Robert Charles Wagner

09/26/2024

It is week four since I broke my wrist and I just returned from seeing my doctor about both the wrist and getting my annual lipid study done. The good news is that the wrist is healing. The bad news is that the doctor who initially treated me for the broken wrist put on a short cast, going up to the middle of the forearm, instead of a long cast that goes fully up to the elbow. Had I had the long cast, the break would heal much faster because there would be no rotation at all in the wrist. However, I am looking at 8 weeks or possibly more for the wrist to completely heal. I hope in two weeks I will hear a little better news. While life is not impossible living one handed, it is awkward at best. And the functional hand is not better than the injured one, because it remains permanently injured from the head-on collision from 2002. Getting older is always about adaptation to injuries and limitations, acceptance of a new normal, and relying on others to bring in groceries and carry stuff that ordinarily you once were able to do and grateful that they will do that for you.

09/17/2024

Every presidential election cycle, we encounter the USCCB (United States Council of Catholic Bishops) voter guide. Most often, it is a useless guide provided by a great number of bishops who are obsessed about everything regarding s*x, e.g. gay marriage, abortion, contraception etc, and resembles much of the same that one can find in the Heritage Foundation’s “Project 2025.” I have found that the misogyny that plagues the hierarchy of the Catholic Church, extremely tiresome and sinful (s*xism is one of the great sins of the Catholic hierarchy), and, any teaching authority on issues of s*xuality and gender undermined by decades, if not centuries, of bishops covering up the criminal s*xual activity of clergy and church personnel....

Every presidential election cycle, we encounter the USCCB (United States Council of  Catholic Bishops) voter guide. Most often, it is a useless guide provided by a great number of bishops who …

08/06/2024

It is an odd juxtaposition that the Feast of the Transfiguration and the annihilation of Hiroshima occur on the same day, August 6th. For those of us who pray the Liturgy of the Hours every day, I find it difficult to pray the psalms, readings, and intercessions of the feast while holding within myself the memory of those who died, many of them innocent Japanese men, women, and children, and Korean prisoners of war in that atomic blast....

It is an odd juxtaposition that the Feast of the Transfiguration and the annihilation of Hiroshima occur on the same day, August 6th. For those of us who pray the Liturgy of the Hours every day, I …

08/06/2024

Father Larry Johnson I was shocked to see a news report Saturday night of the murder of a priest I have known since 1979. According to what was reported in the news story, Father Larry Johnson, a retired priest of the Archdiocese, was strangled to death by a man who was having a psychotic episode. Father Larry was driving the man to Regions Hospital to receive a mental health evaluation when the attack occurred on I-94....

Father Larry Johnson I was shocked to see a news report Saturday night of the murder of a priest I have known since 1979. According to what was reported in the news story, Father Larry Johnson, a r…

08/02/2024

NOTE: This is a continuing education I have created for my local Secular Franciscan fraternity. While its discussion of the Eucharist is decidedly Roman Catholic, I believe it has some merit for all Christian denominations who celebrate the Eucharist. For those from more Evangelical traditions, e.g. Baptists, Assembly of God, Free Church, that believe that the full presence of God is found only in sacred scripture, and the celebration of the Lord's Supper is merely just a symbolic ritual that is played out every now and again, this article will probably have little to contribute to their faith life, aside from being informative....

NOTE: This is a continuing education I have created for my local Secular Franciscan fraternity. While its discussion of the Eucharist is decidedly Roman Catholic, I believe it has some merit for al…

07/03/2024

"Christ in the Wilderness" (artist: Ivan Kramskoy) I am a professed secular Franciscan. At our last fraternity meeting, we studied the following scripture passage from Mark's Gospel. ³⁴ He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ³⁵ For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it....

“Christ in the Wilderness” (artist: Ivan Kramskoy) I am a professed secular Franciscan. At our last fraternity meeting, we studied the following scripture passage from Mark’s Gosp…

06/02/2024

This symbol of the Eucharist, that of a mother stork, piercing her breast to feed her young with her own blood is the most ancient symbol of the Eucharist (Christ feeding us with his blood and body). In the world of the Roman Catholic Church, the second Sunday following Pentecost is, what was once known in Latin as Corpus Christi Sunday or in today’s parlance, the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ....

This symbol of the Eucharist, that of a mother stork, piercing her breast to feed her young with her own blood is the most ancient symbol of the Eucharist (Christ feeding us with his blood and body…

05/25/2024

Here it is, another Trinity Sunday. I bet you are thinking, "Oh great, another Trinity Sunday homily, what else could I be doing far more enjoyable right now? Fishing? Barbecuing? Drinking Beer, maybe a Margarita, or a Tom Collins?" It was probably this time in 2018. Fr Kevin was on sabbatical, and Fr George Grafsky was celebrating Masses on Trinity Sunday at St Wenceslaus....

Here it is, another Trinity Sunday. I bet you are thinking, “Oh great, another Trinity Sunday homily, what else could I be doing far more enjoyable right now? Fishing? Barbecuing? Drinking Be…

05/20/2024

Back in 1986, I composed a hymn for Pentecost entitled, "Come, Holy Spirit." Not necessarily a creative name for a Pentecost hymn, but very few Pentecost hymns are named very creatively. I composed it as a gift for my then, 5 year old daughter, Meg. The original score of the song I composed years ago for my daughter, Meg. This was during the time when there was a great Renaissance of Catholic Liturgical music....

Back in 1986, I composed a hymn for Pentecost entitled, “Come, Holy Spirit.” Not necessarily a creative name for a Pentecost hymn, but very few Pentecost hymns are named very creatively…

12/31/2023

As this Octave of Christmas begins to wind down (In the Roman Catholic Church, Christmas Day is celebrated over eight days, hence the word octave), I have reflected on how Christmas carols have been such a great influence in my life. I have found an "other wordly" quality within the melodies and texts, many of which are not part of the usual standard Christmas carol fare we hear in churches....

As this Octave of Christmas begins to wind down (In the Roman Catholic Church, Christmas Day is celebrated over eight days, hence the word octave), I have reflected on how Christmas carols have bee…

11/27/2023

Image from the Shroud of Turin In the Catholic Tradition, the end of the liturgical year is marked by the Solemnity of the Lord Jesus Christ, Ruler of the Universe (once called “Christ the King.”). The gospel reading for this past Sunday was Matthew’s account of the end of the world, in which the Christ returns in glory and stands in judgement of humanity....

Image from the Shroud of Turin In the Catholic Tradition, the end of the liturgical year is marked by the Solemnity of the Lord Jesus Christ, Ruler of the Universe (once called “Christ the King.”).…

11/16/2023

My dad at his first Holy Communion. Some of what I posted on Facebook this past Monday, November 13, which is my Dad's feast day, I repost here with additional stories, photos, and music which I composed for my Dad over the years. Living in a head/chest cold induced fog prevented me from doing this earlier. Today, is the feast day of my Dad, Walter Wagner....

My dad at his first Holy Communion. Some of what I posted on Facebook this past Monday, November 13, which is my Dad’s feast day, I repost here with additional stories, photos, and music whic…

11/09/2023

Hah!

Mother Goose And Grimm - Comics

11/09/2023

It is inevitable.

Pickles - Comics

11/09/2023

Gopher women, go, go, go!

Inaugural ball

11/09/2023

What is going on here? I have grown comfortable with the phrase, "get use to disappointment." There is nothing more uncomfortable for a Minnesotan than to have a winning team.

Scoring big, winning easy

11/09/2023

Good! We don't need evangelicals forcing their religious values and fascists pushing their political agendas on any school board.

Parental-rights movement dealt a blow in school board elections

11/09/2023

Does any of this really make any difference? All these people are toast as far as the MAGA base is concerned. As long as trump remains free and is sentenced to life in prison for being a traitor, he will still fun on his fascist platform.

GOP debaters unified on Israel

11/09/2023

Hopefully, this tentative settlement will address the concerns of actors and protect their livelihoods. Perhaps it will also put an end to all the miserably brain-draining programming, mostly on Fox but present on all network television and cable television. We don't need anymore Masked Singers, Dancing with the Stars, Naked and Afraid, and some English accented socio-path screaming and cursing at restaurant owners. Even some of the fix-it/rehab shows on HGTV have been infected with needless drama, e.g. Good Bones. Do we need anymore medical dramas, cop dramas, fire department/EMT dramas? Gee, I am hard to please ...

Actors union, studios reach a tentative deal

11/09/2023

People have the false notion that all polluted water is concentrated in urban areas and the water in rural areas is pristine. With all the poisons and herbicides sprayed on crops and leeching into the water acquifers from which wells get their water, it comes as no surprise that the water is polluted in rural area.

EPA says state failed to address polluted well water, demands action

11/09/2023

It's too damn bad, but we all knew that whatever decision would be made it would be going to the Supreme Court. The only piece of paper I want to see trump's name on, is a Wanted Dead or Alive Poster.

Trump stays on state ballot

11/08/2023

My diaconal class, 1991. If you are looking for me, I am the guy second from the left, top row. Ruthie is standing right in front of me. This past September 24th, I was ordained to the permanent diaconate for 29 years. Man, 29 years! Myself and Dick Pashby are the remaining members of those ordained 29 years ago. So much as changed from those early days of diaconal formation, both in the Church, in diaconal formation, and personally....

My diaconal class, 1991. If you are looking for me, I am the guy second from the left, top row. Ruthie is standing right in front of me. This past September 24th, I was ordained to the permanent di…

10/25/2023

Fr Denny Dempsey in his normal clerical dress. He was not one for clerics, and, on his numerous cross country bike trips would pick up discarded caps on the road to wear. ON THE ORIGIN OF FEAST DAYS In my liturgical principles class at the St Paul Seminary (in which I read so many rubrics I was seeing red … it’s an inside liturgical joke), Fr....

Fr Denny Dempsey in his normal clerical dress. He was not one for clerics, and, on his numerous cross country bike trips would pick up discarded caps on the road to wear. ON THE ORIGIN OF FEAST DAY…

10/16/2023

I have been reflecting on the Gospel for this past weekend, and Pope Francis’ Synod in Rome. In the parable of the King’s wedding feast for his son, Matthew 22:1-10, Jesus tells the story of the King inviting guests to the wedding feast. Upon receiving the first invitation, the formally invited guests refuse to come to the feast. So, the King sends servants out with a second invitation....

I have been reflecting on the Gospel for this past weekend, and Pope Francis’ Synod in Rome. In the parable of the King’s wedding feast for his son, Matthew 22:1-10, Jesus tells the story of the Ki…

10/11/2023

Since this past Saturday, when Hamas conducted its own "Tet Offensive" in the nation of Israel, I have thought of the great amount of violence and shedding of human blood that has been absorbed deeply into the soil of this land. So often, descriptive accounts of battle next to bodies of water, especially rivers, speak of rivers running red from the blood of those killed....

Since this past Saturday, when Hamas conducted its own “Tet Offensive” in the nation of Israel, I have thought of the great amount of violence and shedding of human blood that has been …