Life in Rome

This was THE day. I got up this morning at 5:30 and was at St. Peters at 6:30. What did I see? A totally dead St. Peters. Me and a few pidgeons. I have a few lovely pictures. So I checked around and was told the place opened up at 8:30. I also realized that I had way too many things with me: maps, chair, camera, purse, umbrella and I was going to hang myself. Went back to the hotel and got rid of everything except purse, camera and chair. Went to the 7 a.m. German Mass next door (me, the four nuns, the priest and a sneezing deacon), had breakfast at the hotel and at 8:15 headed out again towards St. Peters. When I got there, lines had already formed. One long one on the right and smaller one on the left. Of course I am going to the left. All the people wave the blue ticket. I have no ticket. I smile at a security guard and tell him I have no ticket. "Its free" he says. So I walk in with all the people waving their blue ticket which nobody takes or looks at by the way and before you can say "gracie" I have worked myself to the front of the place against the barricade closest to the steps leading up to St. Peters. (Obviously I did not need the little portable chair I brought along). Up the steps is the Popes chair. I could not have been any closer other than sitting in some Cardinalis lap up the stairs. Four bands come in. The Tyrolians are marching in which I had suspected they would do because they are in town, two Italian bands march in but then comes a 100 student strong marching band from Mexico and they stir up the place that is indescribably. They have two dancing groups (girls) with them and they perform on the steps. We have a Mexican Fiesta in Rome. Everyone is clapping, swinging and swaying. Yes, the Mexican Hat Dance on the steps of St. Peters. The Pope comes in his popemobiles. Of course he rolls by right by my nose. He gives his address in Italiano. It is all about his trip to the US. Then come the introductions. The people have come from around the world. Flags flying and chanting. By noon it is over but the pope greets the cardinali and the Mexican band keeps playing and I stay another hour until the pope rolls home with his popemobile. The place is still packed. I go grocery shopping and by 2 p.m. I am home again. Cant take a nap. Way too excited. By 3 a.m. I am in a church where an Italian wedding is taking place. The bride is lovely, covered decently in the most beautiful lace, there are no bridesmaids, the groom is a baldish, pudgy guy, there is a collection during the wedding Mass. All the pews are covered with green cloth and the flowers are green and white and the church is filled with flowers. Stay for a Novena to the Blessed Mother of Loretto. Singing of the litany, rosary - all in Italian. With all this I forgot to tell you that I made it up all the steps yesterday afternoon at the Castel S. Angelo. It had rained yesterday. There was no haze. The best view over Rome.
Tomorrow I can sleep in. At 10 a.m. is the German Mass next door with the Tyrolian. Then I will explore the Palatino area and the Terme di Caracalla.

Life in Rome

Yesterday afternoon I planned to walk towards the Pantheon but did a blond thing. I had the map upside down as I left the hotel and happily wandered off in the wrong direction. This make me find a short cut to the Castel S. Angelo and I found the church dedicated to Our Lady of Loretto and what a find it was. The altar is a replica of the altar in Loretto plus a side altar was dedicated to Padre Pio. There were relics and a big wooden statue of S. Padre Pio with Christ.
Today is the feast day of Catherine of Siena. So it was fitting that I went to La Messa at the Basilica of Santa Maria sopra Minerva. There were 24 priests on the altar and 4 bishops and the cathedredal was full. I prayed especially for all you Dominicans today and guess whom I met there? Yes, David. David is the seminarian nephew of Ron and Pat Holland. He was on the way to college and went to pray at the tomb of S. Catherina under the high altar. I just followed him and did the same. Without him I would have never known that there even was a tomb and that one could pray there. This was a nice touch. As it happens the Pantheon sits next to the church and I rolled out and into the other. It is raining and I came back to the hotel. The game plan is to go to the Castel S. Angelo today.

Life in Rome

This morning Mass at the Cathredral of St. Andrew. Me and six other people. Lovely Italian priest who of all places is leaving for Malta tomorrow. Afterwards took a cab to the Plazza di Garibaldi. Its on a hill and has one of the most georgeous views of Rome. Garibaldi in bronze is on a horse overlooking Rome. A little further down another little plazza to Anita Garibaldi: Little Italian woman on horse with pistol in hand. Charming. I had an honest cab driver today. Honest or dishonest - going around a corner costs you around 10 Euro. This one wanted 9 Euro and he came after me to warn me to keep my pocket book tightly at my side. Nice touch. Walked along a park called Gianicolo and wanted to see S. Pietro in Montorio again. Beware when you ask for directions. Romans only hear S. Pietro and off I was sent in the directions of the Petersdom. So I arrived at the castle S. Angelo and realized the mistake. Discovered antique row and a real estate office. An apartment starts around 900,000 Euros, give or take a few. So it was a monumental walking morning. At my little hole in the wall eating place a woman got into a verbal fight with two men. Well, it was very biblical: the walls shook. As I tried to get to my room the elevator took ages to come down. Well, the two Euro princes of the cloth came out. As I went up the elevator another prince of the cloth from France came on. I told him in English that it was the feast day of St. Louis de Montfort today. No comprehension. Then I went slowly: Mow-for. Oui, oui.
I am off to the Pantheon.

Life in Rome

Today many small churches were open who are not open during the week. Across from the hotel is a small church dedicated to St. Nicholas. It was closed all week. Apparently an arm or a leg of St. Nicholas was taken from Bari to Lothringen and so this chapel is specifically dedicated to St. Nicholas of Lothringen. Yes, it is the same St. Nicholas who became Santa Claus.
I visited the National Museum of Rome this afternoon. It is in the Palazzo Altemps on the Piazza Altemps - of course. This Palazzo belonged at one point to Cardinali Altemps - no surprise. Cardinali Altemps had a son Roberto, surprise, and Roberto was condempt to death. However, Pope Sixtus V did not give him a pardon and so he died. Afterwards Cardinali Altemps developed a devotion to the Blessed Mother of Mercy, because he did not get any mercy for his son. Also Cardinali Altempt was at one time the bishop of S. Maria de Trastevere. Today the Palazzo houses Roman sculptures. Yes, you see the same thing in the Vatican but body to body - you and a million other touristi - and it was delightful to view the palazzo and the art in peace and quiet. The Cardinali had a private chapel which is part of the museum today. I bought a few books and needed to drop them off at the hotel - too heavy. When I got back to the hotel, a big Benz pulled up. Well, it was an eye-popper. One does not see big cars like this often. Out came two men in black and their Vatican handler. The management came out and greeted them. When I came back down from my room they were checking in and I could see from the color of their passports that they were two Euro princes of the cloth. I took off and got my bread and cheese at the grocery store. Desert starts in the hotel at 15 Euro which is almost 30 bucks with the weak dollar at I prefer bread and cheese to some fancy meal anyway. Well, time to go up and have dinner....Tonight I will be surrounded by dead and alive princes of the church. Only in Rome

Life in Rome

So what does my routine look like here? I get up at 6:30, have breakfast at 7:00, Mass at 8:00 and then zero in on a neighborhood or area that looks interesting. By 2 p.m. I stop and get some water and a sandwich and head back to hotel for lunch a nice nap. By 4 p.m. I am back out again. At 6:30 I try to be at the church next door for the rosary. By 7 p.m. I am in my room again and eat my dinner which I bought in the afternoon and watch TV and read until 10 p.m. Thats it. Oh yes, night prayers of course. This morning I decided to go to Mass at the Basilica of S. Andrew. One of my favorite places. I have been there several times but not for Mass. They had the Mass all written up in Italiano in leaflet form including when in piedi or seduti or in ginocchio. It was printed when to stand, to sit and to kneel. The ginocchio does not work for me any longer and I substitute a half seduti. Up until now I have explored my immediate area around Piazza Navone but I am getting more adventurous and so today I went over to Trastevere. Well, I was there yesterday, too, but just barely at the Tiber island. Today I went to see S. Maria in Trastevere. It has one of the most beautiful gold ceilings. From there I decided to walk to S. Pietro in Montorio. Little did I know it was on a hill. Dont believe the Romans that they have only seven hills. A few they keep secret so people like me dont stop walking. At S. Pietro in Montorio I decided to take a tourist bus. I figured that on Sunday, traffic would be better. So around I went through main thoroughfares and I saw expensive real estate. I realized that my own tours were a lot better. So if you ever need a tourist guide, you can hire Laralino......I noticed today that the Romans like German dogs. I saw German shepherds and little dachshunds. I count my blessings that I ended up at this hotel. This and the previous one which we had with the group are superbly located to explore Rome. Time for an afteroon expresso. Hope all of you have a blessed Sunday. I had no idea that Rome is such a great city to see by foot.

Life in Rome

Went to Saturday Mass this evening at the nationalistic, double eagle, former Holy Roman Empire Church next door. Also went to confession. The church was full. Three priests and the rector. The rector gave an outstanding homily on love. He also announced that this coming Thursday the Tyrolian Bishop will come with a Tyrolian group and a Tyrolian umpah band. Eat your heart out. Only in Rome.
Some observations: you cross the streets by playing a game of chicken.
Beggars: not as bad as I thought. The men often have several dogs around them. I guess people have more sympathy for the dogs. Today I ran into a beggar woman who was begging with her infant. That I had not seen yet.

Life in Rome

This morning I chased across the P. Navone to go to Mass. When I got to the church I could make out that the 8 a.m. Mass ends on Friday. My nationalistic German Church next door has a scheduled 7 a.m. Mass only and I do not feel that German right now to be ready at such a time. So I chased to the other end of the Piazza and went to a little church dedicated to Blessed Mother and the Sacred Heart of Jesus. There were about 6 people in the church and a little bent over priest or deacon came to light the candles. As soon as he came the church emptied. There were only two people left. That is when Mass started. Latino and Italiano. The woman reader came in late.....Afterwards I walked the neighborhood and noticed the Basilica of the Apostle Andrew around the corner. I walked in and there a Mass had just ended but the priest took the small congregation to a side altar singing the Litany of Loreto. I joined them. The Basilica of the Apostle Andrew takes your breath away. Also a Cardinali is in a glass coffin under an altar: San Jose Maria Tomasi and his feast day must be coming up or was recently because posters where up that Cardinali Law would be coming for the Mass. Walked to the Tiber and took a leisurely walk along the Tiber. No people, just water a few ducks and me and that in the middle of Rome.
My goal was the Tiber island and the Hebrew Museum and Temple in the vicinity. Everything on the Tiber island was closed. There is the Basilica to St. Bartholomew, closed, there is some unindentifiable museum, closed, so I went with the flow of the people to some very large building on the island and I entered and asked the receptionist what was the cost of the ticket and what where they showing. The guy turned to me and said: "Madam, this is not a museum, this is a hospital." Well, have a good laugh. Came off the island and ran into a Dominican priest. I chatted him up. He was from the Western Province, Fr. Luke, and teaches here. Made my way back home. Saw a large bus stop and managed to guy a ticket for one Euro but when the bus came I was told my ticket was not for the tourist bus only for the regular bus so now I have another souvenir. The tourist bus was overfilled anyway and I walked home. Rome is really a delightful city by foot. I stay away from the main thoroughfares and walk the side roads with map. Yes, I get lost but I always recover somehow. So I came home by foot over some hill and ruins - no not the colosseum - just lovely neighborhood scenery. Tomorrow I will walk over to S. Maria in Trastevere. The Jewish temple will have to wait until Monday. Yes, they were closed, too. Sabbath and Passover.

Life in Rome

This town is dead in the morning. By 9:30 it comes to life - a little, by 10:00 you see the first tourists slurping coffee and wine in the Pizzerias, Osterias and Birrarias. They dont seem to have breakfast cafes like there are in Germany or Austria. I think breakfast consists of a capuchino on the run for the locals. Now by 11:00 the waiters and owners of these Pizzerias, Osterias and Birrarias stand outside and try to entice you to eat or drink in their establishment. "Madam, eat here. Best food in Rome." By 4:00 in the afternoon there is standing room only in all the little side alleys. I think once they start eating here in midday they never stop. I went to the German National Church next door to take pictures this morning. It has an Italian name also: S. Maria Dell Anima. There is a apostrophe after the Dell but I cant find it on the keyboard. You may have noticed! There was a Bavarian group from Landshut, Germany there for a private Mass and I joined them. The Bavarians all wore red kerchiefs around their necks which made them look like Russian pioneers of old but - hey - you see strange things in this town. At the sign of peace the German priest went along the aisle and shook the hand of everyone at the end - down one side and up the other - and told everyone to pass on the sign of peace to the next person until it reached the end of the aisle. It was different and very nice. A kind of wave peace sign. They also sang a beautiful song about the Schwarze Madonna, black Madonna, at the end. I dont know this song. The rector came out at the end - there is a college attached to the church which serves everyone who once belong to the Holy Roman Empire. He gave a little introduction and history lesson and it is Pope Hadrian VI who lies burried here (not Urban VI). I am not sure if that will be me sleep better or worse tonight. Took pictures of two more churches and went to see the Spada Gallery. The Spade Gallery is housed in a huge palazzo which once belonged to Cardinali Spada of course. He seemed to have had a lot of money and collected art and this grand-nephew continued in the tradition and now, voila, it is a museum. There are a lot of pictures of varuiys Cardinali there and the collection is the mixture of religious and wordly art. The funniest one was a picture of an old guy suckling at the breast of a young woman and the toddler next to the woman being upset. It picture is entitled "Roman charity." I found an excellent bargain food place. I had a sandwich for lunch, a beer and a capuchino for 6 Euro. Yes, this is no typo. Cant even get one capuchino for 6 Euro in my hotel. Also got some flea bites on my leg. Dont know if they are from the hotel or just some Roming fleas. I am having a great time and I am glad I stayed on. Tomorrow I will continue.

Life in Rome

It is very strange sleeping in a large room in Rome and knowing in the church next door there sleeps a dead Pope (Urban VI). I could not get myself up for the 7 a.m. Mass and so I will go tonight at 6 p.m. The city is dead in the morning. Walked around with camera at 8 a.m. and it was just the stray dogs and me. I thought I might find an espresso place as we had at the Ponte Sisto but no such luck in this area. Came back and had breakfast in the hotel. Georgeous spread but not included in the room charge! I found another church in the area. So today is picture taking day of the churches and that will be a full time job. Last night I went for the Rosary next door. Yes, it was recited in German - four nuns, some elderly guy and me. This hotel is also crawling with Germans. I dont think they are here because of the church, however. When I come back I will be able to tell everyone that my German got a good work out. The Lord sure has a sense of humor. Here was Lara wanting to stay with the nuns in Rome initially and ended up in a suite in a four star hotel in R0me.....But I think of mother again who died two years ago. Mother promised me to take me around the world. Rome was one of the places. It never happened. Mother was always too busy. I think mother is smiling from above.

The new adventure

The cab driver took me for a nice ride through Rome this morning although my new hotel is in walking distance from the old one. Once I arrived I was told I had been upgraded to a suite. Not quite sure which celebrity they thought they had on hand. Listen folks this is what it looks like: I am on the fifth floor with two large windows having a beautiful view. The curtains are controlled from my bed by remote. I have a large flat screen TV on the wall. There is a walk in closet. There was a huge fruit platter as a welcome gift. One floor above me is the rooftop terrace. A view to kill over all of Rome. A cup of capuchino costs however 6.50 Euro, that is about ten bucks. Next door is the German church of Rome. All announcement are in Italiano and German. I know you are all laughing by now. I did, too. Confession is in German and in Italiano. Tonight I went over there for the Rosary - in German of course. I visited two more churches on the Piazza de Navone and discovered another church further down on my road this afternoon. Tomorrow I will take the camera. The art in the German church is better than in the Vatican and that is the truth. I do not know who the painter was but the pictures just grab you. The colors are intense. Very beautiful. The music started this afternoon on the Piazza de Navone. I could hear it at my room. American pop tunes. This morning they laying were more cables. I am eating in tonight. Went back to our old grocery store - I have not found anything better and I get some excercise. Could someone let me know how Mary Katherine is doing? Melissa you are sorely missed. Bob just is not all that much fun by himself. I will keep all of the Ponzio group in my prayers. It is 6:15 p.m. now and you should be landing or have landed back home. Oh yes, the Internet is free here and there is a printer attached and the keyboard works, too.

A sad good bye

This morning Fr. Wolfgang left with the whole crew. I will be nine more days in this New Jerusalem. I am still in the hotel but the keyboard is wacky and what I thought would be my first blog will end now or I will have to go to confession,

Dear Holy Father

Funny...you are coming over here and I am leaving. I told the housekeeper to save all the newspapers. I AM interested in what you have to say. What do I think about the Catholic Church here? Vibrant, yes, but poorly educated, too. A woman came to our church office the other day and wanted to buy a King James Bible. She had no clue it was not Catholic. Another one came recently and wanted clarification on an aspect of Purgatory. "I always thought that this was the place where one decided if one wanted to go to heaven and or to hell." Yes, the influx of Hispanics and Filipinos brings diversity into the Church but their religiosity has many borderline superstitious aspects which drive me nuts. Abortion. No, I don't think we should perform any but, please, if we are going to criminalize them again tell us how many years a woman should serve in jail. I don't think we have thought this through and I do think that prayer, education and, especially, support centers for pregnant women will minimize this problem.
Your priests? A lot of them great but there is a stinker out here, too. Oh, yes, I know we are all human. Somebody once said that this one was sent into my life to make me holy. If I have a choice, I rather be an armchair holy. Women as priests? Why not? I know, I know your opinion but I just gave you mine. Priests married? No way.....So think it over Holy Father and may be on your next visit, I can change my plans and will see you.

Mr. Finkelstein in the news again

Mr. Finkelstein was in a magazine and someone saw it and e-mailed it to everyone who knew him. I passed it on to all my friends, especially the ones at the Church of the Six Flags. Could not help to rub it in. I did not work for a jerk.

Refresher Course

Should have stayed home last night. Was not feeling well but had no inkling that I would get sick. Got to my destination and started to vomit. Learned how to vomit and drive coming home. Had not done that in a long time. Feeling better today. A lot a last minute things to do before I start the trip.

Sharing Night

Supposed to share our resources tonight. Will get a few books together. Still not feeling well

The quiet Night.

The pressure of getting out of town is creeping up my neck. Not feeling too good either. Dinner and bed tonight.

Same old

Saw a cute movie tonight: Under the same Moon. It is great to see movies as a group. There were five of us tonight. We pray and play together. Still have to give Minkie her English lessons. Reading a Holocaust book. It is about story about Hungarian Jews. Never understood how people could be so barbaric. Looks like we are facing a new era in the Middle East, same old, same old.

To bloom or not to bloom

It's raining again. I love it because last year we did not have enough. The woods have not greened out yet and the little birch trees still hang on to their fall foliage. The leaves are bleached to a very light brown. Turn the corner and into a development and everything is blooming. The early Magnolias, pear trees, cherry trees, everything that has been twisted by man to bloom early. A great contrast right now.

Hoops and all....

We had First Communion this morning. One little girl was dressed in a hoop skirt. I could think of nothing else but Versailles but that may not have even been the time period. It just looked way overdone.

Dr. Dr. Dr.

The wedding announcement are full of it this morning. Dr. Shana Rana and Dr. Mana Rana accounce the wedding to their daughter Dr. Dana Rana to Dr. Hank Fana. Most of these are Ph.D.s but flaunt if if you've got it.

The Exterminator

I went to confession tonight. I love going once a week. A lot of people think I am nuts. I look forward to it. It brings peace. Sacraments are invaluable. Here is one for free. A pot of gold. The luck of the Irish finding a fourleaf clover. It does not make me holier than the next person but it does not make me unholier than the next person either. It protects me as me. Thick walls with a moat around it. The crocodiles stub their noses against the wall but cannot enter. Plenty of stuff that can still fly in so once a week we go to the Exterminator.

The Bridal Dress

I read today that we need to work on our bridal dress - our life - for the ultimate nuptials - our death. Well, when I get up there the Lord will lift up my bridal dress for all to see and shout: Y'all, this is a perfect example of not to do it. With that there will descend 10 plagues on the earth and the flood. I can't see myself getting a decent bridal dress together. Too many knots and stray ends and food stains. I am not sure what I am weaving or sewing together is even a dress. A pant suit? I don't know. And white? Don't make me laugh. Is black an option for a wedding dress? These are the things to ponder. However, I am firmly convinced that he can make a Cinderella out of me. It will take some time but he can do it.

Thomas Merton

I read late into the night a biography about Thomas Merton. What a complex personality. I wonder if he ever was truly at peace with himself. As of yet I have read nothing of this writings. I started with his diary and now a biography. I did the same with the writer Sylvia Plath. I read everything about her with fascination but found her writings not to my taste. I looked at a few poems by Thomas Merton which were included in the biography. They don't do anything for me either. I will look at Seven Storey Mountain. I already know that it was heavily censored. One of the local hoods gets all these books right now once I am done.

Dear Seminarians

Soon you will be priests. I have a few suggestions for you:

• Always be reverent on the altar. Don't rush, don't fidget with you hands. There is nothing wrong when you fold your hands the very old fashioned way: hands together, fingers outstretched. That we love.Your hand belong on your chest not on your belly.
• Reverent does not mean theatrics: Don't grimace at the consecration. We might think you are having a heart attack or an orgasm. Neither one would be good.
• Once you are a priest you will be confronted with the "needy woman" syndrome. Yes, Victoria or, pardon me, Victor, they are for real. These are woman who will aggressivly pursue you. There are two types: if you are charismatic, they will give you messages, if you are not, they will do everything for you and would tuck you into bed if you will let them. What is wrong? They will isolate you from the other parishioners because it is mostly about them and you.
• Think what you will accept from parishioners. Parishioners will come and give you pratically anything and everything that you little heart desires. Not everything needs to be rejected but be careful.
• At least once a month have a bag lunch that includes parishioners. Yes, dear Victor, your staff can be very nasty at times. This way, they can approach you without making a formal appointment.
• Don't ever think that you will keep a secret - except that in a confessional. Yes, your staff talks, your parishioners talk. Sometimes it takes a while to get around but it will.
• Try to keep all the committees open to all people. Don't institute grace and favor jobs. They are bad for moral and bad for the church's pocket book.
• Don't start little prayer groups with just you and a few favorites. Look at the previous paragraph for the outcome. If you need a prayer group, use outsiders.
• Don't stiffle the spirit. If a parishioner wants to try a devotion that does not take away from your time, let her or him go ahead. The more the better.
• Never forget the poor and give generously to them. If you land in a rich parish, travel to Europe twice a year for a vacation (I hope you won't - even if you could) and then advertise your generosity by given a measly amount to the poor, you make people laugh if not cynical.
• Don't become a houseboy priest to your richest parishioners.

A friendship by e-mail

I never thought a friendship could develop by e-mail but it has. I knew this woman from the Church of the Six Flags but she came across as nobody I wanted to associate with. Was I ever wrong. She ended up in my prayer group and then could not continue so we e-mailed each other. That is how I really got to know her. She is hilariously funny. I encouraged her to start a blog. She finally did. Yesterday we had lunch together. Seems like we always knew each other. These are the friendships one cherishes.

Trip

My trip is coming up the week after next. I am getting excited. Malta, Assisi and Rome. I never thought I would see Malta. I could stay in Assisi forever. Rome is Rome. Nothing like it. I will be there and the Pope will be here. During my last week I might see him at the general audience. Me and ten thousand other people. I was lucky last time. Ended up at the fence. Could have touched him. He had just been elected Pope a few month prior. Our hotel in Rome is the same hotel we had last time. Church next door. A fairly well known saint is entombed there but I can't remember his name. Is there a St. Vincent Pallatine? I remember something like that. He did a lot for the poor. Across the church is the coffee shop. Hotel, church, coffee. It is heavenly.

Prayer and Studies

I just read my morning prayers. It is almost 6 p.m. Better late than never. Overslept this morning and rushed to my Friday morning breakfast group at the Diner. A birthday celebration for someone in the group. It was very funny as usual.
Heard that Mr. Finkelstein will be in a fashion show. I read on the web that his red bird was recently seen in Houston. That bird still gets around. It is amazing.
Going to study the Book of Revelation tonight. I am convinced that this book is taught wrong. All these bible class studies go chapter by chapter. This is a book that should be studied starting at the beginning and then the end and then the middle.

Garden Center

Went to the big garden center today. During the summer months any visit is frustrating because one cannot get any help. Today, on a rainy day, they were falling over each other to help me and I did not need any help. Bought a few flowers which will go to friends tomorrow morning. It will cheer up their day.

An Invitation I did not need.

I got an e-mail to attend a Mass with the Big Herod. I replied that I did not mind praying for the group but found an invitation to attend anything with him "grotesquely insensitive." Told them I wanted to be spared from that cross.

The factory

The factory had a building committee meeting last night but did not inform anyone in the office, not even our current adminstrator. Bad form. The meeting was not advertised in the bulletin either. I really liked the openness of all our meetings. One cannot go to all meetings but the doors were always open. If this is going to change, I guess the building fund is also one thing less one needs to contribute to.

Bible Class

Had a pyrotechnic manic in bible class tonight. Looked up all the references in the bible how the world will be coming to an end by fire. God as the ultimate atom bomb with mushroom cloud mantle. I guess he wanted to impress us that all of us will be burned to a crisp. I believe that there will be cosmic changes at the end but not necessarily a California forest fire or an atomic annihilation. Reading the bible literally is bad for your health.