Uh-uh-uh Uh Uh! Uh-uh-uh Uh Uh!

From my faithful stringer, Lapin.

Sazerac State Cocktail Of Louisiana?

From the Times-Picayune:

BATON ROUGE -- The world-famous Sazerac, a cocktail conceived in 19th century New Orleans, picked up its first round of legislative support Wednesday as the state's official cocktail.

Without objection, the Senate Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs toasted Senate Bill 6 by Sen. Edwin Murray, D-New Orleans, sending it to the full Senate for debate.

Murray added a provision that the bill would go into effect when Gov. Bobby Jindal signs it. Murray said he does not foresee any opposition to the measure.

What a relief to know that the Louisiana legislators are up in Baton Rouge doing serious business and not wasting time and money or anything. In truth, the citizens of Louisiana are probably better off with the legislators focused on this sort of thing, rather than making mischief in ways that could actually affect our lives.

The ingredients in the cocktail were not spelled out in the bill. Some contend the drink should be made with rye and others say it must be made from bourbon.

Murray said the drink is one of the oldest in the nation and the oldest created in New Orleans.

The drink was concocted in the 1830s by Antoine Amedee Peychaud, a pharmacist who fled from Haiti to New Orleans.

He used bitters he created as part of the drink and mixed it with Louisiana cane sugar and imported French brandy.

Peychaud's bitters is still a key component of the drink.

There you have it. Go make yourself a Sazerac, put on some good music, sit back, relax, and let your imagination rove where it will.

UPDATE: For a taste of the mischief cooked up by the Louisiana legislature in its last session, see Jim at JindalWatch. Of course, they were stirred up to do this bit of mischief by Governor Clean, who chooses as his example the Bush maladministration, the masters at doling out money to their cronies.

Stormy Is Home

My son's cat, Stormy, is much better and back home. He will be eating special food with the proper pH balance, and that should prevent crystallization of the urine. Thanks for your prayers and your concern.

That is not Stormy up there, but a picture of a Russian Blue that looks very like him.

UPDATE: Below is a picture of the real Stormy.

A Picture, A Symphonic Poem, And A Sermon

Tobias posted at his blog, In A Godward Direction, a beautiful picture, a symphonic poem of his own composition, and his sermon for the Third Sunday of Easter.

I won't try to quote excerpts, and I won't say more, except to suggest that you may want to go over and play the music and read the sermon. It's a lovely experience.

Bishop Charles Jenkins Gets It Right

From The Bishop's Blog:

Should you depart your faith community when you disagree with the spiritual leader? In this second week after the headlines broke regarding the Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s comments, that question looms large. Senator Clinton has implied that she would know what to do in such a situation. She said we cannot pick our family but we can pick our pastor. Senator Clinton says she would leave the Church in the face of such disagreement. Perhaps I am incorrect, but I think I hear her saying that if you do not like the preacher, go find one you like. If you do not like what the minister is saying (or doing) go find one that fits you. I imagine that many in this country agree with Senator Clinton. I think she is devilishly wrong and her advice gives power to spiritual and emotional immaturity rather than challenging people to grow in maturity.

That's exactly right. I agree with Bishop Jenkins that Senator Clinton is wrong. In fact, I was amazed at the whole news frenzy about the Reverend Wright's sermon. Unfortunately, the frenzy is probably not over. I was not offended at all by the sermon, but that's not the subject of this post.

Senator Obama has made clear his disagreement with certain of the words of the Reverend Wright, but that's not enough. He is now asked by Senator Clinton to break with his long-term pastor, because he doesn't agree with everything he says. How many of us would keep a long-term association with a pastor, if we thought it necessary to agree with everything our pastor says? We'd be wandering around ceaselessly, looking for a pastor whose views exactly match ours. As soon as we discovered a point of disagreement, we'd have to move along to search for a perfect match.

I thought the best thing to come out of that overblown event around Pastor Wright was the fact that Senator Obama could disagree with Pastor Wright and yet remain in relationship, fellowship and communion with him. This action spoke loudly of good news to me. I was elated when Senator Obama did not choose to walk apart from a man who has been an important part of his life. Senator Obama’s decision not to separate from Pastor Wright spoke to me of a maturity in which disagreement need not lead to leave-taking. The fragility of people that requires a high degree of satisfaction and agreement in order to sustain a relationship was challenged by Senator Obama’s decision. I think Senator Obama demonstrated to the world a high degree of tolerance for his own discomfort and that of others. Such tolerance of discomfort and even pain is necessary in a great leader.

"Overblown event" says it all. I'd have thought a lot less of Senator Obama had he severed his ties with the Reverend Wright.

I urge you to read the rest of Bishop Jenkins blog post.

News From Pittsburgh

From Barkings Of An Old Dog:

After late night negotiations last evening with The Most Reverend Katharine Jefferts Schori, it can now be announced that Clumber has humbly accepted the position of Bishop of Pittsburgh, starting today. In what can only be called an unprecedented move, your loyal and honorable canine servant will begin the office after his official election at a special diocesan convention, to be held this Saturday.

What a surprise! But Clumber looks great in the mitre, don't you think?

Jefferts Schori concedes that this is a bit of a trial appointment, but assures the faithful of Pittsburgh that Clumber has a handful of attributes that should prove popular with the people of the Pennsylvania region. She points out that he is

1. housebroken
2. faithful to The Episcopal Church
3. enthusiastic
4. heels on command.

It seems to me that it's worth a try.

Going Out New Orleans Style

From the Times-Picayune:

Surrounded by friends, family and the trappings of his extravagant lifestyle, fried-chicken magnate Al Copeland was laid to rest Monday after a Mass in which the man everyone knew for his outlandishness was described by a priest as a humble, penitent man who spent his last weeks trying to "get right with the Lord."

"Most people knew Al Copeland as someone who lived in the fast lane," Monsignor Christopher Nalty said during a Mass at Holy Name of Jesus Church. "They didn't realize that he knew that the Catholic Church was the one road to heaven."

Monsignor Nalty, I did not know that "the Catholic Church was the one road to heaven", but if you say so....

Copeland, who built the Popeyes fried-chicken franchise into the third-biggest such franchise in the country, died on Easter in Munich, Germany, of complications from cancer treatment.

The chicken was good, Al, mighty good. Every so often, I had to have my fix of your Popeye's fried chicken and your 400 calorie biscuits.

Although Copeland may have eschewed much of his characteristic bravado in his final months, mourners saw plenty of reminders of his over-the-top style when they reached the family mausoleum in Metairie Cemetery. Nine cars, eight motorcycles, a sport-utility vehicle and a dune buggy were parked in a semicircle. A motorcycle was at the gate, and Copeland's outsize speedboat, with tongues of flame on each side, was nearby.

Al, you couldn't take it with you, but you came close.

Copeland's body was borne in a horse-drawn hearse with oval windows that let everyone see the gleaming bronze casket. Leading the way was the New Orleans Spice Jazz Band, which played a doleful medley of "My Way" and "St. James Infirmary" as grand marshal Jennifer Jones took long, slow steps in her spats-covered shoes, her gloved hand over her heart.

The path leading to the mausoleum's door had been strewn with white rose petals, and tiny beads resembling Christmas lights -- a reminder of Copeland's over-the-top yuletide displays -- had been threaded through some of the white flowers that banked the stand where the coffin rested. The mausoleum door was open, revealing a stained-glass window depicting an oil lamp throwing off beams of light.
....

Although there were allusions to Copeland's fast-track life -- his neighbor Jay Polite said living next door was "like living next door to Elvis" -- the dominant impression was of a desperately ill man, confined to a wheelchair, who stopped off at the Vatican six weeks ago en route to Germany because, Nalty said, he wanted to get his spiritual affairs in order, starting with an audience with Pope Benedict XVI.

Let's see. It was four wives and four divorces and a lotta time and money spent in court.

But because the pope was on retreat, "Al got stuck with me," said Nalty, a New Orleans native who is a member of the Roman Curia, the small bureaucracy that runs the Catholic Church.

Wow! The Roman Curia. Now that's impressive.

Perhaps it was for the best, Nalty said. "Al didn't speak Italian and German, and the pope didn't speak no yat."
....

Because 11 was Copeland's lucky number, 11 white doves were released, followed by 111 gold and white balloons.

At New Orleans funerals, jazz bands always end with something upbeat.

This time, the selection was "Love That Chicken from Popeyes."

Fittin' only fittin' that.

Love ya, Al. May you rest in peace and rise in glory.

I liked the way the newspaper did the story, a little tongue in cheek, but in a fond and gentle way, acknowledging the passing of another of the New Orleans eccentrics, of which there are many, both great and small.

Feast Of The Annunciation

A lovely painting by a lovely saint. Fra Angelico was a holy man living a holy life in the midst of the 15th church, which was riddled with more than its share of corruption and evil-doing.

From last year's post on the feast of the Annunciation:

Either in a book or in a museum, I once saw a painting of the Annumciation in which Mary looked to be recoiling from the angel. She was kneeling with her hands in the air and leaning backwards, as though saying, "Oh, no!" This would seem to me to be the natural initial reaction of a young virgin girl to Gabriel's news. I have never been able to find a reproduction of that painting. I believe it was Flemish or Italian. Mary is on the right of the painting and the angel is hovering in the air to the left. Mary has on a blue dress.

I still would love to find a picture of that painting.

Isaiah 7:10-14

Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test. Then Isaiah said: ‘Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.

Luke 1:26-38

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you.’ But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’ Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’ The angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.’ Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her.


And then, in the power of the Spirit, Mary speaks the words of the glorious "Magnificat":

My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.

Thus she gives a perfect description of the kingdom of God, the kingdom in opposition to the secular kingdoms of the world then and now.

PRAYER

Pour your grace into our hearts, O Lord; that we who have known the incarnation of your Son Jesus Christ, announced by an angel to the Virgin Mary, may by his cross and passion be brought unto the glory of his resurrection; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

Image from Christus Rex.

Breaking News....

From the Episcopal Café:

As a part of opening week festivities, Commissioner of Baseball Bud Selig and Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori announced today that the Episcopal Church has been designated the Official Denomination of Major League Baseball. The move was announced today in a teleconference with reporters.

"Faith oriented promotions have increasingly become a part of many minor league team," Selig said. "We felt that it was time to tap into this important demographic."
....

Selig said that Episcopalians bring the right mix of arcane tradition, an appreciation of minutiae and a tolerance for long stretches of relative inaction that make them "a good fit for us."

"We believe that Episcopalians understand the nuances of the game and won't meddle with our traditions too much."

Go read the rest at the Café. The competition amongst the denominations was intense.

Thanks to Ann for the link.

A Peek Into The Past - 1957

From the BBC. "And that's Panorama for today, April 1st, 1957".

UPDATE: Thanks to Lapin for the link.