Yes, I know 'tis a bit early. But, since Jude, Edward, DragonLady, Devil's Advocate and I will all be off at the Jam Session in Syracuse on New Year's day, I figured better early than late or not at all.
To all our readers, then, I wish
My little King, my mighty Lord eternal,
Thou who wast born today, and ever art,
How is it that thou comest to my heart,
Before whom tremble all the powers infernal?
Dear Lord, who art so great and yet so small,
So humble and so high, so strong, so weak,
I look upon thee and can hardly speak —
Thou who art God and yet art Man withal.
My loving Lord, Thou Love whom I behold,
Teach me Thy great humility, I pray,
That I may be as low as now Thou art;
For Thou, whom all creation cannot hold,
Hast yet become, upon this Christmas day,
Little enough to come into my heart!
This pretty much sums up Lucia's opinion on movies-made-from-books-we-love (the Lord of the Rings in particular!) , though with an exception or two. (Bedknobs and Broomsticks is one of those. Rather an awful book, but a hysterical movie!)
What happened? Where did we go wrong? How is it that a college named after a saint, with Catholic foundations, and a President who is a nun could, wait... oh never mind.
I knew right from the start that D'Youville College was not a Catholic college, but I had no idea how far they had fallen until this year. As a Student Association Senator, classmate, and overall nice guy (don't laugh) I have had the chance to talk with or overhear people's concerns and questions regarding the College and it's Catholicity. One of the most frequent questions asked is whether or not the school is actually Catholic. If you need to ask that, then the answer is no. But for all intensive purposes here are a few pointers.
Last year the school paper, which I write for now, apparently published an article which gave the pros and cons of abortion. That's right, PROS and cons. At least the report is that President Sister Denise flipped out so there is some hope I guess. After that incident the paper has been more careful to not touch on such "controversial material". But the mentality still exists within the school.
During our last Student Association meeting there was a club representative present to bring forward their club constitution and to be considered for school recognition as an official club. Without going into too much detail, the club's name is Alliance and their logo involves a whole rainbow of colors. After minimal discussion in which it was clear that my fellow senators had no idea of the ideals and beliefs of St. Marguerite D'Youville they took a vote. The club was accepted almost unopposed. Open the closets! Hugs all round!
The saddest point is the total renouncement of Catholic upbringing by my classmates. In a conversation before class it was discovered that several of my classmates had been baptized "against their will". Okay, 1: what will did you have at that age and 2: If you really don't believe in any of it what difference does it make to you whether you were baptized or not? Why do you have to make being a Catholic sound so uncool? What's not cool about being a Catholic? If you're reading this I want you to comment on what makes being Catholic cool. But I digress. It seems as though Catholics are almost second class citizens or evil or something. Why all the hate?
I'm not saying that I expected D'Youville College to be Catholic when I applied here. I would have as easily gone elsewhere if they had the same program I am in right now. It's just I don't like it when people are shown vestiges of something that is not there, namely Catholicism. For anyone who is considering becoming a nurse or a teacher, the school has great programs here. Academically it is pretty good and, taken with a large grain of salt, will be very useful. I just wouldn't come here thinking of making lifelong friends or meeting soul mates (typically either an MR or MRS degree). Isn't that what St. Mary's is for? j/k
The poet returns! This one was inspired by the awesome winter sunsets, all pink and purple and gold... what else would a Catholic think of but the liturgical colors? :)
How glorious is the sky, though chill the air!
A liturgy celestial I behold;
A heavy curtain, violet, rose and gold,
Is draped across the towering branches bare.
Darkness is setting in; we must beware,
For in the dark of midnight and the cold
Our evil enemy, our foe of old,
Roams round and round, to see whom he may snare....
But we who love Our Lord will not fear night;
In blackest dark, we better see the light
That sprang from a poor stable's lowly stall,
And turned the night of fear to one of joy:
The Babe is born that will all sin destroy,
And be the loving Savior of us all!
--- Dec. 10, 2009
