January 9, 2021
Good Morning, God and All! I absolutely must stop pulling these “all-night” sessions…
By The Numbers:
It’s the ninth day of the year, with 356 days remaining.
Days ‘til Inauguration Day: 11
Start Your Day With A Song:
The Party's Over (1966) Willie Nelson
Saint Adrian of Canterbury, Pray For Us!
Adrian, also spelled Hadrian (born before 637, died 710), was a North African scholar in Anglo-Saxon England and the abbot of Saint Peter's and Saint Paul's in Canterbury. He was a noted teacher and commentator of the Bible.[1] Adrian was born between 630 and 637. According to Bede, he was a Berber native of North Africa, and abbot of a monastery near Naples, called Monasterium Niridanum (perhaps a mistake for Nisidanum, as being situated on the island of Nisida).
He was twice offered the vacant archbishopric of Canterbury, by Pope Vitalian, but modestly declined the appointment. He first recommended that it should be given to Andrew, a monk belonging to a neighbouring monastery, who also declined on the plea of advanced years. Then, when the offer was again made to Adrian, he introduced to the pontiff his friend Theodore of Tarsus, who then chanced to be at Rome, and who consented to undertake the charge. Vitalian, however, stipulated that Adrian should accompany the new archbishop to Britain. He gave as his reasons that Adrian, having twice before made a journey into Gaul, knew the road and the mode of traveling.
The two set out from Rome on 27 May 668, and proceeding by sea to Marseille, crossed the country to Arles, where they remained with John, the archbishop, till they got passports from Ebroin, who ruled that part of Gaul as Mayor of the Palace, for the minor king Clotaire III. Having then made their way together to the north of France, they parted company, and went severally to reside for the winter, Theodore with Agilbert, bishop of Paris, Adrian first with Emmon, bishop of Sens, and afterwards with Faro, bishop of Meaux. Theodore, being sent for in the following spring by King Ecgberht of Kent, was allowed to take his departure, and he reached England at the end of May 669; but Adrian was detained by order of Ebroin, who is said to have suspected him of being an emissary of the Greek emperor sent to stir up troubles against the kingdom of the Franks.
At length, however, the tyrant became convinced that there was no ground for this notion, and Adrian was permitted to proceed to England, where, immediately on his arrival, he was made abbot of the monastery of Saints Peter and Paul (afterwards called Saint Augustine's) at Canterbury, an appointment which was in conformity with instructions given by the pope to Theodore. Such is the account given in the Ecclesiastical History (iv. 1.). Adrian was known to be a man learned in the Bible, as well as in Greek and Latin, and an excellent administrator. Under his direction the abbey came to have substantial, far-reaching influence.
Adrian, long surviving his friend the archbishop, is said to have lived for 39 years after he came to England, continuing till his death to preside over the monastery at Canterbury. He died in 709 and was buried in his monastery. He came to regarded as a saint and his relics were re-deposited in the new monastery on 9 January 1091, which is now his feast day. (Source: Wikipedia)
It’s REALLY Over (the Message):
Last Wednesday was the traditional date of the celebration of Epiphany, the revelation of Jesus’ divinity to humanity, the emergence of the Light of the world.
But America plunged further into darkness; and it was no surprise.
I was at no loss for words for a reflection for the week's Post. Especially after Wednesday. The problem is, there is not one good thing that I can write. Not one. The Good News is tossed aside like fast food wrappers. And no matter how hard I try, I can't exonerate the POTUS nor separate him from the storming of the Capitol building. I cannot be objective about it.
I have suggested in past musings (if not having said so directly) that the US of A has this nasty tendency to reveal a callous disregard for law. Not just man-made law and authority; God's commandments and the entire scope of unwritten moral law. Think about it.
While there is always hope, it is fleeting; and without God, it is empty. Hearts can be changed, but only if we focus on that and not on some unfounded charges by someone who cannot accept losing.
Whatever might happen between now and January 20 notwithstanding, on that day Donald Trump is essentially a man without a country. Many lawsuits await him the moment he becomes a private citizen, and any support he might have enjoyed goes out the door at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue with him.
But We the People are not innocent bystanders in all of this. Unless we look to God for repentance, inspiration. and the resolve to be merciful and just and determined in our actions, things will be no better, no matter which political party is governing the nation.
Memorable Moments:
681 – Twelfth Council of Toledo: King Erwig of the Visigoths initiates a council in which he implements diverse measures against the Jews in Spain.
1349 – The Jewish population of Basel, believed by the residents to be the cause of the ongoing Black Death, is rounded up and incinerated.
1431 – The trial of Joan of Arc begins in Rouen.
1787 – The nationally-known image of the Black Nazarene in the Philippines was transferred from what is now Rizal Park to its present shrine in the minor basilica of Quiapo Church. This is annually commemorated through its Traslación (solemn transfer) in the streets of Manila and is attended by millions of devotees.
1788 – Connecticut becomes the fifth state to ratify the United States Constitution.
1861 – American Civil War: "Star of the West" incident occurs near Charleston, South Carolina.
1861 – Mississippi becomes the second state to secede from the Union before the outbreak of the American Civil War.
1914 – The Phi Beta Sigma fraternity is founded by African-American students at Howard University in Washington D.C., United States.
1918 – Battle of Bear Valley: The last battle of the American Indian Wars.
2007 – Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduces the original iPhone at a Macworld keynote in San Francisco.
2015 – The perpetrators of the Charlie Hebdo shooting in Paris two days earlier are both killed after a hostage situation; a second hostage situation, related to the Charlie Hebdo shooting, occurs at a Jewish market in Vincennes.
Happy Birthday!!!
1554 – Pope Gregory XV (d. 1623)
1859 – Carrie Chapman Catt, American activist, founded the League of Women Voters and International Alliance of Women (d. 1947)
1870 – Joseph Strauss, American engineer, co-designed the Golden Gate Bridge (d. 1938)
1902 – Josemaría Escrivá, Spanish priest and saint, founded Opus Dei (d. 1975)
1913 – Richard Nixon, American commander, lawyer, and politician, 37th President of the United States (d. 1994)
1934 – Bart Starr, American football player and coach (d. 2019)
1935 – Bob Denver, American actor (d. 2005)
1935 – Dick Enberg, American sportscaster (d. 2017)
1941 – Joan Baez, American singer-songwriter, guitarist and activist
1944 – Jimmy Page, English guitarist, songwriter, and producer
1948 – Bill Cowsill, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 2006)
1951 – Crystal Gayle, American singer-songwriter and producer
1967 – Dave Matthews, South African-American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actor
1973 – Sean Paul, Jamaican rapper, singer-songwriter, musician, record producer, and actor
We Remember:
710 – Adrian of Canterbury, abbot and scholar
1987 – Arthur Lake, American actor (b. 1905)
1997 – Jesse White, American actor (b. 1917)
…ALL victims of the COVID-19 pandemic to date
…ALL victims of violence anywhere in the world, and especially in our nation
Parting Words:
So we wait in silent treason until reason is restored…and we await the season of the Word of the Lord…we await the season of the Word of the Lord.
We wait…we wait for the Word of…the…Lord…
--Leonard Bernstein (1918-90), from “Mass” (1971)
Until we meet again, may God be with you - and may God have mercy on us all…
+the Phoenix
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