Quote:
Originally posted by linnea
My pain and fatigue level has been way up and I just wanted to go to bed but I cleaned and shopped and got ready. |
Linnea - I think it is the change of the seasons, as I have felt the same way for the last couple of weeks. Mobic hasn't kicked in, yet, so I have that on top of the seasonal change. Waaaaaaa! I want my Mommy!
Sorry. Just had to whine for a minute!
Pag36 - reading your post reminded me of my Mama. She lost all her teeth when she was only 45 because she had many infections and they thought at that time it was causing or contributing to her rheumatoid arthritis. They never could get dentures to "fit" right because of the RA - she developed the RA nodules all along her gums where the dentures would press - so she never wore them. She was resigning herself to eating what she called "slops" for the rest of her life, when I had DS#1. By the time he was 8 months old, he was sitting in his high chair eating a grilled cheese sandwich - just gumming it to death. She decided if he could do that, she could, too! So she stopped eating "slops" and started eating sandwiches! They had to be made with soft cheeses and soft meats (like deviled ham), but she could handle them. She said she was grateful to DS#1 for the rest of her life! What a woman! She died at the ripe old age of 59 from RA complications. In 14 years she had over 30 major orthopedic surgeries to deal with joint destruction - including two cervical (neck) fusions and 4 surgeries on her thumbs. I still miss her 27 years later.
How is your water heater? has the guy come out yet?
Joyce and Mouse - so many questions, so few characters left...!
Mouse, All monks and priests are addressed as "Father." Deacons are addressed as "Father Deacon," except a monk who is a deacon is just addressed as "Father." Our website does not have any music, but some Russian Orthodox music can be heard at:
http://en.liturgy.ru/zvuk/zvuk.php
Some of that is male-only, but a good bit is by mixed choirs. The language is Slavonic, and I often play it while saying my prayers as it doesn't distract me - I'm not trying to chant the words because I'm not facile in Slavonic. The "breathlessness" of Russian Orthodox music is one of it's characteristic qualities. It is achieved by everyone breathing at a different place, and coming back into the chanting using a special vocalization technique. I can't describe it well with words, but it is something like quietly starting "mmmmmm" and then changing to the words. But it is extremely smooth - through a lot of practice.
Yes, Mouse, the monks are up every 3 hours night and day. It is something they gradually work up to - not something you just jump into. Those who have reached a certain spiritual level do not "sleep" in bed, but instead may doze off and on throughout the day. They stand in prayer for hours, and in a group of people may seem to be dozing, but will suddenly chime into the conversation with an incredible depth of understanding, right on the topic under discussion. But this is NOT for the laity! We have to work up to it with the assistance of a good spiritual counselor.
If my darlin' ol' curmudgeon falls asleep in the Lord before I do, more than likely I will go into a convent - this is a very common thing in Orthodoxy. I will have no debts, and I'll probably be on Medicare plus have a supplemental for healthcare. No need to stay alone in this house. I'll probably sell it and set up an educational trust for the grandkids. But I'll just have to keep at least one of my computers so I can chime in on FC from time to time!
Joyce, Orthodox Priests may come from the married or the unmarried. However, once ordained into the priesthood, they may not "change their status." So if the wife dies, the husband may not remarry. If the man goes into the priesthood unmarried, he may not marry. Same for the Deacons. A married man may not be ordained unless his wife agrees wholeheartedly, because she has responsibilities, also, as the "little mother" for the parish. People go to her for answers if they fear approaching her husband. Although she may refer most of these questions to her husband, many times she is the counselor for women regarding "womanly" problems. (We do not receive Holy Communion during our "monthlies," for instance, and many women do not even enter the Church at that time.) She will end up being de facto in charge of the "Trapeza" (coffee hour) and may have to direct a small choir during week day services. In the absence of a choir director, she ends up being expected to direct choir - may have to go to Choir School to do so! So, any man who thinks he may be called to the Priesthood needs to work all this out with his wife or intended ahead of time. It isn't an easy in the US, because it is so different a mindset from the rest of the people in the country.
Cheerio!
Elizabeth