This was a quick read which told St. Vincent de Paul's story in manageable pieces. That's no small feat since he had an extremely full, action-packed life, such as when he was captured by pirates, sold into slavery, and convinced his owner to escape with him to Europe. As his eyes were opened to the plight of the poor, especially the countryside peasants, he began working to alleviate their distress, recruiting the wealthy to be Christ's hands. His realization of the overwhelming lack of catechesis for priests, and consequently their ignorance of the faith, led to a series of educational eff ..read more

But to go back to memories. What odd things, really, when one collects them all together, one does remember out of one's life. One remembers happy occasions, one rememvers—very vividly, I think—fear. Oddly enough, pain and unhappiness are hared to recapture. I do not mean exactly that I do not remember them—I can, but without feeling them. Where they are concerned I am in the first stage. I say, "There was Agatha being terribly unhappy. There was Agatha having a toothache." But I don't feel the unhappiness or feel the toothache. On the other hand, one day the sudden smell of lime trees brings ..read more

 Because Christmas is on Monday this year, that means we've got two days of mass in a row — both the Sunday mass and the Christmas (holy day of obligation) mass. The Pillar looks at all the options I never thought of in this post. Truly it is a dizzying intellect that considered and clarified these options for us ..read more

Frederic Ozanam founder of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society Choosing a special patron saint for a new year is an old custom that has found favor again in some spots. You can choose a saint who interests you or it can be a name drawn from a hat of potential saints (one is really leaning on divine inspiration at that point) or picked at random (try the saint's name generator). The idea is that one is being directed (with help) to become more aware of specific areas in life where special guidance might be necessary.  I've done this, off and on, since 2006 and had every sort o ..read more

In Episode 321 of A Good Story is Hard to Find, Scott and I discuss a mystery with many layers: The Feast by Margaret Kennedy ..read more

Repose, John Singer Sargent I love this for that fabulous dress. As always. The National Gallery of Art has some interesting information including this tidbit. The woman in Repose is Sargent's niece, Rose–Marie Ormond. In keeping with his newfound preference for informal figure studies, Sargent did not create a traditional portrait; rather, he depicted Rose–Marie as a languid, anonymous figure absorbed in poetic reverie. The reclining woman, casually posed in an atmosphere of elegiac calm and consummate luxury, seems the epitome of nonchalance—the painting's original title. Sargent s ..read more

Looking Glass Rock taken by Valerie, ucumari photography Isn't this splendid? Be sure to click through on the link so you can see it full size. Valerie says: Rising to 3,969 feet, Looking Glass Rock is comprised of exposed Whiteside granite that was formed approximately 390 million years ago. Geologists refer to it as a "pluton," a big ball of granitic rock that would have become a volcano had it not cooled before it reached the earth's surface. The name "Looking Glass" is derived from its appearance when rainwater freezes on its surface and reflects the sun like a mirror. I can only ..read more

This was not the first time that Mr. Bulstrode had begun by admonishing Mr. Vincy, and had ended by seeing a very unsatisfactory reflection of himself in the coarse unflattering mirror which that manufacturer's mind presented to the subtler lights and shadows of fellow-men; and perhaps his experience ought to have warned him how the scene would end. But a full-fed fountain will be generous with its waters even in the rain, when they are worse than useless; and a fine fount of admonition is apt to be equally irrepressible. George Eliot, Middlemarch It's easy to think of Middlemarch as all seri ..read more

Mrs. Crupp had indignantly assured him that there wasn't room to swing a cat there; but, as Mr. Dick justly observed to me, sitting down on the foot of the bed, nursing his leg, "You know, Trotwood, I don't want to swing a cat. I never do swing a cat. Therefore, what does that signify to ME!" Charles Dickens, David Copperfield Dickens has some of the most amusing characters and dialogue of anyone. Not an original observation, of course, but he continually cracks me up ..read more

Baking the Bread, Anders Zorn, 1889 See this? That's me today. Ok, not literally. Thank goodness I've got an enclosed oven for one thing. But I'm cook, cook, cookin' the day away preparing the Thanksgiving feast. Pies, side dishes, rolls. So much cooking, with something new this year. My son-in-law is going to deep fry the turkey. I am extremely interested to see how it turns out. Rose and I have done this together enough times that it is like a ballet as we skirt each other cooking, remembering timing and tips to each other, and listen to very American music — per Rose, this means ..read more