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As I've mentioned before, the Carter Family (AP, Sarah, and Maybelle) recorded a lot of Gospel songs. In 2004, somebody produced a Carter Family tribute album called The Unbroken Circle. It included "On the Sea of Galilee" by Emmylou Harris and the Peasall Sisters. They provide the innocent, angelic voices on this song. Back in 2004, they were 8 to 12 years old I'd guess, but they're all grown up now and they don't sound like this any more. Anyway, the song doesn't have a real clear point; it's mostly personal reflection/questioning, but it's very pleasant to listen to and sing along with, especially if you want practice singing harmonies.

https://abcnews.go.com/US/untold-story-real-aunt-jemima-fight-preserve-legacy/story?id=72293603

Several descendants of women who played “Aunt Jemima” are speaking out against the Quaker Oats food company’s decision to rebrand its Aunt Jemima breakfast line. https://www.blackenterprise.com/great-grandson-of-aunt-jemima-calls-attempt-to-abandon-brand-a-great-injustice/ to her family.

Here's an interesting but sad vocation story. Brother Kyle joined the Trappist abbey of Mepkin in South Carolina in September '22. He was clothed as a novice in November '23. Then he developed cancer. He was allowed to profess solemn vows on February 18, '24. He died March 5, '24. https://mepkinabbey.org/obituary-for-brother-kyle-berceau/

The Dixie Hummingbirds have been around a loonnngggg time - since 1928! Here they are singing "If Anybody Asks You Who I Am" (tell 'em I'm a child of God). It's a little on the brief side - the standard pop radio song back in the old days was 2:30 or so - but it's energetic.

It took 20 seconds to find evidence that this is a hoax. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2020/06/30/fact-check-aunt-jemima-model-didnt-create-brand-wasnt-millionaire/3241656001/

Handmaids of the Precious Blood just had a first profession. http://nunsforpriests.org/news/ In addition to Sr. Maria Crucis of St. St.Joseph who just made her profession they now have 4 in formation, one novice, one postulant and two aspirants.

Rev. Cleophus Robinson was one of the great Gospel singers. This is, arguably, his greatest hit, "Wrapped Up, Tied Up, Tangled Up (in Jesus)." It's got what I call "that walking beat" - slow, but steady and strong. To me, that beat expresses perseverance.

How we got here...

I would simply say nowhere in physical reality has it been observed that something has come from nothing; there was always something which preceded that which was created. If everything in physical reality had to have had a beginning, then we know it didn't create itself. Since we know the universe had a beginning, as we can see the universe is changing, then we have to accept that at some point, if we keep going back, we are going to have to arrive at a source which transcends this law of needing a creator. Since nothing in physical reality can do that, the source would have to be supernatural, and thus not bound by change, or the need of a creator. We call this thing, God.

https://fscc-calledtobe.org/2024/04/12/marinette-holy-family-women-visit-franciscan-sisters-convent/ A special Easter Season Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity highlight was a Holy Family Parish, Marinette, Wisconsin Women’s Day at Holy Family Convent, Manitowoc.

I've posted other songs by the Marshall Family. This one's called "Mr. Jesus." I believe it was written by David; that's who sings lead and plays banjo, too. I don't hear Pop, although he's shown in the picture. But Ben plays bass, and Judy and Danny sing harmony. Today's Gospel reading is the feeding of the 5,000, which is featured in the song's chorus.

The season of Easter was always used in the early church as the time to instruct newly baptized people in the sacraments which they were now able to receive. This practice is still carried on frequently in the contemporary church. It is helpful, because all of us need to be reminded of the meaning of our sacramental relationship with God in the Eucharist. in all three readings, the Scriptures are interpreted to serve and advance the Church’s mission—to reveal the truth about Jesus, to bring people to repentance, the wiping away of sins, and the perfection of their love for God. This is how we, too, should hear the Scriptures. Not to know more “about” Jesus, but to truly know Him personally, and to know His plan for our lives. In the Scriptures, the light of His face shines upon us, as we say in today’s Psalm. We know the wonders He has done throughout history. And we have the confidence to call to Him, and to know that He hears and answers. In the gospel reading from Luke, Jesus tells his disciples after his resurrection, “Repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.” There is good news in the proclamation of repentance and forgiveness. If sin is communal and derives from letting a mob mentality hijack our morality, redemption happens when we live out of our identity as God’s kin. When we rest in the knowledge that God loves us, our perception of the world can begin to change. And it is not just our perception of the world that changes, but our relationships within it start to shift as well. Instead of seeing the Other that needs to be punished or brought into line, we see as God sees. We seek as God seeks, looking for ways to show love and mercy, not death and destruction. The proclamation of the gospel across the world is not that others need to become like us. The good news is not that everyone is already the same. There are real differences that divide and separate us. The good news is that the brokenness around us does not have the final say. The good news is that, as we bask in God’s love, we can identify when and where we are letting the mob rule in our thoughts, hearts, and actions. There is another way. Through God’s love, we learn together how to be God’s family. As the church, as individuals, and as groups, we’ve made mistakes. We’ve let differences become an excuse for structural, symbolic, and material violence. But those mistakes do not have the final word on who we are. God’s love has the first and last say on our identity, and that identity is love. This divine way of being is not about romantic, or abstract love, but a love that leads to a real change within us. The readings for today, and the Scriptures, attest that God came in love to give life. When we find ourselves longing for better days, when we find ourselves in the bleak despair that the world is marred beyond all repair, there is yet hope. There are real, material harms perpetrated in the world. We name that as sin. And we proclaim that sin is not the end of the story. We proclaim who we are: a people whose identity is grounded in a divine love that pulls us out of our darkest days and from our darkest impulses. As 1 John says, “We should be called children of God. And that is what we are.”

Rhonda Vincent has been singing & playing country/bluegrass music in southern Missouri for a long time, along with her brother Darrin, and their mother Carolyn. Mama's on the left (white hair), Rhonda in the center (blond hair), and Darrin on the right (no hair). Here they are singing "Wounded Soldier." It sounds like a medley of two songs to me because of the change in tempo-pulse-and-melody near the end, but it's listed as one song.

New podcast by the Irish Dominican Friars on what Religious Life is. "The World is Our Cloister" https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-world-is-our-cloister/id1725114546

The actor Dennis Quaid found religion rather late in life. He claims that religion pulled him through his addiction. He plays guitar and sings, and he writes his own songs. Including "Fallen."

I'm not really sure about that either GraceUk. I know that all the Ancient Observance Carmels in the United States have less than ten professed members. The sisters I went to visit are trying to revive the Ancient Observance customs by reintegrating solemn chant and Latin. They have been accepted by many bishops, and have back up plans for their community if, God forbid, it fails.

Nicodemus figures in today's Gospel, so here's a song for him. He was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin, but he also approached Jesus to discuss what he (Jesus) was teaching, and he is sometimes referred to as the Defender of Jesus because he reminded the Sanhedrin that a man should be heard at trial before he is judged. So here's Buddy Greene singing his song "Recovering Pharisee," which I find to be an interesting concept. Del McCoury does a more bluegrass version of the song, if you like bluegrass.

He spoke on the dignity of life in all phases, including to the point of natural death. Said that Euthanasia is an afront on human dignity. This is particularly important in Canada - Every year Canada has been breaking records with MAID (Medically Assistance in Death). I seldom heard the papa speak with such direct and firm way - may God protect him and keep him in His hands. We are all very lucky to have him. (for a moment I imagined it was JP the Great who wrote the words, I love papa Francis, but still miss JP)

G4.9 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

Sr Jennifer, Mt St Mary's Wrentham. I think a while ago @Lady Grey, Hot was asking about this community. https://msmabbey.org/news/sr-jennifers-solemn-profession The Abbess' talk.

This being the feast of the Annunciation, I feel like I have to post something related. So this is the Hail Mary sung in French as a duet by two men. The first time through, they sing in unison. The second time through, they sing in harmony.

FUUL TEXT: Pope Francis on Friday again spoke out against gender theory describing it as an “ugly ideology of our time”, because it erases all distinctions between men and women. To ceancel this difference “is to erase humanity. Man and woman, instead, exist in a fruitful ‘tension’”, he said.

The gifts of men and women are “fruitful” together, and to erase the difference between men and women “is to erase humanity,” Pope Francis