Saints + Scripture: Pascha

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

'Tis the Saturday of the Second Week of Easter (Latin: Pascha, meaning "Passover"): Pascha-link & Wikipedia-link Paschaltide.

Saints of the Day
'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint Pius V, Pope O.P. (1504-1572; A.K.A. Antonio Ghislieri, Michele Ghislieri), two hundred twenty-fifth (CCXXV) Bishop of Rome (1566-1572), Bishop of Mondovì (1560-1566); who implemented the reforms of the Council of Trent (1545-1563, the nineteenth [XIX] ecumenical council) & excommunicated the English queen Elizabeth I through the papal bull Regnans in Excelsis (1570); & who organized the Holy League that won the Battle of Lepanto (1571), which he celebrated by instituting the Feast of Our Lady of Victory.

Commentary: Wayback Machine '21 & Wayback Machine '20.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Saturday of the Second Week of Easter
The Acts of the Apostles, chapter six, verses one thru seven;
Psalm Thirty-three (R/. twenty-two), verses one & two, four & five, & eighteen & nineteen;
The Gospel according to John, chapter six, verses sixteen thru twenty-one.

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

Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus demonstrates his authority over nature by walking on the sea. Water is, throughout the Scriptures, a symbol of danger and chaos. At the very beginning of time, when all was a formless waste, the spirit of the Lord hovered over the surface of the waters. This signals God’s lordship over all of the powers of darkness and disorder.

In the Old Testament, the Israelites are escaping from Egypt, and they confront the waters of the Red Sea. Through the prayer of Moses, they are able to walk through the midst of the waves.

Now in the New Testament, this same symbolism can be found. In all four of the Gospels, there is a version of this story of Jesus mastering the waves. The boat, with Peter and the other disciples, is evocative of the Church, the followers of Jesus. It moves through the waters, as the Church will move through time.

All types of storms—chaos, corruption, stupidity, danger, persecution—will inevitably arise. But Jesus comes walking on the sea. This is meant to affirm his divinity: just as the spirit of God hovered over the waters at the beginning, so Jesus hovers over them now.

Video reflection by Deacon Bernard Nojadera (U.S. Conf. of Catholic Bishops): Paschal Reflection.

Video reflection by Doctor Tim Gray (Augustine Institute/Formed.org): Paschal Reflection.

Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of Saint Pius V
The First Letter to the Corinthians, chapter four, verses one thru five;
Psalm One Hundred Ten (R/. four[b]), verses one, two, three, & four;
The Gospel according to John, chapter twenty-one, verses fifteen, sixteen, & seventeen.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Our Church is the Sacrament of God's love. She is a communion of faith & life. She is a mother & teacher. She is at the service of the whole human family as it goes forth toward its ultimate destiny."
—Pope Saint John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, r. 1978-2005; feast: 22 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"The Immaculate alone has from God the promise of victory over Satan. She seeks souls that will consecrate themselves entirely to her, that will become in her hands forceful instruments for the defeat of Satan & for the spread of God's kingdom."
—Saint Maximilian Kolbe, O.F.M. Conv. (1894-1941, feast: 14 August)

Mother Teresa Quote o' the Day

"We are commanded to love God & our neighbor equally, without difference. We don't have to look for opportunities to fill this command, they're all around us, twenty-four hours a day. You must open your eyes wide so that you can see the opportunities to give free service, wholehearted, right where you are, in your family. If you don't give such service to your family, you will not be able to give it to those outside your home."
—Saint Teresa of Calcutta, M.C. (1910-1997, feast: 5 September)

Archbishop Sheen Quote o' the Day

"I was talking to a young woman who was in an iron lung for twenty-one years. The only part of her body that she could move was her head. She told me that she was visited the week before by six seminarians. They told her they were about to be ordained priests. She told them, 'I hope you're also going to be ordained victims. Because our Lord was not only a priest, He was a victim; He offered Himself for others. So you have to do that.' They replied that the Lord didn't want them to suffer. She said, 'You young men are imposing a tremendous additional penance on me to make you worthy of your priesthood.' She was filling up in her own body the sufferings that were wanting to them. So those of us who have the faith have to begin restoring the idea of reparation."
—Venerable Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: SKApril XII

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, "After the Music Is Over" from While We're at It (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Skammentary: The last time I saw The Mighty Mighty Bosstones on stage, which due to the band's break-up turned out to be the last time I will ever see them on stage, was in August 2019, in the "before times." During the album track of "After the Music Is Over," there is a two-second pause before the songs entered a more swelling, anthemic phase. During their live performance of "After the Music Is Over," at that point they didn't just pause but stopped the song entirely as each Bosstones took a knee on the stage for twenty to thirty seconds. That blew my socks off.

"The wrath cut a path of such sorrow,
So sad and so abrupt,
(Tell God we can't let it corrupt,)
Any hope we have left for tomorrow.

"(The final and the very last bastion,)
(Hold on tight to every shred that still exists,)
Remember all the pain and all the passion,
(Fight on with your hard head and fists!)"

"After the music is over,
When what needs to be's been said,
After the tears have all been shed,
When it's over, what is after that?

With The Mighty Mighty Bosstones added to the too-long list of the things lost over the last two years, as the botched response to the pandemic exposed the rot, ineptitude, & venality of all our civilization's major institutions, the question has to be asked: After the music is over—when what needs to be's been said, after the tears have all been shed—when it's over, what is after that? Fortunately, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones did not leave us without an answer, a glimmer of hope.

"After the music's over,
We will hear the music once again.
After the music's over,
We will hear the music again.

Saints + Scripture: Pascha

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

'Tis the Friday of the Second Week of Easter (Latin: Pascha, meaning "Passover"): Pascha-link & Wikipedia-link Paschaltide.

Saints of the Day
'Tis the Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena, Virgin & Doctor of the Church, T.O.S.D. (1347-1380, a.k.a. Caterina di Giacomo di Benincasa), stigmatic.

Commentary: Wayback Machine '21 & Wayback Machine '18.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Friday of the Second Week of Easter
The Acts of the Apostles, chapter five, verses thirty-four thru forty-two;
Psalm Twenty-seven (R/. cf. four[a/b/c]; or, "Alleluia"), verses one, four, & thirteen & fourteen;
The Gospel according to John, chapter six, verses one thru fifteen.

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

Friends, today’s Gospel tells of the feeding of the five thousand, which is a type of the Mass. Jesus is interested not only in instructing the crowds but also in feeding them. Copying this rhythm, the Mass moves from the Liturgy of the Word to the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

The disciples supply a poor pittance—five barley loaves and two fish. Jesus makes the customary Eucharistic moves in regard to the bread: taking, giving thanks, and distributing. And everyone is fed.

During the sacred liturgy, the priest, on behalf of the people, offers to God a small pittance: some wafers of bread and some wine and water. But because God has no need of these gifts, they come back infinitely multiplied for the benefit of the people.

Through the power of Christ’s word, those gifts become his very Body and Blood, the only food capable of feeding the deepest hunger of the human heart. This liturgical rhythm is beautifully conveyed by the laconic lines: “Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted.”

Video reflection by Father Greg Friedman, O.F.M. (U.S.C. of Catholic Bishops): Paschal Reflection.

Video reflection by Doctor Tim Gray (Augustine Institute/Formed.org): Paschal Reflection.

Mass Readings—Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena
The First Letter of John, chapter one, verse five(b) thru chapter two, verse two;
Psalm One Hundred Three (R/. one), verses one & two, three & four, eight & nine, thirteen & fourteen, & seventeen & eighteen;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter eleven, verses twenty-five thru thirty.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"With Catherine of Siena & so many other 'Saints of the Cross' let us hold on tightly to our most sweet & merciful Redeemer, Whom Catherine called Christ-Love. In His pierced Heart is our hope."
—Pope Saint John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, r. 1978-2005; feast: 22 October)

Mother Teresa Quote o' the Day

"I am often asked, 'After Mother Teresa who?' That will be no trouble. God will find someone who is more humble, more obedient, more faithful, someone with a deeper faith, & He will do still greater thigns through her."
—Saint Teresa of Calcutta, M.C. (1910-1997, feast: 5 September)

Archbishop Sheen Quote o' the Day

"If you are really humble, if you realize how small you are & how much you need God, then you cannot fail."
—Venerable Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"You are rewarded not according to your work or your time but according to the measure of your love."
—Saint Catherine of Siena, T.O.S.D., Doctor of the Church (1347-1380, feast: 29 April)

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: SKApril XII

The Scofflaws, "Rudy's Back" from the United Colors of Ska, Vol. 1 compilation (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Skammentary:

"If you got the riddim,
You'll never, you'll never grow old!…"

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: SKApril XII

Voodoo Glow Skulls, "Fat Randy" from Firme (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Skammentary: I never got into the Voodo Glow Skulls, only hearing of them peripherally, until they were featured in Pick It Up!: Ska in the '90s.

"He's big, fat, ugly, and mean,
Too many beers and he's a shitting machine,
Once he's drunk he likes to fight,
Any fifteen year-old in sight.

"Don't try to run, don't try to hide,
He'll steal your car without thinking twice,
Stop the party, hide your shit,
Because Fat Randy's in the house tonight!

"High school parties are his thing,
He drives up in his orange machine,
He'll start fighting with his friends,
Fat Randy gets you in the end!

"Fat Randy snuck in my house,
Fat Randy shit on my couch,
Fat Randy quiet as a mouse,
Fat Randy! Fat Randy!…"

Saints + Scripture: Pascha

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

The Popish Plot
"Father Stu: A Movie Review"

'Tis the Thursday of the Second Week of Easter (Latin: Pascha, meaning "Passover"): Pascha-link & Wikipedia-link Paschaltide.

Saints of the Day
'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint Peter Chanel, Priest & Martyr, S.M. (1803-1841), martyred in the reign of the Futunan king Niuliki.

Commentary: Wayback Machine '21 & Wayback Machine '18.

'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint Louis Grignion de Montfort, Priest, T.O.S.D. (1673-1716), founder of the Company of Mary, the Daughters of Wisdom, & the Gabrielite Brothers, formally the Brothers of Christian Instruction of Saint Gabriel; also author of the spiritual classics Secret of Mary, Secret of the Rosary, & True Devotion to Mary.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Thursday of the Second Week of Easter
The Acts of the Apostles, chapter five, verses twenty-seven thru thirty-three;
Psalm Thirty-four (R/. seven[a]; or, "Alleluia"), verses two & nine, seventeen & eighteen, & nineteen & twenty;
The Gospel according to John, chapter three, verses thirty-one thru thirty-six.

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

Friends, today’s Gospel promises eternal life to those who believe in the Son of God.

In almost every religion, the life of faith has something to do with a creature’s relationship to the Creator; nearly all religions speak of the creature’s dependency upon God, of his subjection to the divine providence, and of his need for grace and forgiveness. Christianity, too, articulates these basic relationships, but it pushes beyond them because it speaks of the Incarnation and the gifts associated with it.

We hear in the third chapter of John’s Gospel that “God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” This well-known verse summarizes the Christian faith and gives expression to its distinctiveness, for it speaks of the possibility that a creature might share in God’s own life.

The purpose of the sending of the Son was to gather the human race into the divine life—the rhythm of the Trinitarian love—so that we might relate to God not merely as creatures but as friends. You see, love becomes complete only when there is another who can receive fully what the lover wants to give.

Video reflection by Father Roger Lopez, O.F.M. (U.S. Conf. of Catholic Bishops): Paschal Reflection.

Video reflection by Doctor Tim Gray (Augustine Institute/Formed.org): Paschal Reflection.

Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of Saint Peter Chanel
The First Letter to the Corinthians, chapter one, verses eighteen thru twenty-five;
Psalm One Hundred Seventeen, verses one(b/c), two
(R/. The Gospel according to Mark, chapter sixteen, verse fifteen; or, "Alleluia");
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter one, verses fourteen thru twenty.

Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of Saint Louis Grignion de Montfort
The First Letter to the Corinthians, chapter one, verses eighteen thru twenty-five;
Psalm Forty (R/. eight[a] & nine[a]), verses two & four, seven & eight(a), eight(b) & nine, & ten;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-eight, verses sixteen thru twenty.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Here is a model image of what the sentiments of the evangelizer should be: A person who suffers with those who suffer, rejoices with those who rejoice, & gives self to all so that others may share an immense joy."
—Pope Saint John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, r. 1978-2005; feast: 22 October)

Mother Teresa Quote o' the Day

"To know the problem of poverty intellectually is not to understand it. It is not by reading, taking a walk through the slums, that we come to understand it. We have to dive into it, live it, share it."
—Saint Teresa of Calcutta, M.C. (1910-1997, feast: 5 September)

Archbishop Sheen Quote o' the Day

"No man hates God without first hating himself."
—Venerable Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"When the Holy Spirit finds Mary ina soul, He flies to it."
—Saint Louis de Montfort, T.O.S.D. (1673-1716, feast: 28 April)

The Explorers' Club, № DCCCLXXX

Operation AXIOM: Destination Moon—The 50th Anniversary of Apollo 16, Part III
24-27 April 1972: The Orion lifted off & docked with the Casper, which deployed a Particle & Fields Subsatellite (P.F.S.-2) before leaving lunar orbit a day early, due to concerns about the S.P.S. engine; Mattingly conducted the second deep-space E.V.A. to retrieve film from the S.I.M. bay, finding his lost wedding ring; the Casper splashed down in the Pacific & was recovered by the U.S.S. Ticonderoga.

Bonus! Moonshot Songs o' the Day: Apollo 16
Stryker Brothers, "Charlie Duke Took Country Music to the Moon" from Burn Band (Space Cadet Mike Papa DSKY)

&

National Aeronautics & Space Administration, "Apollo 16 Excerpt 22" from The Apollo Missions (Space Cadet Mike Papa DSKY)

Semper exploro.

Saints + Scripture: Pascha

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

'Tis the Wednesday of the Second Week of Easter (Latin: Pascha, meaning "Passover"): Pascha-link & Wikipedia-link Paschaltide.

Commentary: Wayback Machine '21 & Wayback Machine '18.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Wednesday of the Second Week of Easter
The Acts of the Apostles, chapter five, verses seventeen thru twenty-six;
Psalm Thirty-four (R/. seven[a]; or, "Alleluia"), verses Y;
The Gospel according to John, chapter three, verses sixteen thru twenty-one.

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

Friends, today in the Gospel, Jesus delineates the nature of his mission: “God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.”

In his passion to set right a disjointed universe, God broke open his own heart in love. The Father sent not simply a representative but his own Son into the dysfunction of the world, so that he might gather that world into the bliss of the divine life. God’s center—the love between the Father and the Son—is now offered as our center; God’s heart breaks open so as to include even the worst and most hopeless among us.

In so many spiritual traditions, the emphasis is placed on the human quest for God. But this is reversed in Christianity. Christians do not believe that God is dumbly “out there,” like a mountain waiting to be climbed by various religious searchers. On the contrary, God, like the hound of heaven in Francis Thompson’s poem, comes relentlessly searching after us.

Because of this questing and self-emptying divine love, we become friends of God, sharers in the communion of the Trinity

Video reflection by Jem Sullivan,Ph.D. (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops): Paschal Reflection.

Video reflection by Doctor Tim Gray (Augustine Institute/Formed.org): Paschal Reflection.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Mary's greatness consists in the fact that she wants to magnify God, not herself."
—Pope Benedict XVI (b. 1936, r. 2005-2013)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Do not be afraid of the demands of the love of Christ. On the contrary, be afraid of being fainthearted, of taking things lightly, of seeking comfort, of being selfish. Be afraid of everythng that seeks to silence the voice of Christ Who addresses each person."
—Pope Saint John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, r. 1978-2005; feast: 22 October)

Mother Teresa Quote o' the Day

"If you are really humble, if you realize how small you are & how much you need God, then you cannot fail."
—Saint Teresa of Calcutta, M.C. (1910-1997, feast: 5 September)

Archbishop Sheen Quote o' the Day

"A smile is laughter's whisper & has its roots in the soul."
—Venerable Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)

Operation ÖSTERREICH: Easter Feaster Edition

Weekly Wednesday Weigh-in
Last weigh-in: 348.2 lbs
This weigh-in: 346.6 lbs.
Difference: -1.6 lbs.

Devouring Cadbury eggs as a weight-loss strategy? Whatever works, I guess.

Bonus! Lied von ÖSTERREICH
Kemuri, "Chocolate" from Freedomosh (Mike Papa Watercress)

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: SKApril XII

MU330, "Rok" from Chumps on Parade (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Skammentary:

"We got the pedal to the metal,
The band's rockin' and it just won't stop,
We drove all night and we drove all day,
That's O.K. 'cause we came to rock!…"

Bonus! Moonshot Songs o' the Day: Apollo 16

They Might Be Giants, "No One Knows My Plan" from John Henry (Space Cadet Mike Papa DSKY)

&

National Aeronautics & Space Administration, "Apollo 16 Excerpt 19" from The Apollo Missions (Space Cadet Mike Papa DSKY)

Saints + Scripture: Pascha

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

'Tis the Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter (Latin: Pascha, meaning "Passover"): Pascha-link & Wikipedia-link Paschaltide.

Commentary: Wayback Machine '20.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter
The Acts of the Apostles, chapter four, verses thirty-two thru thirty-seven;
Psalm Ninety-three (R/. one[a]; or, "Alleluia"), verses one(a/b), one(c/d) & two, & five;
The Gospel according to John, chapter three, verses seven(b) thru fifteen.

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

Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus declares that he must be lifted up to bring eternal life to believers.

Why would God’s salvation of the human race have to include something as horrifying as crucifixion? We live in a time when the human predicament is regularly denied, explained away, or ignored. Despite the massive counter-evidence from the moral disasters of the last century, we are still beguiled by the myth of progress: with just enough technical advancement, psychological insight, and personal liberation, we will solve our problems.

But with this sort of stupidity and superficiality the Bible has no truck. The scriptural authors understand sin not so much as a series of acts but as a condition in which we are stuck, something akin to an addiction or a contagious disease. No amount of merely human effort could possibly solve the problem.

With this biblical realism in mind, we can begin to comprehend why the Crucifixion of the Son of God was necessary. The just rapport between God and human beings could not be reestablished either through our moral effort or with simply a word of forgiveness. Something had to be done—and God alone could do it.

Video reflection by Father John M. McKenzie (U.S. Conf. of Catholic Bishops): Easter Reflection.

Video reflection by Doctor Tim Gray (Augustine Institute/Formed.org): Easter Reflection.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Every believer ought to be an active member of the Church. Every Catholic lay person is invested with the right & the duty to work in order to testify to & spread the Kingdom of God."
—Pope Saint Paul VI (1897-1978, r. 1963-1978; feast: 29 May)

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., Doctor of the Church (1221-1274, feast: 15 July)

Mother Teresa Quote o' the Day

"I can't bear being photographed, but I make use of everything for the glory of God. When I allow a person to take a photograph, I tell Jesus to take one soul out of Purgatory & into Heaven."
—Saint Teresa of Calcutta, M.C. (1910-1997, feast: 5 September)

Archbishop Sheen Quote o' the Day

"Physical idelness deteriorates the mind; spiritual idelness deteriorates the heart."
—Venerable Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: SKApril XII

The O.C. Supertones, "It's a Good Day to Be from California" from For the Glory (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Skammentary: I'm not from California, but I know what it is to cherish your homeland.

"Way our west where I come from,
Every single trunk's got a sound system,
On the fifteens singing my anthem,
California, here I come!

"I remember sitting on the beach beneath the stars,
Singing to the Lord a hymn of praise on my guitar!

"It's a good day to be from California,
Shout three cheers for the Golden State:
(Hey! Hey! Hey!)
It’s a good day to be from California,
I’m going back to Cali and I can’t wait,
I'm going back to Cali and I can't wait!

"There’s where I got my first tattoo,
That’s the church where I heard the Good News,
There’s the school where I used to go,
That’s where the 'Tones played our first show…"

Bonus! Moonshot Songs o' the Day: Apollo 16

They Might Be Giants, "Broke in Two" from The Spine (Space Cadet Mike Papa DSKY)

&

National Aeronautics & Space Administration, "Apollo 16 Excerpt 17" from The Apollo Missions (Space Cadet Mike Papa DSKY)

Saints + Scripture: Feast of Saint Mark

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

'Tis the Feast of Saint Mark, Evangelist (died circa 68, A.K.A. John Mark), inspired author of the Gospel according to Mark.

Commentary: Wayback Machine '21 & Wayback Machine '19.

Quoth Minute Meditations with the Popes:

Lord Jesus, when Saint Mark wrote his Gospel, he spoke of You in simple terms, presenting us with a Jesus Who truly shared in our humanity. Help me to have a simple faith, so that I may encounter You Who are both God & Man.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Feast of Saint Mark
The First Letter of Peter, chapter five, verses five(b) thru fourteen;
Psalm Eighty-nine (R/. two; or, "Alleluia"), verses two & three, six & seven, & sixteen & seventeen;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter sixteen, verses fifteen thru twenty.

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

Friends, today’s Gospel gives us Mark’s very laconic account of the Ascension: “Then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God.” We should think of it as Jesus’ going to his heavenly place in order to reign over the earth.

Now, don’t literalize this language—there aren’t chairs in heaven—but take it very seriously indeed. What Mark is suggesting is that Jesus is now reigning; he’s in the attitude of a king on his throne. This means that he is directing the things of earth from his place in heaven. Again, don’t think of this spatially, as though heaven were a long way away. Think of heaven as a dimension that overlaps with earth, that impinges on earth.

And this is why the Ascension forces us to come to grips with a key question: Whom do we finally obey? Whom do we finally serve? Who, finally, is the king of our life? We legitimately obey all sorts of figures—political, cultural, artistic, etc.—but there is always an ultimate king, someone (or something) from which we take our definitive marching orders.

Video reflection by Monsignor James Vlaun (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops): Easter Reflection.

Video reflection by Doctor Tim Gray (Augustine Institute/Formed.org): Easter Reflection.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"The dynamism of new life is at work throughout history in apostolic service & in the mandate to pass on the Gospel. In order to touch everyone's heart it must be translated into understandable & easily accessible language."
—Pope Saint John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, r. 1978-2005; feast: 22 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Jesus permits the spiritual combat as a purification, not as a punishment. The trial is not unto death but unto salvation."
—Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, O.F.M. Cap. (1887-1968, feast: 23 September)

Mother Teresa Quote o' the Day

"I must give myself completely to Him. I must not attempt to control God's actions. I must not desire a clear perception of my advance along the road, nor know precisely where I am on the way to holiness. I ask Him to make a saint of me, yet I must leave to Him the choice of the saintliness itself & still more the choice of the means that lead to it."
—Saint Teresa of Calcutta, M.C. (1910-1997, feast: 5 September)

Archbishop Sheen Quote o' the Day

"Humility is not self-contempt but the truth about ourselves coupled with a reverence for others; it is self-surrender to the highest goal."
—Venerable Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: SKApril XII

Tokyo Ska Paradise , "Ska Me Crazy" from Ska Me Forever (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Bonus! Moonshot Songs o' the Day: Apollo 16

They Might Be Giants, "9 Secret Steps" from Nanobots (Space Cadet Mike Papa DSKY)

&

National Aeronautics & Space Administration, "Apollo 16 Excerpt 16" from The Apollo Missions (Space Cadet Mike Papa DSKY)

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the II Sunday o' Easter

Second Sunday of Easter | Divine Mercy Sunday
The Red Stripes, "Mercy (Show a Little)" from Made in Hong Kong (Saint Mike Papa Whiskey)

Bonus! Song o' the Day: SKApril XII

The Interrupters, "In the Mirror" from In the Wild (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Skammentary: The lead single off the new album, In the Wild, scheduled to be released in August.

I missed seeing The Interrupters live—in the wild, so to speak—in September or October 2019, before the panicked pandemic response saw the self-reproaching West kowtow to the Chinese Communist Party & lockdown our supposedly free societies. I have plans to see a ska show this summer & am currently gathering a legion of righteous comrades to join me, though I'll go solo if needs be.

Bonus! Moonshot Songs o' the Day: Apollo 16

They Might Be Giants, "A.K.A. Driver" from John Henry (Space Cadet Mike Papa DSKY)

&

National Aeronautics & Space Administration, "Apollo 16 Excerpt 15" from The Apollo Missions (Space Cadet Mike Papa DSKY)

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: SKApril XII

The Hippos, "So Lonely" from Forget the World (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Skammentary: Every year, for several years now, I think, This is the year The Hippos are going to lose their SKApril All-Star status. After all, they only released three albums before they broke up, & only two of those are ska. Yet here they are, year after year, having provided a song to every single SKApril, dating all the way back to 2011.

Fortitudine vincimus, "By endurance we conquer."

"Well, no one's knocked upon my door
For a thousand years or more,
All made up and nowhere to go,
Welcome to this one-night show.
Just take a seat they're always free,
No surprise, no mystery,
In this theatre that I call my soul,
I always play the starring role.

"So lonely…"

Bonus! Moonshot Songs o' the Day: Apollo 16

They Might Be Giants featuring Robin Goldwasser, "Electric Car" from Here Comes Science (Space Cadet Mike Papa DSKY)

Commentary: During Apollo 16's first Moonwalk, Young ran the Lunar Roving Vehicle through its paces in the "Grand Prix," pushing the battery-powered rover to find its performance limits, while Duke filmed the action. Scott & Irwin had attempted this during Apollo 15, but had been thwarted by camera problems. During the third E.V.A., Young set a new lunar land speed record: 17.1 kilometers per hour (10.6 miles per hour)!.

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National Aeronautics & Space Administration, "Apollo 16 Excerpt 13" from The Apollo Missions (Space Cadet Mike Papa DSKY)

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: SKApril XII

The Intercepteurs, "High Barnet" from You Are Hear (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Skammentary:

"You were waiting in a restaurant,
He was waiting for you by the door,
Promised you the sky and you fell from it,
You got so much more than you bargained for…

"He would count the stars up in the sky for you,
He would charm the birds out of the trees,
All these things and more he would do for you,
While you picked up all the pieces of your dreams.

"Now you wait all your life,
But you'll have to pay the price,
But it takes so many years to comprehend.
You can borrow all your dreams
From those trashy magazines,
But you'll have to give them back,
Yes, you'll have to give them back,
But you'll have to give them back in the end."

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: SKApril XII

Mustard Plug, "Someday, Right Now" from Pray for Mojo (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Skammentary: Two-thirds of SKApril 2022 is now in our rear view mirror, but that means there's still one-third of a month —ten solid days—of wall-to-wall ska awaiting us. When should we start? Someday? Right now!

"If I could
You know I would
And probably should.

"Since the first day that I met you
Want to speak my mind, at least, you know I meant to.
Good intentions, getting me nowhere,
Somehow got to find my way to tell you now.

"You don't know how much you mean to me
And my life can't be the same,
But my hesitancy stands ten stories tall.
I've got to find a way to tell you now!

"Someday!
Right now!
Someday!…

Bonus! Moonshot Songs o' the Day: Apollo 16

They Might Be Giants, "Put It to the Test" from Here Comes Science (Space Cadet Mike Papa DSKY)

Commentary: While Young & Duke were on the Moon, news reached them that the U.S. House of Representatives had approved funding of the Space Shuttle, the only part of the ambitious Space Transportation System to survive the Congressional budgeting process. John Young declared:

"The country needs that Shuttle mighty bad, you'll see."

Young would go on to command two Space Shuttle missions, S.T.S.-1 (1981) & S.T.S.-9 (1983).

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National Aeronautics & Space Administration, "Apollo 16 Excerpt 14" from The Apollo Missions (Space Cadet Mike Papa DSKY)

The Explorers' Club, № DCCCLXXIX

Operation AXIOM: Destination Moon—The 50th Anniversary of Apollo 16, Part II
20-23 April 1972: Troubleshooting a potential problem with Casper's S.P.S. engine delayed Orion's landing by six hours; Young & Duke landed the Orion at the Descartes Highlands, conducting three surface E.V.A., traversing 16.6 miles with the Lunar Roving Vehicle to collect 211 pounds of samples, including "Big Muley;" Mattingly took observations with a suite of sensors in the Casper's S.I.M. bay.

Bonus! Moonshot Songs o' the Day: Apollo 16
They Might be Giants, "For Science" from Then: The Earlier Years (Space Cadet Mike Papa DSKY)

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National Aeronautics & Space Administration, "Apollo 16 Excerpt 10" from The Apollo Missions (Space Cadet Mike Papa DSKY)

Semper exploro.

Operation ÖSTERREICH: Easter Feaster Edition

Weekly Wednesday Weigh-in
Last weigh-in: 350.0 lbs
This weigh-in: 348.2 lbs.
Difference: -1.8 lbs.

Apparently, quite to my surprise, my Triduum fasting (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, & Holy Saturday) outweighed my Paschal feasting (Easter Sunday, Easter Monday, & Easter Tuesday).

Bonus! Lied von ÖSTERREICH
The Festival Choir & Hosanna Chorus, "Jesus Christ Is Risen Today" from 100 Church Classics (Mike Papa Watercress)

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: SKApril XII

Less Than Jake, "9th at Pine" from Losing Streak (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Skammentary: Any plea for peace, any plea against indifference, is a plea for justice.

"Which will it be, sympathy or apathy?
Which part of the human condition will I believe?
Tried than it's tested, as I've just decided,
Tried than it's tested, if I have decided I fail.

"When it all came down on that Saturday night
Should I choose a side at 9th and Pine?
Can we still say we're civilized
Watch a kid go down—

"Is it a crowd or the way it's going down?
Is being human watching all this without a sound?…

Bonus! Moonshot Songs o' the Day: Apollo 16

They Might be Giants, "Memo to Human Resources" from The Spine (Space Cadet Mike Papa DSKY)

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National Aeronautics & Space Administration, "Apollo 16 Excerpt 8" from The Apollo Missions (Space Cadet Mike Papa DSKY)

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: SKApril XII

Kemuri, "Thumbs Up!" from Freedomosh (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Skammentary: I can't believe it's taken me this long to get into Kemuri. They're amazing! Truly, better late than never. The world needs more relentless positivity.

Bonus! Moonshot Songs o' the Day: Apollo 16

They Might be Giants, "Dirt Bike" from John Henry (Space Cadet Mike Papa DSKY)

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National Aeronautics & Space Administration, "Apollo 16 Excerpt 6" from The Apollo Missions (Space Cadet Mike Papa DSKY)

Bonus! Song o' the Day: SKApril XII

The Intercepteurs, "It's Snowing on the T.V." from the It's Snowing on the T.V. single (Mike Papa Winter)

Commentary: Today is 18 April, the Monday within the Octave of Easter. Snow is presently falling here in sacred Michigan, & has been falling for several hours.

"It's snowing on the T.V., but it's raining outside;
The chance of snow is twenty-three to one…"

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: SKApril XII!

The Aquabats!, "Red Sweater!" from The Fury of The Aquabats! (Captain Thumbs Up!)

Skammentary!: The Aquabats! put up a zany front, but there is tremendous heart in everything they do. Who along us, especially when we were young, didn't experience unrequited love, oftentimes for someone we barely knew? "Red Sweater!" speaks to the universal experience of man's existential loneliness, while wearing rashguards & staging fights against costumed supervillains.

Bonus! Song o' the Day: SKApril XII

Cherry Poppin' Daddies, "Skaboy JFK" from Skaboy JFK: The Skankin' Hits of the Cherry Poppin' Daddies (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Skammentary: The Cherry Poppin' Daddies are best known for the song "Zoot Suit Riot," the lead single off their swing compliation album of the same name, but they have always been eclectic & as much a ska band as a swing band. Just as Zoot Suit Riot was a complilation of their swing songs, Skaboy JFK is a compliation of their ska songs.