Norbertine Fathers - Gregorian Chant

It has been my great pleasure this week to have received the honor of a reviewing Gregorian Chant - Requiem, sung by the Norbertine Fathers of the St. Michael's Abbey.  It is also a great pleasure to be able to review this incredible album on the 5th Sunday of Lent, in which we just heard the gospel account of the death and resurrection of Lazarus.

In this season of Lent in which we contemplate the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Our Lord, there is nothing better than a Requiem chant to aid in contemplation of His sacrifice. None of us are untouched by death, that terrible result of original sin; all of us need the reminder of our final ends, and the price paid for our salvation. All of us have experienced the death of a loved one at one point or another in our lives, an experience that is repeated more and more as we progress in years.

In Lent, as we approach Good Friday, we all share in the depths of grief of the Blessed Mother as we approach the shadow the Cross - it is on Holy Thursday that we enter, united through the Church, into a period of mourning and for those who have suffered loss, it may be all the more poignant, for inherent within that deep sense of grief remains an eternal hope.

A Requiem Mass, for those who are unfamiliar, is a Mass offered for one who has died. Those unfamiliar with it may find more information at the Catholic Encyclopedia entry on the subject.

The Norbertine Fathers have produced a hauntingly beautiful recording of the traditional prayers of the Requiem Mass, made even more so by the Providential weather on the day it was created. As the letter that accompanied the review copy stated,

The Old cliche' of a badly written novel beginning with the words: "It was a dark and stormy night..." could well apply to the recording of this album, as the date that worked for all the singers to record was the day of one of the longest and most violent tempests of 2010. The abbey's cantor, Fr. Chrysostom Baer, decided that, far from detracting from the quality of the recording,t he howling winds actually added to the haunting tones of chant. This is the reason for the atmospheric effects heard in the background of many of the recorded tracks.

Indeed, Father Baer is correct. I find the sound of wind to be especially proper to the music, for Gregorian Chant has long been referred to as "the breath of God", given its regular tones, rising and falling, natural pauses, all reminiscent and conducive to human need to breathe in order to sustain life. Chant is particularly profound, for it blends physical life with the spiritual need to breathe in communio with God, the author of all life, who created us as body and soul together. It is in this form of music that God is most profoundly glorified, for the theology of the body and the theology of the music, physically and spiritually, reveals the fullness of our Faith and has inherently within it a vivid, sung witness not just to the hope of eternal life, but also to the resurrection of the body.

I found the howling winds to be most prominent in the Kyrie, Dies Irae, and De Profundis, and rather than detracting from it, I was drawn even more deeply into the ancient tones of the chant, chilled to the soul, yet held within the protective warmth of the sacred prayers.

The CD comes with an insert containing the Latin words with English translation, so those who fear they won't understand the music have nothing to fear and can pray right along!

It should be noted that these chants are taken from the Norbertine Liturgy, with which many of us are probably very unfamiliar in name, although it followed very closely the Roman Canon of the Mass.

The chant most striking to me about it was the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) for the Requiem:

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona eis requiem.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona eis requiem.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona eis requiem sempiternam. 

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant them rest.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant them rest.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant them eternal rest.

I don't want to spoil the CD for you so all I can tell you is this: it is available in Stores, physically and digitally, this Tuesday, April 12, 2011 and you really NEED to go out and get a copy so that it can aid your contemplation during Holy Week!

To purchase, go to www.jade-music.com.

As always, pray that more souls will answer God's call to serve Him in these holy Vocations of the Priesthood and Religious Life. 

The following information is provided by Jade Music:

GREGORIAN CHANT: REQUIEM BY THE NORBERTINE FATHERS OF ST. MICHAEL’S ABBEY
Available in Stores, physically and digitally, on April 12, 2011

This is the third Gregorian chant album by the Norbertine Fathers of St. Michael's Abbey in California. This is not an actual Mass, but the traditional Requiem music according to the ancient Norbertine Rite, a form of the liturgy similar to the ubiquitous Roman Rite but the exclusive patrimony of the Norbertine Fathers. The album is available in stores on April 12, 2011.

The Norbertine Fathers and the Pacific Symphony
Thanks to the buzz and press coverage surrounding the previous two album releases, Carl St. Clair, the music director of the Pacific Symphony Orchestra, invited the Norbertines to perform with the Orchestra. The three concerts, which took place in late February 2011 at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA, were extremely popular and well received. 

The Expansion Project
St. Michael’s Abbey has been blessed with many vocations since its beginnings in the 1960s, and the boarding preparatory school consistently receives the highest ratings for its classical education and formation. Because of its growth, the community needs to expand its facilities. When the community began to consider expanding, it discovered that its current site is geologically unstable so the community will have to move to new land
Jade Music
Jade Music has a proven dedication to releasing quality classical and spiritual music for more than 20 years. It established itself as the premiere record label of the choir of the Abbey of Santo Domingo de Silos, Spain. Jade Music is distributed by ADA/Warner Music Group in the United States, Universal Music in France, JVC in Japan, and Warner Music International in the rest of the world.

GREGORIAN CHANT: REQUIEM (Tracklisting)
1. Rain and Bells  2. Introit: Requiem 3. Kyrie 4. Gradual: Requiem 5. Gradual: Si Ambulem 6. Prose: Dies Irae 7. Tract: De Profundis 8. Offertory: Domine Jesu Christe 9. Preface 10. Sanctus 11. Agnus Dei 12. Communion Antiphon: Lux Aeterna; Requiescant 13. Responsory for the Commendation of the Soul: Subvenite 14. Antiphon for the Procession of the Body: Suscipiat vos Christus 15. Antiphon for the Procession of the Body: Chorus Angelorum

Fire PSA and Warning

It's no secret that we here in the Midwest got a whole boatload of snow, everywhere, containing and followed by a whole lot of wind that created a bunch of really interesting drifts.

For the most part, the snow has been moved out of the way by the City or County or State (depending on where you live) but the government is not responsible for your own personal property.

I can't even COUNT the number of houses I have passed on residential streets in my last two weeks of travel about the Twin Cities in Minnesota, that have front doors blocked by those original drifts.

Look, Homeowners, I know what you're thinking:

You only shoveled your garage door or your ailing/elderly/young single mother's driveway because it's all you/they use and is critical to you/them.  I'm the same way...most of my coming and going is through my garage door, or, well, if I had a house with an unattached garage, I'd be using the door off the driveway.

Very few people actually USE their front doors, and as such, that door in a single family home is usually very neglected.

You're risking your life and the lives of your entire family to ignore that door.

Imagine This:

One night you wake up to the sound of your intact smoke alarms, and slowly, you realize the acrid scent being registered in your nostrils, tastebuds, and throat belongs to an actual fire in your castle.

You realize that the fire is coming from a burner left on in the kitchen, and while you don't recall leaving that burner on, nor does your husband/wife or children, there it was, and it has alighted some oil that was not cleaned off the stove, and that heat caught a picture on fire - one your daughter gave you tonight which you planned to hang on the refrigerator in the morning.

Instead, that picture acted as a wick and transferred the rapid oxidation to the curtains over the sink, which set the boxes intended for the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal alight...and their contents...and spread to the other curtains on the other kitchen window, the door, and the rug you purchased in Africa on your honeymoon.

That same fire sends a spark and alights your Christmas tree, blocking your exit through the garage door and/or side door while it sets the other continuous decorations alight.

Your only way out is the front door, and you go about waking and herding your family towards the front door - the only exit.

Yet when you get there, you are faced with a mountain of snow you never bothered to shovel, even though that storm was 2 weeks ago almost to the day, and it's completely blocking the door. You can toss your newborn out through the crack, but is that a GOOD idea when he sinks through the snow and then the heat from the house causes the tip of the drift to collapse upon him, covering him in an avalanche?

In the meantime...

The Fire Department arrives and approaches your house, watching as they hook up the Engine to the closest hydrant, which they have to take several minutes to locate and then dig out since neither you nor your neighbors did so.

It takes them awhile to do this, even as they try to lay a tank line to the most accessible door, including the consideration of the most likely place for survivors.  They look at the side door and lay a line there, but realize that if they open that door, they might actually directly cause the deaths of anyone inside, and of course, can't actually ENTER there....so they look to the front door...which is covered by snow.

They can't hear the cries of the baby you tossed beneath the roar of the consuming fire. They don't know he's there no matter how loudly you scream because they can't hear you either, between the fire, the engines, their turnout gear and the sound of air from their tanks.

Realizing they have no entrance from the plowed area, they try to access the blocked front door,  and the windows...but they can't get there through the drifts and the powerful hose really just turns snow into powerful waves of ice in your front lawn, forming bars against your house while you kneel on the floor, pounding against what you thought was an exit, sinking further and further, trying to protect your children from the encroaching smoke and heat.

You gasp your last breaths as you watch the pulsating blue and red lights glow through the drift you didn't bother to shovel, and that's where you realize your children are now too late to save.

Across the Street

Mr. Neighbor a la Snowblower stands, in shock, watching the Fire Department try to access your home. He's the one who happened to be awake and called at 1:00 am, and he's the same guy you spoke with regarding the snowdrift blocking your front door. He has one to match, because neither of you thought it important since neither of you has EVER used the front door of your home but for an occasional formal event.

Yet Mr. Neighbor stands there, horrified, witnessing this sin of omission as the Fire Department labors through your front lawn to get to a door, a window, and the newborn encapsulated in a drift that should never have been present.

He watches the Fire Department labor through the stuff he could have eliminated, and watches you and your dead family being brought on stretchers through the snow, just as the light comes into the sky, and gives his testimony to the police and to the NEWS...all for want of a little flat tool that would have prevented that mass-family funeral he will attend  a couple days after Christmas.

And none of your family or friends will remember Christmas the same way again, for instead of the birth of Christ, they will remember the drift of snow over the doorway to life and they will forever recall your absence...your stupid, stupid absence.

SHOVEL OUT YOUR FRONT DOORS, PEOPLE! 

Olympics: Behind the Scenes

I'd like to offer a challenge to our local Minnesota NEWS stations.

 I used to be a Ski Patroller here in Minnesota, and loved my service there.  Without the Ski Patrol, believe me, no ski area anywhere would run. During my time, I knew men and women who went to other Ski Areas, other States, and other Nations to serve on their Patrol. Some were regular citizens, some military families.  Most were volunteer, a few became Professional Patrollers.

And then, when the Olympics came to Salt Lake City, some of my fellow Patrollers went out West to be a part of the Games.

I remember receiving the letter under the National Ski Patrol letterhead, and reading it in excitement...but I didn't have the time or the money to go. I wanted to serve my country and all nations, but I didn't have the money or the time to offer during those two weeks. In abject disappointment, I threw the letter away, knowing it wasn't to be.  Not for me.

But I knew others who WERE able to go, and had the financial circumstances that allowed such a trip.

These were regular everyday people, volunteer Ski Patrollers who weren't offered any perks for their service in the Olympics.   They had to pay their own way, they had to fork over the outrageous amounts of money for hotel rooms, for food, and they were not given a preference for their obviously-favorite sport:  downhill skiing.  Nor did they even have the time to ski THEMSELVES while in the Olympic venue! Rather, they volunteered all that they had to be placed at the mercy of the Games, and there, they happily served.

The fact that this is the reality of the volunteers at the Olympic Games, and given that this year has begun with a fatality on the Luge course, I wonder if perhaps the different networks should finally call attention to those unsung souls who help to make the Olympics possible!

Here's what I would like to see:

Portray the Ski Patrol especially as winter is their venue, then the other First Responders. Show how the Ski Patrol volunteers come from ALL the nations, are regular people, and what they sacrifice to be present at the Games, but more importantly, to give of themselves.

Tell THOSE stories.  Without them, the athletes would not be able to compete.  No one can deny the danger of these sporting events, especially this year.

It does not denigrate the Olympic Games or the Athletes themselves to reveal the very enthusiastic support they received from around the world:  the normal, hidden men and women who are ready to pay great amounts in order not just to be present, but to WORK to ensure the safety of the Olympians!

I throw this challenge most especially to KARE11 a local network, an Olympic sponsor.

But I wonder if other networks are also interested, and so I call upon WCCO, KSTP and FOX9!  

I went to both the general and local Olympics websites through NBC and found no way to suggest a story in any realistic manner.. I hope, then, that this blog post might be effective given the fact I know for a FACT  that each network peruses the internet for mentions of their own sites.

(HINT:  This is FREE sponsorship!)

Consider this, then, to be a formal request:

Please highlight the Ski Patrol's role at the Olympics!

 Talk about their own training, sacrifice, and the reality of the unity of  the Ski Patrol throughout the world. Talk about how they came to serve at the Olympics this year, in Vancouver.  

That's a background story worth watching, one to appeal to everyone, even the most average skier....and what a way to participate in history!

Please...someone publicize this story?

It's one worth telling, and the men and women I know who begin to and continue to serve as Ski Patrollers  deserve the recognition. They are, in fact, the unsung heroes of these Games, and ALL Olympic games, in every venue!    

Anyone?

*crickets*

Please make the crickets stop!  

Mantilla Twitch to Newsbobber...And A Few Friends

I don't often reference the News or News Organizations as, for the most part, there are so many other bloggers who do so that I figure my random two cents becomes part of a mindless echo chamber.  Granted, there are stories that NEED to be put out there, and I am not adverse to doing so. But this is different and I think maybe I owe some publicity towards an organization that seems to deserve it! (It helps that I'm trying to study theology for my final and find this as a necessary diversion from that task.)

By accident, one day some time ago while randomly checking out my "Feedjit" widget on the side, I saw a reference to "Newsbobber". I'd never heard of them, so figured maybe I should check out this source apparently referring to me.

As it seems, they are an independent internet news service, collecting Minnesota-based news, and it seems they have a special love for Minnesota bloggers.  (That alone makes me a fan;  seriously, a news service that isn't disdainful or condescending of bloggers, but rather, HIGHLIGHTS us? Wow!)  I'm especially impressed because of the fact they have determined a way to rank the top 100 Minnesota blogs (hottest blogs) , regardless of the subject matter. It's purely mathematical.

I can't pretend to understand it of course, as several blogs have the same score, but I think the difference comes from the way they measure the RSS feeds, subscribers, google page rank, etc.  You can read their directory and ranking faq yourself for more information. Just don't come back and try to explain it to me. I really don't care at all and only provide the link for the mathematical geeks among you.

In any case, a couple months ago I sent this info to my friend Ray at Stella Borealis Catholic Roundtable, and he has apparently kept up his own analysis of the situation.  I've kept my own tabs on the status my friends, such as Cathy of Alex  at Recovering Dissident Catholic and Terry Nelson from Abbey-Roads but can't figure out why Swissmiss doesn't make the rankings, and I  haven't seen my dear friends, the Hadleys & Company at Our Word at all. That's an absolute CRIME! (FYI....Our Word isn't specifically a religion blog, but discusses art, music, news, and contemporary culture. If they're NOT on your blog list then you CLEARLY haven't any culture at all!)

Based on Newsbobber's faq page, someone actually spends time with each blog in order to write a brief review, and based on the blurb about mine, they did their homework in that they are hitting the big points.  I do have a quibble with what they said about mine as it seems to take three months of my life as a police officer and makes it sound like it was a bigger career. It wasn't. It was three months. An important three months of my life, to be sure, especially considering that I didn't get killed and no one died BECAUSE of me, but I can't deny that the experience lives on in me even now, so many years later.  I don't fault the reviewer for this; clearly they were skimming and trying to get a feel for my main topics and who I am especially considering I continue to write under a pseudonym.  All in all, I think their short commentary on my blog is fair and does tell the reader what they're up for if they click on my link.  Kudos for that!

Anyway, that is my PSA for the month.  If you are a citizen of Minnesota, someone from another state or country wanting to know what's going on in Minnesota, or a Minnesota blogger, this is a site you want to know about.  Go ahead and suggest blogs, go ahead and patronize those you like:  it will help their rankings.

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Disclaimer:  I did not receive any blegging emails asking me to blog this PSA. I received no payment or kickbacks and I receive no benefit for linking to Newsbobber.  I'm doing this out of the goodness of my heart for an endeavor I feel deserves attention, and for the benefit of my friends who deserve MORE attention.  


With regard to the question on my heart: yes, I have one, albeit a bit cold or fickle at times. 


Stop laughing.
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Saturday Evening (Blog) Post!

I have a few announcements tonight, something for those of every Juridic Status, Clergy and Laity. They are in no particular order of importance, meaning that they are ALL important and you MUST folllow all the links that apply to your Juridic Status, although you may investigate those that do not. (Intrigued? Good! Pass on ALL these links!)

Primero:

I was just tipped off that we can contribute to Saturday Evening Blog Post at ElizabethEsther.com; choose your best post from the last month and submit according to the directions given. What a great thing to do on a First Saturday! Hat Tip & Mantilla Twitch (h/t & m/t) to V.A at Notio bonum, visa olum (whom you should also be following, by the way)

Secundae:

Fr. John Speekman of Homilies and Reflections From Australia has been asked to promote Year of the Priest Clergy Conference for English-speaking priests in Rome in 2010. This looks like an incredible event and I hope the priests I know and call friends can go and then help the rest of us to live vicariously through them. (Deacons, this applies to YOU, too!). Father Speekman also passed on several graphics which I can't reproduce via blog, so if you have a blog or website and you'd like to host an image, please leave your email in my combox and I will forward his email to you. If you are uncomfortable in doing this, then please send me an email at malaidea@netzero (dot) com and I will include you in a list.

Given that this is the Year FOR Priests (this title is important), shouldn't we all do all that we can to promote ANYTHING that benefits Priests?

Terce:

The Dominican Nuns in Summit NJ (whom I visited in July) are asking for help in finishing their much-needed renovations to their monastery, so are asking us all to help them market their wonderful Seignadou Soaps by hosting a banner on your blog or web page.

These Nuns are incredible and welcomed me so graciously this summer as I passed through their East-Coast "neighborhood", and have been of great help to me in my discernment. So it is that not only am I promoting this for them, I'm also telling you that you NEED to purchase this soap to support this very worthy community, and...dang it, who DOESN'T want to help our beloved Dominicans?

Maybe you don't need soap yourself, (uh...ew!) but of course, Christmas is coming in a few months, and there are birthdays, wedding showers, baby showers, personal everyday showers, etc., which clearly involve the need for good soap!

You think you need soap from the grocery store or Targhetto or Wal-mart? Why go slummin' when you can have the BEST come to YOU?

Just sayin'. ;-)

You can see the banner on my sidebar, but to grab the code, click on this link.

Tell Sr. Mary Catharine that Adoro sent ya! :-)

PSA on Inattentive Driving

I don't normally do PSA's, but sometimes I find that they are important. Today I watched a video that comes to us from the UK out of an effort to educate teens as to the effect of texting while driving.

It wasn't very long ago that here in Minnesota a teen caused a fatal accident because...she was texting while driving in rush hour traffic, no less.

Having worked nearly five years in insurance claims, I also saw my share of the aftermath of serious and fatal accidents, the vast majority of which were caused by driver inattention (which leads to speeding, crossing medians, running lights and stop signs, etc.). And yes, it CAN happen to YOU.

So it is that I think that this video is worth sharing with all of my readers. Before you watch it, make sure you are seated, not eating or drinking anything and make sure there are no small children in the area. This is a very GRAPHIC and violent video so watch at your own risk.





Again, and I can't stress this enough: watch this at your own risk! It is very graphic.

Introducing...Are You Ready....?

...a new blog on the block, Lay Mystagogues. 

These guys, Jack and Andy,  are dear friends of mine (although I always get their names mixed up for some reason). They've got a lot to say about the Church today, about the Liturgy, the importance of the Liturgy, and seriously, if you're a serious Catholic with any opinion at all, you might find some discussion here.  

If you like Fr. Z., you should be following Jack and Andy, Lay Mystagogues.  In fact, Jack and Andy are a lot like Fr. Z. in a different canonical and juridical state.  Except they haven't yet started the art of fisking articles, they're not ordained, they don't reside in Rome, no one knows who they are, and they don't have degrees in theology. But still...the resemblance is uncanny.  

And, guys, Andy and Jack...a word of advice from an experienced blogger...don't let your commenters get out of hand.  YOU set the standard for snark, and if they get snarkier than you, shut it down.  If they get holier than you...count yourself blessed.  (The latter is what you're going for!)  

Welcome to the Blogosphere, St. Blog's Parish, and every other pop-word out there for the latest craze!  

Everyone go visit these yahoos and show them your heartfelt support!  

:-D 

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VIRUS ALERT!

My gentle readers, it is only through God's Providence and my dear brother's wisdom that I can "speak" to you this evening. And because of this, I'm going to give you a warning in the hopes that you don't get the scare that I did (and still somewhat have...).

This afternoon I was scanning the web while working on my papers, and clicked on a link that highlighted the search term. Something TOLD me not to click on the link...something looked fishy. But no, I didn't listen to that little feeling and as the web page loaded, I can't really say I was surprised when my AVG anti-virus window also popped up, advising me that my computer had just been infected. It highlighted three nasty-looking viruses, and advised me to act immediately to remove them. It gave me instructions to click on "save" or run" in order to erase the damage. (And I was especially alarmed as one of the "viruses" or malware it was naming had the word "porn" in it!). YUCK! YUCK! PANIC! GET IT OFF MY COMPUTER NOW!

But I knew something was wrong. Something didn't seem right. My anti-virus software is up to date; a download seems inappropriate. I remember that when I worked for my previous company, they said that if a virus is detected, to shut down immediately and contact tech support.

Well, I still wasn't sure if this was my own anti-virus, or if it was something else. I wasn't willing to download something I couldn't recognize. I didn't recognize the name of the program it wanted to install in order to clean my computer, even though it APPEARED to be part of AVG. In fact, it APPEARED to be the AVG page and had their logo all over it. It APPEARED to be a reaction to the link I clicked!

So I didn't shut down or disconnect from the internet....I picked up my cell and called my brother. Cool thing; I called his regular number, but apparently he doesn't normally have it on him during the work day. And I didn't have his work number. He just HAPPENED to be walking past his jacket when he heard his phone ring...and picked it up.

THANK GOD!

I told my brother what I did, and what I was seeing. He explained that it was in fact, NOT my AVG anti-virus software reacting; it was the virus itself. And if I downloaded it, I'd have to get a new computer. He deals with this nasty thing almost every day, and quite literally worked HOURS to get the bug off different customer's computers, to no avail. He had to advise his customers that the only way to fix it was to replace the computer, which he was doing for them.

IF THIS HAPPENS TO YOU:

These are the instructions my brother gave me:

* Shut down.
* As the virus-window wouldn't close, he said to hit Alt-F4, which also didn't work.
* I was able to disconnect from the internet with no problem, and THEN the virus-window closed.
* Restart.
* From the START menu, go to My Computer
* right-click on the (C;) drive.
* Click on "scan with AVG" (I imagine that if you use a different anti-virus it will name it as Norton or what have you) The scan took about 45 min.

I had a Trojan type virus, which the software quarantined, and one other problem, which was also "healed" in AVG-speak.

WHY THE VIRUS DIDN'T DOWNLOAD COMPLETELY

My brother configured my computer for me a couple years ago when I purchased it. He was, in fact, my "broker" and custom-designed it for me through Dell. This work he did was part of a Christmas gift for me (I paid for the computer, but his time and effort at a very professional level was his gift.)

It's configured to have a user account and an Admin account. The user account has massive firewalls that require permissions in order to download things. The Admin account has a different type of firewall, and is basically the "permission" account,which he advised me to use ONLY for installs; ie yearly software updates, etc. There are SOME things that can be downloaded on my user account; for example, I can download songs from itunes. I can't update itunes to the next version, however, without logging in as Admin.

The accounts are separate, which protects me from....viruses. I also run a spybot check every so often, and have NEVER had to erase one. So the system works.

Today, the virus was probably "frustrated" because it COULDN'T do the damage it wanted to do; my brother protected me well.

And so, the moral of the story is this: if you are as dumb as I was to click on a questionable link, you better hope your brother set up your system to protect you from your own stupidity.

The nice moral: IF YOU CLICK ON A BAD LINK....shut down, call someone who knows more than you do, and DO NOT be fooled into downloading the virus! This is a nasty, nasty thing, and there must be a special place in Hell for unrepentant virus-progenitors. And hackers. But you can protect yourself and save your computer by simply not allowing downloads that you did not initiate.

I DID have a virus on my computer today, and had I let it download, I might be looking at getting a new computer, in spite of my firewalls. As it was, it was contained by my REAL software and eliminated. It ended well, and I'm thankful.

I don't even want to think about how I would reproduce all my papers due ths weekend...all the work not backed up that I did today....oy....!

God is good. And so are computer-geek brothers!

(P.S. - I think this makes up for all the terrible things he did to me when we were growing up. It's hard to be the little sister!)

Catching Up with PSA's

It's been crazily busy this week, so I've had to "ignore" several emails in my inbox as I've focused on getting homework done and dashing off posts for things that popped into my head and scrambled around in effort to be written.

So, now that my 2 Midterms have been turned in, and my paper is edited and printed, I can finally bring you the important news from the Catholic world...and believe me, this is stuff you DO NOT want to miss!

First up - PRAYER AND FASTING!

Ignorant Redneck (who isn't so ignorant) is encouraging us to pray and fast for 3 days leading up to the election...and don't let that time limit you. Prayer and fasting even not until then is greatly needed!

Remember the Gospel? Remember where the Apostles were trying to cast out a demon and couldn't, and Jesus came and did? Remember when they asked him why, he said that kind of demon couldn't be cast out except by prayer and fasting?

Well--I suggest that people commit--promise an follow through--to fasting for three days before the election, and praying, maybe the Rosary, maybe the Prayer of St. Michael. Fast and Pray that the election will place into power people who will at least respect life, and the will of God.

Just today I read a quote somewhere: Pray for a country that refuses to pray for itself. So go to IR's post and committ to prayer and fasting! Or, if you can't do that for 3 days (I confess I'm a wimp and can handle a day...beyond that I'm mush.), Then give up chocolate, give up SOMETHING as SOME kind of fast. And Pray, pray, pray! Start now and call it a "mini Lent"!

Thanks, (Not-So)Ignorant Redneck!

VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD

I received a message today about a new website promoting Priestly Vocations:

I have recently read an interview given by Monsignor Georges Durand to the French publication “Thérèse de Lisieux.” The monsignor is one hundred years old. During his ministry he spent 27 years at the Basilica at Lisieux and was a good friend of Céline, the sister of St Therese. At the conclusion of the interview the old Monsignor said “Pray fervently to Saint Therese for the priesthood. Pray for priests. We must not bemoan the lack of priests, but act. We must pray for vocations to the priesthood”.

May I respectfully request you to mention this new web site on your blog. It contains wonderful suggestions for Bishops, Priests, Seminarians, Families, Schools and Directors of Vocations.

This web site called http://www.vocationsguidetopriesthood.org/ has positive suggestions for all members of the community.

I sincerely pray that you will visit it and hopefully give it some much needed publicity.

Pat Ryan

What else is there to say? St. Padre Pio said that the world could better exist without the sun than it can without the Mass. Anything that encourages more men to consider the priesthood is bound to bear fruit!

CATHOLIC WRITERS AND READERS UNITE!

Attention Writers & Readers!

Leoness Books is a newly formed small press specializing in Literary Catholic Writing. Leoness has been created due to the dearth of publishing opportunities for Catholic writers whose work can be described as "Literary, yet artfully overt." Leoness is seeking book-length fiction (both novels and story collections) and narrative non-fiction submissions for their Leoness Book Award, and short stories for their Best Catholic Short Stories, 2010 edition.

Leoness Books is also seeking dedicated readers who are tired of the syrupy genre fiction that Christian publishers attempt to pass off as "real life," who are put off by the poorly written Apocalyptic novels that misrepresent Bible teaching, and disheartened by the plethora of literary options for nearly every subset of humanity, except for devout Catholics seeking quality literature inspired by faith. There are several ways to become involved and ensure Leoness Books’ success. Please visit www.LeonessBooks.com for more information.

And FINALLY...

I learned today that I was nominated for the Blogger's Choice Awards in the "Best Religious Blog" category. When I finally found my blog, I found that I had a whopping 2 votes....a really long ways behind a couple of atheist blogs. And that just DEFIES logic. While I don't write for awards or to be noticed, I do have a problem with the idea that someone who either hates God or disbelieves in Him such that they base their entire lives and defitions on there not being a God actually has more votes than I do.

Or maybe I'm supposed to be learning the Virtues of Patience and Humility from this. But if not...then feel free to vote for me! (I'm probably about 200 pages back....)

You do have to register to vote, it's painless and minimal (I did it last year), and you can help promote your favorite blogs....or condemn the worse ones! (The latter is literally a category for the worst blog ever, and thank God I haven't been nominated for it!)

Thanks to the person who nominated me...I think that this is the first time that happened!

New Week...New Blogs

This is a Monday Morning PSA:

I'm just calling your attention to two new blogs, one of which has already gotten a mention but which deserves another! The new parody blog, Brothers and Sisters of Perpetual Discernment is off and running but more commenters could potentially help! (I'm guilty here myself...I've been lurking but not commenting.) So go on over and give the Brothers and Sisters a welcome! (And keep in mind that it's a parody...even as it carries notes of seriousness....so have fun!)

Secondly, this weekend I was informed of yet another local blog Ut Unum Sint, which could also use your attention and a big howdy!

HEALTH WARNING!

Being that Fridays are penitential days, I wasn't going to laugh today. But then my friend sent me this information, and I felt it was important enough to desseminate it to all of you in case you are in danger:

There is a dangerous virus being passed around electronically, orally, and by hand. This virus is called Weary-Overload-Recreational-Killer (WORK). If you receive WORK from any of your colleagues, your boss, or anyone else via any means DO NOT TOUCH IT.

This virus will wipe out your private life completely. If you should come into contact with WORK, put your jacket on and take two good friends to the nearest grocery store. Purchase the antidote known as Work-Isolating-Neutralizer-Extract (WINE) or Bothersome-Employer-Elimination-Rebooter (BEER).

Take the antidote repeatedly until WORK has been completely eliminated from your system. You should forward this warning to 5 friends. If you do not have 5 friends, you have already been infected and WORK is controlling your life.

It's Fun to be Catholic!

Some time ago, Catholic author Bill Kassel (Holy Innocents, This Side of Jordan) contacted me after having come across one of my blog posts in which I'd alluded to his books. I've been meaning to provide a formal review of his books for some time, and you know what? I STILL haven't done it. For a short review: read these books, they were great! (More later...)

Mr. Kassel has sent me a review copy of a radio show to debut on Ave Maria Radio in the upcoming weeks. Since it's crunch time, I was excited to get my copy today.

The "Prairie Home Companion"-esq Olde Tyme Radio variety show format of "It's Fun to be Catholic" includes original music sung by Bill Kassel himself. (And they give a humorous hat-tip to that popular NPR series and Garrison Keiller.) "It's Fun to be Catholic" was produced by Catholic composer and record producer Dan Adam, and features Tom Loewe, Sr. Sarah Burdick (co-hosts of "Notes from Above"), Kara Fay Coulter, Ken Castel, and Eden Simmons. It is highly endorsed by Ave Maria Radio CEO Al Kresta ("Kresta in the Afternoon").

I really enjoyed the show, which included some conversational dialogue discussing common Catholic topics such as "worshiping Mary", being "more Catholic than the Pope" (it's not what you think!), Vocations recruitment, modern technology and pop culture. The basic premise of the whole thing is that it is OK to be Catholic and have a sense of humor.

Most of us would wholeheartedly agree, but for some reason, all too often, we get caught up in the negativity of issues both in and outside our beloved Church, and forget that we have to keep perspective, and we have to maintain that joy that God has given us. Too often, we focus on the negative, and Catholic Radio tends more towards discussion and serious facts without the balance needed to give evidence of our deep happiness found within our faith. This show is an effort to reinforce the joy and instigate laughter on the radio waves.

Based on the information I was sent, the show can be heard on Saturday, September 1 at 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm; Sunday, September 2, at 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm; and Monday, September 3 (Labor Day), at 2:00 pm.

Ave Maria Radio can be heard in the metro Detroit area at 990 - AM, or in SW Florida, 98.5 FM.

Online, it should be available to listeners at www.mycatholicradio.com

It's a Double Header!

Just thought I'd put up a misc. post tonight, sort of to offset the heavier topics, and because I'm not ready to go to sleep. I'll pay for that tomorrow, believe you me.

Today I started out working from home then headed into the office around 10; we were all leaving for a team outing at 11.

Now, this set the stage for a small Divine Intervention. Allow me to explain.

This morning, I got up at 5:20 or so since I wouldn't have my regular commute from home to be there by 8, but I couldn't bring myself to sleep too much later. So it was already weird, and of course, I was all ready to go to work by 7 am. I had planned to start work early, at 7:30, to make up for my commute time in the "middle" of my shortened work day. But "something" told me to take a quick run to my church...I'm a few blocks away, and we have Perpetual Adoration. I was tempted to hit the 8 am Mass, but by then, I needed to be connected to the network and working, so, unable to ignore the promptings of the Holy Spirit, I quickly locked the house and drove to the chapel, where I spent some wonderful time with Jesus. I left and had to run a quick errand, then was back home before 8 so I could connect to the network from home. Instead of pulling into the garage, as I'd be leaving shortly, I parked my car in one of our townhome "extra" spaces.

When I tried to leave, I realized I'd forgotten something and planned to run inside. I got in, having some trouble with the deadbolt lock, but I attributed it to today's humidity, and got in. I grabbed what I needed, locked knob lock, and after I pulled the door closed, I stuck my key into the deadbolt, turned it to lock it...and it didn't quite do what I wanted to do. So I twisted it back to the "unlocked" position and back to "lock" and the key was stuck. I couldn't move it. I needed to leave for work RIGHT NOW and my key was stuck in my lock.

Quite the dilemma. On one hand...the key was stuck and was not going to move. I could technically go as long as I took it off the ring with all my other keys. But then I'd have a key for my house, my unnattended house (but for the dogs) stuck there in the lock for anyone to find. Yeah, it was stuck...but what if someone knew how to "fix" it? That's a problem.

I took a deep breath. This must be God's will. What was God trying to tell me? Was he preventing a disaster through some sort of delay? Was this just an incidental? Or was I simply supposed to call a locksmith to help me?

Instead I opted for my next-door neighbor. They have often been helpful and they have hearts of gold. They're a little odd, but easy to overlook oddities when you know who they really are. So I ran the bell, begging God that they'd be home and have WD-40 on hand.

Well, the dad came to the door (just the person I needed) and he didn't have any WD-40. I explained my key was stuck, and as he went to try to worry it from the lock, I realized that as I'd parked outside, and my garage door opener was still in the car. I had a way in, and access to some kind of lubricant. So I ran to my car, hit the button, and found the oil. While my neighbor oiled the key and the lock, I was able to get inside (attached garage) and opened the interior door.

The lock is shot. I have to replace it.

And there's the thing: I just now realized that had I not obeyed that prompt to visit the adoration chapel this morning, my car would still have been in my garage!

You might be thinking that there would then not be a problem...but here's the reality; I go in and out of my front door all the time, and I usually lock both the knob and the deadbolt. Had I not gone to the chapel this morning, and therefore parked my car outside, I would not be aware of the problem, and there's a good chance I would have found myself locked out of my house and in need of a locksmith, which can be time consuming and expensive.

Incidentally, I don't have a cell phone, so in the middle of the day...if no one's home, it can be difficult to find someone to call a locksmith for me. I know some of my neighbors, but not all, and sad to say...I don't want to know all of my neighbors.

Anyway, things worked out and as of this evening, if I go pick up the new locks, my neighbor offered to replace them for me. I am bessed. Oh, and the lock works from the inside, so I am secure.

So! For our team outing, we went to the Twins vs. White Sox game at the Metrodome today. We all caravaned to one of the park and rides, ended up parking in the street, and took the Light Rail to the 'Dome. For most of us, it was the first time on Light Rail.

So, for those of you who are local, I'll offer a tutorial:

* You buy your tickets from a machine in the station on the lower level. It appears there's also one on the upper level at the train itself, apparently in case someone misses the lower level one.
* First select what you need - there is a menu for different options. You can buy one-way or round-trip, which might be good for X. number of hours.
* You must select your choice before you offer your money, which may be in the form of cash, credit, or debit. The machine only allows a certain amount of change, and gives change in coin form (ie dollar coins as applicable).
* Take your ticket and read both front and back. It doubles as a bus ticket. The light rail ticket is not "run" through anything but you do need it available to be checked.

Anyway, we got to the 'Dome, found our seats, and found them inhabited by a bunch of middle-school kids. We spoke with one of their teachers, our Manager showed her our tickets and first questioned whether were in the wrong place? We weren't. They'd bought a section of tickets. Apparently either the adult groups spread throughout either bought theirs first, or the ticket office messed up and scattered random people throughout a group of rowdy middle school kids. (For those outside the U.S. middle school is 6 - 9th grades, ages of apx 11-15)

Either I have more patience than I used to, or those kids weren't that bad. Their teachers did correct behavior that started to get out of hand, while allowing a range of "normal" for them.

The game was good, not a ton of action and I'm not a huge baseball fan anyway, but when in a game in person, it does a lot to inspire interest. The 9th inning was exciting. At the bottom of the 9th, the teams were tied. I began to wonder if it would go into extra innings.

The bases were loaded, 1 out. Tory Hunter was up to bat. The crowd was on its feet, roaring, screaming, whistling, waving, the scent of blood...uh...a win...in the air. The atmosphere was charged.

He walked.

The White Sox walked him.

The man from 3rd ran home, the game was won, the teams rushed onto the field...and while the fans rejoiced, it wasn't the "kill" of a grand slam. It was a lackluster win, but a win nonetheless, and we'll take it.

If I went to these games all the time, I'd likely be a baseball fan. But as I usually only see it on TV, I just don't care. I enjoyed today's game and have been to other Twins' games, but like many other fans, if I'm not really there, it isn't real.

My perspective is different with regard to horseracing and skiing, where the best action is on camera. I like to be at those sports in person (never been at a Word Cup Ski event in person, but would like to), but in reality, it doesn't happen much.

Anyway....

Been a good day. Back to the grind tomorrow, busy day to make up from the last couple.

Thank God we have only two days left this week.

I really need another job.