tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-161791332024-03-07T19:33:08.446-05:00The Sober Sophomore<p>'sO~b&r, adj. marked by sedate or gravely or <b>earnestly thoughtful</b> character or demeanor</p>
<p>'säf-"mOr, noun. derived from the Greek <i>sophos</i> <b>wise</b> and <i>moros</i> <b>fool</b></p>
<p>[th]& 'sO~b&r 'säf-"mOr, noun. A student who does her best to be earnest and thoughtful; but, no matter how many years she has been in school, is still little more than a wise fool.</p>Mary Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02006895615941622010noreply@blogger.comBlogger477125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16179133.post-59110779283994915402013-06-11T12:59:00.002-04:002013-06-11T12:59:40.008-04:00New Blog!Hi Friends! <br />
After a few years I've decided to start blogging again.<br />
You can find me<a href="http://sophomoricmama.blogspot.com/"> here:</a><br />
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<a href="http://sophomoricmama.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpHXgNcpJbMW70-ZfJPjiVwf9t1zjFdKTv_1BmTJ0gtoWbbhZeZkvMNKvULpKRULYC8gn5NMXdFQa498XeD5BfHjzsfi-zonkqBLiyIlk-XwkZpgAJnT1tCfwJbfFrqFhtGvfY/s1600/100_9368.JPG" height="132" width="320" /></a></div>
See you over there!Mary Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02006895615941622010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16179133.post-84871298870575283532010-07-09T08:00:00.001-04:002010-07-09T15:21:07.653-04:00Summer Blog BreakI suppose rather than limping along with a post a month I should just make it official and declare my blog on Summer Break until at least the end of the summer.<br /><br />Matthias and I have been on the road practically every weekend for the last month. So between that and the continued ban of internet at home it is pretty hard to post. <br /><br />For those of you wondering where we've been:<br />June 19 was "Fr. Pat's" ordination in Kentucky<br />June 26 was K & R's wedding in Denver <br />Last weekend was Independence Day at "my ancestral lake estate" - as I've decided to start calling my grandparent's (may they rest in peace) cottage. <br /><br />The ordination and wedding were wonderful celebrations of holy sacraments, vocations, and, of course, our Notre Dame family. Both were most beautiful! <br /><br /><br />Enough for now. <br /><br /><br />...of course now that I've declared summer blog break I'm thinking of a million things I could be writing about!Mary Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02006895615941622010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16179133.post-91762870833938293202010-06-10T08:34:00.000-04:002010-06-10T10:13:37.889-04:00Golden MomentLast post: May 10. One post a month is pretty pathetic. What have I been doing?<br /><br />Well, let me tell you, the other night I had the craziest dream...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmuXv93xzzNEyCfVCxIYOZBDdzrRPAsOwDuaeX6bzyWENIIoaYhK1BzarT_t2HONQ-4IcwcPlfhf0ya3Qb3QVQdbGxfhxfQDV7XiOzTvp6B8UAVkptJ1l3dpXeT9e5Z3eCrmn7/s1600/081217_GoldenTate.hmedium.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 138px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmuXv93xzzNEyCfVCxIYOZBDdzrRPAsOwDuaeX6bzyWENIIoaYhK1BzarT_t2HONQ-4IcwcPlfhf0ya3Qb3QVQdbGxfhxfQDV7XiOzTvp6B8UAVkptJ1l3dpXeT9e5Z3eCrmn7/s200/081217_GoldenTate.hmedium.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481144025051905506" /></a><br />...I dreamed that Golden Tate had decided to abandon us and move out to the West Coast. (Come back, Golden!) So there he was in this snazzy apartment building hanging out with his new buds (what, Golden, we were really not good enough for <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1MN8_Ynl7oYV50UmjuXIwXDRNTZKp2fYihRIo-KgkqnIgWdh1E1PhvbtV-_TJPqTpBlnrexWo_Sf-ShWjBdfs7dPfQR_C0jTJLEI2rr_6uhTFLDhizDyOsSfmkkbYbTwoGvcy/s1600/bars.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 183px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1MN8_Ynl7oYV50UmjuXIwXDRNTZKp2fYihRIo-KgkqnIgWdh1E1PhvbtV-_TJPqTpBlnrexWo_Sf-ShWjBdfs7dPfQR_C0jTJLEI2rr_6uhTFLDhizDyOsSfmkkbYbTwoGvcy/s200/bars.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481144504154852578" /></a>you?) And his buddy said, "mmmmm you know what I want some maple bars, I'll get you one too." Golden agreed and they went to this doughnut shop that just randomly happens to be in their apartment building. <br /><br />BUT it was 3:00am and the shop was closed. "No problem," says Golden's friend, "They always leave the back door open," and all of a sudden he's in the store! He brings out several maple bars and he and Golden devour them. Mmmm mmm mmm. <br /><br />THEN the cops arrive! Golden Tate just stands there with crumbs all over him and says "But they are so irresistible!!" <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinL5LbGzWB6etN0GtyPDZgGHlJYKra1qcGxF80QonMT6oZwEHr7zfY_0WBRBe-0vGktgyZd_GthSNFI3NR9buBmti94AGV9PE_TzV4JWH7WIkXKQULPJ3WcJ5vtPXQP_1p_sQu/s1600/cop-eating-doughnut-police-policeman.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinL5LbGzWB6etN0GtyPDZgGHlJYKra1qcGxF80QonMT6oZwEHr7zfY_0WBRBe-0vGktgyZd_GthSNFI3NR9buBmti94AGV9PE_TzV4JWH7WIkXKQULPJ3WcJ5vtPXQP_1p_sQu/s200/cop-eating-doughnut-police-policeman.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481144993790426338" /></a><br /><br />The cops shrug their shoulders "Don't we know! Trust us, we know the best donuts in town, and boy, you found 'em." So even though they were about to haul Golden off to jail, they wrote him a warning (which I'm pretty sure was actually a note that said "Make sure you grab some for us next time.)<br /><br />Just when I thought this dream couldn't get any weirder suddenly Pete Carroll comes out of no where! Gosh, I hate Pete Carroll....what a creep...like Reggie Bush...&*#$ Trojans...BUT...here's the kicker (no puns intended) Petie is Golden's coach! WOAH! WHAT? <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6rKMA0MnsG6IX1b51Gj0a72mXElnb8JZqqHbRrT_fbmtxDePrK_9mS5v1HFCAu5u_-slwDWF4tinfJRjv34qbtoSFEpHylNPGMWsrwcUksEa3Bmff5mv3DLCnuSMuk5Wji_Yc/s1600/pete-carroll-punch-reggie-bush-father.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 145px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6rKMA0MnsG6IX1b51Gj0a72mXElnb8JZqqHbRrT_fbmtxDePrK_9mS5v1HFCAu5u_-slwDWF4tinfJRjv34qbtoSFEpHylNPGMWsrwcUksEa3Bmff5mv3DLCnuSMuk5Wji_Yc/s200/pete-carroll-punch-reggie-bush-father.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481145294522998866" /></a><br /><br />Pete mumbles something about Irish $#*! and then "I'm not disappointed in the guy being at a doughnut shop when they've got maple bars like Top Pot has...However, under the circumstances ... I think they were closed, or something like that, or they were trying to close. So that's definitely wrong, and we've talked about it and addressed it. And he's most remorseful. But I do understand the allure of the maple bars.....they are soooooo good....irresistible! Oh yes, they CAN be irresistible. Golden, did you get some for me too?"<br /><br />Golden then handed him a bag of doughnuts and promised that he'd pay for them the next time.<br /><br /><br />Then I realized the TRUTH behind Charlie's weight problem...he'd taught his players to get him doughnuts at all times of the day at all costs. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtLYOeC1371o6DFHk4IdBUZy2F0GaZq_uSJiz3aWQ5mBUcZ2a-CNIdqyujyEuWnb_SKVykdpJyh16mBitBgat8-QefTgBm0XDXVweg8HUhqHhzMCX2Xu8OOT5J2VXAE433Oe0/s1600/charlie-weis-vent.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 155px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtLYOeC1371o6DFHk4IdBUZy2F0GaZq_uSJiz3aWQ5mBUcZ2a-CNIdqyujyEuWnb_SKVykdpJyh16mBitBgat8-QefTgBm0XDXVweg8HUhqHhzMCX2Xu8OOT5J2VXAE433Oe0/s200/charlie-weis-vent.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481145602879306450" /></a><br /><br />Watch out Pete! (Not that I really care about you or your weight)<br /><br /><br />It was the wackiest dream I'd had in a really long time...<br /><br /><br />...oh wait. That wasn't a dream. That <a href="http://www.southbendtribune.com/article/20100608/SPORTS13/100609428">ACTUALLY</a> <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Seahawks-rookie-Tate-involved-in-donut-related-m?urn=nfl,246624">HAPPENED</a> and it's one of the sports headlines in practically every paper. <br /><br />Oy.<br /><br /><br />Good job, Golden.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKNKLMWT6FDlFRo-jW2stJDOYTVGWwfaM31iuDiATdEC7Ds7pdeVcYI2Yb5cY5Tji1fgOPQpSADTYUSLU2osbY9ScoXpxOpWlLCGDR_XR6URwhtnRpGyDODpgML5NgZMMlnuH/s1600/ept_sports_nfl_experts-801123428-1276031730.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKNKLMWT6FDlFRo-jW2stJDOYTVGWwfaM31iuDiATdEC7Ds7pdeVcYI2Yb5cY5Tji1fgOPQpSADTYUSLU2osbY9ScoXpxOpWlLCGDR_XR6URwhtnRpGyDODpgML5NgZMMlnuH/s320/ept_sports_nfl_experts-801123428-1276031730.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481145809041983042" /></a><br /><br /><br />PS I just found the 911 call <object width="420" height="90" id="kickWidget_48860_41444" ><param name="movie" value="http://serve.a-widget.com/service/getWidgetSwf.kickAction"></param><param name="FlashVars" value="affiliateSiteId=48860&widgetId=41444&width=420&height=90&autoPlay=0&mediaType_mediaID=audio_716184" ></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent" ></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" ></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" ></param><embed src="http://serve.a-widget.com/service/getWidgetSwf.kickAction" name="kickWidget_48860_41444" width="420" height="90" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" allowScriptAccess="always" allowFullScreen="true" FlashVars="affiliateSiteId=48860&widgetId=41444&width=420&height=90&autoPlay=0&mediaType_mediaID=audio_716184"></embed></object> <br />Apparently Golden's buddy actually stole a night baker's keys to get back in, but Golden brought the keys back to her.Mary Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02006895615941622010noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16179133.post-9244871677050525012010-05-10T09:27:00.002-04:002010-05-10T09:31:41.859-04:00OOPS!Dear Friends and Readers, <br /><br />Somewhere along the way, I accidentally unlinked my Sober Sophomore email account from my regular account that I check daily. <br /><br />If sometime over the last year (maybe even longer than that!) you sent an email to the email address I have on the sidebar and I never responded, it is because I only just discovered it this morning. <br /><br />My deepest apologies to you all.Mary Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02006895615941622010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16179133.post-60517117255576284092010-04-23T17:45:00.000-04:002010-04-23T17:45:00.312-04:00Os Justi<center><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FkTUK0nEtco&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FkTUK0nEtco&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><br /><blockquote>Os justi meditabitur sapientiam, <br />et lingua ejus loquetur judicium. <br />Lex Dei ejus in corde ipsius: <br />et non supplantabuntur gressus ejus.</blockquote></span></center>Mary Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02006895615941622010noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16179133.post-80293716326180542872010-04-22T15:39:00.004-04:002010-04-22T15:55:11.403-04:00RIP - "Nana"Not too long ago, right before a friend of mine lost his grandfather, he commented that deaths always seem to come in threes. There was <a href="http://sobersophomore.blogspot.com/2010/01/rip-ralph-mcinerny.html">Ralph,</a> then <a href="http://sobersophomore.blogspot.com/2010/02/rip-gail-walton.html">Gail,</a> and this morning my grandmother joined them.<br /><br />Tomorrow would have been her 93rd birthday.<br /><br />Pray for the repose of her soul and for all of us, her family. She joins my grandfather and aunt (her only daughter) and is survived by her three sons (including my father) and their wives and children.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><blockquote> You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty.<br />Say to the LORD, "My refuge and fortress, my God in whom I trust."</blockquote></span><span style="font-style: italic;">God will rescue you from the fowler's snare, from the destroying plague,</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><blockquote>Will shelter you with pinions, spread wings that you may take refuge; God's faithfulness is a protecting shield.</blockquote></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><blockquote>You shall not fear the terror of the night nor the arrow that flies by day,</blockquote></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><blockquote>Nor the pestilence that roams in darkness, nor the plague that ravages at noon.</blockquote></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><blockquote>Though a thousand fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, near you it shall not come.</blockquote></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><blockquote>You need simply watch; the punishment of the wicked you will see.</blockquote></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><blockquote>You have the LORD for your refuge; you have made the Most High your stronghold.</blockquote></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><blockquote>No evil shall befall you, no affliction come near your tent.</blockquote></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><blockquote>For God commands the angels to guard you in all your ways.</blockquote></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><blockquote>With their hands they shall support you, lest you strike your foot against a stone.</blockquote></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><blockquote>You shall tread upon the asp and the viper, trample the lion and the dragon.</blockquote></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><blockquote>Whoever clings to me I will deliver; whoever knows my name I will set on high.</blockquote></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><blockquote>All who call upon me I will answer; I will be with them in distress; I will deliver them and give them honor.</blockquote></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><blockquote>With length of days I will satisfy them and show them my saving power.</blockquote></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><blockquote>~ Psalm 91</blockquote></span><br /></div>Mary Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02006895615941622010noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16179133.post-82999148757489698642010-04-02T11:48:00.004-04:002010-04-02T12:03:14.451-04:00Miserere<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeI80jRDjoEiFhuXkMEmJEmw48G8GbAurcUxIaDcsdcpZ7rmorw5UP6uDtYMu5phEcxs_y7ibQeA5emFWYdFSVz8OOpDtKCIgUaxPEN9tevPZDrAflq2KH-BTvVJ7O-J1uloHr/s1600/fra_angelico_san_dominic_adoring_crucifixion_crucifix_lg.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 228px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeI80jRDjoEiFhuXkMEmJEmw48G8GbAurcUxIaDcsdcpZ7rmorw5UP6uDtYMu5phEcxs_y7ibQeA5emFWYdFSVz8OOpDtKCIgUaxPEN9tevPZDrAflq2KH-BTvVJ7O-J1uloHr/s320/fra_angelico_san_dominic_adoring_crucifixion_crucifix_lg.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455570865100161186" /></a><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/x71jgMx0Mxc&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/x71jgMx0Mxc&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"> Miserere mei, Deus: secundum magnam misericordiam tuam.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"> Et secundum multitudinem miserationum tuarum, dele iniquitatem meam.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"> Amplius lava me ab iniquitate mea: et a peccato meo munda me.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"> Quoniam iniquitatem meam ego cognosco: et peccatum meum contra me est semper.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"> Tibi soli peccavi, et malum coram te feci: ut iustificeris in sermonibus tuis, et vincas cum iudicaris.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"> Ecce enim in inquitatibus conceptus sum: et in peccatis concepit me mater mea.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"> Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti: incerta et occulta sapientiae tuae manifestasti mihi.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"> Asperges me, hyssopo, et mundabor: lavabis me, et super nivem dealbabor.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"> Auditui meo dabis gaudium et laetitiam: et exsultabunt ossa humiliata.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"> Averte faciem tuam a peccatis meis: et omnes iniquitates meas dele.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"> Cor mundum crea in me, Deus: et spiritum rectum innova in visceribus meis.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"> Ne proiicias me a facie tua: et spiritum sanctum tuum ne auferas a me.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"> Redde mihi laetitiam salutaris tui: et spiritu principali confirma me.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"> Docebo iniquos vias tuas: et impii ad te convertentur.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"> Libera me de sanguinibus, Deus, Deus salutis meae: et exsultabit lingua mea iustitiam tuam.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"> Domine, labia mea aperies: et os meum annuntiabit laudem tuam.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"> Quoniam si voluisses sacrificium, dedissem utique: holocaustis non delectaberis.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"> Sacrificium Deo spiritus contribulatus: cor contritum, et humiliatum, Deus, non despicies.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"> Benigne fac, Domine, in bona voluntate tua Sion: ut aedificentur muri Ierusalem.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"> Tunc acceptabis sacrificium iustitiae, oblationes, et holocausta: tunc imponent super altare tuum vitulos. </span></div>Mary Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02006895615941622010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16179133.post-19856270131791282312010-03-19T13:31:00.003-04:002010-03-19T13:52:02.793-04:00Saint Joseph - old or young?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQbaRq881EXWk7DJSJbcwvCg_keyhM_nUZItBYT_edExGoqsz7HrF3zto3kyQY9x97ODoIZsPY7wgET5NqSrDA0Yyf_p5QAiGskj5KIE3IL3Au20rfuy0CkuUxGc6Lnjq9YIF/s1600-h/st_joseph1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 196px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQbaRq881EXWk7DJSJbcwvCg_keyhM_nUZItBYT_edExGoqsz7HrF3zto3kyQY9x97ODoIZsPY7wgET5NqSrDA0Yyf_p5QAiGskj5KIE3IL3Au20rfuy0CkuUxGc6Lnjq9YIF/s320/st_joseph1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450398154681799042" border="0" /></a>Today we celebrate the solemn feast of St. Joseph.<br /><br />We see St. Joseph's image is everywhere, but how much do we really know about this saint?<br /><br />He is the patron and protector of the Church, just as he was he protector and patron of Our Lord and Lady while they walked this earth. We know that he was a "just and holy man" - the perfect pious gentleman. We usually think of him as a bearded man in green and brown holding the Christ Child and a staff of lilies.<br /><br />But how much more do we know?<br /><br /><br />St. Joseph never speaks in the Gospels. We find him in Matthew and Luke, but only briefly. The Gospels say little about him. Yet we know that he was a carpenter. We read that he was a "just man" from the line of David. His age at the time of his betrothal and marriage to Our Lady is highly debated. <br /><br />Many of our statues and images depict him as a middle-aged or even elderly man. We sing in the<span style="font-style: italic;"> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILOUwIQd7RY">Cherry Tree Carol</a></span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILOUwIQd7RY"> </a>"Joseph was an old man, a very old man was he, when he married Mary in the land of Galilee."<br /><br />But was Joseph really old?<br /><br />The concept of the elderly Joseph comes from the apocryphal gospel <span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0847.htm">The Protoevangelium of James</a>.</span> There we read:<br /><br /><blockquote>And when she was twelve years old there was held a council of the priests, saying: "Behold, Mary has reached the age of twelve years in the temple of the Lord. What then shall we do with her, lest perchance she defile the sanctuary of the Lord?"<br /><br />And they said to the high priest: "You stand by the altar of the Lord; go in, and pray concerning her"... behold an angel of the Lord stood by him, saying unto him: "Zacharias, Zacharias, go out and assemble the widowers of the people, and let them bring each his rod; and to whomsoever the Lord shall show a sign, his wife shall she be." And the heralds went out through all the circuit of Judæa, and the trumpet of the Lord sounded, and all ran.<br /><br />And Joseph, throwing away his axe, went out to meet them; and when they had assembled, they went away to the high priest, taking with them their rods. And he, taking the rods of all of them, entered into the temple...and Joseph took his rod last; and, behold, a dove came out of the rod, and flew upon Joseph's head.<br /><br />And the priest said to Joseph, "You have been chosen by lot to take into your keeping the virgin of the Lord."<br /><br />But Joseph refused, saying: "I have children, and I am an old man, and she is a young girl. I am afraid lest I become a laughing-stock to the sons of Israel."<br /><br />And the priest said to Joseph: "Fear the Lord your God, and remember what the Lord did to Dathan, and Abiram, and Korah; how the earth opened, and they were swallowed up on account of their contradiction. And now fear, O Joseph, lest the same things happen in your house."<br /><br />And Joseph was afraid, and took her into his keeping. And Joseph said to Mary: "Behold, I have received you from the temple of the Lord; and now I leave you in my house, and go away to build my buildings, and I shall come to you. The Lord will protect you."</blockquote><br /><br />Here we see St. Joseph as an old widower, with children, and frankly, a bit of a jerk.<br /><br />So was that St. Joseph? The Angelic Doctor, St. Thomas Aquinas, certainly did not think so as he condemned the <span style="font-style: italic;">Protoevangelium</span> as "<a href="http://www.newadvent.org/summa/4035.htm#article6">apocryphal ravings</a>."<br /><br />While St. Thomas doesn't offer any insights on the life of St. Joseph, a number of holy mystics do. Ven. Maria de Agrida and Bl. Anne Catherine Emmerich both write of St. Joseph as seen in their visions.<br /><br />Ven. Maria writes in <a href="http://themostholyrosary.com/mystical-city.htm"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Mystical City of God</span></a> that:<br /><blockquote>"<a href="http://www.sacredheart.com/The_Mystical_City_of_God_Book_02_Chapter_07.htm">Among the number</a> was Joseph, a native of Nazareth. and then living in Jerusalem; for he was one of the descendants of the royal race of David. He was then <span style="font-style: italic;">thirty-three years of age, of handsome person and pleasing countenance</span>, but also of incomparable modesty and gravity; above all he was most chaste in thought and conduct, and most saintly in all his inclinations. From his twelfth year he had made and kept the vow of chastity. He was related to the Virgin Mary in the third degree, and was known for the utmost purity of his life, holy and irreprehensible in the eyes of God and of men."<br /></blockquote>Bl. Anne Catherine, in <span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.ccel.org/ccel/emmerich/lifemary.html">The Life of the Blessed Virgin Mary</a>,</span> does not specify St. Joseph's age, but merely that he was "<a href="http://www.ccel.org/ccel/emmerich/lifemary.xi.html">unmarried</a>." His actions and demeanor in her writings do, however, seem more reflective of a younger man than an older one.<br /><br />To note a third: Padre Pio reportedly insisted the St. Joseph was even younger - perhaps only 18 when espoused to Our Lady.<br /><br />Numerous<a href="http://www.franciscanfocus.com/2006/08/josephology-on-josephs-age-at-his.htm"> other scholars</a> and <a href="http://www.franciscanfocus.com/2006/09/josephology-on-josephs-age-at-his.htm">theologians have agreed</a> that Joseph was certainly not old. A number believe that he may have been even as young at 16 - only a year or two older than Our Lady.<br /><br />Why would St. Joseph's age matter? Perhaps it doesn't, but it seems easy enough to believe that an old man, already a father, would be more likely to live chastely with a girl he could regard as his granddaughter (or at least daughter). The virtue required of a teenage or young adult man to care for a pregnant girl, help her raise her son, all the while living a perfectly chaste life, without committing a single personal sin, would be <span style="font-style: italic;">truly heroic</span>. That is the kind of virtue that merits the title "Patron of the Universal Church" and the kind of virtue you'd hope the patron of husbands would possess.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153); font-style: italic;">Further Reading:</span></span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.ccel.org/ccel/emmerich/lifemary.html">The Life of the Blessed Virgin Mary, </a>Bl. Anne Catherine Emmerich<br /><a href="http://www.sacredheart.com/MysticalCityOfGod.htm">The Mystical City of God: The Life of the Blessed Virgin Mother of God</a>, Ven. Mary of Jesus of Agrida<br /><a href="http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_jp-ii_exh_15081989_redemptoris-custos_en.html">Redemptoris Custos,</a> Pope John Paul II<br />or follow any of the links in the text<br />Cross-posted over at the <a href="http://church-ladies.blogspot.com/2010/03/saint-joseph-old-or-young.html">Pious Sodality</a>.Mary Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02006895615941622010noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16179133.post-11666588362999684222010-03-13T06:03:00.000-05:002010-03-13T06:03:00.131-05:00Conference Announcement<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Notre Dame Right to Life </span><br /><br />announces its<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">5th Annual<br />Collegiate Conference</span><br />April 9 & 10, 2010</div><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSDbLhjqQqHPQrQ6VSQOUC8a8rvxpGsitTkbOp6060et7ek8IaRoborCxyv44fkkOuRPP6SNJ1rodgJ00wRerCujgRZV6U8Mss1HPEn2k3y8vddlre0Bqn610SxNrcay_VphGB/s1600-h/Notre_Dame_Dome_001.jpeg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSDbLhjqQqHPQrQ6VSQOUC8a8rvxpGsitTkbOp6060et7ek8IaRoborCxyv44fkkOuRPP6SNJ1rodgJ00wRerCujgRZV6U8Mss1HPEn2k3y8vddlre0Bqn610SxNrcay_VphGB/s200/Notre_Dame_Dome_001.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447885775547092402" /></a>For the last five years, the <a href="http://www.nd.edu/~prolife/">student prolife organization</a> of the <a href="http://www.nd.edu">University of Notre Dame</a> has hosted an annual conference discussing topics pertinent to the prolife movement.<br /><br />This year's speakers include:<br />George Weigel, <br />Fr. Thomas Berg<br />Joan Lewis<br />Dr. Maureen Condic<br />and<br />keynote speaker: Francis Cardinal George<br /><br /><br />The conference is open to all (university student or not). For non-Notre Dame students, they are asking a small donation of $10 to help defray the cost of the conference. <br /><br />Notre Dame's an easy drive from Chicago, Milwaukee, Peoria, Indianapolis, Detroit, etc. Regardless of where you are, but especially if you're anywhere nearby, you should consider coming. <br /><br />If you'd like to attend,<a href="http://www.nd.edu/~prolife/conference/"> registration may be found here</a>.<br /><br /><br />My personal recommendation:<br />As a veteran conference chair and NDRTL president, I cannot encourage you enough to attend this conference. There are a number of annual conferences at Notre Dame that are well worth attending - notably <a href="http://ethicscenter.nd.edu/events/fallconf.shtml">the Center For Ethics & Culture's Fall Conference</a> & the<a href="http://www.nd.edu/~idnd/edithstein/index.html"> Edith Stein Project</a>. The NDRTL conference, however, is often overlooked, and it really shouldn't be. The speakers, frankly, are always of the highest caliber and the attendees are very committed to discussing and pursuing the issues of the conference. I should also mention it's the cheapest. For non-students, the others cost over $100, but the NDRTL conference is FREE (unless you want to donate $10 - and instead of listening to undergrads read their papers, you get to listen internationally renowned leaders speak. Please promote this conference and help move it's status from Notre Dame's Best Kept Secret to Notre Dame's Most Popular Event.Mary Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02006895615941622010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16179133.post-21263355331965796092010-03-12T16:53:00.003-05:002010-03-12T16:55:57.592-05:00Lenten WreathToday I got my act together and <a href="http://church-ladies.blogspot.com/2010/03/lenten-wreath.html">posted about Lenten Wreaths</a> over on the Church Ladies' Blog.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVCX4i-hEZjJ5hwwXxc92X8af82HwMfGRaZC5uXVeqcYIckzUvGhLfu98gZSj8R9Os_yo9L5BqeQoXIkaydm_awwuAhLQPAodtpJh9UdWB2nGGlUe1EEjDeXZQafUV6Q_EtRAy/s1600-h/100_2493.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVCX4i-hEZjJ5hwwXxc92X8af82HwMfGRaZC5uXVeqcYIckzUvGhLfu98gZSj8R9Os_yo9L5BqeQoXIkaydm_awwuAhLQPAodtpJh9UdWB2nGGlUe1EEjDeXZQafUV6Q_EtRAy/s400/100_2493.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447869224618672418" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://church-ladies.blogspot.com/2010/03/lenten-wreath.html"><br />Take a look.</a>Mary Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02006895615941622010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16179133.post-78414991259768134822010-03-08T21:10:00.003-05:002010-03-08T21:13:28.677-05:00Spring comes66. The coming of spring<br /><br />67. Seeing grass again - even if it is all brown and dried.<br /><br />68. Going for a walk with Matthias down to the river.<br /><br />69. The surprise of rediscovering countless little seashells on the island in the middle.<br /><br />70. The jar of shells, stones, and river-glass sitting on my window sill.<br /><br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/"><img alt="holy experience" src="http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/ee349/GDest07/ann%20voskamp/mondaybutton2.png" title="holy experience" /></a></center>Mary Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02006895615941622010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16179133.post-75341421345085708182010-03-05T08:27:00.001-05:002010-03-05T14:38:51.255-05:00I thought we all agreed to hate Trojans?Last night I dropped by the store to pick up shampoo and stuff. As I stood there wondering what brand to get, I turned my head and saw a tall, clean cut guy with a Notre Dame ball cap - clearly a student - surveying the condom display. <br /><br />I almost said something. I could I have dropped any number of one-liners crafted to make him think for half a second about his situation - or at least embarrass the heck out of him. The top of the list was "You know, there's a reason they sell pregnancy tests next to condoms." <br /><br />But, I held my tongue and walked away in disgust. <br /><br />A few minutes later I returned to the scene. The Domer was gone, and in his place was a young teenage couple standing close together picking out - you guessed it - pregnancy tests. <br /><br /><br />Case in point.Mary Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02006895615941622010noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16179133.post-51915111850235298922010-02-26T12:08:00.003-05:002010-02-26T15:20:21.271-05:00Viewing & Funeral Details for Gail WaltonFor those of you in the area who would like to pay your respects here are the viewing and funeral details for Gail Walton:<br /><br />Viewing:<br />Monday, March 1, 2010<br />4:00-8:00pm<br />Kaniewski Funeral Home<br />3545 North Bendix Drive<br />South Bend<br /><br />Funeral:<br />Tuesday, March 2, 2010<br />9:30am<br />Basilica of the Sacred Heart at Notre Dame<br /><br />The Notre Dame Liturgical Choir will sing the Mass.<br /><br />Please continue to keep Gail's family in your prayers.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord.<br /><br /><a href="http://sobersophomore.blogspot.com/2010/02/rip-gail-walton.html">RIP Gail Walton</a><br /></span>Mary Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02006895615941622010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16179133.post-52444223220349600112010-02-25T12:50:00.009-05:002010-02-28T14:49:44.832-05:00RIP Gail WaltonYesterday, around 5:00p.m. Gail Walton, beloved director of the Notre Dame Liturgical Choir, coordinator of the Basilica Choirs, wife and mother passed from this vale of tears after a battle with leukemia at the age of 55.<br /><br />It's difficult to begin to write about Gail. She was an amazing and wonderful woman, so selfless and tireless.<br /><br />As Director of Music at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at the University of Notre Dame, a position she held since 1988, Gail was extremely influential in liturgical music. She was an excellent musician, married to another wonderful musician, ND organ professor Craig Cramer. They were "the cutest couple" in everyone's eyes - especially when they played dual organ recitals.<br /><br />Gail was everyone's second mom. She was always looking out for you, but she never looked out for her self. Last year she hurt her foot - falling off a stool if I remember correctly. The doctors told her the foot had to rest and be in its boot until it healed. But how do you play organ with a boot on your foot? So she took it off. I scolded her after one of our rehearsals (she was not only director of the Liturgical Choir, but assistant director of the Women's Liturgical Choir to which I belong) and told her she had to take care herself. She laughed and said she'd be ok. That was Gail. Our head director visited her just before Christmas. The doctors had allowed her to return home for a period, so long as she was strictly on bedrest. Was Gail following the doctors' orders? Of course not. She was baking, trimming the tree and doing all manner of things around the house. That was Gail. She was a such a wonderful woman...Absolutely unstoppable.<br /><br />She was a perfectionist too and always drove us to be the best we could be. Everyone loved Gail. She will be missed so much - she already is. It's hard to believe she's gone.<br /><br />Please take a moment to pray for Gail and her family, especially her husband. This has been so difficult for him.<br /><br /><br />Requiescat in pace.<br />In Paradisum deducant angeli...Chorus angelorum te suscipiat...Aeternam habeas requiem.<br /><br /><br />Gail conducts the Liturgical Choir in a 2008 concert:<br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/splTz9joaxk&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/splTz9joaxk&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br />(The Mawby Ave Verum (at the 5:20 mark) is one of my favorites)<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><b>Update:</b> I've expanded this post over the <a href="http://church-ladies.blogspot.com/2010/02/in-memoriam.html">Pious Sodality of Church Ladies</a>. Funeral details are <a href="http://sobersophomore.blogspot.com/2010/02/viewing-funeral-details-for-gail-walton.html">posted here</a>. Thank you for your continued prayers for Gail and her family. Please remember the Notre Dame community, particularly the Choirs as well.</span>Mary Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02006895615941622010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16179133.post-68075910595854904372010-02-10T17:10:00.002-05:002010-02-10T17:10:00.165-05:00Earthquake?One of our volunteers came in today and I asked if I felt the earthquake. <br /><br />Earthquake? What earthquake?<br /><br />Turns out <a href="http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/02/quake-like-tremors-reported-in-western-suburbs.html">there was one outside of Chicago</a>, and it work up our volunteer (but not her husband). She thought she was crazy at first, and then she turned on the news: yup, there was an earthquake.<br /><br />Did anyone else in the area feel it? Or did you all sleep through it like I did?Mary Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02006895615941622010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16179133.post-56400142491059444722010-02-08T18:47:00.000-05:002010-02-08T18:47:00.149-05:00Mondays, Mondays61. A Saturday with nowhere to be<br /><br />62. My new toy - a cell phone with music playing capabilites! (It's been <a href="http://sobersophomore.blogspot.com/2009/03/technology-fail.html">11 months since my technology died</a>)Since we got new cell phones recently I've been using old cell phones until they die completely or just going without. Still no internet at home though...but you know what, that's ok. Technology is overrated and takes you away from the people around you. <br /><br />63. An updated blog layout. It's been the first time I can think of that my blog is not black. I think I like it. What do you think?<br /><br />64. 3 consecutive days of sun in South Bend!<br /><br />65. A Monday that's not half as bad as I expected<br /><br /><br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/"><img alt="holy experience" src="http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/ee349/GDest07/ann%20voskamp/mondaybutton2.png" title="holy experience" /></a></center>Mary Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02006895615941622010noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16179133.post-3018940017736102632010-02-07T13:46:00.005-05:002010-02-07T14:34:41.496-05:00Movie Review: The Good Shepherd<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim8Ch-h3keOroM2SpfXZcnLiE_mM8VWU0jFcozMix0O2n4OBcy41SksDwqXV8uv2qlC0LGuUu2eyoNmNr5gtj1PAqAOAc24cOEpzPuclYcmL39EDhTE_SlW-fTyI40SM92o-5H/s1600-h/the_good_shepherd1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 222px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim8Ch-h3keOroM2SpfXZcnLiE_mM8VWU0jFcozMix0O2n4OBcy41SksDwqXV8uv2qlC0LGuUu2eyoNmNr5gtj1PAqAOAc24cOEpzPuclYcmL39EDhTE_SlW-fTyI40SM92o-5H/s320/the_good_shepherd1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435576306207101378" /></a> Last night we decided to rent "The Good Shepherd." The movie, made in 2006, is a loose interpretation of the founding and early operations of the CIA. <br /><br />It can neatly be summed up in one word: Depressing. <br /><br />If you want to laugh, or even just smile, don't bother watching. Matt Damon's character, Edward Wilson, fails in every way.<br /><br />The movie's website advertises the film as follows:<br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><blockquote>Matt Damon, Angelina Jolie and Robert De Niro star in this powerful thriller about the birth of the CIA. Edward Wilson (Damon) believes in America, and will sacrifice everything he loves to protect it. But as one of the covert founders of the CIA, Edward's youthful idealism is slowly eroded by his growing suspicion of the people around him. Everybody has secrets...but will Edward's destroy him? With an all-star cast including Alec Baldwin, Billy Crudup, William Hurt, Timothy Hutton and John Turturro, it's the gripping story David Ansen of Newsweek hails as "spellbinding."</blockquote> </span><br /><br />It sounds gripping, but I didn't find the movie nearly as compelling as the synopsis. <br /><br />Wilson, the main character, did not appear idealist, enthusiastic, or willing to sacrifice anything. Rather, he seemed to be a robotic yes-man, constantly seeking approval (just as his son later does in the movie) - not so much a dreamer as a droid. <br /><br />The movie goes like this: <br />[SPOILER WARNING!]<br /><br />"Hey, we want to you be in Skull and Bones"<br />"Uh. Sure"<br />"Hey tell us your darkest secret"<br />"Uh. Sure"<br />Girlfriend 1: "Sleep with me!"<br />"Uh. Sure"<br />Random Girl at Party: "Make a baby with me: NOW!"<br />"Uh. Sure"<br />Girl's Brother: "She's pregnant, marry her."<br />"Uh. Sure"<br />CIA Founder: "Be a CIA Agent"<br />"Uh. Sure"<br />CIA Founder: "Go to Europe now"<br />"Uh. Sure"<br />Random European Woman: "Sleep with me!"<br />"Uh. Sure"<br />"Do this!"<br />"Uh. Sure"<br />"Do that!"<br />"Uh. Sure"<br /><br />I will note that Damon's character supposed to be known for his cold, stone-faced, emotionless nature. Damon did a good job playing the role. But none of Wilson's actions ever were his own. He always moved, spoke, acted in response to someone else. I think the only free action he ever does is ask his wife to name their son after him. (And how uncreative is that?)<br /><br />The movie is an interesting one to watch if you're into psychology and want to analyze father-son relationships. There's certainly a lot of good material there. <br /><br />It's also a great movie to watch if you need a guide to: 1) Why you should not randomly hook up at parties, 2) How to be a bad husband, and 3) How to be a really bad father. <br /><br />The movie reminded me of one of those depressing "classic" novels you read in high school just to pull apart literary themes, devices, allusions and the like. If you would like an exercise that, then watch the movie. From that standpoint it's well done and certainly has far more substance than your average flick; but be warned: this ranks as one of the most depressing, soul-killing movies I have ever seen.Mary Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02006895615941622010noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16179133.post-48913232992160294812010-01-29T16:51:00.005-05:002010-01-29T17:18:29.838-05:00RIP - Ralph McInernyProf. Ralph McInerny past into eternal life at 7:45 this morning. <br /><br />To be honest, while I can't stop crying right now, I also can't help smiling just a little at how fitting it is that Prof. McInerny leaves this Earth the day after the feast his beloved Thomas Aquinas. Prof. McInerny was one of my most favorite professors. He was always so sweet and always had some witty remark. <br /><br />I think the last time I saw him was at a lecture a bit over a year ago. He was lecturing on Baron Corvo for the Center for Ethics and Culture. While the lecture series was to encourage the audience to read the works of the featured authors, dear Ralph had nothing good to say about Corvo. It was a wonderful, hilarious lecture. <br /><br /><a href="http://sobersophomore.blogspot.com/2006/12/whats-on-your-profs-ipod.html">Other memories of Ralph</a>:<br />My Dante & Aquinas class enjoying an end-of-the-semester dinner with our professor:<br /><a href="http://sobersophomore.blogspot.com/2006/12/whats-on-your-profs-ipod.html"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7XJ4MM8S8vmw98U2DlRv6Uv0NyKK-S7ZKpWMefWBNIxg1h3MP8GoZszySMFinXhEASw2vIa7oMX40oe9UH847tYe4j3gjCWirZbazr76ySGnBxqJRCSFfWjRF8IaHKljtYACO/s1600-h/n5613952_31706449_1844.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7XJ4MM8S8vmw98U2DlRv6Uv0NyKK-S7ZKpWMefWBNIxg1h3MP8GoZszySMFinXhEASw2vIa7oMX40oe9UH847tYe4j3gjCWirZbazr76ySGnBxqJRCSFfWjRF8IaHKljtYACO/s320/n5613952_31706449_1844.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432287944011751970" /></a></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. <br />May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen. </span><br /><br /><br />Other links:<br /><a href="http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/firstthoughts/2010/01/29/ralph-mcinerny-1929-2010/">First Things</a><br /><a href="http://www.southernappeal.org/index.php/archives/14075">Francis Beckwith</a>Mary Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02006895615941622010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16179133.post-17865515816745136672010-01-22T06:46:00.000-05:002010-01-22T06:46:00.520-05:00Helping your PRC: Prayer<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggMm22rLnxr3OiozikHhFXU2rJbMrTdm9Oc4-it3d3ldjQBQSVt0721lz7ds4kjsyBtCBa40w0c766YXJZ6Reta_T-LEH6DPMBWy1ceHGqIYtqo_wD4dAq2Arlomx4AtHRWPlV/s1600-h/rose.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 290px; height: 302px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggMm22rLnxr3OiozikHhFXU2rJbMrTdm9Oc4-it3d3ldjQBQSVt0721lz7ds4kjsyBtCBa40w0c766YXJZ6Reta_T-LEH6DPMBWy1ceHGqIYtqo_wD4dAq2Arlomx4AtHRWPlV/s400/rose.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425540666313219218" border="0" /></a>Today marks the 37th anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade decision.<br /><br /><span class="deadbabynumber">Over 50,600,000 </span>children have been killed through legal, surgical abortion since that day.<br /><br />Above all else: pray<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Eternal Father, You are the Creator and Source of all life. Bless and protect all children threatened by abortion. Open the hearts of their parents and those who would seek to destroy their lives.<br /><br />Strengthen all fathers. Make them mirrors of Your boundless love and protection so that they may defend and provide for their children.<br /><br />Comfort all mothers. Reveal Your unmeasurable goodness to them so that they may place their trust in You and nourish the lives which You have entrusted to them.<br /><br />Enlighten all lawmakers, doctors, and healthcare providers so that they may come to a deeper understanding and reverence for all human life, from the very moment of conception until natural death.<br /><br />We ask these things in the name of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, Your beloved and only Son, Whom You sent to deliver us from the bonds of sin, and Who reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God forever and ever. Amen.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span>Mary Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02006895615941622010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16179133.post-37026948119554972622010-01-21T17:05:00.000-05:002010-01-21T17:05:00.262-05:00March for Life 2010The folks at AUL (Americans United for Life) have created something that deserves a prize. I'm just not sure which prize it deserves. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.virtualmarchforlife.com/"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirGHJLouLDfkDoYDrZMCgnWe3b4WJpEJJSM3nAwQuvT_quN3w2TtLPcTNCcx3S4zFABuIYznk3nkJqfRV_BZaEbxahBDKpk5DkPNAW5abmKK4owEk8mV6yVzN1Lq-VEx-r8oTP/s1600-h/sub_full2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 174px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirGHJLouLDfkDoYDrZMCgnWe3b4WJpEJJSM3nAwQuvT_quN3w2TtLPcTNCcx3S4zFABuIYznk3nkJqfRV_BZaEbxahBDKpk5DkPNAW5abmKK4owEk8mV6yVzN1Lq-VEx-r8oTP/s320/sub_full2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429290484612133890" /></a></a><br /><br /><blockquote>Now you have the opportunity to march online, alongside your fellow pro-lifers - even if you can't be in Washington. <span style="font-weight:bold;">AUL Action is proud to host the first<span style="font-style:italic;"> Virtual March for Life</span></span>.<br /><br />It will only take seconds, sign up, select your own "avatar" and then invite your pro-life friends and family to participate as well. It's the best way to "be there" even if you can't be there.</blockquote><br /><br />You can also check out the avatars of Leaders Marching for Life. <br /><br />I think my favorite is Joe the Plumber:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXrp5X_xoLUWmJJNKKgdjTd7FSqJNPFDJ6-fTTiTgNwGA4a4m_k06VTDnPcXHf0GfzYADItBSpjjQ8mRfHl6ZV5-bauKTRKvprIjaNtbDiHxA9p1mzr_GwkxhS3b8frFup1dn/s1600-h/leaderavatar_joeplumber.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 149px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXrp5X_xoLUWmJJNKKgdjTd7FSqJNPFDJ6-fTTiTgNwGA4a4m_k06VTDnPcXHf0GfzYADItBSpjjQ8mRfHl6ZV5-bauKTRKvprIjaNtbDiHxA9p1mzr_GwkxhS3b8frFup1dn/s320/leaderavatar_joeplumber.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429292335267657954" /></a><br /><br />I'm not sure what they were going for, but last time I checked, Our Man Joe didn't have yellow eyebrows:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2Y7jI45fB9kmKfFT2jed33vDfaZtpqlkncsVDtL9D9C0q-hhM3pcrQmgsOfbRGnsZGhM29ZuAL-jfyxMB-0L7mqc8uzqKVTrmH1NfTNYlWLuyHwCiNsZ-NrkHIxjYGYIANcU/s1600-h/Samuel_Joseph_Wurzelbacher.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 159px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2Y7jI45fB9kmKfFT2jed33vDfaZtpqlkncsVDtL9D9C0q-hhM3pcrQmgsOfbRGnsZGhM29ZuAL-jfyxMB-0L7mqc8uzqKVTrmH1NfTNYlWLuyHwCiNsZ-NrkHIxjYGYIANcU/s200/Samuel_Joseph_Wurzelbacher.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429292857769141538" /></a><br /><br /><br />For whatever it's worth, though, feel free to head on over there and join the throngs. When you're done you can find yourself on the Mall. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXnp38G6kQuOXxI4Ay_F1yeHswsCs5gY_C5gjly7lsERB_EH5LimuxyIGitOijSQSjYYdyUrsxjP_PeMYGgqGZCysZWEDkS9FQhShWkSSzW_CM1WgjijaMlj0l22ydq3ooeHHX/s1600-h/untitled.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 195px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXnp38G6kQuOXxI4Ay_F1yeHswsCs5gY_C5gjly7lsERB_EH5LimuxyIGitOijSQSjYYdyUrsxjP_PeMYGgqGZCysZWEDkS9FQhShWkSSzW_CM1WgjijaMlj0l22ydq3ooeHHX/s320/untitled.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429294787505517250" /></a><br /><br />It's nice, and all that, but in a couple hours, I'm going to be boarding a bus along with many, many other Domers and making the 12 hour trek down there so I can be at the March in person!<br /><br />By the way, in case you were wondering,<span style="font-weight:bold;"> Notre Dame is sponsoring 8 buses with a total of over 370 students</span> (a record breaking year!) In addition, <span style="font-weight:bold;">over 30 faculty and staff members will join them</span> in D.C. along with numerous alumni and friends. <br /><br />Go Irish, Save Babies!<br /><br />Please keep us, and all marchers, mothers, fathers, babies, and lawmakers in your prayers. <br /><br />Thank you.Mary Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02006895615941622010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16179133.post-61469270250544615962010-01-21T07:43:00.000-05:002010-01-21T15:44:43.543-05:00Helping Your Local Pregnancy Resource Center:<a href="http://church-ladies.blogspot.com/2010/01/helping-your-prc-bottle-drive.html"> Bottle Drive</a>Mary Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02006895615941622010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16179133.post-57761280782672481492010-01-18T17:43:00.000-05:002010-01-18T17:43:00.140-05:00Not forgetting gratitudeIt's hard to find a voice of thanks when so many are dead...the Haitian earthquake, the anniversary of Roe V. Wade this Friday, and so many other instances in the news. Nevertheless:<br /><br /><br />56. The hope of eternal life<br /><br />57. The promise of the resurrection of the body<br /><br />58. That His mercy extends from generation to generation, upon those who fear Him<br /><br />59.A new semester's fresh start<br /><br />60. Our newly installed bishop<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><br /><a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/"><img alt="holy experience" src="http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/ee349/GDest07/ann%20voskamp/mondaybutton2.png" title="holy experience" /></a></center>Mary Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02006895615941622010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16179133.post-89590894977973562172010-01-18T16:17:00.001-05:002010-01-21T15:43:44.197-05:00Helping Your Pregnancy Resource Center: <a href="http://church-ladies.blogspot.com/2010/01/helping-your-prc-baby-shower-part-1.html">Hosting a Baby Shower Part 1</a><br /><br />Helping Your Pregnancy Resource Center: <a href="http://church-ladies.blogspot.com/2010/01/helping-your-prc-baby-shower-part-2.html">Hosting a Baby Shower Part 2</a>Mary Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02006895615941622010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16179133.post-90781812692477708552010-01-17T17:38:00.004-05:002010-01-17T17:41:57.142-05:00Helping Your Local PRC<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipP9IZxOwzt-M24aC712SRdwHhakhy_CJXIHmV1aGT-SBRlGRIJSc7XhrGUQDDRgaP42z9Uk8JYCTZrm3b-U3PRY2Lo3i4UVIDftzJePpUO-3hT4z6zd1JbeftpYgMKa86TCBA/s1600-h/face.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 160px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipP9IZxOwzt-M24aC712SRdwHhakhy_CJXIHmV1aGT-SBRlGRIJSc7XhrGUQDDRgaP42z9Uk8JYCTZrm3b-U3PRY2Lo3i4UVIDftzJePpUO-3hT4z6zd1JbeftpYgMKa86TCBA/s200/face.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422917992815007346" border="0" /></a>I'm posting over at the Pious <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Sodality</span> of Church Ladies this week. A couple posts in the series, "Helping Your Pregnancy Resource Center," are already up:<br /><a href="http://church-ladies.blogspot.com/2010/01/working-in-prolife-field.html"><br />Working in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Prolife</span> Field</a><br /><br /><a href="http://church-ladies.blogspot.com/2010/01/helping-your-prc-getting-to-know-you.html">Getting to Know You</a><br /><br /><a href="http://church-ladies.blogspot.com/2010/01/helping-your-prc-be-good-volunteer.html#comments">Be A Good Volunteer</a>Mary Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02006895615941622010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16179133.post-60332359504267440572010-01-16T12:38:00.000-05:002018-03-04T16:53:45.825-05:00Guinness Beef StewYes, I'm a slacker. It was my intent to blog all of the scrumptious, sumptuous meals The Roommate and I made; but I've failed until tonight. <br />
<br />
The Roommate made following recipe last week. It was amazing! Best stew I ever had. Seriously. I was going to go get some of the leftovers from her about 2 days later, but she sheepishly admitted to having eaten it all (but a little). I can't blame her. It was that good! <br />
<br />
The stew was accompanied by salad and some excellent sourdough bread I bought from Martin's.<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote>
Irish Beef Stew Recipe<br />
<br />
Ingredients<br />
<br />
* 1/4 cup olive oil<br />
* 1 1/4 pounds stew beef, cut into 1-inch pieces<br />
* 6 large garlic cloves, minced<br />
* 6 cups beef stock or canned beef broth<br />
* 1 cup of Guinness beer<br />
* 1 cup of fine red wine<br />
* 2 tablespoons tomato paste<br />
* 1 tablespoon sugar<br />
* 1 tablespoon dried thyme<br />
* 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce<br />
* 2 bay leaves<br />
* 2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter<br />
* 3 pounds russet potatoes, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (about 7 cups)<br />
* 1 large onion, chopped<br />
* 2 cups 1/2-inch pieces peeled carrots<br />
* Salt and Pepper<br />
* 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley<br />
<br />
Method<br />
<br />
1 Heat olive oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add beef and sauté until brown on all sides, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and sauté 1 minute. Add beef stock, Guinness, red wine, tomato paste, sugar, thyme, Worcestershire sauce and bay leaves. Stir to combine. Bring mixture to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, then cover and simmer 1 hour, stirring occasionally.<br />
<br />
2 While the meat and stock is simmering, melt butter in another large pot over medium heat. Add potatoes, onion and carrots. Sauté vegetables until golden, about 20 minutes. Set aside until the beef stew in step one has simmered for one hour.<br />
<br />
3 Add vegetables to beef stew. Simmer uncovered until vegetables and beef are very tender, about 40 minutes. Discard bay leaves. Tilt pan and spoon off fat. Transfer stew to serving bowl. Sprinkle with parsley and serve. (Can be prepared up to 2 days ahead. Salt and pepper to taste. Cool slightly. Refrigerate uncovered until cold, then cover and refrigerate. Bring to simmer before serving.)<br />
<br />
Serves 4 to 6.</blockquote>
Mary Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02006895615941622010noreply@blogger.com0