Today's Blessing of the Bells

Mom and I went to the Cathedral Basilca today for the Blessing of the new bells.

There are four bells, named for four female saints. St. Katherine Drexel and three others that I can't recall at the moment.

The Cathedral Basilica looks spiffy and clean. I didn't realize how red that stone was.

Detail of the Corbels below the South Tower where the bells will be.
I really need to spend time really photographing the church one day.

The new cross, it's a replica of the original, which includes a piece of the old one.


The school for she established here in Santa Fe was closed in the mid-1990s, but it was for Native Americans.

There were sisters from the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, the order she established on hand for the Blessing.


Blessed Kateri stands in the front courtyard of the Cathedral Basilica.
It's hard to believe just how much this church has changed through the years. Mom and I were talking about that today.

Journal North News story.
Santa Fe New Mexican Story

Tis the Season...

Of Ordinations.

I'm working on a bit longer post and have a bit to say, but I'm going to first start compiling links.

The first is about three men recently ordained in the Archdiocese of Miami, the home of the former Priest Fr. Cutie. Anyway, two of these men are grandfathers, widowers actually, and one a young man, who stumbled upon his vocation by accident.

This year, my diocese ordained one man, whose story is just as interesting as some of these others. And I understand that there is one young man from my own parish who will be entering the seminary this fall. The first from our parish as of yet. I wonder if he's been part of the parish as it's grown. It celebrates it's 20th anniversary next year.

I also had an idea for a news story article, blog post or something a bit more academic. I may post about it here later.

Oh... and today's homily by Father was fabulous. I need to take notes I think.

What Would You Do With That?

The other day while window shopping after my second birthday lunch, I saw a monstrance for sale at an antique store. If I only had $3800. Of course what would I do with it? Seriously, what would you do with something like that? I've seen chalices in antique stores (in fact there was a gorgeous one in front of it) and online all the time, but I've never seen a monstrance any place but a church. I'm sure there is quite a story about how it ended up in Things Finer, a wonderful store in the La Fonda hotel.

It, being Pentecost tomorrow, I am looking forward to Mass. I may dash across town after Mass to the Cathedral for the Blessing of the (new) Bells because it would be something to see. Or maybe I'm just a big dork and like stuff like this. If I do go to town, I'll make the trip worthwhile and go to the new New Mexico History Museum.

Original Image copied from Wikipedia

And lastly, Fr. James Martin talks about the Holy Spirit. I do like him so an awful lot.

I really should quit reading Catholic blogs. This is what I found at the Shrine of the Holy Whapping. I was talking to a friend online and I showed her what I really wanted for my birthday, this... and then of course, I gotta get the movie with Jared Padaleki in which he plays Thomas Kincade. There's even a Paschal version of tree sculpture see...

Guh.

Then my friend showed me:




A Precious moments version of the Sistine Chapel. I'm sick now. Apparently in Carthage Mo. there is a chapel and park devoted to the precious figurines.

Make Lemonade from Lemons

Slowly but surely, I'll get back to my blogging zone. I really wanted to make a mention to Fran and thank her for the lovely shout out at her blog, the Parish Blog of St. Edward the Confessor for recognizing my blog last week. with a Lemon Stand Award. It was a very nice treat to read nice things about your humble blogger in her blog. So, thank you very much. I will definitely follow you around the blogosphere and see you in the comment box.

I'm a bit behind in my blog reading, again. It's probably a good thing because I'm a bit irked by comments left in blogs again.

I don't think I'm a particularly good Catholic when it comes down to things, but my reasons for feeling that way are my own and between me and God. If I ever read on someone else's blog that Maria is a bad Catholic because of x, y and z, and was held in judgment by another Catholic, I'd be pretty damn upset. And so, I am going to try to make this a politics-judgment free zone for a while.

So, let's go into other news. Yesterday was my birthday. I've pretty much found birthdays to be an odd reminder of getting older and older. I'm not old by any means, but I'm older than I feel and look. It's just once when a person has hit all the mile stone birthdays, 16, 21, 25, 30, birthdays are not as much fun or exciting. I see birthdays more as a blessing than anything else. I hope and pray I have as many birthdays as my maternal grandparents and am blessed with good health for those birthdays, but I don't actually want to think about getting "older" yet.

I had lots of well-wishes, phone calls, emails, cards and some lovely gifts and that was really nice. I've been living quietly in my brain again. I have a new story idea running around in my head. It's not the Vampire idea, another goofy Catholic-inspired story and so I'm going to see if it gels in my head before I ever attempt to write it. It's sorta of a real-life inspired story, maybe a bit autobiographical but as I can't predict the future, it's something I'll have to make up.

Sometimes that's the best part of it. Kinda like making lemonade when life throws you lemons.

In honor of World Communications Day on May 24th, there's Pope2You

Too tired to blog these days. Will post something soon.

As... So Also

Just a place holder for a post I want to make or attempt to make regarding today's readings.
Hint: it's all about Love.

Silas The Squirrel One of God's Cute Creatures

For years I've had a squirrel living in my backyard.

I named him Silas.

Though, I'm not sure if it's a male or female and I'm not quite sure
if this is junior, grandchild or great grandchild, but it's Silas just the same.

So, this is Silas the Squirrel in my Olive Tree.

Watch This!

This video really sucked me in. I thought it was great. H/T to the Deacon's Bench.

I might have found an answer to my last post, which left me a bit down all week. I don't know really know why. Maybe I won't. I often neglect praying the rosary, even though I find it to be one of the best forms and easiest ways for me to pray. Ultimately, I'd like to get settled into a good daily routine of waking early, praying and studying for about a half-hour to an hour, taking the dogs for a short walk and then getting my day started. It all sounds so wonderful, doesn't it?

It's Not Easy Being Catholic

Ever have one of those days where the last place you want to be is at Mass? I had one of those days today. I think I'm becoming one of those Catholics that drives me crazy. I really can't believe how easily annoyed I can be when I go to Mass. I arrived early, hoping to find a quiet seat where I could read through the readings for the day and just meditate before Mass started, but with all the incessant chatter, I couldn't. We had baptisms, which I always enjoy, and there were tons and tons of faces I didn't recognize from the usual crowd and they were making their presence known.

I moved closer to the front so I could get away from the chatter and noise. My dad doesn't like sitting close, in case he gets ill or something, he likes to be able to leave easily. Today he didn't feel well, so he went to the gathering space and stayed there for the rest of Mass. My mom and I stayed. We usually go separately for that very reason. I like going to Mass alone anyway.

Because of this flu goring around, we're still not holding hands for the "Our Father" which is fine with me, we're only having Communion under one species and for the sign of peace, we are just bowing, waving or doing any other gesture but touch hands. It's kinda weird not to shake hands for the sign of peace, but it goes a lot faster this way.

I just had a really bad time at Mass today. I also really need to go to Confession.

Sense of Wonder

I just found a blog that I want to read now... but I have way too much to do. There is a post here by Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes (the woman who wrote Women Who Run With the Wolves . I guess she blogs at the National Catholic Reporter.) I was doing some story research for my newest story idea. Like I really need to be working on another story idea and I found a piece she wrote about Our Lady's journey into Santa Fe, "They Tried to Stop Her at the Border." It's about the journey of the new statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe that was commissioned for Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish here in Santa Fe. I wrote about the statue here. There are links that will take you to the offical site there too.

For the Immaculate Conception, Dr. Estes also wrote a piece about Our Lady that touched me deeply and I posted it here, orginally spotted at Fr. Austin Murphy's blog, Jesus Goes to Disneyworld.

But in the name of story research I'm going to read The Pope and La Curandera now.

Who actually said, "The Church is not a museum for saints but a hospital for sinners"?
It think it's a very apt quote and I've heard it many times before. Google has given me various answers and maybe it's one of those quotes we'll never know who really said. It's like St. Francis is attributed with saying, "Preach the Gospel, use words when necessary," but no one really knows if he said it or not.

I'm feeling a bit dry spiritually these days. I wonder if it started after Easter and then really peeked after the children made their First Communions? I've been working on an email to one of the priests at my parish for weeks... I haven't been able to articulate anything in it. I'm setting it aside once again.

It's going to be a long summer. I'll work on my Catechism plan for next fall, I plan to work on my applications for the teacher's program so I can become a certified teacher one day and actually teach for a living. I truly feel that is where I'm being lead. I just hope that I can find a job once I complete the credit hours and pass the state exam for certification.

But anyway, yesterday I attended the Archdiocesan Catechetical luncheon at a parish church in Albuquerque. It was quite lovely. The deacon in charge of Hispanic Ministry for the diocese gave the keynote address, which was inspiring. I took copious notes and may write up my reflections later, but used the quote I mentioned at the start of this post.

I enjoyed the luncheon. I felt very honored that I was invited to go, as I'm just a first year teacher and none of the other catechists attended. Our religious education director was there, one of the sisters who works with the Hispanic ministry and our Confirmation director also attended. My friend received an award as the Catechist of the year from our parish. There were many Catechists recognized. The awards were presented by the archbishop who also spoke to us. He joined us for lunch and posed for pictures.

It was actually a very inspiring day. I don't have delusions of grandeur that I'll win an award one day, but I do believe that one day I will be a capable and worthy catechist. I have some wonderful mentors and some wonderful opportunities at my parish to learn, grown and study. I'm actually working toward my certification with the diocese. I'd be foolish to pass off the opportunity I've been given.

Anyway, more thoughts later.

Drop It On Me

So every now and then I go over and read Catholic forums. Yes, yes, I don't need to be told I'm a masochist. I should know better than to get involved in certain discussions. However, I'm following a thread about the Twilight series of books. I have not read any of the books, nor have I seen the movie so I don't have an opinion about this particular universe. I find the Vampire mythology fascinating.

I'm just amused by the discussion because opinions range from they're ok, to they're evil and should be avoided like the swine flu.

I like mythic shows. I'm a sucker for a good vs. evil story. I like fantasy and I like horror stories for those reasons. I also like Sci Fi because the story arcs in those types of shows are almost always about the nature of good and evil.

The other night I had a dream about vampires and it's morphing into a story idea of its own. I figure someday I will write it into a novel, but the trouble with writing in a universe or genre such as gothic/horror/fantasy, is that it's been done over and over and over, sometimes well and other times badly. I'm afraid of writing a cliche and so if I do sit down to write this story, I will have to make it real, human and gripping, which means I'll have to create my own universe, while using some of the old standby mythology we all know about vampires.

Eeeee! Speaking of Good vs. Evil, I can't wait for tonight's episode of Supernatural. No vampires tonight, just Sam being punished for his pesky little habit of drinking demon blood. ;-)

Not that any of this will make any sense to you all who don't watch my show.

It's Just Getting Silly

Ron Howard V. the Catholic Church. Apparently, he's accusing the Vatican of not playing nice. All because they "interfered with getting permits" to shoot the movie in and around Rome.

Howard is trying to paint the Vatican with the same paint brush that Brown did in his books. It's absurd and ludicrous. The only one looking like a fool right now is Ron Howard.

AP article here.

Movie review here with a mishmash of comments.

I might have to do a compilation of links from both sides just for fun. Anyway, here are some more of my thoughts about the movie. I'm not up in arms about this movie at all. I might have to see it to appreciate the hotness of Ewan McGregor wearing a Cassock, but I don't have any expectations that it will be good movie even with Ewan McGregor in it.

I tried reading The Da Vinci Code and couldn't get through the first chapter, I thought it was so badly written I never went back to it. My mother, a more voracious reader than I, read it all and thought it was pretty bad. She didn't even like Angels and Demons. I don't think she finished it.

It's only till later, much later, did I hear the charges that it was Anti-Catholic and a big farce mislabeled as "historical fiction." Then I tried and I seriously mean tried to watch the movie. I got through about an hour of it and it was bad. None of it made sense, the acting was bad and I had no idea that Silas was played by Paul Bettany.

Anyway, I think this, like all things pissing off Catholics right now will pass. Still, the uproar is amusing. I think I'm paying attention to this story so I don't have to think about Norte Dame right now. Besides, I'm taking a moratorium of talking about politics in this blog. It may be permanent actually.

Faith

Not sure if this will embed. Probably not. I should be going to bed but I'm poking around the Santa Fe New Mexican Website and stumbled upon some video from the Good Friday Pilgrimage to Chimayo this year. Go here to watch. The faith these pilgrims have is amazing. This is the walk I didn't do with my parish. For whatever reasons, I just wasn't up for it. I thought maybe it was physical, but I think it was more spiritual.


I've posted about the Santuario before, look at tags that say Chimayo or Santuario in them. There is also a link to the site on my local links bar.

I'm not in a good place today, well haven't been lately faith wise and am trying hard not to be angry, resentful, doubtful, or anything else right now. I may post on it later.

The various accents of the pilgrims make me smile. Just listening and without being told where they are from, I can tell exactly where these people come from. I can hear a Native New Mexican a mile a way.I like the way Bill from Sidney pronounces Santuario.

crossposted to the LJ

... and I'm Slowly Drowning

Me on the left, my cousin on the right after a lovely rainstorm.

Why is it when you want to sit down, write out thoughts that are flowing inside your head, when you actually sit down to write them, you can't?

I'm having one of those lazy Saturdays. I think my cold, or the creeping crud as I called it, broke Tuesday night. Wednesday I felt fine and I'm over it now, with a lingering cough every now and then. I also was hit with an immediate bout of allergies. Oh, life is good.

My dad called this morning and of course managed to wake me up (Calls before 8 a.m. are just plain terrifying and or rude when they're not an emergency.) and he wasn't feeling well, but there wasn't anything I could really do. He called a few minutes later to tell me all was well, so I slept for a bit longer, till he called and woke me a second time. I realize he's getting older and he does rely on me, but there is a point where I think it's selfish and inconsiderate. He's lonely. My mom doesn't baby him. I guess I do. I pay attention to him and I listen to him. We are close but there is a point where I feel like he's crossing the line and now that I'm over the creeping crud, he's calling me all the time again. Ugh. Then I feel guilty when I rant and rave or even complain.

So, today, I think that's why I haven't done very much, though I have tons of things I could do around the house.

Fortunately, it's rainy which makes it a good day to stay inside. Rain in Santa Fe is truly a thing of beauty and wonder. It washes away all the nasty stuff and you haven't smelled anything as sweet.

In Honor of St. Joseph, the Worker.

Saint Joseph: A Hidden Life from "Who Cares About The Saints?" with Fr. James Martin, S.J.

Father Martin really said some things in this video clip that hit close to home. It's really a lovely video. I'll have to order the DVD when I have some spending money.