Is My Phylactery Showing?: March 2009

See You at Easter!

I've decided over the last few days that my Lent has not progressed as I would like. Oh, sure, I've kept (for the most paret) the committments I made. However, I don't feel closer to Christ, and I have really felt distracted and sort of uncentered (perhaps due to all of the studies for Patristics and deacon formation). Anyhow, I've decided that I need to refocus and put my attention somewhere else for the remainder of Lent—primarily on scripture and meditation. I'm going to take a break from blogging (reading and writing) for the time. God bless you all.

Also, please keep in your prayers Bobbie Van Steenburgen, a St. John's parishioner and a member of my wife's small faith community.

Mar

Man and His Need for Grace

This is the seocnd of three papers required for my Patristics class. Note that I am not an expert on the Church Fathers and write only from my limited experience. Feel free to leave suggestions.

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One of the challenges facing the Fathers of the early Church was the need to attend to and communicate matters divine while relating and adapting to matters mundane.

Mar

Compelled Freedom

R.R. Reno has review of a biography on modernist architect, Le Corbusier. While his emphasis is on the architect's dehumanizing style, he makes a comment that applies more broadly:

When men are forced to be free and compelled into an imagined state of equality, we invariably end up with grey ugliness—and the vague odor of violence that empties public spaces.

Mar

A Word from Our Sponsor

He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor will himself also call and not be heard.

Mar

Travel Tip from Michael Totten

Don't ever fly Alitalia.

And don't ever piss off a journalist.

Mar

Lecture 4 Study Questions

Describe What is Meant by the Theological Anthropology of the Fathers

Theological anthropology addresses the relationship between humanity and God and involves mankind’s essence in relation to God, his fall in the sin of Adam, and his redemption by grace in the saving work of Jesus Christ. The discussion on theological anthropology and grace overlap considerably, so I will try to separate them as I’m able.

The Fathers attempted to come to terms with just what constitutes the human person.

Mar

Put Up or Shut Up

Have you ever heard the argument from pro-choice folks that our advocacy and protest activities are meaningless (if not hypocritical) if we don't personally do something to rectify the situation? Sometimes, their loud proclamations during a debate can cow prolife people into silence. Surely, we all must consider our abilities in responding to the situation. However, keep in mind that prolife efforts do involve both advocacy and direct action.

Mar

Catholicism is a Man-Made Religion

Have you ever heard this claim?

All religions are man made.

It's usually invoked as a way to say that they're all necessarily fallible, involve personal human interest and bias, and are just as prone to corruption and falsehood as any other human institution.

I want to go on record that I believe that Catholicism is absolutely a man-made religion.

Mar

Finally!

When Rosalind Moss and Dcn. Harold Burke-Sivers came to speak to us almost two years ago, both attempted to point at the crucifix in our sanctuary when making a point about the Passion, only to discover that our cathedral's sanctuary had no crucifix. It was an odd moment of both embarrassment and vindication, as we had been noting the lack for some time and encouraging our rector to recitify (no pun intended) the situation.

I'm happy to say that on Ash Wednesday, our wait came to an end. Fr.

Is My Phylactery Showing?

Faithful Catholic or modern-day pharisee? Sometimes I might be a bit of both.