ROME 24/4– Day 37 (-4): MORE sacristy secrets, MORE music from nuns, and MORE Fr. Z’s Kitchen

On this Feast of St. Cletus, Pope and Martyr, the sun rose over Rome at 06:11.

Sunset is to be at 20:06.

The Ave Maria Bell should ring at 20:15.

This is the 117th day of the calendar year.  Thank you, Almighty God, for this day.   Thank you also for my Roman donors who made this time possible.

Speaking of Roman donors, I sent a note out about saying Mass on Sunday for your intention (as I have been doing).  I had my note kicked back as undeliverable for 4 of you.

c*****l65@gmail.com
m***@itis.com
k***********@windstream.net
s****.b***@sismodos.com

If you have new email, let me know so I can update, or … maybe it is old and your mailbox is full?

Yesterday, I posted a photo of the sign in the sacristy with the name of the Roman Pontiff which is customarily pronounced during the Roman Canon.  That frame was intended to hold indications of “orationes imperatae” or obligatory prayers assigned by competent authority.  These prayers usually are for times of plague or drought or war, etc.  They can be for other ecclesial or secular reasons, too.  In any event, we took the frame apart and laid out a few of the old sheets for your view.  Secrets of the Sacristy!

Since yesterday we also dealt with symmetry, and since this post echoes yesterday’s, here is more symmetry, for breakfast with TWBS™.

He remarked that the colors weren’t symmetrical and the foam on the coffee wasn’t quite right either, but we managed.  I won’t make you guess which pastry is mine.  I had the one on the left, which in many places in Italy is called “pain au chocolat”, in the French way.  I, however, having been romanized, ordered it with the proper Roman word: “un saccotino”.

Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links.  US HERE – UK HERE  WHY?  This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc..  At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.

Jasmine (not the Jesuit) Report.  I am beginning to despair.  Will this dratted jasmine disappoint me?  Hurry up, already!  I have to leave!

What kind of jasmine am I suppose to get again?

Tonight, spaghetti alle vongole.  I couldn’t leave Rome without one more generous portion.  You can’t get these critters in the USA.

My practice is to purge them for several hours.  They say they are purged already.  Not well enough.  In salt water, they start opening up and having a look around.  A last look…

Pretty exciting, right?   Maybe next time – in October – when I make this, I’ll have a “CLAMCAM” live streaming the purge.   That should really rack up some views.

For lunch, vegetable soup.  Nothing fancy.  Broth.  Frozen veg and some left over bits and pieces.  A can of borlotti beans.  Simmer.  A little cheese.  Some oil.  Some pepper.  Soup.

Click this and join!

Chessy news… not much to say other than there is an amusing article at chess.com – I am affiliate now so please sign up with my link! – about ugly chess sets.

There are some hideous chess sets out there, friends.  Just say “no” to ugly chess.  There’s no excuse for some of them.  What were they thinking?

I will admit that I am a plain ol’ Staunton guy.  I don’t want weird colors.  I don’t want strange boards… like “wobble chess”.  Yes, that’s a thing.  I want don’t want to be distracted with thoughts like, “Damn!  That knight is so stupid that I want to give it away.”  That needs clarification.  Sometimes your pieces are stupid because they are in the wrong place, trapped, not contributing, maybe even a target you have to defend.  Those are stupid pieces.  Stupid pieces can be improved!   Stupid pieces can be traded for one of your opponents better pieces!  But ugly is forever.  No matter how many moves with them or games you play with them, they are still going to be stupid ugly.

get chess stuff!

Anyway, here is a puzzle for you from a rapid game I played today… yes, today… against a 2000 rated bot.

White to move and mate in 3.

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

Priestly chess players, drop me a line. HERE

I’ve been pushing myself to play faster, spot things more quickly.  I’ve been working a lot on openings, too.

Yesterday I posted about the new music collection from the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles, the nuns of Gower Abby in Missouri.  They’ve been making wonderful music discs (and downloads) and the proceeds helps them also to found new convents!  Yesterday’s feature was about Martyrs.

Today’s is about Sr. Wilhelmina.  You remember the news about the elderly sister who passed away, a very holy woman.  They found that her body was incorrupt.  (HERE and HERE)  Many people have made pilgrimages to the Abbey to visit her.  The nuns have now a collection of hymns and so forth in her honor.

US HERE – UK HERE

Just as I provided little tastes yesterday, for the sake of symmetry, so too today.

Give the sisters some support and enjoy their wonderful music.