Mercy and Mary

Enjoy this brief clip from an incredible musical:

The scene is from the wedding feast at Cana. The performance is produced by Comunita Cenacolo. Dare I say this is “rehab at its finest.”

I’ve dealt somewhat with lots of old books we have at one of our houses, and there certainly are some gems. One of my favorites is Servant of God Fulton J. Sheen’s Preface to Religion, which deals with basic themes from a Thomistic standpoint. This is a great way to learn some basic Thomistic theological principles, although Archbishop Sheen doesn’t exactly say that this is what he is teaching.

The last part on faith, hope, and charity is a very clear but simple explanation of the theological virtues.

Meanwhile, I’ve been watching an old public domain TV show thanks to some free downloads of it. The show is called “Men Into Space.” It’s a late 1950’s presentation of space travel of the near future, and it was somewhat accurate on what would happen just 10 years later. It’s a curious example of science fiction that tries to look into the near future.

I’m currently dealing with a lot of books — the accumulation of almost 100 years. It’s a lot to deal with.

It’s the 14th most popular video right now on YouTube. What does this mean?

The comments are all over the place, but keeping in mind there are less than 2000 comments and over 74,000 views in 3 days, there are a lot of people watching and not making any comments.

What do you say to something so full of pathos and irony?

What do you say about Notre Dame University?

What does this forebode?

Regardless, it all says “Stay close to Our Lady.” It says “Pray the Rosary daily.”

Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us.

This is an excellent little video on St. Bernadette:

While the air is quite clear here in Steubenville, it is actually a sign of economic woe for the area.

About 1900 employees connected with the steel industry in the area are laid off. Operations here have been halted, and it is uncertain when they will resume.

Article on the Situation

When the air is clear here, the poverty increases.

The Marians are most well known in Poland for administering the Shrine of Our Lady of Lichen. Somebody made a little video about the shrine here:

The Bach organ music is a bit over the top, I know.

The story of St. Bernadette and Lourdes has been the subject of film since at least 1898, when Louis Lumière made a short documentary on the city. I count at least 5 major movie versions, 3 TV movie versions, and a cartoon version.

There is also a radio drama based on Song of Bernadette you can listen to online: Hollywood Star Theater: Song of Bernadette.

now i don’t know where the days go, they turn into weeks
they turn into years
summers turn into Christmas and they all disappear
and children turn from their childlike trust
as their laughter is turned into tears
still they listen for the voices that we all used to hear

they walk on
…
from the joy of a birth to the coming of age
from the freedom of the schoolyard
to the man at his work
from the safety of a mother’s arms
to the ends of the earth
we walk on

Tonio K. - We Walk On (portions)

These are simple yet profound thoughts. Tonio K. has a way of doing this sort of thing. Life has a way of passing by. Indeed, there’s a lot happening, but it’s all in the end within the context of our relationship with God, or lack thereof. Everything is contextual, but when you deal with the Infinite, the contextuality ends. (I think I made a new word there.)

“Rudeness has nearly become the rule, rather than the exception, on the Internet. Blogs, forums, e-mails, and comment sections are hothouses for the unedited savagery of the miscreant, the coward, and the Pharisee. Yet it is the place where we have chosen to speak with a Catholic voice. As Archbishop Chaput has said of his own reaction to hateful e-mails: ‘The Lord reminds us that we are sheep among wolves, but it’s important for us not to become wolves ourselves because of our experience.’”

-Deal Hudson, The Right is Mean, The Left is Foul