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A celebration of beauty, truth, and goodness, and, of course, love...and perhaps a little nastiness 
My Buddy, ONION"I agree with about 99% of what you blog" Johannes Paulus II "This is my favorite blog and wish it were mandatory reading for all" Joseph Ratzinger "I even read your blog from heaven" Mother Teresa "I wish I were alive to publish every word you write in The Catholic Worker" Dorothy Day A Catholic Page for Lovers Praise of Glory *Great* Books Center Some Catholic Blogs: "St Blog's" MY BLOG HOMEPAGE email Gerard N.B. Many of the images posted will be removed after a few weeks; the text will remain as is. Archives 
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Saturday, February 22, 2003
HUH? 2003.02.13 Telegraph: Re: Augustine split the church Date: 13 February 2003 Sir - In your interview of Dr Rowan Williams and your leading article (Leader, Feb 12 ), you show an enthusiasm for Augustine of Hippo that is not shared by the Eastern Orthodox Church. It was Augustine who first argued for the inclusion of the filioque clause in the Nicene Creed - "the Holy Spirit who proceedeth from the Father and the Son" - which was a major cause of the split between the Western and Eastern churches. Almost as bad has been Augustine's influence on our understanding of humanity, believing as he did in original guilt and, therefore, the tacit denial of human freedom. This teaching led ultimately to Calvinism and its pessimistic view of our humanity, and other Protestant aberrations. The logic of Augustine's position led him to the view that unbaptised babies, because they are tainted with original guilt, are consigned to hell. These views of human nature have always been rejected by the Orthodox Church. From: Rev Michael Harper Dean, British Antiochian, Orthodox Church, Cambridge Huh? I am not at all sure Augustine even knew of the "Nicene Creed" but, even if he did, I am sure he never spoke about adding any phrase to it, including "Filioque" (which is something Augustine taught regarding the Trinity and which was passed on to him from earlier Latin Fathers, such as Hilary of Poitiers). The Catholic Church never accepted all of Augustine's teachings; however, his understanding of original sin (which again he received from other earlier Fathers) was widely accepted in the west. However, it was refined and nuanced. And it is simply a slander to write, as Father Harper does, that Augustine "tacitly" denied human freedom. Huh? Father Harper seems to forget the actual teachings of the Orthodox fathers and theologians and saints. There is a modern Orthodoxy that seems to reject any understanding of "original sin" and claim, for example (in polemics against the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady), that "we are all immaculately conceived." Some modern Orthodox seem not to place any weight at all on Our Lord's own words about the necessity of baptism. And some of these same modern Orthodox claim there is no sin in an infant that is baptised to be taken away - thus degutting the Nicene Creed's comment about "one baptism for the forgiveness of sins." I hope my summary isn't as inaccurate as I think Father Harper's is. I have known Father Michael Harper when he was an Anglican priest, deeply involved in the charismatic movement. I wonder if, even as an Orthodox, there is a residual anti-intellectualism at work still. Or is it just plain ignorance (or prejudice)? I suspect Father Harper has no relationship with the University at Cambridge - or if he does, it would make me wonder.... The Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter Cathedra Aeterna "All who take part with Peter have chosen the winning side" "Deeply do I feel, ever will I protest, for I can appeal to the ample testimony of history to bear me out, that, in questions of right and wrong, there is nothing really strong in the whole world, nothing decisive and operative, but the voice of him, to whom have been committed the keys of the kingdom and the oversight of Christ's flock. The voice of Peter is now, as it ever has been, a real authority, infallible when it teaches, prosperous when it commands, ever taking the lead wisely and distinctly in its own province, adding certainty to what is probably, and persuasion to what is certain. Before it speaks, the most saintly may mistake; and after it has spoken, the most gifted must obey. Peter is no recluse, no abstracted student, no dreamer about the past, no doter upon the dead and gone, no projector of the visionary. Peter for eighteen hundred years has lived in the world; he has seen all fortunes, he has encountered all adversaries, he has shaped himself for all emergencies. If there was ever a power on earth who had an eye for the times, who has confined himself to the practicable, and has been happy in his anticipations, whose words have been deeds, and whose command prophecies, such is he in the history of ages, who sits from generation to generation in the Chair of the Apostles, as the vicar of Christ and Doctor of his Church...... All who take part with Peter are on the winning side. The Apostle of Christ says not in order to unsay; for has inherited that word which is with power." - John Henry Newman Today in Church history February 22, 1906: Black itinerant evangelist William J. Seymour arrives in Los Angeles to lead a lead a Holiness mission. The group grew larger as word spread of its revival meetings and speaking in tongues, and it eventually moved to a rundown building on Azusa Street. The church's revival is often cited as one of the birthplaces of Pentecostalism. Friday, February 21, 2003
John Henry Newman, born today in 1801 His great motto: COR AD COR LOQUITUR  We Do Not Trust Each Other "Perhaps the reason why the standard of holiness among us is so low, why our attainments are so poor, our view of truth so dim, our belief so unreal, our general notions so artificial and external is this, that we dare not trust each other with the secret of our hearts. We have each the same secret, and we keep it to ourselves, and we fear that, as a cause of estrangement, which really would be a bond of union. We do not probe the wounds of our nature thoroughly; we do not lay the foundation of our religious profession in the inner man; we make clean the outside of things; we are amiable and friendly to each other in words and deeds, but our love is not enlarged, our bowels of affection are straitened, and we fear to let the intercourse begin at the root; and, in consequence, our religion, viewed as a social system is hollow. The presence of Christ is not in it." - John Henry Newman, Sermon On Christian Symphathy Father Alexander Men, the Russian Orthodox priest-pastor-martyr, said of Vladimir Soloviev that "a religious genius such as Soloviev only comes once in a century." Here I respectfully disagree with Father Alexander (for whom I do have the deepest admiration). There was another religious genius in the same century as Soloviev: John Henry Newman! And it is fascinating that the two great religious geniuses of the 19th century, Newman and Soloviev, both came to the same conclusion: that the Church of Jesus Christ is founded on the Rock of Peter, who lives on his successors, the Bishop of Rome. Soloviev the Russian Orthodox, Newman, the Anglican, both professed their undying faith in Christ who established the Office of Peter as a sign of unity and catholicity. (And yet how timid we Catholics can sometimes be about this great gift and office and of our very identity as Catholics!). Catholics in Russia on alert again From the London Tablet online edition: Another rift in the strained relationship between Roman Catholics and Russian Orthodox appeared last week when a Moscow Patriarchate representative publicly called the Roman Catholic Church mission to Russia “importunate” and “mercenary”, writes Joseph Pazderka. Russia’s estimated 600,000 Catholics first came under serious attack last year when some of their foreign priests and bishops were expelled. In December 2002 excerpts from an internal Russian government report called the Roman Catholic Church one of the most serious threats to the country’s national security. After subsequent exchanges between the Vatican and Moscow a surprise act of reconciliation came in early January when Moscow Patriarch Alexis II sent Christmas greetings to Pope John Paul II and called for resumed contact. But last week’s interview with the deputy chief of the Moscow Patriarchate’s external relations department, Fr Vsevolod Chaplin, in the Russian newspaper Trud, put Russia’s Catholics back on the alert. According to Fr Chaplin, “all recent attempts by the Roman Catholic Church to strengthen its position in Russia have been fruitless”. A year ago, the Vatican decided to upgrade the status of its administrative structures in Russia to the level of dioceses in Moscow, Novosibirsk, Saratov, and Irkutsk. “What is most surprising is that the establishment of dioceses in Russia has not only failed to benefit the Vatican but, on the contrary, has significantly harmed it”, Fr Vsevolod said in an interview with Trud. “The number of Catholics has not grown, and the importunate mission of the Roman Catholic Church in Russia in general has failed. Millions of Russians have understood that the Vatican took a defiant and mercenary step in relation to our country”. He added: “I believe wise people in the Vatican understand this, but, unfortunately, the opinions of those who support Catholic expansion at any cost have prevailed, although it has proved counterproductive in a whole number of regions – be it Russia, China, or India.” A tool of humility "Criticism of the enneagram was included in a recent Vatican document on New Age beliefs and practices. A Catholic teacher of the enneagram defends its use." The London Tablet also has an online edition of the recent Reflection on the New Age from the Vatican. Today in Church history February 21, 1109: Anselm, the Archbishop of Canterbury recognized as the "founder of Scholasticism," dies. One of the most profound thinkers of the Middle Ages, his treatise Why Did God Become Man was the greatest medieval treatise on the atonement. He is also known for his ontological argument for the existence of God. February 21, 1142: Medieval French philosopher, teacher, and theologian Peter Abelard dies. Perhaps best known for his (chaste) love affair with nun Heloise, Abelard made his most important contribution in establishing a critical methodology for theology. Irritated with some of the unreasoning pietism of other monks, he wrote "Yes and No", compiling the (sometimes conflicting) sayings of the Bible and church fathers on various controversial subjects. February 21, 1173: Pope Alexander III canonizes Thomas Becket three years after the Archbishop of Canterbury's martyrdom at the hands of King Henry II's knights. February 21, 1431: Pierre Cauchon, bishop of Beauvais, begins his interrogation of young Joan of Arc. She was eventually condemned as a heretic and burned at the stake. February 21, 1801: John Henry Newman, Anglican leader of the Oxford Movement, is born in London. The movement sought to reform the Church of England in a "high church" direction, but Newman left the church in 1845 to become a Catholic—a choice he explained in his "Apologia pro Vita Sua" (1864). February 21, 1945: Eric Liddell, the Scottish Olympian whose story is told in the film Chariots of Fire, dies of a brain tumor. In 1925, he had joined the staff of the Anglo-Chinese Christian College in Tientsin, China (his birthplace). He was captured by the Japanese in 1942 and died just before his scheduled release. Thursday, February 20, 2003
Henri de Lubac, SJ: a saintly scholar and architect of (the real) Vatican II  Today, in 1896, Henri de Lubac was born in northern France. He entered the Jesuits and became one of the most influential theological-spiritual voices of the second half of the 20th century. A saintly scholar! Yes, he would be on my list of those I would canonize if it were up to me.
A mentor to those like Hans Urs von Balthasar - also canonizable! - and countless others (including me! Ever since I met de Lubac he has been like a father to me). A mild voice usually, gentle and calm. But once in a while he could speak out crisply and clearly in defense of his beloved Church and her ever-new Tradition! His reflections on the Church are among the most beautiful I have ever read and all the more powerful knowing how he himself was once silenced and dismissed. Instead of embittering him, this set-back deepened his faith and vision. De Lubac knew the Bible, the Fathers, the saints, as few others. He was extraordinary in an age with some quite remarkable priest-scholars! Along with some others who were all involved in the authentic renewal of the Church, like Danielou, Congar, von Balthasar (all of whom suffered, too, at the hands of Church officials), he was named a cardinal. He remained, though, a simple priest and religious and scholar to the very end. On May 29, 1969, Henri de Lubac was given an honorary doctorate by Saint Louis University. He gave an address "Crisis in the Church" which critiqued some of the deformed developments in the wake of Vatican II. He concluded this stirring address with these words that tell us so much about this priest, cardinal, theologian and pastor of souls: "Speaking before this noble assembly in this great University of Saint Louis, I am conscious of not having spoken - as some of you may have expected me to do - as a learned man. Perhaps I should ask your forgiveness. I do feel, however, that I have spoken as a theologian. And is it not necessary, when the seriousness of the hour requires it, to suspend for a moment his historical studies or his personal constructions - to which he would be wrong to attach an exaggerated importance - to recall that his entire existence as a theologian and all the authority that his profession gives him are rooted in the task that he has received: the defense and the explanation of the faith of the Church." THE SPLENDOR OF THE CHURCH by Henri de Lubac, SJ  This has to be the most beautiful book ever written on the Mystery of the Church! Henri de Lubac, like Guardini and von Balthasar, was an exquisite scholar - but even more a man of faith, a man of the Church - a "lover!" His love for the Church spills into these profound meditations on the Body and Bride of Christ, who has given us birth in Christ, our Mother. How blessed we have been, in our own times, to have such a gifted writer who blesses us still with this precious work. I owe much to de Lubac and this book - and I think you will know why if you read it - IT IS FILLED WITH THE FRAGRANCE OF LOVE AND GRATITUDE!
Order it here: The Splendor of the Church Judge rules church suits can proceed A judge (Constance F Sweeney) yesterday rejected the argument of the Archdiocese of Boston that hundreds of sexual abuse lawsuits against the church should be dismissed because they violate the First Amendment's separation of church and state. L.I. Monsignor Scorns Jury, Insisting He Is No 'Monster' A long article on Msgr. Alan Placa, of the Rockville Center diocese, regarding the highly critical recent Grand Jury report. Today in Christian history February 20, 1469: Thomasso de Vio Cajetan, the most learned of the Catholic dignitaries sent to silence Martin Luther in the early years of the Protestant Reformation, is born. He was also one of the cardinals who convinced Pope Clement VII to reject Henry VIII's request to divorce Catherine of Aragon. February 20, 1895: Abolitionist Frederick Douglass, the first African-American to hold high political office, dies. After escaping to freedom in 1838, he became the most prominent black abolitionist. Critical of the "Christianity of this land," which accepted (or at least tolerated) slavery, he considered himself a devotee of "the pure, peaceable, and impartial Christianity of Christ". February 20, 1896: Henri de Lubac is born. De Lubac was one of the most influential Catholic thinkers of the 20th century. This Jesuit priest encountered difficulties with authorities along the way, but responded with acceptance, obedience, and a deepening love. He wrote books considered classics: "The Splendor of the Church" and "Catholicism" among many others. He was made a Cardinal by Pope John Paul II. Wednesday, February 19, 2003
If I could make saints Karen Marie at her Anchorhold reminded me of a question I had raised, some years ago, on a discussion mailing list: if you could canonize five persons, who would they be? I can't recall my answers then but think they'd be similiar now. 1. Dorothy Day (and co-founder of The Catholic Worker, Peter Maurin): radical Catholic and consistent witness to the gospel in the midst of the world. 2. Gilbert Keith Chesterton. His sanctified intellect betrays a heart given to God. Yes, in a large frame to be sure! 3. Charles de Foucauld. Another stunning witness to the Absolute and a inspiration to many others even up to our own days (e.g. the Little Sisters of Jesus, founded by another candidate, Little Sister Magdalen). 4. Flannery O'Connor. Her stories are beautifully crafted and reflect her Catholic sensibilities. By her bedside were the Bible, the Missal, and the Breviary. Her letters show us a truly holy, humble, and humorous believer, a "hill billy thomist" as she called herself. 5. Vincent McNabb OP: a remarkable Dominican, who was revered by Chesterton and Belloc. He never slept in a bed, didn't have a chair in his room (he was either kneeling or standing), preached in the streets of London, made his own habit and walked everywhere in that same habit. Actually there are quite a few more besides these five that first came to mind and I will probably mention some of these later - among them some I have known in my own living, such as Father Tom Wells (brutally murdered a few years ago), Rolly Wills (husband and father), Joanne Patmore (who lost her only son just before his graduation from high school). Thanks, Karen Marie! John Paul II's 2003 Lenten Message Ash Wednesday is coming soon - March 5, 2003 "It Is More Blessed to Give Than to Receive" Dear Brothers and Sisters! 1. Lent is a season of intense prayer, fasting, and concern for those in need. It offers all Christians an opportunity to prepare for Easter by serious discernment about their lives, with particular attention to the word of God which enlightens the daily journey of all who believe. This year, as a guide for our Lenten meditation, I would offer a phrase taken from the Acts of the Apostles: "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). What we have here is not simply a moral exhortation, or a command which comes to us from without. The inclination to give is rooted in the depths of the human heart: every person is conscious of a desire to interact with others and everyone finds fulfillment in a free gift of self to others. 2. Our age, regrettably, is particularly susceptible to the temptation toward selfishness which always lurks within the human heart. In society generally, and in the media, people are bombarded by messages which more or less openly exalt the ephemeral and the hedonistic. Concern for others is certainly shown whenever natural disasters, war and other emergencies strike, but in general it is difficult to build a culture of solidarity. The spirit of the world affects our inner propensity to give ourselves unselfishly to others and drives us to satisfy our own particular interests. The desire to possess ever more is encouraged. Surely it is natural and right that people, by using their own gifts and by their own labor, should work to obtain what they need to live, but an excessive desire for possessions prevents human beings from being open to their Creator and to their brothers and sisters. The words of Paul to Timothy remain relevant in every age: "The love of money is the root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced their hearts with many pangs" (I Tim 6:10). Exploitation of others, indifference towards the suffering of our brothers and sisters, and the violation of basic rules of morality are just a few fruits of the thirst for gain. Faced with the tragic situation of persistent poverty which afflicts so many people in our world, how can we fail to see that the quest for profit at any cost and the lack of effective, responsible concern for the common good have concentrated immense resources in the hands of a few while the rest of humanity suffers in poverty and neglect? Appealing to believers and to all people of good will, I would like to reaffirm a principle which is self-evident yet often ignored: our goal should not be the benefit of a privileged few, but rather the improvement of the living conditions of all. Only on this foundation can we build that international order truly marked by justice and solidarity which is the hope of everyone. 3. "It is more blessed to give than to receive". When believers respond to the inner impulse to give themselves to others without expecting anything in return, they experience a profound interior satisfaction. The efforts of Christians to promote justice, their commitment in defense of the powerless, their humanitarian work in providing bread for the hungry and their care for the sick by responding to every emergency and need, draw their strength from that sole and inexhaustible treasury of love which is the complete gift of Jesus to the Father. Believers are called to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, true God and true man, who, in perfect obedience to the will of the Father, emptied himself (cf. Phil 2:6 ff), and humbly gave himself to us in selfless and total love, even unto death on a cross. Calvary eloquently proclaims the message of the Blessed Trinity's love for human beings of all times and places. Saint Augustine points out that only God, as the Supreme Good, is capable of overcoming the various forms of poverty present in our world. Mercy and love for one's neighbor must therefore be the fruit of a living relationship with God and have God as their constant point of reference, since it is in closeness to Christ that we find our joy (cf. De Civitate Dei, X, 6; CCL 39:1351ff). 4. The Son of God loved us first, while "we were yet sinners" (Rom 5:6), with an unconditional love which asks nothing in return. If this is so, how can we fail to see the season of Lent as a providential opportunity to make courageous decisions inspired by altruism and generosity? Lent offers us the practical and effective weapons of fasting and almsgiving as a means of combating an excessive attachment to money. Giving not only from our abundance, but sacrificing something more in order to give to the needy, fosters that self-denial which is essential to authentic Christian living. Strengthened by constant prayer, the baptized reveal the priority which they have given to God in their lives. The love of God poured into our hearts ought to inspire and transform who we are and what we do. Christians must not think that they can seek the true good of their brothers and sisters without embodying the charity of Christ. Even in those cases where they might succeed in improving important aspects of social or political life, without charity every change would remain short-lived. The possibility of giving oneself to others is itself a gift which comes from the grace of God. As Saint Paul teaches: "God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure" (Phil 2:13). 5. To modern men and women, often dissatisfied with a shallow and ephemeral existence and in search of authentic happiness and love, Christ offers his own example and issues the invitation to follow him. He asks those who hear his voice to give their lives for others. This sacrifice is a source of self-fulfillment and joy, as is seen in the eloquent example of those men and women who, leaving all security behind, have not hesitated to risk their lives as missionaries in different parts of the world. It can also be seen in the response of those young people who, prompted by faith, have embraced a vocation to the priesthood or the religious life in order to serve God's plan of salvation. It is likewise the experience of the growing number of volunteers who readily devote themselves to helping the poor, the elderly, the sick and all those in need. Recently, we have witnessed a praiseworthy outpouring of solidarity for the victims of floods in Europe, earthquakes in Latin America and Italy, epidemics in Africa, volcanic eruptions in the Philippines, as well as for other areas of the world scarred by hatred, violence and war. In these situations, the communications media play a significant role by allowing us to identify with and offer ready help to the suffering and those in distress. At times it is not the Christian command of love, but rather an innate sense of compassion which motivates our efforts to assist others. Even so, anyone who helps those in need always enjoys God's favor. In the Acts of the Apostles we read that the disciple Tabitha was saved because she had done good to her neighbor (cf. 9:36 ff). The centurion Cornelius obtained eternal life on account of his generosity (cf. ibid., 10: 2-31). For those who are "far-off", service to the needy can be a providential path leading to an encounter with Christ, since the Lord abundantly repays the good deeds done to one's neighbor (cf. Mt 25:40). It is my fervent hope that believers will find this Lent a favorable time for bearing witness to the Gospel of charity in every place, since the vocation to charity is the heart of all true evangelization. To this end I invoke the intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church and pray that she will accompany us on our Lenten journey. With these sentiments I affectionately impart to all my blessing. From the Vatican, 7 January 2003 JOANNES PAULUS II Today! Child of God, live this day as if it were your first day! Child of God, live this day as if it were your last day! Child of God, live this day as if it were your only day! "O that TODAY you would hear His Voice, harden not your hearts (Ps 95). Today in Church history February 19, 843: Empress Theodora reinstates icons once and for all in the Eastern churches, effectively ending the medieval iconoclastic controversy. A council in 787 had allowed the veneration of icons, but opponents of images still controlled most of the government and much of the church leadership. February 19, 1377: John Wycliffe stands trial in London's St. Paul's Cathedral for his criticism of the church. He argued against the sale of indulgences, the worship of saints, the veneration of relics, the "emptiness" of some church traditions, and the indolence of clerics. In spite of five papal bulls ordering his arrest, he was never convicted as a heretic. February 19, 1473: Astronomer and cleric Nicolaus Copernicus, whose "heliocentric" concept of the solar system became the foundation of modern astronomy, is born in Poland. Both Martin Luther and the Roman Catholic hierarchy condemned the theory (his revolutionary book was banned until 1758), but Copernicus remained a faithful member of the Catholic Church. He was even a member of the clergy at Frauenburg Cathedral, where his uncle was bishop. "[It is our] loving duty to seek the truth in all things, in so far as God has granted that to human reason," he wrote. February 19, 1569: Miles Coverdale, translator and publisher of the first complete English Bible, dies. Parts of his Bible were revisions of Tyndale's, but unlike his predecessor (with whom he once worked), he included no contentious prefaces or notes; instead, he penned an obsequious dedication to the king. February 19, 1812: Congregational missionaries Adoniram and Ann Judson set sail from Massachusetts for Calcutta, India. From there, they went to Burma and became two of the most famous American missionaries of their day. Tuesday, February 18, 2003
Dug Out Yet? A good neighbor just took me for a drive through my neighborhood to see the effects of the snow storm. Wow! While I love snow, I saw how difficult this can make things for some. I know, too, some are housebound and are going a bit stir crazy. At any rate, hope you are dug out if affected. And hope you can find something good and beautiful about it even if it is something of a pain as well. How's it been for you?  A GIFT FROM HEAVEN: BLESSED FRA ANGELICO Today is one of the traditional days this great artist of Christ is commemorated (his feast may now be March 18th).  Guido da Vicchio was born near Florence in 1386 or 1387, in a region of great natural beauty, which aided his innate talent for art. He studied under several artists of note in Italy just when the country was most conscious of the spirit of Giotto and Cimabue, and their influence was always to give a certain unearthly aspect to his paintings. When he was still quite young, and already a recognized artist, he entered the Dominican convent at Fiesole with his brother, Benedetto. It is a tribute to the ability and the sanctity of both brothers that their names would stand out in such distinguished company, for some of the greatestmen of the Order were housed in the same convent: Blesseds John Dominici, Peter Capucci, and Lawrence of Ripafratta, and St. Antoninus of Florence. The latter, when he was made archbishop, was to commission some of the two artists' finest work. We have few personal details of the life of the young man from Vicchio, whose name in religion was Brother John of the Angels, and who was to be known to history as Fra Angelico. He was a priest. His painting in Florence was sufficiently well known and admired to merit his being called to Rome to decorate the Chapel of Nicholas V at the Vatican. He was appointed prior of San Marco in 1449, holding that office for three years. He may have been recalled to Rome in 1454; he died there in 1455. In much the same way that St. Thomas was for so many centuries obscured by his writings, Fra Angelico seems to have disappeared behind his art. We know that he was the painter par excellence of the Queen of Angels and of her court. St. Antoninus, who must have known him well, said: "No one could paint like that without first having been to heaven." One may well believe, from the sincerity of his paintings and the depth of their theological and devotional teaching, that he was, indeed, very close to heaven. Fra Angelico and his brother, Benedetto, were both artists of skill and originality. Perhaps God wished them to work together to make Fiesole and San Marco treasure houses of art, where some innocence and beauty might remain untouched by the storm of Renaissance humanism which was soon to break. Benedetto painted and illuminated an exquisite set of choir books, reputed to be the loveliest in the world. If he had lived out his career, he might have rivalled his famous brother, but he was accidentally killed in a street battle during one of the frequent political upheavals in Florence, and his work was left unfinished. Fra Angelico himself did some illumination; in fact, he probably began his career as an illuminator. There is in his altarpieces a definite touch of the illuminator's talent for extracting the gist of the matter and leaving out extraneous details. His work is never cluttered, which might, of course, be the result of a mind trained in theology, as well as of a hand trained in illuminating. His frescoes were done on wet plaster, with clay colors, which means that he could not see any exact color relationship until the wall had dried, and it was too late to touch it up. This makes it all the more remarkable that his colors are so exquisitely blended, and that they still glow with such unfaded loveliness after four hundred years. Some of his best works are in the convent of San Marco, which is now a state museum. There is in the Mellon Gallery, in Washington, D.C., an enamelled wood panel by Fra Angelico, "The Madonna of Humility," which shows, much better than the prints we are accustomed to see, the almost heavenly radiance which glowed through his paintings. The figures of the Madonna and Child have a quaint, awkward attitude; yet no one looking at thern can possibly mistake the fact that he is depicting the Queen of Heaven. Part of the “other worldly” look of his Madonnas comes from the fact that Fra Angelico did not use models for his pictures. This alone was. remarkable at a time when painters were flinging themselves into the study of anatomy, sometimes at the cost of other qualities. Perhaps he was revolted by the practice of some of his contemporary painters who chose beautiful women with bad reputations to pose for their Madonnas. Perhaps. it was simply that he saw, with the clear vision of a theologian, that nothing painting, statue, sermon, poem, or building should obstruct one's view ofGod, drawing the attention away from that vision. Fra Angelico's greatest complete work was his "Life of Christ," a series of thirty five paintings in Fiesole. They began with the vision of the Prophet Ezechiel and ended with the lovely "Coronation of the Virgin," which we sometimes see reproduced in print. These pictures tell us what the records leave unsaid: that Brother John of the Angels was a capable theologian and a splendid Scripture scholar. He was also a devoted son of St. Dominic, whom he loved dearly and never tired of painting. In America, we are most familiar with his paintings of the Annunciation, which was obviously one of his favorite subjects, since he painted it dozens of times. Most of his subjects were chosen from the life of Our Lord; the famous "angels," which one so often sees, are parts of much larger altar pieces, having much more serious subjects than the colorful and joyful angels decorating them. Some have said that Fra Angelico in art, Dante in poetry, and St. Thomas. in the Summa Theologica, have each presented the same truth in three different ways. Whether or not this is completely true, it is an indication of the veneration in which history has held this man. His motto was: "To, paint Christ, one must live Christ." He is the best example we have of one who preaches with a brush as eloquently as his brothers do with voice or pen. Today he still preaches, in places where no other would be heard. Perhaps his mission is still alive, to help bring into the fold those who love art but know nothing of God. The cause of Fra Angelico was resumed on the 500th anniversary of his death and he was beatified 3 October 1982. (Source: Dorcy, Marie Jean. St. Dominic's Family, 1983)  Today in Church history February 18, 1546: German reformer Martin Luther dies in Eisleben. In one of his pockets he had placed the beginning of a projected manuscript against Roman Catholics. In another pocket was a slip of paper reminding him, "We are beggars, that's the truth". February 18, 1564: Michelangelo Buonarroti, the Italian Renaissance artist whose works include the frescoes in the Sistine Chapel, dies. February 18, 1678: Puritan preacher John Bunyan publishes The Pilgrim's Progress, the best-selling book (apart from the Bible) in history. The allegorical tale, which describes Bunyan's own conversion process, begins, "I saw a man clothed with rags … a book in his hand and a great burden upon his back". February 18, 1688: Quakers in Germantown, Pennsylvania, issue America's first formal protest of slavery. Monday, February 17, 2003
Better than ever! Just talked with a good friend who is a priest of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. He said that, for whatever reasons, people have been better than ever in regard to their kindnesses, helpfulness, hospitality, gifts, etc. This priest is a real people-person and has always had close relationships with his parishioners. He says it is "better than ever" in these days of "troubles." Good to hear this! (This priest is bitterly disappointed with Cardinal Keeler). 'Sisters': Change of Habit: a book review by Kenneth Woodward "My own hunch is that the orders did themselves in by abandoning a life of common prayer and opting for rule by election and committee rather than by Mother Superior. How else explain the survival - the thriving, even - of conservative orders like the one founded by the autocratic Mother Teresa? Perhaps reading Fialka will remind them of what they have lost, but a substantive history of American sisters has yet to be written." Priest castigates Springfield diocese for abuse dealings "...In the 1990s, the diocese settled suits for $1.4 million with 17 men who accused Lavigne of abusing them when they were minors. Though the diocese began the process of defrocking Lavigne about two months ago, it will continue to pay him $1,000 a month and cover an $8,000 medical and dental package, Scahill said. Dupre has said that the diocese's continued financial support of Lavigne is mandated by canon law, a rationale Scahill took issue with yesterday from the pulpit. ''I remain unconvinced that the Holy Spirit of God and the will of Jesus Christ would endorse a manmade canon so protective of a multiple-offending abusive cleric ... so abusive to his victims and so unprotective of innocent children,'' Scahill said. Diocese spokesman Michael Graziano said he could not comment on Scahill's message and referred calls to Monsignor Richard S. Sniezyk, the diocese's vicar general. Sniezyk did not return a phone call yesterday. ''The bishops are spending more time with their lawyers than with their consciences,'' Scahill said. ''There's now the effort to dismiss lawsuits on the constitutional grounds of the separation of church and state. I hold God to be superior to the state. I don't hold the institutional church to be superior to justice. It's made me ashamed to be a Catholic.'' For me, I am never comfortable or trusting when someone says they are "ashamed to be a Catholic." Perhaps it's more a "cry of the heart" in this case; but still it comes across to me as self-righteous, demeaning, and theologically undiscerning. Today in Church history February 17, 661: Finan, bishop of Lindisfarne (an island off the eastern coast of England) who throughout his life sought to preserve Celtic customs against Roman influence, dies. Three years later, at the Synod of Whitby, Celtic Christians agreed to abide by Roman traditions. "Peter is guardian of the gates of heaven, and I shall not contradict him," said the Celtic King, Oswy. February 17, 1858: Waldensians, ancient "Protestants" from the Italian Alps who survived through persecution for 800 years, are finally guaranteed civil and religious rights. They began with the teaching of a wealthy merchant named Pater Waldo in the late 1100s; thus they are considered "the oldest evangelical Church". February 17, 1889: Former White Stockings baseball player Billy Sunday preaches his first evangelistic sermon in Chicago. By the time he died in 1935, he had preached to an estimated 100 million people, and about 1 million "walked the sawdust trail" to become Christians at his invitation. February 17, 1898: Francis Willard, crusader for prohibition and women's suffrage, dies. She served as dean of Northwestern Women's College before becoming president of the Women's Christian Temperence Union. Sunday, February 16, 2003
ONION LOVING IT ALL!  The Winter of 2003! Finally a real winter here in Maryland once again! And so much beauty! (OK, not everyone likes snow as much as I do and have good reasons, I am sure).  Lennon's rise: from shy schoolboy to the chancery The Boston Globe takes a look at the new Archbishop. A journey of science and faith When Steve Wright learned he had cancer, he placed his confidence in his doctors and his trust in prayer. Welcome to St Blog's Whys Guys - Mark and Rich Two Sleepy Mommies - Pansy and Peony Just a Catholic Seminarian - tony n El Martino - Martin Ford Today in Church history February 16, 1497: German scholar and reformer Philipp Melanchthon is born in Bretten, Baden. He and Luther were at times allies (he defended Luther against Johann van Eck and Emperor Charles V) and at other times enemies (Luther thrashed him for his views on the Sacrament, but apologized on his deathbed). Melanchthon's argument for justification by faith alone, known as the Augsburg Confession, is now the basic statement of Lutheran doctrine. February 16, 1801: The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church receives its charter. Five years earlier, black members of New York City's John's Street Methodist Episcopal Zion Church left the church over racist limitations imposed on them. They had not been allowed to preach or vote until Bishop Francis Asbury allowed them to hold their own meetings apart from the John's Street church. |