What Does The Prayer Really Say?
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Very cool.  Iphone is adding Chinese character recogition.

Screen shots posted on Chinese site wretch.cc allege that iPhone firmware 2.0 has added support for Chinese handwriting recognition in addition to a revamped (albeit non-recognition) Japanese interface. While that’s still light years from an Apple admission that not everyone is in love with the on-screen keyboard, it’s one small step toward functionality that seems to make boatloads of sense—in any language—given the phone’s generously proportioned touchscreen and its reluctant but unavoidable nomination as the Newton’s spiritual successor. What isn’t clear is how folks are expected to draw characters, seeing how there’s no provision for an on-board stylus, the entire interface is designed for finger use, and we don’t see many owner rushing out for a Pogo. However Apple intends for this feature to be used, the implementation looks pretty hot, capable of operating in both portrait and landscape modes. Sadly, it seems that Chinese is the one and only language supported at the moment; sure you don’t want to let everyone in on the Graffiti-esque retro fun here, guys?

The sight of the FedEx truck coming up the drive did make my day.

Many thanks go out to AJ who sent me some very nice Chinese white tea, from the amazon wish list.

I am most beholden and it is delicious.

PENG JING UPDATE:

The peng jing is doing very well now.  I have been able to set it in the sun, now there is some. 

And it is going to bloom! 

This is an interesting report:

The Catholic News & Herald, May 2, 2008
Back to the ‘old Mass’
Several parishes now offering Mass in extraordinary form
by KATIE MOORE
staff writer

CHARLOTTE — In December 2007, 14 priests from the Diocese of Charlotte participated in a five-day training session on the 1962 Roman Missal, providing them with the background needed to offer the Mass in the extraordinary form.
Now, four-months later, having completed the diocesan training, some of those priests have begun celebrating at their parishes, Latin-language liturgy that predates the 2nd Vatican Council. [Brick by brick, people!]
The first was Father Eric Kowalski, pastor of Holy Angels Church in Mount Airy, who began celebrating the low form of the Latin-language Mass [NB: The Novus Ordo is also Latin language.] at his parish on January 5.
“When the Holy Father released the ‘motu proprio,’ that’s when it really began,” said Father Kowalski.
In his July 2007 apostolic letter, “Summorum Pontificum,” Pope Benedict XVI eased restrictions on the use of the 1962 Roman Missal, which was standard before the new Order of the Mass was introduced in 1970. The papal decree was issued "motu proprio," a term that reflects the pope’s personal initiative in the matter.
The Mass from the Roman Missal in use since 1970 remains the ordinary form of the Mass.
After inserting copies of the “motu proprio” and the pope’s letter to the bishops in his parish bulletin, [Another use of the parish bulletin.  Excellent.] Father Kowalski opened the issue up to his parish and hosted a general meeting to talk about the Mass in the extraordinary form.
“The people were very open and very interested,” he said of the approximately 50 parishioners who came to the meeting.
Soon he began offering refresher seminars for those who wanted to work on Latin pronunciation and familiarize themselves with the prayers.
Now, Father Kowalski celebrates the Mass in extraordinary form every Saturday at 6:30 p.m. [Let us hope for more.]
“It fits very seamlessly into our liturgical life here,” he said.
By adding the Latin-language Mass to the weekend Mass schedule, it fulfills the Sunday obligation for the 40 to 60 parishioners who typically attend.
In terms of execution, the extraordinary form of the Mass requires a great deal of preparation on the part of the priest.
“It’s a bit intimidating at first because you want to do it with attention and devotion and you want to offer it properly,” said Father Kowalski, who typically spends about two hours a week preparing for the liturgy.
“It’s become a great joy for me,” he added. “It really has deepened my own spiritual growth and faith.”  [When younger priests learn the older form, it changes them.]
Another church in the diocese where the Mass in the extraordinary form is now offered is St. Joseph Church in Asheboro.
For Father Christopher Davis, pastor of St. Joseph Church, the Latin-language Mass was particularly appealing.
“I had studied renaissance and medieval music,” said Father Davis. “It was right up my alley and part of my own personal spirituality.”
Father Davis celebrates the Mass at his parish every Wednesday at 7 p.m.
One of the things he enjoys most is the structure and silence of the extraordinary form.
“It allows time for contemplative prayer,” he said. “You really get that sense of reverential silence upon entering into the mystery of the Eucharist.”  [The whole point of Mass is that encounter with Mystery.]
He also mentioned the noticeable similarities between the two forms of the Mass.
“To me it’s been beautiful to see how much of the ‘new Mass’ is still retained from the ‘old Mass,’” he said. “You can see the progression of what the church has now and what we can go back to.”  [Continuity.   And again, the priest learned more about what Holy Mass is.]
In a letter to bishops, Pope Benedict stated, “There is no contradiction between the two editions of the Roman Missal.”
“In the history of the liturgy there is growth and progress, but no rupture,” he said. “What earlier generations held as sacred remains sacred and great for us, too, and it cannot be all of a sudden entirely forbidden or even considered harmful.”
The pope noted, however, that the ordinary form of the Mass must not be neglected.
“Needless to say, in order to experience full communion, also the priests of the communities adhering to the former usage cannot, as a matter of principle, exclude celebrating according to the new books,” the pope said.
“The total exclusion of the new rite would not in fact be consistent with the recognition of its value and holiness,” he added.
Anyone who remembers the pre-Vatican II form may notice a few changes.
Now, the congregation is more involved in dialogue and responses and the readings are said in English.
“It’s just easier for everyone,” said Father Davis, who noted that all of the changes have been approved by Pope Benedict. [Though "easier" isn’t necessarily "better".]
Later this month, Father Timothy Reid, pastor of St. Ann Church in Charlotte, will begin celebrating the Mass in extraordinary form at his parish.
Father Reid will offer an introduction to the extraordinary form at St. Ann Church on Wednesday, May 21 at 7 p.m. He will begin celebrating the Mass in extraordinary form on Saturdays at 8 a.m., beginning May 31.

Contact Staff Writer Katie Moore by calling (704) 370-3354 or e-mail kmmoore@charlottediocese.org.
WANT MORE INFO?
Catholics interested in attending a Mass in extraordinary form should contact the office of their vicar forane — a priest who coordinates pastoral activities among groups of churches — to find out Mass times and locations.
For a complete list of vicars forane visit www.charlottediocese.org/agencydirectory_post.html and click on vicars forane.

Damien Thompson at Holy Smoke on the Daily Telegraph, snarks some English bishops … again.

This seems to be a follow up on what we posted here, namely that Card. Castillon Hoyos is saying that the Holy Father wants the older form of Mass to be in parishes and that priests shouldn’t wait for requests (and therefore don’t have to wait for requests).

Pope wants the Latin Mass everywhere
Posted by Damian Thompson on 05 May 2008  at 17:54
Tags: Catholicism, Pope Benedict, Latin Mass

Bishops Hollis and Conry, if you have ever thought of jumping ship to the C of E, now might a good time to do so. According to a senior Vatican cardinal, Pope Benedict wants the old Latin Mass celebrated in parishes even where the people have not asked for it.


English bishops take note: this is what the Mass looks like

Well! That will certainly drive a horse and cart through the English bishops’ shameful attempts to ignore Summorum Pontificum, last year’s papal letter removing their power to block the 1962 (Tridentine) Missal.

According to the Catholic News Agency, Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, head of the Pontifical Commission
Ecclesia Dei, let the cat out of the bag in an interview for a DVD instructing priests on how to celebrate the Extraordinary Form.

Here’s the money quote: “The cardinal said that parishes and priests should make available the Extraordinary Form so that ‘everyone may have access to this treasure of the ancient liturgy of the Church’. He also stressed that, ‘even if it is not specifically asked for, or requested’ it should be provided.  Interestingly, he added that the Pope wants this Mass to become normal in parishes, so that ‘young communities can also become familiar with this rite’.”

(Incidentally, I can think of one parish that NEVER celebrates the old Mass on Sundays. It’s called Westminster Cathedral. Perhaps Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos might raise the subject when he visits it in June.)

The idea of young people discovering the ancient Mass, said entirely in Latin with zero opportunity for congregational showing-off, will truly horrify with-it bishops and their Sandalista worship leaders. And what will Bobbie (“Cry me a river”) Mickens have to say?

I do wonder, however, whether the Pope realises that if he wants the classical Mass celebrated widely in this country he will have to make one extra provision. New bishops. Lots of them. And fast. [His Hermeneuticalness for Westminster!]

Posted by Damian Thompson on 05 May 2008 at 17:54

Oh… no no no no no

I am reminded a little of this:

It will not come as a surprise to WDTPRSers that I hate squirrels.  They are, to my mind, cuter versions of rats.

I how they analyze ways both to attack the bird feeders and even get into the house.  A squirrel in the house is a bad thing.

So, here is a little video to show us what we are up against.