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….
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Father Z.,
Welcome to Grand Rapids, you’ll have a great time at Acton University.
Across the freeway from your hotel is “the West Side”. That’s were the mostly Catholic furniture workers and craftsmen from Germany, (St. Mary’s) Poland (St. Adalbert’s, Sacred Heart), Lithuanians (Sts. Peter and Paul) joined the already resident Irish (St. James). The most beautiful of these are St. Mary’s, almost directly across the freeway from you, although it’s a little shabby, and the Minor Basilica of St. Adalbert. You may have noticed I have not mentioned the Cathedral, St. Andrews, better not to see what happened to it.
Perhaps you could remember in your prayers while you’re here the soul of Bishop Breitenbeck, who did much to dismantle traditional practice in this diocese in the aftermath of Vatican II. We’re still recovering, but with hope; there are a lot of good things bubbling below the surface here.
The only song I know of that mentions “Kalamazoo” is from Credence Clearwater Revival in their song “Down on the Corner”.
You are thinking of Glenn Miller’s “I’ve Got a Gal in Kalamazoo” from 1942. I spend too much of my time swing dancing and listening to music of that era. That means that any reference to Kalamazoo starts the song in my head.
It’s very much of it’s era just having fun with the sound of the word Kalamazoo (kind of like ‘Chattanooga Choo-Choo’). Here are the first two verses…
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H
I got a gal in Kalamazoo
Don’t want to boast but I know shes the toast of Kalamazoo
(Zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo)
Years have gone by, my my how she grew
I liked her looks when I carried her books in Kalamazoo
(Zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo)
“I’ve got a gal in Kalamazoo
Don’t want to boast, but I know she’s the toast of Kalamazoo
zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo.”
The song is from the musical “Orchestra Wives” (1942) starring Ann Rutherford and George Montgomery.
It was played by Glenn Miller and his orchestra, and sung by the Modernaires.
You can see a complete clip of the Glen Miller song on You Tube.
NB: my post here:
https://wdtprs.com/2008/06/on-the-move/
I used to live in Michigan. Weren’t some priests trying to start an oratory in Kalamazoo a few years back? I’m familiar with the Toronto, Pittsburgh, and London Oratories as oases of orthodoxy. Is it the same in Kalamazoo?
Glad to see you’re back online. I’m checking into “The Wanderer.” Thanks for the info. I hope your trip back is much less eventful. :)
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H,
I offered Mass in Kalamazoo
With minimal hubris,
We followed the rubrics of
nine-TEEN sixty-two
(two, two, two, two, two)
Solemn High Mass, in Kalamazoo,
A manipled deacon,
In Latin was speakin’,
A “Jube” or two
(two, two, two, two, two)
Then the storm came sailin’
Wind and rain and hailin’
cutting the wires,
Just as they were falling,
I could hear Him calling,
“Hiya Fr. Zuhlsdorf!
Everything’s O K-A-L-A-M-A-Z-O…”
Oh what a Mass! A real How-de-do
Incense and satin, precision and Latin,
and joy in the pews
I went to Michigan to offer Solemn Mass in Kalamazoo.
(Zoo, zoo)
(Zoo, zoo, zoo, Kalamazoo)
K (K)
A (A)
L-A-M-A-Z-O
(Oh, oh, oh, oh what a Mass, from pulpit to pew)
(We’re goin’ to Michigan to offer Solemn Mass in Kalamazoo)
(Zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo)
(Kalamazoo!!)
I think Ford was a good man–an unassuming, humble fellow who became president even though it wasn’t a position he really pined for (he was also a football player at my alma mater–Go Blue!)
Actually Gerry Ford was a very smart guy. He was 3rd in his class at Yale Law School. Unfortunately he was a Republican, and in
the mainstream media world, by definition, a Republican is dumb, whereas a Democrat, even ones like John Kerry who had a poorer academic
record than George Bush, is BRILLIANT. Anyway, I hope Father Z has a nice time in the Grand Rapids area. Tom
Sorry, I went right by your mention of the oratory in the first paragraph. Is it a full offical Oratory now?
Father Z,
Is this the Jeffrey Tucker that is associated with the Mises Institute in Auburn?
Father Z,
Is this the Jeffrey Tucker associated with the Mises Institute in Auburn?
There really was a girl from Kalamazoo. Her name was Sarah Woolley. Her picture is here..http://www.kpl.gov/collections/localhistory/allabout/general/Gal.aspx
Mass strictly according to 1962! So…
No ringing of the bells during Domine non sum dignus?
No censing the celebrant after the Gospel?
Boko, I don’t think so. Kalamazoo is not listed as an Oratory on the Oratorians’ website, and the Kalamazoo house’s webpage says not yet….
Being born in Kalamazoo, I know all the above references, and here’s a little rhyme we learned as children (not sure where it came from or just a local thing):
From Timbuktu to Kalamazoo it’s a long, long, long way down the track.
And from Kalamazoo to Timbuktu it’s a long, long, long way back.
“No ringing of the bells during Domine non sum dignus?”
Yes, there is.
“No censing the celebrant after the Gospel?”
For the Solemn High Mass, yes.
Acton Institute?
The right-wing think-tank that seeks to blend religion with economics? That denies global warming?
Oh brother.
Enjoy the Kool-Aid.
And while you’re there, say hello to ExxonMobil.
I did Acton University last summer – you’ll have a great experience, Fr. Z. It’s always an interesting mix of people.
Pipe smoking is a great gift from God. Long live Gerald Ford!
Will:
The Earth is entering a warming trend, coming out of an unusual cold spell, so you could say it’s going back to where it should be.
You can educate yourself by checking out a BBC program called The Great Clobal Warming Swindle….I repeat, BBC!
Pull out your Kool-Aid I.V.
Semper Fi!
Will:
The Earth is entering a warming trend, coming out of an unusual cold spell, so you could say it’s going back to where it should be.
You can educate yourself by checking out a BBC program called “The Great Global Warming Swindle”….I repeat, BBC!
Pull out your Kool-Aid I.V.
Semper Fi!
It’s common for oratories to be established under diocesan jurisdiction and only gain an affiliation with the Congregation of the Oratory later, if at all.
Whether Global Warming/Climate Change are natural or man-made the results are for sure. Added to economic recesion, oil crisis, food shortage and unending Wars I really wonder if we are living through a material chastisement.
Enjoy the Kool-Aid.
Will. We “global warming deniers” drink cabernet.
http://www.discovery.org/v/30
http://www.oism.org/pproject/
P.S. When collectivists engage in agitprop to try and scare you into growing government, it is always wise to be skeptical, brother.
And while you’re there, say hello to ExxonMobil.
Rather, say “Thank you,” ExxonMobil. Thanks for finding, gathering, and refining oil for our benefit.
Now, if the US Dept of Energy, (in existence since the epic presidency of the estimable Mr. James Carter) ever produces one watt of electricity, I will thank them.
As it is, since 1977, the Dept of Energy (giggle) has realised a tax windfall of scores of billions of dollars (taken, under threat of imprisonment if you don’t pay your taxes) and, other than an electric windmill, the DOE has yet to produce anything of value.
It is they, not “big oil” that ought be investigated and its various collectivist criminals frog-walked out of its doors and into the nearest slammer.
Whether Global Warming/Climate Change are natural or man-made the results are for sure.
The results are not at all for sure. The earth is far too complicated a system for scientists to confidently predict climate change or the effects of climate change.
The global warming deniers are in the same league as the folks who believe the moon landing was a hoax or that the earth is flat.
It makes me sad to be Catholic in the midst of such stupidity.
I am not Spartacus: “other than an electric windmill, the DOE has yet to produce anything of value.”
What an idiotic statement. If you would like, I would be glad to point you to the scientific advancements DOE has made. Your lack of knowledge is quite sad.
Please, do us all a favor and get your head out of the sand.
The global warming deniers are in the same league as the folks who believe the moon landing was a hoax or that the earth is flat.
It makes me sad to be Catholic in the midst of such stupidity.
Will, I gave you a link to a site where a petition against the gravely false ideology of man-made global warming is accessible. That petition has been signed by over 30 thousand reputable scientists. And yet, even though you had an opportunity to read that site, you label reputable scientists as flat-earthers or those who think the moon landing was a conspiracy.
Interesting. And no commentary about that is necessary.
What an idiotic statement. If you would like, I would be glad to point you to the scientific advancements DOE has made.
Please do so.
Please, do us all a favor and get your head out of the sand.
I have taken the time to do some research on my own. I took the time to share the links so others could read the evidence for themselves. How that can be reduced to a comment that I have my head in the sand is beyond me.