So, Kitty was taken into surgery this afternoon, where fluid was drained from her lung and the second abscess was cleared. She reports that breathing is much easier and that “I have a lovely drain coming out of my body…” We hope and pray that this will finally put her on the road to mending, and that the antibiotics will finally get the upper hand in this battle. We can’t thank you enough for your prayers and good wishes —... Read more
When my son Buster was auditioning for music school, his instructor told him to end with “Pieta, Signore” which he sang with great expression; his teacher called it his “razzle dazzle signature piece”. He sang as a baritone and his 17 year-old, immature voice was charming. But it surely wasn’t this! (H/T Rocco Palmo) Pavarotti in his prime. Sublime. Read more
Over on the Dedicated-Catholic page of Patheos’ symposium on the Future of Seminary Education, two more entries, and I think they’re both exceptional expositions of both the challenges facing our new generation of priests, and the profound gift of opportunity that lies within those very challenges. Read Deacon Greg Kandra’s remarkable and moving story (it made me cry) of Father Martino BaThong Nguyen, who was born in great deprivation in Vietnam and now serves in the Diocese of Savannah in... Read more
It looks like poor Kitty will have to have another surgery to help clear away the second abscess that has formed from her ruptured appendix. With a fever near 102 again and her resting heartrate at 130, her doctor is re-admitting her to hospital. She is not getting well. Three antibiotics, two “drainings” and she’s not getting better. If you are inclined toward prayer, please whisper up a few for Kitty and for my son, who loves her to distraction... Read more
After this I had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue. They stood before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation comes from our God, who is seated on the throne, and from the Lamb.” – Rev 7;9-10 Today is one of my favorite of all of our Holy Days. It has... Read more
Ordinarily I would attach this as an update to this other post on Herman Cain, but this is so real and so oddly funny-yet-serious that I had to give it its own post. Thanks to the scholarly Diane Korzeniewski of Te Deum Blog Read more
October is the month in which Catholics are encouraged to recommit to praying the Rosary. As it draws to a close, I thought I’d repost this, from a couple of years ago — a rosary prayed while contemplating the Vladimir Theotokos. The Crying Out of Flesh and God Creator and created, sharing the same flesh, the same blood, entwined, together. The whole story, right there in the Joyful Mysteries. The Annunciation: Since Eden, God’s purpose–slow and baffling, yet inexorable–has been... Read more
A lot of people on Twitter are swooning over this. Some are declaring that “Cain just won the election!” Which is silly nonsense. He hasn’t even won the nomination, yet. Having said that, though, Cain has just struck a note that will resonate for many in the country, particularly African Americans in the churches. Don’t minimize the effect his lovely basso profundo will have on people who are looking for something a little human, a little authentic and a little... Read more
I should be over it now, I know It doesn’t matter much how old I grow I hate to see October go… Some Johnny Mercer lyrics found after his death. Read more
When we were all young mothers, one of my pals phoned me sounding blue. It turned out her life wasn’t what she believed it was supposed to be. She adored her little 18-month-old son almost to distraction and was trying very hard to be the perfect wife with perfect husband, the perfect mother with the perfect son. She felt she was failing, because her life wasn’t all coming together “just so.” Her son, a biddable, gorgeous little kid, wasn’t expressing... Read more
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