More than the end of the quarter, it’s the end of exams. I worked the last late-late shift tonight, and the room was almost empty; about 10 when we closed at 2am, and last night it was more like 30. When I went to punch out I found myself passing through a room flooded with [...]
Entries Tagged as ‘b for books’
June 7, 2007
Further Ripley
Click on the “r for Ripley’s” tag if you don’t know what this is.
The Knights of Columbus own Yankee Stadium.
During the second century three sisters were martyred. Their names were Pistis, Elpis, and Agape, which in Greek mean Faith, Hope, and Charity.
Julian the Apostate wanted to disprove Christ’s prophecy that Jerusalem would not be rebuilt. [...]
June 6, 2007
Yet more Ripley
Since I started posting these, my feed stats tracker has not hit zero. In fact, it’s been up to unheard of levels — 20! So a big thank you to all the bots out there reading this blog, since I’m pretty sure no real people do. My finals are done but I’m a little burned [...]
June 5, 2007
Return of Ripley
More from a 1963 volume of fun facts for Kat’licks:
The Blessed Mother’s tomb is believed to have been in the valley of the Cedron, near Jerusalem, the place where her body was assumed into Heaven.
St. Thomas Aquinas, one of the greatest philosophers and theologians of the Church, was rewarded by being addressed by Christ on [...]
June 4, 2007
More Ripster
It’s pouring outside, I’m exhausted, and I can’t seem to work up much urgency over the pending apocalypse that is Wednesday. So let’s have more facts. These come from a randomly selected two-page spread.
Herod swore to grant anything to Salome if she would dance for him. When she asked for the head of St. John [...]
June 3, 2007
My brain belongs to Uni
Another day, another batch of Catholic trivia as seen by Ripley’s Believe It or Not circa 1963. I wouldn’t object if some of these facts served to defend culture as a central arena within which people negotiate and experience historical change. That would be kind of convenient.
The Weeping Madonna of Syracuse was a small statue [...]
June 2, 2007
I’m going to be busy today
So here are some further Ripley’s facts, from four pages of the book.
The Blessed Virgin has appeared at three places during the 20th Century. In 1917 she appeared several times at Fatima, Portugal, where she identified herself as “the Lady of the Rosary.” In 1933 she appeared 8 times at Banneux, Belgium, where she called [...]
June 1, 2007
Master Ripley, teach me your wisdom
I said I would do it and so I shall. Here are the facts taken from one random set of pages in that wonder of the catechetical world, A Catholic’s Ripley’s Believe It or Not! I’ve copied them as they appear, although they’re not numbered in the book. In case it needs clarification, I have [...]
May 25, 2007
Why I am a History major, and not studying English Lit
Want to read something utterly fascinating? Let me recommend to you Bab: A Sub-Deb, a title described by James Lileks as “sound[ing] like a novel written entirely in the voice of someone with a head cold”. The premise is that Barbara (“Bab”), a 17-year-old itching for her debut, has written essays and diary entries about [...]
May 20, 2007
Catholics have birds on their heads?! Sweet!
My parents came to visit me today, and brought me a bag of goodies to compensate for having to talk about what I’m doing with my life. In amongst the shoes, soda, and mail, was this little theological treasure: A Catholic’s Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, first printed in January 1964.
(All of these little [...]
