Quiz to Help You Find the Perfect Present

Are you overwhelmed with thoughts of what to get people?  Money and gift cards show no thought.  You want to do better than that.  This quiz  will help.

1.     Does the person like music?

2.     Does the person like to read?

3.     Does the person watch movies?

4.     Does the person dress stylishly?

5.     Does the person wear rude, crazy, tee shirts?

6.     Is the person a sports fanatic?

7.     Does the person wear pajamas?

8.     Is the person sentimental?

9.     How close is the person to you?

10.     How much money do you have to spend?

So take the questions you answered "yes" to, and take questions "9" and "10" into consideration, and you should have a pretty good idea what to buy.

Toilet Paper Roll School of Thought

Yesterday, the RCIA catechumenate discussed self-esteem and narcissism.  Self-esteem is good.  You should be proud and have faith in yourself.  Narcissism is too much self-esteem.  You would never think of anyone but yourself; rules and laws don't apply to you.  Narcissists think they're always right.

When it comes to going to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, they're in a quandary.  They probably wonder why they have to, because they haven't sinned.  Everyone understood this.

Everything was going along fine, until someone mentioned that narcissists don't change the toilet paper in the bathroom because they had what they needed; let the next person change the roll.  Everyone laughed but me.  Hubby is always accusing me of doing this.  But I don't think I'm being narcissistic.  It's just because I change it when it's near the end of the roll.  He always wants an extra one handy, all the time.  I claim it's just a different school of thought, not narcissism.

Do you see my point?

The Christmas Cactus does well next to the toilet paper.

Who are the Church Fathers?

A few days ago, we celebrated the saint, John Damascene.  My book said that he is regarded as the last of the Church Fathers.  This made me wonder who the other church fathers were, how many there were, and why are they called "church fathers." Today, I finally had time to delve into my questions.

They are all from the early church.  St. John Damascene died in the eighth century, and that is customarily considered the cut off date.

Why they have this title varies.  Some were religious, some clerics, but all were leaders who were listened to.  They had influence and that influence shaped the church.  Hence, they are considered "fathers of the church."

According to Catholic Answers:

 The Church demands four major characteristics to be exhibited in the life and works of an early Church leader if he is to be considered a Father of the Church. These are antiquity, meaning that he lived before the eighth century doctrinal orthodoxy; personal sanctity; and approval by the Church.

Were there Church Mothers? Since the women weren't people with as much influence as the bishops and noted theologians, their writings haven't been promoted, as much as the church fathers.  Besides, the culture at that time was patristic; hence the Church Fathers.

Called to Help

After Mass this morning, at the abbey, I went to get the book with the psalms to sing Terce with the nuns.  I noticed this man in the last seat, in the last back pew, of the chapel.  He was standing up ready to sing.  But, he had no book and I thought he looked confused.  So I went over to him and asked him, "May I pray with you?"  He said "Yes."  We prayed, sang, and prayed, again.  He followed me along.

When it was over and the nuns were recessing, he turned to me and said, "Sometimes it's nice to just listen.  The words get in the way."  He said some other things, also, but the words in the quotes are what resonated.  I thought he was trying to tell me that he would have rather I had left him alone.  I had interrupted his prayer time.

I walked out feeling very down about my self.  I had done it again.  I had presumed too much.  It's like helping an old lady cross the street when she didn't want to get there.  She was just standing on the corner.  I can't count how many times I've done this--too many to count.

I think I'm being inspired, or called to help someone.  NOT!

Downcast, I walked to my car. Berating myself. "Stupid!"  "Idiot!"

Michael, (I later learned his name.) came over and started to chat.  It was just small talk.  We didn't say anything I can remember.  But I do remember how he made me feel.  As we chatted, my mood changed.

Whereas, I had felt like a failure before, I now felt better.  I may have interrupted Michael's prayer time, but that was OK.  I made a new friend.

Look out little old ladies.  Get ready to cross the street--whether you want to, or not!

Turning the Corner

The Archdiocese of Boston has turned the corner.  That's what Father George said in Sunday's homily.  After years of being ashamed and struggling and plodding along to keep the faith, there's hope.  Father George related an experience he had as he was walking to a parishioner's home.  A young man across the street from where he was walking raised his hand in a salute and shouted, "The Pope's the man!"  This is the equivalent of "hurrah!"

Father George also told the story of something that happened at a catechesis class for adults.  This class had been advertised for weeks before it began.  The night it started, the priests and teachers were outside the church to greet the people coming to class.  A man came holding a baby.  He said he was coming, but forgot something.  He asked a lady to hold his baby.  She did.  He went.

He was gone.  The class was held and he didn't return.  The class ended and he wasn't back.  As they were discussing what to do, the man appeared.  He thanked the lady holding his baby and took the baby.  He also gave her something in return--a gun.  He swapped the baby for the gun.  He said he went off to kill himself, but decided he couldn't.  He came back to try and start all over, for his baby.

Ruby Heart

Have you ever heard of a blind PI?  Well, read the Neve & Egan series, and you’ll meet one.  Ashford Egan is the analytical, organized, and blind component of the detective team of Neve & Egan.  Alexandra Neve is the impulsive, loose cannon.  Somehow they complement each other. 

Ruby Heart is the second  novel in the Neve & Egan series.  After I read the first ten pages, (the Prologue), I had to buy the first book, Russian Dolls.  I devoured both novels.  But you don’t have to read Book One before you read Ruby Heart.  It stands by itself, and explanations are given for reference, when necessary for the story.

Ruby Heart is a necklace, a very dear necklace.  It was given to Neve & Egan’s client before World War II. The client is elderly and seriously ill.  Actually, she’s at death’s door.  So the pressure to find the necklace before Doris Hargrave’s death is critical. 

Alexandra Neve searches Nazi newspapers and actually does see the necklace on the neck of a lady, in one of them.  She identifies the woman, and tries to see if anyone in her family still has the necklace.  The necklace was probably used to buy safety from the Nazi’s. 

Don’t forget that Doris is dying.  She wants to see the necklace before she dies.  She especially wants her granddaughter to wear it on her wedding day.  It’s a family tradition that it will be a happy marriage for the wearer.

Did I mention that Alexandra’s house is burned down: that the police think the stolen necklace case is too old to investigate, that a mysterious “mob boss,” called “the Sorter,” seems to be a step ahead of them?  There’s more, too. 

Ruby Heart inspired me to look into my jewelry box to see if I had something similar to a ruby heart necklace. Better than finding my own family heirloom, I found a new detective series that I love.  I am looking forward to the next case.

I’d like to thank Tribute Books http://www.tribute-books.com/   for providing me with a complimentary review copy.

Cristelle Comby's Web Site: 
http://cristelle-comby.com/

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Cristelle Comby's Goodreads:
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Ruby Heart Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18633760-ruby-heart

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Ruby Heart blog tour site:
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Sunday Snippets -- A Catholic Carnival

This first Sunday of Advent is also A Catholic Carnival day of Sunday Snippets.  What am I talking about?  Every Sunday, a group of bloggers post about their week's posts and link together at This n' That and the Other Thing.  Thanks for R'Ann who is our gracious hostess.

R'Ann asked What I planned to do for Advent?  I refuse to answer because I'm still sore from having my plans upset.  See Thursday's post from a couple of weeks ago.  Sorry, I guess I enjoy wallowing in self pity.  Poor me.

But this week was busy.

Sunday -- Father Brian explained "proof texting," to me.

Monday -- Brother Tonto explained "Thanksgiving," to me.

Tuesday -- Auntie Mae made a sales pitch.

Wednesday -- I prayed.

Thursday -- A tribute to Sarah Joseph Hale.

Friday -- Promotion for Cities for Life.

Saturday -- I marveled how St. Peter's writing were so apropos to our present times.

To read my friends' posts, please go here.