Daily Rome Shot 719: story time

The “Spanish” church, S. Maria di Monserrato.  The illumination is first rate, unusual in Rome.

I am delighted to report that diminutive 13 year old Alice Lee (from my native place, Minneapolis) has earned her IM title, the youngest American born female ever.  I really enjoyed watching her clean up for the St. Louis Arch Bishops over more experienced players during the Pro Chess League.  She’s rated 2390 second only to Irina Krush in these USA.

FM Alice Lee scores an incredible upset vs. the Bears’ Board 1 GM Matthias Bluebaum!#ProChess pic.twitter.com/U6J0RyHVEQ

— ProChessLeague (@ProChessLeague) March 3, 2023

Interested in learning?  Try THIS.

Chess is undergoing a huge renaissance. Do yourselves and your kids a favor. LEARN TO PLAY. It is something that lasts a lifetime.

Solve this puzzle.  Black to move and mate in a couple moves.  Go ahead! Try!

NB: I’ll hold comments with solutions ’till the next day so there won’t be “spoilers” for others.

The traditional Benedictine monks of Le Barroux in France are making wine from the ancient vineyards of the Avignon Popes. Good stuff. You can have some. You can help them.  10% off using code FATHERZ10

Communities like this keep us strong in our identity and they support, out here, in prayer.

Sophia Press has put out a fascinating book by Guy Gaucher, Bishop Emeritus of Bayeux and Lisieux.

I Would Like to Travel the World

It recounts miracles through the intercession of St. Thérèse, the Little Flower.

The blurb recounts something true about the title: St. Thérèse’s relics have gone everywhere, five continents, “in jets, a military plane, and a helicopter; in a police car, a firetruck, a cruise ship, and a steamer; on horseback; and on a sled pulled by dogs.”

US HERE – UK HERE

I have a personal interest in this book, not that my story is included, but because I received the intercession of St. Thérèse at a critical moment in my vocation back in the 80s and I received the famous “shower of roses”.

Her intercession was so vital, that when I had my chalice made for my ordination a couple years later, I had the node wreathed in roses.

Moreover, I was in Rome last October and November. Two days before I was to depart, I had nearly despaired of accomplishing two important goals. Things came together suddenly.  I had prayed to St. Thérèse.

In a flash, a priest, a cardinal, and a layman (diplomat), combined independently but in utter coordination to bring everything to pass.  That morning, I had that same chalice, newly re-gilded, consecrated by Card. Pell (shortly before his death).  As I explained to him the elements of the chalice, I recounted St. Thérèse’s intercession.  I was then given a lift by that same cardinal to church so I could say a private Mass for a layman’s lovely family.  I used the newly re-consecrated chalice, of course, and at the main altar where after ordination I had said my third Mass with it over three decades before.  That same day I had a meeting with my bishop, very difficult to attain without my priest friend’s help. My lay friend – for some reason not incredibly busy that day – gave me a ride.  On the way, I again mentioned the help of St. Thérèse decades before.  The meeting was excellent.

At the end of the day, clunky black chalice case still in hand from the wee morning hours, while heading home weary and head-spinning I walked through the darkening Campo de’ Fiori. Windy, so much so that awnings and pieces of stands were blowing over. Carts and big street sweeping machines and trash blowing around in the chaotic cleanup-wreckage.  I waved to my flower-guy, Pippo, at one of the three big flower stands near the fountain. He was in my Rome Shot post a couple days ago.

He walked out and gave me a single, perfect white rose.

The ambient.  It was so surreal with the wind that I shot a couple photos as I entered the Campo and before that happened.