Category: Culture

The Via Caritatis

I had to decide what Latin use for the idea of Way of Charity to help me and my co-workers in charity to understand and act upon the admonition of Jesus gave us in Matthew 25. The corporal and spiritual works of mercy are not optional for those who follow Jesus. Settled with the help of an expert latinist I decided to use “via caritatis.” Matthew 25 is a particular teaching of the Lord’s that is not given in a parable but as a direction, a command in light of the final judgement. Anyways, my work in Christian charity –as all of us– is a journey, a way, a path, a road not only for me but also for those I and others serve.

Two sentences below, cherry-picked from a story in today’s NY Times. One word caught my eye:

“As of Feb. 1, foreign actresses and anyone else who is not a resident of Rome will have to pay 2 euros for the privilege of going down the steps to the [Trevi] fountain’s basin, the city’s mayor announced on Friday.

The coins thrown into the fountain — along with stray rings, guitar picks, subway tokens, keys and other oddities — are collected on a weekly basis and are donated by the city to the Catholic charity Caritas.”

Happy New Year –Byzantine Style –7533

Happy New Year, Byzantium! It’s New Year’s for Greek Catholic and Orthodox Christians New Calendar!

May God bless you abundantly tonight with His love and grace through the prayers of His most pure Mother and of all the Saints and save you from the Evil One. Happy New Year!

Roger Sherman remembered

The Committee of Five presenting their work on the Declaration of Independence in June 1776 and memorialized this painting by John Trumbull (1819). Sherman on the right.

Roger Sherman of Connecticut is remembered on this day in history 23 July 1793. He was one of the members of the Committee of Five to draft the Declaration of Independence. However, we ought to recall that he was the only person to sign all four great state papers of the United States: the Continental Association, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution. It is said that Sherman’s state-craft was influenced by the isolationist politics of the time. That is, Connecticut was not very involved in the politics of the region.

A shoemaker educated in his father’s library became a civic leader. Married twice and father of 15. Sherman died of typhoid in New Haven, CT and is now buried in Grove Street Cemetery. Jonathan Edwards Jr. delivered the funeral sermon on July 25, 1793. Edwards recalled Sherman’s “contributions to his friends, family, town, and country, noting Sherman’s piety and excellence in study.”

World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly

Earlier today at the Sunday Angelus in Rome, Pope Francis announced World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly to be held on 4th Sunday of July, the Sunday closest to July 26th feast of Sts. Joachim and Anne, parents of Blessed Virgin Mary, grandparents of Jesus.

The first world day will be July 25, 2021. Eastern Christians, for example the Melkites liturgically recall St Anne’s memory on July 25th.

We need the truth

Earlier today a group of people of faith and culture that I frequently attend to had a cultural exchange where several shared poetry

Tell all the truth but tell it slant —
Success in Circuit lies
Too bright for our infirm Delight
The Truth’s superb surprise

As Lightning to the Children eased
With explanation kind
The Truth must dazzle gradually
Or every man be blind —

Emily Dickinson is one of those poets that sometimes crosses over into the realm of theological reflection from time-to-time. Her poem, “Tell all the truth but tell it slant” for me is a lesson about one’s approach, one’s receptivity one has with the gift of divine revelation. It may turn dogmatic theologians on-end because they teach that revelation is full and complete and immediate. While I believe this formulation to be true on a high level, I do also think that the human experience takes more time to integrate.

The person who proposed Dickinson’s poem also recognized that the Church admits to a personal integration of God’s glory into our life when she says in the troparion for the feast of the Transfiguration: “… you [Christ] showed your friends as much of your glory as they could bear.” Slow and deliberate seems to be reasonable. I can only take so much glory at once. This seems to be recognized by the Lord Himself. The Liturgy is a superb teacher; the Liturgy knows her pupils.

Indeed, revelation is still unfolding.

Happy 4th

Blessed US Independence Day –July 4th

The Prophet Amos had something to say about politics worth listening to today: “many of the religious leaders were corrupted and tied to political leaders more than to the Lord.” Are you tied to the Lord and His promises, or to political leaders and their vainglory? The Psalms also offer us great perspective.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAZ8QJgFHOg&fbclid=IwAR1sB1bAGt4T2Q1y3o-_cf-9rgQshdD1N1zLkmcDM9ohTUlQ-7ARMvbn7-I