Author: John Schultz

At the cry of the first bird
They began to crucify Thee, 0 Swan!
Never shall lament cease because of that.
It was like the parting of day from night.
Ah, sore was the suffering borne
By the body of Mary’s Son,
But sorer still to Him was the grief
Which for His sake
Came upon His Mother.
– From The Crucifixion by Samuel Barber

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) – In the days after Mormon Church president and prophet Gordon B. Hinckley is laid to rest, the men who served as his closest advisers will begin the process of choosing a successor.
But the deliberations after Saturday will not hold the intrigue of the election of a Roman Catholic pope, during which geography, politics and other factors combine in a process that ends with white smoke puffing from a chimney.
At least in modern days, choosing the leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has come down to the simple matter of who is next in line for an office unique among religious traditions. …full story

After a long wait, our foster (and very soon to be adopted) baby was baptized earlier this month. Our joy is beyond measure. One of these days I’ll post the whole foster baby story – but for now, just enjoy the beautiful kid with the rosy cheeks.
From left to right: Jean DiPaolo, Teresa, Asya, Msgr. Tom Cassidy, Me, Dr. Tony DiPaolo. Dr. Tony and his wife Jean are the happy God parents.

Lift up, O gates, your lintels; reach up, you ancient portals, that the king of glory may come in!
– Offertory antiphon, Christmas Vigil Mass
May you and yours find the peace and joy the infant Jesus brings!

Apparently it’s harder to find babies to be Jesus in live nativity scenes than it is to find… donkeys. But the babies behave better as long as their shifts aren’t too long.