What Does The Prayer Really Say?
W D T P R S

I drove first to Kalamazoo, MI - gotta love that name – isn’t there a Big Band era song that mentions Kalamazoo? – with a friend who came in from Rome.   We were hosted by the gents at the new Oratory being formed in Kzoo. 

On Saturday evening I addressed a group which had met for a workshop on Gregorian chant with Jeffrey Tucker of our friends over at New Liturgical Movement. 

On Sunday morning I was celebrant for a Solemn Mass at St. Mary’s.  The Mass was strictly according to the 1962 Missale Romanum.   Thus the priest sat for the singing of the Epistle, there was no extra Confiteor before Communion and a couple other little changes.  I don’t think I have ever been celebrant for a Solemn Mass strictly according to the 1962 rubrics.

However, as you know by now, there were terrible storms in the region and KZoo was also hit.  Power lines went down in our area, thus leaving our house without electricity.  Therefore I couldn’t get on line.

So, we made the decision that we would come up to Grand Rapids a day or so early.  We are to participate here in GR at the annual meeting of the Acton University sponsored by the Acton Institute.   Some 400 people will be here for the conference from, I am told, several dozen countries around the world. 

Acton Institute is a very interesting organization.  I got to know it in Rome, where there in an office.  Acton sponsored a series of conferences in Rome a couple years ago focused on Centessimus annus of Pope John Paul II.  I attended almost all of them and each one was gem.  I’ll give you reports about this year’s Acton U.  It might be something you might be interested in participating in some year, especially if you are interested in the Church’s voice in public square about human freedom and economics.

Since the AC doesn’t start until tonight, my Italian friend and I, Fabrizio… famous staffer of the Catholic Online Forum and long time friend, went across the street from our hotel to visit the President Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum.   Here it is as viewed from my room:



In the entrance to the building you see some words from President Ford’s speech when he assumed office.  Truly a tough job in difficult times.






Tough times indeed.



The Museum has interesting objects.   Here are some of the very tools used during the break in of the Democrate Committee Headquaters at the Wategate Hotel.



Modern Presidential Libraries/Museum’s have replicas of the Oval Office as it was in the time of that President.

Fabrizio and I were both favorably impressed with the number of pipes President Ford had.  They are everywhere around the office.

 

One of the most controversial things Pres. Ford did was pardon former Pres. Nixon.



Some of the issues they faced back then… well… it all sounds very familiar.




It was a very interesting morning.

Now I just got a call from the offices of The Wanderer, to which you should subscribe, telling me that I have to get my article in early so that they can get the paper in the mail a day early this week.  You can subscribe, by the way, to an online edition that gives you the full paper in a very good graphic form: cut down your time in getting it in the mail, save The Wanderer the postal expense which is becoming crushing.

I understand that some big publications pushed the US Postal Service to raise rates on small publications.   Hmmm….

I am now in Grand Rapids, Michigan – where there is indeed electricity.

I’ll be a little busy this morning, but I should be able to get online later and get some work done.

At that time I will post a bit.

Now?  BREAKFAST!

Then we will have a visit to the Gerald Ford Presidential Library/Museum.

This will be the first time I have ever visited a presidential library.

I imagine this one will be rather interesting, in how it presents the fascinating and difficult period following the resignation of President Nixon.