tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786565.post3355022562175433099..comments2023-12-17T16:13:06.670-05:00Comments on In a Godward direction: September Midday MassTobias Stanislas Haller BSGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08047429477181560685noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786565.post-49550801075693771032008-03-12T17:35:00.000-05:002008-03-12T17:35:00.000-05:00Tobias,At first, I confess I thought it was poetic...Tobias,<BR/><BR/>At first, I confess I thought it was poetic history, that it actually happened and you set it to verse. I had to read the other comments to realize that it was even more poignant than that. I remember that day quite well - I ended up driving to church that afternoon because it seemed right to be there. We were doing a Vigil of Psalms with whoever was present - we started at 1 and went through 150 and kept it up. that Evening there was an interfaith prayer service that packed the place. I imagine many parishes experienced the same, particularly in the NY area.<BR/><BR/>I was down in the Financial District today, on Broad Street, down from the NYSE. I of course took the PATH in to the WTC station. Odd how I don't usually consciously notice the Hole that is right there for all to see, but I keenly felt and saw the barriers for trucks and pedestrians that dot the streets around the exchanges. Not the churches, of course, just the financial exchanges.<BR/><BR/>RFSJRFSJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15164772153139719659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786565.post-21726168821438617222008-03-12T13:41:00.000-05:002008-03-12T13:41:00.000-05:00Perfect.Perfect.Doug Worgulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05999842399881132161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786565.post-73296402137311066632008-03-12T12:05:00.000-05:002008-03-12T12:05:00.000-05:00Tobias, I have read this several times, because it...Tobias, I have read this several times, because it moved me so, but I did not know what to say, however, Brother Thomas says it for me:"<BR/><BR/><I>what i think i love most about it is its fundamental rightness,</I>June Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01723016934182800437noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786565.post-17363256534800560022008-03-10T19:59:00.000-05:002008-03-10T19:59:00.000-05:00Beauty and heartbreak.Beauty and heartbreak."Ms. Cornelius"https://www.blogger.com/profile/16970201479637588558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786565.post-31373606221009963212008-03-10T18:35:00.000-05:002008-03-10T18:35:00.000-05:00You brought back some interesting memories. Most ...You brought back some interesting memories. Most notably, crossing the Potomac River on a D.C. Metro train on the Yellow line, and how all chatter stopped as we turned to watch he Pentagon puffing billows of acrid smoke.<BR/><BR/>Silence, pain, disbelief.<BR/><BR/>Pray for those lost, and those who loved them. <I>Lord, hear our prayer.</I>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786565.post-30122559248374795902008-03-09T15:32:00.000-05:002008-03-09T15:32:00.000-05:00Tobias,Thank you for this poem, just wonderful, I ...Tobias,<BR/><BR/>Thank you for this poem, just wonderful, I too have posted it on my blog (with attribution), thanks for sharing this powerful piece,<BR/><BR/>Peter+Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07652358468941556437noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786565.post-6788213319596190482008-03-09T15:00:00.000-05:002008-03-09T15:00:00.000-05:00Thanks for the comments and encouragement. This is...Thanks for the comments and encouragement. This is one of those things that just popped into my head yesterday morning, and more or less wrote itself in the afternoon. I'm still unpacking what it means (as I find is often the case with poetry, even when I write it!) but I think Thomas is on to something -- that blessed cluelessness that finds one at ones work regardless, and that the work itself is both work of God and work of and for God's people.<BR/><BR/>It struck me later in the day that it would, imho, make an interesting short film -- imagine Hal Holbrook and say, Michael Cera as the priest and server. You would need an actor with a face like Holbrook's to catch the wordless expression in a tight closeup on his face as the prayers are read...Tobias Stanislas Haller BSGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08047429477181560685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786565.post-43539655585191485262008-03-09T08:54:00.000-05:002008-03-09T08:54:00.000-05:00i posted a link over on my own blog, so much did i...i posted a link over on my own blog, so much did i love this.<BR/><BR/>what i think i love most about it is its fundamental <I>rightness</I>, that somehow the priest in the poem did things exactly right on that day, despite the outward appearance of having cluelessly missed something, the reality was he was where he needed to be and that made all the difference. at least, that's how i read the poem.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786565.post-84878897408234316762008-03-08T22:21:00.000-05:002008-03-08T22:21:00.000-05:00My goodness.That is very, very powerful.Thank you....My goodness.<BR/><BR/>That is very, very powerful.<BR/><BR/>Thank you.Ellie Finlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05807252889442220449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786565.post-66292971120484266002008-03-08T22:06:00.000-05:002008-03-08T22:06:00.000-05:00Oh my. This shook me to my core Tobias... In a way...Oh my. This shook me to my core Tobias... In a way we must all be shook at various times.<BR/><BR/>Thank you.Franhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07181529277715646835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786565.post-86032991109459047052008-03-08T19:09:00.000-05:002008-03-08T19:09:00.000-05:00This brings me closer to what actually happened th...This brings me closer to what actually happened than all the repeats of the collapse of the towers we saw on tv. After the 3rd or 4th time, all I could think was 'Why do they have to show this over and over?" <BR/><BR/>Thank you again, Tobias.susan s.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03679099677585214433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786565.post-36181237924787877482008-03-08T17:56:00.000-05:002008-03-08T17:56:00.000-05:00This had me in tears - thank you.This had me in tears - thank you.Erika Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01812376497361267014noreply@blogger.com