Advent Conspiracy

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All Hallows' Eve

The term Halloween is shortened from All Hallows' Even (both "even" and "eve" are abbreviations of "evening," but "Halloween" gets its "n" from "even") as it is the eve of "All Hallows' Day," which is now also known as All Saints' Day. It was a day of religious festivities in various northern European Pagan traditions, until Popes Gregory III and Gregory IV moved the old Christian feast of All Saints' Day from May 13 (which had itself been the date of a pagan holiday, the Feast of the Lemures) to November 1. In the ninth century, the Church measured the day as starting at sunset, in accordance with the Florentine calendar. Although All Saints' Day is now considered to occur one day after Halloween, the two holidays were, at that time, celebrated on the same day. Liturgically, the Church traditionally celebrated that day as the Vigil of All Saints, and, until 1970, a day of fasting as well. Like other vigils, it was celebrated on the previous day if it fell on a Sunday, although secular celebrations of the holiday remained on the 31st. The Vigil was suppressed in 1955, but was later restored in the post-Vatican II calendar.

(Yay Wikipedia!)

Vatican Goes Carbon-Neutral

Speaking of those two Erins (see below), this should please them some:

Vatican takes a role in keeping God's earth green

By Francis X. Rocca, Religion News Service

VATICAN CITY — The Holy See announced this month that it would become the world's first "carbon neutral" sovereign state by planting trees in a Hungarian national park to offset the carbon-dioxide emissions and energy use of Vatican City.

Read more...

Miss Sister 2008

'Miss Sister 2008': Priest organizes beauty contest for nuns
The Associated Press

ROME - An Italian priest and theologian said Sunday he is organizing an online beauty pageant for nuns to give them more visibility within the Catholic Church and to fight the stereotype that they are all old and dour.

The "Miss Sister 2008" contest will start in September on a blog run by the Rev. Antonio Rungi and will give nuns from around the world a chance to showcase their work and their image.

"Nuns are a bit excluded, they are a bit marginalized in ecclesiastical life," Rungi told The Associated Press after Italian media carried reports of the idea. "This will be an occasion to make their contribution more visible."

More here...

Just like Santa Claus

Look what mysteriously appeared in Orin's office at the Shrine yesterday - I mean, just look, Erin B:

Soccer? No, Seminary

Thanks to Oddwalk friend Ricky for calling this story to our attention - Ricky says:

Check this story. MLS player retires to enter seminary in Maryland. He was on a good team too.

The now-former professional soccer player had this to say:

"After years of discernment, I feel strongly that the Lord has called me to become a priest in the Catholic Church," Hilgenbrinck said. "Playing professional soccer has been my passion for a long time and I feel blessed to have successfully lived out this dream. My passion now is to do the will of God, which is wanting only what He wants for me. Though I will miss the game of soccer, I know that I am moving on to something much greater."

Caption Contest: Burke in Rome

Orin's friend Jared sent him this photo of a welcome ceremony upon former St. Louis Archbishop Burke's arrival in Rome.  He had some interesting remarks to go along with it.

Anyone else care to add captions in the comments?

More on our Friend David

Our friend David (whom we've blogged about before) has been studying in Rome for a couple years as he prepares to be a priest for the Oblates of Mary Immaculate.  Here, he's featured in the USA OMI's most recent newsletter.  Click the graphic to read or to see the photo more closely.

Full, Conscious, and Active?

Indexed, a blog that tells it like it is with little charts and graphs every day, re-examines that "conscious" part anyway:

First Communion Fun

Orin's niece-and-godchild Madelyn celebrated her first communion yesterday in Hokah, Minnesota. The day was filled with unique places and moments. Here are a few:

The 2nd-graders around the altar for the eucharistic prayer.

After communion, the class sings "His Banner Over Me is Love"

The "Reserved Pew" banner, made by Madelyn

St. Peter's in Hokah.  See below:

It really is on the 4th floor!

At the reception, three stories down, on our reserved table.

Apparently, many students had been learning Roman history.  There were many informative signs up with Top 10 lists.  This one, on Roman clothing was probably one of the best.  Note #5: "The Romans knew how to make hoods" and #10: "At 5,000BC, everyone wanted a fur coat."

The hotel thought the afternoon party was for a 7 year old's graduation, I guess.

Cake!

And this morning: snow!  We even drove through a bit on the way to the airport and saw a recently jack-knifed trailer in the ditch.

Into the Heavens? Brazilian Priest Missing After Floating Away Under Hundreds of Helium Balloons

As always, no, we're not making this up:

SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) — A Roman Catholic priest who floated off under hundreds of helium party balloons was missing Monday off the southern coast of Brazil.

Rev. Adelir Antonio de Carli lifted off from the port city of Paranagua on Sunday afternoon, wearing a helmet, thermal suit and a parachute.

He was reported missing about eight hours later after losing contact with port authority officials, according to the treasurer of his Sao Cristovao parish, Denise Gallas.

Gallas said by telephone that the priest wanted to break a 19-hour record for the most hours flying with balloons to raise money for a spiritual rest-stop for truckers in Paranagua, Brazil's second-largest port for agricultural products.

More here...

Welcome B16!

And happy birthday!

Public Transit For All

Thanks to a couple folks who pointed us to this videoclip of a now-pulled commercial regarding the Pope's upcoming trip to the USA.  We don't find it so offensive, though the Pontiff is wearing cardinal red instead of papish white.

Good Friday

"After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I thirst.” There was a vessel filled with common wine. So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth. When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, “It is finished.” And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit."

-John 19:28-30

Davo and the B16

As seen on Orin's wife Erin's blog:

That's my friend David and the Pope - David is the one in white. And Black. He is trying to hide behind the candle. Valiant attempt, but you are not that skinny, my friend.

David doesn't usually glare at the Pope like that - it must be all of the papa-ratzzi. (get it - what a clever pun!) David also is usually not clean shaven - as a Puerto Rican - American he is usually not without a mustache. (MASH reference - anyone?)

I should stop before I turn into Orin.

It'll grow back

Two of Orin and Erin's friends, Meghan and Danielle teach at Incarnate Word Academy in St. Louis.  Recently a student there was diagnosed with a brain tumor.  Watch this video and/or read this article to find out what the students and teachers - especially Danielle (that's her in the video preview below) - did about it.   As Meghan reported to us, it really is "something inspiring and hopeful."

Repenting Made Easy: iGod

With gracious thanks to muddys.net:

iGod.

Nun Too Good

If this would have happened when I was in Catholic school, my head would have exploded:

Nun reads list of curse words to kids
The Associated Press

GROSSE POINTE PARK, Mich. --Sister Kathy Avery won't put up with swearing on the playground at her school, and she's not above repeating the offending language to make sure everyone understands which words she won't tolerate.
The principal of St. Clare of Montefalco Catholic School had students stay after a Mass last month and informed the fifth- through eighth-graders that she has a zero-tolerance policy for cursing.
Just in case anyone wasn't sure what she was talking about, Avery read off a list of the very words and phrases that she was banning.
"It got a little quiet in church" during her talk, she told the Detroit Free Press.
Some parents were shocked, but others applauded, the newspaper said.
"In a way you would think a nun would shy away from something like that, but she's very open with the children, very clear in her messages," said Margaret Roache, chairperson of the school commission.
Roache's sixth-grade son was there when Avery read the list of banned words.
"When I asked him to give me a sample of it, he said 'Oh, no, I can't say it!'" Roache said. "I thought it was great."
A representative of the Archdiocese of Detroit declined to comment Sunday.
Cuss words aren't the only things that set Avery off. She's also banned the words "stupid" and "boring."

When Nuns Go Crazy

Or at least do Matilda the Gorilla with Oddwalk on stage in Huron, South Dakota:

For the full story (a whole line of which is devoted to Oddwalk!), clicky here.  (You have to click on the "continued..." link at the bottom to get to the "Oddwalk was there too" line about us...)

New Marian Shrine?

At Orin's house?


Today, Orin got a catalog that had somehow merged his home and work addresses. The result? A new shrine, the "National Shrine of Our Lady of XXXX Shaw Boulevard."

If anyone knows where exactly in the house this Shrine is (though I personally have a few ideas), please let us know.

-Orin