Let Latin Live

Rogue Classicism links to an interesting article in the International Herald Tribune about Fr. Reginald Foster. Fr. Foster is the pope's latinist in Rome, and he is quite an eccentric fellow, which is good for Latin scholarbabies -- you know who you are. You can hear him just about every week on Vatican Radio's brief but entertaining radio show, The Latin Lover. Fr. Foster is rightly concerned about the declining study of Latin not only in the world but also, and particularly, in the Church. A good study of the classical languages gives you the ability as well as the thirst to guzzle the sweet richness of the Church's ecclesiastical tradition.

St. Andrew's in Pasadena

Last July, I blogged about a visit to St. Andrew's Catholic Church in Pasadena. Earlier this month, The Tidings featured a pretty good feature article about the history of the parish church.

This remarkable building is modeled after the Basilica of St. Sabina in Rome, one of the earliest Christian styles of architecture. St. Sabina's was dedicated in 432 and St. Andrew's follows the plan, design and general proportions of the original. The interior of the church is noted for the richness of its decorations, the use of unusual marble throughout and the paintings of the Stations of the Cross above the side columns. The first Mass was celebrated in the new church May 27, 1928 at which Bishop John Cantwell said this is "the pride of the diocese and a worthy replica of the ancient church on the banks of the Tiber."

St. Andrew's is one of many overlooked gems in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

Things too wonderful for me...

Job 38:1-5, 42:1-6

Then the LORD addressed Job out of the storm and said: Who is this that obscures divine plans with words of ignorance? Where were you when I founded the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its size; do you know? Who stretched out the measuring line for it?

Then Job answered the LORD and said: I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be hindered. I have dealt with great things that I do not understand; things too wonderful for me, which I cannot know. I had heard of you by word of mouth, but now my eye has seen you. Therefore I disown what I have said, and repent in dust and ashes.

If I am afflicted, let me still not be fooled by pride.

A Wedding, Rocky, Neumann, Drexel, and the Amish

So I promised to blog about the trip. Collectively, it went well. Santa Barbara to Philadelphia to Indiana and back. Friday, I left Santa Barbara for Philadelphia with an hour layover in Denver so that I could be in Philly with enough time to take the train into downtown and be at the wedding rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner, followed by some fun time. On the way to Denver, the pilot reported that we were to make a precautionary landing in Grand Junction. Uh oh. The pilot significantly reduced altitude, and as we approached the runway, we were surprised to find airport emergency vehicles waiting for us. After having sat on the runway for about 20 minutes, we were allowed to exit. Turns out the pilot's left windshield had cracked into a million pieces, without breaking. No visibility. Thanks be to God we landed! However, instead of getting into Philly at 4pm, I made it just after 11pm, missing everything. Oh well.

After I had some sleep, I felt pretty refreshed. On Saturday, we visited the Philadelphia Museum of Art, including the infamous Rocky Steps, and on Sunday my friend, a friend whom I have known since 4th grade, got married. The wedding was very nice, and the reception featured a live band that was surprisingly pretty good. The wedding took place at the beautiful Church of St. John the Evangelist -- the very place where in 1860 St. John Neumann was consecrated bishop of Philadelphia, later going on to become the first American bishop to be canonized a saint -- also the very parish church where St. Katharine Drexel discerned her religious vocation. The History of Catholic Philadelphia was dripping all over this place.

Early Monday morning, I was back on the train for the airport, and after a trip that was blessedly free of delays, I arrived at my grandmother's house in the small Mayberry-esque town of Mitchell, Indiana -- home of the late astronaut pioneer Virgil "Gus" Grissom. The town is situated near a handful of Amish and Mennonite settlements, and so naturally I took advantage of my time there to venture deep into Amish country in search of some fresh strawberries. I found some at the home of one Amish family, and upon learning that I was from California, Anne, the Amish woman from whom I purchased the berries, promptly inquired, So your berries have probably come in already! Sure they have - in fact, they're in season at Albertson's all year long! (I didn't actually say that)

It's good to be home

After a fulfilling run from the Pacific to the Atlantic and back again, I have to say, it's good to be home. I will talk more about the trip soon! Now, it's back to work.