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Boston Globe
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
The priesthood, or rock 'n' roll? How the Stones inspired me to break my grandmother's heart.
Advertisement Mick wrote the words, and Keith helped make them better. With the other Rolling Stones, they flew to Chicago and recorded the track at Chess Records on the South Side, 25 miles east of my family's house. They'd just performed three pretty good songs on Ed Sullivan, but none were as good as this new one. No song was, really. One mag said Keith used special tuning and something called a fuzzbox to make his guitar sound so aggro and dirty. Get The Gavel A weekly SCOTUS explainer newsletter by columnist Kimberly Atkins Stohr. Enter Email Sign Up Five years before that, our Grandma Grace had moved from the Bronx to our new house in Lisle, Ill. Her husband had died back in 1928, and she loved telling me about my namesake grandfather — mine-laying sailor during the war, stalwart teetotaler, devout and pious Catholic — and how much he respected Jesuits, how thrilled he'd be to look down from heaven and watch me serve on God's altar. I was 9. 'My little lamb,' she called me, as in Lamb of God. Advertisement Next thing I knew, she'd landed a job as the secretary at our parish's rectory and talked Father Fred into letting me start serving mass two years early. I became the youngest altar boy in the history of St. Joan of Arc! But that was just part of her plan. After serving at masses, weddings, and baptisms from fourth through eighth grade, for high school I would attend St. Stanislaus Jesuit Seminary in Florissant, Mo., where I'd 'accept the gift of celibacy.' After four years there and four more at a Jebby university, I'd be ordained as a Jesuit priest. As she drove me to and from the 6:15 a.m. masses I served almost daily, Grandma Grace told me that if a boy became a Jesuit priest, his grandparents, parents, brothers, and sisters would all go straight to heaven the moment they died, skipping what could be dozens or even millions of years in purgatory. 'Most indulgences remove only some of the penance,' she said, 'but a plenary indulgence, like when you get ordained, removes all of it.' I promised her many times I would do it. I didn't think that lifelong celibacy was a deal-breaker, if I thought about it at all. Plus I was proud to be able to spare my whole family the stinging, cleansing fires — cooler than hell's, but still pretty hot — so our souls could all zoom up to heaven the second we passed away. Advertisement Our plan stayed on track until I was 12 or 13, when what celibacy forbids started sinking in. What the hell had I been thinking? For months and months, I seesawed back and forth about breaking my promise, though I forgot about the whole thing for long stretches during football or baseball season. As the summer between eighth grade and the seminary rolled around, 'Satisfaction' was on the radio all the time, most predictably when WLS counted down to the No. 1 song every night at 10 o'clock. My parents would be watching TV downstairs, and I'd turn it up as loud as I dared. I dug when Mick sang, 'He can't be a man 'cause he doesn't smoke the same cigarettes as me,' because my friends and I were smoking them too, especially when we played poker. Keith, Mick, Charlie, and Brian all smoked, sometimes while playing onstage. The biggest difference was, they never had to get haircuts; we couldn't avoid them because our parents were so strict. Mick is 'tryin' to make some girl,' though he's obviously made a few others. But the coolest thing was that even Mick couldn't 'get no satisfaction' that summer, since we couldn't get any ourselves. In late July, the paperwork for St. Stanislaus had to be signed, and I somehow found the courage to tell Grandma and my parents that instead of the seminary, I wanted to go to St. Procopius, the all-boys prep school right there in Lisle. Thank God, whom I no longer completely believed in, that my dad supported the switch, because he secretly hoped I'd become a good Catholic businessman and usher, like him. If he hadn't, I'd be Stanislaus-bound. Advertisement Grandma was stunned, which killed me and her son. She couldn't have known that in 1999 I'd name my fourth child after her. All she knew was that in five years I'd gone from being probably her favorite kid (there were six of us now, and counting) to an undevout promise-breaker. She said she no longer recognized me, and not because I was taller than she was and had whiskers. 'In here,' she said, touching her heart. When she asked why I changed my mind, I wasn't sure what to say, but I didn't want to lie. 'Maybe I'll change it back while I'm at Proco,' I said. Proco was Benedictine but Catholic, I reminded her, and half the teachers were priests. Their motto was U.I.O.G.D., 'Ut in Omnibus Glorificetur Deus' — That in all things God may be glorified. Grandma just sniffed, shook her head, looking down and away, like she did when she really wanted you to know how disappointed she was. If I'd been totally honest, I would've told her girls, sports, poker, and 'Satisfaction.' That whatever's the opposite of becoming a priest is what the words and Keith's riff are about.
Sharjah 24
3 days ago
- Sharjah 24
UAE Pilgrims Office ensures hajj camp safety
Enabling pilgrims to perform their rituals with comfort and peace His Excellency Ahmed Rashid Al Neyadi emphasized that preparations to receive pilgrims—referred to as the Guests of God—are ongoing across all holy sites. The office is committed to providing everything needed to ensure pilgrims can perform their rituals in comfort and ease. Facilities fully ready for pilgrims Al Neyadi reiterated the office's dedication to maintaining the highest health and safety standards at all camp facilities. He noted that the trial operations confirmed the full operational readiness of the services. Infrastructure boost: Third power station and more Al Neyadi highlighted significant infrastructure enhancements made this year. These include the addition of a third power station inside the camp, established in cooperation with Saudi authorities. A new prayer hall with a capacity of around 400 worshippers was also built at Mount Arafat. Further upgrades include full shading of the camp area to protect against sunstroke, planting of 200 new trees to help reduce heat, and the installation of ventilation fans in Arafat's corridors—all aimed at improving the comfort and well-being of pilgrims during Hajj.
Saudi Gazette
25-05-2025
- Saudi Gazette
Mataf area ready for Hajj 1446 with capacity of 107,000 pilgrims per hour
Saudi Gazette report MAKKAH — The General Authority for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque has confirmed the full readiness of the Mataf area to receive pilgrims for Hajj 1446, as part of comprehensive organizational plans to ensure safety, comfort, and high-quality services for worshippers at the Grand Mosque. The authority announced that the tawaf capacity of the Mataf has reached 107,000 pilgrims per hour, spread across the ground level, first and mezzanine levels, and upper floors, including the rooftop. In total, the Mataf can accommodate up to 203,000 worshippers across all levels during peak hours. Officials said that the entire Mataf area has been made accessible exclusively for pilgrims performing tawaf. Dedicated entrances and main and side gates have been allocated to streamline access to the Mataf, with specific gates designated for services and emergency use to optimize safety and crowd move comes under the directives of Saudi leadership to ensure a smooth and spiritually fulfilling experience for the Guests of God, and to facilitate the performance of Hajj rituals with ease and tranquility.
Herald Malaysia
12-05-2025
- General
- Herald Malaysia
Pope Leo XIV at Regina Caeli: May we pray for vocations, live a life of service
Before leading the recitation of the Regina Caeli on Good Shepherd Sunday, Pope Leo XIV calls for prayers for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life, while also "living in service to one another" so we can "walk in love and truth" on our life journey. May 12, 2025 By Thaddeus JonesBefore leading the recitation of the Regina Caeli prayer from the central loggia of Saint Peter's Basilica, Pope Leo XIV expressed his joy and offered his warm greetings to the estimated one hundred thousand pilgrims and visitors gathered in the square below. Good Shepherd Sunday Recalling that today marks Good Shepherd Sunday, Pope Leo XIV described it as "a gift from God" that he can celebrate on the first Sunday of his service as Bishop of Rome when the Gospel reading tells us about Jesus who reveals himself as the true Shepherd "who knows and loves his sheep and gives his life for them." World Day of Prayer for Vocations Today also marks the World Day of Prayer for Vocations and the final day of the Jubilee pilgrimage of members of bands and popular entertainment. Pope Leo greeted all with affection and thanked them for their music and performances that "enliven the feast of Christ the Good Shepherd: the One who guides the Church with his Holy Spirit." Helping one another Pope Leo then expressed his joy in being able to pray together with all the People of God for vocations, especially to the priesthood and consecrated life. He said the Church has "great need for them" as it does all of us who support them on their vocational journey so they can "find acceptance, listening and encouragement in their communities" and "credible models of generous dedication to God and to their brothers and sisters." Recalling Pope Francis' message for the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, he encouraged everyone to "welcome and accompany young people" while we ask God to help us all live "in service to one of helping one another to walk in love and truth." Do not be afraid! Adressing young people in particular regarding vocations, Pope Leo encouraged them saying, "Do not be afraid! Accept the invitation of the Church and of Christ the Lord!" 'May the Virgin Mary, whose entire life was a response to the Lord's call, always accompany us in following Jesus.'--Vatican News
The Irish Sun
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Gary Lineker gets a grilling over Maradonna's infamous hand of God goal in hilarious new The Assembly teaser
GARY Lineker is faced with an awkward moment from his past in a hilarious moment in The Assembly. 5 Gary Lineker is asked about Maradona's Hand of God in The Assembly Credit: ITV 5 The footballer says he knew from his teammate's reaction that the goal was illegal Credit: Getty During the chat, one interviewer brings up Lineker's time on the England team – and Asked how he felt about the moment, Lineker admits: 'I wasn't really that thrilled. 'To be honest, I was on the other end of the pitch, but I could tell from my teammates, Terry Butcher and Peter Shilton, that they knew he had punched it in.' 'If they had VARs that wouldn't have happened, like seriously,' responded the interviewer, calling it 'complete BS' which makes Lineker burst out laughing. READ MORE GARY LINEKER Argentina won the game 2-1, with the Hand of God being allowed as referees did not have a clear view of the goal when it happened. When asked about it afterwards, Maradona claimed the goal was 'a little with the head of Maradona, and a little with the hand of God". He would later admit it was an illegal move on his part, but declared it 'symbolic revenge' for the Falklands War. Most read in Sport The Assembly interview comes as Lineker, who has since become best known as a football pundit, announced he's stepping down from Match of the Day at the end of the season. He will be replaced by the trio of 'No offence lads' - Gary Lineker gives no-nonsense Match of the Day verdict in savage goodnight message He will, however, be kept on to lead the Beeb's coverage of the 2026 World Cup in the US and Mexico. He joins Danny Dyer, Jade Thirlwall and David Tennant in this new interview series, which has already been pinned for a second season following its success. The Assembly: Gary Lineker airs tonight at 10pm on ITV1. 5 Gary (pictured right) was on the other side of the pitch at the time Credit: Alamy 5 Gary is left laughing when the interviewer called the moment 'complete BS' Credit: ITV 5 Maradona's goal paved the way for Argentina to win the game 2-1 Credit: Getty
