Wallpaper: Moses' Modern Red Sea Crossing

(click image for full-size version)

Given the high costs of airfare to Australia, I'm wondering if he could help me out. I could purchase a bicycle.

Ph/t: PhatMass user "KnightofChrist"

Pope Benedict on the Christmas Tree

Today Pope Benedict talked briefly and beautifully about Christmas symbol and tradition:

[The Christmas Tree] is an important symbol of Christ's Nativity because with its evergreen leaves it recalls the life that does not die.

The tree and the nativity scene are elements of that typical Christmas atmosphere which is part of the spiritual heritage of our communities; an atmosphere suffused with religiosity and family intimacy which we must conserve even in our modern societies where the race to consumerism and the search for material goods sometimes seem to prevail.

Christmas is a Christian feast and its symbols, especially the nativity scene and the tree hung with gifts, are important references to the great mystery of the Incarnation and the Birth of Jesus, which are constantly evoked by the liturgy of Advent and Christmas. - CNA

The fir donated to the Vatican is 86 feet tall, 140 years old, and over 3 tons.

And I'm keeping my eyes out for a nice high-resolution picture of it on display in the square....

(... I think it might make a nice Christmas wallpaper.)

New for Christmas: Santo Subito DVD/Soundtrack!

I'm not quite sure what to make of this one, but here goes.

I think in many ways the project's true nature and intention is lost upon the UK Times correspondent who blogs about it:

"A composer who began his career writing the scores for Italian horror movies has set the life of the late John Paul II to music. The result, as we report on our online faith page, is a DVD described as 'trippy' by the Guardian and the latest in the succession begun by John, Paul and Ringo in The Spectator. Composer Simon Boswell describes it as 'trip hop'. My own description would be 'ambient'. Here are a couple of clips:"

"The DVD website is here. This is backed by the Vatican, and is all part of the campaign for the canonisation of JPII. One of the requirements for canonisation is that there be a 'cult'. This DVD, which takes its title from the traditional chant to make a person a saint, the chant that was shouted and placarded at JPII's funeral, is overtly intended to encourage his cult."

Related: John Paul II to storm charts with 'trip-hop trance' video.

If you think this might make a good stocking stuffer, the soundtrack and DVD are on Amazon. And since I'm always on the look-out for Catholic content (wallpapers, screen savers, chat icons, etc.,): the Santo Subito Website has a few high-quality offerings.

Contributions Call: World Youth Day desktop wallpaper needed

I have a problem: I can't find any good desktop wallpapers for the upcoming World Youth Day 2008 celebration in Sydney, Australia .... and I don't find that acceptable. So, I'm asking my gifted readers to create some and send them to me. The best submissions will be posted for all your fellow papists to joyfully set as their wallpaper. If you run a website or blog it's a great way to promote that as well. Why are you still here? Get to it!

FYI: extra kudos if someone fashions a dynamic wallpaper with a countdown timer!

I picked my phone...

... and here it is:

I did not end up going with Charity Mobile, though I did take the opportunity to purchase a wallpaper from catholicmobile.com as one of the first things I did when I got it. Nothing beats flipping open your phone to see the Pantokrator Himself. A good reminder not to gossip when calling people? I sure hope so!