My computer is moving at the speed of mud this morning. I type a sentence, then I go away and scrub the bathtub while I wait for my words to appear on the screen. This is one way, I suppose, to juggle the demands of work and household; in other circumstances, given the same list of tasks to accomplish by the end of the day, I might be tearing my hair out just as I am now. Or maybe not. I’ll probably never know . . .
Meanwhile, here are more items going begging on eBay today:
An antique French ciborium
A cardinal’s gilded chalice. The vendor notes that this chalice has been deconsecrated(?), in having been serviced by a church silversmith prior to its placement for auction on eBay. Proceeds from its sale will apparently benefit the charitable work of a Carmelite convent in South America. A lovely gift for your priest or parish . . .
A CD-ROM version of an 1867 book of instructions and patterns for embroidering church altar linens. The eBay entry itself makes for interesting reading.
Vintage sanctus bells
A striking antique French crucifix for the altar
An altar to put it on.
Nice pair of candlesticks, too.
Imagine beholding the entire effect of the above grouping — altar, candles, crucifix — in the light of, say, an antique stained-glass window in original frame. I am partial to these Art Nouveau-ish kinds of things, and to this family of colors, but if your taste runs in other directions, you might substitute this, this (also kind of Art Nouveau-ish), or this.
Also . . .
Stop announcing those hymns, already! Use this pretty Arts-and-Crafts-style hymn board, dating from 1910.
And for your sacristy . . .
All righty. I’ve been working on this list since 8 this morning, and it’s now after lunch. We’ve got company coming tonight, a musician friend who’ll be leading a choir workshop for our parish this weekend. More about that later, but really, while these sentences finish typing themselves out, I’ve got to go mop some floors and buy some groceries. How life does go on.
You have a decision to make: double or nothing.
For this week only, a generous supporter has offered to fully match all new and increased donations to First Things up to $60,000.
In other words, your gift of $50 unlocks $100 for First Things, your gift of $100 unlocks $200, and so on, up to a total of $120,000. But if you don’t give, nothing.
So what will it be, dear reader: double, or nothing?
Make your year-end gift go twice as far for First Things by giving now.
