The More Things Change, The More They Remain The Same

I don't remember the first time I heard the saying, "The more things change, the more they remain the same," but I've found it to be true several times in my life.

Take last Sunday morning, for example.

My sister Kathleen and I were returning from a mini-writing retreat on Fripp Island, South Carolina, where we were guests of my generous and gracious writing friend, Berta Rosenberg. During our three-day visit, we had a wonderful time: catching up, sharing family stories, writing, talking about writing, doing a writing exercise, walking on the beach, eating new foods, and relaxing.

After saying goodbye to Berta, as we drove from Fripp and headed toward Beaufort, Kathleen and I discussed the possibility of finding a church so we could attend Sunday Mass. Being in an unfamiliar town, we didn't know where that might be.

But I had a plan. I had visited the cathedral in Savannah a few years ago, so I thought we could stop in Savannah on our way home and hope to catch a service there.

First, I was on a mission to find South Carolina tee-shirts for my grandkids. Berta told us we might find some at the Walgreen's in Beaufort, so that was our first stop. No luck. A cashier told us we might find some tee-shirts at a sporting goods store across the street. After making a wrong turn out of Walgreen's, I made a U-turn and followed a line of cars which veered off to the left into a parking lot. (I later found out the sporting goods store was on the right.)

Can you guess where the cars were headed? Into the parking lot of St. Peter's Catholic Church on Lady Island Drive in Beaufort. My sister and I read the church's sign, looked at each other, and decided divine providence had a hand in my making a wrong turn. "It was meant to be," we said in unison, and headed inside the lovely church, where Mass was to begin in seven minutes.

Even more surprising was that the Mass was a Latin high Mass, complete with incense, three priests celebrating, and several altar servers. Sitting in the pew I flashed back to my high school days wearing a chapel veil for Mass, which was celebrated in Latin until Junior year when the Church switched to English.

After leaving Beaufort we headed home, with a side trip in Savannah for lunch. We stopped at a casual restaurant on Bay Street and had a spinach salad and a mouth-watering 77 Monte Carlo sandwich, which was topped with powdered sugar. It was like eating French toast with ham and turkey inside.

From there, we walked off lunch until we found the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist on Harris Street. A police officer stood at the front door informing visitors know Mass was in session. We were welcome to come inside but not for a tour until Mass was complete. Kathleen and I ventured inside and found a pew in the back of the magnificent cathedral. My ears perked up when I heard the priest conducting the Mass in Latin. Families attended, with moms and young girls wearing chapel veils.

So, within the span of a few hours, we had attended not one but two Latin Masses, where women wore chapel veils.

The more things change . . .

Inspirational Books from Liguori Publications and an Easter Giveaway

The recent selection of Pope Francis and the approach of Easter has been for me a time for prayer, reflection, and reading of inspirational texts. Those thoughts have led me to spotlight two inspirational books I received from Liguori Press -- and to host an Easter giveaway.

A bit of background: At a meeting of Catholic Writers of St. Louis last summer, I met Mary Brockgreitens, Publicist for Liguori Publications.  Mary talked to Catholic Writers of St. Louis about pitching ideas for books to Liguori and also mentioned a few books in their catalog.

During the same meeting I met Maury Prater, Advancement Director for the Missionaries of the Holy Family. Maury spoke about a book Liguori is publishing from his organization. The book is the Holy Family Prayer Book: Prayers for Every Family.

The purse-size Holy Family Prayer Book is just over 100 pages, and includes a Foreward by St. Louis native, Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan, the Archbishop of New York.

The description of the book on the Liguori website is: "This simple prayer book, devoted to the Holy Family, offers traditional and original prayers dedicated to helping families today."

The book is dedicated to all families in the world and includes prayers to the Holy Family, traditional Catholic prayers, and other prayers. In his foreword, Archbishop Dolan endorses the book as deserving "a place in every family home." My copy sits on my reading table so I can pick it up and read when I need inspiration or to feel peace.

The second book from Liguori, and the one I am giving away to one of my visitors who leaves a comment, is Be Beautiful, Be You by Lizzie Velasquez, a communications major at Texas State University in San Marcos.

Velasquez is a remarkable woman, and one of only three known people in the world with a medical syndrome that doesn't allow her to gain weight or create muscle. After an Internt video calling her "The World's Ugliest Woman" went viral, she set out to discover what truly makes us beautiful.

Her inspiring book encourages readers to recognize their own unique gifts and blessings. Each chapter includes prayers and reflections. The back cover describes her story as one that "will inspire anyone who has ever felt singled out, misunderstood, or afraid . . ."

If you would like to receive a copy of Be Beautiful, Be You, just leave a comment here between now and Tuesday, March 26th. I will select one name at random from everyone who leaves a comment and announce the name of the winner next week.

Do you have a book that inspires you?

From St. Peters Basilica to St. Peters, Missouri: We Have a New Pope

Yesterday afternoon I was talking on the phone with my friend Lou when a news alert pinged my e-mail inbox shortly after 1 p.m. I read the headline that white smoke had risen from the chimney at the Vatican -- the College of Cardinals had elected a new pope.

Lou and I cut our conversation short, and I turned on television.

As a Catholic, I have to admit that I was excited to watch the live shots of the crowds standing in the rain, waving flags and thumbing rosary beads, awaiting the appearance of our new pope.

I flashed back to my one and only trip to Italy, when I visited the St. Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel with my friend Ligaya in March 2004. It was an amazing trip to a beautiful country.

Yesterday, from the comfort of my living room--in St. Peters, Missouri--I waited for our yet-to-be named Pope to appear on the balcony at the Vatican. 

As the wall clock clicked off minutes and the grandfather clock chimed twice, I wondered how long it would take before the identity of our new pope was revealed. I hoped it would be before I left at 2:25 to pick up my grandson from school.

Even the announcers on news stations sounded excited as the Swiss Guard assembled, a band began to play, and everyone watched for movement behind the balcony curtain. I switched from station to station to see which camera had the best angle and which commentary was most interesting. I settled on two channels, the primary being EWTN, the "Catholic" channel.

Minutes before I had to leave the house, a cardinal, dressed in scarlet, stepped from behind the white curtain and announced, "Habemus Papam Franciscum." Memories of Latin class kicked in, but still I wondered, did he just say, "We have Pope Francis"?

Yes. That's right. Our new pope selected the name of Francis, which brought to mind St. Francis of Assisi, the gentle saint, and patron saint of animals.

As I stood at the door, keys in hand, I took time to listen to Pope Francis' blessing. In the car, listening to the radio, I heard him recite the Our Father and Hail Mary in Italian, although it sounded like Latin to me.

On the parking lot of All Saints, while I waited for my grandson to come out of school, the church bells began to chime, celebrating the selection of a new pope.

When my grandson got in the car, I told him about our new pope, and he told me he already knew because his class watched it on TV in their classroom.

I read this morning that Pope Francis has already sent his first Tweet. I pray for our Church and for Pope Francis -- the first pope from the "new world"-- while I wonder what changes lie ahead.