Weddings and such ...

Though we're still in January (if only just), October isn't that far away. So do have a look at our wedding website to see how the plans are coming along. The Wedding in question is hers and mine, needless to say. If, by the time you read this, you've gotten an invitation you'll find everything you need to know about directions, times and dates on it. If you're not coming on the day but just want to know all about it, this is the place for that too!

Tagged again, by my lovely stalker ...

I was tagged by Herself so I really have no choice ...

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE ?
No. My mother says that she simply knew I was to be an Éamonn (complete with the unique spelling; it's usually one n and no fada or acute accent over the E) and so I am!

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
Just before we walked my father's remains from Massey Brothers to St Audoen's for the funeral.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
Yes, most of the time.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Herta low fat salami.

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
No, but ask me again after I get married next October.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Maybe but only intermittently.

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?
Lots, and even too much on occasion.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yes.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
No. A lot of risk, a great thrill I'm sure but no skill involved. Unlike, say, abseiling!

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
Meusli but no added sugar or salt.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
Yes, always. (They wouldn't come off otherwise!)

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
Physically? No. In terms of character? Yes, on occasion but only when there is something or someone more important than me at stake.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Plain vanilla, when it really tastes of vanilla.

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Their eyes.

15. RED OR PINK?
Neither, I'm a man.

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF?
A tendency to self-pity.

17. WHOM DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
Silly question really.

18. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
Trousers? Green. Blue slippers.

19. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
Beef Stew and spuds.

20. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
My fiancée breathing 125 miles away! (Ain't Skype wonderful?)

21. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Royal Blue.

22. FAVORITE SMELLS?
Coffee beans, freshly ground or anything with garlic in it!

23. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
Phil Byrne (she's a colleague who is also a cousin of mine).

24. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
Rugby, on the rare occasion when Ireland is winning.

25. HAIR COLOR?
Grey but my fiancée says my beard has three (or is it four) colours in it!

26. EYE COLOR?
Blue.

27. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
No, glasses.

28. FAVORITE FOOD?
Mammy Gaines's Sunday dinner (Roast chicken, mushy peas, stuffing, roast potatoes and gravy!). If I have to cook it myself? Either my own homemade pizza or Éamonn's Idiot-Proof Chicken Surprise (TM). (Apply to Lowdenclear for a considered judgment about whether they're any good.)

29. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Both?

30. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Charade. Although this lady always tops my list, Audrey Hepburn would come a respectable second!

31. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
Grey and white stripes.

32. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Both, each at the proper time.

33. HUGS OR KISSES?
Depends whom I am to hug or kiss.

34. FAVORITE DESSERT?
Tiramisu

35. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
The Aryan Christ and The Reform of the Roman Liturgy and The Heresy of Formlessness.

36. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
A Dell logo.

37. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT?
Nothing!

38. FAVORITE SOUNDS?
The Guild of Choristers of St. Cecelia singing the Vidi Aquam for the Sundays after Easter.

39. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
The Beatles

40. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
San Diego, California

41. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
I don't know. Define "special".

42. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Dún Laoghaire, near Dublin, Ireland.

Dan Brown, it's not!

If you like Biblical studies, religious intrigue, serious intellectual puzzles, exotic languages (living and on-life-support) and all round entertainment, then get thee to Fr Renzo di Lorenzo's wonderfully puzzling new blog-cum-novel. Thus far it seems to promise all the weirdness and wonder that Dan Brown does. The difference is that Fr Renzo delivers. (Or as My Lady put it, like Dan Brown "only good"!)

Besides which, Fr Z approves. What more could you want ...

Tridentinist? What's that when it's at home?

"The majority of the new lay movements are not Tridentinist and they are where many of the young are to be found."

I'm not even sure what a "Tridentinist" is when it's at home. I'm a Catholic who prefers the traditional form of the Roman Liturgy. I have never been to Tridentinum (Trent to you and me) and have very little interest in going. There is also this worrying trend of juventophilia, an obsession with pleasing or attracting the young. If you have a very popular, youth based ecclesial movement, it doesn't necessarily mean very much. It could be like the "Gospel Mass" (i.e. Mass with Black American style choral music) that is celebrated in a certain Dublin Church; it attracts the crowds but has had the Gospel liturgically proclaimed by a lay woman! Yes, they are going to Mass but are they being edified, built up in their practice of the Faith?

In any case, it is a mistake to see liturgically traditional and non-traditional Catholics as mutually exclusive categories. For example, Youth 2000 is a vibrant organisation which is very successful in youth evangelisation here in Ireland. I have trad friends who are members of Y2K prayer groups; many Y2K members with a more Charismatic background are finding the traditional liturgy more and more attractive. Y2K also has a contemplative side with a great focus on Eucharistic adoration. As a card-carrying trad, I find this to be a very good thing. In the end, however, people will go where they can pray best; this is one of the greatest gifts that the Holy Father has given in Summorum Pontificum. We no longer have to be card-carrying "Tridentinists" or anything else to derive full benefit from Holy Church's liturgical patrimony. Benedict XV of happy memory had the right idea:

It is, moreover, Our will that Catholics should abstain from certain appellations which have recently been brought into use to distinguish one group of Catholics from another. They are to be avoided not only as "profane novelties of words" out of harmony with both truth and justice, but also because they give rise to great trouble and confusion among Catholics. Such is the nature of Catholicism that it does not admit of more or less, but must be held as a whole or as a whole rejected: "This is the Catholic faith, which unless a man believe faithfully and firmly; he cannot be saved" (Athanasian Creed). There is no need of adding any qualifying terms to the profession of Catholicism: it is quite enough for each one to proclaim "Christian is my name and Catholic my surname," only let him endeavour to be in reality what he calls himself.

The Von Tone-Deaf Family Singers present ...

The Definitive Answer to every busybody who thinks someone else's generously sized family is their problem.



The parents of this wonderful family finally got tired of all the silly and disrespectful comments they were getting from total strangers about having seven children; especially true for the Mom. (My own mother tells me that she experienced the same nonsense when we - all 7 of us - were small.)

I've embedded it here but it's even more fun if you look at it here because the seventh commenter down turns out to be the one and only Aussie Mum of 7!

Anyway, this is by way of a thank you to my own parents, and as a friend of mine - who is childless - commented, think of all the people like him whose pensions will be paid by the earnings of all those grown-up kids from big families!

Tradition on the move ...

The following interesting titbit was emailed to me by a friend. It refers to the ubiquitous Red Book produced by the Coalition in Support of Ecclesia Dei. It was once referred to, by the late Michael Davies, as the most famous little red book after Chairman Mao's. He added that this one had done a lot more good than Mao's ever had!

You all may have seen this, but I noted the following line in the Coalition in Support of Ecclesia Dei newsletter:

“…before July 7, 2007, the Coalition shipped 1,000 Latin English Booklet missals each month. Since July 7 we have shipped 1,000 booklets every week. In May, we had reprinted 20,000 booklet missals, and ordered another 20,000 in October.”

An urgent request.

The good people at Family and Life have this urgent prayer request in their latest bulletin.

Urgent Prayer Request from Bryan, TX, USA

The following letter came from one of our readers: “Hello to everyone, hope your doing well. I have a personal favour to ask of you. Ivory is 7 years old and this week she was riding her go cart without a helmet, and lost control landing her under a neighbours double wide that didn't have any skirting. She was stopped by the floor and support beam by her neck. She slashed her neck from her ear to her larynx, cutting her thyroid, her juggler was torn slightly causing the blood to drain into her lungs, which then collapsed, she broke her neck, & broke her back. She was air lifted to Musc, she has had one operation on her lower back and they found her spinal cord to be totally cut. They have to wait for 2 weeks to operate on her larynx, thyroid and neck. Not knowing until then if her spinal cord is torn at the neck...Which will tell to what extent she will be paralyzed. This little girl is only seven years old and has her whole life to live. I ask you to lift her up to God in payer. And if you wouldn't mind adding her to your Church prayer chain, we all know what God can do when we only have Faith and come together in unity. Thank you so much for your time and most importantly... your prayers.”

Please pray for her.