I enjoyed the party. Thanks to George Capps for inviting me. Our first game was Taboo, and believe me, I was thrilled to find out that the buzzer was broken. It makes a more obnoxious noise than evangelical leaders talking about economics. I digress. The boys won, 21-18. Our next game was called Encore. You get a card with a word on it, and the goal is to sing a phrase from a song with the word (or the idea) in it. 6 little words is all you need. DO NOT play this game competitively in a large group; there will never be a winner. You'd be surprised how well everyone does.
I was called, "a country music legend" by one person I didn't know, and Jacob Torbeck said that there'd be no way any team with me on it would lose the game. That was before we started. I guess I helped make it a stalemate. I'm pretty sure Randy Jackson of American Idol fame knows more songs than me. And I'll bet "The Deb" does, as well. But I do know a ton of songs. It's in my nature.
Yesterday was the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Or is that a solemnity? Either way, it's awesome. I'm no great theologian, but I had a few thoughts. It's really a celebration of Jesus that Mary was preserved from all stain of original sin. It's for him that she was given this gift, and it's through Christ that we have the gift of her. If the prayer of a righteous man (or woman) avails much, how much does the prayer of a quintessentially righteous person avail us? And God would always answer those prayers. I asked her to pray for humility on my behalf. I sensed right away that I had received what I asked. He doesn't need to do that, but he did.
They say that we have an inordinate focus on Mary. I remember thinking that. All I can ask is, "With respect to what?" It's not fair to compare bad Catholics to good Protestants, to start. So if we compare apples to apples, one thing becomes clear: Catholics are obsessed with Jesus. I'm serious. He's everything. Other Catholics may not understand the fullness of the treasures of the Church through Christ, but it doesn't mean they aren't there.
Someone recently asked me why I almost always say "Mother Church" instead of just "Church." I say it because I am no longer in dissent. I am no longer a rebellious son. I say it in honor of St. Cyprian, who is right. God is our Father, and the Church is our mother. And so is Mary. Happy feast, everybody.
I was called, "a country music legend" by one person I didn't know, and Jacob Torbeck said that there'd be no way any team with me on it would lose the game. That was before we started. I guess I helped make it a stalemate. I'm pretty sure Randy Jackson of American Idol fame knows more songs than me. And I'll bet "The Deb" does, as well. But I do know a ton of songs. It's in my nature.
Yesterday was the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Or is that a solemnity? Either way, it's awesome. I'm no great theologian, but I had a few thoughts. It's really a celebration of Jesus that Mary was preserved from all stain of original sin. It's for him that she was given this gift, and it's through Christ that we have the gift of her. If the prayer of a righteous man (or woman) avails much, how much does the prayer of a quintessentially righteous person avail us? And God would always answer those prayers. I asked her to pray for humility on my behalf. I sensed right away that I had received what I asked. He doesn't need to do that, but he did.
They say that we have an inordinate focus on Mary. I remember thinking that. All I can ask is, "With respect to what?" It's not fair to compare bad Catholics to good Protestants, to start. So if we compare apples to apples, one thing becomes clear: Catholics are obsessed with Jesus. I'm serious. He's everything. Other Catholics may not understand the fullness of the treasures of the Church through Christ, but it doesn't mean they aren't there.
Someone recently asked me why I almost always say "Mother Church" instead of just "Church." I say it because I am no longer in dissent. I am no longer a rebellious son. I say it in honor of St. Cyprian, who is right. God is our Father, and the Church is our mother. And so is Mary. Happy feast, everybody.
Comments
My observation is that the people with encyclopedic memory for songs tend to be the people who take music in and less the people who are the music makers. The former spends there time listening to many songs. The latter spends their time learning to play, sing, analyze and perfect songs. That takes much more time. Obviously, there are exceptions to this.