May is upon us, a month dear to my heart (for my birthday approaches).
Here is an image of May through the poetical works of Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844-89), a brilliant, complex, and humble poet, whose interesting life was displayed through his devotion to God. Another reason I found why May is dear to me, it is Mary's month. As the blessed mother of God's month, the justice I can do it is only found in Hopkins' work.
Enjoy a taste of spring! and May!
18. The May Magnificat
MAY is Mary’s month, and I
Muse at that and wonder why:
Her feasts follow reason,
Dated due to season—
Candlemas, Lady Day; 5
But the Lady Month, May,
Why fasten that upon her,
With a feasting in her honour?
Is it only its being brighter
Than the most are must delight her? 10
Is it opportunest
And flowers finds soonest?
Ask of her, the mighty mother:
Her reply puts this other
Question: What is Spring?— 15
Growth in every thing—
Flesh and fleece, fur and feather,
Grass and greenworld all together;
Star-eyed strawberry-breasted
Throstle above her nested 20
Cluster of bugle blue eggs thin
Forms and warms the life within;
And bird and blossom swell
In sod or sheath or shell.
All things rising, all things sizing 25
Mary sees, sympathising
With that world of good,
Nature’s motherhood.
Their magnifying of each its kind
With delight calls to mind 30
How she did in her stored
Magnify the Lord.
Well but there was more than this:
Spring’s universal bliss
Much, had much to say 35
To offering Mary May.
When drop-of-blood-and-foam-dapple
Bloom lights the orchard-apple
And thicket and thorp are merry
With silver-surfèd cherry 40
And azuring-over greybell makes
Wood banks and brakes wash wet like lakes
And magic cuckoocall
Caps, clears, and clinches all—
This ecstasy all through mothering earth 45
Tells Mary her mirth till Christ’s birth
To remember and exultation
In God who was her salvation.
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Been a While
It's been a while since my last post, hope all you loyal followers aren't too upset...
I could put something I consider interesting in this post, but since it's been a while, i think i'll just mention something uninteresting, to ease you into a new era of blogging, summer style.
It was really hot today, maybe you felt it too.
It's also rained a lot lately.
I have a rule at the dinner table that the dinner conversation can never be about the weather, or restaurants. I feel them to be superficial filler conversations. Perhaps I'll adopt that rule on my blog.
School's almost out. I AM out
Peace
I could put something I consider interesting in this post, but since it's been a while, i think i'll just mention something uninteresting, to ease you into a new era of blogging, summer style.
It was really hot today, maybe you felt it too.
It's also rained a lot lately.
I have a rule at the dinner table that the dinner conversation can never be about the weather, or restaurants. I feel them to be superficial filler conversations. Perhaps I'll adopt that rule on my blog.
School's almost out. I AM out
Peace
Monday, March 16, 2009
St. Patty's Day and Finbar Furey
March 17th we celebrate the Day of St. Patrick, when everyone feels a bit Irish. It's unfortunate that it's become synonymous with excessive drinking, aye sorry St. Patty, but still we carry on with that great irish spirit!
Last week, I had the opportunity to see a great irish music legend, Finbar Furey, here at CUA (I don't know many irish folk legends, but I trust their word he is one of the greats of it). It was special to see him, his music was great, and he was quite a musician. Here are some picture recaps
Have a Happy day with this familiar irish blessing
May the roads rise to meet you.
May the wind be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
The rain fall soft upon your fields
And, until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
In a tribute to the loving wit and accent of the irish, here are some last amusing lines you can say throughout your St. Patrick's day.
May your blessings outnumber
The Shamrocks that grow
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.
May you live as long as you want,
and never want as long as you live.
May you be half an hour in Heaven
Before the Devil knows you’re dead.
May God be with you and bless you.
May you see your children's children.
May you be poor in misfortune, rich in blessings.
May you know nothing but happiness.
From this day forward.
May the grass grow long
on the road to hell for want of use.
As you slide down the banisters of life
may the splinters never point the wrong way.
May your troubles be as few and as far apart
as my Grandmothers teeth.
May the roof above us never fall in,
and may we friends gathered below never fall out.
May the Lord keep you in His hand
and never close His fist too tight.
May your neighbors respect you,
Trouble neglect you, The angels protect you,
And heaven accept you.
Last week, I had the opportunity to see a great irish music legend, Finbar Furey, here at CUA (I don't know many irish folk legends, but I trust their word he is one of the greats of it). It was special to see him, his music was great, and he was quite a musician. Here are some picture recaps
Have a Happy day with this familiar irish blessing
May the roads rise to meet you.
May the wind be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
The rain fall soft upon your fields
And, until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
In a tribute to the loving wit and accent of the irish, here are some last amusing lines you can say throughout your St. Patrick's day.
May your blessings outnumber
The Shamrocks that grow
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.
May you live as long as you want,
and never want as long as you live.
May you be half an hour in Heaven
Before the Devil knows you’re dead.
May God be with you and bless you.
May you see your children's children.
May you be poor in misfortune, rich in blessings.
May you know nothing but happiness.
From this day forward.
May the grass grow long
on the road to hell for want of use.
As you slide down the banisters of life
may the splinters never point the wrong way.
May your troubles be as few and as far apart
as my Grandmothers teeth.
May the roof above us never fall in,
and may we friends gathered below never fall out.
May the Lord keep you in His hand
and never close His fist too tight.
May your neighbors respect you,
Trouble neglect you, The angels protect you,
And heaven accept you.
Monday, March 09, 2009
One Step At a Time
And guess who will be paying for all this...
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama on Monday cleared the way for a significant increase in federal dollars for embryonic stem cell research and promised no scientific data will be "distorted or concealed to serve a political agenda."
Obama signed the executive order on the divisive stem cell issue and a memo addressing what he called scientific integrity before an East Room audience packed with scientists. He laced his remarks with several jabs at the way science was handled by former President George W. Bush.
"Promoting science isn't just about providing resources, it is also about protecting free and open inquiry," Obama said. "It is about letting scientists like those here today do their jobs, free from manipulation or coercion, and listening to what they tell us, even when it's inconvenient especially when it's inconvenient. It is about ensuring that scientific data is never distorted or concealed to serve a political agenda and that we make scientific decisions based on facts, not ideology."
He said his memorandum is meant to restore "scientific integrity to government decision-making." He called it the beginning of a process of ensuring his administration bases its decision on sound science; appoints scientific advisers based on their credentials, not their politics; and is honest about the science behind its decisions.
Fulfilling a campaign promise, Obama signed the order that on stem cell research that supporters believe could uncover cures for serious ailments from diabetes to paralysis. Proponents from former first lady Nancy Reagan to the late actor Christopher Reeve had pushed for ending the restrictions on research.
Obama paid tribute to Reeve, calling him a tireless advocate who was dedicated to raising awareness to the promise of research.
Obama's action reverses Bush's stem cell policy by undoing his 2001 directive that banned federal funding for research into stem lines created after Aug. 9, 2001.
The president said his administration would work aggressively to make up for the ground he said was lost due to Bush's decision, though it can't be known how much more federal money will be spent on the research until grants are applied for and issued.
"Medical miracles do not happen simply by accident," Obama declared.
Embryonic stem cells are master cells that can morph into any cell of the body. Scientists hope to harness them so they can create replacement tissues to treat a variety of diseases — such as new insulin-producing cells for diabetics, cells that could help those with Parkinson's disease or maybe even Alzheimer's, or new nerve connections to restore movement after spinal injury.
House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, criticized Obama, saying in a statement that the president had "rolled back important protections for innocent life, further dividing our nation at a time when we need greater unity to tackle the challenges before us."
Bush limited the use of taxpayer money to only the 21 stem cell lines that had been produced before his decision. He argued he was defending human life because days-old embryos — although typically from fertility clinics and already destined for destruction — are destroyed to create the stem cell lines.
The Obama order reverses that without addressing a separate legislative ban, which precludes any federal money for the development of stem cell lines. The legislation, however, does not prevent funds for research on those lines created without federal funding.
Researchers say the newer lines created with private money during the period of the Bush ban are healthier and better suited to creating treatment for diseases.
Obama called his decision a "difficult and delicate balance," an understatement of the intense emotions generated on both sides of the long, contentious debate. He said he came down on the side of the majority of Americans who support increased federal funding for the research, both because strict oversight would prevent problems and because of the great and lifesaving potential it holds.
"Rather than furthering discovery, our government has forced what I believe is a false choice between sound science and moral values," Obama said. "In this case, I believe the two are not inconsistent. As a person of faith, I believe we are called to care for each other and work to ease human suffering."
Obama warned against overstating the eventual benefits of the research, but he said his administration "will vigorously support scientists who pursue this research," taking another slap at Bush in the process.
"I cannot guarantee that we will find the treatments and cures we seek. No president can promise that. But I can promise that we will seek them actively, responsibly, and with the urgency required to make up for lost ground," he said.
It's a matter of competitive advantage globally as well, the president argued.
"When government fails to make these investments, opportunities are missed. Promising avenues go unexplored," Obama said.
But the president was insistent that his order would not open the door to human cloning.
"We will develop strict guidelines, which we will rigorously enforce, because we cannot ever tolerate misuse or abuse," Obama said. "And we will ensure that our government never opens the door to the use of cloning for human reproduction. It is dangerous, profoundly wrong, and has no place in our society, or any society."
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama on Monday cleared the way for a significant increase in federal dollars for embryonic stem cell research and promised no scientific data will be "distorted or concealed to serve a political agenda."
Obama signed the executive order on the divisive stem cell issue and a memo addressing what he called scientific integrity before an East Room audience packed with scientists. He laced his remarks with several jabs at the way science was handled by former President George W. Bush.
"Promoting science isn't just about providing resources, it is also about protecting free and open inquiry," Obama said. "It is about letting scientists like those here today do their jobs, free from manipulation or coercion, and listening to what they tell us, even when it's inconvenient especially when it's inconvenient. It is about ensuring that scientific data is never distorted or concealed to serve a political agenda and that we make scientific decisions based on facts, not ideology."
He said his memorandum is meant to restore "scientific integrity to government decision-making." He called it the beginning of a process of ensuring his administration bases its decision on sound science; appoints scientific advisers based on their credentials, not their politics; and is honest about the science behind its decisions.
Fulfilling a campaign promise, Obama signed the order that on stem cell research that supporters believe could uncover cures for serious ailments from diabetes to paralysis. Proponents from former first lady Nancy Reagan to the late actor Christopher Reeve had pushed for ending the restrictions on research.
Obama paid tribute to Reeve, calling him a tireless advocate who was dedicated to raising awareness to the promise of research.
Obama's action reverses Bush's stem cell policy by undoing his 2001 directive that banned federal funding for research into stem lines created after Aug. 9, 2001.
The president said his administration would work aggressively to make up for the ground he said was lost due to Bush's decision, though it can't be known how much more federal money will be spent on the research until grants are applied for and issued.
"Medical miracles do not happen simply by accident," Obama declared.
Embryonic stem cells are master cells that can morph into any cell of the body. Scientists hope to harness them so they can create replacement tissues to treat a variety of diseases — such as new insulin-producing cells for diabetics, cells that could help those with Parkinson's disease or maybe even Alzheimer's, or new nerve connections to restore movement after spinal injury.
House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, criticized Obama, saying in a statement that the president had "rolled back important protections for innocent life, further dividing our nation at a time when we need greater unity to tackle the challenges before us."
Bush limited the use of taxpayer money to only the 21 stem cell lines that had been produced before his decision. He argued he was defending human life because days-old embryos — although typically from fertility clinics and already destined for destruction — are destroyed to create the stem cell lines.
The Obama order reverses that without addressing a separate legislative ban, which precludes any federal money for the development of stem cell lines. The legislation, however, does not prevent funds for research on those lines created without federal funding.
Researchers say the newer lines created with private money during the period of the Bush ban are healthier and better suited to creating treatment for diseases.
Obama called his decision a "difficult and delicate balance," an understatement of the intense emotions generated on both sides of the long, contentious debate. He said he came down on the side of the majority of Americans who support increased federal funding for the research, both because strict oversight would prevent problems and because of the great and lifesaving potential it holds.
"Rather than furthering discovery, our government has forced what I believe is a false choice between sound science and moral values," Obama said. "In this case, I believe the two are not inconsistent. As a person of faith, I believe we are called to care for each other and work to ease human suffering."
Obama warned against overstating the eventual benefits of the research, but he said his administration "will vigorously support scientists who pursue this research," taking another slap at Bush in the process.
"I cannot guarantee that we will find the treatments and cures we seek. No president can promise that. But I can promise that we will seek them actively, responsibly, and with the urgency required to make up for lost ground," he said.
It's a matter of competitive advantage globally as well, the president argued.
"When government fails to make these investments, opportunities are missed. Promising avenues go unexplored," Obama said.
But the president was insistent that his order would not open the door to human cloning.
"We will develop strict guidelines, which we will rigorously enforce, because we cannot ever tolerate misuse or abuse," Obama said. "And we will ensure that our government never opens the door to the use of cloning for human reproduction. It is dangerous, profoundly wrong, and has no place in our society, or any society."
Sunday, February 15, 2009
My Date With the Blessed Mother
.
It was looking like another Valentine's Day alone. Regardless of what people think of the day, it can always seem a bit low if there's no special person to spend it with. Not this year though, not like in the past. I remembered there's one female, in fact the perfect model of what a true woman should be, who was more than happy to accept my date proposal, our virgin Mother Mary! Ok, granted she had a husband, but I'm sure St. Joseph, her most chaste spouse, would totally be praying for us as we spent the afternoon. It was an honor to spend the day with our Lady, such a beautiful, pure, and Christ like model. The whole time we prayed together, she kept humbly pointing to Jesus. A date that pointed to Christ the whole time, sounds like a great outlook on how to date people!...Plus, no chance of getting stood up or it totally bombing.
We started off by spending time in Eucharistic adoration. Sitting, enjoying the presence of God in silence, really eased my nerves. We went to a familiar spot, Caldwell Chapel. A stained glass window with Mary and the Apostles sits behind the tabernacle, showing how even while intimately praying to Jesus, the whole of our Church on heaven and earth are praying together.
It was an alright, brisk, afternoon, so we decided to go for a walk. We walked past this statue, a reminder of our heavenly family, and couldn't resist a photo opportunity.
Though winter, and lacking the lush colorful plants and flowing fountains, we walked through her garden, Mary's Garden as it's called at CUA, and experienced our God in the beautiful outdoors.
It was chilly, so we headed into the Basilica to hit up some chapels. What better way to offer devotion to Jesus than the prayer Mary gave us, the rosary. With all the wonderful chapels to choose from, we prayed a decade of the rosary in 5 different chapels, a decade per chapel. Here's one chapel of Mary, promoter of Missions. We prayed that Jesus would bless and protect all the wonderful missions going on in the world.
And if it all wasn't enough already, when we got to the last decade, we went into the chapel of the Immaculate Conception and partook in a little miracle! Upon entering, there was one woman up front praying the rosary out loud in french, two women at the side praying it together in spanish, and me praying it in english. It was powerful to think that within a few feet of each other, we were praying the rosary together in 3 different languages.
And what's a Valentine's date without dinner? Ok, so I was cheap, we went to the dining hall, but anyways, it's the thought that counts.
What a day! There's no lack of grace in heaven, whether just to have a good time or to mend a broken heart. And I know she'll always be around any year to go again!
It was looking like another Valentine's Day alone. Regardless of what people think of the day, it can always seem a bit low if there's no special person to spend it with. Not this year though, not like in the past. I remembered there's one female, in fact the perfect model of what a true woman should be, who was more than happy to accept my date proposal, our virgin Mother Mary! Ok, granted she had a husband, but I'm sure St. Joseph, her most chaste spouse, would totally be praying for us as we spent the afternoon. It was an honor to spend the day with our Lady, such a beautiful, pure, and Christ like model. The whole time we prayed together, she kept humbly pointing to Jesus. A date that pointed to Christ the whole time, sounds like a great outlook on how to date people!...Plus, no chance of getting stood up or it totally bombing.
We started off by spending time in Eucharistic adoration. Sitting, enjoying the presence of God in silence, really eased my nerves. We went to a familiar spot, Caldwell Chapel. A stained glass window with Mary and the Apostles sits behind the tabernacle, showing how even while intimately praying to Jesus, the whole of our Church on heaven and earth are praying together.
It was an alright, brisk, afternoon, so we decided to go for a walk. We walked past this statue, a reminder of our heavenly family, and couldn't resist a photo opportunity.
Though winter, and lacking the lush colorful plants and flowing fountains, we walked through her garden, Mary's Garden as it's called at CUA, and experienced our God in the beautiful outdoors.
It was chilly, so we headed into the Basilica to hit up some chapels. What better way to offer devotion to Jesus than the prayer Mary gave us, the rosary. With all the wonderful chapels to choose from, we prayed a decade of the rosary in 5 different chapels, a decade per chapel. Here's one chapel of Mary, promoter of Missions. We prayed that Jesus would bless and protect all the wonderful missions going on in the world.
And if it all wasn't enough already, when we got to the last decade, we went into the chapel of the Immaculate Conception and partook in a little miracle! Upon entering, there was one woman up front praying the rosary out loud in french, two women at the side praying it together in spanish, and me praying it in english. It was powerful to think that within a few feet of each other, we were praying the rosary together in 3 different languages.
And what's a Valentine's date without dinner? Ok, so I was cheap, we went to the dining hall, but anyways, it's the thought that counts.
What a day! There's no lack of grace in heaven, whether just to have a good time or to mend a broken heart. And I know she'll always be around any year to go again!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Wind
We've been experiencing some wonderfully warm weather this past week. I'm glad Spring has sent us a postcard, but I'm sure it is to be soon on it's way. But along with the past few days of warmth, lately it's also been bringing some pretty gusty winds, they say getting up to about 50 mph.
There are a number of symbols associated with the holy Spirit we find throughout scripture. That of fire, like the disciples received on Pentecost, a dove, as when the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus in his river baptism, water, as that of being baptized in the spirit with water, but also the symbol of wind. I think out of all the symbols, wind gets talked about the least. And that even makes sense, because we can't even see it! But when speaking of the holy Spirit, that's sort of the point; we can't see it. Like the wind, we can't "see" the holy Spirit. But, we know it's there, because we see it's effects. No person would deny that wind exists, we see it in the trees, ocean waves, hair, almost every day. Sometimes it makes itself known a little more obviously like today. In this same sort of way, the holy Spirit is constantly working, moving in our lives, even though we don't see it. Sometimes it's effects in our lives are really obvious, like a really windy day. In these times it's easier to believe even, we feel better, like our prayers are being answered. But then we get days when everything seems to be stagnant in our lives, nothing is going right. We can't feel the spirit, like a muggy, windless day.
We don't deny that wind exists on a still day. It would be like denying air exists, or that we felt wind a week ago. So even if we don't deny the Spirit exists, is it still working? Obviously wind isn't "working" when it's not windy outside. A sailor in the middle of the ocean would certainly hope for wind to "work" at the opportune time. The obvious answer is yes, the Spirit is working, but what compels one to say that, other than wishful thinking. For one, it seems that in posing this question, if the Spirit is working, we are assuming that we know how the Spirit even works. What is our judgment about what the Spirit should be doing at that point in time? I'm sure we all have our speculations what God should be doing for us. It may even be a good and noble cause. Ahh how absorbed in the moment people can get. We know there is a reason for everything that comes to pass, but sometimes, usually, it just takes time for the true meaning to be revealed in our lives. After all, at the heart of the holy Spirit, and our Triune God, there dwells the deepest of mysteries.
Wind has the ability to leave a poor boatsman stranded in the open sea, and the power to tear apart houses and towns. We see the effects, so how is it affecting us these days?
There are a number of symbols associated with the holy Spirit we find throughout scripture. That of fire, like the disciples received on Pentecost, a dove, as when the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus in his river baptism, water, as that of being baptized in the spirit with water, but also the symbol of wind. I think out of all the symbols, wind gets talked about the least. And that even makes sense, because we can't even see it! But when speaking of the holy Spirit, that's sort of the point; we can't see it. Like the wind, we can't "see" the holy Spirit. But, we know it's there, because we see it's effects. No person would deny that wind exists, we see it in the trees, ocean waves, hair, almost every day. Sometimes it makes itself known a little more obviously like today. In this same sort of way, the holy Spirit is constantly working, moving in our lives, even though we don't see it. Sometimes it's effects in our lives are really obvious, like a really windy day. In these times it's easier to believe even, we feel better, like our prayers are being answered. But then we get days when everything seems to be stagnant in our lives, nothing is going right. We can't feel the spirit, like a muggy, windless day.
We don't deny that wind exists on a still day. It would be like denying air exists, or that we felt wind a week ago. So even if we don't deny the Spirit exists, is it still working? Obviously wind isn't "working" when it's not windy outside. A sailor in the middle of the ocean would certainly hope for wind to "work" at the opportune time. The obvious answer is yes, the Spirit is working, but what compels one to say that, other than wishful thinking. For one, it seems that in posing this question, if the Spirit is working, we are assuming that we know how the Spirit even works. What is our judgment about what the Spirit should be doing at that point in time? I'm sure we all have our speculations what God should be doing for us. It may even be a good and noble cause. Ahh how absorbed in the moment people can get. We know there is a reason for everything that comes to pass, but sometimes, usually, it just takes time for the true meaning to be revealed in our lives. After all, at the heart of the holy Spirit, and our Triune God, there dwells the deepest of mysteries.
Wind has the ability to leave a poor boatsman stranded in the open sea, and the power to tear apart houses and towns. We see the effects, so how is it affecting us these days?
Sunday, February 08, 2009
MONSTER JAM
Are YOU ready for Monster Jam? The meanest MONSTER trucks in the whole world! They crush EVERYTHING in sight! January 23 at the Verizon Center, are YOU ready?
All the toughest monster trucks in the whole world were there, or like 7 of them. First, there came out
The BROKER!
He was OK, but not the Best...
But then came
SCREAMIN' DEMON!
But he wasn't the best, but he crushed stuff still
But one of the best came then
Superman!!!!
Superman was the FIRST to qualify for this years Monster Jam NGK Spark Plugs World Finals in Las Vegas March 27-28. Are you going???
But FINALLY, the REAL best truck was there
GRAVEDIGGER!!!
From Kitty Hawk, NC, Grave Digger is a total legend. He's the most famous monster truck in the world. He's won three world championships!
I hope YOU are planning to go see Monster Jam at the Verizon Center January 23!!! Tickets are only $10, plus they have a new video game coming out
All the toughest monster trucks in the whole world were there, or like 7 of them. First, there came out
The BROKER!
He was OK, but not the Best...
But then came
SCREAMIN' DEMON!
But he wasn't the best, but he crushed stuff still
But one of the best came then
Superman!!!!
Superman was the FIRST to qualify for this years Monster Jam NGK Spark Plugs World Finals in Las Vegas March 27-28. Are you going???
But FINALLY, the REAL best truck was there
GRAVEDIGGER!!!
From Kitty Hawk, NC, Grave Digger is a total legend. He's the most famous monster truck in the world. He's won three world championships!
I hope YOU are planning to go see Monster Jam at the Verizon Center January 23!!! Tickets are only $10, plus they have a new video game coming out
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