De rebus miscellaneis

Well, this is my 100th post. And like the 99 previous posts, it will not cover anything of particular interest or value (my most successful post is a very long quote by Pope Gregory on the Epiphany - I don't say anything in it). Anyway, here it is.

First of all, April is the month of the Holy Spirit, and so I recommend you all go and read Divinum Illud Munus by Pope Leo XIII and Dominum et Vivificantem by Ven. Pope John Paul II on the Holy Spirit.
This leads me somewhat onto my next little topic, Baptism. My youngest nephew was baptised yesterday, Deo gratias, and now he is part of the Body of Christ. Please say a little prayer for him as he's a little poorly at the moment.
Thirdly, we're now past Laetare Sunday, with its rose vestments (although the vestments I saw yesterday were really pink, not rose). This calls for a quick one word evaluation of my Lent so far - crap. The only thing I can say is that I now need to go to confession more than I usually do, which isn't really progress in virtue. Even on the childish things of Lent, like giving up sweets, I'm doing badly. Sigh. Still, I've now more time to devote to prayer, now that I...

... had my last EVER class at university on Friday. The last few weeks have been pretty hectic, but now I've just exams starting in Easter week and continuing to the middle of May. Here's hoping all things go well, and I've made up my mind to thank God for whatever I receive in my final results, whether good or bad. No use just thanking God for the good things - I trust that even if I do badly, God has a will for me that goes beyond good exam results.

And so, as we now approach Passion Sunday, if you're lucky enough to live practically near a parish offering the EF, or as we approach the (more boringly titled) Fifth Sunday of Lent for the rest of us, conversi ad Dominum!

Eternal priesthood/Regenerative baptism.

Over on Vultus Christi there is a fantastic piece on the priesthood. Over on Shameless Popery there's a brilliant piece on baptism, quoting the Church Fathers. I recommend both.

Birth-again-day

Twenty years ago today I was baptised in St Winefride's Church in Neston, England. I'd never given the day much thought previously, but now I'd like to thank God for this wonderful grace and sacrament.