Here at the end of the liturgical year, the Holy Father has today released his encyclical, Evangelii Gaudium .
I have just glanced at it and already see wonderful things in it. As with most any encyclical, too…
all I have to say is: Everyone is going to be uncomfortable by something or another in #EvangeliiGaudium if we are contemplative about it!
— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) November 26, 2013
This is a print of the dust that flew off of a bird, probably a dove, that flew into a window. The print was old so the bird was nowhere to be seen. The second photo is a crop of the first. The third was taken with an Olloclip macro lens on an iPhone. You can see the tiny structures of the feathers by the superfine dust outline. No feathers are photographed here, only dust.
In November when we celebrate All Saints and All Souls, it is good to think about the suddenness of death. Here are two good columns from Cardinal Wuerl on the subject of death:
http://cardinalsblog.adw.org/2013/11/preparing-for-the-grace-of-a-good-death/
http://cardinalsblog.adw.org/2013/11/god-of-mercy/
and another from Msgr. Charles Pope on the beauty of the Requiem Mass.
http://blog.adw.org/2013/11/thoughts-on-the-traditional-latin-requiem-mass-not-really-as-dark-or-dreadful-as-many-say/
Baltimore Archbishop William Lori and Diocese of Richmond Bishop DiLorenzo came to Saint Benedict Parish for a Red Mass, I believe invited by the St. Thomas More Society in Richmond, on Oct. 23, 2012. Abp. Lori’s homily was excellent, touching on freedom and conscience, and striking a bit of a (Pope) Franciscan note in warning that we must see to it that we have the credibility to witness to the Gospel.
Update: @archbalt on Twitter kindly sent the link to Archbishop Lori’s homily, thank you!
Recessional. Most everybody singing, “Holy God, we praise Your Name.”
Archbishop Lori and Bishop DiLorenzo
Archbishop Lori had an excellent homily on freedom, linked above.
Passing the peace.
Kimberly Marshall, an outstanding organist currently at Arizona State University, talks about one of the pieces she is about to play. The program was splendid. Dr. Marshall played beautifully a program of widely varied pieces. Fortunately it was being recorded for eventual broadcast on NPR’s Pipe Dreams.
Skye Hart, an organist and a lyric tenor, sang for parts of the concert. Here he stands at the front. Two screens were set up. The one on the right ran a live picture of Kimberly Marshall, playing in the choir loft. This was a great solution that let people see her playing, without turning around in the pews. Hart’s voice really added to the program.
Father Kauffmann, pastor of Saint Benedict Catholic Church, has a few remarks before the concert. To the far right, seated, smiling, is organist and choirmaster Jim Dorn. These two (along with many others) worked very hard, for years, to see this day arrive, thanks to some very generous parishioners! There is much more information about the organ and its installation at the church at the church’s website .
Organ Builder Martin Pasi shows intense concentration as he works inside the organ.
Skye Hart, at the keyboard, plays notes as requested by Martin Pasi, who is up inside the organ (at the top of the ladder).
Pasi climbs a ladder to get into the organ…
Martin Pasi, who built the organ, looks up and surveys his handiwork as he listens to Jim Dorn, organist and choirmaster at Saint Benedict, playing Pasi’s Opus V.
Forma Fidei 