What did you say?

I've been meaning to plug the website Lost In Translation for a long time. Computational Linguistics, better known as Natural Language Processing, concerns itself with the algorithmic, linguistic processing of human language. It is a very tricky field with many problems to solve. While there are good techniques, they are hardly practical. Some of the more basic algorithms are available for use in translation on the web through mechanisms such as babelfish, but only for the most basic of expressions, as Lost In Translation demonstrates. As soon as you introduce complexity in the syntax and meaning of words, these algorithmic methods break down.

What happens when an English phrase is translated (by computer) back and forth between 5 different languages? The authors of the Systran translation software probably never intended this application of their program. As of July 2003, translation software is almost good enough to turn grammatically correct, slang-free text from one language into grammatically incorrect, barely readable approximations in another. But the software is not equipped for 10 consecutive translations of the same piece of text. The resulting half-English, half-foreign, and totally non sequitur response bears almost no resemblance to the original.

Classic Examples:
I'm a little tea pot, short and stout.
translates to
They are a small POTENTIOMETER, short circuits and a beer of malzes of the tea.

a cookie is just a cookie, but fig newtons are fruit and cake.
translates to
biskuit has expert of biskuit, but Newton von Fig is fruit and hardens.

When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's amore.
translates to
If the moon fixes its eye like a great vector of Fleischpie of the vector of Pizzapie, is the lover.

These algorithms don't even come close to modeling the linguistic capacity of the human brain, but the research is promising! Of course, even we, humans, sometimes get it wrong, as former US Presidential Candidate George Romney expressed back in 1967 when he said:

I know you believe you understood what you think I said,
but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant!

Santa Barbara Mission

Continuing my profile of beautiful Santa Barbara Churches and Chapels, I, of course, must bring attention to the beautiful Mission Santa Barbara, the Queen of the Missions, which, since its initial foundation in 1786, has been staffed by the Order of Friars Minor. Today it is still an active parish in Santa Barbara. It is also one of most conspicuous land marks around, considered by many to be the heart of the city. Much of the structure was damanged when an earthquake hit Santa Barbara in 1925.

Front of the Mission immediately after earthquake of 1925.

Much of it has since been reconstructed: Front of the Mission today

View of the Pacific Ocean from the Mission steps. Imagine this sight toward the end of the 18th century (minus the houses, of course)!

Original altar on display near the baptistry. The Santa Barbara Mission is the only mission that still has its entire original altar completely intact and on display. Notice the statue of St. Barbara above the tabernacle.

Inside, in spite of the earthquake damage, things look almost as they have for the last 100 years!

View of the rest of the nave and choir loft.

Within the Mission complex is the Sacred Garden, originally used for catechizing the California natives.

If you ever visit the Mission, you'll notice that this mission, like many, has an elaborate aqeduct system that runs through the Mission complex. This system was originally fed by water from a dam built in 1807 at nearby foothill waterfalls. These falls, along with the original mouth of the aqueduct, can still be visited a couple of miles up the road at the Santa Barbara botanic gardens.

For the curious historian in you:

One of my favorite stories of the Mission is the story of Juana Maria. If, as a child, you've ever read the book, Island of the Blue Dolphins, you'll know the story of the young Indian girl found living alone on San Nicolas Island, off the coast of California, after 18 years. The story is that she was brought to Mission Santa Barbara where she remained and later died. She is supposedly buried somewhere in the Mission cemetery, and she is commemorated by this plaque located on the wall within the cemetery:

The plaque reads: JUANA MARIA Indian Woman Abandoned on San Nicolas Island Eighteen Years Found And Brought To SANTA BARBARA By Capt. George Nidever In 1893 SANTA BARBARA CHAPTER DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION 1926

Augustine: Great Renown Has This Priest

Hymn from the old Roman Breviary

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.

Hid fidem sacram vigil usque
firmat,
arma et errorum subigit potenter,
sordidos mores lavat
et repellit
dogmate claro.

Qui, gregis Christi speculator
almus,
enites clero monachisque forma,
tu Dei nobis faciem benignam
fac prece semper.

Laus, honor, virtus Triadi beatae,
cuius in terris studuisti amanter
alta scrutari nitidaque in astris
luce potiris.
Amen.

Feast Day of St. Augustine

Today is the feast day of my beloved patron saint, St. Augustine of Hippo. So I thought I would celebrate this day by sharing with you some of his insights concerning prayer that have helped me in some way.

In his treatise, "On The Lord's Sermon on the Mount", 2.3.14, Augustine wrote this regarding the usefulness of frequent prayer:

But again one might ask whether we are to pray by words or deeds and what need there is for prayer, if God already knows what is needful for us. But it is because the act of prayer clarifies and purges our heart and makes it more capable of receiving the divine gifts that are poured out for us in the spirit. God does not give heed to the ambitiousness of our prayers, because he is always ready to give to us his light, not a visible light but an intellectual and spiritual one: but we are not always ready to receive it when we turn aside and down to other things out of a desire for temporal things. For in prayer there occurs a turning of the heart to he who is always ready to give if we will but take what he gives: and in that turning is the purification of the inner eye when the things we crave in the temporal world are shut out; so that the vision of the pure heart can bear the pure light that shines divinely without setting or wavering: and not only bear it, but abide in it; not only without difficulty, but even with unspeakable joy, with which the blessed life is truly and genuinely brought to fulfillment.

In other words, frequent prayer, manifested either in our words or our daily deeds, always orients us more closely toward the gifts of grace that our Father in heaven is always ready to give us. If even once per day we turn our souls toward matters of the spirit, we are forever changed because of it - a change not necessarily substantiated by the particular feelings or emotions associated with prayer, or even because of the ambitiousness of our prayer. Rather, as Augustine points out, it is a gradual change that is noticeable as the things we cling to in the physical, temporal world pass away. It involves a purification of the inner eye through which the vision of the pure heart may eventually come to bear and abide, with unspeakable joy, in the pure light that is God with His overflowing grace.

Monastery Chapel of the Poor Clares

Nestled in the heart of Santa Barbara on Los Olivos Street, just three blocks down from the historic Santa Barbara Mission, is the quaint and beautiful Chapel of the Cloistered Poor Clare sisters. The sisters take great care to sing for daily mass at 7am, which I love to attend when I can. They also have Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament every Sunday at 7:30am with Benediction and Devotions at 4pm. Perpetual adoration is held for 24 hours the first Thursday of every month.

What I love about attending mass with the sisters is that I get an experience of holy mass with people who have a strong devotion to Our Lord present in the Eucharist. Beautiful singing and chant as well as the heavy scent of candle and incense always permeate the environment. The interior is simple yet pure. It is truly a hidden jewel to Santa Barbara.

Front of the chapel from the street.

View of the sanctuary from the nave. The sisters actually gather to the left of the sanctuary, out of view of regular congregation.

Closer to the altar. Above the tabernacle is a window used for Exposition. There is an adoration chapel behind the window where the sisters gather to adore Our Lord.

View of the choir loft and nave from the sanctuary.

The beautiful Santa Barbara Mission is up next on my list of Santa Barbara church favorites.

Churches and Chapels of Santa Barbara

In the past on this blog, I have been quick to point out particular churches in Santa Barbara that I find particularly beautiful, such as St. Barbara's Greek Orthodox Church, and even St. Sophia's in Los Angeles. I would like to continue doing that over the next few days, focusing on some of the other churches of Santa Barbara. Being possessed of a new digital camera, I hope to get up some good pictures for you. I am doing this not only because of my love for *some* of the churches around here, but also because it's a side of Santa Barbara that largely goes unnoticed, even by many who live here!

Come in, 99...

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Theology on Tap, 2

So last evening I went down to Camarillo, CA to attend the last in the series of topics for Theology On Tap, an event sponsored by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The topic was Traditions, Rituals, and Funky Relics and, as I said in the last blog, it was basically a Q&A with the Auxiliary Bishop for the Santa Barbara Pastoral Region, Thomas J. Curry.

As I understand it, the original Theology On Tap began in the Archdiocese of Chicago and quickly spread around the country, offering talks and discussions on theology in casual settings for young adults, offering drinks including beer and wine. Last night's evening proceeded with the introduction of Bishop Curry. Fortunately, Bishop Curry is no stranger to us as we have worked with him several times over the past few years. He is the co-sponsor of the Bridge Building Young Adult ministry program with which I am currently involved. He is a very intelligent, soft-spoken man from Ireland -- he articulates the faith very well and even has a Ph.D. in American History with an emphasis on Church/State relations.

Bishop Curry prefaced the Q&A with a little discussion about his own life and the nature of his vocation. He expressed to us that the one thing that is exceedingly different now than in his youth is: choices. Now it is commonplace for young adults to choose to do several different things within their lives, including changing majors, changing careers multiple times, and moving around frequently. When he was discerning his future at our age, there wasn't a lot of freedom to do these different things, and with that came a small sense of comfort accompanied by restriction. Once you made up your mind about your career, you did it, and you rarely questioned it.

Bishop cautioned us by saying that even though having choices in life is good, it is often a source of great confusion. Young Adults of Generation X are terribly afraid of messing up, of making the wrong decision - so much so that they are much more stringent on themselves and have much more unrealistic expectations about their lives. Bishop Curry faulted the individualistic bent of our society for creating much of this confusion, even though it has created much of the choices. The implications of this in the development of a healthy spiritual life are staggering. I believe this has contributed to the laissez-faire attitude many young adults now have with regard to the Church, especially when it comes to embracing challenging teachings such as being open to the confusion often associated with a loving acceptance of children in married life. Bishop stressed that our society preaches so much about rights when it speaks of choices, and the question then becomes Why can't you give me the right to choose X instead of Is it right to choose X? The former destroys the role of moral compass and exalts the individual's ability to choose, whereas the latter humbles the self in deference to what is true.

At any rate, Bishop Curry then opened the floor to questions. Many questions were simple enough, yet it was good to see people asking questions the answers to which they sincerely didn't know, such as Why does the color of vestments vary?, and how does one become a bishop?, to which Bishop quipped, Well, you better not live like you're running for the job, or you'll never get it!. Other questions included why do the Eastern Churches make the sign of the cross differently than Latin rite Christians?, and how do we explain Mary and the Saints to non-Catholics?. Interestingly, there were also questions about predestination to which Bishop responded very well, illustrating the practical failure of embracing a theology of predestination in religious circles, particularly the effect on the Puritan communities of early America.

Toward the end, there was a question asked about relics, including whose relics were in the altars of our Archdiocese. Bishop Curry explained the purpose and history of relics, but added, yes, relics are bordering on 'strange.' Many older families embrace traditions that may appear strange to outsiders, and just think - the Catholic Church is a 2000 year old family, so of course we have many things that will appear strange! Although Bishop Curry did not know off hand whose relics were in the altars, I informed him later that over 90% of the altarstones in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles contain the relics of St. Candidus, the 3rd century Roman martyr. The remaining bones of Candidus that aren't in our altars are kept at Calvary Cemetary in Los Angeles. Just today, I also found this web page explaining Candidus a bit more and how he ended up in Los Angeles:

Candidus, known as the senator militum, was among the leaders of the Theban Legion who led the opposition to Maximian, noting that "we are your soldiers, but we are also servants of the true God. We cannot renounce Him who is our Creater and Master, and also yours even though you reject Him."

Maximian, seeing no hope of overcoming their constancy, ordered that the entire legion be put to death. This all occurred near Agaunum (c. 287 a.d.) and September 22nd is the day that Candidus and his companions are commemorated in the Roman Martyrology.

St. Eucherius, the bishop of Lyons during the first half of the 5th century, is the source of the story about Candidus. Though certain aspects of the account are ambiguous, it seems clear that the martyrdom is an historical fact.

For many centuries, the principal relics of Candidus and his companions were preserved in a 6th century reliquary at the Abbey founded by Saint Theodore of Octodurum...

Bishop Curry then told me, That's good to know! He then leaned over and quietly asked me, Who was that again? Boy, I am such a Catholic nerd.

Theology on Tap

I decided to go on a trip down to Camarillo with the other members of the Advisory Board of the Bridge Building Young Adult ministry this afternoon to hear the final evening in a series of Theology on Tap. This session basically featured a Q&A with our illustrious regional bishop, Thomas Curry. I will write more about the experience later today :)

In Assumptione Beatae Mariae Virginis

ad introitum, Rev. 12, 1.

Signum magnum apparuit in caelo:
mulier amicta sole,
et luna sub pedibus eius,
et in capite eius corona stellarum duodecim.

Psalm 97(98), 1:

Cantate Domino canticum novum: quia mirabilia fecit.

Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto
sicut erat in principio
et nunc
et semper
et in saecula saeculorum.

I trust that you all had a blessed Feast of the Assumption. Less than two more weeks until the feast day of my beloved patron and friend, St. Augustine!

God Bless Cardinal George

Chris at Rosa Mystica has posted Cardinal George's Sunday Homily from August 3rd at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago. I just talked with a good friend of mine this evening who was at that homily and loved it.

I stand here to defend our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, against a false accusation made on the front page of the Chicago Sun-Times last Friday. The headline reads: "Pope Launches Global Campaign against Gays." The Pope, of course, did no such thing.

First, what did the Pope do to invite this false accusation against him? The Holy Father, through the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, approved a statement about the nature of marriage, a statement which repeats what every Pope has taught for two thousand years: marriage is the life-long union of a man and a woman who enter into a total sharing of themselves for the sake of family. This is not first of all a religious teaching, although Christ raised marriage to the level of a sacrament. This is an understanding of marriage from nature itself. Marriage predates our present government or any other and predates, as well, the founding of the Church. Marriage is not the creature of state or church, and neither a government nor the church has authority to change its nature. A government that claims such authority becomes totalitarian. What the Holy See concluded from the fact that there is neither biological nor moral equivalence between heterosexual marriage and homosexual unions is that there should be no legal equivalence either, in a well-ordered and wholesome society.

It is this conclusion, evidently, which was represented falsely as a "global campaign against gays." Because of a concerted campaign in movies and TV shows in recent years to shape public imagination and opinion into accepting same sex relations as normal and morally unexceptional, obvious truths now are considered evidence of homophobia. Because a morality based upon desires has largely supplanted a morality based upon the truth of things, a teaching which limits sexual self-expression of any sort becomes oppressive. In this context, the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that people of homosexual orientation should be treated with every respect and with compassion; but the Catechism also teaches the truth about the nature of God's gift of human sexuality, a truth our bodies themselves proclaim and the lives of married couples attest to.

...The Holy Spirit invisibly anchors the Church in the truth of Christ. Truths of faith can be more adequately understood from age to age, but the Holy Spirit does not contradict himself. The Holy See, because of the personal office of the Successor of Peter, is a privileged and secure visible expression of the Spirit's guidance of the Church. Catholics therefore reverence the Petrine office as a gift from Christ himself and have a deep respect for the person holding that office. Divulging disinformation about the Pope, engaging in anti-papal propaganda, attacks all Catholics and is usually, in history, a preparation for active persecution of the Church. The Holy Father makes up nothing that he teaches. His is not the "opinion of the Vatican." His is the teaching of Jesus Christ, because he is the primary witness to the faith that unites us to Christ. In matters that are received over the ages and proclaimed by the Pope in ours, no person who disagrees to the point of denial can claim to hold the Catholic faith.

...The Pope is attacked for many reasons. In some Protestant circles, he is still regarded as the anti-Christ. Among secularists, his teaching office is a threat to human freedom. Among disaffected Catholics, the Pope must be discredited so that Catholics will be forced to change their faith. And the headline writers of the Sun-Times? I do not know their motivation. A bishop likes to presuppose good will, and what they did would find an echo in many places; but what I must say today is that a line has been crossed, and Chicago Catholics cannot ignore what has happened.

...I ask you to pray for the Holy Father; pray as well for the enemies of the Church; and let us pray for one another, for strength in the present and perseverance in the difficulties to come.

In these troubled times, it takes courage to stand up and be Catholic. It takes courage to live the sacrament of marriage. It takes courage to live a sacramental life. It takes courage to acknowedge our sinfulness and even more courage to answer the universal call to holiness. But thankfully, we can't do this by ourselves. We have God's grace and the promise of our precious Lord.

Approaching the Incarnate God

Homo sum; humani nil a me alienum puto.
I am a human being: nothing human is foreign to me.

     -Terence, 190-159 BC

Et Homo Factus Est. Only in the depth of God's Humanity am I raised to the height of God's Divinity. Deo Gratias.

The Episcopalian Message: A Response

Thanks to Bill Cork for pointing this out.

Episcopalian Rev. Kendall Harmon delivered this speech to the House of Deputies of the General Convention of the Episcopal Church today (Not the American Anglican Council as previously reported, thanks to the correction of an astute reader!), raising the very same issues that have been concerning me.

I rise on behalf of many members of this House in response to the action to consent to the election a person sexually active outside of Holy Matrimony.

Though many of you are celebrating, many of us are mourning. Let me tell you what some of us experienced last night.

A 24-year old woman, married just 5 weeks ago in the Episcopal Church, sobbed uncontrollably over what she felt was a betrayal by her Church.

A 56-year old layman said, "I've been faithful to God's sexual standards all my life and now my bishop and my church tell me it doesn't matter."

An anguished GenX youth minister feels his church now offers no support to his teenagers struggling to maintain sexual purity.

A rector has already received numerous emails telling him that faithful parishioners have now left his parish and your church.

...By contravening the "historic faith and order" [Preamble to the Constitution], this Convention sets itself against its own Constitution. And in thus acting unconstitutionally, this Convention now separates itself from the orthodox faith and breaks the ties that bind us to the rest of the Anglican Communion.

Let us please pray for all who are struggling right now.

Informed Consent? - Postfertilization Effects of Oral Contraceptives

Thanks to Fructus Ventris for the link to this article in the Archives of Family Medicine.

The primary mechanism of oral contraceptives is to inhibit ovulation, but this mechanism is not always operative. When breakthrough ovulation occurs, then secondary mechanisms operate to prevent clinically recognized pregnancy. These secondary mechanisms may occur either before or after fertilization. Postfertilization effects would be problematic for some patients, who may desire information about this possibility. This article evaluates the available evidence for the postfertilization effects of oral contraceptives and concludes that good evidence exists to support the hypothesis that the effectiveness of oral contraceptives depends to some degree on postfertilization effects. However, there are insufficient data to quantitate the relative contribution of postfertilization effects. Despite the lack of quantitative data, the principles of informed consent suggest that patients who may object to any postfertilization loss should be made aware of this information so that they can give fully informed consent for the use of oral contraceptives.

Are women really informed about all of the detrimental effects of the birth-control pill?

The Month of August

St. Augustine of Hippo

The month of August is one of my favorite months in the liturgical year. Not only is the Holy Feast of the Assumption in August (August 15th), but also the Feast Day of my beloved patron saint and friend, Augustine (August 28th). I'll be blogging more as the days approach. Holy Spirit, powerful Consoler, sacred Bond of the Father and the Son, Hope of the afflicted, descend into my heart and establish in it your loving dominion. Enkindle in my tepid soul the fire of your Love so that I may be wholly subject to you. We believe that when you dwell in us, yolu also prepare a dwelling for the Father and the Son. Deign, therefore, to come to me, Consoler of abandoned souls, and Protector of the needy. Help the afflicted, strengthen the weak, and support the wavering. Come and purify me. Let no evil desire take possession of me. You love the humble and resist the proud. Come to me, glory of the living, and hope of the dying. Lead me by your grace that I may always be pleasing to you. Amen. Saint Augustine of Hippo

More Schism in the Anglican Communion

On a more controversial note, I have some opinions regarding the recent confirmed election of Rev. Gene Robinson by the Bishops of the Episcopalian Church.

I've been following this story for quite some time now. For me, it was never so much about Gene Robinson, the man. I've never met him. It wasn't even so much about Gene Robinson, the man with a homosexual orientation, since in my opinion that doesn't necessarily provide an impediment to living a healthy, chaste, Christian life. Rather, it was about Gene Robinson, the man who openly endorses extra-marital sexual activity, even instrinsically disordered sexual activity, opposed to natural law, such as sodomy. In a world that is in dire need of strong Christian leaders, consider what a blow this is to Christian morality. In confirming Gene Robinson as Bishop, the Episcopal Church has blessed the desecration of the marital state by saying that it is okay for a Christian leader to engage in homosexual intercourse outside of marriage. It seems to me that implicit in this is blanket blessing of sexual intercourse outside of the marital state, homosexual or heterosexual, for any Episcopalian. Is this not true? How do the Episcopalian Bishops justify this to their flock? By arguing that pre-marital and extra-marital sexual intercourse is okay as long as there is love, or fidelity, and that sex doesn't really need to have anything to do with being married at all? What message do you think this sends to youth?

It is of no surprise to me that the Anglican/Episcopalian Church is teetering on the edge of more division amongst itself.

What a contrast this is to the beautiful, life-affirming sacramental definition of sexual intercourse within the blessed union of Holy Matrimony as the Catholic Church has consistently tried to convey. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has taken a lot of heat for releasing its new document, CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING PROPOSALS TO GIVE LEGAL RECOGNITION TO UNIONS BETWEEN HOMOSEXUAL PERSONS, particularly from the secular press. So basically, in recent days we have had two major statements from two major Christian communions. One stands up for the teachings of Christ and natural law, while the other is a complete compromise on those teachings to suit the world's good feelings. One is difficult to accept because it challenges us to live our lives for Christ, while the other is easy to accept because it says its okay to live our lives for ourselves.

Religious Practical Jokes

From expagan.com's humor page:

If you are an Evangelical / Fundamentalist Dispensationalist

Wake up earlier than your spouse. Be very quiet. Take your pajamas and put them in the bed in the exact same position as you were laying. Cover them back up. If you have children, wake them up and tell them to be very quiet. Put their pajamas back into the bed in a sleeping position.

Go out to breakfast, If you can, don't take the car.

The Joy of Latin Mnemonics

Just when you think they're gone with a former era, they come back.

Prepositions which take the ablative case:
SID P. SPACE - the Ablative Astronaut

Sine In De   Prae   Sub Pro Ab Cum Ex


Ablative Cheer - best done with pom-poms, preferably in school colors.

ab, cum, de
play, team, play
sine, pro
go, team, go
sub, ex, in
win, team, win.

The Difference between AB and AD:

in ad the round part of the d points toward the a in ab the round part of
the b points away from the a

The Seven Hills of Rome:

The Seven Hills of Rome: Can Queen Victoria Eat Cold Apple Pie?
Capitoline, Quirinal, Viminal, Esquiline, Caelian, Aventine, Palatine

The Seven Kings of Rome:

Roman Noodles Toss And Turn, Save Them!
Romulus, Numa Pompilius, Tullus Hostilius, Ancus Marcius, Tarquinius
Priscus, Servius Tullius, Tarquinius Superbus

The Roman Month:

In March, July, October, May
The Ides are on the fifteenth day;
The Nones the seventh; but all besides
Have two days less for Nones and Ides.

Corpus Scriptorum Latinorum

Check out the Corpus Scriptorum Latinorum, a collaborative effort to assemble a digital library containing the entire corpus of Latin Literature.

The Corpus Scriptorum Latinorum (CSL) is a collaborative project among scholars from a variety of disciplines with the main purpose of creating a digital library of the entire body of Latin literature, spanning from the earliest epigraphic remains to the Neo-Latinists of the eighteenth century. As a first step toward this end, we maintain an up-to-date catalogue of all Latin texts that are currently available online, making CSL a single, centralized resource for locating Latin literature on the internet. If you can't find a text or translation through this site, odds are that it does not yet exist online.

It's part of Forum Romanum, one of my favorite Internet resources.

St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral

In my free time I love to visit churches around, and while there are many in Santa Barbara worth mentioning (and I will, eventually), the talk of Cathedrals has given me pause to reflect on one of my favorite churches down in Los Angeles - the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sophia. St. Sophia's is actually located in Koreatown, though at the time of its construction, it was primarily Greek. Notable parishioners included actor Telly Savalas among others, but it is quite remarkably one of the most beautful churches I have ever seen - worth a visit if you are ever in the area. Here are some pictures from the website to give you the idea:

Looking East toward the Holy Altar

The Holy Altar and Icon Screen, with Bishop's Throne on the far right and pulpit on the far left

But take my word for it - these pictures are nothing like the real thing. The website explains the architecture of the building, both inside and out. From the outside, the building is rather unassuming. You really aren't quite sure what to expect before you step inside and find your senses overwhelmed.

Voodoo still widely popular in Carribean nations

CNN.com - Voodoo pilgrimages draw thousands

New Latin Blog?

I had thought about this myself, but being a beginner, I knew I would've been in over my head. So it's even better that Fr. Jim Tucker and friends over at Dappled Things head such an effort! I would be a regular visitor!

Cardinal Arinze at the Cathedral, A Joy to be Catholic

Cardinal Francis Arinze, preceded by Cardinal Roger Mahony and Msgr. Paul Albee, processes toward the altar at the beginning of Mass July 20 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.

Looks like Cardinal Arinze's mass at the new Cathedral in Los Angeles proceeded without a hitch:

More than 2,000 people, including immigrants and visitors from several African countries, attended the 3:30 p.m. Mass, concelebrated by Cardinal Roger Mahony and culminating weekend festivities commemorating the tenth anniversary of the Igbo (Nigerian) Catholic Community in Southern California.

In his opening remarks, Cardinal Arinze thanked Cardinal Mahony for welcoming the church of God "in its many colors" with "God's people" from many parts of Africa and around the world.

...He added, "The church teaches us the Ten Commandments, the church teaches us human rights, ...the rights of the family; justice and peace... harmony, living together as brothers and sisters."

The church also teaches the importance of being a good citizen, as well as standing up for the rights of the unborn, said Cardinal Arinze. "Nobody pretends that being a Christian is easy," he added.

At the same time, the cardinal reminded the assembly, "there is room for everybody in the church," which has "no reserved seats." He concluded his homily by saying, "It is a joy to be a Catholic."

The best part was this:

At the end of the liturgy, Cardinal Arinze announced that the Los Angeles Archdiocese would receive a gift of relics of Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi. The previous day, Cardinals Arinze and Mahony had participated in the dedication of the Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi Shrine at St. Cecilia Church in Los Angeles. Blessed Tansi, who was known for his work with the poor in Nigeria, was beatified in 1998 and, if canonized, will be the first West African saint.

Remember that Cardinal Arinze was himself baptized by Blessed Tansi in 1958. And let us not forget Cardinal Arinze's own comments about the Cathedral itself:

Cardinal Arinze --- as Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of Sacraments, the Vatican's top liturgy official --- publicly congratulated Cardinal Mahony for the extraordinary turnout of people for the day's event as well as for the new cathedral which he described as "really original."

He said the cathedral "delivers a message" that God is "transcendent." He prayed that visitors to the cathedral would be enlivened and quickened in faith.

You bet it's original! :)

This is a followup to my earlier blog about Cardinal Francis Arinze being in Los Angeles for a liturgy at the Cathedral and also a dedication of a chapel to Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi.

Back Again

Got back from Pittsburgh late Friday evening after a small delay in Phoenix. This trip was good though I wasn't able to see much of the city of Pittsburgh itself due to lack of time, but oh well. It's good to be back, and I've had enough flying around the country to last me a long while.

Yesterday Christina and I took a trip down to Pasadena to her cousin's first-year birthday, which was quite the party! Puppet show and everythng. On our way back to Santa Barbara, we stopped off at St. Andrew's Catholic Church in Pasadena, where members of her family are registered. A truly remarkable building, to say the least!

Clock Tower

High Altar

View of the Sanctuary

Side Chapel Altar

It's good to be back in Santa Barbara also for the annual celebration of La Fiesta and Old Spanish Days. It's one of the better cultural and historical events that Santa Barbara has to offer.

More business trips

Behold, the time has come for yet another business trip - this time not to Dallas but to the Texas Instruments Pittsburgh site. I'm leaving Tuesday and will be gone through Friday. After this trip, things should settle down once again!

O quam gloriosum est regnum in quo Christo gaudent omnes sancti!
Amicti stolis albis Agnum sequuntur quocumque ierit.

O how glorious is the kingdom in which all the saints rejoice with Christ.
Arrayed in white robes, they follow the lamb wherever he goes.

Avez-vous un e-mail? Non, j'ai seulement un courriel!

According to this article, the Ministry of Culture in France is banning the word e-mail in all government ministries, documents, publications and Web sites in deference to the term courrier electronique, better expressed as courriel. The Ministry of Culture and the French Academy have been trying for several years to prevent the infiltration of the English language into French in order to preserve the French language as much as possible. But I believe that, inevitably, linguistic evolution will dominate.

Oddly enough, we used courriel in all of my French literature and composition courses at the university, so I never figured that this particular battle over words was too significant. But I guess that is what they are worried about the most - linguistic infiltration is slow and subtle, and before you know it, you have a completely new language! In a French popular culture class that I took, we studied the effect the English language is having on spoken French, particularly among French youth, and it is really extraordinary. Franglais, we called it, is much like the phenomenon of Spanglish out here in Southern California:

Je vais pas filer mon number à un keum quand j'ai un plan girlfriends soir ce!

C'est cool up ici! C'est bien cool!

Je le trust pas, il m'a pas caré de la résoi.

Arrête de me chauffer, tu me laves trop le cerveau avec tes stories de tomi.

The Pill's dark secrets

Valerie Nahmad, of the Chicago Tribune (registration required), writes a pretty biased, but nonetheless interesting article concerning one of the many side effects of the birth control pill: sexual dysfunction.

The exact cause is unknown and the issue is rarely discussed, but it is a medical fact that oral contraceptives can cause sexual dysfunction in women, often in the form of decreased libido, vaginal dryness and painful intercourse.

The issue has been studied only twice since the pill's appearance in American markets 40 years ago. Research is so insufficient that doctors do not know which pills are more likely to cause sexual dysfunction, which patients are more likely to suffer from it or how to best treat it. Doctors speculate that the effect is triggered by the pill's manipulation of various hormones, including testosterone, estrogen and progesterone, but they cannot say for sure.

Of course, this particular side effect is minor when compared to the fact that one of the safe-guard functions of the pill, should breakthrough ovulation occur, is to reduce the entrometrial lining in the uterus in order to prevent embryonic implantation, which basically results in an abortion when the embryo is then discarded (Some estimate that this occurs as many as 3 or 4 times per woman, per year) - and also when compared with the pill's potential risks for breast cancer and other problems, which is currently being studied, caused by the pill's manipulation of various hormones that basically force a woman's body to malfunction in its attempts to suppress ovulation. It is for this reason that the pill should not be considered medication, as though it was something that helps the body heal from some disease, unless you consider children a disease.

Nahmad also says this:

Indeed, there are several benefits to oral contraception, most notably its role in liberating women from pregnancy concerns.

When children are something people have to be liberated from, the future of our civilization is grim indeed. What did I say about considering children a disease?

I am so grateful and appreciative for the Catholic Church's beautiful teaching on human sexuality, which stand against the pervasive lies in our society and seeks to affirm the human dignity of both woman and man and the sacred, sacramental nature of the sexual act itself. The Church inspires me to speak up for truth and human dignity even when it's counter-cultural. For more information on approved methods of natural family planning, or to network with couples throughout the nation who practice it, contact the Couple-To-Couple League.

Thanks to Alicia at Fructus Ventris for the article link.

Meowlingual?


At first I thought this article was a joke! How in the world can you even measure the linguistic inferences of a cat? It's like translating baby noises into spoken English. I'll charge you half as much to tell you what your cat is saying. Feed me, go away, or, I don't care.

World Youth Day 2005

The official webpage for World Youth Day 2005, which will be in Cologne, Germany, is now online. Unfortunately the English version is still under construction. On a more interesting note, the Cathedral in Cologne is the place where tradition holds the remains of the three wise men are kept:

Has anybody taken the time to research this story? Who has been to Cologne?

Today's Epistle - Eph. 1:3-14

A reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Ephesians

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in Christ
with every spiritual blessing in the heavens,
as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world,
to be holy and without blemish before him.
In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ,
in accord with the favor of his will,
for the praise of the glory of his grace
that he granted us in the beloved.
In him we have redemption by his blood,
the forgiveness of transgressions,
in accord with the riches of his grace that he lavished upon us.
In all wisdom and insight, he has made known to us
the mystery of his will in accord with his favor
that he set forth in him as a plan for the fullness of times,
to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth.

In him we were also chosen,
destined in accord with the purpose of the One
who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will,
so that we might exist for the praise of his glory,
we who first hoped in Christ.
In him you also, who have heard the word of truth,
the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him,
were sealed with the promised holy Spirit,
which is the first installment of our inheritance
toward redemption as God's possession, to the praise of his glory.

The Passion

Here is the infamous movie trailer for Mel Gibson's upcoming film, The Passion. The film will recount the last few hours of Jesus' life, with dialog being in two prevalent tongues of the day: Latin and Aramaic. Caution: The trailer is about 22 MB. You will have a better chance if you have a direct Internet connection.

Yes, it looks magnificent. I hadn't blogged on this before, and while I am looking forward to the movie's release, and while I also think that rightful criticism should wait until the film is out, I nevertheless think that those who have asked questions as to the possible anti-semitic tones in the script haven't been treated fairly by those who see them as somehow attacking the film. From what I have seen, a script was released, people saw it, and based on that and other things, they felt it important to ask some good questions regarding the nature of some of the elements in the script. From what I see, this amounts to nothing more than honest inquiry, which we as Christians should welcome in order to ensure that a film about Christ, albeit his last few hours, is as honestly and factually portrayed as possible. I disagree with those who feel that asking questions somehow constitutes an attack, even if those questions are challenging. If the story in the film is legitimately told, it should be strong enough to stand up to challenging questions, which we should have no problem asking. A sort of advocatus diaboli, if you will. I have seen very little honest answers given and a lot more hateful drivel than I care to see from Christians regarding the matter.

I can judge a film based on its plot, cinematography, music, and character development when it is released. But if a script is put in front of me (however that happens), and if what I read prompts me to ask some questions as to what will be in the final release, why should my questions be met with hostility and not with charity?

Exhortatio Ante Matrimonium

Fr. Jim over at Dappled Things has been bogging on and off about the wonders, beauties, and intricacies of Catholic marriage. One such post today concerns the exhortation that had been given at marriages prior to the Second Vatican Council, which I agree is quite beautiful:

Dear friends in Christ: As you know, you are about to enter into a union which is most sacred and most serious, a union which was established by God Himself. By it, He gave to man a share in the greatest work of creation, the work of the continuation of the human race. And in this way He sanctified human love and enabled man and woman to help each other live as children of God, by sharing a common life under His fatherly care.

Because God Himself is thus its author, marriage is of its very nature a holy institution, requiring of those who enter into it a complete and unreserved giving of self. But Christ our Lord added to the holiness of marriage an even deeper meaning and a higher beauty. He referred to the love of marriage to describe His own love for His Church, that is, for the People of God whom He redeemed by His own blood. And so He gave to Christians a new vision of what married life ought to be, a life of self-sacrificing love like His own. It is for this reason that His Apostle, St Paul, clearly states that marriage is now and for all time to be considered a great mystery, intimately bound up with the supernatural union of Christ and the Church, which union is also to be its pattern.

This union is most serious, because it will bind you together for life in a relationship so close and so intimate, that it will profoundly influence your whole future. That future, with its hopes and disappointments, its successes and failures, its pleasures and its pains, its joys and its sorrows, is hidden from your eyes. You know that these elements are mingled in every life, and are to be expected in your own. And so, not knowing what is before you, you take each other for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death.

Truly, then, these words are most serious. It is a beautiful tribute to your undoubted faith in each other, that, recognizing their full import, you are nevertheless so willing and ready to pronounce them. And because these words involve such solemn obligations, it is most fitting that you rest the security of your wedded life upon the great principle of self-sacrifice. And so you begin your married life by the voluntary and complete surrender of your individual lives in the interest of that deeper and wider life which you are to have in common. Henceforth you belong entirely to each other; you will be one in mind, one in heart, and one in affections. And whatever sacrifices you may hereafter be required to make to preserve this common life, always make them generously. Sacrifice is usually difficult and irksome. Only love can make it easy; and perfect love can make it a joy. We are willing to give in proportion as we love. And when love is perfect, sacrifice is complete. God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son; and the Son so loved us that He gave Himself for our salvation. "Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

No greater blessing can come to your married life than pure conjugal love, loyal and true to the end. May, then, this love with which you join your hands and hearts today, never fail, but grow deeper and stronger as the years go on. And if true love and the unselfish spirit of perfect sacrifice guide your every action, you can expect the greatest measure of earthly happiness that may be allotted to man in this vale of tears. The rest is in the hands of God. Nor will God be wanting to your needs; He will pledge you the life-long support of His graces in the Holy Sacrament which you are now going to receive.

Catholicity in Liturgical Diversity

I really enjoyed Bill's post concerning catholicity. It's one of the reasons why I love this Church so much!

Today, the languages of liturgy are many. In the diocese of Galveston-Houston, masses are celebrated in Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean, Polish, French, Czech, Igbo, and other languages. The Eastern Churches are well represented by Ukrainian, Ruthenian, Syro-Malabar, Maronite, and Syro-Malankara. There is an Anglican Use parish, where the Gospel is proclaimed and lived in the cadences of the olde King's English.

I'm still itching to see an Anglican Use liturgy! But the thing that I love the most is that in this catholicity there is also unity, not necessarily uniformity. Regardless of where I attend it, the mass is still the mass, and Jesus is still Jesus, and that I can receive Him into my being in His very Body and Blood is awesome.

Cardinal Arinze at the Cathedral

It looks like Cardinal Francis Arinze, himself a Nigerian native, will be celebrating a mass for the Igbo Nigerian community in Los Angeles at the new Los Angeles Cathedral on July 20th at 3pm. I wish I could get down to the Cathedral for the mass, but I don't think I will be able to. They will also be dedicating a chapel to Bl. Michael Iwene Tansi at St. Cecilia's Catholic Church in Los Angeles the day before. Back in 1998, I interned at the Chancery of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and got to spend time with a lot of priests and seminarians involved with the Missions office. In particular, I lived with a Nigerian seminarian who introduced me to the customs of the Igbo community there. I remember most fondly the Igbo Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Cecilia's he invited me to, which was one of the most memorable experiences I have ever had. Following that mass, there was a celebration. At that time, I was also blessed to sit next to a Claretian missionary from Nigeria who took time to explain to me the significance of everything that was done.

Back in Santa Barbara

Well after a busy week in Dallas, I have returned to Santa Barbara - at least for the week. From one soap-opera city to another. Dallas is fun, but it's good to be back in 75 degree weather :) We worked hard to get our software release out by our Friday afternoon deadline. I was working in Dallas with the hardware, and my co-worker, Ken, was working in Hong Kong packaging the release. All of these timezones make teamwork very interesting! I was impressed with how well we are all able to work together to accomplish some pretty amazing things. A week from this Tuesday I fly out again to Pittsburgh for the week.