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 ...