An Aid To Memory

I find the idea of quarter days fascinating. Quarter Days are medieval dates that correspond roughly to our modern divisions of spring, summer, fall, and winter. They served to mark the quarters of the year for legal purposes. They are below (with the corresponding season):

The Annunciation (Spring, March 25)
The Nativity of St. John the Baptist (Summer, June 24)
Michaelmas / Feast of Michael and All Angels (Fall, September 29)
Christmas (Winter, December 25)

It makes me kind of yearn for the days when a society is so culturally Catholic that we would orient ourselves around the Church Year. We are left to do it ourselves I guess.

Here is what I found this weekend at Half-Price Books, for under 8 dollars each:

Oxford Dictionary of the Bible - Various

Reason Informed by Faith - Richard Gula

A History of Philosophy I-III - Frederick Copleston

As if I needed even more books!

Holy, Holy, Holy - Jim Nabors (don’t laugh!)

Lay, Lady, Lay - Duran Duran

Ordinary World - Duran Duran

Immaculate Mary - Grey Foxx

St. John Passion BXV245 - Eckhard Weyand

Chimes of Freedom - Bruce Springsteen

Back Street Girl - Bobby Darin

Cara Mia - Jay and the Americans

A Change is Gonna Come - Sam Cooke

Love’s Been Good to Me - Kingston Trio

One by One - Wilco

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing - Fernando Ortega

Dr. Worm - They Might Be Giants

The Crying Game - Dave Berry

Today is The Feast of the Most Holy Trinity, also known as Trinity Sunday. Now is a time to celebrate and commemorate the reality that all creation looks toward: the Holy Trinity, God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Below is the Collect for Trinity Sunday:

Father,
you sent your Word
to bring us truth
and your Spirit to make us holy.
Through them we come to know
the mystery of your life.
Help us to worship you,
one God in three Persons,
by proclaiming and
living our faith in you.
We ask you this,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
one God, true and living,
for ever and ever.

From Prayers to the Trinity and for Trinity Sunday

Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq, has been killed

Good riddance

I guess so. Sorry if your comments got stuck. They have been set free from their own purgatory.

Fifth and Sixth century Christian theologian Boethius was rotting in prison, and what provided him consolation through his suffering? Was it his faith? Was it the holy Trinity, about which he wrote extensively? No. It was Philosophy. Boethius wrote his famous The Consolations of Philosophy while in prison, and the work shows little, if any, Christian influence. This has led some to speculate that Boethius gave up his Christian faith in prison.

So how does this relate to Andy Griffith and me? Well, I have not been rotting in prison, and I make no claim that my situation is even remotely close Boethius’ (or that I am even close to as smart as he was). Yesterday I was down for a variety of reasons. One is that the job outlook for next fall is not looking too great. Granted, I haven’t applied to many places (because of location issues), but I don’t want to sub next year, period. So what cheered me up? Was it my faith? Was it all my theology books and knowledge? Nope. It was eating Coconut Popsicles (which Jennifer bought for me) and watching episodes from the 6th season of the Andy Griffith Show, which is the first color season, the first without Don Knotts, and ultimately not my favorite. Still, it worked. Oh well, whatever works I guess. Of course, the sacramental theologian in me knows that God can use his creation anyway, whether the Bible, a DVD, or coconut popsicle!

I just found out about Open Office, a Microsoft alternative that can save in MS files. From what I can tell they offer alternatives to Word, Excel, Power Point, and Access. They also have a “Draw” program which seems to be similar to MS Publisher. I can’t believe I didn’t find this earlier! The other day I was looking for an alternative to Power Point that I could use to make a Power Point presentation.

I just read too that Microsoft is cracking down on pirated copies of its software. I am going to try Open Office. I would love to find a free, quality, alternative to Microsoft Office.