We were discussing the end of the world and the Second Coming at my Lay Dominican chapter meeting a couple of weeks ago, as is fitting for this time of year, and one of the things we discussed were the Dispensationalist notions of the Rapture, the Millennium, and the Tribulation, and what it means to be a pre-Millennialist, a post-Millennialist, or an a-Millennialist. Most of the members of my chapter are cradle Catholics and haven’t been exposed to these notions,... Read more
Dwight and the Bikers is a unique traveling worship ensemble. Advertising their music as “Heavy Metal Hymnody in the Anglican Tradition”, they travel across the country, visiting Catholic churches seemingly at random, and bring them the beauty of classic Anglican hymns with the energy and power of heavy metal music. They strike without warning; usually the first sign a parish has of an impending visit is the roar of Dwight’s Harley Davidson as he rides up to the front door... Read more
What if the old armchair in front of the TV—the uncomfortable one that’s been there for ages—came to life…and all it knew was what it had seen? What if all four (!) of your grandmothers came to take care of you on the same weekend? What if the worst houseguest in the world came, and lifted you into the air by your hair whenever you tried to do your piano practice? Stopping for a Spell, by Diana Wynne Jones, is... Read more
So John Shore at Patheo’s Progressive Christian channel asked non-Christians all over the country what they would like to tell Christians. In particular, he asked: I’d like to hear how you feel about being on the receiving end of the efforts of Christian evangelicals to convert you. He got over three-hundred e-mails from non-Christians, and he presents a sample of them on his blog. It seems to me that the kind of Christianity Shore’s correspondents have seen reflects exactly the... Read more
So far in this series I’ve focussed on things that have worked for me in my pursuit of the interior life. Today, I’m going to talk about something that hasn’t worked for me: spontaneity…by which I mean, praying in my own words as opposed to using set prayers. Don’t get me wrong. Spontaneous prayer is a good thing. If you feel moved to pray, to tell God what’s going on, or to ask for help, or to rejoice at a... Read more
While looking through my old blog posts for this week’s blast from the past, I found the following quote on the purity of the English language, on a blog that no longer exists, which I found via a link from a blog that no longer exists: We don’t just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary. So I said to myself, I wonder who actually... Read more
So my daughter was playing Super Smash Bros Brawl on the Wii, and I heard an Irish tune I recognized. Turns out it was “Waxie’s Dargle”, which (I have learned) is about going to Dublin’s red light district and drinking heavily. It makes a sprightly tune for a video game, though. Here’s the Young Dubliner’s version. Read more
Today, for the day after Thanksgiving, here’s simply the most peaceful, joyful song of thanksgiving I know. Read more
I could write a post about how thankful I am and how important it is that we be thankful this time of year, but frankly I’d rather you spent today with your family and friends than reading my blog. So go! Make merry! Be festive! ____________________________________ Now, for those of you who are still here, I’m going to treat you to my latest idea for Thanksgiving cuisine: Mexican Jello Salad Dip!* Start with a goodly quantity of unset green jello.... Read more
The general attitude toward Teresa and the Scapulars by those in the know is “the less said, the better.” Formed at a Catholic girl’s school in Los Angeles in the late 1960’s, a school that shall remain nameless to protect the innocent and guilty alike, the Scapulars began as a student folk ensemble intended to play at school Masses. The members, all avid listeners to local radio, soon slipped the leash of the school’s music teacher, Sr. Mary Incontrovertible, and... Read more
Cry 'Woof'
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