Bonus! Song of the Day | The Victors

The University of Michigan Marching Band, "Little Brown Jug" from Hurrah for the Yellow and Blue (The Last Angry Man)

I'm now going to collapse into an exhausted heap on my bed & try to get me some of that sweet, sweet extra hour of sleep. Death to Daylight Saving Time!

Project BLACK MAMBA

Today we remember Saint Wolfgang of Regensberg, O.S.B. (circa 934-994), bishop: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

Scripture of the Day
Personal Reading
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter five.

Mass Readings
The Letter to the Romans, chapter eleven, verses one thru two(a), eleven & twelve, twenty-five thru twenty-nine;
Psalm Ninety-four, verses twelve thru thirteen(a), fourteen & fifteen, seventeen & eighteen;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter fourteen, verses one, seven thru eleven.

The Rebel Black Dot Song of Hallowe'en

Thurl Ravenscroft, "The Headless Horseman" via iTunes (The Last Angry Man)

Commentary:

"Oh, when the spooks have a midnight jamboree
They break it up with fiendish glee,
Ghosts are bad, but the one that's cursed
Is the Headless Horseman, he's the worst.

"When he goes a joggin' 'cross the land,
Holdin' his noggin in his hand,
Demons take one look and groan
And hit the road for parts unknown…

"Oh, close all the windows, lock the doors,
Unless you're careful, he'll get yours.
Don't think he'll hesitate a bit,
'Cause he'll clip your top if it'll fit…"

Project BLACK MAMBA

Today we remember Saint Marcellus the Centurion (died 298, A.K.A. of Tangier), martyred under the Emperor Diocletian: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

We also remember Saint Asterius of Amasea (circa 350-410), bishop: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

We further remember Saint Alphonsus Rodríguez, S.J. (1532-1617): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

Scripture of the Day
Personal Reading
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter four.

Mass Readings
The Letter to the Romans, chapter nine, verses one thru five;
Psalm One Hundred Forty-seven, verses twelve thru fifteen, nineteen & twenty;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter fourteen, verses one thru six.

The Rebel Black Dot Hallowe'en Song of the Day

Beirut, "In the Mausoleum" from The Flying Club Cup (The Last Angry Man)

Commentary: "In the Mausoleum" isn't particularly Hollowe'en themed, except that the lyrics do reference being in one's own mausoleum. Beyond that, the music & vocals are eerie enough for our purposes, recalling to my mind Sufjan Stevens's "They Are Night Zombies!! They Are Neighbors!! They Have Come Back from the Dead!! Ahhhh!," one of the all-time great Hallowe'en R.B.D.S.O.T.D.

Project BLACK MAMBA

Today we remember Saint Narcissus of Jerusalem (circa 99-216), bishop: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

We also remember Blessed Chiara "Luce" Badano (1971-1990): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

Submitted for your consideration, an article from the online newsletter of Our Sunday Visitor on Pope Francis & the saints canonized & beatified during his ongoing pontificate: O.S.V.-link.

Scripture of the Day
Personal Reading
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter three.

Mass Readings
The Letter to the Romans, chapter eight, verses thirty-one(b) thru thirty-nine;
Psalm One Hundred Nine, verses twenty-one & twenty-two, twenty-six & twenty-seven, thirty & thirty-one;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter thirteen, verses thirty-one thru thirty-five.

A Lesson from the Queue

I am not the first to remark upon the indefensible defeatism & doom-mongering rampant in American culture, indeed rampant apparently throughout Western Civilization. It's cause is easily diagnosed: the inadequacy of nihilism & scientism to cope with the vagaries of life, what might be described as the stubborn refusal of the human condition—reality—to conform to certain self-satisfied ideologies. Popular speculative fiction used to be ruled by science fiction, epitomized by Star Trek's inveterate optimism; today, the speculative fiction roost is ruled over by horror fiction, epitomized by The Walking Dead's sadomasochistic pessimism. As has been remarked (Hyperlink), "The future ain't what it used to be!" Poppycock, I say! Not even original poppycock, at that, this collective malaise. I offer the example of Alfred Bester, writing in the 1950s about the twenty-fifth century (2400s A.D.), in the seminal The Stars My Destination:

This was a Golden Age, a time of high adventure, rich living, & hard dying… but nobody thought so. This was a future of fortune & theft, pillage & rapine, culture & vice… but nobody admitted it. This was an age of extremes, a fascinating century of freaks… but nobody loved it.

So, let's get over ourselves. Let's stop indulging the frankly infantile fantasy that none of our forebears had it as tough as we do, that "time" is about to be called on Western society, that the collapse of civilization is one bad day away, one black swan event from being inevitable. Go see Bridge of Spies to recall the atomic sword of Damocles under which we all lived 'til the end of the Cold War. Explore the last years of episodes of "The Explorers' Club" to relive the apocalypse of 1914-1918, which, by the way, Western civilization survived, if only narrowly. We've been through much, much worse. All things considered, we're still on Easy Street. Let me say it again: let's get over ourselves. Let's shake off this ridiculous malaise & get back to the business of leaving to our posterity an even better world than was left to us. Go boldly.

The Rebel Black Dot Hallowe'en Song of the Day

Pete Yorn, "Red Right Hand" (from Hellboy) via iTunes (The Last Angry Man)

Commentary: A cover of the song by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, who took the phrase "red right hand" from Milton (1608-1674), who appears to have taken it from Horace (65-8 B.C.).

"You're one microscopic cog in his catastrophic plan,
Designed and directed by his red right hand…"

Project BLACK MAMBA

Today is the Feast of Saints Simon & Jude, Apostles (first century), martyrs: Apostles-link, Apostle-link Sierra & Wikipedia-link Sierra, & Apostle-link Juliett & Wikipedia-link Juliett.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

Jude is so named by Luke & Acts. Matthew & Mark call him Thaddeus. He is not mentioned elsewhere in the Gospels, except, of course, where all the apostles are mentioned. Simon is mentioned on all four lists of apostles. On two of them he is called "the Zealot." The Zealots were a Jewish sect that represented an extreme of Jewish nationalism. As in the case of all the apostles except for (Ss.) Peter, James, & John, we are faced with men who are really unknown, & we are struck by the fact that their holiness is simply taken to be a gift of Christ. Holiness does not depend on human merit, culture, personality effort, or achievement. It is entirely God's creation & gift. God needs no Zealots to bring about the kingdom by force. Jude, like all the saints, is the saint of the impossible: Only God can create his divine life in human beings. And God will to do so, for all of us.

Quoth the Holy Family bulletin:

After the Ascension of Jesus into heaven, the apostles went to different places preaching the Gospel of Christ. St. Simon & St. Jude are two of the Twelve Apostles. According to tradition, they were martyred in Persia. Simon, known as "the Zealous" preached the Gospel in Egypt. He later joined St. Jude & went with him to Persia. St. Jude is the author of the Letter of St. Jude, warning Christian converts against false teaching & immorality. Jude probably was crucified in Persia, after having evangelized Egypt & Mauritania. He is popularly venerated as the "patron of impossible cases." In the Gospel, St. Jude asked Christ, "Master, what happened that you will reveal yourself to us & not to the world?" Jesus answered him, "Whoever loves me will keep my word, & my father will love him & we will come to him & make our dwelling with him" (cf. Jn, 14:22-23). This question & answer reminds us of the indwelling of the Holy Trinity in our souls.

Scripture of the Day
Personal Reading
The Gospel according to Mark, chapters one & two (of sixteen).

Mass Readings
The Letter to the Ephesians, chapter two, verses nineteen thru twenty-two;
Psalm Nineteen, verses two thru five;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter six, verses twelve thru sixteen.

The Rebel Black Dot Hallowe'en Song of the Day

Eric Hammerstein & the London Promenade Orchestra, "Funeral March of a Marionette" (theme from Alfred Hitchcock Presents) via iTunes (The Last Angry Man)

Commentary: Composed by Charles Gounod (1818-1893).

Project BLACK MAMBA

On 26 October we remembered Saint Cuthbert of Canterbury (d. 760), abbot & bishop: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Not to be confused with St. Cuthbert of Lindisfarne (20 March), also a bishop.

We also remembered Saint Fulk of Pavia (1164-1229, A.K.A. of Piacenza), bishop: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

Scripture of the Day (Monday)
Mass Readings
The Letter to the Romans, chapter eight, verses twelve thru seventeen;
Psalm Sixty-eight, verses two, four, six thru seven(a,b), twenty & twenty-one;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter thirteen, verses ten thru seventeen.

* * * * *

Today we remember Saint Abraham the Poor (d. c. 372): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

We also remember Saint Frumentius of Ethopia (d. c. 383), bishop: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day (Tuesday)
Personal Reading
The Book of Wisdom, chapters seventeen thru nineteen (of nineteen);
Introduction to the Book of Leviticus;
The Book of Leviticus, chapters eighteen & nineteen.

Mass Readings
The Letter to the Romans, chapter eight, verses eighteen thru twenty-five;
Psalm One Hundred Twenty-six, verses one(b) thru six;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter thirteen, verses eighteen thru twenty-one.

* * * * *

Mass Journal: Week 44
Reflection by Mathew Kelly, founder of the Dynamic Catholic Institute.

Grace is the power of God alive within us. It heals the wounds that our sins have created & helps us to maintain moral balance. Grace helps us to persevere in the pursuit of virtue. It enlightens our minds to see & know which actions will help us become all God has created us to be. Grace inspires us to love what is good & shun what is evil. Grace is not a magical illusion. It is mystical & real. I come to Confession to reconcile with myself, with God, & with the community. Confession is not just a cleansing experience; it is also a strengthening experience. Confession is an opportunity for you & God to work together to form (sic) a-better-version-of-yourself. It also increases our desire for holiness, & that is a desire we should fan with all our energy.

The Rebel Black Dot Hallowe'en Song of the Day

They Might Be Giants, "Exquisite Dead Guy" from Factory Showroom (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary:

"Exquisite dead guy,
Rotating in his display case,
Exquisite dead guy,
Swear I saw his mouth move…"

The Rebel Black Dot Hallowe'en Song of the Day

Franz Waxman (composer) & Kenneth Alwyn (conductor), "The Bride of Frankenstein (Main Title)" via iTunes (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary: Captious as I am, I must point out that although the film is titled The Bride of Frankenstein, the eponymous distaff creature (pictured above) is meant to be the bride of Frankenstein's Monster, not of Frankenstein himself.

The Explorers' Club, № CDLXVIII

Operation AXIOM: The World War
Edith Cavell (1865-1915), the British nurse & professor of nursing, resident in Belgium prior to the July Crisis of 1914, who helped over two hundred Entente (Allied) soldiers & military-age civilians escape into the neutral Netherlands until arrested, court-martialed, & executed by the German occupational authorities on 12 October 1915.









Lest we forget.

Project BLACK MAMBA

Today is the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Otherwise, on 25 October we would remember Saint Tabitha (first century, A.K.A. Dorcas), of whom we know from the Acts of the Apostles: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Acts, chapter nine, verses thirty-six thru forty-two, from the New American Bible:

³⁶ Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated means Dorcas). She was completely occupied with good deeds & almsgiving. ³⁷ Now during those days she fell sick & died, so after washing her, they laid [her] out in a room upstairs. ³⁸ Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, “Please come to us without delay.” ³⁹ So Peter got up & went with them. When he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs where all the widows came to him weeping & showing him the tunics & cloaks that Dorcas had made while she was with them. ⁴⁰ Peter sent them all out & knelt down & prayed. Then he turned to her body & said, “Tabitha, rise up.” She opened her eyes, saw Peter, & sat up. ⁴¹ He gave her his hand & raised her up, & when he had called the holy ones & the widows, he presented her alive. ⁴² This became known all over Joppa, & many came to believe in the Lord.

We would also remember Saints Crispin & Crispian (d. 286), martyred under the Emperor Diocletian: Martyr-link P-I-N, Martyr-link P-I-A-N, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings
The Book of Jeremiah, chapter thirty-one, verses seven thru nine;
Psalm One Hundred Twenty-six, verses one thru six;
The Letter to the Hebrews, chapter five, verses one thru six;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter ten, verses forty-six thru fifty-two.

The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Lord's Day

Duvall, "Jesus Never Leaves Me" from Volume & Density (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary:

"Oh, your hand to hold
As we get old and everything fades,
Oh, you can hold me tight,
But you cannot go with me into the light
When it's my time to go,
But I'm not afraid 'cause I know that—

"Jesus never leaves me,
Jesus never leaves me,
What more do I need?…"

Project BLACK MAMBA

Today is the Optional Memorial of Saint Anthony Mary Claret, Bishop, C.M.F. (1807-1870), founder of the Claretians, formally the Congregation of Missionaries, Sons of the Immaculate Hearts of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link C.M.F..

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the bulletin:

St. Anthony was a Catalan… archbishop & missionary, & was confessor of Isabella II of Spain. He founded the congregation of Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, commonly called the Claretians.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings
The Letter to the Romans, chapter eight, verses one thru eleven;
Psalm Twenty-four, verses one(b) thru four(a,b), five & six;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter thirteen, verses one thru nine;

or, for the Memorial,
The Book of Isaiah, chapter fifty-two, verses seven thru ten;
Psalm Sixty-three, verse three;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter one, verses fourteen thru twenty.

Commentary: Your eyes to not deceive you, dear reader, the first reading & the Psalm for today's Memorial are the exact same as for Thursday's Memorial of St. John Paul II.

The Rebel Black Dot Hallowe'en Song of the Day

"Weird Al" Yankovic, "Slime Creatures from Outer Space" from Dare to Be Stupid (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Project BLACK MAMBA

Today is the Optional Memorial of Saint John of Capistrano, Priest, O.F.M. (1386-1456): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

St. John was a Franciscan friar & Catholic priest from the Italian town of Capistrano, Abruzzo. Famous as a preacher, theologian, & inquisitor, he earned himself the nickname "the Soldier Saint" when at age seventy he led a crusade against the invading Ottoman Empire at the siege of Belgrade.

Quoth the Holy Family bulletin:

John of Capistrano studied law at Perugia & eventually became governor there in 1412. He was taken prisoner when Perugia was conquered by Malatesta di Rimini. He had a vision in which St. Francis of Assisi (4 October) invited him to enter the Franciscan Order. He made his religious profession in 1418. He dedicated himself to preaching & being a promoter of the Franciscan reform. He was such a successful preacher that after one of his sermons, more than one hundred young university students entered the Franciscan Order. He spent many hours in the confessional & converted many Jews in Eastern Europe. The Turks attacked the fortress at Belgrade, but because of the prayers & zeal of St. John of Capistrano, who held up the banner of the Holy Name of Jesus, the Christians were victorious. He teaches us to be prompt & zealous in promoting & upholding spiritual values. St. John of Capistrano died at the age of seventy, leaving behind nineteen volumes of his writings & more than seven hundred letters.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings
The Letter to the Romans, chapter seven, verses eighteen thru twenty-five(a);
Psalm One Hundred Nineteen, verses sixty-six, sixty-eight, seventy-six & seventy-seven, ninety-three & ninety-four;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter twelve, verses fifty-four thru fifty-nine;

or, for the Memorial,
The Second Letter to the Corinthians, chapter five, fourteen thru twenty;
Psalm Sixteen, verse five(a);
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter nine, verses fifty-nine thru sixty-two.

The Rebel Black Dot Hallowe'en Song of the Day!

The Aquabats!, "Chemical Bomb!" from The Aquabats! vs. the Floating Eye of Death! and Other Amazing Adventures, Vol. 1 (Captain Thumbs Up!)

Commentary: This is The Aquabats! at their absolute, least kid-friendly darkest. I mean, seriously, this makes the Reel Big Fish seems like Pollyannas.

"I was at the supermarket
Watching people cut in line,
I started thinking about human nature:
What would you do if there was no more food?
My mind began to wonder
About greed and hunger
And just how many of the countries
Are getting ready for another war.

"But the sun was shining,
And everything seems fine,
So count me in,
I'll see you on the other side.

"Chemical bomb! Chemical bomb!
Eyes melt, skin explodes, everybody's dead!
It won't be long! It won't be long!
People gonna run around losing their heads!
A river of blood! Who's gonna live?
The earth is tired of humankind
And I think this world is gonna wash up in Hell…"

Project BLACK MAMBA

Today is the Optional Memorial Saint John Paul II, Pope (1920-2005): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

St. John Paul is recognized as helping to end Communist rule in this native Poland & eventually all of Europe. He significantly improved the Catholic Church's relations with Judaism, Islam, the Eastern Orthodox Church, & the Anglican Communion. He upheld the Church's teachings on such matters as artificial contraception & the ordination of women, but also supported the Church's Second Vatican Council & its reforms.

Quoth the Holy Family bulletin:

"O God, You are our creator.
You are limitlessly good & merciful.
To You is due the praise of every creature.
O God, You have given to us an interior law by which we should love.
To do Your will is to perform our task.
To follow Your ways is to find peace of soul.
To You we offer our obedience.
Guide us in all the steps that we undertake on earth.
Free us from evil inclinations which turn our heart from Your will.
Do not permit that in invoking Your Name we should ever justify human disorders.
O God, You are the One Alone to whom we make our adoration.
Do not permit that we should estrange ourselves from You.
O God, judge of all mankind, help us to belong to Your elect on the last day.
O God, author of justice & peace, grant us true joy & authentic love, as also a lasting fraternity along all peoples.
Fill us with Your gifts for ever. Amen!"
—Pope St. John Paul II, 19 August 1985

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings
The Letter to the Romans, chapter six, verses nineteen thru twenty-three;
Psalm One, verses one thru four, six;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter twelve, verses forty-nine thru fifty-three

or, for the Memorial,
The Book of Isaiah, chapter fifty-two, verses seven thru ten;
Psalm Sixty-three, verse three;
The Gospel according to John, chapter twenty-one, verses fifteen thru seventeen.

The Rebel Black Dot Theme Song of the Day

The Dandy Warhols, "We Used to Be Friends" (theme from Veronica Mars) via iTunes (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary: Thus draws to a close this initial, fifteen-song foray into the theme song theme, initial because there are still a goodly number of theme songs in my music library & I eager anticipate revisiting this theme. You may have noticed, or registered in the back of your mind without quite noticing, one glaring omission from this theme song theme: Where were the innumerable magnificent theme of the peerless John Williams? Star Wars? Indiana Jones? Superman? (And more!) That's just it, who can possibly compete with that body of work? Any of those alone would have made him one of the greats. That so much soul-stirring, iconic music flowed from the fertile mind of one self-effacing man boggles the mind. So, it was decided early to give the also-rans a chance to shine, to set the maestro aside simply so that his genius would not outshine the others' contributions.

Next: Happy Hallowe'en, ladies & ghouls!

The Rebel Black Dot Song of Back to the Future Day

Huey Lewis & the News, "The Power of Love" (theme from Back to the Future) via iTunes (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary: I know that "The Power of Love" is the theme from the original Back to the Future while today's date, 21 October 2015, is from Back to the Future, Part II, but since the occasion is being marked to celebrate the entire Back to the Future trilogy, not just Part II's predictions of what the then-future year of 2015 would look like, methinks "The Power of Love" is entirely in keeping with the R.B.D.S.O.T.D.'s theme song theme.

"The Rebel Black Dot Theme Song of Back to the Future Day" wouldn't fit on a single line as the title of this post, so I made the judgment call that "The" was more important than "Theme," that "The Rebel Black Dot Song of Back to the Future Day" was preferable to "Rebel Black Dot Theme Song of Back to the Future Day." If I had a time-traveling DeLorean, with or without 2015 hover conversion, & with either plenty of pilfered Libyan plutonium for fuel or a functioning Mr. Fusion, I'd make the same decision all over again.

Project BLACK MAMBA: Backlog Edition, Part II

Monday, 19 October was the Memorial of Saints John de Brébeuf & Isaac Jogues, Priests, & Companions, Martyrs, S.J. (d. 1642-1649), martyred by Iroquois, particularly Mohawks: Martyrs-link ūnus & Martyrs-link duo, Wikipedia-link Juliett Bravo & Wikipedia-link India Juliett, & Wikipedia-link Companions.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

They worked among the Huron Indians in the New World, & in 1636 he & his companions, under the leadership of Jean de Brébeuf, arrived in Quebec. They were captured by a Mohawk war party, & murdered, becoming the first saints in North America.

Quoth the Holy Family bulletin:

These French Jesuits martyrs were the first missionaries to go to Canada & North America after Canada was discovered in 1534. These eight saints preached the gospel to the Iroquois & Huron Indians. After being tortured, Isaac Jogues was martyred in Auriesville, New York. St. John de Brébeuf was martyred in Midland, Ontario. Isaac Jogues had the opportunity to stay in France, but he desired to go back to serve the Native Americans, at the cost of his life.

Saint quote of the week: "My confidence is placed in God who does not need our help for accomplishing His designs. Our single endeavor should be to give ourselves to the work & to be faithful to him, & not to spoil His work by our shortcomings." St. Isaac Jogues—Feast day October 19

St. Isaac Jogues, along with his companions, brought the faith to North America, specifically to the Indian tribes of that time in Quebec. He was captured & several fingers had been cutm, chewed, or burnt off. Pope Urban VIII gave him permission to offer Mass with his mutilated hands: "It would be shameful that a martyr of Christ not be allowed to drink the Blood of Christ."

Scripture of the Day (Monday)
Mass Readings
The Letter to the Romans, chapter four, verses twenty thru twenty-five;
Psalm Forty, verses ;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter twelve, verses thirty-five thru thirty-eight;

or, for the Memorial,
The Second Letter to the Corinthians, chapter four, verses seven thru fifteen;
Psalm One Hundred Twenty-six, verse five;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-eight, verses sixteen thru twenty.

* * * * *

Tuesday, 20 October was the Optional Memorial of Saint Paul of the Cross, Priest, C.P. (1694-1775), founder of the Passionists, formally the Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link C.P.

Commentary: See the Wayback Machine above. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

In a vision, Paul saw himself clothed in the habit he & his companions would wear: a long, black tunic on the front of which was a heart surmounted by a white cross, & in the head was written "Passion of Jesus Christ." On seeing it, he heard these words spoken to him: "This is to show how pure the heart must be that bears the holy name of Jesus graven upon it." The first name Paul received for his community was "the Poor of Jesus;" later they came to be known as the Passionists.

Quoth the Holy Family bulletin:

St. Paul of the Cross is the founder of the Passionists. He enlisted as a soldier at the age of nineteen, but the following year he left the army. In the summer of 1720, he had three clear visions in which he was instructed to found a religious congregation. He retired to solitude for forty days & wrote a rule of life for what would eventually be the Congregation of the Passion. He took up residence on Mount Argentario with his brother & two others for a life of prayer & penance. He was ordained a priest with his brother by (Servant of God) Pope Benedict XIII in St. Peter's Basilica in 1727. He died in 1775 at the age of eighty. In addition to poverty, chastity, & obedience, the Passionists take a fourth vow to promote devotion to the Passion of Christ. By meditating on the Passion of Christ, we learn to accept the will of God & true wisdom. It is the path to reach union with God.

Scripture of the Day (Tuesday)
Personal Reading
The Book of Wisdom, chapters fourteen & fifteen.

Mass Readings
The Letter to the Romans, chapter five, verses twelve, fifteen(b), seventeen thru nineteen, twenty(b) thru twenty-one;
Psalm Forty, verses seven thru ten, seventeen;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter twelve, verses thirty-five thru thirty-eight;

or, for the Memorial,
The First Letter to the Corinthians, chapter one, verses eighteen thru twenty-five;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter sixteen, verse fifteen;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter sixteen, verses twenty-four thru twenty-seven.

* * * * *

Today we remember Saint Hilarion (291-371), anchorite: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day (Wednesday)
Personal Reading
The Book of Wisdom, chapter sixteen.

Mass Readings
The Letter to the Romans, chapter six, verses twelve thru eighteen;
Psalm One Hundred Twenty-four, verses one(b) thru eight;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter twelve, verses thirty-nine thru forty-eight.

Project BLACK MAMBA: Backlog Edition, Part I

Friday, 16 October was the Optional Memorial of Saint Hedwig, Religious (1174-1243; of Silesia, of Andechs): Saint-link ūnus & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

Hedwig & Henry had lived very pious lives, & Hedwig had great zeal for religion. She had supported her husband in donating at Oleśnica Mała. Hedwig always helped the poor & donated all her fortune to the Church.

Quoth the Holy Family bulletin:

St. Hedwig was the Duchess of Silesia, the daughter of Berthold IV of Bavaria. She was educated by Benedictine nuns & developed a love of Scripture. She married Henry I & had seven children. She wasa model wife & mother & was generous to the poor. When her husband died, she retired to the Cistercian monastery at Trebnitz, which she had convinced him to found.

'Twas also the Optional Memorial of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, Virgin. V.H.M. (1647-1690), who promoted devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus: Saint-link ūna, Saint-link duae, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Sacred Heart.

Commentary: Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque was a French… nun & mystic, who promoted devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in its modern form.

Quoth the Holy Family bulletin:

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque died in the convent of the Visitation nuns at Paray-le-Monial in France in 1690. She was cononized in 1920. Her father died when she was nine, & she was badly treated inthe family of an uncle who took her in. She entered the Visitation monastery at age twenty-four. She suffered from a lot of health problems. She received mystical revelations of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Lord asked her to receive Communion on the first Friday of each month & to make reparation for the sins committed against Him. She worked to spread this devotion & on 21 June 1686 the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was celebrated for the first time in the convent. Devtion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus reminds us of the unfathomable love & mercy with whom Jesus loves us.

Scripture of the Day (Friday)
Mass Readings
The Letter to the Romans, chapter four, verses one thru eight;
Psalm Thirty-two, verses one(b) thru two, five, eleven;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter twelve, verses one thru seven;

or, for St. Hedwig's Memorial,
The Book of Sirach, chapter twenty-six, verses one thru four, thirteen thru sixteen;
Psalm One Hundred Twenty-eight, verse one;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter three, verses thirty-one thru thirty-five;

or, for St. Margaret Mary Alacoque's Memorial,
The Letter to the Ephesians, chapter three, verses fourteen thru nineteen;
Psalm Twenty-three, verses one;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter eleven, verses twenty-five thru thirty.

* * * * *

Saturday, 17 October was the Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop & Martyr (c. 35-c. 107), martyred under the Emperor Trajan: Martyr-link ūnus, Martyr-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. For the second consecutive year, on the feast of St. Ignatius of Antioch the Holy Redeemer bulletin carried a brief hagiography of St. Ignatius of Loyola (31 July), founder of the Jesuits, who lived & died more than a thousand years after the earlier St. Ignatius. I brought this error to the attention of the bulletin editor as gently as I could, though she was still mortified.

Quoth the Holy Family bulletin:

Ignatius was the third Bishop of Antioch. He was condemned to death by Trajan & was taken to Rome under military guard. On the journey, he wrote seven letters to the churches in various cities. When he arrived in Rome he was devoured by lions at the [Colosseum]. He related his martyrdom to the Eucharist; "I am God's wheat & shall be ground by their teeth so that I may become Christ's pure bread." For him, the love of Christ was worth more than life itself.

Scripture of the Day (Saturday)
Mass Readings
The Letter to the Romans, chapter four, verses thirteen, sixteen thru eighteen;
Psalm One Hundred Five, verses six thru nine, forty-two & forty-three;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter twelve, verses eight thru twelve;

or, for the Memorial,
The Letter to the Philippians, chapter three, verse seventeen thru chapter four, verse one;
Psalm Thirty-Four, verse five;
The Gospel according to John, chapter twelve, verses twenty-four thru twenty-six.

* * * * *

Sunday was the Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Otherwise, on 18 October we would have remembered Saint Luke the Evangelist (first century): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Family bulletin:

Ancient tradition says that St. Luke was a medical doctor from Syria. He was a companion of St. Paul on his second journey & was with him at the end of his life. He wrote the Gospel of Luke & the Acts of the Apostles. He is the patron saint of doctors, along with Ss. Cosmas & Damian. He is also said to have painted an icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Scripture of the Day (Sunday)
Mass Readings
The Book of Isaiah, chapter fifty-three, verses ten & eleven;
Psalm Thirty-three, verses four & five, eighteen thru twenty, twenty-two;
The Letter to the Hebrews, chapter four, verses fourteen thru sixteen;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter ten, verses thirty-five thru forty-five,
or, the Gospel according to Mark, chapter ten, verses forty-two thru forty-five.

Mass Journal: Week 43
Reflection by Matthew Kelly, founder of the Dynamic Catholic Institute

I am a sinner & I need to be saved. I need to be saved from myself & from my sin. There are many [persons] who love me deeply—parents, siblings, friends, colleagues, & neighbors—but they cannot save me. I need a savior. It is the clarity of this realization that is life changing. This is what makes me eligible for membership in the Catholic Church*. Jesus didn't come for the healthy; He came for the sick, & He established the Church to continue His work (cf. Mark, 2:17). I am imperfect, but I am capable of change & growth. We are all imperfect but perfectible. The Church holds me in my weakness, comforts me in my limitations, endeavors to heal me of my sickness, & nurtures me back to full health, making me whole again. And throughout this process, the Church manages to harness all my efforts & struggles, not only for my own good, but for the good of the entire Church & indeed humanity. This is just a tiny part of the incredible mystery of the Church.

Commentary: * 'Twas St. Ignatius of Antioch who first used the phrase "the catholic Church."

The Rebel Black Dot Theme Song of the Day

Queen, "Flash" (theme from Flash Gordon) from Greatest Hits (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary:

"Just a man, with a man's courage,
You know he's nothing but a man
And he can never fail…"

The Rebel Black Dot Theme Song of the Day

Robert Duncan, "Gunfight Epiphany" (theme from Terriers) via iTunes (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary: I never saw a complete episode of Terriers during the show's lone season on television, but I caught enough to hear the theme song, "Gunfight Epiphany," which is fan-bloody-tastic.

The Explorers' Club, № CDLXVII

Operation AXIOM: The World War—The Serbian Campaign, Part I
October 1915: The Central Powers invaded Serbia, German & Austro-Hungarian forces from the north (7 October)—capturing Belgrade on 9 October—& Bulgarian forces from the east (14 October), with the aim of establishing a direct rail link all the way from Berlin to Constantinople.









Commentary: The war had started well enough for Serbia, which repelled Austria-Hungary's 1914 invasion with startling ease, but the triple invasion of 1915 brought annihilation. By the end of the war, twenty-six per cent (26%) of Serbian men-at-arms would perish, while through war, starvation, & disease fully fifteen per cent (15%) of the entire Serbian population would perish. Whatever evils the Serbians & the Bosnian Serbs committed in the Yugoslav Wars in our lifetimes, no people deserves what befell the Serbs in 1914-1918.

Lest we forget.

The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Lord's Day

Emmylou Harris, "Prayer in Open D" from The Song Album: Music from the Motion Picture (Mike Papa Whiskey)

The Rebel Black Dot Theme Song of the Day

Murray Gold & the B.B.C. National Orchestra of Wales, "Doctor Who Theme" via iTunes (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary: Today's R.B.D.S.O.T.D. is the long version of the "Doctor Who Theme," not the shortened version used on television. This is the arrangement used during David Tennant's tenure as the Tenth Doctor, a Golden Age remembered fondly & longed for profoundly. I still watch the new episodes of Doctor Who, but no longer with much enthusiasm, nor hope for better days head.

The Rebel Black Dot Theme Song of the Day

Gary Portnoy, "Where Everybody Knows Your Name" (theme from Cheers) via iTunes (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary: An essentially perfect theme song from an essentially perfect sitcom. Cheers is a cultural touchstone, not on a par with Seinfeld for those of my age, because we were wee bairns when Cheers debuted, but we still grew up watching the show with our parents, or at least well aware that our parents watched & loved it.

Too early in the day for a song about a public house, you say? One, 'tis Friday, & two, 'tis after five o'clock in Europe. So, cheers!

The Rebel Black Dot Theme Song of the Day

Bill Conti, "Gonna Fly Now" (theme from Rocky) via iTunes (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Project BLACK MAMBA

Today is the Memorial of Saint Teresa of Jesus, Virgin & Doctor of the Church, O.C.D. (1515-1582, A.K.A. Teresa of Ávila), co-foundress of the Discalced Carmelites, formally the Order of the Discalced Friars of the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel: Saint-link ūna, Saint-link duae, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link O.C.D..

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

She is the founder of the Discalced Carmelites. In 1970 she wasdeclared a Doctor of the Church for her writing & teaching on prayer, one of two women to be honored this way (at the time, there are now four distaff Doctors). St. Teresa is the patron saint of headache sufferers. Her symbol[s are] a heart, an arrow, & a book.

Quoth the Holy Family bulletin:

St. Teresa was born in Ávila, Spain in 1515. At a young age she wanted to become a martyr at the hands of the Moors. At age twenty she was moved by readingthe letters of St. Jerome () & she decided to become a nun at the Carmelite monastery of the Incarnation at Ávila. Dedicating herself seriously to prayer, she began to reform the Carmelite rule by going back to a more strict observance that characterized the early days of the order. She obtained permission to found the convent of St. Joseph & many other Carmelite monasteries. The branch of Carmelites that she founded is called "Discalced" which means "without shoes." She had mystical experiences of unity with Jesus which are recorded in her writings. She was canonized in 1622 & named a Doctor of the Church in 1970.

Scripture of the Day
Personal Reading
The Book of Wisdom, chapter thirteen.

Mass Readings
The Letter to the Romans, chapter three, verses twenty-one thru thirty;
Psalm One Hundred Thirty, verses one(b) thru six(a,b);
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter eleven, verses forty-seven thru fifty-four;

or, for the Memorial,
The Letter to the Romans, chapter eight, verses twenty-two thru twenty-seven;
Psalm Nineteen, verse ten,
or, the Gospel according to John, chapter six, verses sixty-three;
The Gospel according to John, chapter five, verses one thru eight.

The Explorers' Club Special

Operation AXIOM: The World War
14 October 1915: Bulgaria made public its membership in the Central Powers (Mittelmächte), thereafter known as the Quadruple Alliance (Vierbund), by declaring war on Serbia.







Commentary: There's nothing particularly funny about the Central Powers' invasion of Serbia, but in a previous search for Central Powers graphics I stumbled upon the above images, which are at the very least amusing even if not outright humorous, & amidst the unrelenting horrors of der Weltkrieg, I'll every opportunity for levity I can find lest we forget that we should never take life too seriously, however grim it might all seem.

The Rebel Black Dot Theme Song of the Day

Bob James, "Angela (Theme from Taxi)" from Man on the Moon (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary: "Angela" has naught to do with the model & actress Angela Lindvall (pictured below), having been written before she was born; I am in no way asserting nor implying that she is a namesake of the song. "Angela" was written for & named after a character in Taxi's third episode, at which point it was decided that 'twas a better theme song for the show than the originally chosen "Touchdown," also by Bob James. What does this have to do with my posting a photograph of Angela Lindvall in connection with "Angela (Theme from Taxi)"? Not a thing, but the story behind "Angela" is interesting & Angela Lindvall is gorgeous.

Project BLACK MAMBA

Today is the Optional Memorial of Saint Callistus I, Pope & Martyr (d. c. 223, A.K.A. Callixtus), martyred under the Emperor Severus Alexander: Martyr-link ūnus, Martyr-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

Callistus showed mercy to repentant sinners, allowing them back into communion of the Church after they had performed public penance. Callistus's mercy was also matched by his desire for equality along Church members, manifested by his acceptance of marriages between free [persons] & slaves. This was seen as too lenient by other liturgical leaders.

Quoth the Holy Family bulletin:

Callistus was a slave & banker from Rome. he was accused of a crime & later freed. He was accused a second time & was sent to work in the salt mines of Sardinia around the year 186. With the help of the pope, he was freed. He was ordained a priest & was put in charge of the cemetery which eventually became the catacombs of the popes. Callistus himself was elected pope in 217. He is venerated as a martyr.

We also remember Blessed Roman Lysko (1914-1949), priest, martyred under the Chairman & General Secretary Joseph Stalin: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Personal Reading
The Book of Wisdom, chapter eleven, verse seventeen thru chapter two, verses twenty-two.

Mass Readings
The Letter to the Romans, chapter two, verses one thru eleven;
Psalm Sixty-two, verses two & three, six & seven, nine;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter eleven, verses forty-two thru forty-six;

or, for the Memorial,
The First Letter of Peter, chapter five, verses one thru four;
Psalm Forty, verses eight(a) & nine(a);
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter twenty-two, verses twenty-four thru thirty.

Project BLACK MAMBA

Today we remember Saint Edward the Confessor (c. 1003-1066), King of England: Saint-link ūnus & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

We also remember the Miracle of the Sun (1917), the culmination of the apparitions of Our Lady of Fátima: Our Lady-link (a lengthy read), Wikipedia-link Fátima, & Wikipedia-link Miracle of the Sun.

Scripture of the Day
Personal Reading
The Book of Wisdom, chapter eleven, verses one thru sixteen & chapter twelve, verses twenty-three thru twenty-seven.

Mass Readings
The Letter to the Romans, chapter one, verses sixteen thru twenty-five;
Psalm Nineteen, verses two thru five;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter eleven, verses forty-two thru forty-six.

The Rebel Black Dot Theme Songs of the Day

Josie and the Pussycats, "Josie and the Pussycats" from Josie and the Pussycats (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary: The trifecta! The only other instance of this triune perfection in my library, of which I am aware, is the song "King Apparatus" by the band King Apparatus from the album King Apparatus. This R.B.D.S.O.T.D. is also a timely reminder to me that I have not seen Josie and the Pussycats, one of my favorite films, in far, far too long.

"Josie and the Pussycats!
Long tails and ears for hats,
Guitars and Marshall stacks,
Hot, sweet, super cool,
Don't you know these kitties rule?
Hurry, hurry!…

"Josie and the Pussycats!
Hot licks, we'll give you that,
Stone foxes, that's a fact,
Josie and the Pussycats!

"Even though we're playing in our garage,
Soon we'll have a massive entourage,
Going triple platinum, you just watch us,
Climbing up the Billboard charts,
Breaking records, breaking hearts.

"Josie and the Pussycats!
Long tails and ears for hats,
We know just where it's at,
East, west, north, or south,
Guaranteed to rock the house,
Josie and the Pussycats!
Josie and the Pussycats!"

Montag, 12 Oktober
James Taylor Quartet, "Austin's Theme" from Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery—Original Soundtrack (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Project BLACK MAMBA

Today we remember Saint Edwin of Northumbria (c. 586-633, King Edwin), martyred in battle against the pagan king Penda of Mercia: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: St. Edwin was baptized by St. Paulinus of York (10 October): Wayback Machine.

We also remember Saint Wilfrid of York (c. 634-c. 709), bishop: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Personal Reading
The Book of Wisdom, chapters nine & ten.

Mass Readings
The Letter to the Romans, chapter one, verses one thru seven;
Psalm Ninety-eight, verses one(b) thru four;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter eleven, verses twenty-nine thru thirty-two.

Operation AXIOM
Five hundred twenty-three years ago to the day, 12 October 1492, Christopher Columbus & his expedition reached the New World, making landfall somewhere in the Bahamas. Lief Erikson Day was observed on 9 October, & the Norse did indeed reach North America almost five hundred years before Columbus's small squadron of Spanish sailing ships, but their efforts at colonization were for naught & remained unknown to the wider world. Columbus's discovery introduced this brave new world to the ancient trio of Europe, Africa, & Asia, forever altering the course of history. The world has been shaped for five centuries by the conquest, colonization, Christianization, & eventual independence of myriad nations throughout the Caribbean, North America, & South America. It is all but impossible to conceive what the world would look like in 2015 had not Columbus established contact 'twixt the Old World & the New. I am an America & a Knight of Columbus. I owe my whole existence, generations of my family before me, to the Admiral of the Ocean Sea's voyages of discovery. Christopher Columbus discovered the New World on 12 October 1942, five hundred twenty-three years ago today.

The Explorers' Club, № CDLXVI

Operation AXIOM: The World War—The Third Battle of Artois, Part III
13-19 October 1915: The Action of the Hohenzollern Redoubt—the most significant defensive strongpoint in that sector of the front, the Hohenzollernwerk, had been captured by the British during the initial Battle of Loos & then recaptured in a German counterattack; this last, failed British assault was described in the official postwar history as having "not improved the general situation in any way."









Lest we forget.

Project BLACK MAMBA

Today is the Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Otherwise, on 11 October we would remember Saint John XXIII, Pope (1881-1963): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Popularly nicknamed "Good Pope John."

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings
The Book of Wisdom, chapter seven, verses seven thru eleven;
Psalm Ninety, verses twelve thru seventeen;
The Letter to the Hebrews, chapter four, verses twelve & thirteen;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter ten, verses seventeen thru thirty,
(or, the Gospel according to Mark, chapter ten, verses seventeen thru twenty-seven).

Mass Journal: Week 42
Reflection by Matthew Kelly, founder of the Dynamic Catholic Institute

Repent is a powerful word. But what does it mean for you & me, here & now, more than two thousand years later? It means the same as did to the people walking around the dusty pathways in their sandals, trying to inch closer to Jesus as He passed through their town or village. Repent means "to turn back to God." I find myself needing to turn back to God many times a day, in ways small & large. It is not a matter of guilt & it is not a shameful thing. It is simply that at His side I am a better person—a better son, husband, father, brother, friend, employer, citizen. Over time, I have also come to realize, quite painfully, that when I turn away from God I am also turning my back on my true self. Do you need to turn back to God today? Do you need to repent?

The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Lord's Day

Johnny Cash, "The Man Comes Around" from American IV: The Man Comes Around (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary:

"There's a man going 'round taking names
And he decides who to free and who to blame,
Everybody won't be treated all the same…"

Project BLACK MAMBA

Today we remember Saint Paulinus of York (c. 584-644), bishop: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

We also remember Saint Daniel Combini (1831-1881), bishop: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. I am profoundly attracted to & grateful for St. Daniel's argument to "Save Africa through Africa," especially in these perilous times when the vibrant Church in Africa is needed to help rescue the struggling Church in Europe, indeed the Church in all the West.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings
The Book of Joel, chapter four, verses twelve thru twenty-one;
Psalm Ninety-seven, verses one & two, five & six, eleven & twelve;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter eleven, verses twenty-seven & twenty-eight.

The Rebel Black Dot Theme Song of the Day!

The Aquabats!, "Theme Song!" from The Fury of the Aquabats! (Captain Thumbs Up!)

Skammentary: "Theme Song!" is the theme song of The Aquabats!, not the theme song of The Aquabats!' super show, The Aquabats! Super Show!, which had a theme song that was not "Theme Song!" Theme song.

The Rebel Black Dot Theme Song of the Day

Tito Puente, "The Simpsons End Credits Theme (Afro-Cuban Version)" from Keys in the Key of Springfield (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary: Were I to be chastised for inappropriately interjecting politics into something as apolitical as music—especially music from a cartoon show—I would reply that human rights, the inherent dignity & inalienable rights of every person, imposes upon each of us a duty that supersedes any polite desire (or cowardly dodge) to remain apolitical. Thus, ¡Cuba libre! (Free Cuba!)

Project BLACK MAMBA

Today is the Optional Memorial of Saint Denis, Bishop, & Companions, Martyrs (d. c. 258, A.K.A. Dionysius), martyred under the Emperor Decius, one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers: Martyrs-link, Martyr-link Delta, Martyr-link Echo, Martyr-link Romeo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link XIV.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

St. Denis is known as the first bishop of Paris & the Apostle of France. He was captured by the Parisians & after a long imprisonment, & several aborted executions, three martyrs were beheaded with a sword (Denis, Rusticus, & Eleutherius).

Quoth the Holy Family bulletin:

St. Denis was a bishop who was martyred at Paris in the middle of the third century, along with his companions Rusticus & Eleutherius. They were martyred in Montmartre, Paris, & their bodies thrown into the Seine river from which they were recovered & given a decent burial. The abbey of Saint-Denis was eventually built over his tomb on the outskirts of Paris.

'Tis also the Optional Memorial of Saint John Leonardi, Priest, O.M.D. (1541-1609), founder of the Clerics Regular of the Mother of God of Lucca: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link O.M.D..

Commentary: Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

St. John Leonardi founded in Rome what became the Institute De Propaganda Fide (Society for the Propagation of the Faith) & the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine for the promotion of the Catholic faith & the formation of missionaries.

Quoth the Holy Family bulletin:

St. John Leonardi was a contemporary of St. Philip Neri & St. John Calasanz. He was the founder of the Congregation of Clerks of the Mother of God. He was born in 1541 at Lucca, Italy. He was a pharmacist, but at the age of twenty-five he left that profession to become a priest. He was ordained in 1571 & dedicated himself to the catechetical instruction of children & youth. Persecuted in his own city, he went to Rome & was encouraged by his spiritual director, St. Philip Neri, to send members of his congregation to the foreign missions. In 1603 he helped found the seminary for the Propagation of the Faith for the formation of priests from the mission countries. St. John worked to promote peace, unity, & moral reform in the Church beginning at the top & working down to the members. He died in Rome in 1609.

We further remember Blessed John Henry Newman, Cong. Orat. (1801-1890), cardinal: Blessed-link ūnus, Blessed-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings
The Book of Joel, chapter one, verses thirteen thru fifteen & chapter two, verses one & two;
Psalm Nine, verses two & three, six, eight & nine, sixteen;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter eleven, verses fifteen thru twenty-six;

or, for St. Denis's Memorial
The Second Letter to the Corinthians, chapter six, verses four thru ten;
Psalm One Hundred Twenty-six, verse five;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter five, verses thirteen thru sixteen;

or, for St. John Leonardi's Memorial
The Second Letter to the Corinthians, chapter four, verses one & two;
Psalm Ninety-six, verse three;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter five, verses one thru eleven.

The Victors

Saturday, 3 October 2015
(№ 22) Michigan 28-0 Maryland
4-1, B1G 1-0

Maryland's membership in the Big Ten Conference is a travesty. It is debatable which is the greater travesty, that Maryland is in the B1G at all or that under Brady Hoke we lost the first conference game against the terrible Terrapins last year. Either way, this year things were set aright.

The valiant Wolverines continue to play absolutely suffocating defense, to my great delight & joy. After allowing twenty-four points in the season-opener against Utah (now ranked № 5 in the A.P. poll, & even at that the defense only allowed the epithetless Utes to score seventeen points, since seven were the direct result of an intercepted Michigan pass), the Maize & Blue "D" has not allowed any opponent to score more than seven points & have shut out the last two opponents completely. Points per game allows (after): week one, Utah: twenty-four (24); week two, Oregon State: fifteen & a half (15.5); week three, U.N.L.V.: twelve & two-thirds (12.67); week four, B.Y.U.: nine & a half (9.5); & week five, Maryland: a shade over seven & a half (7.6). The valiant Wolverines are only allowing opponents to score (since it is impossible in American football to score half a point) eight point per game. Eight points! That's preposterous! The valiant Wolverines boast the № 2 rated defense in the Football Bowl Subdivision (the old Division 1A); the № 1 rated defense has padded its schedule with two Football Championship Subdivision clubs (the old Division 1AA). Permit me to cackle maniacally in glee: Bwa ha ha ha ha ha ha!

The offense remains a point of concern, especially since Rudock reverted to type, proving that his supposed improvement against the epithetless Cougars from B.Y.U. was an aberration. The valiant Wolverines continue to lose the turnover game, with fumbles adding some variety to a menu of embarrassment that had been dominated by interceptions. No "Point-a-minute" "Mad Magicians," the offense was held scoreless for most of the first half. I was well pleased by Coach Harbaugh's decision, after a second-half touchdown, to go for two rather than kick the extra point, thereby making the score a nice, round (metaphorically) twenty-eight points.

So, where do we stand? There is little doubt that the valiant Wolverines are "ahead of schedule" as far as expectations for improvement in the Harbaugh era. There is an aura of good feeling around these Michigan men, leading to much rash talk, & not just from the Wolverine faithful. I know fans of the dastardly Spartans who are convinced the valiant Wolverines will defeat both Michigan State & the hated Buckeyes of T.O.S.U. They perceive Harbaugh as a bogeyman, as a faceless terror against which there is no defense. He's not only going to win football games, but also eat their lunches & steal their girlfriends. Forgive me if I'm not yet ready to declare all the traumas of the last decade healed, all the ghosts exorcised. Our quarterback has thrown more interceptions than he has touchdowns, & he fumbles the ball more than any third-year starter, grad student player should. Which is not to say that I doubt he is, as Harbaugh says, Michigan's best option at quarterback (which is truly terrifying for next year). I am reminded of 2011, when the valiant Wolverines won eleven games in Brady Hoke's first season. Yet lest you think me hopelessly gloomy, the differences 'twixt the two teams are legion. 2011 was a mirage based on the nigh-miraculous play of Denard "Shoelace" Robinson; this '15 squad appears to be building on a more solid foundation. I remain confident in the future under Harbaugh & cautiously optimistic about the rest of this season.

Benchmarks: The valiant Wolverines need two more wins to be bowl eligible. They are minus (-2) on turnovers for the year; this must be reversed if Michigan is to prevail against the tougher opponents to be faced in October & November.

Next: № 13 Northwestern at Michigan Stadium. The plucky Wildcats are undefeated & coming off a 27-0 nothing win over the scrappy Golden Gophers of Minnesota. This will be a much sterner test than Maryland, possibly the biggest challenge so far. (Utah is hard to classify in so many ways, especially since it was both squads' first game of the season.) I've not had the chance to watch the plucky Wildcats, so I can't tell you a thing about their strengths & weaknesses. Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald is probably the most temperamentally similar coach to Harbaugh in the Big Ten; that said, nobody out-Harbaughs Harbaugh. HARBAUGH!

Go Blue!

Project BLACK MAMBA

Today we remember Saint Demetrius of Sermium (c. 270-c. 306, A.K.A. of Thessaloniki), martyred under the Emperor Diocletian: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

We also remember Saint Pelagia (fifth century, A.K.A. the Penitent, the Harlot): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. St. Pelagia's hagiography in Thomas J. Craughwell's book, Saints Behaving Badly, is titled "St. Pelagia, Promiscuous Actress."

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings
The Book of Malachi, chapter three, verses thirteen thru twenty(b);
Psalm One, verses one thru four, six;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter eleven, verses five thru thirteen.

The Rebel Black Dot Theme Song of the Day

Puffy Ami Yumi, "Teen Titans Theme" via iTunes (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary: What I most appreciated about Teen Titans was the show's ability to walk the tightrope between anime-inspired wackiness & high superhero drama. The D.C. Animated Universe, stretching those halcyon years from Batman: The Animated Series through Justice League Unlimited was straight; yes, the shows always had humor, but they were never just little-kid goofy. Teen Titans Go! is all goofiness all the time, no drama, no stakes, neither emotional nor apocalyptic. Both of those extreme have their virtues, but only Teen Titans was able to have a foot in both worlds without even losing its balance.

Project BLACK MAMBA

Today is the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary (originally, Our Lady of Victory): Our Lady-link ūna, Our Lady-link duae, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Rosary.

Commentary: Wayback Machine & The Explorers' Club, № CDX.

Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

On 13 October 1917, Our Lady of Fatima told the shepherd children, "I am the Lady of the Rosary." 7 October is the anniversary of the decisive victory of the combined Christian fleet in 1571 at the Battle of Lepanto, defeating an Ottoman fleet off Western Greece. It was formerly sometimes known as the Feast of Our Lady of Victory.

Quoth the Holy Family bulletin:

This feast comes from the feast of Our Lady of Victory which was instituted by Pope (St.) Pius V (30 April) after the defeat of the Turkish fleet at Lepanto on 7 October 1571. The Victory is attributed to Our Lady because many who prayed the rosary imploring God for victory in the battle. In 1917, Our Lady of Fatima identified herself as the Lady of the Rosary. She exhorted the children to pray the rosary every day. The rosary is a mighty weapon for us as we fight our battles.

It is interesting to note that Christian traditions outside of the Holy Mother Church also use non-rosary prayers beads as devotional aids: Wikipedia-link Orthodox, Wikipedia-link Anglican, & Wikipedia-link Lutheran.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings
The Book of Jonah, chapter four, verses one thru eleven;
Psalm Eighty-six, verses three thru six, nine & ten;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter eleven, verses one thru four;

or, for the Memorial,
The Acts of the Apostles, chapter one, verses twelve thru fourteen;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter one, verse forty-nine;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter one, verses twenty-six thru thirty-eight.

The Rebel Black Dot Theme Song of the Day

Seatbelts, "Tank!" (theme from Cowboy Bebop) via iTunes (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary: If you've never seen Cowboy Bebop, you're doing yourself a disservice. You need not be an anime fan to appreciate it, merely a fan of quality storytelling. I of course prefer the original Japanese dialogue with English subtitles, but the English-language vocal cast also do a great job. Watch this show!

The Rebel Black Dot Theme Song of the Day

J. G. Thirlwell, "No Vacancy" (theme from The Venture Bros.) via iTunes (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary: The latest episode of The Venture Bros. I've seen is the special "All This and Gargantua-2." I think that means I'm all caught up; either that or I missed season six completely.

Project BLACK MAMBA

Today is the Optional Memorial of Saint Bruno, Priest, O.Cart. (c. 1030-1101, A.K.A. of Cologne), founder of the Carthusians, formally the Order of Saint Bruno: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link O. Cart..

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the bulletin:

St. Bruno was the founder of the Carthusian Order, & personally founded the order's first two communities. He was a celebrated teacher at Reims, & a close advisor of his former pupil, (Blessed) Pope Urban II (29 July).

'Tis also the Optional Memorial of Blessed Marie-Rose Durocher, Virgin, S.N.J.M. (1811-1849), foundress of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus & Mary: Blessed-link ūna, Blessed-link duae, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link S.N.J.M..

Commentary: Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

Bl. Marie-Rose was a Canadian Roman Catholic Religious Sister, who founded the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus & Mary. She was beatified by the Roman Catholic Church in 1982.

One cannot be entirely sure based on the bulletin's description: Was she Roman Catholic?

Quoth the Holy Family bulletin:

Born in Quebec in 1811, Blessed Marie established the first parish sodality in Canada, with the help of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. At the request of the bishop in 1843 she founded the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus & Mary. This religious institute provides religious education to the poorest & most abandoned children. The community founded a mission in Oregon in 1859. Marie-Rose Durocher died in 1849 & was beatified on 23 May 1982. Bl. Marie-Rose Durocher demonstrates the importance of the parochial & private schools for the formation of good Christians.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings
The Book of Jonah, chapter three, verses one thru ten;
Psalm One Hundred Thirty, verses one(b) thru four(a,b), seven & eight;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter ten, verses thirty-eight thru forty-two;

or, for St. Bruno's memorial,
The Letter to the Philippians, chapter three, verses eight thru fourteen;
Psalm Forty, verse five(a);
or, Psalm One, verse two(a);
or, Psalm Ninety-two, verses thirteen & fourteen;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter nine, verses fifty-seven thru sixty-two;

or, for Bl. Marie-Rose's memorial,
The First Book of Kings, chapter nineteen, verses four thru nine(a), eleven(a) thru fifteen(a);
Psalm Sixteen, verse five(a);
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter nineteen, verses twenty-seven thru twenty-nine.

Commentary: There is within me, because I am wicked & prideful, a temptation to look askance at contemplative religious orders, such as the Carthusians, in comparison to actively apostolic orders such as the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus & Mary. Does not the Christ, over & over & over again in the Gospels, command us to give to the poor & heal the sick? Yes, He often went away to quiet places to pray, but always in preparation for some new period of activity. Is it not then indulgent to withdraw from the world & dedicate oneself to a life of prayer & contemplation? All of these thoughts I entertain because in my wickedness & pridefulness, I am ignorant of Scripture, & thus ignorant of Christ. Today's Gospel, the ordinary, is a tonic for this, a necessary reminder of the value of the contemplative life verses the active service—Luke, 10:38-42.

³⁸ As they continued their journey he entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. ³⁹ She had a sister named Mary who say beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. ⁴⁰ Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him & said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me." ⁴¹ The Lord said to her in reply, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious & worried about many things. ⁴² There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part & it will not be taken from her."

The Explorers' Club, № CDLXV

Operation AXIOM: The World War—The Third Battle of Artois, Part II
25 September-6 November 1915: The Second Battle of Champagne—initial French gains were not exploited due to congestion & a lack of communications in bringing up reserves, a shortage of artillery shells, & small but effective German counterattacks; the French counterpart to the Battle of Loos.









Commentary: The Adrian helmet, seen on the French soldiers above, was the first modern steel helmet to be introduced.

Lest we forget.