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(Looking across the street last Saturday. (January 2, 2021)) This week's weather has included, for the most part, dense or patchy freezing fog. I figure the weather, and Washington news, have been affecting my mood. Or should that be "has been affecting?"... ...I'd planned on getting a picture of the same twigs this afternoon. But something's removed an identifiable curvy twig. Maybe the night's and morning's frost hid it. Or maybe I just didn't notice it. So I took a picture of another part of the same set of bushes.... ...Sound and Fury, News and Opinion "2021 storming of the United States Capitol" may or may not stick as a name for whatever happened last Wednesday. I'm even less certain about what actually happened. More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

  Baptistry, San Marco, Venice Italian Mosaic Artist [ Web Gallery of Art ]  Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Mark 1:7-11 ( English Standard Version Anglicised: India) [John the Baptist] preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.   I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.   And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.   And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”   Léachtaí i nGaeilge Pope Benedict XVI baptises in the Sistne Chapel Feast of the Baptism of the Lord 2011 FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD MASS AND ADMINISTRATION

"Dr. Faustus" keeps coming back. Christopher Marlowe's play, I mean, not Johann Georg Faust. J. G. Faust lived five centuries back. Give or take a bit. Extracting his biography from folk legends, chapbooks and assorted other retellings? I'll leave that for someone else. I haven't read or discussed "Faustus," since 2012. So I'll be rereading the play, looking what I wrote then, thinking about it and sharing the results. Together with whatever else comes to mind as I go along.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

(The great convergence, probably behind those clouds. (December 22, 2020)) I could have put either of these two photos in an earlier post. But I didn't. So here they are now.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

Today is New Year's Eve. It's also Saint Sylvester's Day, the 420th anniversary of the British East India Company's charter and the 141st anniversary of Thomas Edison's incandescent light demo. But mainly, I figure, for most Americans, today is New Year's Eve.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

  Adoration of the Magi Blessed Fra Angelico [ Web Gallery of Art ] In most countries where English is widely used The Epiphany is celebrated on this Sunday, 3 January 2021. However, in Ireland, where it is a holy day of obligation, the feast is observed on its traditional date, 6 January, Wednesday. Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel  Matthew 2:1-12 ( English Standard Version Anglicised: India) Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem,   saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”   When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;   and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he enquired of them where the Christ was to be born.   They told him, “In Bethlehe

I'm seeing "The Best of," "Top 10" and "2020 Top" headlines in my news feed: as usual for late December. Instead of waiting for someone else to highlight this year's science news stories, I'm making my own 'top 10' list. Each item is something that caught my attention, seemed important, or has been lurking in my 'to do' folders. More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

  Altar of Our Lady Jörg Zurn [ Web Gallery of Art ] Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God The Octave Day of the Nativity of the Lord This is a Holyday of Obligation in the Philippines, the USA and some other countries. Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel  Luke 2:16-21 ( English Standard Version Anglicised: India) The shepherds went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.   And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.   And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.   But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.   And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. Adoration of the Shepherds Murillo, painted 1650-55 [ Web Gallery of Art ] 54th World Day of Peace 1 January 2021 He