Not Quite a Papal Visit, But...

Of course, I was extremely jealous of all you fortunate Americans out there who went to see our beloved Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, made his Papal visit to the United States. I would have given a great deal to see him, but distance prevented this. However, I have the consolatio nof knowing that Pope has declared himself 'spiritually present' for the International Eucharistic Conference currently being held in Quebec. Yes, it's not quite the same thing, but the Pope is praying for Canadians and is with us in spirit. Well, I suppose I'll just let you see the actual article, which is quite brief, but beautiful. Viva il Papa!

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Pope Greets Eucharistic Congress Participants, Prays for Revival of Belief

Vatican City, Jun 18, 2008 (CNA).- After delivering his reflections on St. Isidore of Seville at his Wednesday general audience, Pope Benedict addressed some remarks to participants in the International Eucharistic Congress being held in Quebec, Canada, from June 15—22 on the theme: "The Eucharist: gift of God for the life of the world."

"I am spiritually present at this most solemn ecclesial meeting", he said, "and I trust it will be a time rich in prayer, reflection and contemplation of the mystery of the Blessed Eucharist, for the Christian communities of Canada and for the Universal Church. May it also be a favorable moment in which to reaffirm the Church's faith in the real presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament."

Benedict XVI concluded his remarks by praying that the congress "may revive in believers - not just in Canada but in many other nations in the world - an awareness of the evangelical and spiritual values that have forged their identity along the course of history."

While Pope Benedict is not attending the Eucharistic congress, he will give the homily for the closing Mass on June 22 via a live satellite link from Rome. The faithful will be able to view the Holy Father’s homily on large screens stationed throughout the area.

Major Technological Breakthrough!

Introducing the new Bio-Optic Organized Knowledge device, trade named: BOOK.

BOOK is a revolutionary breakthrough in technology: no wires, no electric circuits, no batteries, nothing to be connected or switched on. It's so easy to use, even a child can operate it.Compact and portable, it can be used anywhere -- even sitting in an armchair by the fire -- yet it is powerful enough to hold as much information as a CD-ROM disc.

Here's how it works:BOOK is constructed of sequentially numbered sheets of paper (recyclable), each capable of holding thousands of bits ofinformation. The pages are locked together with a custom-fit device called a binder, which keeps the sheets in their correct sequence. Opaque Paper Technology (OPT) allows manufacturers to use both sides of the sheet, doubling the information density and cutting costs. Experts are divided on the prospects forfurther increases in information density; for now, BOOKs with more information simply use more pages.

Each sheet is scanned optically, registering information directly into your brain. A flick of the finger takes you to the next sheet. BOOK may be taken up at any time and usedmerely by opening it.Unlike other display devices, BOOK never crashes or requires rebooting, and it can even be dropped on the floor or stepped on without damage. However, it can become unusable if immersed in water for a significant period of time. The "browse" feature allows you to move instantly to any sheet and move forward or backward as you wish. Many come with an "index" feature, which pinpoints the exact location of selected information for instant retrieval.

An optional "BOOKmark" accessory allows you to open BOOK to the exact place you left it in a previous session -- even if the BOOK has been closed. BOOKmarks fit universal design standards; thus, a single BOOKmark can be used in BOOKs by various manufacturers. Conversely, numerous BOOKmarkers canbe used in a single BOOK if the user wants to store numerous views at once. The number is limited only by the number ofpages in the BOOK.You can also make personal notes next to BOOK text entries with an optional programming tool, the Portable Erasable Nib Cryptic Intercommunication Language Stylus (PENCILS).

Portable, durable, and affordable, BOOK is being hailed as a precursor of a new entertainment wave. Also, BOOK's appeal seems so certain that thousands of content creators have committed to the platform and investors are reportedly flocking. Look for a flood of new titles soon.

- Anonymous

Mihi Adhaerare Deo Bonum Est

A beautiful Celtic prayer.

Mihi Adhaerare Deo Bonum Est
God be in my hede
And in my understandyng
God be in myne eyes
And in my lokyng
God be in my mouth
And in my speakyng
God be in my harte
And in my thynking
God be at mine ende
And at my departyng.
- Unknown

A Few Avatars

Discernment and Footwear: 5 Reasons to Test Your Call

I found this wonderful article by Brother Andrew Dalton on vocation.com, a fantastic website for any young person to explore. It is addressed to young men considering the priesthood, but I think that it can apply just as well to any religious vocation.

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An old fraternity brother of mine who was an avid runner and die-hard wrestler had the strange habit of purchasing dozens of pairs of running shoes online. Nike, Adidas, New Balance - you name it, he had it. Most of us just looked at him and shook our heads because we all know the basic wisdom behind, "Try before you buy". Well, the same goes for discerning the priesthood or consecrated life.

Are you trying to say that the priesthood is like stinky footwear? Well, maybe not the stinky part, but yeah. I know, the metaphor might not impress the Shakespeares out there, but give me a chance to explain why the comparison fits. Here are five reasons why you should test your call if you've got a vocational itch.


1. Why not?

That may sound simplistic. Rather than defending the logic of this invincible tort, I will just challenge you to take it with you to the forest and chew on it. Or better yet, take it to the tabernacle and pray on it. If there is even the slightest chance that God has called you from all eternity to this whatever it be, why not at least give it a shot?

2. Books don't cut it.

If you want to know what a dodo bird looks like, just pick up an encyclopedia, but if you're craving knowledge of your call to follow Christ in the priesthood or consecrated life, chances are that reading about it won't completely slake your thirst. By all means, read. Read a lot. But you owe it to yourself to keep the search from ending when the book does.

I was a sophomore in college when I first asked a priest I trusted, "How do you know if youre called to be a priest?" Father Scott was wise not to spook me with an onslaught of questions at the time. He just gave me a book and said that we could talk about it next time. The book was called Peter on the Shore, the first vocation book by Fr. Anthony Bannon of www.vocation.com. (He has since followed up with two more, Vocation Questions and Answers and Launch into the Deep.) I know now what I didn't know then that this book is a diamond in the rough and so I read a few chapters but soon got distracted with another book I found about another kind of discernment, namely Boy Meets Girl by Joshua Harris. It's funny how fickle we can be. Months later, I felt that itch again about the priesthood and went back to Peter, and this time I read cover to cover. When I told Fr. Scott that all my questions were answered but that I still just wasn't sure, he said, "If you want to buy a pair of shoes, you've got to try them on. Why don't you visit the seminary and test your call?" Without that pearl of wisdom, I wonder where I would be today. Probably not wearing black or writing this article.


3. Undo your doubts: Nature abhors a vacuum.

Or so they say anyway. The reason youve got to get up and go is because there's a little Cartesian chip planted deep in all of our brains that makes us perpetually doubt. What if I'm wrong? What if it's not like I imagined? What if others find out? What if. If you've got lingering doubts (and who doesn't at the start?), the best way to clarify them is to step out of the vacuum and into the world where God can speak and you can hear. It's hard to love what you don't know.

Here's a little taste of the kind of frank insight you will find in Fr. Bannon's book: Discernment is the perception of God's action and his call. Discernment is in itself, I believe, a grace. It is definitely more than a fruit of mere intellectual examination and reflection. Discernment is therefore, more subject to the pattern of grace than to the laws of pure reason.

Okay, Father, so what should we conclude from that? That discernment must take place in a climate of faith.

In other words, TRY ON THE SHOES!


4. We need contact.

Get ready because this is probably the deepest reason yet. I wish I could take credit for it but I must confess that I am stealing it from Pope Benedict XVI. I was reading his book, On the Way to Jesus Christ, and came upon these words: I have often said that I am convinced that the true apologetics for the Christian message, the most persuasive proof of its truth, offsetting everything that may appear negative, are the saints, on the one hand, and the beauty that the faith has generated, on the other. For faith to grow today, we must lead ourselves and the persons we meet to encounter the saints and to come in contact with the beautiful.

When we think about following Christ more radically by consecrating our whole lives to him, we usually start from an apostolic urge. We want to share the truth of our beloved faith with others, to lead souls to heaven, to spread Christ. But despite our intense yearnings, we soon find that we really can't go about doing this with very much successby ourselves anyway.

Before we can feed, we must be fed. Before we can draw others to the Light of the World, we must be drawn ourselves. Before we can emanate light, we must absorb it. We need Son exposure.

And the Holy Father points to the two most powerful Light sources, that is, the two ingredients needed to give Christ to today's world (which is the purpose of every vocation): Nothing can bring us into contact with the beauty of Christ himself more than the world of beauty created by faith and the light that shines upon the faces of the saints, through which his own light becomes visible.

In order to discover our vocation to holiness, then, we need to bump into sanctity, living and breathing sanctity, in our brothers and sisters who have already put on Christ (Gal 3:27). I can assure you that the best proof that the vocation is something beautiful and real comes in seeing it personified in Br. Stephen, Br. John, Br. Benjamin.

And the next Light source, says the Pope, is an encounter with redeeming beauty, which is truth in all its greatness. This is the beauty that really attracts. We need reasons, yes, but we need motives too. We need to satisfy our minds, but much more our hearts. I think the spiritual beauty the Holy Father is referring to is that inner tug you feel when a single slice of light penetrates the chapel window and falls upon the altar. Or maybe it is as simple as the serene expression on a brother's face as he receives Holy Communion or simpler still as he holds the door for you. God takes advantage of these trifles to speak to us. The trick is being docile enough to the Holy Spirit to perceive and relish them.

In short, TRY ON THE SHOES and bump into both beauty and holiness!

5. Christ is a safe bet.

Try as we might, God will never be outdone in generosity. In other words, you have nothing to lose, and that is certainly an encouraging thought. But it is also something like a dare. Perhaps it sounds imprudent for us to go around daring young men and women to consecrate their lives to Christ. We prefer softer words like invite or suggest. But when I sat in St. Peter's Square listening to the homily of the Holy Father at his inaugural Mass, I perceived a kind of verbal prodding that was refreshingly intrusive: Are we not perhaps all afraid in some way­? If we let Christ enter fully into our lives, if we open ourselves totally to him, are we not afraid that He might take something away from us? Are we not perhaps afraid to give up something significant, something unique, something that makes life so beautiful? Do we not then risk ending up diminished and deprived of our freedom? And once again the Pope [John Paul II] said: No! If we let Christ into our lives, we lose nothing, absolutely nothing of what makes life free, beautiful and great. No! Only in this friendship are the doors of life opened wide. Do not be afraid of Christ! He takes nothing away, and he gives you everything.

Amen, Holy Father, you said it all! And so I'll leave you with the words of the all-time best vocation director, the Nazarene who, when asked by the vocationally itching disciples-to-be where he lived, replied with this simple slogan: Come and see! In other words, Do you want to follow me? Well then, to keep trotting with our leitmotif...just do it!


Brother Andrew Dalton, of the Legionaries of Christ, studies for the priesthood in Rome.

My Late Senatorial Secretaryship

Mark Twain's short, humourous sketches are not nearly so well known as his novels, such as "Tom Sawyer" "Huckleberry Finn", or "A Conneticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court." However, many of them are positive gems, witty and enjoyable. I thought I might as well post up this short piece by the classic author, My Late Senatorial Secretaryship. Please note that the sketch is slightly abridged in consideration of space.

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I am not a private secretary to a senator any more, now. I held the berth two months in security and in great cheerfulness of spirit, but my bread began to return from over the waters, then -- that is to say, my works came back and revealed themselves. I judged it best to resign. The way of it was this. My employer sent for me one morning tolerably early, and, as soon as I had finished inserting some conundrums clandestinely into his last great speech upon finance, I entered the presence. There was something portentous in his appearance. His cravat was untied, his hair was in a state of disorder, and his countenance bore about it the signs of a suppressed storm. He held a package of letters in his tense grasp, and I knew that the dreaded Pacific mail was in. He said:

"I thought you were worthy of confidence."

I said: "Yes, sir."

He said: "I gave you a letter from certain of my constituents in the State of Nevada, asking the establishment of a post office at Baldwin's Ranch, and told you to answer it, as ingeniously as you could, with arguments which should persuade them that there was no real necessity for an office at that place."

I felt easier. "Oh, if that is all, sir, I did do that."

"Yes, you did. I will read your answer, for your own humiliation:

WASHINGTON, NOV. 24, 1867.

Messrs. Smith, Jones, and others,

GENTLEMEN: What the mischief do you suppose you want with a post office at Baldwin's Ranch? It would not do you any good. If any letters came there, you couldn't read them, you know; and, besides, such letters as ought to pass through, with money in them, for other localities, would not be likely to get through, you must perceive at once; and that would make trouble for us all. No, don't bother about a post office in your camp. I have your best interests at heart, and feel that it would only be an ornamental folly. What you want is a nice jail, you know -- a nice, substantial jail and a free school. These will be a lasting benefit to you. These will make you really contented and happy. I will move in the matter at once.

Very truly, etc.,

MARK TWAIN, For James W. Nye, U. S. Senator.

"That is the way you answered that letter. Those people say they will hang me, if I ever enter that district again; and I am perfectly satisfied they will, too."

"Well, sir, I did not know I was doing any harm. I only wanted to convince them."

"Ah. Well, you did convince them, I make no manner of doubt. That luminous epistle finished me with them. But that my political murder might be made sure, some evil instinct prompted me to hand you this memorial from the grave company of elders composing the Board of Aldermen of the city of San Francisco, to try your hand upon -- a memorial praying that the city's right to the water-lots upon the city front might be established by law of Congress. I told you this was a dangerous matter to move in. I told you to write a non-committal letter to the Alder men -- an ambiguous letter -- a letter that should avoid, as far as possible, all real consideration and discussion of the water lot question. If there is any feeling left in you -- any shame -- surely this letter you wrote, in obedience to that order, ought to evoke it, when its words fall upon your ears:

WASHINGTON, Nov. 27, 1867.

The Hon. Board of Aldermen, etc.

GENTLEMEN: George Washington, the revered Father of his Country, is dead. His long and brilliant career is closed, alas! forever. He was greatly respected in this section of the country, and his untimely decease cast a gloom over the whole community. He died on the 14th day of December, 1799. He passed peacefully away from the scene of his honors and his great achievements, the most lamented hero and the best beloved that ever earth hath yielded unto Death. At such a time as this, you speak of water-lots! -- what a lot was his!

What is fame? Fame is an accident. Sir Isaac Newton discovered an apple falling to the ground -- a trivial discovery, truly, and one which a million men had made before him -- but his parents were influential, and so they tortured that little circumstance into some thing wonderful, and, lo! the simple world took up the shout, and, in almost the twinkling of an eye; that man was famous. Treasure these thoughts.

Poesy, sweet poesy, who shall estimate what the world owes to thee! "Mary had a little lamb, its fleece was white as snow --And everywhere that Mary went, the lamb was sure to go."Jack and Gill went up the hillTo draw a pail of water;Jack fell down and broke his crownAnd Gill came tumbling after. For simplicity, elegance of diction, and freedom from immoral tendencies, I regard those two poems in the light of gems. They are suited to all grades of intelligence, to every sphere of life -- to the field, to the nursery, to the guild. Especially should no Board of Aldermen be without them.

Venerable fossils! write again. Nothing improves one so much as friendly correspondence. Write again -- and if there is anything in this memorial of yours that refers to anything in particular, do not be backward about explaining it. We shall always be happy to hear you chirp.

Very truly, etc.,

MARK TWAIN, For James W. Nye, U. S. Senator.

"That is an atrocious, a ruinous epistle! Distraction!"

"Well, sir, I am really sorry if there is anything wrong about it -- but -- but -- it appears to me to dodge the water lot question."

"Dodge the mischief! Oh! -- but never mind. As long as destruction must come now, let it be complete. Let it be complete -- let this last of your performances, which I am about to read, make a finality of it. I am a ruined man. I had my misgivings when I gave you the letter from Humboldt, asking that the post route from Indian Gulch to Shakespeare Gap and intermediate points, be changed partly to the old Mormon trail. But I told you it was a delicate question, and warned you to deal with it deftly -- to answer it dubiously, and leave them a little in the dark. And your fatal imbecility impelled you to make this disastrous reply. I should think you would stop your ears, if you are not dead to all shame:

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30, 1867.

Messrs. Perkins, Wagner, et al.,

GENTLEMEN: It is a delicate question about this Indian trail, but handled with proper deftness and dubiousness, I doubt not we shall succeed in some measure or otherwise, because the place where the route leaves the Lassen Meadows, over beyond where those two Shawnee chiefs, Dilapidated-Vengeance and Biter-of-the-Clouds were scalped last winter, this being the favorite direction to some, but others preferring something else in consequence of things, the Mormon trail leaving Mosby's at three in the morning, and passing through Jawbone Flat to Blucher, and then down by Jug-Handle, the road passing to the right of it, and naturally leaving it on the right, too, and Dawson's on the left of the trail where it passes to the left of said Dawson's, and onward thence to Tomahawk, thus making the route cheaper, easier of access to all who can get at it, and compassing all the desirable objects so considered by others, and, therefore, conferring the most good upon the greatest number, and, consequently, I am encouraged to hope we shall. However, I shall be ready, and happy, to afford you still further information upon the subject, from time to time, as you may desire it and the Post Office Department be enabled to furnish it to me.

Very truly, etc.,

MARK TWAIN, For James W. Nye, U. S. Senator.

"There -- now, what do you think of that?"

"Well, I don't know, sir. It -- well, it appears to me -- to be dubious enough."

"Du -- leave the house! I am a ruined man. Those Humboldt savages never will forgive me for tangling their brains up with this inhuman letter. And I have lost the respect of the Board of Aldermen -"

"Well, I haven't anything to say about that, because I may have missed it a little in their cases, but I was too many for the Baldwin's Ranch people, General!"

"Leave the house! Leave it forever and forever, too!"

I regarded that as a sort of covert intimation that my services could be dispensed with, and so I resigned. I never will be a private secretary to a senator again. You can't please that kind of people. They don't know anything. They can't appreciate a party's efforts.

A Few Signatures

For some time I have been in the habit of making signatures and avatars (graphics to be used in online forums), a skill I picked up through imitating the wonderful efforts of my friends on The Fairy Tale Novel Forum. However, up to this point, I haven't been able to post them to that forum as the particular program the forum uses only allows one to post images from elsewhere on the web. Now, at last, I can post them online! Here are few I've made. I don't have any fancy graphic-editing software, these are simply made with the programs that come with the computer (Paint, ArcSoft PhotoStudio) and Nero. They're certainly not professional level, but I think I'm getting better at it with every sig/avvie I make. Unfortunately, I can't post those whcih i consider my best for certain copyright difficulties. However, the pictures used below are, as far as I know, in the public/promotional domain.

MUSIC REVIEW: Rossini's "La Gazza Ladra"

Ileana Cotrubas stars in a scene from "La Gazza Ladra"

Tragicomedy, or drama that seems to move toward a tragic ending but finishes happily through a twist in the plot, is not unusual in the world of theatre. We find them in abundance in our stageplays and musicals. Operas that follow the tragicomic scheme, however, are few and far between. Most of the operatic storylines in the permanent repertoire are either classed as seria (darker storylines with unhappy endings), or buffa (humourous storylines with happy endings). It is far less common to find a true semi-seria. This is the musicologist’s name for tragicomedy. One of the few grand operas that fit into this category is Gioachinno Rossini’s immortal work, ‘La Gazza Ladra’, or ‘’The Thieving Magpie’. This time-honoured classic tells the story of a young woman condemned for the theft of her master’s silverware, only to be saved through the discovery of the plunder in a magpie’s nest. It seems an uncomplicated tale when worded so simply, but within this theme are to be found betrayals, true love, deception, self-sacrifice, and inspiration.

Before we plunge headlong into the plot appeal of the piece, let us explore the music. The famous overture is both exhilarating and appropriate to the storyline. From time to time one runs across a misleading overture, in which the mood of the melody does not reflect the plot that is to follow. This is certainly not the case in ‘La Gazza Ladra’ – the expectant drum roll at the onset and frequent fluctuation of the instruments between major and minor keys masterfully foreshadow a drama brimming with interest and meaning. It is worth noting that this prelude is unique in that it juxtaposes orchestration from a duet found in the second act with tunes heard only in the overture. This superbly ties the piece to the rest of the opera, still allowing it individuality through its unshared movements. Rossini was certainly ahead of his time, as this practice did not become well known until Wagner’s generation, some thirty-five years later.

Practically every song, from the mellifluous aria, ‘Di Piacer’, to the heart-rending ‘Forse un di Conoscerete’, to the joyous ‘Giorgio! Giorgio!’, provides a generous helping of vocal acrobatics. Each is crafted in classic bel canto style. ‘Bel canto’, directly translated, means ‘beautiful singing’, and it definitely lives up to its name. Rossini despised singers who introduced their own embellishments to his score, so he liberally scattered ready-made cadenzas through his work. Some would declare that these ‘flowers and fireworks’ have no artistic value, and that they detract from the actual melody. These critics misjudge; Rossini displayed a perfect comprehension of the human voice as instrument. His cadenzas and prolonged notes are not thrills inserted merely to impress listeners, but play much the same role as woodwind trills or bassoon gurgles – they are very much a part of the orchestration. The voice is a glorified instrument with a deservedly exulted position. One has only to here a single stanza to know that Rossini’s grasp of bel canto is complete.

The librettists’ understanding of the use of recitatives is also highly refined. A great deal of judgement and knowledge of the storyline is required in the choice of whether a full-fledged song or a simple recitative would best express the thought. The writer, Giovanni Gherardini, was evidently aware of the fine line between the deep expression of feeling possible in a song and the clarity of a recitative.

The story itself that Gherardini and Rossini told is intriguing and thought-provoking. At a single hearing, the characters may appear one-sided; Ninetta virtuous, Gianetto loyal, the Mayor evil, and so on. However there is more to these characters than one would suppose. If one examines them closely, depth of personality, and even seeming inconsistencies arise. Take, for instance, Gianetto’s fear, or the Mayor’s feelings of pity in the trial scene. These ‘inconsistencies’ do not present lack of contemplation on the part of the librettist, but rather the opposite. The villagers are realistic human beings with faults and moments when they are not themselves. Many scriptwriters feel that if their pieces are to contain morals, the characters must perpetually exemplify either good or bad. This is not so in this opera. The moral of triumphant virtue is made through people like us, who are neither unbelievable buffoons as are found in buffa, nor such ethereal personalities as are found frequently in seria. Through the medium of semi-seria, one is given a picture of ordinary people against extraordinary-yet-fathomable odds. One can sympathize with Ninetta, Pippo, and Lucia because one can picture oneself in such circumstances. Join such characters with meaningful lyrics and marvelous music, and the result is the evening of a lifetime.

Amidst these numerous, glowing aspects of "La Gazza Ladra", there are few weaknesses. One of the most obvious is Fernando’s overlong duet with Ninetta in the first scene. This portion of the production, a sequence of three songs and an orchestrated recitative, is both extremely lengthy, and, for the most part, unmemorable. The first song, ‘Lieri, sul Tramontar del Sole’, has little or no musical charm, as the tune changes with each line, containing no running line of melody. It continues into a slow lament for Ninetta, all of five minutes in duration. This is a rather prolonged sentiment for presentation to an audience who has only just become acquainted with Fernando and cannot as yet have many feelings for him. Rossini’s probable reasons for introducing this number against the sparkling, harmonious whole are understandable, however. The altered style of music, combined with the length of the duet, aids in establishing that this turn in the path of the plot is significant. It also causes one to pay especial attention to the lyrics. While this explanation appears to make sense, one cannot help but wish that the composer could have found a more engaging manner of making the librettist’s point. On a more praiseworthy note, the song is redeemed by a quickening ending which calls to mind the segment of music following ‘Buona Sera’ in "Il Barbier di Siviglia", and heightens to almost patter-ish speed in ‘Io Tremo Pavento’. The tedium is also relieved by the brilliant solo for the Mayor that follows.

Another facet of the opera that may leave attendees unsatisfied is found not in the orchestrations or vocal parts, but in the plot itself. By the final curtain, patrons may be surprised to discover that the villainous Mayor goes unpunished! He, one of the most corrupt men in Rossini’s generally comical canon, the scoundrel who caused so much suffering and sorrow, the vengeful, scheming coward who momentarily appears to the audience the most abhorrent character that ever stemmed from a librettist’s fancy – he to go unpunished! The observer’s heart yearns for complete justice. It is not enough that for the rest of the cast ‘…all is fear and happiness instead of fear and dread’ – one wishes the Mayor to receive the bullet that was meant for Ninetta’s heart. At the very least, it would be gratifying if Gianetto gave him a good shove!

This ‘getting away with it’ is yet another portrayal of realism. The evildoers of the world are not always punished, at least in this life, and not all harms can be healed. Yet the Mayor, through his reaction to the situation’s outcome, has both his punishment and hope of redemption on a small level – his guilt over his actions towards the other characters. This is yet another evidence of Gherardini’s realization that it is not one-sided, equally rewarded and punished characters that teach us – it is those that bring us to the truth.

It would be impossible to touch on every ingredient that makes this opera such a delight for the senses and the intellect. This masterpiece can be enjoyed on various levels. For those who wish a worthwhile diverting story, those who take interest from unusual acting and singing challenges, those who revel in remarkable music, or, for that matter, anyone who will take the time to hear it, one rarely runs across better theatrical fare than this. "La Gazza Ladra" is a performance for everyone.

Post scriptem - For those hoping to find a DVD performance of the opera, I highly reccomend Michael Hampe's Cologne Opera production, filmed 1987, starring Ileana Cotrubas and Alberto Rinaldi.

The Lighting of the Lantern

Non nobis, Domine, sed Nomine Tuo da gloriam!

These are the words of a beautiful, Latin hymn that has been sung for centuries. It means, "Not for us, Lord, but for the glory of your name." With these words, I wish to dedicate the opening of my blog to the Sacred Heart of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, the Light of the Salvation and King of eternity. I pray through the beautiful hands of His holy Mother, Our Lady of the Angels, that this blog will be as a lantern in the darkness of world, illuminating beauty and joy.

Welcome to Lantern's Light, my foot in the door to the world of the net. Night has fallen, and the world is dark, but don't fear. The flame has sparked, the light is kindled. Let's embark on a journey through the wilds, crossing swords, encountering saints and sinners, reading dusty manuscripts, eating lembas and and drinking wine, having hearty laughs and tears of sorrow. In short, let us enjoy the gift of life!

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There, now that was properly dignified for the official inauguration of the blog - now the disclaimers. My posts will likely be quite random. I am apt to speak my mind about whatever comes into my head. I am am also, to my own disappointment, not an outlaw of Sherwood, a shieldmaiden of royal blood, or a maiden locked away in a tower in a distant land. I am an ordinary human being in a thoroughly modern world. I Most of my adventures take place in the literature I read or the manuscripts I write. I have no palfrey or unicorn steed - I ride in a van. I do not write in calligraphy upon scrolls of parchment or vellum - I use Microsfot Word. You are thus warned that it won't be quite as grand an adventure as I've made out. But, in the words of one of my favourite authors, G.K. Chesterton, "A man could, if he felt rightly in the matter, run after his hat with the manliest ardour and the most sacred joy." And it is true, that though I at least, am not 1000 page epic material (if you are, get in touch with me!), I am engaged on the divine quest that is greater than any - everyday life. And the purpose of quest? Ah, it's a fabulous and perialous task, but it is so widespread that many do not even realize it has been laid upon them - the task of journeying to the City of God, and making a dwelling there with the Lord. Now that's worth living for. Enjoy the trip.