Tuesday, November 18, 2003

Joseph's Favorite Tune

He refers to it as the "chicken man" song. It is a Bruce Springsteen song performed by Hank Williams III and as to the identity of the "chicken man" well here you go...



From Philly/South Jersey Mob History:



"In the 1980s and 1990s, mob watching in the region became a spectator sport of sorts. The colorful nature of the mob wars was immortalized in Bruce Springsteen's song, Atlantic City, which chronicled the events surrounding the 1981 bombing death of Bruno's successor, Philip 'Chicken Man' Testa."

Archbishop Milingo Disappears

From Troublesome archbishop runs a little further from grace - www.theage.com.au:



"Archbishop Emanuel Milingo has done it again: run off with a woman. Vatican sources say that the Zambian archbishop, who has been under 'monastery arrest' since returning from marriage to a Korean member of the Moonie sect, has absconded again.



He is reported to have fled from a religious community at Zagarolo, near Rome, to Lecco, north Italy, with a female painter, Alba Vitali. He has long known the painter - she did his portrait before the marriage. It is believed that she is convinced he needs a more congenial atmosphere than at Zagarolo, and also medical care."

The Tower Proposes an Advent Fast

What is strange about this was that I was looking at an Orthodox calendar that I have hanging in my office and I noticed that the period we are now in is purple (symbolizing fast). I wondered what it might mean. Then I was viewing my blog and noticed a comment by Nathan, so I decided to check out his blog and lo and behold a direct answer to my unspoken question. Plus a great suggestion, in fact it is a suggestion that I would suggest you pass on to your diocesan bishop.



What we need right now is not "statements" but action. A declaration of a fast for Advent--for peace in the world and renewal within the Church is just what we need.



Fasting During Advent: Waiting in Joyful Hope



Nathan also has a response to Andrew Sullivan which is well worth a read. He shares Andrew's plight but has a different view of what being Catholic (and he just became a Catholic this past Easter) means. Scroll down to his November 10th entry.



I would add the following. Everyone is a sinner. In the our modern experience of the Church we often hear of the term of "cafeteria Catholicism" that might be better termed "cafeteria sinfulness". We all tend to pass by those parts of Catholicism that convict us of sin. But it is exactly in our weakness, our sinfulness where Christ can save us. We all need to fast not only from food, but from judgment of others, and from our sins...so that Christ may truly come into our lives.

Mr. Sharon Tear Down This Wall!

Pope John Paul has asked Israel to rethink its building a wall between itself and the Palestinians. The creation of a "Berlin" type wall in this modern age seems unthinkable, but shows how conflict between peoples seems to never leave us.



From News 24:



"At the same time, I must note that unfortunately in those places, the dynamism of peace seems to have stopped. The construction of a wall between the Israeli and Palestinian people is seen by many as a new obstacle on the road toward peaceful cohabitation," he said. "In reality, the Holy Land doesn't need walls, but bridges."



Elie Wiesel takes issue with the Pope:



"From the spiritual leader of one of the largest and most important religions in the world, I expected something very different, namely a statement condemning terror and the killing of innocents, without mixing in political considerations and above all without comparing these things to a work of pure self-defence," Wiesel told the Corriere della Sera newspaper in an interview.





Monday, November 17, 2003

Geoff Bodine Singing

Click here.



Varia

Spirit Daily has an interesting prophecy by Pere Lamy...



I had read this years ago, but it does seem even more relevant today and I do think that we are on the verge of what the Pope has termed the period of "new evangelization"...all at a time when it seems that all is lost.



Drudge has a sneak at the latest outrage to come out of Disney...a movie that has a Santa swearing and doing just about everything else under the sun. I saw a preview yesterday and even the preview was pretty daring.



He also reports that Alaska has been hit with a 7.5 earthquake and now there is fear of a giant tusami hitting the west coast.



Amy has a link to the latest Report from Rome that includes some interesting takes on the Liturgical situation in the Church.

Sunday, November 16, 2003

Happy Birthday to the Oldest Living Human Being

A few weeks ago she was the third oldest, but today she is the oldest! She lives in nearby Lima, OH. She moved there when she was 110 so that she could be close to family. She also has two sisters still living, both of whom are 99.



My grandmother lived into her hundreds (as well as her sisters).



Today is also my birthday, but I'm a long, long way from 100.



From The Vindicator:



"Charlotte Benkner, who will celebrate her 114th birthday Sunday, said Friday she doesn't understand what all the fuss is about.



'It's just another birthday,' the world's oldest person said after making her way through the crowded room with the help of a walker to a chair facing rows of reporters and schoolchildren.



'I'm overwhelmed that so many people came out for my birthday.' Smiling, she added, 'It would be so nice if it were sweet 16. I'd have a lovely time.'




Her favorite food:



"What's your favorite food?" a boy asked.



"My favorite time is dinner and I can eat chicken five days a week," Benkner responded.




The secret to a long life?



Reporters were more interested in learning the secret to Benkner's living so long.



"There is no secret," she said. "I just live each day the way the Lord gives it to me."




Something we can all apply to this and everyday!