Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer

St. Susanna the
Deaconess Martyr

It's my name day!  St. Susanna the Deaconess was born into the Kingdom on December 15.  I'm giving myself a treat with this post.  I just love Rudolf and Burl Ives.  My father was very fond of these claymation specials from the 60s.  General Electric, the company my dad worked for for decades, was the sponsor of Rudolf.  I don't think the blatant electricity of his nose was an accident! 

4 Degrees

Fourth Degree: Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Third Degree: Burl Ives
Rudolf's film debut was with Burl Ives.  Burl played the snowman who narrates the Rudolf saga.  Part 1 of the first film is embedded above.  


Second Degree: Gary Cooper
Burl Ives appeared on "What's my line" August 7, 1955.  Gary Cooper was on the program October 18, 1959.  Here are the clips of their appearances.  






First Degree: Pope Pius XII
Gary Cooper converted to Catholicism well into adulthood.  For the story of his conversion and his encounter with Pope Pius XII, click here.  

Gary Cooper with Pope Pius XII (source: Janis, 79; photo credit: G. Felici)

Pius XII is on the road to sainthood.  He was made "venerable" by Benedict XVI.  For an article about his elevation to venerable, click here.  


1 Degree: Benedict (also) also elevated his predecessor, John Paul II.

Benedict at tomb of Pius XII
photo by Getty Images and AFP

Rudolf is all about light.  Children look to him for a light in the darkness of a winter's night.  We look to the saints for light when we are in darkness.  May you find the light you need to find your way this Christmas season.  


To read the origin of the Rudolf story, click here.  I warn you, you'll need tissues!

Commentaries and Tiger Woods

Photo by CNN
Tiger apologizing

This post is made up entirely of ideas.  There are NO points of actual contact.  Each contact simply expounds on the next contact.  The goal here is to help you in your journey through Advent.  It's a mini-Lent you know.


Fourth Degree: Tiger Woods
Tiger comments on his own behavior in this video.  He apologizes for repeated, opportunistic adultery over the course of their relationship.  It was objectifying of women and of himself.  The problem probably began with Tiger objectifying his wife.  In this season of Advent, it's a good time to reevaluate our marriages and look at one another with love instead of objectification.




Third Degree: Brit Hume
On an opinion segment on Fox News Sunday, Brit Hume commented on Tiger Woods' spiritual life and family life by means of faith.  Here is Keith Olbermann and Dan Savage commenting and Brit's remarks.  It is very funny in spots and some great points are made.



Second Degree: Father Rober Barron comments on Jesus through the first chapter of Matthew.  Think of this as you enter the Christmas Holidays.



1 Degree: Jesus and Peter
We know that Jesus instituted the papacy through Peter.  Here He also addresses our topic at hand.  He tells a parable that encourages us to go to confession (a great idea during the Advent Season).  Then we have Peter telling Jesus that he's not worthy and is sinful.  Jesus calls him to be a fisher of men.



0 Degree: John Paul II
Before he was shot, before he was ill, before all the troubles in his papacy, but certainly not in his life, he came to the US.  Some thoughts from JP2 to help you begin the Advent season.


* please note that journeying toward John Paul is not always going "up".   John Paul was a sinner and imperfect like the rest of us.  As I noted in the title of the blog, we want to be 0 degrees from Christ.  That is the ultimate goal.  

King Tut, #3

The intellectual high-ground of xenophobia

When famine, earthquake, or other disaster struck, this group of people fled to their neighbor, the richest, most powerful nation on earth.  There, they worked, lived, loved, and learned from their powerful neighbors.  Cultures merged as new ideas were brought to both sides.

Germans dealing with Turks?

French dealing with North African and Middle Eastern immigrants?

Americans dealing with Mexicans?

No

Ancient Egyptians and the Jewish people.  

The Jews and the Egyptians have a history with one another going back to at least 1000 before the birth of Tutankhamen.  After the death of Joseph, a Pharoh, who was unfamiliar with Joseph and his story, enslaved the Jews, subjecting them to great cruelty.  

Donny Osmond as Joseph
and his coat of
many colors

Several generations later, another Pharoh did not like the high birthrate of the Jewish people.  This Pharoh saw Jews as vermin who were taking over Egypt.  He decided to control their population and demoralize them by murdering their first-born sons.  God intervened to save His chosen people.  God saw to it that Moses was saved by Pharoh's daughter.  He then saved them via a series of plagues, and finally, His Passover.  

Today's connection to the papacy is through Jesus' family, the Jews.  There's lots of video in this one.  Let's get started!

5 Degrees

King Tutankhamun with 3000 pounds of gold make-up

Fifth Degree: King Tutankhamun

King Tutankhamun without his 3000 pounds of make-up

Fourth Degree: Amenhotep II

Amenhotep II, the most likely candidate for the pharoh of the Exodus
The Great-Great Granpa (and uncle) of King Tut

Third Degree: Moses

Although he is not a direct ancestor of Jesus, Moses and Jesus have a common ancestor, Abraham.  The Jewish people have brought many wonderful things to the world.  Besides the Messiah, they have given us a wonderful sense of humor.  

Second Degree: Abraham, Joseph, Mary, and Jesus Christ

For a full genealogy of Jesus' foster father click here.  You can also see Exodus 2:1-2 and Matthew 1:1-17.

Since Abraham is father of all Jewish people, he would be a common ancestor for both Mary and Joseph.  

First Degree: Saint Peter

Saint Peter was Pope #1.  John Paul II was Pope #265

Dr. Zahi Hawass has figured prominently in all the Tut reckonings.  Here he is discussing the restoration of a Jewish Temple in Egypts history.  To deny the history of all the people of a region is to deny history itself.  For my post about anti-semetism click here.  Enjoy!

John Adams

This post was originally part of a series of presidents for the month of February, but it took a turn that made it appropriate for Pearl Harbor Day.  I strongly suggest you see all the videos from the BBC that begin with one toward the bottom of this post.  King Tut #3 is coming on the 8th.

John Adams

John Adams was President of the United States (POTUS) from 1797-1801.  Most think of him as the second president, but it depends on your reckoning.  He was the second president under the constitution of 1787, but #12 if you consider the country from the moment it became united.  This video is really interesting.

Fasten your seatbelt, this is a ride of 9 degrees that covers 5 presidents

and 2 Japanese emperors!

9th Degree: President John Adams (portrait above)

8th Degree: President John Quincy Adams,
author of The Monroe Doctrine

7th Degree: President James Monroe
The Monroe Doctrine stated that, while the United States will not interfere with nor
deny the legitimacy of any existing colonies of European nations in the Western Hemisphere,
it would see the formation of any new colonies or expansion of existing colonies as acts of
war against the United States and therefore require US retaliation.   

6th Degree: President Teddy Roosevelt
In 1905, Teddy Roosevelt modified the Monroe Doctrine.
In that same year he also encouraged Japan to expand onto the
Asian continent.  This was NOT his finest act.

5th Degree: Emperor Meiji Mutsuhito expanded Japan onto the Asian
continent, setting the course for WWII in Asia.

Fourth Degree: Emperor Showa Hirohito
invaded Manchuria in 1933, the first of his invasions that
lead to the Asian theater of WWII.

Third Degree: President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR)

Declares war on Japan after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Second Degree: President Harry S. Truman and Emperor Showa Hirohito

After the European side of WWII ended, as concentration camps were being liberated and other atrocities were coming to light, the Asian war burned hot with no end in sight.  President Harry Truman decided to drop the first atomic bombs on Japan.  Here is audio of him discussing this decision.  

This video is the gateway to an excellent BBC documentary about the bomb. 

1st Degree: Pope Pius XII

Harry Truman and his predecessor, FDR, exchanged letters with Pius XII.  

Beyonce Knowles

Zahi and Beyonce

3 Degrees

Knowles-Hawass-Bush-John Paul II

She's sexy and she can sing, but she's not the brightest scarab in the tomb according to Zahi Hawass.  Ms. Knowles traveled to Egypt and evidently she "doesn't understand anything she doesn't want to."  Dr. Hawass pawned her off onto an assistant in disgust.  "She just wants to take pictures," he said.

Beyonce's Arabic is non-existant, so she did not understand the constant jabs that Dr. Hawass was slamming her way.  According to the good doctor, she should not venture outside the US because "only Americans are willing to overlook how stupid she is."  OUCH!
To read the whole story click here.   and here too.

Challenge Me!

I would like YOU to challenge me with a person to connect to Pope John Paul II.  Leave your challenges in comments or email me.  Here are some categories for the next few months.

January:  Greek Month
This month will connect to John Paul II via Greeks, the Greek Orthodox Church, or both.

February: Presidents Month and Black History Month

March: Women's History Month and Holocaust Remembrance Month

April:  The Month of Fools



If your challenge does not fit, submit it anyway.  You'd be amazed at how connected your person might end out being to the theme of a month.

King Tutankhamun #2

Dr. Hawass, photo by AP

The last two posts introduced us to Dr. Zahi Hawass, the face of Egyptian antiquities to the world.  Dr. Hawass recently oversaw DNA testing on King Tutankhamun (KV62) and other mummies from KV21A, KV35YL, KV55, KV35, and KV35EL.  As it turns out, King Tut's family tree is more like a wreath.

Dr. Hawass with King Tut
Photo on the BBC website

• His great-aunt was also his grandma.  
• His Uncle and Aunt were also his mom and dad.  
• And his wife was his half-sister and cousin!  

For genetic evidence and Tut's family tree, see page 52 in the September 2010 issue of National Geographic.  The coverstory is by Dr. Hawass with stunning photos by Kenneth Garrett.  Ken's site is here.  Dr. Hawass' site is here. 

We link King Tutankhamun to Pope John Paul II this time via bloodlines.  Let's get started.

5 Degrees

of double-helix hijinks!

Photo from National
Geographic, June 2005

Fifth Degree: King Tutankhamun,
The Boy King, the Inbred Emperor, The Club-footed, Cleft-palleted (though not hare-lipped) Kid from Cairo (well, Thebes), restored polytheism to Egypt after his heretical father, Akhenaten, led the country in a monotheistic cult of the sun and pharoh for 20 years.  Rather than remaining in the belief of a single god, Aten and keeping his name Tutankhaten, Tut used the name Tutankhamun.  Tut's grandpa's name, Amenhotep, means "Amun is pleased."

Noksbutzwitbroshet and Tutankhamun
She was the daughter of Nefertiti, very
pretty indeed.  

King Tut and his lovely sister/cousin/wife, Noksbutzwitbroshet (sound it out, I made that up, we don't actually know her name,) conceived two children.  Both babies died in the womb and were mummified and buried with Tutankhamun.  

According to Dr. Hawass' article in the September 2010 National Geographic, tut's sister/cousin/widow wrote to the King of Egypt's arch-rivals, the Hittites, asking him to send her a prince to marry her because "my husband is dead, and I have no son."  The Hittitie king did send a prince, but the prince was killed by the chief commander of Tut's armies, Horemheb.  Horemheb figured he'd marry the queen for himself, but he died before children resulted from that union.  Horemheb left his throne to his army colleague.  That colleague married Noksbutzwithbroshet and took the name Ramses I.  Ramses II was the grandson of Ramses I and therefore the great nephew of the late King Tutankhamun.

Fourth Degree: Ramses II

Ramses' bloodline bore some pretty amazing people.  Ramses himself lived almost 100 years.  Many of his offspring were equally hearty.  They include Xerxes the Great, Saint Isaac The Great of Armenia aka. Saint Isaac of Syria, Henry I of France, Eleanor of Aquitaine, and Henry Plantagenet.  

Bas relief of Xerxes The Great

Mosaic of St. Isaac of Armenia

Eleanor of Aquitaine as played by
Katherine Hepburn in
"A Lion in Winter"

Henry VIII in characature by Amir Taqi

Third Degree: King Henry VIII:  
Some 100 generations after Ramses II, King Henry VIII (Plantagenet) ascended to the throne of England.  Marriage will forever bear the scars of Henry's tussle with the Catholic Church.  


Second Degree: Saint Thomas Moore
In Henry's desperate attempt to get legitimate tail on the side,  he tortured and killed two saints of the church, Cardinal Fisher and Thomas Moore.  These men died because they refused to help their king create a loopole whereby he could divorce his wife, Katherine of Aragon.  Here is a clip from the series "The Tudors."  The scene of Thomas Moore's execution.  I'll spare you the torture of Cardinal Fisher.  

First Degree: Pope Pius XI

Thomas Moore was canonized by
Pope Pius XI in 1935

Tut to Ramses to Henry VIII to Thomas Moore to Pope Pius XI to John Paul II

Coming soon! In King Tut #3, discover the pharoh of the exodus, and how he was related to Tut.

Divorce: Divorce is not possible in Christianity.  God marries two people, but the two people have to be willing participants in the marriage.  The only way for a marriage to be dissolved is if it did not happen in the first place.  This is the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church.*  Annulments can be petitioned for.  They mean that the marriage was never valid.  Here is a short list of reasons for annulment.

1. one or both parties was not willing to marry on the wedding day
2. one or both parties were not in their right mind on the wedding day
3. one or both parties was incapable of consummating the marriage on the wedding day
4. the wedding was not held in a church and God was not asked to be part of the marriage

Civil divorce is necessary when violence, substance abuse or other intolerable circumstances enter a marriage.  If you divorce YOU ARE STILL CATHOLIC.  Just because you don't live with someone and have protected your children from them etc, does not mean that you are not married to them in the eyes of God.  You can still love your spouse, pray for your spouse, and do nice things for your spouse.  You just can't marry someone else.  Talk to a priest if you have any questions.  

It is not true that money can buy an annulment.  Henry VIII had loads of money, as do the Kennedys of Massachusetts, but both have been unable to get annulments.  If an annulment is fought, its chances of being granted are greatly reduced.

*The Eastern church has a kind of 3-strikes practice which is actually more ancient than the Roman understanding, but with the East, death does NOT end the marriage.  You just can't escape the permanence of marriage in Catholic faith.   When we make a podcast version of the blog, we'll have to discuss this further.