The idea of the pizza restaurant on the moon raises the question of why the pizza chain got there first. Shouldn't the first outpost on the moon be a monastery? In the Middle Ages the Benedictines and Cistercians went to the most barren and God forsaken bits of territory and redeemed them--draining the marshes, clearing the rock fields and planting crops and settling the land.
I'm in favor of the first moon monastery. In fact it could be called a 'moonastery'. I'd sign up to be one of the first astromonks. Talk about getting away from it all! I think there is something in this, and we'd have no problem with the architecture because there are plenty of architects who build Catholic churches that look like rocket ships, igloos and futuristic space stations already...In fact, maybe they could go and live there too, at last they will have found a suitable context for their architectural ideas and a suitable population to enjoy them.
If memory serves me right, "Domino's" was a modification of "Dominic's" which was the name of the original Pizza place Mr Monaghan (and his then partner) purchased. When they started to expand and push into other towns, they changed the mane to avoid conflict (and confusion) with other pre-existing "Dominic's".
ReplyDeleteAnd always remember...
Avoid the Noid!
Under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of the Moon, the Most Reverend John Noonan. Seriously.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of space, how would one celebrate Mass in a weightless environment where the consecrated wine cannot be controlled? And how would standing, sitting and kneeling be accomodated where there is no gravity? Celebrating Mass in the gravity of the moon should, however, present no problems.
ReplyDelete;-)
I imagine the fraction rite would need some care, to avoid small pieces from floating away, too. I recall Jimmy Akin musing about this on a recent podcast; I bet Fr. Longenecker could have some fun with the idea too.
ReplyDeleteAlso, you know what the first moon pastor is going to get sick of hearing? "It's a nice enough church, Father, but there's just no atmosphere."
Thanks Father!
ReplyDeleteI needed a good chuckle today. There are too many very bad puns going through my head right now and I will keep them to myself lest they draw groans of agony from your readers (on the other hand, they must be used to them by now :).
With the International Space Station soon to be vacant, maybe the Church could buy it and make it a monastery. Maybe a deal with the Russian Orthodox would get us a rocket.
ReplyDeleteIs the photo in the post a sketch of what the first proposed design of the chapel at Ave Maria University?
ReplyDeleteThe church in the picture is apparently the design for a new church in London, UK
ReplyDeleteFr. L,
ReplyDeleteIf you find a photo of yourself that's uglier than the one in your 5:19 post, please don't share it with your readers!
jedesto
I will be happy to join you and build the first choir school in tbr moon.
ReplyDeleteSorry .. On the moon
ReplyDeleteHey, Father, if you really want to get away from it all, they are saying the only way Man gets to Mars is if the trip is one way.
ReplyDeleteJust saying.
I'll stick to a Mars bar
ReplyDeleteS. Guilfoyle,
ReplyDeleteThat wouldn't be the case with NERVA propulsion:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_Engine_for_Rocket_Vehicle_Application
This is a graphite moderated, hydrogen cooled nuclear reactor whose specific impulse is more than adequate for a round trip to Mars and even the Jovian moons in minimal time. We actually built these engines in the 60s and 70s, but Nixon killed the project. Sad. In 1976 I had to settle on being a submarine reactor operator instead of a space craft reactor operator. :-(
PS, Nils Diaz, former Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman under Presidents Clinton and Bush, had prior to his NRC chairmanship designed improvements for such engines when he was at the University of Florida (I think - memory isn;t quite what it used to be). They worked. That's why we never used them. :-( And why the current Chairman - Gregory Jackzo - appointed by Obama is an anti-nuke activitist.