The Blogging Year That Was (2011)

This blog has been up and running for a year (as of tomorrow). So just by way of interest:

• The blog has had just under 150,000 visitors.

What is it that they came looking for? Search terms (in order of popularity) are:

• The Traditional Anglican Communion
• Monsignor Ian Dempsey
• Fr Stephen Smuts
• Fr John Corapi
• Fr Michael Manning
• Anders Behring Breivik Manifesto
• Please don’t eat bananas for the next 3 weeks
• Spongebob
• Archbishop John Hepworth
• Ancient books found in Jordan

Where did people come from to get to this blog? Top referrers are:

 Google Search

  Yahoo Search

  Bing

 Twitter

 Wordpress.com

 Facebook

 Catholicusanglicanus.wordpress.com

 Bibliobloglibrary.com

The most popular posts for the year (2011) are:

1. Fr John Corapi Leaves the Priesthood To Be ‘The Black Sheepdog’   6,471
2. Jordan: Ancient Sealed Books Found (Update)   6,204
3. Fr Michael Manning Admits Affair with Cousin   3,725
4. Anders Behring Breivik’s Evil YouTube Manifesto   2,125
5. Secret Hoard of Ancient Sealed Books Found in Jordan   1,563
6. Archbishop John Hepworth to be a Layman in the Catholic Church   1,285
7. Monsignor Ian Dempsey Accused of Raping TAC Primate   1,183
8. ‘Pervert’ Pastor   1,175
9. SOLT Report on Fr John Corapi: Sexual Activity, Alcohol and Drugs Abuse, Improper Sacramental Practices   1,094

And who can forget…

10. Harold Camping False Prophet: What Now?   1,055

Sadly not always making for the nicest reading matter out there, it has to be said - more often than not, our human falleness being put out on display.

Where are you in the world?

All that said and done, allow me to thank you for having taken the time to stop by (for whatever reason it may have been). It is my sincerest prayer that you would have been blessed by your visit here, and that you will stay tuned for the exciting year that is ahead.

“A new year is unfolding—like a blossom with petals curled tightly concealing the beauty within. Lord, let this year be filled with the things that are truly good—with the comfort of warmth in our relationships, with the strength to help those who need our help and the humility and penness to accept help from others. As we make our resolutions for the year ahead, let us go forward with great hope that all things can be possible—with Your help and guidance.”

- Anonymous

With every blessing,

In Christ Jesus,

Fr Stephen.

Midnight Mass 2011

Happy New Year (Almost)

HT:   Church Times

 

The Best Viral Videos Of 2011

Receiving Anglicanism

Writes Fr Dwight Longenecker (himself a former Anglican):

On Sunday the Anglican Ordinariate for the United States will be formally announced. As we prepare to receive our Anglican brothers and sisters in this historic step towards church unity, what will the Anglicans be receiving from their step of faith into full communion, and what will we be receiving from them? Here’s my list — twenty five things in no particular order…What Anglicans will receive from entering into full communion with the Catholic Church:

1. Ecclesial unity with the Bishop of Rome – The Pope!
2. Communion with over a billion Catholics worldwide
3. Validity of orders and sacraments
4. Marian apparitions
5. Evelyn Waugh, G.K.Chesterton, Flannery O’Connor, Hilaire Belloc
6. Unity rather than schism
7. The truth about Henry VIII
8. Peace rather than continual strife
9. Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Divine Mercy
10. Italy, Spain, France, Poland, Ireland, Bavaria, Austria.
11. New understanding and sharing in Catholic spirituality
12. Chartres, Mont St Michel, Notre Dame, Sacre Coeur
13. Belonging to a church that transcends culture and class
14. Relics
15. Solidarity with Catholic bishops and clergy
16. The Sistine Chapel
17. New relationship with global Christianity
18. The Infant of Prague
19. Santiago de Compostella
20. Holy Cards
21. Communion with all the Catholic saints
22. Michaelangelo, Raphael, Carravagio, Leonardo da Vinci
23. A new understanding of English history
24. A final authority
25. Cohesive and comprehensive doctrinal and moral teaching

What Roman Catholics will receive from Anglicans who are entering into full communion through the Ordinariate:

1. An appreciation of English language, culture and history
2. The English choral tradition
3. Wesley’s hymns
4. Ad orientem celebration of the Mass
5. The General Thanksgiving
6. George Herbert
7. Preaching tabs, academic hood and preaching scarf
8. Choral Evensong
9. The Coverdale Psalter
10. T.S.Eliot and C.S.Lewis
11. The General Confession
12. Well educated clergy
13. Julian of Norwich
14. Lace and Incense
15. Our Lady of Walsingham
16. Needlepoint kneelers
17. The Caroline Divines
18. Altar rails
19. Anglican chant
20. Charles I – King and Martyr
21. The Prayer of Humble Access
22. Nine Lessons and Carols
23. Altar frontals
24. John Donne and George Herbert
25. Tea and biscuits

Clay Pipe Mouthpiece Unearthed in Israel

Discovery News:

A centuries-old mouthpiece of a pipe, which might have been used to smoke hashish, has been unearthed in the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem, according to the Israel Antiquities Authority.

Bearing the Arabic inscription “love is language for the lovers,” (literally translated, it reads “heart is language for the lover”) the clay pipe was likely intended as a gift between lovers.

According to Shahar Puni, of the Israel Antiquities Authority, the object dates from the 16th to the 19th century, when Jerusalem was part of the Ottoman Empire, a Turkish state that stretched from southeastern Europe, across northern Africa and through most of the Middle East.

“Clay pipes of this kind were very common in the Ottoman period, and were mostly used for smoking tobacco, and some were even used to smoke hashish,” Puni said in a statement.

“The Ottoman authorities tried to combat this practice but failed when it became clear that smoking was firmly entrenched in all levels of society,” Puni said.

Smoking was popular amongst both men and women, and was often done in cafes and in groups of friends.

Indeed, 19th century drawings show Jerusalemite women smoking clay pipes similar to the one unearthed in the Jewish Quarter.

“Pipes were also used as a piece of jewelry that could be worn on a garment,” Puni said.