To provide the best experiences, we and our partners use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us and our partners to process personal data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site and show (non-) personalized ads. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Click below to consent to the above or make granular choices. Your choices will be applied to this site only. You can change your settings at any time, including withdrawing your consent, by using the toggles on the Cookie Policy, or by clicking on the manage consent button at the bottom of the screen.
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Your article was touching as it stirred up some very strong and emotional memories for me as well. I am sorry for the loss of your sister. As you I have been separate from my religion for a long time and also wonder about and fear death. Sometimes I envy those who can find so much comfort in their beliefs. Of course, your article brought back some good memories as well.
Gene, this is so touching it’s hard to know what to say. Thanks for all your articles, and especially for this one.
You have more courage and faith then you realize!! Too often today people feel that it is wrong to talk about God and faith. I admire your courage during your sister’s illness (I too lost a sibling to cancer) and your courage to put the pictures of this wonderful missal out before the public. Keep talking to God and He will lead you home. You are in my prayers.
Gene, this is an absolutely awesome article! What a breath of fresh air to see something wonderful like this among so much of the noise out there. As a former Catholic turned Born Again Christian, I can relate to your personal story of the journey of faith.
My Dad had such a prayerbook and left it behind when he passed away in 1996. I designed a funeral program for him that featured some of etchings from this book. The finished product turned out quite nice as it personalized the program and gave it lots of class, which my father deserved. Thank you for your poignantly touching story. – Michael Tamburello
It is Friday evening the technicians just fixed an internet access problem, so I was catching up on mail messages in. I always read your fascinating articles first. I live and work in Europe and love the old media images from America. This article stopped me in my tracks. I am an ordinary old catholic, sure, not a great one, it is difficult in this crazy world – but I keep returning. I too can understand a great deal of what you say about your life and the tender love you still have for your dear little sister that has gone to God. She surely has and yes you are right the church now is not about a vengeful God but a much more loving one. Why your dear sister’s sacrifice had to fulfill some divine reason that we can’t understand, is not only a mystery to many catholics but every version of faith and those of none, in this world. She will be forever young, I will offer up a little prayer for her and all your family. Keep up the good work Gene, you are a great guy and professional too. B
Thank you Gene for your lovely comments. I really enjoyed the historical pictures from your sister’s daily missal. You have shown much love in your comments and tribute, reflecting God’s love for us. Thank you.
I never had a missal in my days at St. Josephs, but the imagery is familiar. I am also thankful I didn’t have one – some of the graphics would have ruined me for life -a Nordic cast that had never seen the sun although missing the heart encircled with thorns replete with drops of blood, which was my youthful favorite.
What a great article you presented today. I have my 1960’s missal in the other room, wrapped in a blue plastic cover. I know it holds many holy cards, which is the only reason I open it, for death dates. I too have been disillusioned by the Catholic Church. In the 90’s I really resented the requirement to donate X amount of money per year if you wish to be a Catholic in good standing which would also allow your children to attend Catholic schools as a parishioner. Spiritual guidance I guess. Your time volunteering for the church and school did not count towards your spiritual well being. Only the $$.
Gene, your article brought back many memories for me too. Through your articles, we as readers get a glimpse of who you are and what has shaped your life. I have that old red Missal packed away. Your article makes me want to get it out again and see what holy cards and other things are hiding there. Thanks for the great stories! Pat W. in Missouri
I appreciate this Scannng Around With Gene column very much and always look forward to what he winds up highlighting. I do think though that this one is a little too personal. I also grew up Catholic and I am so amazed by how gruesome and scary many of the images were – kinda brought back a lot of bad memories for me!
I really love Gene’s regular feature, Scanning Around with Gene. This week’s is rather poignant. Thank you Gene, PETER WETHERBEE.
I was saddened by your story. I attended a Catholic High School for girls and it saved me from falling into the hedonist lifestyle my brother had in his public high school. The nuns NEVER punished us physically and I still thank God for sending me to that school. As an adult I lost my little girl at the age of 18 and was lost for awhile. After 23 years I returned to the Church and when I lost my oldest son to suicide, I turned immediately to the comfort of the Church. It amazes me that Catholics turn away from the Real Presence of the Lord Jesus at the Mass to join some church founded by a mere human being. I pray you come to terms with the death of your sister as I have had to with my children. God Bless you.l
After almost ten years as a member here, I still turn to Gene’s articles first. While I love the imagery of Americana Gene shares, what keeps me coming back is the human touch; the personal connection to his material that gives me a sense of time and place. Gene makes it easy for me to find a commonality between his life and mine, though we are vastly different except in age.
Keep up the wonderful work, Gene.
Sanity is a relative concept. If you don’t believe me, let me introduce my relatives.
It was a gritty dark wednesday night. I was half way through my patrol shift when I stumbled upon a dame that should of been booked on principal. Big round natural tits. I frisked her. Then I fucked her.
Dear Gene, I enjoyed your images of the Sr. Joseph Daily Missal because I am only slightly younger than your sister and it was an important part of my life too. I am sad for you though, that in looking at the pictures, you did not understand the message that Christ rising from the dead does free us to live eternally with Him in heaven. I have lost a daughter, a brother and my mother to death at an early age. Of course I am sad beyond words at their passing, but what I know most deeply is that they still live and I will see them again when I pass from this life. I pray that you will come to know this too.
You have more courage and faith then you realize!! Too often today people feel that it is wrong to talk about God and faith. I admire your courage during your sister’s illness (I too lost a sibling to cancer) and your courage to put the pictures of this wonderful missal out before the public. Keep talking to God and He will lead you home. You are in my prayers. sesli sohbet sesli chat
Good Scans…those pages must have been universal in their day. Born in 1950 in the Bronx and attending St. Bennedicts I can say that I recognize every one of those plates. Except for the color and the drama they never realy meant much to me. They do remind me of an idealic time that we will never see again. It also occors to me that the Catholic church spent a lot of money and efort on advertising, and got the customers to pay for it. Kind of like cable TV. May I offer my condolences on behalf of your sister.
Frank Aloise, Aerial/Marine Photography
[email protected]
I have my father’s missal from 1961 just before he died. I began perusing last year when I was sick and I don’t know how but it helped. Maybe the imagery or the latin translations or the prayers. Maybe it brought me back to the time of the more formal mass with the “smells and bells” and the security of knowing that there was a place were a family could be together again. ( Dad died before I was a year old. Mom in her late 40’s) As a kid I never thought the faux woodcut illustrations were that good, the illustrations in my dictionary were much better rendered, but I did like the red and black printing. Maybe my design eye was working way back when.