Inquisitor

"An inquisitor is born of the idea,
"I know all there is to know about God."
J. Rubenis

And once this occurs, we too
will start to resemble & act like Mrs. Umbridge,
the Hogwarts High Inquisitor!

A Prayer for the Unemployed

Dear Lord Jesus Christ,

You wanted all who are weary

To come to You for support.

Lord, I am worn out

By my inability to find work.

Guide my steps to a righteous path;

Give me the patience

To find opportunities with a future.

Calm my worries and fears

As my financial responsibilities mount.

Strengthen my resolve;

Embolden my heart to open doors;

Open my eyes to see life beyond rejections.

Help me believe in me.

Let me realize other ways

To bring about Your kingdom on earth.

Let me grow as a person

That I may be worthy

For Your greater glory.

In the name of the Father.

Amen.

http://www.catholicdoors.com/prayers/index.htm

got chocolate?

Lent is a time for taking stock of our spiritual lives. One of the most common questions you may hear is, "What are you giving up for Lent?" As a child we were encouraged to give up chocolate or ice cream or TV. Our parents gave up cigarettes, drinking, swearing and caffeine. This was supposed to bring us closer to God (though I recall some very cranky parents). I remember a man who would give up smoking every Lent and carry one cigarette in his shirt pocket as a reminder of the cross that he was bearing for Christ.

As I grew up the focus of our church turned from "giving up" something to "adding" something - such as devotional reading, volunteering or reconciling with someone. Whatever we decide to do (or not do) it must be done with humbleness of heart- as we become more reflective, and more aware of what holds us back from loving God and others.

I've asked several people what they are doing as a Lenten discipline this year and here are some of their answers: One is giving up computer games as they have become a way of disengaging with reality, another is giving up Facebook as it has taken the place of spending time with her family. I noticed a co-worker walking upstairs at a slow pace. I asked why she was doing this and she responded that this was her Lenten spiritual practice that reminds her to slow down. I love that one. I'm still pondering what mine will be.

And yet many people I've talked to are feeling that they are already living in a Lenten experience as they join the unemployed, the foreclosed, and the hungry. For them the thought of "giving up" something seems absurd - after all, they have already lost so much. As I see the fear (False Expectations Accepted as Reality) that is affecting us all in this economic crisis, I have to fight the desire to grasp too tightly to that which cannot give life. So wherever we stand at this moment, may God shower each of us during this Lenten season, with that Divine transforming love that never fails. For though we may stumble in our attempt at giving up or adding on, God will never stop loving us.

Dust to Dust

Last night we had a terrific Mardi Gras celebration at church as evidenced by the photo below of grandchildren David and Lydia. Dixieland jazz, face painting, mask decorating & a delicious jambalaya were followed by the putting away of the Allelulia banner until the Easter Vigil and our gathering on the labyrinth to watch the burning of last Palm Sunday's ashes in silence.

Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. I've been looking forward to this 40 day season for with the recent death of my father, I'm feeling "at home" with the concept of being in the desert with Jesus and the images of sackcloth and ashes. Does that sound weird? It's as though this is an "ok" time to be grieving.

And as each person stepped forward this morning to receive the sign of the ashes on their foreheads, Elizabeth+ repeated the words "Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return." I was sitting in the last pew and after hearing her repeat this phrase close to 40 times, I began to let it permeate my being and slowly started letting my defenses down. I am starting an another inward journey towards repentance. What will that look like? I have no idea. But because I am already so weary I think I might be less inclined to protect myself from whatever it is that God wants me to see.

And so the season of Lent begins. Here is a photo I took this morning of the back of Elizabeth's+ Lenten chasuble (an outer vestment resembling a poncho) as she greeted those leaving the service. It's batiky (sp?) and burlapy (sp?).....which make it very sackclothy (?) and Lenty (?)....

Eric, Oscar, & Roma

Eric won an Oscar!

We had a great time viewing the Oscars last night with the fam and Aunt Sue, though I must say that when you are waiting for a particular category to be announced the show is even longer than it appears to be! I tried to load the winning moment from the show but it has been removed from Blip.tv so here is the only photo of the bald headed golden boy that Eric has posted so far. CONGRATULATIONS ERIC!

I took the following from the Oscar website:
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON

Eric Barba, Steve Preeg, Burt Dalton and Craig Barron

ACCEPTANCE SPEECH

Oh my God. On behalf of myself, Steve Preeg, Burt Dalton and Craig Barron, I'd like to thank the Academy for this incredible honor. I'd also like to thank Edson Williams and his team at Lola Visual Effects and Nathan McGuinness and his team at Asylum as well as all the other visual effects teams that worked so hard on this film. I'd like to thank our amazing team at Digital Domain, my mentor Ed Ulbrich, my wonderful producer Lisa Beroud, the woman who is my biggest supporter, my wife Roma, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall and Ceán Chaffin, for trusting that we could actually pull this off. Brad Pitt for an amazing performance. And of course David Fincher for giving us all the opportunity to work on this film. To my kids, Cole and Nicolette, I'd just like to say, "Work hard, do good work and never give up." Thank you.

Irish Beatles

My dear friend Karen Noble sent this my way this morning - she finds it amusing to send me things that make those of us who have had the good fortune to have been born in the Emerald Isle or at least can boast of some Irish ancestry look a "tad off center". According my my husband, this is not a difficult task. Anyway, this is a funny video...Have a good Saturday.