Medieval Priests Form Precursor to the NRA???

Ok, the title is a bit tongue-in-cheek... but read this interesting history lesson from the Council of Potiers (1079 A.D.) and the subsequent debate centered upon a cleric's right to bear arms... read it here

You might be a redneck if...

Perhaps the most complete list of "you might be a redneck if..." jokes ever compiled. See them here.

Gunpowder River Trout...

Another successful friday fishing the Gunpowder River just north of Baltimore...

More "Bad Habits"

Has it been a month already??? Here's another "Bad Habit..."



In the immortal words of my elderly neighbor growing up: "things went wrong in the Church when they unlocked the convents and let the nuns run free..."

The "Moron Brothers"...

More of the finest Kentucky has to offer...

The Turtle Man!!!

Perhaps the funniest thing I have ever seen...

More pics from the "field trip..."

A few more shots of the JCL I "field trip" last week, thanks to Fr. Vincent:

The most important piece of "luggage" is loaded onto the caboose:

The engine rolls onto the turntable at Frostburg:

Having too good a time? (note the "easy cheese"... oh yeah):

A few group shots:

A Great Man...

Brother taught my Latin class at St. X my sophomore and junior years. Everyone had to take a foreign language, and since I always wanted to be different I decided to take Latin. Everyone else took Spanish, or French mostly. While the school had Latin listed on the course roster, they must have figured that no one would sign up for it, because they had no one to teach it. Well seven of us signed up, and instead of telling us to choose something else, Brother John Joseph, at age 83, agreed to come out of retirement to teach us Latin for two years. Many stories could be told of that class, and the hijinks of fifteen and sixteen year olds... but suffice it to say that Brother was a tremendous influence. For Brother, Latin was an opportunity to teach us about more than just a foreign language. It was often about much more than that. History, music, language, religion. All these flowed into one subject. Brother was a great collector of holy cards, and would give them to us on a regular basis. One I keep to this day. On it is a quote from Fulton Sheen: "Measure your generosity not by what you give, but by what you have left." It's been a little more than seven years now since he passed away. A truly great man: Brother John Joseph Sterne, CFX. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.

Gregory VII...

The more I study him, the more I like him... one of my new favorite popes: Gregory VII

"I have loved righteousness, hated iniquity, and therefore I die in exile" -dying words of Gregory VII

JCL I "Field Trip"

As the "presidente" of JCL I, it is my primary duty to organize my classmates' social calendar... Friday we went on a "field trip" out to Cumberland, MD to take a fall foliage excursion on the Western Maryland Scenic Railway. We rented the caboose, and had it all to ourselves. It was certainly the way to go. Travelling in style...

Monticello (or "Montecristo"...)

Another adventure-packed day during Joe and Augie's visit. A Trip to Monticello (or "Montecristo," according to Joe)... The home of Thomas Jefferson. A familiar site for you fans of the nickel. Standing on the top of the mountain you can understand why Jefferson picked it as his home. The view is very nice. Also, as I guessed it, they were selling nickels in the gift shop. They were on sale... two for $14.00... what a bargain! We met up with Sam Aronhime (Manassas, VA) for dinner on the way home...

Visitors...

Some buddies of mine, Joe and Augie, are up visiting for a few days. Here's some shots from yesterday...

Bad Habits...

Last month ("Vocations Crisis?") I began what will be perhaps a recurring theme here at "The Ultramontanist." So, here's this month's installment of "Bad Habits."

The CLSA Convention, Trout Fishing, and Fall Break...

The (not so) Old Man and the Sea (or creek)

As you've noticed, there hasn't been much new here lately... with mid-terms and papers coming due, things have been busy the past few weeks. Thankfully, this next week is the annual CLSA convention, and classes for the Canon Law program are cancelled. This means a week to catch up on reading, time to write a fifteen page paper (the history of canon law from Roman times 'till about the 11th century reform of Gregory VII), host Joe and Augie for a few days, etc etc. Cabin fever has been pretty bad lately, so I decided to get out and go somewhere. Fishing...! Why not... So, it was off to Western Maryland early yesterday morning. A couple weeks ago I picked up some inexpensive fishing gear, read a couple books about Maryland trout fishing, and off we went. Maryland actually has some pretty good fishing, according to the books, at least... so what the hey? Went to the Casselman River yesterday morning, about a 2 1/2 hour drive from DC. A beautiful area on the Maryland/Pennsylvania border. Amish country. Spent the morning there, then headed an hour or so south to the Savage River Gorge. The scenery was stunning, and believe it or not, I actually caught a few fish. No records, mind you, but I was satisfied. My studying of those fishing books actually paid off. I found a place to stay the night and went back to the Savage River again this morning (with no luck, unfortunately). The leaves are beginning to turn their fall colors, and the temperatures were a crisp 40 -50 degrees or so in the morning until early afternoon. Every once in a while it's good "to evacuate the premises..."

The Casselman River:

The Savage River:

More from the Ryder Cup...

I came across some more pictures from the Ryder Cup...

While the Euros had matadors with them:

The U.S. brought Boo Weekley Fans (by far the most camoflauge and hunter orange ever seen at a Ryder Cup...):