How to make a German Advent Wreath

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=AuKwIulYfjo

This is the Christmas market in Nuernberg

Christmas markets are in every town now. Temporary huts are put up in town in the town square. People look, buy, drink Gluehwein and eat Wurst.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnM_okYrAQ8&feature=related

This is Moravia, frueher Maehren

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=DL4_r5h3vSE

Maxed out

I am happily maxed out. It never fails. Now that close to Christmas I am double and triple booked every day for something and I have to skip certain events and rework my schedule. Of course the friends get sick and die always at their convenience. Someone called yesterday and asked me to sub at Adoration. I am squeezing that in today between the cake decorating event. The nun and I went to the Dollar Store yesterday evening and got all our "church giving tree" purchases done. I got two baskets full of stuff for a shelter. All is divided but I have to find a way to cover it nicely for Christmas.

Feast of St. Andrew

I am making a cake. It is supposed to go to the church social tonight. The cake is finished except for the icing. This cake uses whipped cream on the outside. The whipped cream needs a stiffener. I went to the store this morning to get it and they did not sell it any longer. Just my luck. So how will it work without the stiffener? Will the cake survive the car ride? Will the whipped cream slide off the cake? I am getting a headache already.

A lovely overall video of Germany

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrtMKh_FcT8

Und mit Deinem Geiste

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=I6pnqVKbvJA#t=670s

This is how we waited for our Dads.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOCJwvrDnUA&feature=related
The last prisoners of war arrive in 1955 on German soil.

Brain Seepage and slow recovery

I love the new translation of the Roman Missal. Not my part particularly but what the priest now says. I was enthralled yesterday and today. Well, today I started to day dream and I wanted to say "Und mit Deinem Geiste'  in response. Heaven help us all!
I  arrived at the temple early this morning and St. Chow-chow asked me where little Bernie was. I had forgotten little Bernie. She volunteered to get him because I was asked to read. I was so upset that I forgot little Bernie that the reading was not very good either. For the next two weeks little Bernie does not need a pick-up and then St. Chow-chow wants to switch. I will have to mark it on my calendar BIG. Told her to remind me when the times comes.
Tonight I am having a social event at my house. I have a lovely homemade Advent arrangement. I love the one in our church. Very classy. That gave me the idea to do something special at home. My Christmas tree will not make an appearance until the 22nd and always stays up until February 2nd - the Feast of the Presentation.

Of course the Pope comes here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=mRVxdkQw84k

The Pope was born down the road in Marktl.

Altoetting is one of the loveliest pilgrimage sites on earth

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=60SFIksm7yA

I've been there!

http://motomom.tripod.com/index-3.html

Black Madonna of Altoetting

Altötting (Germany)
Our-Lady of Graces

Other photos

Germany has two important Marian Sanctuaries: Altötting in Bavaria and Kevelaer close to the border with Netherlands. It has been a place of Marian Devotion since 9th century. The Sanctuary was renamed following a miracle in 1489 when a child was saved from drowning thanks to prayers to Our Lady. The statue is a black representation of the Blessed Virgin Mary with the Child. Pope John-Paul II came here as a pilgrim on 18th November 1980. Pope Benedict visited in 2006. The Feast of the Sanctuary is kept on 15th August. Rector Father Ludwig LIMBRUNNER Konvenstr. 4 DE - 84503 ALTÖTTING Tel(49) 86 71 92 42 803  Fax(49) 86 71 12 947 E-mail : info@altoetting-wallfahrt.de Website : www.altoetting-wallfahrt.de

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A heavenly spot in winter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=QjJGHOLAx7w

A heavenly spot

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=xk14aU2UVCU

Mouse dying

One of my former mice died. She was a gently soul. I will go to the viewing and funeral.

Travels

I love to drive but not on major highways. I love to drive along back roads. Had plenty of opportunity to do so on Friday and Saturday because I went to visit a friend who lives about 3 hours plus from here. On the way back I actually added an hour driving time because I wanted to enjoy the countryside. Sometimes I was the only car on the road. Saw the funniest signs, such as: H. Cross, custom builder, next to a fallen down shed. Randy Farmer - profession or name? Wool and Coats, lawyers - a sign that said Exercise Center and underneath it said Ken Robbins, DDS. Is he chasing the people with his drill? Banks of double wide trailor homes and around the bend a colonial mansion. I wondered about the history of each.
The friend I visited is about as far left leaning religiously as one can get without falling off the bycicle altogether. Religions are not user friendly for left and right leanings. Like bikes one has to stay on in the middle. Actually she and her husband, now deceased, were partially responsible for getting us back to the church - and now she thinks she created a monster. Well, I like her and we had a lot of fun talking about our Catholic Church.

The new Liturgy

OK - passed the beginning and the end and muddled through the middle. If I just keep saying "and with your Spirit" every time I open my mouth I will at least be 30% right.
Never had been to a late Sunday Mass. Actually much better than I thought. At the 8 a.m. Mass I thought it would be relatively quiet but the Spaghetti family shows up with their spaghetti smiles and spaghetti children and they slurp through the whole Mass, loudly. Nobody minds little toddlers babbling but 2, 3 and 4 year olds who are encouraged to talk throughout the Mass - it just nerves me.
Today in front of me was a family that is sheltering a niece and her daughter. Niece is being enticed to come to Mass but has no clue about being on holy grounds. The elderly couple that came along today with this patchwork family could have possibly be some grandparents visiting. So grandmother tells the grown-up woman-niece to get rid of the chewing gum. Her reply: "Why? You can chew gum in church." Of course she continued to chew throughout Mass. She did not receive Holy Communion. Thank God!

No way...

http://www.romancatholicwomenpriests.org/
OK folks, if you are Catholic this is a no, no. You have to choose between the imperfect* Catholic Church or the out of bounds false prophetesses. You cannot mix the two. My crystal ball tells me that if you choose the latter, there is extra purgatory time coming or worse.

*Imperfection only applies to human beings.
The Truth is the Truth and the teaching of the Catholic Church is flawless. Got that?

Untreated Depression

Untreated Depression

Untreated clinical depression is a serious problem. Untreated depression increases the chance of risky behaviors such as drug or alcohol addiction. It also can ruin relationships, cause problems at work, make it difficult to overcome serious illnesses, and even result in.

Clinical depression, also known as major depression, is an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts. Clinical depression affects the way you eat and sleep. It affects the way you feel about yourself and those around you. It even affects your thoughts.

People who are depressed cannot simply “pull themselves together” and be cured. Without proper treatment, including antidepressants and/or psychotherapy, untreated clinical depression can last for weeks, months, or years. Appropriate treatment, however, can help most people with depression.

How does untreated clinical depression affect physical health?

There is mounting evidence that clinical depression takes a serious toll on physical health. The most recent studies exploring health and major depression have looked at patients with stroke or coronary artery disease. Results have shown that people with major depression who are recovering from strokes or heart attacks have a more difficult time making health care choices. They also find it more difficult to follow their doctor's instructions and to cope with the challenges their illness presents. Another study found that patients with major depression have a higher risk of death in the first few months after a heart attack.

How is sleep disrupted by untreated depression?

One of the most telling symptoms of clinical depression is a change in sleep patterns. Though the most common problem is insomnia (difficulty getting adequate sleep), people sometimes feel an increased need for sleep and experience excessive energy loss. Lack of sleep can cause some of the same symptoms as depression -- extreme tiredness, loss of energy, and difficulty concentrating or making decisions.

In addition, untreated depression may result in weight gain or loss, feelings of hopelessness and helplessness, and irritability. Treating the depression helps the person get control over all of these depression symptoms.

What are common signs of insomnia with untreated depression?

Common signs of insomnia include:

• Daytime fatigue
• Irritability and difficulty concentrating
• Sleep that never feels like "enough"
• Trouble falling asleep
• Trouble going back to sleep after waking up during the night
• Waking up at all hours of the night
• Waking up before the alarm clock goes off

What are signs of drug and alcohol abuse with untreated depression?

Alcohol and drug abuse are common among people with clinical depression. They’re especially common among teens and among young and middle-age males. It is very important to encourage these people to get help because they are more likely to attempt suicide.

Signs of drug and alcohol abuse include:

• Inability to maintain personal relationships
• Secretive alcohol use
• Self-pity
• Tremors
• Unexplained memory loss
• Unwillingness to talk about drugs or alcohol

Those who suffer depression and abuse drugs or alcohol may need very specialized treatment.

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WebMD Medical Reference

Thankgiving

Went to temple services this morning and we certainly were prepared. If you spoke into the mike, the instant response from the mike was "squawk, squawk" - very turkey-ish.
For the first time in my life I was invited to a restaurant meal for Thanksgiving. Fabulous. I could get used to that kind of Thanksgiving in a hurry. No shopping, no cooking, no clean-up. Lovely conversation. Really great day.
Tomorrow I will travel into the past and without Fr. Valerhio. I have to remember to take a bunch of CDs along which will be fine, too. He will be along in spirit.
Plan to be back late Saturday afternoon. Heaven help me that I don't get behind a truck spilling driveway sealer on the road. I will talk to my guardian angel before I leave. I believe in 1 Corinthians there is a line that we will be judging the angels. So be on guard guardian angel - no foul up while I am on the road, PLEASE!

Coming to YOUR neighborhood!

Duck

Boot camp

Today we had a mother with three boys come to morning Mass. OK - nice you would like to say but then you watch the following: The oldest who is old enough to receive Holy Communion can't keep his eyes open and wants to go to sleep at his mother's arm. He continuously yawns. He does not know how to cross himself. No clue. And of course there is no Amen after receiving Holy Communion. For some strange reason he pulls up his legs and dirty sneakers and rests them on the upholstered chairs.
Boy would I like to run a First Communion Boot Camp. Folks - receiving Holy Communion is not a factory job where you punch a clock and wait for the bell to ring signalling dismissal. While children might not understand the more profound aspects, they can be taught reverence, which was totally lacking today. Who the heck was the catechist?

Smart mouse

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLwICJKV4dw&feature=player_embedded

Rules

I am still amused at all the rules that I run into at our temple. This morning I asked St. Cannoli if I could get the white flower vase that is under the alter once all the flowers have run their course of being presentable. The vase made from plastic but is very nice and I would like to refill it. She told me that I had to leave a message for the flower people in the sacristy. "We are not supposed to touch anything." I guess I will do that.
Dear Flower Maidens:
Can one refill the flower vase under the altar? What is the proper protocol?
Of course with Advent coming up, this might get complicated. A green pine branch with a single straw star as one sees it done in the Old Country? I shall wait for all the heavenly instructions.....

St. Cecilia

St. Cecilia is our saint for music and musicians. She has not been very active in my life. Her feast day is today. I might sing Joyful, Joyful in her honor - off key.

Dying

I have recently thought a lot about dying. Ever since I saw the article in the paper that the military cut off a limb of a soldier in Dover and some of the ashes of body parts ended up in landfills. Then there is Arlington, were your urn might end up in loose dirt where loose dirt usually ends up. So here are my instructions for myself to make things easy for everyone. As for my mind, separate it from my body and it will fit in a small envelope and mail it to the cemetery, c/o our local post office. Please put enough postage on the envelope because our mail madam behind the counter at the post office freaks about about the least little thing not properly done. The body can be separated in pieces and placed in a square priority mail carton and dispatched the same way. The mail madam will ask you if you want the parcel insured and if there is anything breakable inside and if you want a delivery receipt. You can assure her that what is inside is already broken, does not need to be insured and the delivery receipt will come from a higher power.

Rain

It is raining today. I like rain. It is an excuse to cancel trips. After all, the car could melt, you could melt. I went to my favorite coffee shop Pronto today and got two lattes. One for me and one for Gloriousus. They have no coffee carriers. Shame on you Pronto. Opened the umbrella inside the door but it was still upside down, stacked the two lattes on top of the other and tried to maneuver through the door. One latte spilled into the upside down umbrella. Made it outside, turned the umbrella right side up. Was protected from the rain but now had latte dripping down on me. How was I going to win this? Clung the the rest of the lattes for dear life. Got a slight burn on my hand. Sometimes sunshine is better.

Tired of turkey - watch this!

http://www.maniacworld.com/combo5.swf.htm

We need this at the entrance of all churches

Holy, Holy, Holy

We sang today the new Holy, Holy.....I don't see why the music had to be changed. Is the new version a more heavenly version? Does not sound like it.
First I hated all the changes. Now I made my peace. In France and Germany they already have these changes. Guess which religion is growing the fastest over there? The Muslims. So I don't see a new evangelization coming out of this.
Someone wanted to know if we are worshipping the same God. I would hate to believe in one God who thinks I am his slave. Abba, Father.....we are adopted, not slaves. Not the same thing in my book.

Diet and Congestive Heart Failure

Congestive heart failure (CHF) occurs when the heart does not pump efficiently and does not deliver enough oxygen to your body. Many diseases lead to CHF, such as high blood pressure and diseases of the heart and kidney.

Treatment for CHF helps to prevent its complications and relieve its symptoms.

The heart does not have to work as hard when you make some changes in your diet. If you eat too much salt or drink too much fluid, your body's water content may increase and make your heart work harder. This can worsen your CHF. The following diet will help decrease some of your symptoms.

Reduce the Salt in Your Diet

Enjoying what you eat is important. Even if you crave salt you can learn to like foods that are lower in salt. Your taste buds will change soon, and you will not miss the salt. Removing salt can bring out flavors that may have been hidden by the salt.

Reduce the salt content in your diet by trying the following suggestions:

• Choose plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. They contain only small amounts of salt.
• Choose foods that are low in salt, such as fresh meats, poultry, fish, dry and fresh legumes, eggs, milk and yogurt. Plain rice, pasta and oatmeal are good low-sodium choices. However, the sodium content can increase if salt or other high-sodium ingredients are added during their preparation.
• Season with herbs, spices, herbed vinegar and fruit juices. Avoid herb or spice mixtures that contain salt or sodium. Use lemon juice or fresh ground pepper to accent natural flavors. Try orange or pineapple juice as a base for meat marinades. See "Salt-Free Herb Blends," below, for other ideas.
• Read food labels before you buy packaged foods. Check the nutrition facts on the label for sodium content per serving. Find out the number of servings in the package. How does the sodium in each serving compare to the total sodium you can eat each day? Try to pick packaged foods with a sodium content less than 350 milligrams for each serving. It is also useful to check the list of ingredients. If salt or sodium is listed in the first five ingredients, it is too high in sodium.

When Checking Labels:

Use the nutrition information included on packaged foods. Be sure to notice the number of servings per container. Here are tips for using this information.

• Nutrient List — The list covers nutrients most important to your health.
• % Daily Value — This number shows how foods meet recommended nutrient intake levels for a 2,000 calorie reference diet. Try to eat no more than 100 percent of total fat, cholesterol and sodium.
• Daily Values Footnote — Some food labels list daily values for 2,000 and 2,500 calorie daily diets.
• Calories Per Gram Footnote — Some labels give the approximate number of calories in a gram of fat, carbohydrate and protein.
• Sodium Content — Always check the sodium content. Look for foods with a sodium content less than 350 milligrams for each serving.

When Cooking or Preparing Food:

• Shake the habit. Remove the salt shaker from the kitchen counter and table. A 1/8 teaspoon "salt shake" adds more than 250 milligrams of sodium to your dish.
• Be creative. Instead of adding salt, spark up the flavor with herbs and spices, garlic, onions and citrus juices. See the recipes for salt-free herb blends, below.
• Be a low-salt cook. In most recipes, you can cut back on salt by 50 percent or even eliminate it altogether. You can bake, broil, grill, roast, poach, steam or microwave foods without salt. Skip the urge to add salt to cooking water for pasta, rice, cereal and vegetables. It is an easy way to cut back on sodium.
• Be careful with condiments. High-sodium condiments include various flavored salts, lemon pepper, garlic salt, onion salt, meat tenderizers, flavor enhancers, bouillon cubes, catsup, mustard, steak sauce and soy sauce.
• Stay away from hidden salt. Canned and processed foods, such as gravies, instant cereal, packaged noodles and potato mixes, olives, pickles, soups and vegetables are high in salt. Choose the frozen item instead; or better yet, choose fresh foods when you can. Cheeses, cured meats (such as bacon, bologna, hot dogs and sausages), fast foods and frozen foods also may contain a lot of sodium.

When Eating Out:

A low-sodium diet does not need to spoil the pleasure of a restaurant meal. However, you will have to be careful when ordering. Here are some tips for meals away from home:

• Move the salt shaker to another table. Ask for a lemon wedge or bring your own herb blend to enhance the food's flavor.
• Recognize menu terms that may indicate a high sodium content: pickled, au jus, soy sauce or in broth.
• Select raw vegetables or fresh fruit rather than salty snacks.
• Go easy on condiments such as mustard, catsup, pickles and tartar sauce. Choose lettuce, onions and tomatoes. Remember that bacon and cheeses are high in sodium.
• Request that the cook prepare foods without adding salt or MSG. Or ask for sauces and salad dressings on the side since they are often high in sodium. For a salad, use a twist of lemon, a splash of vinegar or a light drizzle of dressing.

Salt-Free Herb Blends

Instead of seasoning your food with salt, enhance the flavor of food with these salt-free herb and spice combinations. To make 1/2 cup, combine the ingredients in a jar. Cover tightly and shake. Keep in a cool, dry place. Then rub or sprinkle them on food for flavor.

Chinese 5-Spice

For chicken, fish or pork:

• 1/4 cup ground ginger
• 2 tablespoons of each: ground cinnamon, ground cloves
• 1 tablespoon of each: ground allspice, anise seeds

Mixed Herb Blend

For salads, pasta salads, steamed vegetables, vegetable soup or fish:

• 1/4 cup dried parsley flakes
• 2 tablespoons dried tarragon
• 1 tablespoon of each: dried oregano, dill weed, celery flakes

Italian Blend

For tomato-based soups, pasta dishes, chicken, pizza, focaccia and herbed bread:

• 2 tablespoons of each: dried basil, dried marjoram, thyme, crushed dried rosemary, crushed red pepper
• 1 tablespoon of each: garlic powder, dried oregano

Easy Dip Blend

For mixing with cottage cheese, yogurt, or low-fat sour cream:

• 1/2 cup dried dill weed
• 1 tablespoon of each: dried chives, garlic powder, dried lemon peel and dried chervil

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Medical Center.
Last updated August 17, 2011

This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor or health care provider. We encourage you to discuss with your doctor any questions or concerns you may have.

Temple Celebrations

Looks like our prayers worked. I think a bazillion people prayed and the Rabbi's mother is a little better. I am really happy about this. Mother died of congestive heart failure. It is not a pretty picture but it is not sudden death either and one can prepare. I preferred it that way. Mother had no choice in the matter.

Mefloquine

Mefloquine has been discontinued by the Army to give out as an anti-malarial drug. The compound was developed by the Army and we did the Phase I Clinical research. THEN it went on to Hoffmann-LaRoche. The contributors at Wikipedia did not know the details of the history of the drug. It was at the time a real break through.

CHAPTER X

Medical Research

Initial Efforts in Southeast Asia

     In July 1962, a group from WRAIR was sent to Southeast Asia to evaluate the existing resources for medical research and to develop plans for coordination and expansion. They surveyed the laboratories then operating in East and Southeast Asia: the Air Force's Fifth Epidemiological Flight at Yamata, Japan, with one air-transportable trailer-type bacteriology laboratory, the 406th Medical General Laboratory at Camp Zama, Japan, the NAMRU-2 (U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 2) in Taipei, Taiwan, the U.S. Army Medical Research Unit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and the U.S. Army Medical Component of the SEATO (Southeast Asia Treaty Organization) Medical Research Laboratory in Thailand,

     At the completion of their survey, the study group recommended expansion of the existing medical research program to include studies of U.S. troops and of local national troops and civilian populations, allocation of additional personnel and funds, and establishment in Saigon of a WRAIR medical research unit, similar to those in Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, because a theater laboratory would not be able to deal with all the subjects to be covered in the expanded program.

     In November 1963, as a result of the survey group's recommendations, Lieutenant Colonel (later Colonel) Paul E. Teschan, MC, was sent to Vietnam with a team of seven officers and 12 enlisted men. They quickly established liaison with United States and Vietnamese military medical staffs and installations, with the Public Health Division of USOM (U.S. Operations Mission), AID, and, through them, with the Minister of Health, members of the Pasteur Institute, the medical school faculties, medical missionaries, and representatives of private U.S. charitable and medical foundations. They thus had access to all populations- Vietnamese and American, military and civilian- that was required to detect problems and settings in which productive investigation could be done and to deploy and support qualified investigators.

128

Studies of the Medical Research Team

Renal Failure

    In February 1966, Colonel Barry arrived at the 3d Field Hospital in Saigon to institute clinical research studies in patients with malaria,

including studies of body water, extracellular fluid, blood volume, and renal function. Because the only facilities for performing hemodialysis were in Japan and the Philippines, delays in evacuation and treatment of patients with acute renal failure often resulted in increased morbidity and mortality. Colonel Barry, recognizing the need for in-country treatment of this complication, established the first renal unit in Vietnam at the 3d Field Hospital.

   

Prayer for tonight

Prayer for the Sick
Oh Lord please watch for us tonight
for all the sick
and make things right
for those who tend to all in pain
for families who pray again

Send healing while we go to sleep
so that tommorrow when we wake
they are refreshed and we can see
our prayers answered, gratefully.

Dear Rabbi Seligmann

We are praying for you and your whole family.
Mi Sheberakh: May the One Who Blessed
The traditional Jewish prayer for the sick
By Rabbi Simkha Y. Weintraub

Reprinted with permission of the National Center for Jewish Healing, a program of the Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services.

One of the central Jewish prayers for those who are ill or recovering from illness or accidents is the Mi Sheberakh, whose name is taken from its first two Hebrew words. With a holistic view of humankind, it prays for physical cure as well as spiritual healing, asking for blessing, compassion, restoration, and strength, within the community of others facing illness as well as all Jews, all human beings.

Traditionally, the Mi Sheberakh is said in synagogue when the Torah is read. If the patient herself/himself cannot be at services, a close relative or friend might be called up to the Torah for an honor, and the one leading services will offer this prayer, filling in the name of the one who is ill and her/his parents. 

Increasingly, the Mi Sheberakh has moved into other settings and other junctures. Chaplains, doctors, nurses, and social workers are now joining patients and those close to them in saying the Mi Sheberakh at various junctures--before and after surgery, during treatments, upon admission or discharge, on the anniversary of diagnosis, and more. We present it to you here, in English translation and in transliteration from the Hebrew, as a resource for you as you confront the challenges of illness.

Please note: The transliterated text below presents the prayer with correct pronouns for male and female patients. The word before the slash is for males, the one after for females.

The prayer in English translation:
May the One who blessed our ancestors --Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,
Matriarchs Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah --

bless and heal the one who is ill:

________________ son/daughter of ________________ .

May the Holy Blessed One

overflow with compassion upon him/her,

to restore him/her,

to heal him/her,

to strengthen him/her,

to enliven him/her.

The One will send him/her, speedily,

a complete healing --

healing of the soul and healing of the body --

along with all the ill,

among the people of Israel and all humankind,

soon,

speedily,

without delay,

and let us all say:  Amen!

One of my favorite feasts......

The Feast of Christ the King was established by Pope Pius XI in 1925 as an antidote to secularism, a way of life which leaves God out of man's thinking and living and organizes his life as if God did not exist. The feast is intended to proclaim in a striking and effective manner Christ's royalty over individuals, families, society, governments, and nations.

Today's Mass establishes the titles for Christ's royalty over men: 1) Christ is God, the Creator of the universe and hence wields a supreme power over all things; "All things were created by Him"; 2) Christ is our Redeemer, He purchased us by His precious Blood, and made us His property and possession; 3) Christ is Head of the Church, "holding in all things the primacy"; 4) God bestowed upon Christ the nations of the world as His special possession and dominion.

Today's Mass also describes the qualities of Christ's kingdom. This kingdom is: 1) supreme, extending not only to all people but also to their princes and kings; 2) universal, extending to all nations and to all places; 3) eternal, for "The Lord shall sit a King forever"; 4) spiritual, Christ's "kingdom is not of this world". — Rt. Rev. Msgr. Rudolph G. Gandas

Before the reform of the Roman Calendar in 1969, this feast was celebrated on the last Sunday of October.

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Christ the King as Represented in the Liturgy
The liturgy is an album in which every epoch of Church history immortalizes itself. Therein, accordingly, can be found the various pictures of Christ beloved during succeeding centuries. In its pages we see pictures of Jesus suffering and in agony; we see pictures of His Sacred Heart; yet these pictures are not proper to the nature of the liturgy as such; they resemble baroque altars in a gothic church. Classic liturgy knows but one Christ: the King, radiant, majestic, and divine.

With an ever-growing desire, all Advent awaits the "coming King"; in the chants of the breviary we find repeated again and again the two expressions "King" and "is coming." On Christmas the Church would greet, not the Child of Bethlehem, but the Rex Pacificus — "the King of peace gloriously reigning." Within a fortnight, there follows a feast which belongs to the greatest of the feasts of the Church year -- the Epiphany. As in ancient times oriental monarchs visited their principalities (theophany), so the divine King appears in His city, the Church; from its sacred precincts He casts His glance over all the world....On the final feast of the Christmas cycle, the Presentation in the Temple, holy Church meets her royal Bridegroom with virginal love: "Adorn your bridal chamber, O Sion, and receive Christ your King!" The burden of the Christmas cycle may be summed up in these words: Christ the King establishes His Kingdom of light upon earth!

If we now consider the Easter cycle, the luster of Christ's royal dignity is indeed somewhat veiled by His sufferings; nevertheless, it is not the suffering Jesus who is present to the eyes of the Church as much as Christ the royal Hero and Warrior who upon the battlefield of Golgotha struggles with the mighty and dies in triumph. Even during Lent and Passiontide the Church acclaims her King. The act of homage on Palm Sunday is intensely stirring; singing psalms in festal procession we accompany our Savior singing: Gloria, laus et honor tibi sit, Rex Christe, "Glory, praise and honor be to Thee, Christ, O King!" It is true that on Good Friday the Church meditates upon the Man of Sorrows in agony upon the Cross, but at the same time, and perhaps more so, she beholds Him as King upon a royal throne. The hymn Vexilla Regis, "The royal banners forward go," is the more perfect expression of the spirit from which the Good Friday liturgy has arisen. Also characteristic is the verse from Psalm 95, Dicite in gentibus quia Dominus regnavit, to which the early Christians always added, a ligno, "Proclaim among the Gentiles: the Lord reigns from upon the tree of the Cross!" During Paschal time the Church is so occupied with her glorified Savior and Conqueror that kingship references become rarer; nevertheless, toward the end of the season we celebrate our King's triumph after completing the work of redemption, His royal enthronement on Ascension Thursday.

Neither in the time after Pentecost is the picture of Christ as King wholly absent from the liturgy. Corpus Christi is a royal festival: "Christ the King who rules the nations, come, let us adore" (Invit.). In the Greek Church the feast of the Transfiguration is the principal solemnity in honor of Christ's kingship, Summum Regem gloriae Christum adoremus(Invit.). Finally at the sunset of the ecclesiastical year, the Church awaits with burning desire the return of the King of Majesty.

We will overlook further considerations in favor of a glance at the daily Offices. How often do we not begin Matins with an act of royal homage: "The King of apostles, of martyrs, of confessors, of virgins — come, let us adore" (Invit.). Lauds is often introduced with Dominus regnavit, "The Lord is King". Christ as King is also a first consideration at the threshold of each day; for morning after morning we renew our oath of fidelity at Prime: "To the King of ages be honor and glory." Every oration is concluded through our Mediator Christ Jesus "who lives and reigns forever." Yes, age-old liturgy beholds Christ reigning as King in His basilica (etym.: "the king's house"), upon the altar as His throne.

Excerpted from The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch

Things to Do:

• Traditionally there would be a procession for Christ the King on this feastday. The Blessed Sacrament would be carried and the procession would end with a prayer of consecration to Christ the King and Benediction. Try to participate if your parish has a Christ the King procession. If not, try having one at home (minus the Blessed Sacrament).
• Read Pope Pius XI's encyclical Quas primas (On the Feast of Christ the King) which shows that secularism is the direct denial of Christ's Kingship.
• Learn more about secularism - read the Annual Statement of the Bishops of the United States released on November 14, 1947.
• Being a relatively newer feast on the Liturgical calendar, there are no traditional foods for this day. Suggested ideas: a wonderful family Sunday dinner, and bake an Easter Cake or King Cake in honor of Christ the King..
• A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful, who piously recite the Act of Dedication of the Human Race to Jesus Christ King. A plenary indulgence is granted, if it is recite publicly on the feast of our Lord Jesus Christ King.

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The neighborhood

Our neighborhood has greatly changed since we moved here over thirty years ago. The houses being built now are multi-mega houses, both in footage and money. So tonight as I drove home one was decked out from top to bottom with Christmas lights. The only one in the area so far. I guess these people wanted to catch up with the shopping centre which is also already ablaze.

The trouble with the I-Pad

I have a gazillion bibles on my I-pad. I like the ones that talk, that is the one with sound. I turn on the Book of Ezekiel for example - four hours plus and usually I go to sleep. With the cheap programs the sound crashes eventually which is fine because it keeps me from turning the sound off and waking up again. Recently I purchased a more expensive talking bible program. It did not crash last night and at 2 a.m. it started from the beginning. Thoroughly enjoyable but totally wasted night sleepwise and consequently wasted day. Perhaps I need to go back and count sheep.

Procrastination

Got a nice penance tonight. "Do at least one thing in advance next week. You can do two if you want." Loved it and how very fitting for me right now.

When it rains it pours

Today our Rabbi was with his mother who is ill. Please pray for both of them. We had a substitute Rabbi celebrate Shabbat services with us tonight. He told me that he thought that two years ago he expected to be assigned to the temple where I came from and this year he expected to be at our temple. Neither worked out. He asked me to pray for him because everything is up to the Holy Spirit. How true!

I hope she does not close the door

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=8juwG3lBrfA

Weddings

Miss Hinkley-Pinkley wed Garter Snake-Romanov. She was brought up as an Anglican, he was brought up Catholic. What kind of wedding? Jewish! There are Rabbi-on-wheels who perform such a wedding. It is done for the externals which seem more "fun" than Catholic and Anglican wedding ceremonies. The couple wanted something different. I suggest to all couples who want fun and externals that you wait for Halloween and get wed in the House of Horror. With luck you might even get wed to your intended spouse. What fun! Hilarious. If you want a sacramental wedding, understand the meaning and intent - find a church. And you Jewish Rabbi? Where was your brain? You are trivializing a beautiful ceremony in your faith and for your faith to a show.

The heavens opened

The heavens opened in our temple and King David appeared straight from the O.T. The Rabbi suggested a new name for our temple. It was very good and beats calling it Snow White and the 7 dwarfs. Seven is a divine number. Perhaps we should call it Snow White and her 144,000.

Shopping

I ventured into our high class town centre yesterday evening. Not for me, mind you, the dogs needed canned dog food. They get a mix, a little bit dry and some wet and I had run out of wet. Everywhere the Christmas lights were on. Real trees, fake trees, wreaths, stars wherever you looked there were lights. I got the dog food and a few things for myself. Actually I could have just bought another can for myself, probably heathlier, but I invested in a fresh baquette and half a pound of Italian salami. My kind of meal. Pommegranate juice was on sale. I got it. It tastes like medicine. No wonder it was on sale. It is supposed to be healthy and will surely counteract all the Italians in the salami which clog up your arteries. So this morning I had another piece of the baguette and some of the salami and the pommegranate juice again. The dogs always get some fake bone for breakfast. It's baked and has the hardness of cement. All three would go for the salami, one would go for the baguette but no dog would enjoy living so healthy as to drink pommegranate juice.

It's ours

My friend Sophia

My friend did so well after  her recent stroke. Yesterday she had another one and much more severe. She is in the ICU in Canada. Apparently she is partially paralyzed and not very responsive. She is a mother and grandmother and her own mother is still alive and active. This is one person I would gladly give my life for if she would recover.

Chislev

http://www.bible-history.com/the-sacred-year-of-israel/index.html

St. Peter and Paul

St. Paul-outside-the-Walls

The whole Church celebrates today the dedication of the two great Roman basilicas of St. Peter at the Vatican and of St. Paul-outside-the-Walls. The basilica of St. Peter stands on the site of the tomb of the Prince of the Apostles, where stood Nero's circus. It was here that St. Peter was executed. Recent excavations have shown that the present basilica which, in the seventeenth century replaced the ancient Constantinian basilica, was built over the tomb of St. Peter, just as the previous basilica. It was consecrated by Urban VIII on November 18, 1626. St. Paul-outside-the-Walls, situated at the other end of the city on the Ostian Way, is built near the place St. Paul was martyred. It was almost completely destroyed by fire in 1823 and was rebuilt in sumptuous fashion by Gregory XVI and Pius IX and consecrated by the latter on December 10, 1854. The celebration of the anniversary of these two dedications has been kept, nevertheless, on November 18.

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Dedication of the Churches of Peter and Paul
Today's feast is a spiritual journey to two holy tombs, that of St. Peter and that of St. Paul in Rome. These two basilicas, marking the place of each apostle's martyrdom, are the common heritage and glory of Christendom; it is, therefore, easily seen why we observe their dedication.

Abbot Herwegen makes the following observations on St. Peter's in Rome. The Eternal City has two principal churches, St. John Lateran and St. Peter's. Since ancient times the Lateran basilica, the mother of all churches on earth, has been the church proper to the bishop of Rome in his position as head of the local community. Here the Lenten season was opened and the Easter liturgy solemnized. The basilica of St. Peter, on the other hand, was the church of non-Romans, of pilgrims who journeyed to the city where the two great apostles were martyred. Here those celebrations were held which expressed the universal character of the Roman Church, e.g., Epiphany and the noon Mass on Christmas. The Introits, Lessons, and chants of both these feasts are best explained as proclaiming Christ's universal dominion and His royal majesty.

The third lesson gives the history regarding the construction of the two basilicas. Among the holy places which the first Christians held in honor, those sites were especially dear where the bodies of holy martyrs lay. Great veneration was accorded that area of the Vatican Hill where the grave of St. Peter was located. From all lands Christians made pilgrimages to it as to the rock of faith and the foundation of the Church. In due time the legend arose that Emperor Constantine the Great, eight days after his baptism, took off his diadem, threw himself humbly upon the earth, and shed many tears. Then with pick and shovel he started digging and, in memory of the twelve apostles, carried away twelve baskets of ground; thereby he set the boundaries of the basilica to be built in honor of St. Peter. When finished, the edifice was solemnly consecrated by Pope Sylvester I.

Pope Sylvester had ordered the altar to be of stone; he anointed it with chrism and decreed that in the future only stone altars were to be used. A new church, the present St. Peter's, was consecrated by Pope Urban VIII on November 18, 1626. The ancient basilica of St. Paul was destroyed by fire in 1823; a new structure was consecrated by Pius IX on December 10, 1854, the occasion of the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception.

In the perspective of the liturgy, the two churches honored today are prime examples connoting the heavenly Jerusalem. The liturgy excels in the pedagogy of passing from the material to the supernatural — the precedent for which on the point in question was already set by the author of the Apocalypse.

Excerpted from The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch

Things to Do:

           St. Paul chastised his body during life,
           make some sacrifice of food or drink.

Teach your children what it means to be a temple of the Holy Spirit.