Praying for the Dead and The Living Dead
Punditry

Praying for the Dead and The Living Dead

by Jeffrey Miller
written by Jeffrey Miller

I guess I have gotten to the part of my life where I am more excited about All Souls Day than All Hallows Eve.

Sure I enjoy the cultural baggage tied up with Halloween as I am a long-time horror movie junkie. And there are favorite books I like to revisit at this time of year. (The Haunting of Hill House, Something Wicked This Way Comes, etc).

Still, I am now more prone to praying for the dead than watching The Living Dead. Looking more forward to the blessings of the graves on Tuesday and Mass in our historic church afterward. It really is a blessing that my parish has a cemetery adjacent to the historic church. I wish all parishes could have one on property. There is of course the Memento mori aspect, but praying for the dead should be a constant reminder for all of us. It puts a lot of things more into perspective, especially the salvation of souls as an ongoing mission.

Plus I am also thinking more of All Saints Day and all the unknown saints. That praying for the dead, in God’s plan, contributes to their eventual (however time works in aeviternity) being in the beatific vision. One of my intercessions with passed-on loved ones is for them to pray for me and others that we draw closer to Christ, just as they are.

There are many tragedies involved with the Protestant Revolt, but the loss of the idea of praying for your loved ones is a major one. Of asking them to pray for you and others. We seemed to have lost so much intercessory power by this being so. Thankfully God is not limited by our stupidity (which I am personally thankful for).

So tomorrow we can be thankful for those who died in friendship with God and enjoy the beatific vision. Along with the day after that for those on the path of purification towards that.

Part of this musing was sparked by Amy Welborn’s post ‘Unhappy Reformation Day!’

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The Weekly Francis

The Weekly Francis – Volume 383

by Jeffrey Miller
written by Jeffrey Miller
pope-francis2-300x187

The Weekly Francis is a compilation of the Holy Father’s writings, speeches, etc which I also cross-post at Jimmy Akin’s blog.

This version of The Weekly Francis covers material released in the last week from 21 October 2021 to 27 October 2021.

Angelus

General Audiences

Letters

Messages

Speeches

Papal Tweets

  • “Keep in mind on his feast day what Saint #JohnPaulII said to us: ”Be vigilant so that nothing might separate us from the love of Christ: neither false slogans, nor erroneous ideologies, nor caving into the temptation to fall into compromises with what is not of God“.” @Pontifex, 22 October 2021
  • “The preaching of the #Gospel reinvigorates hope because it reminds us that God is present in everything. He accompanies us and gives us the courage and creativity we need to start ever anew.” @Pontifex, 23 October 2021
  • ““Jesus, have mercy on me!” Let us make this prayer our own today. Let us repeat it. We must ask Jesus, who can do everything, for everything. He cannot wait to pour out his grace and joy into our hearts. #GospelOfTheDay” @Pontifex, 24 October 2021
  • “In the #GospelOfTheDay (Mk 10:46–52), the faith of Bartimaeus, the blind beggar, shines. He asks everything of the One who can do everything: “Have mercy on me”. He doesn’t ask for a favour, but presents himself: he asks for mercy on his person, on his life.” @Pontifex, 24 October 2021
  • “To live out a mission means cultivating the sentiments that Jesus has, to believe with Him that those around me are also my brothers and sisters. May His love reawaken our hearts and make us all true missionary disciples. #WorldMissionDay Message @Pontifex, 24 October 2021
  • “I express my closeness to the thousands of migrants, refugees in Libya: I never forget you; I hear your cries and pray for you. We are all responsibile for these our brothers and sisters, who have been victims of this serious situation for too many years. Let us #PrayTogether.” @Pontifex, 25 October 2021
  • “The Spirit which flows forth from Jesus’ Passover is the origin of the spiritual life. He changes hearts: not our works, but the action of the Holy Spirit in us! #GeneralAudience” @Pontifex, 27 October 2021

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Book Review: Reclaiming Vatican II
Book Review

Book Review: Reclaiming Vatican II

by Jeffrey Miller
written by Jeffrey Miller

Being a fan of the The Burrowshire Podcast with Brandon Vogt and Fr. Blake Britton I had been looking forward to the following book since it was announced.

Specifically Reclaiming Vatican II: What It (Really) Said, What It Means, and How It Calls Us to Renew the Church. This book exceeded my expectations, which were already high.

As a convert, coming into the Church I knew nothing about Vatican II. What I learned when I started listening to Catholic radio regarded various controversies about those who rejected the council outright or were very critical of what the council taught. Mostly these were liturgical issues and the idea of the “Spirit of Vatican II.” In the past I had done a lot of parodies involving this aspect. Along with learning that the criticisms were mostly focused on what many experienced in their liturgical life in the Church and not what the text and vision of the Constitution of the Sacred Liturgy Sacrosanctum soncilium said. Then-Cardinal Ratzinger’s view of the Council and the “hermeneutic of continuity” also shaped my understanding. I only provide this background to state that I was not one that needed to be convinced that this was a valid council. Still, it was only within the last year or so that I started to really dig in to the conciliar documents.

There are several aspects of what Fr. Britton wrote that really appealed to me. Part of the framework that he uses to write this book is in regards to his life as a parish priest. That this book is not just some explanatory look at the history of the council, what it taught, and subsequent reactions. While it covers these subjects, he connects the council to the daily life of the Church. His personal stories provide excellent examples of this and events that shaped him in his life as a parish priest.

The idea of the “Spirit of Vatican II” as being against the actual text and teaching of the council is an idea easy to grasp. Still, it can also be more polemical than useful at times in discussing this. So I especially the use of the term paracouncil that he used and had discovered in one of Henri de Lubac’s essays on the council. He goes on to define three aspects regarding the rise of this paracouncil. The council as presented as such was like a decoy sent out to represent the real thing. Like most decoys when you examine them more closely you realize that they aren’t the real thing at all. The problem was on one hand more progressive elements liked what was represented in the decoy and more traditionalist elements saw it as a target to fire at. The decoy is my own imagery, not his.

This results in one viewpoint:

Thus, in a well-meaning but misguided attempt to relate positively to contemporary society, the genius of Catholicity is supplanted by nonspiritual ideals. This “reverse catechesis” has been a disaster. As a result, millions of Catholics are leaving the Church as she seemingly fades into irrelevance, just one sentimental institution among many in our culture.

and another:

On the other hand, many “conservative” or “traditional” Catholics are in all-out rebellion against Vatican II or, more appropriately, what is falsely peddled as Vatican II. Witnessing the deterioration of solemnity, piety, and catechesis in parishes across the world, they seek to circle the wagons by returning to the tried-and-true infrastructures of traditional Catholicism.

He goes through the four main documents of Vatican II pointing out the main points along with correcting common errors people have regarding them.

The value of this book in more than being able to make the proper distinctions and to see the council as it is. It is how he relates this to the everyday life of the faithful regarding worship of God, liturgy, and spreading the Gospel. I found very helpful the several etymologies of words used in worship and how he puts these concepts together. This was stunningly good. He tells stories regarding his own life along with those of others working towards authentic renewal in his parish. That this is not going to happen overnight and that patience and catechesis are key here.

You will have to buy the book to read his story regarding celebrating Mass in the cave of St. Jerome at Bethlehem along with other personal stories. How they deepened his life as a priest. I also really like his pastoral heart in not dismissing those with a more traditionalist view and listening to them. Just so much that delighted me.

I am probably not conveying the sense of what I found in his book since I think of it as both broad and focused. It deepened my own understanding of aspects of the documents and the liturgy itself. Looking through my copious highlights I found so much learn and to reflect on. Plus he had a list of recommended books on the subject along with a final chapter regarding “What Now?”

My friend Julie at Happy Catholic has a good review of this book that is more focused than mine. I certainly agree with her conclusion.

The Reason and Theology podcast did an interview with Fr. Britton recently that gives a good overview of the book. You can find links to buy the book there. Also a link to buy it with The Word on Fire Vatican II Collection, which has the four documents referenced along with commentary and related documents.

Note:

The Burrowshire Podcast just aired their final regularly scheduled show and there will only be occasional episodes in the future due to the hosts commitments. Still, it is very well worth listening to the existing episodes. In particular 011: What You Need to Know About Vatican II.

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The Weekly Francis

The Weekly Francis – Volume 382

by Jeffrey Miller
written by Jeffrey Miller
pope-francis2-300x187

The Weekly Francis is a compilation of the Holy Father’s writings, speeches, etc which I also cross-post at Jimmy Akin’s blog.

This version of The Weekly Francis covers material released in the last week from 2 October 2021 to 20 October 2021.

Angelus

General Audiences

Homilies

Messages

Speeches

Papal Tweets

  • “#SaintTeresaofJesus teaches us that prayer is not to experience extraordinary things, but to unite ourselves to Christ. And the works of charity are the sign that this union is real.” @Pontifex, 15 October 2021
  • “Rural women have much to teach us about how effort and sacrifice enable us to build the fabric that ensures access to food, the equitable distribution of goods, and the possibility for every human being to realise their aspirations. #RuralWomenDay” @Pontifex, 15 October 2021
  • “The Word of God summons us to discernment and guides the #Synod, so it may be filled with grace, a healing process guided by the Spirit, in which Jesus calls us to ask what God wants to say to us in this time, and the direction in which he wants to lead us. #ListeningChurch” @Pontifex, 15 October 2021
  • “The large mining, oil, forestry, real estate, agribusiness companies to stop destroying nature, to stop polluting, to stop intoxicating people and food.” @Pontifex, 16 October 2021
  • “That the media put an end to the logic of post-truth, disinformation, defamation, slander and that sick attraction for scandal and that they seek to contribute to human fraternity.” @Pontifex, 16 October 2021
  • “The telecommunications giants to liberalise access to educational material and exchange with teachers via the internet so that poor children can be educated even under quarantine.” @Pontifex, 16 October 2021
  • “Technology giants to stop preying on human weakness, people’s vulnerability, in order to make a profit.” @Pontifex, 16 October 2021
  • “Arms manufacturers and dealers to totally cease their activity, that foments violence and war, often in the context of geopolitical games that costs millions of lives and displaces many people.” @Pontifex, 16 October 2021
  • “The big food corporations to stop imposing monopolistic production and distribution structures that inflate prices and end up withholding bread from the hungry.” @Pontifex, 16 October 2021
  • “All of us religious leaders, that we never use God’s name to foment wars. Let us stand by our people, the workers, the humble, and fight together with them so that integral human development may become a reality. Let us build bridges of love.” @Pontifex, 16 October 2021
  • “Financial groups and international credit institutions to guarantee poor countries the basic needs of their people and to waive those debts so often contracted against the interests of those same peoples.” @Pontifex, 16 October 2021
  • “The fight against hunger demands we overcome the cold logic of the market, which is greedily focused on mere economic profit and the reduction of food to a commodity, and strengthening the logic of solidarity. #WorldFoodDay” @Pontifex, 16 October 2021
  • “We must adapt our socio-economic models so they have a human face, because many models have lost it. Thinking about these situations, in God’s name I want to ask:” @Pontifex, 16 October 2021
  • “The Spirit asks us to listen to the questions, concerns and hopes of every Church, people and nation. And to listen to the world, to the challenges and changes that it sets before us. Let us not soundproof our hearts; let us listen to one another. #Synod #ListeningChurch” @Pontifex, 16 October 2021
  • “Powerful countries to stop aggression, blockades and unilateral sanctions against any country anywhere on earth and that conflicts be resolved in multilateral fora such as the United Nations.” @Pontifex, 16 October 2021
  • “The big laboratories to liberalise patents and to carry out a gesture of humanity and allow every human being access to the vaccine.” @Pontifex, 16 October 2021
  • “That governments and all politicians work for the common good. Let them beware of listening only to the economic elite; may they be servants of those people who ask for land, shelter and work and a good life in harmony with all humanity and creation.” @Pontifex, 16 October 2021
  • “Jesus asks us to immerse ourselves compassionately in the lives of those we meet as He has done with us. God is love and love is humble, it does not exalt itself, but descends like the rain that falls to the earth and brings life. #GospelOfTheDay (Mk 10:35–45)” @Pontifex, 17 October 2021
  • “The environmental and social crisis are two sides of the same coin. Therefore, strategies for resolving them demand an integrated approach to combating poverty, restoring dignity to the excluded, and at the same time protecting nature. #EndPoverty” @Pontifex, 17 October 2021
  • “Dear brothers and sisters, have a good journey! May we be open to the Holy Spirit’s surprises, the grace of encounter, reciprocal listening and discernment, joyfully convinced that, even as we seek the Lord, He always comes with His love to meet us first. #Synod #ListeningChurch” @Pontifex, 17 October 2021
  • “Today, thousands of children around the world are taking part in the campaign organized by #AidToTheChurchInNeed,praying the Rosary for unity and peace.Let us #PrayTogether with them to Our Lady with the same trust as these little ones have in our Heavenly Mother #ChildrenPraying” @Pontifex, 18 October 2021
  • “Persevering in the daily recitation of the #HolyRosary, we can meet each other every day with the Virgin Mother, learning from her how to cooperate fully with the plan of salvation that God has for each one of us. #ChildrenPraying” @Pontifex, 18 October 2021
  • “Prayer is like the oxygen of life. Prayer draws down upon us the presence of the Holy Spirit who always leads us forward.Adsumus, Sancte Spiritus” @Pontifex, 19 October 2021
  • “Come, Holy Spirit of love, open our hearts to listen. Come, Spirit of holiness, renew the holy faithful People of God. Come, creator Spirit, renew the face of the earth! #Synod #ListeningChurch prayforthesynod.va” @Pontifex, 19 October 2021
  • “True freedom – freedom in Christ – does not seek personal interests, but is guided by love and is expressed in service to others, especially to the poor. Love makes us free, it leads us to choose and to do good, it motivates us to serve. #GeneralAudience” @Pontifex, 20 October 2021

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Various Musings on St. Teresa of Avila
LiturgyMeme

Various Musings on St. Teresa of Avila

by Jeffrey Miller
written by Jeffrey Miller

This morning we had a low Mass for St. Teresa of Avila.

So once again thanks to Fr. Briggs Hurley for introducing more opportunities to attend the TLM in the parish.

I believe that he must have a devotion to St. Teresa of Avila considering the number of times I have heard him reference her in his homilies.

Yesterday at Mass he brought up what she considered her third obstacle to growing in the spiritual life, self-reliance. He then referenced a practice he had currently started as an examination of conscience to daily reflect on how much he relied on himself over God. The last line of his homily was something like, “how much was me over we.”

C

During the homily today he referenced how the TLM was still in a state of flux in our diocese. In answer to this he simply said Teresa’s bookmark prayer.

Let nothing disturb you;
Let nothing frighten you.
All things are passing.
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
Nothing is wanting to him who possesses God.
God alone suffices.
Amen to that.

This is the reason St. Teresa of Avila’s My Pillow business never took off.

Teresas Wooden Pillow
Teresa’s Wooden Pillow

“Never affirm anything unless you are sure it is true.” (“The Complete Works St. Teresa of Jesus, trans., E. Allison Peers, vol. 3 (New York: Burns and Oates, 2002), 256.”)

In regards to her advice:

Christ has no memes buy yours

This quote is just as accurate as the “Christ has no body but yours” in that she said neither.

The Institute of Carmelite Studies in Washington, DC, which translates, edits, and publishes the works of Saint Teresa, when asked about it said that the passage does not come from the writings of the saint, or from oral tradition of her sayings. No, Saint Whoever did not actually say that

While I am debunking quotes attributed to her.

“When the devil reminds you of your past, remind him of his future!”

From Trent Horn’s “What the Saints Never Said.”

“This is a common saying that was included in a book about saintly wisdom. One of that book’s chapters refers to St. Teresa’s The Way of Perfection, in which she said, “In order to disturb the soul and keep it from enjoying these great blessings, the devil will suggest to it a thousand false fears.” She then encouraged her fellow nuns to pray for those who seemed to be blessed, because “No one can be safe in this life amid the engulfing dangers of this stormy sea.”29

In Saintly Solutions to Life’s Common Problems, Fr. Joseph Esper wrote, “St. Teresa of Avila reminds you that the devil will try to upset you by suggesting a thousand false fears … laugh at the absurdity of the situation: Satan, the epitome of sin itself, accuses you of unworthiness. Furthermore, as the saying goes [not a saying of St. Teresa], “When the devil reminds you of your past, remind him of his future!”30”

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The Weekly Francis

The Weekly Francis – Volume 381

by Jeffrey Miller
written by Jeffrey Miller
pope-francis2-300x187

The Weekly Francis is a compilation of the Holy Father’s writings, speeches, etc which I also cross-post at Jimmy Akin’s blog.

This version of The Weekly Francis covers material released in the last week from 6 June 2021 to 13 October 2021.

Angelus

General Audiences

Homilies

Letters

Messages

Speeches

Papal Tweets

  • “We are about to begin a synodal process ”Towards a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, Mission“. This process was conceived as an exercise in mutual listening involving the entire People of God. #Synod” @Pontifex, 8 October 2021
  • “If peoples are to remain brothers and sisters, prayer must rise unceasingly to Heaven, and one single word constantly echo on earth: peace. #FraternityForFuture Speech” @Pontifex, 8 October 2021
  • “We undertake the journey to cultivate peace in God’s name aware that we are brothers and sisters. Even though some foment division and conflict, we believe in the importance of journeying together for peace: with one another, never again against one another. #FraternityForFuture” @Pontifex, 8 October 2021
  • “The Synod offers us the opportunity to become a Church of closeness, that does not stand aloof from life, but immerses herself in today’s problems and needs, bandaging wounds and healing broken hearts with the balm of God. #ListeningChurch” @Pontifex, 9 October 2021
  • “Synodality is an expression of the Church’s style. The word “synod” says it all: it means “journeying together”. And the movement is the fruit of docility to the Holy Spirit, who directs this history, in which all have a part to play. #Synod” @Pontifex, 9 October 2021
  • “Let us experience this moment of encounter, listening and reflection as a season of grace that offers us the opportunity of becoming a synodal Church: an open square where all can feel at home and participate. #Synod #ListeningChurch” @Pontifex, 9 October 2021
  • “The Synod offers us the opportunity to become a listening Church, to break out of our routine and pause from our pastoral concerns in order to stop and listen. #ListeningChurch” @Pontifex, 9 October 2021
  • “Dear brothers and sisters, may this Synod be a true season of the Spirit! For we need the Spirit, the ever new breath of God, who sets us free from every form of self-absorption, revives what is moribund, loosens shackles and spreads joy. #ListeningChurch” @Pontifex, 9 October 2021
  • “In the #GospelOfTheDay, Jesus listens with his heart and not just with his ears. He does more than simply answer the rich man’s question but lets him tell his story, to speak freely about himself. #Synod #ListeningChurch” @Pontifex, 10 October 2021
  • “In this #Synod, we too are called to become experts in the art of encounter by taking time to encounter the Lord and one another, to listen to what the Spirit wants to say to the Church. #ListeningChurch” @Pontifex, 10 October 2021
  • “The experience of encounter changes us and it frequently suggests new ways we never thought of taking. This is how God so often points out new paths. Everything changes once we are capable of genuine encounters with Him and with one another. #Synod #ListeningChurch” @Pontifex, 10 October 2021
  • “Celebrating a #Synod means walking on the same road, together. Let us look at Jesus in the #GospelOfTheDay who first encounters the rich man on the road; then he listens to his questions, and finally he helps him discern what he must do to inherit eternal life. #ListeningChurch” @Pontifex, 10 October 2021
  • “True encounter arises only from listening. #Synod #ListeningChurch Homily” @Pontifex, 10 October 2021
  • “Let us invoke the Holy Spirit with greater fervour and frequency, and humbly listen to him, journeying together as He, the source of communion and mission, desires: with docility and courage. #Synod #ListeningChurch” @Pontifex, 11 October 2021
  • “Participating in a #Synod means taking the same path as the Word made flesh: following in his footsteps, listening to his word and the words of others, discovering with amazement that the Holy Spirit always surprises us with fresh paths and new ways of speaking.” @Pontifex, 12 October 2021
  • “Today we remember the final apparition of #OurLadyOfFatima. I entrust you all to the heavenly Mother of God. May she accompany you on your way and be of comfort in the trials of life.” @Pontifex, 13 October 2021
  • “The Lord has liberated us from slavery freely, and set us on the path to walk in the fullness of freedom. #GeneralAudience” @Pontifex, 13 October 2021

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Our Lady of the Victorious Rosary
Liturgy

Our Lady of the Victorious Rosary

by Jeffrey Miller
written by Jeffrey Miller

I have started thinking of today’s feast day as “Our Lady of the Victorious Rosary,” combining the previous and present names.

I guess I am surprised/not surprised that the 450th anniversary of the Battle of Lepanto has gotten so little attention. The other day when I noticed it was thus, my first thought was this can’t be accurate since there was no lead up to this I saw.

Today I am going to start reading “The Galleys of Lepanto” by Jack Beeching. Chris Check of Catholic Answers previously recommended this book on one of the episodes of the Chesterton Societies, “Troubadours.” As I remember, he referenced that this is a compelling read even if there are better histories of this battle out there. To obtain this book, I had to hunt up a used version to buy. I will also listen to his narration of Chesterton’s poem Lepanto today.

I am also starting a 54 Day Rosary Novena.

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The Weekly Francis

The Weekly Francis – Volume 380

by Jeffrey Miller
written by Jeffrey Miller
pope-francis2-300x187

The Weekly Francis is a compilation of the Holy Father’s writings, speeches, etc which I also cross-post at Jimmy Akin’s blog.

This version of The Weekly Francis covers material released in the last week from 18 September 2021 to 6 October 2021.

Angelus

General Audiences

Messages

Speeches

Papal Tweets

  • “To respond concretely to the serious phenomenon of global warming is a moral imperative. Lack of action will have secondary effects, especially on the poorest, who are also the most vulnerable. #SeasonOfCreation” @Pontifex, 30 September 2021
  • “Let us #PrayTogether that every baptized person may be engaged in evangelization, available to the mission, by being witnesses of a life that has the flavour of the Gospel. #PrayerIntention #Synod” @Pontifex, 30 September 2021
  • “Saint #ThereseOfTheChildJesus is one of the saints who speaks to us the most about God’s grace and how God takes care of us, takes us by the hand and lets us easily climb the mountain of life – if only we abandon ourselves completely to Him.” @Pontifex, 1 October 2021
  • “Life is a gift, and when it is long it is a privilege. The “wealth of many years” is a wealth in terms of the persons themselves, their experience and history. #IDOP2021” @Pontifex, 1 October 2021
  • “#GuardianAngels help us in our lives and show us where we need to go. Our angel is the daily bridge to our encounter with the Father.” @Pontifex, 2 October 2021
  • “To you, young people, I once again entrust the task of placing fraternity at the centre of the economy. Now as never before we feel the need for young people who, through study and practice, know how to demonstrate that a different economy exists. #EoF2021” @Pontifex, 2 October 2021
  • “Let us #PrayTogether for the gift of peace for the beloved land of Myanmar: so that the hands of those who live there no longer need to wipe away tears of pain and death, but instead join together to overcome difficulties and work together to bring peace.” @Pontifex, 3 October 2021
  • “The #GospelOfTheDay (Mk 10:2–16) says that Jesus is very tender with the little ones. The difficulties and situations that reveal our weakness are privileged opportunities to experience His love: in dark or lonely moments, God’s tenderness towards is made even more present.” @Pontifex, 3 October 2021
  • “Being poor in spirit is the way of achieving everything as persons and as a society: it leads toward using our resources, techologies and talents for integral human development, for the common good, social justice and the care of our common home. #Beatitudes” @Pontifex, 3 October 2021
  • “Together with #SaintFrancis we praise You, Father, with all your creatures who have come forth from your powerful hands. They are yours and are filled with your presence and your tenderness. #LaudatoSi’ #SeasonOfCreation” @Pontifex, 4 October 2021
  • “Care for our common home is also a call to respect: respect for creation, respect for our neighbour, respect for ourselves and for the Creator. #SeasonOfCreation” @Pontifex, 4 October 2021
  • “#COP26 in Glasgow is called to provide effective responses to the unprecedented ecological crisis and the crisis of values we are presently experiencing, and in this way to offer concrete hope to future generations. Let us accompany it with our spiritual closeness. #Faiths4COP26” @Pontifex, 4 October 2021
  • “Openness to interdependence and sharing, the dynamism of love and a call to respect: these are three interpretative keys that can shed light on our efforts to care for our common home. #Faiths4COP26 Speech” @Pontifex, 4 October 2021
  • “If we desire a more fraternal world, we need to educate the younger generations to acknowledge, appreciate and love each person, regardless of physical proximity, place of birth or where they live. #GlobalCompactOnEducation [Speech” @Pontifex, 5 October 2021
  • “Today, on this World #Teachers’ Day, we wish to express our gratitude to every teacher and our concern for education. #GlobalCompactOnEducation” @Pontifex, 5 October 2021
  • “Freedom makes free to the extent to which it transforms a person’s life and directs it toward the good. #GeneralAudience” @Pontifex, 6 October 2021
  • “This coming 9 October, the new synodal way will begin. Let us #PrayTogether so that the reflections and exchanges of this Assembly might help us rediscover the joy of being the People of God who journeys together, listening to everyone. #Synod #ListeningChurch” @Pontifex, 6 October 2021

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Spiritual Albedo
Spirituality

Spiritual Albedo

by Jeffrey Miller
written by Jeffrey Miller

The following is one of the odd thoughts that crossed my mind.

I was part of a discussion on Stanza 3 of St. John of the Cross’ “Living Flame of Love.” Something about reflecting God’s glory got me thinking about what albedo I should ultimately aspire for on this scale and my current place on the scale.

An object that reflects back all incident radiation has an albedo of 1. An object that absorbs all incident radiation has an albedo of zero. So 1 is Blessed Virgin Mary territory.

So I think about all the grace God gives me and seem to absorb and how little I reflect back. Still, I am also so grateful that I have been moving up on that scale. Also, that nobody is an actual zero on this scale. No matter how far we seem to be from God at times, there is still grace working in every one of us.

Another thing I have been thinking about is this verse: Philippians 1:6 “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” It can be very frustrating to feel so little progress in loving God, but that in itself is an indicator of loving God. I need to trust God more in that he is working in me.

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ChestertonHumor

Angelic Thoughts

by Jeffrey Miller
written by Jeffrey Miller

This year I had been thinking about the fact that, no matter what, three people love me intensely – the persons of the Holy Trinity.

This morning it got through my thick head on the The Feast of the Holy Archangels, that I need to bump up that number considerably.

Then I saw the picture below and I had to add a caption to it.

I also recently ran across this paragraph when I was re-reading G.K. Chesterton’s “St. Thomas Aquinas”:

I do not know for certain why St. Thomas was called the Angelic Doctor: whether it was that he had an angelic temper, or the intellectuality of an Angel; or whether there was a later legend that he concentrated on Angels–especially on the points of needles. If so, I do not quite understand how this idea arose; history has many examples of an irritating habit of labelling somebody in connection with something, as if he never did any thing else. Who was it who began the inane habit of referring to Dr. Johnson as “our lexicographer”; as if he never did anything but write a dictionary? Why do most people insist on meeting the large and far-reaching mind of Pascal at its very narrowest point: the point at which it was sharpened into a spike by the spite of the Jansenists against the Jesuits? It is just possible, for all I know, that this labelling of Aquinas as a specialist was an obscure depreciation of him as a universalist. For that is a very common trick for the belittling of literary or scientific men.

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