Envoy Magazine - They Found the Beef

At the conference, we were all given a free Envoy magazine. I used to be a faithful subscriber and then they went away for a while. Upon returning, they sent me a copy and looking through it I thought it was too "basic" for my reading needs. Still good, but I was just past needing that Catholic 101 info.

Imagine my pleased surprise upon looking through this latest edition and finding it seems to be more substantial, "beefier" if you will, than before. It is changing from bimonthly to quarterly but if that means material like that I have been reading then I welcome it.

Although, that layout. Really guys? What if we didn't love Peter Kreeft so much that we would risk eyestrain to read his writing? Please. Help us out here.

Of course, regular readers know that layout is something I'm sensitive to...

It's All Downhill from Here

A little midweek humor from the 2009 winner of the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest.

"Folks say that if you listen real close at the height of the full moon, when the wind is blowin' off Nantucket Sound from the nor' east and the dogs are howlin' for no earthly reason, you can hear the awful screams of the crew of the "Ellie May," a sturdy whaler Captained by John McTavish; for it was on just such a night when the rum was flowin' and, Davey Jones be damned, big John brought his men on deck for the first of several screaming contests."

David McKenzie
Federal Way, WA

For those not in the know ...

An international literary parody contest, the competition honors the memory (if not the reputation) of Victorian novelist Edward George Earl Bulwer-Lytton (1803-1873). The goal of the contest is childishly simple: entrants are challenged to submit bad opening sentences to imaginary novels. ... Bulwer-Lytton opened his novel Paul Clifford (1830) with the immortal words that the "Peanuts" beagle Snoopy plagiarized for years, "It was a dark and stormy night."

Go read all the winners and runners up in various categories. Via the always alert Anchoress.

First Martyrs of Rome ... and a new series the family can enjoy together

I want to give this a longer and better review, however as I'm working on a large-ish project for the rest of the week I didn't want to miss directing your attention to a very good series that is a natural tie-in with the Church's remembrance today of the first martyrs of Rome.

Suffice it to say that I was surprised by the quality of story-telling in this animated tale of St. Perpetua (and yes Felicity is there too). I meant to watch a couple of minutes and wound up engrossed in watching almost all of it ... until pulled away by two young Boxers chewing up sticks in the living room.

The animation is similar to that which I remember from the long-ago Gargoyles series (and I don't know why I keep thinking of that in comparison to this; I just do).

You can see more here about the Perpetua dvd I sampled.

Here is what the series is about in a nutshell:

Catholic Heroes of the Faith - dvd series

“Catholic Heroes of the Faith” is a new, animated DVD series which presents true stories of people who have made a lasting impression on others by their example of service to Christ and His Church.

These heroes have lived truly great lives—lives marked by moral depth, strength of character, physical courage, and an unswerving commitment to Christ and His Church.

By seeing how they struggled to serve Christ and his Church, and how they succeeded so gloriously, we are all challenged to live lives like theirs. Pope Benedict XVI has said of the saints, that we look to their “shining example to reawaken within us the great longing to be like them; happy to live near God, in his light, in the great family of God's friends. Being a Saint means living close to God, to live in his family. And this is the vocation of us all.”

Geared primarily to children ages 8-12, each episode uses traditional animation to entertain and inspire children and their parents and anyone who wants to know about the great Catholics of the past.

Each DVD also features:

* Activity guide for church, school or home use
* Parent’s and teacher’s guide for church, school or home use

This animated series is an excellent resource for parochial schools, CCD classes and home schooling.

And don’t forget to check out our documentary section! A great resource for Catholic high school religion classes and RCIA programs.

Catholic New Media Awards

I have just been reminded by The Curt Jester:

By the way this is the last day of voting in the Catholic New Media Awards, so vote for your favorite blog, website, podcast.

Sheez. That means I've got to pay bill and do the payroll too! Deadlines, deeadlines, deadlines ...

Ancient illusions and hokey philosophies are no match for a barbarian horde at the gate, kid.

I already have part 1 of the BBC's The Last Days of Shandakor on my iPod (thanks to Radio Downloader ... love it!).

But that cleverness from Free SF Reader made me both laugh and move it to the top of my queue.

Worth a Thousand Words

Found at Catholic Eye Candy

On the way out the door, I also met the director of the little choir that could ...

We are the little choir that COULD! From three members who stood up once a month at Mass, in vestments, singing in two parts, to traveling America with this great group of young adults, it's been a journey of hope and inspiration...Cantate Domino! ...

The St. Richard Youth Choir was founded in 2003 by three seventh-grade girls, and has since grown to fifteen members. While traveling to Pueri Cantores Festival Masses across the Unites States, the choir serves as ambassadors for Jackson, Miss. on the national stage. Known for hard work and raising their own operating budget every year, the members put in countless hours in the pursuit of excellence in service and music.

I heard an inspirational story of kids from Mississipi with no resources but enormous talent and dedication. They're fund raising to try to attend the International Congress of Pueri Cantores in Rome to sing with 6,000 children from all over the world at a special Papal Mass with Benedict XVI.

If you're in Chicago, they'll be there July 3-7 to sing at the invitation-only Pueri Cantores Evening Prayer Festival at the beginning of the National Pastoral Musicians Conference.

You can hear samples at their website here and also find out how to contribute to their effort if you are moved to do so.

Are You Catholic? There's an App for That.

This was shown at the convention. That Paul Camarata ... what a creative guy!

The Public Sinner

This is a repost from 2006, but the subject is timeless. It came up in conversation at the meet-and-greet on Friday night at the conference (that being the sort of crowd that we were). I remembered this post and thought y'all might appreciate it as well. (If there were any comments from the original post they will show up as well.)

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Women in the Bible For Dummies has a very interesting theory discussing the speculation about the identity of the mysterious female whose story begins in Luke 7:37. She washed Jesus' feet with her tears, dried them with her hair, and then anointed them with costly perfume. The women is never named. Then why would tradition name her as Mary Magdalene?

Frankly, I always thought that Mary Magdalene got a raw deal when she was never named as a harlot but that label was put on her anyway. I was fascinated to see that when the various Gospel stories of this event are compared there actually was another Mary who fits the bill and is actually named in one of the stories.

This is a Mary I never would have thought it of but, you know, it kinda makes sense.

This is a lengthy excerpt but I was so interested that I thought maybe some of you might like it as well.

John's Gospel (12:3) relates another account of a woman anointing Jesus' feet with expensive aromatic ointment and drying them with her hair. John identifies this woman as Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus. (Matthew 26:6-13 and Mark 14:3-9, tell similar stories about a woman anointing the feet of Jesus from costly perfume in an alabaster jar, but again this woman remains nameless.) Only John identifies the woman as Mary, the sister of Martha, but only Luke classifies the woman as a public sinner. (In addition, Luke 7:37-50, which outlines the story of the public sinner and washing of feet, later mentions Mary Magdalene by name in the very chapter along with Joanna, Susanna, and Chuza.

Could more than one woman have anointed the feet of Christ? Possible, but somewhat improbable. The humble act of drying someone's feet with one's own hair and then anointing those same feet with costly oil isn't a common practice. In fact, it's so rare, uncommon, and unusual that all four Gospel writers (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) mention it. The mystery of why the woman is nameless in three Gospels and called Mary only in John remains. Washing feet was a humble act in itself, but having a woman touch a man, especially a rabbi, and having her dry his feet with her hair and then anoint them with expensive perfume is so extraordinary that it is improbably (but not impossible) that his happened more than once.

If all the stories involve one particular woman, the next question is, could this other Mary, the sister of Martha, also be the same unidentified public sinner that Luke mentions? If so, the latter Mary had been a very naughty girl, at least at one time. If she were the forgiven sinner, it would explain why she was so attentive and entranced when Jesus came to visit their home, even to the extent of annoying her sister, Martha (Luke 10:38-42). Ahh, yet another theory to ponder.

Because John's Gospel names the woman who washes the feet of Jesus as being Mary and this act takes place in the home of Martha and Lazarus, one could assume it was Mary the sister of Martha and Lazarus and not another Mary who did it. the nameless woman in Luke's Gospel is identified as a "public sinner." So either there were two women who separately anointed the feet of Jesus in the same unusual and unique way, or the public sinner and Mary the sister of Martha and Lazarus are one and the same.

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig

Back from the Catholic New Media Conference in San Antonio. It figures that summer really hit its stride this weekend. Temperatures were always hovering around 105 and then let's throw in some of that humidity that San Antonio does so well. Which meant that no matter where one went there was extreme heat or frigid cold as Texans set air conditioners low, low, low to offset outside conditions. However, that's pretty much the norm around here.

For me the weekend was more about community and putting faces with names than anything else. That was definitely the most satisfying aspect as it turned out. So many email or blogging voices turned into real people ... imagine that! One of the most delightful was a person who I had filled out a survey for in preparation for her presentation ... Lisa Hendey who blogs at Catholic Mom and also podcasts at Catholic Moments. Such a gracious, charming person who is so warm and welcoming. Also a complete surprise to meet, but a delight, was Heidi Saxton whose books I have seen but never expected to meet in person. We clicked right away.

Naturally, there were too many people for me to properly acknowledge but who were so enjoyable to speak with: Sister Anne from nunblog, Danielle Bean, Pat Gohn from Among Women podcast, Catholic Matriarch (fresh from her time at A&M so we had that to talk about for sure!), Chris from The Catholic Company, Ian from Aquinas and More ... as well as those from my favorite Catholic podcasts: Jeff from Catholic Foodie, Father Seraphim from Catholic Under the Hood, Paul Camatara from Saintcast.

Then there is Patrick Madrid who thought he was simply taking the elevator to his car and found himself in the elevator with Tom and me. It was my chance to thank him for three books that I have found extremely helpful over the years, Why is That in Tradition, Where is That in the Bible, and Search and Rescue. His talk was excellent and I especially appreciated the fact that he took it to heart enough to not simply do a regular talk but to specifically warn us as Catholics and techies about the danger of letting technological toys becoming a false god. A surprise to hear him speaking about it but definitely something that I think it is good to keep in mind during a conference that is chock full of technology lovers. This reminded me also of his three-day conference coming up, Answering Atheism. Three days, name speakers and a very reasonable price. My schedule doesn't allow it or I would definitely go. Maybe next year ... and I can get the audio tapes of this year's conference (so he assured me).

Naturally there were many others ... for one thing, I was surprised to meet so many people who were just thinking about getting into blogging or podcasting. Although I would say this to those who said they had a blog or wanted to podcast, "but I don't know about what." Those things are simply tools. If you don't have a passion to share some writing or spoken subject with people then your ministry might follow a different path. It is better to passionately blog about the soccer team you play on than to be casting around for something to say about your faith. Your faith will shine through in your passion, no matter what it is that you are talking about, as those who listen to my Forgotten Classics podcast have found, possibly to their dismay.

I also enjoyed Father Dave Dwyer's talk which opened the conference. As the Pauline year was ending, he did a good comparison of St. Paul to today's Catholic podcasters and bloggers. As well, to anyone who has ever heard the Busted Halo podcast, which I also enjoy a lot, you know he mixed in a good deal of entertainment with the serious conversation.

I would say that the most problematic area for me was the seminars. Although I enjoyed Father Roderick's audio talk and Lisa Hendey's blogging talk, there seemed to be too little time alloted for people to properly cover their topics. As well, since there was a time problem the socialization times were cut short. I completely understand this dilemma since we run into it routinely ourselves in the Beyond Cana Marriage Retreats we do semi-annually. However, as many of the talks were somewhat unfocussed, not seeming sure whether to address complete newbies or go for the more advanced listener or, indeed, to go off topic altogether (Catholic Cloud guy, I'm lookin' at you ... I actually wanted to hear Twitter discussed not dropped to talk about the next big thing), this was a problem for speakers who were having to trim time. Perhaps next time they'll have fewer talks but let them be covered more thoroughly. As well, although I realize that SQPN is a mostly audio group, there was only one talk given about blogging. Though we are all looking forward, it is a mistake to not give blogs more attention as that is what a lot of the public is just beginning to become aware of. It doesn't seem like it from our vantagepoint of being at the cutting edge of technology, but it is all too true if you talk to your friends or fellow parishioners. Believe me, I know. If one was only a blogger and not a podcaster, this left many possibly floundering in a technology that didn't apply.

Don't think that I didn't get a great deal out of the conference. These are intended as constructive criticisms only. I think that a great many people may have gotten more from the talks than Tom and I did. As well, I valued a great deal the community gathering.

One of the most enjoyable parts of the weekend, was the relatively impromptu add-on of stopping in Austin on the way home to join the Darwins and the Fulwilers (Jen/Conversion Diary) for Mass and lunch afterward. For one thing, St. William is a really gorgeous church. I wouldn't have believed a new church would have been built with such care, beauty and attention. The photo on their main page simply does not do it justice. Built in Spanish style on the outside, the inside is graced with beautiful old German stained glass rescued from an orphanage, German or Czech style ornamental stenciled designs, a painting behind the crucifix that invites reflection and prayer, and many other features that you really should stop to see if you are ever near Round Rock (just north of Austin). Best of all though was getting to see the Darwins again after spending time with them several years ago. I'd forgotten just how much fun they are in person. As well, it was a pure pleasure meeting Jen and her family. I am a big admirer of Jen's blog. She's a writer that I simply can't equal and that reflects her thoughtful spiritual life and sparkling personality (its not all spiritual, after all ... just think of her scorpion stories!). Two hours was just not long enough to even begin to enjoy all the conversation. We had to literally tear ourselves away from the Darwin homestead (nice garden in back, too) and face the drive home.

It was an extra pleasant homecoming, as Hannah had thought about how to make it welcoming by vacuuming, sweeping, and having pizza ready for us eat. What a kid!

"One had always read. Only these days one is reading more."

The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett

Queen Elizabeth II chases after her runaway corgis and happens upon the library book-mobile that comes to the palace every Wednesday. Originally selecting a book merely to be polite, she soon finds herself drawn into fascination with books. It is a fascination that causes no end of problems for Her Majesty's staff as they have trouble keeping her on time for appointments and no longer know exactly how to prep members of the public for likely questions when they meet the queen. And what to do when she runs into a Dickens' lover and goes over the scheduled time because of their animated conversation?

On another level, this book looks at the joys of reading and allowing one's mind to expand. Soon the way that the world is viewed becomes colored with the literature one has read and that can lead to its own kind of trouble. The kind of trouble that comes with becoming a writer as well as a reader.

I found Bennett to be kind to both those expanding their minds and the queen. He acknowledges that much of her personality has had to express itself within the perimeters of her job which leaves no time for hobbies such as reading.

This is a short novella, easy to read, and highly recommended.

Miyazaki ... Ponyo ... August 14 ...

... our family will be there. Here's the trailer. Though admittedly it's usually difficult to get a feel for a Miyazaki film from a trailer.

A Movie With a Great Priest

In this, the year of the priest, we have seen several lists being passed around that feature priests we can admire. Check B Movie Catechism for lists and links and other suggestions.

I can heartily recommend On the Waterfront for one of the most vigorous, hold-the-line presentations of a priest ever given or written.

Also I am extremely pleased to see that The American Catholic didn't forget one of my favorites with Spencer Tracy playing a no-holds-barred priest, San Francisco. (Also starring Clark Gable being a very bad boy, ladies, so don't miss this one.)

I am going to add The Quiet Man to the list. Although the priest isn't a main character, he is instrumental in several places. His reaction to Maureen O'Hara's whispered confession in Gaelic is both hilarious and telling that he knows plenty about married life. Also I love his ecumenism in supporting his Anglican counterpart when the bishop comes to town.

Thanks to Our Heroine for bringing to mind that I hadn't yet mentioned these movie lists.

Seductions of Rice

Clearly I'm on a food books review craze. Here's the last of the bunch for now ... a review of Seductions of Rice by Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Duguid. Though really you can't go wrong with anything they write.

I always wondered what liquid smoke was ...

... and now, whether we want to know or not, here is the answer.

What is liquid smoke?
Liquid smoke is very simply smoke in water. Smoke usually comes as a vapor, but there are ways to condense it and turn it into liquid and that liquid can then be carried in water.

How is it different from regular smoke?
Regular smoke is a vapor, and it is difficult to store.

SlashFood has all the scoop on liquid smoke.

A Taste of Heaven ... While Still on Earth

A fantastic book that is part travel guide, part spiritual inspiration, part cookbook, and ... wait for it ... part guide to a delightful assortment of foods made by religious orders that you can purchase.

Read all about A Taste of Heaven at Meanwhile, Back in the Kitchen.

I never thought about it until now ... but I also have no goals.

... the truth is that I have no goals and I’m annoyed by conversations about them. Does this shock you?

“Goal,” in my experience, is a favorite word of people who talk and dream and dream and talk. And then they get together to “network” with other talkers. There’s always a lot of noise in these meetings but it’s unlikely than anything of consequence is going to happen. People who chatter about goals are rarely willing to die on that mountain.

I have no goals. But I do have plans. ...

Read it all in Roy H. Williams' Monday Morning Memo.

The Food of a Younger Land: Food, History and the Great Depression

Reviewed over at Meanwhile, Back in the Kitchen.

Celebrate Dr. Boli's Anniversary With Him

In honor of the forthcoming second anniversary of Dr. Boli's Celebrated Magazine on the World-Wide Web, Dr. Boli will be reprinting a number of his own favorite articles from the past two years. Such as the above advertisement, which is not an article but nonetheless is a favorite.

If you have not yet been lured over to Dr. Boli's by my sharing of numerous features*, please do swing by. Dr. Boli is absolutely hilarious and I make sure I read his celebrated magazine every day.

*In fact, a different fact from Dr. Boli's Encyclopedia of Misinformation is featured in our sidebar every weekday for your entertainment and education.

Top 10 list of books Catholics should read

I was asked a while back by someone beginning a book review site to give this list. They never used the list but I am going to give it to y'all here since I found it an interesting exercise. Need I mention that I was howling with frustration at what I could not cover? Of course not. You knew that already!

Keep in mind that this list may fluctuate but essentially I see that it reflects my belief that you can see echoes of Truth in many places, including fiction. Here you go, in no particular order, always assuming that the Bible and the Catechism are givens (links are to my previous reviews, excerpts, or commentary):

1. In This House of Brede - Rumer Godden. One of the finest authors of our time, largely forgotten, but who always wrote from a deep background of faith.
   
   
2. The Interior Castle - St. Teresa of Avila. A spiritual classic for good reason. Written for her sisters in the convent and much easier to read and understand than you may have been led to believe.
   
   
3. Catholic Christianity - Peter Kreeft. Puts the muscle on the "skeleton" of the Catechism, so to speak. This is the book that I read after converting and which brought my understanding fully into line with the teachings of the Church. Eminently logical.
   
   
4. Pardon and Peace - Father Francis Randolph. Fantastic book about the sacrament of reconciliation (or confession as I still like to call it). He takes interesting side trips in the discussion but they are always to the point and add depth.
   
   
5. Inferno - Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. Science fiction authors update Dante's Inferno. This is somewhat like Dante "Lite" and is a wonderful introduction to the concepts Dante wrote about. It is the book that made me take a new look at self examination and then go on to read John Ciardi's translation of Dante's Divine Comedy. Not intended as such by the authors, it is a "gateway" book to Dante.
   
   
6. A Still Small Voice - Father Benedict Groeschel. Common sense, psychology, and faith as applied to discernment when it comes to apparitions. Highly recommended.
   
   
7. Angels of God - Mike Aquilina. Wonderful primer about angels and their relationship to us.
   
   
8. Captain from Castile - Samuel Shellabarger. The classic story of a young Spanish nobleman, Pedro de Vargas, who goes with Cortes to conquer Mexico. Rereading it, Washington Post critic and Pulitzer Prize-winner Jonathan Yardley says in his introduction he "was astonished at how well it has survived. . . . It is accurate, meticulously researched history, and it is a sympathetic, nuanced account of a young man's moral education..." Precisely. Such is also the same of Shellabarger's other books. A prime example of how an excellent piece of fiction can communicate "Truth." (Excerpts are here and here.) Also a favorite, more than this book to be truthful, is Prince of Foxes by this author.
   
   
9. Fr. McBride's Guide to the Bible - Alfred McBride. There are several excellent guides to the Bible, among them "You Can Understand the Bible" by Peter Kreeft and "A Catholic Guide to the Bible" by Father Oscar Lukefahr. I chose this above those because it looks at all the books of the Bible in light of salvation history. An excellent guide to looking at scripture on several levels and keeping the big picture in mind.
   
   
10. Through a Screen Darkly - Jeffrey Overstreet. A masterful work by a noted film critic about bringing a spirit of discernment to the world of film. Overstreet invites us to consider how film as an art form affects one's soul and ultimately can be a work of God, even when it may go against what many define as "Christian." An excellent work that helps us learn discernment in our daily lives toward any sort of story telling.

Honorable Mention

• Silence by Shusaku Endo
  
• One Door Away from Heaven by Dean Koontz
• Shapers by Robert R. Chase
• The Game of Fox and Lion by Robert R. Chase
• The Odd Thomas trilogy by Dean Koontz
• Eifelheim by Michael Flynn