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Instructions on how to unsubscribe are at the end of this newsletter. Please do not reply to this email. The Tomie dePaola eNewsletter By Tomie dePaola Saturday night, December 8, is one of the feasts of Mary, the mother of Jesus. It is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a very lofty, difficult concept which was made popular by a young French peasant girl, Bernadette Soubirous when she had 18 visits from a beautiful lady who told her on the last visit (in the patois of the region), “Que soy era Immaculada Conceptiou.” The place was Lourdes, a book was written by Franz Werfel as a gift to the lady when he and his family escaped the Nazis when they were hiding in Lourdes and the remarkable film with Jennifer Jones in her first leading role, earning an Oscar for her performance. The movie is “The Song of Bernadette,” the same title as the book. I highly recommend both. The memorable line from both book and film is “For those who believe in God, no explanation is necessary, for those who don’t, no explanation is possible.” I like that. It’s all-inclusive. It doesn’t single out “which” God you have to believe in. Anyway, something to ponder. Saturday night, December 1, I lit my first Advent candle. I lit it each night until this past Saturday night when I lit the second as well. So in my new “great room,” two Advent candles will burn for a while and then be extinguished each night. Next Saturday, the third will be lit. In the kitchen area, last night, Sunday, December 9, I lit six candles on my menorah with the Shamash, or servant, candle. The Hanukkah candles burn out each night. Tonight, there will be seven. On Tuesday, the last night, eight will be lit, nine counting the Shamash. Hanukkah will be over, but Advent continues. Are you getting the picture? I not only like candles, I’m a nut for ritual. Tomie New Hampshire Public Television interview (January 28, 2007) THE BOSTON GLOBE (December 10, 2007) ................................................................ |
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