Merry Christmas!

Things I have learned today:
1) If you click on ‘Preview Post’, Blogger will not give you a way to get back to editing. And if you do not click ‘Save as Draft’ because it is annoying to go in and re-edit from there, well, your post is toast.
2) St. Thomas of Canterbury is celebrated by both Romans and Anglicans. Woot. I always love it when a saint is mentioned at both A Certain Church and the Shrine of the Holy Conservativisim, it gives me hope that we’ll one day be reunited (and it feels so good….)

It feels so good to be able to say “Merry Christmas” again! I was being persnickety due to all this ‘War on Christmas’ baloney, and wishing all the conservative Christians who insisted on a ‘Merry Christmas’ a ‘Happy Advent’, instead. And no more Rite I. Whew. And I can get back to the Rosary and Benediction tonight. Double whew. I hope you and yours had a safe and festive Nativity feast and are enjoying the Octave of Christmas.

Here at the Convent, Bros. Landlord and Housemate (O.V.*), and myself all scattered to the four (three?) winds for the holiday. Which left Archangel, the Convent Cat, all alone. Since I was the first one home this week, he has not left my left leg. Which is a little irksome at times, like when I’m trying to get dressed.

It seems that a lot of bloggers are still enjoying the holidays, so here’s just a few things to tide you over.

+ Bill Hennessy writes graphically about a fight he got in during a tour in the Navy, and links it to the current Saddam allegations thusly:

Whether or not Saddam received a fews blows to the head is debatable. However,
getting whacked, in my book, doesn’t constitute “torture.” Torture is severe.
Punches are routine.

I don’t know if I just live a quiet life here at the Convent or what, but in my world, punches are nothing even vaguely resembling routine.

+ The Curmudgeon had a snootful of daytime TV and it acts like a slap in the face. I think those of us who are disconnected even a little bit from the ‘mainstream culture’ are always shocked by what the majority of people around us think and believe. My question, as always, is “What are you going to do about it?”

+ Norman from The Cassock and Cotta reminds everyone that there are some pleneary indulgences available for Dec. 31st AND Jan. 1st, under the ‘usual’ conditions.

+ Pimp my Nutcracker. And that's all I'm going to say about that.

Prayers go out to all those who are far from home this holiday season, and those whose homes are not safe places.

See you in the New Year!

(s) Sr. Mary Hasta


*O.V. means Order of Vegans. For more information, check out the Order’s FAQ

Reach out and touch faith.

I'm trying something fancy. Yes, first person. The reason why every other post was in third person was an attempt at breaking Sr. Mary Hasta away from myself, a true anonymous Interentity. But it wasn't working. We'll see what happens.

I've been busy (like most people) getting myself and my house ready for Christmas (I travel, and all two hours in the air will be spent praying for everyone else traveling while I clutch my rosary beads hard enough to leave dents in my palm-- I don't fly too well).

Weird places have been speaking the Word of God to me. Today, it was Depeche Mode. As a child of the 80s, I was dutifully singing along in my car at the top of my lungs.

Then the lightning struck: I don't own Jesus.

A little slower now.

I.
Don't.
Own.
Jesus.

Matter of fact, it's the other way around, He owns me.

What does that mean? It means that I can't say to someone, "No! Bad monkey! My Jesus don't say that!" It means I can't say, "So-and-So isn't a Real Christian." I'm not in charge. That's kind of scary for a Western person, for an American to think about.

It also means that 'sharing Jesus' isn't like saying, "Yeah, buddy, I've got this great thing, it's called salvation, but you probably won't be interested. I'll just keep it close to my heart, 'cause I'm not sure if I have enough for myself and you."

I really wonder what would happen if we changed our thinking from 'My Relationship with Jesus' to 'Jesus' Relationship with Us'.

Let's find out!

Quick trip around the Blog'verse

Feast of Eleutherios the Holy Martyr, Bishop Illyria and his mother Anthia, also of Susannah the Deaconess Prayer focus- Those undergoing divorce or seperation.

Streak points to the only man willing to call the Southern Baptist Leadership a 'hypocrite and jackass' to their faces.

Sojurner reminds us that not everyone can greet this season with joyful anticipation.

Jimmy shows off his tattoos and tells the stories behind them. Welcome to the Daily Read list, Jimmy!

The Blue Canopy gives us a different kind of Advent reflection.

The Sacred Weblog of the Universal Inquisition promotes a Traditionalist Catholic-sponsored book burning. Sr. Mary Hasta wonders what the Liberal Catholic version would look like: maybe a book writing session?

UnSpace goes for the obvious Star Wars joke about the near-Neptunian object, "Buffy". As Sr. Mary Hasta is an irrepentant Joss Whedon and Star Wars fan, this made her giggle out loud.

And now, for a word from St. Teresa of Avila
I have often thought that if the sun can remain in the heavens and yet its rays are so strong that without its moving thence they can none the less reach us here, it must be possible for the soul and the spirit, which are as much the same thing as are the sun and its rays, to remain where they are, and yet, through the power of the heat that comes to them from the true Sun of Justice, for some higher part of them to rise above itself.

Prayer Requests
Peace to all who enter here!


Homework
Things for you to leave in the comments: Blogs for the good Sr. to read, news articles, prayer requests, and random fluff.

Death Penalty, Prejudice, and Solemn Vows.

Sr. Mary Hasta said something earlier about discussing the recent execution of Stanley "Tookie" Williams. She in no way assumes to understand the heart of another human being (shoot, she has trouble understanding her own motives sometimes). This goes for both Mr. Williams and Mr. Schwartzenegger. She also understands she is bound by her own prejudices and history, and even to (as much as she allows it to control her) her family's history. On top of everything, Sr. Mary Hasta has trained as a historian, and understands more than most people exactly how much a story can change based on who's telling it, and that we don't have anything resembling the entire story.

She does not understand how St. Casserole's reaction can be so drastically different from The Anchoress' reaction.

One of these blog entries made Sr. Mary Hasta's stomach churn. The other resonated within her soul.

Sr. Mary Hasta just does not understand. And when she is confronted with something that is contrary to her base nature, she does what any human being does. She says something along the lines of "What a stupidhead!"

Now, most humans go about their way from there, secure in the knowlege of their superiority over another human being. Sr. Mary Hasta, however, works hard at stepping back and seeing the whole story. She feels it's part of her calling as a Christian and important in keeping her private vows (you know, those things that make her a nun). But there's only so far she can go on her own.

Zinnhead points out that there have been arguments over dogma and doctrine and Who's A Christian, Anyway? since the Good Old Days of the early Church.

Do you really think those guys venerable Church Fathers are arguing in Heaven right now?

Most all Christian traditions hold the Lord's Prayer as something worthy. Sr. Mary Hasta heard a preacher once stop the prayer in an unusual place. It's been her wish ever since to embody that phrase. She hopes, God willing, this blog will help.

Our Father, who art in Heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on Earth.

Happenings 'Round the Blog'verse

Ember Wednesday - Prayer Focus: People trapped in consumerisim and debt.

The New Liturgical Movement discusses whether the Society of St. Pius X is schismatic or just undergoing a 'trial seperation' from the Roman Catholic Church. In kind of related news, Sr. Mary Hasta will be attending her first Latin Mass ever this weekend. She is very excited.

A poorly punctuated and grammatically incorrect story from CBS 13/UPN 31 Sacramento, California, reports of healings centered around a purported weeping statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This has importance to Sr. Mary Hasta as this is her ol' stomping grounds.

Fr. Jake has a short ponder over the phrase sanctity of life. Considering that Sr. Mary Hasta heard some of the most anti-abortion evangelical Christians in her workplace gleefully celebrating the execution of Stanley "Tookie" Williams, she thinks this is something that will pop up here again. May God have mercy upon his soul, grant his and his victim's families a measure of peace, and have mercy upon us all.

Over at Going Jesus, we have a collection of truly hideous tchotchkies with an angelic theme. This should, in no way, be considered to be Sr. Mary Hasta's wish list. Actually, Sr. Mary Hasta would very much like one of these. Hint, hint.

And now, a word from Saint Francis:
Lord God: you are Three and you are One,
you are goodness, all goodness,
you are the higest Good,
Lord God, living and true.

You are love and charity, you are wisdom,
you are humility, you are patience,
you are beauty, you are sweetness,
you are s[a]fety, you are rest, you are joy,
you are our hope
and our delight,
you are justice, you are moderation
you are all our wealth
and riches overflowing.


Prayer Requests
Peace to all who enter here!


Homework
Things for you to leave in the comments: Blogs for the good Sr. to read, news articles, prayer requests, and random fluff.

We all have to share a WHAT?!?!

Feast of Sts. Lucy and Agatha, Martyrs

Sr. Mary Hasta likes to pray the 1979 Book of Common Prayer Daily Office the old school way, i.e. in hard copy. However, as the good Sr. is also nothing resembling a morning person, sometimes she has to rely on memory to chant the prayers during her commute.

(By the way, Sr. recommends this as a good way to get a seat on a crowded bus. People often move away from the crazy people muttering under their breath.)

Sometimes, though, the good Sr.'s memory fails her, and she kind of has to wing it. Those are always the fun days, because those are the times where God likes to send down Real Words of Truth.

Sr. Mary Hasta was led in her remembering back to when she was just a sister, as in sibling with braces and pigtails. Sr. Mary Hasta did not have to share a bedroom with Sr. Sister, but they sure had to share a bathroom. And as they got into high school, it became a bone of contention for two very different girls. The verdict came down from On High, also known as Fr. Father and Mtr. Mother: We cannot afford a new house, therefore you will Share and you will Like It.

Sr. Mary Hasta reads a lot of blogs. Some are left wing, some are right wing. Most of the time, they're complaining about the same thing. And often, the various wings are so busy blaming each other for everything that's gone wrong in the world (Ohmigawd! It snowed! My tire went flat! The priest wore a purple chausible on the Third Sunday of Advent! Damn conservatives/liberals!)

So, Sr. Mary Hasta has started this work-in-progress blog. She is hoping that it becomes a place where the Left and Right Wings can realise they're connected by the Body of Christ, and instead of flapping about futilely, get coordinated and get this thing off the ground. Because there may many rooms in my Father's house--- but we're all on this Earth, and we still gotta share.

FAQ

This FAQ will be updated as more questions are asked more frequently.

Sr. Mary Hasta, are you a real nun?
She blogs, therefore she is the proverbial Nun of Your Lip. She has taken the holy vows of Commentary, Linkery, and Snarkery.

Who are Sr. Sister, Fr. Father, and Mtr. Mother?
They're my biological family.

Is the Order of Santa Ignora a real religious order/convent?
Currently the Order consists of one nun, Sr. Mary Hasta, who is not under vowed obedience to any bishop, vestry, parish, denomination, book club, or political party. Her vows are between her, God, and the Blogger Terms of Service.

The Convent currently consists of one room in a house, shared with Brother Landlord, O.V., and Brother Housemate, O.V. (That means Order of Vegans). Sr. Mary Hasta is in no way, shape, or form a vegan; she's more a Franciscan. She is working on creating a formation program, and you should contact her at the Convent's email if you wish to enter the novitiate.

What church do you go to?
Sr. Mary Hasta does attend Divine Services on a weekly basis at A Certain Church, and more infrequently at the Shrine of Holy Conservatisim. One is Episcopalian, one is Roman Catholic. You could try to guess which was which, but you'd probably be wrong.

You use funny words.
Eventually I'll post a dictionary.

I totally linked to your blog on my page and you have never linked back! Why you hatin'?
There are two classes of links. The first are those in posts to other individual posts or websites of interest. To get on one of those, post something interesting on your blog/page. The second type of links are the sidebar. That is a bit more discriminating, as those are blogs Sr. Mary Hasta reads every single day. To get there, you have to be consistently interesting, so much so that the good Sr. goes in and hardcodes you onto her template (which is a pain in the tochis and she doesn't like doing it all that often). If, for some reason, you are chosen to join this auspicious bunch, and you stop posting anything interesting (or anything at all) for an extended period of time, you will be dropped from the list (but probably not from the good Sr.'s Favorites folder). If you don't like those rules, you can take your ball and go home.

Welcome!

Welcome to the Really Virtual Home of the Order of Santa Ignora!

There will be more here, eventually, but right now I just want to play around with the template.