On this day in 1789, French revolutionaries stormed the Bastille. The Bastille, a prison housing only 7 prisoners at the time, was stormed by a crowd calling for the closure of the prison. The storming became the central event of the French Revolution.
Here in the United States there seems to be an ongoing, overt (sometimes covert) concern about what is “authentic”, “historical”, orthodox, true orthopraxy, etc. regarding what is correct liturgical practice in the Roman Catholic Church. It is always good to remember that there is no such thing as the Roman Catholic Church. That statement generally gets people’s attention. Continue reading
When I was a year or two short of being a full-fledged teenager, I was invited to attend my first funeral. It was not a Catholic funeral – and as I came to know – nothing like a Catholic funeral. It was a fundamentalist, born-again, raucous affair for a person who by all measures was a backsliding, church-skipping, no-good, no-count, reprobate of a man. The preacher made no bones about where this particular dearly-departed would spend eternity. He held up the miserable failing and sinful ways of this man as a warning of what would happen when Satan got his claws into you and dragged you down into the pit. Continue reading
On this day in 1909, the House of Representatives joined the Senate in passing the 16th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, allowing for a federal income tax, and submitted it to the states. It was declared ratified in February 1913.
There are many “milestones” that mark the passage from “young” to middle-aged. I’m too old to remember them all having given up the notion that I am still in either category. But Joey Knight, a sports writer for the Tampa Bay Times, notes that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers football team has a double marker of middle aged:
In speculating on the possible fortunes of the Bucs in the coming season, Knight writes: “We cite Rocky Balboa here: Time is undefeated. Brady can continue with his revolutionary training methods, meticulous diet and general defiance of the natural order. At some point, he’s going to regress. Will it be this season? So far, there is zero evidence of that. He’s coming off one of his most prolific seasons ever (5,316 passing yards, 43 touchdowns) and was spinning the ball as crisply as ever during the recent mandatory minicamp. But no one — not even the NFL’s resident freak of nature — lasts forever.”
Well… not in this life. But we are all in the “preseason training camp” of this life, preparing for the life to come! Amen!
July 10, 1940: On this day in history, in the midst of World War II, the Battle of Britain began as the Luftwaffe started attacking southern England. The Battle of Britain was a military campaign in which the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) of the Royal Navy defended the United Kingdom against large-scale attacks by Nazi Germany’s air force, the Luftwaffe. It has been described as the first major military campaign fought entirely by air forces. The Battle of British lasted until 31 October 1940, which overlaps the period of large-scale night attacks known as the Blitz, that lasted from 7 September 1940 to 11 May 1941.
From time to time this summer I have been commenting on the first reading, recently from the prophets Amos and Hosea. Their words have been direct and challenging to any who would listen: this is how you are seen in the eyes of God. It was a rough encounter. While it promised doom to those whose heart remained hardened, there was always the call to turn back to God, back to the covenant. Continue reading
On July 4th I attended a neighborhood house party in Leesburg, Va. It was a festive gathering made even more festive by the presence of the Jefferson Street Strutters, an ensemble of folks who play New Orleans jazz in the style of the 1910s-1930s. While listening I began to wonder how a slide trombone works. Mobile phone in hand my question was quickly answered with a search. Later on, chatting with the trombone player, I got an even more detailed answer. Along the way, my etymological interests were also entertained. The word “trombone” comes to us via the Italian: trumpa – trumpet and one – large. Basically it means a large trumpet. It is good that our word comes from the Italian and not the middle English. Until the early 18th century, the English word for trombone was “sackbut.” It has its own linguistic evolution from the French, but it is just an unfortunate rendering in English.
Spent the 4th of July weekend with long-time friends Rebecca and Doug Lynes who reside in Leesburg, VA. This morning we enjoyed the town 4th of July Parade. Complete with floats, fire trucks, tractors, classic cars, fife & drum corp, and lots of politicians running for office. The most unique group? The Roller Derby Ladies of Loudoun. Very fun morning. Just s few of the many pictures taken. Enjoy.
Most of the apostles and lots of saints have their own feast day, but how about the two most famous saints of the early church? There is February 22nd in which the Church celebrates the “Chair of Peter” the sign that Peter was the first among the apostles and the one designated to lead the early Church after Jesus’ Resurrection and Ascension. But there is no “Feast of St. Peter.”
St. Paul, although not one of the Twelve, was an Apostle commissioned by Jesus. There is the January 25th celebration of “The Conversion of St. Paul” which commemorates the Damascus Road episode described in Acts of the Apostles: 9:1-31, 22:1-22, and 26:9-24. It is the scene made famous by the “Conversion on the Way to Damascus” painting by Caravaggio. But there is no “Feast of St. Paul.” Continue reading
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