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Saturday, September 18, 2004

Passed the 5,000 Entry Level

Didn't notice it until just now. Officially, I've written 5,006 blog entires since June 4, 2002.

That is 5.98 entries per day for the last 837 days.

Has it only been 837 days? Seems much longer. Especially the last 370 or so.

Jamming Cell Phones So they Won't Ring In Church

I like it.

As someone who tries to do a holy hour with the Blessed Sacrament every day at a place where a lot of tourists show up, I think this is the best thing since sliced bread.

Courtesy of the famous Amy Welborn.

Kerry Accuses Bush of Planning A Big Call-Up of Reservists After the Election

Sounds like the desperate gasps of a very unappealing candidate with nothing to offer the American people but fear.

Franklin Roosevelt said we have nothing to fear but fear itself. John Kerry has nothing to fear but national economic success and military victory (either of which would be fatal to his life's ambition to be President).

By the way, two polls conducted this week show a wide lead for President Bush. Thursday's Gallup Poll said the President was leading 54% to 40%. And a CBS Poll released today indicated that the President is leading 50% to 41%.

Now these polls need to be taken with a grain of salt. I do not believe it is possible for a Democrat candidate for president to receive less than 44% of the vote (unless there is a major 3rd-party black candidate in the race).

Also, if you buy that the President's support is around 50%, that is not necessarily great news. It ought to be higher. The economy has been turning around and recovering for a couple of quarters now (though gas prices are a drag on it). One would expect the American people to rally round the President in wartime more than they seem to be doing. This is the first election since 1968 when an incumbent president had to go to the polls while the country is in the midst of war. And the 1968 precident is not a good one for the incumbent.

Also recall that undecideds tend to break to the challenger. So this may end a lot closer than it appears to be now. A bad performance by the president in the debates, a catastrophic terrorist attack, a major scandal breaking could all derail the re-election.

But without any of those, and without a major change in strategy, it looks like people are not very enthusiastic over the prospect a Kerry presidency (least of all the Clintons, who would like a clear field for Hilary![TM] in 2008).

What we have is an incumbent president beset with unease, though little outright current distress, over his handling of the economy (which could have been avoided by front-loading the tax cuts instead of putting most of the benefits in the out-years), and saddled with a war that, though vitally necessary, is taking a steady light toll in American lives (and the American people are not the most patient in the world, wanting instant complete victory or the hell with it, let's bug out).

And that incumbent is faced by a Democrat candidate who is distant, icy, uncharismatic, and who has nothing to offer, other than the same old tired liberal failures: more government, more taxes, more social liberalism, more abortions, more cut and run foreign policy.

Whose weaknesses are greater? Kerry's. Without an astonishing transformation of himself and his campaign, or a timely scandal, or some world event beyond the control of either candidate, Kerry will not be elected in 6 weeks.


Friday, September 17, 2004

Anybody Familiar With This Book?

Finally found out the text that they will be using for the RCIA program for the chap I'm sponsoring.

It is Come and See by St. Anthony Messenger Press. Ran over to the little gift shop at the St. Francis Chapel to see if they had a copy. Negative. I'll try Sheehan's tomorrow. St. Anthony's website lists both the teacher and student editions as discontinued.

Anybody familiar with this text? If so, how is it?

St. Blog's Has A New Parishioner (Junior Division)

Everybody say how'd'ya'do to Rachel Hannah Price, who, unlike most St. Blog's readers was indeed born yesterday!

Congratulations to the Prices!

Curt Schilling Won His 20th Last Night

He's the first American League pitcher to hit 20 wins this year. A very good pick-upfor the Red Sox, I would say.

The Red Sox are 3.5 games behind the Yankees, and 5.5 ahead of Anaheim for the American League Wildcard.

Saint Robert Bellarmine

One of the great voices of the Catholic Reformation.

Is It Just Me?

Or have other bloggers noticed that it is taking Blogger forever to get to the Create A New Blog window?

On the whole, I can't say that there is much benefit to the changes Blogger has made. Now you can't put a link in your headline, or italicize it. And when you cut and paste things, the fields are completely off and you have to spend a lot of time restoring spacing.

Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?

Blogrolling must be down, as I can't access my links.

What's next to fritz out? Haloscan?

Thursday, September 16, 2004

Tomorrow Is the Feast of St. Robert Bellarmine

The front page of Recta Ratio: The Yahoo Group now bears an image of this great saint.

By the way, I know St. Robert composed some commentaries on the Psalms, but have been unable to locate an edition of it. Does such a thing exist. I was very happy last fall to find St. John Fisher on the Seven Penitential Psalms, and was hoping to get lucky again.

Behind Ivan

Comes Hurricane Jeanne, now hitting the Dominican Republic.

Catholic Priests Are Not the Only Ones Getting Into Trouble

In all the wrong places.

Now A Parish In Sudbury Has Caught the Sit-In Bug

I'm not exactly in favor of going in with cops, clubbing the demonstrators over the head, and dragging them out by the heels. And, frankly, I don't favor parish closings as a way of dealing with the priest shortage and shortage of funds.

But on the other hand, I don't have too much sympathy for the demonstrators.

Yes, some healthy parishes are being closed. One of them is Holy Trinity (well, to be precise, as a German parish it has been dead for years, as the Latin Mass center for the Archdiocese it was quite healthy within the limits placed upon it by the Archdiocese: parishioners to retain primary allegiance to their geographic parish, no confirmations, no RCIA). But no one from Holy Trinity is staging a sit-in (or will when it closes next June).

Adopting the tactics of the peace maggots of the 1960s-2000s is no way to gain my approbation.

I Wish Cardinal Pell Was Archbishop of Boston

No wishy-washyness about him.

TeRESah: "Let Them Go Naked"

John Kerry's heiress wife just can't keep her mouthload of "I've got mine, let them go without" from spilling over. I guess being worth $600 million (by inheritance) does that to you.

This is her advice for hurricane victims in
Florida and the Gulf Coast:

"Clothing is wonderful, but let them go naked for a while, at least the kids. Water is necessary, and then generators, and then food, and then clothes."

Ah yes, the Democrats: all the common sense of Joycelyn Elders, all the compassion of the IRS, all the efficiency of the Post Office, all the intelligence of rotting cabbage.

Wednesday, September 15, 2004

Any Straight White Male Who Ever Votes For a Democrat For Any Important Office Has Got To Be A Complete Moron

You might just as well vote yourself and your children out of a job, your kids out of admission to a good college (unless you happen to be an alum or a donor), vote yourself a layoff, vote food off your table, vote yourself a tax increase, and vote yourself a crash course in Spanish immersion.

Incomprehensible that any straight white (or Asian) male not planning to work in a Democrat administration would ever do something so foolish.

So why is Kerry so high in the polls?

Because so many people are hopelessly on the take.

The total number of government employees in this country is close to 20%, if not higher. And they all vote.

Then there are black Americans, so long a reliable constituency for the Democrats.

And the people on the dole (I know, it overlaps to a large extent with the previous category), who have nothing better to do than turn out to vote. They can be relied on to vote for the party that will give them a bigger check (and everyone else a smaller one as a result).

There are of course the idealogical liberals who have not been mugged by reality and maturity yet. But polls suggest that they are declining in number.

You add those numbers up, and you can see why even a universally-recognized stinking pile of poo endorsed by a Democrat convention or primary will get no less than 44% of the vote.

Kerry Has Some Real Problems

And Dick Morris does a good job explaining them.

The sad thing is that the race is so close with such a nowhere man as the Democrat nominee, a man no one in the entire country (even in Massachusetts) is fiercely, devotedly, personally loyal to, a man no one really knows, even after 30 years in or seeking public office.

Ember Week

I had to double check this one myself. I felt it creeping up, but wasn't certain if it was this week, or next.

The pre-Michaelmas Ember Week is next week. Next Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday are Ember Days, special days of penance.

Holy Trinity's website has much more to say about Ember Week here.



Our Lady of Sorrows

From a quick scan of other blogs, I see that very few people have mentioned this important feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

On this day, we are recall her Seven Sorrows or Dolours:

1) at the prophecy of Simeon;
2) at the flight into Egypt;
3) having lost the Holy Child at Jerusalem;
4) meeting Jesus on his way to Calvary;
5) standing at the foot of the Cross;
6) Jesus being taken from the Cross;
7) at the burial of Christ.

Here is the Litany of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows (which is for private use only)

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of heaven,
Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us.
Holy Virgin of virgins,
pray for us.
Mother of the Crucified,
pray for us.
Sorrowful Mother,
pray for us.
Mournful Mother,
pray for us.
Sighing Mother,
pray for us.
Afflicted Mother,
pray for us.
Foresaken Mother,
pray for us.
Desolate Mother,
pray for us.
Mother most sad,
pray for us.
Mother set around with anguish,
pray for us.
Mother overwhelmed by grief,
pray for us.
Mother transfixed by a sword,
pray for us.
Mother crucified in thy heart,
pray for us.
Mother bereaved of thy Son,
pray for us.
Sighing Dove,
pray for us.
Mother of Dolors,
pray for us.
Fount of tears,
pray for us.
Sea of bitterness,
pray for us.
Field of tribulation,
pray for us.
Mass of suffering,
pray for us.
Mirror of patience,
pray for us.
Rock of constancy,
pray for us.
Remedy in perplexity,
pray for us.
Joy of the afflicted,
pray for us.
Ark of the desolate,
pray for us.
Refuge of the abandoned,
pray for us.
Shield of the oppressed,
pray for us.
Conqueror of the incredulous,
pray for us.
Solace of the wretched,
pray for us.
Medicine of the sick,
pray for us.
Help of the faint,
pray for us.
Strength of the weak,
pray for us.
Protectress of those who fight,
pray for us.
Haven of the shipwrecked,
pray for us.
Calmer of tempests,
pray for us.
Companion of the sorrowful,
pray for us.
Retreat of those who groan,
pray for us.
Terror of the treacherous,
pray for us.
Standard-bearer of the Martyrs,
pray for us.
Treasure of the Faithful,
pray for us.
Light of Confessors,
pray for us.
Pearl of Virgins,
pray for us.
Comfort of Widows,
pray for us.
Joy of all Saints,
pray for us.
Queen of thy Servants,
pray for us.
Holy Mary, who alone art unexampled,
pray for us.

V. Pray for us, most Sorrowful Virgin,
R.That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

let us pray:
O God, in whose Passion, according to the prophecy of Simeon, a sword of grief pierced through the most sweet soul of Thy glorious Blessed Virgin Mother Mary: grant that we, who celebrate the memory of her Seven Sorrows, may obtain the happy effect of Thy Passion, Who lives and reigns world without end.
Amen.

There is also a Little Office of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows, which Michael Martin at Thesaurus Preces Latinarum has translated. It is of comparatively recent origin (remember, I'm in the process of compiling what promises to be a rather lengthy book of traditional Catholic prayers). it was not included in medieval Books of Hours among the weekday hours.

Sorrowful Mother, pray for us.

Tuesday, September 14, 2004

Commemoration of the Cross

He bore the Holy Cross, who broke the power of hell; He was girded with power, He rose again the third day.
Alleluia.

V. Tell ye among the nations, Alleluia.
R. That the Lord hath reigned from the tree.
Alleluia.

Let us pray:O God, who didst will that Thy Son should undergo for us the shame of the Cross, that Thou mightest drive away from us the power of the enemy: grant unto us Thy servants to be made partakers of the grace of the resurrection. Through our Lord...
R. Amen.

V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.

V. Let us bless the Lord.
R. Thanks be to God.

V. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
R. Amen.

Our Father ... (silently)

V. May the Lord grant us His peace.
R. And life everlasting.
Amen.

Crucem sanctam subiit, qui infernum confregit, accinctus est potentia, surrexit die tertia. Alleluia.

V. Dicite in nationibus,
Alleluia
R. Quia Dominus regnavit a ligno.
Alleluia.

Oremus:Deus, qui pro nobis Filium tuum crucis patibulum subire voluisti, ut inimici a nobis expelleres potestatem: concede nobis famulis tuis, ut resurrectionis gratiam consequamur. Per eundem Dominum ...

V. Dominus vobiscum.
R. Et cum spiritu tuo.

V. Benedicamus Domino.
R. Deo gratias.

V. Fidelium animae per misericordiam Dei requiescant in pace.
R. Amen.

Pater noster... (secreto)

V. Dominus det nobis suam pacem.
R. Et vitam aeternam.
Amen.

From the traditional Mass for September 14 (Exaltation of the Cross) and May 3 (The Finding of the True Cross).
Courtesy of Michael W. Martin of Thesaurus Preces Latinarum.

Exaltation of the Cross

An image of St. Helena with the True Cross is on the front page of Recta Ratio: The Yahoo Group.

Monday, September 13, 2004

Since the Archdiocese Settled 541 Pervert Priest Claims

About 140 new claims have been filed for conduct from the 1950s-1980s.

And with the insurance companies refusing to contribute until forced to do so by the litigation between them and the Archdiocese, the Archdiocese cannot afford to settle these new claims, even for the statutory amount of $20,000 each, which is far less than they settled the first 541 claims for.

How many more parishes will need to be closed to assuage the greed of the trial lawyers?

Sox Lost Last Night

While the Yankees won, which drops the Sox back to 3.5 games behind the team from New York.

Boston-Area Realty Prices Out of Control

Simple 3-bedroom ranches selling for around a million? I was reading a City of Boston listing, and found 3-bedroom condos in the Back Bay selling for nearly $3 million. Condos for Pete's sake! Hardly the American dream of a backyard and picket fence.

It is getting to be the case that the only way people can get a house is to inherit it. And if you don't have parents, grandparents, aunts, or uncles to inherit from, all you can hope for is to befriend some elderly childless person and worm your way into their will. There have been people who have done that, but it takes a lot of grace. Or chutzpah.

Boston-area realty has increased in price for 44 consecutive quarters. They might level off at some point, perhaps even for a while, but I don't see them ever coming down substantially, as they did, briefly, at the start of the 1989-1994 regional depression that hit the Northeast.

St. John Chrysostum

September 13th is his feast day.

Sunday, September 12, 2004

BC Won

BC defeated Penn State yesterday, making them 2-0 on the season.

The Red Sox, meanwhile, remain hot, winning two out of the first three with Seattle, and regaining the game they lost on the Yankees Thursday night. So they remain 21/2 games back with less than 3 weeks left in the season.

They are in first place in the AL Wild Card race, but, since they will still need to defeat the Yankees face-to-face, isn't that a little patch of ground that hath in it no honor but the name?

Fugitive Pervert Priests Tracked To the Area of the Vatican

Seven perverts altogether. Two of them with pasts in the Boston area.

The Dallas Morning News broke the story, but this link is to a local-angle follow-up from the Boston Herald.

At least they were taken out of ministry in the country where they had a problem. Assuming a pervert is not de-frocked (which I agree should be made much easier in cases like this through reform of canon law and procedures, if necessary, so that the process can always be completed in under 6 months), then the idea is to keep them out of ministry with ready access to children. Burying them in the Vatican bureacracy might serve that purpose, unless it gives them access to decision-makers who influence policy regarding other perverts, and how the Church deals with perverts generally.

But they should answer for raping little boys first. Then, once that is done, they can be re-assigned to a no-contact-with-teenagers/children position in Rome (if they are not defrocked). Hiding them from prosecution is not what should be going on.

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