Martyrdom of John the Baptist

Martyrdom of:

John the Baptist

The drunken oath of a king with a shallow sense of honor, a seductive dance and the hateful heart of a queen combined to bring about the martyrdom of John the Baptist. The greatest of prophets suffered the fate of so many Old Testament prophets before him: rejection and martyrdom. The “voice crying in the desert” did not hesitate to accuse the guilty, did not hesitate to speak the truth. But why? What possesses a man that he would give up his very life?

This great religious reformer was sent by God to prepare the people for the Messiah. His vocation was one of selfless giving. The only power that he claimed was the Spirit of Yahweh. “I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matthew 3:11). Scripture tells us that many people followed John looking to him for hope, perhaps in anticipation of some great messianic power. John never allowed himself the false honor of receiving these people for his own glory. He knew his calling was one of preparation. When the time came, he led his disciples to Jesus: “The next day John was there again with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God.’ The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus” (John 1:35-37). It is John the Baptist who has pointed the way to Christ. John’s life and death were a giving over of self for God and other people. His simple style of life was one of complete detachment from earthly possessions. His heart was centered on God and the call that he heard from the Spirit of God speaking to his heart. Confident of God’s grace, he had the courage to speak words of condemnation or repentance, of salvation.

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COMPASSION

Compassion With an Umbrella

A Western Buddhist woman was in India, studying with her teacher. She was riding with another woman friend in a rickshaw-like carriage, when they were attacked by a man on the street. In the end, the attacker only succeeded in frightening the women, but the Buddhist woman was quite upset by the event and told her teacher so. She asked him what she should have done - what would have been the appropriate, Buddhist response. 

The teacher said very simply, "You should have very mindfully and with great compassion whacked the attacker over the head with your umbrella."

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St. Augustine (354-430)

A Christian at 33, a priest at 36, a bishop at 41: many people are familiar with the biographical sketch of Augustine of Hippo, sinner turned saint. But really to get to know the man is a rewarding experience.

There quickly surfaces the intensity with which he lived his life, whether his path led away from or toward God. The tears of hismother, the instructions of Ambrose and, most of all, God himself speaking to him in the Scriptures redirected Augustine’s love of life to a life of love.

Having been so deeply immersed in creature-pride of life in his early days and having drunk deeply of its bitter dregs, it is not surprising that Augustine should have turned, with a holy fierceness, against the many demon-thrusts rampant in his day. His times were truly decadent—politically, socially, morally. He was both feared and loved, like the Master. The perennial criticism leveled against him: a fundamental rigorism.

In his day, he providentially fulfilled the office of prophet. Like Jeremiah and other greats, he was hard-pressed but could not keep quiet. “I say to myself, I will not mention him,/I will speak in his name no more./But then it becomes like fire burning in my heart,/imprisoned in my bones;/I grow weary holding it in,/I cannot endure it” (Jeremiah 20:9).

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LAST

A Prisoner's Last Request

Two men, sentenced to die on the same day, were led down to the room where the electric chair was. The priest had given them last rites, the formal speech had been given by the warden, and a final prayer had been said among the participants. The warden, turning to the first man, solemnly asked, "Son, do you have a last request?"The man replied, "Yes sir, I do. I love dance music. Could you please play the Macarena for me one last time?" 

"Certainly," replied the warden.

He turned to the other man and asked, "Well, what about you, son? What is your final request?" 

"Please," said the condemned man, "Kill me first."

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summer finale

 Marc Smason     trombone / voice 

         2^nd & 4^th Saturdays      12:30 pm        Mejor Mundo       Marc Smason    Brian Flanagan    Ken Strong    *Agua Verde Café & Paddle Club    1303 N.E. Boat St.     206 545-8570    Music on the Dock  Comida Sabor     http://aguaverdemusic.blogspot.com/

          Mondays    8:30 pm     Jammin’ in the Junction!    Better World     Joanne Klein    Marc Smason    Bruce Barnard   Ken Strong   Chris Jimenez     Poggie Tavern    4717 California S.W.    206 937-2165   Jam Session!

        Wednesday   September 1    6 - 7 pm   Trio     *Capitol Music Center   1032 N.E. 65th   206 622-0171    www.capitolmusiccenter.com

         Friday   September 10      8:30 pm      Mejor Mundo – Latin Jazz    *Navya Lounge – Rainier Square    5^th & Union  (5^th Ave. entrance)   206 623-4111    Fine Indian Cuisine     www.navyalounge.com

         Saturday   September 11      4 - 5 pm      Yellow Hat Band     *Seattle Tilth Harvest Fair – Good Shepherd Center    4649 Sunnyside N.     http://seattletilth.org/special_events/harvestfair2010

         Thursday  September 23     4 - 6 pm         Marc Smason Trio     *Lake City Farmers Market    28^th N.E. & 125th     

Seattle WA unless otherwise noted        * all ages        no cover unless noted    www.marcsmason.com     CDs, available - Hit reply or www.cdbaby.com  or  call  206 760-1764      ” Cutting Social Security isn’t the answer. Cutting war spending, and bringing the troops home, is. This is the job for the deficit doves.”  Amy Goodman    http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/deficit_doves_20100720/    removal upon request

  

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[Athena's Monthly Mailer] Europe Tour, NYC/NJ Gigs, TV show!

http://www.mymailout.com/MyMailout/View.aspx?id=221439&q=232021341&qz=7d628f

Athena's Monthly Mailer August 27, 2010
In this issue... • Hi Everyone! • Upcoming Gigs in U.S., England & Paris • 16th & 8th • Internship Program • Tell your friends in Europe! Hi Everyone! This has been a fantastic year.  Ever since winning the Outmusic Award for Outstanding Pop Song for Love is Love, things have been in a non-stop roll. Click here to watch my acceptance speech on MTV LOGO! I'm performing tomorrow in NJ & NY (and doing a special parody song of Don't Rain on my Parade) and gearing up for my first European tour! The trailer for the TV show "16th & 8th" that Stephen Schulman and I co-wrote is now live.  Click here to watch! Also, people often ask me where they can buy my music.  You can buy the actual CDs on CDBaby or download from iTunes.  Love, Athena P.S. - Record companies are always telling me I should ask people on my mailing list to forward this email to 5 of their friends. I feel embarrassed asking this, but I guess they have a point in that this is how word gets out.  So if you like my music, please do forward this email to 5 friends of yours.  Tell them my music is available on iTunes at http://itunes.com/athenareich!  Thank you :) P.P.S - Photo courtesy Green Chimneys >> Join me on Facebook!   Upcoming Gigs in U.S., England & Paris The Sidewalk Cabaret Saturday, August 28th, 2010 | 8pm-10pm Sidewalk Cafe in New York, NY, USA SASi PR presents The Sidewalk Cabaret featuring Athena Reich, Daniel Gray, Josh Zuckerman, Oscar Aydin, Tym Moss, Jeffrey Johns & Sam LaRoche PLUS special guests comic & more. Jersey City Pride @ The Exchange Place Saturday, August 28th, 2010 | Show starts @ 2pm (I'm on at 430pm) Jersey City, NJ National Underground, upstairs September Concert Series Sunday, September 12th, 2010 | 7pm-9pm New York, NY, USA with Chantilly! No cover (tip jar passed around). Rox Music & Arts Festival Saturday, September 18th, 2010 | 18.00 (6pm) Bognor Regis Seafront, England So excited to be performing at this awesome music fest! 25 minute set. Opening for Topping & Butch at Legends! Sunday, September 19th, 2010 | 4pm Brighton, England Opening for Topping & Butch at this premier Gay Venue in Brighton!! Wow! Performing at Legends Bar. No cover. Old Vic Pub Sunday, September 19th, 2010 | 930pm Portsmouth, England Playing at THE gay pub in Portsmouth! The Workshop (downstairs) @ RoadTrip Bar Tuesday, September 21st, 2010 | 7pm-12am London, England With Emiko, Tiger Lilly, host DJ Matt Barker from Krystal Radio other amazing acts! The Regal Room Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010 | 7:30pm London, England Amazing acoustic venue in London. Also performing that night is Emiko and lots of other acoustic performers! They have a gorgeous baby grand there! Yay! And no cover. Advance Table Bookings can be made by calling 0208 748 2834 Swan Bar Tuesday, September 28th, 2010 | 21h30 Paris, France 10 Euros >> For more details about gigs, click here   16th & 8th Check out the trailer of 16th & 8th, the sexiest new soap opera around. After years of life in a sheltered Midwest town, innocent and wide-eyed Luke moves into an apartment complex on 16th & 8th in the heart of New York's gay mecca: Chelsea. Here, he meets a slew of crazy neighbors and experiences life like never before.  Written by Athena Reich and Stephen Schulman. Directed by Stephen Schulman.  Song written and performed by Athena Reich. Directors of Photography: Vlad Gitlevich and Laurence Wallace. This pic taken right after we wrapped! Me with Shawn Hollenbach & Brian Tyler. >> Click here to watch the trailer for 16th & 8th   Internship Program I would just like to say a public thank you to all my interns who have helped make the European tour possible.  Thanks to Libba, Sarah, Kylie, Pedro, Jennifer Etebari (intern & my new amazing booking agent!), Amanda, Jessie & more.  Also huge thanks to Maude Kaplan Management & SASi PR.  Yay!  What a fantastic year.  I am so excited about Europe! P.S. -  If you are interested in finding more about the internship program, send me an email! info@athenareich.com >> Click here to read Libba's blog (Libba came to NY from NC to intern with me)   Tell your friends in Europe! Tell your friends in England & Paris that I'm coming this September!  Forward this email to them! Bisou, Athena P.S. - If you are in New York, come to the cabaret tomorrow night! (Poster below) >> www.AthenaReich.com   Subscribe | Unsubscribe | Send this to a friend This email was created and delivered using MyMailout "create, send and manage email newsletters"	www.AthenaReich.com Send this to a friend Subscribe | Unsubscribe
	SASi Public Relations 212 West 16th St. Suite 1R New York, NY 10011 www.sasipr.com

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St. Monica

St. Monica (322?-387)

The circumstances of St. Monica’s life could have made her a nagging wife, a bitter daughter-in-law and a despairing parent, yet she did not give way to any of these temptations. Although she was a Christian, her parents gave her in marriage to a pagan, Patricius, who lived in her hometown of Tagaste in North Africa. Patricius had some redeeming features, but he had a violent temper and was licentious. Monica also had to bear with a cantankerous mother-in-law who lived in her home. Patricius criticized his wife because of her charity and piety, but always respected her. Monica’s prayers and example finally won her husband and mother-in-law to Christianity. Her husband died in 371, one year after his Baptism.

Monica had at least three children who survived infancy. The oldest, Augustine, is the most famous. At the time of his father’s death, Augustine was 17 and a rhetoric student in Carthage. Monica was distressed to learn that her son had accepted the Manichean heresy and was living an immoral life. For a while, she refused to let him eat or sleep in her house. Then one night she had a vision that assured her Augustine would return to the faith. From that time on she stayed close to her son, praying and fasting for him. In fact, she often stayed much closer than Augustine wanted.

When he was 29, Augustine decided to go to Rome to teach rhetoric. Monica was determined to go along. One night he told his mother that he was going to the dock to say goodbye to a friend. Instead, he set sail for Rome. Monica was heartbroken when she learned of Augustine’s trick, but she still followed him. She arrived in Rome only to find that he had left for Milan. Although travel was difficult, Monica pursued him to Milan.

In Milan Augustine came under the influence of the bishop, St. Ambrose, who also became Monica’s spiritual director. She accepted his advice in everything and had the humility to give up some practices that had become second nature to her (see Quote, below). Monica became a leader of the devout women in Milan as she had been in Tagaste.

She continued her prayers for Augustine during his years of instruction. At Easter, 387, St. Ambrose baptized Augustine and several of his friends. Soon after, his party left for Africa. Although no one else was aware of it, Monica knew her life was near the end. She told Augustine, “Son, nothing in this world now affords me delight. I do not know what there is now left for me to do or why I am still here, all my hopes in this world being now fulfilled.” She became ill shortly after and suffered severely for nine days before her death.

Almost all we know about St. Monica is in the writings of St. Augustine, especially his

Confessions

.

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Time for Some Wiretappin' 9/10 and 10/9!

We wanted to let you know of a couple of Wiretappers Shows coming up:

Columbia CIty Beatwalk  Friday, September 10th  7-10 pm  

$7 - yep, 7 bucks, will get you into all the venues, including the one that we are playing at:

Awash

3808 S Edmunds  • (206) 723-1971  

 

 http://www.columbiacitybeatwalk.org/attend.shtml

 

And a shared show with  Sheryl Wiser  

Saturday, October 9, 2010  9-12 pm

 

Ould Triangle

9736 Greenwood Avenue North
Seattle, WA 98103-3054
(206) 706-7798

 

http://www.seattleirishpubs.com/triangle/index.htm

See you round the bend...we hope!

Jake, Scott, Mark and Dave

The Wiretappers

We Hear You

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Untitled

St. Joseph Calasanz (1556-1648)

From Aragon, where he was born in 1556, to Rome, where he died 92 years later, fortune alternately smiled and frowned on the work of Joseph Calasanz. A priest with university training in canon law and theology, respected for his wisdom and administrative expertise, he put aside his career because he was deeply concerned with the need for education of poor children. When he was unable to get other institutes to undertake this apostolate at Rome, he and several companions personally provided a free school for deprived children. So overwhelming was the response that there was a constant need for larger facilities to house their effort. Soon Pope Clement VIII gave support to the school, and this aid continued under Pope Paul V. Otherschools were opened; other men were attracted to the work and in 1621 the community (for so the teachers lived) was recognized as a religious community, the Clerks Regular of Religious Schools (Piarists or Scolopi). Not long after, Joseph was appointed superior for life.

A combination of various prejudices and political ambition and maneuvering caused the institute much turmoil. Some did not favor educating the poor, for education would leave the poor dissatisfied with their lowly tasks for society! Others were shocked that some of the Piarists were sent for instruction to Galileo (a friend of Joseph) as superior, thus dividing the members into opposite camps. Repeatedly investigated by papal commissions, Joseph was demoted; when the struggle within the institute persisted, the Piarists were suppressed. Only after Joseph’s death were they formally recognized as a religious community.

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COWBOYS

Cowboy in Church

One Sunday a cowboy went to church. When he entered, he saw that he and the preacher were the only ones present. The preacher asked the cowboy if he wanted him to go ahead and preach.

The cowboy said, "I'm not too smart, but if I went to feed my cattle and only one showed up, I'd still feed him."So the minister began his sermon.

One hour passed, then two hours, then two-and-a-half hours. The preacher finally finished and came down to ask the cowboy how he liked the sermon.

The cowboy answered slowly, "Well, I'm not very smart, but if I went to feed my cattle and only one showed up, I sure wouldn't feed him all the hay."

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timr

A Heavenly Welcome

A contractor dies in a car accident on his 40th birthday and finds himself at the Pearly Gates. A brass band is playing, the angels are singing a beautiful hymn, there is a huge crowd cheering and shouting his name, and absolutely everyone wants to shake his hand. 

Just when he thinks things can't possibly get any better, Saint Peter himself runs over, apologizes for not greeting him personally at the Pearly Gates, shakes his hand, and says, "Congratulations son, we've been waiting a long time for you." 

Totally confused and a little embarrassed, the contractor sheepishly looks at Saint Peter and says "Saint Peter, I tried to lead a God-fearing life, I loved my family, I tried to obey the 10 Commandments, but congratulations for what? I honestly don't remember doing anything really special when I was alive.""Congratulations for what?" says Saint Peter, totally amazed at the man's modesty. "We're celebrating the fact that you lived to be 160 years old! God himself wants to see you!" The contractor is awestruck and can only look at Saint Peter with his mouth wide open. When he regains his power of speech, he looks up at Saint Peter and says "Saint Peter, I lived my life in the eternal hope that when I died I would be judged by God and be found to be worthy, but I only lived to be forty." 

"That's simply impossible son," says Saint Peter. "We've added up your time sheets."

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TREES

Can We Have a Hanukkah Tree?

Admiring the Christmas trees displayed in his neighbor's windows, a child asks his father, "Daddy, can we have a Hanukkah Tree?" 

"What? No, of course not." says his father. 

"Why not?" asks the child again.

Bewildered, his father replies, "Because the last time we had dealings with a lighted bush we spent 40 years in the wilderness."

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St. Rose of Lima (1586-1617)

The first canonized saint of the New World has one characteristic of all saints—the suffering of opposition—and another characteristic which is more for admiration than for imitation—excessive practice of mortification.

She was born to parents of Spanish descent in Lima, Peru, at a time when South America was in its first century of evangelization. She seems to have taken Catherine of Siena as a model, in spite of the objections and ridicule of parents and friends.

The saints have so great a love of God that what seems bizarre to us, and is indeed sometimes imprudent, is simply a logical carrying out of a conviction that anything that might endanger a loving relationshipwith God must be rooted out. So, because her beauty was so often admired, Rose used to rub her face with pepper to produce disfiguring blotches. Later, she wore a thick circlet of silver on her head, studded on the inside, like a crown of thorns.

When her parents fell into financial trouble, she worked in the garden all day and sewed at night. Ten years of struggle against her parents began when they tried to make Rose marry. They refused to let her enter a convent, and out of obedience she continued her life of penance and solitude at home as a member of the Third Order of St. Dominic. So deep was her desire to live the life of Christ that she spent most of her time at home in solitude.

During the last few years of her life, Rose set up a room in the housewhere she cared for homeless children, the elderly and the sick. This was a beginning of social services in Peru. Though secluded in life and activity, she was brought to the attention of Inquisition interrogators, who could only say that she was influenced by grace.

What might have been a merely eccentric life was transfigured from the inside. If we remember some unusual penances, we should also remember the greatest thing about Rose: a love of God so ardent that it withstood ridicule from without, violent temptation and lengthy periods of sickness. When she died at 31, the city turned out for her funeral. Prominent men took turns carrying her coffin

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Witch

Angry Witch

Q. What do you call an angry Witch?

A. Ribbit

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Queenship of Mary

Pius XII established this feast in 1954. But Mary’s queenship has roots in Scripture. At the Annunciation Gabriel announced that Mary’s Son would receive the throne of David and rule forever. At the Visitation, Elizabeth calls Mary “mother of my Lord.” As in all the mysteries of Mary’s life, Mary is closely associated with Jesus: Her queenship is a share in Jesus’ kingship. We can also recall that in the Old Testament the mother of the king has great influence in court.

In the fourth century St. Ephrem called Mary “Lady” and “Queen” and Church Fathers and Doctors continued to use thetitle. Hymns of the eleventh to thirteenth centuries address Mary as queen: “Hail, Holy Queen,” “Hail, Queen of Heaven,” “Queen of Heaven.” The Dominican rosary and the Franciscan crown as well as numerous invocations in Mary’s litanycelebrate her queenship.

The feast is a logical follow-up to the Assumption and is now celebrated on the octave day of that feast. In his encyclical

To the Queen of Heaven

, Pius XII points out that Mary deserves the title because she is Mother of God, because she is closely associated as the New Eve with Jesus’ redemptive work, because of her preeminent perfection and because of her intercessory power.

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Inspired

A Father's Sermon

A minister's young son sat on the floor of his father's office watching him write a sermon. 

"How do you know what to say?" the boy asked. 

"Why, God tells me." his father replied.

"Well, then why do you keep crossing things out?" 

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St. Pius X (1835-1914)

St. Pius X (1835-1914)

Pope Pius X is perhaps best remembered for his encouragement of the frequent reception of Holy Communion, especially by children.

The second of 10 children in a poor Italian family, Joseph Sarto became Pius X at 68, one of the twentieth century’s greatest popes.

Ever mindful of his humble origin, he stated, “I was born poor, I lived poor, I will die poor.” He was embarrassed by some of the pomp of the papal court. “Look how they have dressed me up,” he said in tears to an old friend. To another, “It is a penance to be forced to accept all these practices. They lead me around surrounded by soldiers like Jesus when he was seized in Gethsemani.”

Interested in politics, he encouraged Italian Catholics to become more politically involved. One of his first papal acts was to end the supposed right of governments to interfere by veto in papal elections—a practice that reduced the freedom of the conclave which elected him.

In 1905, when France renounced its agreement with the Holy See and threatened confiscation of Church property if governmental control of Church affairs were not granted, Pius X courageously rejected the demand.

While he did not author a famous social encyclical as his predecessor had done, he denounced the ill treatment of the Indians on the plantations of Peru, sent a relief commission to Messina after an earthquake and sheltered refugees at his own expense.

On the eleventh anniversary of his election as pope, Europe was plunged into World War I. Pius had foreseen it, but it killed him. “This is the last affliction the Lord will visit on me. I would gladly give my life to save my poor children from this ghastly scourge.” He died a few weeks after the war began.

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St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1091-1153)

Man of the century! Woman of the century! You see such terms applied to so many today—“golfer of the century,” “composer of the century,” “right tackle of the century”—that the line no longer has any punch. But the “man of the twelfth century,” without doubt or controversy, has to be Bernard of Clairvaux. Adviser of popes, preacher of the Second Crusade, defender of the faith, healer of a schism, reformer of a monastic Order, Scripture scholar, theologian and eloquent preacher: any one of these titles would distinguish an ordinary man. Yet Bernard was all of these—and he still retained a burning desire to return to the hidden monastic life of his younger days.

In the year 1111, at the age of 20, Bernard left his home to join the monastic community of Citeaux. His five brothers, two uncles and some 30 young friends followed him into the monastery. Within four years a dying community had recovered enough vitality to establish a new house in the nearby valley of Wormwoods, with Bernard as abbot. The zealous young man was quite demanding, though more on himself than others. A slight breakdown of health taught him to be more patient and understanding. The valley was soon renamed Clairvaux, the valley of light.

His ability as arbitrator and counselor became widely known. More and more he was lured away from the monastery to settle long-standing disputes. On several of these occasions he apparently stepped on some sensitive toes in Rome. Bernard was completely dedicated to the primacy of the Roman See. But to a letter of warning from Rome he replied that the good fathers in Rome had enough to do to keep the Church in one piece. If any matters arose that warranted their interest, he would be the first to let them know.

Shortly thereafter it was Bernard who intervened in a full-blown schism and settled it in favor of the Roman pontiff against the antipope.

The Holy See prevailed on Bernard to preach the Second Crusade throughout Europe. His eloquence was so overwhelming that a great army was assembled and the success of the crusade seemed assured. The ideals of the men and their leaders, however, were not those of Abbot Bernard, and the project ended as a complete military and moral disaster.

Bernard felt responsible in some way for the degenerative effects of the crusade. This heavy burden possibly hastened his death, which came August 20, 1153.

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