During a visit to the mental asylum, a visitor asked the Director what the criterion was which defined whether or not a patient should be institutionalized. “Well,” said the Director, “we fill up a bathtub, then we offer a teaspoon, a teacup and a bucket to the patient and ask him or her to empty the bathtub.” “Oh, I understand,” said the visitor. “A normal person would use the bucket because it’s bigger than the spoon or the teacup.” “No.”... Read more

Friends, when Elaine Pagels ends up representing “Orthodoxy” … you know something’s fishy. The vinegar-soaked spongeHe says where the Gospels relate how a thirsty Jesus called out for something to drink. A sponge soaked in vinegar was placed on a reed and lifted to Jesus’ mouth. But rather than reviving him, Jesus died shortly after drinking the liquid. Baigent says that detail suggests how the plot might have been carried out. Baigent: I think it’s more likely that they raised... Read more

The following came from an anonymous Mother in Austin, Texas… Things I’ve learned from my Boys (honest and not kidding): 1) A king size waterbed holds enough water to fill a 2000 sq. ft. house 4 inches deep. 2) If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with roller blades, they can ignite. 3) A 3-year old Boy’s voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowdedrestaurant. 4) If you hook a dog leash over a... Read more

The following, written by Fr George Kevorkian, is a repeat from last year but pertinent to the day. The historical origin of April Fool’s day actually deals with a very serious subject – the introduction of a new calendar. Ancient cultures as varied as the Romans and the Hindus had celebrated New Year’s Day on April 1, which is closely related to the start of Spring. In medieval times, much of Europe celebrated New Year’s Day on March 25th, the... Read more

My contribution to The DaVinci Dialogue is now up. H E R E. Read more

By God’s grace & your prayers, I’m back in Houston. I have a couple more photo-blog installments, this one continues our pilgrimage … After Monk’s Lagoon, we seven pilgrims headed to St Nilus Island, home of St Nilus Skete — a dependency of St Herman of Alaska Brotherhood — to take provisions to the two nuns there: Mothers Nila & Nina. Our skiff approaches the beautiful beach of St Nilus Island. Archpriest Chad Hatfield, Dean of St Herman Seminary, was... Read more

The internet has been down 1/2 the day here in Kodiak … and, when running, has provided ample frustration. After several attempts to put up the final pics, those that would be first here … and the method failing, I gave up. Anyway, here’s some more from the other day’s pilgrimage to Monk’s Lagoon. Here’s a pic of the forest leading to the Chapel of Saints Herman and Sergius of Valaam. As beautiful as it may seem, pictures just aren’t... Read more

Yesterday, March 27th, we were blessed with excellent weather and a relatively calm sea (emphasis on “relatively”) as pilgrimage was made to Monk’s Lagoon, where St Herman struggled, and to St Nilus Island. Here follows some pics (part one) of the journey. Here’s Fr Chad Hatfield, the Dean of St Herman’s Seminary, and Fr Innocent Dresdow, priest-in-charge of Holy Resurrection Cathedral … along with the skipper of the skiff, Sasha. This was the view, looking back toward Kodiak, as we... Read more

The following pics were taken at the “Mother Church of North America,” Holy Resurrection Cathedral, Kodiak, Alaska, on March 23rd. This is the back side of the Cathedral looking toward the water. This is the icon of St Herman which adorns the iconostasis just above his holy relics. This is where the body of St Herman rests. You can read aobut St Herman of Alaska … H E R E. Standing before St Herman’s relics, I’m holding the hand blessing... Read more

Here are some pics from Alaska. I’ve found no time to write; I hope to post a more substantial travelogue later. I have included some brief captions beneath these here offered. It snowed all day yesterday, not good for photography. This is the first pic taken after landing at the Kodiak airport: Women’s Bay. Scenes like this one are everywhere. Looking back toward the direction of the airport, this is Barometer Mountain (if you can see the peak, flights are... Read more