Horror of Horrors

As a "studentessa" of Thomas More College in 1995, I stayed in a 17th century convent, run by retired Augustinian nuns. The girls stayed in small bare rooms that had two beds, a sink, and a wardrobe. Most rooms had a small balcony, although mine did not.

Our beds were made with stiff cotton sheets, and rough, heavy wool blankets. My Mom sent me a teddy bear for Valentine's day, and I would put it next to my cheek to sleep as everything else in the bed felt too harsh.

There was little heat, and the showers frequently overflowed. The toilets lacked seat covers, and the dinner served nightly was pasta and "siempre vitello" - veal being the cheapest meat in Rome at the time. All of the bedrooms overlooked a small courtyard with a fountain off in one corner. There were giant goldfish in this fountain, and I remember watching one of the workmen clean his brushes in the fountain. It apparently, did not bother the fish.

We loved the austerity of the place, the old nuns "keeping their difficult balance" as Wilber says, the cold marble floors, and the beautiful chapel - the last to be built by Boromini before his death. Actually, it was never finished as the patrons ran out of money.

And now, the nuns have passed away, many who had carried marks of starvation from WWII when they hid Jews in this convent. The "suori" fed us both breakfast and dinner, reprimanded us for our antics, and lovingly though harshly sometimes slapped our cheeks.

The Santa Maria dei Sette Dolori convent has been sold to a hotelier. The luxury and magnificence of the building belies the true love and growth that occurred there. Students would never be allowed to roll their oranges down the hall after dinner, or take their shoes off and skid down the carefully cleaned and swept floor, furtively watching out for the "suori" the whole time. The sinks in each room are now gone where every student dutifully washed their laundry, hanging it out on the balconies to dry. The metal beds that held studying students during the day, and sleeping students are night are replaced by velvet and silk monstrosities.

It is as if the convent has lost all character and personality. And so, this post is a requiem, perhaps, of that beautiful building and the nuns who were so long protectors of it.

Below are the pictures of what it is now. I will search around for pictures what it once was.

http://www.alpitourworldhotels.it/sito/ita/swfSchede/AMDONITAI8/index_new.asp?code=AMDONENGI8

Evening with the Vazquez & Flat Stanley

Here's how I spent my Wednesday night!

This Weeks Hero Was Suggested by Mary Ann

Staff Sgt. Jude Voss
1st Battalion, 3d Special Forces Group (Airborne)


His courage illustrates a combat truth to these veterans of World War II, Korea and Vietnam: Soldiers aren¢t thinking about glory or ideals in the midst of a battle. They fight for the men to the left and right of them.

And that's just what SSgt. Jude Voss did in September of 2006 when, without consideration to his safety, SSgt. Voss ran through enemy fire and the burning, smoking debris of a truck to rescue Sgt. 1st Class Greg Stube. Sgt. Stube was in a bad way. Uniform burning and legs busted, but because of the actions of SSgt. Voss he is alive today.

Because of his actions that day, SSgt. Voss was nominated for and received the Silver Star Medal for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action. "I did what everybody out there would do" Voss said. "I was just the closest guy."

You can read SSgt. Voss'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 Have Every Right To Dream Heroic Dreams. Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look

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.

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.

Hill of Crosses

When I went to Lithuania two years ago, I visited a placed called The Hill of Crosses. During the uprising of 1831 when Lithuania was occupied by the Russians, some revolutionaries were praying in a chapel. The Russians surrounded the chapel, locked all the windows and doors. They then covered the chapel with dirt, killing everyone inside.

The people started bringing crosses to this hill as a memorial to those killed inside the chapel. During the Soviet occupation of Lithuania, the Soviets took all the wooden crosses and burned them. The metals ones they bulldozed into the ground. One night, a group of the faithful took a 30' foot cross and began a march towards the hill. The Soviets heard about the plan, and placed a stake out at the hill in order to catch and prosecute those in charge.

The next morning, as the sun rose over the Hill of Crosses, the silouette of a 30' cross was seen on the horizon.

John Paul II visited this hill, calling it a place of hope, peace and sacrifice. There are crosses from concentration camp victims, from pilgrims from all over the world, and of course, from the native Lithuanians. They are a proud people, and this place is a testament to their unflinching fidelity to the cross.

The St. Brigid's cross is my sister Deborah's. It was the only celtic cross that I saw there. The one below is from the St. Benedict Center.

Blu-oo-oo-ue, Blue Blue Blue - oo

Life is too short not to have a blue tongue every now and again.

Racism Revisited

I figure that I ought to expand my views on racism in America given the obscure references in my previous post.

When I was growing up, my parents taught me to appreciate the unique gifts in each person. Its really that simple. There are differences in people, and the differences that divide people is usually in ideas and principles. Regardless of ideas and principles, God loves each person individually and it is up to each person what they do with that love.

Notice that there is nothing about race in there.

Okay, so when I became an adult, and questions about race would come up, I found it amazing when people would talk about which races were acceptable to be friends with, which races were acceptable to date/marry, etc. Dividing people by race doesn't make any sense to me, especially because we knew many families who had adopted children from all over the world, and the color of someone's skin said almost nothing about their character or personality. I also thought that most people, except those rare racist types, thought like I did.

Jeremiah Wright has made a business out of being black. He has found a way to rally people around him based on the fact that they all share an ancestry from the same continent. That makes no sense to me. Maybe if they shared a same culture, like Tutsi or Kenyan... but no. He really has gathered a whole Church together based on the idea that they claim an allegiance to a large mass of land with as many diverse cultures as a mosaic has colors. And he's found that the easiest way to unite a people is by giving them a common enemy - not because they share a culture. No, they are united in the idea that a common enemy has oppressed them and is a wicked and cruel murderous tyrant. And again, for JW, its a business from which he has profited handsomely.

For him to play the victim is typical, of course. He's used to manipulating people, so why not? Why not bank of hundreds of years of real cruelty and oppression and convince people who are just as privileged as he is that they have suffered from this same cruelty? When one thinks of the real abuse, the inhumanity that occurred during slavery and compare it to what Jeremiah Wright has "suffered", it is a mockery to those who really did suffer. When one thinks of the truly lost opportunities by those who were turned away from jobs, housing and marketplaces and compare it to a Princeton graduate who writes that blacks will never have access to the highest places in American society, it is pure mockery of those truly brave ones like Rosa Park.

Sure, there is still racism in America and in every corner of the world. Human nature has not changed. However, until we stop using racism as an excuse to perpetuate our own victimhood, we will never learn to move beyond it, and we'll never be a nation united.

I say God bless America, and so should every American regardless of race.

Logic of Jeremiah Wright

Here goes:

JW says racist things, which proves that racism still exists in America. If you criticize him for his racists remarks, then you are persecuting him because he's just trying to show you that racism exists, and your persecution of him proves that racism exists. So, even though people are trying to villianize him, really he's just a racist victim of racism.

Racism is bad bad bad. He knows that better than anyone because he is a racist.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

To William Shakespeare, and Aimee Cowan!!!

Take this Shakespeare quiz to see how much you actually know.

Then go and visit Aimee on her blog!!

Some fun facts about me and Aimee:

• While roommates in college we rearranged our room every Monday afternoon while the freshman below us tried to take a nap.
• We travelled to Spain, Ireland and Venice together after our Rome semester.
• While roommates we each had the bed that we didn't want for fear of hurting the others feelings!!
• We agreed to go to graduate school together, but never applied to the same schools!
• She went to every station Mass in Rome... while I always set my alarm to go, but rarely made it.

I'll add more as I think about them throughout the day!

Heard from the hallways...

"So, I found out where the library is. I walked by a building and I saw M- and G- (two fellow students) in there and I said to myself, 'that must be the library."

Interesting ...

Pope & the Confederacy

"Under the reign of Pope Pius IX, an interesting link developed between the Vatican and Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States of America...

"Remarkably, the Pope himself offered the most solace afforded to the former Confederate President by two simple gifts while he was in prison. A personally hand-woven Crown of Thorns symbolized Davis’s suffering at the hands of his enemies. And Davis likely found additional comfort in a portrait of the Pope, autographed by the pontiff with the words from Sacred Writ, 'If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.' "

****I heard about this from one of the commentators during the Holy Father's visit... but the above is from Here.

Kids Aren't That Stupid

So, yesterday was the PERFECT Spring Day. The sun was shining, it was the perfect temperature outside, and the wind was blowing lightly as if to caress the newly sprouted grass and brightly colored crocuses. I cut a few of my classes short and brought the kids outside to walk in the spring puddles and enjoy the blue sky.

In the afternoon, I met some of the students in the quaint New England college town of New London. Its a cute town with lots of little shops, and one of the best ice cream stands around. Let's put it this way, they serve ice cream AND espresso. What could be better than that? So, when my students finished selling advertisements for the yearbook, I met up with them and took them out for ice cream. So far, so good.

We called one of the parents and arranged to meet at the dock so they could pick up their kids. On the way, the Dad called me and said that he'd be running late.

We don't mind. Its a sunny day. We'll walk on the dock.

Idiot.

"Elijah, I'll give you five dollars if you jump in."

"Yeah right, the water is freezing."

... minutes later...

"what will you give me to jump in?"

Me: You are not jumping in. You cannot ride in my car if you're wet. The water is freezing. There is still ice on the lake.

Does it matter? no.

*splash*

The worst part of this whole situation, is that the kid had reasons:

1. Impress the girls at school
2. Make my stock go up among the boys
3. Have something to talk about at school

It sounds so logical, but is so idiotic.

From the Holy Father

"Love your priests!"