I haven't posted a silly quiz result in a while...
What Common Breed of Dog Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla
What Common Breed of Dog Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla
Saturday, June 07, 2003
Quote from a letter from the Professor to W.H. Auden, dated June 7, 1955
On writing The Lord of the Rings....
" A great labour: and as the author of the Ancrene Wisse says at the end of his work: ' I would rather, God be my witness, set out on foot for Rome than begin the work over again !' "
On writing The Lord of the Rings....
" A great labour: and as the author of the Ancrene Wisse says at the end of his work: ' I would rather, God be my witness, set out on foot for Rome than begin the work over again !' "
Ninth Day
of the Novena to the Holy Spirit. The link to prayers posted by Mr. Serafin is here.
"O my dear Lord, how merciful Thou hast been to me. When I was young, Thou didst put into my heart a special devotion to Thee. Thou hast taken me up in my youth, and in my age Thou wilt not forsake me. Not for my merit, but from Thy free and bountiful love Thou didst put good resolutions into me when I was young, and didst turn me to Thee. Thou wilt never forsake me. I do earnestly trust so—never certainly without fearful provocation on my part. Yet I trust and pray, that Thou wilt keep me from that provocation. O keep me from the provocation of lukewarmness and sloth. O my dear Lord, lead me forward from strength to strength, gently, sweetly, tenderly, lovingly, powerfully, effectually, remembering my fretfulness and feebleness, till Thou bringest me into Thy heaven."- Venerable John Henry Newman, C.O.
Meditations and Devotions
of the Novena to the Holy Spirit. The link to prayers posted by Mr. Serafin is here.
"O my dear Lord, how merciful Thou hast been to me. When I was young, Thou didst put into my heart a special devotion to Thee. Thou hast taken me up in my youth, and in my age Thou wilt not forsake me. Not for my merit, but from Thy free and bountiful love Thou didst put good resolutions into me when I was young, and didst turn me to Thee. Thou wilt never forsake me. I do earnestly trust so—never certainly without fearful provocation on my part. Yet I trust and pray, that Thou wilt keep me from that provocation. O keep me from the provocation of lukewarmness and sloth. O my dear Lord, lead me forward from strength to strength, gently, sweetly, tenderly, lovingly, powerfully, effectually, remembering my fretfulness and feebleness, till Thou bringest me into Thy heaven."- Venerable John Henry Newman, C.O.
Meditations and Devotions
Great pro-life reading list
courtesy of Eve Tushnet. (Direct link not working- some scrolling necessary)
courtesy of Eve Tushnet. (Direct link not working- some scrolling necessary)
Note for all the Tolkien geeks out there....
Today is the feast of St. Meriadoc, Bishop . There is information on him here. I would note that, before he was made a bishop, he apparently lived as a hermit in a part of Brittany known as ... Rohan......
Today is the feast of St. Meriadoc, Bishop . There is information on him here. I would note that, before he was made a bishop, he apparently lived as a hermit in a part of Brittany known as ... Rohan......
Friday, June 06, 2003
Eighth Day
of the Novena to the Holy Spirit. The link to the prayers posted by Gerard Serafin is here.
" I adore Thee, O dread Lord, for what Thou hast done for my soul. I acknowledge and feel, not only as a matter of faith but of experience, that I cannot have one good thought or do one good act without Thee. I know, that if I attempt anything good in my own strength, I shall to a certainty fail. I have bitter experience of this. My God, I am only safe when Thou dost breathe upon me. If Thou withdraw Thy breath, forthwith my three mortal enemies rush on me and overcome me. I am as weak as water, I am utterly impotent without Thee. The minute Thou dost cease to act in me, I begin to languish, to gasp, and to faint away. Of my good desires, whatever they may be, of my good aims, aspirations, attempts, successes, habits, practices, Thou art the sole cause and present continual source. I have nothing but what I have received, and I protest now in Thy presence, O Sovereign Paraclete, that I have nothing to glory in, and everything to be humbled at." - Venerable John Henry Newman, C.O.
Meditations and Devotions
of the Novena to the Holy Spirit. The link to the prayers posted by Gerard Serafin is here.
" I adore Thee, O dread Lord, for what Thou hast done for my soul. I acknowledge and feel, not only as a matter of faith but of experience, that I cannot have one good thought or do one good act without Thee. I know, that if I attempt anything good in my own strength, I shall to a certainty fail. I have bitter experience of this. My God, I am only safe when Thou dost breathe upon me. If Thou withdraw Thy breath, forthwith my three mortal enemies rush on me and overcome me. I am as weak as water, I am utterly impotent without Thee. The minute Thou dost cease to act in me, I begin to languish, to gasp, and to faint away. Of my good desires, whatever they may be, of my good aims, aspirations, attempts, successes, habits, practices, Thou art the sole cause and present continual source. I have nothing but what I have received, and I protest now in Thy presence, O Sovereign Paraclete, that I have nothing to glory in, and everything to be humbled at." - Venerable John Henry Newman, C.O.
Meditations and Devotions
The Feast of St. Norbert, Bishop and Founder
is today. There is information on him here. To any Premonstratensians out there, happy feast day !
is today. There is information on him here. To any Premonstratensians out there, happy feast day !
Thursday, June 05, 2003
For Thursday
"In Thee, O Lord, all things live, and Thou dost give them their food. Oculi omnium in Te sperant—"the eyes of all hope in Thee." To the beasts of the field Thou givest meat and drink. They live on day by day, because Thou dost give them day by day to live. And, if Thou givest not, they feel their misery at once. Nature witnesses to this great truth, for they are visited at once with great agony, and they cry out and wildly wander about, seeking what they need. But, as to us Thy children, Thou feedest us with another food. Thou knowest, O my God, who madest us, that nothing can satisfy us but Thyself, and therefore Thou hast caused Thy own self to be meat and drink to us. O most adorable mystery! O most stupendous of mercies! Thou most Glorious, and Beautiful, and Strong, and Sweet, Thou didst know well that nothing else would support our immortal natures, our frail hearts, but Thyself; and so Thou didst take a human flesh and blood, that they, as being the flesh and blood of God, might be our life. " - Venerable John Henry Newman, C.O.
Meditations and Devotions
"In Thee, O Lord, all things live, and Thou dost give them their food. Oculi omnium in Te sperant—"the eyes of all hope in Thee." To the beasts of the field Thou givest meat and drink. They live on day by day, because Thou dost give them day by day to live. And, if Thou givest not, they feel their misery at once. Nature witnesses to this great truth, for they are visited at once with great agony, and they cry out and wildly wander about, seeking what they need. But, as to us Thy children, Thou feedest us with another food. Thou knowest, O my God, who madest us, that nothing can satisfy us but Thyself, and therefore Thou hast caused Thy own self to be meat and drink to us. O most adorable mystery! O most stupendous of mercies! Thou most Glorious, and Beautiful, and Strong, and Sweet, Thou didst know well that nothing else would support our immortal natures, our frail hearts, but Thyself; and so Thou didst take a human flesh and blood, that they, as being the flesh and blood of God, might be our life. " - Venerable John Henry Newman, C.O.
Meditations and Devotions
Oh, wonderful...
Now they are pushing drugs that chemically spay women for longer and longer stretches of time as "promoting health."
Link courtesy of Athanasius.
Now they are pushing drugs that chemically spay women for longer and longer stretches of time as "promoting health."
Link courtesy of Athanasius.
Seventh Day
of the Novena to the Holy Spirit. Link to prayers on Mr. Serafin's site here.
" I adore Thee, O Almighty Lord, the Paraclete, because Thou in Thy infinite compassion hast brought me into this Church, the work of Thy supernatural power. I had no claim on Thee for so wonderful a favour over anyone else in the whole world. There were many men far better than I by nature, gifted with more pleasing natural gifts, and less stained with sin. Yet Thou, in Thy inscrutable love for me, hast chosen me and brought me into Thy fold. Thou hast a reason for everything Thou dost. I know there must have been an all-wise reason, as we speak in human language, for Thy choosing me and not another—but I know that that reason was something external to myself. I did nothing towards it—I did everything against it. I did everything to thwart Thy purpose. And thus I owe all to Thy grace. I should have lived and died in darkness and sin; I should have become worse and worse the longer I lived; I should have got more to hate and abjure Thee, O Source of my bliss; I should have got yearly more fit for hell, and at length I should have gone there, but for Thy incomprehensible love to me. O my God, that overpowering love took me captive. Was any boyhood so impious as some years of mine! Did I not in fact dare Thee to do Thy worst? Ah, how I struggled to get free from Thee; but Thou art stronger than I and hast prevailed. I have not a word to say, but to bow down in awe before the depths of Thy love.
And then, in course of time, slowly but infallibly did Thy grace bring me on into Thy Church. Now then give me this further grace, Lord, to use all this grace well, and to turn it to my salvation. Teach me, make me, to come to the fountains of mercy continually with an awakened, eager mind, and with lively devotion. Give me a love of Thy Sacraments and Ordinances. Teach me to value as I ought, to prize as the inestimable pearl, that pardon which again and again Thou givest me, and the great and heavenly gift of the Presence of Him whose Spirit Thou art, upon the Altar. Without Thee I can do nothing, and Thou art there where Thy Church is and Thy Sacraments. Give me grace to rest in them for ever, till they are lost in the glory of Thy manifestation in the world to come. " - Venerable John Henry Newman, C.O.
Meditations and Devotions
of the Novena to the Holy Spirit. Link to prayers on Mr. Serafin's site here.
" I adore Thee, O Almighty Lord, the Paraclete, because Thou in Thy infinite compassion hast brought me into this Church, the work of Thy supernatural power. I had no claim on Thee for so wonderful a favour over anyone else in the whole world. There were many men far better than I by nature, gifted with more pleasing natural gifts, and less stained with sin. Yet Thou, in Thy inscrutable love for me, hast chosen me and brought me into Thy fold. Thou hast a reason for everything Thou dost. I know there must have been an all-wise reason, as we speak in human language, for Thy choosing me and not another—but I know that that reason was something external to myself. I did nothing towards it—I did everything against it. I did everything to thwart Thy purpose. And thus I owe all to Thy grace. I should have lived and died in darkness and sin; I should have become worse and worse the longer I lived; I should have got more to hate and abjure Thee, O Source of my bliss; I should have got yearly more fit for hell, and at length I should have gone there, but for Thy incomprehensible love to me. O my God, that overpowering love took me captive. Was any boyhood so impious as some years of mine! Did I not in fact dare Thee to do Thy worst? Ah, how I struggled to get free from Thee; but Thou art stronger than I and hast prevailed. I have not a word to say, but to bow down in awe before the depths of Thy love.
And then, in course of time, slowly but infallibly did Thy grace bring me on into Thy Church. Now then give me this further grace, Lord, to use all this grace well, and to turn it to my salvation. Teach me, make me, to come to the fountains of mercy continually with an awakened, eager mind, and with lively devotion. Give me a love of Thy Sacraments and Ordinances. Teach me to value as I ought, to prize as the inestimable pearl, that pardon which again and again Thou givest me, and the great and heavenly gift of the Presence of Him whose Spirit Thou art, upon the Altar. Without Thee I can do nothing, and Thou art there where Thy Church is and Thy Sacraments. Give me grace to rest in them for ever, till they are lost in the glory of Thy manifestation in the world to come. " - Venerable John Henry Newman, C.O.
Meditations and Devotions
The Feast of St. Boniface, Bishop and Martyr
is today. There is information on him here. Prayers for the Church in Germany would certainly be appropriate.
is today. There is information on him here. Prayers for the Church in Germany would certainly be appropriate.
Wednesday, June 04, 2003
Cool news !
I was just checking out the TV schedule over at EWTN, and it turns out that on August 13th, the Very Reverend Paul Chavasse, C.O. , current Provost of the Birmingham Oratory and Postulator General of Oratorian Causes, will be on EWTN Live ! He will be speaking about Venerable John Henry Newman's life, his works, and the current status of his cause. I have heard Fr. Chavasse speak- he is quite good. Of course, this will be excellent publicity, which will, I hope, translate into more prayers for the Venerable's canonization.
(Yes, I am marking my calendar....)
I was just checking out the TV schedule over at EWTN, and it turns out that on August 13th, the Very Reverend Paul Chavasse, C.O. , current Provost of the Birmingham Oratory and Postulator General of Oratorian Causes, will be on EWTN Live ! He will be speaking about Venerable John Henry Newman's life, his works, and the current status of his cause. I have heard Fr. Chavasse speak- he is quite good. Of course, this will be excellent publicity, which will, I hope, translate into more prayers for the Venerable's canonization.
(Yes, I am marking my calendar....)
Sixth Day
of the Novena to the Holy Spirit. The prayers provided by Mr Serafin are here.
"I adore Thee, O my Lord, the Third Person of the All-Blessed Trinity, that Thou hast set up in this world of sin a great light upon a hill. Thou hast founded the Church, Thou hast established and maintained it. Thou fillest it continually with Thy gifts, that men may see, and draw near, and take, and live. Thou hast in this way brought down heaven upon earth. For Thou hast set up a great company which Angels visit by that ladder which the Patriarch saw in vision. Thou hast by Thy Presence restored the communion between God above and man below. Thou hast given him that light of grace which is one with and the commencement of the light of glory. I adore and praise Thee for Thy infinite mercy towards us, O my Lord and God." - Venerable John Henry Newman, C.O.
Meditations and Devotions
of the Novena to the Holy Spirit. The prayers provided by Mr Serafin are here.
"I adore Thee, O my Lord, the Third Person of the All-Blessed Trinity, that Thou hast set up in this world of sin a great light upon a hill. Thou hast founded the Church, Thou hast established and maintained it. Thou fillest it continually with Thy gifts, that men may see, and draw near, and take, and live. Thou hast in this way brought down heaven upon earth. For Thou hast set up a great company which Angels visit by that ladder which the Patriarch saw in vision. Thou hast by Thy Presence restored the communion between God above and man below. Thou hast given him that light of grace which is one with and the commencement of the light of glory. I adore and praise Thee for Thy infinite mercy towards us, O my Lord and God." - Venerable John Henry Newman, C.O.
Meditations and Devotions
As a follow-up to one of my posts last Friday..
I am blogging a link, sent to me by Sandra Miesel, to an article she wrote about St. Jeanne Darc.
I am blogging a link, sent to me by Sandra Miesel, to an article she wrote about St. Jeanne Darc.
Tuesday, June 03, 2003
Quote from a letter from the Professor to Christopher Tolkien, dated June 3, 1945
"Wars are always lost, and the War always goes on:and it is no good growing faint ! "
"Wars are always lost, and the War always goes on:and it is no good growing faint ! "
Psst... wanna establish a Congregation of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri ?
Here's how . (Document was written in Italian, then translated into Spanish and English. Click on "Web Layout" under "View", then scroll down for the English translation) .
From Oratoriani, the website of the General Confederation of Oratories of St. Philip Neri. ( I was surprised by this- almost nothing on the Confederation website is in English... sigh.... )
Here's how . (Document was written in Italian, then translated into Spanish and English. Click on "Web Layout" under "View", then scroll down for the English translation) .
From Oratoriani, the website of the General Confederation of Oratories of St. Philip Neri. ( I was surprised by this- almost nothing on the Confederation website is in English... sigh.... )
Pride goeth before a fall....
I was getting all smug over some Episcopalian liturgical screwiness, when I came across this.
Thanks to Mr. Sullivan and Mr. Miller for the links... I think.....
I was getting all smug over some Episcopalian liturgical screwiness, when I came across this.
Thanks to Mr. Sullivan and Mr. Miller for the links... I think.....
Fifth Day
of the Novena to the Holy Spirit. The link to the prayers provided by Mr. Serafin is here.
" My God, I adore Thee, O Eternal Paraclete, the light and the life of my soul. Thou mightest have been content with merely giving me good suggestions, inspiring grace and helping from without. Thou mightest thus have led me on, cleansing me with Thy inward virtue, when I changed my state from this world to the next. But in Thine infinite compassion Thou hast from the first entered into my soul, and taken possession of it. Thou hast made it Thy Temple. Thou dwellest in me by Thy grace in an ineffable way, uniting me to Thyself and the whole company of angels and saints. Nay, as some have held, Thou art present in me, not only by Thy grace, but by Thy eternal substance, as if, though I did not lose my own individuality, yet in some sense I was even here absorbed in God. Nay—as though Thou hadst taken possession of my very, body, this earthly, fleshly, wretched tabernacle—even my body is Thy Temple. O astonishing, awful truth! I believe it, I know it, O my God! " - Venerable John Henry Newman, C.O.
Meditations and Devotions
of the Novena to the Holy Spirit. The link to the prayers provided by Mr. Serafin is here.
" My God, I adore Thee, O Eternal Paraclete, the light and the life of my soul. Thou mightest have been content with merely giving me good suggestions, inspiring grace and helping from without. Thou mightest thus have led me on, cleansing me with Thy inward virtue, when I changed my state from this world to the next. But in Thine infinite compassion Thou hast from the first entered into my soul, and taken possession of it. Thou hast made it Thy Temple. Thou dwellest in me by Thy grace in an ineffable way, uniting me to Thyself and the whole company of angels and saints. Nay, as some have held, Thou art present in me, not only by Thy grace, but by Thy eternal substance, as if, though I did not lose my own individuality, yet in some sense I was even here absorbed in God. Nay—as though Thou hadst taken possession of my very, body, this earthly, fleshly, wretched tabernacle—even my body is Thy Temple. O astonishing, awful truth! I believe it, I know it, O my God! " - Venerable John Henry Newman, C.O.
Meditations and Devotions
Right now...
I am happy that this man is one of my senators. (On the other hand, Specter... grrrr....)
I am happy that this man is one of my senators. (On the other hand, Specter... grrrr....)
The Feast of the Martyrs of Uganda
is today. There is information on them here. Please remember in prayer all those who are dying for the Faith all over the world, most particularly in Sudan and other parts of Africa.
is today. There is information on them here. Please remember in prayer all those who are dying for the Faith all over the world, most particularly in Sudan and other parts of Africa.
Monday, June 02, 2003
Well, duh
I'm afraid that was my reaction when I've read this story on various weblogs.
No plans for kids? The church won't marry you .
I'm not a canon lawyer, but even I can see this one would have been null from the get-go.....
I'm afraid that was my reaction when I've read this story on various weblogs.
No plans for kids? The church won't marry you .
I'm not a canon lawyer, but even I can see this one would have been null from the get-go.....
Two important things
happened in the Professor's life in the month of June.
First off, in June, 1900, he, along with his mother and his younger brother Hilary, was received into the Catholic Church. He was eight years old.
Second, in June, 1915, he took First Class Honours in Language and Literature at Oxford. This meant the opportunity to have an academic career was pretty much assured for young Mr. Tolkien- provided, of course, that he survived the First World War....
happened in the Professor's life in the month of June.
First off, in June, 1900, he, along with his mother and his younger brother Hilary, was received into the Catholic Church. He was eight years old.
Second, in June, 1915, he took First Class Honours in Language and Literature at Oxford. This meant the opportunity to have an academic career was pretty much assured for young Mr. Tolkien- provided, of course, that he survived the First World War....
Fourth Day
of the Novena to the Holy Spirit. The link to the previously given novena prayers is here.
" My most Holy Lord and Sanctifier, whatever there is of good in me is Thine. Without Thee, I should but get worse and worse as years went on, and should tend to be a devil. If I differ at all from the world, it is because Thou hast chosen me out of the world, and hast lit up the love of God in my heart. If I differ from Thy Saints, it is because I do not ask earnestly enough for Thy grace, and for enough of it, and because I do not diligently improve what Thou hast given me. Increase in me this grace of love, in spite of all my unworthiness. It is more precious than anything else in the world. I accept it in place of all the world can give me. O give it to me! It is my life. " - Venerable John Henry Newman, C.O.
Meditations and Devotions
of the Novena to the Holy Spirit. The link to the previously given novena prayers is here.
" My most Holy Lord and Sanctifier, whatever there is of good in me is Thine. Without Thee, I should but get worse and worse as years went on, and should tend to be a devil. If I differ at all from the world, it is because Thou hast chosen me out of the world, and hast lit up the love of God in my heart. If I differ from Thy Saints, it is because I do not ask earnestly enough for Thy grace, and for enough of it, and because I do not diligently improve what Thou hast given me. Increase in me this grace of love, in spite of all my unworthiness. It is more precious than anything else in the world. I accept it in place of all the world can give me. O give it to me! It is my life. " - Venerable John Henry Newman, C.O.
Meditations and Devotions
Sunday, June 01, 2003
Third Day
of the Novena to the Holy Spirit. The link to the prayers Mr. Serafin posted is here.
" My God, the Paraclete, I acknowledge Thee as the Giver of that great gift, by which alone we are saved, supernatural love. Man is by nature blind and hardhearted in all spiritual matters; how is he to reach heaven? It is by the flame of Thy grace, which consumes him in order to new-make him, and so to fit him to enjoy what without Thee he would have no taste for. It is Thou, O Almighty Paraclete, who hast been and art the strength, the vigour and endurance, of the martyr in the midst of his torments. Thou art the stay of the confessor in his long, tedious, and humiliating toils. Thou art the fire, by which the preacher wins souls, without thought of himself, in his missionary labours. By Thee we wake up from the death of sin, to exchange the idolatry of the creature for the pure love of the Creator. By Thee we make acts of faith, hope, charity, and contrition. By Thee we live in the atmosphere of earth, proof against its infection. By Thee we are able to consecrate ourselves to the sacred ministry, and fulfil our awful engagements to it. By the fire which Thou didst kindle within us, we pray, and meditate, and do penance. As well could our bodies live, if the sun were extinguished, as our souls, if Thou art away. " - Venerable John Henry Newman, C.O.
Meditations and Devotions
of the Novena to the Holy Spirit. The link to the prayers Mr. Serafin posted is here.
" My God, the Paraclete, I acknowledge Thee as the Giver of that great gift, by which alone we are saved, supernatural love. Man is by nature blind and hardhearted in all spiritual matters; how is he to reach heaven? It is by the flame of Thy grace, which consumes him in order to new-make him, and so to fit him to enjoy what without Thee he would have no taste for. It is Thou, O Almighty Paraclete, who hast been and art the strength, the vigour and endurance, of the martyr in the midst of his torments. Thou art the stay of the confessor in his long, tedious, and humiliating toils. Thou art the fire, by which the preacher wins souls, without thought of himself, in his missionary labours. By Thee we wake up from the death of sin, to exchange the idolatry of the creature for the pure love of the Creator. By Thee we make acts of faith, hope, charity, and contrition. By Thee we live in the atmosphere of earth, proof against its infection. By Thee we are able to consecrate ourselves to the sacred ministry, and fulfil our awful engagements to it. By the fire which Thou didst kindle within us, we pray, and meditate, and do penance. As well could our bodies live, if the sun were extinguished, as our souls, if Thou art away. " - Venerable John Henry Newman, C.O.
Meditations and Devotions