Flowstatevibes

Happy Easter!

Oh boy, looks like they are doubling down. Bring back #splashmountain. youtu.be/nIJbh_sG1FE?si…

Master Sergeant George A. Fernandez. Delta Force. Enlisted in 1992, spent over ten years with the 75th Ranger Regiment, and eventually made it to the most elite tier of the United States Army. The third generation of his family to serve as a senior noncommissioned officer. On April 2, 2003, in northern Iraq, his unit was surrounded on a ridge with no way out. George got in his Humvee and drove straight into enemy lines so his teammates could escape. He was killed doing it. That is the definition of a warrior. Never forgotten.

What is the most thrilling Disney parks coaster?

Jordan Peterson said something that keeps echoing in my head: Life is full of suffering. We make it worse with our own stupidity, blindness, and sometimes outright malevolence. The antidote isn’t chasing rights or chasing pleasure. The deepest meaning most people ever find comes from voluntarily taking on heavy responsibility — for yourself, your family, your community. The heavier the load, the more meaningful it becomes. It’s a hard truth, but once you hear it, it feels self-evident. In a world obsessed with comfort and self-indulgence, this idea hits like a gut punch… and a quiet call to action at the same time. What’s one responsibility you’ve taken on that ended up giving your life more meaning than you expected?

It is a sign of great strength to acknowledge a need for Jesus in your life. Not weakness. Strength.

Act of Contrition O my God! I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of Heaven and the pains of Hell, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.

Some people genuinely think like this and believe that's a good thing.

Karl Marx's body is in his grave, London. Nietzsche's body is in his grave, Lützen Muhammad's body is in his grave, Medina Buddha's body is in his grave, Pingliang But, if you travel to Christ's grave in Jerusalem, it's empty, & has been for 2,000 years.

Andy Weir describing how he wrote The Martian and film got made is very entertaining. He said, “I wanted to make sure dorks like me would enjoy it, so made it as scientifically accurate as possible” Here the play-by-play: ▫️started writing full time in 1999 after getting fired from AOL (which had just merged with Netscape) ▫️he was a programmer and had a ton of stock options…because he was fired, had 6 months to excercise them and sold at AOL’s peak before bubble popped ▫️spent 3 years on book ideas that got “no traction” (and no agent wanted to sign him) ▫️went back to work as software engineer and wrote online as a hobby (webcomics, short stories, serials) ▫️The Martian was one of three serials he was working on 2009 (other one was about alien invading earth, another about a mermaid in 19th century New England) ▫️sent stories to a mailing list of 3,000 readers he had built up over a decade ▫️took 3 years to write The Martian, “posting a chapter at a time [every] 2 months” or so ▫️ “spent more time researching than writing, because researching was more fun than writing” (very relatable) ▫️readers corrected him along the way and when he was done, a bunch of them asked if he could make a Kindle version because reading it on his website sucked ▫️Weir didn’t want to charge because was making solid living as programmer…but Kindle has minimum of $0.99 ▫️all his fans started buying the Kindle book and leaving positive reviews ▫️this “sales spike” pushed book up charts and hit bestseller lists and just snowballed after that on Amazon ▫️within a short span, major book publisher reached out…then Matt Damon expressed interest on a film project…then Ridley Scott threw his hat in the ring ▫️Weir negotiated these deals while “debugging code” on his day job Described the process as “one of those things where everything just snuck up, bit by bit” before boooooooooom!! Film came out in 2015: made $630m on $105m budget (and Project Hail Mary might pass that now). *** Link to vid (2017): youtu.be/EXD3b6OLtsg?si…

Denzel Washington on his first job before entering the film industry "I was a garbage man. Garbage man, you get eight hours worth of work, but you can do it in three. So you can go home as soon as you finish. Post office, you get three hours worth of work and you make it last eight. I did both. I like being a garbage man better. But they weren't bad jobs. It's like, people tell the difficulty of making a movie. I'm like, send your son to Iraq, that's difficult. It's just a movie. It's like, relax. I don't play that precious nonsense. Oh, we'll move on, get out of here. You know, your son got shot in the face, that's difficult. Making a movie is a luxury. It's a gift. It's an opportunity. Obviously, everybody here is talented enough to do that, but don't get it twisted. It's just a movie. And that's the deal."

Amazing what can happen when you produce good movies, isn't it?

Disney Legend Tony Baxter had some hot takes at the Walt Disney Family Museum yesterday: *He hates using the word "Adventure" in experience names *He does not like Buzz Lightyear attraction, but is hopeful that the recent refurbishment addresses what he views as its faults (He is a big fan of Toy Story Mania) *The most recent WOW moment he had at a theme park was entering the Ministry of Magic at Epic Universe *Splash Mountain is the attraction he wishes they would bring back the most

"You are in spaceship called Earth." Bravo Cpt. Glover. The imagineers that built Epcot, lived during the moon landing and subsequent years, they heard our Astronauts speak like this, and they brought that wonder from those fearless explorers to an inaginary place where we could all experience it a little bit. #WDW #Epcot #spaceshipearth

Miserere mei, Deus, secundum magnam misericordiam tuam. Et secundum multitudinem miserationum tuarum, dele iniquitatem meam. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness. According to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

The Easter Vigil Mass, often called the "mother of all vigils," is the most significant and solemn liturgical celebration of the Church, held on Holy Saturday night to commemorate the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ. It marks the culmination of the Paschal Triduum and the beginning of the Easter season. The vigil is rich in symbolism, scripture, and ritual, celebrating the passage from death to life. Purpose: The Easter Vigil celebrates Jesus’ Resurrection, the central event of the Christian faith, and is a time to welcome new members into the Church through the reception of the Sacraments. Timing: It typically begins after nightfall on Holy Saturday, as the Church awaits the dawn of Easter Sunday. Themes: Light overcoming darkness, salvation history, renewal, and the new life in Christ. Liturgical Context: It is the first official celebration of Easter, emphasizing the triumph of life over death and the fulfillment of God’s promises. Structure of the Easter Vigil The Easter Vigil consists of four main parts, each with distinct rituals and meanings: 1. Service of Light (Lumen Christi) Setting: The church is in darkness, symbolizing the darkness of sin and death. Blessing of the Fire: Outside the church, a new fire is kindled, representing Christ as the light of the world. The priest blesses the fire. Preparation of the Paschal Candle: The large Paschal (Easter) candle, symbolizing the risen Christ, is marked with a cross, the Greek letters Alpha and Omega (God’s beginning and end), and the current year. Five grains of incense (representing Christ’s wounds) are inserted. The candle is lit from the new fire. Procession: The priest or deacon carries the lit Paschal candle into the darkened church, proclaiming, “Lumen Christi” or “Christ our Light,” to which the congregation responds, “Deo Gratias” or “Thanks be to God.” The light is shared as congregants light their candles from the Paschal candle, symbolizing the spread of Christ’s light to dispel the darkness of sin and death. Exsultet: The ancient hymn, the Exsultet (Easter Proclamation), is sung, recounting God’s saving acts and proclaiming the victory of Christ’s resurrection. 2. Liturgy of the Word Extended Readings: The vigil includes up to seven Old Testament readings (and two New Testament readings consisting of a Pauline Epistle and the Gospel), tracing salvation history from creation to redemption. Common selected readings include: Genesis 1:1–2:2 (Creation); Genesis 22:1–18 (Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac); Exodus 14:15–15:1 (Crossing of the Red Sea, prefiguring baptism). This reading may never be omitted; Isaiah 55:1–11 (God’s invitation to salvation); Ezekiel 36:16–28 (Promise of a new heart and spirit. Each reading is followed by a psalm and a prayer. Gloria: After the Old Testament readings, the Gloria is sung for the first time since Lent, often accompanied by the ringing of bells, symbolizing joy in the Resurrection. New Testament Reading: A reading from Romans 6:3–11 emphasizes dying and rising with Christ through baptism. Gospel: The Gospel account of the resurrection (from Matthew, Mark, or Luke, depending on the liturgical year) is proclaimed, highlighting the empty tomb and Christ’s victory over death. 3. Liturgy of Baptism (and Confirmation) Blessing of Water: The priest blesses water, immersing the Paschal candle in it, symbolizing the life-giving power of Christ. The water is used for baptisms and to renew the congregation’s baptismal promises. Baptism of Catechumens: Those preparing to join the Church (catechumens) are baptized, symbolizing their incorporation into Christ’s death and resurrection. Confirmation: Newly baptized adults (and sometimes other candidates) receive the sacrament of Confirmation, imparting the seven-fold gifts of the Holy Spirit to strengthen and sustain their new life in Christ Jesus. Renewal of Baptismal Promises: The entire congregation renews their Baptismal vows, rejecting sin and professing faith, and is sprinkled with the Holy Water of Easter as a reminder of their Baptism. Litany of the Saints: Invokes the intercession of the saints for the candidates and the Church. 4. Liturgy of the Eucharist First Eucharist of Easter: The Mass proceeds with the Eucharistic liturgy, where the newly baptized receive their first Holy Communion. The Eucharist is the culmination of initiation and the celebration of Christ’s living presence. Joyful Tone: The music, prayers, and decorations (flowers, white vestments) reflect the joy of the resurrection. Key Symbols and Their Meanings Paschal Candle: Represents the risen Christ, the light that dispels darkness. Fire: Symbolizes purification, renewal, and the presence of God (as in the burning bush). Water: Signifies baptism, cleansing from sin, and new life in Christ. Darkness to Light: Reflects the transition from death to resurrection and from sin to salvation. White Vestments and Flowers: Denote purity, joy, new life and the glory of Easter. Participation and Atmosphere The Easter Vigil is a communal celebration, often lasting 2–3 hours due to its richness. It is highly sensory, with fire, light, water, music, and incense engaging the senses. The vigil is especially meaningful for catechumens and candidates entering the Church, as it is the night when the sacraments of initiation (baptism, confirmation, Eucharist) are typically celebrated. Historical and Theological Context Origins: The Easter Vigil has roots in early Christianity, when Christians gathered in vigil to await Christ’s return. By the 4th century, it became a formalized liturgy, particularly for baptisms, as the resurrection was seen as the ideal moment for new life in Christ. Theological Emphasis: The vigil underscores the Paschal Mystery—Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection—as the foundation of salvation. It connects the Old Testament promises to their fulfillment in Christ and celebrates the Church as the Mystical Body of Christ, which is a continuation of the Incarnation and renews the faithful through the grace of the Sacraments. 'Restored Rites': The modern form of the Easter Vigil was initiated by Pope Pius XII in 1955 and further refined after the Second Vatican Council, emphasizing its centrality in the liturgical year. The Easter Vigil is a profound and joyous celebration that encapsulates the heart of the Christian faith: Christ’s victory over death and the promise of new life for all who share in His Resurrection. Through its rich symbols, Scriptures, and Sacraments, it invites Catholics to renew their faith and welcome new members into the Church, all while proclaiming the light of Christ to the world.

To those entering the Catholic Church tonight: The world will try to take this joy. You will lose friends. You will make enemies. Because the world despises Jesus. Before the world hated you, it hated Him first. And because you love Him, the world will hate you too. Have no fear. Jesus has overcome the world.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ I AM SO PROUD OF YOU! WELCOME HOME!

Amen