O Rex Gentium, et desideratus earum, lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum: veni, et salva hominem, quem de limo formasti. O King of the Nations, and the one they desired, keystone, who makes both peoples one, come and save mankind, whom you shaped from the mud. Read more
Happy Hannukah! Or Oy, Come all ye Faithful! Mulling Advent and Friendship over coffee. It’s a nice, thoughtful piece by Patrick O’ Hannigan, even though he does not say whether it was the delectable Mystic Monk Coffee being served. No, I can’t recommend it enough! We’d like Rites and Rituals: but with no transcendence, please. Bush is mulling a farewell message. I personally think he should buy an hour of tv time and debunk the NY Times one distortion, spin... Read more
I’m sorry, but Rachel Lucas cannot stand as the only blogger who shows off her adorable, long-suffering doggies (and others) – so finally, here is my princess pooch: This picture was taken by a dog-sitter who interpreted my Alle’s pensive look of yearning to mean, “I miss Mommy…” Those of us who know Alle, know she was actually wondering where the sitter kept the bananas, and whether she’d have to go find a ladder and a long-handled spoon to reach... Read more
And you thought the election was over! Well, almost, but it’s not enough to have a president. the nation must also have a Grand Conservative Blogress Diva and if you thought there were a lot of Dems in the primaries, wait till you see your choices in this election. Vote your conscience, of course. But remember who gave you coffee, toffee and hallelujah jalepenas this year. Yes, in this election graft, blackmail and shame are all fair methods. UPDATE: Ann... Read more
Evensong and Lessons and Carols…no one does them quite like the Anglicans. This is one of my very favorite hymns, and a surprisingly difficult one to sing with control; we Catholics – assuming the male pronouns were allowed in by the music ministers – would still very likely have minor breakdowns in confidence and tonality trying to do justice to this lovely, hushed and reverent piece. But the English, God love ’em, they are uncowed and unintimidated. They take on... Read more
O Oriens, splendor lucis aeternae, et sol justitiae: veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis. O Radient Dawn, splendor of eternal light, and sun of justice, come, and shine on those , seated in darkness, and in the shadow of death. Read more
O Clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israël, qui aperis, et nemo claudit, claudis, et nemo aperuit: veni, et educ vinctum de domo carceris, sedentem in tenebris, et umbra mortis. O Key of David, and scepter of the house of Israel, you open, and no one shuts, you shut, and no one opens: come, and lead the prisoner from jail. seated in darkness and in the shadow of death. Dec 17 – O Sapientia! Dec 18 – O Adonai! Dec 19... Read more
Deacon Greg has posted his homily for tomorrow, and as usual, it’s a home-run, with real meaning and application to our lives. …The Annunciation. Artists have painted it, sculpted it, and imagined it more than any other. It towers over the popular imagination. You can speculate on the reasons why. It’s certainly dramatic: this is the true beginning of the life of Christ, the very moment when our salvation began. And it is a perfect marriage of heaven and earth,... Read more
…on your behalf! The good Dominican Nuns of Summit, NJ – whose soaps, lotions, balms and notions you folks apparently purchased in mass quantities to give as Christmas gifts – have sent a delicious Christmas stollen to me by way of saying “thank you” for the blog exposure, and your subsequent orders. I gratefully, humbly accept the stollen on your behalf. It arrived this morning just as we were pouring our Mystic Monk Coffee, and the two monastic products went... Read more
With some understandable reservation, I have always liked Penn Jillette. Intelligence sizzles off of him the way I imagine it did with John Quincy Adams. He is articulate, urbane, insightful, mischievous and acerbically funny, and he manages to be all of those things without going into the condescension, dismissiveness and arrogance that some (think: Bill Maher) latch onto in college and extend into a sort of perpetually adolescent sneer-and-kneejerk. He is also, clearly, a guy who thinks – you cannot... Read more
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