Better Know a Saint: St. Celestine V

Every mother wants her children to be little saints, but in this case little Peter really did his mother proud. Pietro di Murrone, a bookish young lad who liked keep busy lest the Devil tempt him, went on to become Pope Celestine.

Pietro became a hermit at age 20, but ran into a little problem: how can you be a hermit if other hermits keep wanting to hang around and be hermits together? Kind of defeats the purpose, y'know. So Peter formed the Benedictine Celestine Order.

Not being a particularly political person during a time when the Church was highly political (you have to read it to believe it), Pietro would have preferred to live a hermitic life. And he tried. Until the day three guys showed up and told him he'd been elected pope. Not exactly thrilled, he did consider running off, but after a chat with God, accepted his "promotion" and chose the name Celestine V.

That he was more spiritual than political didn't help, at least in terms of job security. Not to mention his inability to say "no" to anybody, his tenure as pope lasted all of five months. Why? He quit the job. To him it came down to one choice: his job or his soul, and he chose the latter. But nobody had ever quit the job before, so what to do?

Eventually a new election election was held, Cardinal Benedetto Gaetani became Boniface VIII. Not entirely certain Celestine's followers wouldn't try to reinstate him or something, Boniface tried to arrest him and keep him under watch. Celestine escaped and tried to make it to Greece, but was thwarted by the weather. After being captured by Boniface, this simple old man, who wished a simple life of prayer and study was confined to a small cell, attended by two of his adherents and eventually murdered by Boniface.

Not a happy ending at all.

Better Know a Saint: St. Pachomius

What's a hard working Egyptian fella going to do after leaving the Roman army? In Pachomius's case, it was to convert to Christianity in 314 BCE and build a new type of monastary.

Pachiomus watched Christians bring food and clothes to prison inmates at Thebes and was impressed by their behavior. After leaving the army he became a Christian, and spent several years following an elderly monk named Palemon, living the austere life of prayer and manual labor that St. Anthony of Egypt had created.

Eventually Pachiomus had an idea. Another monk, Macarius had created "larves" where monks who were unable to keep living a solitary life because of physical or mental problems could still be part of the religious community. Pachomius set about organizing these cells into a formal organization that moved individual hermits into formalized communities - the first monestaries and nunneries. To put that into religious geek-speak, monks went from living a hermitic (or eremitic lifestyle), to a communal (or cenobitic lifestyle). While St. Anthony usually gets the credit for the monastic communities as we think of them today, it was really Pachiomus who created them, on the banks of the lovely Egyptian Nile River.

He's also credited with inventing prayer rope, a descendant of the rosary.

However, St. Anthony is still the go-to guy when in comes to lost stuff. Now where did I put my Blackberry?

Every once in a while, things conspire to toss something into my life from several directions at once. This time it's a book, Wage Theft in America by Kim Bobo. Within the past twenty-four hours I've had two emails from two different people (who don't know each other) and come across a diary on Daily Kos about this book.

Kim Bobo is the the founder and executive director of Interfaith Worker Justice, an organization founded in 1996 to protect worker rights and encourage faith organizations to become involved in worker rights issues.

I haven't read this book yet, but it is definitely going on my "must read" list.

Crossposted at Blue Cat Lair.

Don't come around much anymore...

Since the last time I posted, I've had two shoulder surgeries, I'm getting ready to have a spinal fusion next month, and my HD blew up. I now have a new kickin' system that does the job and then some.

I took one of those little "Find out what religion you really are, and here is the result:

Liberal Quaker is my top match on the Selectsmart.com quiz: Spiritual Belief System Selector by SelectSmart.com staff
Take this quiz	Take a different quiz

Actually I am a very liberal Episcopalian, but "Liberal Quaker" is cool too. And Quakers usually worship silently quiet, which is very nice.

About the Jerusalem Document and all that...

Can't we all just love one another as Christ loved us?

Lupus

It sucks. I've had no energy to post, but with the help of the wonder drugs plaquinil and prednisone, I now have about an hour or two of energy a day, with which I am going to waste an hour blogging. I'll also cut-and-paste the same boring entries to Blue Cat Lair and my Facebook pages, so for the next month or so there really won't be really topical stuff posted anywhere, just ramblings.

It's forced my to reschedule my trip to Idaho until late September. This is one time I won't argue back to the Big Guy. It's in the low hundreds there now, and while I used to love that temperature range, right now, I'll admire it from afar.

I have come across something that is very intriguing and has made for some good listening and spirit warming. It's Saint John Coltrane Church in San Francisco. I highly recommend going there on Tuesday afternoons for the Uplift Radio Broadcast. If you can pick up locally, tune in from Noon to 4. If not, you can listen online: KPOO 89.5,

When I was living in Philadelphia I used to go to Jazz Vespers at Old Pine Street Presbyterian Church, which, I learned today have ended due to lack of funding. I'm hope the tradition will continue somewhere in the area; it's a joyous noise too precious to lose.

In memorium: Tim Russell

Sometimes I loved him, sometimes he made yell at him for asking really stupid "gotcha" question.

Sometimes though, his "gotcha" question was right on the mark.

MR. TIM RUSSERT: Our issues this Sunday: America remembers September 11, 2001. In Iraq, six months ago, the war began with shock and awe. Vice President Dick Cheney appeared on MEET THE PRESS:

VICE PRES. DICK CHENEY: My belief is we will, in fact, be greeted as liberators.

That's the interview I'll always remember for two reasons that I intuitly knew.

One, it was obvious Cheney was either lying or was incredibly, stupidly naive.
Two, the look on Tim's face the said the same thing I knew.

Tim was NBC News’ Washington bureau chief and host of Meet the Press.

He died of a heart attack at the Washing bureau, doing what he loved.

The most touching moment of MSNBC coverage, was when Keith Olbermann fought back tears, while talking about his personal relationship with Tim.

Well, Timmeh, Sunday mornings will never be the same without you. I'll miss you.


Tim, Longing For One More Day
When we lose someone we love it seems that time stands still. What moves through us is a silence... a quiet sadness... A longing for one more day... one more word... one more touch... We may not understand why you left this earth so soon, or why you left before we were ready to say good-bye, but little by little, we begin to remember not just that you died, but that you lived. And that your life gave us memories too beautiful to forget. We will see you again some day, in a heavenly place where there is no parting. A place where there are no words that mean good-bye.

An Irish funeral prayer, from a friend's funeral

Better Know My Favorite Saint! May 13 Edition

Julian of Norwitch

The Lady Juliana was born about 1342, and when she was thirty years old, she became gravely ill and was expected to die. Then, on the seventh day, the medical crisis passed, and she had a series of fifteen visions, or "showings," in which she was led to contemplate the Passion of Christ. These brought her great peace and joy. She became an anchoress, living in a small hut near to the church in Norwich, where she devoted the rest of her life to prayer and contemplation of the meaning of her visions. The results of her meditations she wrote in a book called Revelations of Divine Love, available in modern English in a Penguin Paperback edition. During her lifetime, she became known as a counselor, whose advice combined spiritual insight with common sense, and many persons came to speak with her. Since her death, many more have found help in her writings.

The precise date of her death is uncertain.

Her book is a tender meditation on God's eternal and all-embracing love, as expressed to us in the Passion of Christ.

She describes seeing God holding a tiny thing in his hand, like a small brown nut, which seemed so fragile and insignificant that she wondered why it did not crumble before her eyes. She understood that the thing was the entire created universe, which is as nothing compared to its Creator, and she was told, "God made it, God loves it, God keeps it."

She was concerned that sometimes when we are faced wiith a difficult moral decision, it seems that no matter which way we decide, we will have acted from motives that are less then completely pure, so that neither decision is defensible. She finally wrote: "It is enough to be sure of the deed. Our courteous Lord will deign to redeem the motive."

The is more on Dame Julian here

With thanks and gratitute to Anglican Resources at SoAJ

Presiding Bishop issues statement on Zimbabwe crisis

May 7, 2008

[Episcopal News Service]

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori issued a statement May 6 on the political and humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe, calling for all Episcopalians to advocate for an international response.

Robert Mugabe's government, shesays, has engaged in a "systematic repression of human rights, democracy, ane economic opportunity for the people of Zimbabwe."
In her statement, Jefferts Schori joins with the archbishops of Canterbury and York, and the Archbishop of Cape Town, in calling for an international arms embargo against the government of Zimbabwe.

Urging all Episcopalians to continue to pray for the people of Zimbabwe, Jefferts Schori says: "In a land that has suffered so greatly in recent years as a result of 165,000 percent inflation, 80 percent unemployment, and poverty so drastic that life expectancy is now only in the mid-30s, the need for healing and transformation could not be more urgent."

The full text of the Presiding Bishop's statement can be viewed
here.

Better Know a Saint! May 6 Edition

St. Petronax

Abbot, called “the Second Founder of Montecassino.” Not to be confused with the Monte Cristo sandwich which is ham and cheese between two slices of french toast. It's usually served with pancake syrup which ups its yum quotient!

Anyway, Petronax joined the Benedictines and in 717 went to Montecassino at the urging of Pope Benedict. It seems the Lombards left a mess when the stayed at the Montecassino in 580.

It wasn't as if it was deserted. Hermits occupied the Abbey, and St. Benedict's tomb was in fairly good shape. With the help of the Hermits, Petronax rebuilt the Abbey. The Pope was so pleased, Petronax was elected abbot for the newly refurbished abbey. For thirty years he was in charge of the Montecassino , and it once again became a respected Benedictine institution.

He is buried near his sister Scolastica, beneath the High Altar of the Abbey. St. Benedict is the Patron Saint of engineers, speleologists (people with an unhealthy urge to shimmy through caves) and of land reclaimination. He'd probably feel at home in our society, since land reclaimation is a big field.

He was proclaimed main Patron of Europe by Pope Paul VI on the occasion of his visit to Montecassino on October 24, 1964 with the following motivation: "Messenger of Peace, Unifier, Master of Civilization and in particular Herald of Faith and Iniziator of monastic life in Western Europe". (Papal Brief - Pacis Nuntius).

Way to go, Petronax!

Land of the Milk and Honey

Here's a nice place to meditate. It's the Japanese Garden at the Ellington Agricultural Research Center in Nashville.

It's a favored spot for sipping bevvies and reading. This week's bevvie is from Starbucks, their new Honey Latte. It's a warm latte, with the usual foam on top and drizzled with honey. It's a good idea, but the clover honey was very bland and sunk to the bottom of the milk. A nice orange blossom honey would be sweet but not overly so.

Starbucks' Bevvie of Milk and Honey

Or as it as properly called a honey latte. I had a grande (medium) 2% honey latte with whip. While it was good it was a little too sweet for me. They were using clover honey, and I think orange blossom honey would have tasted better. Tupolo would also added a nice smokey sweetness.

Another good think Starbucks is doing is Blank and White cookies, two to a packet, for $1.50. They are about 2 1/2 inches and wrapped in a cello that will not strip the icing off. If you put them in your fridge, they are much easier to get out with less icing slippage.

I hear they are getting out of the music business. How sad! I love their eclectic selections. The in store music piped in is still tremendous.

Big news! We all know Howard is back. He is bringing better Swiss machines which will us a more traditional, more rounded shot.

Starbucks has always been my favorite after church place. Many other seem to feel the same way, because the Youth Group from the local Baptist church is always there,too.

It's the little things that make life nice.

OK, I have disabled the translator...

I don't think Tamil will be popping up anymore. I haven't the faintest idea what I wrote in Tamil. It was something to the affect that "why is this text in Tamil and what does it say." I hope I don't start any wars over this.

Tomorrow, post-migraine, I have some actual content that I'll post. About real people, saying stupid, or maybe incredibly profound things, and I'll ramble on about a new recording we picked up at Starbucks. I'll review a new bevvie too.

Until then, Aloha!

வாட் டோஎஸ் திஸ் செ இன் தமிழ்?

Now I'm getting used to using both hands again. My only question is: why is my title in Tamil. I went and figured out I had the Tamil translator turned on. I didn't know Blogspot had such a thing! I checked for Klingon and Elvish, but no such luck. I have no idea what it says, but I hope it doesn't offend anyone!

A one arm typist goes into a blog...

Insert your own punchline here.

Yes, I did it again. This time I had a surgery done at the Premier Orthopaedics Surgery Center. Before you shudder, I'd rather have surgery at a center like this. Uncrowded, really personalized service. And it costs a fraction of what a hospital surgery was. Plus, I was in at 11:30, out at 3:30, just time to have mozzerella sticks at Sonic.

The initial diagnosis was "impingment sydrome". Being me, things are never easy. I ended up with:

• arthroscopic SLAP repair, left shoulder
  
• arthroscopic subacromial decompression
  
• arthroscopic excision distal clavicle, left shoulder
  
• arthroscopic extensive debridement left shoulder

It only took 1 1/2 hours to do all this. I actually feel better now and have already my first PT, in which I amazed the PT with fact that I am hypermobile without needing to tell her.

Many thanks to Dr. Joseph A Wieck, Pat and Kathy. Y'all did well ! In thanks and praise of these wonderful healers, here's a little ditty from Ralph Waldo Emerson:

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food,
For love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.

Irregular postings to come, as the shoulder improves.

A prayer request

My husband's ex-wife is dying of a brain tumor. We don't know if it's malignant, but that really doesn't matter because the tumor is agressive and most likely fatal. Her doctors, so far, are saying she has three months.

Please, please pray for Juli's health and the fortitude to accept each day and each challenge with grace. Also, pray for her daughter, Julie, her son Todd and for Chris (Julie's husband) and their children, Forrest and Romana. Julie is taking care of her mother at home, a difficult position for a child to be in.

Happy Thanksgiving!

It's going to be a great Thanksgiving around. I've survived a broken tibial plateau, two dislocations from the same leg, and a concussion. What am greatful for all this. I seem to have really strong bones, and it would have been much worse.

Of course, I can't remember much September, but from what I've told I didn't miss much because not much has happened in Iran.

Here's a new member of our family I'm most grateful for: Loki! He's about two and is a former feral who was adopted twice, once by Mama Tiffany and then by me. He likes to be a solitary cat, so all the attention can be on him.