cherry blossoms

the cherry blossom festival is in full swing today in d.c., so i skipped class and headed in w/ the fam. absolutely beautiful day. wish you were here.
(couple more pix on flickr)

top 15 skylines

i freakin' love stuff like this.

(ht: jason kottke, still one of my favorite sites to visit on a regular basis)

prayer doesn't work

@ least this kind doesn't, but was there ever any doubt? "science, he said, 'is not designed to study the supernatural.'" indeed. try reading deut. 6.16 next time.

that's what i've been sayin'

a quote for those who believe the world longs for the xtian metanarrative:

[s]ome young folk do persevere and prevail: those who are dissatisfied with mere material toys and illusions of security. they hunger for something more, thirst for something deeper. they want caring attention, wise guidance, and compassionate counsel. they desire democratic individuality, community, and society. they know something is wrong with america and something is missing in their lives. they long for energizing visions worthy of pursuit and sacrifice that will situate their emaciated souls in a story bigger than themselves and locate their inflated egos (that only conceal deep insecurities and anxieties) in a narrative grander than themselves.

cornel west, democracy matters: winning the fight against imperialism (new york: penguin, 2004), 177.

st. patrick's day

(for my son)

i bind to myself today
the strong virtue of the invocation of the trinity:
i believe the trinity in the unity
the creator of the universe.

i bind to myself today
the virtue of the incarnation of christ with his baptism,
the virtue of his crucifixion with his burial,
the virtue of his resurrection with his ascension,
the virtue of his coming on the judgement day.

i bind to myself today
the virtue of the love of seraphim,
in the obedience of angels,
in the hope of resurrection unto reward,
in prayers of patriarchs,
in predictions of prophets,
in preaching of apostles,
in faith of confessors,
in purity of holy virgins,
in deeds of righteous men.

i bind to myself today
the power of heaven,
the light of the sun,
the brightness of the moon,
the splendour of fire,
the flashing of lightning,
the swiftness of wind,
the depth of sea,
the stability of earth,
the compactness of rocks.

i bind to myself today
god's power to guide me,
god's might to uphold me,
god's wisdom to teach me,
god's eye to watch over me,
god's ear to hear me,
god's word to give me speech,
god's hand to guide me,
god's way to lie before me,
god's shield to shelter me,
god's host to secure me,
against the snares of demons,
against the seductions of vices,
against the lusts of nature,
against everyone who meditates injury to me,
whether far or near,
whether few or with many.

i invoke today all these virtues
against every hostile merciless power
which may assail my body and my soul,
against the incantations of false prophets,
against the black laws of heathenism,
against the false laws of heresy,
against the deceits of idolatry,
against the spells of women, and smiths, and druids,
against every knowledge that binds the soul of man.

christ, protect me today
against every poison, against burning,
against drowning, against death-wound,
that I may receive abundant reward.

christ with me, christ before me,
christ behind me, christ within me,
christ beneath me, christ above me,
christ at my right, christ at my left,
christ in the fort,
christ in the chariot seat,
christ in the poop [deck],
christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks to me,
christ in every eye that sees me,
christ in every ear that hears me.

i bind to myself today
the strong virtue of an invocation of the trinity;
i believe the trinity in the unity
the creator of the universe.

(link to "st patrick's breastplate", icon)

feline soteriology

an email from my friend mary this morning convicted me that i have been remiss in w/holding the gospel of our lord from scully the wondercat. thanks to the wisdom i gained from "are your cats old enough to learn about jesus?" that will now change (i'm brainstorming about leaving little tracts around the litterbox and food areas of our apartment).

thanks be to god!

the penitential prayer of st. ephraim the syrian

o, lord and master of my life,

take from me the spirit of sloth,
faint-heartedness, lust for power,
and idle talk.

but give to your servant, rather, the
spirit of wholeness, humility,
patience, and love.

lord of all, grant me to see my own
errors and not to judge my sisters
and brothers.

for you are blessed from all ages
to all ages.

amen.

(st. ephraim the syrian)