27 October 2019
Msgr. Pope on the Tango as an Image for the Kingdom and the Beauty of Inner Silence
"At a past parish gathering there was a
demonstration of different dance styles. One of our young adults, Lola,
is a student of classical and ballroom dance. She, along with her dance
partner, danced a modest tango in a most elegant way.
"What was most fascinating to me was that Lola kept her eyes shut during the entire dance; I wondered how it was even possible to dance with closed eyes. So I asked her why she did that. Lola responded that it was easier for her to dance that way; it was less distracting. 'I close my eyes so that I can better follow his lead.' She says that this is common in this form of dance.
"All this made perfect sense to me the moment she said it. Indeed, all of us must learn this lesson in our walk, our dance, with God. . . ."
In a recent commentary, Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish, Washington, DC) reflected on how we "must learn to dance with our eyes shut to the world's disruptions and demands lest they distract us from the Lord's lead."
To access Msgr. Pope's complete post, please visit:
Community in Mission: An Image for the Kingdom and the Beauty of Inner Silence in a Tango (22 OCT 19)
"What was most fascinating to me was that Lola kept her eyes shut during the entire dance; I wondered how it was even possible to dance with closed eyes. So I asked her why she did that. Lola responded that it was easier for her to dance that way; it was less distracting. 'I close my eyes so that I can better follow his lead.' She says that this is common in this form of dance.
"All this made perfect sense to me the moment she said it. Indeed, all of us must learn this lesson in our walk, our dance, with God. . . ."
In a recent commentary, Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish, Washington, DC) reflected on how we "must learn to dance with our eyes shut to the world's disruptions and demands lest they distract us from the Lord's lead."
To access Msgr. Pope's complete post, please visit:
Community in Mission: An Image for the Kingdom and the Beauty of Inner Silence in a Tango (22 OCT 19)
Reflection Starter from Pope Francis
"Go and show love to everyone, because your life is a precious mission: it is not a burden to be borne, but a gift to offer." - Pope Francis
26 October 2019
The Discoverer: Franconia, NH, Among Best Outdoor Towns in U.S.
"While you might be eager to enjoy the culture, food or nightlife in a new
destination, often the best part of a town is what's on the outside.
Fortunately, there are plenty of towns in the U.S. that boast unrivaled
adventure on their doorsteps. Whether you want to hike mountain trails,
kayak across bays or ski down glistening slopes, here are nine outdoor
towns that really deliver the thrills."
Recently the blog The Discoverer posted this item about what its author considered the best outdoor towns in the United States, The featured towns included one from New England - Franconia, New Hampshire.
To access the complete post, please visit:
The Discoverer: 9 Best Outdoor Towns in the U.S.
Background information:
Wikipedia: Franconia, New Hampshire
Recently the blog The Discoverer posted this item about what its author considered the best outdoor towns in the United States, The featured towns included one from New England - Franconia, New Hampshire.
To access the complete post, please visit:
The Discoverer: 9 Best Outdoor Towns in the U.S.
Background information:
Wikipedia: Franconia, New Hampshire
On Catholic Apologists Needing Protestant Bibles, Lessons Learned from Citizen Science Research Projects, and Strengthening Partnerships between Law Enforcement and Homelessness Services Systems
A number of articles/posts have recently been published on a variety of subjects worth considering.
To access some of these, please visit:
National Catholic Register: Blogs: Rick Becker: Why Catholic Apologists Need Protestant Bibles (7 MAY 19)
CDC: The Deadliest Flu: The Complete Story of the Discovery and Reconstruction of the 1918 Pandemic Virus
United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH): Strengthening Partnerships Between Law Enforcement and Homelessness Services Systems (25 JUN 19)
The Deacon's Bench: One of my parish’s altar servers is now the most famous ball boy in the world (31 AUG 19)
The Washington Post: John Dingell: My last words for America (8 FEB 19)
The Boston Globe: Opinion: Lee McIntyre: What’s so special about science? (6 MAY 19)
The Bulletin (Norwich, CT): Report: Hackers using telecoms like 'global spy system' (25 JUN 19)
Money Talks News: 28 Things Everyone Must Keep In Their Car (8 SEP 19)
God-Haunted Lunatic: King St. Eric of Sweden: Template for Dads (18 MAY 19)
EPA Science Matters Newsletter: EPA Researchers Share Lessons Learned from Citizen Science Research Projects (21 MAY 19)
Crux: In Italy, even getting a pug offers a graduate lesson in Catholicism (27 JUL 19)
The Boston Pilot: Echoes: Dick Flavin. A walk is as good as a hit. (16 AUG 19)
To access some of these, please visit:
National Catholic Register: Blogs: Rick Becker: Why Catholic Apologists Need Protestant Bibles (7 MAY 19)
CDC: The Deadliest Flu: The Complete Story of the Discovery and Reconstruction of the 1918 Pandemic Virus
United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH): Strengthening Partnerships Between Law Enforcement and Homelessness Services Systems (25 JUN 19)
The Deacon's Bench: One of my parish’s altar servers is now the most famous ball boy in the world (31 AUG 19)
The Washington Post: John Dingell: My last words for America (8 FEB 19)
The Boston Globe: Opinion: Lee McIntyre: What’s so special about science? (6 MAY 19)
The Bulletin (Norwich, CT): Report: Hackers using telecoms like 'global spy system' (25 JUN 19)
Money Talks News: 28 Things Everyone Must Keep In Their Car (8 SEP 19)
God-Haunted Lunatic: King St. Eric of Sweden: Template for Dads (18 MAY 19)
EPA Science Matters Newsletter: EPA Researchers Share Lessons Learned from Citizen Science Research Projects (21 MAY 19)
Crux: In Italy, even getting a pug offers a graduate lesson in Catholicism (27 JUL 19)
The Boston Pilot: Echoes: Dick Flavin. A walk is as good as a hit. (16 AUG 19)
Jared Staudt on the Biblical Symbolism of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
"The Church gives us moments to focus on elements of our faith and
devotional practices so we can carry them with us throughout the rest of
the year. As we wind down in October, it's a good moment to focus on
its connection to the rosary, which helps us to treasure and ponder
things in our hearts with the Immaculate Heart of Mary (as Luke
describes Mary in his Gospel).
"October also marks the Miracle of the Sun on October 13, 1917, completing the monthly apparitions that began in May of that year. In the second secret, given in July, Mary pointed specifically to her heart, asking for Russia to be consecrated to her Immaculate Heart and promising that 'in the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph.' She also told us how to come close to her heart, asking the children repeatedly to pray the rosary, stating at the final apparition, 'I am the Lady of the Rosary. Continue always to pray the Rosary every day.'
"The devotion to Mary's Immaculate Heart and to the rosary are intertwined, as Mary made clear during the apparition on July 13th in which she gave us a new prayer to add after the Glory Be: 'O my Jesus, forgive us, save us from the fire of hell. Lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who are most in need.' This prayer came in response to the vision she gave the children of Hell, clearly affirming its reality and offering her Heart as a preventative."
In a recent commentary, R. Jared Staudt, Ph.D., reflected on the depiction of Mary's Immaculate Heart and what the various symbols represent.
To access Dr. Staudt's complete post, please visit:
Building Catholic Culture: The Biblical Symbolism of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (25 OCT 19)
"October also marks the Miracle of the Sun on October 13, 1917, completing the monthly apparitions that began in May of that year. In the second secret, given in July, Mary pointed specifically to her heart, asking for Russia to be consecrated to her Immaculate Heart and promising that 'in the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph.' She also told us how to come close to her heart, asking the children repeatedly to pray the rosary, stating at the final apparition, 'I am the Lady of the Rosary. Continue always to pray the Rosary every day.'
"The devotion to Mary's Immaculate Heart and to the rosary are intertwined, as Mary made clear during the apparition on July 13th in which she gave us a new prayer to add after the Glory Be: 'O my Jesus, forgive us, save us from the fire of hell. Lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who are most in need.' This prayer came in response to the vision she gave the children of Hell, clearly affirming its reality and offering her Heart as a preventative."
In a recent commentary, R. Jared Staudt, Ph.D., reflected on the depiction of Mary's Immaculate Heart and what the various symbols represent.
To access Dr. Staudt's complete post, please visit:
Building Catholic Culture: The Biblical Symbolism of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (25 OCT 19)
Archbishop Chaput on Things Worth Dying For - The Nature of a Life Worth Living
"I turned 75 a couple of weeks ago and, as Canon Law requires, I offered my resignation to Pope Francis. In the next few months the Holy Father will accept it, and Philadelphia will have a new archbishop.
"Philadelphia is a great city, and it's been one of the great privileges in my life to serve as the pastor of its Catholic people and clergy. So my feelings are understandably mixed. The good news about turning 75 - the very good news - is that I'll finally be able to retire. The not so good news is what sooner or later comes after it. When you get to be my age, a topic like 'things worth dying for' has some special urgency. As one of my Domer friends likes to point out, dying is a downer.
"Or that's one way of looking at it. My own feelings are rather different. My dad was a mortician in a small Kansas town. So in my family, death and all of the complex emotions that surround it, were a natural part of living. To put it another way: The meaning of a sentence becomes clear when we put a period at the end of it. The same applies to life. When we talk about things worth dying for, we're really talking about the things worth living for; the things that give life meaning. Thinking a little about our mortality puts the world in perspective. It helps us see what matters, and also the foolishness of grasping at things that finally don't matter. Your hearse, as my father might say, won't have a luggage rack.
"Socrates is often seen as the founder of the Western ethical tradition, and he said that his philosophizing was best understood as a preparation for dying. It sounds like an odd claim, but it makes perfect sense. He had a passion for truth-telling; the wisdom that comes from it; and the life of integrity and moral character that results. The very word, 'philosophy,' captures the spirit of his love for truth. It combines philia, the love of friendship, with sophia, which means wisdom. Socrates didn't 'study' wisdom. He pursued it as the goal and framework of his life. He loved it."
Most Rev. Charles Chaput, O.F.M. Cap, Archbishop of Philadelphia, recently delivered an address, "Things Worth Dying For: The Nature of a Life Worth Living," to the Constitutional Studies Graduate Program at the University of Notre Dame. In it he reflected on life being a great gift and on the persecution and other real challenges facing those who try to live a Christian life. He also reminds us that those who are "faithful to God will in turn have his faithfulness at life's ending, no matter how extreme the test."
To access the article about Archbishop Chaput's address, please visit:
Archbishop ChaputCatholic Philly: Things Worth Dying For - The Nature of a Life Worth Living (16 OCT 19)
Background information:
Archdiocese of Philadelphia: Biography and Curriculum Vitae of Most Reverend Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.
Facebook: Archbishop Chaput
"Philadelphia is a great city, and it's been one of the great privileges in my life to serve as the pastor of its Catholic people and clergy. So my feelings are understandably mixed. The good news about turning 75 - the very good news - is that I'll finally be able to retire. The not so good news is what sooner or later comes after it. When you get to be my age, a topic like 'things worth dying for' has some special urgency. As one of my Domer friends likes to point out, dying is a downer.
"Or that's one way of looking at it. My own feelings are rather different. My dad was a mortician in a small Kansas town. So in my family, death and all of the complex emotions that surround it, were a natural part of living. To put it another way: The meaning of a sentence becomes clear when we put a period at the end of it. The same applies to life. When we talk about things worth dying for, we're really talking about the things worth living for; the things that give life meaning. Thinking a little about our mortality puts the world in perspective. It helps us see what matters, and also the foolishness of grasping at things that finally don't matter. Your hearse, as my father might say, won't have a luggage rack.
"Socrates is often seen as the founder of the Western ethical tradition, and he said that his philosophizing was best understood as a preparation for dying. It sounds like an odd claim, but it makes perfect sense. He had a passion for truth-telling; the wisdom that comes from it; and the life of integrity and moral character that results. The very word, 'philosophy,' captures the spirit of his love for truth. It combines philia, the love of friendship, with sophia, which means wisdom. Socrates didn't 'study' wisdom. He pursued it as the goal and framework of his life. He loved it."
Most Rev. Charles Chaput, O.F.M. Cap, Archbishop of Philadelphia, recently delivered an address, "Things Worth Dying For: The Nature of a Life Worth Living," to the Constitutional Studies Graduate Program at the University of Notre Dame. In it he reflected on life being a great gift and on the persecution and other real challenges facing those who try to live a Christian life. He also reminds us that those who are "faithful to God will in turn have his faithfulness at life's ending, no matter how extreme the test."
To access the article about Archbishop Chaput's address, please visit:
Archbishop ChaputCatholic Philly: Things Worth Dying For - The Nature of a Life Worth Living (16 OCT 19)
Background information:
Archdiocese of Philadelphia: Biography and Curriculum Vitae of Most Reverend Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.
Facebook: Archbishop Chaput
Reflection Starter from Mahalia Jackson
"Faith and prayer are the vitamins of the soul; man cannot live in health without them." - Mahalia Jackson
25 October 2019
National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day
Tomorrow (Saturday, 26 October) the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is again coordinating a collaborative effort with state and local law enforcement agencies (including many agencies throughout New England) to remove potentially dangerous controlled substances from medicine cabinets. The free event will be held from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM. These sites include (as of this writing) 67 in Connecticut, 151 in Maine, 201 in Massachusetts, 135 in New Hampshire, 39 in Rhode Island, and 69 in Vermont.
This Seventeenth National Take-Back Day is designed to provide an opportunity for the public to surrender expired, unwanted, or unused pharmaceutical controlled substances and other medications for destruction. These drugs are a potential source of supply for illegal use and are considered an unacceptable risk to public health and safety.
This one-day effort is designed to bring national focus to the issue of increasing pharmaceutical controlled substance abuse. The program is anonymous, and it focuses on prescription and over the counter solid dosage medications (i.e., tablets and capsules). Intravenous solutions, injectables, and needles will not be accepted. In addition, illicit substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine are not a part of this initiative.
To view a list of collection sites in a specific state, please click on the following:
US DEA: National Take Back Initiative Collection Site Search
This one-day effort is designed to bring national focus to the issue of increasing pharmaceutical controlled substance abuse. The program is anonymous, and it focuses on prescription and over the counter solid dosage medications (i.e., tablets and capsules). Intravenous solutions, injectables, and needles will not be accepted. In addition, illicit substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine are not a part of this initiative.
To view a list of collection sites in a specific state, please click on the following:
US DEA: National Take Back Initiative Collection Site Search
Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4 in F minor
It's time for some classical music. This is a presentation of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36, as played by the Portland Youth Philharmonic (Portland, OR), conducted by Musical Director David Hattner:
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