Springtime in Minneapolis

Source: http://imgur.com/r/aww/c1jhwNK

It's warm
and sunny
and the snow is melting...

I was told it would rain
and snow,
but it didn't.


Song for this post here.

Just because you may experience attraction to the same sex ...

The Damned, Visconti, 1969

Or experience 'same sex attraction', does not mean you are queer ...

Nor does it mean you are disordered.  The attraction itself is disordered - but that in no way means you are.

Not all people who experience homosexual attraction are gay or queer or disordered?  No way.

Concupiscence: it remains in those that are baptized in order that they may struggle for the victory.

For example, some people are tempted to self pleasuring themselves.  It's a disordered desire - arising from concupiscence.  If they engage in it - it's a sin.  If they don't act upon the attraction or give in to the temptation - there is no sin.  The temptation, the inclination, springs from original sin and incites to sin - it is not formally sin.

In the discussion which followed the publication of the Declaration, however, an overly benign interpretation was given to the homosexual condition itself, some going so far as to call it neutral, or even good. Although the particular inclination of the homosexual person is not a sin, it is a more or less strong tendency ordered toward an intrinsic moral evil; and thus the inclination itself must be seen as an objective disorder. 

Therefore special concern and pastoral attention should be directed toward those who have this condition, lest they be led to believe that the living out of this orientation in homosexual activity is a morally acceptable option. It is not. - Letter to Bishops

Therefore it seems to me the CDF Letter to Bishops on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons is talking about concupiscence when warning that the inclination itself must be seen as an objective disorder.  It is not a sin - it is an inclination to sin.  It is the result of the Fall - original sin.  The CDF letter is a pastoral response to what has turned out to be a cultural change in giving an overly benign interpretation to the condition itself.

I believe that is why Austin Ruse and people like Joseph Sciambra point out the unsavory aspects of homosexual behavior, as Mr. Ruse did in his latest essay for Crisis, Their Sexual Proclivities Are Killing Them.  Ruse's essays have a way of upsetting people simply because they are becoming more graphic, and the cultural attitude has changed completely, as a result of  "an overly benign interpretation was given to the homosexual condition itself, some going so far as to call it neutral or even good.” (CDF 1992 Letter)  As I said in a comment on Crisis, 'reality bites'.  It stings.

Gay activists and gay Christians are always uncomfortable with these discussion and resent the terminology of disorder or objective disorder - which are classic moral, theological terms used by the Church.  It seems to me gay Christians are more determined to use terminology intended to give an overly benign interpretation of the condition itself.  It is very similar to late 19th early 20th century homophile or same sex friendship movements, such as the Uranians and others.  (A synopsis of these can be found here.)  One sees that Austin Ruse's reintroduction of the term 'homophile' is in itself a rather respectful term for the Spiritual Friendship, Gay Christian movement/network.

Without fail every time you write about homosexuality, gay/ssa persons, you get flak. "Not every one is like that" is the most common thread, as well as the claim, "That's a problem from an older generation - no longer applicable to the younger more tolerant generation." Same old same old. Truth be told, the re-education of Western culture has been driven by serious efforts beginning in the 19th century by homophile movements working for gender equality, and the elimination of sexual boundaries. It has been going on for well over a century. So yes - younger people and their parents have a greater openness and acceptance of what was once regarded as deviant culture.

It's interesting how much these movements have influenced modern thought, contemporary culture.  Early on the introduction of pants for women - menswear became acceptable pretty much due to early LGBTQ movements.  (For another synopsis of these, go here.)

Having said all that, and involving myself in this discussion needlessly, I believe this is why people like Melinda Selmys and others get really upset over the fact someone like Austin Ruse is willing to take flak for pointing out aspects of the homosexual underworld they know all about, but would rather not hear repeatedly.  Selmys reacted to Ruse's post in a big way here: Sanctioned Bigotry.  She makes some good points but pretty much trashes Ruse and company... conservative bigots.  I'm not really a conservative, neither am I a bigot.

I began this post as my own sort of response, why?  I'm not sure.  I noted today Melinda has another post listing how and why such posts seen in Crisis Magazine do not work as a deterrent to homosexual behavior, much less attract anyone to the Catholic Church.  While that may be true and I can agree to some extent, the fact is not all are going to be 'saved' or even desire to be religious or Christian.  Nevertheless, Selmys recent post is worth considering, she titled it: Telling the Deep Dark Truth About the Sordid Sin of Sodomy in Love.  A strange oxymoron for a title, sodomy in love.

I'll let them duke it out though.  I think it's called dialogue.  Truth in charity, I guess.

Selmys is crazy smart.  Truth be told, gay people are indeed different.  Being different is just fine.  Did you ever see The Imitation Game?   It wasn't Alan Turing's sexual proclivities which killed him.  Being kind to gay people is not being overly benign to the condition itself... as today's second reading says: Love is kind.



Song for this post here.

Kitty In Boots - A newly discovered Beatrix Potter book...

-source-

Potter had only completed a single drawing to go with the manuscript.

I can't wait!


Did you ever see the film?

Ewan McGregor and Renee Zellweger at the printers in Miss Potter

Having fun setting up on Etsy...

It's like a real job ... styling, shooting, editing, publishing.  There is still much to stock and much to write.  It's fun.

Check it out if you are curious:  Dogwood Details: Antiques and Fine Art

The Sinner's Pope...

For me, one of the greatest gifts of this papacy is the Pope's exposition on the mercy of God - God's love for sinners ... and sin itself.

Today the Pope spoke of King David again - and his grave crimes - his mortal sins - arranging for the killing of Uriah.  Astonishingly, David's sin did not harden his heart or lead to total 'corruption' as the Holy Father points out:

“David is a saint, but also a sinner.” He falls on account of lust, the Pope said, and yet God still loves him very much. However, the Pope notes, “the great, the noble David” feels so secure – “because the kingdom was strong” – that after having committed adultery he does everything in his power to arrange the death of a loyal man, falsely passing it off as an accidental death in battle.

“This is a moment in David’s life that makes us see a moment through which we all can pass in our life: it is the passage from sin to corruption. This is where David begins, taking the first step towards corruption. He has the power, he has the strength. And for this reason, corruption is a very easy sin for all of us who have some power, whether it be ecclesiastical, religious, economic, political… Because the devil makes us feel certain: ‘I can do it’.”

Corruption – from which David was saved by the grace of God – had wounded the heart of that “courageous youth” who had faced the Philistine with a sling and five small stones. “Today I want to emphasize only one thing,” the Pope concluded. “There is a moment where the attitude of sin, or a moment where our situation is so secure and we see well and we have so much power” that sin “stops” and becomes “corruption.” And “one of the ugliest things” about corruption is that the one who becomes corrupt thinks he has “no need for forgiveness.” - Chris Wells, Vatican Radio

The Holy Father has really helped me to examine my conscience in a new light, from a completely different perspective - perhaps even how God sees me.

... for he knows of what we are made,
he remembers that we are dust. -Ps. 103:14

That's how the Pope makes me feel.

(And my parish priests as well.)

Such a strange bunch...

So weird - even without Trump.

It's like the cast of Green Acres up there.

Mr. Haney's part played by Ted Cruz.

Lisa's part played by Donald Trump.

(It's all about the hair and NY.)

Fiorina and Rubio.

What?

The Count of Mont Amis ...

Works for me.

"There is a love, of sorts: it is love of self, love for oneself. That narcissist idolatry that leads them to betray others, that leads them to abuse of trust. " - Pope Francis


At my last confession Fr. told me I should start examining myself as to who is Lord of my life.

Could the Internet be?  Do I spend too much time on it?  Does it command all of my 'devotion'?  Is the lap top a sort of 'home altar'?  (I'm glad I don't have a tablet or smart phone!)

I always think of the Gospel passage: "How can you believe when you accept praise from one another?"

Contemplative saints, such as Margaret Mary and Therese always cautioned against self-love, seeking affirmation and praise ...  Which brings me to the count ... the follower's app.

Somehow, I got sucked into watching it and checking stats.  I used to not notice - yet the wider my territorial spread, the more I began to pat attention.  (I'm on Tumbler now as well as Etsy.  The etsy thing is more like an estate sale than anything - as well as another place to get rid of my art.)

"Never take a man for your example no matter how holy he may be, for the devil will show you his faults." - John of the Cross


The followers app is weird though.  It fluctuates so much - which is why I never really valued it so much.  Although, since last weekend I noted one app went from 291 to 267.  And then, and then ... I started wondering why.  Is it something I said?  (LOL!)

You will soon be deceived if you only regard the outward show of men. - Imitation, Bk. II, Chp. 7:3


The thing is - over the years it goes up and down and some people I know have used it to punish, or not - they just decided they don't like me.  But it's just a stupid app.  I wonder if it means anything at all except for people who live online, in their virtual world, astral projecting themselves around the digital continent?

John of the Cross, quoting Isaiah wrote, "He who praises you deceives you."


It's funny.  Going through archives, I've been deleting stupid posts or condemnatory, gossipy posts - especially posts written about controversial issues or persons wherein I weigh in as a meddlesome old busybody - pretty much to get hits and up my stats.  (See what a hypocrite I am?)  Interestingly, I came across comments by former friend-followers praising me for saying this or that, or commending me for something I said.  See how fickle Internet, online friendships can be?  We must laugh or end up like

Problems arise when you become too concerned about it...

"It is quite foolish to hope you will reach your dreams 

while you are hanging onto people intent on pulling you down."

— Dodinsky (via onlinecounsellingcollege)

Song for this post here.

The Miracle at Snow Mass ... on the Turnpike.

Introibo ad altare Dei.

Ad Deum qui laetificat juventutem meam.

To God, the joy of my youth.

The Turnpike Mass keeps edifying ...

Eucharistic Miracle?

Word of a possible Eucharistic multiplication miracle has already been passed around on social media, but Rotondo can personally confirm there might be some truth to it: 

I would like to mention how at first, we only had priests, a Mass kit, and 6 hosts. Somehow an estimated 30-40 hosts showed up and nobody knows from where. The priest then split up the hosts into little pieces so everyone could receive, which was an estimated 500+ people. 

It was God’s miracle that they hosts were able to be distributed to everyone, all down to the last person, who then received the last particles inside the priest’s chalice. There was exactly enough hosts for everyone. - ChurchPop

The event itself is like a miracle - the students gathered for Mass in the snow - their incredible witness of faith and devotion.  The story is taking on a very rich significance, miracle - or not.  (Personally, I believe it was a miracle.)  As I told Yaya in the com box of the last post on the subject:

I got goose bumps reading that! It is so scriptural - so beautiful. Years and years ago I was at Notre Dame for a Charismatic Conference - I walked into the church for adoration, hundreds of young people filled the church, many sitting and kneeling around the altar - on the steps, with the Blessed Sacrament exposed - it reminded me of the gospel scenes on the hillsides, when Jesus had everyone recline and sit while he taught them and fed them. 

This Mass in the snow impresses me just like that experience. This incident - with the young people and priests renews my youth! It renews and edifies my faith. - Miracle in the snow

My responsorial psalm on this:

 My soul, give thanks to the Lord
all my being, bless his holy name.
 My soul, give thanks to the Lord
and never forget all his blessings.

 It is he who forgives all your guilt,
who heals every one of your ills,
 who redeems your life from the grave,
who crowns you with love and compassion,
 who fills your life with good things,
renewing your youth like an eagle's. - Ps. 103

This is it!  This is the faith, this is the truth, this is the Church!  The Church is so blessed with faithful laity, young and old, and faithful priests - good priests and deacons - young and old.  

Miracle in the Snow ...

-source-

OC Sisters of the Valley seek Paypal Approval.

-source-

ARCNews reports O.Cann. Lay Associates (shown above)

presented the request for Paypal Approval

at the Wednesday audience.

O. Cann. Foundresses 

Ora - labora is their motto -

their work is their prayer.

They like to describe their way of life as 'spiritual, but not religious' - which may explain why they have so many vocations.

One of the foundresses is from the Wisconsin monastery of Perpetual Inhalation, in the very fertile area known as the Coulee Region just outside La Crosse ... they were a strictly cloistered and contemplative community.

Sadly, and mysteriously, the La Crosse monastery had to be suppressed.

After 10 years online, I think I finally get Jared French.

Evasion - Jared French

I knew it - or must have understood something intuitively, because this image is often reflected in my private work. Today I just noticed the blank sheet on the wall.  That is so key.  The figures always spoke to me.  They are indeed evasive.  French is showing us how deeply evasive such tell-all, narrative paintings or 'studies' can be - much like memoir.  There is a distinct confessional element here as well.  Pious positions, external piety can be evasive within that context.  John of the Cross writes about it regarding beginners - going to different priests and wishing to appear virtuous.  Face in palm - we often can't face up to such things - until stripped of everything ...

All the 'Magic Realists' or at least the top three, French, Tooker, and Cadmus to some extent, have been major influences in my work - even unconsciously.  I did a painting early on, The Dream - and another artist told me it reminded him of Tooker.  I had to look up Tooker to see what he was talking about.  I saw it.

In school, I did a watercolor with figures which resembles this work:

Business - Jared French

It startled me today ... my school piece depicted a man seated in the exact same pose - in a cafe.

I had never even heard of French or Magic Realism at the time - I recall the instructor looking at me curiously.

The experience is similar to my ex-voto paintings.  The same thing happened.

I made ex-votos with scenes from my life associated with

a particular private devotion.  Only in the late 1990's 

did I discover Frida Khalo's work.

Her style related to what I was attempting.

Intuition plays a big role in art, in life - it is important not to ignore it.

I once restored a very old icon for a bishop.

It was a remarkable experience.

Of course imagination was at play,

although intuitively, I'm convinced I encountered

the monk who painted it in the 18th century...

Anyway - here is a Jared French I want a friend to see ... I wonder what he will think of it?

Crew - Jared French

Will he see what I see?

Vocations: This is so beautiful - The Sisters of the Valley ...

“We believe that one day science will prove that there’s actually a transference of energy where we do our prayers with the medicine, and that travels with the medicine to the people." - Sister Kate, OC*

I would love to be their chaplain.


*OC - Order of Cannabis

Works for me

Abbey-Roads Tutorial: Beating around the bush ...

That's what happens when you are unable to get a straight answer from someone - or pin them down to understand their point.

Here are a few synonyms for that:

baffle
confound
dodge
evade

shun
stall
stonewall

unfriend
block
avoid
ignore

dissimulate

what?

Allow yourself to be found ...

-source-

To be loved.

In the light of this love, which is strong as death (cf. Song 8:6), the real poor are revealed as those who refuse to see themselves as such. They consider themselves rich, but they are actually the poorest of the poor. This is because they are slaves to sin, which leads them to use wealth and power not for the service of God and others, but to stifle within their hearts the profound sense that they too are only poor beggars. The greater their power and wealth, the more this blindness and deception can grow. It can even reach the point of being blind to Lazarus begging at their doorstep (cf. Lk 16:20-21). Lazarus, the poor man, is a figure of Christ, who through the poor pleads for our conversion. As such, he represents the possibility of conversion which God offers us and which we may well fail to see. Such blindness is often accompanied by the proud illusion of our own omnipotence, which reflects in a sinister way the diabolical “you will be like God” (Gen 3:5) which is the root of all sin. - Pope Francis, Message for Lent

Allow yourself to be found ... out.

I like this: " ...the real poor are revealed as those who refuse to see themselves as such."



When there are no more lies ...

When you're down and they're counting 

When your secrets, all found out 

When your troubles, take to mounting 

When the map you have, leads you to doubt 

When there's no Information and the compass turns 

To nowhere that you know well

When the doctor failed to heal you 

When no medicine chest, can make you well 

When no counsel, leads to comfort 

When there are no more lies, they can tell 

No more useless information and the compass spins 

The compass spins between Heaven and Hell - Sting 

Allow yourself to be found.

Dirt Digging: Looking for the Kolvenbach Report ...

Kolvenbach with JPII

Too bad people don't have more to do.

The Holy Father had a negative report filed by a Jesuit when he was Fr. Bergoglio, and his name was offered as a possible auxiliary to the Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1992.  Traditional bloggists are trolling for the contents to be made public, pointing out:

The report is said to be highly detailed, and to reveal all the character inclinations that are evident in the personality of the current Pope.

Now, it would be one of the scoops of the century if a journalist revealed to the world this most important historical document. - New Catholic

Fr. Bergoglio was not liked by the Jesuits at the time and was more or less exiled because he was deemed to conservative.  That's a fact.

I'm reminded of the notorious anti-Catholic sede-vacante site, Novus Ordo Watch, the editors of which had a sort of open bounty on Cardinal Mahoney, willing to pay for any damning information on him - such as homosexuality.

This is no different than the anti-clericalist determination to shame and destroy the reputations and vocations of Archbishop Nienstedt and Bishop Finn.

You people have no idea of what spirit is motivating you.  If you claim a good spirit you are even more deluded than I thought - you listen to strange locutions and put more faith in counterfeit mystics than the Church.

The devil is our accuser and he has been cast out - in the meantime - realize it is he for whom you work whenever you accuse.

Time to let the light of Christ in - or you'll end up an "Old Catholic".

Snowy Novus Ordo Mass on Pennsylvania Turnpike: A Tragic Showcase of Liturgical Abuse!

March for Life Group Stranded in East Coast Storm, Celebrates Mass on Make-shift Snow Altar—

See how many abuses you can find:

1) Filthy, sweaty, stocking cap laying on the 'altar'.

2) No vestments - just albs and stoles.

-Which makes me wonder about those 'stole fees'.

3) No doubt Mass was celebrated in English.

1) No kneeling.

2) Hats on during Mass - even at the consecration.

3) Filthy snow pile altar - no evidence of corporal.

4) What are those cruets?!

1) Lay EMHC - properly deputized?

2) Communion standing, and in the hand - during a blizzard.  No thought

of fragments which would be undetectable in the snow.

3) Guitar in background - really?

1) Is that a woman priest with the sunglasses and camouflaged stole?

2) No kneeling - again.

Can you spot the others?


One can only imagine the cringe-worthy, banal music.

Shouldn't the Mass be, so to say, "super-earthly," separated from the secular world, in order to show in the world— the Kingdom of God? - Fr. Schmemann

What?




h/t ChurchPop
h/t Aleteia





Disclaimer:  I'm totally kidding with these 'criticisms' - I think it is a beautiful testimony of faith and devotion.  

She left her full-time career writing on Facebook to campaign for Trump...

“I wanted to take a break from my full time career from writing things on Facebook and fly down here to lend my support for the next president of the United States of America, Donald J. Trump.”

I can't stop laughing.

I love this ...

Today's Gospel ...

s. leopold mandic

They set out to seize him, for they said:

"He is out of his mind."

As I mentioned in the com box ... Pius XII started it: The 1955 revisions of Holy Week.

Don't say pastoral.

I've been thinking about the new revision to the Holy Thursday ritual, allowing 'the washing of the feet of selected members from the entire People of God' - which would now officially include women.  It's been a common practice for many years - though condemned by many faithful Catholics.  Since Pope Francis 'violated' the rubrics, the same group has pretty much condemned the pope for it, and now with the current change, he's being condemned all the more.  Accused of letting down those who fought to maintain tradition of reserving the ritual to Catholic men only.  Whatever the case, the ritual was never obligatory, and before the Pius XII revisions, it was done outside of Mass.  Thus, since the mid-20th century, the ritual has flexed and changed according to pastoral needs, one might say.

That said, I was wondering what the Church would have been like way back when - mid-20th century, if the pope would have began dressing down the papacy then?  Got rid of all the fluff, pomp and ostentatious display?  Drop the ostrich fans and all the majestic attire, get rid of the tiarra and elaborate copes and cappas?  Only as much as St. John Paul II did, maybe?  No - let's imagine it as it is - the papacy we have today.  Simple, candid, direct, hands-on pastoral care.  No palaces, no thrones, no elaborate kingly attire - a poor papacy for the poor.

Would the faithful of the 1950's have rebelled if all the smoke and shiny stuff had been stripped away?  If the pope dressed down, if he lived more simply, and he wasn't so remote?  What if the popes spoke using ordinary language, which non-religious people - even sinners understood?  What would have happened?  Did people go to Mass because of the rituals and vestments and splendid music and art and decoration?  I hope not.

When history removed these things, say in revolutions and war, or situations such as internment camps and concentration camps, or even in the underground churches of anti-Christian regimes, did the people lose their faith and turn on the popes and bishops?  That's hyperbole of course.  What has it got to do with our time?

Back to cha-cha-cha-changes to the rituale romanum  ...

Like I said - when I was little, it was a novelty - a curiosity.  As it developed, it was often even more a novelty because sometimes liturgical dancers waltzed up the aisle with pitchers of water.  And women got their feet washed and it was something more to bitch about.  So I avoided it for a long time.  I skipped Holy Thursday.  When I got back to it - it still seemed a novelty - no matter where it was done.  I have stories - but I'm sure you all do.

As Archbishop Arthur Roche, secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments stated when discussing the liturgical history of the rite:

“The washing of feet is not mandatory,” he added, and pastors should “evaluate its suitability” in their circumstances. The rite should not be “automatic or artificial, deprived of meaning,” nor should it become “so important that all the attention of the Mass” is focused on it. 

The “current change” to the foot-washing rite, which allows for the washing of the feet of selected members from the entire People of God, has changed the significance of the rite, Archbishop Roche continued. “The value now relates not so much to the exterior imitation of what Jesus has done,” and more to as his “gift of self ‘to the end’ for the salvation of mankind, his charity which embraces all” and offers an example. - Catholic Culture

I think it's already become so important all the attention of the Mass is focused on it. 

I'm against it.

Mary Jo Copeland washing the feet of her poor at the center she founded thirty years ago.  She doesn't do it to be symbolic, or as a ritual - she actually serves the homeless who often have foot problems because of poverty and or disease, and they actually need their feet washed.  She works every day and takes no pay, her organization, Caring and Sharing Hands is an independent charity, not even affiliated with Catholic Charities.  92% of all money donated to Sharing and Caring Hands goes to the needs of the poor, only 8 percent goes to management and fund raising. The man washing feet with her is Fr. Joseph Johnson, her spiritual director.

When it comes to liturgy, my opinion doesn't matter of course, not even to me.

The Storm: Shelter in place ....

What?

Pope Francis makes it official, women may now have their feet washed in Church ...

It's about time.

More specifically ...

(1) Pope Francis did not write a letter confirming the decree. He wrote a letter to Cardinal Sarah on December 20 requesting the change to the rubric in the Roman Missal.

(2) The decree has been issued not by Francis himself but by the Congregation over the signatures of Cardinal Sarah and Archbishop Roche.

The decree follows Francis’s request for “an adequate explanation” of the meaning of the rite, but it is interesting to see how Francis’s intent has perhaps already been mediated. He asked that pastors should be able to select participants from the entire membership of the People of God, but the decree from the Congregation specifies a “small group” (parvum coetum in the Latin,gruppetto in the Italian translation), which might be viewed as an attempt to control those celebrations where a large number, or even all, of those present have their feet washed.

However, also notable is the spelling-out that the group can include both men and women, young and old, the healthy and the sick, and clergy, consecrated religious and lay people. - Paul Inwood

It's not a big deal to me.


Song for this post here.


Wait for it:  1, 2, 3,

h/t jnstl

Little Saint Agnes

“A new kind of martyrdom!” exclaimed St. Ambrose, bishop of Milan.
I was thinking of the Saint this morning.

Agnes was only twelve years old when she was martyred!  She had been confined to a brothel, tortured and tormented, for refusing marriage to the Prefect's son.  One is reminded of Maria Goretti who was killed refusing the advances of a would be rapist.

How young these virgin martyrs, how courageous facing death, how compassionate for their persecutors.  It is said Agnes healed the blindness of the man who tried to violate her, and we know Maria Goretti was concerned for the soul of her would be rapist, resisting his advances warning him of mortal sin, and after her death, appearing in a dream which effected his repentance.

These young girls faced with violations against their human dignity, their chastity - resisting unto death their attackers - remind me of the victims of systematic, weaponized rape in our day.  Be it widespread or isolated - it is now understood as a crime against humanity, a war crime.  Certainly ISIS is using it as such.

I pray St. Agnes to intercede for the victims of these crimes.

A new kind of war crime!

Rape, as a crime against humanity: Rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, forced pregnancy, enforced sterilization or any other form of sexual violence of comparable gravity. - Source

It seems to me we must examine our so-called freedoms to abortion, divorce, promiscuity, pornography, sexual exploitation of minors, and other acts of sexual violence as a way to 'control' population, and or undermine human dignity.  Not sure how to express it, but it seems to me these disorders cause serious harm to humanity as well.  

“We are now standing in the face of the greatest historical confrontation humanity has ever experienced." - Cardinal Wojtyla 1976

Satellite images confirm that the oldest Christian monastery in Iraq has been destroyed by the jihadist group Islamic State (IS).

St Elijah's stood on a hill near the northern city of Mosul for 1,400 years.

But analysts said the images, obtained by the Associated Press, suggested it had been demolished in late 2014, soon after IS seized the city.

A Catholic priest from Mosul warned that its Christian history was "being barbarically levelled". - BBC

I've been studying really hard lately ...

h/t jnstl

This is a keeper: A quote from Pope Francis ...

Penitence of David

"There is no saint without a past and no sinner without a future”. - Pope Francis

That is taken from his homily discussing King David, anointed by Samuel to succeed Saul.

David committed a lot of sins - very serious crimes.  Yet as the Holy Father pointed out, "but he never used God for his own purpose”.  A great sinner, but a repentant one.

Glenn Frey

1948-2016

RIP

Song for this post here.