The spirit of the Lord God is upon US. . .

3rd Sunday of Advent

Fr. Philip Neri Powell, OP

St. Dominic Church, New Orleans

Audio

On a Delta flight from Rome to Atlanta a few days ago, I overheard one of the flight attendants talking to a woman waiting to use the restroom. I couldn't make out what she was saying exactly, but there was no mistaking her accent, Deep Southern. When she came back up the aisle I asked where she was from. She smiled and said, “Memphis!” I told her my family lives right outside Memphis in north MS. Her smile got a lot bigger. Being good southerners, we immediately launched into the southerner's favorite game of “Who's your family?” Who's your mama's people? Who'd she marry? Are we cousins? Turns out that we aren't related but that hardly matters. We know where we're from and b/c we know where we're from, we know who we are and what we are about. Catholics play a similar game: what's your parish? Who's your pastor? Where did you go to school? All good questions. But do the answers to these questions tell us what it is to be Catholic? What it means to be a follower of Christ, to be a child of God? When you come to face the Lord at last, he will ask, “Who are you?” How will you answer? 

The Jews in Jerusalem have their version of our Southern and Catholic games. They send priests to question John the Baptist. They ask him, “Who are you?” He answers, "I am not the Christ." A bit baffled, they continue, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?” No. “Are you the Prophet?” No. “Who are you? What do you have to say for yourself?” You can hear the frustration in their voices; you can hear their confusion and fear. They need to know who this desert freak is before they can decide whether or not to take him seriously; before they can decide what—if anything—to do with him! Is he dangerous? Crazy? Possessed? Who is this guy and what is he up to? So, what does John the Baptist have to say for himself? He says this: "I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, 'make straight the way of the Lord. . .'" Well, that's certainly. . .um, helpful. You're a voice. . .a voice crying out in the desert. . .and you are crying out. . .“make straight the way of the Lord”? OK. Can you tell us what that means exactly? What does it mean to be “a voice in the desert crying out 'make straight the way of the Lord'”? John answers, “. . .there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie." Who is John the Baptist? He is the one who comes before the Christ to announce to God's people the advent of the Lord.

Now, who are you? You, all of you. Sitting here in St Dominic's Church, New Orleans. Who are you? We know that John is the herald of the Lord. He's not the Christ. He's not a prophet. He's a forerunner, a harbinger. Christ has yet to be born, and John is his living, breathing birth announcement. So, who are we? We can't be heralds or harbingers of Christ's advent in 2011. Christ has come; he's arrived; he is here! We can be forerunners of his coming again, his second coming. We can be the announcers of his return to us. Even better: we can be the Christs and the prophets that John could not be. Christ's own baptist, his death, and resurrection have made it possible for us—each of us—to be not only priests, prophets, and kings but Christs as well. Not simply followers of Christ, not merely members of the Church, not just pew warmers on a chilly Sunday morning/evening. We can and are made and remade to be Christs. Christs for one another. Christs for the poor, the sick, the hungry, the oppressed. Christs for those who do not know God's mercy. Christs for those who persecute us. Christs for anyone and everyone who feels the nearly irresistible tug of the Father's love. That's who are we and that's what we do.

Listen to this slightly edited version of Isiah's proclamation: “The spirit of the Lord God is upon US, because the Lord has anointed US; he has sent US to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives. . .to announce a year of favor from the Lord and a day of vindication by our God.” We are the temples of the Lord's spirit. We are the anointed of God. We are the heralds of abundance, comfort, freedom. And we are the clarion voices of His favor and the prophets of His forgiveness. How is this possible? It was made possible by life, death, and resurrection of the Christ. When we were baptized, who we were died, the life we lived before vanished, and we were reborn in the image of the one who lived and died for us. That makes us Christs. . .as yet imperfect. . .but men and women nonetheless gifted with all we need to be made perfect. Our task now is to receive what God has given us and use these gifts to love the unlovable; to forgive the unforgivable; to suffer the insufferable; to pray in thanksgiving, to pray in gladness and joy, to pray always and most especially for those we most despise. Christ died once for all; as Christs we can work for nothing less.

How do we grow in this necessary holiness? How do we use God's gifts to come to Christ's perfection? Our brother, Paul, writes to the Church in Thessalonica, “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. . .” Do not quench the Spirit. . .of gratitude, of rejoicing; the Spirit of Truth and Goodness and Beauty that created from nothing all that there is; do not quench the Holy Spirit who gave Mary a son; who graced Christ's baptism and named him Son of God; who set upon the dejected apostles and set them on fire for preaching the Good News; the one who possesses us even now, shaking us out of our dull complacency and demanding of us that we get on with the work of living day-to-day as the well-loved children of a ever-loving Father. Do you carry God's Word like a child in the womb? Do you call yourself a son or a daughter of the Most High? Do you burn with the Spirit's fire to proclaim the Good News? Do you reject this world's narcotic lure and keep your heart and mind pure in the faith? When you fail—and we all fail—do you seek God's forgiveness and receive His mercy? If you answer No to any of these questions, let me ask you another: who are you then? Who are you pretending to be? 

John the Baptist called his people to attention and baptized them in repentance. While they waited on the advent of the Lord, they turned themselves around to face his coming. They turned from disobedience toward obedience; from sin toward holiness. As we wait on the advent of the Lord, his coming again, we too hear John's call to attention, his message of repentance: turn from sin and receive our Father's love. The Lord comes. The day of our rebirth is close to hand!

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Coffee Cup Browsing (Late Edition)

Exactly how long (grammatically speaking) can something "teeter on the brink," "verge on collapse," or "balance on the threshold of disaster"?  I'm gonna bet this month's stipend that the Language of Crisis is on the cusp of exhaustion.

I spend WAY too much time on the computer. . .however, my life wouldn't grind to a halt if the power went out; in fact, I'd probably get more done.

On the question of clerical facial hair. . .needless to say, I'm for it!

Coptic Christians describe to Congress their persecution in Egypt.

Some background on our Coptic brothers and sisters suffering at the hands of the Religion of Peace.

Excellent reflection on justice and the Catechism.

POW!  Right in the kisser!  Bishop points to contraception as the reason for Catholic decline.

Our Holy Father's three Christmas wishes.

A bad metaphor.

Weird hats. . .there are two of these that I'd wear.  Guess which two.

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The First Nawlins' Coffee Cup Browsing (with chicory!)

Methinks that the nation's Attorney General was educated at a "univeristy in the Catholic tradition."  The problem here is that once you've lied to us, you then ask us to believe that it was never your intent to lie in the first place. . .ad. nau.

The Zombies are coming!  And they're from Mars!!

And they say that the Catholic Church is sex-obsessed. . .geez.

Occupy Whiners taunt police. . .police remain professional despite it all.  Language warning.

U.K.'s Cameron saves The Great Nation from the power grubbing eurocrats.  God bless him!

Exactly:  Catholics should fear the sins of her members more than persecution from her enemies. 

Colorful lizard disapproves. . .strongly.

What your toilet paper says about you.

Ever have one of those days?

The Kindle Wish List has been updated. . .

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A foray, nine books, & a long nap. . .

Made my first foray out into New Orleans this morning.

Where did I go?  The Cafe du Monde?  French Quarter?  St Louis Cathedral?  Nope. . .

I made a true Redneck Pilgrimage:  WalMart.  In fact, I went to two WalMarts b/c the first one was mostly a grocery store!  

Hey, Delta lost my luggage and I needed some. . .things.  'Nuff said.  Oh, the Wandering Bag arrived safe and sound about an hour ago.

There were several packages waiting for me when I got here last night.  Four books from my friend, Philip in Memphis.  Many thanks to you for your kindness!  Another book from Kathleen S. . .a book of poems I've been wanting for some time.  Thank you kindly.  And a big box of four books from St. Pius X Press!  I will be reviewing those books soon. 

Now, it's time to "catch up" on some sleep with a very Roman riposo.  I was wide awake at 3am this morning.  Ugh.  Not good.

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"First Mass" at St Dominic's New Orleans

My "first Mass" now that I am back in the U.S. will be the 10.30am Mass on Dec. 11th at St Dominic's, New Orleans.  

I will also celebrate the 5.30pm Mass at St Dominic's on the 11th.

Y'all come!

Made it.

I'm here. . .more or less.

Here in New Orleans.  My luggage, however, is in San Antonio, TX.

Why, you ask?  Because the worker in Atlanta who rechecked my bag was too busy gossiping with her co-worker to notice where she was sending my stuff! 

Anyway, it will be delivered tomorrow by noon. 

Had a good flight. . .long though--11hrs. 


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Kindle Fire for Christmas???

Talked to Scuba Becky (i.e., my mother) this afternoon, and she asked what I wanted for Christmas.

Having just spent five days giving away Stuff before the move back to the U.S., I said something like, "I have no idea."

Then I remembered that S.B's co-worker, Bubba Sue, suggested that I ask for a Kindle FIRE. 

Thoughts?  Reactions?  Do I want one of these?  Need one of these?

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Departure Deadline Update

Just got the Goldie Locks buzzed off by Fr. Rick J.  I feel 15 lbs lighter and a whole lot cooler!

The initial sweep of the room captured about three cubic meters of Dust Bunnies and related detritus.  A secondary and final sweep will turn up even more pieces of random paper, Stray Pennies, pencil parts, bits of tape, and the occasional busted rubber band.  

Still have to figure out how to sort four 33 gallon bags of garbage.  The E.U. Nannies insist we recycle. . .but their recycling categories do not include slots for Broke Down-Fruit of the Looms; pieces of Styrofoam from a clock radio that never worked right; three large plastic vacuumed sealed bags for storing clothes; a bald toilet brush; and three and a half tablespoons of an Italian laundry detergent that I never used.  Oh, and what about the 11 used tubes of toothpaste I've been stashing in a drawer b/c I couldn't figure out if they go in Plastic or Metal?

Heading out at 5.30am tomorrow morning. . .please, pray for me!

P.S.  Yes, I've put a men's cologne on my Wish List.  Before I became a Dominican, I spent WAY too much money on that sort of thing.   Now, I rarely buy cologne/aftershave.  But a faithful H.A. reader asked me what I wanted for Christmas.  Rumor has it that the Guerlain Vetiver is a classic men's cologne. 

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Packing, cleaning, etc. . .

Progress being made. . .

Shipped nine boxes of books, etc. to Nawlins' yesterday.

Today, I am packing up everything that's going in my luggage.

Also, Big Time Cleaning, i.e. fighting with the Dust Bunnies.

Two things about Rome I will NOT miss:  1) the bugs and 2) the dust.  

Bugs.  I've spent many nights here trying to stay away from gnats, mosquitoes, no-see-ums, and spiders.  There's nothing quite like being awakened at 3am by the hungry buzzing of a Tiger Mosquito in your ear! 

Dust.  Since the priory doesn't have A/C, the windows have to stay open.  This means metric tons of dust flowing through the building and settling on my stuff.  I've learned to cover vulnerable electronics, but the CPAP machine I use can't be covered. . .which means I probably have the dust-weight equivalent of a small pagan temple resting in my lungs.  

Ah well. . .siamo in Italia!

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A Roman Rambling. . .

Just three more days in Rome. . .

There may be a sentimental bone somewhere in my body. . .maybe. . .however, moving from one place to another rarely sets it to aching.  In the last year, I've lived in two U.S. states and three countries, traveling approx. 30, 000 miles in the process.  It's hard to get weepy over another trip.

Though I usually despise packing/unpacking, this time around the process has been something of a minor joy.  Why?  Since I'm actually moving out of Rome rather than just traveling home for a visit, I'm being merciless in cleaning out my stores of Stuff.  Getting rid of Stuff is always en-lightening for me (sorry).  And this time is no exception.  There is one difference, however:  more than any previous move (the last one being in 2008), I'm determined not to accumulate excessive amounts of Stuff again.  We'll see how that goes when the next order to move comes.

One of the brothers remarked that packing for me must be easy since I don't have "knick-knacks."  He's right; I don't.  I have books instead.  But a Dominican w/o his books is like a Franciscan w/o his sandals and a Jesuit w/o his Scotch.  It's unnatural.  Most of my literature and theology books are in storage in Texas, so there will another culling sometime soon.   Right now, I'm giving books to friars here in Rome and to the university's library.  There's still plenty to pack.

Someone asked me recently what I will miss about Rome.  This was my honest answer:  the peace and quiet.  I know, I know. . .peace and quiet can be had anywhere but here I've been able to spend inordinate amounts of time in solitude, a rare thing for pastors and parochial vicars.  Busyness makes me crazy.  Deadlines, schedules, to-do lists, meetings, etc. give the impression of accomplishment and productivity but rarely is anything of real importance achieved.  The same is true for small group politics--something I am really not very good at!  I'm a gregarious introvert.  I can turn on the extrovert qualities when necessary, but then I need a day or two of introversion to recover.  Truly, I envy people who thrive on group interaction--parties, meetings, etc.--people who are energized and renewed while working and playing well with others.  Give me the one-on-one of spiritual direction, the confessional, the marriage prep, the tutorial, the seminar. . .

Anyway, I will miss Rome.  Her narrow, cobblestone streets upon which I invariably manage to twist an ankle.  Her indomitable gypsies and their ingenuous tactics for earning a euro.  Her very southern pace of daily life--what's the rush?  Her sensible yet inefficient attitude toward rules, schedules, and what we Americans think of as "common sense."  Her love of bella figura and her rejection of utilitarianism.  The heavy sense that history waits around every corner.  

Of course, I'm moving to New Orleans. . .not exactly the epicenter of American efficiency and the bourgeois work ethic.  Deo gratis!

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On the magisterial authority of Vatican Two

From L'Osservatore Romano (Dec. 2, 2011)

On adhesion to the Second Vatican Council

The forthcoming 50th anniversary of the convocation of the Second Vatican Council (25 December 1961) is a cause for celebration, but also for renewed reflection on the reception and application of the Conciliar Documents. Over and above the more directly practical aspects of this reception and application, both positive and negative, it seems appropriate also to recall the nature of the intellectual assent that is owed to the teachings of the Council. Although we are dealing here with a well-known doctrine, about which there is an extensive bibliography, it is nevertheless useful to review it in its essential points, given the persistence - also in public opinion - of misunderstandings regarding the continuity of some Conciliar teachings with previous teachings of the Church's Magisterium.

First of all, it is not pointless to recall that the pastoral motivation of the Council does not mean that it was not doctrinal – since all pastoral activity is necessarily based on doctrine. But, above all, it is important to emphasise that precisely because doctrine is aimed at salvation, the teaching of doctrine is an integral part of all pastoral work. Furthermore, within the Documents of the Council it is obvious that there are many strictly doctrinal teachings: on Divine Revelation, on the Church, etc. As Blessed John Paul II wrote: “With the help of God, the Council Fathers in four years of work were able to produce a considerable collection of doctrinal statements and pastoral norms which were presented to the whole Church” (Apostolic Constitution Fidei Depositum, 11 October 1992, Introduction).

Assent Owed to the Magisterium 

The Second Vatican Council did not define any dogma, in the sense that it proposed no doctrine with a definitive act. However, even if the Magisterium proposes a teaching without directly invoking the charism of infallibility, it does not follow that such a teaching is therefore to be considered "fallible" - in the sense that what is proposed is somehow a “provisional doctrine” or just an “authoritative opinion”. Every authentic expression of the Magisterium must be received for what it truly is: a teaching given by Pastors who, in the apostolic succession, speak with the “charism of truth” (Dei Verbum, n. 8), “endowed with the authority of Christ” (Lumen Gentium, n. 25), “and by the light of the Holy Spirit” (ibid.).

This charism, this authority and this light were certainly present at the Second Vatican Council; to deny this to the entire episcopate gathered to teach the universal Church cum Petro and sub Petro, would be to deny something of the very essence of the Church (cf. Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Declaration Mysterium Ecclesiae, 24 June 1973, nn. 2-5). 

Naturally not all the affirmations contained in the Conciliar documents have the same doctrinal value and therefore not all require the same degree of assent. The various levels of assent owed to doctrines proposed by the Magisterium were outlined in Vatican II’s Constitution Lumen Gentium (n. 25), and subsequently synthesised in the three clauses added to the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed in the formula of the Professio fidei published in 1989 by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and approved by Blessed John Paul II.

Those affirmations of the Second Vatican Council that recall truths of the faith naturally require the assent of theological faith, not because they were taught by this Council but because they have already been taught infallibly as such by the Church, either by a solemn judgement or by the ordinary and universal Magisterium. So also a full and definitive assent is required for the other doctrines set forth by the Second Vatican Council which have already been proposed by a previous definitive act of the Magisterium.

The Council’s other doctrinal teachings require of the faithful a degree of assent called “religious submission of will and intellect”. Precisely because it is “religious” assent, such assent is not based purely on rational motives. This kind of adherence does not take the form of an act of faith. Rather, it is an act of obedience that is not merely disciplinary, but is well-rooted in our confidence in the divine assistance given to the Magisterium, and therefore “within the logic of faith and under the impulse of obedience to the faith” (Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Instruction Donum Veritatis, 24 May 1990, n. 23). This obedience to the Magisterium of the Church does not limit freedom but, on the contrary, is the source of freedom. Christ’s words: “he who hears you hears me” (Lk 10:16) are addressed also to the successors of the Apostles; and to listen to Christ means to receive in itself the truth which will make you free (cf. Jn 8:32).  

Documents of the Magisterium may contain elements that are not exactly doctrinal — as is the case in the documents of the Second Vatican Council — elements whose nature is more or less circumstantial (descriptions of the state of a society, suggestions, exhortations, etc.). Such matters are received with respect and gratitude, but do not require an intellectual assent in the strictest sense (cf. Instruction Donum Veritatis, nn. 24-31).

The Interpretation of Teachings

The unity of the Church and unity in the faith are inseparable, and this also involves the unity of the Magisterium of the Church in every age, since the Magisterium is the authentic interpreter of Divine Revelation transmitted by Sacred Scripture and by Tradition. This means, among other things, that an essential characteristic of the Magisterium is its continuity and consistency through history. Continuity does not mean an absence of development; down the centuries the Church deepens in her knowledge, in her understanding and, consequently, also in her magisterial teaching of Catholic faith and morals.

A number of innovations of a doctrinal nature are to be found in the documents of the Second Vatican Council: on the sacramental nature of the episcopate, on episcopal collegiality, on religious freedom, etc. These innovations in matters concerning faith or morals, not proposed with a definitive act, still require religious submission of intellect and will, even though some of them were and still are the object of controversy with regard to their continuity with earlier magisterial teaching, or their compatibility with the tradition. In the face of such difficulties in understanding the continuity of certain Conciliar Teachings with the tradition, the Catholic attitude, having taken into account the unity of the Magisterium, is to seek a unitive interpretation in which the texts of the Second Vatican Council and the preceding Magisterial documents illuminate each other. Not only should the Second Vatican Council be interpreted in the light of previous Magisterial documents, but also some of these earlier magisterial documents can be understood better in the light of the Second Vatican Council. This is nothing new in the history of the Church. It should be remembered, for example, that the meaning of important concepts adopted in the First Council of Nicaea in the formulation of the Trinitarian and Christological faith (hypóstasis, ousía), were greatly clarified by later Councils.

The interpretation of the innovations taught by the Second Vatican Council must therefore reject, as Benedict XVI put it, “a hermeneutic of discontinuity and rupture,” while it must affirm the “hermeneutic of reform, of renewal within continuity” (Discourse, 22 December 2005). These are innovations in the sense that they explain new aspects which have not previously been formulated by the Magisterium, but which do not doctrinally contradict previous Magisterial documents. This is so even though, in certain cases — for example, concerning religious freedom — these innovations imply very different consequences at the level of historical decisions concerning juridical and political applications of the teaching, especially given the changes in historical and social conditions. An authentic interpretation of Conciliar texts can only be made by the Magisterium of the Church herself. Therefore, in the theological work of the interpretation of passages in the Conciliar texts which arouse queries or seem to present difficulties, it is above all necessary to take into account the sense in which they have been interpreted in subsequent Magisterial interventions. Nevertheless, there remains space for legitimate theological freedom to explain in one way or in another how certain formulations present in the Conciliar texts do not contradict the Tradition and, therefore, to explain the correct meaning of some expressions contained in those passages.

Lastly, in this regard, it does not seem superfluous to call to mind that almost half a century has passed since the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council and that in these decades four Roman Pontiffs have succeeded one another on the Chair of Peter. An assessment of the teaching of these Popes and the corresponding assent of the Episcopate to that teaching should transform a possible situation of difficulty into a serene and joyful acceptance of the Magisterium, the authentic interpreter of the doctrine of the faith. This must be possible and is to be hoped for, even if aspects that are not entirely understood remain. In any case, there remains legitimate room for theological freedom and for further opportune in-depth study. As Benedict XVI wrote recently: “the essential content that for centuries has formed the heritage of all believers needs to be confirmed, understood and explored ever anew, so as to bear consistent witness in historical circumstances very different from those of the past” (Benedict XVI, Motu Proprio Porta Fidei, 11 October 2011, n. 4).

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Coffee Bowl Browsing

McDonald's outsmarts SanFran Food Nannies. . .I'm sure that was pretty easy.

Making the KKK boring by whitewashing its historical ties to the Democrats and progressive ideology.

How the Church of Global Warming will die.

To husbands:  your wife is not your mother. . .To wives:  your husband is not your girlfriend. 

OWS Colorado Springs gets outvoted by a mob. . .of course, the mob votes don't count b/c they didn't vote the Right Way.

Some excellent news on the vocations front. . .add our seminarians to your prayer list, please!

He doesn't like his job.  No worries. . .his boss is always looking for an opportunity to replace him.

Anti-Catholic bigot and crusader loses in court.

I'm with the lizard on this one. . .go to confession!

Caring Bear has a message for you.

Why is this funny?  I dunno.  It just is.

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St. Pius X Press

A new Catholic publishing enterprise worthy of your time:  Saint Pius X Press!

From the "About Us" page:

“Despise not the discourse of them that are ancient and wise: but acquaint thyself with their proverbs.” (Ecclesiasticus 8:9)

St. Pius X Press is a start up company which was established recently in 2009. This began with two Catholic men who had a sizable Catholic library. Many of the books in this library are dated prior to the early 20th century.

Seeing the importance of preserving the Catholic heritage and culture in these days they strove with all of their energy and time to scanning and preserving these books. St. Paul tells us: “therefore, brethren, stand fast; and hold the traditions which you have learned, whether by word, or by our epistle.” (II Thessalonians 2:14)

Some of these books may indeed contain imperfections. We are not perfect. We have a small but very dedicated staff (2 people). We are striving for the utmost perfection in quality. But you must consider too that we have so many books that need to be preserved. Imagine how heart broken we are when we cannot preserve a Catholic book. Tears are shed over the loss of one Catholic book. Tears are shed when old 100+ year old Catholic books are bought in garage sales. How little is the Catholic faith loved! Yet instead, many have abandoned the faith and therefore get rid of these precious treasures [. . .]

They have books, booklets, posters, and study guides.  And the catalog of available items is still growing.  

So, check them out.  

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Changes. . .they are a comin'

About this time next week (Dec. 7th) I will flying over the east coast of the U.S. heading toward Atlanta on my way to Nawlins'.

Given that my ministry in Nawlins' will be parochial vicar to a large suburban parish, I'm anticipating some changes in the content posted here at HancAquam.

The most immediate change will be the addition of homilies. . .remember those?  St Dominic's has two daily Masses and about four or five Sunday Masses.  That's a lot of preachin'.

The other change will likely be a reduction in the frequency or the outright disappearance of Coffee Bowl Browsing.  We'll have to wait and see if there's time to indulge this particular habit.

The last three years have been one long academic retreat with occasional breaks for teaching and parish work.  The next three years will be the exact opposite, assuming I can find a teaching job in Nawlins'.

Anyway, bear with me and pray for me.  As always, God bless, Fr. Philip Neri, OP.

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Coffee Bowl Browsing

Consumerism vs. Occupyism. . .and the winner is. . .$$$.   

Oh, the irony:  "Only Germany can save Europe!"

The Walking Dead:  a zombie apocalypse TV series crippled by endless Oprah-esque yammering.

This is what happens when Science Run Amok meets Morals Gone Astray.  Throw in some left-feminist political correctness in the courts and you've got a Disaster Writ Large.

And the Prize for Most Descriptive Blog Post Title goes to. . .Jimmy Akin!  Hilarious.

How armed robberies go in Texas. . .

8 days and counting. . .let's hope the Nannies can hold on to their Euro-fantasy until then.

Looks like the new missal translation had few problems. . .though the OP nuns of Summit, NJ flubbed a few times!  (NB.  I've celebrated Mass on that altar. . .great church and even greater sisters).

Speaking of the new translation. . .what are supposed to do with the old missals?  Burn 'em!

Little Missy chooses the Dark Side. . .I hope she got a cookie.

OK. . .I laughed at this. . .and now I feel bad. . .but not bad enough to skip it.

Italian plumbing. . .

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The New Translation: how'd it go?

Let's hear about your experiences with the new English translation of the Roman Missal. . .The Good, the Bad. . .and the Ineffable!

I was really shocked to hear how many parishes/pastors have done little or nothing to prepare their people for the transition.  One would hope that this failure isn't some sort of self-fulfilling doomsday prophecy about the new translation:  "We told you it was going to be a disaster!"  

Anyway, my guess is that 99.99% of regular Catholic folks are going to be just fine with it.  

Let us know!

Update:  thanks to all of you who've shared your experiences with the new translations. . .I'm happy to hear that there were no riots.

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This Is What Coffee Bowl Browsing Looks Like!!!

This is what democracy looks like. . .in hell.

This is what Occupy Logic looks like.

This is what consumerism looks like. . .for a waffle toaster.

This is what Black Friday feels like. . .pepper spray.

This is what food riots in pagan Rome must've looked like.  Are we doomed?

This is what Amish terrorists look like. . .no, really.

This is what Catholic evangelism looks like.

This is what Native American wisdom looks like.

This is what Catholic competition looks like.

This is Culinary Ownage looks like.

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Are you one of the nine. . .?

Luke 17. 11-19:  As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village, ten persons with leprosy met him. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying, "Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!" And when he saw them, he said, "Go show yourselves to the priests." As they were going they were cleansed. And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. Jesus said in reply, "Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?" Then he said to him, "Stand up and go; your faith has saved you."

One of the most common questions I am asked is:  "why doesn't God answer my prayers?"  My most common answer:  "He has answered your prayers.  You weren't grateful, so you could not hear Him."  

What makes listening possible?  Gratitude. 

Iron Clad Rule of Prayer:  you cannot receive that for which you are not grateful.  In other words, if you ain't thankful for what you are given, you ain't gettin' it. 

The process here is really very simple.  Nothing given is a gift until it is received with genuine gratitude.  You can be given money, food, a job, etc. but if you receive this money, food, a job, etc. as something owed to you or as payment or as a bribe, then it is not a gift.  You may say, "Thank you" to the giver, but the spiritual effect is nil.  You're just being polite--not a bad thing, of course, but also not a particularly grace-filled way of growing in holiness.

Think of it this way:  everything and everyone belongs to God.  If you are given (gifted) with money, food, a job, etc., then the proper response is, "Thank you, Lord!"  This is a moment of profound witness, a testimony to the abundant generosity of the Father in providing you with what you need. 

Jesus asks, "Where are the other nine?"  Well, they are sitting in their pastor's office, asking, "Why doesn't God answer my prayers?" 

Are you the one who says, "Thank you, Lord!"?  Or you are among the nine who struggle to understand why you haven't received the Lord's blessings with gratitude?

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Try it and let me know. . .

A couple of H.A. readers have asked about sending Amazon gift cards my way.  

I've tried over the years to link the cards to the Wish List. . .usually w/o much success.  

However, I think (emphasis on think) that Amazon has made linking their gift cards to a Wish List easier.  

Given my ineptitude with techie stuff and the electronics-distrupting entropy field that follows me all over. . .well, we can always pray, right?

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Man is a beggar before God!

CCC 2559 "Prayer is the raising of one's mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God."2 But when we pray, do we speak from the height of our pride and will, or "out of the depths" of a humble and contrite heart?3 He who humbles himself will be exalted;4 humility is the foundation of prayer, Only when we humbly acknowledge that "we do not know how to pray as we ought,"5 are we ready to receive freely the gift of prayer. "Man is a beggar before God."6

If humility is the foundation of prayer, then gratitude is path to humility!

Think about it: we have a whole day dedicated to nurturing the foundation of Christian prayer: Thanksgiving Day.

^Notes 

2 St. John Damascene, Defide orth. 3,24:PG 94,1089C.
3 Ps 130:1.
4 Cf. Lk 18:9-14.
5 Rom 8:26.
6 St. Augustine, Sermo 56,6,9:PL 38,381.

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Occupy Black Friday Stampede: Clash of the Titans

The Occupier Whiners have vowed to "Occupy Black Friday" (whatever that means).

OK. . .

Here's a little of what awaits them at America's finest retail stores:

Remember that movie about the Zombies attacking the Mall?

Then there's that food riot scene in Soylent Green.

And the time-lapsed scene in every National Geographic special where the ants strip an animal carcass.

Finally, a classic. . .The Running of the Bulls.

The clash between rank consumerist greed and self-righteous hypocrisy will be EPIC!

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Coffee Bowl Browsing

Occupiers are planning on disrupting Black Friday shopping.  Can't wait to see the vids of the Occupiers getting stampeded by the bargain hunters.  

An idea whose time has come:  DeOccupyXMasList.

I was sympathetic with the UC-Davis students who were pepper-sprayed last week. . .and then I saw this video.  It's all theater.


B.O. is nominating unqualified lawyers to the bench:  ". . .[his] rejection rate is more than three and a half times as high than under each of the previous two presidencies. . ."

A modest proposal:  impose a moratorium on all homilies for one year.  A better proposal:  make excellent preaching a priority in seminaries and parishes.  Bishops could hire a few OP's to help!

Archdiocese wins tax battle with SanFran radical.  What the article doesn't mention is that tax assessor who pulled this stunt is a GLBTQXYZ advocate. . .and he's running for mayor. 


Would you do this?  I might. . .maybe.

HA!  I just did this. . .

The large mountain Jew!

Don't watch this if you are prone to crying at cute animal stories. . .I'm not. . .no, really, I'm not. Leave me alone!

Indeed. . .(a U.D. joke).

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The missal launches. . .and strikes!

A very special Mille Grazie to my German Angel, S.N. for her kindness and generosity in sending to us here at the Angelicum a copy of the newly translated Roman Missal.   This missal will be used in the daily Masses celebrated for the English-speaking students.  Bee, our prayers are with you, my dear!

Also, many thanks to the kind soul who recently visited the Wish List and sent me a special package for Christmas.  I only hope we meet one day so that you too can enjoy your gift.  

Fr. Philip Neri, OP

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Ugly Churches, Uglier Music: There's a commission for that. . .

Great News from Rome!  The Congregation on Divine Worship is setting up a commission on church architecture and sacred music. 

No word yet on whether or not this commission will have police powers or the authority to dispatch albino Opus Dei Ninja Monks to "take care" of offending architects, diocesan liturgical officials, pastors, and bishops.  We can always hope, can't we?

From Andrea Tornielli:

A team has been set up, to put a stop to garage style churches, boldly shaped structures that risk denaturing modern places for Catholic worship. Its task is also to promote singing that really helps the celebration of mass. The “Liturgical art and sacred music commission” will be established by the Congregation for Divine Worship over the coming weeks. This will not be just any office, but a true and proper team, whose task will be to collaborate with the commissions in charge of evaluating construction projects for churches of various dioceses. The team will also be responsible for the further study of music and singing that accompany the celebration of mass.

I spent 13 years wandering the theological deserts of Episcopalianism b/c my local Catholic parish met in what could pass for a really ugly urology office.  We could all cite examples of Ugly Churches and Awful Music. 

Until the Church destroys the modernist notion that utility trumps beauty in our architecture and music, we will suffer from a deficiency of truth and goodness in our spiritual lives.   I'm not saying that all Catholic churches must be replicas of St Peter or St Mary Major, or that every parish must have a Gregorian Chant Choir. . .only that the stadium/retail store model must be stopped, and our use of pop music and Prot hymns must be suppressed.   

Please keep in mind that the Vatican thinks in terms of centuries not seasons, so any action on the part of the commission will likely come years from now and any results from their action probably won't be felt until the latter half of the 21st century.   Regardless, they will need our prayers!

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Coffee Bowl Browsing

Spanish voters oust their anti-Catholic, socialist prime minister.  

Dem pollsters call for Obama to withdraw from the 2012 race and turn things over to Hillary.

Lefty hypocrisy:  "climate change" guru buys 20 bedroom house. 

And yet more Lefty hypocrisy:  Lead Whiner of the Occupy Movement checks into $700/night Manhattan hotel, "Tents are not for me."

Why couldn't this sort of thing happen in the U.S. my European brothers ask?  Three word answer for them:  the Second Amendment. . .which is why our Betters hate it so.

HA!  "Chicks Don't Dig Camping Out with Smelly Losers". . .the Occupy Movement's gender gap. 

DEO GRATIS!  A liturgical commission is being set up here in Rome to review church architecture and music.  NB.  the MSM (even in Italy) can't resist the temptation to describe everything the Vatican does as a "crackdown."

From $12 million to $36 million in two years:  Nancy Pelosi's doing OK in hard times.

When will the world end?  A list of Apocalypses from 2,800 B.C. to the heat death of the universe.

Throw me higher this time!!!

Well, at least he's taking responsibility. . .

Hmmmm. . .let's think this through:  if time is the relative measure of objective motion, then. . .

Time to visit the vet. . .oh, I think not.

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From Mind to Word

A hearty Mille Grazie to those faithful HancAquam readers who have recently heeded my call for help in returning to poetry. 

As I move into full-time parish ministry, my preaching will need to be more than just philosophically astute and theologically accurate. . .it will need to be Beautiful as well!

Let the Lord shine out through both our words and deeds, and may I serve His Word with diligence and strength!

God bless, Fr. Philip

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Coffee Bowl Browsing

I don't believe in unicorns or elves, therefore, I don't spend a dime of my money or a second of my time talking, writing, protesting, and whining about them.

AP rewriting history to erase Dem support for Occupy Whiners?  

Girl Scouts embrace the Culture of Death, causing some problems for Catholics. 

Hee-lar-ree-us:  ". . .a postmortem on utopia, which died in infancy but lived long enough to evolve a familiar proto-hierarchy."  Pigs.  Equal.  More.  Others.  And all that.

Purgatory in scripture. . .yup, it's there.

I love this guy.  So few in the E.U. have his guts.

Crystal Cathedral goes to the Diocese of Orange. . .let's hope the Vatican puts a stop to this $58 million lame duck grasp for a legacy.

Yet another excellent reason to get out of Italy. . .drug-resistant bacteria spreading.

Oops!  Documents appear to show John Kerry doing a little illegal inside trading.

Feminist "war on rape" conflates actual rape with boorish behavior.  Of course, if students would remain chaste and celibate 'til marriage none of this would matter.

European civilization is on the brink of collapse and the E.U. Nannies issue this vitally important regulation:  bottled water makers cannot claim that water hydrates. 

Hear, hear! 

If you're gonna get sprayed with a hose. . .

We all need a little now and then. . .WalMart is here to help.

Some days you just have to wear a shark on your head.

Ah, a pic of me at Thanksgiving circa 1965.

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Coffee Bowl Browsing

MSM media types are becoming a little unhinged at the thought of Newt G. being the GOP nominee. 

Woman in psychedelic moo-moo is consecrated "bishop" of Washington, D.C.

The Hunger Games:  just finished reading this novel.  The movie looks excellent!

I don't care if you're a Traddie, a Spirit of Vatican Two Peace Bonger, a recent convert, a Christmas/Easter pew warmer, or a rubber-necking agnostic/atheist:  you need to get in on this fight!  Why?  First, they came for the Jews. . .

MSM abandons OWS to its own folly:  "Funny how the left’s assertion that this was a grand political awakening has now gone down the memory hole."  Sorry.  But this is surprising how?

The natural escalation of a tantrum:  "non-violent" OWS Whiner threatens Macy's with a Molotov cocktail. 

Hope and Change become Despair and More-of-the-Same:  students abandoning B.O.  Smart kids.

What happens when a loved-one disappears from a cruise ship?  A whole lotta nothing.

Obviously, the problem here is that she didn't minor in Lower-East Asian Disability Studies.

Redneck Earthquake Early Warning System. . .not always accurate.

No, no, no. . .Jabba would never be seen in public with his curlers.

The birth of a Philosopher!

Well, this just means that no one wants to leave the Magnolia State. 

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Pray for religious liberty

On Sept. 29, 2011, Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York, current president of the USCCB, sent his fellow bishops a letter announcing the establishment of a committee to address B.O.'s attack on religious liberty in the U.S.

His letter reads in part:

As we returned to our dioceses from the June plenary session of our Episcopal Conference, we left with a palpable sense of unity and commitment among us regarding the urgent need we face to safeguard religious liberty inherent in the dignity of the human person. We recognized our need to protect this foundational principle of our country, one that has been enshrined in the United States Constitution, further enumerated in the First Amendment, and explicitly extended to all U.S. citizens. The Framers of the Constitution themselves understood this ―First Freedom‖ to be based on the norms inherent in Natural Law – namely, ―that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, and that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

This basic right, in its many and varied applications for Christians and people of faith, is now increasingly and in unprecedented ways under assault in America. This is most particularly so in an increasing number of federal government programs or policies that would infringe upon the right of conscience of people of faith or otherwise harm the foundational principle of religious liberty. As shepherds of over 70 million U.S. citizens we share a common and compelling responsibility to proclaim the truth of religious freedom for all, and so to protect our people from this assault which now appears to grow at an ever accelerating pace in ways most of us could never have imagined.

[. . .]

Please pray for the members of this committee as they begin the arduous task of defending our liberties as Americans and Catholics.

Episcopal members:

Bishop William Lori of Bridgeport, Chair
Bishop John O. Barres of Allentown, Pennsylvania
Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, OFM Cap. of Philadelphia
Bishop Daniel E. Flores of Brownsville, Texas
Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory of Atlanta
Archbishop John C. Nienstedt of St. Paul-Minneapolis
Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted of Phoenix
Bishop Thomas J. Paprocki of Springfield in Illinois
Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi of Mobile, Alabama
Archbishop J. Peter Sartain of Seattle
Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington.

Lay Consultants include:

Carl Anderson, Supreme Knight, Knights of Columbus
Kevin Baine, attorney, Williams & Connolly
Father Raymond J. de Souza, a priest of the Archdiocese of Kingston, Ontario (Canada)
Richard Garnett, assoc. dean/prof of law and poli-science, University of Notre Dame Law School John Garvey, President, The Catholic University of America
Mary Ann Glendon, professor, Harvard Law School
Philip Lacovara, attorney
Judge Michael McConnell, professor, Stanford University Law School
L. Martin Nussbaum, attorney, Rothgerber Johnson & Lyons
Mary Ellen Russell, executive director, Maryland Catholic Conference.

Bishop Lori's testimony before Congress on the assault on religious liberty can be found here.

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Hunting for a Good Spiritual Director

A repost from 2009:

When looking for a good spiritual director, it is standard practice to interview the potential S.D. first. The idea is not to weed out those who are going to challenge you or disagree with you. The idea is find one who holds and practice the Catholic faith as taught by the Church and is able to actually help you grow in holiness.

Ask the following questions politely. There is no need to be offensive or defensive. You are not an Inquisitor. You are not hunting heresy. If it turns out that the potential S.D. is some kind of New Age kook, you are obligated to keep that assessment to yourself. The obligation to confidentiality binds both the director and the directee.

A few cautions up front:

1). Do not be impressed with S.D.'s who have credentials in spiritual direction. Most spiritual direction programs in the U.S. teach their students amateur forms of guru-ism and occult gibberish.

2). Do not be impressed by titles like "Father," "Sister," "Brother," or "Doctor." Anyone holding any of these titles can be dodgy.

3). Do not be impressed by celebrity or ecclesial status. Abbot Father Dr. Alred Boniface Schultz of the St. Labyrinth Benedominican Monastery, author of 46 books on meditation and a national speaker, can be as big a moonbat as anyone.

4). Do not be impressed by the potential S.D.'s personal piety, orthodox theology, solid publishing record with the best Catholic houses, or his/her reputation for brilliant spiritual direction. Every director/directee relationship is different. What works for you, might not work for me. And being a good S.D. takes more than unwavering allegiance to the magisterium.

5). Do not be impressed by a potential S.D.'s willingness, even eagerness, to take you on as a directee. In fact, I would interpret any sort of "salemanship" on the part of the S.D. as creepy and immediately disqualify him/her.

Questions (with the qualification that he/she may say, "'Nunya."):

--Tell me about your spiritual life, your daily spiritual routine, your prayer life.

--What are your strengths as a S.D.? Weaknesses?

--Tell me about your experience as a S.D. How many years? What sorts of directees?

--How would you describe your relationship to the Church? The local bishop? The Holy Father?

--What do you think of commonly used spiritual direction tools like the Ennegram, labrynith?

--What do you think of personal devotions like the rosary, novenas, etc.?

--What authors/books do you regularly read and recommend?

--Have you had any spiritual direction training? Where and what kind?

--What's your understanding of the sacraments, esp. Mass, confession, marriage?

--How do you understand the relationship btw God and creation?

--How do you understand holiness, goodness, morality, sin, etc.?

--Do you use fasting or other sorts of penance in your direction?

--My biggest spititual difficulty is X. How would begin to approach this problem?

--My greatest spiritual gift is X. How would you direct me to use this gift?

--Generally speaking, from what sources do you pull from for inspiration as a S.D.?

Keep in mind that you are being interviewed as well. I have turned down potential directees b/c I didn't have the particular gifts to deal with their challenges. I have also been "fired" as a S.D. for being too theologically orthodox and for being "too hard."

Do you want someone who will "kick butt and take names"?

Or someone who will be more of a gentle listener, a guide?

Or someone who will function as a teacher, a model?

Or someone who will sympathize but challenge nonetheless?

Or someone who maintains an emotional distance and directs you?

Or someone who will "get in there with you" and fight?

Or someone versatile enough to shift among these as needed?

You really have to know yourself before choosing a S.D. But you also have to be open to change and growth. I find it very difficult to get a good S.D. because I need a "kick butt and take names" kinda director. I need someone who can look me in the eye and tell me how full of crap I am. Not many of those around these days. . .sigh. . .

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Is spiritual reading enough?

Question from a faithful HancAquam reader:  "Do you really need a spiritual director or does reading the writings of the saints suffice for most of us?

There are at least three ways to think about spiritual direction (SD):

1). A visit to the E.R.

2). A checkup with your dentist

3). A trip to the gym

Depending on what shape you're in spiritually, you will need emergency treatment, routine maintenance, or some body-building.  (How's that for mixed metaphors?!)

The idea here is that whether or not your need spiritual direction (and how often if you do) depends almost entirely how where you are in your relationship with God.  If things are going well, then keeping up with your spiritual reading is probably just about right, though it never hurts to get a check up or hit the gym on occasion.  If things are starting to look dodgy, it's a good idea to check in with some SD and see if there's anything seriously wrong that can be prevented or treated.  If, however, there's an obvious and overwhelming collapse in your pursuit of holiness, then a trip to the emergency room is required.  Follow up is mandatory. 

More often than not, a collapse in your spiritual life is due to some serious sin and making a good confession will start the ball to recovery rolling.  Of course, confession is not SD, but making a good confession is an excellent way to instill some sincerity into your repentance.  

Being a Dominican, I'm a champion of reading the saints and doctors of the Church.  One caution:  be sure that you aren't reading above or below your spiritual level.  I mean, if you're a recent convert, you might want to hold off on reading the Latin homilies of Meister Eckhart and think more along the lines of studying the Catechism.  If you're a Catholic Pro, then limiting yourself to the Catechism isn't going to challenge you.  A spiritual director can help you find your level.

Also, don't limit yourself to just one genre of spiritual reading.  I find contemporary poetry to be insightful and challenging.  A lot of Catholics read well-written sci-fi/fantasy novels as spiritual reading.  God reveals Himself using all sorts of imperfect methods!

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Coffee Bowl Browsing

What do typewriters, rotary phones, record changers, and coffee percolators have in common?

GOP Rep. caught doing a little insider-trading?  

How did Hitler lose WWII?  Remember the children's rhyme:  bean, beans the magical fruit. . .?

Obedience cures stupidity.  ("Obedience" properly understood, of course.)

Biblical proof that Zombies are real!

Portland Occupiers abandon their righteous cause in order to save their $400 tents.  Ah, dedication.

Anti-American propaganda posters from N. Korea.  Hmmm. . .maybe the OWS Whiners could use some of these.

Notice how "The REV. Dr. Martin Luther King" has lost the "Rev."?

A morphing map of the London Underground.  And yes, the modern map does distort one's
understanding of London's geography.

What's inside Fort Knox and how is it protected?

How do rednecks protect their Nascar commemorative beer can collections?

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Coffee Bowl Browsing

Occupy Movement:  this is what happens when you have a society made up entirely of "liberals"?  No, not so sure about that.  Most of the E.U. is quite liberal and it manages to remain more or less civilized.  The OWS movement is what happens when you have a society made up entirely of Wards of that State and Nanny can no longer afford to take care of them.

Case in point (see above).  Bonus:  an updated Occupy rap sheet.  200 incidents and counting.

Catholic Social Services of Southern Illinois splits with the Diocese of Belleville over same-sex "marriage."  Another anti-Catholic notch in B.O.'s belt.

Speaking of B.O.'s anti-Catholic tendencies:  "The America emerging in the next several decades is likely to be much less friendly to Christian faith than anything in our country’s past. And that poses a challenge for all of us as Catholics. It’s not a question of when or if it might happen. It’s happening today."

You can't wear a U.S. flag tee-shirt if someone might be offended.  The sounds like my CPE in St Louis.  My habit offended the chaplains, yet the rainbow flag buttons and pink triangles of the Franciscan priest and UCC chaplain were just fine. 

"Working Man" Michael Moore's million dollar vacation home. . .but remember:  he's not in the 1%.

Probably the best commentary on the Penn State sex-scandal.  Must one child be raped so a football team can be successful?  Ouch.

Of course they were going to riot!  On the Penn State student-rioters:  "Imbued with a sense of victimhood, entitlement, and cultivated grievance that can only be taught, their preferred response to inconvenience is a temper tantrum."

A MUST read:  What's So Great About Catholicism?  "With Pascal I would affirm that one actually learns the Catholic faith by doing — which is why deracinated, prissy, critical philosophes standing outside will never 'get it.' The faith of the Catholic is a great drama unfolding before God, and we are the players in it." 

Vicious bear attack. . .the poor guy barely survives.

The Zombie Apocalypse comes to Sesame Street! 

How to get the police to respond to a burglary. . .call 911 and tell them you have exercised your 2nd Amendment right to keep and bear arms. 

First World Problems. . .someone send this list to OWS. 

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No, that "justice/peace" note hasn't been disowned. . .

OY!  I'm getting dizzy.

Apparently, the behind closed doors of the Back and Forth of producing the Church's teaching is being made public.  

Now we're told that the Holy Father's Secretary of State, Cardinal Bertone has not all but repudiated the recently published note from the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.

From CNS:  "Cardinal Bertone’s order, they said, simply stipulated that any documents bearing the pope’s signature must be released through his office. The Justice and Peace document did not fall into that category, even though its content was reviewed by the Secretariat."

This leaves the impression that there's something of an ideological struggle going on in the Vatican.  None of this Back and Forth, however, changes the magisterial status of the note.  It's a proposal from a pontifical council issued without the Holy Father's signature.  In other words, it's not binding on Catholics as a matter of faith.  

Read it, discuss it, criticize it, adopt it or reject it. 

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U.D. prof responds to justice/peace "note" (Updated)

Update:  Prof. Medaille writes to correct my misrepresentation of his LifeSiteNews article.  I misunderstood a link he posted on my Facebook page as his response to the PCJP note.  He clarifies the issues in the comments.  My apologies to him for getting this wrong.

+

University of Dallas theology prof,  John Medaille has an excellent article on LifeSiteNews about the recently published and controversial note from the Pontifical Council on Justice and Peace, "Life and family issues underlie all economic issues in global debt crisis."

"According to Medaille, the crisis of the Euro is in fact a good example of the problem of replacing concrete human realities with ideologies as the foundation of modern economies."  

Prof. Medaille is an advocate of distributism.   I admit to not knowing much about this economic philosophy, but it has a number of heavy-hitting brains behind it.

Give it a read and let me know what you think.

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But some pigs are more equal than others. . .

In its academic heyday in the late 80's and early 90's, postmodernist theories about The Real and how we come to know it (or not) provided an intoxicating elixir for humanities professors who had been sobered by the real world successes of their colleagues in the natural sciences.  Perhaps a bit envious of the research grants thrown at chemists, physicists, and engineers, liberal arts profs tried to squeeze their inherently squishy disciplines into the hard mold of science.  They failed. 

Having failed to transform the study of literature, history, religion, etc. into rigorous disciplines a la physics, humanities professionals succumbed to the temptations of Not Knowing and proclaimed the advent of Universal Ignorance.  And when this proclamation proved to be too bourgeois for the faculty lounge and the conference circuit, they moved as a herd toward the cliffs of Nihilism and Despair, otherwise known as deconstructionism.

That we cannot know everything there is to know about everything approaches the axiomatic.  But to conclude from this premise that absolutely nothing is knowable is absurd.  For example, we know the distance of the sun from earth, approx. 150 million km or about 93 million miles.  We do not know the exact chemical composition of the sun; that is, we do not know precisely how many chemical compounds make up the sun and in what proportion.  That we don't know the exact chemical composition of the sun doesn't mean that we cannot know the sun's distance from the earth.  However, this is exactly what postmodernist theorist would have us believe:  any particular admission of ignorance regarding X is a universal admission that X is unknowable.  In other words, my ignorance of one thing is the same as my inability to know anything at all.

To make matters worse, pomo theorists push the absurd to the nihilistic by asserting that universal ignorance necessarily entails the denial of reality per se.  Not only am I ignorant about X and not only can I know nothing about X b/c of this ignorance, I must conclude that X doesn't exist.  Now, if these theorists really believed this and lived with some degree of integrity, we'd never hear from them again.  You'd have to insane to spend your time rattling on about a non-existent reality.  But they have the same bills to pay that the rest of us do.  Enter:  interpretative narratives.

Here's the move:  humanistic disciplines like literature and history cannot be stuffed into scientific molds, so the hard sciences must be liquified and poured into humanistic molds.  Science like literary criticism or historical accounting is really just a form of narrative, a story we tell one another to help us live more or less fruitful lives.  Replete with metaphors, similes, and other rhetorical devices, science does not and cannot describe a mind-independent world at all.  All it does is impose an attractive story on our ignorant observations of phenomena.  We are left with knowing nothing more than the stories we tell and all stories are equally true.  Einstein's theory of general relativity has the same truth-value as Homer's Iliad. 

In the pomo world, narratives function as meaning-giving structures, that is, they impose order, significance, and purpose.  This sounds like a good thing.  It's not.  Always on guard against any narrative that even hints at being oppressive, pomo theorists rail against certain kinds of narrative that appear to privilege classes of people over and against other classes of people.  Enter:  cultural Marxism.  Although these theorists insist on the non-existence of a mind-independent reality, they almost always fall back on the necessity of opposing the Grand Narratives of Oppression (racism, sexism, heterosexism, etc.) with the reality of radical human equality.  All human beings are exactly the same in every way and our cultural-social institutions must be shaped in such a way that no differences are recognized or celebrated.  In order to do this, ironically, all differences among humans must be celebrated and valued, except, of course, those differences that give rise to the notion that all humans are different and to be valued as individuals.  

Nonsense, you say?  Absolutely.  But nonsense always shows its chaotic face when we detach our ways of knowing from what can be known. 

You might be wondering:  why should I care what a bunch of comparative lit profs think about reality?  When we detach our ways of knowing (science, language) from what we can know (reality) we are left with nothing more than assertions about power.  With no objective measure for the true, the good, and the beautiful, subjective measures reign supreme.  In such a world, who rules?  Ultimately, if history is any predictor, those with the most money and guns.  Without a real, knowable connection between the Good and the True, those with power define the what is good and true.  To sum up with a literary allusion:  all pigs are equal, but some pigs are more equal than others.

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