Monday, May 29, 2023
Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church Monday after Pentecost—Memorial ~ May 29, 2023
Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church
Monday after Pentecost—Memorial
Liturgical Color: White
One Mother, two motherhoods
Mary mothered Jesus, Jesus then gave life to the Church with water and blood from His side, and the Church then mothers us into existence through baptism. Devotion to Mary goes hand in hand with devotion to the Church because both are mothers. Mother Mary gives the world Christ. Mother Church gives the world Christians.
The metaphorical parallels between Mother Mary and Mother Church are spiritually rich and deeply biblical. Mary was understood by many early theologians as both the mother of the Head of the Church, Jesus, and also the symbol of the Church par excellence. Mother Mary is a virgin who conceived the physical body of Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit at the Annunciation. In a parallel way, Mother Church is the Mystical Body of Christ who gives every Christian rebirth through the power of the Holy Spirit received at Pentecost. Both Mary and the Church conceived through the same Spirit, without the aid of human seed. Mother Mary makes Christ’s body physically present in Palestine in the first century. Mother Church, in turn, makes Christ’s body mystically present through baptism and sacramentally present in the Eucharist, in every time and place. It was common for a baptismal font in early Christianity to be described as a sacred womb in which Mother Church gave her children life.
The theological cross-pollination between Mother Mary and Mother Church has produced a field ripe for spiritual and theological cultivation. Christ is from Bethlehem, Nazareth, and Galilee. But He is most deeply from the Father. He is one Son but lives two sonships. Similarly, all Christians are born from one Mother expressed in two motherhoods: Mary’s and the Church’s. Mary and the Church, understood most profoundly, form one mother. Both are the mother of Christ, but each mutually assists the other to bring Christ physically, sacramentally, and mystically into the world in all His fullness. Neither Mary nor the Church can exercise their motherhoods alone.
Today’s feast, formally integrated into the Church’s calendar by the authority of Pope Francis in 2018, specifically commemorates Mary’s motherhood of the Church rather than her motherhood of God, a feast celebrated on January 1. Mary likely showed as much tender concern for Christ’s mystical body as it slowly matured in its native Palestine as she did for His physical body in Nazareth. Pope Pius XII perceptively noted Mary’s dual maternity in his encyclical on the Church: “It was she who was there to tend the mystical body of Christ, born of the Savior’s pierced heart, with the same motherly care that she spent on the child Jesus in the crib.” It is possible the Apostles held their first Council in about 49 A.D. in Jerusalem precisely because Mary still dwelled in the holy city. She was likely the young religion’s greatest living witness and pillar of unity. We can imagine her presiding over early Christian gatherings with reserved solemnity, nursing primitive Christianity just as she had Christ.
Ancient pagans spoke of imperial Rome as a Domina, a divine female master. Rome was praised as a conquering mother who brought vanquished peoples close to her own heart, incorporating them as citizens into her vast, multicultural, polyglot realm. Other empires executed prisoners of war, exiled peoples, imposed a foreign culture, or displaced populations. Not Rome. Rome absorbed them all. The early fathers understood Mother Church as the successor to this Domina. In baptism this Mother does not release her children from her body but absorbs them, making them fully her own unto death. Since the early Middle Ages, feast days and devotions to the Virgin Mary have proliferated in Catholicism. Now Pope Francis has given the Church a feast to compliment that of January 1. The two motherhoods of Mary reflect one profound truth, that Christ approaches us in time and in space, in history and in sacrament, in mysterious and beautiful ways. In the words of Saint Augustine: “What (God) has bestowed on Mary in the flesh, He has bestowed on the Church in the spirit; Mary gave birth to the One, and the Church gives birth to the many, who through the One become one.” This is all cause for deep reflection.
Blue Passion Flower
Also known as the Common Passion Flower, this is an RHS award-winning bloom considered one of the most attractive climbers. It is a vigorous and semi-evergreen climber that has twining tendrils. The three-inch exotic-looking flowers appear sporadically from summer to fall, followed by egg-shaped orange fruits. It is easy to grow and does best when allowed to grow or droop freely rather than be kept neat.
Water Wheels of Mill at Gennep Vincent van Gogh Date: 1884
Water Wheels of Mill at Gennep
Vincent van Gogh
Date: 1884; Nunen / Nuenen, Netherlands
Style: Realism
Genre: cityscape
Media: oil, canvas
Location: Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Alhambra, Patio de la Reja John Singer Sargent Date: 1879
Alhambra, Patio de la Reja
John Singer Sargent
Date: 1879
Style: Realism
Genre: cityscape
Media: oil, canvas
Location: Private Collection
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Panther De Ville (1974)
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The Panther De Ville was built as a pastiche of 1930s luxury cars, with plenty of influence from the Bugatti Royale in its looks.
It was an entertainingly brash take in terms of appearance, but underneath there was serious engineering with Jaguar suspension and engines, including the option of the V12.
Inside, the De Ville could be trimmed however the buyer wanted, with wood, leather and thick carpets all standard fare. Customers could also add a drinks cabinet, climate control and TV.
Mercedes-Benz S-Class W116 (1972)
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Introduced late in 1972, the 116-series Mercedes-Benz S-Class went on to win the 1974 Car of the Year award almost at a canter.
Where previous winners had all been worthy mainstream cars, here was a luxury car that made cost irrelevant as it was simply so good at everything it did. Ride, comfort, quiet, handling and that Germanic take on luxury all combined to make this S-Class arguably the best car in the world at the time.
The 280SE came with a manual gearbox as standard, but the 350 and 450 V8-powered versions had an auto. They also had the option of a longer wheelbase in the SEL model to give more rear legroom.
For those wanting the ultimate S-Class, the 450SEL 6.9 came with a potent V8 engine as well as hydropneumatic self-levelling suspension.
Monteverdi High Speed 375/4 (1970)
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Monteverdi’s 375/4 was styled by Frua and built by Fissore as a fast, luxury saloon for the Jet Set.
The fact only 30 were made says a lot about the cost of this 150mph four-door, four-seater, but for those who bought one it offered exclusivity and plenty of luxury within its roomy cabin.
Alongside electric windows, air conditioning and cruise control, you could order a drinks cabinet and television for rear-seat passengers.
Under the 375/4’s enormous bonnet was a 7.2-litre V8 from Chrysler.
Mercedes-Benz 600 (1964)
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On arrival in 1964, there were few who would argue with the Mercedes-Benz 600 being the best luxury car in the world.
It offered sumptuous seating and space in its elegantly restrained cabin, while driving comfort was assured thanks to its standard air suspension that kept the big Mercedes level no matter how uneven the road was.
A vacuum system powered the door locks and windows, while a 6.3-litre V8 meant the 600 could hit 127mph on the unrestricted motorways and autobahns.
The 18ft (5.49m) long standard 600 saloon was more than enough for most buyers, but you could order the outrageous 20ft (6.1m) Pullman as the ultimate in luxury travel taken a step further.
Austin Sheerline (1947)
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Austin was keen to offer a luxury car again after the Second World War and the Sheerline was its take on the theme.
While not as elegant as many of its rivals, the Austin had the advantage of being significantly cheaper. It cost £1277 at launch where a contemporary Rolls-Royce was £3250. For this reason, the Sheerline found favour as cost-effective transport for many town mayors, and it was popular with the wedding and funeral trades.
The spacious rear seats offered plenty of comfort and a touch of the high life to their occupants, but the Austin’s suspension and 4.0-litre engine were not as sophisticated as the car’s pricier competitors.
. Lagonda V12 (1938)
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Lagonda first showed its new V12 model in 1936, but it took until 1938 for this 4.5-litre machine to reach production.
Only 189 were completed before the outbreak of the Second World War, but they offered the best in comfort, quiet and flexibility from the smooth V12 motor.
Unusually for the period, Lagonda offered its own saloon body for the V12, which was a portent of how luxury cars would be built and sold after the war ended. The V12’s engine was also used in two pared down cars in the 1939 Le Mans 24-hour race.
Rolls-Royce Phantom III (1936)
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With the Phantom III, Rolls-Royce introduced a 7.3-litre V12 engine in place of the previous six-cylinder motors for earlier Phantoms. At a stroke, the III offered greater silence allied to more performance, though the complexity of the new engine also made this Phantom less reliable.
As with previous Phantom models, the III was supplied as a chassis to coachbuilders for the owner to select the bodywork. Most were made as touring limousines and the Phantom’s 142in (3600mm) wheelbase lent itself to elegantly sweeping lines and roomy interiors.
Bentley 8 Litre (1930)
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The 8 Litre was a last throw of the dice for Bentley in 1930, and it was introduced only shortly before the company was absorbed by Rolls-Royce.
As last hurrahs go, however, the 8 Litre was magnificent thanks to its potent straight-six engine and four-speed manual gearbox that offered sensational performance and hushed refinement.
Most 8 Litres of the 100 produced were fitted with saloon bodywork, though many have subsequently been rebodied with open coachwork. In any form, Bentley guaranteed a top speed of at least 105mph for this model.
Duesenberg Model J (1928)
There were no half measures from Duesenberg when it launched the Model J in 1928. Here was a car built with the sole intention of being the most luxurious car in the world, and it arguably achieved this while also falling very short of its original sales targets.
The lucky few who did buy a Model J new enjoyed a silky-smooth 6.9-litre straight-eight engine that could take the weighty Model J to more than 90mph, while offering top-drawer refinement and comfort at the same time.
As every Model J was hand-crafted, buyers could specify almost anything they wanted inside the car, and many came packed with luxury gadgets
Packard Eight (1924)
Packard ranked alongside the very best in the world for pre-war luxury cars.
Much of this was thanks to insisting on the best components and build standards for its models, as well as the supremely refined 5.9-litre straight-eight engine that sat on rubber mounts to further isolate it from the car’s occupants.
As well as its comforting ride and easy performance, the Packard Eight was noted for using four-wheel brakes. Later in its life, the Eight gained independent front suspension, hydraulic brakes and increased engine capacity, to keep it among the leaders in luxury cars.
Monday, May 22, 2023
Saint Rita of Cascia
Saint Rita of Cascia, Wife, Mother, Widow, Religious
c. 1386–1457
May 22—Optional Memorial
Liturgical Color: White
Patron Saint of abuse victims, sterility, difficult marriages, and impossible causes
She suffered for two spouses
Rita Lotti gave birth to her first son at the age of twelve. Fortunately the child was not born out of wedlock. Rita’s husband had been chosen for her by her parents, and they married when she was twelve. Throughout eighteen years of marriage, Rita endured her husband’s insults, physical abuse, and infidelity until the loathful man was stabbed to death by one of his many enemies. Rita pardoned her husband’s killers and impeded her two sons from avenging their father’s death. Marriage ends with death, so Rita was free after her husband’s passing to satisfy a holy desire of her youth and entered an Augustinian convent. The leadership of the local Augustinians was reluctant to admit Rita, however, because she was not a virgin. Despite wide precedence for widows entering religious life, Rita was compelled to wait a number of years before receiving the habit.
Rita was a model nun who lived to the fullest the spiritual requirements of her age. She was obedient, generously served the sick of the convent, and shared her wisdom of human nature, especially regarding marital distress, with the lay women who sought her out. Sister Rita was also devoted to prayer and meditated so deeply on the Passion of our Lord that she experienced a mini-stigmata. Instead of open wounds in her hands oozing blood, as Saint Francis and Saint Padre Pio displayed, a small wound appeared on Rita’s forehead. It was as if a thorn from Christ’s crown had penetrated the tightly wrapped flesh on her skull. There was no thorn visible, of course, just as no nails or spears pierced the bodies of other stigmatists. Rita’s wound refused to heal for a number of years. The unique statue, or image, showing a nun with a thorn stuck in her forehead is Saint Rita, making her one of the most easily identifiable people on the calendar of Catholic saints.
After Saint Rita died of natural causes, her body did not deteriorate. She was placed in an ornate tomb, her extraordinary holiness was attested to in writing, and healing miracles were petitioned for and soon granted through her intercession. These many cures led to Rita’s beatification in 1626 and her canonization in 1900. Leathery black skin still covers Saint Rita‘s habited body as she peacefully reposes in a glass coffin in her shrine in Cascia, Italy. She is invoked as a kind of female Saint Jude, a patroness of impossible causes, particularly those related to the difficult vocation of marriage.
Saint Rita was both a physical and a spiritual mother. She was a spouse of Christ—a perfect man, and of her husband—a flawed man. She knew intimately the vocation both to religious and to married life, giving her a certain status, or credibility, with both consecrated and married women, which few others saints enjoy. Rita’s dual vocation has given her a dual attraction, which is likely the cause of her fame and the continued devotion to her so many centuries after her death. In many ways, her life in the convent was not remarkable, except for the stigmata. There were surely many other nuns in Rita’s era and region whose virtue and prayerfulness stood out. Yet for reasons known to God alone and which are therefore sufficient, this nun, among so many others who brimmed with holiness, is still visited in her shrine, still invoked, and still thanked for the favors that she continues to rain down from her place in heaven.
Blue-Eyed Grass
Scientific Name: Sisyrinchium angustifolium
This semi-evergreen perennial is prized for its dense, narrow grass-like foliage adorned with delicate violet star-shaped flowers. The centers of the petals are black in color with bright yellow stamens. This flower looks excellent along walkways, rockeries, or naturalizing plants. It will self-seed in optimal conditions and prefers full to partial sun.
The Old Tower in the Fields Vincent van Gogh Date: 1884
The Old Tower in the Fields
Vincent van Gogh
Date: 1884; Nunen / Nuenen, Netherlands
Style: Realism
Genre: landscape
Media: oil, canvas
Corner of a Garden John Singer Sargent Date: c.1879
Corner of a Garden
John Singer Sargent
Date: c.1879
c. 1740, Meissen
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| c. 1740, Meissen, hard-paste porcelain, overglaze enamels, gilding - Gardiner Museum, Toronto |
Mysore Palace
Mysore Palace, also known as Amba Vilas Palace, is a historical palace and a royal residence (house). It is located in Mysore, Karnataka, India. It used to be the official residence of the Wadiyar dynasty and the seat of the Kingdom of Mysore. The palace is in the centre of Mysore, and faces the Chamundi Hills eastward. Mysore is commonly described as the 'City of Palaces', and there are seven palaces including this one. However, the Mysore Palace refers specifically to the one within the new fort.
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The land on which the palace now stands was originally known as mysuru (literally, "citadel"). Yaduraya built the first palace inside the Old Fort in the 14th century, which was set ablaze and reconstructed multiple times. The Old Fort was built of wood and thus easily caught fire, while the current fort was built of stone, bricks and wood. The current structure was constructed between 1897 and 1912, after the Old Palace burnt down, the current structure is also known as the New Fort. Mysore Palace is one of the most famous tourist attractions in India, after the Taj Mahal, with more than six million annual visitors.
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