokenwood, this is a cozy mystery show that manages to avoid being too cozy. Following the three homicide detectives from case to case, it is more of a Midsomer Murders than a Murder She Wrote.

It's got a good amount of humor but always keeps the focus on solving the mysteries. The "kiwi" element is strong because the show was made for New Zealand audiences and that makes it just exotic enough. The murders always pull the detectives into a bit of local culture that is fun to see also, like the local Shakespearean troop or tours for the Lord of the Ringz filming locations. (That "z" in Ringz is important.) sometimes they just go for something everyone understands like playing Clue.

(My review here.)

Extraordinary Attorney Woo

This was my favorite show of the year and one that never failed to leave me in a good mood all the rest of the day. I say that up front because the description can't convey the charm, humor, and optimism of the show. Woo Young-woo is a female rookie attorney with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who is hired by a major law firm in Seoul. A legal drama at its heart, each episode features an interesting  case that has to be won. If, like me, this description leaves you cold, just try it. It truly is an extraordinary show.

(My review here.) 

Crash Landing on You

A sudden storm leads to a successful South Korean businesswoman and heiress crashing her paraglider in the North Korean portion of the DMZ. She meets an army captain in the Korean People's Army who decides he will help her hide. How will she get back to her own life and escape prison in North Korea? Over time, they fall in love, despite the divide and dispute between their respective countries.

I came for the accurate depiction of North Korean life. I stayed for the charming actors, the romance and the drama itself. Granted, the drama can be pretty sparse in some episodes when the romance is front and center, but there are some genuinely bad guys and interesting dramatic tension.

(My review here.)

Best of 2022 — Books

My top 10 picks from the over 120 books I read last year.

You may find old books here but if they're on this list, then they were new to me! In no particular order.

Note: I've been doing this since 2008 — check the label cloud in the sidebar for "Best of" to see other lists.

2022 BEST BOOKS

Damon Runyon Favorites

by Damon Runyon

This is perfect light-hearted reading along the lines of P.G. Wodehouse or O'Henry. These short stories are set on Broadway,  featuring gangsters, gamblers, guys and dolls who use a colorful vernacular like no other.

(Full review here.)

The End of the Affair

by Graham Greene

Both the prose and the novel itself are simply magnificent. Read it despite the topic. There is much more there than meets the eye so don't judge this book by its cover — or title.

(My review here.)

The Man Who Died Twice
The Bullet That Missed

(Books 2 and 3 of the Thursday Murder Club series)
by Martha Wells

The Thursday Murder Club is a group of four retirees who have become friends through weekly meetings to try to solve cold cases. When a real murder is dropped into their laps (so to speak) they quickly warm to the task of solving a real case. The first one, which I read in 2021, was funny, smart, and entertaining. The second and third books matched the first. This series is just a lot of fun.

Travels on My Elephant

by Mark Shand

Started on a whim and pursued with a passion, modern-day adventurer Mark Shand's remarkable journey through India on the back of a 30-year-old elephant named Tara covered 800 miles, from the Bay of Bengal to the world's largest elephant bazaar at Sonepur on the Ganges.

 

This delightful book gives a good behind-the-scenes look at what elephants are like, what it is like living among Indians, and some of the different cultures are that make up this vast and diverse nation.

(My full review.)

Unexpected Tales form A to Z

by Robert Wenson

These light, funny stories are very appealing and not just for children. They are just a few pages long, featuring quick-witted children who must overcome unlikely, whimsical predicaments, often with equally unlikely solutions. The titles give you a sense of the range but not of the author's comic imagination: Alexandra and the Argumentative Alligator, Hendrik and the Horrible Hollyhocks, Neville and the Negligent Neanderthal, and Yolanda and the Yak Yoghurt.

(My full review.)

The Medieval Mind of C.S. Lewis

by Jason M. Baxter

I am interested in the medieval mindset and this book does a great job of showing how different it was, and also how logical which is not something the modern reader expects. Baxter is equally masterful at laying out the argument for how  Lewis's work is imbued with medieval concepts and acting as a bridge between that time and our own.

(My full review.)

A Beginner's Guide to Dante's Divine Comedy

by Jason M. Baxter

What makes A Beginner's Guide shine is the way Baxter bridges the gap between our different ways of thinking. He explains the theology, the poetry, the context (both historical and literary), and makes Dante more accessible than any other guide I've read — and I've read a lot of very good ones. I really appreciated the way that he kept connecting different parts of the poem to each other for contrasting so that we could get the deeper message as well as appreciate Dante's artistry.

(My full review.)

A Retreat for Lay People

by Ronald Knox

I now can see why C.S. Lewis called Ronald Knox the wittiest man in Europe. At times I kept forgetting I wasn't reading Chesterton but was reading a collection of Monsignor Knox's talks he'd given on many retreats for us regular folk - a.k.a. lay people. These are really wonderful because Knox seemingly effortlessly combines practical advice, inspirational thoughts, and unexpected ways to think about God and our relationship with him.

(My full review.)  

Barchester Towers

by Anthony Trollope

No wonder this is one of Trollope's best loved books. It is a lot of fun and perfect light reading. It makes me think of Thackeray's Vanity Fair although this book is gentler than that but it has the same vibe for me. He carefully builds a complicated tangle of characters who come clashing against each other quite naturally as each works toward a single-minded goal.

(My full review here.)

Praying the Rosary Like Never Before

 by Edward Sri

This is an amazingly thorough book on the rosary which includes so much for meditation. The second half of the book, focusing on the mysteries, was simply amazing. I especially loved the way that Sri didn't focus on just one moment for each mystery but would look at it from many angles. For example, in the Presentation we are shown how Luke is pointing us toward the story of Samuel, how Simeon is responding to the Holy Spirit, and how Simeon's phrasing has special prophetic resonance.

(Read my full review here.)

Meditations onVatican Art: Angels

 by Mark Haydu

These are coffee table sized books with gorgeous reproductions of paintings and lovely page design. They contains the scripture which is being considered along with the painting, insightful commentary and good reflections. They are wonderfully inspirational daily reading and meditating on what the artists were conveying was fascinating.

(My full review here.)

 

The Feast

 by Margaret Kennedy

Midsummer 1947. Pendizack Manor Hotel is buried in the rubble of a collapsed cliff. Seven guests have perished, but what brought this strange assembly together for a moonlit feast before this Act of God -- or Man? Over the week before the landslide, we meet the hotel guests in all their eccentric glory: and as friendships form and romances blossom, sins are revealed, and the cracks widen.

There was equal tension as some characters changed in ways that allowed for growth and redemption of the trajectories their lives had been on. This book is not just about the mystery of who will live and who will die. It is also about spiritual realities by which these people live their lives.

(My full review here.)

 

The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing
The Case of the Deadly Butter Chicken
The Case of the Love Commandos
The Case of the Reincarnated Client

(Books 2-5 of the Vish Puri detective series)
by Tarquin Hall

Vish Puri, Most Private Investigator, does what is needful to solve his cases. They usually involve investigating prospective brides and grooms for arranged marriages, but there are also big, serious cases. The serious cases often highlight a big problem in Indian culture or society. The first book in the series is The Case of the Missing Servant (reviewed here) which I read long ago.

Puri is a judiciously quirky Indian detective (meaning realistic) and his operatives are highlighted, as well as his Mummy who sets out to solve a mystery that her son does not take seriously. These books all get my thumbs up as serious, interesting mysteries which also are enjoyable "cozy" sorts of mysteries, like a trip to India.

Christmas Card!

The world's first commercially produced Christmas card,
designed by John Callcott Horsley for Henry Cole in 1843

I've still got Christmas cards trickling in and I really enjoy having these tangible reminders that the Christmas season isn't over, even though the senders probably don't have that in mind. They're just finally crossing that last chore off of their list. Regardless, I like those tangible reminders of friends, family, and the season.

Give your servant Benedict eternal peace, O Lord - updated with The Spiritual Testament of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

Just a couple of days ago we were asked to pray for Pope Emeritus Benedict as he was gravely ill. Today he is dead. I am grateful that he had a gentle death. I really loved him and have treasured his writing over the years. Surely he will be a Doctor of the Church. I know we must wait for proof but surely he is also a saint. In my mind, he is.

I also think it is amazing that we have known three great Catholics as leaders and examples in our time — John Paul II, Mother Theresa, and Benedict XVI. Two are great saints and the third, as I have said, I feel is a saint. It says much for our times that we needed these saints among us. It also fills me with gratitude that I have been alive to see their witness. God is good.

Give your servant Benedict eternal peace, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon him.
May his soul, as well as the souls of all the faithful dead,
rest in peace, thanks to God’s grace.
Amen.

+ + + + + + + + + + +

The Vatican released a spiritual testament which Benedict wrote long ago against this day. I thought it was beautiful both in his love and thanks to his family, friends and country and also in showing his concern for his flock until the very end.

26 August 2006
My Spiritual Testament 

When, at this late hour of my life, I look back on the decades I have wandered through, I see first of all how much reason I have to give thanks. Above all, I thank God Himself, the giver of all good gifts, who has given me life and guided me through all kinds of confusion; who has always picked me up when I began to slip, who has always given me anew the light of his countenance. In retrospect, I see and understand that even the dark and arduous stretches of this path were for my salvation and that He guided me well in those very stretches.

I thank my parents, who gave me life in difficult times and prepared a wonderful home for me with their love, which shines through all my days as a bright light until today. My father's clear-sighted faith taught us brothers and sisters to believe and stood firm as a guide in the midst of all my scientific knowledge; my mother's heartfelt piety and great kindness remain a legacy for which I cannot thank her enough. My sister has served me selflessly and full of kind concern for decades; my brother has always paved the way for me with the clear-sightedness of his judgements, with his powerful determination, and with the cheerfulness of his heart; without this ever-new going ahead and going along, I would not have been able to find the right path.

I thank God from the bottom of my heart for the many friends, men and women, whom He has always placed at my side; for the co-workers at all stages of my path; for the teachers and students He has given me. I gratefully entrust them all to His goodness. And I would like to thank the Lord for my beautiful home in the Bavarian foothills of the Alps, in which I was able to see the splendour of the Creator Himself shining through time and again. I thank the people of my homeland for allowing me to experience the beauty of faith time and again. I pray that our country will remain a country of faith and I ask you, dear compatriots, not to let your faith be distracted. Finally, I thank God for all the beauty I was able to experience during the various stages of my journey, but especially in Rome and in Italy, which has become my second home.

I ask for forgiveness from the bottom of my heart from all those whom I have wronged in some way.

What I said earlier of my compatriots, I now say to all who were entrusted to my service in the Church: Stand firm in the faith! Do not be confused! Often it seems as if science - on the one hand, the natural sciences; on the other, historical research (especially the exegesis of the Holy Scriptures) - has irrefutable insights to offer that are contrary to the Catholic faith. I have witnessed from times long past the changes in natural science and have seen how apparent certainties against the faith vanished, proving themselves not to be science but philosophical interpretations only apparently belonging to science - just as, moreover, it is in dialogue with the natural sciences that faith has learned to understand the limits of the scope of its affirmations and thus its own specificity.For 60 years now, I have accompanied the path of theology, especially biblical studies, and have seen seemingly unshakeable theses collapse with the changing generations, which turned out to be mere hypotheses: the liberal generation (Harnack, Jülicher, etc.), the existentialist generation (Bultmann, etc.), the Marxist generation. I have seen, and see, how, out of the tangle of hypotheses, the reasonableness of faith has emerged and is emerging anew. Jesus Christ is truly the Way, the Truth, and the Life - and the Church, in all her shortcomings, is truly His Body.

Finally, I humbly ask: pray for me, so that the Lord may admit me to the eternal dwellings, despite all my sins and shortcomings. For all those entrusted to me, my heartfelt prayer goes out day after day.

Benedictus PP XVI

Praying for Pope Benedict

“I ask to all of you a special prayer for the pope emeritus Benedict, who, in silence, is sustaining the Church,” Pope Francis said.

“Remember him — he is very ill — asking the Lord to console him and to sustain him in this testimony of love for the Church until the end.”

Pope Francis asked for prayers at the end of his General Audience yesterday for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI as he is very ill.

“We have probably reached the last phase of his earthly life, and we must prepare and pray for him and for the Church. But only God knows when this will happen: this evening, tomorrow night, in a few days or perhaps in ten,” the source said. “I don’t think we can speak of months now, but we are in the Lord’s hands now more than ever.”

Catholic Herald

Reading the article all sounds rather familiar to anyone who has had an elderly loved one go through "the 'mystery' of the evening of life" as the source called it. I love that phrase — "The mystery of the evening of life." 

I also really liked the way Pope Francis described  Benedict "who, in silence, is sustaining the Church." I know that he has spent a lot of time in prayer and that is such a lovely way to put it — and so true to the way that John Paul II described the vocation of the elderly and sick to pray for those of us active in the world.

I recently finished the first Jesus of Nazareth book and again was thankful that Pope Benedict had given us such a gift in his writings and teachings. I  little thought that a couple of days later I would be praying for him in his last days, as are those around the world.

Via Monsignor Eric Barr

The Night Before the Birth of Christ

Michael Rieser, The Night Before the Birth of Christ

Escape from your everyday business ...

Insignificant man, escape from your everyday business for a short while, hide for a moment from your restless thoughts and be less concerned about your tasks and labors. Make a little time for God and rest in him.

Enter into your mind's inner chamber. Shut out everything but God and whatever helps you to seek him; and when you have shut the door, look for him. Speak now to God and say with your whole heart: I seek your face; your face, Lord, I desire.

St. Anselm, Proslogion

We serve God not to bring success ...

We serve God not to bring success, but to stay close to Him because He is clarity in a world of confusion, life in a world too often obsessed with death, the enduring presence in the midst of change.

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Covenant and Conversation: Leviticus

The Church cannot behave like a business

The Church cannot behave like a business that changes its product when the demand for it decreases.

Karl Cardinal Lehmann

A Christian World Has Love for Those Who Seem Useless

I would prefer even the worst possible Christian world to the best pagan world, because in a Christian world there is room for those for whom no pagan world ever made room: cripples and sick people, the old and the weak. And there was more than room for them: there was love for those who seemed and seem useless to the pagan and the godless world.

Heinrich Boll

Friedrich Nerly - Island and Church of San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice [1879]

Friedrich Nerly - Island and Church of San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice [1879]
Via Gandalf's Gallery.

Travels on My Elephant by Mark Shand

Started on a whim and pursued with a passion, modern-day adventurer Mark Shand's remarkable journey through India on the back of a 30-year-old elephant named Tara covered 800 miles, from the Bay of Bengal to the world's largest elephant bazaar at Sonepur on the Ganges. This story of man and elephant is by turns exciting, terrifying and moving. With an ear for the comic, an eye for the exotic and a taste for the bizarre, Shand paints a vivid picture of Indian life, customs and locale as he takes us through his daily adventures with Tara in this transporting memoir.

This was a delightful book that I read at the same meandering pace as the author's trip aboard Tara, his faithful elephant. It gives a good behind-the-scenes look at what elephants are like, what it is like living among Indians, and some of the different cultures are that make up this vast and diverse nation.

Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg

Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg
By Roland Berger (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0]

My Patron Saint for 2023 — St. Francis Xavier

Saint Francis Xavier preaching in Goa (1610), by André Reinoso

Choosing a special patron saint for a new year is an old custom that has found favor again in some spots. You can choose a saint who interests you or it can be a name drawn from a hat of potential saints (one is really leaning on divine inspiration at that point) or picked at random (try the saint's name generator). The idea is that one is being directed (with help) to become more aware of specific areas in life where special guidance might be necessary. 

I've  done it both ways, but not for some time. I think I hit an obscure saint and then forgot during the year. Ah well. Here we are facing a new year and a time for beginning again!

I remembered the patron saint for a year idea and almost instantly I got a lot hints from St. Francis Xavier. I mean a lot — I couldn't turn around without finding something fascinating or a point of common interest that we both shared. 

 So I took it as a match made in heaven especially since he spent tons of time in India. Any regular reader knows is a major contributor to our movie viewing — and by extension now we have learned more than any average American knows about the geography, culture, politics, religion and history of India. India is vast and complex. Our knowledge is not. But we do have a very "India-centric" household right now. 

Of course, there is much more to St. Francis Xavier. Read about him here. But he feels like a friend and I admire his life and love of God. I'm excited to have him as a traveling companion through the year. 

St. Francis Xavier, pray for me!

 

Guitarist from Toluca

"Guitarist from Toluca" by Felipe Santiago Gutiérrez
via J.R.'s Art Place

 

Christmas Podcasts

I have one new podcast to add to my usual favorites, which are busily turning out new episodes that I'm enjoying a lot.

I'll kick us off with a new series from Hypnogoria. The Hypnogoria podcast is actually a long running horror podcast with an emphasis on deep dives into the history of such things as the Universal horror movie legacy, zombie stories, Halloween, Sir Christopher Lee, and more. Jim Moon is a host you can trust. When he began the history of Halloween and also the "Search for Santa", he was even-handed in the extreme to both Christians and pagans. He also has a jovial delivery style that I really enjoy.

He's begun an Advent series, now up to about day 8 or so. Just subscribe to the regular feed and it will pop up daily until we get to Christmas. We've heard about candles and Epiphany, but also been introduced to frumenty, the Christmas goat, and other fascinating items you never heard of, or certainly never heard related to Christmas! Website, iTunes

This is the first Christmas podcast I discovered. Lee Cameron hasn't updated it since 2018 but with 141 episodes you can go a long time before you run out. He gives great coverage of all sorts of topics, from Santa (of course) to a Medieval Christmas to Real vs. Artificial Trees. There is usually a song from an artist you might not have discovered. Website, iTunes.

It's the fascinating backstories to the Christmas traditions you cherish. Christmas Past brings you year-round Christmas history, forgotten Christmas fiction, roundtables, interviews, and most of all, Christmas cheer. And it's all from the uniquely warm and nostalgic world of Brian Earl — where the holiday season never ends!

I like Brian's laid back style. His very good 3-part history of Santa which kicked off the podcast let me know I was in good hands. He ranges from Eggnog to Christmas Advertising to NORAD Tracking Santa. Each episode ends with someone sharing a Christmas memory about the featured topic. Episodes usually range from 10 - 30 minutes. And he's now got a book out which looks really great! So check on Amazon if you want something to send to a fellow Christmas lover. Website, iTunes.

Have you ever wondered about where our favourite holiday foods come from? What really is a figgy pudding, or how does a Roman Pope stop the world from enjoying German stollen? Join host and certified baker, Glen Warren, as he dives into the history of the foods which shape our holidays in Season's Eatings: The History of Your Favourite Christmas Foods.

This is right down my alley. Food and Christmas - it doesn't get much better than this. It's a  new podcast with episodes ranging from 10-20 minutes as Glen covers Sugar Plums, the Yule Log (my mom used to make this sometimes), Sweet Potatoes, and more. Website, iTunes
 

 My Merry Christmas has been celebrating Christmas since 1991 when faxed letters to Santa helped a young newly married man explain Santa to his new 5-year-old stepdaughter who was a skeptic. Since then it has surfed every technological development gaining Christmas fans around the globe, winding up with this podcast.  (It's a great story - read it here.)

The Merry Little Podcast is a 10-20 minute exploration of Christmas history, culture, tradition and entertainment. There's usually a song or two included. The host can be opinionated but that's part of what podcasting is all about, sez I. Website, iTunes

Model Making Mischief

Model Making Mischief, Raimundo de Madrazo y Garreta
Image source

I especially enjoy looking at the dress details in this painting. I love that dress. What I love most though is the artist's sense of humor in drawing his model being so sassy.

Meditations on Vatican Art: Angels by Mark Haydu

These are coffee table sized books with gorgeous reproductions of paintings and lovely page design. They contains the scripture which is being considered along with the painting, insightful commentary and good reflections. They are wonderfully inspirational daily reading and meditating on what the artists were conveying was fascinating. I read Meditations on Vatican Art when it came out and this year saw the Angels book which was inexpensive. The description below is for the Angels book but the basics work for both. They are really wonderful.

Open your heart to the presence of angels, God’s holy messengers and protectors. In Meditations on Vatican Art: Angels, you can reflect on stunning depictions from the Vatican Museums and contemplate angelic encounters in Scripture.

Following his acclaimed first book, Fr. Mark Haydu, international coordinator of the Patrons of the Arts of the Vatican Museums, serves once again as your spiritual guide for a breathtaking journey through time, meditation, and the Vatican art collections.

Meditations on Vatican Art: Angels offers you a deeper understanding of your own spiritual journey as you follow Fr. Haydu’s explanation of the battle between the fallen angels and the faithful angels and God sending His angels to watch over you. The book’s splendid reproductions of major works represent ancient through contemporary periods in art.

Each day’s meditation includes a:

• Unique image with descriptive and contextual background about the artist and the work
• Relevant and insightful passage from Scripture
• Reflection on the meaning of the work with questions to ponder

Contemplate the 34 meditations in this hardbound book as the Holy Spirit inspires or use them to create a retreat for yourself or a group. Let Meditations on Vatican Art: Angels open your heart and help you become aware of angels’ existence and their desire to keep you from harm and guide you to God.

Nothing more beautiful ...

Only when we meet the living God in Christ do we know what life is. ... There is nothing more beautiful than to be surprised by the Gospel, by the encounter with Christ.

Pope Benedict XVI, April 24, 2005

Truer words were never spoken.

Bragging that today is not yesterday

Though today is always today and the moment is always modern, we are the only men in all history who fall back upon bragging about the mere fact that today is not yesterday. I fear that some in the future will explain it by saying that we had precious little else to brag about.

G.K. Chesterton, All I Survey

The further away we move from Chesterton in time, the more prescient he is revealed to be.

The New Jerusalem Bible: Saints Devotional Edition edited by Bert Ghezzi

Featuring two hundred readings selected by Bert Ghezzi, this special edition of The New Jerusalem Bible will enhance readers’ understanding and appreciation of both the biblical texts and the lives of the saints. For example, the story of Adam and Eve’s expulsion from the Garden of Eden is followed by an excerpt from the writings of Saint Gregory Nazianzen, which brings new meaning to an already familiar tale. Interspersed throughout the text is a twenty-part lesson on studying, praying, and living the Scriptures, which contains longer selections from the saints’ writings addressing these specific issues. The Bible also includes a list of themes for easy reference, as well as a calendar of saints and a list of patron saints.

 Since I recently praised Bert Ghezzi's Voices of the Saints book, I'll add this for anyone interested in the saints. 200 excerpts from 90 different saints' writings and teachings are appropriately distributed through the Bible, 100 for the Old Testament and 100 for the New. There are also 20 excerpts where saints speak about scripture itself.

This is inspirational way to read scripture, especially since editor Bert Ghezzi features many saints who I wasn't familiar with. When I was familiar with a saint, such as Augustine, the excerpt frequently is one I've never seen before.  Ghezzi was digging deep to be sure he had writing that adds real depth and insights that we might not otherwise get. The thoughtful reader will find much for meditation here.

I'd also not come across the New Jerusalem Bible translation before which I am enjoying.