No flotsam today.
Washing the Feet
It used to be the custom, in Catholic kingdoms, for the king to wash the feet of twelve poor men at the Mass of Our Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday. Alas, the practice has now almost entirely disappeared, even in countries that still have a nominal king. The one quasi-exception, ironically enough, is England, where … Continue reading Washing the Feet
Low-Effort Blogging: Consoling Thoughts of St. Francis de Sales
Extra low-effort this time, as I haven't listened to all of these all the way through, only bits and pieces. But I trust enough in the great Saint, whom I take as one of my personal patrons, that I'm not afraid to offer his words sight unseen, though it's against my usual practice. (The narrator … Continue reading Low-Effort Blogging: Consoling Thoughts of St. Francis de Sales
Thought of the Day: Spring Cleaning
It seems that, traditionally, the three days between Palm Sunday and Holy Thursday are devoted to thoroughly cleaning the house in preparation for Easter. By coincidence, I actually spent most of the weekend cleaning up, including organizing my old paper files. As usual when I look back over the last few years of my life, … Continue reading Thought of the Day: Spring Cleaning
Poetry – “Cold Iron”
Gold is for the mistress -- silver for the maid --Copper for the craftsman cunning at his trade."Good!" said the Baron, sitting in his hall,"But Iron -- Cold Iron -- is master of them all."So he made rebellion 'gainst the King his liege,Camped before his citadel and summoned it to siege."Nay!" said the cannoneer on … Continue reading Poetry – “Cold Iron”
Words of the Saints: St. Leo on the Passion
"O wondrous power of the Cross! O ineffable glory of the Passion, in which is contained the Lord's tribunal, the world's judgment, and the power of the Crucified! For you drew all things unto You, Lord and when You had stretched out Your hands all the day, long to an unbelieving people that gainsaid You … Continue reading Words of the Saints: St. Leo on the Passion
Flash Fiction: A Roll of Quarters
Allan anxiously fingered the roll of quarters in his pocket – his whole gaming allowance for the week – as he waited in line at the arcade snack counter. Was he really going to do this? One guy ahead of him in the line. Sarah was ringing him up, her curly brown hair falling over … Continue reading Flash Fiction: A Roll of Quarters
Friday Flotsam: Oscars Slap at the Everyman, Core Values, and More
1. My latest post went up on The Everyman earlier this week, this one talking about the Oscars slap. I take it as another sign that the social framework is breaking down: For my own part, I think the incident raises some interesting points. First, let’s have no illusions about Will Smith’s personal life, which … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Oscars Slap at the Everyman, Core Values, and More
Recommendation: All Creatures Great and Small
Since earlier this week I brought up the wonderful Robert Hardy and his role in All Creatures Great and Small, I think we’ll delve a bit more into it, or at least the book it is based on. All Creatures Great and Small is the first volume of semi-fictionalized tales of the life of a … Continue reading Recommendation: All Creatures Great and Small
Low-Effort Blogging: BBC ‘Wild Side’
Outsourcing this week to funny talking animals, courtesy of the BBC series Walk on the Wild Side, which, as you can see, is just comedic voice-overs on some pretty impressive nature footage. This is one of the shorter compilation videos you can find of the series, but personally I think it's the best overall. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kg1gK2E7dAQ … Continue reading Low-Effort Blogging: BBC ‘Wild Side’
Serpent's Den 