Pope Honors the Irish - And why shouldn't he?

Irish Get Special Place for Corpus Christi Events Honors Recall Paul V and 1608 Flight of the Earls

ROME, MAY 21, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Thursday's Corpus Christi procession led by Benedict XVI will have a historical flavor honoring the Irish. Students from the Pontifical Irish College will have a special role in the Corpus Christi Mass and procession. Deacons Colin Crossey from the Diocese of Down and Connor, and Shane Gallagher from the Diocese of Raphoe will participate in the Mass. And six other seminarians (four of whom are Irish) will flank the Pope as he processes with the Eucharist from the Basilicas of St. John Lateran to St. Mary Major.

The participation of the Irish College seminarians hearkens back 400 years to 1608 when Earl Hugh O'Neill and his party received the honor of carrying the canopy in the Corpus Christi procession. According to Monsignor Liam Bergin, Rector of the Pontifical Irish College, "The honor shown to the Irish Earls 400 years ago, by Pope Paul V, has been revisited on eight Irish College seminarians who will assist Pope Benedict in this procession tomorrow.

As this anniversary is being marked in Ireland and beyond by historical and cultural events, it is appropriate that the religious dimension is also acknowledged and that the welcome given to the Catholic princes four centuries ago, by the Holy See, be joyously celebrated today."

History O'Neill and his followers arrived in Rome on April 29, 1608, fleeing from Ireland. The party was received with full honors by Paul V and was given prominence at civil and religious events in the city. O'Neill, together with his son-in-law and six other nobles of his party, were given the particular honor of carrying the canopy in the Corpus Christi procession on June 5, 1608.

Tadhg Ó Cianáin's contemporary diary of the event records: "The Italians were greatly surprised that they should be shown such deference and respect, for some of them said that seldom before was any one nation in the world appointed to carry the canopy. With the ambassadors of all the Catholic kings and princes of Christendom who happened to be in the city at that time it was an established custom that they, in succession, every year got their opportunity to carry the canopy. They were jealous, envious, and surprised that they were not allowed to carry it on that particular day."

The 400th anniversary of the so-called flight of the Earls was widely celebrated in Ireland last year, as the party left Ireland on Sept. 14, 1607.

Marriage of True Minds

I love it when my favorite things come together, like the following:

1. Pope Benedict XVI in Yankee Stadium
2. Vanilla ice cream & warm apple crisp
3. New CD & a road trip
4. Eager student & old books

And the newest amazing pairing:

5. Country Music and Shakespeare - "To Quote Shakespeare" by The Clarke Family Experience.

Check it out.

O! The Ironies

Prince Charles is giving us 18 months to help the environment - or else ...

There was a time in our history when people were practically hostages to the weather. School could only be taught when the weather allowed children to get to the schoolhouse. Certain areas with extreme desert or tundra conditions were rendered inhabitable because there was no protection from the elements. Only those strong enough to endure harsh winters or harsh summer months would survive to adulthood. Travel was expensive, and costly not just in monetary terms, but also in terms of lives. One had to be rugged in order to endure a long trip without dying of disease, exposure or starvation.

In today's uber-technological world, it is absurd to schedule one's day around the weather. Employees are expected at work despite rain, wind or shine. Even times of flooding, blizzard of tornado are considered mere inconveniences that can be overcome in a matter of hours... or, in extreme cases, days. And yet, the heir to the British throne is telling us that billions of dollars MUST BE SPENT to stop deforestation and climate change.

Yes, this is heir to the same throne that successfully clear cut Ireland six hundred years ago. The Irish have survived. So can bonnie Prince Charlie.

Wednesday Hero

Sorry I've been out for a week. I had a conference in Boston, and chaos at work. Be back soon!


This Weeks Hero Was Suggested By Cindy

Petty Officer 2nd Class Chris Davila
From Sierra Vista, Arizona


On the sixth anniversary of the terrorist attack on the United States, Petty Officer 2nd Class Chris Davila raised an American flag over Camp Korean Village, Iraq, he brought with him from Arizona.

Tuesday, May 6, 2008, Sierra Vista firefighter and emergency medical technician Chris Davila presented that flag to Fire Chief Randy Redmond as fellow firefighters looked on. Monday, May 5, 2008, was Davila’s first day back on the job with the department after being gone for nearly nine months, with seven of those months deployed as a Navy Reserve corpsman serving with a Marine unit near the Jordanian and Syrian border area in Iraq.

And, as luck would have it, on his first shift saw him responding to a blaze in Sierra Vista. "Right back to work," he said with a laugh.

You can read the rest of PO 2nd Class Davila's story here.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Wednesday Heroes: CCM Robert Prosser & LTC Erik Kurilla

CSM Robert Prosser and LTC Erik Kurilla
1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment (Deuce Four)


LTC. Erik Kurilla and CSM. Robert Prosser's story is an amazing one. One that Michael Yon has told far better than I ever could. Warning. The site contains very graphic images. Some may want to turn off images before viewing.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

The Long Fatal Love Chase

Here's Rush talking about it.

Her life was in shambles. She was about to lose her opportunity to take her dream job. Her husband was sabotaging her career, her adversary was wiping the floor with her. She turns to the man who has ever paid her any attention. Sure, he may have led the vast Right Wing Consipiracy to destroy her and her husband. Sure, he professes nothing but intense hatred and disgust for her. But she knows that he's hiding something. If she can just bring it to light, maybe she can give up her ambitious dreams and career goals. Maybe she won't have to try so hard. I mean, maybe, just maybe she can just be herself... she turns to the only man who has ever seen her for what she really is... evil.

He Staged a Fight - How Brilliant

I heard with suprise that Obama has "recovered from the Wright scandal" and is now back to double digits ahead of Hilary Clinton in the polls. Amazing. After his minister was outed for a being a racist, American-hating bigot, Obama has been able to publicly shed this monkey off his back, leaping ahead in the polls yet again.

Then, it occurred to me. Obama uses his 20 years as a Christian church-goer to counteract the claims that he is muslim. It is then presented that his 20 years as a church-goer have been spent listening to anti-American propoganda. How could he possible get back into the race after his solution for one problem creates another?

He stages a public fight with the very man who was supposed to save his non-muslim reputation. Wright gets in front of the media, says some other crazy ridiculous things, Obama condemns him, Wright feigns being "hurt", and the problem goes away.

Except that one still suspects that Obama hates America.
Except that one still suspects that Obama is a racist.
Except that one still suspects that Obama is more slippery than an eel.

Because one remembers that a 20 year friendship can sustain a public fight.
Because one remembers that a 20 year career spent preparing for the Presidency can stand to be a bit embarrassed for a weekend.

I'm betting that the Reverend Wright will still hold the bible when Obama takes the oath of office as the President.

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may...

We had a great day today at the zoo with Xavier & Tilly. The fleetness of Spring brought this poem to mind.

Make Much of Time
by Robert Herrick

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,
Old Time is still a-flying:
And this same flower that smiles to-day
To-morrow will be dying.

The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun,
The higher he's a-getting,
The sooner will his race be run,
And nearer he's to setting.

That age is best which is the first,
When youth and blood are warmer;
But being spent, the worse, and worst
Times still succeed the former.

Then be not coy, but use your time,
And while ye may, go marry:
For having lost but once your prime,
You may for ever tarry.