St. John the Almsgiver, Bishop, (619)
St. Bernard of Vienna, Bishop, (842)
St. Asclas, Martyr, (3rd Century)
Check out The Day I Lost My Religion from The Soapy Knitter (by the way – a nice WordPress theme adapted for knitting).
Fair waring – the language used is not for the faint of heart, but I won’t tsk tsk … this family has been hurt a lot.
I commented on the post here.
Several of the blogs I read had pointers to Fish eaters quiz on the Four Temperaments (Medieval self analysis).
I took the quiz and it turns out that I am Melancholic. My personality is said to consist of being:
- Sensitive
- Intuitive
- Self-conscious
- Easily embarrassed
- Easily hurt
- Introspective
- Sentimental
- Moody
- Likes to be alone
- Empathetic
- Often artistic
- Often fussy and perfectionist
- Deep
- Prone to depression, avarice, and gluttony
It appears that I am in the best of company:
Famous Melancholics include St. John of the Cross, St. John the Divine, St. Francis, and St. Catherine of Siena.
…and that my ‘if I had my druthers’ way of life might include a career as a contemplative religious, theologian, artist, or writer.
I would say that they pegged me pretty well.
Check out the temperament test if you care to see where you fall.
On our trip to Florida we learned of Tervis Tumblers. My sister has several sets.
Tervis, we learned, is the original and the oldest insulated tumbler company in the U.S. These tumblers and their other drinkware are perfect for keeping hot things hot and cold things cold. They do it without sweating and they’re practically indestructible. In addition they are light weight.
We finally decided to get rid of our old glassware and we replaced it with Tervis. We received our first set a week ago (one more set of eight on order). They are great – and another shout-out to my sister for introducing us to these.
There’s a few posts I’ve been meaning to write, the following one for 3 months now. Since I’ve got some energy tonight, let’s roll:
Our Florida Trip – November 2006
In November the family and I took a trip to Florida to visit my sister and her husband. We went over the Veteran’s Day weekend.
We scheduled the trip pretty far in advance, and took the dates/times because I had gobs of U.S. Airways frequent flyer miles built-up.
It was an absolutely great trip. My sister and her husband rolled out the red carpet. We had no worries, no car to rent, no room to check into, no meals to worry about. Simply the best.
My sister has a beautiful house in a gated community in Land ‘O Lakes (Greater Tampa) right on a golf course. The house has a lanai with a pool. Florida living at its best.
We set up a schedule for the three days we were there. Sunday was Church, swimming, and hanging out. Monday was Busch Gardens, Tuesday hanging out, shopping, and our flight back.
We started off Sunday with a light breakfast and we headed off to Holy Mass at St. Mary’s PNCC in St. Petersburg. It was about a 40 minute drive from my sister’s house. When we arrived we found that the schedule had changed and that Holy Mass wouldn’t be offered until 11am. Since we had about two hours to kill we headed over to a beach on the bay. The kids had a great time beach combing and watching the birds. There was a pelican that was great entertainment.
We headed back to the church after getting a grand tour of the area. The pastor at St. Mary’s is the Rev. Dr. John Sielchan. He greeted us warmly and introduced us to his parish family. On the plus side the parish is practically bay-side. On the down side it’s a bit removed from most parishioners who appear to live toward the Tarpon Springs area. We met a parishioner that travels about two hours every week from Orlando to attend Holy Mass – fantastic dedication.
After Holy Mass we headed over to Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill and Beach Club. The restaurant/bar is right on Clearwater Beach. The place is consistently packed and I can see why. Great food and a great atmosphere. We had a lot of fun and headed down to the beach after lunch.
It was a little cool that afternoon, but the kids, auntie, and I had a change to plant our feet in the bay.
As we headed back to the car we stumbled upon an Evangelical Community Church (you can’t help but trip over them everywhere in Florida) with this out front:
It’s a turtle angel. What a hoot! The very people who accuse Catholics of worshiping Mary and statues have a statue of a turtle angel in their front yard. What’s next, Mary on the half-shell? A kneeler and a few votive candles and they’ll have a shrine.
We headed back to my sister’s house for an afternoon of swimming and relaxing before dinner.
For dinner my sister introduced us to Lee Roy Selmon’s – BBQ and nothing but BBQ. I was in heaven.
Back at my sister’s we enjoyed a bottle or two from her great selection of wine. I’ve never been so relaxed on a vacation. I even slept great.
On Monday we went to Busch Gardens. My sister and I had been there when it was a fairly new park back in the early 1970’s. Whet I remember from that trip was that the park was impeccably clean, there were animals, and beer (I too young at the time :().
The place was amazing. Still tidy and with the perfect mix of entertainment, nature, and fun. Best of all the place was empty. There were no lines and there was no waiting. We were on the three top notch coasters as soon as we reached the cars. Of all the coasters the SheiKra drop coaster was the best. The Montu was ok, but a little rough (don’t try that one if you have back/neck problems). My youngest at 4 years old went on the Gwazi wooden coaster. She was the daredevil, my son was a little more reticent.
Other highlights included the Rhino Rally and of course the BrewMasters Club at the Hospitality House. The Clydesdale’s were a hit for the kids as were the other animals and the kiddy rides.
We were there from opening to closing – an absolutely fantastic time.
My sister took us to a great Cuban restaurant for dinner. I can’t remember the name right now, but it was fantastic. An ultra small place in a plaza – but a favorite of the locals.
On Tuesday we headed over to International Plaza and Bay Street for shopping and lunch before our departure.
In conclusion a big shout out to my sister Andrea and her husband Ken. Thank you, thank you. It was great!
St. Vincent of Saragossa, Martyr, (304)
St. Anastasius the Persian, Martyr, (628)
St. Dominic of Sora, Abbot, (1031)
St. Agnes, Virgin and Martyr, (304)
St. Meinrad, Martyr, (861)
St. Epiphanius of Pavia, Bishop, (496)
God has called us through the Gospel to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Word of God, the Gospel plays a special role in the Polish National Catholic Church. Some would call it a unique role.
We believe that the hearing of the Gospel, in conjunction with its interpretation in the homily bestows sacramental grace —“ sanctifying grace. By this grace God calls us and leads us to change.
The verse, which is today’s alleluia verse, comes from 2 Thessalonians. The fuller context is this:
But we ought to give thanks to God for you always, brothers loved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in truth. To this end he has (also) called you through our gospel to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours.
From St. Paul’s letter we understand that we are the firstfruits of salvation. We are the chosen, sanctified by the Holy Spirit by our Baptism and Confirmation, and living together in truth.
Because we open ourselves to hear God’s call in the Gospel, we will possess the glory of Jesus Christ. That is, the glory of His resurrection and life in heaven with Him forever.
There is yet another requirement. It is not just the choosing, the sanctifying, and the hearing, but that we stand firm and hold fast to what we have been taught, the Church’s sacred tradition as passed on to us through the Apostles and Fathers.
Right now you’ve about fallen asleep. Another ‘sermon’ on sacraments and what we must do, all couched in theological and biblical language.
I know that I receive God’s grace at Holy Mass —“ that’s why I’m here. I know God has requirements and that the Church has demands. Blah, blah, tradition, piety, blah blah…
So reflect on the words from today’s reading from Corinthians in which we hear:
There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit;
there are different forms of service but the same Lord;
there are different workings but the same God
who produces all of them in everyone.
To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit
is given for some benefit.
Does anyone watch American Idol? Can I see a show of hands?
It’s been pretty brutal. The people that were auditioning were for the most part horrible. They embarrassed themselves, and they got mocked…
Did anyone of us hear Paul’s message while we were watching? Did we view these folks as having gifts? Or did we get a chuckle out of them, and their miserable attempts at fame?
Remember, Paul said we are to stand firm and hold fast to what we were taught.
I think it is exceedingly difficult for you and I to buy into that message. In the face of daily entertainment, cynicism, and sarcasm the message passed down to us gets lost. The humiliation of those individuals on American Idol becomes the idol that displaces the Gospel.
So we will watch, many of us for sure. We’ll be unable to break away from the laughs and the dressing down others will receive.
We will forget, at least for that hour, that Jesus came to reveal Himself, not to hide. He revealed himself to the Jewish people and their Pharisees and Scribes dressed Him down like Simon Cowell would any rank amateur on American Idol.
When you watch next time think of Jesus’ dressing down. See the Sanhedrin in the front of the room, hey Jesus, you’re an amateur Rabbi and would be prophet —“ you don’t cut it, sorry, no.
When you watch think of Jesus, then see Jesus in that performer, that fearful person, that person being told no. Recognize Jesus in yourself when you are in the midst of pain and sadness.
So God has called us as His firstfruits, sanctified us in the Holy Spirit, made us members of His body and heirs to His kingdom. He’s given us the Apostles and Fathers to teach us and the Holy Church to guide us. We’ve received God’s gifts, His sacraments. He’s filled us with the graces received in three sacraments at Holy Mass, Penance, the Word, and the Holy Eucharist. But, have we changed? Do we see Him everyday, in that —“ that brother or sister? Have we even begun to believe in Him?
Through Isaiah God says:
For Zion’s sake I will not be silent,
for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet
He keeps calling us to be His firstfruits for the salvation of the world. He will not be silent or quiet. We must respond. Believe, act, and see in accord with the Gospel – with Jesus.
Saints Fabian and Sebastian, Martyrs, (250)
St. Euthymius the Great, Abbot, (473)
St. Fechin, Abbot, (665)
The announcement and a link to the list in Realignment Announcement Decisions from the Archdiocesan website (it’s loading real slow right now).
The closings as summed up in the NY Times in N.Y. Archdiocese Announces Parish Closings.
There’s two St. Stanislaus parishes on the list, one in Port Jervis, one in Pine Island. The Pine Island parish will in effect disappear and merge into another parish.
Our Lady of Vilnius is not on the list, anywhere, thankfully.
(UPDATE 1) The Our Lady of Vilnius, NYC blog notes that 1010 WINS is reporting Our Lady of Vilnius will be closed as well (as a footnote non-the-less). Stay tuned.
(UPDATE 2) The NY Sun states that it confirmed the closing of Our Lady of Vilnius with Archdiocesan officials. See N.Y. Archdiocese Will Close 10 Parishes.