The Anchoress

Last year I wrote about The Tradition of Lenten Reading, so this year I thought I would presume to play Abbess and lay out a selection of books you might find interesting reading during these 40 days.

The Rule of St. Benedict “Listen my child, to the master’s instructions and attend to them with the ear of your heart…”

The Catholic Passion: Rediscovering the Power And Beauty of the Faith, Reviewed here. Perfect book if you’ve been away or are wondering why you stay.

My Life With the Saints Cozy, warm and nostalgic. Comfort and Joy.

Orthodoxy Or, you know, Anything by Chesterton

The Screwtape Letters Or, you know, anything by Lewis

Benedict XVI: Way of the Cross It looks gorgeous and is supposed to read beautifully.

More of course, at The Bookshelf.

Benedict XVI’s Message for Lent

Julie at Happy Catholic also has reading recommendations and she’s listing what others are reading, too, so lots of ideas, there.

National Review Online has an excellent symposium of Lenten reading recommendations, oh, and look! Yours truly contributed! Also, Kathryn Jean Lopez talks to Frederica Mathewes-Green on The Great Canon of St. Andrew.

Vanderleun has a brilliant, deep and affecting piece about moving from hating God to knowing man.

Maureen Martin reveals that Ray Nagin is giving up New Orleans for Lent.

The Curt Jester has Lenten trivia and reading recommendations.

The Ash-O-Matic 5000 is here! H/T Jeff.

The American Spectator reviews a few good books, too.

Prof. Bainbridge is giving up cigars

Patrick O’ Hannigan brings an Orthodox Flavor to the day.

Understanding Liturgical Seasons Part I. More on that here.

Bernard Higgins at ACSOL has a book recommendation with a helpful exposition.

Kim at Musing Minds is Reading Rich Warren.

A quick prayer to start

See also:
Vocations Flowering
On Your Mark, Get Set
Novena to JPII
There’s something about ashes

So, what are you giving up for Lent - 2005

Whispers from the Loggia has Benedict meeting with Muslims. Check out the picture. This is why I love Benedict. The pic looks like Uncle Benny wandered over to the fence to chat with his Muslim neighbors.

UPDATE: Someone asked me to repost this for today. It’s not really about Lent, but I’m happy to do it.

It’s been happening for a while, but increasingly we’re seeing religious communities, particularly those which keep Jesus within the Eucharist as their focus, increase in numbers, even as the more progressive orders are fading.

At St. Michael’s Abbey in Orange County, California (OC, for pete’s sake!) The Norbertine Fathers are looking for more space because they are turning young men away from their prayerful place for lack of room. (The picture of the rose, btw, is from their photo gallery).

I thought as we begin Lent it might be good to take a look at communities which are flourishing in what JPII called this “Springtime…”

A friend in touch with some of the nuns at Our Lady of the Incredible Candy - oops - Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey reports that they are raising money to expand for they are out of room!

The Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration have no more rooms and are recommending young women to other houses.

The Benedictines at St. Walburga’s Abbey have added three more postulants to the novitiate.

The Benedictines of Perpetual Adoration have a novice and another coming!

The Nashville Dominicans report they have more Sisters than ever in their 142-year history - median age is 36.

Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist haven’t finished building their new motherhouse yet and are already almost out of room. They’re young’uns too.

Carmelites of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Los Angeles, a large and thriving community.

Sr. Greta is a few months in the cloister but not expecting to be alone in the novitiate for long.

Bro. Lew (another Dominican) seems pretty happy.

Cistercian Women filling up a house.

Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist

Fairly new Benedictines in Vermont.

Franciscan Sisters, TOR

Alton Franciscans.

The Fathers of Mercy.

Poor Clares in Bethlehem

Cistercian Nuns.

The Monks of Clear Creek Monastery

5 young men move forward at Conception Abbey.

Monastery of the Holy Spirit

St. Vincent Abbey

Daughters of St. Paul.

The Sisters of Life are young and growing, founded by the great Cardinal O’ Connor.

A really attractive “Benedictine Family” site.

From Catholic to Muslim to Monk.

CSM examines the New Fervor Among Young Italian Catholics. h/t Vatican Watcher.

Common to all of these sites - an overriding sense of joy!

I read somewhere that there are currently more seminarians training to be priests, worldwide, than there were in 1961. They’re predominantly in Asia and Africa, because the West is becoming Mission Country!

Ash Wednesday Eve:
Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind, live soberly and set your hopes completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Like obedient children, do not act in compliance with the desires of your former ignorance but, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct, for it is written, Be holy because I am holy.
- 1 Peter 13-16

Ash Wednesday:
Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord, your God. For gracious and merciful is he, slow to anger, rich in kindness and relenting in punishment. Perhaps he will again relent and leave behind him a blessing. Offerings and libations for the Lord, your God.

Blow the trumpet in Zion! Proclaim a fast, call an assembly; Gather the people, notify the congregation; assemble the elders, gather the children and the infants at the breast. Let the bridegroom quit his room and the bride her chamber. Between the porch and the altar, let the priests and ministers of the Lord weep and say, “Spare us, O Lord, your people, and makenot your heritage a reproach, with the nations ruling over them! Why should they say among the peoples, ‘where is their God?’”

Then the Lord was stirred to concern for his land and too pity on his people.
- Joel 2:12-18

Living for the Bridegroom

And here is the passive way - be filled unto the fullness of God. The passive way - I abandon myself to it, not in a multiplicity of trials, extraordianry penances accomplished, practices of great works - but in peaceful abandonment to the tenderness of Jesus, which I must try to imitate, and by being in constant union with his meek and humble heart.
What likeness is there between me and my Mother? Do I try to be like her, in her love for Jesus? In her devotion to the cause for which he died - the salvation of souls - in her absolute submission to the will of God, in her patient suffering? Holy Mary, Mother of God and my mother too, let me stand at the foot of the cross with you, to learn its lesson to learn to be like the Mother of Sorrows.
- St. Katharine Drexel

I had occasion to compose this novena on behalf of a friend of mine whose wife is ill, and am using it, also, for my family member who has peritoneal mesothelioma. I thought for the beginning of Lent, I’d share it. Caveat Emptor - there is no imprimatur, here, I just made the prayer up, so if it’s not theologically sound, I am to blame.
***

Holy Father, John Paul II, Shepherd and Teacher, you are now in glory in heaven, in the company of angels and saints. As in life you were bowed by illness in life, you are now bowed before the Throne of the Most High, in humble thanksgiving and praise. We remember you on earth, in your many holy works, and in your holy suffering. We your flock recall your prayerfulness, your energy, your charity and your boundless faith in the mercy and love of our Creator and Lord - a love which you preached in season and out, in sickness and in health, with passion and with pain. We ask you now to hear our prayers for (name intention) and to deliver them to the Throne of the Lord, reminding Him of the words his friends said to him during his earthly sojourn, “Lord, the one you love is sick…”

We trust that your faithful prayers will be acceptable to our Merciful God, and therefore plead for your assistance, that in all things God may be glorified.

Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be

Novenas are prayed for 9 consecutive days…

As we are on the eve of another Ash Wednesday (and I’ll have a fresh Lenten post tomorrow) I thought I’d repost this from last year, just to get us all in the mood:

Buster update: There is something about ashes…

First Reading:Psalm:Second Reading:Gospel:
Joel 2:12-18Psalm 51:3-6, 12-14, 172 Corinthians 5:20 - 6:2Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Turn away from sin, and be faithful to the Gospel.
— Ash Wednesday

It’s really funny about Ashes and Catholics…tell Catholics they HAVE to do something, and they stick their chests out and fume, “oh yeah? Who are YOU, the Pope?”

Sometimes, as with the issuance of Humanae Vitae, they even say it TO the pope. In a manner of speaking.

But tell them they don’t HAVE to recieve ashes, that it’s just a little thing, un-required, and they stumble all over each other to get to church and get smudged!

And lately, the Baptists have been stopping by in the morning, on their way to work and saying, “Smudge me, too!”

“See how these Christians smudge each other…”

Actually, I think this year the Baptists are having their own Ashes service.

I think it’s great. I love seeing the Protestant churches saying…”hmmm…you know….something to that…” and joining in. It is good to see that sort of unity and commonality among all of us.

My 15 year old son, Buster, and I went to the 7:00 AM Mass and then received ashes. Buster insisted on going, even though it would make him very late for his first class, which he loves.

Normally the 7AM Mass is about 30-50 people (yes, that many) and the number swells during Lent to perhaps 80 or 90 every morning, but this morning church was packed. Old, young, in between, women carrying infants, firefighters on their way to the station, nurses in scrubs. As we were leaving the church, folks who couldn’t make the mass were running in to get their ashes.

I realized, looking around, that Buster would very likely be the only kid in his public high school smudged with ashes. Very likely his teachers, afraid of being accused of bringing religion into school, would not be.

But knowing Buster, this is precisely why he was so adamant about receiving them this morning. Knowing him, he is going to spend the day patiently explaining to his savage classmates why his forehead is dirty, and feeling happy if he has to endure a few sneers and harangues for it. Because Buster is a kid who doesn’t mind standing out from the crowd - in fact he rather enjoys it - and because he is the sort of person who thinks there is value in taking some abuse for the sake of Christ.

I have no idea where this kid came from.

Anyway, with the ashes, it’s kind of wonderfully communal. Even though we have just heard the words, “remember, you are dust and to dust you shall return,” we leave the church feeling remarkable well and peaceful. I am not sure why that is. Perhaps it’s because we hear the other admonishment, Turn away from sin, and be faithful to the Gospel, in one form or another, all year…today, we hear the reminder that we will, all of us, one day die. As good a reason as any to start thinking about how you’re living your life, what your prioritities are, where your heart is, and therefore what you treasure.

My pal who is studying for the diaconate ruminated on the crush for ashes, and the new interest taken in them by Protestants, and mused, “There is something about Ashes…Catholics who are only nominally Catholic, and never darken the door of a church, HAVE to get them, and make a fuss if they don’t. So it makes sense other Christians feel compelled to be smudged. It’s odd — there is something so primal about this practice. (As one priest wailed in frustration after a long and taxing Ash Wednesday: “It’s only BLESSED DIRT!”) But it speaks to us in a profound way. Sociologists should do a study about it. Why ashes matter to us so much.”

I think he might be on to something, both about the idea of a study, and the idea that ashes speak to us in a very primal way. Tribes always marked themselves, somehow, and of course, the ancient Jews would heap ashes upon their head in grief or penance - so we have an ancient, ancient connection to the practice. And Revelation speaks of those who belong to the Lamb bearing His mark. And the Jews were told to put the blood of the lamb on their doorposts as a sign that they were to be set apart and spared by the angel of death.

This “setting apart” seems to be a theme.

And too, I think Buster’s need to expose himself as a Christian in such a way may be very much behind why so many want to wear ashes today, at the start of Lent. As Christians, we are called to declare ourselves for Christ, but in life, in the day to day, we are seldom in a position to do it. It’s not something easily worked into most conversations, you can’t really carry on about Jesus while you’re in an engineering meeting, and if we try to proclaim Christ “by our actions”, well…that can be easily misinterpreted from “that kid is a nice kid because he loves Christ” to “that kid is a nice kid because he is a boy scout, or because his parents raised him well…”

With ashes, there is no room for misinterpretation. There are no “maybes.” This person stands before you, declaring himself or herself as belonging to Christ. Maybe not the best person in the world. May there is a struggle going on. We are all faulty humans, and none are perfect save Christ…but you look up from stirring your Starbucks coffee and you see someone wearing a big, black ashy cross on their forehead, and you know. The world knows. Another one for Christ. And another…and this kid over here - the big, brawny kid, with the great smile and the pleasant manner…he belongs to Christ, too. And another. And another…

Jeanette and Newt are celebrating a year! Don’t forget to go over and say congrats!

I know Mark Steyn is the guy we all love. But David Warren - while not nearly as funny - is just as smart and insightful as Steyn, and his column today is a must read.

This is precisely what is happening now, as we are confronted by the Islamist fanatics, whose views and demands are already being parroted by fearful “mainstream” Muslim politicians. We will do anything to preserve a peace that ceased to exist on 9/11. Not one of our prominent politicians dares even to name the enemy.
[…]
Germany was full of moderate Germans, as Hitler rose; Stalin drove his oars through a sea of moderate Russians. While we must not forget that the Muslims are the first victims of “Islamism”, and may suffer most from its triumph, we are beyond the point where we can do more for them than destroy the tyranny by which they are enthralled.

Like I said, a must read.

See also Europe died in Auschwitz.

I’ve got a case of the lookarounds:

Richard Cohen, who a few months ago was also on the right track about abortion debate says Dubya is right about Dubai. He keeps this up he’s going to get drummed outta the club. He even gives the president the benefit of a doubt and suggests that Dubya “naturally recoils from prejudice. Is there prejudice? Possibly. And possibly understandable.

Hey, Al Qaeda DID fund those Indonesian attacks!

Brian Maloney ticked off the folks at Air America! Not for the first time! They respond by ignoring the substance of his report, in order to simply demonize their “enemies.”

The Scratching Post has a story idea for Spike Lee

The Donegal Express tells lies about Apollo Anton Ohno but tells the truth about fasting.

Vladimir Bukovsky warns that the EU is heading for totalitarianism. If it lasts.

The SCOTUS, (in a case heard before Alito joined up) renders a unanimous decision in favor of the pro-life crowd. Here’s the newsstory.

Mac’s Mind wonders about possible investigations into Sens. Rockefeller and Durbin. Although that must be weighed, I guess, with Cindy Adams’ line yesterday that a dozen GOP lawmakers were going to be indicted for currying favor.

A judge has approved supoena’s to the NY Times re their leaking of the NSA classified program. I can only believe that the Times will be as fast to turn over their notes as they were to screw with our national security.

Jack Kelly says reports of an Iraqi Civil War are as yet premature and he has some great links. I like his link to Iraq the Model who wrote: Actually the past few days showed that our new army is more competent than we were thinking.

My Pet Jawa says today is International High-5 a Muslim Day “Because a nod is not enough and a hug is just too much.”

Alexandra asks are we paying attention to Iran, yet?

Dan Brown is facing plagarism charges re the DaVinci Code. A million little copiers?

Happy Catholic has a wonderful post up on bringing a religious sensibility to Mardi Gras. She clearly put a lot of work into that one. It’s a great read and visually fun, too.

Again, it just seems to me UAE is a better friend than many understand.

Dubai Ports World uses Zim connection in US deal.

CBS’s latest poll shows President Bush’s approval rating at an all-time low, which is really not surprising given the enormous hype of Cheney-gate followed immediately by the “what is he nuts” story of the UAE buying control of some of our ports from the English. (Full Disclosure: I was one of the critics until Buster set me thinking…).

Kathryn Jean Lopez at NRO was quick to notice the weighting issue that she suggested made the poll a “dirty” one.

Note the respective numbers of Republicans and Democrats:

This is NOT representative of the electorate.

True ‘dat. Ankle Biting Pundits called it The Latests MSM Garbage Poll and remarked: Well, given that the poll was of adults only, not even registered voters and that 3 of the 5 nights were weekends, we’re not surprised. Even the Washington Post’s poll director has said weekend polls show low numbers for the President.… this poll is not even close to reflecting who’s going to show up to vote on elections day. It certainly won’t be a more Democratic electorate by a 10% margin. That much I can guarantee.

True ‘dat, also.

Except that I’ve held for a while that while the Democrats may not hold a 10% margin in the electorate, the nation as a whole may be getting so weary of the constant pounding of one exhaustively reported upon “Bush scandal” after another that it is perhaps getting worn down. I can see where many Americans, particularly the type who only read the headlines and move along, will look at ‘06 and ‘08 with “Bush-hate-fatique” and with “media tantrum fatique” and say “we need a change - ANYTHING but more Bush hate. ANYTHING but more snotty reporters having a tantrum because their party is not in power, too! Let’s give them what they want, put the Democrats back in charge, and the news will go back to being good all the time and 4.7% unemployment will be Full Employment once again!”

I’m not saying all members of the press won’t be happy until their party is back in power, again, mind you. Just…ohhhh…86% of them!

Anyway, Vaughn Ververs, my favorite guy at Public Eye has taken a look at the poll and relates how the CBS polling unit describes it - then remarks: Other pollsters use different methods of weighting than the U.S. Census breakdowns, but this is commonly accepted method of polling. He links to Mystery Pollster who says he plays with the numbers and find them about the same.

What does all this mean? It means that President Bush is still being stymied by his own inability to sell something that he clearly believes in. It means that his communications people in the WH have fallen down very badly on the Dubai issue - so badly that I don’t know if they will be able to “get up.” It means it’s time to stop pussy-footing around with Dan Bartlett and get Karen Hughes back into the WH, or they’ll never move another initiative and “lame duck” will take on a new and more intensive meaning than we’ve ever seen. These poll numbers are not surprising, under the circumstances. And they’re not going to come back up, either, unless President Bush can talk plainly and clearly about what he wants and why he wants it.

Hugh Hewitt notes that President Bush doesn’t seem to mind the debate.

UPDATE: Kathryn Lopez has posted and extensive look at the poll and at what is going wrong right now. You’ll really want to read this. It gives lots of reasons why the poll is a stinker, and an unserious one, at that, meant to bring headlines, not real information.

WELCOME Public Eye and CQ readers: While you’re here, please look around - today we’re also talking about Myra Bradwell, the Vaginahabi Jihad, Good guys and bad guys, why David Warren is as smart as Mark Steyn and we’re looking at the eve of Ash Wednesday.