Good luck, Mark. Of course we all hope that your book will turn out well, but also (I, at least) hope it will turn out to be done soon : )
Ciao!
We'll continue to pray for you.
And thanks for the interlude.
Much joy and great rejoicing throughout our land. Mostly that a worthy Successor to Peter- and Johannes Paulus Maximus- has been raised up in the person of Benedict XVI. But for many, The Greatest Weekend in U.S.ofA. is on tap. A ritual with as much tradition and complexn Rity as a Papal Conclave. With far more lies, half-truth and sheer bosh connected to it- The NFL Draft. Big rumors around Washington Redskins, working phones to trade up for- Auburn QB Jason Campbell? Michigan WR Braylon Edwards? Who will be first pick- Cal's Aaron Rodgers or Utah's Alex Smith, very good QBs but not polished like Heisman winner Matt Leinert, forgoing pay for play to enjoy one more year among the fleshpots of Southern California? No idea how my Phila. Iggles will go- more secrecy than that imposed on College of Cardinals this week to select first-round pick for the Vatican City Saints. More paranoia than ever around The Draft- with memory that Super Bowl champ Tom Brady was selected during Sunday afternoon proceedings in '00. Mostly long and boring after first round finished around 6:30 P.M. Saturday, however. Wash car/walk dog/pray for our new Pontiff/do other stuff besides stay near teevee all day. (Would hope that Iggles draft a get-down, old skool running back to grind out 1200 yds./season, however....)
Thanks for coming back and giving us some tidbits. Good luck in finishing the book, I can't wait.
Hurry - I do miss my daily "Mark fix".
+J.M.J+
Some final thoughts on the election of our new Holy Father:
The more talk I hear about the Pontiff formerly known as Joseph Ratzinger, the more I discern a pattern. Those who don't know the man personally tend to despise him, thinking him to be an authoritarian harda$$ who will oppress women and burn progressives at the stake.
Those who do know him personally, OTOH, say he is a gentle, humble, Christlike soul, very knowledgable and scholarly yet down-to-earth and likeable.
Hmmm, who to believe, who to believe...?
To those out there who have already made up your minds that you hate Pope Benedict XVI, and will not change your minds, all I can say is: It's your loss.
In Jesu et Maria,
Mark Shea,
I just checked my database here at the LOC..."you" (your books) have been here since 1994!
I admire your self-discipline and God bless you and your family as you continue to work on your book.
Hurry back- We'll keep the light on for 'ya!
)
The Lord's peace be with you, Mark, as you continue your aposolate of writing.
I'm still on cloud 9 and climbing over the Papal election.
Long live Pope Benedict XVI!
"Those who don't know the man personally tend to despise him, thinking him to be an authoritarian harda$$ who will oppress women and burn progressives at the stake.
Those who do know him personally, OTOH, say he is a gentle, humble, Christlike soul, very knowledgable and scholarly yet down-to-earth and likeable."
Kind of like his Master...
God bless you Mark! Thanks for taking this break to come back here; I for one needed my Shea fix. I will keep you and your family in prayer.
My first visit to your blog (though I've seen you on TV) and love your work, but was it something I said, you are leaving on my first visit? LOL. 
Good luck in all your endeavors and I'm sure you will do Our Lady much credit. You already have and will continue to do so.
Many thanks, Mark, for coming back during these momentous days. I'm very glad you couldn't "not" do it.
Good luck on the book and please God may it be finished soon and well. We need you here too!
"Hurry - I do miss my daily "Mark fix"."
Amen, sister.
Look forward to seeing you back - God bless the book!
I am so surprised at the instant cult status this pope seems to have gained. From bureaucrat to pop idol in less than 24 hours. He's even sparked a bit of a Pope-Art movement (see link).
+J.M.J+
Well, many orthodox Catholics have admired Cardinal Ratzinger for years (even as progressive Catholics have despised him). So I'm not surprised Pope Benedict XVI is now popular in some circles, at least.
In Jesu et Maria,
Thanks for coming back, Mark. I am looking forward to your new book on Our Lady. Apropos that you'll be finishing it up in May.
May I add my gratitude for your short-live return to those above, Mark. It was good to "see" you again ... As for our new Holy Father, all I can say is that the man is a pianist, loves Mozart, and cats!!! Forget all that "God's Rottweiler" stuff, he's really a pussycat! And many good wishes with your book on Our Lady. By the time it comes out, I'll have enough saved up to buy it!!! God bless you and your family.
Bless you, my child.
Speaking of Papal email, has anyone else noticed the flood of domains for sale on the internet related to the new Pontiff. Pope-Benedict-16.Us is the latest and I think one of the best - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/
eBayISAPI...item=5769760752
Benedict XVI is not a pussycat. He's a teddy bear. For proof, follow my link.
umm--rather, try this url:
http://christusmedicus.blogspot....or-my-
blog.html
Infelix regnum Antichristi!
Habamus Nose Tackle. In their infinite wisdom, Phila. Iggles management has plucked Mike Patterson from the fleshpots of Southern California as First Round Pick in '05 NFL Draft. Day One the usual round of rumors/surprises/amazement that Mel Kiper Jr. can rattle off so many stats from the top of his well-coiffed noggin. Fake Plotline of The Day- the 'falling stock' of Cal QB Aaron Rodgers, not selected in single digit running. To eruption among Draft Fanatics when he was selected as Pick 25, Round 1, by Green Bay Packers. Where he will wear Packers cap/clipboard/really thick all-weather parka while apprenticing for Brett Favre over one maybe two seasons. Unlike Utah's Alex Smith, thrown to the jackals with 49ers as Very First Pick. Young Mr. Smith completed undergrad edjermacation in two years, but still cannot legally sample the fruits of metro San Fran's finest vineyards. Smith, Braylon Edwards, a few other young athletes brought Ma/Pa/Sibs/Aunts to New York for much celebration. Others gathered their peeps around the home, like Gadsden, Alabama for new Tampa Bay Buc and My Favorite '05 Draft Name Carnell 'Cadillac' Williams. Others had only Mama present. Sad.
Infelix regnum Antichristi!
Infelix stupiditas illorum qui Ecclesiam Catholicam Christi oderunt!
My contribution to the quest for a papal chant:
"Pa-pa Rat-zi
Siamo i suoi ragazzi/Siamo le sue ragazze!"
I think that translates as:
"We're your boys/girls!"
Thanks, Mark, for sharing your POV on this. I'll continue to pray for your Mary book at Eucharistic adoration! Can't wait for this book.
And I'll add a short bit on our new Holy Papa. I shared the feeling that many did about Pope John Paul II, that he was "my" Pope, & felt sort of . . . lost for a bit after his death. (That's the best word I can think of, really.) But already, I have that same feeling for Benedict XVI! He's as much my Pope as JPII was. I barely remember the popes prior to JPII so I've not really experienced this change in papal reigns. But I'm amazed at how I've changed in the last few weeks, how my faith has deepened & grown. (Thank God, 'cos I need it!) May God bless his reign & may it be fruitful in bringing many to Christ & His Church!
Anyway, you have my prayers, Mark. See you when you return. Drop us a line every now & then wilya, please? Let us know how things are going. God bless.
At my parish, the priest delivered his homily in Latin and German this Sunday.
The Mass was the Mass for the Holy Father, with commemoration of the 4th Sunday after Easter.
It was eery.
25th April ANZAC DAY.
Remeber in your prayers the Australian & New Zealand Army Corps, who , on this day in 1915, at the behest of the British War Cabinet under Winston Churchill, along with other British, Welsh and Irish troops landed on the Gallipoli peninsular on the North side of the Dardenelles to attempt to take control of the region to allow the British navy to attack Istanbul.
Poor planning and ineffective leadership by the British officers in charge turned what could have been a probable quick victory into a shambolic and bloody drawn out battle, and eventual defeat.
e.g 1.The Anzac Troops were landed 1200 yards north of the beach they were supposed to be landed at by the British navy, and had to fight up cliffs and tortuous gulleys, instead of a reasonably flat beach with good cover.
2. The Welsh and Irish troops landed almost unopposed, ventured inland to a village, which they found deserted - so instead of occupying and fortifying it, retired to the beach to "await orders". The Turks, meantime, reoccupied the village, fortified it, and the resulting attacks - all of which were repulsed - cost around 50,000 lives.
The Turks lost around 85,000 men defending their country from invasion.
The Aussies lost about 8,500, and NZ lost about 2,800 - the British around 50,000 - all for nothing. The retreat and evacuation after 8 months of bloody battle was the best planned and executed action of the Gallipoli campaign. Winston Churchill resigned two months later.
This event was a defining moment to the two young nations, Australia and New Zealand, who had only fifteen years before become independent from Britain; and the closeness that persists to this day betwen the Aussies and Kiwis was sealed in blood on that fateful shore 10,000 miles from their homeland.
Many of the troops went on to fight in the trenches in France. My maternal grandfather and great uncle fought in Gallipoli then France, along with my father's oldest brother.Thank God they returned home, but many others did not.
aaaaahhhhhhckk... i miss mark shea! :/
Don, there have been a few documentaries on the ANZACs shown here in the US recently. I always get totally sucked into them. It really helps to see the terrain those men were fighting on to get an idea of how everything happened the way it did. Bad leadership & bad maps - a way to sure defeat.
Peter Jackson has said on numerous occasions that he'd love to do an ANZAC movie! I hope it happens, I'd love to see it. Great post Don. Thanks for the reminder.
All the talk on ANZAC reminds me of Pope Benedict XV, who tried to stop the war earlier and even drafted a comprehensive peace plan (Wilson would include parts of it in his 14 points), but the Allies actually had the nerve to secretly agree to ignore him. Grrr....
Wonder of wonders. A great sports weekend on our calendar. First- check out Penn Relays- seen live on most of NBC network Saturday at 4 EST. Most wonderful Phila. tradition- every track athlete from Olympic gold winners to fifth-grade tykes compete. Respectful knowledgable crowds free of negativity so often characterizing our Philly Boobirdz. Great vibes this and every year. Bad time for our Sixers, however. Facing big bad Detroit Pistons this night and Sabbath, after steamrolling in last two games against Motown Machine. Consensus that about 10:30 on night of Sabbath, Sixers' priorities will be Monday tee times/r&r/chillin with cuties. Very interesting NBA playoff scenarios. Miami Heat starring Shaq Fu also manhandling New Joisey Nets. But fun stuff in west with dragstrip style of Phoenix Suns- so we let you score 100, so what we scored 108. Clearly breaking conventional wisdom that post-April 20 basketball must be nothing more than football in multicolored underwear. After Pistons' sweep of AI & Co., will devote my rooting energies to Suns.
Gerard,
But the NCAA Tournament is over. You mean there is still basketball being played?
Sorry, I'm not much of an NBA fan now that Bird, Magic, and Jordan are gone. Now I usually only follow the playoffs by watching the scores scroll by on ESPN.
Cheers,
Have a good time. In the meantime take a look at this
Angela lore.
Methinks the good Fr.Downing has been sampling too much of his undoubtedly good wine.
The Sacrament of Penance cannot be administered over the internet.
But I suupose one could admit that it is at least a start.
Please consider signing this petition declaring JP2 to be John Paul the Great and then pass along the URL to your friends and family: http://c-fam.org/cgi-bin/jpthegreat.pl
Thanks,
Hey, the Pirates have actually been winning some games! 
They are not in last place in their division any more!
Just bumping the comments count again.
Are we there yet? no Are we there yet? No Are we there yet? NO
Sure wish Mark finishes his book soon.
Some months ago, Mark posted the 'Guranga' story and saying.
Well, I just got an e-mail from some turkey calling him/her self Neateye, exhorting me to call out Guranga Guranga Guranga for the highest happiness.
So I sent a reply;
Sorry Neateye, you got it wrong.
Saying this will bring you the greatest happiness,
"Praised be Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory"
Mark has an excellent essay on Catholic Exchange today, titled "The Mother of the Son: The Case for Marian Devotion." (Sorry, I haven't figured out the hyperlink thingy yet!
If it's any sort of preview of The Book, we're in for a treat.
Don, I've gotten those e-mails, too! Two of 'em since Mark posted that story. Strange. I called the thing spam & haven't received any since.
Sure wish I'd thought of what you did, though! Good going, bro'!
Good luck Mark Looking forward to your book.
Someone on our discussion board mentioned your name, and I had to find what the fuss was about. If Neuhaus likes you, then you must have something going right!
As far as the Library of Congress, it is on my sites to see with my next visit to Washington.
+J.M.J+
Darn! Now Fr. Sibley is discontinuing his blog. See what you started?
Just kidding .
But I do hope you start blogging again soon.
In Jesu et Maria,
Yes, I am wondering how you know what Play-Doh tastes like! (The Point of the Law, 5/25/2005)
I, as a parent of 6, know what it tastes like - I have to... When one's 3-year-old offers "pizza with pepperoni - your FAVORITE, Daddy!" one must taste the gooey contrivance of salt, water and flour...
Thanks for your wonderful insights!
Peace,
Keith Kibler
Come on, Shea! How long can it take to write one single book?
Us uppity college students could be much more productive.
In one all-nighter, I managed to complete and edit an entire 15 page paper.
If your previous books are somewhere in the area of 200 pages long, that means that I could finish such a project in roughly 12 days.
Yet you started writing this book *months* ago! And you still haven't finished?! Professional writer my foot! You're a phony, sez me!
Now Avenger . . . we all want Mark to finish his Mary book so we can read it. And we all do want it to be the best book it can be!
But remember, Mark also has a busy speaking schedule - he's gonna be at the Chesterton Society shindig in early June in Minneapolis. (Wish I could go but my car just died, so I can't afford to.) A friend & frequent poster here told me 'bout it - & she gets to go! (Stupid car! Yes, I'm bitter.)
And did I ever tell you folks 'bout the time, while in college, I pulled an all-nighter to write a long paper on Ibsen's Ghosts? Drank a sixer of Jolt cola in under 2 hours & was up for 3 days straight after that! (SIGH) Ah . . . college!
Hey Masked Avenger!:
Be sure and empty the dishwasher when you get home from the Wilson's tonite. We love ya!
Dad
Mark,
Enjoyed your essay on CatholicExchange.com today.
Gidday Gene.
Your car broke down??
A free wheeling guy like you should be able to afford another one
Take all the time with your book you need, Mark, we'll all benefit the more.
And Masked Avenger - isn't it amazing how much us parents learn from you teenagers! 
Yes, Don, I'm indeedy a free-wheelin' kinda fella right now.
'Cos I'm moochin' free rides offa everyone I know!
A bit too quiet on most of this blog so will throw in my own three cents regarding world of fun and games. Game 7 of NBA Eastern Conference playoffs this very night as Miami Heat square off against defending champeen Detroit Pistons. Heat start Dewayne Wade hurting something fierce from injury around rib section. Will surely start but will experience regular bumpbump from oncoming Piston defenders. Meanwhile Western Champeen San Antonio Spurs- best team you've never heard of- wait and nurse injuries while their counterparts east of Mississippi complete equivalent of 12-round heavyweight bout. In America's Pastime, All Shook Up in National League East with D.C. Nationals- The Artists Formerly Known as Montreal Expos- currently on top with my Phillies breathing down their spines. While NY Yanks look very old very fast in Midwestern road trip that is turning into their own
Bataan Death March. Will be amusing to watch Obergruppenfuhrer G. Steinbrenner blow top at prospect of nearly $300 M in payroll gurgling down the drain. No way to handicap their division or any other except NL Central with St. Louis Baseball Cardinals rapidly putting distance with their more mediocre peers. Best news of all- 6 weeks to NFL Training Camps and large men grunting and sweating in the summer sunshine. Hope springs eternal.
"While NY Yanks look very old very fast in Midwestern road trip that is turning into their own
Bataan Death March."
Bwaahaahaahaa! My nephew, a rabid Yanks fan & usually the sort to brag about anything remotely positive re: his fav team, has been vewwy, vewwy quiet as of late. It is too laugh.
I, being a Giants fan, have no history of such braggadocio.
Can't really say I'm much of an NBA fan anymore, but I'll be pulling for the Spurs. I remember watching Tim Duncan play in the ACC (THE premier basketball conference).
I expect the Cardinals to eventually run away and hide with the division title, but it has been fun watching my Pirates actually win some games and be close to .500 in a month other than April or May. My current baseball energies are mostly directed to the NCAA tournament, where my Yellow Jackets (#2 seeded nationally & ACC Champions) advanced to the super regionals. They will be hosting the Vols of RockyTop fame this weekend for a trip to the College World Series in Omaha.
And speaking of NFL, the Stillers got rid of talented, and underachieving, troublemaker Burress and replaced him with a couple of talented receivers. Bettis is back, Staley is healthy, and Big Ben will be launching bombs.
Mark,
Give us an update. Just one? Pretty please?
How's the book going?
We can't wait!!!!
Yeah, Mark. Can't you give us at least one update post a month?
Yeah, come on , Mark. surely you can say something like - "Gidday guys and gals, I'm just about done and I'll be back in........weeks"
Aaawwww......come on, Mark. I'll send an order for a book...
hope you're doing okay
I'm just posting here for no reason at all.
Red Dwarf rules!
We keep missing the Mark. What a Shea mit is.
What is it you're enjoying ? I can't get a straight answer to some simple questions: Does the US RCC alow homosexual priests to teach in US RCC seminaries ? Does it admit homosexuals as seminarians ? How can I tell if my local parish teaches or refuses to teach Catholic doctrine ?
What should I do if I'm convinced they have in fact split AWAY from Catholic teaching ? i don't see how anyone could enjoy the mess which exixts in the church today. As for, JP II he sat on his alb while the US church was going down the tube.
Do I detect a troll at work here?
BILL???
Move along, folks. Nothing to see here.
Hope that book is done soon.
"I'm just posting here for no reason at all."
Me, too.
No reason is among the best reasons to post, unless you have a reason because then it is no reason at all.
The US RCC is in the worst shape in my memory. What is it with you guys ? All this Pollyanna nonsense suggests an unwillingness or inability to see your hands in front of your face. Yes the deck chairs on the Titanic look pretty, all lined up in a row. But something happened folks. And ignoring it will not make it go away. Wake up for God's sake !
bill or whomever- 99.997% of Americano Catholics care not a bit what our esteemed bishops discuss/debate/deposit into circular files during these annual confabs. And bully for them. To be sure, most would just like to see The Scandal just go away. Hint to Eminences- not likely as long as trial lawyers have overextended mortgages to pay off and younguns to feed. Or prosecutors to seek higher office. Or teevee news reporterettes desiring employment at networks or bigger markets. Pay no heed. The work of the Church goes on day in/day out heedless of our esteemed bishops' official confabs. Open medicine cabinet and reach for Chill Pill. Way too hot for such anxieties. Watch and pray that you do not enter into temptation as Our Lord counsels. Namely the temptation to rage incoherently over trivia.
Weeell!
Not only do we have 'bill' the Troll telling the world's Catholics how to think, we also have none other than Supertroll - Joe D'Hippolitto - joining the fray of propounding anti-Catholic slander and assuring us that John Paul The Great was not such a cool guy after all.
I suggest 'bill' and Joe the Supertroll get their heads out of their anusses look around in the world rather than the narrow view of the US and really smell the roses.
And anyway, from where I stand, there is some amazing stuff - very Orthodox Catholic - coming out of the US. All is far from lost. May our God the Holy Spirit continue to show us the Way.
Funny, Joe disappeared.
OK , Mark , show yer face.
Mark
Hey can you at least post one little post on your blog letting us know how things are going for you, good, bad, or ugly? We're dying to know.
thanks
Chris
Several weeks ago I found this wonderful blog, and I'm still going through all the history. I just wanted to say "Thanks", and I pray all is well.
And I also hope, as with many others, we have some more posts soon.
Oh great, your're coming back? Lord have mercy.
I see that you are still over reacting as usual.
I think I will get my blog of Florida Catholic common sense going and stick to the real issues. O gee, guess where I am this summer?
SEeking a way to end this stupid over priced war in Iraq. No more war for oil. Ratsinger is now Pope and well, he also didn't like this war in the first place.
And weren't you one of those who well, just said Ratsinger (before his election) was off....
+J.M.J+
>>>SEeking a way to end this stupid over priced war in Iraq. No more war for oil. Ratsinger is now Pope and well, he also didn't like this war in the first place.
>>>And weren't you one of those who well, just said Ratsinger (before his election) was off....
Jeanne: if your comments are directed at Mark Shea, he actually opposes the war in Iraq.
In Jesu et Maria,
To be sure, Rosie. Anyhoo....blessed and safe holiday weekend to all y'all. Big doin's here in City With All Its Works/Pomps. Will prepare most comfortable pair of Reeboks Saturday to wade thru crowd at Live 8 Concert U.S. Edition starring Alicia Keys/Destiny's Child/Steve Wonder/Toby Keith/other concerned citizens. Still not clear about its actual objective. Real reform in Africa comes when- 1. Thugs like Robert 'I Heart Stalin' Mugabe are removed from power; 2. real constitutions with real religious, speech and property rights are implemented; 3. the work of Catholics and other missionaries of good will goes unimpeded by those protecting Mugabe & Co. But bound to be a swell time with thousands upon thousands of our youth descending into No Park Zone from Broad St.(city's main thoroughfare) to Art Museum (you moving picture devotees know it as The Steps Where Rocky Ran Up.) Stay cool, drive safely, pray constantly as we celebrate our fine nation's birth- of course, here in City With All Its Works/Pomps.
It would be nice if conventional foreign aid were less a matter of taxing the first world commoners to give money to the third world ruling classes, but that's what it is to a great extent.
EAT AT JOE'S
+J.M.J+
Thought some of you might find this interesting: iconographer Nicholas Markell has written an icon of Pope John Paul the Great:
http://www.bridgebuilding.com/na...narr/
nmjop.html
(It is sold through Bridge Building Images, which some of you may recognize as the company that used to carry the infamous "icons" of Robert "Lord of the Pants" Lentz. They don't sell his stuff anymore, though, and as far as I can tell, Nicholas Markell is a more traditional iconographer.)
In Jesu et Maria,
"Vladimir Lenin was the worlds greatest hero and has a special place in the heart of the Iraqi people, no matter how much Comrad Shea might want to pee on his statue. Unlike Comrad Bush, whose picture is constantly being disfigured by Iraqi vodka bottles."
Discuss Class.
+J.M.J+
Do Iraqis even drink vodka? Most of them are Muslims, for whom alcohol is prohibited.
(Here trolly trolly, want some food?)
In Jesu et Maria,
Please help me! I am a hate-filled and deranged person who cannot comply with a simple request to stay out of the comment boxes of a person for whom I have repeatedly confessed my hatred. I'm basically a stalker, since no matter how often Shea tries to ban me, I keep coming back. Yet I also constantly complain that Shea won't leave me alone, despite the fact that he has long given up on replying to my occasional crazed email. I'm basically nuts. Any psychological advice you can give me would be deeply appreciated and can be sent to the email address below. I especially hope to hear from Nigerian millionaires, on-line casinos and people with male enhancement hormones to offer.
Keeping the good vibes going from Live 8. Was among the more than 800000 souls jamming Ben Franklin Parkway for music/messages/hot sun/pleasant experience. Always pleased when my City With All Its Works/Pomps shines in the public spotlight. That it did on Saturday- from our fine law enforcement officers to the blue-vested Q&A people to homeboy Will Smith rocking the house to the local folks representing big time. Many muddled messages, however- not just from the stage or via international teevee from world-renowned scold Bob Geldolf. Met two charming young ladies from the fine organization Mercy Corps, along block of tables with WorldVision/Falon Gong/Severe Anti-Bush Pests. Not a problem- only the minimum of arrests. In fact, sprinkler systems were attached to a few fire hydrants to provide liquid comfort under the broiling sun. Wonderful time. Perhaps history in the making. Fine way to spend a Saturday afternoon in the summer. (Can hear the chorus to Will's ode to hot weather in our city....'Summersummersummertime.....')
Hi Gerard.
Saw a shot on TV of the gathering in Philly for the Live 8 thingo. meant to e-mail you so that you could wear something outlandish so that we could recognise you
On second thoughts, may have mistaken you for Jimmy Aikins photo caption contest of the pink hair.
Its 2.12 p.m here on July 4th. so allow me to wish all youse Americans
Happy Independence Day,
from Godzone in the South Pacific
Its 2.12 p.m here on July 4th. so allow me to wish all youse Americans
As one o' youse Americans, may I thank you and those down under?
My new grandchild was born by c-section on July 4th. Beautifull 8lb 3oz girl, mum and baby doing well.
She is my daughter's second little girl, and looks just like our Kelly, whereas the other one looks just like Garth, her dad (of course).
Thanks be to God, and much happiness.
Don(Kiwi),
Congrats!!
Mark, please, come back soon! Your book must be finished by now and you can blog around any re-writes you have to do...
Well, anyway, have a nice summer... (sniff)
>Thanks for the free plug, Jimbo!
I reply: Sorry you can't call me Jimbo, Nuke'em Boy. You may call me YOUR IMPERIAL MAJESTY EMPEROR OF TRANTOR.
Now run along peasant shouldn't you be off advocating mass nuclear murder or something?
And I suppose you shant return?
I picked up this article about the Pope and was wondering if you all thought it is fair.
Give it a look when you get the chance.
http://www.censoredspeech.com/ce...ech.asp?
page=39
I'm beginning to think Mark's gone for good.
Nothing lasts forever.
Too bad- this was a VERY good blog and I'll miss it.
Mark- please prove me wrong.
Don't worry. I'm still around. I'm in the final throes of the Mary book and I've been running around the world speaking hither and yon. I'll be back!
Anybody here seen our old friend Mark?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up over the hill
With Abraham, Martin, and John
Hurrah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Don't worry 'bout Marcus the Shea.
He sure will be back any day.
And his book about Mary
Won't be so contrary
As Mark's 'Pologetics - touche.
How dare I be Anonymous - it's been so long that haloscan has forgotten me.
Mark quotes the Governor of California.
"I'll be back!"
I'll quote Homer... Simpson that is.
"Woo hoo!"
And we've almost pushed this combox to 100...
Quite right. 100, here we come!
Mark's missing out on all the 100+ comment topics by being away: Cardinal Schonborn on evolution, Alberto Gonzales as a possible supreme court pick (may it never be!), and the next Harry Potter book coming out on saturday. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? Discuss, class.
A Clerihew for Mark entitled "A Plea to His Imperial Highness The Most Holy Roman Emperor Marcus Sheavius (from the Humble Denizens of his Blogdom)":
It used to be said of Mark Shea
That he couldn’t stay out of the fray.
But alas . . . we’d now be so merry
If he'd just finish that . . . [CENSORED] . . . book on Mary!
"And we've almost pushed this combox to 100..."
Almost there.
"And we've almost pushed this combox to 100..."
GOTCHA!!!!!
Great clerihew, Kath! I tried to come up with one but my poor little brain is totally clerihew-less right now.
101! Yea!
Oh . . . & the limerick is wonderful, Don!
Wot's a Clerihew?
You Murican's got some funny words
Clerihew (scroll to the bottom).
Chill out, for heaven's sake.
It's now the All-Star Break.
Limit uses of your frown
Watching games in Motortown.
Thanks, Publius.
'A humorous unmetrical biographical verse of 4 short lines, 2 closed couplets............
OK. I'll try.... but man, I got rythm (just ask my non-Catholic wife---- well, immaterial nowadays ,
so no meter will be difficult - so here goes:
Clerihew buffs, Kath, Gerry and Gene
don't tell us exactly what they mean.
So on all sides of America - East , West and Middle,
Us guys on the outer sides reckon its a riddle.
Nup -- gimme a limerick anyday
OK Shea. Time to get back to your post. You got some splainin to do.
Or perhaps there is another gifted soul who is up to the challenge of parsing the new pontiff's privately done, yet publically revealed, proclaimation on Potter.
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2005...l/
05071301.html
Don't worry about saying or writing something stupid. God still has you and loves you.
NO BODY'S PERRRRFECT.
Excellent, Don! Very well done. But you do have the limerick knack, I must say.
As for Potter & our Papa . . .
"It is good, that you enlighten people about Harry Potter, because those are subtle seductions, which act unnoticed and by this deeply distort Christianity in the soul, before it can grow properly."
Hey! What happened to my whole post?!
Nuts! HaloScan strikes again!
(SIGH) Here's the short version:
Michelle Arnold over at JimmyAkin.org posted about this on July 11th. She made this point: "Cardinal Ratzinger may simply be giving a politely general response to the concerns of a correspondent, affirming that her concerns for the faith of children are valid without necessarily affirming that the series itself indeed causes such dangers. If the intriguing "these" simply refers to the concerns she raised and not to alleged problems in the Potter series, then the quote says nothing of the Cardinal's opinion of the series." Now that we can read the letters, I think she's right on target. There's no evidence in the 2 short letters that Cdl Ratzinger has read Rowling's books & is making a theological commentary on them in any way. (The fact that it's on his personal stationary & is not an official missive from the CDF which would give it more weight.) He's saying that the possibility exists that certain things found in the HP series could distortion of faith in those who are not fully formed in it. That's a point I & others have made about Potter all along. But the same could be said of LOTR & Narnia, as evidenced by the use of Tolkien & Lewis by New Agers for their own Gaia-loving ends. Showing support of Kuby's article in these 2 short letters can't be taken to be a major statement against Rowling's books in any way.
But, as I'm no expert in the in's & out's of Vatican letter-writing protocol . . . Anyone else have a different take?
The Vigilante Papist? What's that all about?
Thank you Gene for clearing that up. I haven't had time to look into the news blip more closely and I share your concerns and enjoyment of the books. Well, the last one needed lots of editing which would have made it a much tighter, better crafted story. But that didn't get done because Rowling is so big now...
Gene has a way with a rhyme
and not a beat out of time
He's taken some space since he got here
in Shea's blogosphere comment box on Potter
How did I do?
Mark we miss ya!
Not too shabby, Hannah. However, we must now ponder the fate of the Sports Hamlet- Mr. Larry Brown of Detroit, MI. Formerly of Phila PA, my City With All Its Works/Pomps; Indianapolis, IN; San Antonio, TX; Lawrence, KS; East Rutherford, NJ; Westwood, CA; Denver, CO. In short, a man who believes in the edict Rent Don't Buy. Now it appears that he will put the Motor City in his rear view mirror as well. The Detroit Pistons' Powers That Be, though grateful for that 2004 NBA Championship trophy gracing the office lobby, have grown weary of his Drama King tendencies- the constant whining, the constant back-channel angling for That Next Dream Job, and, to boot, medical problems that probably lead to excruciating pain when it's time for that 3:00 A.M. potty call. Enter the New York Knicks, perennial NBA also-rans. With bushel barrels of money. And desire to return winning basketball to the Manhattan fleshpots. In sore need of Brown's gifts at turning chicken doo-doo into chicken salad- no other coach could have willed my 2001 76ers to the NBA Finals with a team of Allen Iverson, good soldiers, masking tape and chewing gum. Awaiting one of my favorite rituals, the Sports Press Conference, some time in the next 48 hours. Wherein our Larry will pose happily with Knicks GM Isiah Thomas and assorted empty suits, trot out the same platitudes about winning The Right Way he spouts everywhere else, and will another sorry collection of players to a playoff round. With explosions to come in approximately two years. Such is life with the ultimate Rent-A-Coach.
A sometime blogger named Mark,
Thought that he'd have a real lark,
So from blogging he'd tarry,
To "write" about Mary,
While he was really out building an ark!
A book that Mark Shea is writing
Is all about Mary - exciting-
Will there be something new?
Perhaps, just a few
Will not see that Truth is inviting.
Maybe, each day will see a new one -until the book breaks surface.
Our Lady said onto her Son,
"O when will our Marcus be done?
I know he finds writing,
About me exciting,
But reading Mark's comments is fun!"
Mark Shea is a man with a blog
Through which every day I would slog
But his book about Mary
Has made me contrary
For my mornings with work are now clog
Won't Mark be surprised when he comes back & his blog has been transformed into "Limericks & Clerihews & Enjoying Them!"
Great work, fellas!
Whoa! A squatters' party at C&EI! Can't believe I missed it! That's what I get for waiting on the man's return. And a Limrick fest, no less.
I'm feelin' the mood:
A blogger that blew me away
decided to no longer stay.
He worked on a book
'til at last one draft took.
He now says, "I'll be back some day!"
Killroy wasn't here.
Commenting by HaloScan
