The first ever IT support call Out

It's never easy learning a new system ...

Reminder: Tomorrow is First Friday

For anyone who is joining us in our First Friday fast to end abortion.

Poetry Thursday

Via Video Meliora...

The rain it raineth every day
Upon the just and the unjust fella
But more upon the just because
The unjust has the just's umbrella.

George Orwell

From Abdomen to Zygomatic ... and All the Bits Inbetween

CARNAL KNOWLEDGE: A Navel Gazer's Dictionary of Anatomy, Etymology, and Trivia
by Charles Hodgson

I have long been a fan of Podictionary, the daily podcast for word lovers. Charles Hodgson is not so much a definer of a word a day as a mini-encyclopedia of everything connected with a particular word ... that can be given in two to four minutes. He has an engaging style and presents fascinating tidbits of information.

Therefore, it was with delight that I opened a package earlier this week to see his new book, Carnal Knowledge. Similar in style to the podcast, this book focuses on the body of words (pun intended) that define us physically. Grouped in sections (the torso, the face, etc.), this book is perfect for dipping into for a few minutes with your morning coffee or for perusing at greater length, say for some light, bedtime reading. In short, it is perfect for enjoying when you or a word lover you know wants a little dose of information and entertainment in one.

Adam's Apple • What is the connection between that prominent bulge on some people's throat and English tea? The Adam's apple is part of the voice box, or larynx. The larynx is made up of nine pieces of cartilage, the largest of which is the thyroid cartilage (not to be confused with the thyroid gland which helps regulate the body's metabolism). The part of the thyroid cartilage that sticks out is called the "Adam's apple." The term derives from the biblical story of Adam and Eve: imagine Adam getting the apple stuck in his throat just as God caught him in the act of eating it. Some fruits are also called "Adam's apples," and it is in this context that the phrase entered English in 1599: the reference was to a small bitter orange also known as a "bergamot." It is the oil of the bergamot that flavors Earl Grey tea, the most popular tea blend in the world. Earl Grey was one of the titles of Charles Grey, who was prime minister of England from 1830 to 1834. As well as playing the key role in the abolition of slavery in the British Empire, he sent a delegation to China that brought back (among other things) this uniquely flavored tea. Earl Grey liked it so much that he made it his regular choice.

Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola

I have met many people in my life so far-- good, bad, charismatic, melancholic, scholarly and facetious-- but I have never met someone who has had such a remarkable transformation. I have known former druggies who have become numeraries and seemingly pious individuals fall to the whims of the flesh. Is it impossible then in this present age to become a saint? With all the excesses and self-aggrandizing so prevalent in modern society, it is difficult not to lose focus. We are constantly being misguided and thrown off course by a combination of many things, chief among them our unshakable pride. I admit that I am too often a victim of such circumstances.

I guess it all comes down to the Cross. ...

Truer words were never spoken and that Cross is a mystery that we must encounter to even begin to understand the saints. I don't have anything new or interesting to say about St. Ignatius who I admire greatly. However, go read the rest of the post at Ecce Ego as he has some good reflections on this feast day.

Around the House and Beyond

Reading
Rose bought Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, which was cleverly delivered in special Amazon packaging complete with "Muggle instructions." She was off work when it arrived and read it in a couple of days. I was astounded but now am about halfway through after picking it up Saturday afternoon. I forgot how easily a little J.K. Rowling slides down. The beginning I found rather slow, as with all Harry Potter Books, but now am to the point where I am having a hard time putting it down. As others have pointed out, she does not write deathless prose, however she can tell a thumping good yarn.

Watching
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir - I was reminded of this when listening to All Movie Talk's top six ghost movies list. A gentle film with a highly enjoyable performance by Rex Harrison as the salty Captain who haunts Gull Cottage. More of a romance than a ghost movie but highly enjoyable.

Melinda and Melinda - Woody Allen's self-indulgent experiment of telling the same story as both a drama and a comedy. An interesting intellectual exercise but one where they just keep talking and talking ... and talking. Most notable perhaps for Will Ferrell's first serious role, albeit one where he is playing Woody Allen's usual movie persona.

In the Kitchen
My oven hasn't worked for at least a week. I now am forcibly reminded just how much I use it as I constantly am having to reject meal options or work around them. The repairman comes this afternoon! Woohoo!

Dealing With ...
Our dog, Pepper, may be a true candidate for the doggie psychiatrist. Unaccountably devoted to me, he slept by the back door when Tom and I were gone for the Beyond Cana retreat. He stopped eating on the second day we were gone and now does not seem to want to take up the activity again with any seriousness. He is a big dog and needed to lose a few pounds so that problem is now solved. He is chewing his rawhide bones so it isn't a tooth/mouth problem ... I am able to lure him into eating by mixing canned food into the dry. However, that isn't going to go on forever. If we hadn't had a cat die from developing fatty liver when she stopped eating for about a week, I wouldn't worry ...

On the Job
Hannah is having to deal with someone at work who is showing her just what kind of jerks are out there. Sad to say, we've all had those experiences and while it can be maddening, this is good experience for putting into action the necessity to "forgive our enemies" which, as a priest once mentioned in a homily, is more likely to be the guy ahead of you in line for the copier than someone with a gun. However, she is beloved by all others at the vet's office and getting very good experience in working with animals with care and affection but without sentimentalism.

Rose has evidently been unofficially adopted by the owner of the cafe where she works, to the point that she is bringing her DVDs of "necessary" movies to watch. This is due, we believe, to her work ethic which, more than anything, is evidence by a desire not to be bored and, therefore, look for work when none is evident. Who wouldn't love than in an employee?

As for us, I am grateful for the opportunity to bid on two jobs due to Happy Catholic and am working on another which came to us via that same source of exposure (here's what we do). As I tell Tom, it almost makes up for the time I spend on it! (Wait, I think those jobs are enabling my addiction ... ah, well, c'est la vie!).

UPDATE: Much thanks to Jessica who called and gave us the opportunity to bid on another possible job. It was delightful speaking with her and our conversation wound up becoming real testimony from us both about the way that God uses any and all things to move through our lives for our own good and that of others. (Don't worry, I don't usually talk to our clients about such things! Until they bring it up, of course, then it's all fair game! ha!)

Thanks Be to God ...

... and to St. Jude for his intercession. My father's visit to the new doctor yesterday has us all feeling considerably more optimistic, although we all are adding the qualifier "cautiously" to it. He spent a lot of time with Dad, told him that there were a lot of things he wanted to "fix" but would focus on the constant nausea first, and then took the relatively simple first steps of having him take Claritin and a acid reflux medication that also helps with nausea.

After over five months of constant nausea, my father woke up this morning feeling fine. Mom said he even was fixing a tuna sandwich for lunch. Believe me, that's a miracle after what they've been through ...

Much, much thanks goes to those of you who have prayed for my father and who have kindly been asking after him. I am so very happy to have such promising news.

The Simpsons Movie

It occurs to me that, considering our family's Simpson-mania, you may be wondering why I haven't mentioned the movie.

Frankly, the last couple of seasons were so bad that we stopped watching new episodes. This didn't lead us to anticipate the movie with anything approaching excitement, although we did hope that the reason for above-mentioned lack luster episodes was because all the good writers were laboring on the movie.

So far, so good. Hannah saw it last night and said that it was funny, The Dallas Morning News critic gave it a B+ and I have heard generally positive things. For some reason this doesn't leave us wanting to run out and watch it though ... maybe we're still tired from that retreat last weekend.

Why Reread?

SF Signal shocks me as they take a hard line on rereading.

... I have re-read books before:

* I read Dune twice. It did not hold up nearly as well on the second read.
* I read The Fellowship of the Ring twice, but only because the first time through Lord of the Rings, I stopped in the middle of The Two Towers.
* A non-genre example: I read Lord of the Flies twice; one force-fed reading in high school, and one much better reading as an adult.
* (I've also said I want to re-read The Man Who Fell to Earth.)

That's all I can recall at this point. I usually don't re-read books because there is so much other good stuff out there to read and part of me - no matter how illogical and impossible I know it to be - wants to read it all.

That's all that can be recalled? I reread all the time. A book is like an old friend. I can't just say hi once and then never look in its direction again. And, there are those who agree ...

If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all.

Oscar Wilde

When you reread a classic, you do not see more in the book than you did before; you see more in you than there was before

Cliff Fadiman

If a book is really good, it deserves to be read again, and if it’s great, it should be read at least three times.

Anatole Broyard

“Tell me what you read and I’ll tell you who you are” is true enough, but I’d know you better if you told me what you reread.

Francois Muriac

I don’t lend books.

Commander Adama, Battlestar Galactica

Ok, Adama's quote isn't about rereading, but I bet he doesn't lend books because he wants to reread them. Why else?

Poetry Thursday

This is both a poem and a prayer ... and I believe it is a sentiment which most of us share. Certainly I am sufficiently Martha-like in forgetting the contemplation that must accompany the busy-ness to sanctify my work (why else did she get pegged to be my patron saint? and, here I thought I was choosing her!) Thanks to Deacon Greg for this one.

Lord of all pots and pans and things,
Since I've no time to be
A saint by doing lovely things or
Watching late with thee,
Or dreaming in the twilight or
Storming heaven's gates.
Make me a saint by getting meals or
Washing up the plates.

Although I must have Martha's hands,
I have Mary's mind, and,
When I black the boots and shoes
Thy sandals, Lord, I find.
I think of how they trod the earth
What time I scrub the floor,
Accept this meditation, Lord,
I haven't time for more.

Warm all the kitchen with thy love,
And light it with thy peace,
Forgive me all my worrying
And make all grumbling cease.
Thou who didst love to give men food
In room or by the sea
Accept this service that I do
I do it unto thee.

The Institution of the Eucharist

Continuing catching up on posting the bulletin inserts commenting on excerpts from Sacramentum Caritatis. This is #7.

10. This leads us to reflect on the institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper. It took place within a ritual meal commemorating the foundational event of the people of Israel: their deliverance from slavery in Egypt. This ritual meal, which called for the sacrifice of lambs (cf. Ex 12:1-28, 43-51), was a remembrance of the past, but at the same time a prophetic remembrance, the proclamation of a deliverance yet to come. The people had come to realize that their earlier liberation was not definitive, for their history continued to be marked by slavery and sin. The remembrance of their ancient liberation thus expanded to the invocation and expectation of a yet more profound, radical, universal and definitive salvation. This is the context in which Jesus introduces the newness of his gift. In the prayer of praise, the Berakah, he does not simply thank the Father for the great events of past history, but also for his own “exaltation.” In instituting the sacrament of the Eucharist, Jesus anticipates and makes present the sacrifice of the Cross and the victory of the resurrection. At the same time, he reveals that he himself is the true sacrificial lamb, destined in the Father’s plan from the foundation of the world, as we read in The First Letter of Peter (cf. 1:18-20). By placing his gift in this context, Jesus shows the salvific meaning of his death and resurrection, a mystery which renews history and the whole cosmos. The institution of the Eucharist demonstrates how Jesus’ death, for all its violence and absurdity, became in him a supreme act of love and mankind’s definitive deliverance from evil.

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As the Holy Father has carefully shown us in past excerpts, the Eucharist is a radical, self-giving of Jesus for our sakes. It makes sense then that Jesus would carefully select the most meaningful time to institute it. Just as a speech made from “Ground Zero” on September 11 has many layers of meaning for us, presenting this special, new gift at the Passover would have been deliberate and the disciples would have understood that.

In the context of the Passover, the apostles would have noticed the significance of historical and cultural clues necessary to help understand the significance of this salvific gift. They would not have full understanding until they received the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, but the basic grounding in their faith provided a solid foundation upon which was built our understanding of the Eucharist. This is confirmed by the verses quoted by Pope Benedict from The First Letter of Peter (1:18-20): ... realizing that you were ransomed from your futile conduct, handed on by your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold but with the precious blood of Christ as of a spotless unblemished lamb. He was known before the foundation of the world but revealed in the final time for you ...

We no longer have the cultural markers that the disciples did. Our connection with this reality is through the liturgy, especially during Holy Week before Easter. We may identify it as a ritual and be moved only by the drama and passing sentiment of the moment, without ever experiencing more. How do we achieve this? Our thoughtful reflection and prayerful contemplation, as noted in the Holy Father’s words, should awaken within us the deepest appreciation of the Eucharist as living and transforming reality - present in our lives yet also a promise of what is to come. We must acknowledge that there is so much more for us - in Christ and in the Eucharist - than we are asked to consider in everyday life.
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This is one of a weekly series of excerpts from Pope Benedict XVI’s Apostolic Exhortation Sacramentum Caritatis. You are encouraged to read the entire document. The Vatican link to that document as well as to Pope Benedict’s first encyclical can be found on the website, www.stthomasaquinas.org.

The Eucharist: Jesus the True Sacrificial Lamb

Another in the series of bulletin inserts featuring excerpts from Sacramentum Caritatis that have been running weekly. I'm way behind in sharing these with you. This is #6.

The new and eternal covenant in the blood of the Lamb

9. The mission for which Jesus came among us was accomplished in the Paschal Mystery. On the Cross from which he draws all people to himself (cf. Jn 12:32), just before “giving up the Spirit,” he utters the words: “it is finished” (Jn 19:30). In the mystery of Christ’s obedience unto death, even death on a Cross (cf. Phil 2:8), the new and eternal covenant was brought about. In his crucified flesh, God’s freedom and our human freedom met definitively in an inviolable, eternally valid pact. Human sin was also redeemed once for all by God’s Son (cf. Heb 7:27; 1 Jn 2:2; 4:10). As I have said elsewhere, “Christ’s death on the Cross is the culmination of that turning of God against himself in which he gives himself in order to raise man up and save him. This is love in its most radical form.” (18) In the Paschal Mystery, our deliverance from evil and death has taken place. In instituting the Eucharist, Jesus had spoken of the “new and eternal covenant” in the shedding of his blood (cf. Mt 26:28; Mk 14:24; Lk 22:20). This, the ultimate purpose of his mission, was clear from the very beginning of his public life. Indeed, when, on the banks of the Jordan, John the Baptist saw Jesus coming towards him, he cried out: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn 1:29). It is significant that these same words are repeated at every celebration of Holy Mass, when the priest invites us to approach the altar: “This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Happy are those who are called to his supper.” Jesus is the true paschal lamb who freely gave himself in sacrifice for us, and thus brought about the new and eternal covenant. The Eucharist contains this radical newness, which is offered to us again at every celebration. (19)

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It is a sobering thought that Jesus came to us specifically with a mission to die. Unlike the rest of us, who wonder about vocations, marriage, and what to do with our lives in general, Jesus always was headed for one specific purpose ... to give himself in complete sacrifice for our sins.

Perhaps Jesus’ time among us has become so familiar in the retelling of the Gospel stories that the edges have been worn off. It is easy to not stop to really consider just how radical and complete Jesus’ sacrifice was, as Pope Benedict says, “that turning of God against himself in which he gives himself in order to raise man up and save him. ”

In this we see the true meaning of covenant. Unlike a contract in which often each party seeks to protect his own interests, in a covenant each party gives of self without condition on the other person. In his sacrifice Jesus the Lamb of God surrendered his will and laid down his life, securing the covenant and redeeming us from sin. Contemplating the Eucharist we are allowed to see God steps out of himself, going to extraordinary lengths for our sakes. How could we neglect, how could ignore, how could we not be happy to be “called his supper”?
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(18) Encyclical Letter Deus Caritas Est (25 December 2005), AAS 98 (2006), 228.
(19) Cf. Propositio 3.

This is one of a weekly series of excerpts from Pope Benedict XVI’s Apostolic Exhortation Sacramentum Caritatis. You encouraged to read the entire document. The Vatican link document as well as to Pope Benedict’s first encyclical can found on the website, www.stthomasaquinas.org.

Transformers: A Brief Review

Rose went to see this movie last night because it was the only "decent" movie out there that she and/or her friends hadn't already seen several times.

When I woke her up this morning, I asked, "How was the movie?"

"The special effects weren't special enough to go see it."

"Oh. How about the rest of the movie?"

Chuckles emanated from under the covers. "I have to say this, it was the funniest movie I have seen all year."

I was surprised. "Intentionally?"

"Oh no, but it was hilarious ... I've never seen so much hoke in my life."

So there you have it. The critics ain't always wrong.

A Very American Question

All weekend, the last thing on my mind was the blog. However, I was continually surprised because Tom would bring it up to people. (Isn't he just so sweet?) While at dinner on Saturday with everyone who was working on the retreat, it came up again and a friend asked how much time a day I spend on it. Tom guessed a couple of hours a day (I have never wanted to keep track, afraid of what I might find out about my "time expenditures"). She turned a penetrating gaze on me and said, "Can you make money with it?"

I told her that making money wasn't the point although you could possibly make a bit but it would never cover the time spent. Her attention was claimed by her husband and I turned to Tom. "What is it that makes every other person ask that question ... as if it isn't worth doing otherwise?"

"It's the American way," he said. "What's the profit margin?"

Which sent us on an extremely brief exchange about the value of doing something purely for the love of it.

However, I was able to have an answer for my friend when she turned back to me. "I'm really so lucky," I said. "The blog has gotten enough attention that I get theology books to review."

We agreed that was very cool and turned our conversation to other areas.

But you and I know that I blog purely for the love of it, just like everyone else.

The Perfect Movie ...

... when you're worn out from retreatin' and it's just you and Hannah at home for the evening?

Nothing like snuggling on the couch with your daughter for some mommy-daughter time while sharing a mutual favorite ... that classic commentary on mother love and redemption ... Aliens. Did I mention lots and lots of violence and aliens? That too.

It's a Good Kind of Tired

Back from the retreat, have had a nap, and am now contemplating beginning to unpack the car. What better time to cruise the internet instead, right?

The retreat went well ... it is hard to really ever know if a retreat goes well, as anyone knows who has participated in presenting one. The only ones who can really say are the participants because they are doing the really heavy lifting within themselves. However, every couple seemed happy and glowing by the end and I think we'd all agree that is a good sign.

As for myself, aside from the pure enjoyment of working with the wonderful couples who are part of the Core Team, it was a basic reminder that God is really in charge. There was at least one glitch that arose which was frustrating to some and then later it became clear resulted in a far superior moment of connection with God than would have happened otherwise. The Holy Spirit was swinging through tweaking a bit for everyone. Note to self: we are the instruments, God is the master planner.

Thanks so much to everyone who thought to lift a prayer or two for the retreat. I am positive that they made a huge difference.

UPDATE
A Beyond Cana review from one of my favorite bloggers, Wheelbarrow Manor. It's all about marriage enrichment and it sounds as if they got it in spades this weekend ... which makes me so very happy because that's what Tom and I like about it so much in our own marriage.

Welcome to My Scripture Study Pals

Here's that article Fr. L. was asking if we'd read ... for discussion next week.

"Even to the Jews..."

Many have been dismayed by the prospect of returning to some of the prayers from the 1962 missal, especially this prayer which came up in the comments box discussion yesterday.

"Let us pray: Almighty and everlasting God, You do not refuse Your mercy even to the Jews; hear the prayers which we offer for the blindness of that people so that they may acknowledge the light of Your truth, which is Christ, and be delivered from their darkness."

This came up in our Scripture Study last night and I had a chance to discuss it further with our priest afterwards.

He pointed out that this specific prayer is from a Triduum service and it will never be used. Why? Because the document specifically prohibits using any but the new order (Novus Ordo) for the Triduum services. This is the only time of year that there is such a prohibition.

If what he says is true, and I see no reason to doubt it as he is not only a careful reader but a canon lawyer, then the fuss over that prayer is a lot of sound and fury over an issue that doesn't exist.

The Blessed Trinity and the Eucharist: A Free Gift

I realize that I have forgotten for some time to put up our parish's bulletin inserts that have been running with excerpts and commentary about Sacramentum Caritatis. Here is insert #5.

The Blessed Trinity and the Eucharist

A free gift of the Blessed Trinity

8. The Eucharist reveals the loving plan that guides all of salvation history (cf. Eph 1:10; 3:8- 11). There the Deus Trinitas*, who is essentially love (cf. 1 Jn 4:7-8), becomes fully a part of our human condition. In the bread and wine under whose appearances Christ gives himself to us in the paschal meal (cf. Lk 22:14-20; 1 Cor 11:23-26), God’s whole life encounters us and is sacramentally shared with us. God is a perfect communion of love between Father, Son and Holy Spirit. At creation itself, man was called to have some share in God’s breath of life (cf. Gen 2:7). But it is in Christ, dead and risen, and in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, given without measure (cf. Jn 3:34), that we have become sharers of God’s inmost life. (16) Jesus Christ, who “through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God” (Heb 9:14), makes us, in the gift of the Eucharist, sharers in God’s own life. This is an absolutely free gift, the superabundant fulfilment of God’s promises. The Church receives, celebrates and adores this gift in faithful obedience. The “mystery of faith” is thus a mystery of trinitarian love, a mystery in which we are called by grace to participate. We too should therefore exclaim with Saint Augustine: “If you see love, you see the Trinity.” (17)

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If we will truly pause to reflect after receiving the Eucharist, we are drawn into contemplating the special intimacy with Jesus to which we are invited when we receive His Body and Blood. This is a true and fair reflection for we receive the whole Christ — Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity. Pope Benedict asks us to open our minds and hearts to be led through intimacy with Christ into a deeper and more real relationship with the Triune God through Jesus Himself. Here the Holy Father reminds us, “God is a perfect communion of love between Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”

As this is the case, we come unfailingly with Pope Benedict to the understanding that, when we par­take of the Eucharist, we participate, not simply in the life of Christ, but we are partaking in that very life possessed by the Triune God. “Jesus Christ, who “through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God” (Heb 9:14), makes us, in the gift of the Eucharist, sharers in God’s own life.”

This gift, this grace, this life is ours — freely given and unmerited — the participation and sharing in uncreated, that is, God’s own life. It is what we grew up calling Sanctifying Grace. This grace is ultimately relationship with the Trinity, life-sharing with God, motivated by and producing, bearing fruit in Love.

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(16) Cf. Propositio 4.
(17) De Trinitate, VIII, 8, 12: CCL 50, 287.
* Deus Trinitas: Triune God. In other words, God as Trinity, a single being existing simultaneously as three distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
This is one of a series of excerpts from Pope Benedict XVI’s Apostolic Exhortation Sacramentum Caritatis. You are encouraged to read the entire document. The Vatican link to that document as well as to Pope Benedict’s first encyclical can be found on the website, www.stthomasaquinas.org.

Rockin' Girl Bloggers

Much thanks to Catholic Colbert for bestowing this award on Happy Catholic!

Now I must figure how to narrow all those rockin' girl bloggers I know down to five. Sheez! These ladies all can be counted on to be entertaining, thoughtful or informative ... and sometimes all three simultaneously which is no small feat.

1. The Wine Dark Sea


2. Aliens in This World


3. The Summa Mamas


4. The Anchoress


5. Et Tu?