7 Quick Takes: Books, Basketball, and Bacon Friday

Linking up with Kelly.

—1—

I went to see Meg Hunter-Kilmer speak at a Theology on Tap event in March. She gave an excellent talk about having radical trust in God. It was great to meet her in person—I found out we lived in the same dorm at Notre Dame, just a few years apart!

—2—

I saw the new musical Anastasia (based on the 1998 movie) when it was in previews. I thought it was better than the movie! There were some significant plot changes, all of which I thought were an improvement (I was never a fan of Rasputin…), and the casting was terrific. There were a few weird moments at the end where the dialogue could be smoothed out a little more, but overall it was well done.

—3—

While Notre Dame and Villanova had lackluster performances in this year’s tournament, I was happy for Gonzaga and UNC. Now that brothers Nate Britt and Kris Jenkins have back-to-back championships, I think there’s even more reason for someone to make a sports movie about them!

I came in second in my “For Glory and Baked Goods” pool this year, behind my friend who is a Gonzaga alum. While they didn’t end up pulling off a championship victory, it was definitely a good year for Gonzaga!

A completely accurate depiction of St. Aloysius Gonzaga

—4—

I got the chance to attend a few Triduum liturgies in the city. On Holy Thursday, I went to evening Mass at St. Patrick’s with Cardinal Dolan and midnight Tenebrae at my parish. (At the end of Tenebrae, I was bracing myself for the strepitus and still it made me shake.) I went to a Good Friday liturgy at St. Catherine of Siena. My Good Friday felt especially penitential this year because I was nauseous all morning and afternoon…although I guess that made the fasting easier.

—5—

I went to Easter Vigil Mass at St. Vincent Ferrer. I’d only been to Easter Vigil once before, at Notre Dame (where you have to arrive hours ahead of time just to get a seat). It was cool to have the chance to attend one again—there’s so much drama in an Easter Vigil Mass, with the fire and the darkness and the booming Alleluias, as well as welcoming new Catholics into the Church.

After Mass, my friends and I went directly to a 24-hour diner to celebrate. After giving up sweets for Lent, I thought that 1am Oreo milkshake tasted especially delicious.

On Easter Sunday, I had brunch with my family in the city. The weather was beautiful, and we walked around the park for a bit enjoying the nice day.

—6—

Last week we celebrated Bacon Friday—aka the first Friday after Lent, when we can eat meat again during the Easter feast. There was a bacon cooking competition, bacon-themed games, and a rendition of “Gift of Finest Meat.” My roommate made a bacon-shaped piñata that was nearly as tall as she was. I carried it down the street on the way to the bacon party and got a lot of weird looks.