Pretty cold…
I know, I know..de nada for those in truly frigid parts. Still, it was pretty. I never did get to see Niagara Falls in the winter..this will have to do for now.
(Courtyard, Cathedral of St. Paul, Birmingham, AL)
Today was a busy day, and it’s only 2pm.
We began very early as Katie and I rose at 6:15, and headed to a local Applebee’s where her theater academy was holding a pancake breakfast fundraiser. Fundraising for their trip to Edinburgh this summer to perform in the American High School Theatre Festival (held at the same time as the Fringe Festival). I did very little work – I wasn’t really needed – but spent most of the time chatting with folks, including those in charge about the marvelous timing of a getting involved in a huge project requiring a lot of $$$$ just as the economy tanks. Small consolation: the gaining dollar against the pound (at this point).
Then it was off to the Cathedral where Michael and the Boyz were waiting for us, to a Respect Life Mass, Bishop Baker presiding. This was the first year they had held such a Mass, they didn’t know what to expect…and the Cathedral was full. Very nice Mass, including an effective homily in which Bishop Baker pulled together St. Anthony’s battle against evil, the fact that when Lyndon Baines Johnson took office, many thought that was a death-knell for the civil rights movement, a reminder of the truth of what Jesus said in the Gospel- with God all things are possible – and a strong reminder that the fight for civil rights has not ended, as long as the unborn are deprived the right to life.
After Mass, it was time to head a few blocks south to Bryant Park where a rally preceding the annual March for Life was beginning. The rally was a bit long, especially considering the temperature, but even then, it was a marvelous opportunity to be in the presence of a great group of witnesses and finally meet some wonderful people who Michael’s been telling me about.
Some photos:
At prayer
Bishop Baker leading prayer
Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word.
There were many religious there from various orders, as well as diocesan priests and chancery employees.
The opposition, gathered in front of a local abortion facility. You can’t really see it (maybe you can if you click on the photo for a large version), but the woman in the red jacket in the middle is holding a small dog.
That was thought-provoking.
Finally, the Jesus Guy was there:
Really. Click here for more about the Jesus Guy.
It was useful to have him around, to be able to say to your children, complaining about the cold, “See, he’s not wearing shoes, and he’s not complaining…” A vivid way of saying “offer it up.”
When Jesus Came to Birmingham…
Pray for the little ones, pray for all the women and girls grappling with what they see as distressing news.
Thanks for the disclaimer about us in truly frigid parts(Saint Paul, MN) but I believe cold is relative. Thanks for the pictures, they make me want to go to our Walk for Life next week in St. Paul. BTW-we’ve warmed up 40 degrees or so- from 23 below to 20 above so were fine now.
Thank you for posting this. I wanted to be there myself (I live in Huntsville), but I had other family commitments. Now I can see some of what I missed. God bless Bishop Baker. We are so happy to have him in our diocese. And happy he brought you and Michael here, too!
I’m hoping that it’s not freezing at the March for Life in DC next week. This Southern fellow isn’t too thrilled with the frigid temps up here this past week!
Dear Amy:
Wow, I was standing just a few feet away from you as you took these pictures. I wish I could have met you and your family. I enjoy your blog immensely: great writing style, good sense of humor, and penetrating spiritual insights. I pastor locally and serve in the Charismatic Episcopal Church (CEC). Maybe the Lord will give me the opportunity of meeting you and your family some other time.
The Jesus man was in my town a few years back. My scheduled hour of adoration is in the middle of the night and he used to come in and sleep in the adoration chapel. We had some brief conversations. I want to tell a story about him that might seem at first to be criticism but it really isn’t.
The parish I belong to has monthly benefit breakfasts: all the money raised goes to various needs in the community. The Jesus man came to one of those breakfasts. My unbelieving son-in-law (call him Joe) was also there and very curious about him. Joe was watching closely when a retarded man from the parish tried to engage the Jesus man in conversation and got blown off. This so offended my son-in-law that he invited the retarded man to sit at our table and talked with him throughout the whole meal.
Afterwards, Joe said something to me about the incident, “so that’s how Jesus acts.” Well, no. Because Jesus is God, Jesus is perfect. The Jesus man dresses like Jesus and wanders around and has no money or home like Jesus. He is not Jesus, he is not God, he is not perfect, he is a human being like all the rest of us. He does this to make us think about Jesus and maybe, in our own lives, try to be a little bit more like Jesus. I’d say, with my son-in-law, that the Jesus man succeeded. He made Joe think about what Jesus would do and do it.
The lady with the dog in this post and the last post made me think — “The Children of Men.” (the P.D. James book, i haven’t seen the movie.)
Is that St. Fiacre with his toes frozen by the fountain?
Bishop Robert Baker is a personal friend of mine. He was there for my wife, family and I when our son died. We really missed him when he was moved.
Jim Dorchak
A request for prayers for a son of the Church.
I received this about the pre-eminent Holy See Latinist, Fr. Reginald Foster, O.C.D., popularly known as “Reggie” who instructed many in Latin for years at the Greg and lately outside of the Gregorian University. He is a legend.
RECEIVED at 12:33 p.m. Central Daylight Time, Sun., Jan. 18
Reginald continues to have serious health problems, ever since his fall last June. He has basically been bed ridden ever since that incident. What follows is the latest.
Yesterday (Saturday) he was taken from his monastery to the Fatebenefratelli hospital on the Tiber Island. Shortly after arriving, he suffered some kind of seizure and was put in intensive care. At first they diagnosed it as pulmonary embolism and they did not expect him to survive. Now they say it was NOT an embolism, but apparently his spleen ruptured and the ensuing rush of fluid in his body caused temporary heart failure.
It is now Sunday afternoon in Rome and I just returned from the hospital where I was allowed (after a two hour wait) to go in and see Reggie. He was not conscious, but he did open one eye slightly for a moment when I spoke to him. He is attached to a number of tubes and his mouth is propped open, so its kind of a depressing sight.
Some of you may be hearing this news from other sources, but I just wanted to make sure that you heard. Say a prayer for Reggie.
A request for prayers for a son of the Church.
I received this about the pre-eminent Holy See Latinist, Fr. Reginald Foster, O.C.D., popularly known as “Reggie” who instructed many in Latin for years at the Greg and lately outside of the Gregorian University. He is a legend.
RECEIVED at 12:33 p.m. Central Daylight Time, Sun., Jan. 18
Reginald continues to have serious health problems, ever since his fall last June. He has basically been bed ridden ever since that incident. What follows is the latest.
Yesterday (Saturday) he was taken from his monastery to the Fatebenefratelli hospital on the Tiber Island. Shortly after arriving, he suffered some kind of seizure and was put in intensive care. At first they diagnosed it as pulmonary embolism and they did not expect him to survive. Now they say it was NOT an embolism, but apparently his spleen ruptured and the ensuing rush of fluid in his body caused temporary heart failure.
It is now Sunday afternoon in Rome and I just returned from the hospital where I was allowed (after a two hour wait) to go in and see Reggie. He was not conscious, but he did open one eye slightly for a moment when I spoke to him. He is attached to a number of tubes and his mouth is propped open, so its kind of a depressing sight.
Some of you may be hearing this news from other sources, but I just wanted to make sure that you heard. Say a prayer for Reggie.
Vince Drago