Good old days

Somebody had told me that humble travellers in Holland could doss down in police stations, and it was true... They even gave me a bowl of coffee and a quarter of a loaf before I set off. Thank God I had put 'student' in my passport: it was an amulet and an Open Sesame. In European tradition, the word suggested a youthful, needy, and earnest figure, spurred along the highways of the West by a thirst for learning -- thus, notwithstanding high spirits and a proneness to dog-Latin drinking songs, a fit candidate for succor.

-- Patrick Leigh Fermor, A Time for Gifts

My new life

Ascension

"At that time: Jesus appeared unto the eleven disciples as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief adn hardness of heart." (Mark 16:14)

The weakness of disciples at this time was to become power unto all of us, (if I may be permitted to say such a thing,) in all that concerned their slowness to believe in the Lord's resurrection. In consequence of their doubts, the fact of the resurrection was demonstrated by many infallible proofs. These proofs we read and acknowledge. What then assureth our faith, if not their doubt? Mary Magdalene, who soon believed, did less for me than Thomas, who doubted long. Because of his doubting, he was asked to touch the scars of the wounds, and thus was healed any wound of doubt in our hearts.

-- St. Gregory the Great

Uncle Walt

Alone far in the wilds and mountains I hunt,
Wandering amazed at my own lightness and glee,
In the late afternoon choosing a safe spot to pass the night,
Kindling a fire and broiling the fresh-kill'd game,
Falling asleep on the gather'd leaves with my dog and gun
       by my side.
 
The Yankee clipper is under her sky-sails, she cuts the
       sparkle and scud,
My eyes settle the land, I bend at her prow or shout
       joyously from the deck.
 
The boatmen and clam-diggers arose early and stopt for me,
I tuck'd my trowser-ends in my boots and went and had a
       good time;
You should have been with us that day round the chowder-
       kettle.

-- Walt Whitman, Song of Myself

Easter V

The waters saw thee, O God, even the waters of Baptism, and were afraid with holy fear: Clouds of apostolic witnesses poured out waters of refreshment, the air thundered with their eloquence, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Thy lightnings shone upon the ground, even unto the lowest depths of the world; the earth was moved and shook withal.

-- Matin Responds for Nocturn I, Rogation Sunday

We note how grievous an outrage against God it is not to believe in the resurrection. If we shall not rise again, then did Christ die in vain, then is Christ not risen. For if he rose for us, and if he had not us to rise for, then certainly, he is not risen. In him the world, in him the heavens, in him the earth rose again. For there shall be a new heaven, and a new earth...

-- St. Ambrose, De excessu fratris Satyri