Monthly Archives: October 2023

Word Of The Day For Wednesday February 20, 2019

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Wednesday February 20, 2019

teddy bear

PRONUNCIATION: (TED-ee bear)

MEANING: noun: 1. A stuffed toy in the shape of a bear. 2. Something or someone (especially a large or hairy person) who resembles a teddy bear in appearance or being endearing.

ETYMOLOGY: After US President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt (1858-1919). Earliest documented use: 1906.

NOTES: The story goes that, on a hunting trip, Teddy Roosevelt wasn’t able to find an animal to kill. So his people found a black bear and tied the poor animal to a tree inviting Teddy to shoot. Teddy refused (but instead ordered his people to kill the bear to put him out of his misery). Inspired by this a toymaker created a stuffed bear and called it Teddy’s bear. It sold!

USAGE: “Dipa’s coach is Bishweshwar Nandi, no teddy bear himself. The two often have clashes.” Akshay Sawai; Dipa Karmakar Calms Down Only When She Gets Her Routine Right; The Economic Times (New Delhi, India); Feb 9, 2019.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: The negative is the equivalent of the composer’s score, and the print the performance. -Ansel Adams, photographer (20 Feb 1902-1984)

Old Diary Entry For 1990-09-08

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1990-09-08

Dear Diary,

So much has happened lately. For instance TMNT is showing at 8pm on channel 3 this Friday. I’m going to watch it and take notes on it. Today I’m going to Aqua Tropical to get Snow White and Golden Carrots back. Oh boy! Oh boy! So long! Love, Tara Torme

Reflection For Monday October 30, 2023

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Monday October 30, 2023

Today I woke up around 4:30 am. So I got onto the computer earlier to check all of my emails & get my text files in order for the next few days so I have stuff for my blog, Facebook & Twitter. My mother cut & dyed my hair for me. And after lunch I left before 1 pm so I could run some errands before my massage therapy appointment for 3 pm. I brought back my PWD pay stubs, picked up my Rosacea meds plus paid $320 for an emergency pair of compression stockings that will arrive in two weeks. Now that I am home I can really chill out as I am really super tired for today.

The Franciscan Saints: Junipero Serra

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The Franciscan Saints: Junipero Serra
Jul 1, 2022
Robert Ellsberg

Franciscan Missionary
(1713–1784)

Junipero Serra is celebrated as one of the fathers of California. Born in Majorca, Serra entered the Franciscan order at sixteen. After earning a doctorate in theology, he taught as a professor for many years before volunteering for the missions in New Spain.

He spent twenty years in Mexico, then traveled by foot to California, where he spent the rest of his life. From his arrival in 1769, when he founded the mission of San Diego, until his death fifteen years later, he tirelessly traveled the length of California, established nine missions, and baptized many.

Serra espoused an austere, ascetic brand of Catholicism. In preaching, he was capable of demonstrating his zeal by striking his breast with a stone or holding a lighted torch against his chest to demonstrate the fires of hell. His canonization in 2015—the first to take place on North American soil—was not without controversy. Critics, including many Native Americans, raised questions about the mission settlements in which Native American converts were incorporated, becoming virtual prisoners or indentured servants. Others defended Serra and the Franciscan missionaries for protecting the Native Americans from harsher abuse by the secular authorities.

Serra died on August 28, 1784. He is buried in the sanctuary floor of the Mission de San Carlos Borromeo in Carmel.

Pope Francis on Junipero Serra

During his time in California, Junipero Serra baptized, confirmed, married, and buried thousands of Native Americans. He was on the forefront of all mission activities, which often resulted in tensions between him and others—including his own Franciscan superiors.

Pope Francis took notice of his accomplishments. In May 2015, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles sponsored a conference on Junipero Serra at the North American College in Rome. Pope Francis came to celebrate Mass, and, in his homily, suggested some key points about Serra. “First,” said the pontiff, “he was a tireless missionary. What made Friar Junipero . . . go to the end of the earth? Certainly it was the desire to proclaim the Gospel ad gentes [to the nations], that heartfelt impulse that seeks to share with those the farthest away the gift of encountering Christ.”

Second, noted the pope, Serra “entrusted his missionary activity to the Blessed Virgin Mary.” The pope mentioned the significance of Serra’s devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, who now “represents the shared roots in this land, the shared roots of this continent.”

Third is Serra’s great personal holiness, “a saintly example of the Church’s universality and special patron of the Hispanic people of the country.”

The pope anticipated his own September visit to the United States later that year, asking Our Lady of Guadalupe, Friar Junipero, and all the American saints to “lead me and guide me” during the journey.

What I should like to be able to do is to affix to their
hearts the words, “Put you on the Lord Jesus Christ.”
May the most provident Lord and heavenly Father
grant that my wish be accomplished in their regard.

St. Junipero Serra