This post over at Credo made me chortle out loud. The question was posed, "What would Our Lord wear for choir dress?"
Very funny. And I heartily concur with Credo's summing up!
Friday, 10 November 2006
A Couple of Arrivistes...
...it would appear that we have a couple of new arrivals on the Catholic blogosphere.
Northern Cleric over at Ubi Petrus, Ibi Ecclesia gave me a very flattering mention on his blog. So far he has only two posts up, but we all have to start somewhere, and he'll be bitten by the blogging bug soon enough, I reckon...
(I've never yet met a priest who didn't have plenty to say for himself!!)
...and Moretben at The Undercroft is another promising blogger to watch, I think. I loved his post on Châteauneuf du Pape...
UPDATE: Northern Cleric has deleted the post referring to me in such nice glowing terms (the rat!) and I'm sure he didn't mean to... so it looks as if he got another sort of blogging bug...
FURTHER UPDATE: Yes, looks like I was right about the bug... and he's such a caring, pastoral type that he has promptly put up another nice comment!! Take note, Fr. Tim: how to keep your parishioners happy!!
Northern Cleric over at Ubi Petrus, Ibi Ecclesia gave me a very flattering mention on his blog. So far he has only two posts up, but we all have to start somewhere, and he'll be bitten by the blogging bug soon enough, I reckon...
(I've never yet met a priest who didn't have plenty to say for himself!!)
...and Moretben at The Undercroft is another promising blogger to watch, I think. I loved his post on Châteauneuf du Pape...
UPDATE: Northern Cleric has deleted the post referring to me in such nice glowing terms (the rat!) and I'm sure he didn't mean to... so it looks as if he got another sort of blogging bug...
FURTHER UPDATE: Yes, looks like I was right about the bug... and he's such a caring, pastoral type that he has promptly put up another nice comment!! Take note, Fr. Tim: how to keep your parishioners happy!!
Blogging Along on the Crest of a Wave...
Believe it or not, I have only just realised that GIF files can be uploaded to Blogger. I discovered this one over at Catholic Action UK and have shamelessly nicked it...
Exploring the Blogosphere
I've been having fun again on the blogosphere: there are some very interesting sites out there. Of course, I realise that most of them will already be known to my readers (sitemeter assures me that I do have more than one!) but at least I have enjoyed the discovery.
Hilary over at The Devout Life is a blogger I shall have to keep an eye on: I noticed that she has four separate blogs on the go (HOW??? I have problems maintaining just this one!!) and that she has a button which describes her as an "Evil Trad"... (something rather appeals to me about that moniker... )
...then there is the rather interesting Catholic Action UK...
I've added both of these to my blogroll now.
Hilary over at The Devout Life is a blogger I shall have to keep an eye on: I noticed that she has four separate blogs on the go (HOW??? I have problems maintaining just this one!!) and that she has a button which describes her as an "Evil Trad"... (something rather appeals to me about that moniker... )
...then there is the rather interesting Catholic Action UK...
I've added both of these to my blogroll now.
Tuesday, 7 November 2006
Culture of Death
I think the Culture of Death so prevalent in our country has upped the ante yet again. We now have scientists wanting to create embryos for stem cell research which will involve inserting human DNA into cows' eggs. There will be some cow DNA left behind, but this is, apparently, negligible...
Along the same lines, I read this really excellent post over at the Recusant Cricket Club. I hope we wake up soon!
Along the same lines, I read this really excellent post over at the Recusant Cricket Club. I hope we wake up soon!
Me and My Mantilla
I hate having my photo taken... I am tempted to refer to myself as the "Lesser-Spotted" Mulier Fortis!! However, the picture of a cat on my profile just didn't look right, especially as Jess isn't even my cat.
Fr Tim offered to take a photo of me, and on my pointing out that I didn't have a suitable brown paper bag to cover my face (a burkha would give the wrong impression), he told me that the mantilla would do...
I do think he definitely picked the most flattering view: the back of my head. And in case you're wondering, I'm in front of the Lady Altar at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, Blackfen.
Fr Tim offered to take a photo of me, and on my pointing out that I didn't have a suitable brown paper bag to cover my face (a burkha would give the wrong impression), he told me that the mantilla would do...
I do think he definitely picked the most flattering view: the back of my head. And in case you're wondering, I'm in front of the Lady Altar at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, Blackfen.
Friday, 3 November 2006
And Another One...
Yet another blog which I can't resist adding to my blogroll... Matthew (at Lacrimarum Valle) and his wife are expecting their baby in late January, and since my own sister is expecting her first baby in early January, I shall be watching with interest.
Poets Day
On the basis that it's Poets Day* and I haven't any classes this afternoon, I have been amusing myself... I discovered this little quiz over at American Papist, and needed reassurance that I wasn't a heretic...
You scored as Chalcedon compliant. You are Chalcedon compliant. Congratulations, you're not a heretic. You believe that Jesus is truly God and truly man and like us in every respect, apart from sin. Officially approved in 451.
*Poets day = Push Off Early Tomorrow's Saturday |
Ha ! Aha !
| Your English Skills: |
 Grammar: 100% Punctuation: 100% Spelling: 100% Vocabulary: 100% |
H/T to Cally's Kitchen
More Music...
Funny, but I never had Fr Tim down as an old-fashioned type. But it would seem that just for once he hasn't lived up to his "Father Gadget" soubriquet, and has reverted to old fashioned tapes...
;-)
What do you think would be on the "B" side?? Comments gratefully received...
;-)
What do you think would be on the "B" side?? Comments gratefully received...
Thursday, 2 November 2006
New Deadly Sin?
This made me chuckle. I haven't quite recovered from the fact that I'm not allowed my coffee machine in my classroom (and I know what will happen if I leave it in the staffroom) and since I dislike weak coffee so much I'm reduced to drinking cola all day...
H/T to the Ironic Catholic for this one.
H/T to the Ironic Catholic for this one.
A "Halloween" Outfit to Die For
I have to admit to laughing out loud when I saw what one of the Cavemen dressed up as for Halloween...
...and then I had to try to stop, because I'm in the library!!
Check out the outfit HERE.
...and then I had to try to stop, because I'm in the library!!
Check out the outfit HERE.
And Another Feast Day...
...though a little more solemn! Happy All Souls' Day. Remember especially all the forgotten souls in purgatory who have no-one to pray for them.
Wednesday, 1 November 2006
Virtual Pet
I probably shouldn't have... I feel guilty enough about not making enough of a fuss of Sylvester (my real cat) as it is...
But I spotted this on Antonia's World, and I thought it was really cute. If you click on the kitten, it comes out of the basket. If you click and move the cursor over the kitten, it purrs. And if you click on the button saying "more" you get a cat toy and catfood to play with as well...
I decided to call him Felix. I found out that Felis sylvestris is Latin for a wildcat. I wanted to call him something to do with All Saints, but my lack of a Classical education means that my Latin isn't up to anything witty...
Yes, ok, I'm trying to avoid doing any marking...
...but the kitty is definitely cute. So for the moment he's going into my sidebar. Unless I decide to trade him in for a duck...
You can get one too... HERE.
Update: I got irritated by the fact that my home computer can't really cope with the cat's presence (it is a very old computer) and since I am fonder of the computer than the virtual cat, I'm afraid Felix has been consigned to the outer darkness... but the links still work if you want to have a go for yourself!!
But I spotted this on Antonia's World, and I thought it was really cute. If you click on the kitten, it comes out of the basket. If you click and move the cursor over the kitten, it purrs. And if you click on the button saying "more" you get a cat toy and catfood to play with as well...
I decided to call him Felix. I found out that Felis sylvestris is Latin for a wildcat. I wanted to call him something to do with All Saints, but my lack of a Classical education means that my Latin isn't up to anything witty...
Yes, ok, I'm trying to avoid doing any marking...
...but the kitty is definitely cute. So for the moment he's going into my sidebar. Unless I decide to trade him in for a duck...
You can get one too... HERE.
Update: I got irritated by the fact that my home computer can't really cope with the cat's presence (it is a very old computer) and since I am fonder of the computer than the virtual cat, I'm afraid Felix has been consigned to the outer darkness... but the links still work if you want to have a go for yourself!!
Happy Feast Day
For all the saints... thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest, Alleluia !
What a wonderful feast day. Definitely a day for indulging in something to celebrate the Communion of Saints.
...and to all those out there who have saints' names, a very happy name day!
(and yes, there IS a Saint Mac !!)
What a wonderful feast day. Definitely a day for indulging in something to celebrate the Communion of Saints.
...and to all those out there who have saints' names, a very happy name day!
(and yes, there IS a Saint Mac !!)
Tuesday, 31 October 2006
The iPod Playlist from Hell
My little offering on cinema display boards seems to have caught the imagination of Ma Beck at the WardWideWeb... I quite liked the concert tickets from the 6th Circle of Hell featuring David Haas, but my absolute fave is the iPod playlist...
...now how is it that I never think of these things?
...now how is it that I never think of these things?
Monday, 30 October 2006
Halloween
I don't like Halloween - I get a little cheesed off by all the kiddies being encouraged to go and bug people for sweets... being dressed up as ghouls, witches and demons just makes it worse. One year a friend of mine lay in wait for the hoards with a big basket of miraculous medals, which I have to say is a pretty good idea, apart from the fact that it encourages the little blighters to knock on more doors...
...and one year the children of other friends lay in wait at an upstairs window: when the visitors shouted "Trick or Treat?" they were greeted by cries of "Trick" accompanied by a dousing from above via a hosepipe which the ingenious youngsters had set up.
But this little offering on a newly discovered (well, it's new to me!) blog made me laugh...
...and one year the children of other friends lay in wait at an upstairs window: when the visitors shouted "Trick or Treat?" they were greeted by cries of "Trick" accompanied by a dousing from above via a hosepipe which the ingenious youngsters had set up.
But this little offering on a newly discovered (well, it's new to me!) blog made me laugh...
Unmissable Films
Saturday, 28 October 2006
St Jude, Patron of Hopeless Cases
Today was the Feast of the Apostles Simon and Jude. I have a particular devotion to St Jude, but always felt that St Simon gets rather left out: St Jude being the patron saint of hopeless cases rather steals the limelight!
I heard a story about why St Jude became the patron of hopeless cases which appealed: how true it is I don't know, and since it relies on the premiss that people in medieval times were a credulous and superstitious bunch, it probably is an invention (see The Stripping of the Altars by Duffy for a more accurate description of religious beliefs and practices in the medieval church.) But I like the story anyway.
The idea is that because Jude (aka Thaddeus) is named "Judas, son of James" in the Gospel of St Luke, people were not terribly keen on invoking him just in case their prayers were "misdirected" and ended up with Judas Iscariot. As a result, they would only pray to St Jude when they had tried everything (and everyone) else. The prayers were then answered, and St Jude became the patron saint of hopeless cases.
I was told about St Jude shortly after my return to the Church. I had a very Protestant view of the saints: they existed, but really all this devotion to them went a bit far. I was happy to pray to Our Lady (though I wouldn't say I had a devotion to her) because after all, Jesus was a dutiful and loving son, and every good Jewish lad loves his mother. But the saints were for less "intellectual" people. I preferred to go straight to the top. No intermediaries for me, thank you very much.
Anyway, I was seriously ill when I came back to the Church: in constant pain, and almost immobilised, needing crutches to get around. I'd had several years' worth of attention from various doctors, surgeons and hospitals and I'd been told that it was probably all in my head... I finally had discovered a surgeon who believed I was suffering from something physically wrong, and duly went on the waiting list for an operation that might just work. Eventually.
After about a year on the list I rang the hospital to find out how things were progressing. The bed manager at the hospital had only bad news: due to funding problems, the theatre time for the whole orthopaedic department had been slashed to 25% of the normal caseload. She reported that I would be lucky to be called in for an operation before another nine months had passed, and more probably not before a year.
As I put the phone down, I thought that the situation was hopeless... which made me remember St Jude. I had a copy of the novena prayer from the Shrine of St Jude in Faversham, and I decided to give it a go.
I was so ill that I didn't actually manage to complete the novena (I was taking morphine tablets and concentrating on anything for any length of time was a little difficult) but on what would have been the ninth day, a letter arrived from the hospital telling me that I was scheduled for surgery at the end of the month, and asking me to ring to confirm.
Unsurprisingly, I rang back immediately. I spoke to the bed manager again, and asked her why there had been the sudden change - she had been so definite the last time we spoke. She told me that she had no idea why I had been bumped to the top of the queue, the surgeon had just told her that I would be next.
I was just managing to go to Mass each day at this point, so I went to say "thank you." I was utterly convinced that I had experienced a miracle, though part of me was still terrified that nothing would actually work. You can imagine how I felt when the Gospel was read out, with words that went straight to my heart: "Pick up your bed and walk."
Needless to say, my views on the value of prayers to the saints have changed considerably... and I have since laid claim to more patrons than you can shake a stick at. I shall take great pleasure in having the Litany of my favourite saints sung when I renew my vows (Sorry Fr Tim, I forgot to mention that I want the Litany sung!! I hope you're in good voice!)
I heard a story about why St Jude became the patron of hopeless cases which appealed: how true it is I don't know, and since it relies on the premiss that people in medieval times were a credulous and superstitious bunch, it probably is an invention (see The Stripping of the Altars by Duffy for a more accurate description of religious beliefs and practices in the medieval church.) But I like the story anyway.
The idea is that because Jude (aka Thaddeus) is named "Judas, son of James" in the Gospel of St Luke, people were not terribly keen on invoking him just in case their prayers were "misdirected" and ended up with Judas Iscariot. As a result, they would only pray to St Jude when they had tried everything (and everyone) else. The prayers were then answered, and St Jude became the patron saint of hopeless cases.
I was told about St Jude shortly after my return to the Church. I had a very Protestant view of the saints: they existed, but really all this devotion to them went a bit far. I was happy to pray to Our Lady (though I wouldn't say I had a devotion to her) because after all, Jesus was a dutiful and loving son, and every good Jewish lad loves his mother. But the saints were for less "intellectual" people. I preferred to go straight to the top. No intermediaries for me, thank you very much.
Anyway, I was seriously ill when I came back to the Church: in constant pain, and almost immobilised, needing crutches to get around. I'd had several years' worth of attention from various doctors, surgeons and hospitals and I'd been told that it was probably all in my head... I finally had discovered a surgeon who believed I was suffering from something physically wrong, and duly went on the waiting list for an operation that might just work. Eventually.
After about a year on the list I rang the hospital to find out how things were progressing. The bed manager at the hospital had only bad news: due to funding problems, the theatre time for the whole orthopaedic department had been slashed to 25% of the normal caseload. She reported that I would be lucky to be called in for an operation before another nine months had passed, and more probably not before a year.
As I put the phone down, I thought that the situation was hopeless... which made me remember St Jude. I had a copy of the novena prayer from the Shrine of St Jude in Faversham, and I decided to give it a go.
I was so ill that I didn't actually manage to complete the novena (I was taking morphine tablets and concentrating on anything for any length of time was a little difficult) but on what would have been the ninth day, a letter arrived from the hospital telling me that I was scheduled for surgery at the end of the month, and asking me to ring to confirm.
Unsurprisingly, I rang back immediately. I spoke to the bed manager again, and asked her why there had been the sudden change - she had been so definite the last time we spoke. She told me that she had no idea why I had been bumped to the top of the queue, the surgeon had just told her that I would be next.
I was just managing to go to Mass each day at this point, so I went to say "thank you." I was utterly convinced that I had experienced a miracle, though part of me was still terrified that nothing would actually work. You can imagine how I felt when the Gospel was read out, with words that went straight to my heart: "Pick up your bed and walk."
Needless to say, my views on the value of prayers to the saints have changed considerably... and I have since laid claim to more patrons than you can shake a stick at. I shall take great pleasure in having the Litany of my favourite saints sung when I renew my vows (Sorry Fr Tim, I forgot to mention that I want the Litany sung!! I hope you're in good voice!)
Friday, 27 October 2006
Time Off for Good Behaviour
I was in a good mood - the priest we had yesterday and today was one of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate. They don't do cheery at Mass, or muck about with the words of Consecration. But they do do sermons. Long ones... I can live with that, especially as today's was on the subject of Purgatory... (Yesterday's was on Confession.) As time off for good behaviour (all that marking, and not a word of complaint... well, not many) I decided to go for a little trip-ette to Bluewater.
I like Bluewater - I think it was a brilliant use of a disused quarry, and the designers really thought about their customers... I mean, all the parking spaces have double lines between them - brilliant for women who can't park (like me) or for women with pushchairs. There are lots of places to stop off and have coffee (about every five shops along) and it's all indoors.
That's about as much free advertising as I'll allow on this blog.
However, in view of the large pile of marking still to be completed, I decided that my visit would have to be brief, and solitary. Otherwise I'd get sidetracked...
I had to pick up my next batch of contact lenses, so I parked at John Lewis and sauntered towards my opticians through the make-up and perfume department. I needed some more of my favourite foundation as I'm running low, so I stopped off at the Clinique counter. They were offering free makeovers. I can never resist playing with makeup - when I was younger I used to paint each of my nails different colours and then do my eyes in coloured stripes to match. Luckily my aversion to being photographed means that there is no documentary evidence to be hauled out at inopportune moments...
I indicated that my normal colour choice tended towards the minimalistic these days. The assistant who was doing the makeover thought that I should try a little colour, just for a change. She seemed terribly keen, so, against my better judgement, I consented to try the pinky-violet combination on offer.
It was a mistake. When confronted by my reflection, I tried very hard to say something positive. I was able to say I liked the way she had applied the eyeliner...
I then popped over to the only shop in Bluewater that really caters for large women. Unfortunately all the skirts were rather on the short side (I'm tall as well as wide, and I like my skirts to be mid-calf) and the tops were skimpy, clingy and cut too low. I've already put up a post on modesty in dress. I spotted a black blouse which wasn't too bad, and so I bought that. I might need to go back to making my own stuff... I'd do it more often if it wasn't so time-consuming!
Oh well, now that brief interlude is over, I guess it's time to get back to work...
I like Bluewater - I think it was a brilliant use of a disused quarry, and the designers really thought about their customers... I mean, all the parking spaces have double lines between them - brilliant for women who can't park (like me) or for women with pushchairs. There are lots of places to stop off and have coffee (about every five shops along) and it's all indoors.
That's about as much free advertising as I'll allow on this blog.
However, in view of the large pile of marking still to be completed, I decided that my visit would have to be brief, and solitary. Otherwise I'd get sidetracked...
I had to pick up my next batch of contact lenses, so I parked at John Lewis and sauntered towards my opticians through the make-up and perfume department. I needed some more of my favourite foundation as I'm running low, so I stopped off at the Clinique counter. They were offering free makeovers. I can never resist playing with makeup - when I was younger I used to paint each of my nails different colours and then do my eyes in coloured stripes to match. Luckily my aversion to being photographed means that there is no documentary evidence to be hauled out at inopportune moments...
I indicated that my normal colour choice tended towards the minimalistic these days. The assistant who was doing the makeover thought that I should try a little colour, just for a change. She seemed terribly keen, so, against my better judgement, I consented to try the pinky-violet combination on offer.
It was a mistake. When confronted by my reflection, I tried very hard to say something positive. I was able to say I liked the way she had applied the eyeliner...
I then popped over to the only shop in Bluewater that really caters for large women. Unfortunately all the skirts were rather on the short side (I'm tall as well as wide, and I like my skirts to be mid-calf) and the tops were skimpy, clingy and cut too low. I've already put up a post on modesty in dress. I spotted a black blouse which wasn't too bad, and so I bought that. I might need to go back to making my own stuff... I'd do it more often if it wasn't so time-consuming!
Oh well, now that brief interlude is over, I guess it's time to get back to work...
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