Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival

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

Semper Gaudete!: Obama administration refuses to change contraception mandate :: EWTN News

Semper Gaudete!: Lake County Right to Life Blog: Schrizophenic Women Forced to Be Aborted and Steri...

Semper Gaudete!: And My Rosary Art Collection Keeps Growing!

Semper Gaudete!: New Game Site, New Page

Semper Gaudete!: A Review I'd Like To Share

Semper Gaudete!: An Unexpected Gift

Semper Gaudete!: Great Post from the Catholic Cartoon Blog

Semper Gaudete!: Can Someone Tell Me Who Painted This?

Semper Gaudete!: I Would Have Liked to Recommend This Book

Semper Gaudete!: Books Read in the Past Week

Books Read in the Past Week

Books read for the first time are marked with a #

"Laura's Luck"
by Marilyn Sachs
[children's fiction, series, summer camp, friendship, 1940s]
"Amy and Laura"
by Marilyn Sachs
[children's fiction, family problems, 1940s]

"Triumph Clear"
by Lorraine Beim
[young adult fiction, polio, Warm Springs]
"Sunshine and Shadow"
by Lorraine and Jerrold Beim
[young adult fiction, college, people with disabilities]
{Lorraine Beim died in an automobile accident while she
was working on this book. Her husband, with whom she had discussed
the novel, finished it.}
This is the dedication Jerrold Beim wrote.
"FOR LORRAINE

with the hope that this book
is near ... what she wanted it to be."

"Italian Pleasures" #
by David Leavitt and Mark Mitchell
[essays, Italy]
{first an essay by one author, then one
by the other, with excerpts from the works
of other writers.}
(I really enjoyed this book, until
one essay near the end ruined it for me.)

"Claudine at St Clare's"
by Enid Blyton
[children's fiction, England, school stories, series]
{carrying over into next week}

I Would Have Liked to Recommend This Book

A few hours ago, I finished reading "Italian Pleasures,"
by David Leavitt and Mark Mitchell. This is a collection of essays, first by one author,
then by the other. It also has excerpts from other people's writings.
I have to admit that I was enjoying this book very much. Note that I said that
I was enjoying the book, not that I enjoyed it.
Most of the essays are gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous. MOST. But then, towards the
end of the book, there is an essay called "Ashes," which has some nasty comments about the Pope, and about the Catholic Church. I will not repeat these remarks, and not only because "No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher."
But, aside from that horrible essay, do I recommend this book?
I'm trying to be objective, but it's not easy.
Yes, the other essays in the book are beautiful, but will I be able to read
them without remembering that one nasty essay? Probably not for a long time.
Imagine listening to someone with a beautiful, clear, operatic voice singing a lovely
song. At the end, the singer sings a vulgar word. Which do you remember, the beautiful
song, or the vulgar word?
Again, suppose that you are eating a scrumptious, fruit-filled, whipped-cream covered cake.
Suddenly, you bite into a piece of rotten fruit. Can you still taste the scrumptiousness
that came before?
Or if you see a magnificent painting with an ugly blotch, which do you notice more, the painting, or the blotch?
So what do I recommend? If you want to read, and really enjoy, this book, I would suggest that
you look for it in a library, or a used-book store. And then, skip the essay called "Ashes." Because otherwise, the book may be spoiled for you as, at least for now, it is for me.

Obama administration refuses to change contraception mandate :: EWTN News

Obama administration refuses to change contraception mandate :: EWTN News
God help America!

Can Someone Tell Me Who Painted This?

I've just added this painting to my
Rosary Art Collection.
I would love to know who painted it.

Great Post from the Catholic Cartoon Blog

To read the post, click here.
Incidentally, the Missalette we used to use in my parish, the line
"Early in the morning, our song shall rise to Thee"
in the hymn, "Holy, Holy, Holy"
was changed to "Bowed in adoration now, we lift our hearts to Thee."
Which version do I sing? Well, it depends on what time of the day
it is!
Oh, and as for the "politically correct" changes:
Amen?
Awoman?
Aperson?

An Unexpected Gift

Years ago, I got a nice surprise at my local library. It happened when I found a paperback copy of Lois Lenski's "Prairie School" in the children's room. Unfortunately, at least it seemed unfortunate at the time, the book had no front cover, and there were no other copies available.
I went to check out my books. The librarian said that they would have to discard that copy of "Prairie School," and she gave it to me for free.
"Oh, thank you very much," I said.
I took the book home, and covered the front with several layers of strong tape, the kind
of tape that looks like paper.
I still have the book, and plan to re-read it in the not-too-distant future.