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Monthly Archives: November 2020
Saint Andrew
One of my name saints had a feast today. Andrew gets overlooked sometimes. Fourteen percent of the time the First Sunday of Advent takes precedence. I chose Andrew as my confirmation saint in 1972. He was the patron of my … Continue reading
Fratelli Tutti 46: Religious Fanaticism
We should also recognize that destructive forms of fanaticism are at times found among religious believers, including Christians; they too “can be caught up in networks of verbal violence through the internet and the various forums of digital communication. Even … Continue reading
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Citizens And Police And All
So, let me get this straight. People of color have been demonstrably abused by both citizens, police, and the legal system in the US from before the beginning. I don’t think there are any people who are truly denying things … Continue reading
Posted in Miscellaneous, Politics, Scripture
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Advent Lectionary: Isaiah 63:16b-17
The Lectionary framers stitched together pieces of Isaiah to lead out the first reading of Advent in cycle B. This opening plea stood out for me: You, LORD, are our father, our redeemer you are named forever. Why do you … Continue reading
Posted in Advent, Art, Liturgical Music, Scripture
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Fratelli Tutti 45: Three Factors
Pope Francis lists three drawbacks to social media. First, that anonymous speech can embolden fringe opinions. There is no fear of a loss of respect, especially among the 1%: 45. This has now given free rein to ideologies. Things that … Continue reading
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Five-Sevenths
In the US, the proximity of Thanksgiving Day to Advent is a given. Five out of seven years, my Wednesday or Thursday choir practice gets absorbed into holiday festivities. As it should. What is left can be a slightly rough-around-the-edges … Continue reading
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Like It Or Not
A social media friend shared this commentary from James Martin on “What brings a person to God …” Speaking of subjectively (or even objectively) poor things: It is easy to snigger at those things. It is easy. It can also … Continue reading
Posted in Commentary, spirituality
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Fratelli Tutti 44: Shameless Aggression
Paragraphs 44 and 45 look at “Shameless aggression.” What does Pope Francis mean by that? Surely social media didn’t start it. They aren’t the only outlet for it. 44. Even as individuals maintain their comfortable consumerist isolation, they can choose … Continue reading
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Quarantine Day 5
Maybe I don’t want to admit I’m a homebody. I like sleeping in my own bed, even if it’s a makeshift thing until the mattress and box springs arrive via van next week. I like fixing my own food, especially … Continue reading
Posted in Commentary, My Family
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Fratelli Tutti 43: Campaigns Of Hatred
We place too many expectations on social media if we think that it, as a single tool, offers us a complete toolbox. Try using a hammer to tighten a screw. 43. Digital campaigns of hatred and destruction, for their part, … Continue reading
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What Contemporary?
A musical friend forwarded me this piece from last week’s America. I don’t know my friend’s take, really. Surprise that the organ-guitar wars are still waging in some minds a half-century later? She asked for my opinion. Journalist Addison del … Continue reading
Posted in Liturgical Music, Miscellaneous
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Fratelli Tutti 42: The Illusion Of Communication
For this paragraph through number 50, we’ll be occupied by the theme of “The Illusion of Communication.” We begin with a pessimistic assessment of the digital age: 42. Oddly enough, while closed and intolerant attitudes towards others are on the … Continue reading
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Gray Montana
Early morning in Missoula. By the afternoon, we had driven about a hundred miles east and skies were sunny and clear. Still, being surrounded by mountains has a nice feeling for me.
Posted in Other Places
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Fratelli Tutti 41: Overcoming The Animal Within
It is true that biologically, human beings are animals. Not plants or some other branch off the tree of life. Judeo-Christian tradition suggests we are also in the image of God. In a way, when our animal instinct to self-preservation … Continue reading
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Catholic Sensibility 
God’s Will
A few weeks ago, an earnest conservative friend on social media mused about the will of God. After some fussing about pandemic restrictions, there was a thought expressed that maybe we should all go out into the world less afraid. … Continue reading →