The sun rose in Rome at 07:22. It is a truly beautiful October day, classic. The sun will set at 18:28. The Ave Maria bells in better times would ring forth at 18:45.
Welcome registrants:
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Richard the Lionhearted
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In your goodness please stop and say a prayer for a long-time reader and regular monthly donor Laura B who died of cancer in July ’23. She continued her husband’s donations after he passed away in Feb ’22. They were long-time readers before and donors since 2014. When I get news that some one has gone to God, I write it down and remember them in my prayers. It is the way.
It is the Feast of St. Margaret Mary in the Vetus. In the Novus, Ignatius of Antioch (+107) is honored. He died in the Colosseum “ad leones” and his remains were interred at what is now S. Clemente. If you get to Rome and are unsure about places to visit, make sure San Clemente is on your list.
On my way to Mass this morning Venus was brilliant.
I stood here for a bit and asked Mary for additional apartment help.
Thank you donor who flagged contributions for flowers. I have a little bunch of small carnations (colorful but not my favorites) but I got these today. I don’t recall what they are called. The look a little like mimosa, and come in three colors, these two bunches being the yellow and the red. I thought they would go well by the mirror so that they look like more.
Last night I attended the Rome premier of The Hong Konger: Jimmy Lai’s Extraordinary Struggle for Freedom.
This is a film by the Acton Institute about the amazing Jimmy Lai, entrepreneur, Catholic convert, freedom fighter. Having made a fortune in textiles and clothing, Jimmy Lai started a pro-Western democracy and freedom of speech paper in Hong Kong.
With the take over by the PRC, Hong Kongers are losing their rights. Jimmy Lai, with Card. Zen and others, have been visible and audible in the fight for freedom in Hong Kong.
Lai could have left Hong Kong for anywhere and lived well for the rest of his life. Instead he chose to remain and now faces being imprisoned for the rest of his life.
You can watch the whole film. I warmly recommend that you watch it and share it with as many people as possible.
Fr. Robert Sirico is in Rome right now for this and other events. It was good to see him. He’s a good friend.
Meanwhile, Fabiano Caruana defended his title at the 2023 U.S. Championship, clinching the tournament with a round to spare and a 1.5 lead over the field. My guy Wesley came in 3rd.
White to move. Mate in… one… two… THREE.
NB: I’ll hold comments with solutions ’till the next day so there won’t be “spoilers” for others.
Remember the wonderful summit Dominicans!
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1. Q to a8+, …
If …, R to e8
2. Qxe8+, Nxe8
3. Rxe8 mate
If …, N to e8
2. Qxe8+, Rxe8
3. Rxe8 mate
1. Q-a8+ . . N-e8 or R-e8, either:
2. Qxe8+ . . Rxe8
3. Rxe8#, or:
2. Rxe8+ . . . Rxe8
3. Qxe8#
Even when Black’s rook gets out of the way, its bishop never has a chance to interpose at c8 because Black’s king is repeatedly in check from e8.
1. Qa8+
If 1. … Ne8
2. Qxe8+ Rxe8
3. Rxe8#
If 1 … Re8
2. Qxe8+ Nxe8
3. Rxe8#
1. Qa8+ Re8
2. Rxe8+ Nxe8
3. Qe8#
Or
1. Qa8+ Ne8
2. Qxe8+ Rxe8
3. Re8#
Solidago, commonly called golden rod. … I was the parish florist for many years and miss it, as may be obvious.
This seems too obvious, so I am prepared to be taught some humility, but I believe the path to mate in 3 is:
Qa1+
which forces either Re8 or Ne8 to block.
Qxe8+ which forces Rxe8 or Nxe8 using whichever of those pieces was not sacrificed in the prior move.
Rxe8#
The second photo while on your way to Mass is photographic perfection. The composition, the colors, the perspective, it is spectacular. Thank you once again for sharing your time in Rome.
It looks like the solidago were made for that spot (or vice-versa)
They do like showing off in all their God-given glory.
As someone living in Asia I am always a bit surprised when Catholics take Lai as a flag and present him as a hero. There is something good in him as in someone else, but I wonder if besides becoming the hero of the Church, he could have begun by promoting Catholic values, instead of the garbage newspaper that he founded. From my perspective, the closing of Apple News is a very positive thing. Often I have preached about this kind of newspapers and magazines as the thing one should not have at home. Apple Daily is one of them.
From Wikipedia:
“…and a focus on reporting crime, celebrity news, eroticism, gambling, and drug use. It carried at least three pages of entertainment news at the beginning but this was increased by eight pages by 2000.
Apple Daily is described to have introduced tabloid journalism to the Hong Kong market. The focus on large colourful graphics and more flamboyant stories, such as celebrity scandals, traffic accidents and deaths, quickly made Apple Daily Hong Kong’s second most popular newspaper.”
[There’s a lot more at Wiki about Apple Daily than what you picked to post. The most important parts are about freedom of the press and of speech, personal freedom, resisting the authorities.]
Father, thank you for your reply.
I am aware that there is more about Apple Daily than what I picked to post. I just wanted to add something that I think is missing to have a wider perspective about this issue.