and I have a little story for you. You may make of it what you will.
I brought my mike with me for total confusion because I needed to record my weekly radio show for WQPH (Queen of Perpetual Help) radio however circumstances never gave me the chance to record. So I figured no big deal I’d record on Monday which I took off but again somehow I just didn’t get a chance to record.
Now I was really getting up to a deadline so I was determined to get the show recorded right after daily mass but somehow I kept getting delayed till FINALLY I was able to get started.
I had just listed the prayer intentions for the show when the phone rang (I don’t have a cell phone) I paused the recording to hear the voice of a friend. He was hospitalized, she already had heart issues which were expected to be fatal and was now recovering from a stroke. She asked for prayers for her mother and children and there was no knowledge of how long she would be around.
Now this is the thing, if I had recorded the show at any of the times I should have it would have been in the bank and her request would have to wait for the next show to air March 9th. If I had managed to get started on my recordings early that morning as I planned same thing. And if she had called just a couple of hours later It would have been too late, I’d be at work and she would have missed me completely.
Nope she called at the exact moment in fact the last possible moment when I could squeeze in her prayer intentions to get them into the show broadcast tomorrow.
I submit and suggest that this type of thing is God’s MO and has been for millennia. Any reading of scripture shows it to be so, and I further submit and suggest that God is just as active as he was during biblical times to those who call upon him, but we’ve trained ourselves, or have been trained not to see what is in front of our faces.
At least that’s my take but feel free to make of it what you will.
The speed of cultural change in this country amazes me. A recently as 5-10 years ago and definitely 20 years ago a military operation that successfully recused civilians taken hostage unharmed that took only one casualty slightly wounded and killed multiple terrorists in the process would be universally hailed by both sides of the political aisle and lionized by the press.
Instead it has at best been ignored and at worst attacked by sitting members of congress as a “massacre”.
There have been quite a few national disgraces over the last few years. This is one of them.
Rand Paul did something yesterday that we don’t see much of. An old fashioned filibuster of the Ukraine Bill where people actually hold the floor and talk.
While I concede that the current cloister rules are what allowed the chances at SCOTUS which finally doomed Roe I approve of both the Filibuster and Paul’s use of it here and would bring it back if I could, HOWEVER I’d only approve of the real thing.
You see for the last few decades rather than actually holding the floor and making the face a filibuster was considered as read if enough senators indicated they were behind it. I’ve always felt that was lazy. If a bill is worth filibustering it’s worth doing it for real.
Because of a previous vote Paul’s filibuster is limited but he’s playing out the string like Jackie Robinson remaining on the field watching Bobby Thompson circling the based ready to protest if he missed any of them on his way around them in the excitement of the moment.
Agree or disagree on various issues he’s a man of principle. We need more of them in congress.
The difference between a good player and a great player is how they perform when the chips are down.
While Tom Brady will always have the edge on Patrick Mahomes because of their head to head record in the playoffs (favoring Brady 2-0) Mahomes with his 3rd Superbowl win proves he belongs in the GOAT conversation not just by the victory. But by the fact that TWICE in the same game he lead his team down the field to score the tying or winning points where failure would have meant defeat and did so with less than 30 seconds on the clock.
A lot of stat guys are not believers in “Clutch” performers. Mahomes as well as Brady proves such an assertion is nonsense. Having Mahomes follow Brady It’s like watching DiMaggio come after Ruth or Mantle after DiMaggio.
Oh and full marks to Brock Purdy the idea that a Mr. Irrelevant forced Mahomes in a situation where he had to do that is astounding
Law Professor Glenn Reynolds, the Blogfather has been worth reading for 23 years and if I actually had a bucket list lunch with him would be on it.
At substack yesterday he posted one of the best assessment of Joe Biden’s current situation that I’ve read. That something Reynolds has written is good is a given, but this is SO far above even his standard that you must read it. There are two bits that jump out at me:
As Time magazine reported shortly after the 2020 election, a “cabal” — Time’s word — of “left-wing activists and business titans” worked to get rid of Trump. It pushed mail-in voting. It moved to block election fraud suits brought by Trump and supporters. It employed social media censorship to mute pro-Trump arguments and amplify anti-Trump arguments. It sponsored protests.
Time called this a “conspiracy to save the election,” but in truth it was a conspiracy to save the election for the Democrats. The consequences in terms of lost faith in democracy have been severe, but the worst effect is that the winning ticket was never seriously vetted by the media or the campaign process.
As one of those who was muted by twitter and is still muted by Youtube for this reason that really strikes home. The second:
After noting the Democrats desperate to replace him he makes what I think is THE critical point:
But whatever the Democrats do about 2024, I would like to see some accountability for the election of 2020. A cabal of insiders colluded to control the outcome, through all sorts of underhanded tactics. (Tech companies censored the Hunter Biden laptop story broken by The Post, and retired intelligence officials falsely claimed it was fake, Russian disinformation). The press allowed Biden to campaign from his basement, covering up the truth that he was already unfit for office.
Now we’re in a pickle. Whatever happens in this election, I would like to see some consequences for the games played with our democracy in 2020. Elections belong to the voters, not the insiders. Or at least they should.
To get that point across, we’re going to have to impose some costs on the folks who rigged the last one.
This states a basic truth that blue cities that were once the envy of the world and are now lawless places where police can be assaulted with impunity, where open air drug markets reign and business have fled. There have been people trying to steal elections for as long as there have been elections just has there have been thugs, drug deals and thieves in all of human history. They only get away with it when those whose job it is to stop them turn a blind eye for their own purposes and let them do it.
Unless there are consequences for these actions both for those who did it and those who allowed it, it will happen again until the people finally say ENOUGH!
I suspect if it reaches that point, ENOUGH will not be conveyed via an excellent essay on substack.
Finally as you might recall the WQPH 1st Annual Shrove Tuesday Brunch is scheduled to begin at 10:30 AM at Slattery’s Restaurant in Fitchburg. There have been a lot of small coincidences that have taken place to retard this event that seemed to be overcome. About 48 hours ago it appeared there was one that would not be, the projected storm that closed my place of work today with the potential of 13″ of snow falling fast right at the travel time. The restaurant mindful of the storm and scheduled to be closed on monday gave us till 4 PM on Sunday to cancel or reschedule. After discussion with the head of WQPH we decided to go ahead even if it meant half or less would show but dreaded that is was the wrong one. Yesterday I came home from Eucharist Adoration (cancelled today because of the potential storm) to a phone message from the owner who was there because of a funeral luncheon asking for one more confirmation one way or the other.
I called the head of the station again, our speaker coming down from NH and bringing a relic of the Crown of thorns was determined to come and give his talk on the feast of the Holy Face of Jesus. It was at this time I remembered General Patton’s famous weather prayer written by Fr James H. O’Neill a Catholic priest. I tweaked it and tweeted it out while sending a copy to the head of the station who email blasted it out to her prayer group. It reads:
“Almighty and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech Thee, of Thy great goodness, to restrain the immoderate weather due tomorrow with which we have to contend. Grant us fair weather for Spiritual Battle. Graciously hearken to us as soldiers who call upon Thee that, armed with Thy power, we may advance from victory to victory, and crush the oppression and wickedness of our enemies and establish Thy justice among men and nations.
We ask this through Christ our Lord Amen”
As of this moment (4:47 AM woke up coughing) the snow that two days ago was predicted to start at 1 AM and end at 3 PM has not yet started (although it’s predicted to do so shortly and is now scheduled to end at 1 PM with an 80% chance of 1-3″ in my area, a walk in the park for any New Englander.
The Biden admin not withstanding this is still a free country and if you wish to believe this is a coincidence you are welcome to do so. If you don’t and are one of the folks who prayed that prayer at our request, thanks much for making the prayer and thanks to he who answered it.
First if you’re a baseball fan I have openings in two leagues that I hope to have drafts for before the end of this month.
Our 1972 league of Dynasty baseball (162 games) has the following teams available: Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs
Our 1997 league (80 games) has the following teams available ( Seattle Mariners, Houston Astros, Pittsburgh Pirates)
In both leagues you can relocate the franchise you take to a new location if so desired and if the franchise is open.
Contact me in comments if you are interested.
Secondly while it’s a day late here the Indulgence Calendar for February is now available for download here. Be aware if I’m late again on this it will be always be available at the WQPH Web site.
Today is Epiphany Sunday where we celebrate the visit of the three kings/Magi/Wise men of the east who followed a star to the baby Jesus the newborn king of the Jews.
The feast is traditionally celebrated on January 6th but is transferred to Sunday in the US. Depending on the vagaries of the Calendar the day can be celebrated as early as January 2nd (If Christmas falls on a Saturday) or as late as January the 8th (if Christmas falls on a Sunday).
Where it falls also determines how long the Christmas season lasts. The final day of Christmas is the movable feast of the Baptism of Jesus.
If Jan 6th is a Sunday Epiphany is celebrated on its traditional date and the Christmas season ends on Sunday January 13th with the feast of the Baptism of Jesus on Sunday
If the 6th falls on a Monday to Thursday it is transferred to the previous Sunday moving making The Feast of the Baptism of Christ and the last day of Christmas anywhere from Jan 9th to Jan 12th.
If it falls on a Friday or Saturday as it did this year it is transferred to the following Sunday (the 8th or the 7th). That becomes the Last Sunday of Christmas and the 1st Sunday of Ordinary time and the feast of the Baptism of Christ transfers to Monday (the 9th or 8th) making Monday the final day of Christmas season.
Thus this year we get the shortest possible Christmas season ending tomorrow. Next year with the 6th falling on a Monday we’ll get four extra days of Christmas. (Of course in the old calendar Christmas officially ended on Feb 2nd the feast of the presentation but I digress…).
The feast of Epiphany is extremely significant in the history of Christianity in several ways:
It’s another external confirmation of the message of the angel to Mary and the Dream of Joseph.
It is the first example of Christ being “a light of revelation to the gentiles.” (non-Jews).
The kings prostrating to Christ as Lord rather than as an equal signifies Christ as king of all.
It shows Christ has come both for rich & poor as only the rich could make the trip of the wise men
It sets the stage for the flight into Egypt as Herod, upon hearing of their coming attempts to slaughter the child in the murder of the holy innocents.
The gifts of Gold and Frankincense note Christ Kingship
The gift of Myrrh symbolizes his death
It has also led to a great Christian tradition the blessing and annual chalking of homes on the feast.
If you’ve ever visited the EWTN studios you likely have noticed chalk over all the doorways, If you visit the studio after today you will see the following:
20 C + M + B 24
The 20 and 24 of course representing this current year and the C + M +B representing St. Caspar (Feast day Jan 11th), St. Melchior (Feast day Jan 1st) and St. Balthasar (Feast day Jan 6th). It also (as Churchpop.com notes) stands for the Latin: Christus mansionem benedicat, which translates to “May Christ bless this house.”
This is traditionally done on the 6th but can be done on the feast day itself (I did my home yesterday). In order to do this properly you will need some white chalk which should be blessed an ordained Deacon, Priest or above and you may want some holy water than you can get at any Catholic Church.
There are also prayers to be said. These are the prayers from the conference of Catholic Bishops website the chalking is done at the conclusion of the prayers:
When all have gathered, a suitable song may be sung. The leader makes the sign of the cross, and all reply, “Amen.”
The leader greets those present in the following words:
Let us praise God, who fills our hearts and homes with peace. Blessed be God forever.
R/. Blessed be God forever.
In the following or similar words, the leader prepares those present for the blessing:
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling place among us. It is Christ who enlightens our hearts and homes with his love. May all who enter this home find Christ’s light and love.
One of those present or the leader reads a text of sacred Scripture, for example, Luke 19:1-9:
Listen to the words of the holy Gospel according to Luke:
Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way.> When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.” And he came down quickly and received him with joy. When they all saw this, they began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham.”
The intercessions are then said:
Leader: The Son of God made his home among us. With thanks and praise let us call upon him.
R/. Stay with us, Lord.
Leader: Lord Jesus Christ, with Mary and Joseph you formed the Holy Family: remain in our home, that we may know you as our guest and honor you as our Head.
We pray:
R/. Stay with us, Lord.
Leader: Lord Jesus Christ, you had no place to lay your head, but in the spirit of poverty accepted the hospitality of your friends: grant that through our help the homeless may obtain proper
housing.
We pray:
R/. Stay with us, Lord.
Leader: Lord Jesus Christ, the three kings presented their gifts to you in praise and adoration: grant that those living in this house may use their talents and abilities to your greater glory.
We pray:
R/. Stay with us, Lord.
After the intercessions the leader invites all present to say the Lord’s Prayer.
The leader says the prayer of blessing with hands joined:
Lord God of heaven and earth,
you revealed your only-begotten Son to every nation
by the guidance of a star.
Bless this house
and all who inhabit it.
Fill them (us) with the light of Christ,
that their (our) concern for others may reflect your love.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R/. Amen.
The leader concludes the rite by signing himself or herself with the sign of the cross and saying:
May Christ Jesus dwell with us,
keep us from all harm,
and make us one in mind and heart,
now and forever.
R/. Amen.
It is preferable to end the celebration with a suitable song, for example, “O Come, All Ye Faithful” or “We Three Kings.”
That’s the blessing I used this year. Last year I used this excellent blessing which you can find at Churchpop.com. As with the blessing from the USCCB the chalking takes place after the prayers
Priest/Leader: Peace be to this house.
All: And to all who dwell herein.
Leader: From the east came the Magi to Bethlehem to adore the Lord; and opening their treasures they offered precious gifts: gold for the great King, incense for the true God, and myrrh in symbol of His burial.
After these prayers are recited, journey throughout your home and sprinkle each room with holy water–you can get some from your parish.
Afterward, you may continue with the blessing:
All: From the east came the Magi to Bethlehem to adore the Lord; and opening their treasures they offered precious gifts: gold for the great King, incense for the true God, and myrrh in symbol of His burial.
Leader: Our Father Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead and lead us not into temptation,
All: But deliver us from evil.
Leader: All they from Saba shall come.
All: Bringing gold and frankincense.
Leader: O Lord, hear my prayer.
All: And let my cry come unto Thee.
Leader: Let us pray. O God, who by the guidance of a star didst on this day manifest Thine only-begotten Son to the Gentiles, mercifully grant that we who know Thee by faith may also attain the vision of Thy glorious majesty. Through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
Leader: Be enlightened, be enlightened, O Jerusalem, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee– Jesus Christ born of the Virgin Mary.
All: And the Gentiles shall walk in thy light and kings in the splendor of thy rising, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon thee.
Leader: Let us pray. Bless, O Lord God almighty, this home, that in it there may be health, purity, the strength of victory, humility, goodness and mercy, the fulfillment of Thy law, the thanksgiving to God the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. And may this blessing remain upon this home and upon all who dwell herein. Through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
It is also traditional to sprinkle each room with Holy water at the end. Again if you don’t have holy water you can get some at your local church.
If you’re only hearing about this for the first time today and you have a blizzard blowing out there and can’t get it done today, you have one more day of Christmas to fall back on and get it done. I highly recommend it as it reminds of you of God’s presence every single day in your home.
It’s the final two days of our Days of Christmas and we still have $2345 to go help us make it over the line by donating here
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