Veni, Creator Spiritus

Pentecost - GADDI, Taddeo - 1335-40 - Walnut, 35 x 27 cm
Staatliche Museen, Berlin

They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.’ Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, ‘Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.

‘I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, “I am going away, and I am coming to you.” If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe.
John 14:21-29

Preface of Pentecost

O God, who on this day didst teach the hearts of thy faithful people by sending to them the light of thy Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through the merits of Christ Jesus our Savior, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

Illustration from the Web Gallery of Art.

UPDATE: From Lapin in the comments:

Here is a beautifully-performed setting of the hymn by the 15th c Franco-Flemish composer Guillaume Dufay, alternating plainchant and polyphony based on plainchant. Hope you enjoy.

How To Add The Line Separator In HTML

To make the paragraph break in a comment after a quote in italics, on the next line under the quote, type BRBR with open and close brackets < > on either side of each BR. Then leave a space line. When you preview, the break will look huge, but when you hit publish, it will be right.

I can't show you, because the BRBR disappears into a space when I use the brackets.

If anyone has a better explanation, I will post it.

The Dog Would Put Mr Darcy To Shame

Kudu

From The Telegraph:

One of the Dog's admirable qualities is an instinct for friends with elegant owners, and it is a glamorous gaggle that gathers around the bandstand on this fine May morning. We are in Battersea Park, across the river from Chelsea, and one or two of the hacking jackets on display are cut with just a little more dash than is strictly necessary for dog-walking.

How can you not like an article with a first paragraph like that?

They are all there – the sniffers and trotters, the sprinters and plodders, the yappers and slobberers, the shaggy and the soignée. While they do their doggy thing about our feet, we, their masters and mistresses (or perhaps their servants?), do ours. We talk.... This easy-going social intercourse is the great revelation of dog-owning in middle age. If you are accompanied by a dog you can talk to anyone, and anyone can talk to you – about anything.

Those of you who remember back to my blog's beginning may recall that I once had a picture of Jane Austen next to the link to my profile. She's my all-time favorite fiction writer in the whole world, and I've read her few published works over and over. Whenever I see or hear something about Jane or one of her characters, I perk up, so, of course, when Lapin sent me the link to the article with Mr Darcy's name in the title, I paid attention.

But I digress. The writer goes on to say that "a dog is just a dog". But wait! That's not quite the case, is it? A dog is much more than "just a dog", or the dear creatures would not gain such a strong hold on our affections. We would not take the trouble with our dogs if they were "just dogs". It's not we humans who own them; they own us. For heaven's sake, we pick up their poop and sometimes clean up their pee. Is that not true love?

The reward is that dog-walking becomes like reading a novel, or watching a play; disbelief is suspended and, for an hour or so, we are given licence to escape ordinary life. Fantasy flourishes, and really quite trivial moments in a dog's life become a source of wonder to be repeated, discussed, laughed about and even worried over with its human family.

The novel the Dog and I enjoy in Battersea is at the Jane Austen end of the market. He can do a noble profile that would put Mr Darcy to shame. One of his admirers bought him a collar while skiing in St Moritz which is studded with golden cows; it gives him the slightly foppish air of the Alexander Pope dog whose collar carried the legend: "I am his Highness' Dog at Kew;/Pray tell me sir, whose dog are you?"

The Dog who owns the writer even received a proposal of marriage at Battersea Park, but only after a thorough investigation of his pedigree. Apparently, the article is the beginning of a series which will follow the further adventures of Kudu and his human.

When I walk Diana in my neighborhood, the folks we meet generally do not have dogs with them. On the occasions when we meet a dog and his/her human, we may have a word or two about the dogs, but nothing novel length or even short story length. Dullsville, some might say, but I would never say that. I like my quiet walks. Diana never talks to me. She just makes ME heel and stop whenever she wants to mark a spot or take a poop, which she leaves for me to pick up and tote home.

It's Only An Earring

A man is at work one day when he notices that his co-worker is wearing a rather feminine looking earring. The man knows his co-worker is usually a conservative, ordinary kind of guy, and is curious about his sudden change in fashion sense.

He comments to his friend, "I didn't know you were into earrings."

"It's not such a big deal," comes the sheepish reply. "It's only an
earring."

His friend falls silent for a few minutes, but then his curiosity prods him to ask, "So, how long have you been wearing an earring?"

"Ever since my wife found it in the car."

Don't blame me. Blame Doug.

National Aboriginal Day of Prayer

From The Anglican Church of Canada:

ENGLISH

Collect of the Day

Creator God,

from you every family in heaven and earth takes its name.

You have rooted and grounded us

in your covenant love,

and empowered us by your Spirit

to speak the truth in love,

and to walk in your way towards justice and wholeness.

Mercifully grant that your people,

journeying together in partnership,

may be strengthened and guided

to help one another to grow into the full stature of Christ,

who is our light and our life. Amen.

Readings

Isaiah 40:25-31

Psalm 19

Philippians 4:4-9

John 1:1-18

Prayer over the Gifts

Creator, you bless us

with many good gifts

returned to you from your creation.

Feed us with the Bread of Life,

your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Preface for Weekdays

Prayer after Communion

Great Creator, you have fed us with bread from heaven.

continue to renew us in your truth,

to give light to our minds

strength to our bodies,

and seal us with your Holy Spirit.

We ask this in Christ’s name. Amen.

Sentence

The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. Psalm 19:1


FRENCH

Collecte

Dieu créateur, de qui toute famille au ciel et sur terre tient son nom,

tu nous as enracinés et rattachés à la terre dans une alliance d’amour,

et tu nous as donné, par ton Esprit

la force de proclamer ce qui est vrai, avec amour,

et de cheminer avec justice et constance.

Dans ta bonté, accorde à ton peuple

de poursuivre son pèlerinage dans l’unité,

d’être renforci et guidé afin que chacun aide l’autre

dans l’atteinte de la pleine stature du Christ,

notre lumière et notre vie. Amen.

Off.

Dieu créateur,

tu nous a comblés de toutes ces bonnes choses qui viennent de la terre.

Reçois maintenant ces dons, fruits de ta création,

que nous t’offrons, et nourris-nous

du Pain de Vie,

ton fils Jésus Christ, notre Seigneur. Amen.

Preface des jours de semaine

Lectures

Is. 40:25-31

Psaume 19

Phil. 4:4-9

Jean 1:1-18

Postcommunion

Créateur de l’univers,

tu nous as permis de partager cette nourriture céleste.

Sans cesse, renouvelle en nous ta vérité,

éclaire nos esprits de ta lumière, donne force à nos corps,

et ________ -nous avec ton Esprit Saint.

Nous te le demandons au nom du Christ. Amen.

Sentence

Les cieux rancontent la gloire de Dieu, le firmament proclame l’oeuvre de tes mains. Psaume 19:1

Translation into Aboriginal Languages is in process.

Thanks to Ann for the link.

Gay Student Elected Prom Queen

From the LA Times:

Sergio Garcia stood in the gymnasium and told the senior class at Fairfax High School not to worry: If he was elected, he wouldn’t wear a dress.

“I will be wearing a suit,” Garcia said, “but don’t be fooled, deep down inside, I am a queen!” Garcia, 18, spent most of his years at Fairfax openly gay and wanting to be part of the prom court — but not as king.

He felt prom queen better suited his personality, so he decided to seek that crown, running against a handful of female classmates. He said it started as a bit of a stunt and challenge — he wasn’t sure the school would allow it — but that his campaign for queen ended up being serious and sparking dialogue about gender roles on campus.

Ya gotta love 'im. Go Sergio!

...Fairfax, located at the intersection of Melrose and Fairfax avenues, has often been at the forefront of the gay rights struggle.

It has a Gay-Straight Alliance student group and Project 10, an onsite support program for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth, was launched at Fairfax in 1984 after a social worker wanted to help an openly gay man who was harassed by other students.
....

"The young people, they are not involved in this whole argument about gay rights," Uribe said. "They think this whole fight is silly. They just accept people for who they are.

“Gender bending is just kind of in,” she said.

The young people have it right.

Adventures At Walmart

Oh yeah! I went to Walmart yesterday. You folks get to read about my every visit, because I seldom venture to the big box, and every trip is memorable. I'm close to phobic about going there. By his request, my grandson and I went to buy his birthday presents yesterday. He headed straight for the aisle which displays Lego Star Wars toys, games, etc.

When I go for myself, I have my list, I go directly to find my items as best I can, and then I'm out. Yesterday, it did not go that way. GS had to look at every toy in the aisle before he made his choice, just to be absolutely sure that there was not something that he would like much better lurking somewhere on the long line of shelves.

He took his time, and I was patient with him, thinking of this as "quality time" with grandson as we chatted during his search. He's the child whose parents divorced three years ago, and who also has been diagnosed with ADHD. His report card was very good at the end of the year, all "A"s and "B"s, and his reading level is above average, which was joyful news, as he struggled with reading at the beginning of the school year. He's quite good at math, a gift he surely did not inherit from his paternal grandmother.

Finally, finally, he chose his gifts within certain price limits, and I went on to find the two items that I needed, shampoo, and another POS alarm clock to replace the one that I purchased not so very long ago, but which had gone bad already. I could not find the alarm clocks. Of course! They were not in the same place where I found the POS clock that I needed to replace. I wandered the vast store looking for an employee, but nary a one to be found. We wandered and we wandered to likely places where the clocks might be, but no clocks. Again, finally, finally, I found an employee who very kindly walked me to the shelf with the clocks. I went a little more upscale, moving from approximately $8.00 to $12.00, in the, no doubt, vain hope that the clock was not a POS.

In truth, this visit was not as traumatic as some, because making my GS happy was the purpose of my being there, and it was not simply about my pedestrian need for stuff that I can't buy anywhere else, and we chatted as we roamed.

On to checkout, always a challenge at Walmart. The only quick-access checkouts were the self-serves, so I chose one, although the self-checkout generally does not work out for me. Twice during the process, I was prompted to bag items that were already bagged. What did I do? Not place them in the bags just right? With not enough force for the machine to register that they were there? GS helped me with the buttons on the machine for payment for the purchases, and we were finally done. He wanted a pretzel on the way out, and I told him that I would not go through the checkout line just for a pretzel, but - oh joy! - the pretzels were in a booth.

I know that some of you who read this post work at Walmart, and you need your jobs. Others of you must shop at Walmart or even like shopping there, and that's fine. Some of my anxiety about Walmart is due to my eccentricities, but not all of it. Walmart seems to overburden their employees by not having enough of them around and also is not generous with benefits, as many of their employees are part-timers with no benefits and low salaries. Then their stores are big, ugly boxes, which are an assault to the eyes inside and out.

All done with Walmart for a few months. Yay!

Disclaimer: Grandpère sometimes shops for groceries there. I try not to. Chacun à son goût.

"Lessons Life Taught Me"

Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio:

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written.

My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:"


1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

Thanks to Ann.

Note: Regina Brett is not 90 years old. Thanks to Paul, the BB, for the correction.

Guilty confession: I do not research this sort of post. I takes 'em as they comes.

Please Pray....

From David@Montreal:

strange how Life works at times
many of us are still reeling under the harsh unfairness of Terri-Lynn's death
our anger at the system she had to suffer, and our concern for her very young son
and to make it even more personal for many of us, there is the cruel irony of dear Doxy suffering the loss of one of her oldest friends with Terri-Lynn's death- literally within days of her joyous marriage to BF
and I've just received a call for prayers for Rosemary- who very much brought Terri-Lynne very much to mind.

the conditions are radically different. Rosemary has a husband who works for the Canadian govt. and of course living in Canada she also has the extraordinary benefits of our National Medicare system.
that said, she is the mother of two young sons, whose treated breast cancer set off wide-spread cancer in the lymphatic system, and yesterday they dicovered the first tumor on her brain. and yet, my dear sister Jennifer who is supporting her, tells me that Rosemary is a picture of almost a perfet picture of health- the last person one would expect to be told they have only three months life to live.
Rosemary still has a couple more weeks of chemo ahead of her, and then they want her to have a full course of radiation therapy- a treatment schedule which to my mind at least could seem to contradict the life prognosis.
So prayers for Rosemary, her heroic husband and her two young sons please.

i'd also beg your continued prayers for my very dear cousin Frank and his heroic wife Carol; Frank's battling his lekemia with genetic therapy and now c-difficile.
prayers for our Jane who is buzzing up to Boston and then to Halifax
prayers for my neighbour Robert, battling lukemia with radiotherapy
prayers for a certain cherised sister in St. Louis, and William: both of whom have some discernment ongoing
prayers for John & Mary, and John's sister our beloved Elizabeth and her spouse Barbara, who are all dealing with the reality of John's alzheimer's diagnosis
I might also suggest thanksgiving for the radiant example of our dear Doxy and BF- who so recently reminded us of the radiant beauty, generosity and grace of true love

thank-you my giants of prayer and pratice- living blessings each one of you

love always- always Love

The Wedding Of The Year

Here they are, my friends Doxy and Dear Husband. Aren't they beautiful? The ceremony was lovely, everything in proper order, all the participants playing their roles perfectly, everyone getting their lines right. I don't believe that I have ever been to a wedding in which the couple were so obviously and romantically in love with one another. Doxy and Dear Husband seemed quite relaxed and thoroughly enjoying themselves at their wedding.

Doxy's dress was gorgeous and so very flattering, showing off her lovely coloring and graceful figure. The tiers upon tiers in the skirt of her dress were beautiful. Dear Husband is fit and handsome, and he cut no mean figure in his well-tailored cassock. He reminded me of a character from an Ingmar Bergman movie, looking a bit Lutheran to me. Is it all right for an Episcopal priest to look a little Lutheran?


Bishop Michael Curry, who officiated at the wedding, preached a terrific sermon. HE PREACHED! I wanted to shout, "Amen!" more than once, but since I am a proper Episcopalian, I settled for vigorous head-nodding. My friend Jane R. is not so proper, and she let out an "Amen!" or maybe more than one.

The choir, of which one my hosts for my stay is a member, performed beautifully.

To the right is a view from the rear of the handsome pair walking together.

Thanks to Paul for the pictures of Doxy and Dear Husband. Mine did not come out good.


The Rogues Gallery, minus one, in church, pretending not to be rogues. Left to right: LJ, PJ, Jane R., Paul, and Fran

How about Jane's lovely hat? Oh the irony of Paul surrounded by women! But we all love him so.


Paul, Doxy, and Daughter of Doxy

What can I say about Daughter's hair? Words can't describe its beauty. See for yourself. She would not allow me to photograph her from the front, although I would not have published the photo. I don't why because she's quite pretty.


The Js, LJ and PJ

Only KJ is missing. PJ is melting in the humidity. I didn't notice it, because I live my life in high humidity.


Me and Bishop Michael

What was so funny? I can't remember.


Fran and Angie, Doxy's sister

Angie is a woman after my own heart. I loved meeting her. And she's beautiful, too, as is my dear friend Fran. All my friends are beautiful. This picture is stolen from Fran's Facebook site.


Fran and Jane R. outside the church

I so wanted a picture of Jane at the wedding in her blue hat to post here, but I don't have one. If any of my blogger friends have one, I will substitute it for this photo.

Fran and Jane R. both look lovely, but Jane is now wearing her beautiful blue hat. Thanks to Paul, the BB, for the picture.

And a grand time was had by all. I already miss my blogger friends. I have more to tell and more pictures. Before the accounts of my trip to the wedding are over, I may bore you to death.