Nashville, day 4

This has been a relaxing time with no pressures. I visited with Don Ruesewald yesternight. He took me out to dinner and then home to meet his wife and two children. He was one of my choir members for the four years he was at Subiaco, graduating in 1984. He's done well for himself, and was probably one of the best voices I had to work with in those years.

Butch has been very well behaved. He's such a sweet dog. I'm glad that I have him.

As one drives onto the campus of John Paul II High School here, there is a sign on the left side of the drive. It is black with gold letters and says: BECAUSE GOD IS LOVE. Every morning as the children and staff come to school they see that sign. It may not resonate with them every day, but at least they read it every day that they come there. I would think that there would be some kind of long-term formation that it does for all of them to be daily reminded of that great truth of our Faith.

After a day of rain, a cold front has moved in, and the temperatures are only supposed to be in the low sixties at best. This is true fall weather, and I love it.

Nashville

I'm taking a few days off and visiting friends in Nashville, TN. It is a relaxing time, much needed. The trees are much further along here in the colors of their leaves. Many are quite brilliant. It will be a few weeks before our trees in south Arkansas start to turn.

I went to a choir party for the choir of St. John Vienney last night. A good time was had by all. It included stargazing, but the clouds were bothersome. Did manage to see one comet, though.

A former student of mine from Subiaco lives here with his family, and I'm getting together with him this afternoon. He was one of the best singers that I had when I directed the Subiaco Men's Chorus.

There is a certain life in larger cities that cannot be found in a little town like El Dorado. Both have their advantages, but a change now and then is a good thing.

It looks as if the new translation of the Roman Missal is completed, and is now being reviewed by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Bishops of the episcopal conferences of the English language. It will be different, and our hymnals are going to be out of sync with the new missal which means that we will have to get new ones. I am going to be very careful this time about choosing one, but I am sure not going to invest in "missalettes!"

Despite all the horror stories that have been making the rounds, I believe that the new translation will be much better. The one that we've been using for the last 30+ years was done in haste with the idea that it would be revisited at a later time. Finally that time has come. The changes will take some getting used to by the congregation, but mostly by the priest. Things that I have memorized will no longer be the same, and I will have to have my head buried in the book during many parts of the Mass that I know by memory.

My little dog, Butch, is a good travelling companion. He is quiet and seldom needs to stop for the necessities of nature. There's a baby in the house where we're staying, and I have to admit that he's been a model of patience with her.