I read this book some years ago upon the recommendation of Father Benedict Groeschel who said it was one of the best books on prayer out there. It is! Lately it has appeared in and out of print and I noticed recently that it is back in print in the original Image version. No matter what your prayer life is like, you'll benefit from the sage advice contained within "Sensing Your Hidden Presence:"
Sunday, August 10, 2003
Great Book on Prayer!
I read this book some years ago upon the recommendation of Father Benedict Groeschel who said it was one of the best books on prayer out there. It is! Lately it has appeared in and out of print and I noticed recently that it is back in print in the original Image version. No matter what your prayer life is like, you'll benefit from the sage advice contained within "Sensing Your Hidden Presence:"
I read this book some years ago upon the recommendation of Father Benedict Groeschel who said it was one of the best books on prayer out there. It is! Lately it has appeared in and out of print and I noticed recently that it is back in print in the original Image version. No matter what your prayer life is like, you'll benefit from the sage advice contained within "Sensing Your Hidden Presence:"
Best Sports Site?
It is amazing how in one year viewing sports on the internet has changed. A year ago you could have listened to almost any sporting event on the internet for free. Not anymore. Now most sites offer a very limited amount of info for free, if at all. But for one site that still can give you a wealth of information in close to real time for such sports as baseball and even pre-season football, check outCBS.SportsLine.com.
It is amazing how in one year viewing sports on the internet has changed. A year ago you could have listened to almost any sporting event on the internet for free. Not anymore. Now most sites offer a very limited amount of info for free, if at all. But for one site that still can give you a wealth of information in close to real time for such sports as baseball and even pre-season football, check outCBS.SportsLine.com.
Saturday, August 9, 2003
A Nice Amazon Review of My Mass Book:
I can easily see how this book would be indispensable for those new to the Catholic faith. In fact, I was tempted to buy this book for the entire RCIA class this year (pecuniary interests prevented this, of course).
What may not be so obvious is the value to cradle Catholics. So many details of the Mass are lost in the fog of CCD & "Religion Class" (in my day, calling it "Catechism Class" would have offended the hippies and ex-nuns). Details on the meaning and purpose of bowing vs. genuflecting, signs of the Cross, etc., were invaluable, as was the emphasis on the liturgical calendar and historical origins of different components of the Mass.
The author does a great job of focusing on the Real Meaning, as opposed to simply detailing the mechanics. The Scriptural storyline provided is relevant and helpful, as are the personal anecdotes. Also helpful was the admonition to the overscrupulous. It was particularly appropriate for me to be armed with humility when I began to notice fellow parishioners genuflecting to the empty tabernacle on Good Friday.
The only thing missing from this book is an appendix of prayers during Mass (before & after are provided). While referencing the text of the Gloria, the Confiteor, etc., the full text was not provided. Obviously these can be obtained elsewhere, but it would have been nice to have them for reference in this book.
In summary, Dubruiel's work ought to provide an entertaining and instructive read for any Catholic - cradle, convert, or returning, as well as providing a full explanation for non-Catholics wondering what the "smells & bells" are all about.
Actually, if you go to the Amazon link, you can click on new and used copies and I'll sell you a new copy cheaper than they are selling it for ($9.00) and if you'd like to give the book as a gift to someone I'll even autograph it specifically to that person. You can order it through Amazon but you'll be getting it from me.
I can easily see how this book would be indispensable for those new to the Catholic faith. In fact, I was tempted to buy this book for the entire RCIA class this year (pecuniary interests prevented this, of course).
What may not be so obvious is the value to cradle Catholics. So many details of the Mass are lost in the fog of CCD & "Religion Class" (in my day, calling it "Catechism Class" would have offended the hippies and ex-nuns). Details on the meaning and purpose of bowing vs. genuflecting, signs of the Cross, etc., were invaluable, as was the emphasis on the liturgical calendar and historical origins of different components of the Mass.
The author does a great job of focusing on the Real Meaning, as opposed to simply detailing the mechanics. The Scriptural storyline provided is relevant and helpful, as are the personal anecdotes. Also helpful was the admonition to the overscrupulous. It was particularly appropriate for me to be armed with humility when I began to notice fellow parishioners genuflecting to the empty tabernacle on Good Friday.
The only thing missing from this book is an appendix of prayers during Mass (before & after are provided). While referencing the text of the Gloria, the Confiteor, etc., the full text was not provided. Obviously these can be obtained elsewhere, but it would have been nice to have them for reference in this book.
In summary, Dubruiel's work ought to provide an entertaining and instructive read for any Catholic - cradle, convert, or returning, as well as providing a full explanation for non-Catholics wondering what the "smells & bells" are all about.
Actually, if you go to the Amazon link, you can click on new and used copies and I'll sell you a new copy cheaper than they are selling it for ($9.00) and if you'd like to give the book as a gift to someone I'll even autograph it specifically to that person. You can order it through Amazon but you'll be getting it from me.
Here is a New Twist
The story is rather unclear as to why the parishioners are no longer welcome in their parish. Did they rat on the priest? If so the priest should be suspended for sending the letters.
From ClickOnDetroit.com - News - Parishioners Expelled As Priest Is Investigated:
"The 15 families of Our Lady of Grace Vietnamese Catholic Church in Eastpointe received letters by certified mail stating they were no longer welcome in their parish, Local 4 reported Thursday. The letters went out after allegations from church members that their priest allowed his brother -- a defrocked priest -- to perform sacred services.
Church members said they would ignore their priest's request and attend their parish on Sunday.
'Whatever happened I'm not going to leave until the pope come and say to me, Adam, you cannot participate in the church,' kicked-out parishioner Adam Nguyn said. "
The story is rather unclear as to why the parishioners are no longer welcome in their parish. Did they rat on the priest? If so the priest should be suspended for sending the letters.
From ClickOnDetroit.com - News - Parishioners Expelled As Priest Is Investigated:
"The 15 families of Our Lady of Grace Vietnamese Catholic Church in Eastpointe received letters by certified mail stating they were no longer welcome in their parish, Local 4 reported Thursday. The letters went out after allegations from church members that their priest allowed his brother -- a defrocked priest -- to perform sacred services.
Church members said they would ignore their priest's request and attend their parish on Sunday.
'Whatever happened I'm not going to leave until the pope come and say to me, Adam, you cannot participate in the church,' kicked-out parishioner Adam Nguyn said. "
Friday, August 8, 2003
Only Six Clicks Away From Reaching Whoever You Want
Most of you are familiar with the six degrees of separation theory where everyone on the planet is reacheable through six people. You call your friend in Boston, who is a friend of someone in Paris, who is related to someone in Lyon, who knows the mayor, who once studied with the Pope.
Now the theory has been applied to the internet. I would have thought if anything that the ability to connect would have been greatly reduced to three or four degrees of separation.
From theage.com.au - The Age:
"Email users are only six mouse-clicks away from anyone else in cyberspace, a team including two Australian researchers at New York's Columbia University has found.
Drawing on the six degrees of separation theory, the experiment involved more than 60,000 participants in 166 countries who registered online.
Volunteers were asked to begin an email chain to reach 18 'target' people in 13 countries, including Australia.
Each person in the chain was to forward the email to someone they thought would get it closer to the target. Although some message chains died out, researchers found that emails could reach their targets in an average of five to seven steps.
'This study was based on a much older study conducted by Stanley Milgram in the 1950s and out of which the phrase 'six degrees of separation' is likely to have arisen,' said researcher Duncan Watts, who studied physics at the Australian Defence Force Academy before further study in the US.
Associate Professor Watts said the internet allowed researchers to gather detailed information from a large number of participants. "
Most of you are familiar with the six degrees of separation theory where everyone on the planet is reacheable through six people. You call your friend in Boston, who is a friend of someone in Paris, who is related to someone in Lyon, who knows the mayor, who once studied with the Pope.
Now the theory has been applied to the internet. I would have thought if anything that the ability to connect would have been greatly reduced to three or four degrees of separation.
From theage.com.au - The Age:
"Email users are only six mouse-clicks away from anyone else in cyberspace, a team including two Australian researchers at New York's Columbia University has found.
Drawing on the six degrees of separation theory, the experiment involved more than 60,000 participants in 166 countries who registered online.
Volunteers were asked to begin an email chain to reach 18 'target' people in 13 countries, including Australia.
Each person in the chain was to forward the email to someone they thought would get it closer to the target. Although some message chains died out, researchers found that emails could reach their targets in an average of five to seven steps.
'This study was based on a much older study conducted by Stanley Milgram in the 1950s and out of which the phrase 'six degrees of separation' is likely to have arisen,' said researcher Duncan Watts, who studied physics at the Australian Defence Force Academy before further study in the US.
Associate Professor Watts said the internet allowed researchers to gather detailed information from a large number of participants. "
Who Need Pre-marriage Counseling? Algebra is What is Needed!
From Yahoo! News - Algebra points way to a happy marriage:
"A mathematician says he can predict with almost total accuracy which newly wed couples will enjoy a happy marriage -- using two lines of algebra.
Professor James Murray says the two formulae he devised have a 94 percent success rate when it comes to forecasting whether a couple will stay together, the Daily Telegraph reported on Friday.
The formulae were calculated during a 10-year study of 700 couples in the United States conducted by Murray, a mathematics professor at the University of Washington, Seattle.
The experiment, conducted with the help of a psychologist, involved observing the couples during a 15 minute conversation when they were newly married, Murray said.
He presented his findings to a conference in Dundee, Scotland, for the first time on Thursday, the Telegraph said.
A couple's ability to communicate on subjects such as sex, child-rearing or money was measured using a scale that gave positive points for good signals, such as smiles and affectionate gestures, and negative points for bad signals, such as rolling of the eyes, mocking and coldness."
From Yahoo! News - Algebra points way to a happy marriage:
"A mathematician says he can predict with almost total accuracy which newly wed couples will enjoy a happy marriage -- using two lines of algebra.
Professor James Murray says the two formulae he devised have a 94 percent success rate when it comes to forecasting whether a couple will stay together, the Daily Telegraph reported on Friday.
The formulae were calculated during a 10-year study of 700 couples in the United States conducted by Murray, a mathematics professor at the University of Washington, Seattle.
The experiment, conducted with the help of a psychologist, involved observing the couples during a 15 minute conversation when they were newly married, Murray said.
He presented his findings to a conference in Dundee, Scotland, for the first time on Thursday, the Telegraph said.
A couple's ability to communicate on subjects such as sex, child-rearing or money was measured using a scale that gave positive points for good signals, such as smiles and affectionate gestures, and negative points for bad signals, such as rolling of the eyes, mocking and coldness."
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