The Rosary with Fr Reed

Visit the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC, and pray the Rosary with Fr Robert Reed, director of CatholicTV. Fr Reed gives engaging reflections between the decades of these, the Mysteries of Light (Luminous Mysteries).

The Rosary with Msgr McFarland (3)

Visit a retreat house along the seashore of Cohasset, Massachusetts, and pray the Rosary with Msgr Frank McFarland (1931-2001), late director of Boston Catholic Television, now CatholicTV. Msgr McFarland gives engaging reflections between the decades of these, the Glorious Mysteries.

The Rosary with Msgr McFarland (2)

Visit Boston's Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help and pray the Rosary with Msgr Frank McFarland (1931-2001), late director of Boston Catholic Television, now CatholicTV. Msgr McFarland gives engaging reflections between the decades of these, the Joyful Mysteries.

The Rosary with Msgr McFarland (1)

Visit the chapel of Regina Cleri, Boston's residence for retired priests, and pray the Rosary with Msgr Frank McFarland (1931-2001) of Boston Catholic Television, now CatholicTV. Msgr McFarland -- who was not yet a monsignor when this rosary was recorded -- gives engaging reflections between the decades of these, the Sorrowful Mysteries.

A psalm for 1 May 2011

BLESSED is the man that hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stood in the way of sinners, * and hath not sat in the seat of the scornful.

2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; * and in his law will he exercise himself day and night.

3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the water-side, * that will bring forth his fruit in due season.

4 His leaf also shall not wither; * and look, whatsoever he doeth, it shall prosper.

5 As for the ungodly, it is not so with them; * but they are like the chaff, which the wind scattereth away from the face of the earth.

6 Therefore the ungodly shall not be able to stand in the judgment, * neither the sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

7 But the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous; * and the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Beyond all this fiddle

During the month of April, I attempted to produce a daily poem.  The sometimes surprising results of that exertion can be found at Hubbub and Fiddle.

As the Hubbub blog was intended solely for the National Poetry Month experiment, I have started a new blog for poems and light verse written in May 2011 and beyond.  It is called The Crystal Tambourine.

Readers of this blog are cordially invited to explore both Hubbub and the Tambourine!  Thank you all for your readerly indulgence.

The Christendom Review

Readers of this blog may wish to check out the current issue of TCR. William Luse interviews “a troubadour for Jesus,” Bob Ayanian. Jeff Trippe writes of the joys of teaching Hamlet. There is poetry by Lee Evans and Bill Daugherty, among others, and artwork by the late Darius Lecesne. And more!

Benedictions

Happy Birthday, Pope Benedict!  Eighty-four, if I reckon aright!  Ad multos annos!

And today is also noteworthy for being the feast of St Benedict Joseph Labre, an 18th-century Frenchman who tried living as a Cistercian monk but was prevented from doing so by his disposition.  He was extraordinarily generous to the poor, wherever he went.  I believe he walked from France to Rome, and eventually settled in the streets of the Eternal City, sleeping in the doorways of churches.  What little he had, he shared or gave away.  At his death, churchbells rang and children ran through the streets of Rome shouting "Il santo è morto!  The saint is dead!"

St Benedict Joseph is one of the patrons of those who suffer from mental illness.