Thursday, August 23, 2007

From My Favorite Friar

Just a small tidbit on the media from Fr. Groeschel. I thought that this brief comment was particularly interesting:

Father Groeschel criticized a media for glorifying detraction and calumny.

Yes. And how many suckers so readily mimic it. The Hannitization of America...

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Have you ever actually seen a banana?

Other than the fact that this is yellow, I'm not seeing it. Perhaps some artistic liberties were used to catch the eye. Regardless, the Kansas City Star saw fit to place this image on their homepage.

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Some more fun

2nd favorite Scrubs scene ever:



Most favorite Scrubs scene ever:

Bo Knows

This really makes me want to download that good ole NES emulator. I miss you video games.

Friday, August 10, 2007

The Tears of St. Lawrence

Some good stuff today. I was just checking in on a weekend meteor shower and found this in the article:

August is also known as the month of "The Tears of St. Lawrence." Laurentius, a Christian deacon, is said to have been martyred by the Romans in 258 AD on an iron outdoor stove. It was in the midst of this torture that Laurentius cried out: "I am already roasted on one side and, if thou wouldst have me well cooked, it is time to turn me on the other."

The saint's death was commemorated on his feast day, Aug. 10. King Phillip II of Spain built his monastery place, the "Escorial," on the plan of the holy gridiron. And the abundant shooting stars seen annually between approximately Aug. 8 and 14 have come to be known as St. Lawrence's "fiery tears."


How about that? As if I needed more of a reason to go watch the show.

Today on Religion

Well, its that time again. Time for the Today show to talk about the Catholic Church. Today's... Today story (its a video link) is about a Catholic pastor requiring Sunday Mass attendance of parents who want their children to receive scholarships to attend the parish's school. Oh, my, how awful. And why is the Today show covering this story? Because how dare that priest demand that parents attend Mass every week!* My favorite part of the coverage, which you won't see on the video is how Matt Lauer took the show to commercial before they ran the piece, referring to the pastor as an "angry priest". You'll see just how "angry" he is... yeah, pretty much the most harmless person ever.

* Our regular contributors are aware that "Mandatory Mass?" as the headline of the story reads is not a new thing. The only reason that this priest is documenting attendance is because he would rather not throw the church's money away to families that are not bringing their kids to church. Though signing in every week would be a bit annoying, I think it is a great idea. Though some parishes have used tithing as a measure of participation for these things, the great thing about using Mass attendance is that it takes the focus away from the money. There are wealthy parishes were people are more than happy to pay whatever it costs to get their kid into school there. Doesn't mean they are going to Mass though.

P.S. 200TH POST!

Thursday, August 09, 2007

Ludovico Technique

According to this story, classical music may soon be pumping through outdoor speakers at Lincoln's downtown theater. Sounds nice, doesn't it? Maybe it will add a little culture to the downtown. If only that was the purpose; actually, the theater will be playing the "unpopular" music to get rid of people.

Apparently they are not the first brilliant masterminds to implement this plan:

In Tacoma, Wash., city authorities recently installed speakers in public places and began playing classical music to keep criminals from becoming too comfortable in one place.
This little anecdote is even better:

Mark Shriner, who owns the Coffee House at 13th and P streets, is one who actually put bad music to the test.

When his place became a hangout for teen smokers in the mid-1990s, he turned up the classical tunes inside.

It worked.

“The younger people tended to want to puke when they heard it,” Shriner said.
It is not even that kids prefer the manufactured pop of Britney Spears or the modern musical genius of the brothers Hanson, now kids cannot even hear classical music without nausea. Any ideas how to lift culture out of this pit, Duebster?

Tuesday, August 07, 2007

Why Do We Go To Mass?

When we could go to a hip contemporary service at a movie theater? Watch the video. You've seen the music video, but you may not have seen the singer's congregation.

The Transfiguration

Benedict XVI, from the reflection given before the Angelus on March 12, 2006:

Awestruck at the sight of the transfigured Lord who was speaking with Moses and Elijah, Peter, James and John were suddenly overshadowed by a cloud, out of which came a voice which proclaimed: "This is my beloved Son on whom my favour rests; listen to him" (Mk 9: 7).

When one has the grace to live a strong experience of God, it is as if one is living an experience similar to that of the disciples during the Transfiguration: a momentary foretaste of what will constitute the happiness of Paradise. These are usually brief experiences that are sometimes granted by God, especially prior to difficult trials.

No one, however, is permitted to live "on Tabor" while on earth. Indeed, human existence is a journey of faith and as such, moves ahead more in shadows than in full light, and is no stranger to moments of obscurity and also of complete darkness. While we are on this earth, our relationship with God takes place more by listening than by seeing; and the same contemplation comes about, so to speak, with closed eyes, thanks to the interior light that is kindled in us by the Word of God.