A Graduation Speech - part 1

This is selection of a speech that Anna Quindlen gave at Villanova University a few years ago. I chose a few extracts from it and I share them with you in two parts. It’s a collection of words of wisdom from a mother, a housewife, a novelist and someone who works with human nature. 

Remember that you will be the only person alive who has sole custody of your life. Your particular life.  Your entire life.  Not just your life at a desk, or your life on a bus, or in a car, or at the computer. Not just the life of your mind, but the life of your heart.  Not just your bank account, but your soul. People don't talk about the soul very much anymore. It's so much easier to write a resume than to craft a spirit.  But a resume is a cold comfort on a winter night, or when you're sad, or broke, or lonely, or when you've gotten back the test results and they're not so good.

Here is my resume: I am a good mother to three children.  I have tried never to let my profession stand in the way of being a good parent.  I no longer consider myself the centre of the universe.  I show up. I listen. I try to laugh.

Anna Quindlen

I am a good friend to my husband.  I have tried to make marriage vows mean what they say.  I show up.  I listen.  I try to laugh. I am a good friend to my friends, and they to me. Without them, there would be nothing to say to you today, because I would be a cardboard cutout. But I call them on the phone, and I meet them for lunch.  I show up.  I listen. I try to laugh. I would be rotten, or at best mediocre at my job, if those other things were not true.  You cannot be really first rate at your work if your work is all you are. So, here's what I wanted to tell you today:  get a life.  A real life, not a manic pursuit of the next promotion, the bigger paycheck, the larger house. Do you think you'd care so very much about those things if you blew an aneurysm one afternoon, or found a lump in your breast? Get a life in which you notice the smell of salt water pushing itself on a breeze over Seaside Heights, a life in which you stop and watch how a red-tailed hawk circles over the water gap, or the way a baby scowls with concentration when she tries to pick up a Cheerio with her thumb and first finger.

Get a life in which you are not alone.  Find people you love, and who love you.  And remember that love is not leisure, it is work.  Each time you look at your diploma, remember that you are still a student, learning how to best treasure your connection to others. Pick up the phone. Send an e-mail. Write a letter. Kiss your Mom.  Hug your Dad. Get a life in which you are generous.  Look around at the azaleas in the suburban neighborhood where you grew up; look at a full moon hanging silver in a black, black sky on a cold night.  And realize that life is the best thing ever, and that you have no business taking it for granted. Care so deeply about its goodness that you want to spread it around. Take money you would have spent on beers and give it to charity. 

Prayer for a great heart

Keep us o God from all pettiness,
Let us be large in thought, in word, in deed.
Let us be done with fault-finding and leave off all self-seeking.
May we put away all pretense and meet each other face to face,
without self-pity and without prejudice.
May we never be hasty in judgment, and always generous.
Let us always take time for all things
and make us grow calm, serene and gentle.
Teach us to put into action our better impulses, to be straightforward and unafraid.
Grant that we may realize that it is the little things of life that create differences,
that in the big things of life we are as one.
And, Lord God, let not forget to be kind!

The unusual Michelangelo

The tomb of Pope Julius II by Michelangelo

We’re used to seeing paintings by Michelangelo, including the Sistine chapel ceiling and Last Judgment facade. We’re familiar also with some of his sculptures, including the Pieta, David and Moses. So these pictures will come to you as a surprise, since he also designed staircases, squares, tombs and other curiosities. But his genius is there for everyone to see, even in the simple, the curious and the unpredictable. 

Staircase designed by Michelangelo

The Capitoline Hill, known also as Campidoglio

The bozzetto of the dome of Saint Peter's Basilica

 

Presentation of Jesus

40 days have passed since Christmas, and this celebration of the Presentation of Jesus is very meaningful, especially when we consider some Jewish traditions which the Holy Family were obliged to observe. Whenever a mother gave birth to a son, she would be considered impure for a whole week, and would not be permitted to enter the temple for a duration of 40 days. She would then spend the rest of the 33 days confined to her home. On the 40th day, which would be February 2nd, she would go to the temple for the ceremony of purification, besides having her son circumcised. The parents were also expected to present a gift to the High Priest, a pair of sheep if they were wealthy or a pair of turtle-doves if they were poor. Simeon received the infant Jesus at the temple and so on this occasion a triple ceremony was done, circumcision, purification and presentation, all of which have been combined together by the Catholic church as the Feast of the Presentation, beautifully portrayed in the above stained-glass window in our Cathedral in Baker City.

The genius of Leonardo

With the advance of medicine, the high-tech world we live in and the presence of photography, CAT scans and other sophisticated equipment that diagnoses health-related problems, it is absolutely fascinating to see these paintings or designs created 500 years ago. These are sketches by Leonardo da Vinci known as Leonardo's Journals, some of which are displayed in Windsor Castle, England. 

They show the intricate way in which Leonardo sketched sections and parts of the human body. And this was done 550 years ago! Enjoy these sketches of anatomical precision and detail of the human body.

Today....and Tomorrow

Today . . . you came into our big, beautiful world. Helpless, you nestled into my arms.
You need me to keep you safe; I am here.

Today . . . you walked three baby steps. Wobbling, you reached for me.
You knew I would catch your fall; I am here.

Today . . . you had your first bad dream. Shaking, I held you and said,
“It’s OK, you’re safe . . .I am here.”

Today . . . you started kindergarten. Smiling, you hopped on that big bus.
“See you after school,” you called to me . . .
“It’s hard to let go . . . “ I’ll be here.

Today . . .someone teased you at school.
Crying, you let me hold your hand. “That hurt my feeling so much,” you said. (Mine too)
“I know. I am here.”

Tomorrow . . . No magic kisses, no band-aids, no fairy dust will do the trick.

Tomorrow . . . .The world is becoming yours, little by little now.

Tomorrow....... you won’t want me “right there” beside you . . .
As you find your way.

Tomorrow . . .May you find the world a good place; may you remember what you’ve learned;
May you know that I am here . . .

I would take you under my wing in an instant . . .
But I know you need your own wings, to really fly.

Getting along....

Animals can teach us a lot about getting along with each other. And if we are patient with them, they can show us how much they can get along with us humans. The next question is how can we get along with each other. We can learn a lot from animals. These few photos show us something simple - be kind to each other, be tolerant, be respectful and be loving and appreciative of what you have and whom you have around you.

 

Why can’t we get along?

We can learn so much from animals. These photos show how lovable, kind and compassionate they can be towards each other, even with those of other species. 
Then why can’t we ? Tomorrow we'll see how they can also interact with us humans, as long as we are kind to them.

 

Sculpted and Frozen

It’s not bad right now, and some countries are complaining for lack of snow, while others complain of too much snow. Here in Oregon we had our share of snow and moisture between November and early January. The mountains are covered with deep snow, skiing is quite popular because of the abundance of snow, both for the downhill and cross-country skiing. Yet in Breckenridge Colorado, they have another spectacle, which brings thousands of people to an ice show held every year. 

Here are some sculpted figures made from ice and packed snow. It takes days and many hours of hard work to create these structures, and the creators hope that the temperatures stay below freezing for an extended period of time, at least long enough for people and visitors to admire these works of art.

 

Few more wisdom from the world of sports

Roger Bannister, breaking the 4 minute mile

The man who can drive himself further, once the efforts gets painful, is the man who will win.
            - Roger Bannister, Track Athlete

Champions aren’t made in gyms.
Champions are made from something they have deep inside them – a desire, a dream, a vision.
             - Muhammed Ali, Boxer

A Winner is someone who recognizes his God-given talents, works his tail off to
develop them into skills, and uses these skills to accomplish his goals.
             - Larry Bird, Basketball Player /Coach

Losing a game is heartbreaking. Losing your sense of excellence or worth is a tragedy.
              - Joe Paterno, former Penn State Football Coach

Serenity is knowing that your worst shot is still pretty good.
               - Johnny Miller, Golfer

Life is ten percent what happens to you and ninety percent how you respond to it.
              - Lou Holtz, Football Coach

More Wisdom from the world of sports

Joe DiMaggio, Yankees baseball legend

A person always doing his or her best becomes a natural leader, just by example.
            - Joe DiMaggio, Baseball Player

To be a champ, you have to believe in yourself when nobody else will.
               - Sugar Ray Robinson, Boxer

Failure is good. It’s fertilizer. Everything I’ve learned about coaching, I’ve learned from making mistakes.
               - Rick Pitino, Basketball Coach

It’s better to look ahead and prepare than to look back and regret.
              - Jackie Joyner Kersee, Olympian

Winning is not everything, but making the effort is.
           - Vince Lombardi, Football Coach

The last three or four reps is what makes the muscle grow. This area of pain divides the champion from someone else who is not a champion. That’s what most people lack, having the guts to go on and just say they’ll go through the pain, no matter what happens.
             - Arnold Schwartzenegger, Bodybuilder

Tommy Lasorda, LA Dodgers baseball manager

The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in the person’s determination.
            -Tommy Lasorda, Baseball Manager
 
Experience tells you what to do; confidence allows you to do it.
              - Stan Smith, Tennis Player

I learned that the only way you are going to get anywhere in life is to work hard at it. Whether you’re a musician, a writer, an athlete or a businessman, there is no
getting around it. If you do, you’ll win – if you don’t, you won‘t.
               -Bruce Jenner, Olympian

Great effort springs naturally from a great attitude.
               - Pat Riley, Basketball Coach

The Conversion of Saint Paul

"Conversion of St. Paul" by Caravaggio

The conversion of Saint Paul was an important milestone in the history of Christianity. Paul was not one of the original 12 apostles, but is considered as the Apostle of the Gentiles, because after his conversion on the way to Damascus, Paul embarked on 4 missionary voyages, preaching, at times challenging the people to change their lives, admonitions that are recorded in many of his letters. These two paintings of Caravaggio show the scene of his conversion, with Saint Paul on the ground after he was overpowered with the light that eventually blinded him for a few weeks, until he was healed by Ananias. The chiaroscuro that Caravaggio uses in many of his paintings are prevalent here, even though the scene was supposed to have been highlighted with the light from heaven. Still the artist wanted to show the darkness in which St Paul was engulfed at that time, darkness caused by the lack of faith, his hatred of Christians, feelings that would soon change, thanks to this momentous conversion of this great Apostle.

Wisdom from the world of sport

Vince Lombardi - Green Bay Packers coach

Winners never quit, and quitters never win.                   - Vince Lombardi, Football Coach

I have always struggled to achieve excellence. One thing that cycling has taught me is that if you can achieve something without a struggle it’s not going to be satisfying.                     
         - Greg LeMond, Cyclist

Build up your weaknesses until they become your strong points.         
       - Knute Rockne, Football Coach

My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me.
        - Jim Valvano, Basketball Coach

If I were to say, “God, why me?” about the bad things, then I should have said, “God, why me?” about the good things that happened in my life.                     
      - Arthur Ashe, Tennis Player

A total commitment is paramount to reaching the ultimate in performance.                                       - Tom Flores, Football Coach

Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.                -Lou Holtz, Football Coach

You have to set goals that are almost out of reach. If you set a goal that is attainable without much work or thought, you are stuck with something below your true talent and potential.
       - Steve Garvey, Baseball Player

I want to be remembered as a ballplayer who gave all he had to give.       
         - Roberto Clemente, Baseball Player

One chance is all you need.            - Jesse Owens, Olympian

Success is not forever, and failure isn’t fatal.                   - Don Shula, Football Coach

You find that you have peace of mind and can enjoy yourself, get more sleep, and rest when you know that it was one hundred percent effort you gave – win or lose.                                           - Gordie Howe, Hockey Player

Los Tres Amigos

Llamas in Richland, Oregon

Here are a few photos which match three animals together. All of them are of the same species, so you would expect that they are well behaved, especially if there are males and females matched up. Those that are dead and stuffed on a wall of course are the best behaved of all, as they hang up on a wall watching everyone pass by them, admiring them and wonder how old they are. Most importantly, these animals are friendly with each other, henceforth Los Tres Amigos, the Three Friends. 

Mounted deer heads

Clark quarter horses in Mt Vernon, Oregon

Quail in Richland, Oregon, 2 males and a female

 

Prayer for Life

On this anniversary when abortion was legalized in the USA, we pray for the preciousness of the gift of life in all its forms, from conception until natural death. We pray for every baby being born today, born yesterday and who will be born tomorrow. They thank their mothers for giving them a full term of pregnancy, that they be born healthy, and ready for their new adventure in life. Who knows how many of them will be successful as doctors, teachers, priests, lawyers, politicians, actors and actresses, inventors, sports people, and in so many other areas. We pray for the gift of life and nature, for all our pets and animals, those that fly and those that swim or roam around the earth.  We pray for those women who are pregnant now, and for those who are trying to conceive. And we pray for all those babies who were never given a chance to be born. May this unspeakable crime be eliminated once and for all from this planet, and may we always appreciate every human being born, in the true image of God, the Father. Amen.

St Agnes

One of the early and young martyrs of the church is the beloved Saint Agnes. According to tradition, Saint Agnes was a member of the Roman nobility born around 291 AD and raised in a Christian family. She suffered martyrdom at the age of twelve or thirteen during the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian, on 21 January 304.
The Prefect Sempronius wished Agnes to marry his son, and on Agnes' refusal he condemned her to death. As Roman law did not permit the execution of virgins, Sempronius had a naked Agnes dragged through the streets to a brothel. Various versions of the legend give different methods of escape from this predicament. In one, as she prayed, her hair grew and covered her body. It was also said that all of the men who attempted to rape her were immediately struck blind.  When eventually she was led out to die she was tied to a stake, but the bundle of wood would not burn, or the flames parted away from her, whereupon the officer in charge of the troops drew his sword and beheaded her.
It is also said that the blood of Agnes poured to the stadium floor where other Christians soaked up the blood with cloths. A few days after Agnes' death, her foster-sister, Saint Emerentiana was found praying by her tomb; she claimed to be the daughter of Agnes' wet nurse, and was stoned to death after refusing to leave the place and reprimanding the pagans for killing her foster sister. Emerentiana was also later canonized. Agnes' name may have derived from the Latin 'agnus', meaning lamb, and she is always represented with a lamb near her. Then there is another beautiful tradition......

On this day, the feast of St Agnes, the Pope traditionally blesses two lambs raised by Trappist monks near Rome. The lambs are sheared and the wool is given to the cloistered Benedictine nuns at Rome’s Basilica of St. Cecilia. The nuns use the wool to make palliums, which are bands that the heads of archdioceses wear around their shoulders during liturgical functions. Every year on the June 29 feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, the Pope places the bands around the necks of archbishops who have taken office in the past year. Today, after blessing the animals, the pope also asked God to “bless the pastors who will receive the palliums made from the wool of these lambs.”

Saint Sebastian

Nothing is known about St. Sebastian's youth other than the fact he may have come from southern France and he was educated in Milan. He joined the Roman Army in 283 AD, ostensibly to be of service to other Christians who were being persecuted by the Romans. St. Sebastian distinguished himself and for his excellent service, he was promoted to serve in the Praetorian Guard to protect Emperor Diocletian.

While serving as a Praetorian Guard, deacons Marcus and Marcellian, twin brothers, were imprisoned for refusing to make public sacrifices to the Roman gods. During their imprisonment, their parents visited them to implore them to renounce Christianity. However, St. Sebastian convinced both parents to convert to Christianity. St. Sebastian also converted several other prominent individuals, including the local prefect. This led to his discovery and he was reported as a Christian to Emperor Diocletian in 286. The Emperor, who was already infamous for ordering the deaths of hundreds of Christians, scolded Sebastian and ordered him to be killed by having him tied to a stake on a training field and used as target practice.

Archers riddled his body with arrows, his body was described as, "full of arrows as an urchin." Believed to be dead, the archers left his body for retrieval and burial. He was recovered by Irene of Rome, whose Christian husband was a servant to Diocletian and also martyred. Irene discovered that Sebastian was still living and she hid him and nursed him back to health. Once well, Sebastian went in search of Diocletian to surprise him. He managed to catch Diocletian by a stairwell and proceeded to criticize him loudly and publicly for his persecution of the Christians. Diocletian, surprised that Sebastian was still alive, was immediately taken aback, but recovered his composure. This time, he would not permit Sebastian to escape with his life. He ordered his former guard to be beaten to death with clubs, then thrown into the sewers. His body was recovered by a Christian woman, named Lucina, and she secretly buried him in the catacombs beneath Rome.

"Martyrdom of St Sebastian" by Girolamo Genga

Nearly 80 years after his death, around 367, his remains were moved to a basilica in Rome, built by Pope Damasus I. His body, or at least some relics from his body were reportedly removed and shared with a community of monks in France. His cranium was sent to a German monastery where it was placed in a special silver case in 934. The relic remains in its case today in a special reliquary in Ebersberg.

St. Sebastian was commonly invoked as a protector against the plague. According to historical records, he defended the city of Rome against the plague in 680. In artwork, St. Sebastian is depicted with arrows shot into his body, often tied to a post or a tree. His second execution is virtually never depicted. St. Sebastian is the patron saint of soldiers, athletes, and those who desire a saintly death.

A Child’s Ten Commandments to Parents

1.  My hands are small; please don’t expect perfection whenever I make a bed, draw a picture, or throw a ball. My legs are short; please slow down so that I can keep up with you.

2.  My eyes have not seen the world as yours have; please let me explore safely; don’t restrict me unnecessarily.

3.  Housework will always be there. I’m only little for such a short time - please take time to explain things to me about this wonderful world, and do so willingly.

4.  My feelings are tender; please be sensitive to my needs; don’t nag me all day long. (You wouldn’t  want to be nagged for your inquisitiveness.) Treat me as you would like to be treated.

5.  I am a special gift from God; please treasure me as God intended you to do, holding me accountable for my actions, giving me guidelines to live by, and disciplining me in a loving manner.

6.  I need your encouragement, but not your praise, to grow. Please go easy on the criticism; remember, you can criticize the things I do without criticizing me.

7.  Please, give me the freedom to make decisions concerning myself. Permit me to fail, so that I can learn from my mistakes. Then someday I’ll be prepared to make the kind of decisions life requires of me.

8.  Please don’t do things over for me. Somehow that makes me feel that my efforts didn’t quite measure up to your expectations. I know it’s hard, but please don’t try to compare me with my brother or my sister.

9.  Please don’t be afraid to leave for a weekend together. Kids need vacations from parents, just as parents need vacations from kids. Besides, it’s a great way to show us kids that your marriage is very special.

10.  Please take me to Church for Mass on Sunday regularly, setting a good example for me to follow. I enjoy being in Church, learning about God and Jesus, as we all meet the rest of our parish family.

Children have never been known to obey their parents, but they never fail to imitate them...

Introducing Natalia Tsarkova

"The Last Supper" by Natalia Tsarkova (2002)

Recently I came across a painting reproduced in the "Magnificat" magazine and I was stunned by its originality. It was "The Last Supper" by Natalia Tsarkova. Born in Moscow, Russia, an Orthodox  Christian, Natalia studied art in her native country before moving to Italy, specializing in sacred art. She became known in the Vatican circles and painted 4 portraits of Pope St John Paul, and his successors. In 2002 she painted a unique painting of the Last Supper and in 2009, she even painted the formal portrait of the then-President of Malta George Abela. She also painted many other portraits of famous people. I share with you today some of her works. 

Natalia in front of two of her Popes paintings

If you want to see her at work, watch this YouTube video - even though it’s in Italian, you can at least see her at work and meeting various Popes. Just copy and paste this link: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUW-0koOx_0

Pope St John Paul II

A recent painting of Pope Francis

Now you know why....

Paolo Veronese - Wedding at Cana (click to enlarge)

This Sunday in our liturgical readings we read the story of the first miracle of Jesus, changing the water into wine at the wedding at Cana in Galilee. This was an embarrassing situation for the bride and the groom that they ran out of wine, even though Jesus came to the rescue and saved the day for the unlucky-turned-lucky couple. Well, if you look at just one of the paintings of the wedding at Cana, you can see why they ran out of wine. Moreover the disciples of Jesus were present too, and sure enough, having Peter, James, John, Thomas, Philip and the rest of the crew must have been a big source of concern for Jesus, and no wonder he had to do something to save the day. Understand that it wasn't just the 12 apostles, but the disciples were also present, which could have been as many as 72! Now you know why they ran out of wine! Those disciples were probably heavy drinkers and they drained the supply of wine that was reserved for that happy day. An interesting quote comes from Richard Crashaw who wrote about this miracle: "The conscious water saw its God, and it blushed." Beautiful phrase that says it all.

The painting hanging in the Louvres - just to see how massive it is.

How God speaks to us

A man whispered, "God, speak to me"  And a meadowlark sang. But, the man did not hear.

So the man yelled "God, speak to me" And, the thunder rolled across the sky.  
But, the man did not listen.

The man looked around and said, "God let me see you." And a star shined brightly.
But the man did not notice.

And, the man shouted, "God show me a miracle" And, a life was born.
But, the man did not know.

So, the man cried out in despair, "Touch me God, and let me know you are here."
Whereupon, God reached down and touched the man.
But, the man brushed the butterfly away and walked on.
Don't miss out on a blessing because it isn't packaged the way that you expect.                           

Harvard and Stanford

A lady in a faded gingham dress and her husband, dressed in a homespun threadbare suit, stepped off the train in Boston and walked timidly without an appointment into the Harvard University President's outer office.  The secretary could tell in a moment that such backwoods, country hicks had no business at Harvard, and probably didn't even deserve to be in Cambridge.
'We'd like to see the president,' the man said softly.
'He'll be busy all day,' the secretary snapped.
'We'll wait,' the lady replied.
For hours the secretary ignored them, hoping that the couple would finally become discouraged and go away.
They didn't, and the secretary grew frustrated and finally decided to disturb the president, even though it was a chore she always regretted.
'Maybe if you see them for a few minutes, they'll leave,' she said to him!
He sighed in exasperation and nodded. Someone of his importance obviously didn't have the time to spend with them, and he detested gingham dresses and homespun suits cluttering up his outer office.  The president, stern faced and with dignity, strutted toward the couple.
The lady told him, 'We had a son who attended Harvard for one year.  He loved Harvard.  He was happy here.  But about a year ago, he was accidentally killed.  My husband and I would like to erect a memorial to him, somewhere on campus.' The president wasn't touched.  He was shocked.
'Madam,' he said, gruffly, 'we can't put up a statue for every person who attended Harvard and died.  If we did, this place would look like a cemetery.'
'Oh, no,' the lady explained quickly.  'We don't want to erect a statue.  We thought we would like to give a building to Harvard.'

The president rolled his eyes. He glanced at the gingham dress and homespun suit, then exclaimed, 'A building!  Do you have any earthly idea how much a building costs?  We have over seven and a half million dollars in the physical buildings here at Harvard.'
For a moment the lady was silent.  The president was pleased.  Maybe he could get rid of them now.  The lady turned to her husband and said quietly, 'Is that all it cost to start a university?  Why don't we just start our own? ' Her husband nodded. The president's face wilted in confusion and bewilderment.
Mr. and Mrs. Leland Stanford got up and walked away, traveling to Palo Alto, California where they established the university that bears their name, Stanford University, a memorial to a son that Harvard no longer cared about.
You can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those who they think can do nothing for them.