For those old enough to remember the olden days of Catholic listservs, I bear the sad news that Martin Fontenot, who went by the handle \u201cFriar Gordo\u201d, died on Sunday.\u00a0 No details on his death, but please do pray for this good Catholic man.\u00a0 In his memory, I post a selection from his wonderful piece for Catholic Answers<\/em> magazine called \u201cAnastasia in Ecclesialand\u201d, describing the encounter with\u00a0many figures, including an\u00a0owl who sounds remarkably like James White:<\/p>\n Just then an owl flew down from a tree and began stomping through the feast things, kicking dishes off the table. The middleman pretended not to notice. The owl arrived at the end of the table where Anastasia was sitting and hooted in her face.<\/p>\n \u201cMy, you\u00a0are\u00a0<\/em>rude!\u201d said Anastasia.<\/p>\n \u201cI must be,\u201d declared the owl, \u201cto such a wretched creature as yourself!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd how do you know I am so wretched?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course you are wretched! You are breathing, are you not? All things that breathe are wretched.\u201d Then the owl turned to the middleman. \u201cI shall have some tea.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGranted, you shall have some tea,\u201d the middleman bowed. \u201cWill you take sugar in it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWretch!\u201d hooted the owl, \u201cIt is tea\u00a0alone.\u00a0<\/em>TEA ALONE! Tea alone, tea alone . . .\u201d and he repeated those two words in a singsong voice for some time, until he appeared to run down.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease,\u201d said an e.asperated Anastasia, \u201cdoes either of you know the way back to the nave?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe is rather dull, don\u2019t you think?\u201d quipped the middleman to the owl.<\/p>\n \u201cQuite dull,\u201d agreed the owl. \u201cShould we tell her the truth?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBy all means,\u201d said the middleman, surreptitiously spooning sugar into his tea as the owl turned to talk to Anastasia.<\/p>\n \u201cFirst, you must know how wise I am,\u201d began the owl, importantly.<\/p>\n \u201cMust I?\u201d asked Anastasia.<\/p>\n \u201cIndeed you must, or you shall not know how important are the things I am about to tell you!<\/p>\n Anastasia tried to keep a smile on her face, but she had to strain to keep it from turning into a laugh. She had a strong feeling about the things she was about to be told, and she was sure it was not in accord with the owl\u2019s opinion.<\/p>\n \u201cI,\u201d said the owl, \u201cam wiser than history. I know this, because I know how things\u00a0must\u00a0<\/em>have happened, yet history will not agree with me. I am wiser than all the doctors. I know this because I know what they really\u00a0meant\u00a0<\/em>to say, when in fact they said something quite different. I am wiser than all the saints and martyrs and quite a lot wiser than any of the major domos.\u201d The owl cocked his head toward Anastasia. \u201cAnd do you know\u00a0why\u00a0<\/em>I am so wise?\u201d<\/p>\n Anastasia smiled noncommittally, which the owl evidently took as an entreaty to continue, \u201cI am wiser than all of them because I drink\u00a0only tea.\u00a0<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHear hear!\u201d cried the middleman.<\/p>\n \u201cHear what?\u201d asked the owl.<\/p>\n \u201cHere is your tea.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cQuite in your debt, I am sure. Did you remember to send some over to the library? They are probably running out by now.\u201d The owl turned to Anastasia again. \u201cWe supply the tea for the library, and they are coming along quite nicely.\u201d<\/p>\n