A Blessed And Merry Christmas To All!

Caravaggio - "Adoration of the Shepherds" - 1609 - Museo Nazionale, Messina

O God, you have caused this holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light: Grant that we, who have known the mystery of that Light on earth, may also enjoy him perfectly in heaven; where with you and the Holy Spirit he lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen

Micah 4:1-4

In days to come
the mountain of the Lord’s house
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and shall be raised up above the hills.
Peoples shall stream to it,
and many nations shall come and say:
‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob;
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.’
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between many peoples,
and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away;
they shall beat their swords into ploughshares,
and their spears into pruning-hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more;
but they shall all sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees,
and no one shall make them afraid;
for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.

READINGS:

AM Psalm 2, 85;
PM Psalm 110:1-5(6-7), 132
Micah 4:1-5,5:2-4;
1 John 4:7-16;
John 3:31-36



Gloucester Cathedral Choir - "In the Bleak Midwinter"

Image from the Web Gallery of Art.

No More Doctor Visits For Three Months!

Yesterday, Grandpère and I headed for New Orleans again for another check-up by the doctor after my cataract surgery. I'm not scheduled to return for three months. All is well, and I have the okay to visit the local optometrist, because I will need corrective lenses for far vision.

On the way, so I wouldn't have to listen to Grandpère's talk radio, we listened to the three CDs that GP owns that he purchased for himself and keeps in his truck.

Chart Toppers - Romantic hits of the 50s

The 1950s - 16 most requested songs, V. II

The 1940s - 16 most requested songs, v. I

The CDs included Marty Robbins' "A White Sport Coat and a Pink Carnation" and Pat Boone singing "Love Letters in the Sand". How cool is THAT? Remember Johnny Ray's "Cry"? Of course, you don't unless you're old like me.

If your sweetheart sends a letter of goodbye
It's no secret you'll feel better if you crrryyy....

Mixed in were goodies by Louie Armstrong, the Harry James and Benny Goodman Orchestras, and also early performances by Doris Day, which, in my opinion, were better than her later songs, because she had a pretty nice bluesy style back then.

GP and I danced through the 1950s to to the music of many of the songs. Memories of slow dancing with someone you liked tends to produce a positive response to songs that were not always of the top quality. "Memories Are Made of This", by Dean Martin, describes the story of Grandpère's and my life together, even down to the three children.

WAIT!

GP and I didn't meet didn't meet until 1960! We danced through the 50s with other people! Oh well. It could be that some of the 50s songs were still playing on the jukeboxes in the 60s.

After the visit to the doctor, GP wanted to eat at Andrea's Restaurant, which serves northern Italian food, where my friend, Paul the BB, showed off and conversed with the proprietor en italiano, so we headed into the belly of the beast with a huge mass of Christmas shoppers, the area near the intersection of Veterans Blvd. and Causeway Blvd. in Jefferson Parish. Even on an ordinary day, the traffic in the neighborhood is bad. We should have known better.

To make a long story short, we never reached the restaurant. The traffic was horrendous. We turned off Veterans as soon as we could and ate a late lunch at Dot's Diner on Jefferson Hwy, much to GP's regret. I had an excellent BLT and GP the lunch of spaghetti and meat sauce. Hey! He ate Italian. What's not to like? For dessert, I had cheesecake topped with chocolate chips, and GP had pecan pie, both quite tasty.

Then we came home.

I took the picture above of the stained glass, which hangs in the doctor's office. A patient made it for the doctor. A patient who had radial keratotomy?

WHY MEN ARE NEVER DEPRESSED

Men are just happier people -- what do you expect from such simple creatures?

Your last name stays put. The garage is all yours. Wedding plans take care of themselves. Chocolate is just another snack. You can be President. You can never be pregnant. You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park. You can wear NO shirt to a water park. Car mechanics tell you the truth. The world is your urinal. You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too icky. You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt. Same work, more pay. Wrinkles add character. Wedding dress -- $5,000; Tux rental -- $100. People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them. New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet. One mood all the time. Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat. You know stuff about tanks. A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase. You can open all your own jars. You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness. If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend. Your underwear is $7.49 for a three-pack. Three pairs of shoes are more than enough. You almost never have strap problems in public. You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes. Everything on your face stays its original color. The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades. You only have to shave your face and neck. You can play with toys all your life. One wallet and one pair of shoes -- one color for all seasons. You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look. You can do your nails with a pocket knife. You have freedom of choice concerning growing a moustache.

You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes.

No wonder men are happier.

It's just not fair. However, I note that, despite their advantages, some men ARE depressed! What is their PROBLEM?

From Paul (A.).

Bravo, Rep. Anh Cao et al.!

Five Republican representatives – Chris Smith, Frank Wolf, Joe Pitts, Trent Franks and Anh "Joseph" Cao – have written a letter to Ugandan President Yoweri Mouseveni pressing him to stop pending legislation that would severely criminalize homosexuality and sometimes impose the death penalty for homosexual acts.

In the letter, which you can read in full here, the men say their religious faith requires them to oppose the legislation because it contradicts the "foundational Christian belief in the inherent dignity and worth of all men and women."

It's true that the representatives also cite the principles of the Manhattan Declaration as part of the basis for their letter of protest against the draconian Ugandan legislation, but nevertheless, in this instance, they came to the right conclusion. More and more I admire Rep. Cao (R-LA). When he says he follows his conscience, I believe him. Remember he was the lone Republican to stand against his party and vote for health care reform. I pray his conscience continues to lead him in the direction of justice.

From CBSNews.

Thanks to Lapin for the link.

A Beautiful Couple

Barack and Michelle are lovely together, aren't they? I love Michelle's hair swept up. I'm just saying.

Michelangelo Madonna And Child

Davis at Audacious Deviant posted a lovely picture of a Michelangelo Madonna and Child sculpture and beautiful accompanying words.

Successful Holiday

Rules for a successful holiday: 1. Get
together with the family 2. Relive old
times 3. Get out before it blows


Excellent advice.

From StoryPeople.

Christmas Carols For The Psychologically Challenged

1. Schizophrenia --- Do You Hear What I Hear?

2. Multiple Personality Disorder --- We Three Queens Disoriented Are

3. Amnesia --- I Don't Know if I'll be Home for Christmas

4. Narcissistic --- Hark the Herald Angels Sing About Me

5. Manic --- Deck the Halls and Walls and House and Lawn and Streets and Stores and Office and Town and Cars and Buses and Trucks and Trees and Fire Hydrants and ...

6. Paranoid --- Santa Claus is Coming to Get Me

7. Borderline Personality Disorder --- Thoughts of Roasting on an Open Fire

8 . Full Personality Disorder-- You Better Watch Out, I'm Gonna Cry, I'm Gonna Pout, Maybe I'll tell You Why

9. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ---Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells ..

10. Agoraphobia --- I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day But Wouldn't Leave My House

11. Senile Dementia --- Walking in a Winter Wonderland Miles From My House in My Slippers and Robe

12. Oppositional Defiant Disorder --- I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus So I Burned Down the House

13. Social Anxiety Disorder --- Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas while I Sit Here and Hyperventilate.

Don't blame me. Blame Doug. If you think the post is offensive, let me know. I laughed and didn't take offense, and, by now, you all know that I'm a little crazy.

O Emmanuel

December 23

O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster, exspectatio gentium, et Salvator earum: veni ad salvandum nos Domine Deus noster.

O Emmanuel, our King and our Law-giver, Longing of the Gentiles, yea, and salvation thereof, come to save us, O Lord our God!



Isaiah 7:14

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.


Antiphon sung by the Dominican student brothers at Oxford.

Text from Fish Eaters.

Leading Up To Christmas

Watch and pray:
The Lord shall come.
Those who are longing
await His appearing.
Those who listen
await His cry.
Watch...Wait...Listen.


From Celtic Daily Prayer.