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One of the best details in the movies of the LOTRs, and most significant, is at the very end when Gandalf sends to 3 eagles to rescue Frodo and Samwise. Why the third eagle? Very few ever ask... and fewer know the significance. The third eagle was for Golum! Why would Gandalf send a third eagle? The easy awnser is that he didn't known Golum had died... The truth however, is that Gandlaf being the Christ-like figure of the trilogy, sent a third eagle because he still believed Golum was worth saving! As corrupted, eaten by sin and evil as Golum was, Gandalf still believed he was worth saving! The Lord Himself must have spoken through Tolkien on that inspired detail. Next time you think your sins are too overbearing, or that you truly screwed up too much, remember the third eagle, and know that God's love is greater than any of your sins.

The previous post refers to St. Anselm (no -'S) abbey in New Hampshire. They're part of the American Cassinese congregation, descended from Saint Vincent's Archabbey. There is another St. Anselm's (note the -'S) Abbey in Washington, DC - they're in the English congregation, along with the abbeys in Portsmouth RI and St. Louis MO. St. Anselm's in Washington DC now has two men in formation - one in first vows, and another who was received as a novice in late February. The quotation is from their FB page: "Tonight John Castonguay was clothed as a novice of our community. He will spend the next year learning to be a monk while the community sees if he “truly seeks God and whether he shows eagerness for the Work of God, for obedience and for trials” (RB 58:7). He will be known in religious life as Br Maximilian after St Maximilian Kolbe. Please pray for him."

St. Anselm Benedictine Abbey in New Hampshire celebrated an ordination to the diaconate in February and an ordination to the priesthood on April 13th.

Joseph Thermadom is a Deaf man who was born and raised in India. He came to the US to join the Dominicans for the Deaf Apostolate and studied for the priesthood. I knew him in that phase of his life. For reasons to which I am not privy, he left that order and returned to India where he joined the Congregation of the Holy Cross. He continued studying for the priesthood, and he was ordained a priest today, becoming the first native-born Deaf priest in India, and perhaps the only Deaf priest in India.

From the FB page of Subiaco Abbey (Benedictine monks in Arkansas), on 30 April. They also posted a photo but I didn't paste it here. "SAVE THE DATE: Rev. Mr. Cody Eveld (Subiaco Academy class of 2014) will be ordained as a priest in the presbyteral order for the Diocese of Little Rock on Saturday, May 25th at 10:00 am, at the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Little Rock, by Bishop Anthony B. Taylor. If interested in attending this wonderful event for our entire diocese, then email an RSVP to vocationsoffice@dolr.org. If you are not able to attend, then you can also watch this via livestream on youtube at the diocesan channel "cdolr". Our monastic community joins Deacon Cody's family and friends in wishing him prayerful best wishes for this wonderful occasion and congratulate him for answering God's call to the priesthood of Jesus Christ. For this we monks chant: UIOGD!"

The Hillbilly Thomists sing "Keep Your Lamps Trimmed." There are a lot of variations on this song out there - it's a common theme in the repertoire of spirituals. But I think the Thomists must have come up with some of their own verses based on various Bible verses. Which is fine. The only accompaniment is a guitar, and that's just in the intro and between the verses; for all practical purposes, the song is sung a cappella. I also like the final chorus and outro, which they sing as a round.

Notre Père, qui est au cieux, Que Ton nom soit sanctifier, Que Ton règne vienne, Que Ta volonté soit faite, sur la terre comme au ciel Donnes-nous aujourd'hui notre pain de ce jours, Pardonnes-nous nos pêchers, comme nous pardonnons aussi a ceux qui nous ont offensé Ne nous soumet pas a la tentation, mais délivres-nous du mal. Amen

I just figured out that I didn't post a song yesterday. I picked one, wrote a little intro, and posted the link, but I never hit Submit Reply. Oh, well. "All My Tears" was written by Julie Miller. I first heard it sung by Emmylou Harris. But this recording is by Selah, featuring Kim Hill. My cousin was buried today - this one's for The Captain.

Gloire au Père, et au Fils et au Saint Esprit, comme il était au commencement, maintenant et toujours pour les siècles des siècles. Amen Oh mon Jésus, préserves-nous des feux de l'enfer, conduisez au ciel toutes les âmes, spécialement celles qui ont le plus besoin de Ta miséricorde. Amen

G4.10 Je vous salut Marie, pleine de grâce, le Seigneur est avec vous, vous êtes bénie entres toutes les femmes et Jésus, le fruit de vos entrailles est béni. Sainte Marie, Mère de Dieu, priez pour nous pécheurs, maintenant et a l'heure de notre mort. Amen

Patty Loveless is Loretta Lynn's cousin, and Patty had her own very successful career in Country music. Like Loretta Lynn, Loveless is from the hills of Kentucky. Here she sings the traditional hymn "Daniel Prayed," a la bluegrass, with Ricky Skaggs. While our non-Catholic brothers and sisters don't have the rich tradition of the Communion of Saints or the Lives of the Saints, they nonetheless do look to Biblical figures as models of Christian living. On a side note, I love how Skaggs handles the rowdy fan, after the first verse.

I really like the original Carter Family, in spite of the primitive recording equipment and the rather tinny sound it produced. They were one of the most prominent transitional groups from folk music to the Country Music Bidness. This is "Fifty Miles of Elbow Room" with Sarah Carter singing lead. It's a vision of the heavenly Jerusalem. When trains were invented, Gospel singers incorporated them into Gospel songs; by the same token, when planes were invented, Gospel singers incorporated them into Gospel songs. And Sarah Carter became an airplane pilot rather late in life, after she had quit the Country Music Bidness.

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; He descended into hell; on the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from there He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen

Josh White (1914-1969) was a guitarist, singer, actor, and civil rights activist. He had an interesting life; you should look him up in Wikipedia and read about him. Here he sings the traditional spiritual "Paul and Silas Bound in Jail." Keep in mind that a lot of spirituals were put together by and for illiterate people - the Word would be read to them, preaching explained it more or less, and the song would help them remember the Biblical story and its meaning. Plus, everybody likes music!

I actually entered with Sr. Mary Christ. Let's hope she does better.

Moe Bandy was a popular country singer in the 80s and 90s. Some of his songs were pretty wild. But this is a Gospel number called "Many Mansions." It relates the Biblical concept to homelessness, which has not really improved since this was released (1989).

As we continue to celebrate the resurrection of Our Lord, we are called to bear fruit and become disciples because we love – though this isn’t always easy How do we proclaim the Good News about Jesus when we think there is just too much happening around us and in the world? The answer is never the same and will vary from person to person. Still, the overall message of this Gospel, suggests this simple response: We show up. We love others. We share the Good News with others. We speak and act in ways that support this message of love. In our Gospel, Jesus is addressing us. Twice, he says, “I am,” reminding us that God knows our hearts. There is no need to hide from God, no need to hide those parts of ourselves of which we are ashamed. Instead, this truth, this love, draws us nearer to God. It allows us to see those parts we think cannot be restored and instead allows us to run to the Father, allows us to abide in God. Our Second Reading reminds us that if we love one another, God lives in us. There is no secret we can keep from God. But what is love? We can look to the One who sent Jesus into the world to die for us to create a clear example of love. A love that empowers us to act in ways that seek the well-being of all. Imagine the following: You walk into any nursery or vineyard and there you encounter different individuals caring and tending to the needs of every vine. The vine grower tends to them all, making no exceptions! The vine grower is aware of what each vine needs to bear fruit. The vine grower loves the branches. Similarly, God examines our hearts, provides for us, and can also remove those parts of ourselves that bear no fruit. If the vine grower worries about all the vines and knows that every branch can bear fruit, then the pruning becomes a special and necessary part of the growth process. Pruning will change the outcome for the vine, and it will change our outcomes, too. When we remain in God, we invite God into our lives – however messy that may be. When we remain in God, we are empowered to seek our place in this world, loving others, living into the mission of the Church, restoring all people to unity with God and each other in Christ. It is a slow and transformational relationship between the vine grower and the branches. We cannot do this work alone. We have Jesus’ example of love by being in relationship with people. We have the disciples’ example of love by following Jesus, even amid their own shortcomings. Our world needs people who are capable of this love because a church that only condemns and only sees sin would not truly be the church. It would not be transformed by grace or mercy. There would be no opportunity for restoring our brokenness. As God transforms us, we transform the world. Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador knew what it meant to be transformed by love; he knew what it meant to be with the people of his country and knew that speaking the truth would likely cause his death; he knew that loving the people of El Salvador meant that his actions and words mattered. He is reported to have said, “If a man knows how to detach from himself and knows how to love, he is a saint; if a man speaks too much about holiness but does not know how to love, he is no saint.” This is how we love. When we remain in God, God remains in us. God remain in our relationships. God transforms. God will allow us to bear fruit.

From Saint Meinrad Archabbey's Facebook page, news that NINETEEN deacons were ordained for the archdiocese of Hanoi on April 23rd. The Church in Viet Nam is thriving. "Saint Meinrad The good work of Saint Meinrad extends worldwide! Archbishop Joseph Vũ Văn Thiên of Hanoi said gracious words of thanks (in English!) for Saint Meinrad Seminary and for our Father Rector Denis Robinson, OSB at yesterday's (23 April) ordination Mass of Hung Tran (2023 alumnus) and nineteen more newly ordained deacons for Hanoi!" There's an accompanying video on the FB page, but I didn't post it here.

Mississippi John Hurt is best known for singing the blues, but he also sang Gospel. This is "I Shall Not Be Moved." It was adopted by the folk movement and became an anthem for people like Pete Seeger, but it actually originated in Gospel, based on the very first psalm.

My cousin died last night; this one's for him. It's the Bahamian spiritual "I Bid You Goodnight," often referred to as "Lay Down, My Dear Brother." You might know The Grateful Dead's version, but I prefer Aaron Neville's gentler and more heartfelt rendition (with his brothers, of course!). Interesting side note - this album and all the songs on it were produced by Linda Ronstadt.

Book of the day (Wednesday, 24th of April 2024) Eucharistic Miracles by Joan Carroll Cruz Source: Free Catholic Books Pope St John Paul II Open EPUB files with Skoob EPUB reader on Android from Google Play

The Blind Boys of Alabama sing "Ain't Nobody's Fault But Mine."

I can find very little information about Gloria Bailey other than the fact that she was born and raised in Louisville and died in 2021. This song, "When He Calls Me" in interesting for a couple of reasons. Her voice is not a typical Gospel Music voice; the music is so simple as to be almost a folk song; the instrumentation is almost country; and she has a very interesting accent - when I first heard her, I thought she might be from Jamaica or somewhere in the Caribbean.

Bob Ferguson wrote "On the Wings of a Dove" in 1958. Ferlin Husky recorded & released it in 1960. It spent 12 weeks at Number 1 on the country charts, and also crossed over to the pop charts where it attained #12. Sing along, or clap along, as you see fit.

"Where Could I Go But to the Lord?" was written by James Buchanan under the name J. B. Coats. It's considered Country Gospel, but it was inspired by a Black man, Buchanan's neighbor, Joe Keys. Keys was dying, and Buchanan asked him if he knew where he was going to spend eternity; Mr. Keys replied, "Where could I go but to the Lord." Which are actually St. Peter's words in today's Gospel. Buchanan wrote the song years later. This is a pretty straightforward version of it - good voices, good enunciation, nice fiddling, nice harmony.