An Evening in Boston

Last Friday evening was the third on which the Harvard Musical Association had on of its "social evenings." I hadn't attended either of the first two, October 6 and 10, but went to this one. The music was played by a group called Cuarteto Latinoamericano. Before intermission they played pieces by Latin American composers. After intermission, with a second cellist added, they played a quintet by Schubert and, in response to enthusiastic applause, gave us the familiar Minuet by Boccherini — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFFh-HRNP48 — as an encore.

As usual, I went to Scollay Square restaurant for dinner before the concert. Wendy the waitress was there, which I hadn't expected, since she had indicated a while back that she wouldn't be there regularly on Fridays. But we enjoyed a chance to greet each other. I surprised her by ordering a white wine (Tussock Jumper sauvignon blanc, from New Zealand) with my main course of scallops. At home, I usually have white wine with fish and seafood, but I've somehow developed the habit of drinking red wine with everything when I'm eating at a restaurant.

I had arrived a bit later than the ideal time at the restaurant, and Wendy and I didn't get to talk other than the business of ordering my meal. I ended up arriving at the concert just as the quartet was beginning its second piece. The 20th Century Latin American music was good, but I enjoyed the part after intermission more. I didn't stay for the refreshments afterwards. As it was, I got home about 11:30. If I had stayed, it would have been after midnight.

The weather was unseasonably warm, and it was very pleasant walking from subway to restaurant, restaurant to HMA, and HMA to subway. It led me to reflect on how fortunate I've been to have a life which affords such enjoyable things. Further thoughts were that getting around when there is snow on the ground will be much less pleasant but that in conditions like that evening's it would be nice to be able to go naked, if only it were socially acceptable.

On the evenings before and after the one in Boston, I was at the yacht club. On Thursday, there was a end of season cocktail party for the Race Committee. A couple of prizes, each named for a deceased member of the committee, were awarded to people who had served in outstanding ways. There were also coffee mugs for members who had been on duty for more than ten days (which included me and my brother), and glasses for the remaining members. Several of us stayed for dinner after the party. After eating lots of hors d'oeuvres, I couldn't finish my dinner. The leftovers are still in my refrigerator. On Saturday, a group of committee members got together at the club for dinner again; and again I had some leftovers — some of my ribeye steak, which I had for lunch on Sunday.

This week, I'll be going to Boston twice, for an opera on Thursday evening, and the Boston Symphony Friday matinee. I'm not planning any restaurant meals, though.

The Problem with "Trickle Down" Tax Cuts

As I understand it, the "trickle down" theory says that if the top tax rates are reduced, those in the top brackets will put the money into business activities which will hire lower-bracket people. Those people, in turn will spend the money they get, which will support a growing economy. The increased wage and business income will lead to additional tax revenue which, it is claimed, will balance the revenue lost when taxes were cut.

Thus, the benefits are largely dependent on additional money finding its way into the pockets of those in the lower tax brackets. Lowering the top rates is a means to that end. It seems to me that, instead of the two step process of trickle down, it would make more sense to focus the tax cuts on the lower brackets and increase the refundable credits in order to benefit even those who have no tax liability.

Another thing which would help drive the expansion of the economy would be what is generally called "universal basic income:" a fixed amount, sufficient to provide necessities of life, given monthly to every resident (possibly less for minors living at home). For the unemployed and those living paycheck to paycheck, this would represent a significant increase in spending power, leading to a significant increase in spending, further stimulating the economy. Businesses would expand, producing the goods most people need and want.

Unlike "trickle down," which depends on the wealthiest to use their tax savings in ways that put money in the hands of the less well off, lowering the taxes of the less well off and (or) providing a universal basic income will accomplish directly what trickle down can only accomplish indirectly and with a real possibility of some of the lost revenue going to other things (e.g., foreign travel, investment, or purchases).

Ordination at the Monastery, Rev. 1.

I had posted about this a day ago, but realized that I should have included more about the actual rite of ordination (which was the standard rite except for the references to Fr. Stephen's being a member of a monastic community).

On Saturday, October 14, I drove to the monastery for the ordination of one of the monks, Father Stephen. He was the  monk (then Brother Stephen) in the third year of his temporary vows at the time of my visit in June, 2014. I had fairly extensive conversations with him at dinner on a couple of evenings. He's a down to earth guy with a good sense of humor. The following month, he made his final vows, and the two novices (Brothers Paul and Ignatius) made temporary (three year) vows. I went back to be at those events.

The Ordination Mass went well. The Bishop of Manchester was principal celebrant, with the retired bishop of Manchester, the monks who are priests, and a few visitors as concelebrants. It was like an ordinary Mass celebrated by a bishop (with singing) through the Liturgy of the Word. After the gospel, the prior of the monastery called Fr. Stephen forward, and the abbot asked the bishop to ordain him a priest, assuring him, in response to the bishop's question, that he was worthy of ordination. The bishop thereupon chose Stephen for the priesthood. Then he delivered his homily, which told of the meaning of priesthood in the context of monastic vocation.

After the homily, Fr. Stephen affirmed his resolve to fulfill the duties of a priest. Then a Litany of Saints was chanted as Fr. Stephen lay face down on the floor in front of the altar. Next he knelt and the bishop and all the priests in turn placed their hands on his head — a ritual going back to the ApostlesThe bishop then recited the prayer of ordination, following which the abbot vested Fr. Stephen with the priestly stole and chasuble, after removing the deacon's stole. The bishop then anointed Fr. Stephen's hands with sacred chrism. Next, he handed him the chalice and paten to be used in the Mass. After that, the Mass proceeded as usual.* At the end Abbot Mark thanked everybody who had a part in the event, and noted that the bishop had studied at the same seminary as Fr. Stephen, the one at St. Meinrad's Abbey in Indiana. Afterwards, as noted below, there were pictures taken, and Fr. Stephen then blessed people who came forward individually or in pairs and knelt before him.

Between the Mass and the blessing, there was an added bonus for me: a chat with Brother Ignatius. I've said a bit about Brother Ignatius in posts about occasional visits, including the following from my visit/retreat last summer:

I first met Brother Ignatius the evening I arrived for my retreat in June of 2014. He was a novice at the time, and the Abbot called me over to meet him. I've felt a sense of connection with him ever since. He and another novice, Brother Paul, were to take temporary vows on July 11, and I returned for that event, giving each of them an icon of the saint whose name they had received. … Since then, Brother Paul left, but Ignatius has stayed, and I was looking forward to seeing him take final vows during my stay. But when I asked about it on Tuesday evening he said, "Possibly next year." That was  a disappointment. Since final vows usually come three years after temporary vows, the delay indicates that either he or the community or both aren't sure that he should take those permanent vows. On the other hand, at least nobody has yet decided he should leave the monastery. I like him, and the monastery needs monks, so I hope the ultimate decision will be that he stay. But if it's not really the right place for him, then it's best for him not to stay.

This time, he happened to be a few yards away when I arrived at the church, and we acknowledged each other with a wave and a nod. After the Mass, it was announced that Fr. Stephen would give an individual blessing to all who wanted it, which is customary. But first there were pictures with the bishop, with the abbot, with the bishop and the abbot, and with his family members. While all that was going on, I took a couple of pictures and greeted a couple of Bro. Aloysius's classmates who had been there for his admission into the novitiate last July. Then, as I was standing around waiting for the line for the blessing to get shorter, Bro. Ignatius came to talk with me. We talked about his current duties — he's Assistant Archivist of the College — and about the "mission" that took place in my parish a couple of weeks ago. While we were talking, the archivist came over with his wife and two year old daughter to say hello to Ignatius. Finally, I asked if he was close to a decision about taking final vows, and he answered, "Time will tell."

One other bit of news: the monastery has two new postulants, people staying in the monastery and participating in the daily routine to get a closer look o decide if they want to join. Meanwhile, the monks get a look at them and decide if they will accept them as novices — as happened with Ryan, who became a novice, Bro. Aloysius, in July. So at this point, there are two junior monks, Ignatius and Francis, one novice, Aloysius, and two postulants. They may not all stay, but it's still a good number of people "in formation," and a hopeful sign for the future of the monastery.

*While the altar was being prepared and the bishop was saying the offertory prayers, a soprano soloist and the choir sang one of my favorite choral pieces, the psalm "Laudate Dominum" from Vesperæ Solennes de Confessore by Mozart. They did a fine job.