Russian Flash Mob: Puttin' on the Ritz

Love this Russian Flash Mob. Puttin' on the Ritz is one of my favorite songs. I especially like the red limo. The guy's expression @ 1:58 is priceless! Enjoy!

Dove Accompanies Cardinal de Araújo Sales to His Place of Rest

This beautiful YouTube video shows a white dove, which apparently rested on the coffin of Eugênio, Cardinal de Araújo Sales, Archbishop Emeritus of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during most of his recent funeral. The dove was released by a Red Cross volunteer, but instead of flying away as expected, kept coming back to rest either near the coffin, or directly on the coffin, at the head.

This took place on the feast of St. Benedict, whose motto, according to A Reluctant Sinner, was "Pax"--Peace. Also, of course, the white dove is a symbol of the Holy Spirit, having appeared when Jesus was baptized in the Jordan.

Hat tip to A Reluctant Sinner.

Here Comes the Catholic Church!

Father John Hollowell made this video in response to Cecile Richards', (head of Planned Parenthood) call for women to post videos on the theme, "I Have a Say." His response is clear and articulate. Fr. John's blog is here and his YouTube page is here.



This video was inspired by Fr. John Hollowell's "I Have a Say" video.  It is time we speak out for integrity and for life.

Here comes the Catholic Church!

Great Depression Cooking - Tomato Sauce

This is 96 year old Clara's last Depression Cooking video. In it she shows us how to make her family's tomato sauce recipe--just in time for Christmas!

Be Not Afraid--Listen to God's Voice

"Life completely given over to love, bears the fragrance of Christ; it invites all of us not to be afraid." ~Pope John Paul II 

Vincent Price Born Today in 1911

Today is the 100th anniversary of the birth of Vincent Price.  I wanted to post this hilarious video of Mr. Price on What's My Line where he is the Mystery Guest.

Not only does he sing his replies, but he sings in French!  Enjoy!

Music Monday--Patricia Routledge

Today's Music Monday features not so much a composer as a singer. Patricia Routledge is best known for her portrayal of Hyacinth Bucket, the annoying and over-controlling English woman who sings decidedly off-key.

It is a bit of a shock to hear Routledge in this album from sometime in the 1960's or 70's singing Jerry Herman's And I Was Beautiful. The lyrics are very touching and Routledge does a splendid job conveying the love that is being illustrated by this piece. Her gorgeous alto voice overcomes the saccharine strings and piano accompaniment and her annunciation is perfect, in keeping with her stated belief that the English language is a beautiful thing worth learning how to speak properly.

Enjoy this!

In case you have not seen Patricia Routledge singing in her role as Hyacinth, here is a taste of what she must do--sing off key while accompanying herself on piano. She has said this is not easy to do if you already know how to sing well.

Music Monday--Beethoven's 7th Symphony

The second movement of Beethoven's 7th Symphony was recently used to great effect in the movie The King's Speech. This piece is played while King George VI walks the long walk to give the speech telling his country that they are at war with Germany and continues playing in the background as he gives the speech.

The movie shows his heart wrenching struggle with a severe stammer, making it impossible for him to speak in public or use the newest technology, live radio. He is helped by an unconventional speech therapist who stands directly in front of the King as he confronts the dreaded microphone.

The piece is very ceremonial and processional, but in a mostly understated way.

It is also quite a poignant piece, and very dramatic--perfectly suitable for the climactic scene in the movie.

So, sit back and let the music take you where it will.

Edited to add:  I see there are many alternatives on YouTube of this piece in relation to the King's Speech.

Click here to listen to the real King George VI giving the actual speech, with the 7th Symphony in the background.  Chilling to think what England would be enduring very shortly after this speech was broadcast.

Here is the 7th Symphony as it is played (without Colin Firth's speech, sadly) in the original soundtrack of the movie.



Hat tip to Catholic Key.

If Other Planets Were as Close as the Moon

Scale from Brad Goodspeed on Vimeo.

Music Monday--Benjamin Britten

I was blessed enough to be able to sing this song in high school and it remains one of my favorites.  The entire Ceremony of Carols, from which this is taken, is beautiful and worth listening to. 

Never Forget What it is All About

Let us never forget what Christmas is all about.

Energies in Eastern Christianity

This is part of an Orthodox theology series on YouTube.  I love this concept of the Uncreated Energies of God and sin being a misuse of our energies.  This is SO common today--it is so easy to misuse our energies today--and our energies come from God and are a part of God--*and* energy is relationship and Grace, not something nebulous that lets us do something  for ourselves.

More Birds

In keeping with our bird theme this week, here is Weewoo the talking starling.  Yes, a starling.  Like the ones outside.  How cool is that?

Depression Cooking with Clara--baked apples

Clara is a 94 year old great grandmother who has a cooking channel on YouTube where she shares recipes that got her family through the Great Depression.

This one is for baked apples--something both my mom and my late mother-in-law used to make.

The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

This is a calming and meditative Litany of the Sacred Heart set to Gregorian chant. Listen and open your own heart to God.

Music Monday--Last of the Summer Wine--Triple Feature

Last of the Summer Wine was a series in the UK from 1973-2009.  The theme music, along with the music for each show was written by Ronnie Hazlehurst and performed beautifully by a group of talented musicians.  The first video features the instrumental music and the second video shows the music with words included. The third video is sung by the same group and includes words written to say goodbye to the character Compo, after the actor Bill Owen, died of cancer in 1999.

Corpus Christi--Our Freedom

This Sunday is Corpus Christi Sunday--the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ. It is traditionally a day parishes have an outdoor procession of the Holy Eucharist. This can be a bit jarring to those in the neighborhood unaccustomed to such public display of Catholicism, but it is an important tradition to continue, not only for its spiritual benefits, but also for its political.

A Corpus Christi procession can be a strong witness for Christ by literally bringing Jesus to the people. I have seen people poke their heads out of their windows in wonder to watch the procession pass by. Many have not been to church in decades. Many have never been to church at all.

Such a public display of belief is becoming more and more rare and indeed frowned upon in today's society. And yet, we still have freedom of religion in America. We are still free to practice our religion, even in public; even when it becomes uncomfortable for others. We need to maintain that freedom by exercising it on a regular and frequent basis.

This video makes me wish I could be in New York  City for *this* Corpus Christi procession!

Music Monday--Remember the Fallen

Scripture Saturday

This week's Scripture Saturday is a musical rendition of Psalm 84, "How Lovely is Thy Dwelling Place", as sung by Huntindon College. The text of the Psalm is below.  It speaks of a longing to be in the Lord's house.

Psalm 84
How lovely is your dwelling place,
Lord, God of hosts.

My soul is longing and yearning,
is yearning for the courts of the Lord.
My heart and my soul ring out their joy
to God, the living God.

The sparrow herself finds a home
and the swallow a nest for her brood;
she lays her young by your altars,
Lord of hosts, my king and my God.

They are happy, who dwell in your house,
for ever singing your praise.
They are happy, whose strength is in you,
in whose hearts are the roads to Zion.

As they go through the Bitter Valley
they make it a place of springs,
the autumn rain covers it with blessings.
They walk with ever growing strength,
they will see the God of gods in Zion.

O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer,
give ear, O God of Jacob.
Turn your eyes, O God, our shield,
look on the face of your anointed.

One day within your courts
is better than a thousand elsewhere.
The threshold of the house of God
I prefer to the dwellings of the wicked.

For the Lord God is a rampart, a shield;
he will give us his favor and glory.
The Lord will not refuse any good
to those who walk without blame.

Lord, God of hosts,
happy the man who trusts in you!

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be for ever. Amen.

Music Monday--Dr. Carol Williams

Once again, we visit with Dr. Carol Williams, this time accompanied by the Navy Band in San Diego. Nothing like a rousing rendition of The National Anthem to get the blood going on a Monday morning!