Abbey-Roads2

The revolution.

1968… “The whole world is watching” - that famous chant from the Chicago Democratic convention came to my mind while the Pope was visiting the U.S. - when everyone seemed to be carrying on about the music during the mega-Mass in Washington.  The controversy provided a bit of distraction from this year’s political campaigns, the war, the failing economy, and other unimportant trivia.

“Rage and murder”. 

In 1968 both Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy were assasinated.  Race riots broke out in cities across the country, while anti-war protests increased, and Women’s liberation groups were organizing and coming to power.  I also think 1968 was a defining moment for the sexual revolution we now take for granted.  I’ll be posting on 1968 at this blog and my other blogs once in awhile - it is amazing how much happened in that year, how we have changed, and yet how much we have remained the same.

Did you know 1968 is the year Virginia Slims was introduced - a cigarette that celebrated the modern woman with the phrase, “You’ve come a long way, baby!”?  It was also the year the pantsuit came out for women.  In fact, Nan Kempner, a NY socialite was not permitted to enter a posh restaurant in NYC because she was wearing an evening pantsuit.  Undaunted, she removed the trousers and entered the restaurant wearing the elongated coat as a dress.  The rules quickly changed after that.  (It sounds trivial today, but for women these things were as symbolic as burning bras - I know!  LOL!)

“1968 - The great cultural crisis of the west.”

As we know, Pope Benedict XVI also recognizes 1968 as a pivitol year of social upheavel.  During a question and answer session with Italian priests last year, the Holy Father said:

…We must note that there were two great historic upheavals in the concrete context of the postconciliar period.

The first is the convulsion of 1968, the beginning – or explosion, I dare say – of the great cultural crisis of the West. The postwar generation had ended, a generation that, after seeing all the destruction and horror of war, of combat, and witnessing the drama of the great ideologies that had actually led people toward the precipice of war, had discovered the Christian roots of Europe and had begun to rebuild Europe with these great inspirations. But with the end of this generation there were also seen all of the failures, the gaps in this reconstruction, the great misery in the world, and so began the explosion of the crisis of Western culture, what I would call a cultural revolution that wants to change everything radically. It says: In two thousand years of Christianity, we have not created a better world; we must begin again from nothing, in an absolutely new way. - All Against All

[Photo:  Chicago policeman carrying injured child protestor.  1968]

Our Lady of Good Counsel
Feast day April 26

The Miraculous image. 

The original icon is in Genazzano Italy. It was transported miraculously by angels from Scutari in Albania. It was originally a fresco in a Church there when the Moslems were invading the area. It was rescued by angels, transported by angels and landed in an Augustinian Church. It remains there to this day.

It is a ‘living’ miracle because it is actually suspended in a niche, without support – a thread can be passed around the entire piece – there is no support! In addition, it is a very thin layer of fresco – that is plaster – and it never has been damaged. Existing miraculous images and shrines that come to mind that are comparable to this one are the Holy House of Loreto, the tilma of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and the Shroud of Turin. It’s an ongoing miracle.

This title of Our Lady is so dear, she is the spouse of the Holy Spirit and one of His gifts is the gift of counsel. Let us ask Our Lady to grant to us this gift and all the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Our Lady of Good Counsel, pray for us.

Narrative:

“It was found that the painting was executed not upon wood, or canvas, or metal, but upon a thin layer of plaster of porcelain texture and thickness—the thickness of an eggshell. No human skill could have detached it whole and entire from another wall, much less have transported it and placed it in its new location. This wafer-like sheet of plaster stands upright, with no support of any kind except the narrow ledge it rests upon.

”For well over five hundred years, this extraordinary phenomenon has remained unchanged, defying the law of gravity. Although it is now enshrined behind glass in a golden reliquary adorned with precious stones, at no place is this fragile painting supported or touched except at the base. The Commission found it possible to pass a thread in the front of the Icon around the top, down the back from top to bottom, proving there is no visible support.

During the Second World War a bomb fell through the sanctuary roof demolishing the high altar and causing terrible damage. The sacred picture was untouched, though only a few yards away. So Our Lady of Good Counsel continues to reign among her beloved of Genazzano and all who would seek her help and counsel which she, the Spouse of the Holy Spirit, is so desirous to share with her children. -OL Good Council

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During these days when the West and Christianity itself is assailed by militant Islamic extremists we would do well to have recourse to Our Lady of Good Counsel and ask her to deliver us from terrorism and war. Our Lady of Good Counsel, pray for us now and at the hour of our death. Amen.