The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: 46 Jahre

They Might Be Giants, "It's Not My Birthday" from the Then: The Earlier Years compilation (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary:

"It's not my birthday,
It's not today,
It's not my birthday;
So, why do you lunge out at me?…"

The Stars My Destination: Apollo 13

Apollo 13 (11-17 April 1970)
James Lovell, Commander
John Swigert, Command Module Pilot
Fred Haise, Lunar Module Pilot

Command Module: CSM-109, Odyssey
Lunar Module: LM-7, Aquarius

The Wayback Machine Tour of Apollo 13
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCXLII: The 50th Anniversary of Apollo 13, Part I
Moonshot Songs o' the Day
Moonshot Songs o' the Day
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCXLIII: The 50th Anniversary of Apollo 13, Part II
Moonshot Songs o' the Day
Moonshot Songs o' the Day
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCXLIV: The 50th Anniversary of Apollo 13, Part III

Saints + Scripture

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

'Tis the Thursday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time (Tempus per annum, "time through the year"): Wikipedia-link.

Saints of the Day
'Tis the optional Memorial of Saint Bridget, Religious, O.Ss.S. (circa 1303-1373, of Sweden, of Vadstena; A.K.A. Birgitta Birgersdotter), foundress of the Bridgettines (O.Ss.S.), formally the Order of the Most Holy Savior.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Thursday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Jeremiah, chapter two, verses one, two, three, seven, eight, twelve & thirteen;
Psalm Thirty-six (R/. ten[a]), verses six & seven(a/b), eight & nine, & ten & eleven;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter thirteen, verses ten thru seventeen.

Commentary: Daily Readings.

Gospel reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus explains that he speaks in parables to baffle the crowds, who “look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.” The parables of Jesus are often exercises whose purpose is to confuse and confound the hearer, overturning her expectations and upsetting her theological convictions.

God is just, but in light of the parable of the vineyard owner, one realizes that the ordinary notion of justice only vaguely indicates what divine justice is like. God is compassionate, but after hearing the story of the prodigal son, one knows that divine compassion infinitely surpasses even the most radical mode of human love.

But why is the biblical God so elusive? Because he brought the whole of the finite universe into existence. God must be other in a way that transcends any and all modes of otherness discoverable within creation.

Video reflection by Alice Heinzen (U.S.C.C.B.): Daily Reflection.

Mass Readings—Memorial of Saint Bridget
The Letter to the Galatians, chapter two, verses nineteen & twenty;
Psalm Thirty-four (R/. two; or, nine), verses two & three, four & five,six & seven, eight & nine, & ten & eleven;
The Gospel according to John, chapter fifteen, verses one thru eight.

Commentary: Memorial Readings.

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: America 250

The United States Semiquincentennial (1776-2026)
"Weird Al" Yankovic, "The Hamilton Polka" from the The Hamilton Polka single (Mike Patriot Whiskey)

Commentary: The semiquincentennial celebrations will continue, just you wait, just you wait.

The Stars My Destination: Apollo 12

Apollo 12 (14-24 November 1969)
Charles "Pete" Conrad, Commander
Richard Gordon, Command Module Pilot
Alan Bean, Lunar Module Pilot

Command Module: CSM-108, Yankee Clipper
Lunar Module: LM-6, Intrepid

The Wayback Machine Tour of Apollo 12
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCXVII: The 50th Anniversary of Apollo 12, Part I
Moonshot Songs o' the Day
Moonshot Songs o' the Day
Moonshot Songs o' the Day
Moonshot Songs o' the Day
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCXIX: The 50th Anniversary of Apollo 12, Part II
Moonshot Songs o' the Day
Moonshot Songs o' the Day
Moonshot Songs o' the Day
Moonshot Songs o' the Day
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCXX: The 50th Anniversary of Apollo 12, Part III

Saints + Scripture: Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

Saints of the Day
'Tis the Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene (died circa 63, the "Apostle to the Apostles").

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene
The Song of Songs, chapter three, verses one thru four(b);
or, the Second Letter to the Corinthians, chapter five, verses fourteen thru seventeen;
Psalm Sixty-three (R/. two), verses two, three & four, five & six, & eight & nine;
The Gospel according to John, chapter twenty, verses one, two, & eleven thru eighteen.

Commentary: Festal Readings.

Gospel reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, today we celebrate the Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene, the first witness of Christ’s rising, who declared the resurrection to the apostles.

In point of fact, the Easter declaration, properly understood, has always been and still is an explosion, an earthquake, a revolution. For the Easter faith is that Jesus of Nazareth, who had been brutally put to death by the Roman authorities, is alive again through the power of the Holy Spirit—and not in some metaphorical sense.

That the resurrection is a literary device or a symbol that Jesus’s cause goes on is a fantasy born in the faculty lounges of Western universities over the past couple of centuries. The still startling claim of the first witnesses is that Jesus rose bodily from death, presenting himself to his disciples to be seen, even handled.

The hope of ancient Israel was the unification of heaven and earth in a great marriage. Recall a central line from the Lord’s Prayer: “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” The bodily resurrection of Jesus is the powerful sign that the two orders are in fact coming together.

Video reflection by Theresa Notare, Ph.D. (U.S.C.C.B.): Festal Reflection.

Saint Quote o' the Day

"f you have the courage to imitate Mary Magdalene in her sins, have the courage to imitate her penance."
—Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, O.F.M.Cap. ("PadrePio;" 1887-1968, feast: 23 September)

Operation ÖSTERREICH

Please Stand By | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

Weekly Wednesday Weigh-in
Last weigh-in: 330.2 lbs. (12 June 2024)

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: America 250

The United States Semiquincentennial (1776-2026)
The New American Brass Band, "Hail, Columbia" from The Civil War: Original Soundtrack Recording (Mike Patriot Whiskey)

The Stars My Destination: Apollo 11

Apollo 11 (16-24 July 1969)
Neil Armstrong, Commander
Michael Collins, Command Module Pilot
Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, Lunar Module Pilot

Command Module: CSM-107, Columbia
Lunar Module: LM-5, Eagle

The Wayback Machine Tour of Apollo 11
"The Explorers' Club," № DCXCVIII: The 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11, Part I
Moonshot Songs o' the Day
Moonshot Songs o' the Day
Moonshot Songs o' the Day
"The Explorers' Club," № DCXCIX: The 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11, Part II
Moonshot Songs o' the Day
Moonshot Songs o' the Day
Moonshot Songs o' the Day
"The Explorers' Club," № DCC: The 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11, Part III
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCII: The 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11, Part IV

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: America 250

The United States Semiquincentennial (1776-2026)
The University of Michigan Marching Band, "America the Beautiful" from A Saturday Tradition (Mike Patriot Whiskey)

Saints + Scripture

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

'Tis the Tuesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time (Tempus per annum, "time through the year"): Wikipedia-link.

Saints of the Day
'Tis the optional Memorial of Saint Lawrence of Brindisi, Priest & Doctor of the Church, O.F.M. Cap. (1559-1619, A.K.A. Giulio Cesare Russo), Vicar General of the Capuchins (1602-1605), formally the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin (O.F.M. Cap.).

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Tuesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Micah, chapter seven, verses fourteen, fifteen, eighteen, nineteen, & twenty;
Psalm Eighty-five (R/. eight[a]), verses two, three, & four; five & six; & seven & eight;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twelve, verses forty-six thru fifty.

Commentary: Daily Readings.

Gospel reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, in today’s Gospel, someone tells Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you.” Jesus stretches his hand toward his disciples and says, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

Family is wonderful. There is nothing in the world wrong with fostering the flourishing of your family. But over and again, the Bible places the goods of the world into question—even something as good as family relationships.

Why? Because family isn’t God. It is not that which you should serve with your whole heart; it doesn’t belong in the center of your life.

Is family the point around which most of your energies revolve? Is it your primary focus as you make your way through the day? Are there times when you feel your family obligations competing with the will of God?

Then remember Jesus’s words: “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?… Whoever does the will of my heavenly Father.”

Video reflection by Janet McLaughlin (U.S.C.C.B.): Daily Reflection.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Memorial of Saint Lawrence of Brindisi
The Second Letter to the Corinthians, chapter four, verses one, two, five, six, & seven;
Psalm Forty (R/. eight[a] & nine[a]), verses two & four(a/b), seven & eight(a), eight(b) & nine, ten, & eleven;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter four, verses one thru ten & thirteen thru twenty.

Commentary: Memorial Readings.

The Explorers' Club, № MCLXIX

Operation AXIOM: The Space Age—The 50th Anniversary of Project Viking, Part IV
20 July 1976: The Viking 1 lander landed at the Chryse Planitia & began to transmit photographs within 25 seconds; a robotic arm scooped up soil samples, which were subjected to four biological experiments for signs of microbial life; atmospheric & seismographic data was collected; the lander operated for 2,307 days (2,245 sols), until a faulty command ended contact on 11 November 1982.

Bonus! Space Age Song o' the Day: Viking 1
David Bowie, "Life on Mars?" from Hunky Dory (Space Cadet Mike Papa Whiskey)

Semper exploro.

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: America 250

The United States Semiquincentennial (1776-2026)
The Pogues, "The Body of an American" from the The Best of The Pogues compilation (Mike Patriot Whiskey)

Commentary:

"When we turned and shook as we had a look,
In the room where the dead men lay,
So big Jim Dwyer made his last trip,
To the shores where his father's laid…

"Fare thee well, going away, there's nothing left to say,
Farewell to New York City, boys, to Boston and PA,
He took them out with a well-aimed clout, and we often heard him say:
'I'm a free-born man of the USA.'

"He fought the champ in Pittsburgh and he slashed him to the ground,
He took on Tiny Tartanella and it only went one round,
He never had no time for reds, for drink or dice or whores,
But he never threw a fight when the fight was right;
So, they sent him to the war.

"Fare the well, gone away, there's nothing left to say,
With a slainte, Joe and an Erin go, my love's in Amerikay,
The calling of the rosary, Spanish wine from far away,
'I'm a free-born man of the USA'…"

Saints + Scripture

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

'Tis the Monday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time (Tempus per annum, "time through the year"): Wikipedia-link.

Saints of the Day
'Tis the optional Memorial of Saint Apollinaris, Bishop & Martyr (died circa 79, of Ravenna), inaugural Bishop of Ravenna (64-79), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Vespasian.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Monday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Micah, chapter six, verses one thru four, six, seven, & eight;
Psalm Fifty (R/. twenty-three[b]), verses five & six, eight & nine, sixteen(b/c) & seventeen, & twenty-one & twenty-three;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twelve, verses thirty-eight thru forty-two.

Commentary: Daily Readings.

Gospel reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, in today’s Gospel, the Lord tells his opponents, who asked for a sign, that no sign will be given except the sign of Jonah—that is, the resurrection. According to the early Church Fathers, Christ’s coming precipitated a warfare with the powers that hold the world in their sway.

In bringing God’s ordo to the world, Jesus had to move into the arena of disorder, but this invasion was not met with passivity or acquiescence. Rather, the principalities of the world—Herod, Pilate, the scribes and Pharisees, the demons—waged a ferocious struggle against him, and it was only through the drama of the cross and resurrection that Jesus managed to defeat them.

He took all of their violence and, through courageous forgiveness, robbed it of its authority, for violence feeds on itself, surviving only through reproduction. When it is met with compassion and forgiveness, it dissipates, its power source gone. In the language of the Fathers, Jesus thereby tied up the devil, frustrating him into submission, leading our captivity to hatred captive. So, as the hymn text has it, “The strife is o’er, the battle done…”

Video reflection by Monsignor James Vlaun (U.S.C.C.B.): Daily Reflection.

Mass Readings—Memorial of Saint Apollinaris
The Book of Ezekiel, chapter thirty-four, verses eleven thru sixteen;
Psalm Twenty-three (R/. one), verses one, two, & three(a); four; five; & six;
The Gospel according to John, chapter ten, verses eleven thru sixteen.

Commentary: Memorial Readings.

Bonus! Moonshot Songs o' the Day: Apollo 11

Operation AXIOM: The 57th Anniversary of Apollo 11
Public Service Broadcasting, "Go!" from The Race for Space (Space Cadet Mike Papa DSKY)

&

National Aeronautics & Space Administration, "Apollo 11 Excerpt 19" from The Apollo Missions (Space Cadet Mike Papa DSKY)

Commentary:

"That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for Mankind."

The Wayback Machine Tour of Apollo 11
№ DCXCVIII: The 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11, Part I
№ DCXCIX: The 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11, Part II
№ DCC: The 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11, Part III
№ DCCII: The 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11, Part IV
№ CMLXXIV: Neil Armstrong
№ MXXV: Michael Collins
№ MXXXII: "Buzz" Aldrin

The Stars My Destination: Apollo 10

Apollo 10 (18-26 May 1969)
Thomas Stafford, Commander
John Young, Command Module Pilot
Eugene Cernan, Lunar Module Pilot

Command Module: CSM-106, Charlie Brown
Lunar Module: LM-4, Snoopy

The Wayback Machine Tour of Apollo 10
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCL: The 51st Anniversary of Apollo 10, Part I
Moonshot Songs o' the Day
Moonshot Songs o' the Day
Moonshot Songs o' the Day
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCLI: The 51st Anniversary of Apollo 10, Part II
Moonshot Songs o' the Day
Moonshot Songs o' the Day
Moonshot Songs o' the Day
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCLII: The 51st Anniversary of Apollo 10, Part III

Saints + Scripture: XVI Sunday in Ordinary Time

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

'Tis the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Tempus per annum, "time through the year"): Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Week
Mass Readings—Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Book of Wisdom, chapter twelve, verses thirteen & sixteen thru nineteen;
Psalm Eighty-six (R/. five[a]), verses five & six, nine & ten, & fifteen & sixteen;
The Letter to the Romans, chapter eight, verses twenty-six & twenty-seven;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter thirteen, verses twenty-four thru forty-three
(or, the Gospel according to Matthew, chapter thirteen, verses twenty-four thru thirty).

Commentary: Sunday Readings.

Gospel reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, today’s Gospel features one of Jesus’s most beloved parables: that of the mustard seed. “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants.”

How does God tend to work? What does the building up of the kingdom typically look like? From the very small to the very great—and by a slow, gradual process. God tends to operate under the radar, on the edges of things, quietly, clandestinely, not drawing attention to himself.

In the City of God, St. Augustine opined that the Church is like Noah’s ark, a small ship bouncing on the rough seas of history. As the great empires come and go, as the waves of history crash noisily against the shore, God’s kingdom is quietly advancing, unnoticed but inevitable.

One of my very favorite images from C. S. Lewis speaks to this principle. How, he asks, did God enter history? Quietly, in a forgotten corner of the Roman Empire—sneaking, as it were, behind enemy lines.

Video reflection by Rev. George Rumley, O.S.B. (U.S.C.C.B.): Sunday Reflection.

Video reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire): Sunday Sermon.

Saints of the Day
Commentary: Wayback Machine.

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the XVI Sunday in O.T.

The Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Rend Collective, "Build Your Kingdom Here" from Homemade Worship by Handmade People (Saint Mike Papa Whiskey)

Bonus! Song o' the Day: America 250

The United States Semiquincentennial (1776-2026)
MxPx, "Kids in America" from On the Cover II (Mike Patriot Whiskey)

The Explorers' Club Special: Gemini X

Operation AXIOM: The Space Race—The 60th Anniversary of Gemini X
18-21 July 1966: Gemini X lifted off from Florida's Cape Kennedy Air Force Station, with Command Pilot John Young & Pilot Michael Collins aboard a Gemini spacecraft atop a Titan II G.L.V. rocket; they docked with their Agena & used its engine to set a new altitude record, & rendezvoused with Gemini VIII's derelict Agena; they splashed down in the Atlantic & were recovered by the U.S.S. Guadalcanal.

Commentary: Although Mike Collins's E.V.A. weren't trouble-free (E.V.A. difficuties would continue with Dick Gordon on Gemini XI & the code wouldn't be cracked until Buzz Aldrin on Gemini XII), Gemini X was a successful mission & a boost in the arm for N.A.S.A. after the emergency that ended Gemini VIII & the myriad struggles of Gemini IX-A.

On a personal note, Gemini X is my greatest regret of "The Explorers' Club's" exploration of Project Gemini. Yes, July 2021 was a busy time (including the fiftieth anniversary of Apollo 15, 26 July-7 August), but I still ought to have dedicated a second episode to Gemini X.

The Wayback Machine Tour of Gemini X
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCCXXX: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini X
Space Race Song o' the Day

Semper exploro.

Saints + Scripture

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

'Tis the Saturday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time (Tempus per annum, "time through the year"): Wikipedia-link.

Saints of the Day
'Tis the optional Memorial of Saint Camillus de Lellis, Priest, M.I. (1550-1614), founder of the Camillians, formally the Clerics Regular, Ministers to the Sick (M.I., from Ministeri Infirmaribus).

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Saturday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Micah, chapter two, verses one thru five;
Psalm Ten (R/. twelve[b]), verses one & two, three & four, seven & eight, & fourteen;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twelve, verses fourteen thru twenty-one.

Commentary: Daily Readings.

Gospel reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, in today’s Gospel, we hear a passage from Isaiah echoing the baptism of Jesus: “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom I delight.”

In the Greek philosophical tradition, God is the supreme good around which everything in the universe revolves. But that Aristotle’s prime mover would stoop down to the level of a creature and move toward him—that would be unthinkable. And in the Jewish context, God’s absolute holiness was consistently contrasted with human sinfulness. But that God would himself take on the wretchedness of his creatures and stand with them—no way.

Yet, in Christ, God himself moves toward his creatures, takes on their wretchedness, and stands with them. Why? Because God has come in order to forgive sins. This is the heart and soul, the beginning and end of Christian revelation. How often the words and gestures of forgiveness radiate out from Jesus, and how central forgiveness is to the liturgy: “This is the chalice of my blood… which will be poured out for you… for the forgiveness of sins.”

This is why “a bruised reed he will not break, a smoldering wick he will not quench.” God has not come to finish off those who have blown it spiritually and morally but to stand with them in total solidarity.

Video reflection by Monsignor Robert Cannon (U.S.C.C.B.): Daily Reflection.

Mass Readings—Memorial of Saint Camillus de Lellis
The First Letter of John, chapter three, verses fourteen thru eighteen;
Psalm One Hundred Twelve (R/. one; or, "Alleluia"), verses one & two; three & four; five, six, & seven(a); seven(b) & eight; & nine;
The Gospel according to John, chapter fifteen, verses nine thru seventeen.

Commentary: Memorial Readings.

Saint Quote o' the Day

"The poor & the sick are the Heart of God. In serving them, we serve Jesus Christ."
—Saint Camillus de Lellis, M.I. (1550-1614, feast: 18 July)

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: America 250

The United States Semiquincentennial (1776-2026)
Glenn Miller, "American Patrol" from the Glenn Miller's 50 Finest compilation (Mike Patriot Whiskey)

The Stars My Destination: Apollo 9

Apollo 9 (3-13 March 1969)
James McDivitt, Commander
David Scott, Command Module Pilot
Russell Schweickart, Lunar Module Pilot

Command Module: CSM-104, Gumdrop
Lunar Module: LM-3, Spider

The Wayback Machine Tour of Apollo 9
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCXXXV: The 51st Anniversary of Apollo 9, Part I
Moonshot Songs o' the Day
Moonshot Songs o' the Day
Moonshot Song o' the Day
Moonshot Songs o' the Day
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCXXXVI: The 51st Anniversary of Apollo 9, Part II
Moonshot Songs o' the Day
Moonshot Songs o' the Day
Moonshot Songs o' the Day
Moonshot Songs o' the Day
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCXXXVII: The 51st Anniversary of Apollo 9, Part III

Saints + Scripture

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

The Popish Plot
"Agnes Mary Clerke"

'Tis the Friday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time (Tempus per annum, "time through the year"): Wikipedia-link.

Saints of the Day
Commentary: Wayback Machine.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Friday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Isaiah, chapter thirty-eight, verses one thru six, twenty-one, twenty-two, seven, & eight;
The Book of Isaiah, chapter thirty-eight, verses (R/. cf. seventeen[b]) ten, eleven, twelve(a/b/c/d), & sixteen;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twelve, verses one thru eight.

Commentary: Daily Readings.

Gospel reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus corrects the Pharisees with this theme of his ministry: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.”

Every saint had a past, and every sinner has a future. That is key to Catholic spirituality. In the lives of every one of these heroes of the faith, there is some conversion. And every sinner—every one of us—has a future. That is why we soak in the mercy of God.

There is a beautiful reference in the Psalms to oil running down upon your beard, upon the collar of your robe. The divine mercy is like that: poured out upon us, poured out without reservation—and not because it’s earned, because it can’t be earned.

God doesn’t love us because we’re worthy. We’re worthy because he loves us. We don’t deserve his mercy, but we soak it in and thereby are transformed.

Video reflection by Jem Sullivan, Ph.D. (U.S.C.C.B.): Daily Reflection.

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: America 250

The United States Semiquincentennial (1776-2026)
Matt Maher, "Woke Up in America" from The Love In Between (Mike Patriot Whiskey)

Commentary:

"…And the voice said, "This land ain't dead,
'You still got better days up ahead.'

"I woke up in America for the love of God,
I woke up in America for something bigger than myself,
More than fireworks and fanfare,
More than a star-spangled banner,
You're still beautiful America!

"I've seen the horizon ablaze in Arizona,
Shoreline shoutin' over California,
Moonlight dancin' over the Dakotas,
It breaks your heart, it's so beautiful!
Lady Liberty, she leaves the light on,
From the west side all the way to Long Island,
Carolina Coast to the Rocky Mountains,
The sun is shining over me!

"I woke up in America for the love of God,
I woke up in America for something bigger than myself,
More than wealth or depression,
More than a red or blue nation,
Here in our hells and our heaven,
You're still beautiful America!
You're beautiful America!
You're beautiful America!"

The Stars My Destination: Apollo 8

Apollo 8 (21-27 December 1968)
Frank Borman, Commander
James Lovell, Command Module Pilot
William Anders, Lunar Module Pilot

Command Module: CSM-103

The Wayback Machine Tour of Apollo 8
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCXXIV: The 51st Anniversary of Apollo 8, Part I
Moonshot Songs o' the Day
Moonshot Songs o' the Day
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCXXV: The 51st Anniversary of Apollo 8, Part II
Moonshot Songs o' the Day
Moonshot Songs o' the Day
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCXXVI: The 51st Anniversary of Apollo 8, Part III

Saints + Scripture

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

'Tis the Thursday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time (Tempus per annum, "time through the year"): Wikipedia-link.

Saints of the Day
'Tis the optional Memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Thursday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Isaiah, chapter twenty-six, verses seven,eight, nine, twelve, & sixteen thru nineteen;
Psalm One Hundred Two (R/. twenty[b]), verses thirteen, fourteen(a/b), & fifteen; sixteen, seventeen, & eighteen; & nineteen, twenty, & twenty-one;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter eleven, verses twenty-eight, twenty-nine, & thirty.

Commentary: Daily Readings.

Gospel reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, in today’s Gospel, the Lord offers to relieve us of our burdens. He is identifying everyone who feels oppressed by the world: by sin, worries, suffering, injustice, the death of a relative or friend, the fear of death—whatever it may be.

Relief comes when we submit to his kingship, his new way of ordering things. We are meant to imagine ourselves as pack animals who have been tied under a yoke and are under the command of a farmer. It seems rather demeaning, but this is what submission to Christ’s lordship looks like: We serve his purposes and go where he wants us to go.

Is Christ commanding your life in every detail? Is he the Lord of your family life? Of your recreational life? Of your professional life? Is he Lord of every room in your house, including the bedroom? Are you totally given over to him, under his lordship?

I know that this may sound oppressive, but remember, “My yoke is easy, and my burden light.” When we surrender to the path of love that he has laid out for us, our lives become infinitely lighter, easier, and more joyful, for we are moving with the divine purpose.

Video reflection by Theresa Notare, Ph.D. (U.S.C.C.B.): Daily Reflection.

Mass Readings—Memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
The Book of Zechariah, chapter two, verses fourteen thru seventeen;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter one (R/. verse forty-nine), verses forty-six & forty-seven, forty-eight & forty-nine, fifty & fifty-one, fifty-two & fifty-three, & fifty-four & fifty-five;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twelve, verses forty-six thru fifty.

Commentary: Memorial Readings.

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Men do not fear a powerful hostile army as the powers of hell fear the name & protection of Mary."
—Saint Bonaventure, O.F.M. (1221-1274, feast: 15 July)

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: America 250

The United States Semiquincentennial (1776-2026)
Aaron Tippen, "Where the Stars and Stripes and the Eagle Fly" from the Where the Stars and Stripes and the Eagle Fly single (Mike Patriot Whiskey)

Commentary:

"No, it ain't the only place on Earth,
But it's the only place that I prefer…"

The Stars My Destination: Apollo 7

Apollo 7 (11-22 October 1968)
Walter Schirra, Commander
Donn Eisele, Command Module Pilot
Walter Cunningham, Lunar Module Pilot

Command Module: CSM-101

The Wayback Machine Tour of Apollo 7
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCLXXVI: The 52nd Anniversary of Apollo 7, Part I
Moonshot Songs o' the Day
Moonshot Song o' the Day
Moonshot Song o' the Day
Moonshot Song o' the Day
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCLXXVII: The 52nd Anniversary of Apollo 7, Part II
Moonshot Song o' the Day
Moonshot Song o' the Day
Moonshot Song o' the Day
Moonshot Song o' the Day
Moonshot Songs o' the Day
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCLXXVIII: The 52nd Anniversary of Apollo 7, Part III

Saints + Scripture

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

Saints of the Day
'Tis the Memorial of Saint Bonaventure, Bishop & Doctor of the Church (221-1274, the Doctor Seraphicus ["Seraphic Doctor"]; A.K.A. Giovanni di Fidanza, of Bagnorea), Cardinal-Bishop of Albano & seventh (VII) Minister General of the Order of Friars Minor, who attended the Second Council of Lyons (1272-1274, the fourteenth ecumenical council).

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis the Wednesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time (Tempus per annum, "time through the year"): Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Wednesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Isaiah, chapter ten, verses five, six, seven, & thirteen(b) thru sixteen;
Psalm Ninety-four (R/. fourteen[a]), verses five & six, seven & eight, nine & ten & fourteen & fifteen;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter eleven, verses twenty-five, twenty-six, & twenty-seven.

Commentary: Daily Readings.

Gospel reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus reveals his intimate relationship with his Father: “No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”

There is something absolutely remarkable and peculiar about Jesus. Like Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and David, he is sent by God. So far, so ordinary. However, this sent one is, at the same time, God. For he speaks and acts consistently in the very person of God: “Unless you love me…” “My son, your sins are forgiven…” “You have heard it said, but I say…” “Heaven and earth shall pass away….”

There seems to be one who is, in one sense, other than the one who sent him and, in another sense, the same as the one who sent him. This one comes forth from the Father not as a creature but as an image and perfect reflection, the Logos or Word by which the Father understands himself.

These two “persons,” the Father and the Son, look at one another from all eternity and sigh forth their love for one another. This mutual breathing-forth is the Holy Spirit.

Video reflection by Jem Sullivan, Ph.D. (U.S.C.C.B.): Daily Reflection.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Memorial of Saint Bonaventure
The Letter to the Ephesians, chapter three, verses fourteen thru nineteen;
Psalm one Hundred Nineteen (R/. twelve), nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, & fourteen;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-three, verses one thru twelve.

Commentary: Memorial Readings.

Saint Quote o' the Day

"The best perfection of a religious man is to do common things in a perfect manner. A constant fidelity in small things is a great & heroic virtue."
—Saint Bonaventure, O.F.M. (1221-1274, feast: 15 July)

Operation ÖSTERREICH

Please Stand By | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

Weekly Wednesday Weigh-in
Last weigh-in: 330.2 lbs. (12 June 2024)

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: America 250

The United States Semiquincentennial (1776-2026)
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, "Coming to America" from Have Another Ball (Mike Patriot Whiskey)

Commentary: A cover (all of the Gimme Gimmes' song are covers, they're a cover band) of the Neil Diamond song, which is actually titled simply "America."

The Stars My Destination: Gemini XII

Gemini XII (11-15 November 1966)
James Lovell, Command Pilot
Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, Pilot

Capsule: SC12

The Wayback Machine Tour of Gemini XII
"The Explorers' Club," № : The 55th Anniversary of Gemini XII, Part I
Space Race Song o' the Day
Space Race Song o' the Day
Space Race Song o' the Day
"The Explorers' Club," № : The 55th Anniversary of Gemini XII, Part II

Saints + Scripture

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

Saints of the Day
'Tis the Memorial of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, Virgin (1656-1680, the "Lily of the Mohawks").

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis the Tuesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time (Tempus per annum, "time through the year"): Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Tuesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Isaiah, chapter seven, verses one thru nine;
Psalm Forty-eight (R/. cf. nine[d]), verses two & three(a), three(b) & four, five & six, & seven & eight;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter eleven, verses twenty thru twenty-four.

Commentary: Daily Readings.

Gospel reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus reproaches the unrepentant towns where he performed most of his mighty deeds. The idea of Jesus as judge is one with which we are distinctly uncomfortable, yet even the most cursory reading of the New Testament reveals its unavoidability. Indeed, it has been said that in front of every church there ought to be a statue of the compassionate Jesus and a statue of Christ in full flight of fury, since both are indisputably present in the Gospel stories.

The point is that when God’s own ordo appears in the world, he necessarily judges the disorder that surrounds him. To judge, in the biblical sense of the term, means to bring into the light, to throw into sharp relief. When good and evil are confused or intermingled, divine judgment separates them, clarifying the issue.

By his very nature, in his every word and gesture, in the very way that he stood, Jesus, God’s Word, was a judge. He was the light of the world, harshly exposing that which would prefer to remain in the dark; he was the unadulterated criterion, the truth in the presence of which falsity necessarily appeared for what it was.

The Queue

"Any book which inspires us to lead a better life is a good book."
—Venerable Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)

I've paused After the Pogrom because it is a frustrating read. Not the content, but the physical book. I knew what the content would be, a laundry list of the moral failures of the West after the 7 October 2023 pogrom; it's tough, but that's what I signed up for. But the physical book has very light text; it's small, but the issue is that it is light, has insufficient contrast with the paper on which it is printed for the low-light conditions in which I do most of my reading. I have yet to devise a solution.

Recently
Pope Leo XIV, Dilexi Te: On Love for the Poor
Bishop Robert Barron, An Introduction to Prayer
Yaakov Katz & Amir Bohbot, While Israel Slept: How Hamas Surprised the Most Powerful Military in the Middle East

Currently
Bernard-Henri Lévy, Israel Alone
Brendan O'Neill, After the Pogrom: 7 October, Israel, and the Crisis of Civilization ***paused***

Presently
Pope Leo XIV, Magnifica Humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence
Kiel Phegley & Jacques Khouri, Strikers: A Graphic Novel
Andy Saunders, Apollo Remastered: The Ultimate Photographic Record *
Andy Saunders, Gemini and Mercury Remastered *
Joe Heschmeyer, The Eucharist Is Really Jesus: How Christ's Body and Blood Are the Key to Everything We Believe
Mike Aquilina, Understanding the Mass: 100 Questions, 100 Answers
Pope Leo XIII, The Leonine Encyclicals: 1878-1902

*Coffee table books.

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: America 250

The United States Semiquincentennial (1776-2026)
Rob Carriker, "The Battle Cry of Freedom" from Over There!: Songs from America's Wars (Mike Patriot Whiskey)

Commentary:

"The Union forever,
Hurrah, boys! Hurrah!
Down with the traitor,
Up with the star!
While we rally round the flag, boys,
Rally once again,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom!…"

The Stars My Destination: Fram2

Better Late than Never | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

The Space Age
1-4 April 2025: Mission Commander Chun Wang, Vehicle Commander Jannicke Mikkelsen, Pilot Rabea Rogge, & Mission Specialist Eric Philips lifted off from Florida's Kennedy Space Center's LC-39A aboard the Crew Dragon Resilience (C207) atop a Falcon 9 rocket. Fram2 was the first crewed mission launched into a polar orbit; the majority of orbits are more or less equatorial. The Resilience was equipped with the panoramic cupola that had first flown on Inspiration4 (2021).

After approximately fifty-five orbits, the Resilience splashed down in the Pacific & was recovered by the M.V. Shannon.

Wang, Mikkelsen, Rogge, & Philips were all rookies.

Fram2 was the fourth flight of the Resilience; three of those four flights were private, & did not visit the International Space Station.

Bonus! Song o' the Day: Fram2 & the Resilience
Dance Hall Crashers, "North Pole" from the The Old Record (1989-1992) compilation (Space Cadet Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary: Fram2 was the namesake of the Fram, the ship Fridtjof Nansen had built for his Arctic explorations & which later carried Roald Amundsen's South Pole-conquering expedition to Antarctica.

The Wayback Machine Tour of Launch America
2020
Demo-2 Launch
Demo-2 Splashdown
Crew-1 Launch
2021
Crew-1 Relocation
Crew-2 Launch
Crew-1 Splashdown
Inspiration4 Launch & Splashdown
Crew-2 Splashdown
Crew-3 Launch
2022
Ax-1 Launch & Splashdown
Crew-4 Launch
Crew-3 Splashdown
Crew-5 Launch
Crew-4 Splashdown
2023
Crew-6 Scrub
Crew-6 Launch
Crew-5 Splashdown
Ax-2 Launch & Splashdown
Crew-7 Launch
Crew-6 Splashdown
2024
Ax-3 Launch & Splashdown
Crew-7 Splashdown
Crew-8 Launch & Splashdown
Boe-C.F.T. Launch & Landing
Polaris Dawn Launch & Splashdown
Crew-9 Launch & Splashdown
2025
Crew-10 Launch & Splashdown

Godspeed & welcome back to the good Earth, Fram2!

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: America 250

The United States Semiquincentennial (1776-2026)
Death of Guitar Pop, "№ 1 in America" from Pukka Sounds (Mike Patriot Whiskey)

Commentary: "№ 1 in America" isn't about American history or American culture the same way as so many of our other America 250 R.B.D.S.O.T.D. "№ 1 in America" is about America as the emblem of success, in this instance a scrappy English band dreaming of having a hit song on the American charts, & the personal fallout from that success.

Saints + Scripture

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

'Tis the Monday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time (Tempus per annum, "time through the year"): Wikipedia-link.

Saints of the Day
'Tis the optional Memorial of Saint Henry, Obl.S.B. (circa 972-1024, the Exuberant; A.K.A. Heinrich II), Holy Roman Emperor (1014-1024).

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Monday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Isaiah, chapter one, verses ten thru seventeen;
Psalm Fifty (R/. twenty-three[b]), verses eight & nine, sixteen(b/c) & seventeen, & twenty-one & twenty-three;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter ten, verse thirty-four thru chapter eleven, verse one.

Commentary: Daily Readings.

Gospel reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, in today’s Gospel, the Lord explains what it means to become a disciple. Once we make the decision to follow Jesus, then every other claimant to supremacy must fall away. Every one of us has something that we consider greatest. Perhaps it is money, material things, power, the esteem of others, your country, your political party, or your ethnic identity. Or perhaps it is your family, your kids, your wife, your husband.

Now mind you, all of these are good things. However, when you place any of them in the absolute center of gravity, things go awry. When you make any of them your ultimate or final good, your spiritual life goes haywire. When you attach yourself to any of them with an absolute tenacity, you will fall apart.

This is what Jesus means in our Gospel for today: not that you should hate your family or country or wealth, but rather that you should detach yourself from them lest they become idols. And only if we do this are we truly ready for mission. If we try to do this work while we are stuck to any number of attachments, we will fail. Period.

Video reflection by Monsignor James Vlaun (U.S.C.C.B.): Daily Reflection.

Mass Readings—Memorial of Saint Henry
The Book of Micah, chapter six, verses six, seven, & eight;
Psalm One (R/. two[a]; or, Psalm Forty, verse five[a]; or, Psalm Ninety-two, verses thirteen & fourteen), verses one & two, three, & four & six;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter seven, verses twenty-one thru twenty-seven.

Commentary: Memorial Readings.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"The Eucharist is an invaluable gift—our indispensable sustenance. It is precisely through her recognition & reception of this gift that the Church in the United States will find strength to carry on her charitable service to the wider society, especially in the areas of education, healthcare, & basic social services, while at the same time continuing her mission to evangelize."
—Pope Leo XIV (r. 2025-present)