Baroque Band

Baroque Band Chicago's period-instrument orchestra; myspace

Museum of Modern Ice:


Early Music Chicago:


Garry Clarke and Baroque Band | Cultural Chicago
Baroque Band Concert May 2007 Photos

Something to check out if I'm ever in Chicago again...

Fr. Z: Detroit: Bp. Athanasius Schneider at Assumption Grotto - 20 & 27 July

For a link to an interview with the bishop, see this post.

More links:
Newman House contracted to publish Dominus Est into English
Te Deum laudamus!: Help Newman House Press to Publish Dominus Est
Bishop calls receiving Communion on the tongue more reverent
Libreria Editrice Vaticana pubblica libro di Mons. Athanasius Schneider

William Grigg, Women And Children Last

Compelling confirmation that we're in the early phase of a world-historic economic collapse can be found in this fact: Our rulers are moving quickly to redistribute blame for the disaster from those who precipitated it to those who are seeking to protect themselves from it.

via LRC

Michael S. Rozeff, A Foundation for Panarchy

Panarchy, in the words of John Zube, is as follows.

"PANARCHY: The realization of as many different and autonomous communities as are wanted by volunteers for themselves, all non-territorially coexisting, side by side and intermingled, as their members are, in the same territory or even world-wide and yet separated from each other by personal laws, administrations and jurisdiction, as different churches are or ought to be."

In Panarchy, in the same way that persons choose friends, a club, a spouse, and a church, they choose a Community and a Government. They are not automatically inducted into a Government and Laws that are not of their choosing, as is the case today. And the Government that reigns over a given territory and People in today’s world does not exist and cannot therefore, as it does today, prevent other Governments and Peoples from forming by the exercise of their primary rights. Furthermore, the notion that today’s States and Governments are legitimate is seen to be entirely fallacious. The very foundations of their being are called into question by a thorough application of the Jeffersonian ideas of primary and secondary rights.

How American? The logical consequence of a certain view of the origin of society and the social contract? The fact is that only when there is serious danger to our spiritual well-being or that of our family and dependents, should we leave the community into which we are born. We may be able to change the constitution/nature of the polity or the government, but a political community is not a voluntary association, and one's obligations out of justice, both to the political community in which one is born and raised and to one's fellow citizens, prevent one from endorsing panarchy.

Macross Frontier, ep 15

An episode with clips from previous episodes with some new revelations, and a singing contest between Ranka and Sheryl--

Macross Frontier - 15 | Random Curiosity


Star Crossed Anime Blog :: Macross Frontier - 15 :: July :: 2008
Macross Frontier Ep. 15: Lost Peace « Gate 419
Macross Frontier 15 | Sea Slugs! Anime Blog

Another blog entry for episode 14:
Macross Frontier 14 | Sea Slugs! Anime Blog

The Fiscal Wake Up Tour


U.S. GAO - Fiscal Wake-up Tour
The Heritage Foundation: Fiscal Wake-Up Tour

What has David Walker been doing since resigning as Comptroller General?

Please pray for JP, who is supposed to be getting married tomorrow. I couldn't dissuade her.

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog

Here you go, KK.

Edit: Watching the first act--too much Joss Whedon in it.

Asia Times: Peking Opera tries to regain its voice
Peking Opera, once considered the highest artistic expression of Chinese culture, is now often poked fun at by young people for whom the opera is too old fashioned and not particularly tuneful. The government's program to revive the traditional art faces a cool response from teachers and parents. - Pallavi Aiyar

Kevin Gutzman on Air America

From Thomas Woods:

The left-wing radio network Air America featured my co-author Kevin Gutzman today, and the result was an excellent interview about the Constitution, the federal government, and our new book, Who Killed the Constitution? The Fate of American Liberty from World War I to George W. Bush.

The Barclays Self Build Cob House, via Transition Culture.

What would it take to build your own house here in California? (A cob house would probably not be acceptable under current regulations.) How do the Amish do it? Look at the photos of the house during various stages of construction. Kudos to the owners for undertaking such an enterprise.

Bullish on Amish-Built

From the ISI Online Lecture Library: Christopher Olaf Blum, "Robert Nisbet and the French Conservative Tradition," Indianapolis, IN, 4/16/2005 -- video, audio.

FPJ: From Universal Empire to the World State

Chantal Delsol - 07/16/08

The idea of establishing a unified, universal political order capable of bringing peoples together under the reign of justice emerged long ago. Both the ancient Roman Empire and the Christian religion at the time of its birth embodied a kind of universal ideal: one political and one spiritual. But each of these previous ideals is different from the model of the universal state promoted today—one that is rooted in the radical faith in global morality exhibited in the French Revolution and in the advent of modern technology that makes global government for the first time conceivably possible.

Another piece touching upon sovereignty. Chantal Delsol is the author of Unjust Justice.

CI: What Makes the Wonder Girls 'So Hot'?
Leave it to the Wonder Girls to make lightning strike twice. Not long ago the pop group sparked a national craze with their hit song and dance "Tell Me". Now it looks as if they've done it again, with their latest track "So Hot" growing as popular as the "Tell Me" phenomenon. Netizens' home-made versions of the "So Hot" dance routine are flooding the web.

St. Mary's Cathedral in Sydney

official website, archdiocese page

Papa Ratzinger forum thread on WYD

Zenit: Papal Homily at Mass With Australian Clergy
"We Can Be Tempted to Make Faith a Matter of Sentiment"

SYDNEY, Australia, JULY 18, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Here is the text of the homily Benedict XVI gave at Mass with Australian bishops and clergy on Saturday morning local time.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

In this noble cathedral I rejoice to greet my brother Bishops and priests, and the deacons, religious and laity of the Archdiocese of Sydney. In a very special way, my greeting goes to the seminarians and young religious who are present among us. Like the young Israelites in today's first reading, they are a sign of hope and renewal for God's people; and, like those young Israelites, they will have the task of building up the Lord's house in the coming generation. As we admire this magnificent edifice, how can we not think of all those ranks of priests, religious and faithful laity who, each in his or her own way, contributed to the building up of the Church in Australia? Our thoughts turn in particular to those settler families to whom Father Jeremiah O'Flynn entrusted the Blessed Sacrament at his departure, a "small flock" which cherished and preserved that precious treasure, passing it on to the succeeding generations who raised this great tabernacle to the glory of God. Let us rejoice in their fidelity and perseverance, and dedicate ourselves to carrying on their labours for the spread of the Gospel, the conversion of hearts and the growth of the Church in holiness, unity and charity!

We are about to celebrate the dedication of the new altar of this venerable cathedral. As its sculpted frontal powerfully reminds us, every altar is a symbol of Jesus Christ, present in the midst of his Church as priest, altar and victim (cf. Preface of Easter V). Crucified, buried and raised from the dead, given life in the Spirit and seated at the right hand of the Father, Christ has become our great high priest, eternally making intercession for us. In the Church's liturgy, and above all in the sacrifice of the Mass consummated on the altars of the world, he invites us, the members of his mystical Body, to share in his self-oblation. He calls us, as the priestly people of the new and eternal covenant, to offer, in union with him, our own daily sacrifices for the salvation of the world.

In today's liturgy the Church reminds us that, like this altar, we too have been consecrated, set "apart" for the service of God and the building up of his Kingdom. All too often, however, we find ourselves immersed in a world that would set God "aside". In the name of human freedom and autonomy, God's name is passed over in silence, religion is reduced to private devotion, and faith is shunned in the public square. At times this mentality, so completely at odds with the core of the Gospel, can even cloud our own understanding of the Church and her mission. We too can be tempted to make the life of faith a matter of mere sentiment, thus blunting its power to inspire a consistent vision of the world and a rigorous dialogue with the many other visions competing for the minds and hearts of our contemporaries.

Yet history, including the history of our own time, shows that the question of God will never be silenced, and that indifference to the religious dimension of human existence ultimately diminishes and betrays man himself. Is that not the message which is proclaimed by the magnificent architecture of this cathedral? Is that not the mystery of faith which will be proclaimed from this altar at every celebration of the Eucharist? Faith teaches us that in Jesus Christ, the incarnate Word, we come to understand the grandeur of our own humanity, the mystery of our life on this earth, and the sublime destiny which awaits us in heaven (cf. Gaudium et Spes, 24). Faith teaches us that we are God's creatures, made in his image and likeness, endowed with an inviolable dignity, and called to eternal life. Wherever man is diminished, the world around us is also diminished; it loses its ultimate meaning and strays from its goal. What emerges is a culture, not of life, but of death. How could this be considered "progress"? It is a backward step, a form of regression which ultimately dries up the very sources of life for individuals and all of society.

We know that in the end - as Saint Ignatius of Loyola saw so clearly - the only real "standard" against which all human reality can be measured is the Cross and its message of an unmerited love which triumphs over evil, sin and death, creating new life and unfading joy. The Cross reveals that we find ourselves only by giving our lives away, receiving God's love as an unmerited gift and working to draw all men and women into the beauty of that love and the light of the truth which alone brings salvation to the world. It is in this truth - this mystery of faith - that we have been "consecrated" (cf. Jn 17:17-19), and it is in this truth that we are called to grow, with the help of God's grace, in daily fidelity to his word, within the life-giving communion of the Church. Yet how difficult is this path of consecration! It demands continual "conversion", a sacrificial death to self which is the condition for belonging fully to God, a change of mind and heart which brings true freedom and a new breadth of vision. Today's liturgy offers an eloquent symbol of that progressive spiritual transformation to which each of us is called. From the sprinkling of water, the proclamation of God's word and the invocation of all the saints, to the prayer of consecration, the anointing and washing of the altar, its being clothed in white and apparelled in light - all these rites invite us to re-live our own consecration in Baptism. They invite us to reject sin and its false allure, and to drink ever more deeply from the life-giving springs of God's grace.

Dear friends, may this celebration, in the presence of the Successor of Peter, be a moment of rededication and renewal for the whole Church in Australia! Here I would like to pause to acknowledge the shame which we have all felt as a result of the sexual abuse of minors by some clergy and religious in this country. These misdeeds, which constitute so grave a betrayal of trust, deserve unequivocal condemnation. They have caused great pain and have damaged the Church's witness. I ask all of you to support and assist your Bishops, and to work together with them in combating this evil. Victims should receive compassion and care, and those responsible for these evils must be brought to justice. It is an urgent priority to promote a safer and more wholesome environment, especially for young people. In these days marked by the celebration of World Youth Day, we are reminded of how precious a treasure has been entrusted to us in our young people, and how great a part of the Church's mission in this country has been dedicated to their education and care. As the Church in Australia continues, in the spirit of the Gospel, to address effectively this serious pastoral challenge, I join you in praying that this time of purification will bring about healing, reconciliation and ever greater fidelity to the moral demands of the Gospel.

I wish now to turn to the seminarians and young religious in our midst, with a special word of affection and encouragement. Dear friends: with great generosity you have set out on a particular path of consecration, grounded in your Baptism and undertaken in response to the Lord's personal call. You have committed yourselves, in different ways, to accepting Christ's invitation to follow him, to leave all behind, and to devote your lives to the pursuit of holiness and the service of his people.

In today's Gospel, the Lord calls us to "believe in the light" (Jn 12:36). These words have a special meaning for you, dear young seminarians and religious. They are a summons to trust in the truth of God's word and to hope firmly in his promises. They invite us to see, with the eyes of faith, the infallible working of his grace all around us, even in those dark times when all our efforts seem to be in vain. Let this altar, with its powerful image of Christ the Suffering Servant, be a constant inspiration to you. Certainly there are times when every faithful disciple will feel the heat and the burden of the day (cf. Mt 20:12), and the struggle of bearing prophetic witness before a world which can appear deaf to the demands of God's word. Do not be afraid! Believe in the light! Take to heart the truth which we have heard in today's second reading: "Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and for ever" (Heb 13:8). The light of Easter continues to dispel the darkness!

The Lord also calls us to walk in the light (cf. Jn 12:35). Each of you has embarked on the greatest and the most glorious of all struggles, to be consecrated in truth, to grow in virtue, to achieve harmony between your thoughts and ideals, and your words and actions. Enter sincerely and deeply into the discipline and spirit of your programmes of formation. Walk in Christ's light daily through fidelity to personal and liturgical prayer, nourished by meditation on the inspired word of God. The Fathers of the Church loved to see the Scriptures as a spiritual Eden, a garden where we can walk freely with God, admiring the beauty and harmony of his saving plan as it bears fruit in our own lives, in the life of the Church and in all of history. Let prayer, then, and meditation on God's word, be the lamp which illumines, purifies and guides your steps along the path which the Lord has marked out for you. Make the daily celebration of the Eucharist the centre of your life. At each Mass, when the Lord's Body and Blood are lifted up at the end of the Eucharistic Prayer, lift up your own hearts and lives, through Christ, with him and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, as a loving sacrifice to God our Father.

In this way, dear young seminarians and religious, you yourselves will become living altars, where Christ's sacrificial love is made present as an inspiration and a source of spiritual nourishment to everyone you meet. By embracing the Lord's call to follow him in chastity, poverty and obedience, you have begun a journey of radical discipleship which will make you "signs of contradiction" (cf. Lk 2:34) to many of your contemporaries. Model your lives daily on the Lord's own loving self-oblation in obedience to the will of the Father. You will then discover the freedom and joy which can draw others to the Love which lies beyond all other loves as their source and their ultimate fulfilment. Never forget that celibacy for the sake of the Kingdom means embracing a life completely devoted to love, a love that enables you to commit yourselves fully to God's service and to be totally present to your brothers and sisters, especially those in need. The greatest treasures that you share with other young people - your idealism, your generosity, your time and energy - these are the very sacrifices which you are placing upon the Lord's altar. May you always cherish this beautiful charism which God has given you for his glory and the building up of the Church!

Dear friends, let me conclude these reflections by drawing your attention to the great stained glass window in the chancel of this cathedral. There Our Lady, Queen of Heaven, is represented enthroned in majesty beside her divine Son. The artist has represented Mary, as the new Eve, offering an apple to Christ, the new Adam. This gesture symbolizes her reversal of our first parents' disobedience, the rich fruit which God's grace bore in her own life, and the first fruits of that redeemed and glorified humanity which she has preceded into the glory of heaven. Let us ask Mary, Help of Christians, to sustain the Church in Australia in fidelity to that grace by which the Crucified Lord even now "draws to himself" all creation and every human heart (cf. Jn 12:32). May the power of his Holy Spirit consecrate the faithful of this land in truth, and bring forth abundant fruits of holiness and justice for the redemption of the world. May it guide all humanity into the fullness of life around that Altar, where, in the glory of the heavenly liturgy, we are called to sing God's praises for ever. Amen.

© Copyright 2008 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana

Unfortunately I could not watch all of the consecration of the altar/Mass-but what I did hear and see of it was very fitting. I wish I could have seen the consecration of the altar. There are some photos at NLM. I thought the vestments looked good, but I'm not an expert on vestments, so... I will leave that up to the experts to debate. Now if only the Holy Father would celebrate the liturgy ad orientem. Perhaps by the end of this year? And when is the clarification on Summorum Pontificum going to be released? I hope this liturgy will have some impact on those attending WYD, so that they might come to appreciate the Roman rite's traditions and sacred music, and an excellent ars celebrandi. Just wonderful.

The New Acorn Sisters

MySpace

The New Acorn Sisters at Gravity Lounge


Country Sisters - Every Little Thing
website

Went to Bombay Garden tonight for dinner with KK and her husband. The dinner menu isn't different from the lunch menu, as far as I can tell. If I had any new complaints it would be that the food was somewhat cold. And the nan had a sour taste--too much yogurt? Or just bad yogurt? KK and PS brought their camera with them so I was able to see the photos they took of everyone, including the nieces, during the Disney cruise. Niece #2 is growing up fast! Pretty soon she will be able to recognize the pope. haha. She seems to be even more mischievous than niece #1. KK told me that today niece #2 was playing under the chair, and my mom told her that she had to get out from under there, otherwise she would hit her head. Apparently the niece raised her head, almost to the seat, but not quite, and then smiled and laughed at her popo. Trouble-maker. She also knows how to stand up for herself against her older sister, and enjoyed eating the escargot on the cruise ship.

I don't think I'll be going back to Bombay Garden any time soon. And I definitely have to stop drinking soda from fountain machines/dispensers. It really bothers me in a way that canned soda doesn't.

Cinderella and Belle on the cruise ship looked attractive. (I think all the 'princesses' are on the ship.) Perhaps Sarge should go on the Disney cruise instead of the Ave Maria singles cruise--no PR princesses, but there are Disney princesses. hahaha.

A Gabriela Robin Site: Newtype Yoko Kanno and Shoji Kawamori Macross F OST 1 Interview Translation

Ghada Shbeir

Discovered her while doing a search for Maronite videos.


Her website.



Separate Sound » Blog Archive » Ghada Shbeir: Part Two
Ghada Shbeir ||| Interview - Mondomix
3quarksdaily

Ghada Shbeir - Aramaic lullaby


Ghada Shbeir - Hajarni [BBC Award 2007]


Ghada Shbeir - Ya hamam [Fairouz]


Ghada Shbeir - Moniati aza estebari [BBC Award 2007]


Misc:
Najwa Karam-Hayda Haki-نجوي كرم استار اكادمي 2008
carole samaha - bi sabah el alf el talet
Nancy Ajram
Nancy Ajram at Ebtada El Meshwar Interview

Dawn Eden interviews Sister Marla Marie Lucas

Dawn Eden tells us that her "interview with Sister Marla Marie Lucas, foundress of the first-ever U.S. congregation of Maronite Catholic female religious" is now available "in today's InsideCatholic.com."

Maronite Servants of Christ the Light

Other links:
Byzantine, Texas: First US order of Maronite sisters founded
The Dawn Patrol

More on the Maronites:
Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn
Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon
Our Lady of Lebanon Seminary
The Maronite Monks of Adoration, Most Holy Trinity Monastery
Welcome to Our Lady Of Lebanon Maronite Church's Homepage
Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church: Easton, Pennsylvania
St. Elias Maronite Church
CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Maronites
Maronite Heritage- Church, History, Saints, Lebanon
The Maronite Research Institute (MARI)
The Antiochene Syriac Maronite Church Podcast

Maronite Sacred Music
Liturgical- The Maronite icons of the liturgical year

Hmmm... St. George Maronite Church

Maronite Prayer


Monastery of St. Anthony - Qozhaya Lebanon


Shlom Lech Maryam-Ave Maria in syriac/aramaic ماجدة الرومي


another

teshmeshto dqurbono d'eeto suryoyo morunoyo P1 [of 7 parts]

Family planning groups object to abortion plan

Family planning groups, right. Abortion peddlers is more like it.

I just heard a soundbyte with Hilary Clinton denouncing the proposed rule that would protect doctors who oppose certain forms of contraception to exercise their right not to prescribe those drugs from job discrimination. "Turning back the clock on women's rights." Pandering? Or a true believer? Does it matter? At least she won't be president, but Barack Obama is no better on this issue.

Is a day of reckoning coming?

More chapters from John Médaille--
Chapter VII: The Fictitious Commodities: Money
Chapter VIII: The Fictitious Commodities--Labor

Mike Whitney, Swan Song for Fanny Mae

Davis d'Ambly of Philadelphia

Liturgical Art

Recommended by Fr. Anthony Symondson, SJ for his vestments in the comments to this thread @ NLM. What do you think Sarge?

Oh no. I heard some youths cheering when the pope started to say the prayer to close the end of the first station of the cross. I think Benedict XVI is doing his best to discourage the papal celebrity cult, but it still exists.

Edit. As they make their way to the second station, the commentator just noted that some were starting to cheer and clap for the pope as he started moving, but he put up his hands to foster silence and solemnity. Wonderful!

Youthful exuberance, enthusiasm, energy are all good in a certain way, but still need to be tempered through reason. This is what youth leaders, ministers and priests need to keep in mind and give the guidance they need so that they can mature into 'adults,' rather than indulging them in their 'adolescence.'

Virtue, not just spirit.

And what a contrast between the music for the stations and the official theme of WYD!

Edit: The music for the third station remains me of the background music for a biblical epic movie. Now, perhaps when staging a reenactment of the stations of the cross with actors, these sorts of theatrics may be perceived to be necessary by the producers, but... I think this highlights the problem with this form of the stations, and the mindset behind WYD. The Passion of the Christ is a movie and meant to be such; any meditation it inspires it does so as a movie. But the stations of the cross is meant to be a [paraliturgical] prayer service. What is proper to a movie [or play] is not appropriate for a prayer service.

Zenit: Papal Address at Interreligious Meeting

"Schools Could Do Even More to Nurture the Spiritual Dimension"

SYDNEY, Australia, JULY 17, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Here is the address Benedict XVI gave Friday morning local time at an interreligious meeting in Sydney. The Pope is in Australia for the 23rd World Youth Day, under way through Sunday.

* * *

Dear Friends,

I extend cordial greetings of peace and goodwill to all of you who are here representing various religious traditions in Australia. Grateful for this encounter, I thank Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence and Sheikh Shardy for the words of welcome which they expressed in their own name and on behalf of your respective communities.

Australia is renowned for the congeniality of its people towards neighbour and visitor alike. It is a nation that holds freedom of religion in high regard. Your country recognizes that a respect for this fundamental right gives men and women the latitude to worship God according to their conscience, to nurture their spirits, and to act upon the ethical convictions that stem from their beliefs.

A harmonious relationship between religion and public life is all the more important at a time when some people have come to consider religion as a cause of division rather than a force for unity. In a world threatened by sinister and indiscriminate forms of violence, the unified voice of religious people urges nations and communities to resolve conflicts through peaceful means and with full regard for human dignity. One of the many ways religion stands at the service of mankind is by offering a vision of the human person that highlights our innate aspiration to live generously, forging bonds of friendship with our neighbours. At their core, human relations cannot be defined in terms of power, domination and self-interest. Rather, they reflect and perfect man's natural inclination to live in communion and accord with others.

The religious sense planted within the human heart opens men and women to God and leads them to discover that personal fulfilment does not consist in the selfish gratification of ephemeral desires. Rather, it leads us to meet the needs of others and to search for concrete ways to contribute to the common good. Religions have a special role in this regard, for they teach people that authentic service requires sacrifice and self-discipline, which in turn must be cultivated through self-denial, temperance and a moderate use of the world's goods. In this way, men and women are led to regard the environment as a marvel to be pondered and respected rather than a commodity for mere consumption. It is incumbent upon religious people to demonstrate that it is possible to find joy in living simply and modestly, generously sharing one's surplus with those suffering from want.

Friends, these values, I am sure you will agree, are particularly important to the adequate formation of young people, who are so often tempted to view life itself as a commodity. They also have an aptitude for self-mastery: indeed, in sports, the creative arts, and in academic studies, they readily welcome it as a challenge. Is it not true that when presented with high ideals, many young people are attracted to asceticism and the practice of moral virtue through self-respect and a concern for others? They delight in contemplating the gift of creation and are intrigued by the mystery of the transcendent. In this regard, both faith schools and State schools could do even more to nurture the spiritual dimension of every young person. In Australia, as elsewhere, religion has been a motivating factor in the foundation of many educational institutions, and rightly it continues to occupy a place in school curricula today. The theme of education frequently emerges from the deliberations of the Interfaith Cooperation for Peace and Harmony, and I warmly encourage those participating in this initiative to continue the conversation about the values that integrate the intellectual, human and religious dimensions of a sound education.

The world's religions draw constant attention to the wonder of human existence. Who can help but marvel at the power of the mind to grasp the secrets of nature through scientific discovery? Who is not stirred by the possibility of forming a vision for the future? Who is not impressed by the power of the human spirit to set goals and to develop ways of achieving them? Men and women are endowed with the ability not only to imagine how things might be better, but to invest their energies to make them better. We are conscious of our unique relationship to the natural realm. If, then, we believe that we are not subject to the laws of the material universe in the same way as the rest of creation, should we not make goodness, compassion, freedom, solidarity, and respect for every individual an essential part of our vision for a more humane future?

Yet religion, by reminding us of human finitude and weakness, also enjoins us not to place our ultimate hope in this passing world. Man is "like a breath, his days are like a passing shadow" (Ps 144:4). All of us have experienced the disappointment of falling short of the good we wish to accomplish and the difficulty of making the right choice in complex situations.

The Church shares these observations with other religions. Motivated by charity, she approaches dialogue believing that the true source of freedom is found in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. Christians believe it is he who fully discloses the human potential for virtue and goodness, and he who liberates us from sin and darkness. The universality of human experience, which transcends all geographical boundaries and cultural limitations, makes it possible for followers of religions to engage in dialogue so as to grapple with the mystery of life's joys and sufferings. In this regard, the Church eagerly seeks opportunities to listen to the spiritual experience of other religions. We could say that all religions aim to penetrate the profound meaning of human existence by linking it to an origin or principle outside itself. Religions offer an attempt to understand the cosmos as coming from and returning to this origin or principle. Christians believe that God has revealed this origin and principle in Jesus, whom the Bible refers to as the "Alpha and Omega" (cf. Rev 1:8; 22:1).

My dear friends, I have come to Australia as an ambassador of peace. For this reason, I feel blessed to meet you who likewise share this yearning and the desire to help the world attain it. Our quest for peace goes hand in hand with our search for meaning, for it is in discovering the truth that we find the sure road to peace (cf. Message for World Day of Peace, 2006). Our effort to bring about reconciliation between peoples springs from, and is directed to, that truth which gives purpose to life. Religion offers peace, but more importantly, it arouses within the human spirit a thirst for truth and a hunger for virtue. May we encourage everyone - especially the young - to marvel at the beauty of life, to seek its ultimate meaning, and to strive to realize its sublime potential!

With these sentiments of respect and encouragement, I commend you to the providence of Almighty God, and I assure you of my prayers for you and your loved ones, the members of your communities, and all the citizens of Australia.

© Copyright 2008 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana

Twitch: [2008 K-DRAMA] First Half Wrapup

The American Conservative: How Good Was the Good War?

h/t John Schwenkler

More on sovereignty

Kenneth Pennington, Sovereignty and Rights in Medieval and Early Modern Jurisprudence: Law and Norms without a State

Related links: SEP entry on sovereignty
Rethinking Sovereignty
Sovereignty and Territoriality: An Essay in Medieval Political Theory
Francesco Maiolo - Medieval Sovereignty (2007)
Otto Gierke, Natural Law and the Theory of Society, 1500 to 1800


The Myths of State Sovereignty at Bologna Center Journal of ...

Receive the Power

Just watched the end of the liturgy of the word/prayer service, when the official theme song, "Receive the Power," was being sung -- the music, the singing and the audience participation (yeah, the swinging of the arms in the air, the hand-holding) reminded me of a Protestant service -- the emphasis on emotions, by the very nature of the music, in 'worship music.' What does the Holy Father think of all this? Even if it isn't Mass, it's still a liturgy.

If it was at night would people be waving lit lighters in the air?

WYD08 Song - Receive the Power

There's a theological reflection on the song. (pdf)
Guy Sebastian sings the song in the official video, and he is a winner of Australian Idol.
No clip of this part of the first day yet... perhaps in a day or two. If one becomes available, I'll edit this post.

Pope prays at Mary MacKillop's shrine


I find the commentary in the EWTN coverage of World Youth Day mostly useless; but if our Lord can make use of it so be it...

From the comments @ Fr. Z's blog: What Happened at Vatican II by John W. O'Malley. He is also the author of The First Jesuits [Google books], which I have not read but have seen at the BC bookstore. (Or was it the USF bookstore? Or maybe it was SCU.) What is his reputation among Catholic historians? What would Fr. O'Connell (professor emeritus of history at ND) say about him? (Does Fr. O'Connell ever say anything critical with respect to the work of fellow academics and historians?)

Fr. O'Malley's page @ Georgetown
Fairfield University :: Church history scholar to present the 2005 Bellarmine Lecture
A faith’s new voice | Religion | projo.com | The Providence Journal

“We don’t need scolding,” said the Rev. John W. O’Malley, SJ, a Georgetown University theologian. “There have been problems and we need to hear about them. But people need solutions and they need encouragement” about how to press ahead.

Did he say anything besides this? This leaves me with a bad impression of him as a Catholic scholar and as a historian. After all, how many popes in the past 150 years have "scolded" their brother bishops for lack of leadership and responsibility?


The Spanish Inquisition: Fact Versus Fiction | Marvin R. O'Connell

Zenit: Papal Address at Ecumenical Meeting

Papal Address at Ecumenical Meeting

"The Ecumenical Movement Has Reached a Critical Juncture"

SYDNEY, Australia, JULY 17, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Here is the address Benedict XVI gave Friday morning local time at an ecumenical meeting in Sydney. The Pope is in Australia for the 23rd World Youth Day, under way through Sunday.

* * *

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I give heartfelt thanks to God for this opportunity to meet and pray with all of you who have come here representing various Christian communities in Australia. Grateful for Bishop Forsyth's and Cardinal Pell's words of welcome, I joyfully greet you in the name of the Lord Jesus, the "cornerstone" of the "household of God" (Eph 2:19-20).

I would like to offer a particular greeting to Cardinal Edward Cassidy, former President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, who, due to ill health, could not be with us today. I recall with gratitude his steadfast dedication to improving mutual understanding among all Christians, and I would ask all of you to join me in praying for his speedy recovery.

Australia is a country marked by much ethnic and religious diversity. Immigrants arrive on the shores of this majestic land hoping to find happiness and opportunities for employment. Yours, too, is a nation which recognizes the importance of religious freedom. This is a fundamental right which, when respected, allows citizens to act upon values which are rooted in their deepest beliefs, contributing thus to the well-being of society. In this way, Christians cooperate, together with members of other religions, for the promotion of human dignity and for fellowship among all nations. Australians cherish cordial and frank discussion. This has served the ecumenical movement well. An example would be the Covenant signed in 2004 by the members of the National Council of Churches in Australia. This document recognizes a common commitment, sets out goals, and acknowledges points of convergence without glossing over differences.

Such an approach demonstrates not only the possibility of formulating concrete resolutions for fruitful cooperation in the present day, but also the need to continue patient discussion on theological points of difference. May your ongoing deliberations in the Council of Churches and in other local forums be sustained by what you have already achieved.

This year we celebrate the two thousandth anniversary of the birth of Saint Paul, a tireless worker for unity in the early Church. In the scripture passage we have just heard, Paul reminds us of the tremendous grace we have received in becoming members of Christ's body through baptism. This sacrament, the entryway to the Church and the "bond of unity" for everyone reborn through it (cf. Unitatis Redintegratio, 22), is accordingly the point of departure for the entire ecumenical movement. Yet it is not the final destination. The road of ecumenism ultimately points towards a common celebration of the Eucharist (cf. Ut Unum Sint, 23-24; 45), which Christ entrusted to his Apostles as the sacrament of the Church's unity par excellence. Although there are still obstacles to be overcome, we can be sure that a common Eucharist one day would only strengthen our resolve to love and serve one another in imitation of our Lord: for Jesus' commandment to "do this in memory of me" (Lk 22:19) is intrinsically ordered to his admonition to "wash one another's feet" (Jn 13:14). For this reason, a candid dialogue concerning the place of the Eucharist - stimulated by a renewed and attentive study of scripture, patristic writings, and documents from across the two millennia of Christian history (cf. Ut Unum Sint, 69-70) - will undoubtedly help to advance the ecumenical movement and unify our witness to the world.

Dear friends in Christ, I think you would agree that the ecumenical movement has reached a critical juncture. To move forward, we must continually ask God to renew our minds with the Holy Spirit (cf. Rom 12:2), who speaks to us through the scriptures and guides us into all truth (cf. 2 Pet 1:20-21; Jn 16:13). We must guard against any temptation to view doctrine as divisive and hence an impediment to the seemingly more pressing and immediate task of improving the world in which we live. In fact, the history of the Church demonstrates that praxis is not only inseparable from, but actually flows out of didache or teaching. The more closely we strive for a deeper understanding of the divine mysteries, the more eloquently our works of charity will speak of God's bountiful goodness and love towards all. Saint Augustine expressed the nexus between the gift of understanding and the virtue of charity when he wrote that the mind returns to God by love (cf. De Moribus Ecclesiae Catholicae, XII, 21), and that wherever one sees charity, one sees the Trinity (De Trinitate, 8, 8, 12).

For this reason, ecumenical dialogue advances not only through an exchange of ideas but by a sharing in mutually enriching gifts (cf. Ut Unum Sint, 28; 57). An "idea" aims at truth; a "gift" expresses love. Both are essential to dialogue. Opening ourselves to accept spiritual gifts from other Christians quickens our ability to perceive the light of truth which comes from the Holy Spirit. Saint Paul teaches that it is within the koinonia of the Church that we have access to and the means of safeguarding the truth of the Gospel, for the Church is "built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets" with Jesus himself as the cornerstone (Eph 2:20).

In this light, perhaps we might consider the complementary biblical images of "body" and "temple" used to describe the Church. By employing the image of a body (cf. 1 Cor 12:12-31), Paul draws attention to the organic unity and diversity that allows the Church to breathe and grow. Equally significant, however, is the image of a solid, well-structured temple composed of living stones rising on its sure foundation. Jesus himself brings together in perfect unity these images of "temple" and "body" (cf. Jn 2:21-22; Lk 23:45; Rev 21:22).

Every element of the Church's structure is important, yet all of them would falter and crumble without the cornerstone who is Christ. As "fellow citizens" of the "household of God", Christians must work together to ensure that the edifice stands strong so that others will be attracted to enter and discover the abundant treasures of grace within. As we promote Christian values, we must not neglect to proclaim their source by giving a common witness to Jesus Christ the Lord. It is he who commissioned the apostles, he whom the prophets preached, and he whom we offer to the world. Dear friends, your presence fills me with the ardent hope that as we pursue together the path to full unity, we will have the courage to give common witness to Christ. Paul speaks of the importance of the prophets in the early Church; we too have received a prophetic calling through our baptism. I am confident that the Spirit will open our eyes to see the gifts of others, our hearts to receive his power, and our minds to perceive the light of Christ's truth. I express heartfelt thanks to all of you for the time, scholarship and talent which you have invested for the sake of the "one body and one spirit" (Eph 4:4; cf. 1 Cor 12:13) which the Lord willed for his people and for which he gave his very life. All glory and power be to him for ever and ever. Amen!

© Copyright 2008 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana

via Twitch: Terminator: Salvation teaser

Too early to say if it will be good or bad. We'll have to see if the spoilers that were leaked at AICN are true or not--if they are, I'm definitely avoiding the movie, even if Christian Bale is in it.

Twitch: Full Trailer For Fumihiko Sori’s ICHI!

Twitch: 대장금 (Dae Jang Geum) Film in the Making. Zhang Yimou Interested?

Maybe they could get Lee Young Ae to play the mother, or one of the other roles (like Lady Han or the queen). But who should be cast as Dae Jang Geum? Preferably someone younger, but with gravitas and maturity. Who's qualified? And who has the right look?

A friend was talking about Kiera Knightley last night and how much she appreciated her. To which I could only say that I find KK a bit annoying at this point. Anyhoo, she's been cast in the new adaptation of King Lear, and it's Sir Anthony Hopkins who will be Lear.

King Lear Cast Revealed: Keira Knightley, Gwyneth Paltrow, Sir ...

Here's another fan vid for S&S 2008--Marianne & Elinor: Sisters in Love





I prefer Hattie Morahan and Charity Wakefield over KK--and they both have good posture in the adaptation, as far as I remember. haha.

Jane Austen Today: Sense & Sensibility: The Female Actors

We’re just wild about Hattie Morahan
My Secret Life: Hattie Morahan, Actress, 29
Interview: Hattie Morahan - TV - AOL Entertainment

Charity Wakefield Interview
Once upon a time... - Telegraph Once upon a time... - Telegraph

Monsieur Vincent coming out on DVD. Steven Greydanus has more.

Libby Larsen

NLM: Composer credits chant

More on Libby Larsen:





her homepage and bibliography
wiki
Libby Larsen
Meet Libby Larsen
In The First Person: Libby Larsen
Scene4 Magazine - Focus :: Karren Alenier GLOBAL GREEN ROOM
Sound Site: Performance: Libby Larsen
Libby Larsen
Composer Libby Larson Visits the Lewis Music Library: MIT Libraries
Classical music: The Libby Larsen variations
Composing Thoughts: Libby Larsen

Holy Roller - Ben Doherty [composed by Libby Larsen]


Rachel Roby - Junior Recital Part 3 of 3

In the final sets of the recital, Rachel sings The Cowboy Songs by Libby Larsen and a duet from Gypsy (Sondheim/Styne) with co-recitalist Laura Collins.

Department of Music: St. Cloud State University

A Byrd Celebration

From NLM:

The CMAA is so very pleased to be named as the publisher of the first-ever conference volume for the Byrd Festival this year. It is called A Byrd Celebration, and it features essays by the world top Byrd experts, writing about all aspects of his life and work. The volume will be available for those attending, but for those who are not going to be there, you can still order it in softcover and hardcover versions.

Oooh. Very nice.

Ralph Nader, D.C. Socialists Save Crashing Capitalists

Ricky Skaggs, Honoring the Fathers of Bluegrass

Honoring the Fathers of Bluegrass.

I have not heard the album yet, I learned of it through iLike only yesterday. The link has some samples, so I'll listen to them.


alt


Ricky Skaggs :: Home
profile at Skaggs Family Records; wiki, Kentucky Thunder
CMT.com : Ricky Skaggs : Artist Main

A frequent collaborator: Bruce Hornsby

Ricky Skaggs debuts on top of Billboard chart | BluegrassJournal.com
BERKLEE | Berklee to Honor Country Music Star Ricky Skaggs
BERKLEE | Southbound Again: Berklee in Nashville 2008

Interviews:
Bluegrass Works Profile :: Ricky Skaggs
Twangin'! Ricky Skaggs Interview ~
Ricky Skaggs has faith in the pure power of bluegrass
Ricky Skaggs: Hearing God's Call
Six Questions With ... Ricky Skaggs - Post Rock

posts on Ricky Skaggs at The Bluegrass Blog

Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder - I`m ready to go!


"Im Ready To Go/Are You Afraid To Die?" By Ricky Skaggs


Ricky Skaggs - Get Up John


Ricky Skaggs and the Boston Pops: "Uncle Pen"


Is this interest in American folk music just a phase? I'm not sure, though it is disheartening to be interested in folk music when it seems like no one else around here is... it may be part of 'traditional' American culture in the abstract, but not here in the Bay Area, as far as I can tell. There may be some folk music festivals that I have not discovered yet. But in the long run, what is the likely future of traditional American culture in California?

Another Meme: Unspectacular Quirks

I was tagged by Seraphic Single.

The Rules:

1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Mention the rules on your blog.
3. Tell about six unspectacular quirks of yours.
4. Tag six fellow bloggers by linking them.
5. Leave a comment on each of the six blogger's blogs letting them know they've been tagged.

I don't know which of my behaviors that seem normal to me could be considered quirks, though I have plenty of OCD-like behaviors that I can revisit, so here they are.

1. I tend to check the house doors to see if they are locked at least once. Sometimes even two or three times.
2. I check to make sure the car doors are locked, even though it has automated locking.
3. Sometimes after visiting the house I will go back inside after leaving, to see if the stove is on, even though I hadn't used it.
4. I tend to let things pile up in the room. This is more a bad habit than a quirk. Whether having a real office with sufficient furniture would be a remedy remains to be seen. The only evidence I can offer for this is that after my sister gave me a bookshelf (and bed), things were tidier. Of course, having an ant problem also gave impetus to clean things up.
5. Sometimes I add links to posts because I think they will be useful to me in the future, or to anyone who might be reading the post. But I sometimes adding links is more compulsive than anything else. This does not happen often though.

oops forgot to do a sixth...

6. I tend to read spoilers for movies and TV shows--so I know what to expect and to prepare for what happens. (Especially if it's a disappointing turn in the story.)

I'm not sure what the underlying cause of the behaviors is, though I try not to reinforce them. Being attentive to locking doors hasn't seem to work--it is as if I'm unaware at some level that I've locked the doors, even though I'm certain on another level that I have. Maybe being slow and deliberate might help.


Hrm, who is interested in doing this one? I'll tag Pete Takeshi, the Western Confucian, Edward Kim, Restrained Radical, and melkimx, in case y'all are interested in doing it, but I won't consider you a party-pooper if you don't.

Some good news--looks like I won't have to move, so now I can focus on writing... phew!

A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square (The Oxford Clerks)

Their website. In general, I appreciate the vocal ability of a capella groups; I just have mixed opinions about the music they generally sing.

AsiaNews: Petitioner dies falling from a Beijing bridge
She was detained and in the process of being expelled from the city. Police has put down her death to suicide, but many open questions remain. Petitioners are increasingly subjected to repressive measures in the capital. Some 1,500 have been arrested. Meanwhile in Sichuan police mistreat parents who want justice for their children, killed by the collapse of their schools.

Chinese inflation remains high, economic growth slows
Inflation at 7.1% in June, while producer prices increase 8.8%, a more than 10-year record. China faces the dilemma of containing inflation without impairing production too seriously. Meanwhile, the worst energy crisis in years approaches.

AsiaNews: Bear witness to Christ in a world weary of false promises, Pope tells young people at WYD
This is the first public meeting between Benedict XVI and 150,000 young people in Sydney. The pontiff, who arrived in the bay by boat, was greeted by Australian Aborigines. In his address he proposed the Christian faith as a cure for the “poison” caused by relativism which destroys and pollutes creation and reduces young people to mere consumers. He talked about the mission towards non-Christians.

Zenit: Benedict XVI's Welcome to Youth

Uhm Jung Hwa vids

Does she have a new album out? Apparently so, her 10th.

Uhm Jung Hwa ft T.O.P of Big Bang - D.I.S.C.O MV


Uhm Jung Hwa - Disco Feat. TOP MV

alt

Uhm Jung Hwa [Ft.T.O.P from Big Bang]- Disco [M/V]


062708 Section TV: Making of Uhm Jung Hwa new MV ft. TOP


080712 UhmJungHwa-D.I.S.C.O ft TOP


Uhm Jung Hwa - D.I.S.C.O ft. TOP (Inkigayo 080713)


Uhm Jung Hwa [Ft.T.O.P] - D.I.S.C.O (7/16/08)KJE's Chocolate


Uhm Jung Hwa - Interview (7/16/08) KJE's Chocolate


Uhm Jung Hwa - Medley (7/16/08) KJE's Chocolate


Uhm Jung-Hwa & Jinusean - Tell Me(Jul 11, 2008)



080711 Yoon Do Hyun Loveletter 1/9

Zenit: Archbishop Hart's Catechesis

6 Dollar Burger

@ Carl's Jr
(menu)

Posters showing a favorable Zagat rating, wow. (Are the claims genuine?) It does taste a little bit better than what you might get at McD's or Burger King, but I watched the food preparer put the burger with his bare hands and that dampened my enthusiasm a bit. And the burgers are not grilled to order, so...

It'd be nice to live in a place with a convenient grill, but grilling food doesn't seem to be an economical way to cook it. But I could be wrong about that... what's the cost of energy for a charcoal or gas grill, as compared to a stove?

The 20 Worst Foods in America: Men's Health.com

Tonight I had dinner with a friend at Joy Luck Bistro. I ordered the usual, cha siu mein, and the cha siu once again once not so good. I don't think I will be ordering cha siu mein from there again. Maybe I should just stick to congee or the fried noodles. But really, I'd rather avoid eating out as much as possible. I don't have $ to pay for quality food; most everything I can afford is rather average. I took the yelp application off Facebook precisely because I didn't think the places I frequent were really worth recommending. At most they might earn 3 stars (one or two might even earn 3.5 or 4)--so what's the point? I haven't found anything in my price range that really stands out, regardless of the kind of food being prepared or the cuisine. (And I don't have the money to try everything on the map in the South Bay.) Xiao Jimmy went to le Papillon last week (another dinner paid by a pharmaceutical company). What was his most recent dining experience there like?

William Lind: On War #267: Running the Narrows

NLM: Marchetto contra Bononia: An Important English Edition

And I didn't think that U of Scranton Press had much to offer. I'll be checking their forthcoming releases for this translation.

Trailer for the 24 movie

via AICN--the trailer

Jack Bauer does Rambo... that's what it reminds me of... or Tears of the Sun, or Blood Diamond, or...

@TAC: Bacevich on U.S. Grand Strategy

Rorate Caeli has a post on Pius XII's last encyclical. The text of the encyclical.

4. If we weigh carefully the causes of today's crises and those that are ahead, we shall soon find that human plans, human resources, and human endeavors are futile and will fail when Almighty God - He who enlightens, commands, and forbids; He who is the source and guarantor of justice, the fountainhead of truth, the basis of all laws - is esteemed but little, denied His proper place, or even completely disregarded. If a house is not built on a solid and sure foundation, it tumbles down; if a mind is not enlightened by the divine light, it strays more or less from the whole truth; if citizens, peoples, and nations are not animated by brotherly love, strife is born, waxes strong, and reaches full growth.

5. It is Christianity, above all others, which teaches the full truth, real justice, and that divine charity which drives away hatred, ill will, and enmity. Christianity has been given charge of these virtues by the Divine Redeemer, who is the way, the truth, and the life,[2] and she must do all in her power to put them to use. Anyone, therefore, who knowingly ignores Christianity - the Catholic Church - or tries to hinder, demean, or undo her, either weakens thereby the very bases of society, or tries to replace them with props not strong enough to support the edifice of human worth, freedom, and well-being.

6. There must, then, be a return to Christian principles if we are to establish a society that is strong, just, and equitable. It is a harmful and reckless policy to do battle with Christianity, for God guarantees, and history testifies, that she shall exist forever. Everyone should realize that a nation cannot be well organized or well ordered with religion.

7. As a matter of fact, religion contributes more to good, just, and orderly life than it could if it had been conceived for no other purpose than to supply and augment the necessities of mortal existence. For religion bids men live in charity, justice, and obedience to law; it condemns and outlaws vice; it incites citizens to the pursuit of virtue and thereby rules and moderates their public and private conduct. Religion teaches mankind that a better distribution of wealth should be had, not by violence or revolution, but by reasonable regulations, so that the proletarian classes which do not yet enjoy life's necessities or advantages may be raised to a more fitting status without social strife.

The William Byrd Festival

NLM post, festival website; CE on William Byrd

I haven't heard that much of Byrd; at this point I prefer Tallis and Dowland. But this, like the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, is something I'd like to attend one day.

William Byrd - Ave verum corpus


William Byrd - The Carmans Whistle [Christopher Hogwood]


William Byrd - If Women Could Be Fair

Vigilate -- William Byrd [Tapei Chamber Singers]


William Byrd 'Sing Joyfully' [Tallis Scholars]


Other links:
William Byrd Biography. Listen to Classical Music by William Byrd
NewOlde.com: William Byrd
William Byrd (c.1539-1623) Home Page
CLASSICAL MUSIC ARCHIVES: The Keyboard Music of William Byrd
Elizabethan-era.org

Some More Ensembles:

The Cardinall's Musick


The Cardinall's Musick (wiki); Rayfield Artists
Hyperion Records | The Cardinall's Musick
Cardinall's Musick a cappella vocal ensemble
The Cardinall's Musick: Illuminating treats

Magdalen College Choir
Magdalen College Choir (BCSD)
william byrd - second service & consort anthems
christopher tye - latin & english church music
Arkiv Music
Magdalen College chapel

The Scholars of London

The Scholars of London
Goldbergweb.org