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?