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L2.2 Ave Maria, gracia pleina, dominus tecum, benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedicta fructus ventris tui, Iesus. Santa Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, hunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen (pour Louise, pour Steph, pour Danielle) L2.3 Ave Maria, gracia pleina, dominus tecum, benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedicta fructus ventris tui, Iesus. Santa Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, hunc et in hora mortis nostrea. Amen (pour Louise, pour Steph, pour Danielle)

"Certainly, Lord" goes back a long way - It's not a 19th century spiritual, but it has that same kind of simple structure that allows the singer to add lyrics/verses on the spur of the moment. The lead singer asks a series of questions, and the back-up singers or the whole congregation reply with "Certainly, Lord." This version is a father-son preacher duo.

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L2.1 Ave Maria, gracia pelina, dominus tecum, benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedicta fructus ventris tui, Iesus. Santa Maria, Mater DEi, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, hunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen

Amy Grant was one of the first stars of contemporary Christian music, starting in the 1980s - what Phatmass up and running by then? At any rate, she's been married to Vince Gill since 2000; he's a country singer with a strong Christian persona, too. This song is "Thy Word Is a Lamp Unto My Feet," based on today's Psalm, 119. She recorded it in 1984, I believe. You can tell by the prominent synthesizer in the accompaniment.

Oh mon Jésus, pardonnes-nous nos péchers, préserves-nous des feux de l'enfer, conduisez au ciel toutes les toutes les âmes, spécialement cells qui ont le plus besoin de Ta miséricorde. Amen Notre Père, qui est au cieux, que Ton nom soit sanctifier, que Ton règne vienne, que Ta volonté soit faite sur la terre comme au ciel. Donnes-nous aujourd'hui, notre pain de ce jours. Pardonnes-nous nos offenses, comme nous pardonnons aussi a ceux qui nous ont offensé. Ne nous soumet pas a la tentation, mais délivres-nous du mal. Amen Gloire au Père, et au Fils et au Saint Esprit, comme il était au commencement, maintenant et toujours, pour les siècles des siècles. Amen

Here's another one by the (original) Carter Family - Sara on autoharp and lead vocal, Maybelle on guitar and harmony, and A.P. singing bass. It was recorded about 1930, and even though the sound has been remastered, it's still a little raw sounding. The song is "I'm on My Way to Canaan's Land."

L1.10 Je vous salut Marie, pleine de grâce, le Seigneur est avec vous, vous êtes bénie entres toutes les femmes et Jésus, le fruit de vos entrailles est béni. Sainte Marie, Mère de Dieu, priez pour nous pécheurs, maintenant et a l'heure de notre mort. Amen

Bruce Springsteen and the Sessions Band sing (or maybe 'shout' would be more accurate) "This Little Light of Mine" at The Point in Dublin in 2006. It's a classic American spiritual, rocked out by a classic American rocker with a whole bunch of other Americans and Irish folks. It picks up on today's Gospel about not hiding one's light under a bushel basket. There are, of course, dozens of other versions by other singers on YouTube, but I like this version because the sing a couple of the lesser known verses.

Hello all! I disappeared for, what, a year? Maybe more? Maybe less? I do apologize, but I have some good news! I am currently in college for Theology(I found a very good Catholic school!). We found out that my jaw hasn't grown since I was like six, so I am getting surgery on December 26 to correct it(please pray for me!) If all goes well in December, I will join the Carmelites of Mary Ever Virgin as an aspirant in the summer, and then if that goes well, as a postulant in a few years. I went to see them over Spring Break last school year. They are fully in communion with Rome, despite participating in the Extraordinary Form of Mass, and they have been doing most of the Office in Latin(except Prime, which they cannot fit into their schedule). They want to start a revitalization of the Ancient Observance Order of Carmel. There are only fifteen solemnly professed nuns(I believe, that is what they told me :)) of the Ancient Order in the United States, and the Sisters, Mary Ruth and Maria, hope to restate some practices that have died out in the other monasteries, like complete monastic silence and traditional chants. As for why I do not join a more settled monastery, I am not fit for the austerity of my Teresian Sisters(as many of them have told me), and many of the monasteries of the Ancient Observance are more relaxed than what I have been drawn to. Thank you and God Bless you! Please continue to pray for me!

L1.9 Je vous salut Marie, pleine de grâce, le Seigneur est avec vous, vous êtes bénie entres toutes les femmes et Jésus, le fruit de vos entrailles est béni. Sainte Marie, Mère de Dieu, priez pour nous pécheurs, maintenant et a l'heure de notre mort. Amen

Heaven's Mountain Band was formed in 1986 and they're still performing. Their music is straight-up country Gospel. What makes them somewhat different is that it's a multigenerational group - Grandpa & Grandma, their son (and his wife, I think), and a grandson (ten years old and playing the fiddle!), with a couple of other people, too. Like a lot of groups, they've gone through a bunch of personnel changes, so the lineup is somewhat different today. Another thing that makes them different is that the Grandpa writes most of their songs; it's not just old standards. And he writes very natural lyrics as opposed to the often poetically contorted lyrics of the old standards. This is "I Went Under the Blood" from 2016.

L1.8 Je vous salut Marie, pleine de grâce, le Seigneur est avec vous, vous êtes bénie entres toutes les femmes et Jésus, le fruit de vos entrailles est béni. Sainte Marie, Mère de Dieu, priez pour nous pécheurs, maintenant et a l'heure de notre mort. Amen

Tebow = one of the best all-time! I'm a hockey guy... but Tebow is amongst the few outside of hockey whom I know of and has acquired a measure of my admiration. Great man.

Kitty Wells, one of the great women singers of early country music, sings "Dust on the Bible," written by Johnnie and Walter Bailes in 1945. Wells recorded it in 1959 and it has since become a standard. She's got a voice like rough-cut pine, and the twangy instrumentation matches it well.

Discernment of Spirits Retreat: Are you a 20-something young woman discerning if God is calling you to religious life or to married life or to single life? Or seeking to follow His will more closely? Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity, Sr. Jacqueline Spaniola, is offering a silent retreat, October18-20, based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. The Spiritual Exercises are a timeless and always useful “exercise” to guide you in the spiritual life as you seek to do God’s will. Most free time will be spent in silence in order to pray and to ponder how God is working in your life. The retreat begins Friday, October 18 at 6 p.m. CST, and ends after a noon meal on Sunday, October 20. The retreat is being held at the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity’s Motherhouse in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. For more information call or text 920-323-9632. Register for the retreat here. Vocation Retreat Registration – Franciscan Sisters (fscc-calledtobe.org)

L1.7 Je vous salut Marie, pleine de grâce, le Seigneur est avec vous, vous êtes bénie entres toutes les femmes et Jésus, le fruit de vos entrailles est béni. Sainte Marie, Mère de Dieu, priez pour nous pécheurs, maintenant et a l'heure de notre mort. Amen

This is Charles Johnson & the Revivers with some revival music, "Going On With (My) Jesus." They not only sing, they play their own instruments, and they do a little holy dancing, too.

Hearing today’s Gospel from St Mark, we are confronted with the story of Jesus’ disciples grappling with the question of greatness. Having just heard Jesus speak about what is referred to as the second passion prediction, they are afraid of the implications of his impending death. The version of the story in Mark tells us that the disciples did not understand what Jesus was saying. The author of the Gospel of Matthew writes in his rendition, “They were greatly distressed.” All of this suggests that they were in a heavy state of mind indeed. Raquel S. Lettsome asserts that it’s possible the disciples were discussing ways of being in a better position within the existing structures of society rather than working to transform it. She writes, “They want to be benefactors[,] not the backs upon which others benefit. So, they begin to talk about greatness.” While we are not sure of the motivation for their conversation, we do know that Jesus enters the conversation to teach an alternative standard for measuring greatness. The Gospel tells us, “ He sat down, called the Twelve to him and said, ‘If anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last of all and servant of all.’” There are many ways to serve and be of service. What does being a servant of all look like? How do we embody being “last of all and servant of all?” Jesus gives us the answer as he continues instructing his disciples. He further animates their imagination by calling on them to place themselves in the situation of a child. “ He then took a little child, set him in front of them, put his arms round him, and said to them, ‘Anyone who welcomes one of these little children in my name, welcomes me; and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.’ .’” In defining greatness through this living example of a child, Jesus is providing the disciples with three valuable lessons about walking the Way of Love. First, we learn the importance of changing oneself to serve. It is not enough to remain your old self. Rather, you must change and become like a child. The parallel text in Matthew tells us, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Here, we find that Jesus’ definition of greatness requires a transformation grounded in humbleness. Not just humility, but the humbleness of a child. Secondly, Jesus’ invocation of the children as the example of greatness reinforces the inherent value of children and other people who are most vulnerable, least seen, and unheard. The context of Jesus’ world and ours continues to warrant valuing actual children. His embodied word to the disciples serves as a clear example of Jesus underscoring integrating actual children as full members of the community. The church must interrogate what this means for its mission of justice, peace, and renewal around addressing children’s poverty, the quality of education for all children, children’s healthcare, and their overall flourishing. What does it mean to proclaim Jesus’ good news – “ Anyone who welcomes one of these little children in my name, welcomes me; and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.” – if the church fails to meet the concrete needs of actual children? It is in changing ourselves to be like children and embracing Jesus’ invitation to be the “last of all and servant of all” that we live into a Christ-centred greatness. Embodying a way of thinking grounded in the power of love and service provides us with the path for resisting worldly appeals centred on domination and dominion. Our times invite us to also reorient the compass of our lives, and, in doing so, reimagine our understanding of “true north” toward service. May we integrate the words of Jesus into our lives and choose a definition of greatness centred on Christ-like service in the world. As St James says in today’s Second Reading, we must seek wisdom from above, desiring humility, not glory, and in all things be gentle and full of mercy.

This is from the latest newsletter from Feminists for Life. FFL endorses the recently introduced Senate Bill 5015 and House Bill 9523 Renewed Hope Act of 2024. This bipartisan, bicameral measure is also being championed by Tim Tebow. Tebow, whose mom was pressured into aborting him due to medical issues, says he is her "biggest miracle." Tebow noted of the legislation, "This is why we’re calling on Congress to pass legislation to strengthen our nation’s response to identifying and rescuing these boys and girls. Because even with law enforcement and organizations working around the clock to rescue these children, it's just not enough." "Increasing the resources to work for children in the fight against child sexual abuse and exploitation is well worth our time and investment, " noted former sex trafficking victims' advocate and FFL's Coordinator of Public Education Joyce McCauley-Benner. "Our children are facing an epidemic of abuse and the more we can do to hold perpetrators accountable, the more we can show our children they are forever priceless." "Tebow demonstrates what we knew but many deny. Pro-lifers care about the most vulnerable children and their mothers before and after birth," said FFL President Serrin Foster. "Without being rescued from the most vile predators, these children might grow up to be perpetual victims or abusers. They deserve unconditional love and support now." Please call or email your U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator and urge her/him to co-sponsor the S.5015/H.R. 9523 Renewed Hope Act of 2024. Call the United States Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 or find your House Representative online here and your Senator here to send an email. Thank you.

L1.6 Je vous salut Marie, pleine de grâce, le Seigneur est avec vous, vous êtes béni entres toutes les femmes et Jésus, le fruit de vos entrailles est béni. Sainte Marie, M``ère de Dieu, priez pour nous pécheurs, maintenant et a l'heure de notre mort. Amen

Natalie Merchant singing "Poor Weeping Pilgrim." Interestingly, the lyrics don't include the word "weeping;" only "mourning" shows up in the lyrics. I don't know anything about the song, but it sounds like it's traditional Appalachian, maybe originally shape note singing. Melodically and lyrically, it's very simple; she has just banjo and fiddle for accompaniment. But it's haunting enough that it can stay in your mind.

Sometimes you just have to wait for prophecy to materialize. It has, and I didn't have to change a word.

Hello Graciela, Unfortunately, the specific reason why they closed was not disclosed so it could be the aging members of the community, few younger nuns, building issues, etc. There is no news online. Based on what I saw on the vocation brochure that the Nuns provided, majority of its members are old and that was several years ago. In addition to that, UK has few vocations for religious life and even fewer for cloistered life. This is sad but a reality of the situation nowadays.