Where the Streets Have No Name

Lord Open My Lips That My Mouth May Proclaim Your Praise - Bono

H/t Deacon's Bench

This line was spoken by Bono twice prayerfully prior to leading the band in the song "Where the Streets Have no Name" at the 2002 Super Bowl.  It was a tribute to all those who died in 9/11.  it is also the opening prayer in the Lauds - Liturgy of the Hours.

Lest We Never Forget



Here are the lyrcis for this thoughtful piece:

I want to run

I want to hide

I want to tear down the walls

That hold me inside

I want to reach out

And touch the flame

Where the streets have no name

I want to feel sunlight on my face

I see the dust cloud disappear

Without a trace

I want to take shelter from the poison rain

Where the streets have no name

Where the streets have no name

Where the streets have no name

We're still building

Then burning down love

Burning down love

And when I go there

I go there with you

It's all I can do

The city's aflood

And our love turns to rust

We're beaten and blown by the wind

Trampled in dust

I'll show you a place

High on a desert plain

Where the streets have no name

Where the streets have no name

Where the streets have no name

We're still building

Then burning down love

Burning down love

And when I go there

I go there with you

It's all I can do

Our love turns to rust

We're beaten and blown by the wind

Blown by the wind

Oh, and I see love

See our love turn to rust

We're beaten and blown by the wind

Blown by the wind

Oh, when I go there

I go there with you

It's all I can do

A Thorn in the Flesh

Pondering the Situations of Father Mark Gruber and Father Gordon MacRae

As I continue to ponder the situations of Father Mark Gruber and Father Gordon MacRae, which I touched on yesterday here, which also contains links to other posts on them both, what I mostly realise is that God's ways are greater than ours, and though we are to pray and to act upon what we believe God is calling us to do in both of their cases, we do not for one second know the true mind of God, and the wonderful plans he has for both of them.

This morning in the Lauds - Liturgy of the Hours, there is the profound reading from 2 Corinthians Chapter 12, about the thorn in the flesh, that was given to St. Paul.  The verses from V7-10 are from the New American Bible Version:

As to the extraordinary revelations, in order that I might not become conceited I was given a thorn in the flesh, an angel of Satan to beat me and keep me from getting proud.  Three times I begged the Lord that this might leave me.  He said to me, "My grace is enough for you, for in weakness power reaches perfection."  And so I willingly boast of my weaknesses instead, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Therefor I am content with weaknesses, with mistreatment, with distress, with persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ; for when I am powerless, it is then that I am strong.

Both Father Gruber and Father MacRae have been imprisoned either officially in Father MacRae's case, and by his abbot within the walls of the abbey in the case of Father Gruber.  The shame of the false accusations against them and the excessive mistreatment that is unwarranted from their own behaviours is for them a thorn in the flesh.

To be treated as a child molester when guilty would be difficult.  To be treated this way and be innocent of the charges would be much harder.  God never promised us that we would be treated fairly, but the Church has swung the pendulum so far from the days when sexual abuse was buried, in the interest of transparency.

The Dallas Charter produced and revised by the USCCB in the last decade provides protection for children, but does so at the expense of our priests.  Gone is innocent until proven guilty, which many years ago, was "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil," but now is "guilty, guilty, guilty."  The Catholic Church has become the safest place in the world for children, but the most dangerous place in the world for our priests.

It is my hope that some balance may be restored in the dealings with sexual abuse, so that the rights of priests will be protected, as appropriate, while honouring the rights of the laity, especially our young.

In the mean time, both of these priests, Father MacRae who has been stripped of all his dignity through the trial process and over 16 years in the New Hampshire state prison, and Father Gruber, who has been shamed in front of his students, and his community, are dealing with a thorn in their flesh.

I have witnessed how My Dear Wife, who has undergone over 8 years of illness, has been softened and had her faith increased by the thorns in her flesh, and so I am certain that God will bring good out of both of these sets of circumstance, because "all things turn to good for those who trust in the Lord."

Father MacRae, though he would not wish to take credit, had been instrumental in bringing others to the Lord, which is really what he was ordained for, and if he cannot do it in a New Hampshire parish, then he will do it in prison.  He has had over 16 years to hope for exoneration and release, but has adapted to the situation he is in, and has chosen to make good of it, including with the help of others, preaching the Good News through his blog "These Stone Walls".

Father Gruber is in a period of isolation, and ostracism, and so his situation is more specifically like Padre Pio, who was similarly put aside for a period, because there was such skepticism about the stigmata on his body.  The situation he is in will shape his life of faith for all years to come.  Father Gruber though also has a community of former students and friends who have rallied to his aid, and who are being touched by him, who have formed a FaceBook group on his behalf.

May God in his infinite wisdom draw these two priests, and all those who are touched by their lives into deeper communion with Himself, to deeper prayer and trust that He is on His Throne, and that "All will be well."

Retreating to Get Charged Up

As If He Needed It


My dear friend and prayer partner, Deacon George Sebok, of the London Ontario diocese, was required and eager to do an 8 day silent retreat recently.  As he told us on his return, one of the parishioners in his own parish of Holy Family, said to another that he pitied the first person that George talked to when he came off retreat.  His daughter when asked by another parishioner how it was having her Dad gone for 8 days responded: "It was peaceful."

George is a beautiful, faith filled man, and He loves to talk about the Lord, which he does so with such a smile on his face, such sincerity and deep love and respect.  But, he does talk.  He also is a pretty good listener.

Anyway, when he came to morning prayer this morning, and mentioned the retreat, both Wayne Zimmer, and I broke into a version of the Beatles song, "Eight days a week," instead singing Eight Day Retreat

So, I came home and fiddled with the original lyrics, and with all due respect to the Beatles,  and Deacon George, came up with this version, which is remarkably similar to the original:

Ooh I need your love Lord,

I hope You know it's true.

I know you want my love Lord,

Just like I want You, Ooo.

Hold me, love me, hold me, love me.

I ain't got nothin' but love Lord,

Eight day Retreat.

Love you ev'ry day Lord,

Always on my mind.

One thing I can say Lord,

Love you all the time, ooh

Hold me, love me, hold me, love me.

I ain't got nothin' but love Lord,

Eight day Retreat.

Eight day Retreat.

I love you.

Eight day Retreat.

Is not enough time with you there.

Ooh I need your love Lord,

I hope You know it's true.

I know you want my love Lord,

Just like I want You, Ooo.

Hold me, love me, hold me, love me.

I ain't got nothin' but love Lord,

Eight day Retreat.

Eight day Retreat

I love you.

Eight day Retreat

Is not enough time with You there.

Love you ev'ry day Lord,

Always on my mind.

One thing I can say Lord,

Love you all the time.

Hold me, love me, hold me, love me.

I ain't got nothin' but love Lord,

Eight day Retreat,

Eight day Retreat,

Eight day Retreat.

People Got to Be Free

Young Rascals Preach

This oldie is still worth listening to today for its message as well as 'cause it's a cool song.



Here are the lyrics:

All the world over, so easy to see

People everywhere just wanna be free

Listen, please listen, that's the way it should be

Peace in the valley, people got to be free

You should see, what a lovely, lovely world this would be

If everyone learned to live together

It seems to me such an easy, easy thing this would be

Why can't you and me learn to love one another

All the world over, so easy to see

People everywhere just wanna be free

I can't understand it, so simple to me

People everywhere just got to be free

Ah, ah, yeah . . . ah, ah, yeah

If there's a man who is down and needs a helping hand

All it takes is you to understand and to see him through

Seems to me, we got to solve it individually

How Can I Be Sure?

Not Profound - Just the Young Rascals from 1967

As Father Longenecker says - chust for nice (whatever that means).



Here are the lyrics to this oldy but goody.

How can I be sure

In a world that's constantly changin'?

How can I be sure

Where I stand with you?

Whenever I

Whenever I am away from you

I wanna die

'cause you know I wanna stay with you

How do I know?

Maybe you're trying to use me

Flying too high can confuse me

Touch me but don't take me down

Whenever I

Whenever I am away from you

My alibi is tellin' people I don't care for you

Maybe I'm just hanging around

With my head up, upside down

It's a pity

I can't seem to find someone

Who's as pretty 'n' lovely as you

How can I be sure

I really, really, really, wanna kno-o-ow

I really, really, really, wanna kno-o-ow

(Oh oh oh ...)

How's the weather?

Weather or not, we're together

Together we'll see it much better

I love you, I love you forever

You know where I can be found

How can I be sure

In a world that's constantly changing?

How can I be sure?

I'll be sure with you.

The Best Way to Help Father Mark Gruber

Pray, Pray, Pray

The curious case of Father Mark Gruber, a well known Catholic Benedictine author, retreat master, and teacher at St. Vincent College in Latrobe PA, has caught the attention of many outside of Latrobe.

I wrote about the lawsuit that he has brought against various parties who have injured him here.  I have also added another post here about the role of a Father, thinking of his spiritual fathers, and those of Father Gordon MacRae as well.

After the latter posting, I received comments from members of a FaceBook group dedicated to Father Mark Gruber's freedom.

In thinking of Father Mark Gruber, and also Father Gordon MacRae, two men who are almost indubitably falsely charged, another priest who was falsely charged comes to mind.  That would be Saint Pio.  An interesting biographical sketch about him exists over at the EWTN site here.

After he had received the stigmata, many people tried to discredit him, and for a number of years, he was kept apart from others and only allowed to say mass by himself.  I wonder if he contemplated suing his abbott, or the local bishop for his false imprisonment.  I wonder if he felt the pain of the false accusations against him.  Did he accept what was done to him as merely God's will for his own sanctification?

I do not know the answers to these questions, nor do I pretend to know what is the right thing in Father Gruber's case, whether he should be suing his abbott and bishop and others for falsely accusing him.  It is not for me to judge.

I do not know if the supporters of Father Mark on Face Book are following the lead of the Holy Spirit in seeking his freedom, and do not wish to pass judgement on them or their efforts.

The only thing I do know is that this is a serious situation, as the one was for Padre Pio, and also is for Father Gordon MacRae, and serious situations require prayer for wisdom and understanding.  That is what I primarily offer for those involved in both of these situations.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in your love for both of these priests, and all those of their spiritual families.  Guide their hearts and minds as they seek to do your will relative to our brothers.  Sacred Heart of Jesus, fill all concerned with your blood, that Your Will and Your Will alone be accomplished.

What Is a Father to Do?

A Father Always Loves

There is no simple manual for fatherhood.  Our physical and our spiritual children are different one from the other, and so on a day to day basis, fatherhood is one sense adaptive.

But, fatherhood has a number of principles that are important to remember.  In our sad society that is so out of touch with reality, fatherhood often refers to the contribution of sperm to fertilize an egg, and ends there.  but, it is so much more than that.  In a nuclear family, the father has the responsibility to love and encourage his bride above all, and then to provide love and guidance to his children along the paths of their formative years.  He is the shepherd of his flock.

In the Catholic Church, we call our priests Father, as a sign of respect and also as described from this short treatise on the subject here:

The spiritual fatherhood of the priest is intended to be a sign of the depth of intimacy and relationship which those in the life of the Church have with their leaders, a relationship based on the priest's role in our second birth, our birth in the Gospel - our baptism. Just as our biological father has an important role in our birth and continuing nurture, so the priest - as the one who baptizes us - has an important role in our second birth, our birth "from above…of water and the Spirit" (John 3:3-5).

But, they too are shepherds of their flock.  When a child goes astray, as children often do, it is the father's responsibility to go out as a shepherd and try to bring the child back to the fold.  When others criticise their child, it is the father's responsibility to stick up for his child, as is appropriate in the circumstances.  Above all, the father, in imitation of our Heavenly Father is to love his child, no matter how far his child strays from the flock. 

Recently, I have written about two fathers who themselves are children, and are in need of their spiritual fathers, and their brothers and sisters in the faith to draw alongside them and to show them love.

In the Catholic Church, we are all too familiar with the "sex abuse scandal."  It has garnered a lot of press, and the sex abuse of minors is disgusting.  The Catholic Church has been the epicenter of a scandal that has far more to do with a society gone wrong than the Catholic Church.  The statistics do not support the rampage against the Church.  Nor do they warrant some of the response from the Church to this situation.

Hundreds of millions of dollars have been paid out to families of victims (and alleged victims) by dioceses around North America; many times with little to prove the efficacy of the charges presented against priests and religious.  The Catholic Church has turned turtle in North America.

The USCCB issued the "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People", which can be found here on their site.  Whereas the Church pretended for the longest time that there was no scandalous behaviour going on anywhere, by hiding it, now priests are guilty until, or even if proven innocent, and while children's rights are protected as they should have always been, the rights of priests have gone by the boards, and a difficult vocation is made even more so, by the very people who are their own spiritual fathers.

Father Gordon MacRae, who I wrote about here, the priest behind  the "These Stone Walls" blog, who by the way has never seen his own blog, and at this point does not seem likely to, is a resident of the state prison in New Hampshire, because of a terrible miscarriage of justice perpetrated on him over 16 years ago.

Meanwhile, over in Latrobe PA, Father Mark Gruber, who I wrote about the other day, is a prisoner essentially in the Archabbey of St.Vincent, for a crime that was not committed by anyone.  He has been forbidden to have contact with the students that he taught for so many years, and to exercise his faculties as a priest and member of his religious community.

I get that a father needs to send his kids to their rooms, or another room for timeout purposes, so they can collect their thoughts and come back to the community/family.  What I do not understand is the father, who ostracises his child, and essentially abuses his beloved child by turning his back on him, refusing to listen to his side of whatever the story might be, and who then does not try to heal the wounds of the child, and guide the child to heal whatever wounds, if any, the child might have caused to others along the way.

I have no idea what could possess a bishop, or an abbot, to turn their back on their own children, but I am a father, and I know that that is not right, on any level. 

Sexual abuse is one significant form of abuse, but emotional abuse is very hard to overcome for those abused.  Father's MacRae and Gruber are being abused by their spiritual fathers, who have cast them aside as unworthy children.

What is surprising is that their brothers and sisters are not creating such a hue and cry that these two brothers of ours are not surrounded with love, and compassion.

Many of the young of St.Vincent College have spoken up for Father Gruber, to little avail so far, but there is only a small coterie standing up for Father MacRae.

"I was in prison and you visited me." Mt 25:36b.

These two men are not the only ones who have been wrongly accused, and abandoned by those who would claim to be filled with the love of Jesus Christ.

Who among us will stand up for them?

WAKE UP

Women Against the Killing and Exploitation of Unprotected Persons

If the video below does not bring you to tears or touch your heart, then I urge you to get a new heart.

Missy Smith and 4 friends created an organisation called WAKEUP - Women Against the Killing and Exploitation of Unprotected Persons.  Her own testimony of how abortion touched her personally is mentioned in the video below, but is available in more detail on the web site here.

The focus of the video itself is the shocking selling of the body parts of aborted babies, a quiet industry that obviously must believe that these are real persons, if they are in need of these body parts.

Her testimony touches on something very important for the many, many women who have had abortions and for the men who have forced them, coerced them, pushed them to have abortions, or who have stood by seemingly helpless to save the life of their unborn child.  There is healing for those abortive parents, through the blood and love of Jesus Christ.  Though Missy herself will always carry the memory of her abortion of her unborn children, God is having her circumstances turn to good, as she trusts in Him.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in your love for all those involved in WAKE UP.  Sacred Heart of Jesus, fill them with your blood.  Mother Mary, surround them with your mantle of protection and frustrate the powers of Satan.  St. Michael and their guardian angels, come defend them in the battles that they encounter against Satan and the powers and forces darkness.

Teaching on The Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass

It Is Both Scriptural and Heavenly Based

Monsignor Charles Pope of the Archdiocese of Washington DC has been presenting some very powerful material on the diocesan blog there, not the least of which is this treatise on The Biblical and Heavenly Roots of the Sacred Liturgy.  I urge you to see the excellent writing found on that blog site.

It is the holy sacrifice of the Mass that drew me back to the Catholic Church, along with the words I heard in my kitchen one day, almost 30 years ago, from the Lord telling me to "Go to Church."  I love the Mass.  It is the embodiment of the Christian faith, the epicenter if you will, of all that we as Christians believe about Our Lord and Saviour. 

And yet, this beautiful celebration of the Last Supper and Death of Our Lord and Saviour, which can be better grasped by reading a Primer on the Mass here, is so poorly understood and more poorly lived out by Catholics, such that we so seldom give the true witness of what we know in our hearts to be true.  I have written previously about the Mass here, and more particularly about the Consecration here.

It has been almost 500 years since the Protestant Reformation.  Those who would reform the Church, and those who remained in the Church have all lost a great deal because of the sin of those inside the Church that created a need for a re-awakening, and because of the sin of those who took it upon themselves to reform that which cannot be re-formed, since it was created by Jesus himself.  30,000 denominations and counting is not reminiscent of Jesus calling us all to be one, nor is the hiding under a bushel basket of the deposit of faith that is present in the Catholic Church by its members.

If we are to be one, as we have been called, then we need the truth and beauty of the Catholic faith, and we need the love of the Word, and faith of our separated brethren.  We do not need our separated brethren to be like us, but we like them, must bring what we have to the table of the Lord, and share it.  The greatest gift we Catholics have to share is the Sacred Liturgy, which has lost much of its appearance of sacredness. 

Here Monsignor Pope explains some of the Biblical nature of the Mass:

Catholics are often unaware just how Biblical the Sacred Liturgy is. The design of our traditional churches, the use of candles, incense, golden vessels, the postures of standing and kneeling, the altar, the singing of hymns, priests wearing albs and so forth are all depicted in the Scriptures. Some of these details were features of the ancient Jewish Temple, but most all of these are reiterated in the Book of Revelation which describes the liturgy of heaven.


The liturgy here on earth is modeled after the liturgy in heaven and that is why it is so serious to tamper with it. The Book of Revelation describes the heavenly liturgy and focuses on a scroll or book which contains the meaning of life and the answers to all we seek. It also focuses the Lamb of God, standing but with the marks of slaughter upon it. Does this not sound familiar? It is the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist.


We do well to be aware of the Biblical roots of the Sacred Liturgy not only for our own edification but also as an answer to Protestant Christians who have largely set aside these rituals and, some of whom, criticize our use of them. Many people consider our rituals empty and vain, “smells and bells.” Some consider austere liturgical environments devoid of much ritual to be “purer,” and closer to the worship in “spirit and in truth” that Jesus spoke of in John 4.


To such criticisms we must insist that these rituals, properly understood, are mystical and deeply biblical. Further, they are elements of the heavenly liturgy since almost all of them are mentioned as aspects of the worship or liturgy that takes place in heaven. In this light it is a serious mistake to set them aside or have a dismissive attitude toward them.


With that in mind we ought to consider the Biblical references to the most common elements of Catholic and Orthodox liturgies. I place an occasional note in Red where it seems appropriate.


Candles -
Rev 1:12-13 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man. In traditional catholic parishes there are six candles on the high altar and a seventh candle is brought out when the bishop is present.


Rev 4:6 Seven flaming torches burned in front of the throne.


Altar -
Rev 9:13 The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the horns of the golden altar that is before God.


Rev 8:3 Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne.


Chair -
Rev 4:1 and lo, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne! And he who sat there appeared like jasper and carnelian, and round the throne was a rainbow that looked like an emerald….


Daniel 7:9 As I looked, thrones were placed and one that was ancient of days took his seat;… In the sacred liturgy the Chair of the priest is prominent. But, as he takes his seat we are invited not to see Father Jones, but rather the Lord himself presiding in our midst.


Priests (elders) in Albs:
Rev 4:4 the elders sat, dressed in white garments…..


Bishop’s Miter, priest biretta –
Rev 4:4, 10 With golden crowns on their heads……they cast down their crowns before the throne…. In the Liturgy the Bishop may only wear his miter at prescribed times. But when he goes to the altar he must cast aside his miter. The priest who wears the biretta in the Old Mass is instructed to tip his biretta at the mention of the the Holy Name and to lay it aside entirely when he goes to the altar.


Focus on a scroll (Book) The Liturgy of the Word -
Rev 5: 1 And I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals; and I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I wept much that no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. Then one of the elders said to me, “Weep not; lo, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” In the ancient world books, as we know them now, had not been invented. Texts were written on long scrolls and rolled up.

Incense, Intercessory prayer -

Rev 8:3 another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer; and he was given much incense to mingle with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar before the throne; and the smoke of the incense rose with the prayers of the saints from the hand of the angel before God…..


Rev 5:7 and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and with golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints;


Hymns –
Rev 5:8 – And they sang a new hymn: Worthy are you O Lord to receive the scroll and break open its seals. For you were slain and with your blood you purchase for God men of every race and tongue, and those of every nation.


Rev 14:1 Then I looked, and lo, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads… and they sing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who had been redeemed from the earth.


Rev 15:3 And they (the multitude no one could count) sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and wonderful are thy deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are thy ways, O King of the ages! Who shall not fear and glorify thy name, O Lord? For thou alone art holy. All nations shall come and worship thee, for thy judgments have been revealed.”


Holy Holy Holy
Rev 4:8 and day and night they never cease to sing, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,


Prostration (Kneeling) -
Rev 4:10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever; they cast their crowns before the throne. …


Rev 5:14 and the elders fell down and worshiped - In today’s setting there is seldom room for everyone to lie, prostrate and flat on the ground. Hence, kneeling developed as a practical solution to the lack of space but amounts to the same demeanor of humble adoration.


Lamb of God -
Rev 5:6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders, I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain,


Acclamations –
Rev 5:11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”


Amen!
Rev 5:14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!”.


Silence
Rev 8:1 When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. (and you thought your priest paused too long after communion?)


Mary -
Rev 12:1 And a great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; 2she was with child and she cried out in her pangs of birth, in anguish for delivery.


Happy are those called to his “supper”
Revelation 19: 6Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty thunderpeals, crying, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready;… And the angel said£ to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.”


Golden Vessels, vestments -
Rev 1:12 – And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands,


Rev 1:13 – and among the lampstands was someone “like a son of man,” dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest


Rev 5:8 – the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense


Rev 8:3 – Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, at the golden altar before the throne.


Rev 15:16 – The angels were dressed in clean, shining linen and wore golden sashes around their chests.


Rev 15:17 seven golden bowls


Stained Glass -
Rev 21:10 [The heavenly city] had a great, high wall, with twelve gates,… The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every jewel; the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. (The image of stained glass in our Church walls is hinted at here).


Here is but a partial list, drawn only from the Book of Revelation. I invite you to add to it. You might also read The Lamb’s Supper by Scott Hahn, and The Mass: A Biblical Prayer, by Fr. Peter Stravinskas.

Theater of the Word Inc.

Here are a few of the tongue in cheek videos offered to awaken the sleepers by Theater of the Word Incorporated.

First an interview by Kirkwood Derby with Stanford Nutting (Stand for Nothing) for the broadcast of Religion Matters.



The Fictitious Kirkwood Derby also interviews Mr. Nutting on other topics available on YouTube such as his compendium on the best of post modern theology.  It is a lengthy tome, though as you will see, a little weak on content.




Stanford Nutting has his own show in this video, and he interviews the cast of Stat Trek about the latest Star Trek movie, with surprising results.