Worth a Thousand Words

Sarcophagus in Pedralbes Monastery by Barcelona Photoblog.

Moloch Throws His Support Behind Obama

No surprises there ...

Moloch speaks ... we will scurry to do the opposite and thwart him.

Around our house, we are trying to shut our ears to all the candidates' recordings ringing through to our answering machine as Texas's primary is next Tuesday. Since McCain seems to have the Republican ticket locked up, current thinking around our house is that Hillary is better than Barack as an adversary. Our history sensei (otherwise known as Rose's history teacher) says his spidey sense tells him that if Hillary runs against McCain, then McCain will win. But if McCain runs against Obama ... well, we just don't want to think about that.

So, we're out to even up the Dems with our two puny independent votes.


Much thanks to Sandy and her husband, for the yard sign. Looks like maybe we'll be overpowering Obama with our four votes! Take that, Obama!

St. Teresa of Avila Talks About the Pew Study

My dear sister in Christ,
This is not the reason numbers have dropped, but I want you to stop and consider one phrase: The Inquisition.

Now, as an unworthy one attempting to be faithful through the pure grace of Our Majesty, I do not wish to brag. I simply wish to remind you that the Inquisition was a concrete reality in my day, and the Inquisitors questioned my work and the mystical gifts I received from God. It was not pleasant. Then my order gave me all kinds of difficulty in creating a more strict observance of the Carmelite charism. My most honorable Padre Juan was kept in solitary confinement from members of the order for a time. It was not a good moment in the history of the Catholic Church, let's say. Perhaps you've heard of it.

So how did we respond?

We became saints. ...

Ironic Catholic has her finger on the pulse of responses to the less than perfect Church ... via St. Teresa. Go read the whole thing. Highly instructive while being handled with a light touch.

It's Like Law and Order ... With More Women

Yep! I'm Excited! Nothing New About That!

You Are An Exclamation Point

You are a bundle of... well, something. You're often a bundle of joy, passion, or drama. You're loud, brash, and outgoing. If you think it, you say it. Definitely not the quiet type, you really don't keep a lot to yourself. You're lively and inspiring. People love to be around your energy. (But they do secretly worry that you'll spill their secrets without even realizing it.) You excel in: Public speaking You get along best with: the Dash

What Punctuation Mark Are You?

Via Question Mark Sarah.

Worth a Thousand Words

All Smiles, from Flickr's Cream of the Crop.

Two Books for Times of Trouble that Can Enlighten Us at Any Time

These are little books but they deliver a big dose of food for thought that seems especially appropriate during Lent.

The Way of the Cross in Times of Illness
by Elizabeth Thecla Mauro

3. Jesus Falls the First Time

Why do we always assume that this first fall came from your weariness and physical pain? Could you have fallen in fear? You, Jesus who are both God and human, you understand how fear and anxiety can paralyze the will, paralyze the strength of the body, and sometimes paralyze even the strength of the spirit.

I admit that there are times when I am overtaken with fear, and I feel unable to move, to think, to pray--even to This fear brings with it a weariness that defies description and snatches away the small pockets of peace I am seeking in my life.

So, I fall now with you, Jesus, prostrated in fear, knowing that I must rise and go on. My face is dirty; I am gasping through the dust of the road.

But I get up with you. I breathe in deeply, and breathe out.

With you, I move slowly forward.

Yahweh, I called on your name from the deep pit. You heard me crying, "Do not close your ear to my prayer." You came near that day when I called to you; you said: "Do not be afraid."

Lamentations 3:55-57 (JB)

I rarely do the Stations of the Cross although I often have one catch my eye during times when I am waiting for Mass to begin, thereby beginning thoughts about it. Most often I will think about them when contemplating the sorrowful mysteries of the rosary. Although this simple, inexpensive book is presented as being for a time of illness, when reading through it I found much that is worthy of contemplation during Lent. It is worded so that the stations can apply to illness, but not so specifically that the contemplations cannot be used at any time, especially in any time of distress. Highly recommended.

Caring for the Dying With the Help of Your Catholic Faith
by Elizabeth Scalia

The Long Tunnel

Some people say the process of dying involves the appearance of a long tunnel through which one passes, moving toward the light. Just as those who report back from a "near death experience" say they felt "pushed along" through a tunnel, you may feel like you are being "pushed along" by circumstances, and unable to halt the forward motion -- a prisoner of sheer momentum. You would be right. As the journey's end nears, there seems to be no further chance to hit the brakes or to pull back a bit.

This is a scary feeling. A new skier would never attempt an advanced trail, and yet here you are moving through this experience at a breathtaking pace. Everything seems out of your control. This might be a good time to make an assessment of what you can control. You can control being wholly present to a person who is dying. That doesn't seem like very much, but it is everything.

Together with Our Lady
When Mary, the mother of Jesus, was told that her Son had been arrested, her world also began to spin out of control. In truth, you are very much Mary's companion right now, just as she is yours. What you are living through, she has survived:

• Just as your access to your loved one is decreasing as their need for sleep increases, Mary's access to her Son was closed off.
• Like you, Mary had to stand by and watch helplessly while her loved one took on the "job of dying."
• Like you, Mary had to watch the one she loved let go of her to take His leave.
• Mary, too, had to let go, and to trust that she would see Him again.
• As you lean on family and friends, remember that Mary had John and Mary Magdalene beside her for support.
• After Jesus' death, Mary had to live and eat and worship with an imperfect "family," some of whom had let her -- and her Son -- down. It is not really a unique experience, as families go.

Being "wholly present" may not feel like you are doing very much. It may seem like a pitiful amount of "control" for an adult to have over any person or event. But as Mary taught us, being "present" to another person has power. It is saying, "I will be a witness to your whole life and death, so that all you are and have been will remain in me,when you have gone. And I will help you say goodbye."

Being wholly present to a dying person is a great responsibility, one that requires all the control of which you are capable.

In the midst of our very busy lives, the last thin we are likely to think about much is how to handle the details of death. for that very reason, when tragedy occurs, we often are faced with many details which we don't understand and about which we are not prepared to make decisions. This immensely practical book is instructive on several levels. Naturally, the main information conveyed is of those modern practicalities so that we can understand them not only conceptually but in relation to Church teachings. Pain management, organ donation, hospice care, living wills, grief management are but a few of the issues upon which this slender book gives straight forward information.

What raises this volume to a different level than a "how to" book, however, is the sensitive and thoughtful spiritual commentary that is intertwined with the practical information. As one can see in the above excerpt, the anguish our souls feel during such a time is met with reminders of how our faith is there to provide comfort and encouragement ... and even, possibly, beauty, grace, and joy.

As I read through this book, I was moved to contemplate Jesus' passion as experienced by those around him, which is most appropriate for this time of Lent as we draw closer to Holy Week. It is not the sort of book I would normally read but some of the images have remained with me and will doubtless feed my contemplation during Holy Week. This is a book that I would recommend everyone keep on hand for those unexpected times when our lives are thrown into anguish and we need solid advice of both the practical and spiritual sort. Highly recommended.

Dallas Blogging Buddies

I have meant to put this section in my sidebar for some time. Now Stevie's discovery of the bloggers who are from our parish made me remember to do it.

These folks are Dallas bloggers who I know personally. Somehow I'm thinking that I'm missing at least one person. Let me know if that's the case.

• ...and if not...
• Practicing Catholic, The
• Rafting the Tiber
• Summa Mamas
• Veronica on the Verge
• Wheelbarrow Manor

Also, I have not kept up with the general sidebar too well for some time. If I should have a link to you in there, let me know.

Worth a Thousand Words

The Reader, 1856, by Ferdinand Heilbuth (1826-1889)

Quick Looks at 5 Books and 1 Movie

In my continuing efforts to mention a bit of something about everything I read or watch this year ...

• Seven Archangels: Annihilation by Jane Lebak**** - see my review here.


• Faith, Reason, and the War Against Jihadism by George Weigel**** - it is as good as everybody has said. This review by The Curt Jester says it all, and far better than I would.


• Quarter Share by Nathan Lowell**** - Audiobook - Coming of age story set in the future where trading ships wend their way from planet to planet. Ishmael Wong has become an orphan and joins a ship's crew as cook's assistant. He makes friends, works his way through tests that will increase his job potential, and comes up with trading ideas that not only make money but serve to bond a group of friends. The first of a trilogy, this was enjoyable and you can see that the story will grow in complexity as it goes.


• In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto by Michael Pollan *** - Pollan's first words in his introduction set up what he will be talking about for the rest of the book, "Eat food, not too much, mostly plants." He then goes on to prove his premise. A personably written but workmanlike book. Not anything we haven't seen somewhere else. This review at Tigers & Strawberries is indepth from a reader who has read Pollan's previous, immensly popular book, "The Omnivore's Dilemma."


• Playing for Keeps by Mur Lafferty**** - Audiobook - enjoyable story set in a city where superheroes and villains are common occurrances. Keepsie runs a bar for people whose "superpowers" don't quite measure up enough to make them real superheroes. Until, of course, an unthinkable emergency arises and they must rise to the task. Light, humorous, and a lot of fun.
  


• Avenue Montaigne**** ... subtitled in French ... light comedy about a young waitress, Jessica, seeking her fortune in Paris. This is an area where the elite work and play. She comes into contact with a concert pianist, an actress, and a widower who is selling his art collection in a nearby gallery. Each character has a primary motivation behind their story which we see developed as the waitress carries trays across the street to where they live and work. Although this movie is handled quite differently from Amelie, the main message is quite similar; one must take a risk to gain what one needs from life. My favorite moments, and those which communicate the movie's sweet heart best, is watching Jessica's love for her grandmother shown through her patience. When her grandmother inevitably asks, "Did I ever tell you how I worked at the Ritz?" Jessica always says no and settles back to listen to the story again. Highly enjoyed by the whole family.

While We're Rediscovering the "Old Ways" ...

... (as in the need for some good "old fashioned parenting") ... let's include "old fashioned play."

When we were trying to sell our home, we decluttered all the kids' toys. We stored everything except blocks, books, cars and barbies. They did not miss any thing else. They didn't ask where the fisher price little people and all their farms, castles, houses, zoos and trains went off to. They reinvented the blocks each time they sat down with them.

Veronica (whose presence at the Beyond Cana retreat is one of the things that made it a joy for me to work on) has some words of wisdom while reflecting on a recent NPR story about the far reaching benefits of old fashioned play. Do go read it all.

The Millennial Generation ... When Employers Must Be the Parents

... "Their orientation is so different from Gen Xers, who were the latchkey kids and are self-starters. These kids are fabulous at building teams, but they're challenged by responsibility and accountability."

All true, says Ms. Looney, a certified reality therapist and retired director of children and family ministry at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church. And many employers are backing away from hiring them because they're so high maintenance.

"They've been overparented, overindulged and overprotected," she says. "They haven't experienced that much failure, frustration, pain. We were so obsessed with protecting and promoting their self-esteem that they crumble like cookies when they discover the world doesn't revolve around them. They get into the real world and they're shocked.

"You have to be very careful in how you talk to them because they take everything as criticism."

Read the whole story here in The Dallas Morning News. Twenty-seven year olds are the oldest of this generation that has had their self esteem coddled to the point where they feel they deserve a pat on the head simply for showing up for work. I thought it was bad hearing about parents who were calling their children's college teachers to complain about grades. This article talks about parents who call their children's employers to complain about reviews. Heavens to Betsy! I have more to do with my time than follow my kids around and make sure they are "treated right."

Tom and I read this article and both suddenly felt we had a better handle on understanding some of our last hires which never worked out. We needed someone to do the work and learn the subtleties of how graphics and web design worked as our clients needed. We got people who would rather sip coffee and debate the philosophy of one kind of code over another.

Naturally, this is a generalization and not applicable to many people ... I know many people in this age group who are hard workers and don't expect recognition for their mere existence. In some cases, I also know their parents who laughed every time there was a school awards ceremony giving a certificate to kids who hadn't missed a day of school or never got a detention. (Back in the day, we used to call that the bare minimum of what was expected ...)

Why So Defensive?

Many years ago, I attended a teacher in-service day. It was in another city, I had to go, and I had to go through incredible hassle to get child care for my kids. I got to the in-service day, and this was the schedule: 1)Welcome 2)Mass 3)Sharing on some reflection questions or other 4) lunch 5) go home.

So yes, we got evaluation forms, and yes, I wrote a negative evaluation, in which I voiced what I thought was probably a common opinion, which culminated in the point: ”You want to give me an inservice day? Let me stay at school and grade papers. “

A few days later, I was called into the principal’s office. Yes! Called into the principal’s office!

He had a fax of my evaluation on his desk and said that the Superintendent had been very displeased with what I had said.

“How,” he asked, “Would you feel if someone criticized something you worked hard to plan?”

I thought…I’m a teacher. Welcome to my life!

I also thought about my years as a DRE, getting criticized from all sides on every score: Too much content, not enough. Too much parental involvement required, not enough. Etc., etc.

I thought, in conclusion…isn’t that just …life?

Amy Welborn at Charlotte was Both has a very good post about all out defensiveness which doesn't allow for any dissension. Do go read it all. She is speaking specifically about Catholic things but I think we see this everywhere. It is interesting to me that as "political correctness" has grown, so too has this intolerance for any disagreement from one's own viewpoint.

Of course, we can disagree, but we have forgotten how to allow others the "right to be wrong," as it were. (Incidentally, here is a review of a good book about that very subject.) Wouldn't it be nice if we all had a mature, adult model more like that of G.K. Chesterton's? He could have a vigorous debate with George Bernard Shaw, laugh heartily at Shaw's sallies against him, and then refute Shaw's point. Later both would go to dinner together.

Looking around I found this little tidbit which I thought that y'all might enjoy as well.

Chesterton used to do a stand-up routine, called for purposes of advertisement a "debate," with his good friend George Bernard Shaw. They disagreed about practically everything. Shaw was a socialist, Chesterton a distributist, which Shaw thought amounted to being a socialist, but Chesterton didn't. From a 1928 debate:

Shaw: Now I have a very limited legal right to the use of [my] umbrella. I cannot do as I like with it. For instance, certain passages in Mr. Chesterton's speech tempted me to get up and smite him over the head with my umbrella.... But should I abuse my right to do what I like with my property--with my umbrella--in this way I should soon be made aware...that I cannot treat my umbrella as my own property in the way in which a landlord can treat his land. I want to destroy ownership in order that possession and enjoyment may be raised to the highest point in every section of the community. That, I think, is perfectly simple....

Chesterton: Among the bewildering welter of fallacies which Mr. Shaw has just given us, I prefer to deal first with the simplest. When Mr. Shaw refrains from hitting me over the head with his umbrella, the real reason--apart from his real kindness of heart, which makes him tolerant of the humblest of the creatures of God--is not because he does not own his umbrella, but because he does not own my head.

Protecting Us from Every Threat ... Even Zombies

Clearly this reporter has never read World War Z or seen Shaun of the Dead for an idea of how "slow moving" zombies can be a threat. And what about those super-fast zombies in 28 Days Later (yes, I know we're not supposed to use "the z word").



Much thanks to Buster, who clued in The Anchoress to this funny start to my day.

Worth a Thousand Words

A Vatican Blessing via Deacon Greg, where you can also find the link to the news story.

Worth a Thousand Words

Sliced Bread No. 2 by Neil Hollingsworth

Watching the Hip Slide into Cluelessness

When you have children you are provided with a whole new way to see the world. Young children allow you to relive those days of your own long gone youth when the world was new. Having teenagers shows you the freshness of "trying on" adult behavior, the excitement of seeing a whole future ahead of your, and ... is a vivid reminder of what it was to always be on the cusp of knowing the hippest music, movies, and trends. Thanks to Rose and Hannah, we have seen Daywatch (twice), a Russian vampire movie that very few of our regular acquaintances have ever heard of, unless they are movie geeks.

We hear at least some of the music (a few songs of which have found their way onto my play list), watch the movies together, and get asked if the latest Facebook rumor could be true (sorry, I don't see any confirmation that Firefly is going to film a second season for television ... it's a lovely dream though). It is a small window and one that will close as they grow older but interesting while it's open. We ourselves aren't hip, but we know how to recognize the real thing right now.

What was brought vividly to me recently, however, is that my teenagers also are like a window on those slightly older people who are just getting the scoop that they are no longer on that cusp.

I remember a while back when a friend in her late twenties was talking to Rose at some event we had dragged her to. My friend was trying to talk about music to Rose and asked if Rose liked to listen to Justin Timberlake, who was just then making his "comeback." The look on Rose's face was truly laughable. She was struggling to keep a straight face and be respectful, while simultaneously trying to think of how to gracefully communicate that no one with musical savvy of her age would listen to Timberlake. My friend saw that look and, confused, said, "Isn't he popular? Who do you listen to?" Rose then reeled off a list of bands that my friend had never heard of. To her credit, my friend started laughing and said, "Well, I guess I'm not as cool as I thought I was."

More recently, Tom and I were at a birthday party for a younger friend, probably in her late twenties or early thirties (yes, I should remember as it was a birthday party, but ... I don't). A friend of hers gave her a CD and then sparkled at me that, "We have to help her stay cool you know!" I don't remember who the singer was, but I do remember that it was someone who was only cool if you were of a certain age. I smiled and asked if she liked a similar sort of artist who Hannah and Rose listened to. She had never heard of them.

I didn't put these incidents together until much more recently.

Again, I was at a gathering and found myself among several couples who are parents of young children. One of them asked, "What is Facebook?" A small silence and then another said, "It's like MySpace." Another small silence and I said, "It's a social networking thing. You know so that it's easy to get people together for parties and things like that." My friend said, "What? I just made little cards and drew beer mugs on them." This struck me as sweetly quaint ... and certainly slow. I was trying to explain that things would move too fast sometimes, "You know, sometimes Hannah's friends will ask 17 people in the afternoon to go to the movies that night ..." There was an incredulous, "17 people to the movies!"

Bantering began about the fact that no one is going to do that and "movies is code for kegger..." I was still trying to explain and heard someone say, amid howls of laughter, "Julie thinks they are really going to the movies!" "Right! And popcorn is code for ... " At that point I gave up. There was no point in giving examples of the many times I had fed up to 20 kids who hung out at our house until time to go on a scavenger hunt (code for ... scavenger hunt) or to the midnight movies. It was completely good natured on their part and these are some of my favorite people so I didn't want to be ... uncool. Which didn't stop it from making me mad because no one likes to be laughed at for being clueless.

Now, if I had had one or two more drinks, I probably would have laughed along and reminded them that I am just a tad more clued-in than they thought. Thanks to the hounding of others, for example, I actually have a space on Facebook, for example. Sadly I was not that cool. I probably showed my feelings a bit too much before turning to other subjects with other people. Oh well, none of us is perfect. (Interestingly when I told Hannah and Rose about this, each was indignant at the aspersions cast on their characters ... and those of their friends. But they've never been under any illusions that they and their friends aren't geeks ... which, in it's own way, is a cool thing in itself.)

However, Tom had heard most of it. Later on, he said, "You know, the really funny part of all that? They think they are still in touch with what is hip. But they have slid out of it just like everyone does. They just don't know it yet."

That made me remember those other examples ... and see it as one more little window on the world, an interesting cultural observation point, that we have through our kids. For the moment. Until they too, slide from knowing what is hip into cluelessness. Which is completely fine. As long as you know it.

Andy Timmons where have you been all my life?

Much thanks to Onthepodcast for playing Resolution in Episode 4 (yes, that's a hint y'all ... go listen to the last half if nothing else to hear the song).

You can find Andy Timmons' website here and listen to samples if you like.

Book Review: Annihilation

Although this book has strong religious elements which makes it appropriate to suggest for Easter reading, it most assuredly has excellent writing first and foremost, telling a compelling story that engaged my interest the entire time. I read it in three days.

Seven Archangels: Annihilation by Jane Lebak

Without wanting to, for the hundred-and-eighth time, Mephistopheles relived the scene. Their Guard, unbreeched. The way the Cherub had screamed for God. Camael's energy drilling into Gabriel. The Cherub unable to move, unable even to cry out by the end as they disconnected one piece from the next from the next from the next. That flash of raw light as Lucifer finished.

Mephistopheles sat on the floor and closed his eyes.

I made that possible.

Remiel insane. Angels not singing. Raphael crippled.

I did that.

A great victory. Everyone said so. A crowd of revelers chanted so. Even the minions of Heaven seemed to think so. Victory.

Mephistopheles' eyes flew open.

Jane Lebak gives us a fantasy novel with an interesting premise. What would happen if Satan, in his unending battle to overcome Heaven, discovers how to kill an angel? This raises not only the question of whether God would allow such an action, but of how the Heavenly host would react, and what long-term ramifications would result.

Satan's angels kidnap Gabriel to test their newfound annihilation discovery. The Heavenly angels storm to the rescue but cannot break through Hell's defenses. It would seem that Gabriel has been destroyed. However, things are not what they seem, as one might expect. The story proceeds with strategizing, rescue efforts, battles, and, less typical of an action novel, personal encounters with God. Intertwined are the personal struggles of the angels to do the right thing. One Heavenly angel goes insane. Will she condemn herself to Hell? An angel from Hell is overcome with regret. Will he turn to God and repent?

This story operates on several levels beyond the action. We are reminded forcibly that Hell also is populated by an angelic host, albeit one that is creatively directed toward destruction fueled by their resentment against God's supremacy. Although visits to earth are sometimes included, most of the story takes place in Heaven and Hell, showing us the angels as they interact during this emergency. Naturally, this also includes the Heavenly host's interactions with the persons of the Trinity.

As with the human condition, God will not interfere directly but leaves the angels to their calling in resolving the situation. The Heavenly host can hear God's answer to their prayers clearly, yet this does not mean that His answer to prayer is any less cryptic than the answers we may feel we sometimes receive. A favorite interchange of the novel for me illustrating this point is when Gabriel is under attack.

A moment later, Raphael's urgent voice: God says "Remember your strength."

Gabriel shored up Israfel, slipped out of Satan's hold again, and then had to brace Israfel once more.

Quit being cryptic, he prayed. I've got a lot going on here.

This book is quite satisfying as a straight action novel, however a thoughtful reader will find much to ponder.

Lebak follows Catholic theology for how angelic classifications but then goes on to her own imaginings of the need for angels to be bonded with others in a match that is complementary to each one's nature. This opens the story to considerations of friendship, with all the benefits and abuses that can result therein. This becomes especially telling when one sees that the demonic angels necessarily also bond with each other. Satan cannot stand and it drives him to distraction as an inherent weakness of angelic nature. Even in Hell, he is set apart because he denies his nature in a way that the other angels do not or cannot. This plot point leads to the consideration of evil as the denial of one's true nature.

Heavenly angels are so close to God that they hear his voice clearly in their hearts. They see Jesus face to face and walk with him as he gives friendship, support, and guidance. The Holy Spirit is almost tangible for them. This leads us to consider our own relationships with the Trinity. On a personal note, I took some of these images into my own prayer life and it has been a very helpful reminder about God's nature.

The weakest point of the book is Lebak's handling of Mary, Mother of God, as a character. In a depiction as the perfect disciple, Mary is a quiet figure constantly in the background. Her suggestions are always followed up on by the angels without comment and those suggestions often are given with the comment "Jesus instructed." Mary shows her support for the Heavenly angels by baking and making hot beverages. The angels must incorporate real bodies to consume these treats which they protest but then do to humor her. A bit of this makes the point about discipleship but Lebak carries it on to the point that by the time Mary shows up somewhere with banana bread and hot chocolate it struck me as almost a running joke. It may not strike others this way, however, a little went a very long way.

I will not call this Christian fiction as it stands well as a fantasy novel. That said, anyone who does not subscribe in some form to basic concepts of God and Heaven, necessarily is going to find this heavy going because of the subject matter. Although Lebak is Catholic, those who are not Catholic will find that her writing, as one person asked me, "Is it not overwhelmingly Catholic but still sort of Catholic?" Lebak is informed by Catholic theology, as mentioned above with the angelic classifications, but it is not anything that should intrude on any Christian's enjoyment of this book. For example, although Peter very briefly appears twice in the book, I defy anyone not to thoroughly relish his last line.

Highly recommended.

For those who would like to sample the book, the first few chapters can be found online.

Cross posted at Catholic Media Review.

The Battle of New Orleans

I don't know why I find this amusing but I do. As well, it took some considerable care with the stop motion to get the drumming right (and I liked how the cannons rolled back when they shot). But then, I'm easily amused.