Holy Orders!

I went to a beautiful ordination this weekend.  I had never been to an ordination before and it was a very moving liturgy.  It was especially meaningful because Father James had been friends with my oldest son since grade school.  Educated initially as a classical guitarist, James had also given my younger son guitar lessons for several years.  And while we were in Rome we had had lunch with him at the North American College where he was completing his theological studies.

In other words, we knew Father James and had been enthusiastically anticipating his ordination.  It was an honor to be there.

The holy card commemorating the ordination included on the back the following quote from Pope Benedict XVI:

If we let Christ into our lives, we lose nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing of what makes life free, beautiful and great....for only in this friendship are the doors of life opened wide.

I think that says it all.  May God bless Father James every day of his priestly ministry!!!  And may we all follow the calling the Lord has placed on each of our lives!

Yesterday was the last day of school.  I love the last day of school.  Love having my children home during the day and the more relaxed schedule.

The weather in Michigan has been beautiful, but a little dry.  I've had to water my flowers nearly every day.

I need to get out on my bike more often.  This is what I see when I take my favorite bike ride.

Yeah.  It's a lovely ride.  From my house I ride a little less than a mile on residential roads, cross one busy street at a crosswalk, and the rest is all bike paths.

......And I love riding my bike.  Not to mention that I need the exercise.  And it really helps my knee, improves my mood......yeah.  I have no excuse to not get out there and ride.

You have to love Peggy Noonan.  She has written a great essay for the Wall Street Journal entitled "The Long Race Has Begun," explaining how BOTH Obama and Romney are bad at politics.  It's a very interesting article.

Mr. Obama has become actively bad at politics. Here is an example of how bad. Anyone good at politics does not pick a fight with the Catholic Church during a presidential year. Really, you just don't. Because there's about 75 million Catholics in America, and the half of them who go to church will get mad. The other half won't like it either......

Only if you are really, really not good at politics do you alienate the bishops of a great faith in an election year.

I couldn't agree more.  What was he thinking?

If you haven't signed the petition yet at www.stophhs.com, please do so, if you believe in the First Amendment!!!