Spelling Frustrations

He was new to the neighborhood, so I thought I’d welcome him to Shepard Lane with an apple pie.  His eyes lit up with delight as he called his wife into the room to admire my gift.  They were a pleasant couple and we promised to become better acquainted, as we drank coffee and ate my pie.  Such a nice couple.

A couple of days later, he knocked on my door.  He had a question.  He said it was a stupid question.  Since those are the only kind I can answer, I said, “Go ahead; ask it.”  It was about the name of our street, Shepard Lane.  “Isn’t Shepard spelled wrong?” 

It took me a minute to think.  “Oh! You don’t know.  Shepard Lane is named after Alan Shepard--the first man to walk on the moon.  All the streets in this development tract are named after astronauts.”  His face turned light pink; I had embarrassed him.  But he chuckled and I went on to name some of the other streets: Glenn for John Glenn, Grissom Circle for Gus Grissom, etc.  But he was correct.  Shepard is spelled wrong if you meant the person who herds sheep.

                                                                               ~

His question had rattled my memory.  I was in the sixth-grade spelling bee.  I was the class’ best speller, but I hadn’t won any spelling bees.  Every year, since third grade, my class had a spelling bee.  I never won.  This drove me crazy.  If life were fair, I would win, since I always got 100% on spelling tests.  I truly was the best speller in the class, in the grade, and I bet the whole school!  Why wasn’t I winning?  Everybody must be studying.  Maybe I should study, too.  But why?  I don’t need to.

These were my thoughts as the spelling bee progressed.  I really wasn’t paying too much attention because I was too busy wallowing in the injustice of losing what I considered my due.  I vaguely heard the boy next to me received the word, “shepherd.”  But he went down.     Uh, oh.   How did he spell it? I wasn’t paying attention.  Now I have it.  It was repeated. I gulped and spelled

S-H-E-P………..ARD!

Wrong.

Is Older Better?

This is a video of the Vatican conference's panel discussion on the extension of the human lifespan.  It is fascinating.  

The Pleas to Keep Father Cheverus in Boston

The pleas to keep Father Cheverus in Boston: In February 1801, Father Jean Cheverus received a letter from his father in France. Father Cheverus had fled France during the revolution, which saw a growing resentment towards and the persecution of priests.  Cheverus was torn.  He was needed in Boston and his family needed him in France.  Click on the link to read the history.

Wollomonopoag

Too Deep to wade through.

Wollomonopoag is the name of the woods we hiked, today.  We started out with nine hikers.  We ended with four. 

It was a beautiful day and the walk would have been beautiful were it not for the damage done by beavers.  The desolation broke my heart.  So many dead trees.

But nature proves that  God makes good out of bad.  On top of these dead trees were the nests of beautiful blue herons.  They look so graceful and stately when they fly.  And on the flooded land swans glided by.

Just about every trail we tried was flooded out.  One path was covered with water that was ankle deep, so we threw some logs in the water and used it as a rudimentary bridge.  This is where we lost half of our group.  They didn't want to get their feet wet or fall off a log.  But I made it across OK.  Eventually, we more adventurous ones had to turn back, too.  We just couldn't get across flooded areas. 

Blue heron nests

Just Between You and Me

Another story my "cloistered brothers" and I was told, while we were discussing the progress for sainthood, was concerning the cause of Blessed Margaret of Castello.  It seemed a priest and a seminarian were in an automobile accident.  The seminarian was killed.  The priest was in grave condition.  One of his injuries involved losing one eye.  It had to be removed.  A relic of Blessed Margaret of Castello was placed on him as he lay in his hospital bed.  Suddenly, under his eye patch, the priest's missing eye burned.  The heat was unbearable. He begged for help. When the doctor lifted the eye patch to see what was going on, he was surprised to see an eye looking back at him.

Later during an eye exam, his doctor, who was Jewish said, "Too bad your God didn't give you any eye that was 20/20!"

Although I googled, I couldn't find this story on the web.  Probably because of an ongoing investigation by the insurance companies.  But this would be the last miracle, Blessed Margaret of Castello would need to become a saint. It's in God's hands.

Incorruptible

A priest was telling us the story of Pier Giorgio Frassati's incorruptible body.  An aside point, the priest's religious name is Pier Giorgio.  Father was visiting with Pier Giorgio's aunt.  She told him the story that when his body was dug up to be examined, eighty years

later, the coffin had rotted away.  They had to pick off the wood from the body.  (Second class relics, now!)  The wood had decayed, but not the body.

Cowboys, infertility and deeper moral questions

This article in the Boston Pilot gave me pause for reflection.  My younger self wouldn't have cared, "Pay me and you can have my eggs.  I'm not using them.  What do I care?"  But once I was married and having dificulty conceiving, I very well might have bought healthy fertilized eggs, myself.  Cowboys, infertility and deeper moral questions: Now as a simple, old woman, I definitely can see Father Tadeusz' side of the issue.  When a couple marries and plans their family, it's a covenant made with God.  No strangers are included.  The parents parenting the child shouldn't be surprised that their child is not theirs.  

Miscarriage of Justice

I have no faith in our justice system.  I just read the latest post on These Stone Walls.  Good Grief!  He's been in prison for more than 20 years!!!!  No, he didn't murder anyone--he'd be out of prison by now if he did. He was falsely accused.  This latest post offers more proof.

Synod of the Amazon and married priests

Synod of the Amazon and married priests: The news that Pope Francis has set in motion the planning for a synod of bishops of the Amazon region next year may not strike most U.S. Catholics as a matter of great interest. But hold on--there's something significant going on.  Click on the link and read.

Working at Night

Mills at Night in Lawrence, MA
by MaryBeth Gagnon Traynor

Nightworker’s Dreams
by
Henry Boulanger

To be working in the open air
With the nice cool breeze, so fair,
To some it is no heaven, it seems;
But only a nightworker’s dreams.
The songs of the birds in merry tunes,
Instead of the ear-piercing thundering looms.
Under the sun to toil and to fight,
Instead of slaving under blinking light.

A Change of Outlook (A Response to Henry Boulanger)
by
Faith Flaherty

To be working inside the warm room
Away from the night’s black gloom,
To me that’s no heaven, it’s  purgatory:
A perspective on a different story.
The terror of a dark night’s screams,
Instead of the loom’s rhythmic reams
Singing the satisfaction of a job done right,
Instead of working outside in the cold night.

Ignorantia Juris Non Excusat

Lectio:

ACTS 3:13-15, 17-19

Peter said to the people:
"The God of Abraham,
the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob,
the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus,
whom you handed over and denied in Pilate's presence
when he had decided to release him.
You denied the Holy and Righteous One
and asked that a murderer be released to you.
The author of life you put to death,
but God raised him from the dead; of this we are witnesses.
Now I know, brothers,
that you acted out of ignorance, just as your leaders did;
but God has thus brought to fulfillment
what he had announced beforehand
through the mouth of all the prophets,
that his Christ would suffer.
Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away."

Studium:

Peter and John had just healed a crippled man.  The people were amazed, to say the least.  More importantly, they were open to an explanation.  They were listening.  And so Peter began, "Why are you amazed at this?".  Peter goes on to explain that it wasn't by his power that the healing took place but by the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Who is Jesus.
     Peter was trying to appeal to them gently, with understanding (you acted out of ignorance) but making his point (The author of life you put to death.). 
       He also was showing them that Isaiah's predictions about suffering was not about them but rather was about their Messiah, Jesus.  That must have been an eye-opener.  

Meditatio:

The law tells us "Ignorance of the law, does not excuse one from liability.  Ignorantia juris non excusat or ignorantia legis neminem excusat (Latin for "ignorance of the law excuses not" and "ignorance of law excuses no one" respectively) is a legal principle holding that a person who is unaware of a law may not escape liability for violating that law. 

Thank God, He is all merciful and does not abide by human rulings.

Oratio:

But how could I know I was doing wrong when I believed I was doing right?  Only You, My Love, know my heart.  You understand and are all merciful.  I appeal to your mercy.

Contemplatio:

Lord forgive me, I know not what I do.

Door to door: Pope reaffirms missionaries' mandate to knock on hearts

Door to door: Pope reaffirms missionaries' mandate to knock on hearts: VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- As a sign that God's mercy cannot be limited, Pope Francis has recommissioned his special army of priests charged with bringing that divine mercy to everyone. Originally instituted in the year of mercy, these priests are to continue their apostolate.

Stereotypes

This map of New England is a satire of what the people in New England think of others in New England, especially of what we all think of New York.  Remember it's SATIRE.

Changes

Fra Angelico's Annunciation

Today is the Solemnity of the Annunciation.  And I don't like the fact that the "powers that be" changed the date.  I have always been pregnant with Mary from March 25, (usual date of the Annunciation), to December 25, (birth of Christ).  But today is April 9th!  I assume the date was changed because March 25 this year was in Holy Week.  It just wouldn't do to celebrate Jesus' life beginning when that was the week His life was ending.

Oh well, babies usually aren't born on their due date, anyway.  

Call to Arms on October 7, 2018

To be more specific: A Call to Arms, Prayer, on the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. 

What does Baseball and Stations of the Cross Have in Common?

A man in my class asked me why are the Stations of the Cross counterclockwise?

A search in google told me that no one knows. And the location doesn’t have to be counter clockwise.   In fact, one responder said his church had both positions—the downstairs chapel’s stations were clockwise and the upstairs church’s counterclockwise!

Since there is no definitive answer I can give you my theory. The Stations of the Cross are clockwise to the priest.  Think of a baseball field. The bases are

clockwise to the fans in the stands.  But to batter, the bases are counter clockwise.

What do you think?  

Appeals court hears oral arguments in archdiocese's suit over Advent ad

Appeals court hears oral arguments in archdiocese's suit over Advent ad: WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit heard oral arguments March 26 in the Archdiocese of Washington's suit against the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit.  Click on the link and you please tell me what is offense in the ad.

Teacher's Evaluation

Much to my surprise, my baby Catholics want me to demand more from them.  I'm talking about the people who came into the Church during the Easter Vigil.  We had a meeting today to celebrate their new status and also to critique my RCIA class.

They want homework.  I never gave any because everybody is too busy.  Taking that into account, they suggested that the homework not be mandatory but suggested.  So I'll try it and see if they do it.

The next suggestion was interesting.  Instead of one topic a class, to have many topics each class and repeat them for the rest of the year.  For example, instead of a class on the Mass, a class on Jesus, a class on the sacraments, a class on prayer, a class on the Bible, a class on the Catechism, do them all in each and every class.  That comes out to 20 minutes on each of those topics which would take up the class' two hours.  In that way when a catechumen misses a class, he won't miss the entire topic. 

I also should keep attendance to the point of who wasn't there to learn the topics on that day and give them make-up materials.  I also have to stay on topic and keep the catechumens on topic.  Venting to a certain extent is permitted but must be brought back to topic. 

IOW, I was too easy on them.  They want homework.  They want to keep to the subjects and not go off on tangents.  They want attendance taken and to be made accountable.

Lord, help me.

Christian Community

Lectio:     

ACTS 4:32-35

The community of believers was of one heart and mind,
and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own,
but they had everything in common.
With great power the apostles bore witness
to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus,
and great favor was accorded them all.
There was no needy person among them,
for those who owned property or houses would sell them,
bring the proceeds of the sale,
and put them at the feet of the apostles,
and they were distributed to each according to need.

Studium:

This reading is the ideal Christian community.  God's presence is felt within the community and the citizens therefore feel compelled to love and share their possessions.  At this time in history, the ideal was Hellenic friendship, which would be to love your friend and give to him what was yours.
    The reading also shows that without leaders, like Paul, the community grew because they were of one heart and mind.  Paul and the other leaders were warned not to preach of the Resurrected Christ.  Even so, the communal life and the teachings of the Apostles spread.

Meditatio:

This depiction of a community has proven to be unrealistic.  It didn't even last in Luke and Paul's time.  Communism and socialism have tried communal living.  Jewish kibbutz and hippie communes never lasted.  Human beings are too sinful.  Only in religious orders have community persevered.  That is because God's presence is at the forefront of the religious' life.  You can't do anything well without God.

Oratio:

Lord, please give me the grace to always put You, first.  I want to revolve around You.  I want You to be my center.  

Contemplatio:

You and only You, Lord.

A New Reality

Easter should be the beginning of a new reality, don't you think?  I'm treating it as such.  Just as Jesus is as real today as He was for the apostles and disciples, so I am entering into a new way of living.  I mean when you understand what the Easter Triduum is all about, how can you stay the same?  How can life continue on, as if the Resurrection never happened? 

I don't think I will ever worry anymore.  At least, I shouldn't if I trust in Jesus.  I feel peace in my powerlessness.  Doesn't Paul say, "It is when I am weak that I am strong."?

For the rest of my life, I will walk with God and His people.  Through His grace, all will be.

Cliff Dwellers

Both my parents were the children of immigrants.  They worked in the mills of Lawrence, MA.  When I was young, my dad brought home a chapbook of poetry, written by a fellow worker, Henry Boulanger.  I came across the book today and the very first poem brought back, oh so many memories.

Cliff Dwellers by Henry Boulanger

The block was long, dark and ugly.
In it existed many a family.
It was not low, but many stories high.
You could see full clothes lines as you went by.
Each person has his little corner to exist in
There you'll find some has-been.
They are of all Nationalities, in an alley behind
                                a street called Main.