New words, at least to me

A friend I always tease about being pregnant though she is single and without a boyfriend but whose biological clock is ticking fast so that she wants to have a child soon mentioned the word parthenogenesis to me. I searched Encarta for information on it and it says: A few insect species have developed parthenogenesis—a form of reproduction that side-steps the need for fertilization. In one form of parthenogenesis, the half-set of chromosomes within an unfertilized egg is duplicated, and the egg then develops as if it had been fertilized. Parthenogenetic females do not have to mate, so they can breed the moment environmental conditions are right. This method of reproduction is common in aphids and other small insects that feed on plant sap. Most use it to boost their numbers in spring, when food is easy to find. In late summer, when their food supply begins to dwindle, they switch back to sexual reproduction.

My friend always uses the word in reference to lizards. Does it hold for them too? anyway... my friend is neither an insect nor a lizard, sooo... but she wishes she had this knack as she wants a kid. At least she has a sense of humor.

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Stella Matutina - This morning, today being the birthday of Mama Mary, I decided to go to mass. Our parish priest, Fr. Bong Topino, referred to Mama Mary as Stella Matutina, which he said translates to "morning star." Why is Mama Mary referred to as such? The morning star signals the coming of the sun. In Mama Mary's case, she signaled the coming of the Sun of Justice, Jesus Christ.

I like Fr. Bong. Like Fr. Kit Bautista, SJ, he feeds not only the spirit but the mind as well.