I am the good shepherd

A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them. This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep (Jn 10:11-15).
The Memorial of St. Catherine of Siena, normally celebrated today, is superseded by the Sunday liturgy.
Today is the Forty Ninth World Day of Prayer for Vocations. The theme of Benedict XVI's reflections this year is: "Vocations, the Gift of the Love of God".
Sunday Readings
The first reading is taken from the Acts of the Apostles 4:8-12. This excerpt is a sequence of what was described in last Sunday's first reading. Peter had cured a cripple-from-birth and told the people that it was not by his own power that he did this, but through the power of Jesus of Nazareth, whom the Jews had crucified.
The second reading is from the first Letter of John 3:1-2 in which he sets out in a couple of sentences the basic effect of the Incarnation. Already in this life men are made children of God. Because we are God's children here below we shall see him as he is in the future life.
The Gospel is from St. John 10:11-18. The image of Christ as our Good Shepherd has always appealed to human nature. One of the earliest paintings of Christ in the Roman catacombs represents him as carrying an injured sheep on his shoulders. This is a manifestation of love which touches our innermost feelings. We do not mind being likened to sheep in this context. There is something guileless about a sheep, and at the same time a lot of foolishness. Does not this describe the vast majority of men, even many of those who openly oppose Christ? Is there not something very sheeplike about the man who, because God gave him a limited intellect, thinks he knows all things and needs no further help from God? The sheep who thinks it knows as much, and even more, than the shepherd and sets out to fend for itself, is no more foolish than the man who thinks he can do without God's revelation and God's Church.
Indeed we all act like sheep on many occasions, when it comes to the things that concern our spiritual welfare. We often ramble off from the flock to nibble at little bits of forbidden pasture. However, we have a Shepherd who understands us, one whose patience and love are infinite. He is always ready to go after us when we stray too far; his voice is constantly reaching out to us in missions, retreats, sicknesses, crosses and other various ways. How many times have we already felt his loving grace calling and helping us back to the safety of his fold?
There are many who are not so fortunate as we, who either through no fault of their own or through their own fault do not hear his voice and do not know or follow him. This is an opportunity he gives us to show how we appreciate all he has done for us. He died on the cross for all men. He wills all men to profit by his death, and his statement "them also I must bring" is a direct appeal to us to cooperate with him in this work. Every Christian is a missionary. The very fact of living the Christian life in its entirety, in the midst of our fellowmen, is of itself a powerful example to outsiders. It influences for good the lax Christian and the non-Christian. It makes them stop and think and look into their consciences. This is generally the first step on the road back to God.
The devout Christian will not stop at good example only. If he truly loves God, he must truly love his neighbor and must want him to have a share in his own good fortune. He knows there is welcome and room in heaven for all men, and he knows that the greater the number there the greater will be God's eternal glory. He will strive then by every available means to help his neighbor into Christ's fold.
After good example, prayer will be his most potent weapon. Day in, day out the devout Christian must pray for the conversion of his fellowmen who are wandering aimlessly in the barren desert of this life far from God. He must also learn all he can about the truths of his faith in order to be able to help honest enquirers. He must also cooperate with any parochial or diocesan societies for the propagation of the faith, insofar as his family and financial state allow him.
The sermon preached by our Savior nearly two thousand years ago is still echoing and re-echoing around the world, calling on his faithful flock to do all in their power to help those other children of God who are still outside the fold. Do not shut your ears to this call of Christ today. Give him a helping hand by helping your fellowman to see the light of the true faith.
Excerpted from The Sunday Readings by Fr. Kevin O'Sullivan, O.F.M.

---

Commentary for the Readings in the Extraordinary Form:
Third Sunday After Easter
"A little while and you shall see Me no longer. . .because I go to the Father. . .And you therefore have sorrow now; but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no one shall take from you" (Gospel).
Christianity is a religion of joy! (Introit). May "those. . .in error" receive this "light" (Prayer). Jesus predicts, however, that our joy can never be perfect here. The "cross before the crown" (Alleluia Verse) would indeed be a mystery had no Jesus lived it out for us.
An unbelieving "world shall rejoice" because it regards Him as dead and gone. But Christ departs only for a "little while" (Gospel) to test our love and loyalty. He shall return (as indicated by little figure of Christ in the clouds).
Prepare for His coming "in the day of visitation" by good example. "Behave yourselves honorably among pagans; that they ... observing your good works" for God and country (described in the Epistle) may recognize that Christianity is a religion of joy, now and forever!
Excerpted from My Sunday Missal, Confraternity of the Precious Blood

Our Lady of Monserrat

Easter: April 27th 

Today the Church in Canada celebrates the feast of Our Lady of Montserrat. Monserrat is located in the region of Catalonia in Spain. Legend relates that the original sculpture was carved by St. Luke and brought to Montserrat by St. Peter in 50 A.D. St. Ignatius of Loyola, a former Crusader, decided to become a missionary after having prayed before this image of Mary.
According to the 1962 Missal of Bl. John XXIII the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, today is the feast of St. Peter Canisius. His feast in the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite is celebrated on December 21. It is also the feast of St. Zita of Lucca, a virgin who died in 1278.

---

Our Lady of Montserrat
The origin of the devotion to Our Lady at the shrine of Montserrat according to the earliest written records dates from 932, when the Count of Barcelona confirmed and renewed an endowment to the shrine made by his father in 888. This gift was again confirmed in 982 by Lothaire, King of France. Constant and unbroken tradition is that even previous to 888, an image of Our Lady was miraculously found among the rocks of Montserrat. Montserrat itself is a fantastic mountain group, four thousand feet high, about twenty miles from Barcelona. The name, Montserrat, of Latin origin, means saw-edged mountain. It is formed by huge boulders that raise their immense bulk perpendicularly to that four thousand foot summit. Outwardly, it resembles the seemingly inaccessible monasteries seen on high Mount Athos in Greece: "Montserrat is, and will forever be, a source of deep impressions caused by the singularity of the place. There, what is material becomes cyclopean, the mysterious is turned mystical and the picturesque is promoted to sublimity." There is a story that the mountain was once a huge boulder with a smooth surface. At the time of the Crucifixion of Jesus, however, when the sun darkened, the rock was shaken to its very foundations and when light returned, the mountain had a thousand peaks.
The legend relates that the figure of Our Lady came from Jerusalem to Barcelona, and was brought into the mountains to save it from the Saracens. It is true that the Montserrat statue has oriental features, but this could well be traced to the Byzantine sculptors who were constantly employed in the West. The legend goes on to say that in the eighth century shepherds one night saw strange lights on the mountain and heard Seraphic music.
Guided by the shepherds, the Bishop of Manresa found, in a cavern, a wooden figure of Our Lady and the Holy Child. He ordered that the statue be carried into the cathedral immediately. However, the procession with the statue never reached the cathedral because, after much marching, the small wooden figure became too heavy so that the Bishop decided to accept it as a sign and left it in a chapel of a nearby hermitage. The statue remained there until a church was built on the site of the present abbey on the top of the rocks near where the statue was discovered.
Since that incident, this statue is the most celebrated, the most important of Spain; it is thirty-eight inches in height, and is known as "La Morenata" — The Little Black Madonna. The wood is now black with age; one of its most striking features is the dignified expression of Our Lady. In her right hand, she holds a majestic orb.Today the Church in Canada celebrates the feast of Our Lady of Montserrat. Monserrat is located in the region of Catalonia in Spain. Legend relates that the original sculpture was carved by St. Luke and brought to Montserrat by St. Peter in 50 A.D. St. Ignatius of Loyola, a former Crusader, decided to become a missionary after having prayed before this image of Mary.
According to the 1962 Missal of Bl. John XXIII the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, today is the feast of St. Peter Canisius. His feast in the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite is celebrated on December 21. It is also the feast of St. Zita of Lucca, a virgin who died in 1278.

The nuns

The nuns had it again. The Vatican is not amused. This apparently is a different survey from the one that was started a few years ago. However, this is lost on the lay person. I did not know myself until I read up on it. What exactly the issues are I have no idea.....Sometimes I wish they would handle their squabbles privately. If the church attacks itself, it is no good.

Great music picking

not very nice part III

not very nice part II

Wiener saengerknaben donner und blitz

My country

Both sides sang this song.

Dear Russians

Here in the US you need three things to do well: Youth, money, health. If one of these is missing, you are better off in Europe. Education is not free. Health insurance is prohibitive costly and many people cannot afford it. Many people do not have a job where they can save for retirement. Pensions are for school teachers, government workers and the rich. Many small jobs do not have pensions for their employees nor health insurance.
Tip: You want a Master's Degree in economics? Go to the University of Magdeburg in Germany. The courses are taught in English the cost is $500 a year. At Harvard you spend $60,000 a year. 

A response to Grass

Not very nice

Priest Coverage

Are there any Catholic priests out in the world who can come to us in the US for summer coverage? Send me an e-mail. You must speak English.

Divine Mercy Sunday

Wanted to attend it but was told it started at 2 p.m. and it did not start until 3 p.m. Venerated the picture, prayed the chaplet and went home. Could not stay for the official program which seemed rather long looking at the booklet. Very nice decorations.....
Dogs chewed up the newspaper when I got home. I practiced some human mercy on them.

The nun's mother

...is blind but invited us to a movie on Friday night. Why I don't know. We saw Mirror, Mirror. A clean movie with lovely costumes but strange dwarfs. Snow White was adorable.
Yesterday I went with the nun to some far away Catholic gift store. They did have a lot of things that once cannot get around here. Each store is different. She bought a lot of things for her grand nephew whose First Communion is coming up.

Good to be back

I went this morning to Mass after breakfast at the local Diner. It was good to be back. Awaiting my tax liability which is surely going to make me upset for the rest of the year. I am buying way too many books. Need to scale back. 

Under the weather

There is something going around....I felt cold all day yesterday and out of sorts. Staying in today....Hope to feel better.

Early Breakfast

Went to the church downtown this morning. Early morning breakfast with a friend. Tired already and the day has barely begun

Easter: April 10th

Move to: Previous Day | Next Day

The first eight days of the Easter season form the Easter octave and are celebrated as solemnities of the Lord. Each day is another little Easter. The Alleluia verse is repeated throughout the octave: "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad. Alleluia!"
Stational Church
The Easter sequence (Victimae paschali) can also be said or sung during the week.
The Gospel continues to relate the story of Christ's resurrection — how Mary Magdalene and the other Mary meet Jesus. Jesus tells them "Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me."
During the Easter Season, first reading is from the Acts of the Apostles. Today is Acts 2:36-41. Peter is preaching on the day of Pentecost to the Jews: "The whole House of Israel can be certain that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ....You must repent and....be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." They repented, and 3000 were baptized that day.
Our Easter joy should be overflowing. A wonderful Ukrainian (and Polish and Slovakian) custom is the greeting of one another with the words: Khrystos Voskres (Christ is risen). The answer to this greeting is Voistynu Voskres (He is risen, indeed or He is truly risen). Let us adopt this custom to our English language and show our Easter joy to all.

---

At Rome, the Station for today is in the basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. The church is impatient to lead her white-robed newly baptized to the Apostle of the Gentiles. Though he is not the foundation of the Church, he is the companion of Peter's labors in Rome, his fellow-martyr, and the preacher of the Gospel to the Gentiles.

Verizon

Called the Verizon lady today and got a nice human being for a change. I got rid of my Showtime biz entertainment package as I don't watch that much TV and I got rid of the Protection Pak Enhancement because my computers are not bought but made......hand-knitted by intelligent design. At the end of this month, I will have to send off a top box because I gave the TV away. Don't need the top box any longer. Fell for a $5 increase to increase the FIOS Internet speed but overall I should be saving $30 a month. Well, let's hope so.

Same sex-less

Same sex marriage is the ultimate bait and switch. 

Bill Rosenzweig's wife

Bill's wife comes from Croatia. She is drop gorgeous and I have noticed on my trips that some of the girls in Croatia just look like her - also all drop gorgeous. Many of the men are tall with flat heads in back. 

Bill Rosenzweig

Bill had a heart attack. He needed heart catheterization and a stent. The Rabbi gave me this long lecture one morning that Bill was not at death's door and that heart catheterization was not such a big deal. Well, Bill needed a triple bypass and has had it since and has had a second heart attack in the hospital two days ago. He came close to being at death's door.
Conclusion. Every procedure has its risk. Even small ones.
Years ago a different Rabbi liked to talk from the bima about medical conditions. He always got it wrong and my  husband finally told me to tell him to stop it. Husband was a physician's physician.

The windows

OK. I need the windows cleaned. I also need new blinds in the sun room. I hate these extra expenses now. I am holding my breath because the tax bill will come this week. Can I just take my head and stuff it into a pillow case and forget the world? I guess that would not be very Catholic.

The Church

I was dying to see the flower arrangements at my church this morning. For the life of me I could not imagine how they could arrange the zillion colors into a nice scheme. To my surprise everything looked loverly. The exotic stuff was around a fake fountain and to the side. It did not interfere with the hydrangeas and azaleas and lilies. However, some azaleas were on death's door and I went around with the watering can. My artwork in the chapel did not look so artsy this morning from where I sat. Minor adjustment took place.
Our Rabbi went back to his former habits, having given up sodas for lent. He had a huge Coke for Easter. 

Frohe Ostern

Happy Easter - He is risen

See your landline go bye-bye

http://www.reuters.com/video/2012/04/05/reuters-tv-att-verizon-try-to-put-end-to-landline-t?videoId=232950327&videoChannel=117772

Biggest bunny rabbit in the world

Easter Vigil at the Franciscans

Well, it was LONG. It was also full but not crowded and sadly it was sort of lame. A nice young priest sang the Exultet. No strong voice. Four nuns were lined up to do five readings. Two of the nuns were awful. One was very awful. The homily was passable. Of course this was all directed and enjoyed by Catholics in the know but if I had brought in an outsider I certainly could understand why he or she would not quite be overwhelmed by this holy service. I missed the service in Krakow with the Dominican. I missed the service with the Capuchin. What joy!
At the end we were ask to belt out one song and we did. That was the highlight of the resurrection. More like a funeral.

The Franciscans of the Holy Land

The friends and I decided to try them tonight. They start at 8 p.m. It should not be too terribly long without catechumens and candidates.

Decorating the Chapel

Oy-veh! I went last night and bought some silky white fabric to hide the props. This morning I looked at all the flowers - tons of them - and took three blue hydrangeas and three lilies. Was told I should not have done this. Apparently the chapel gets the leftovers. It was too late. Thank heavens! Wanted two more lilies. Was told I could only have one more. Got the extra lily, set it up and and went home. Tones of orchids were there and other exotic stuff as well. I hate all these garish flower combinations. Besides, orchids cost a fortune. I like hydrangeas, lilies and azaleas for Easter. My chapel altar looks nice. Did not get my Easter food blessed. It was a can of dog food for the pooches. Had it in the car but did not want to wait around until rehearsal ended. Was going to the Capuchins tonight. It has been a family tradition but they do not have an Easter Vigil Mass tonight. Terribly disappointing.

Holy Thursday

We had a beautiful Holy Thursday Triduum Service tonight. Very moving. Had my feet washed. I volunteered after I got an e-mail that they were short of volunteers. Handed out programs. They were very nicely made up as well. Came home. Fed the doggies. Time to read and go to bed.

The Hunger Games reviewed

My father

The Triduum

The last three days of Holy Week are referred to as the Easter or Sacred Triduum (Triduum Sacrum), the three-part drama of Christ's redemption: Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday.
Holy Thursday is also known as "Maundy Thursday." The word maundy comes from the Latin word mandatum (commandment) which is the first word of the Gospel acclamation:

Mandátum novum do vobis dicit Dóminus, ut diligátis ínvicem, sicut diléxi vos. "I give you a new commandment: Love one another as I have loved you." (John 13:34)

These are the words spoken by our Lord to His apostles at the Last Supper, after he completed the washing of the feet. We should imitate Christ's humility in the washing of the feet.
By meditating on the Gospels (cf. Matt 26:1 ff.; Mark 14:1 ff.; Luke 22:1 ff.; John 13:1 ff.), we can recall to mind Jesus' actions of that day. Father Bernard Strasser summarizes all the events of that first Holy Thursday:

...They included: (1) the eating of the Easter lamb or the paschal meal; (2) the washing of the disciple's feet; (3) the institution of the Most Holy Eucharist (the first Mass at which Jesus Christ, the eternal high priest, is the celebrant; the first Communion of the apostles; the first conferring of Holy Orders); (4) the foretelling of Judas' betrayal and Peter's denials; (5) the farewell discourse and priestly prayer of Jesus; (6) the agony and capture of Jesus in the Garden of Olives. — ©1947, With Christ Through the Year

In all the German speaking countries, Slavic nations and in Hungary this day is also known as "Green Thursday." The word is a corruption of the German word grunen (to mourn) to the German word for green (grün). Many people believe they must eat green at today's meal, which is probably derived from from the Jewish Passover meal that included bitter herbs.
Outside of Holy Week, the Church celebrates the Optional Memorial of St. Vincernt Ferrer.
Stational Church

---

Chrism Mass
There are only two Masses allowed on Holy Thursday -- the Chrism Mass and the evening Mass of the Lord's Supper. In each diocese there is a Chrism Mass or Mass of the Holy Oils, usually said in the morning at the cathedral of the diocese. Catholics should make an effort to participate at the Mass at least once in their lives, to experience the communion of priests with their bishop. All the priests of the diocese are invited to concelebrate with the bishop. The holy oils to be used throughout the diocese for the following year in the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Orders and the Sacrament of the Sick are blessed by the bishop at this Mass. This Mass also celebrates the institution of the priesthood.
Mass of the Lord's Supper
During the evening of Holy Thursday, the Mass of the Lord's Supper is celebrated. It is celebrated in the evening because the Passover began at sundown. There is only one Mass, at which the whole community and priests of the parish participate. This is a very joyful Mass, as we recall the institution of the Holy Eucharist and the priesthood. The priests wear white vestments, the altar is filled with flowers, the Gloria is sung and the bells are rung. After the Gloria, we shall not hear organ music and the bells until the Easter Vigil. The Liturgy of the Mass recalls the Passover, the Last Supper, which includes the Washing of the Feet. The hymn Ubi Caritas or Where Charity and Love Prevail is usually sung at this time. After the Communion Prayer, there is no final blessing. The Holy Eucharist is carried in procession through Church and then transferred into a place of reposition, usually a side chapel. The hymn Pange Lingua is also usually sung at this time.
After the Mass, we recall the Agony in the Garden, and the arrest and imprisonment of Jesus. The altar is stripped bare, crosses are removed or covered. The Eucharist has been placed in an altar of repose, and most churches are open for silent adoration, to answer Christ's invitation "Could you not, then, watch one hour with me?" (Matt 26:40)

---

The Altar of Repose
When the Eucharist is processed to the altar of repose after the Mass of the Lord's Supper, we should remain in quiet prayer and adoration, keeping Christ company. There is a tradition, particularly in big cities with many parishes, to try and visit seven churches and their altar of repose during this evening.
Popular piety is particularly sensitive to the adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament in the wake of the Mass of the Lord's supper. Because of a long historical process, whose origins are not entirely clear, the place of repose has traditionally been referred to as "a holy sepulchre". The faithful go there to venerate Jesus who was placed in a tomb following the crucifixion and in which he remained for some forty hours.
It is necessary to instruct the faithful on the meaning of the reposition: it is an austere solemn conservation of the Body of Christ for the community of the faithful which takes part in the liturgy of Good Friday and for the viaticum of the infirmed. It is an invitation to silent and prolonged adoration of the wondrous sacrament instituted by Jesus on this day.
In reference to the altar of repose, therefore, the term "sepulchre" should be avoided, and its decoration should not have any suggestion of a tomb. The tabernacle on this altar should not be in the form of a tomb or funerary urn. The Blessed Sacrament should be conserved in a closed tabernacle and should not be exposed in a monstrance.
After mid-night on Holy Thursday, the adoration should conclude without solemnity, since the day of the Lord's Passion has already begun.
— Directory on Popular Piety

---

Washing of Feet and a Seder Meal
In imitation of Christ's last supper, many Christians prepare a seder meal or the pasch. Celebrating a paschal meal helps us comprehend the plan of redemption. We see the lamb, cooked whole, with no bones broken, foreshadowing the death of Christ, the Lamb of God. We eat the unleavened bread and recall to mind the Eucharist. We eat the whole meal in prayerful reminder of that Last Supper that Jesus spent with His apostles, His friends, instituting Holy Orders and leaving His greatest gift, the Holy Eucharist.
A typical paschal meal includes the roast lamb, bitter herbs, haroset, matzoh and wine. The meal can be as authentic or representative as desired. There are numerous sources, both Christian and Jewish, that can give recipes, prayers and procedure for an authentic paschal feast.

---

The Station today is at St. John Lateran. Maundy Thursday is devoted to the institution of the Eucharist and the priesthood. On this day the bishop blesses the Holy Oils; thus is made clear that the sacraments have their source in Christ and derive their fruitfulness from the paschal mystery of salvation.

St. Augustine

“On the Lord’s Passion” – A Sermon by St. Augustine

St. Augustine relief at his tomb in Pavia, Italy

Sermon 218C – On the Lord’s Passion, Date: about 412
The passion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ constitutes a guarantee of glory and a lesson in patience. What, after all, can the hearts of the faithful not promise themselves from God’s grace, seeing that it was not enough for the only Son of God, co-eternal with the Father, to be born for them as human being from a human being, without His also dying at the hands of the human beings He created? It’s a great thing that the Lord promises us for the future; but it’s a much greater thing which we recall He has already done for us. When Christ died for the ungodly, where were they, or what were they? Who can doubt that He is going to endow His holy ones with His life, when He has already endowed them, while they were still ungodly, with His death? Why should human frailty hesitate to believe that it is going to happen sometime or other that human beings will live with God? Something much more incredible has happened, that God has died for the sake of human beings.
Who, after all, is Christ, but that Word which was in the beginning, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (Jn 1:1)? This Word of God became flesh, and dwelt among us (Jn 1:14). You see, He would not have in Himself the wherewithal to die for us, unless He had taken mortal flesh from us. That was how the immortal one was able to die, that was how He wished to bestow life on mortals; aiming later on to give us shares in Himself, having first of all Himself taken shares in us. I mean, we had nothing of our very own by which we could really live, and He had nothing of His very own by which He could really die. Accordingly, He struck a wonderful bargain with us, a mutual give and take: ours was what He died by; His was what we might live by.
All the same, He too gave even the flesh which He took from us in order to die in it, because He is its creator; while on the other hand He in no way received from us the life by which we are going to live in Him and with Him. And thus, as regards our nature, by which we are human beings, He died from what is ours, not His, since in His own nature by which He is God, He is quite unable to die. But insofar as it is His creation, which He made as God, then He did die from what is His; since He Himself also made the flesh in which He died.

Another viewpoint

http://pblosser.blogspot.com/2012/04/for-record-manner-of-receiving.html

Holy Thursday

Ox Carts and No Coffee

Building a Monastery the Medieval Way

By Angelika Franz

Bert M. Geurten

Historians, architects, archaeologists and volunteers in Germany are teaming up to build a medieval monastery the old-fashioned way. Working conditions will be strictly 9th-century, without machines, rain jackets or even coffee. It will take decades, but they hope to garner fresh insights into everyday life in the 800s.

What did a medieval stonemason do when heavy rainfall interrupted his work? Umbrellas are impractical at construction sites. Gore-Tex jackets weren't yet invented, nor were plastic rain jackets. "He donned a jacket made of felted loden cloth," says Bert Geurten, the man who plans to build an authentic monastery town the old-fashioned way.

Felted loden jackets will also be present on rainy days at Geurten's building site, which is located near Messkirch, in the southwestern German state of Baden-Württemberg, between the Danube River and Lake Constance. Beginning in 2013, a Carolingian monastery town will be built here using only the materials and techniques of the 9th century. From the mortar to the walls, the rain jackets to the menu, every aspect of the operation will be carried out as just as it was in the days of Charlemagne. "We want to work as authentically as possible," says Geurten.

The building contractor from the Rhineland region has long dreamt of carrying out his plan. When he was a teenager, the now 62-year-old was inspired by a model of the St. Gallen monastery plan in an exhibition in his home city of Aachen. The plan, dating from the beginning of the 9th century, shows the ideal monastery, as envisioned by Abbot Haito of Reichenau.

Haito dedicated his drawing to his colleague Abbot Gozbert of St. Gall, who presided over the monastery from 816 to 837. He meticulously recorded everything that he believed was necessary for a monastic city, from a chicken coop to a church for 2,000 worshipers. Altogether he envisaged 52 buildings -- but they were never built. That will change in spring 2013, though, when ox-pulled carts wil begin carrying the first stones to the building site in the forest near Messkirch. It won't be finished until about 2050, according to estimates.

A Glimpse of the Middle Ages

The lengthy time frame betrays the ambitious dimensions of the project, which is not just a tourist attraction, but also a meticulous scientific undertaking. Twelve experts, including historians, architects and archaeologists, form the scientific council that oversees the monastic town. Their job is to advise the artisans while simultaneously learning from their experiences.

Such experiments offer a rare glimpse into the everyday life of past centuries. Often there is only one way to find out how people once built their homes, prepared their food or sewed their clothes -- by recreating the historic experience. Experimental archeology researchers have discovered that antique linen armor offers as much protection as kevlar vests, how beer was brewed in the Bronze Age and how Stone Age people sharpened blades.

The 9th century -- the era which will be recreated by the Carolingian monastery town project -- is a particularly interesting focus for such experiments. There are few surviving documents from the period some 1,100 to 1,200 years ago. "Our goal is not to end up having a monastery town, but to build it," says Geurten.

The first building will be a small wooden church. "Of course, in the Middle Ages, they didn't build the large stone church first," says Geurten. The craftsmen at that time did not want to postpone their prayers until the stone church was finished, so they constructed a simple wooden church as an interim arrangement until they could move into the magnificent stone building decades later.

Harsh Conditions

Carts carrying building materials will be pulled by Hinterwald cows. With a height of around 115 to 125 centimeters (3' 9" to 4' 1")and weighing between 172 and 218 kilograms (380 and 480 pounds), these working animals come the closest to those used during the time of Charlemagne. "They are descended from the Celts' cattle," says Geurten.

Not just workers will have to adjust to medieval conditions, though. The plan also includes a special experience for visitors, who will walk a lengthy distance from the parking lot before reaching the construction site. "They should feel like they journey in time and leave the present behind them," says Geurten. If they get hungry, the monastery town will have a 9th-century menu. "The potato was unknown," says Geurten. "And there will be no coffee around to drink." Everything that the tradesmen and visitors will eat will be grown in the soil near the construction site.

The example of the French castle Guédelon proves that visitors will not be deterred by such a strict approach. In Burgundy, builders are constructing the 13th-century castle with medieval techniques. Every year the site attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors. "A Guédelon visitors' survey has shown that people want to return on average every three years," explains Geurten. "They want to see the castle grow and follow its progress."

He hopes for similar success at his monastic town. The project has initial funding of around €1 million ($1.3 million) from city, state and European Union sources, but that will only sustain it for the first few years. After that, the project will have to fund itself.

A Flood of Volunteers

Given the tight budget, craftsmen salaries will remain low. "The net wage is about €1,200 (per month)," says Geurten. "I can't pay more." The working hours are also a long way from what German trade unions recommend these days. They will work from April 2 -- Charlemagne's birthday -- almost without break until St. Martin's Day, on Nov. 11. During those eight months, there will be one single weekend off. "In the Middle Ages, the rent for the year was always paid on St. Martin's Day," said Geurten. The winter break lasts until April when the temperatures are warm enough to work again.

Despite the difficult conditions, the project has been swamped with applications. "I've had 85 stone masons apply already," says Geurten. "They all dream of having the chance to work with their hands." This also applies to the blacksmith. "They won't be hammering kitschy horseshoes for tourists. The forge must supply the site with tools," he adds.

Overall, the construction site will have 20 to 30 permanent staff in addition to volunteers. There has already been a lot of interest. "From Lufthansa pilots to a teacher, all kinds of people have applied." One candidate even sent his application written in medieval German on a real roll of parchment. Meanwhile, schools will likely be allowed to join in with the site's work for as long as a week. "We are developing a plan that will enable the children to prepare for their experience in the classroom first," says Geurten.

It will take about 40 years until the final stone is laid in the monastery church. By then it is highly unlikely that Geurten will still be alive. But he doesn't mind. "I just want a founding father's tomb in the crypt. Then they could come and light candles for me," he says.

Foot Washing Rehearsal

I went to a rehearsal for foot washing. Never been to one - I mean a rehearsal for such a thing. It was very short. So tonight I will get my foot washed. Several years ago I had to go to a dead body viewing in the morning and a woman approached me afterwards showed me her newly acquired pedicure and told me that was in anticipation of her foot washing by the pastor that night. I looked at her red toenails and almost burst out laughing. What can one say? Congratulations that you are so prepared? 

Worn out

I did my taxes last night. Wow. What a job! Off they are going to the accountant today. I am really bone tired.

Just in time for Pesach

http://www.ou.org/torah/article/practical_issues_in_hilchos_pesach

Passover

I, as a Catholic, will miss Passover with my Jewish friends this year. In thirty years this is only the second time that I can remember. And I DO miss it. Yesterday on the way to my church, I started to sing Dy, dy-yenu

Oberglogau

That is where my family came from. Last night I could not sleep and looked up my grandfather's name and there are actually a couple of books out there that were printed by him. We printed the newspaper and books and all sorts of  religious and worldly things, including money during the inflation. (He got permission). 

Today I am finishing up my 20 pages of Steubenville paper. Then I still have to work on the web page and Microsoft Project. I want to get this "thing" done and over with. 

Lover of Dogs

Our Rabbi loves dogs. His favorite dog is Blondi, a German shepherd.