Take My Hand

Today is the steady's birthday. To celebrate, we went last night to see the acclaimed musical "Next to Normal" on Broadway.

We liked it. The show has a compelling story. I did grow a bit weary of the high-pitched belting – but would recommend it nonetheless.

For this week's "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend," here is a piece called "A Light in the Dark" from "Next to Normal."

Peace:

Live It Again

For this week's "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend," below is the beautiful standard "Autumn in New York."

I've used it before in this space -- and I try not to repeat. But, since it's such an appropriate tune for this time of year, I'll make an exception.

Cue Ol' Blue Eyes.

Peace:

Burning

Great quote:

"A soul that is burning with love cannot remain inactive."

- St. Thérèse of Lisieux

Slovenian Sunshine

For this week's "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend," here is Perpetuum Jazzile with a fun, jazzy take on "You Are My Sunshine."

Peace:

On the Wings of the Wind

Verse of the day:

“You walk on the wings of the wind,
you make the winds your messengers
and flashing fire your servants.”

-- Psalm 104: 3-4

A Blazing Fire

Two weeks ago, at the wedding of my old college friend Pete in Burbank, CA, the first scripture reading was the passage from Song of Songs (a.k.a. Song of Solomon) that includes the verse "Set me as a seal on your heart."

I heard the same passage proclaimed last Saturday morning at the Mass of First Profession of Sr. John Paul Marie, C.F.R., at St. Adalbert Church in the South Bronx. (Sr. John Paul's college roommate is married to one of my high school buddies.)

In case you're unfamiliar, here are those beautiful verses:

Set me as a seal on your heart,
as a seal on your arm;
For stern as death is love,
relentless as the nether world is devotion;
its flames are a blazing fire.

Deep waters cannot quench love,
nor floods sweep it away.
Were one to offer all he owns to purchase love,
he would be roundly mocked.

These words have been the inspiration for more than one than one piece of music, including a classical setting that is often performed by choral groups.

But, I think the song related to this scripture that I most appreciate is the contemporary take of Matt Maher. In honor of Pete and his bride, Sr. John Paul and everyone with a burning love, I post it below for this week's "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend."

Peace:

Here Comes Everybody

Quote of the day:

" ... old Polish ladies, tweedy gents from the shires, African hospital cleaners, self-consciously cool teenagers, Filipino checkout assistants and, as one of my friends put it, “some rather tarty-looking traveller women who’d obviously had a glass or two”. They don’t call it the Catholic Church for nothing ... "

-- Damian Thompson, in a post on B16's visit to the United Kingdom

Hat-tip: Deacon Scott on Facebook

The image above is from Flickr. The pilgrims at the Mass are reading from special editions published by my gig.

Sentimental Reasons

I learned today that two of my friends here in NYC have gotten engaged.

To them, and especially to my own steady, I dedicate this week's "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend."

I have chosen one of my all-time favorites: Nat King Cole's rendition of "(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons."

Peace:



And another take:

Prayer of Remembrance

I'm writing today from the Starbucks at the Galleria in Sherman Oaks, CA. I've been visiting the Los Angeles area all week (following the SCRC conference in Anaheim) to attend the wedding of an old college friend tomorrow in Burbank.

It's been a great visit. But as the other old college friend with whom I'm staying doesn't have wifi, my infrequent time on-line has been limited to checking e-mail and the social networking sites.

And, while I missed the chance to do my usual post about Sunday Mass, I didn't want today to pass without a note here at the blog that today is the ninth anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks upon the United States.

We must not forget.

Below, for this week's "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend," is a rendition of J.S. Bach's setting of "Dona Nobis Pacem." It is posted as a prayer of remembrance for all those who were killed that horrible day, for all who mourn them, for our nation and for peace in our world.

Peace:

The Age of Not Believing

Since I'm in Anaheim, home of Disneyland, it seems appropriate that this week's "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend" be a song from a Disney film.

One of my favorite Disney movies is "Bedknobs and Broomsticks," the 1971 musical starring Angela Lansbury and David Tomlinson.

Of the Sherman Brothers' many fine tunes in the movie, perhaps most memorable is the tender ballad "The Age of Not Believing." It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song.

Here it is below for your consideration.

Peace:



Bonus: From a recital:

On Blogging and Humility

I'm writing tonight from Anaheim, CA. I'm here through Sunday to exhibit for my gig at the Southern California Renewal Conference. It's my second visit to this annual gathering of Catholic charismatics and my eighth occasion exhibiting at the Anaheim Convention Center.

This week, back in Gotham, I was remiss in doing my usual post on the Sunday Mass readings. My persistent lack of blogging is due to a few reasons.

First, a somewhat negative cause: I've become addicted to Twitter. I've been won over by the possibilities of the micro-blogging format and its potential for connection with many people from various walks of life.

Second, a very positive cause: I'm dating someone. It's going well. And, this leaves less solitary time for writing.

But, I'm determined to keep this blog alive. It's been a labor of love for more than four years.

In that spirit:

On Sunday, I went to the 7 p.m. Mass at Old St. Pat's.

The day's scripture readings focused on humility. The Gospel, which I posted in 2007, was from Luke Chapter 14. In the passage, Jesus said:

"For every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

This is something I need to remember -- while exhibiting, tweeting, dating, blogging and all the other parts of this blessedly full life.

For reflections on Sunday's scriptures, visit Fran, A Concord Pastor, City Father, Fr. Mulcahy and Bishop Gumbleton.

The image above is from Evan.

Suerte

Sometime last week, I noticed that Jason Mraz's cheerful love song "Lucky" has been translated into Spanish with Ximena Sariñana on the female vocals. Liked it immediately.

Since I've already posted "Lucky" in this space before, I passed on using it for last week's "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend."

But, I had a great date tonight that left me feeling quite blessed. So, here is "Suerte" for this weekend's musical entree.

Paz:



Here's a live version:

In Memoriam: John Tobin, 1935 - 2010

Word has come of the death Monday of John Tobin, a friend from my hometown of McDonald, PA. He was only 74.

Soft-spoken and generous, John was a true gentle-man.

While I knew John as a child and a teenager, I came to know him well as an adult through activities at our parish, St. Alphonsus Church.

John had been a member of St. Alphonsus' parish council and was an acolyte at funeral Masses. But, in actuality, he did so much more for the parish over the years -- quietly lending a hand in many anonymous capacities.

I also knew John through the McDonald Lions Club, a fraternal organization dedicated to community service with a special emphasis on serving the blind. He was the kind of Lion that makes the organization work -- through faithful attendance at the regular gatherings and always volunteering at special fundraisers and events.

Please keep John's wife, Roberta, his children, grandchildren and all of his family members and friends in your prayers. His passing leaves a void and he will be missed.

From the prayers at end of the funeral Mass:

John,

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.

Last and First

For Mass today, I went to the 12:45 p.m. liturgy at Old St. Pat's. After two weekends on the road, it was good to able to just walk to Church in my 'hood.

Today's Gospel passage, which I posted in 2007, was from Luke Chapter 13. It includes Jesus' well-known words of warning:

"Strive to enter through the narrow gate ... "

and

"For behold, some are last who will be first, and some who are first will be last."

For reflections on these verses and the rest of today's Scripture readings, visit Fran, City Father, Bishop Gumbleton, Fr. Jboy and Fr. Mulcahy.

The narrow gate pictured above comes via A Concord Pastor.

24 - 17

Yesterday evening, my friend Michelle and I took NJ Transit trains from Penn Station to The Meadowlands to watch the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the New York Giants in a preseason game. Michelle is a fellow 'Burgh-area native who went to NYU in the '90s. We scored some last-minute, inexpensive tickets.

It was a good game. The Black and Gold trumped Big Blue 24 to 17.

The new Meadowlands stadium was impressive (it has four jumbotrons). And, I can report that, despite being fairly high up, we could easily see the action on the field. Two views:


An aside: A bottle of water at the stadium ran me $4.75. And, if that wasn't bad enough, they take the cap off for you -- and keep it!

Unbelievable. Precaution taken to an outrageous extreme.

Hello!

This morning, some Internet surfing led to the blog of St. Mary's Church of Westfield, MA. I noticed that, a few weeks back, St. Mary's used a clip featuring the singer and guitarist Coffey Anderson.

He seems to have a wonderful, joyful style. (He starts his videos with a resounding "Hello!".)

So, here is Coffey with "Open the Eyes of My Heart" for this week's "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend."

Peace:



Bonus:

Coffey's take on "Lord, I Lift Your Name On High":

His Promise of Mercy

On Sunday, the day after my high school class reunion in Western Pennsylvania, my maternal grandmother and I went to the 10:30 a.m. Mass (a.k.a. "the late Mass"!) at St. Patrick Church in the village of Noblestown.

On the liturgical calendar was the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is the day Catholics celebrate our belief that, after her time on earth was complete, the mother of Jesus was assumed body and soul into heaven.

Sunday morning's Gospel reading was the account from Luke Chapter 1 in which, after learning she was to be the mother of Jesus, Mary "set out and traveled to the hill country" to the house of Zechariah and Elizabeth.

The passage provides much of the Hail Mary prayer as well as Mary's beautiful (and revolutionary) proclamation known as The Magnificat:

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me
and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm,
and has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children forever.”

For reflections on Sunday's scriptures and the Assumption, visit City Father, Deacon Greg, Father Mulcahy, Bishop Gumbleton, Busted Halo, Fr. Jboy, Sr. Jo-Anne and Fr. Tito.

Assumption Flashbacks: 2009, 2008 and Bertha.

The image above is "The Holy Virgin in Old Age" or "La sainte Vierge âgée" by James Tissot. It is from the collection of the Brooklyn Museum of Art.

A Heart Resolved

Quote of the day:

" ... a heart resolved to love can radiate goodness without limits."

- Brother Roger of Taizé, d. 2005

Pull an Angelina

In what I think is a first since I began the series in October, 2007, I did not post an installment last week of the "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend."

Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa.

Well, not really. I was on the road again sans laptop for another long weekend. This time I was in Western Pennsylvania for the 15-year reunion (a year late, by tradition) of the Fort Cherry High School Class of 1994. We convened Saturday for a family picnic at Mingo Creek County Park and an after-party at Cadillac Ranch.

Friday afternoon, en route on a JetBlue flight from JFK to PIT, I had the chance to listen to some XM Satellite Radio. (Why don't all planes have in-seat, personal entertainment systems?)

One of the tunes I most enjoyed was Travis "Travie" McCoy's single "Billionaire" featuring Bruno Mars.

I don't endorse the song's message or it's greedier lyrics (which certainly don't jive with the "treasure in heaven" message of Matthew 19 in the daily Mass readings yesterday and today).

But, "Billionaire" has a Mraz-esque mellow beat that's rather catchy. So, for your consideration, here it is as a belated "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend." (Advance apologies for the F-bombs.)

Pax:

Do Not Be Afraid

I'm writing tonight from the lone desktop computer at the "courtesy wifi station" at my gym. I'm here, and not in the comfort of my pad, due to what may be the death of my laptop. After three-plus years of use, it looks like both the battery and charger are fried.

Ah, well. It had a good run. A new charger still may be in the offing. But, a replacement also is on order.

My week sans laptop has been a positive thing for book reading and getting more sleep. But, it's been a negative for blogging -- causing an already slow writing patch to get even slower.

I have been particularly remiss in recording that I paid a fourth visit last weekend to Wichita, Kansas. Once again, I visited that little city to exhibit for my gig at the Midwest Catholic Family Conference.

It was a fine gathering. I even met the members of L'Angelus at the hotel pool.

For Sunday Mass, I joined about 2,000 fellow conference-goers for the solid liturgy celebrated in the arena of the Century II Convention Center.

The Gospel passage, which I posted in 2007, was from Luke Chapter 12. It included one of the verses in the New Testament in which Jesus states:

"Do not be afraid ... "

It is a simple message -- but one that has helped to steady yours truly during some of life's challenging moments. I will never forget the Papal Mass in New York City's Central Park in October, 1995, when Pope John Paul II said four consecutive times, "Do not be afraid!" and concluded, "God is with you!"

For more in-depth take-aways from last Sunday's scripture readings, visit A Concord Pastor, Deacon Greg, Fran, City Father, Bishop Gumbleton, Fr. Mulcahy, Fr. Richard, Fr. Jboy, Sr. Mary and Fr. Larry.