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

Fr. Pasley and I dashed into south Philly for a cheesesteak at D’Alessandro’s.



These are not production line steaks, I can tell you. 

We ate in, with some of the local color.



We have pronounced these very good steaks.  I had one wit wiz.

The rolls were super fresh, and crisp with nothing of the chewy or tough.  The meat flavorful and moist.  And then there was the cheese whiz… waddya gonna say ‘bout wiz?



The denizens designate their parking spots with lawn chairs.





We also had a dash through Camden, which is probably the best way to see Camden, now that I think of it.

A nice view of the Ben Franklin with the minor league barkpark.

I was also anxious to see USS NEW JERSEY, moored on the Camden waterfront.  

We didn’t have time to go aboard, alas. 

I was reminded of my good visit to USS WISCONSIN in Norfolk, VA.



Across the Delaware we could see also a WWI age ship and a whaler.





We also stopped to see the old RCA building, which still has the windows of the little dog hearing "his master’s voice".





An American icon.

Interesting place, Mater Ecclesiae in Berlin, NJ! Thereis always something interesting going on here.

I reported earlier that abundant snow was inexorably caving in the roof of part of the rectory.

Last night, just as I was settling in to watch some curling, I heard a rather louder than one might expect crunching rumble. 

"Hmmm…", quoth I.  "That’s a sound I haven’t heard here in this house before!"

Scant minutes thereafter Fr. Pasley knocked my door to announce the final caving of the roof.

Dante perfectly, precisely captured the inner disorientation of the exile when he wrote of a place where "the bread is salty and the steps are hard to climb".

Tasting salty bread was a reminder that he wasn’t in Florence. Climbing stairs built by a different measure than that which your legs learned in childhood told him he wasn’t in his native place.

I am in grocery store New Jersey.

I had constant reminders that this area has a very different make up of ethnic backgrounds than my native Minnesota.

For example, in Minnesota you will find perhaps a few feet of shelf space for canned tomatoes and maybe four, five kinds. Here, a couple dozen varieties in over twenty feet of shelves.

The entire left side is pasta. That would not happen where I am from.

In a cold case here I found this:

Here, you will not find Lefsa.

I will be in the area of Philadelphia from 12-21 Feb…. if flights go well.

One of my correspondents has suggested another blognic.

We could have this one at the same location: the Irish Pub at 20th & Walnut in the Rittenhouse Square area.

I am open to other locations as well.

I am wondering about the timing.  Should we try to have this before Ash Wednesday?  That narrows the window a bit.

I will rely on William Torchia of Philadelphia (of the Latin Liturgy Assoc. in the area) to help coordinate this, if anyone is interested.

Discuss.

I recently had a trip to Lander, Wyoming to visit Wyoming Catholic College and speak to the faculty and student body.  I am overdue in my review of the trip.



First, I must say that the kids who can go to WCC are very fortunate. 

If you have children approaching college age and don’t know where they should go, consider WCC… if you can get them in.

The land is beautiful, the faculty are dedicated, the vision for their education is clear, the identity is Catholic.

They have the kids learning how to learn through a modified program of the trivium et quadrivium.  A former long-time student of Fr. Reginald Foster and acquaintance of mine of years past left a tenured position at an Eastern university to move to Wyoming and teach Latin. 

The kids are speaking Latin in their classes and even bantering a bit outside classes. 

Latin is common feature of daily life, even in the dining hall.



They are not immersed, but they are doing everyday things with the Latin language.

The students I met smile.  They walk up to you, smile, and introduce themselves by name, and where they are from, and what year of studies they are in.   They like it when you speak Latin to them and are ready to engage.

They don’t have distractions, either.  The technology policy at the college permits no mobile phones.  Students may have personal computers for writing, but without an internet connection.  They can consult the internet on a college computer. 

While I was there I heard story after story about how divine providence is at work to build this school.  Astonishing "coincidences" brought faculty to the place at exactly the right time, as well as funding to keep the place growing.   The former and present bishops love the place.  They have good chaplains who provide the Novus Ordo in Latin and the TLM on a regular basis.



They asked me to sing a TLM: Missa cantata.  Their choir was very good, the Gregorian chant schola strong.  The whole student body sang the Ordinary in Gregorian chant: Missa Orbis factor… Mass XI.  



In the "small world" meetings, their sacristan used to serve Mass for me when I lived in California, along with that young man who left the A’s to pursue the priesthood.  A young lady with a Minnesota sweatshirt was from my home parish in St. Paul. 



After my talk another young lady came up to me and told me that years ago I gave her First Holy Communion.  Several of the faculty had friends in common with me. 

Though right now they are in temporary digs in Lander itself, I had the chance to see where they are going to build their new campus.  It will be situated in a valley near Lander.  The campus will include a stable for the students’ horses.  All students are required to learn to ride. 



There are lots of outdoor activities which are meant to harmonize their academics.  When they first arrive, they have – if I remember correctly – a three week camping trip guided by pros.  They hike and ride and have stargazing trips.

Quite a few of the students have firearms.  The gun safe is minded by the college’s chaplain!  So… the students get their guns from the priest and practice shooting.  Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition.

Here are some photos of their plans and location.





If you go to Lander to visit the school, there is a fine B&B nearby in a beautiful house owned by people who moved to the town so that they could be near the school.  In the far corner they have established a small but well-stocked GK Chesterton reading room.




I stayed at this B&B while there.  Simply wonderful.



Furthermore, I was stunned to find an exceptional restaurant in Lander that reminded me strongly of places I have eaten at in places like New York… except the beef was far far better.

Models of the new campus.







I found the descriptions of the academic program to be very intriguing.  In addition to the Latin, the students are learning classical rhetoric.  They must learn to present a thesis style treatment of a question, stand up in front of people, and defend their position.  The faculty bring in outsiders, lawyers, businessmen, etc., to give feedback on the presentation.

Look at the reading list!

A telling dimension of the quality of the school is found in the waiting list to get in and the fact that they haven’t lost any students.  A few students did leave for one reason or another, but every one of them came back and re-enrolled. 

And to top it off, the tuition didn’t sound all that bad, around $23K per year, which includes room and board.

I wished I had had a couple more days there to see what was going on in depth.  But I saw enough to know that parents with kids approaching college age should seriously think about Wyoming Catholic College. 

God seems to be blessing this project.

I am heading to the Philadelphia area in a few days. 

"But Fadda! But Fadda!", I can hear the New Jerseyans saying even now.  "Why…"

I’ll be staying at Mater Ecclesiae in Berlin, NJ for a little over a week. 

Fr. Pasley is bringing in the B Team to cover for him while he recovers from some surgery.  I’ve been there before a couple times and Latin isn’t especially mysterious for me.

No Iggles or Phillies games now, but I hope to get to the fine museum again, see some people and some of the sights, perhaps even have Philly Blognic 2 (for the fun PB1 at Rittenhouse Square here and here and here).  Perhaps something before the beginning of Lent?  Dunno…. not up to me…

But…  there is something of vital importance to deal with.

Cheese steaks.

I want to revive a discussion we have had a long time ago.

We all know the great rivalry between Geno’s (I like his English policy) and Pat’s, but I think the sheer importance of this question deserves renewed deeper study.

Okay… lemme ask you Philadelphians and den jump oudda da way.

Best Cheese Steak?

If I don’t go to sleep immediately, or listen to an audio book, this is what I do on airplanes.

For example: I drill into Anscar Chupungco’s dreadful talk he delivered in Australia.

Yesterday evening I was able to visit Conception Abbey, MO.



Conception was founded by a monk, Frowin, from Engelberg Abbey in Switzerland.   The Abbey shows a real influence of Beuron, with is distinctive artistic style.  The monks even wear the Benedictine habit in the style of Beuron.  Alas, they sing their office in English, but they do sing it.  We heard Vespers before having supper with some of the seminarians in the Abbey’s college, a minor seminary.

The church is a minor basilica.





Nearby, there is a monastery of Benedictine sisters.

They have a spectacular church.

A couple things.

First, consider that these buildings were built in the glory of God.  Their ecclesiology their love of God and their understanding of what liturgical worship meant led them to built them as they did.  Think of that when you look at churches which look more like municipal airport terminals than sacred edifices.

Also, it is possible to build great buildings today.  It takes sacrifice.  But it took sacrifice for people to build these buildings in times past as well.  It was never easy to build them.  It won’t be and shouldn’t be now.  But it can be done, provided we desire to express what we believe.

 

If you are in or near Manhattan….

There will be a Solemn TLM for Midnight Mass (yes, midnight, Christmas) at Holy Innocent’s in Manhattan.

The undersigned is celebrant for the Mass.  Here is the music line up:

Prelude Music (starting at 11:30 PM)

• Gwendolyn Toth, organ: Pastorale from the Concerto Grosso #8 – Arcangelo Corelli (1653-1713)
• Linnea Shin & Lauren Alfano, sopranos; Kelly-Ray Meritt, recorder: Amoena Quam Festivitas duet – Valentin
•      Molitor (1637-1713)
• Peter Becker, bass: Verbum Caro – Ottavio Durante (fl. 1608-1618)
• Linnea Shin, soprano; Lauren Alfano, soprano; Kelly-Ray Meritt, tenor; Peter Becker, bass: Chorale,
•     O Jesulein Süss by J.S. Bach (1685-1750)
• Gwendolyn Toth, organ: Joseph est Bien Marie – Claude Balbastre (1724-1799)
• Linnea Shin, soprano: Virgin Slumber Song – Max Reger (1873-1916)
• Lauren Alfano, soprano and Peter Becker, bass: Gesu Bambino – Pietro Yon (1866-1943)
• Linnea Shin, soprano; Lauren Alfano, soprano; Kelly-Ray Meritt, tenor & recorder; Peter Becker, bass:
•     Lo How A Rose E’er Blooming – Michael Praetorius (1571-1621)

 
Mass Music

• Processional: organ, Noel – Louis-Claude Daquin (1694-1772)
• Chanted propers from Liber
• Missa "O Magnum Mysterium" – Tomas Luis de Victoria (c.1548-1611)
• (Creed is congregational except for Et Incarnatus est)
• Offertory:Angelus ad Pastores – Orlande de Lassus (1532 – 1594)
• Offertory: Christe Redemptor  – Victoria (alternating chant & polyphony – as many verses as needed)
• Communion #1: O Magnum Mysterium – Victoria
• Communion #2: O Magnum Mysterium – Poulenc
• Recessional: Organ, Noel Suisse – Daquin

The weather cleared today just enough so that I could see that there might be mountains around Vancouver.   I did have a chance to view the city from the heights.



In the evening I had the pleasure of going out for some Chinese food with a group of nine people from the parish involved in Una Voce.

We had many small courses but here are just a few of the selections.

We started with some roast pork and jelly fish in sesame oil.



Another of the courses was a dried scallop in melon with broccoli and seaweed.



Another course involved geoduck, prawns, mushrooms, peas and a little chicken.



A large amount of sticky rice came… always welcome.  In the background you can see some roasted squab.



What gathering would be complete without fish!  We didn’t have to fight over the heads, however.

Steamed Rock Cod.



There were other courses, lobster, and abalone, and soups, and sweets.  Each person was able to have a little of every item.  

I’d post more but I am tired and have a long day tomorrow.

They say there are mountains around Vancouver.

I don’t believe it. 

There is only a solid gray science fiction like void of clouds.

I could be in Gary, Indiana, for all the mountains I see here.

Anyway… without mountains, I visited St. Peter and Paul parish where Fr. Horgan has made some fine stained glass windows, with great elements worked in.  They depict the beatitudes with saints and blesseds who exemplify those beatitudes.



I don’t remember the name of the Austrian sister who has killed by the Nazis because she took down their swastikas and nailed crucifixes to the walls of her clinic.  She has a stethoscope here, and a mug of beer.  She liked beer.



The pastor’s little cat is in one window.



In a window for the Nativity, Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd have brought junior who brought the Christ Child his little rocking horse toy as a gift.  Sweet.



We visited rapidly the Holy Rosary Cathedral.



In your hours off in Vancouver you could stop in for some pot (medicinal, of course).



We also had the chance to visit a nice little Chinese scholars garden, built in the style of those in Suzhou.  Always visit Chinese gardens… especially the one in Portland.

I have zoomed into Seattle on my way to Vancouver.

Sadly I am stuck in the airport, but the view coming in was nice.



I have a friend who loves the mountains out here, for whom I post a couple shots from the plane.






On our way in, I looked down and saw the Concorde.

I don’t know Seattle well, but I hear nice things about the place. I would like to visit some day, and not just on the way to some other town.

First, I will say "Go Phillies" and get it out of the way. Nice view on the way in.

UPDATE: Out for a walk with a friend, we stopped at Holy Innocents. The Blessed Sacrament was exposed and we were there for Benediction.

UPDATE: Nice to stretch the legs. A short visit to St Patrick’s.

UPDATE: Time for some supper. Shanghai juicy dumplings!

UPDATE: In New York watching the game with a serious Yankees fan.

UPDATE: Painful… but there is still a lot of baseball yet to be played.

UPDATE: Just before the latest painful moment.

6 RBIs

UPDATE: That’ better…

UPDATE: I am required by my host to post the following sad image…. sigh…

I will be in New York City from 4-9 November.  

One of the things I will be doing is acting as celebrant for a Solemn TLM on 6 November, a First Friday, at 6:30 PM at the Church of the Guardian Angel in Manhattan (10th Ave. and 21st St.).  This link should take you to some pictures of the Church.

However, perhaps in advance we might give some thought to a Big Apple Blognic?

First, is anyone interested?

Maybe a Saturday morning thing?

Some other images from Detroit.

There is a reason why the parish where I am staying is called Assumption Grotto.

The parish is dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, but behind the parish church there is a fine cemetery with a Lourdes Grotto.






I am told that during the summer there is a procession on Sundays with the Blessed Sacrament to the Grotto and Benediction.  Also, some morning parish Masses are celebrated here.

After Mass I stopped in for a choir practice, lead by the pastor Fr. Perrone.  They were working on the Theresianmesse.



Here is the facade of the church.



After the last Sunday Mass one of the priests took me down to see Sacred Heart Seminary.







On the way back to the parish, making our way up beautiful Gratiot Avenue, I spotted a very useful business.   If I lived at Assumption Grotto, I would be tempted to have my taxes done here!