No, our blog has not been reduced to Music Mondays. We will blog on other things. This past week was far too busy to do so, though. I had the ever popular Student Led Conferences last week. You know, where six year olds lead a full conference with parents and teachers on their progress thus far, and their goals for the remainder of the year, and how they will achieve these goals. Not out of touch with reality at all. Right? Anyway, they're over. And it is Monday, so let's just continue.

By all means, click the video and listen as you keep reading.

This isn't a flashy video like my past ones. It is Civitas Sancti Tui by the great English composer William Byrd. The year was 1589. Byrd is the composer of the remarkable Passione di Cristo, but that has a more lenten feel, so we'll stick with this video.

Sacred music. We pine for this in our household. I kid you not, we listen to this piece by Byrd every single day. We even bought a great little kitchen speaker system to aid us with our listening. We do the supper dishes and put on some beautiful music, usually starting with this piece.

What is difficult to accept is how our Masses have been robbed of beauty and depth. I once quipped to Becca as we were listening to Thomas Tallis' remarkable Lamentations of Jeremiah that our modern day praise and worship composers probably have never even heard about Jeremiah's lamentations, let alone have the ability and inspiration to create such beauty. And yet we're stuck with the likes of Schutte, Foley, and even Maher for Mass.

But as they say in the Ukrainian Divine Liturgy: "The holy things for the holy!" The Mass is sacred. It deserves sacred music. Another reason why we like to go the Latin Mass in Saskatoon. I remember a month or so ago. While they usually sing some complicated pieces, Salve Regina was sung. There were a number of children sitting in front of us. All of them started singing this beautiful hymn to Our Lady from memory. Yes, it felt like home. The Catholic faith is not about the newest work of art. It is about praising God, and doing so as best we can. This can involve newer song creation. But honestly, I have yet to hear likes of Byrd and Palestrina recreated in our generation.

Until then, Civitas Sancti Tui will continue to be played in our house. Probably during supper dishes. And it will raise my mind and soul to heaven.

And hopefully get my mind off of those student led conferences... bleh.

Music Mondays: I Want You Back

I like showing this video to my arts ed students. They are simply amazed by it. Everything is so good. The song. The singing. The choreography. Once upon a time to be the best you had to be this good. No one today comes close to this calibre of performing. Never mind the fact that the poor Jackson kids would get beaten if they messed up. Imagine, Michael Jackson was once cute! Also, never mind that he's singing about a topic way beyond his years. What I like best is the song, and how the oldest brother has the highest voice. Released in 1969, and then soon climbing to number one on the charts, here is I Want You Back. Enjoy!

Learning in a Library

The other day I was at the library (connected to the high school) trying to use up a few minutes while I waited for my winter tires to get put on at the nearby tire shop. So there I was hunched in at the kids section, looking for a few books to bring home for the boys. Just then I heard from the nearby computer section a man politely complaining to a young lady about the computers. I looked over and there was this heavily bearded, 50 something year old man talking about how that particular library computer did not allow access to facebook. Yes, some unfortunate thoughts crossed my mind, to the tune of: "He must not have a job. Just some guy looking for free internet so that he can go on facebook. Pathetic." The person he was complaining to was a 20 something year old girl who evidently was a teacher at the high school and seemed to be waiting for someone (to possibly tutor). Whatever, I went on with my book selection. "Ooh, a Curious George book I've never read! Is it too early for Christmas books? Who writes the Babar books? Nevermind, they seem like communist books to me."


Then I overheard the man ask the nearby young lady: "So what do you think about Trump?"

The girl stammered: "Oh I don't like him. I would've voted for the other one."

"Oh really! Why?" began the man. He then launched into a complete and thorough assault on the disastrous policies of Clinton. The girl replied: "Uh, like, uh, I probably would've even vote if I was there.. uh, but Trump doesn't pay taxes!"

The man then launched into detail about how though he wasn't defending Trump, there are certain tax exemptions he was allowed due to various business losses. He then launched into another assault on the Clinton machine, and their billionaire backers.

"Uh, like, uh I don't know. Like I'm not really sure. But Trump loves guns," was her reply.

More rebuttals from the man. He even launched into a history lesson on certain ideological movements, complete with commentary on the Reagan/Gorbachev Coldwar years. Finally the man, in realizing she didn't even appear to know who those two leaders were, asked in exasperation: "Don't you know anything about politics? Haven't you ever studied history?"

"Uh, like I don't really care for history. Like I never studied it. I just know that I think Trump is mean," she replied.

"You teach here? But you don't know any of these things? What do you teach?" he asked.

"Whatever they tell me" she stated truthfully.

"Well education is dumbed down if you ask me. No offense, but I'm not sure people who haven't studied history should be allowed to vote" the man finally stated.

I wanted to keep listening, but I had to go sign out my Curious George books. I shook my head a little. Boy did I receive a lesson. It seems to me that the man, not the girl, should be the one teaching high school. Bushy beard and all. But it just goes to show the age old adage,

you can't judge a book by it's cover.

Music Mondays: Life in Technicolor II

Music Videos. They're still a thing. Not in the same way that they used to be though. With Youtube people get to pick and choose what they want. On one hand that's great. On the other hand, as a teacher, the "I want to be entertained instantly" attitude of my students, which is promoted by Youtube, is very problematic. But alas, I'm getting too philosophical. The point is that music videos of concerts has been tried. Over and over. When things go stale, why not have puppets do a music video concert? Today we present Coldplay's Life in Technicolor II. You will not be disappointed.

US Election: History in the making, repeating itself

Much whining, taunting, and even some commentary, has been spilled over Trump's historic win. The whining is expected. Call it Democrats against Democracy. In hockey when you lose you are taught to line up with your teammates and go shake the hands of your opponents. In politics apparently you protest, rant, rave, burn an American flag and, hopefully, hold your breath long and hard till you pass out. But it's over. Get some sleep everybody. Get some sleep. And then go learn how to be an adult.

It is the commentary that is far more interesting, though by no means more rational. I love how pundits are so quick to turn everything into one reason. The reason Trump won was because he picked up Reagan Democrats. The reason Clinton lost was because of Comey. Or that people finally got fed up with Clinton's parade of know-nothing celebrities. Or that people are angry at the system. Or that they are copying another Brexit... because both scenarios are so alike(?). Or that America is not advanced enough to elect a female. People are racist. 94 million people need jobs. Black voters didn't show up. Pollsters were wrong. The Cubs won the World Series (perhaps the most convincing of all). A pundit simply picks a point and runs with it. I thought it was hilarious to watch Anderson Cooper on CNN speaking a nervous mile a minute about how a Michigan county voted for Obama in 2012 and so, darn it, their votes were going to start pouring in and then change the whole election and Clinton was going to win and Trump lose and darn it votes start coming in already(!) and is it getting hot in here? That's just it, Mr. Cooper, the whole point was that these voters were not voting like they did in 2012. If they did then we wouldn't be where we are. Later, one pundit even boldly stated: "Ideology is now dead!" But isn't politics without ideology like going swimming without water? Sorry pundits, it may just be possible that there were many factors involved in Trump's win. Though if you asked me for the biggest reason: people ultimately hate Clinton more than Trump. But alas, I am sounding like a pundit now.

However, one idea that could use some commentary is the Catholic angle. America has a fascinating political past. One that, let's not forget, has been anti-Catholic. By all accounts Senator William Seward of New York should have been the Republican nominee in 1860. Until they found out that he had, 20 years earlier, helped secure money for Catholic schools. Enter Abraham Lincoln to take his place. By all accounts the Catholic Church should have been the greatest player in the abolitionist movement. But many abolitionists thought of the Church as yet another form of slavery. And many in the Church were too "political" to want to interfere with the slavery class system (eerie similarities with our current abortion plague). This rocky relationship has moved forward. Here we stand today. A country divided. A Church divided. At some point commentary loses its touch with reality. Because reality, true reality, involves God. Inevitably there is only one commentary which does actually sum everything up. No God = misery.

In City of God St. Augustine lays it all out. We spend all of our energy on the earthly city. We forget about the heavenly home we are called to, or we even work against our heavenly home. And then we are miserable and nothing works. Sound familiar? He writes: "The peace of the celestial city is the perfectly ordered and harmonious enjoyment of God, and of one another in God" (Book 19). The fundamental root cause of America's (and Canada's, and Britain's, and...) misery is found in the absence of God. The America institution, The Machine, though being one nation under God, has long rejected Catholicism. Catholicism, as it often does, thrives under such rejection. However, especially since the 1960s, the America institution, has departed also from Christianity, morality, and proper order. Less God. Less happiness. More confusion and anger. While this is more than a Catholic problem, I fear the Church is failing to learn from past lessons.

Go back to slavery. As I said, the Church was sometimes good, sometimes non-existent with the issue. The same can be said for abortion in these modern times. It is interesting that it was Abraham Lincoln who ushered in the end of slavery (though admittedly the Civil war was far more complex). Remember, Lincoln replace the Catholic sympathizer. Can history repeat itself? Can Trump, by no means a friend of the Church, be the one from which abortion ends in the United States? Yes he can. Good Catholics will pursue this. Lukewarm Catholics, and yes I include much of the hierarchy, will sit on their hands and do nothing, or worse even hurt the movement. Why? For one, so as not to disrupt the current system, as with slavery. But abortion can be ended. The murder of innocents can be ended. Let us pray the Church wakes up to this reality.

Yet will this be enough? When slavery ended a golden opportunity for evangelizing those in the slave trade, including the slaves themselves, was left untapped. This is one of the great regrets for the Catholic Church in the United States. If, and hopefully when, abortion ends in the United States is the Church prepared for a golden era of evangelization? So many beautiful babies. So many young mothers looking for somewhere to turn. It will be an opportunity. The pessimist in me says no. The realist in me says probably not. But that little part of me which recalls St. Augustine's words to have a supernatural outlook says absolutely. And then, and only then, can the misery of a nation begin to turn towards joy. For it will be returning to God.

The political landscape in the USA is fragile. It is fragile with disorder. Do not turn to Anderson Cooper to explain why everyone feels so miserable. Do not turn to Katy Perry. Or Hillary Clinton. Or Donald Trump. Simply seek the City of God first, and the earthly city will start to take care of itself. Until then pray, hope, and don't worry.

And get some sleep too.

Titled: Sickies, or Puke, or Laundry

All three kids are asleep. It's 11:40am. John Paul fell asleep on top of me.

We're slowly emerging from a week of sickies. One of the hard parts of having a teacher-husband is that sometimes we catch flues going around from people we haven't even come into contact with. Usually, we can stave it off with chicken soup, Melaleuca vitamins, and decent sleeping. Last week, it caught up to us after a few days of post-Halloween candy, birthday cake, busy days and evenings, and less-than-ideal nights.

Poor John Paul had it the worst. Or he's just not got the hang of being sick. He jumped around like crazy Saturday night after Mass and fell very suddenly sick, all over the living room floor. He fought us tooth and nail when we tried to hold a bucket for his multiple repeats. I washed the equivalent of a week's worth of laundry from him alone in less than 24hrs. On the plus side, all our beds have clean sheets and mattress covers.

Joseph has the hang of this thing. Knows when not to eat. Hates the being sick part, but aims well for the bucket. He sweetly asked if he could sleep with someone last night after the worst was over. He crawled into bed with me and slept. I didn't. But that's ok in the end.

Dan and Emilie got their worst parts over with quickly, but have taken a few days to recover. It doesn't help for Dan that he hasn't been able to get decent recovery rest, what with being up successive nights helping other kids.

I'm the only one who hasn't succumbed. I've heard it said that nursing babies and mommies pass immunities back and forth. Scientific or not, I hope it's true this time around. I've been queezy and headachy a bit, but it could be just overtired and imaginings. During a sleepy afternoon in bed with Emilie and John Paul, I was smiling at the cozy loveliness of having two cute little children sleeping on each arm. When they're sick, I just love how they cuddle. John Paul roused up a bit during my reverie, moaned, and promptly ended his longest settled-stomach phase which resulted in me and my bed getting a good washdown. So much for lovely reveries.

Sickness is a funny sort of thing. It's so horrible watching your kids sick. It's so horrible feeling sick. But it sure puts things in perspective. It doesn't matter anymore that floors need vacuuming or clean laundry is sitting all over the house to be put away. It forces us to slow down, hug our kids closer, and just do the necessities (8th load of laundry, perhaps). It draws us closer together. It makes us appreciate when we're not sick that much more. It makes us call out to God for help.

Now, excuse me while I change the laundry up. No more reveries.

Music Mondays: Ode to Joy

If I were to walk into any classroom at school and say the words: "Well now they know," I would have a chorus of little voices continue with a: "Let it go! Let it go! Can't hold it back anymore!..."

Yes, our culture isn't what it used to be. Taylor Swift over Tchaikovsky. Kanye West over William Byrd. Even Bob Dylan as a Noble Peace Prize winner. Ever wonder what we're missing out on? Today's music Monday gives you a sneak peak. Enjoy!

Beethoven's stunning Symphony No, 9. Music fitted to Schiller,s Ode to Joy poem. It closes with the words:

"Brothers, above the starry canopy 

There must dwell a loving Father. 

Do you fall in worship, you millions? 

World, do you know your creator? 

Seek him in the heavens; 

Above the stars must He dwell."

Our current culture shouts: "Let it go!" Our joyless culture.

The Ode to Joy shouts: "seek him"!

Only then can there be joy.

The Theology of Purgatory, As Seen by Little Kids

Our boys are currently playing with cars. The cars are all taking trips to the graveyard. November is the month to pray for the souls in purgatory. We've prayed for them at Masses, and taken some trips to the graveyard. To add to this, a lady who used to work the snack counter at the Co-op just passed away this week. The boys have been trying to process death, and how we as Catholics pray for the souls in purgatory, and have hope for heaven by Jesus' victory over death.


John Paul, on hearing the snack lady died: "We must go pray for her body!"

Joseph: "No! Her soul!"

- - -

Joseph, after explaining to him that the snack lady died: "Hmmm, I guess we'll have to go to the bakery counter and get cookies instead now."

Later, Joseph, as we left for the cemetery: "We have to go to the graveyard for her funeral."

- - -

Driving by the hospital, John Paul: "Jesus died in the hospital!"

- - -

John Paul at the cemetery: "Mommy stepped on a grave! I stepped on... um.. a leaf!"

- - - 

John Paul explaining how Jesus died: "Jesus was afraid of the animals and he died!"

- - -

After trying to explain that smaller boxes Joseph saw were of people's ashes, Joseph: "Two people died in those boxes."

- - -

John Paul on Jesus' current state: "Jesus is dying in heaven right now."

Daddy: "No he's not."

John Paul: "Um, Jesus is dying on the cross."

Joseph: "No! He's alive."

John Paul: "Um, Jesus is alive."

- - -

Uh oh, Joseph is now upset at John Paul because John Paul's car parked on a grave.

A Birthday with Party Poopers

Thank you for all the birthday greetings yesterday.

It was a birthday fit for an adult with kids. Busy, and poopy.

Poor Emilie was sick, so Becca had to cancel homeschool for the day and look after her. The day, and evening, was 'filled' with many diaper changes of various kids. Sometimes it even meant us having to change our clothes.

Oh well, there was cake, and the boys sang so sweetly. Joseph was a little confused though. He asked: "Where's your birthday party? Is this really your birthday?" I guess a birthday doesn't count without a party. I mentioned again to him that Jesus died at 33, but he shot back that Uncle Jim is 33 and he's not dead yet, so I'll be ok. Later at Mass he was looking at a saints book and came across a picture of St. Catherine of Sienna. I whispered to him that she died at 33. He stared at the picture for a while, but then just laughed.

The highlight of the day was my gift. I've been asking for a "chick truck" for a long time now. For weeks I would tell the boys how excited I was to get my chick truck for my birthday. They seemed to believe that it was true.

Lo and behold, my gift:



Isn't she a beauty?! And she's all mine! However, the boys seem to fight over it a lot. They sometimes take it out without even asking!

Sigh. Maybe next year...

I don't know about you, but our kids are saints...

This is Becca's ghostwriter. She's busy today caring for a sick little Emilie :(

The Saints are one of the best reasons to be Catholic. They should make us long for our heavenly home. Plus they're pretty good at interceding for us. Some are of ancient times. Others more modern. For instance:

And some are even more recent! Behold the latest:

 

 

 

Yes, there was an all Saints day celebration. Becca did an amazing job once again this year of creating the wardrobe! Can you guess who the saints are?

 

Why it's St. John Paul II, St. Teresa of Calcutta, and St. Padre Pio!

Grandma was happy to see them at the party.




Cutest little Pope ever!

Our little saints!

 

 

Thumbs up! Right Emilie, er, Mother Teresa!