elenmosyne

Friends,
Preparing to go up to St Nicholas Church in Cohoes for
Saturday -Sunday. Else to share, a house decoration
for Christmas which caught my eye last night. The phrase
'the Empire of Light' comes to mind by association, and
that is the Magritte painting of a rather stately house
made mysterious by being on a dark night earth under a
day time sky. ( Read more... )
but our imaged house here is made mysterious and wonderful,
although a rather plain and average sort of house in not the
richest section of the town, by the curtain of light and
figure created by the decoration. the light a magic veil
makes it a place a King may visit... Here is a larger image
and that of the next house also ( Read more... )
which also is a rather plain house. It is a neighborhood which
is still I think heavily Italian ,the church is Our Lady of Pompei,
a chapel of the main village church, and certainly Italians and
also I think Greeks, make freer with light than the american average.
It seems to me quite wonderful and may to you... or may not, why not
do a small poll, I have slightly set a bias by setting out the case
for bright lights but, there sure is no right or wrong...

Poll #1494463 The Extravagant Bright Christmas Lights Poll
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 5

I am inclined to find extravagant Christmas decoration like this

View Answers

gross,wasteful and unappealing
3 (60.0%)

wonderful
2 (40.0%)

and so am sharing
these and as always welcome all you have in turn, as
always comments help add interest to a poll if anyone
is interested...someone state the contrary case for
restrained good taste please! or just ideas suggested by
free association etc memories etc...
yours
+Seraphim
.
Gate of house. Full house within the post.

One of my best friends is pregnant for the 7th time. Unfortunately, she's suffered 6 miscarriages, and tomorrow she is going for testing to see if this baby has a heartbeat. Please say a quick prayer for her (Leigh Anne) and her baby, and pray that bubs has a heart beat and that they can finally complete their family.

Thank you (I'll keep you posted on what happens)

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap091203.html

NGC 660 lies near the center of

Basically some potentially neat stuff has been going down and two of my atheist/agnostic/what have you exes got involved in a weird facebok discussion about organized religion and whatnot whilst commenting to a status about a dream involving the Pope. A fellow catechist, a Hindu friend, and some other friends got involved to various degrees. Please pray that they would be led to the truth and that in future encounters I would have the grace to love them well in our conversation and not be trying to lay the smackdown or something, whatever may happen. One of my (non-Catholic, Christian) friends actually pmed some of us saying he really did want to lay some smack down but had to restrain himself, which is cool cuz he restrained himself but not cool cuz we shouldn't be seeking to lay the smackdown. Their names are Ryan and Giancarlo.

Also my friend Galen has been conversing with me through text for a few hours or so and the convo has turned to God-related topics. A lot of doors have been opening up in this area. Similar prayers are requested for him, except that I don't feel so much like laying the smackdown with him--I think I need more prayers that I do not just brush aside the problems with which he comes to me with a "you should pray about it" only half jokingly, knowing he will be reluctant to do so at best, and that I would be compassionate enough to approach him at his level, wherever that may be.

Sorry I ramble a lot! Thanks for your prayers guys; you're all super cool.

For people on my F-list, I survived. Will try to post an update about that stuff later.

In other news, I broke down and asked for an incomplete in one of my classes. Basically, I'm trying to write a paper on Augustine and Pelagianism and I have four volumes from this one series of Augustine's works that include all his writings against the Pelagians, but I haven't even started to read them and my paper is supposed to be due next Wednesday. My professor was really cool about it which is lucky. I mean, I'm at a point in my academic career where it's stupid for me to write a crappy paper just for the sake of turning something in on time because that doesn't help me at all.

Master, bless.

My dearest ones,

Jane G. Meyer has just emailed me her address (see my previous post)... I shall be sending her Bring forth the best robes and The flawed master. She wrote that she would email me and let me know when she reviews the books on Ancient Faith Radio...

She also loves my website. She thinks it is beautiful. Which is very generous, considering how lovely hers is. But I am glad, because I worked on it so hard...

O, God! My little books will be discussed on Ancient Faith Radio! I really did not expect anything like this. The list of books that have been reviewed there includes material published by St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, Paraclete Press, Ignatius Press, Conciliar Press, HarperOne... And here I am, with my self-published ramblings. Perhaps my books will be too, um, too... I do not know, but not of sufficient quality...

I am forty, but I have never felt more like a novice than I do now. The Lord is so good; glory to Him forever.

Thank heaven I am getting my neck massaged next week. And, I shall see loved ones tomorrow, sheryll, wolfraven80, loudmeggaphone...

I think I am going to watch "Ed Wood" tonight. That film always warms my heart.

Your devoted
Logospilgrim, the quiet professor

I got an e-mail from Erin Moug. She wants me to join Jhoos. Well, I'm not a Jhoo, and I'm not joining. But I swear I've met someone named Erin Moug. And that she has short, brunette hair. And that she was comfortable with me saying her last name (pronounced with a long "O" -- MOAG) over and over again. She was smiley and nice and cute and I can't remember where the hell I know her from.

If any of you can help me out with a positive ID on Erin Moug, I'd appreciate it.

But I'm still not gonna join Jhoos.

Zenit has an excellent interview with David Clayton, and artist at Thomas More College who also teaches at the newly launched Way of Beauty program. In the interview he discusses Pope Benedict XVI's understanding of beauty and its relationship to liturgy, and how beauty itself opens people's hearts and attracts them to what is true. It is an excellent interview, one I strongly recommend reading. You can find it here.

Master, bless.

My most precious ones,

due to the affliction, I am somewhat medicated at the moment, but I needed to share something with you... I am... Well, bewildered.

As I mentioned on sunday, I now have an author account on Goodreads. I have joined a few groups (including an Orthodox one), and summoned up the courage to inform people of my work.

This morning, I received a very kind email from Jane G. Meyer, Orthodox author of children's books such as The Life of Saint Bridget, The Man and the Vine, The Woman and the Wheat... She does reviews ("Speaking of Books") on Ancient Faith Radio, and offered to review my books of Snape essays.

For a while I sat in front of my computer screen, blinking. Then I took another anti-inflammatory pill. Then I had soup and sat quietly, my brain attempting to process this amazing development.

I emailed her back, writing what I hope was a coherent message, and said that, if after reading the books she thought they had merit...

Can this be happening?

You know... Just before I watched The Butterfly Circus the other day, I had been feeling weary and thinking that my life had become a circus. Was this good, I wondered? God's reply was a categorical and gentle, "Yes." So I shall continue to try to be like the ringmaster... I shall continue to try and be a harbinger of hope.

The Lord is right. I was meant for the beautiful circus He has entrusted to my care. One of my favorite films has always been "The Circus" by Charlie Chaplin... When I was young, I wanted to run away and join a circus.

It was symbolic. It was prophetic.

I am grateful for your tender support. I cannot begin to tell you how overwhelming all of this is sometimes. And yet, it seems to be happening at the precise time when I am ready (more or less) for it. I daresay that I have been prepared.

Either that, or the medication is dulling my apprehension.

Ah, goodness... I shall read and rest a bit. God bless you all for your encouragement and affection. Please keep your servus in your prayers. I think that when I speak to Archbishop Seraphim on sunday, the odds that I shall weep are great. Like right now.

Your devoted
Logospilgrim, the quiet professor

Friends,
As I have said ,among the books I am reading for Advent, or
perhaps if someone says well only a certain kind of book can
be 'for' Advent, than I should say 'in' Advent. among them
is The Conjure-Man Dies by Rudolph Fisher. Fisher
(1897-1934) was in the early 30s at the center of the Harlem
Renaissance and this book is the first mystery novel with a
black detective and all black characters. It deserves to be
read more, and yet also not by some perversion of 'diversity'
subsituted for Sherlock Holmes, Father Brown, Raymond Chandler.
'this ye ought to have done and not left the other undone'
as it was said. What schools here and now follow this word?

Anyhow is a wonderful book. I will give two pages here which
are interesting in a particular way and you may, you will,
I think, enjoy...

First the setting Frimbo, a sort of consulting witch doctor,
has been killed but then the body disappears and Frimbo
reappears. Dart, the police detective, and Archer the doctor,
are examining a slide with blood to determine if the
reappeared Frimbo is the dead (and resurrected) Frimbo.

The specific point that interests me most,aside the story, is
Archer's discussion of the micro worlds the microscope opens.
For the pages...and for a comment on micro worlds within
worlds as we look down towards the infinitely small, please
click to the right here.( Read more... )
Today these and as always inviting all your response and I
am yours
+Seraphim
.

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap091202.html

What creates the cosmic dust sculptures in the Rosette Nebula?

Hey all,

If you could please take a moment and pray for me and my vocation. I'm going through a really difficult time right now. It seems that the Order is second guessing whether I belong here. It's my own fault. Any of you who have seen me online know that unfortunately I'm an arrogant, self-righteous, judgmental jerk most of the time. Now the Order is discovering it, too, and they're not happy, nor should they be. Anyway, I would appreciate any prayers you can offer. I'm doing my best to change, but it's not going so well. Thanks.

Friends,
Message on phone from wife of my dentist that ,recovering from
an operation, he died suddenly last night. I will try to go to
the funeral service today at least partly. Martin. a good man...
Martin Ackerman. May he find a place in the world to come.
and his memory and name be for a blessing.

Else found a wonderfully interesting book I did not know at all.
The Sea and the Mirror by W.H.Auden. He retells the story
of Shakespeare's Tempest and deals with the dualities, as Ariel-
Caliban,and the question of Christian art. Or so it promises to do...

"...this world of fact we love
is unsubstantial stuff:
All the rest is silence
On the other side of the wall
and the silence ripeness,
and the ripeness all."

Now yesterday I discovered the link between Bob Dylan's
All along the watchtower and Isaiah 21:5-9. Let me
give the lyric of the song, the words from Isaiah and a
few comments if you will.( Read more... )
I have added another photo made yesterday of some last remaining
leaves, like a bright mobile in the air...

How do you feel Dylan's Watchtower? well,and you can hear it
also on youtube but if you are not familiar look at the words
as he intones them... It seems to me an excellent song for the
time before Christmas.

And Auden's words summarizing Tempest in a way though of course
the book goes on and I have just opened it..
and our leaves... as always welcome all you have in response and
am yours
+Seraphim

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap091201.html

Wisps like this are all that remain visible of a Milky Way star.

Advance Merry Christmas to you all! :D Here's another video that I uploaded on YouTube for the eyes of my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. I thought I should share it to you since Christmas is not too far away. If you have an account there, please don't hesitate to rate and comment (or favorite, if you like) my video. If you wanna know more, please see 'More Info' on YouTube. If you don't have an account, then it's okay, just let me know what you think by commenting under this post. I love to know what people think of my creations. I'll appreciate it a lot. Thank you in advance!

( See Video )

I was just listening to Elvis Costello's Tokyo Storm Warning, and I was all set to quote my favorite lyric, which is:

"Japanese God Jesus Robots telling teenage fortunes
For all we know and all we care they might as well be Martians"

Sadly, when I got to the above link, I found that the actual lyrics are:

"The Japanese got Jesus robots telling teenage fortunes
For all we know and all we care they might as well be Martians"

A very slight change, but one that was extremely disappointing. I mean, Japanese God Jesus Robots just sounds so much COOLER. Apparently, this guy thinks so, too.

*sigh*

Another misheard lyric, wrapped up like a douche.

Following is Zenit's translation of Pope Benedict XVI's First Vespers homily for the First Sunday of Advent:

On God's Presence and Coming

"He Is Here and Comes to Visit Us"

VATICAN CITY, NOV. 30, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the homily Benedict XVI gave Saturday at First Vespers for the First Sunday of Advent.
( Under the cut )

Tags: advent, pope benedict xvi

Hi, I'm Stina, and I'm new. I don't know if doing introductions are okay or frowned up, so I'll apologize in advance if they aren't, but a large part of why I joined this community was because I don't have very many Catholic friends on LiveJournal and I'd like to change that. I'm 24 and reside in Irving, Texas. I converted to Catholicism almost 5 years ago after being raised Southern Baptist and becoming greatly disillusioned with that faith tradition due to multiple bad experiences. My walk with God has certainly not been a smooth one these past few years (is it ever?), and I've certainly strayed and lost my way more than once; but I am finding my way back to my faith and my Church home. I'm newly married (five months) and I have to say my husband is probably more responsible for my rediscovery of my love and joy in my faith than anything else - he was a devout (very!) atheist when we met, and I doubted he would ever come into the Church. However, this Sunday, he will be participating in the Rite of Acceptance and Welcome at the same church where I was confirmed and come Easter he will be baptized and confirmed. If ever I doubted that God can do anything, I now have my own personal miracle to remind me that he can.

This leads me to my prayer request - I would greatly appreciate prayers for both my husband and myself as we move forward on this journey together. Prayers that I would have the right words to answer his questions and that I would be a good example of authentic faith, prayers that he will have continued affirmations that he is making the right choice for himself (he wrestled with the idea of spirituality a great deal before deciding to take this path).

Thanks so much!

Edit: if anyone feels like adding me to their friends list, that would be most welcome and I will add back :)

Friends,
I got the Bob Dylan cd "Christmas in the Heart" and am
delighted by it. It is not Highway 61 Revisited or
Blonde on Blonde or for that matter Slow Train but
there is no need for him to do those things again. It seems
to me that the shlockier songs, here comes santa and the like
appear newly minted(if still not the best coin) and the carols
also compel our attention. So for example available on youtube
the Adeste Fidelis(O Come all ye faithful) which I include in
the post. See what you think. youube has since closed down
the songs from this album for copyright reason. so you must
--to hear it--get your own copy, sorry
The Latin is the most somehow striking at least since that of
Cardinal Cushing of Boston with his Irish brogue. I suppose
someone who did not know Dylan might suppose him drunk, but
as it was said it is but the third hour of the day and it is
something else, perhaps not quite Pentecostal, but Christmas...

Also I would like to share a picture this morning of some
remaining leaves hanging like a bright mobile in the air...
and words of a Dylan song which seems to go with the
Advent season, the time before Christmas, if you will click
to the right here.( Read more... )
So a Dylan Christmas carol with his wonderful Latin...
of course you may find it quite otherwise...how do you feel it?
and is Watchtower a good Advent song?
the pair of horsemen are from Isaiah 21:5-9 as is the tower.
and our mobile made of leaves
and I welcome all you have on these or anything else at
all, yours
+Seraphim
.
sorry. had put up a youtube which has been removed.

I've been tackling a problem of positive vs negative lately.

Basically the entire deal with human emotion is when someone has more than the other person, they have to respond in a certain way. Will you meet that emotion and bring it higher, or will you deflect it and bring it lower?

When someone wants to do something, they can be seen as hyper or fake to other people, or if someone doesn't want to do anything another person can try to drag them into things, and that will seem even more faked, or even selfish.

To find a real thing in all of this, where do you look? How can you tell when someone's actually into something? And, when you know they are, what will you do?

If a person feels most happy when a friend is pleased, where is the barrier between what you want to do yourself (enjoying, by yourself) and you wanting to do with them (enjoying, with them)?

I dunno the answers to any of these. I think I've been doing too much math lately...