God or Nothing

I have been reading this interview (God or Nothing, Ignatius Press) with Cardinal Sarah off and on for a few months now. I am finally getting close to the finish.

After this, I think Cardinal Sarah's book on silence should be on my list. A couple of passages I found this weekend on which I would like to report:

Here are some possibly comforting lines Cardinal Sarah quotes from St. Therese of Lisieux:

Listen, this is how great your confidence should be! It should make you believe purgatory is not made for you but only for the souls that failed to recognize God's merciful love or who doubted its power to purify. With those who strive to respond to this love, Jesus is 'blind' and 'does not count' [their sins], or rather, in order to purify them, he counts only on this fire of charity that 'covers all faults' and, especially, on the fruits of his perpetual Sacrifice. Yes, despite your little infidelities, you can hope to go straight to heaven, because the good Lord desires it even more than you do, and he will surely give you what you have hoped to receive of his Mercy. Your confidence and your resignation are what he will reward; his justice, which knows your frailty has been divinely arranged so as to achieve this. As you rely on this assurance, just make sure even more that he does not lose any love!

 

Of course, relying on these lines may lead to complacency and presumption.

 

And from Pope Paul VI's "smoke of Satan" homily, comes the following:

 

Science exists to give us truths that do not separate from God, but make us seek him all the more and celebrate him with greater intensity ....

 

Pope Paul VI goes on to comment on how this purpose has been turned on its head.

 

It is good to reflect once more as an instructor in Physics what the purpose is of what I teach.

 

Oremus pro invicem!

And I highly recommend ....

Is your phone a tool or a weapon? Not just because it is written by someone I know very well, but because it is worth contemplating and then acting upon.

Oremus pro invicem!

One man's weed ....

.... is another man's meal.

 

Around here, pigweed is a scourge. Supposedly imported with turkey litter for fertilizer from somewhere, it now infests many a field during the growing season. It is prolific and aggressive. A garden or an acre of peanuts can be overgrown with pigweeds in a matter of days if you are not vigilant.

 

A perennial, you can't just plow it under. You need to hand pick it and move it. Some farmers used to use pesticides to rid their fields of it, but it has become resistant.

 

We have fought the pigweed in our small gardens (seeds carried from neighboring fields) and more intensively when we leased several acres to grow peanuts or sorghum.

 

A few years ago we were helping cut down some trees at the Missionaries of the Poor house in North Carolina, when I noticed they were growing pigweed in their garden on purpose!

 

Sure enough, Amaranth is grown for food around the world. Here's more proof from my own pantry.

We actually have fed pigweed removed from the garden to our pigs, and they eat it up. But I don't think I will be growing it for our consumption any time soon....

Oremus pro invicem!

A book recommendation

I finished Out of the Ashes the other day. Regular readers here know I am huge fan of Anthony Esolen. Perhaps my coolness to the current effort has more to do with what I need rather than what Mr. Esolen has to offer.

 

As always he writes very well. His writing is always a delight to read. However, at times (in Out of the Ashes) he seemed to have so much to say that he didn't know how to say it briefly, so uses examples that don't clearly cover the problem.

 

And this is another problem. The book is subtitled "Rebuilding American Culture", but Mr. Esolen spends so much time defining the problems, he neglects how to rebuild, other than 'don't continue the problem.'

 

Perhaps this was it for me. I read for enjoyment and to learn; the enjoyment was there, but in this case, I thoroughly know the problems already. I have been struggling in my own way to rebuild culture at least in my family and among my friends. I wanted a different perspective.

 

However, I DO recommend the book. This is not meant to be a negative review, just that my personal expectations were not met - I am sure Mr. Esolen did not write the book to satisfy me. But take a look, for example: 

The progressives of old had a clear idea of what they thought would bring about their earthly paradise: the dictatorship of the proletariat, the emancipation of women, the elimination of monarchy and its replacement with democracy, universal education, and so on. None of their nostrums has delivered on its promise, and some have had the perverse effect of rotting away the foundation upon which their suppositions of beneficence were based. So it is that democratic machinery without the soul of democracy has produced a far more intrusive and liberty-crushing state than anything that the proudest monarch could have imagined-or wished, since such a constant political preoccupation would have left no time for boar hunting or chasing women. So it is that universal schooling has not brought Milton to the millions, but rather has taken Milton away from the brightest and replaced him with "young adult" junk. So it is that women have been emancipated from the freedom of the home and chained to salaried work and lives of relative loneliness.

 Oremus pro invicem!

Two Christmas presents ...

Here are two of my favorite Christmas presents:

 From my youngest daughter.

And, from Mrs. Curley (some quotes to come...):

 

Finally, in an act of total vanity, I present a picture I came across of my self from a student ID in 1986 when I was in graduate school. Never looked as good again...

 

 

 

 

Oremus pro invicem!

Happy Nativity!

It has been a long time (December 13) since my last post-but much has happened!

As usual, I post a picture of our tree, not quite as big as in the past, but it looks the same when fully decorated.

Most of the children were home for Christmas, but two didn't make it. I guess that's what happens when they get older, live far away, and/or get married.

We wanted to go Christmas caroling on the vigil, but had been bogged down with nagging colds for a few weeks. We did go to Midnight Mass at St. Peter in Cheraw - the only one at midnight within 90 minutes.

With little ones in the house again. it was a challenge.

I do want to recommend a new blog: CountryWillAlwaysBeHome . Disclaimer: it is my son's, but check it out. He has some things to say.

Oremus pro invicem!

Reading...

The Evolution of Physics by Albert Einstein and Leopold Infeld. Interestingly (or unfortunately, or appallingly), as a physicist, I have never read anything written by Albert Einstein.

 

This book contains no math - quite a feat for a book about Physics. It is hard for me tell (because I already understand the content) how easily this book would be understood by the layman.

 

My sister used this text in college and for some reason, I have her copy. Never having read it, I decided I should.

 

I am enjoying it much more than I thought possible. As a Physics Adjunct, I think it may benefit my students on having read this, giving me better insight on how to explain things in different ways.

 

Oremus pro invicem!

In Reruns

Have you "made it" when you are in reruns?

In any event, on a serious and pressing topic, I am in reruns here .

While it appears from the website that this piece was originally published 6 years ago, in actuality, most of it was written in 2004 as the "publisher's introduction" to the booklet Requiem Press put out on praying for the Holy Souls in Purgatory.

It is always interesting to read what you wrote (at least for me!) in the past. Not only does it take you back, you can gain insight into where you are now, compared to then. It is not always a generous comparison!

But more importantly, pray for the Holy Souls in Purgatory!

Oremus pro invicem! 

The wonderful cold weather is here ...

This means hog-killing weather! Pass this post if you are squeamish.

Number 4 son and I had to do this one by ourselves. It is back to work. I am used to supervising, but with my boys scattered around the country I actually have to get my hands and boots dirty.

We have several more to do this season, but this is the first of the cold weather. Because this one is going to be all sausage, we took the skin off (as opposed to scalding and scraping the hair.

Here we are working....

Oremus pro invicem!

Travelling Man

I spent last weekend (2 weeks ago) in Dallas visiting number 3 son. This past weekend I spent in Lander Wyoming with number 1 son and his new bride. (The numbers refer to age and not to any other quality!)

 

I don't have pictures of Dallas, but share two from Wyoming. Both weekends were fantastic. I miss these boys of mine. (Not limiting it to these two. I miss my number 2 son and my number 1 & 2 daughters just as much.)

 

 

This is the part of the restored Ghost Town in South Pass City in Wyoming. Don't miss Atlantic City just up the road either.

 

This waterfall was part of our 6+ mile hike at Johnny Behind the Rocks near Lander, Wyoming. We did "climb" to the top of the falls by a path just out of view on the left of the falls.

 

I think I will be staying put for a while. My family (not to mention our homestead) needs some tender attention. I am certainly looking forward to this.

 

Oremus pro invicem!

My Antonia

Just finished Willa Cather's My Antonia. It is a book I liked but did not give total satisfaction, if that is the right sentiment. Certainly it was not all satisfying in the way a popular novel is. The ending is happy, but there is some melancholy - things that should or could have been different, the fact of mistakes made even by good people,, but a resilient spirit can overcome?

 

Is the difference between literature and the majority of novels not just the quality of writing, but that literature captures life as it is with all the bumps and bruises and sometimes the regrets and not just an adventure with a happy ending?

 

One line caught me towards the end. The narrator asks:

 

I wondered whether the life that was right for one is ever right for two!

 

 

While my answer to this is in the affirmative, not everyone always experiences this, either due to chance or choice. 

 

But more, the line reminded me of a thought of Dietrich von Hildebrand about marriage itself, and not the more material life. I paraphrase the thought below, which is a paraphrase from my own blog entry of 2005 - so it possible it is a little distorted from the actual writing of DVB as I don't have his text with me.

 

Dietrich Von Hildebrand says in his book Marriage – the mystery of faithful love (Sophia Institute Press) that all marriages have the purpose of attaining the highest possible communion or mutual love possible between the spouses. Some marriages in particular are truly made in Heaven and have the potential of being a true living example to the world of Christ’s spousal love. In the other extreme, one spouse must forego receiving the love of their spouse and must spend their life “primarily in sacrifice and renunciation, in care for the salvation of the other” – who is not participating in the love of the marriage. Thus the purpose of every spouse in every marriage, no matter the nature of their particular marriage, will not be realized until that spouse truly lives in a spirit of sacrifice - fully embracing his vocation.

 

By the way, if you want a really good analysis (as opposed to mine) of a classic novel (not this one) you should venture here to read about the correlation between sin and death as portrayed in Crime and Punishment.

 

Oremus pro invicem!

Pigs

We only have one sow left. We sold our last other two in the spring. A few years ago we selected the best gilt from our best boar and sow and raised her to be our remaining sow. She has done well - not our biggest star in the past 10 years - but okay. She usually averages 10-12 pigs per litter, and loses few.

"Polly" had her fall litter this weekend: 5 pigs.

Of course, the low number is likely "Thor's" fault (the boar). We've had him 2 years. I have to say, I think his two predecessors, Red and Tarzan, were better boars.

In any event, may be its a blessing. For the first time, I had trouble selling off the spring litters. (We had two.) I have 7 pigs left from those litters, and I have no need for so many. These guys are getting pretty big, and yet I have 2-300 pound pigs from last winter's litter to put in the freezer. I am just waiting for the weather to cool.

 

Oremus pro invicem!

Reading

Right now I am reading (actual books) two books. One is My Antonia by Willa Cather which a friend of mine was amazed I hadn’t read before. I am some 50 pages into it, and so far so good.

I am also reading Reading Don’t Fix No Chevys: Literacy in the Lives of Young Men, which I won as a door prize at the Adjunct faculty conference at the tech school where I “instruct”. Basically it is a study of why high school boys – well, the title gives the purpose. I have multiple interests regarding the education of young men and am hoping I gain some insight – however, my hopes are tempered by the source of the information.  

But of course I am always listening to something in my long commutes 3 days a week. One of my favorite listens (as reported here before) are audio books by Louis L’Amour. My son forwarded an article about him from a website called The Art of Manliness. A couple of L’Amour quotes stood out.

First: “The idea of education has been so tied to schools, universities, and professors that many assume there is no other way, but education is available to anyone within reach of a library.”

Of course this observation based on the premise (more prevalent in the past than today) that education is not a utilitarian pursuit of employment. Colleges and universities are often (but not always) in the business of job training as opposed to education. I can truly say I have learned more about just about everything from my own reading habits than I ever learned in school,/college the exceptions being in math/calculus and some areas of science.

The second quote I also find very true:

“A book is less important for what it says than for what it makes you think.”

Some may my following observation is a bit strange, but one reason I enjoy many John Grisham novels (surely light fare) is that they really make me think about things-plight of peoples, relations, state of law etc. Obviously there are books written to make one think-and I read those. But often I find light fiction does the same.

Oremus pro invicem!

Two Pictures

Usually I walk in the late afternoon. But yesterday I started my walk just before sunset.

First, as I was passing my hogs, I was struck by the "3 generations", the boar being in the foreground. 2 hogs from last years litter next, and if strain your eyes, you can see this years litter in the background. The picture isn't that good as it is from my cellphone.

The next picture, just around the corner from the hogs is even less clear, but the color that did come through is beautiful.

Oremus pro invicem!

Late summer harvest

Been very busy with all sorts of things, including planting the fall garden. But we are still getting produce from the summer garden. Many things are finished, but banana peppers, green peppers, egg plant and pumpkins are still going strong.

(I don't know why my phone took these in black and white!)

 

 

Additionally we harvested our peanuts today. It took 3.5 of us about 4 hours to dig and stack them. A better crop than last year, even though we planted less.

 

The peanuts remain on their bush, stacked as pictured for about 2 weeks to dry. Then we separate the peanuts from the hay. We will give the hay to the pigs as we are temporarily without a milk cow who generally gets the hay.

 

 

Oremus pro invicem!

Of Statues, Monuments, and Flags

The Chestonian principle:

In the matter of reforming things, as distinct from deforming them, there is one plain and simple principle; a principle which will probably be called a paradox. There exists in such a case a certain institution or law; let us say, for the sake of simplicity, a fence or gate erected across a road. The more modern type of reformer goes gaily up to it and says, “I don’t see the use of this; let us clear it away.” To which the more intelligent type of reformer will do well to answer: “If you don’t see the use of it, I certainly won’t let you clear it away. Go away and think. Then, when you can come back and tell me that you do see the use of it, I may allow you to destroy it. - G.K. Chesterton

When deciding about removing flags, monuments, statues, etc. I think it is wise to first consider the Chestonian principle - by the community that "owns" the statue/monument.

 

Quick thought: I don't think many people in America would object to Russian citizens toppling statues of Lenin when the Soviet Union collapsed.

 

A local (county, university, town, state) population should decide why they honored X (substitute the name of any Confederate General, flag, monument, public figure) on their public grounds in the first place. If they decide that this person/symbol no longer represents their values or the community and want to remove it, then they have that right.

 

However, outsiders like Nancy Pelosi or Donald Trump or myself should have no demands in the matter.

 

A member of Congress from California has no standing in agitating for the removal of Robert E. Lee from any venue but from Federal property or in her own local district on public land (as a private citizen in the latter case.)

 

In this era of so-called "self-identification", isn't it ironic that local communities are being pressured to conform their identity to political correctness?

 

The argument that Confederate Generals are traitors and should not be honored is misleading. The issue of the legality of succession was decided by the War Between the States. Before the Civil War, various states (including Northern states) had discussed succession and not considered it a treasonous proposition, but an option. It is not the equivalent of putting up a statue of John Wilkes Booth or Benedict Arnold!

 

On the other hand, those who say we are trying to change history when we remove monuments, are also wrong. We are only re-evaluating who we honor from our history.

 

There is much complexity to these issues which also depend on the type of monument and its venue.

 

For example, a memorial for soldiers who died in the Civil War is not so much a statement on the war itself (as the Vietnam Memorial is not) as a remembrance of family and friends who died. After all while most of the Confederate officers may have owned slaves, many, if not most, non-officer soldiers did not.

 

The Confederate flag may have a different legacy. It is a powerful symbol that many have used has a symbol of white supremacy both recently and also when they began to be raised on Southern states capital buildings in the 1960's. There would seem to be much more justification for their removals.

 

Individual Confederate Generals/Officers monuments may sometimes lay somewhere in-between the two examples noted above. Many of these men may have been honored for attributes other than, or in addition to, their leadership roles in the Confederacy.

 

However, in each case the local community should make thoughtful decisions.

 

We need to pray for peace in this country (an in our own souls.)

 

On this Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary .... Oremus pro invicem!

Marbleface

One of my favorite genres to listen to in my travels are westerns. They have enough adventure to keep me awake, but generally not too stressful. You know the outcome. Zane Grey, Max Brand, Louis L'Amour - these are the mainstays.

 

I am just finishing up the strangest one I have ever listened to. Here's the background: Successful middleweight boxer suddenly develops a heart condition in the middle of a fight. Realizing he can no longer exert himself for long periods, he plays poker, takes up a revolver and heads West.

 

He has all kinds of adventures, but must escape from pursuers by walking (no running), must take a nap in the middle of a conflict after hitting his foe, and generally walks around unscathed despite the handicap.

 

It is just the strangest Western I have ever read - but there are only so many plots, right?

Oremus pro invicem! 

Manhood and consumerism

Mr. Jason Craig has penned an interesting article over at Those Catholic Men concerning manhood and consumerism. Here are some of the key ideas:

…we no longer are measured by the skill of our craft but by our ability to purchase the craftsmanship of another, and, in fact, we valued the ability to purchase over the ability to make. 

And:

The worst outcome of the trend toward specialization is that giant companies gobble up market share (for the sake of money, not the things made) and controls the production and delivery of the goods we need.  Being unable to “compete” with them through doing or making or doing it ourselves, a man is reduced to, as Berry puts it, “the negativity of his complaint.”[4]  He is a consumer and can only complain about the products he consumes – he cannot change his status as a consumer or actually change the product.  In other words, because you can’t do anything for yourself, the only power you have is to leave negative feedback about a product.  Just think about the sad “power” of leaving feedback on Amazon.  That’s all we have.  And that’s sad.

One conclusion:

Men consume because they cannot do and what they do they do to consume.  They can’t cultivate the world around them to fit their needs, but can only try to purchase themselves out of boredom and stress and hunger.  The anxiety of modern man then is reasonable.  He is helpless and at the mercy of those that sell, control, or hand out his sustenance.  Servility comes naturally with a sense of anxiety – for good reason.

Freedom, both economic and spiritual have many facets.

Oremus pro invicem!

 

Varmints and Cantaloupes

So we have been growing these (not soccer balls):

But every morning one or more is half eaten. So son Thomas puts a honeybun in the raccoon trap and catches this:

We reload the trap tonight in case there is a family....

Oremus pro invicem!

Augustine or Aquinas?

From Those Catholic Men :

Due to the fact that so many young people seem more drawn to questions regarding happiness and personal fulfillment, he noted that he often orients his talks in this direction. In other words, perhaps one could say that such an approach to teaching is an attempt to be more Augustinian (happiness-based) than Thomistic (truth-based).

 

Without commenting on the entire article quoted, (in fact I didn't read it all-these lines got me thinking and I never got back to it) some obvious questions come to (my) mind:

 

1. Is Augustine more about happiness than truth?

2. Is Aquinas more about truth than happiness?

3. Are truth and happiness so inter-related that it doesn't matter?

 

I am presently reading God or Nothing an interview with Cardinal Sarah. Cardinal Sarah contends (I am paraphrasing) that Christianity is not a set of (moral) norms, but an encounter with a person, Jesus Christ. Moral laws are more of a consequence than a prerequisite of Christianity. In other words, the encounter with the Son of Man calls us to follow him, which then makes us want to live a certain way. This seems (to me) very Augustinian, if the premise above is true.

 

However, doesn't Aquinas explore who is God and the Trinity? And doesn't this truth of the nature of the Trinity helps us make an authentic encounter with and learn how to follow Jesus?

 

I once knew an atheist who was one of the most moral men I knew. He believed living a moral life was the only way to have an orderly society.

 

Now, many would argue that equating Aquinas with "the Law" in not the same as saying Aquinas is 'truth-based" (as opposed to "happiness-based"). I would agree; but still there is a perception, but (I would argue) a perception from ignorance of Aquinas.

 

Oremus pro invicem! 

Oconee

We rented a cabin at Oconee State Park in Mountain Rest, SC last weekend. A neighbor kept a watch on the animals. We have seldom if ever gone all gone away for more than 24 hours in the last few years - but that is part of homesteading.

Oconee State Park brings in a bluegrass group and has a square dance in their barn every Friday night in the summer. It was absolutely great. Lots of people. We learned some dances we will incorporate into our annual square dance here.

Saturday and Sunday we meant to spend looking at waterfalls, but we didn't get to many because of the strong thunder storms that kept popping up.

We also were limited to which ones we could hike to because a 2 year old boy is staying with us right now.

Be we had fun and saw some beautiful waterfalls. The pictured one is at Cove Station Falls.

 

 

 

We also walked through Stumphouse Tunnel. Before the war between the states, a railroad line connecting Charleston, SC to Cincinnati, OH was planned. But Stumphouse Mountain got in the way. Irish immigrants, working from both sides with pick, shovel, and sledge started carving out the tunnel. They lived in a village on top of the mountain. A Fr. O'Connell founded St. Patrick Catholic Church for the workers and their families. The first shot is approaching the tunnel (which provided a cold breeze). The second is obviously in the tunnel.

While we were away Mrs. Curley's aunt, Karen Stanley passed away in Florida. May her soul and all the souls of the faithful departed, rest in peace!

 

Oremus pro invicem!

Books and Rain

I have recounted here before that I listen to a lot of books on CD because I spend a good deal of time commuting to my Adjunct job.

The other day I stopped at the library to find something new. I just finished listening to Enduring Courage - Ace Pilot Eddie Rickenbacker and the Dawn of the Age of Speed by John Ross. Who knew Rickenbacker was a native of Columbus Ohio?

A title caught my eye: a thriller called The Third Secret by Steve Berry; the background being our Lady’s appearances at Fatima. I mentioned it when I got home, being in the middle of the first chapter.

Two of my kids immediately told me I already listened to this one. I said “No way, I don’t remember it at all.”

Both of them immediately looked it up on this blog (April 23, 2015), one of them immediately quoting my concluding evaluation at the time:  I can't believe I wasted my time with such rubbish!

I guess they do pay attention!

*******************

I fear the lack of rain has demolished our sweet corn this year. Rain (that didn’t come) last week may have saved it, but now I think it is too late. We will get some, but very few ears will be flush.

You can’t go by the weather station to evaluate the amount of rain we get at our little corner. Wednesday for example we were coming home from an excursion at the beach. It started raining about 60 miles from home – sometimes a downpour. Even 8-10 miles from home they had received substantial rainfall. We received not a drop.

This happened last week to, except the rain was even closer.

I have repeatedly seen in past years dark clouds pass over us and the adjacent field only to let go over the river ¼ mile away.

I was starting to fear even for my patti pan squash and cucumbers. But a little rain last night and (hopefully) some today may give us enough moisture to survive.

**************

I am also reading Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul  by John Eldredge. About ½ way through, I am sure I will have something to say about it when I am finished. So far it is very interesting, but his conclusions may bring insight into his initial analyses.

Oremus pro invicem!

 

God's bounty

We never did much with carrots in the past, but this year a sowed them among the radishes. The radishes (for the most part) went to the pigs a couple months ago. The carrots are a great success. I picked about half yesterday. This morning I harvested the rest. Here is this morning's harvest. Looks like we will be doing this again.

 

Oremus pro invicem!

The moment (from the homily)

At St Ann Byzantine Catholic Church in San Luis Obispo on Saturday, June 3rd, my oldest son Nicholas was married to Alexis.

 

It was an absolutely beautiful wedding. I so inspired by the courage and charity displayed by this young man and this young woman in the past year with the adversities that they have, not endured, but sanctified.

 

This was my first trip to California since 1989. I flew in late Thursday for the Saturday wedding and took the red-eye home last night. Lori and most of the children (save 1) were out there for an entire week staying at Grover Beach before flying back with me last night.

 

There are so many people to thank for helping us celebrate with Nick and Alexis and their family and friends.

 

On another note, each time I touch the Eastern lung of the Catholic Church (this time Ruthenian) I am impressed and inspired.   

 

Oremus pro invicem!

Graduations

My two oldest sons graduated from college in the past two weeks. The younger from Northeast Catholic College (NCC) in Warner, NH and the oldest from Wyoming Catholic in Lander, WY.

 

I caught a blurry picture of the boots and spurs on the NCC graduate's feet during the final procession.

We are immensely proud of both of them.

Oremus pro invicem!

Turkeys, woodchucks and other suburban wildlife

I live in a rural area. It is not unusual or unnatural to see wildlife on our property. My son trapped a raccoon which was digging our garden just the other day. We see wild turkeys in the woods, and occasionally one finds itself in our front yard-but not often. Fox (eating my chickens) and coyote have been known to frequent the area.

 

Funny though, the wildlife we see is in passing. Usually it sticks to the forests.

 

My mother, on the other hand, lives in Norwood, less than 15 minutes from the Boston city limits. Growing up we saw only squirrels, some chipmunks, and a few bunny rabbits.

 

But nowadays I am apt to see a big buck on the front lawn, a flock of wild turkeys hanging around all day and the day after and the day after that. Woodchucks run around - while not more numerous than squirrels, they are still there. Fox and coyote regularly saunter down the neighborhood streets.

 

 

I was staying there last week for a few days and two toms and 3 hens just appeared everyday and wandered around and ate.

 

I guess suburban sprawl leaves the wildlife nowhere to go but Mom's!

Oremus pro invicem!

Finals week ....

so I am not writing much. If you want to read something, try this: Dear Future Husband.

Oremus pro invicem!

Another litter of pigs late last week. Peanuts planted today. I think the summer garden is pretty set. We still have pumpkins to plant, a couple weeks before that gets done.

 

Just finished listening to Tarzan of the Apes - first time since I was very young. Am reading a collection of Sherlock Holmes stories. Am I reverting?

Oremus pro invicem!

Requiescat in pace, John Meehan

From the  Northeast Catholic College website:

Today, Northeast Catholic College mourns the death of one of its founders, John D. Meehan.

 

Speaking of Meehan’s legacy, college president Dr. George Harne observed: “....Fundamentally Augustinian in his spiritual orientation, love motivated him in all his works for the Church, a Church to which he was unabashedly devoted.”

I only met him as a youth when my sisters attended the (then) Magdalen College. But he is a man hard to forget. In more recent years I spoke with him in conjunction with publishing his book "Two Towers" by Requiem Press. He always inspired and impressed me in speaking with him and reading his thoughts.

 

Dr. Harne's words are true.

May his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed, rest in peace.

Oremus pro invicem!

Polly has 12

We woke up this morning to a new litter.

Sam is due any day now also.

Game hen hatched out a clutch of 12 a couple days ago. I guess a dozen is the number.

Oremus pro invicem!

The Trade

Take a 14 year-year old Jersey milk cow which is dry and un-bred. Trade her for a 6 year-old Jersey milk cow in milk (3 months since freshened) and probably bred. Even up!

 

Sure there were circumstances (a low bag hard to both hand milk and for calves to suckle), but nothing else.

 

And after milking her for a couple weeks, that bag isn't so saggy.

 

 

He is Risen! Alleluia!

Oremus pro invicem!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

He is Risen!

 

 

 

Oremus pro invicem!

I just returned from a weekend in Florida for the funeral of my wife's Grandmother. May Mary Tess Hoyt and all the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace!

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Read this at The Imaginative Conservative on whether Capitalism is the enemy of the family. Here are some thoughts to contemplate (whether you are a Capitalist or otherwise) - quotes being from Dr. Allan Carlson's recent essay (link not provided):

 

“Simply put, capitalism—at the most basic level—has a vested interest in family weakness,” he (Carlson) argues. Traditionally, and well into America’s founding period, autonomous, self-sufficient families and communities were considered the ideal and necessary foundation for civilization: culturally, educationally and economically. This was indeed a view espoused notably by Thomas Jefferson. “Capitalism, however, grows as it takes over tasks and functions once performed by families or within closely knit communities, and reorganizes them on the industrial model.” Capitalism’s takeover begins with yarn, then clothing, food processing and transportation, and finally almost everything, supported in its efforts by the state, which takes over culture through mandatory schooling and child-welfare regulation.

 

 

In the end, the author believes Carlson's argument is not with all Capitalism:

 

 

All in all, Dr. Carlson’s case against capitalism is powerful. However, as his distinction between small companies and Wall Street illuminates, his argument is not against all capitalism but against what most people would call crony capitalism—i.e., large firms manipulating state regulatory power to gain more than what a free market would give them.  Indeed, crony capitalism should be the proper target of Dr. Carlson’s entire critique.

 

 

Oremus pro invicem!

Personhood

In an article in a national magazine for electrical engineers (IEEE Spectrum) on whether (some) robots should be considered “persons” or have “personhood rights” (really???) such as a corporation has rights, there is a quote from an Australian law professor:

Legal persons must know and be able to claim their rights: They must be able to assert themselves as members of a society, which is why nonhuman animals (and some incapacitated humans), and artifacts like AIs should not be considered legal persons. (my emphasis added.)

Interestingly, it was not my highlighted exception which surprised or had not been previously considered by the author of the article, or even commented on during the rest of the article. Why am I continually surprised?

Obviously, already in today’s society certain humans have been routinely denied the rights of persons – namely the unborn and those considered in comas or “brain dead” (whatever that means – the definition of which is constantly in flux due to convenience and organ donation issues.)

But apparently we haven’t reached the end of the road in denying rights. Throughout history man has denied the humanity of one group or another. Even though we believe we are the "enlightened" generations, it goes on and on.

On this eve of the Feast of the Annunciation .... Oremus pro invicem!

 

 

My view on the Benedict Option ...

... is actually someone else's.

I haven't read a lot of reviews, and I haven't read the book, but from reading about BO from Rod Dreher's blog, the sense I get corresponds pretty well to this review.

If the Benedict Option is just Christianity, it is neither inherently Benedictine nor is it optional. If it is a feeling and an intuition, it needs to be guided by careful thought.

Dreher himself, in an earlier articulation of it, says it is the charge to be distinctly Christian and countercultural in the face of cultural hostility “even if that means some degree of intentional separation from the mainstream” (italics Dreher’s). But that already has a name: Christianity.

Christianity has always called one to be countercultural - the struggle to be in the world but not of the world.

I have no particular plans to read the book, so I probably won't mention it again.

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It was my privilege this past weekend to visit with some young men from Florida State U and Rutgers along with a few of the Brothers from the Brotherhood of Hope at a working retreat of sorts in NC.

 

In talking to one of the Brothers, I was again struck by how much going on a mission trip to serve the poor changes the lives (and plans) of so many people.

 

The Brothers work at secular campuses to bring Christ to those who don't know Him.

Oremus pro invicem!

Corn, Snow, and "The Benedict Option"

We almost planted corn on Saturday but ran out of time. We woke up to snow and more cold weather on Sunday. Still cold today, but I think I will be planting my sweet corn within a week.

 

Reading a review (review by Collin Hansen) of Rod Dreher's The Benedict Option:

 

Here’s how to get started with the antipolitical politics of the Benedict Option. Secede culturally from the maintream. Turn off the television. Put the smartphones away. Read books. Play games. Make music. Feast with your neighbors. It is not enough to avoid what is bad; you must also embrace what is good. Start a church, or a group within your church. Open a classical Christian school, or join and strengthen one that exists. Plant a garden, and participate in a local farmer’s market. Teach kids how to play music, and start a band. Join the volunteer fire department.

 

Hmmm. Sounds familiar!

 

Personally, I am more interested in reading Out of the Ashes by Anthony

Esolen.

 

I think the so-called Benedict Option is nothing more than living the Faith - being in the world but not of it. This is what Christians have been called to do for 2000 years. But we need resets because we are seduced by the world and need to pull back periodically - Oh, that's called LENT!

 

Oremus pro invicem!

Conversion

Read in the Emergency waiting room (waiting to find out daughter did NOT have appendicitis):

Now, since people tend to prize knowledge above holiness, we must be warned that this enlightening is not an understanding of the Divine Mysteries. It is a call (vocation) to obedience; and it is a mission (apostolate) to love the laws of God: the two Great Commandments. (Conversio by John Meehan 1976)

I think it is true - people love to know things - and we sometimes think because we have all this knowledge, that we are holy. (I know the commandments; I know the catechism; I know the proper rubrics for the Mass; .... etc.) But probably most of us will realize this is false if we think about it.

 

Oremus pro invicem!

books, peas, and school

The "Closing of the American Mind" is all but closed. Some interesting points including a back-handed compliment on Great Books curriculums. Here we are 30 years later and the holding hostage of colleges is beginning again. The colleges never recovered from the first time.

 

I finished listening to Michael Strogoff by Jules Verne last week. Verne often uses science or writes science fiction (i.e. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea) in his stories. This one was devoid of it except near the end on one crucial point. Without giving a spoiler, let me just say that Verne makes use of the Leidenfrost effect (you've seen this when a drop of water skitters across a skillet when the skillet is much hotter than the boiling point of water - or when liquid nitrogen drops skitter across a floor.)

 

Planted peas and broccoli, and carrots, and radishes, and lots of other things the past two weekends. However, it has been so warm, I wonder if I am not a few weeks late.

 

I tilled the patch we will be growing sweet corn this year. I am thinking of planting some this weekend.

 

Teaching is going this spring. I hesitate to say "going well" because I am not sure what that means: everyone getting "A's" for example? Well that's not the case. Mid-term is at the end of this week, and one of my classes is a disaster (grade-wise.) I am hoping the test this week will renew my confidence in today's students!

 

There seems to be two major problems with the students I see. First is a lack of foundational knowledge in math (after all, I teach sciences). It is hard to understand more complex topics if the underlying math (usually high school algebra) is close to a mystery for the student.

 

Secondly (and this may be the cause of the first), there seems to be an expectation of continuous opportunities. That is: do poorly on a test and just retake it and do better.

 

I can see why. Apparently many high schools give almost unlimited chances to complete homework and test assignments. Do the assignment as many times as you want - until you get the grade you are satisfied with (this last is a quote from a teacher). I kid you not. I have recently become quite aware of this. It may be a way to move students along (because failure is bad for self-esteem?).

 

I don't know, but it does not do the students any good when they reach a higher level.

 

Oremus pro invicem!

 

 

Listening to .... Michael Strogoff

by Jules Verne.


I had never heard of it, but have enjoyed a few of Verne's books (most notably The Mysterious Island recommended by son Matthew) so I randomly picked this one from LibriVox.

Turns out, according to Wikipedia, "Critics consider it one of Verne's best books."

The full title is Michael Strogoff, The Courier of the Czar.

I am almost 1/2 way through, and it is very good so far.

Oremus pro invicem!

Got the latest issue of Grit Magazine in the mail this weekend. I don't subscribe, but a received a complimentary copy because an article of mine was included in the magazine. It is not available online, but if you look at the table of contents in the link, it is the one about pigs - who'd have guessed?

 

I wish I had the time to write and publish more. I used to write articles (and get them published) pretty regularly, but mostly in Catholic online magazines - and those don't pay anything! These days I really can't afford to work for free even if I had the time.

 

I have continued in my journey through The Closing of the American Mind. The chapter on music has a devastating indictment of rock and roll. I don't have the text available to me as I write today, but if I can come up with a representative quote later, I may update this post.

 

Energy and hope still linger from my visit to Aquinas College in Nashville this past weekend.

 

Oremus pro invicem!

Aquinas College, Nashville, TN

My daughter was scheduled to attend scholarship day at Aquinas College in Nashville, TN this weekend. Mrs. Curley was going to take her, leaving the homestead early Friday morning.

Somehow at 6:00 AM on Friday morning, the responsibility changed, and I was taking her. I am glad I did.

 

I have visited Northeast Catholic, Wyoming Catholic, Christendom College, and University of Dallas (or more accurately Holy Trinity Seminary at UD). I have come away from each re-energized in my Faith and renewed in hope for the coming generation.

 

For some reason, even though Aquinas is a Newman Guide school, I didn't expect the same, but I got the same renewal none-the-less.

 

From the president of Aquinas, Sister Mary Sarah, O.P., to the professors, to the students, I found a college that knows what(who) it is, and what its purpose is.

 

I spent 15-20 minutes speaking with Sister Mary Sarah, O.P. and didn't know until later who she was. These Dominicans know what they are doing - they want to bring people to Christ.

 

The scholarship candidates and their parents split into groups based on their intended majors and met with the dean of that college. We met with Dr. Aaron Urbanczyk, dean of the college of arts and sciences. I loved his presentation on the purpose of education and of the value of the liberal arts. (My daughter says, "Of course you did. He says the same things you say!")

 

As to Nashville .... bigger than I thought. We stayed in a cabin at a KOA. We ate well, but fairly inexpensively. Live bluegrass music while eating a $12 supper - not bad at all! The Cathedral was beautiful, but not breathtaking. They had confession, which we took advantage of. We assisted at Mass at St. Edward Sunday morning. Great homily from the pastor.

 

Glad to be home, but glad I went.

 

Oremus pro invicem!