book review: The Mass: A Guided Tour, by Thomas Richstatter O.F.M., S.T.D.

It took me the better part of 2 months to get through this book because of a busy schedule, but it was worth it.

It wasn’t what I expected- I was really thinking it would be a how-to guide for the mass, similar to Scott Hahn’s The Lamb’s Supper, which I also enjoyed.  As a new Catholic, I am always looking for more information about *why* we do what we do, even though I had a great RCIA class, and of course if I had not felt that I understood the Mass on a basic level, I would not have joined the church…Anyway, the structure of this book focused on the Eucharist- as it should, since that is at the center of the Mass.  It was more of a “behind the scenes” history of why we celebrate the Eucharist and how it relates to the major celebrations of the church liturgical year- Christmas and Easter.

The book was very informative and well-written, particularly for lay people like myself.  One caution is that, I think you need a pretty good familiarity with the order of the Mass to follow this book- if I had read it during my RCIA days I don’t think it would have had the same impact that it did today.

Speaking of impact, this book did what I imagine all authors want their works to do- it made me think, and it actually made me change something about my life.  Before reading this book, I always hesitated to take the Precious Blood in addition to the Host during communion.  In fact, I could count on one hand the number of times I did- two. Once at my confirmation, and another at my wedding. I kept rationalizing, “I don’t want to share germs with people, it’s gross, and I don’t need it anyway because the church says I can get all the same benefits in one species.”  While the latter part is true, the author makes a simple point that really changed my outlook.  Since we should look at the Eucharist as not only a sacrifice but a meal, would you go to someone’s house for dinner and only eat, not drink?

This simple question changed my outlook and now I regularly receive both species if they are offered, with no qualms on my part.  A neat experience for me, and it really meshes with the theme of another favorite ministry of mine, Grace Before Meals, the brainchild of a local priest in my former diocese, Fr. Leo Patalinghug.

So, the upshot of all this rambling is that a) I liked the book, and hope you check it out if you’re interested, but b) don’t expect it to be a step-by-step Mass guidebook.

*Note: This review was written as part of the Catholic book Reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on The Mass: A Guided Tour.  The book was made available free in exchange for an honest review.

“bizzare” science roundup and 5 other quick takes

I found 2 interesting science-related news bits yesterday and they both happened to start with the word “bizarre.”  One really fits the bill, and I think the other is a bit of an exaggeration.  And I thought, while I’m at it, I haven’t done 7 quick takes in a while, and it’s Friday, so courtesy of Jen at Conversion Diary, here goes!

1 – First, the truly strange: Octopuses were seen carrying coconuts to use as shelters. I actually found out about this a few weeks ago, because I volunteer at the local aquarium and someone posted a newspaper article about this very thing.  I don’t know what’s stranger, though: that the octopuses seen actually found and transported 2 coconut halves and then constructed a hidey-hole, or that the newspaper reported it before the internet.

2 – Second, not as strange but more of a “cool science” news item: a complex compound found only in a certain sea sponge has finally been synthesized by scientists.  I appreciate the work that went into this, especially as someone who barely passed organic chemistry.

3 – The weather here is finally what they tell me is seasonal for this area and this time of year.  After a week of being in the 30’s, it’s back to the 50’s and sunny and mild, so I finally got to go out and take a walk.  Hooray!

4 – I am addicted to yet another talk radio show- this time it’s a local one, which I only heard because 99% of the time my radio is tuned to the NPR station here.  It’s Hear Say with Cathy Lewis, and it’s a great source of local news in my area.  In fact, after listening to today’s show, I may go out and learn myself to knit!

5 – Allergies really stink. I have been a victim for the past week or so, and it’s no fun.  I usually get them in the fall, so this bout took me by suprise.  Plus everyone thinks I have a cold, but I don’t.

6 – Happy news, my psych Season 3 DVD arrived recently!  Yay!  Just in time to catch up for the upcoming season.

7 – I totally stole this one from Jen, and it’s my favorite (so far) legitimate way of raising money for Haiti, and all it takes is missing one meal! It’s called Fast for Haiti.

weird science, again…

The Story of Mike the Headless Chicken.  No lie.

If you like this sort of thing, I highly recommend the How Stuff Works: Stuff You Should Know podcast.  Irreverent and fun.  I don’t have much time to listen to podcasts anymore (anyone have any tips for when is a good time to listen when you don’t drive much anymore?), but I always enjoyed theirs.

end of the year science wackiness

Well, I know that now it’s the beginning of the new year already, but I saw this on Discover’s blog yesterday: “The stupidest things celebrities said about science in 2009.”  I can’t resist stupid celebrity quotes, and neither should you.

A short synopsis is here.  And a little more detail over here at New Scientist.  My favorite thing that I learned from this is that meat stays in your gut for 40 years and eventually leads to your death.  I’m so glad that celebrities are smarter than me.

holiday contest!

…no, not from me.  But from a great magazine with a really good website, Faith and Family.  It’s billed as “The magazine and daily blog of Catholic living”, which is pretty accurate.  They have some great bloggers over there that are fun to read.  Both serious and fun topics abound!  I discovered the website first, I don’t know how, then I got the magazine a couple of times in the bookstore.  Both are great, and if they are something you are interested in, please check them out!

As for the contest- they are giving away some really cool items. There are some requirements, so check out this post for details.

time, time, time…

…has really been getting away from me! I have this list of all these things I wanted to post, but they are still in list form.  I have, however, been really productive around the house- making Christmas presents and baking.  Yesterday alone I made pumpkin bread, corn bread, and brownies!  Just because I can!  Today I have to make cookies because my hubby re-enlisted in the Navy today, and we were apparently supposed to feed everyone. Oops.  I blame it on being a new military spouse- there should be a handbook for this stuff!

Anyway, here’s one thing that has been keeping me busy:  I now also blog over at Blue Star Families, under the name of “proud navy spouse” (partly ’cause I haven’t been able to figure out how to get it to say my name- I am new, after all).  Here is a link to my latest post, and look for another one to come soon.

And, just because it’s what I do- here is yet another cool thing I found on the web.  ”Bobby McFerrin makes a keyboard out of people.”  (For those of you who were wondering what he’s been up to…)

 

book review: Diagnosis Critical- The Urgent Threats Confronting Catholic Health Care

I think the title of this book is pretty self explanatory for its content.  It also  states on the back cover: “…an experienced professional delves into bioethical issues to assist everyone in navigating this minefield of moral questions pertaining to the mission of Catholic health care.”

It’s a very detailed book (at least 100 of the pages are devoted to footnotes) which does a good job of exhaustively inspecting the issues involved.  I thought it was a little too technical for what I was expecting, it almost read like a textbook.  That being said, I think it was thorough and readable.  I particularly liked the section where the author compared 2 Catholic health care groups, and how they have dealt with modernization and outside pressure.

I think the message of the book can be summed up by this quote: “It is possible for Catholic hospitals to be both successful businesses and maintain their Catholic identity.”  Evidence in the book shows that not all of them are doing this, but that it is possible.

*Note: This review was written as part of the Catholic book Reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Diagnosis Critical.  The book was made available free in exchange for an honest review.

both the scientist and the 12-year-old in me love this…

…video which I found from Science Blogs, which I thought was too silly to post on my science blog, and too strange for my Facebook page where my little nephews might see it.  It originally appeared on yet another blog under the label, “You are being shagged by a rare parrot.”  Consider yourself warned, and about to laugh your head off.

Please note that if you click through to the original YouTube link there are some very inappropriate comments, as you can imagine.  But the video itself is just (bizarre) nature in action.

nostalgia…

I was cleaning out my much-neglected RSS feed today and came across this gem on YouTube, but credits go to the Mental Floss blog for digging it up.

It’s Mister Rogers, the episode where he shows you how crayons were made.  Crazy thing is, I swear I remember watching this!  I know it’s highly unlikely that I actually remember something from watching TV roughly 25 years ago, but hey.  I was a HUGE fan.  Knowing me, I watched the episode 20 times or something.

So, here’s the clip:

And, as a bonus, here’s what Mental Floss says is one of their most popular blog posts of all time: 15 Reasons Mister Rogers Was the Best Neighbor Ever.  (I wonder if the show is on DVD so my kids can watch?…)

Edited to add: I checked and it appears that PBS still airs the majority of episodes.  Since I am mostly unemployed, it appears I have a new show to add to my daily lineup!  The show’s website is here.  PLUS, you CAN buy DVD’s, and this one even comes with a red sweater.  Adorable!

random bits…and indignation

First, I have gotten myself all fired up by writing a quick review of a book I just read.  It was supposed to be about the legend of the origin of the Assateague Island wild ponies, and it was so not.  My review is on LibraryThing.  Consider it a PSA for those who want to know about these ponies and might mistakenly pick up this book thinking it has some useful information.

Second, I have run across some real gems on the web lately and would like to share.

In the category of cool science:

- A woman is pregnant.  Two times, two babies in one womb.  It’s just that they were conceived 2 weeks apart!  Cool huh?

- Here’s a nice post from the Marine Life Encounters Blog. Video and pictures of a recent dive in Bonaire.  So neat.  Particularly the flounder spawning, especially if you have never seen how they swim.

In the category of What Were They Thinking When They Came Up With That Title?:

- I love Discover magazine and their blogs, which dispense science in bite-sized bits for those of us too lazy/too busy/too poor to read journals, but come on.  This title caught my eye (of course!): Jell-O Shots in Adolescence Lead to Gambling Later in Life.  Weird, huh?  Well, all it is is a synopsis of a study showing that rats who consume alcohol at an early age display more risk-prone behavior than those that don’t.  First: DUH, and second: Why not just say that?  The more you make science appear deceptive, the more people don’t understand it, don’t want to fund it, and ignore it at their own peril.  Sigh.

In the category of Yet Another Cool Thing on You Tube that Applies to only a Small Portion of the Population, aka nerds:

- Here is a video of some guys singing.  Trust me, it’s cool.  If I type what it really is, you probably won’t click.  Just give it a chance.