Joseph Haydn: String Quartet No. 4

It's time for some classical music. This is a presentation of Joseph Haydn's String Quartet No. 4, Op. 20, as played by the Meccore String Quartet:

 

Birthday, Blessings, Frank!!!

Birthday greetings to Frank Perterson, son Adam's father-in-law, whose birthday is today!!! May this day, and each day of the upcoming year, be filled with the Lord's choicest blessings!!!

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of Your closeness to us.

Fr. Joe Newman, OSFS, on God's Nearness to Us

"I've been ordained a priest for over 10 years, and I keep experiencing firsts!  This past Easter, for the first time, I sang the Exsultet at the Easter Vigil at the Visitation Monastery. . . . When done well, it is a beautiful song that pivots the liturgical tone of the Easter Vigil from darkness to light, gloom to glory, and death to life.  When done poorly, I always feared it would have the opposite effect.

"I have many gifts but singing is not one of them. Prior to the Vigil, I met with the sacristan of the Visitation Monastery to practice the liturgy. I asked about the Exsultet, 'Sister, what are we going to do about the Exsultet?' She simply replied, 'You are going to sing it.' I didn't need to respond because my answer was written clearly on my face. Sensing my hesitancy, she looked me in the eye and said, 'It's just us here.' She reached my heart, and I shifted my response, 'Of course, I'll sing it, it's just us after all.'  The closeness I felt in that moment gave me the courage to say yes."

In a recent commentary based on the writings of St. Francis de Sales, Father Joe Newman, OSFS, reflected on God's closeness to us..

To access Fr. Newman's complete post, please visit:

De Sales Weekly: Provincial Reflection: "It's Just Us Here" (18 APR 24)

Reflection Starter from Bl. Louis Brisson, OSFS

"I pray that you might spread the grace of the Resurrection all around you, as Mary Magdalene did in fulfillment of the desire of Jesus:  'Go and tell My followers that I am risen.'" - Blessed Louis Brisson, OSFS

National Work Zone Awareness Week

This week, the week of 15-19 April, is being observed as National Work Zone Awareness Week. This annual observance is designed to bring national attention to motorist and worker safety and mobility issues in work zones. This yea'’s theme is "Work Zones are temporary: Actions behind the wheel can last forever."

Background information:

Federal Highway Administration: Office of Operations

American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials

American Traffic Safety Services Association

The Knockouts: "What's On Your Mind"

It's time for some more doo wop. Here is a presentation of "What's On Your Mind" by The Knockouts:

 

Belated Birthday Blessings, Jessica!

Belated birthday greetings to Myrna's granddaughter, Jessica, whose birthday was yesterday!!! May each day of the upcoming year be filled with the Lord's choicest blessings!!!

Belated Birthday Blessings, Marty!

Belated birthday greetings to brother Martin, whose birthday was yesterday!!! May each day of the upcoming year be filled with the Lord's choicest blessings!!!

Thank You, Lord

 Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of our sense of wonder.

Lucia A. Silecchia on the Wonder of Ordinary Time

"By now, the eclipse glasses have been put away. The photos of the April 8 nature show have all been posted to Facebook and Instagram to prove that it really happened. The stories from the day have, likewise, also been told -- ranging from the 'wow' from those in the path of totality to the 'meh' from those who saw a partial eclipse through a cloud shrouded sky.

"I was in the latter camp since my cloudy neighborhood seemed merely and anticlimactically overcast. Yet, it was still a 'wow' day. For me, the excitement was not what I saw in the heavens. It was, rather, what I saw here on earth. For a day, I saw busy people catch their breath and look skywards. I saw genuine excitement about a natural sky show. I saw all too cynical people embracing the excitement, without seeming self-conscious at all.

"Since then, I have wondered why. . . 

"Perhaps there is, in all of us, the search for wonder. . . ."

In a recent commentary, writer/Professor Lucia A. Silecchia reflected on the extraordinary splendor that, through God's grace, fills our ordinary time

To access Professor Silecchia's complete post, please visit:

The Pilot: Echoes: Lucia A. Silecchia: The wonder of Ordinary Time (17 APR 24)

Reflection Starter from Brian Tracy

"There is never enough time to do everything, but there is always enough time to do the most important thing." - Brian Tracy