For the ancient Eastern Church where Tradition is really Tradition, this day is the feast of the Dormition of Mary, her falling asleep. She is seen surrounded by the disciples of Jesus and Jesus holds her in his arms. So. I have met some snitty traditionalists, so called, but in reality simply super Romans who [...]

These two poems, one by Yeats and the other by Emily Dickinson, shake with sadness, the gamble with despair that a light must overcome… WB Yeats: To a Child dancing in the Wind Dance there upon the shore; What need have you to care For wind or water’s roar? And tumble out your hair That [...]

The first week of a “break” is a retreat. After beating myself nearly to death it is unreasonable to expect a recovery especially since it is necessary to go away and “away” is six time zones and 12 hours of travel by car, plane, train, and taxi. Nevertheless, a retreat is a shock to the [...]

This feast of the Immaculate Conception is a great time to share things about the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the press you still see the confusion between the virgin birth and the immaculate conception. The  virgin birth refers to Christ’s own birth and the immaculate conception to Mary’s normal birth. Mary preserved from the deprivations [...]

This is a  new category. I came across an online Penguin catalogue which disappeared when I got to the H listings. Penguin, is of course, the class act of paperbacks. I look for a shelf of  penguins in the movies and they show up  especially in British and French productions. French movies usually always have [...]