Of Nazi Plotters, Castle Rats & Growing Young

Since last Tuesday, I have been home in Western Pennsylvania for the Christmas holidays. It's been a relaxing break filled with visits with family members and friends.

We saw three new movies during the week: "Valkyrie," "The Tale of Despereaux," and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button."

"Valkyrie," which we saw Christmas night, falls short as a "historical thriller." Christy Lemire, the Associated Press movie critic, correctly asserted in her review that Tom Cruise was the film's "weakest link." Cruise just doesn't have the emotional range to pull off the part of would-be Hitler assassin Col. Claus von Stauffenberg, leader of the July 20, 1944, plot.

"The Tales of Despereaux" is a good computer-animated flick with all the right ingredients -- a kingdom, a castle, a princess, lots of soup and assorted rats and mice. I took my four-year-old nephew to see it the day after Christmas. I can report that he paid fairly close attention during the action sequences but was less interested in the development of the characters and the plot. And, the notable voices of Dustin Hoffman, Emma Watson and Matthew Broderick didn't faze him in the least.

I also would recommend "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," which was based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I think it may be most enjoyed by those who appreciate "semi-fantasy" fare on par with "Forrest Gump." I enjoyed the unique characters and the "aging in reverse" plot device.

I should note, however, that the the old high school buddy with whom I who saw "Benjamin Button" was not impressed -- and downright annoyed by the Hurricane Katrina story arc and the performances of stars Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett.

A Light for Revelation

Today, the Sunday after Christmas, Catholics celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

The Gospel at Mass shows us the Holy Family going up to Jerusalem for the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. It is in this passage that we meet Simeon and Anna, who have been waiting in the Temple for this moment.

From Luke Chapter 2:

When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, They took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord, and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.

This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.

He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, He took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:

“Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.”

The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,

“Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted —and you yourself a sword will pierce— so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.

She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.

She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.

And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.

When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.

The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

A few different sites credit the image above (which I believe shows Simeon, Anna and the Infant Christ) to the Dutch painter Aert de Gelder (1645 - 1727).

Someday at Christmas

For this week's Christmas edition of the "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend" here is bradintampa performing "Someday at Christmas."

This tune was popularized in 1967 by Steve Wonder. Brad's rendition, however, is closer in style to that of Jack Johnson.

Peace:



Here's another great version:

Good News of Great Joy

Merry Christmas!

From Luke Chapter 2, the Gospel of the Mass at Midnight:

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town.

And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son.

She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear.

The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:

“Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

The image above is "L'Adoration des Bergers" by Georges de La Tour (1593 - 1652).

Here is a tune celebrating the Incarnation courtesy of Tracy Chapman:

As in Olden Days

It's Christmas Eve 2008. To mark the night, I would like to share these wonderful Christmas Eve scenes from the 1944 MGM musical classic "Meet Me in St. Louis".

This was the debut of Christmas standard "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas":



Here is another beautiful version of the song by Coldplay:

O Emmanuel

The final "O Antiphon":

O Emmanuel, our King and Lawgiver, the Desire of all nations and their Savior: come and save us, O Lord our God!

In Latin:



Here, compliments of The Anchoress, is another beautiful version in the ancient language of the Church of "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel":

An Upbeat Story from Hell

Saturday night, I caught "Slumdog Millionaire," the excellent new drama by director Danny Boyle of "Trainspotting" fame.

Based on the book "Q & A" by Vikas Swarup, the film follows the struggle-filled life of a poor young man from Mumbai, India, who becomes a contestant on the Indian version of the television game show "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?".

The story is creatively told through flashbacks between each of the game show questions.

As of this writing, "Slumdog Millionaire" has a 93 percent rating at Rotten Tomatoes, which is well-deserved. I may have been most impressed by the ability of the movie's creators to show the living conditions of lower-caste India while still managing to entertain. "Slumdog Millionaire" is political without being political. And, oh yeah, there's a love story.

In her New York Times review, Manohla Dargis puts it well:

"By all rights the texture of Jamal’s life should have been brutally coarsened by tragedy and poverty by the time he makes a grab for the television jackpot. But because “Slumdog Millionaire” is self-consciously (perhaps commercially) framed as a contemporary fairy tale cum love story, or because Mr. Boyle leans toward the sanguine, this proves to be one of the most upbeat stories about living in hell imaginable. It’s a life that begins in a vast, vibrant, sun-soaked, jampacked ghetto, a kaleidoscopic city of flimsy shacks and struggling humanity and takes an abrupt, cruel turn ... "

Cyd Zeigler liked this one, too. He concludes, "If you like a moving story that highlights the fortitude of the human spirit, you must see this movie."

The USCCB movie critic agrees: "As the portrait of a man who encounters evil in many forms yet remains fundamentally innocent, and who gains wisdom from all he endures, "Slumdog Millionaire" is an exhilarating celebration of humane values."

And, Christian: "The movie literally makes you cry and cheer. It's painful and brilliant."

While the lack of any known American actors in this film's cast may somewhat hurt its chances, I think "Slumdog Millionaire" should be a strong contender for the Oscar for best film of 2008.

It's certainly on my list of favorites.

O King of Nations

The penultimate "O Antiphon":

O King of nations, and their Desired, the Cornerstone who makes all one: come and save our race, whom you formed out of clay.

The title in this antiphon is sometimes translated "O King of the Gentiles" or, in Latin, "O Rex Gentium":



The 2008 World Youth Day theme song echoes this antiphon.

It begins "Every nation, every tribe, come together to worship you ... ":



Hat-tip: Googling God

O Dayspring

This evening's "O Antiphon":

O Dayspring, brightness of eternal Light and Sun of Justice: come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

In this context, "dayspring" is sometimes translated "morning star" or "rising dawn."

In Latin, the antiphon begins "O Oriens":



Here is another good video for invoking Christ as "Light" (music begins at 2:14):

Do Not Be Afraid

Today is the fourth and final Sunday of Advent. The Gospel at Mass today brings us The Annunciation.

From Luke Chapter 1:

The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary.

And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”

But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.

Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

“Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?”

And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.”

Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”

Then the angel departed from her.

In his homily today, Deacon Greg states that the Annunciation "is wildly, defiantly countercultural. It is rebellious. It is a challenge that is offered – and, to our amazement, accepted."

O Key of David

This evening's "O Antiphon":

O Key of David, and scepter of the house of Israel: you open and no one shuts; you shut and no one opens. Come and lead forth from his prison the captive sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death.

In Latin, the prayer begins "O Clavis David":

O Root of Jesse

This evening's "O Antiphon":

O Root of Jesse, who stood as a sign for the people, before you kings shall remain silent, and to you the Gentiles shall make supplication: come to deliver us, and delay not.

Or, in Latin, "O Radix Jesse":



Here it is as chanted by English Dominicans (with recitation of the Magnificat):

A Hippopotamus for Christmas

Here is a cheerful Christmas tune for this week's "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend."

Pace:

O Adonai

This evening's "O Antiphon":

O Adonai (Lord), and Leader of the house of Israel, you appeared to Moses in the flame of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai: come, and with an outstretched arm, redeem us.

Or, in Latin:

And, in the best ecumenical spirit, here's another song with the title "Adonai":

O Wisdom

This evening, I am beginning a short series of daily posts that recite the "O Antiphons," seven great invocations that begin with some of the titles given to the Messiah. These are traditionally prayed by Catholics during vespers (evening prayer) from December 17 to December 23.

Here is the first:

O Wisdom, you came forth from the mouth of the Most High, and reached from end to end, and disposed of all things sweetly and mightily: come and teach us the way of prudence.

In Latin, "wisdom" is "sapientia":

Politics in the Banana State

Key graphs from an intriguing column today at Pajamas Media:

Eight years ago, a Senate seat from the Banana State was won by the wife of a sitting president of the republic. That wife had never before resided in Banana State, but she bought a house there, campaigned with the aura and entourage accorded to a presidential spouse, and with one leap, winning her first elected office ever, she became a senator.

Riding a national political machine to re-election for a second term, that former first lady swiftly turned her Senate seat into a springboard for her own campaign for the presidency. She lost, but took a job in the new administration, leaving the governor of Banana State to appoint a replacement senator.

That governor was himself a replacement, due to the resignation of the elected governor, a crusading moralist caught in a prostitution scandal. As the replacement governor prepared to name a replacement senator, a former president’s daughter declared her interest in the Senate seat — which one of her uncles had won some 44 years earlier, and was using as a springboard for his own presidential run, after serving as attorney-general in his brother’s presidential administration. This former first daughter had recently worked on the campaign of the President-elect — an experience that awakened in her an appetite for politics – but she had reached the age of 51 with no direct experience of her own in public office.

Nonetheless, another of her uncles, also a senator, was ready to endorse her for this leap to the Senate. So was the mayor of Big Plum (the biggest city in Banana State), who on his own turf had just succeeded in scrapping a two-term limit so he could run for a third term — which he justified as a way of offering people a broader choice (namely, himself).

Nope, this is not a story out of Central America.

Hat-tip: Alarming News

The photo above is credited to Chitose Suzuki/AP Wide World.

Doubt

Saturday night, I headed down to the Angelika Film Center to see "Doubt," the film adaptation of the Tony Award-winning play of the same name by John Patrick Shanley.

"Doubt" introduces us to two Sisters of Charity of New York who work at a parish school in what looks like an predominantly Irish-American neighborhood in the Bronx. One sister is the school's hard-nosed principal (Meryl Streep) while the other is a kind young teacher (Amy Adams).

The time is late 1964. It's an unsettled time for American Catholics -- a year after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and a year before the implementation of liturgical changes prompted by the Second Vatican Council.

Crisis comes when the sisters suspect a young priest (Philip Seymour Hoffman) of abusing the school's first Black student. The sisters confront the priest, who vehemently denies the allegations.

As multiple reviewers have correctly asserted, Meryl Streep dominates "Doubt." Hoffman and Adams turn in good performances but are eclipsed by Streep's powerful rendering of Sr. Aloysius. Streep's work here is reminiscent of her superb multi-character turn in the HBO version of "Angels in America."

I think Shanley, who also directed "Doubt," does an adequate job of exploring the complex layers that can surround such allegations of abuse. There is one particularly memorable scene in which Sr. Aloysius presents her concerns to the student's mother (Viola Davis). The mother's response shocks both the nun and the audience.

But, I also can't help wondering what "Doubt" would have looked like if Shanley (whose only previous film directing credit is "Joe Versus the Volcano") had left this adaptation in the hands of another director. In many ways, the film did still have the feeling of a play with characters in somewhat static settings (not that there's anything inherently wrong with that).

For a more in-depth review of "Doubt," check out this one by Michael V. Tueth, S.J., at America.

As of this writing, "Doubt" has a 71 percent rating at Rotten Tomatoes. I'd say that's low.

Ten Days 'til Christmas

It's Monday morning, December 15. Just ten days 'til Christmas. How's your holiday spirit coming?

In case you need a little inspiration:



Or, maybe this:

A Full Glass of "Milk"

On Thursday night, I saw the new film "Milk." It was my second recent cinematic foray back to the late 1970s -- coming just five days after seeing "Frost/Nixon."

Directed by Gus Van Sant and starring Sean Penn in the title role, "Milk" chronicles the last eight years in the life of slain San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk. He is said to be the first openly gay man elected to a major public office in the United States.

As someone who ran several times for the same public office, I think I may have been most drawn to "Milk" for its depiction of Harvey Milk's multiple attempts to get elected -- and the interesting campaign team he assembled around him.

Political nerds everywhere will appreciate that it was the drawing of a favorable electoral district that finally got Milk into office -- as well as some major image adjustments during his transformation from community activist to serious candidate.

"Milk" is deservedly receiving a lot of attention this awards season. Penn's performance certainly could be called one of the best turned in this year by a male lead. (I've been a fan of Penn's ever since "Dead Man Walking.")

I should note that "Milk" avoided the USCCB's "O" rating, receiving an "L" for "limited adult audience." The reviewer called it a "solid biographical drama" and adding, "Director Gus Van Sant brings an almost cinema verite style to the docudrama ... "

Brett McCracken of Christianity Today also gave "Milk" a fairly positive nod.

McCracken concluded, "... 'Milk' achieves what it sets out to do, telling an inspiring tale of one man's quest to legitimize his identity, to give hope to his community. I'm not sure how well it'll play outside of big cities, or if it will sway any opinions on hot-button political issues, but it gives a valiant, empathetic go of it."

As of this writing, "Milk" has a 93 percent rating at Rotten Tomatoes.

To Testify to the Light

Today is the third Sunday of Advent or "Gaudete Sunday." On this day, we light the pink or rose-colored candle on the Advent Wreath. It is a reminder to be joyful during the somewhat solemn season of anticipation and preparation.

Last Sunday, the Gospel reading introduced John the Baptist as seen in the Gospel of Mark. Today at Mass, we meet the man through the Gospel of John.

From John Chapter 1:

A man named John was sent from God.

He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light.

And this is the testimony of John.

When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him to ask him, “Who are you?” He admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Christ.”

So they asked him, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.”

“Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.”

So they said to him, “Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?”

He said: “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘make straight the way of the Lord,’” as Isaiah the prophet said.”

Some Pharisees were also sent. They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?”

John answered them, “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.”

This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

A Concord Pastor has a great homily for this Sunday. And, Deacon Greg is reminding us to be joyful despite the country's economic woes.

Mike, too, has a reflection for this important Sunday.

Strings of Street Lights

For this week's "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend," I have decided to repeat a tune that I used last December -- the Christmas classic "Silver Bells."

I'm using it again because of a personal connection. "Silver Bells" was composed in 1951 by the songwriting team of Jay Livingston and Ray Evans. Livingston grew up in my hometown of McDonald, PA.

Peace:

Nuestra Señora & Cardinal Dulles

For American Catholics, December 12 already was an important day being the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. (An image of Nuestra Señora is shown above.)

But, this morning, the day took on a new significance with the death of Cardinal Avery Dulles, S.J., at the age of 90.

The cardinal, one of America’s great theologians, died at Murray-Weigel Hall on the campus of Fordham University in the Bronx, where he was the Laurence J. McGinley Professor of Religion and Society. The scion of a prominent U.S. political family (Dulles International Airport is named for his father), he received the rarest of Catholic honors – he was named a cardinal without having first been a bishop or archbishop.

Fr. Jim Martin, S.J., has a lovely reflection on some time he spent with Cardinal Dulles. Mike has a good story, too.

Bookends

For Catholics, particularly those with a devotion to the Blessed Mother, this workweek has "Mary" bookends:

Monday (Dec. 8) was the Solemnity of The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It's a holy day of obligation for Catholics in the United States. Friday (Dec. 12) is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the "Patroness of the Americas."

On Monday, over at Busted Halo, this image of the Madonna and Child created in 2004 by my old college buddy Anthony Santella, was used to illustrate the solemnity on the site's Advent Calendar:

A close-up:

Two Anniversaries

Today is the anniversary of two events.

Sixty years ago today on December 10, 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The UDHR was "the first global expression of rights to which all human beings are inherently entitled." (The U.N. has a special Website for the anniversary.)

Forty years ago today on December 10, 1968, Thomas Merton died. Merton, known as Father Louis, O.C.S.O. at the Abby of Gethsemani in Kentucky, was one of the great spiritual writers of the 20th Century. The coincidence is interesting. I am sure that Merton did think a great deal about human rights. He lived, after all, during the most active years of the civil rights movement.

But, in addition to human rights, Merton was very concerned about the human condition itself. He struggled mightily with the question of what is the best way to spend a human life (in solitude? in action?) -- and how we are to be in right relationship with God. This passage in Merton's 1961 book "New Seeds of Contemplation" illustrates a bit of this thinking:

The secret of interior peace is detachment. Recollection is impossible for the man who is dominated by all the confused and changing desires of his own will. And even if those desires reach out for the good things of the interior life, for recollection, for peace, for the pleasures of prayer, if they are no more than the natural and selfish desires they will make recollection difficult and even impossible. You will never be able to have interior peace and recollection unless you are detached even from the desire of peace and recollection. You will never be able to pray perfectly until you are detached from the pleasures of prayer. If you give up all these desires and seek one thing only, God's will, he will grant you recollection and peace in the middle of labor and conflict and trial.

Deacon Greg and Rocco and The Anchoress and NCR and even the Huffington Post also remembered the Merton anniversary. Busted Halo has two pieces to mark the day: an essay by Fr. Jim Martin, S.J., and an interview with the director of a new documentary on the Trappist. Here is a clip from the documentary:

Thumbs Up: "Frost/Nixon"

On Sunday, I caught an early afternoon showing of "Frost/Nixon" in a crowded theater at the AMC Loews near Lincoln Center. The new film tells the story of the interviews conducted in May 1977 by British television personality David Frost with a post-Watergate President Richard M. Nixon.

As a political junkie and a little bit of a history buff, I enjoyed the film a great deal. But, even those without an interest in politics or history likely will appreciate "Frost/Nixon" for its tension-laden scenes and sympathetic characters.

A superb Frank Langella portrays President Nixon in this film based on the play of the same name by Peter Morgan. Morgan, Langella and director Ron Howard bring us a Nixon who is complex and fascinating.

Michael Sheen, who well played Tony Blair in "The Queen" (also written by Peter Morgan), plays a young David Frost. As portrayed in the film, Sir David was not nearly as erudite as we think of him today. He is depicted here as the Ryan Seacrest of the '70s.

Langella and Sheen both likely deserve to be nominated for Academy Awards for their work. Both "Best Actor" nods, I'd say, as they probably had equal screen time.

"Frost/Nixon" has left me with a desire to watch the original interviews. I also want to discover which parts of the film were not historically accurate.

As of this writing, "Frost/Nixon" has a 92 percent rating at Rotten Tomatoes.

Manohla liked this one, too, calling it a "theatrical smackdown." This line from her NYT review was on-target: "Stories of lost crowns lend themselves to drama, but not necessarily audience-pleasing entertainments, which may explain why “Frost/Nixon” registers as such a soothing, agreeably amusing experience, more palliative than purgative."

The Clarks in NYC

In July, I did a post on a concert by the great Pittsburgh band The Clarks performed in my hometown of McDonald, PA. I was disappointed to have missed the show that night.

Good things come to those who wait.

Saturday evening, along with a few hundred other members of the 'burgh diaspora, I had the opportunity to see The Clarks live at the Highline Ballroom on West 16th Street here in NYC. It was a good show with some old and new tunes.

One standout was the band's cover of The Beatles' song "Dear Prudence." Here is what it sounded like at another show:



"Born Too Late" -- another favorite:



A young NY/NJ band called Kill the Alarm opened for The Clarks at this show.

George Tooker: A Retrospective

On Saturday afternoon, I joined Anthony Santella and his crew in a visit to the National Academy Museum on Fifth Avenue at 89th Street. Our purpose in checking out this modest neighbor of the Guggenheim was to see its temporary exhibit entitled "George Tooker: A Retrospective."

Tooker, a native New Yorker (born 1920) who lives in Vermont, is a recipient of the National Medal of the Arts. He is noted, at least in part, for having worked exclusively with egg tempera paint. Tooker's works addressed many of the social questions of the second half of the 20th century.

In an article on the exhibit at America, Karen Sue Smith states, "Deeply spiritual and therefore attuned to social injustice and destructive societal trends, Tooker painted his most provocative works as protests against racism, alienation, government surveillance of citizens and homophobia."

Some of the works in the exhibit included:

Self-Portrait, 1947


Government Bureau, 1956


Father and Child, 2000


Lunch, 1964


Embrace of Peace, 1986 (The museum's description of this painting noted that it at least partly reflects the "kiss of peace" during the Mass prior to Communion. Tooker became a Catholic in 1976.)

- - -

After completing our tour of the National Academy Museum, we walked south on Fifth Avenue to The Frick Collection at 70th Street. I don't think I had ever been inside it before. The number of major works in the collection was overwhelming. Naturally, as I toured the galleries, I kept in mind that the collection's founder was a son of Western Pennsylvania -- and that his great fortune stemmed from the region's Industrial-era coke and steel plants.

Clothed in Camel's Hair

Today is the Second Sunday of Advent.

The Gospel at Mass, from the beginning of the Gospel of Mark, speaks of the ministry and message of John the Baptist.

From Mark Chapter 1:

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God.

As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way.

A voice of one crying out in the desert: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.”

John the Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

People of the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins.

John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He fed on locusts and wild honey. And this is what he proclaimed:

“One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Deacon Greg has an excellent homily on this Gospel.

In regard to John the Baptist, he notes, "... he doesn’t necessarily appear when or how we expect him to. This preacher isn’t Joel Osteen in a silk suit and an air-conditioned arena. John the Baptist is rough and wild and frightening, yelling in the desert."

The Holy Family vs. Your Family?

In what I think was a brave move, Fr. Jim Martin, S.J., has called for an end to the practice of putting family photos on the front of Christmas cards.

He threw down this gauntlet Friday on NPR in a spot titled "More Virgin Mary, Less Virgin Islands." One passage:

But I enjoy the photos more when they're inside the card, not the card itself. Because more and more, even devout Christians have been replacing Jesus, Mary and Joseph with themselves. Doesn't it strike you as weird to set aside the Holy Family in favor of your family? Does a photo of Cabo San Lucas trump the story told by the original San Lucas? Is Christmas really about you?

I agree with Fr. Jim. I prefer traditional Christmas cards, too. But, I must say, this is the closest to curmudgeonly I've ever seen this friendly Jesuit.

Hat-tip: The Anchoress

A Template From John McCain

Peggy Noonan's column in today's Wall Street Journal was as good a read as always.

The entire piece is worth a look but this graph in particular stood out to me:

At such a gathering a month ago, there would have been some angry mutterings at John McCain, but not now. He's come quietly back to the Senate, where one of his colleagues told him of an amazing thing. The colleague had been touring the young democracies of Eastern Europe during the American election, and he found it wasn't so much Barack Obama that immediately knocked out observers but Mr. McCain's concession speech. This is the first American transfer of power they'd seen in eight years, and they couldn't get over the peacefulness and grace with which Mr. McCain accepted the people's verdict. "It really impressed them," the colleague told Mr. McCain, and later me. It gave them a template, a guide to how the older democracies do it. When he told me of this, I remembered the observation of a journalist who had covered Russia. The Russian newspapers had generally played down Mr. Obama's victory, she said, because it got in the way of the establishment line: that the corrupt American democracy is composed of two warring family machines that have the system wired and controlled with the help of their corporate oligarch cronies. It's not a real democracy but a pretend democracy, and a hypocritical one. This helps the Russians rationalize and excuse their infirm hold on democratic ways and manners. And then the black man from Chicago with no longtime machine or money is elected . . .

Comfort Ye My People

This year, I have been serving for a second time as a "welcomer" and sponsor for the R.C.I.A. program at the Church of St. Paul the Apostle. At our session Wednesday evening, Fr. Bob had us conclude by listening to some music that included "Comfort Ye My People" from Handel's "Messiah."

Here's a version of that piece for this week's "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend."

Peace:

My Cup Overflows

This morning, here in New York, I attended the funeral service of Jonathan H. Moore, a friend from college.

Jon, five weeks shy of his 32nd birthday, died from complications from muscular dystrophy.

To quote the rabbi who conducted the service, Jon was a true Renaissance man. While he was still in high school, Jon had a 30-minute face-to-face meeting (thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation) with President Bill Clinton in which they discussed the concerns of people with disabilities. He also helped to create a play performed at Lincoln Center on these concerns.

At NYU, Jon was a student senator-at-large and a devotee of the women’s basketball team, notably in 1997 when they won the NCAA Division III Championship. He even managed the pep band that played at the games. (I sat next to one of the pep band members today before the funeral service, which was standing-room only.)

By the time I met John in the mid-1990s, he had already spent years confined to a wheelchair. But, that never stopped him. Jon rarely, if ever, skipped a group outing to one of the restaurants or bars around NYU. One year, a group of us from NYU’s Inter-Residence Hall Council that included Jon and his personal-care aide even traveled to Oklahoma for a NACURH conference.

I regret that I lost touch with Jon in the years after I moved back to Pittsburgh. Today I learned that, since we had last spoken, he had added cooking and TV cooking shows to his passions that already included film and computers.

Jon was a brave and good man. Our world is less for his passing.

At Jon's funeral service, the rabbi read (in both Hebrew and English) the 23rd Psalm:

The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures He gives me repose;
Before restful waters He leads me; He refreshes my soul.
He guides me in right paths for His name's sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil;
For you are at my side, with your rod and your staff that give me courage.
You spread a table for me in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Only goodness and kindness shall follow me all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come.

Jon’s death is one of three in my world in the past few days.

On Thanksgiving Day, my second cousin once removed, Joshua Vincenti, died suddenly and unexpectedly. Josh was only 24.

And, sometime between Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, the mother of a good friend from Pittsburgh died at the age of 78. Her death was discovered after she missed the morning Mass at her parish.

I pray that these three souls are now in the warm embrace of God. And, I pray that the Holy Spirit may sustain all those who loved them and mourn their passing.

From the words at the end of the Funeral Mass:

May the angels lead you into paradise,
may the martyrs come to welcome you,
and take you to the holy city,
the new and eternal Jerusalem.

"Spiritually Close"

Today, December 1, is World AIDS Day. In commemoration:


A Concord Pastor and Rocco both have good posts on World AIDS Day with Church-related resources. Rocco's post includes this 2007 quote from Pope Benedict XVI:

"Next 1 December again marks World AIDS Day. I'm spiritually close to the many who suffer from this terrible illness as well as their families, particularly those stricken by the loss of a loved one. Assuring all of my prayers, I likewise wish to exhort all people of good will to multiply their efforts to stop the spread of the HIV virus, to combat the harm which affects so many, and to take on themselves the care of the sick, especially those who are young."