Harvey Millican's Blog: Musings of a Trad Dad

The thought has occurred to me more than once that anything uttered verbally in a vehicle these days is being “listened to” by devices, and now devices running AI.

I frequently pray many decades of the rosary while I’m driving my car. And more often than not I’m saying the words aloud.

Since they programmed these AI machines off of large troves of emails and other online caches of documents, I doubt very much that the Latin language would be very comprehensible to the machines (which cannot comprehend anything anyway).

So, pray your prayers in Latin. When they eventually hunt you down, they won’t have known what you were actually saying.

Just a thought…

Wednesday is the first of the three seasonal Ember Days of the Church. These days, described in remarkably precise detail in the video below, take place most closely aligned with the astronomical season to which they correspond. In other words, the September Ember Days typically occur almost exactly near the start of autumn.

If you were looking for a reason to fast today, consider that reason found and offered. And also consider the magnificently merciful benefits of these days. Our Lord promises us healing of both soul AND body by these fasts (and really, by any fast).

First us, the Collect of the Mass:

“Præsta, quǽsumus, Dómine, famíliæ tuæ supplicánti: ut, dum a cibis corporálibus se ábstinet, a vítiis quoque mente jejúnet.
Per Dominum…”

“O Lord, we beseech Thee, grant to Thy praying household that, as they fast from bodily food, they may also abstain mentally from sin.
Through our Lord…”

Next, the Gospel (Mk. 9:16-28). I won’t reproduce the entire thing here, but know that it is the Gospel of the man healed by Our Lord of demonic possesion after His disciples reported NOT being able to heal the same man. Our Lord’s response is this:

“This kind can be cast out in no way except by prayer and fasting.”

Take a look also at the Secret:

“May this offering, O Lord, we beseech You, wipe away our transgressions, and make holy the minds and bodies of Your servants for celebrating this sacrifice.
Through our Lord…”

If you think these prayers are salutary, wait until you see the orations for Ember Saturday!

Sub tuum praesidium confugimus,
sancta Dei Genetrix;
Nostras deprecationes
ne despicias in necessitatibus;
Sed, a periculis cunctis
libera now semper,
Virgo gloriosa et benedicta.
Amen

We fly to thy protection,
O holy Mother of God;
Despise not our petitions
in our necessities;
But deliver us always
from all dangers,
O glorious and blessed Virgin.
Amen

Today would have been my parents’ 69th wedding anniversary. Mom is still with us, almost 90! Dad has been gone close to ten years.

I give thanks this day for the wonderful example they set for us kids in the troubling times in which they had to raise their family.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I love you! Save souls!

And don’t forget to make many frequent spiritual Communions. Supernerd published the prayer recently here.

Today, on this feast of San Gennaro (St. Januarius), I am reminded of my time growing up in northern New Jersey and the wonderful heritage of all that Italian food. It’s soooooo good. I’m also reminded of one of my favorite movies of all time. The movie is called Fatso and stars Dom Deluis and Anne Bancroft. Take a look at a scene from this wonderful DARK comedy. It’s cued up to 32:00 for one of my favorite scenes. YouTube clips sometimes get wonky when I embed them so click the link below if it doesn’t play in the box.

Recently, I discovered that Dom is buried in the same cemetery in Queens as my grandparents (and Tony Bennet!).

https://x.com/Polymarket/status/2100786797936583040?s=42

I’ve got so much to say about this hat I’m tired and going to bed. Stay confessed.