Oh my Gawd! There’s a tape of a briefing and Roy Nagin is “shocked, shocked.” Let’s review, again. Everyone thought the levees might not hold through a hurricane. Then they held. Does everyone forget that Hurricane Katrina passed New Orleans and the first reports were, “whew! That’s a bullet we dodged!” The levees broke loose later, along with all hell. I think the president meant to say, “no one anticipated the levees to break AFTER THE FACT.” Everyone anticipated them... Read more
BOY it’s complicated being a Clinton, these days! On the one hand, Bill Clinton regularly travels to Dubai, speaks there for money, and gives them advice. And just last week was heard saying he was crazy about the place and the people, and he thinks they should give Joe Lockhart a job and simply play their cards smart on that port deal. On the other hand, his wife thinks they shouldn’t be able to buy control over the ports which... Read more
Regular readers know that I’m not much of a television watcher, but between Buster’s nagging and Ann Althouse’s spirited blogging on the subject I have taken to watching American Idol and (this won’t really surprise you) Project Runway. (I love Nick and Andrae and Daniel Franco.) I really haven’t had much chance to hear the women – I tend to like male vocalists better than female, anyway (exceptions being, of course, the great Ella Fitzgerald and Miss Gladys Knight) –... Read more
Last year I wrote about The Tradition of Lenten Reading, so this year I thought I would presume to play Abbess and lay out a selection of books you might find interesting reading during these 40 days. The Rule of St. Benedict “Listen my child, to the master’s instructions and attend to them with the ear of your heart…” The Catholic Passion: Rediscovering the Power And Beauty of the Faith, Reviewed here. Perfect book if you’ve been away or are... Read more
It’s been happening for a while, but increasingly we’re seeing religious communities, particularly those which keep Jesus within the Eucharist as their focus, increase in numbers, even as the more progressive orders are fading. At St. Michael’s Abbey in Orange County, California (OC, for pete’s sake!) The Norbertine Fathers are looking for more space because they are turning young men away from their prayerful place for lack of room. (The picture of the rose, btw, is from their photo gallery).... Read more
Ash Wednesday Eve: Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind, live soberly and set your hopes completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Like obedient children, do not act in compliance with the desires of your former ignorance but, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct, for it is written, Be holy because I am holy. – 1 Peter 13-16 Ash Wednesday:... Read more
I had occasion to compose this novena on behalf of a friend of mine whose wife is ill, and am using it, also, for my family member who has peritoneal mesothelioma. I thought for the beginning of Lent, I’d share it. Caveat Emptor – there is no imprimatur, here, I just made the prayer up, so if it’s not theologically sound, I am to blame. *** Holy Father, John Paul II, Shepherd and Teacher, you are now in glory in... Read more
As we are on the eve of another Ash Wednesday (and I’ll have a fresh Lenten post tomorrow) I thought I’d repost this from last year, just to get us all in the mood: Buster update: There is something about ashes… First Reading:Psalm:Second Reading:Gospel: Joel 2:12-18Psalm 51:3-6, 12-14, 172 Corinthians 5:20 – 6:2Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 Turn away from sin, and be faithful to the Gospel. — Ash Wednesday It’s really funny about Ashes and Catholics…tell Catholics they HAVE to do... Read more
Jeanette and Newt are celebrating a year! Don’t forget to go over and say congrats! :-) Read more
I know Mark Steyn is the guy we all love. But David Warren – while not nearly as funny – is just as smart and insightful as Steyn, and his column today is a must read. Even after the experience of the Great War, and the Depression, people on the eve of the Hitler war could not appreciate what was coming. It is only in retrospect that we understand what happened as the 1930s progressed — when a spineless political... Read more
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