Nobel Prizes

Let me take some time to plug UCSB!

The faculty at UC Santa Barbara was awarded two more Nobel Prizes in the respective fields of Physics and Economics just within the last two weeks. The university had already possessed four nobels, three of which were awarded within the last six years. This brings the grand total to six.

I received an undergraduate degree as well as a graduate degree from UCSB, both from the College of Engineering. I can say that the College of Engineering as well as Institute for Theoretical Physics are absolutely top notch and are improving every year. In fact, physicists today expect the next major research breakthrough in theoretical physics to come out of either UC Santa Barbara or CalTech. Not a bad playing ground, that.

The Beauty of the Liturgy of the Temple

I am struck by the imagery in this description of the work of Simon "the Just", the high priest, son of Onias, in the temple and the people gathered around him worshipping God. It is recorded in Sirach 50:1-21.

How glorious [Simon, the high priest] was when the people gathered round him
as he came out of the inner sanctuary [from behind the veil]!

Like the morning star among the clouds,
like the moon when it is full;
like the sun shining upon the temple of the Most High,
and like the rainbow gleaming in glorious clouds;
like roses in the days of the first fruits,
like lilies by a spring of water,
like a green shoot on Lebanon on a summer day;
like fire and incense in the censer,
like a vessel of hammered gold adorned with all kinds of precious stones;
like an olive tree putting forth its fruit,
and like a cypress towering in the clouds.

Can you picture that? It continues. It gets better.

When he put on his glorious robe and clothed himself with superb perfection and went up to the holy altar, he made the court of the sanctuary glorious. And when he received the portions from the hands of the priests, as he stood by the hearth of the altar with a garland of brethren around him, he was like a young cedar on Lebanon; and they surrounded him like the trunks of palm trees, all the sons of Aaron in their splendor with the Lord's offering in their hands, before the whole congregation of Israel.

Finishing the service at the altars, and arranging the offering to the Most High, the Almighty, he reached out his hand to the cup and poured a libation of the blood of the grape; he poured it out at the foot of the altar, a pleasing odor to the Most High, the King of all. Then the sons of Aaron shouted, they sounded the trumpets of hammered work, they made a great noise to be heard for remembrance before the Most High.

Then all the people together made haste and fell to the ground upon their faces to worship their Lord, the Almighty, God Most High. And the singers praised him with their voices in sweet and full-toned melody. And the people besought the Lord Most High in prayer before him who is merciful, till the order of worship of the Lord was ended; so they completed his service.

Then Simon came down, and lifted up his hands over the whole congregation of the sons of Israel, to pronounce the blessing of the Lord with his lips, and to glory in his name; and they bowed down in worship a second time, to receive the blessing from the Most High.

As you read this, what comes to your mind?

Which Biological Molecule Are You?


You are mRNA. You're brilliant, full of important,
interesting information and you're a great
friend to the people you care about. You may
have sides to you that no one understands. But
while you understand more than most people,
you're only half-there most of the time.


Which Biological Molecule Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Media Unbiased?

I oppose the war in Iraq, and I have many questions about how real the possibility is that the Iraqi people can take control and sustain a democracy after so much turmoil. Nevertheless, I do believe that the Iraqi people are better off having the chance to do this without living under the oppression of a brutal dictator. I have had an interesting time trying to form a balanced opinion about this matter - especially when thinking about who has the better plan to see the situation in Iraq all of the way through to really keep it from becoming a future haven for terrorist networks. But where can we really get a balanced view of things?

Chris at Veritas reports:

So, yesterday the Iraq Survey Group -- which was/is responsible for finding WMDs in Iraq -- released its long-awaited, 1000 page report.

Now, if all your news comes from the MSM -- like this AP story -- then you're bound not to hear certain things, like the fact that Saddam bribed politicians, journalists, and anyone else he thought would help him get rid of the sanctions on Iraq. Specifically, he went after France, Russia, and China, three countries which -- surprise! -- happen to have veto power on the UN Security Council.

In addition, the ISG found that Saddam's intent was that once sanctions were gone, he would begin -- again -- to actually develop WMDs, because the infrastructure for their production remained.

In other words, though there was no evidence of the physical existence of WMDs in Iraq, the future of the world is better without Saddam in power. I listened to details about Duelfer's report on all of the various networks, but the most balanced account, which included details about Saddam's bribery of the very countries responsible for imposing sanctions, was on FoxNews. Can we really trust those whom we like to call our Allies?

Quite the contrast

This was interesting. Toward the end of the 2nd presidential debate last friday, Sarah Degenhart asked the following question:

Senator Kerry, suppose you are speaking with a voter who believed abortion is murder and the voter asked for reassurance that his or her tax dollars would not go to support abortion, what would you say to that person?

An issue near and dear to my own thoughts. Here's what Kerry had to say to Sarah:

I would say to that person exactly what I will say to you right now. First of all, I cannot tell you how deeply I respect the belief about life and when it begins. I'm a Catholic, raised a Catholic. I was an altar boy. Religion has been a huge part of my life. It helped lead me through a war, leads me today. But I can't take what is an article of faith for me and legislate it for someone who doesn't share that article of faith, whether they be agnostic, atheist, Jew, Protestant, whatever. I can't do that. But I can counsel people. I can talk reasonably about life and about responsibility. I can talk to people, as my wife Teresa does, about making other choices, and about abstinence, and about all these other things that we ought to do as a responsible society. But as a president, I have to represent all the people in the nation. And I have to make that judgment.

In other words, Sarah, he can't reassure that voter, because he's going to use that voter's tax dollars to support murder. This position isn't popular enough to be worth defending, and Kerry's moral conscience, supposedly informed by his Catholic upbringing, has no part in decisions that affect the well being of the American people. One wonders how we can trust him to take a principled step in any endeavor that requires the motivation of his moral conscience.

Bush's response to Sarah Degenhart seemed much more clear:

My answer is, we're not going to spend taxpayers' money on abortion.

Kerry also stated that he wants to work to reduce the number of abortions, yet he's willing to give $100 million each year to advance research using stem-cells taken from destroyed human embryos. Am I the only one who fails to see the consistency with a position such as that? Bush's position, while insufficient, is at least more consistent. He stated what Kerry couldn't state:

Embryonic stem-cell research requires the destruction of life to create [extract] a stem cell.

Considering the pull in America today to federally fund this type of research, I'd say it isn't easy for a politician to stand up, take a principled stand for what appears to be the minority opinion: not to federally fund the destruction of human life.

Ignorance Is Not Bliss

This makes me so angry.

I can't stand this political nonsense. Does Kerry have no grasp of the ethical issues involved here? We are not opposed to stem-cell research. We are opposed to embryonic stem-cell research. He's telling us that our beliefs against using federal funds (i.e. our money) in unethical research using stem-cells extracted from living, human embryos are just part of some extreme right-wing ideology, and yet he stands with us every Sunday to profess the faith of the early martyrs. Sorry, Kerry, but you aren't holding yourself to a higher standard than President Bush, and we will not stand and let you hypocritically misrepresent this important issue for your own political reasons. Furthermore, we will not be coerced to act against the dictates of our consciences, which are formed in accordance with our religious beliefs.

At least W listened to our arguments and tried to reach a compromise, even if it wasn't completely sufficient. W even went out of his way to articulate the different types of stem-cell research and the benefits, as well as the risks, associated with each. It's clear to me who has a better grasp of this issue.

Why Study Literature?

Even if mere entertainment were our only objective in the study of literature, you would still, in my opinion, regard this pursuit as the most humanizing and liberating of intellectual activities. For no other pursuit is appropriate to all times, all ages, all situations; but this study nurtures our youth, delights our old age, brightens the good times, and provides a refuge and comfort in bad times; literature brings us pleasure at home, does not hamper us at work, and is the companion of our nights, our travels, our country retreats.

-Cicero, Pro Archia Poeta 7.16

We needed God, so we created Him?

Blah. I've been hearing people my age make this argument to disprove the existence of God all throughout high school as well as at the university. Young, eager minds, right? The problem is, it proves absolutely nothing. G.K. Chesterton had the best response:

Some people say that God cannot exist; that God is merely a creation of human beings to satisfy some need or hunger for something greater. While it is true that there is an innate hunger for God within man, this no more disproves God than hunger in the stomach disproves food.

Of course, I have hungered for God my entire life. Sure, I found Him in faith through grace, and I have no problem with that. If it had been up to me to create Him, I would have most certainly created a god that wouldn't have required my own daily conversion and repentance. The path to holiness isn't an easy one for a human such as me, and though God is merciful, He is also just. I'm grateful that the reality and mystery of God is so much more to live - and hunger - for.

The Real Deal


In my opinion, the best non-documentary movie ever made about the Titanic disaster is Roy Ward Baker's 1958 film A Night To Remember. Based on the Walter Lord's meticulously researched book by the same name, the movie tells the story straight, portraying characters that really existed and storylines that really took place. In fact, one can see a lot of this film's influence in James Cameron's 1997 epic film, though of course it merely provided the backdrop for a fake, completely unrealistic, and totally unnecessary one dimensional love story.

Baker's film does include a few misconceptions that were simply unconfirmed and heavily debated in the 1950's, such as the Titanic's breaking into two pieces during its sinking. However, this film does include the story of the steamer Californian, which was only about 10 miles away from the Titanic as she sank and even saw her flares! Baker also juxtaposes key scenes quite well to show you the real separation of classes (Again, watch for elements that Cameron borrowed).

A Night To Remember uses a lot more breadth in dealing with the array of characters, so we miss out on some of the depth of certain characters. And though you can certainly tell they use a model in many closeup scenes, other special effects in this film are actually quite striking for 1958. What makes this film awesome, though, is the sheer reality of its tale. Why would we want two make-believe, sexed-up Hollywood characters when the real drama of human history is so much more interesting? This is a film that you can watch and discuss with your family. This is the real deal.

Got Gmail?

I have extra gmail invitations hanging around. Even though they're generally pretty easy to get nowadays, I'm giving these away. If you would like one, email me privately.

Danger Mouse

I watched Danger Mouse religiously as a young lad growing up in the whirlwind of the 80's. The British should be proud.

Danger Mouse, for those of you who DON'T know, is a cartoon superhero created in England By Cosgrove/Hall Productions Limited... Danger Mouse is a wacky and hilarious adventure about a White Secret Agent Mouse, and his trusty bumbling sidekick hampster assistant, Penfold.... Together, they are given assignments by Colonel K, Their commander/walrus. The orders consisted of doing battle to save the world from monsters, master thieves, and crazed fiends of all types with the most prolific being their arch nemesis megalomaniac frog, Baron Silas Greenback and his henchman crow, Stiletto.

It gave me a penchant for mind boggling mysteries, like what's up with being chased by giant rolling balls in a South American jungle, only to get holed as an unknowing participant in a huge game of snooker.

Danger Mouse: It's alright, Penfold, it'll just be Colonel K with some mind boggling mystery for me to solve.

Colonel K: Ah, good show, DM. I've got a mind boggling mystery for you to solve.

Danger Mouse: I'm all ears, Colonel!

Colonel K: Well, none of us is perfect, DM.

Or how about the time when DM and Penfold venture passed the edge of the universe in their trusty space hopper?

Please Pray...

Please pray for the mother of a close childhood friend of mine. I still keep in touch with them. She has inoperable cancer of the intestine, and while doctors are evaluating treatments, it is uncertain how much time she may have left. Please include her and her family in your prayers. Her family has been so good to me. They included me in everything they did as a family. They could've adopted me, had I not had my own family! And though I can't speak a word of Spanish, being around them so consistently really helped my listening comprehension of the language. Their home was also a place where I saw the Catholic faith being lived consistently in a way that bound them together closely.

All wisdom is from God

Sirach 1:1-8

All wisdom comes from the Lord and is with him for ever. The sand of the sea, the drops of rain, and the days of eternity -- who can count them? The height of heaven, the breadth of the earth, the abyss, and wisdom -- who can search them out? Wisdom was created before all things, and prudent understanding from eternity. The root of wisdom -- to whom has it been revealed? Her clever devices -- who knows them? There is One who is wise, greatly to be feared, sitting upon his throne. The Lord himself created wisdom; he saw her and apportioned her, he poured her out upon all his works. She dwells with all flesh according to his gift, and he supplied her to those who love him.

Pulcher Poeta

by Yohanes Manhitu

Pulcher poeta, creatura litterarum.
Vita dulcis tua gratia plena est.
Ex anima sancta tua scribes.
Vitae lumen donant verba tua.

Pulcher poeta, amo poemata tua.
Sine verba vivere non possum.
Ex anima tua bibo aquam pacis.
Vitam meam pingunt verba tua.

Mirabilia

It needs to be repeated...

While I am in favor of fighting terrorism and threats to human life, I am not among those who wish that our government would wage a holy war against all Muslims at home and abroad. Certainly, Muslim terrorists use a perverted religiosity to attack innocent people, but the Muslims with whom I live and work do not. They are as American as I am, recalling a time in which Catholics were not accorded much respect as a group. History has certainly shown the folly of marking large groups of people for suppression or internment based on religion, race, or ethnicity.

I do believe that the Catholic Church possesses the fullness of revealed truth, born in the person of Jesus Christ, but I do not seek to dishonor anything that is intrinsically true in Islam, nor do I dishonor any man's sincere desire to know God. I have enjoyed many discussions with Muslims centering on the nature of what is true, what is virtue, and what is good. I don't always agree - I don't have to agree, but I anticipate many more discussions. I think the conciliar document Nostra Aetate bears a re-read.

The Catholic Church rejects nothing that is true and holy in these [non-Christian] religions. She regards with sincere reverence those ways of conduct and of life, those precepts and teachings which, though differing in many aspects from the ones she holds and sets forth, nonetheless often reflect a ray of that Truth which enlightens all men. Indeed, she proclaims, and ever must proclaim Christ "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6), in whom men may find the fullness of religious life, in whom God has reconciled all things to Himself.

The Church, therefore, exhorts her sons, that through dialogue and collaboration with the followers of other religions, carried out with prudence and love and in witness to the Christian faith and life, they recognize, preserve and promote the good things, spiritual and moral, as well as the socio-cultural values found among these men.

Muslims are certainly not a unified religious body, and I'd be lying if I said I understood Islam, but it pains me to see Christians who believe they understand Islam simply by throwing around verses from the Koran. I see atheists do the very same thing with our own Scriptures to reach a similar end. I think we can act with a little more reflection and a little more depth than that. I believe that is what the conciliar statement is asking us to do.

The Authority of the Keys

Isaiah 22:20-23

In that day I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and I will clothe him with your robe, and will bind your girdle on him, and will commit your authority to his hand; and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. And I will fasten him like a peg in a sure place, and he will become a throne of honor to his father's house.

In the Old Testament, the key represents an authoritative office in the king's palace. He who held the key represented the king and acted with the king's authority. Here, a day is described when Eliakim will succeed Shebna, the master of the palace, and Eliakim will be given the key of the house of David. The language of opening and shutting, or in other words, binding and loosing refers to one who can authoritatively declare an act forbidden or permissible.

Not surprisingly, we see this same language and imagery used in the Gospel of Matthew 16:17-19 with reference to the Apostle Peter:

And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

In light of the passage from Isaiah, Christ, the King of Kings, bestows an authoritative office on Peter, represented by the keys. He who holds the keys of the kingdom of heaven acts with the authority of heaven to teach and govern and guide. Along with the powerful key imagery, Christ also uses the language of binding and loosing, which in this context can be taken to mean the ability to teach authoritatively. The authority of binding and loosing is also given to the other apostles in the same Gospel in 18:15-18:

If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

From the context of the verse, this may be understood to be the ability to excommunicate, that is, to declare one outside of the community. However, the office and authority granted with the keys belongs to Peter and to those who succeed him in his office.

My thoughts from today...

From Sirach 3:17-18,28

My son, perform your tasks in meekness; then you will be loved by those whom God accepts. The greater you are, the more you must humble yourself; so you will find favor in the sight of the Lord. For great is the might of the Lord; he is glorified by the humble... The affliction of the proud has no healing, for a plant of wickedness has taken root in him.

St. Augustine

Once again, it is the feast day of my beloved patron, St. Augustine of Hippo.

Fulget in caelis celebris sacerdos,
stella doctorum rutilat corusca,
lumen intactum fidei per orbis
climata spargens.

Cive tam claro, Sion o superna,
laeta dic laudes Domino salutis,
qui modis miris sibi vinxit ipsum
lumine complens.

Please pray for me, Augustine.

The Nuance of Language

My spiritual director has been packing up for a transfer to another parish and was unfortunately forced to downsize his library, so he graciously offered to give me a small library of his Latin books, which I graciously accepted. What a gift! Included among the collection is a beautifully bound Nova Vulgata (Editio Minor) in excellent condition, which is an absolute treasure. Latin is certainly more adept at rendering the original Greek, with its linguistic ambiguities and oddities, than most romance languages -- and certainly better than English, which can introduce a few oddities of its own.

Perhaps the verse John 7:49 represents one such oddity, though minor. It occurs in the Greek in such a fashion and is rendered similarly in Latin (both in the Vulgata and Nova Vulgata),

Sed turba haec, quae non novit legem, maledicti sunt!

What is interesting is that you have a feminine singular nominative noun, turba, being used in two completely different senses in the same sentence; It conjugates with both a singular verb form (novit) and a masculine plural verb form (maledicti sunt). This is a form of the syllepsis with turba, which is a collective noun meaning crowd or multitude. The first agreement is grammatically correct, a feminine singular relative pronoun, quae, and a singular (active) perfect tense verb conjugation, novit. The second agreement is correct according to the sense of the collective noun, referring not to turba as a singular, feminine noun, but rather as a group of individuals using a masculine plural (passive) perfect tense verb conjugation, maledicti sunt, as opposed to a feminine singular conjugation, maledicta est. To my knowledge, this is not at all common in romance languages, and though it occurs in English, it isn't always clear, nor are the senses always mixed.

How well do modern English translations from the Greek do? The RSV uses the second plural sense in its translation for the entire sentence,

But this crowd, who do not know the law, are accursed.

while the NAB translates using the first singular sense,

But this crowd, which does not know the law, is accursed.

I suspect that the NAB is counting on us to understand the implicit nuance of the collective noun rather than spell it literally as is done with the Latin and Greek. The Douay-Rheims, which is a direct translation of the Latin Vulgate and is often faulted for containing too many confusing "latin-esque" English expressions, renders,

But this multitude, that knoweth not the law, are accursed.

Both senses! I'm not sure what to make of it. What seems unnatural in English is perfectly normal in Latin.

Icon of Christ on the Cross

In his latest Word from Rome, John Allen expands on the Holy Father's recent visit to Lourdes.

What we saw in Lourdes, I believe, was the apotheosis of his transformation from "supreme pastor of the Catholic church," to quote the formula in the Code of Canon Law, into a living symbol of human suffering, in effect, an icon of Christ on the cross.

Instead of harping and droning on the pope's frail health like so many reporters do, Allen examines it in light of Christ and the faithful at Lourdes and goes on to outline three extremely important points that suggest a deepening in the pope's role in the world today.

First, papal handlers are no longer bothering to deny or minimize the extent of the pope's physical difficulties.

Second, the trip seemed to ratify a theological reading of John Paul's suffering as iconic of Christ's.

Third, the trip put into full public view the unique bond John Paul now has with the sick and suffering of the world.

In other words, the Holy Father's health conveys a much needed witness of the reality of suffering to a world that spends billions to escape suffering. It illustrates the purpose of Christ's suffering and ultimate victory over death. Yes, the Holy Father suffers even as he leads us, but in that suffering we find Christ present. In that suffering, we paradoxically find strength. Clearly, God still has a profound message to convey through this powerful world figure, Pope John Paul. The Holy Father led us through a remarkable era of growth and vigor as the 20th century drew to a close. Now, he leads us through suffering so that we open the new millennium with a healthy humility and awareness of humanity.

For all the ink that's been spilled about John Paul the politician or John Paul the globetrotter, in the long run it may be this period of his papacy, John Paul the invalid, that leaves the deepest impression. We may find that 50 years from now, it's not his role in the collapse of Communism that we remember, but these years of decline and public suffering. He... forces us to confront the reality of decline and death.

The legacy of John Paul the Great will be a multi-faceted one, indeed. I pray for many more years, but I know that, even centuries after our beloved pope has gone, the Church and the world will continue to benefit from all that he has taught us. He will continue to teach us, and I am honored to have been alive during the pontificate of such a great world leader.

14th century French lyrical poetry

Je vivroie liement, a song by Guillaume de Machaut.

1.) Je vivroie liement, Douce creature, Se vous saviés vraiement ma cure.	2.) Dame de meintieng joli, Plaisant, nette et pure, Souvent me fait dire 'ai mi!' Li maus que j'endure
3.) Pur vous servir loyaument. Et soié seüre Que je ne puis nullement Vivre einssi, se longuement Me dure.	4.) Car vous m'estes sans mercy Et sans pité dure. et s'avés le cuer de mi Mis en tel ardure
5.) Qu'il morra certeinnement De mort trop obscure, Se pour son aligement Merci n'est procheinnement Meüre.

Be sure to hear this song sung and read the English translation. To whom do you think she is singing? :)

To be Catholic...

We profess to believe in a Church, an assembly of believers, that is catholic. While there is a nominal value to the big-C title, Roman Catholic, the adjective catholic was always used to identify the Church as manifesting particular properties that distinguished it from the myriad of heretical sects that have abounded through history. The Church is catholic, meaning it is universally apparent and one in unity of doctrine. It is also visible and organized, as attested to by St. Ignatius of Antioch in his letter to the Church at Smyrna, written approx. 110 AD:

Let no one do anything of concern to the Church without the bishop. Let that be considered a valid Eucharist which is celebrated by the bishop or by one whom he ordains [i.e., a presbyter]. Wherever the bishop appears, let the people be there; just as wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church.

This makes the term peculiar to one assembly of believers throughout the world where the teaching of Christ can be found, sent out by Christ on a mission to the entire world.

St. Cyril of Jerusalem, in paragraphs 22-28 of his 18th catechetical lecture, written approx. 350 AD, wrote intensely about what is meant when we profess that we believe in the Catholic Church.

[The Church (Greek "ecclesia" = assembly)] is called Catholic [(Greek "katholicos" = universal)] then because it extends over all the world, from one end of the earth to the other; and because it teaches universally and completely one and all the doctrines which ought to come to men's knowledge, concerning things both visible and invisible, heavenly and earthly; and because it brings into subjection to godliness the whole race of mankind, governors and governed, learned and unlearned; and because it universally treats and heals the whole class of sins, which are committed by soul or body, and possesses in itself every form of virtue which is named, both in deeds and words, and in every kind of spiritual gifts.

Based on this, St. Cyril went on to give an important admonition:

And if ever thou art sojourning in cities, inquire not simply where the Lord's House is (for the other sects of the profane also attempt to call their own dens "houses of the Lord"), nor merely where the Church is, but where is the Catholic Church. For this is the peculiar name of this Holy Church, the mother of us all, which is the spouse of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Only-begotten Son of God...

In this Holy Catholic Church receiving instruction and behaving ourselves virtuously, we shall attain the kingdom of heaven, and inherit Eternal Life; for which also we endure all toils, that we may be made partakers thereof from the Lord.

It is the peculiar Church that is Catholic, and at the same time, it is also One, Holy, and Apostolic. The mother of us all. Protected by Christ in spite of the sinfulness of its members in view of the merits of His death and resurrection.

Dominican Rite Mass

If you're in the San Francisco area tonight around 7:30pm, you may want to check out the Dominican Rite Mass held at St. Dominic's Catholic Church in honor of Feast of the Dedication of St. Mary Major with the St. Dominic's Schola Cantorum. The musical setting includes Josquin Desprez's Ave Maria in addition to other pieces taken from Edmund Rubbra's Missa in Honorem Sancti Dominici.

We need a Jester!

England has decided to bring back the court jester, and they have already put out advertisements.

An ad appearing in Thursday's editions of The Times laid out the qualifications: "Must be mirthful and prepared to work summer weekends in 2005. Must have own outfit (with bells). Bladder on stick provided if required."

This would be the first court jester since 1649. Isn't it true that the jester was always the first to lose his head? Which leads to my second question, has the position been opened to women?

The Relics of Polycarp

A scene from the early church concerning the remains of St. Polycarp after his martyrdom, written 2nd century AD:

Accordingly, we afterwards took up [Polycarp's] bones, as being more precious than the most exquisite jewels, and more purified than gold, and deposited them in a fitting place, whither, being gathered together, as opportunity is allowed us, with joy and rejoicing, the Lord shall grant us to celebrate the anniversary of his martyrdom, both in memory of those who have already finished their course, and for the exercising and preparation of those yet to walk in their steps.

The Martyrdom of Polycarp, Chapter XVIII

Today, we continue to value the relics of our saintly forebears, and we commemorate their anniversaries as feast days all throughout the year. Praise be to God.

St. Stephen's in Sacramento

I got back from the Sacramento area last Tuesday. Got the chance to see all around the area, including Gold Country and the Capitol Building. On Sunday, we went to the 10:30am High Mass at the Church of St. Stephen the First Martyr, staffed by the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter. Though I have worshipped at several low masses over the last few years, this was my first experience of the Tridentine high mass, and I absolutely loved it. The mass inspired a wonderful sense of the sacred. I was also very impressed by the celebrant, Fr. John Berg, FSSP. His homily was among the best I have heard.

However, during this experience, I did find that my post-conciliar sensibilities often got the better of me. I entered the Church in 1997, and most of what I understand about liturgy has been formed based on my experiences with the post-concilar mass. I couldn't resist, for example, the urge to join in on the choir's singing of the Gloria, the Credo, and the Sanctus. I also couldn't resist the Domine, non sum dignus.... One of the things that I truly appreciate about the liturgical reform of the Second Vatican Council is the desire that the faithful be able to actively join in saying or singing parts of the ordinary together, as mentioned in Article 54 of Sacrosanctum Concilium:

... steps should be taken so that the faithful may also be able to say or to sing together in Latin those parts of the Ordinary of the Mass which pertain to them.

It seems to be that these things, particularly the Credo, have their fullest meaning when they are said together. But that's just my very humble and limited opinion. I recall the dialogue mass I experienced in Houston a few months back. Wonderful, although not the norm. On the other hand, a setting of sacred polyphony would suit very me well even though I would not be able sing along!

One other thing, which may draw the wrath of some of my readers, though I am open to your input and instruction. I found the endless stream of people moving about for confession during the mass, even during the homily, to be very distracting. I know that the practice is not novel, but it seemed completely inappropriate. It gave me a strange conception of what it might have been like prior to the council, when most individuals were, by and large, merely spectators who did their own private devotions during the mass and took their turn for confession with no intention to receive Holy Communion, or if so, infrequently. Don't get me wrong - I have no window into anyone's soul, so I will not make judgments upon anyone at the mass doing this, nor do I have anything against regular confession. But generally speaking, it seems more fitting that the sacrament of penance, while intimately connected to the liturgy, should not occur simultaneously with the liturgy so as to blur the distinction between the two actions. I appreciate the reform indicated by Article 48 of Sacrosanctum Concilium:

The Church, therefore, earnestly desires that Christ's faithful, when present at this mystery of faith, should not be there as strangers or silent spectators; on the contrary, through a good understanding of the rites and prayers they should take part in the sacred action conscious of what they are doing, with devotion and full collaboration. They should be instructed by God's word and be nourished at the table of the Lord's body...

We can argue about the substance of the reforms and their implementation, but there's no doubt in my mind that reforms were needed, and the council did a just thing in addressing them.

At any rate, I'm sure I'll be back to St. Stephen's next time I am around. In spite of the few things I didn't agree with, I still have a wonderful appreciation for the pre-conciliar liturgy, and I will not throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Songs and Hymns

Songs and Hymns of the Earliest Greek Christian Poets

An Evening Hymn

Praise the Lord, O ye His servants,
        Praise the Name of the Lord:
We praise Thee, we hymn Thee, we bless Thee
        For Thy great glory.
O Lord the King, the Father of Christ, the Lamb without blemish,
        Who taketh away the sin of the world,
To Thee belongeth praise, to Thee belongeth the hymn, to Thee belongeth glory,
        The Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
        Throughout all ages. Amen.
Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart, O Lord,
        According to Thy word, in peace:
For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation,
Which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people,
A light to lighten the Gentiles, and (to be) the glory of Thy people Israel.

A Garden of Unlimited Flowers

The Church is a garden patterned with unlimited flowers. It is necessary that they should be of various sizes, various colors, and, to sum up, various perfections. All of them have their value, their charm, and their color, and in the assemblage of their differences all of them produce a beauty most pleasing and perfect.

St. Francis de Sales, Treatise on the Love of God

Just do it yourself...

Check this out. A while ago, Microsoft filed a patent for this:

Methods and apparatus for distributing power and data to devices coupled to the human body are described. The human body is used as a conductive medium, e.g., a bus, over which power and/or data is distributed. Power is distributed by coupling a power source to the human body via a first set of electrodes. One or more device to be powered, e.g., peripheral devices, are also coupled to the human body via additional sets of electrodes. The devices may be, e.g., a speaker, display, watch, keyboard, etc. A pulsed DC signal or AC signal may be used as the power source. By using multiple power supply signals of differing frequencies, different devices can be selectively powered. Digital data and/or other information signals, e.g., audio signals, can be modulated on the power signal using frequency and/or amplitude modulation techniques.

Interesting...

zzz...

The summer has been particularly busy, just like it was last year at this time.  But this weekend, I am venturing up to the Sacramento area for a few days.  Should be fun!

... ubi enim est thesaurus tuus, ibi erit et cor tuum... - Mt. 6:21

A New Adventure
 
Please pray for Jay at the Discernment Blog as he leaves for the pre-novitiate for the central province Order of Preachers (Dominicans).  If you get a chance, read through his blog archives and see all about how his vocation has unfolded and where his vocation journey has taken him!

God be with you, Jay!

Everybody should know this!


You know what I'm talking about, that strange looking building that is the only thing that distinguishes LAX from any other airport. It's in just about every movie and postcard that features Los Angeles. It's so distinctive - but what is it?

It's the Theme Building!

The Theme Building was part of the $50 million over-all Los Angeles Jet Age Terminal Construction project which began in 1960. On December 18, 1992, the Los Angeles City Council designated the Theme Building a cultural and historical monument.

The building was to serve as an airport terminal and was intended to resemble a landing spaceship. I wonder why it didn't work out! Today, if you go the top, you'll find the bizarre Encounter Restaurant. All that can really be said is, Picture it... Los Angeles, the 1960's.

A Daily Prayer

A Prayer for Bishops, Priests, Deacons, Brothers, Sisters, Lay Ministers and Seminarians

Lord Jesus, hear our prayer for the spiritual renewal of bishops, priests, deacons, brothers, sisters, lay ministers and seminarians, especially those of our own diocese. We praise you for giving their ministry to the Church. In these days, renew them with the gifts of Your Spirit.

You once opened the Holy Scriptures to Your disciples when You walked on this earth. Now renew Your ordained and chosen ones with the truth and power of Your Word.

In the Eucharist you gave Your disciples renewed life and hope. Nourish Your consecrated ones with Your Own Body and Blood. Help them to imitate in their lives the death and resurrection they celebrate around Your altar.

Give them enthusiasm for the Gospel, zeal for the salvation of all people, courage in leadership and humility in service.

Give them Your love for one another and for all their brothers and sisters in You. For You love them, Lord Jesus and we love and pray for them in Your Holy Name.

Amen.

More Evidence?

Back in April, I commented upon one of the conspiracy theories that appears to be circulating among more liberal Catholic circles in the area. Are Opus Dei priests infiltrating Santa Barbara's parishes? I wonder if the very first mass held last month by Cardinal Mahony in honor of Opus Dei and St. Josemaria Escriva has given our friends more to be concerned about. Perhaps this conspiracy goes all the way to the top!

While the church placed renewed emphasis on the laity during the historic Second Vatican Council in the mid-1960s, Mahony said, Josemaria had been doing so decades earlier.

"Vatican II set forth for the whole church the role in our baptism to be holy and to be wonderful witnesses in the world," Mahony told the congregation. "Pope John Paul II described Josemaria as a man far ahead of his time."

But St. Josemaria disagreed. Looking at the cathedral tapestries depicting ordinary people walking with the saints, [John] Waiss said, "Those tapestries are so Opus Dei!"

The universal call to holiness...

Vivida in Tempore

by Filippo Sirotti

Vivida in tempore transire nolente
permagna florescit in pectore vis
continenter pellens me dicere: "nos"

et lumine solis extremo dilapso
in caelo inter alias te incipio requirere stellas

quod secum te sentiens dulcedine noctis
expectans laetatur animus meus
et loca nulla illi remota