Davy Jones, RIP

When I was a young teenager, I was in love,
as only a young girl can be, with several of that day's teen idols.
Among them, very much among them, was Davy Jones of The Monkees.
I was shocked and saddened to learn of his death today. God rest his soul.
Ironically, I recently set my DVR to record reruns of The Monkees, starting
with the pilot episode.

Two New Pictures in my Collection

I've added two more pictures to my Rosary Art Collection.
Both of them are by Carl Bloch.
Please click here
and here.

Vintage Media Collection Expanded

For some time now, I was thinking about expanding my
Vintage Media Collection to include printed material. Well, tonight I took the plunge, so
to speak.
Presenting the latest addition to the collection!

NunEssential: Planned Parenthood's Latest Propaganda

NunEssential: Planned Parenthood's Latest Propaganda: Lord, have mercy. Check out this article about Planned Parenthood's latest condom propaganda. Suffice it to say that their slogan is "sex...

Planned Parenthood? Sounds
more like Planned Promiscuity!

"nor shall you stand by idly"

One sentence, or rather part of a sentence, from the first reading this morning really
struck me:
"nor shall you stand by idly when your neighbor's life is at stake."
And, in this context, my neighbor is every unborn baby in danger of abortion.
I may not be able to attend Pro-life marches, or pray in front of an abortion clinic,
but I can support Priests For Life to the best of
my ability, and I can, and must use this blog to speak for those who cannot speak
for themselves.

A Tree Grows In Brooklyn

I'm reading  "Betty Smith: Life of the Author of A Tree Grows In Brooklyn" by Valerie Raleigh Yow,
and I've found out some things about that novel that really surprised me.
The original manuscript ended soon after Johnny Nolan's death, with Francie and Neely
cursing God.   Betty Smith had, indeed, written more, but she meant to use what came
after as a sequel.
The original manuscript was bawdier, and had several uses of the "F" word.
A Tree Grows In Brooklyn was the first modern adult (as opposed to juvenile) novel I
ever read; I was twelve at the time.  I've read the book many times since then.
Had the book been published as it was first written, I doubt that I would have read it
more than once.

Please Pray for Br. Leo Mary

Please pray that God will restore Br. Leo Mary, M.F.V.A., to full health. May he have, as the Jewish saying goes, a refuah shlema!

Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival

Join me and a group of Catholic bloggers at Sunday Snippets. Thanks to RAnn for hosting!

Semper Gaudete!: New Picture in Collection

Semper Gaudete!: Lent, 2012

Semper Gaudete!: Lovely Meditations on the Stations of The Cross

Semper Gaudete!: New Picture

Semper Gaudete!: That Makes TWO Pictures Today!

Semper Gaudete!: Homily 2012-02-22 - Fr Joseph Mary MFVA - Ash Wednesday

Semper Gaudete!: My First Ash Wednesday (reposted from last year)

Semper Gaudete!: Chotki

Semper Gaudete!: Adapting a Slogan

Semper Gaudete!: This is (was) Strange!

Semper
Gaudete!: Homily and Prayer Requests

Semper Gaudete!: New Picture Added

Semper Gaudete!: Books Read in the Past Week

Books Read in the Past Week

"Betty Smith
Life of the Author of
A Tree Grows In Brooklyn"#
by Valerie Raleigh Yow
[biography]
(carried over from last week, still not finished)


"The Way of a Pilgrim
and The Pilgrim Continues His Way"
author unknown.
Translated by Helen Bacovcin
Foreword by Walter J. Ciszek, S.J.
[Spirituality (Orthodox, Russian) Fiction? Non-fiction?]
(carried over from last week)

"The story of the Ingalls
What happened next to Laura's Family"#
by William Anderson
[biography]
{one of the most interesting parts was the
inclusion of a diary Laura's youngest sister,
Grace, kept when she was a girl.}

"Magnificent Obsessions
Twenty Remarkable Collectors in Pursuit of Their Dreams"#
by Mitch Tuchman
Photographs by Peter Brenner
[nonfiction]
{carrying over into next week}

"Chelsea and The Outrageous Phone Bill"
by Hilda Stahl
[children's fiction, Christian, Protestant {denomination(s) not specified}, series]
{carrying over into next week}

New Picture Added

I've just added this picture to my Rosary Art Collection.
One thing I love about collecting Rosary art is discovering new artists.
Another thing I love is discovering new paintings by artists I already know and like.

Homily and Prayer Requests

Before beginning his homily, Fr. Anthony made two prayer requests.
In the homily itself, he spoke about the Prefaces for Lent.

This is (was) Strange!

Notice the changes to the layout of this blog? I did not
make these changes. And where are all the elements I added? Where are my links?
Is anyone else experiencing this?
Update: Things are back to normal!  Thank God!

Adapting a Slogan

Remember this commercial?

Well, perhaps what Catholic institutions need to say in regard to Obama's Contraception
Mandate is something along these lines:
"We won't! We're Catholic!"

Chotki

I always find myself praying, silently,
The Jesus Prayer, or The Prayer of The Heart much more frequently when I'm reading,
or have recently read this book!

The version I use, "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me, a sinner," is slightly different from the one the Pilgrim prays.
Sometimes I just say the Prayer over and over, for example when doing certain tasks,
but now that I have a Chotki,

I can also repeat the Prayer a set number of times.

My First Ash Wednesday (reposted from last year)

I remember my very first Ash Wednesday, my first day of
fasting as a Catholic. For me it was easy as pie; it was
a piece of cake. (Although, of course, I had neither pie nor
cake!)
Remember, I am a Jewish convert, a veteran of Yom Kippur
fasts: From a little before sundown until a little after sundown,
no food, and nothing to drink. Not even a sip of water!
The not eating wasn't all that hard (I'm not saying it was a picnic, but who picnicked on Yom Kippur, anyway?).
What I found hard was the "not even a sip of water" part.
So, my first fast as a Catholic was easy in that respect. What I found difficult was figuring out the "two small meals that
together don't equal a full meal."
It was like a combined one-day-diet and math exercise!
When Fr. Kelly asked me how I'd gotten through my first
fast-day, I couldn't help laughing.
"Father," I said, "you don't know from fasting!"

Homily 2012-02-22 - Fr Joseph Mary MFVA - Ash Wednesday

Fr. Joseph shares two great stories in this homily. Thank God, we don't have
to give up laughing during Lent!

That Makes TWO Pictures Today!

I've just added another picture to my Rosary Art Collection.

New Picture

I've just added this picture to my Rosary Art Collection.
Notice how young the Blessed Virgin Mary looks.

Lent, 2012

I've just re-read some of my goals for last year's Lent.
It's funny, but I had forgotten that I abstained from meat last year, except for Sundays,
solemnities, and feast days. I'm going to do it again this year.
I will pray the Chaplet of Mercy several times a day, instead of just at 3:00 in the afternoon.
In addition, at least once a day, I will pray The Chaplet of the Holy Wounds.
My second cup of coffee and light snack will also be my breakfast during Lent, so that, except for Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, I will have one light snack and two full meals, with liquids at any time. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, of course, one full meal and two small meals which together won't add up to a full meal. Liquids, except water, only at meals.
Actually, I like Lent. It's a great time for spiritual growth. Besides, I enjoy, yes, enjoy the challenge of keeping all of my Lenten resolutions. Of course, a great part
of the enjoyment of Lent is in knowing that Easter is coming!

Lovely Meditations on the Stations of The Cross

This is a repost from last year.
I found an absolutely lovely, thought-provoking set of meditations on the
Stations of The Cross
written by Mother Angelica
I should have checked out EWTN's website to begin with.

New Picture in Collection

I've just added this painting
to my Rosary Art Collection.
So far, I have four pictures of this Mystery in my collection. So far.

Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival

Join me and other Catholic bloggers at Sunday Snippets. Thanks to RAnn for hosting!

Semper Gaudete!: New Picture in my Collection, and a Warning

Semper Gaudete!: New Article in Chocolate Collection

Semper Gaudete!: Something Added to my Vintage Media Collection

Semper Gaudete!: Clearing Confusion on Who Speaks for the Church

Semper Gaudete!: New Picture in my Collection

Semper Gaudete!: Kids' Comics

Semper Gaudete!: Ben Walton and Ben Walton

Semper Gaudete!: Books Read in the Past Week

Books Read in the Past Week

Books read for the first time are marked with a #
"Who Is My Shelter?#
a Yada Yada House of Hope Novel"
by Neta Jackson
[fiction, Christian, {Protestant; several denominations}, marital problems, homeless shelters, series, spin-off]
{carried over from last week}

"Across The Rolling River"
by Celia Wilkins
[children's fiction, historical, biographical, family]
{Little House: The Caroline Years}

"The Joys of Love"#
by Madeleine L'Engle
[fiction, young adult, theater, 1940s]
{written in 1946, but not published until 2008.}
(Ilsa, the title character from Madeleine L'Engle's
second, lukewarmly received second novel, is mentioned in this book.
I love the way Madeleine L'Engle had characters from one book or series turn up, or be mentioned briefly in, another, otherwise unrelated book or series. If "The Joys Of Love"
had been published at the time it was written, we may very well have seen, several decades
later, an older Elizabeth Jerrold.)

"Betty Smith
Life of the Author of
A Tree Grows In Brooklyn"#
by Valerie Raleigh Yow
[biography]
(carrying over into next week)

"The Way of a Pilgrim
and The Pilgrim Continues His Way"
author unknown.
Translated by Helen Bacovcin
Foreword by Walter J. Ciszek, S.J.
[Spirituality (Orthodox, Russian) Fiction? Non-fiction?]
(carrying over into next week)

Ben Walton and Ben Walton

I recently read "The Joys Of Love," by Madeleine L'Engle.
I have also been watching DVR'ed episodes of "The Waltons."
And yes, there is a connection.
One of the characters in "The Joys of Love" is named Ben Walton, and each time
he appeared in the book, I pictured, and heard, Eric Scott!
The book takes place in 1946, the same year as the episodes I am currently watching.
Both Bens are, I believe, roughly the same age.
I love coincidences like this!

Kids' Comics

I came across this blog dedicated to kids'comics, and I have been having a great time reading, and, in some cases,
remembering, some of the stories herein.
Updated to add: Some of the websites linked to this blog may include material
not suitable for children

New Picture in my Collection

I've just added a new painting to my Rosary Art Collection.
It is not a pretty painting, but then, I don't see how there could
be a pretty painting of The Crowning With Thorns.

Clearing Confusion on Who Speaks for the Church

Clearing Confusion on Who Speaks for the Church
I just had to share this great post from Barb's blog.
I also went to St. Peter's List, and chose an image. However, I made a mistake
typing the URL; I left out the ST part. Thank God I clicked the picture and
saw what came up, otherwise I would have shared a link to something that would
have shocked my readers, and embarrassed the heck out of me!

Something Added to my Vintage Media Collection

This is a Rinso White Commercial from 1950.
It's good, but I have to admit that I'm trying to find an older version.

New Article in Chocolate Collection

I've just added this Timeline to my Chocolate Collection.

New Picture in my Collection, and a Warning

I don't know who the artist is, but I just had to add this stunningly beautiful painting to my Rosary Art Collection.
I must, however, add a warning about something NOT so beautiful I found while trying to learn the name of the artist. Do NOT go to
http://www.blingcheese.com/image/code/1/jesus+baptism.htm! (This is, deliberately, not a
link)
I did, and the pictures there were NOT of a religious nature!
When I clicked the X at the top in order to leave that website, up came one
of those grey boxes with "Are you sure you want to leave this site?"
I've learned from experience NEVER to click on one of those boxes; I shut off
the computer for a few minutes instead.
I then went to a safe site, copied the painting to my computer, and then
added it to my collection.

Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival

Join me and a growing group of Catholic bloggers at Sunday Snippets. Thanks to RAnn for hosting!


EWTN
Semper Gaudete!: EWTN Sues U.S. Government To Stop Contraception Mandate
Semper Gaudete!: EWTN remains skeptical of contraception mandate :: EWTN News
Semper Gaudete!: Homily 2012-02-07 - Fr Mitch Pacwa SJ - Saint Colette of Corbie - Virgin
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Something about Me

Semper Gaudete!: Morning Offering, Morning Coffee, Morning Prayer, Morning Snack
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Collections and Collecting
Semper Gaudete!: Item (Singular) in Collections (Plural)
Semper Gaudete!: New Pictures
Semper Gaudete!: New Item in my Chocolate Collection
Semper Gaudete!: Collecting Collections?
Semper Gaudete!: First Woodcut in Collection
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Books and Reading
Semper Gaudete!: Books Read in the Past Week

Books Read in the Past Week

Books read for the first time are marked with a #

"Sabrina the Schemer"
by Karen Rispin
[children's fiction, Christian, {Protestant, unspecified denomination},
Africa {Kenya}, missionaries' families, boarding school]

"Who Do I Lean On?#
A Yada Yada House of Hope Novel"
by Neta Jackson
[fiction, Christian, {Protestant; several denominations}, marital problems, homeless shelters, series, spin-off]
"Harry Bentley's Second Sight#
A Yada Yada Brothers novel"
by Dave Jackson
[fiction, Christian, {Protestant, several denominations, series, spin-off]#
"Who Is My Shelter?
a Yada Yada House of Hope Novel"
by Neta Jackson
[fiction, Christian, {Protestant; several denominations}, marital problems, homeless shelters, series, spin-off]
{carrying over into next week}

EWTN remains skeptical of contraception mandate :: EWTN News

EWTN remains skeptical of contraception mandate :: EWTN News
I, too, am skeptical of Obama's "compromise."
Most of us have gone on family trips to familiar spots. Perhaps sometimes, we traveled
by one route, and other times, by another route. But the destination was always the same.
That's how I see this "compromise." It is merely a different route to the same destination.

First Woodcut in Collection

I've just added the first woodcut
to my Rosary Art Collection.

EWTN Sues U.S. Government To Stop Contraception Mandate

Click here.
God bless EWTN for taking such a courageous stand against the HHS!

Collecting Collections?

I now have three collections. I think that's enough! If I go on,
I'll end up with a collection of collections!
Then again, perhaps I should start just one more collection, just ONE
more. Maybe I should collect various versions, [including some very
old Latin ones] of the opening prayer at Mass.
Then you could say about me,
"In addition to her other three collections, she also collects Collects!"

New Item in my Chocolate Collection

I've added this website about The Hershey Company to my Chocolate Collection.

New Pictures

I've added two more pictures to my Rosary Art Collection.
The Annunciation
(notice the cat in this painting!)

The Last Supper

Homily 2012-02-07 - Fr Mitch Pacwa SJ - Saint Colette of Corbie - Virgin

I love it when Fr. Mitch talks about the Jewish tractates. In this homily, he mentions
one I especially love, Tractate Avot, also known as Pirkei Avot.

Item (Singular) in Collections (Plural)

I've just placed this radio commercial
in my Vintage Media Collection
and my Chocolate Collection.
Obviously, it is NOT appropriate for my Rosary Art Collection!

Morning Offering, Morning Coffee, Morning Prayer, Morning Mass, Morning Snack

I'm an early riser. The radio, tuned to WCBS-FM comes on at 5:55 in the morning. So I usually wake up to music. Of course, sometimes I wake up to a "Meow!"
if Winky awakens before I do!
I bless myself with holy water, and make my Morning Offering. Then, after awhile, I make my first cup of coffee.

(I put everything out the night before. This saves time in the morning)
I usually drink that first cup rather quickly; it is my wake-up-all-the-way-and-get-going cup.
A bit later, awake and alert, I pray Morning Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours.
After Mass on EWTN, I make a second cup of coffee. This is my Bible-in-hand cup, my
sip-it-slowly-and-savor-the-flavor cup. With this second cup, and my Bible, I have a light snack (My full breakfast comes later)
It may be a slice of bread (usually rye) and margarine. Perhaps it is a slice of challah, or half of a challah roll. Sometimes, it is a piece of raisin bread. Or it could be half of a bagel with a schmear. Yummmy!
No matter what the snack is, this is just a nice, relaxing moment.

Books Read in the Past Week

Books read for the first time are marked with a #

"The Truth About Mary Rose"
by Marilyn Sachs
(children's fiction, 1970s, first person)
{carried over from last week}

"Fifth Formers of St Clare's"
by Enid Blyton
[children's fiction, England, school stories, series]
"The Sixth Form at St Clare's"
by Pamela Cox
[children's fiction, England, school stories, series, continuation]

"Who Do I Talk To?"#
by Neta Jackson
[fiction, Christian, {Protestant; several denominations}, marital problems, homeless shelters, series, spin-off]

"The Impossible Lisa Barnes
"Tianna the Terrible"
part of this book takes place in Canada, and part of it at a boarding school in Kenya
"Anika's Mountain"
"Ambush at Amboseli"
by Karen Rispin
[children's fiction, Christian, {Protestant, unspecified denomination}, missionaries and their families, Africa, (Kenya), series]

Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival

Join me and a wonderful group of Catholic bloggers at Sunday Snippets. Many thanks to RAnn for hosting!

Semper Gaudete!: Susan G. Komen Foundation Defunds Planned Parenthood (HOORAY!!!)
Semper Gaudete!: Decision Reversed. GRRRRRR!!!!

Semper Gaudete!: A New Picture in My Collection

Semper Gaudete!: How Far Might the Culture of Death Take Us?

Semper Gaudete!: Why Some Items DON'T Get Added to My Collections

Semper Gaudete!: New Picture Added (Appropriate for Today!)

Semper Gaudete!: And That Makes Three!

Semper Gaudete!: Classic Silent Movie

Semper Gaudete!: Another Picture Added

Semper Gaudete!: Books Read in the Past Week

Another Picture Added

I've just added another picture to my Rosary Art Collection.

Classic Silent Movie

I've just added a classic silent movie to my Vintage Media Collection.

And That Makes Three!

Awhile ago, I blogged about myself as a collector.
Well, I've revived, in a different form, one of the collections
mentioned in that post.
And, since I'm planning to include commercials, some items may, and probably will,
appear in both this new collection, and my Vintage Media collection.

Decision Reversed. GRRRRRR!!!!

Only two days ago, I very happily blogged that the
Susan G. Komen Foundation had defunded Planned Parenthood.
Well, I heard on the news a few minutes ago that they had REVERSED that decision and
WILL CONTINUE to SUPPORT Planned Parenthood!!!!
Am I angry about this decision? Absolutely not! Angry does not BEGIN to
express how I feel!!!
"Mad as Hell" is an understatement!

New Picture Added (Appropriate for Today!)

I've added another picture
to my Rosary Art Collection. VERY appropriate for today!

Susan G. Komen Foundation Defunds Planned Parenthood (HOORAY!!!)

THIS is great news! Now those of us who wanted
to support The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation can do so with a clear conscience.
Of course, ANY time Planned Parenthood gets defunded is cause for cheering!