Eleanor

St. Mary's Book Club's book for this month is Eleanor A Spiritual Biography The Faith of the 20th Century's Most Influential Woman, by Harold Ivan Smith.  I had difficulty in procuring this book through the Minuteman Library System.  There was one book circulating but I did sign up.  The Sails Library System had none.  Amazon wanted $ 17.00 and the Kindle version is $ 16.00. But what if I don't like it.  I've wasted $ 17-16! 

I decided I wasn't going to bother.  When the book club discussion came around, I was going to offer the suggestion that we check the availability of our book suggestions.

Then I got an email saying the library had my book!

It is a noteworthy book.  Well written, well researched and easy to read.  Eleanor was a Christian woman and followed Christ throughout her life.  She had a miserable childhood.  But she was introduced to Jesus and was shaped by His teachings.   Even when she married, her mother-in-law could and sometimes did, make life uncomfortable but she trusted that God had a plan and she trusted Him.  Then when Franklin became president she blossomed.

She became his legs and muse.  She wrote a syndicated newspaper column and magazine articles.  After being First Lady she became our ambassador to the United Nations. Many criticized but she rose above the fray. 

She was her own person, a child of God.  Thanks be to God.

An Age of Adversarial Journalism: To Reach the Truth, You Need to Hear Both Sides

An Age of Adversarial Journalism: To Reach the Truth, You Need to Hear Both Sides: The adversarial system of litigation—in which attorneys with opposed interests present their respective cases to a jury—is now the best paradigm through which to understand modern-day journalism. We must assume the role of jurors, making sure to hear from all sides before reaching our verdict.



I've been preaching this for years!  It drives me crazy to listen to my friend who only listens to FOX news.  Likewise listening to my nephew who only listens to CNN.  I get so sick of listening to bias American media that I switch channels and watch Aljazeera news, BBC, and or the SINO news from China.



My mother used to say "Only trust half of what you see, and none of what

Garden of Poison in Blarney Castle.

you hear." 

Infanticide

https://unsplash.com/search/photos/newborn

The states of New York and Virginia have passed laws allowing babies to be murdered at 9 months in the womb, and possibly immediately after birth.  Now, these laws are coming to Massachusetts.  These are babies. 

House Bill 3320
     is "An Act removing obstacles and expanding access to women's reproductive health."

Senate Bill 1209
     is "An Act to remove obstacles and expand abortion access."  Current law would be dramatically changed by:
          (1) Expanding abortion access, including late-term abortions, during the nine months of
                pregnancy for virtually any reason.
          (2) Eliminating requirements that late-term abortions be performed in a hospital.
          (3) Eliminating the requirement that provides medical care to a child who survives an abortion
                attempt.
          (4)  Eliminating the requirement that a minor under the age of 18 have the consent of a parent,
                guardian, or the courts.
          (5) Expanding state funding for women who cannot afford the procedure.

What to do?

Contact your legislators, let them know you vote and you want them to say NO on Abortion Expansion.  Find your representatives at www.macatholic.org   Look for state senator and representative.  Members of the Joint Committee on Judiciary who will consider House Bill 3320.  Members of the Joint Committee on Public Health who will consider Senate Bill 1209.

Tell them that you want them to carefully consider the consequences that these bills would bring to the lives of babies, parents, families, and the citizens of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  Urge them to oppose these extreme Acts.

Farrelly versus Yeats

William Butler Yeats wrote this poem when struck with homesickness.  It is actually one of the three poems featured on the Irish passport. 

The Lake Isle of Innisfree

BY WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS

I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,

And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;

Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee,

And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,

Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;

There midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,

And evening full of the linnet’s wings.

I will arise and go now, for always night and day

I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;

While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,

I hear it in the deep heart’s core.

 Dick Farrelly wrote this also being homesick, in 1953. Farrelly's is about ALL of Ireland, not just the isle.

Isle of Innisfree

Author: words & music by Dick Farrelly 
Copyright: Peter Maurice Music/EMI Music

Dick Farrelly

These are the correct words given to me by Dick Farrelly's son Gerard

I've met some folks who say that I'm a dreamer
And I've no doubt there's truth in what they say
But sure a body's bound to be a dreamer
When all the things he loves are far away.
And precious things are dreams onto an exile
They take him o'er the land across the sea
Especially when it happens he's an exile
From that dear lovely Isle of Innisfree.

And when the moonlight peeps across the rooftops
Of this great city wondrous tho' it be
I scarcely feel its wonder or its laughter
I'm once again back home in Innisfree.

I wander o'er green hills thro' dreamy valleys
And find a peace no other land could know
I hear the birds make music fit for angels
And watch the rivers laughing as they flow.
And then into a humble shack I wander
My dear old home, and tenderly behold
The folks I love around the turf fire gathered
On bended knees their rosary is told.

But dreams don't last
Tho' dreams are not forgotten
And soon I'm back to stern reality
But tho' they paved the footways here with gold dust
I still would choose the Isle of Innisfree.

Theme of the film "The Quiet Man"

Silent No Longer/Say Cheese

       G. K. Chesterton has said, “Poets have been mysteriously silent on the subject of cheese.”

Silent No Longer/ Say Cheese

Food of substance, O cheese!
Your soft feel on my tongue,
Sharp/ mild, variety to please.

Extra aging gives Limburger aroma!
Not so, ricotta, cottage and mozzarella,
Gouda, feta, American, and gorganzola.

Crackers and beer pair with cheddar.
Cabernet Sauvignon will stain your sweater,
so pinot noir and brie would be better.

Swiss or French or Italian?
Cow or goat or reindeer,
Or any mammal rapscallion?

Nutritious, good, and healthy. 

Source of protein and calcium,
Taste delicious in your belly.

So here, O Prince of Paradox!
A poetic attempt with poor rhyme, 

no meter, no metaphor.
And most certainly, not orthodox!

Approaching the Throne

Lectio:                                                                                               REV 5:11-14

I, John, looked and heard the voices of many angels
who surrounded the throne
and the living creatures and the elders.
They were countless in number, and they cried out in a loud voice:
"Worthy is the Lamb that was slain 
to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength,
honor and glory and blessing."
Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth
and under the earth and in the sea,
everything in the universe, cry out:
"To the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor, glory and might,
forever and ever."
The four living creatures answered, "Amen, "
and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Studium:

John envisions the throne room of heaven. This description will orient John's hearers and readers in the throne room scenes repeated throughout the book. He hears praise from everyone and everything, from angels to plants and animals.  They are praising the One on the throne.  The four Gospel writers answered "Amen," and everyone kneels.

The symbolic creatures are:
Matthew--man
Mark--lion
Luke--on
John--eagle

Meditatio:

Lord, John's vision sounds like Mass to me.  Don't You sit on the throne of the priest's hands?  Aren't our voices praising You.  "Amen! Amen."
   Until we meet in Your throne room, I will give blessing, honor, and glory.

Oratio:

In the Eucharist, Jesus is the sacrifice and God.  He is one of us and Our Lord and Savior.  He is worthy of praise, forever.  But I, Lord, am not worthy that You should come to me.  But speak the words of forgiveness that I may approach to express my love of You, forever.

Contemplatio:

O Sacrament most holy,
O Sacrament divine!
All praise and all thanksgiving
Be ev'ry moment Thine.

Resolutio:

I will write to my "cloistered brother" today and speak of You.

My Year in Books

Surprise!  Goodreads has a page that tells people what you read last year.  And it's organized by the 
star rating you gave.  I was embarrassed to see that in the entire year of 2018 I gave my friend's book the lowest rating.  I glad she's not computer literate.