Ruminations of an Amateur Monastic
With Christmas literally days away, we hear the penultimate O Antiphon this evening. I mentioned a couple of days ago that the antiphons might sound vaguely familiar to you. In the 12th Century, an unknown songwriter compiled versions of the O Antiphons into a single Advent hymn, called Veni, Veni Emmanuel. You know the English version as O Come, O […]
» Read moreShort, sweet, and on the solstice. “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone.” (Isaiah 9:1[2]) Today is also the feast of Saint Thomas the Apostle in the old calendar. O Oriens,splendor lucis ætérnae, et sol justítiæ:veni, et illúmina sedéntes in ténebris, et umbra […]
» Read moreContinuing on, we come closer and closer to the birth of the Messiah, “the holy one, the true, who holds the key of David, who opens and no one shall close, who closes and no one shall open” (Rev. 3:7). If you are interested in learning more about the O Antiphons, I recommend Fr. Zuhlsdorf’s site here. The format is […]
» Read moreBy now some of you might be thinking that the O Antiphon words might be sounding kind of familiar, even though you’re not really up on your Gregorian Chant. In fact, these antiphons are some of the earliest attested antiphons in the Divine Office, being mentioned in passing in the works of Saint Boethius in the early sixth century. The […]
» Read moreLast night was the first time Francine and I had prayed Vespers in community since shortly after leaving our former parish. Sam joined us. The lack of practice really showed – we were disjointed and could not even chant the opening or the Magnificat correctly. Tonight, we’ll trot out some of our old books and see if we can’t put […]
» Read moreAs Advent draws to its end, we begin the “O” antiphons at Vespers. Last year, we attempted to chant vespers every night during this period at my old parish. A series of snowstorms disrupted that plan, though I do have warm and gracious memories of Francine and I alone in the parish chapel chanting one cold, dark night. Sadly after […]
» Read moreToday I resolve to listen to the Ninth Symphony, and probably the Third as well. You should too! Yesterday evening I attended our parish Advent Reconciliation Service. I arrived late, having had to walk up the hill from downtown, and of course I ended up dead last in the longest line for confession. It gave me some additional time to […]
» Read more“[Pope] Benedict called on advanced societies to adopt ‘more sober lifestyles,’ reducing energy consumption and favoring energy-efficient policies.” Right. Because that’s likely to happen. Full story here.
» Read moreSo, today in the Seattle transit tunnel, I espied an advertisement on the side of a Metro bus that kind of flabbergasted me. It was an image of Jolly Old Saint Nick, with bright happy red text that proclaimed, “Yes Virginia… there really is no God”. There’s an image of it here. I was utterly offended, though not perhaps for […]
» Read moreLast Friday, my little parish of St Rita of Cascia took a small step towards the “Reform of the Reform”. For perhaps only the second time in this century, for one hour last Friday night, we were allowed Eucharistic Adoration. It was glorious. The first time was last month, and the differences between the two events is instructive. Last month, […]
» Read moreToday at Mass, two odd things happened. First, I should mention for those not Catholic that today’s second reading at Mass was from the Epistle of Saint James, specifically 2:14-18. What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister has […]
» Read moreToday is the Commemoration of All Souls. On this day, I ask you to pray for the soul of India Escobar.
» Read moreI had an interesting conversation with my pastor this morning. Francine and I are sacristans at our parish, and I am a lector while she is a member of the Sodality of St. Frances. The entire archdiocese will be launching a program related to CatholicsComeHome.org, and we’ve been asked to chair our parish’s efforts. I’m not sure what our jobs […]
» Read moreI have been truly overwhelmed by the kindness and love shown to me and to my family in the past days. Your thoughts and your prayers have been a source of solace and comfort in this impossible time. I would like to especially thank those of you who made it to Tristan’s sentencing yesterday. For those of you unable to […]
» Read moreToday my son, Tristan Andrew Ryng, was sentenced to 27 months in the state penitentiary. It was 105° today in Tacoma. Set a record, it did, six degrees higher than ever. I am very tired. Today, I looked into the eyes of a man who wished to murder me, and I could not gainsay him.
» Read moreSaturday was spent at Tacoma’s Ethnic Fest, an excuse for sampling foods from restaurants previously unknown and browsing through merchant kiosks of cultures entirely unfamiliar. Sunday was a surprise party for our pastor, Fr. Carmine Sacco, SJ. He was celebrating his 65th anniversary of becoming a Jesuit. No, that number is not a typo. He’s baptising the grandchildren of people […]
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