Ellicott City

December 7, 2024 Peace and Good, I hope you are all well. I have been at home these days, mostly working at the Shrine. We have an hour of confessions every day between Monday and Saturday. There are usually two or three confessors on call each day, and there are almost always line waiting for confession. It is a very good ministry. I was in contact with the provincial of our province in Kenya and I was asked to begin another series of articles for their magazine on the Penteteuch. I have outlined the topics, and it works out to about 25 articles. I will be getting to that this week when the inspiration hits me. I usually brook over a topic for a couple of weeks, and then one morning the first line of the piece comes into my head and from there it is off to the races. The weather here has been very cold, but nothing like Buffalo as been getting in these days. I tell my friends that the one consolation for Buffalonians in these days is that Watertown (at the other end of Lake Ontario) is getting more snow. I will be here in EC all this week, but next week I am going to go to the shore to the appartment the friars have there. I finished some reading and listening: How the Bible Saved Civilization by Ian Boxall These presentations from Learn25 do not really match the title. What the author does is explain various scenes, people, and topics and show how they are still important in our world and in the world of art, drama, music, etc. Boxall is a good, creative presenter. Art and the Bible by Francis Schaeffer This is a relatively short presentation by an Evangelical author who speaks of the need for art and beauty in our lives and our faith. He is attacking a tendency to see something wrong in painting, statues, music, poetry, etc. He takes many of his argumentation from the Bible itself (e.g. how God created the beautiful, how God ordered Moses and David to make beautiful decorations for the cult, etc. New Amsterdam by Charles River Editors This is the history of the arrival of the Dutch in the New York area and the years of their early colonization up to the time of the British who took the colony over after Holland’s defeat in the mid-17th century. The Sicilian Method by Andrea Camilleri This is the account of the murder of a very mysterious figure who staged improvisational plays in the town where Inspector Montalbano lives. The plot is intricate and possibly a bit confusing. I did not like this volume as much as Camilleri’s others for the hero dumps his long distance lover for a young and strange young woman, chalking it up to a mature man’s last adventure. This aspect was almost adolescent in its approach. Thunder Point by Jack Higgins This is an action novel about the recovery of secret documents brought by Martin Borman to the Caribbean when he supposedly escaped at the end of World War II. (There have long been theories that he escaped and lived in Latin America). The documents would incriminate key British politicians and royalty, and the team (Ferguson and Sean Dillon, an ex-IRA gunman) seek to find them before a group of Nazi collaborators can discover where they are and recover them. The Middle East by Philip Robins This is a presentation of the history, politics, and cultures of the countries of the Middle East. It naturally leans towards the Islamic countries, but it does not ignore Israel. The author is quite good, and he is honest in his approach (not looking for a villain in his account. Women who made Science History by Leila McNeill This is a short course from the Great Courses on significant women in science from the Renaissance to the modern era, leaning very heavily toward the modern. McNeill speaks of the lives and contributions of a number of famous and not so famous women scientists, and especially of their difficulty to have their contributions to science recognized because of the anti-woman bias in many fields of research and many institutions. Innocent Man by John Grisham This is a true life story of two men who were falsely convicted of rape and murder in a small town in Oklahoma. The prosecutors broke a whole series of laws in their case. The particular difficulty in proving one of the men innocent was his mental illness and tendency toward alcoholism. The innocent project eventually was able to prove their innocence after many years of often cruel incarceration. Hans Urs Von Balthasar by Kevin Mongrain Von Balthasar was a key thinker in the process of leading up to Vatican II, but his specialty was in patristics and mysticism, especially in rediscovering that which is truly beautiful (in nature, in revelation, in the incarnation, etc.) His writings are notoriously difficult to understand, so I took this first step of listening to this Learn25 course to get an initial idea of who he was and what he taught. At the end of this course, I can say I have caught a glimpse of what he believed and shared. The Gospel of Mark 101: How to Read and Understand the Gospel of Action by Ian Boxall This is a course on the Gospel of Mark from the Learn25 series. I found the course very informative, reinforcing that which I knew and making me see a few things in a way from which I had never considered the material. I plan to listen to whatever other courses this professor has produced. Chaucer by Peter Ackroyd Peter Ackroyd is a tremendous author about all things Brittanica. This book speaks of the life and writings of Chaucer, placing him within his historic and literary environment. The author constantly quotes Chaucer’s writings, first in the English used at Chaucer’s time (the late 14th century) and then in modern English. There are many things that are not known about Chaucer, but Ackroyd masterfully pieces together those things which we can know. The Mughal Empire by Charles River Editors This isa short account of the Mughal empire in India. A lot of the book is a presentation on the history of Islam, and then when the author gets into the part about India, it is a mix of wars between this or that power or palace intrigues. I cannot say that I know that much more about this empire after finishing this read. The Norsemen-Understanding the Vikings and Their Culture by Michael Drout This is a course from Modern Scholar about the Vikings and especially their culture and their literature. While there is not an enormous corpus of writings, nevertheless the professor is able to explain the intricacies of what they wrote, both from a literary and mythic point of view. Ironically, the most important collection of writings were produced by a Christian author so that his contemporary authors would understand some of the mythic references in their own language. Tutankhamun: The Mystery of the Boy King by Zahi Hawass This is a firsthand account of the examination of the Tutankhamun mummy in order to understand more about his lie and his death. It is only a short book, but it was enjoyable and informative. The Bad Popes by E.R. Chamberlin This is a treatment of popes who were disastrous in their personal conduct and their leadership of the Church from the early Middle Ages to the Renaissance (and the time of the Protestant Reformation). While the accounts of some of the popes were incredibly scandalous, the author tries not to be a rumor monger but rather to present the popes with their flaws and sometimes their virtues. It is a good read. Have a good week. Shalom fr. Jude

Ellicott City - Chicago

November 18, 2024 Peace and Good, I hope you all are well. This past week at Ellicott City has been quite busy. I finished off my four week course on the Gospel of Luke which went very well. I have taken on quite a few spiritual directees. Interestingly, some of them have discussed questions with me that have forced me to do some reading on various topics which is very good. They are making me look at topics which I never investigated before. I really like that. Yesterday I travelled out to Chicago to give a workshop to the Postulants on the Letters of St. Paul. I have done this for quite a few years now. It is good to get to know them, and also to share insights with them on Scripture and on the Order (since I have visited almost all of it over the years) We have five postulants this year, which is a good number but not like previous pre-covid years. I got to see fr. Bernard, a friar from Australia who is now serving as vocation promoter in the province. He is a fine man, and is excited over his work. Friars Paul and Ian continue to work as the formation team here. Our friary is located in the north of the city, a few blocks from Loyola University. I really like Chicago. It is a city that is easy to find one's way around, and it has so many diverse nationalities. Walking several block can lead one from Vietnam to Ethiopia to Russia. I have finished some reading and listening: 1917: Lenin, Wilson, and the Birth of the New World Disorder by Arthur Jerman These is a comparison of Lenin with Wilson, especially in the traumatic year of 1917, the year of the Russian Revolution and the entrance of the US into the First World War. They are seen as idealistic men who were also stubborn and self-righteous. They both wanted their nations to live up to great values, but were not willing to compromise on their ideals and thus doomed their countries and the world to a difficult future. The Great Sea by David Abulafia This is an extensive history of the Mediterranean Sea and the cultures that have existed along its shore. It deals with political history as well as cultural history, especially speaking of the trade that made the Mediterranean so important (both of the rise of the commerce and of its decline after the voyages of Columbus). Dante by RWB Lewis This is a presentation on the life, career, and writings of the famous Italian poet who produced the Divine Comedy, one of the greatest masterpieces of literature of all eras. Lewis knows how to weave outside material into the story to make certain nuances and topics in the Comedy more understandable. He presents a Dante who is flesh and blood and not a literary conceit. American Constitution 101 by David Hudson This is a very well planned and presented course on the American Constitution. The author manages to present rather complicated legal matters in a way that is fully comprehensible. He gives copious examples from case law and speaks of the various figures who had a tremendous influence on the interpretation and application of the articles of the constitution (e.g. Chief Justice Marshall, Chief Justice Warren, etc.). Rhodes after Antiquity by Charles River Editors Rhodes is famous for the fact that it housed one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the colossus of Rhodes. This short history speaks of that monument, but especially of the island’s history under its Greek, Roman and Arab overlords up to the present day. The Berlin Wall: A World Divided by Hope Harrison This is course on the history of the Berlin Wall. The professor (for this is a Great Courses presentation) speaks of the reasons why it was built and the initial reaction to its construction (it having been built to halt the hemorrhage of citizens fleeing to the west from East Germany), of its effect on the people of East and West Berlin, and of its fall in 1989. The professor has a special love for Berlin which comes across in her presentations. Hacking the Code of Life by Nessa Carey This is a study of the science and practice of genetic engineering. It deals with how it is done and also with the more difficult question of whether it should be done and if so, when. It speaks of engineering done on human subjects (to correct a genetic flaw or, more dangerously, to produce a child that would meet the subjective desires of the parents) as well as on animals (producing larger animals, placing a genetic flaw in mosquitoes to kill off dangerous populations), etc. Hildebrand and His Times by W.R. Stephens This is a Librivox presentation of the life of Hildebrand who became Pope Gregory VII, a great reformer in the late Medieval period, and who fought with a series of Holy Roman Emperors for control of the mechanisms of the Church. Being an older, British presentation, its form is a bit antiquated, but the information provided is very good. St. Francis of Assisi by William Cook and Ronald Herzman I listened to this Great Courses presentation on the Feast of the founder of the Franciscans, October 4th. I have heard many presentations by William Cook who always gives a balanced and thorough treatment of the topic. This is the first time that I heard Herzman who is a colleague of Cook, and he is also very good. They are both very respectful of Francis and show a reverence for him which does not devolve into pious adulation. The Gracchi, Marius and Sulla by A.H. Beesly This is a Librivox presentation (which means that it is a book out of print which is read by volunteer readers and is offered for free at Librivox.com). It deals with the later stages of the Roman republic and especially with the social tensions that led to its fall and the inauguration of the Principate under Augustus. This book begins with the reforming Gracchi brothers who were murdered by the aristocracy, and closes with the dictatorship and murderous career of Sulla (in the generation before Julius Caesar and Pompei). Cold Light by Anita Sitarski This is a short treatise on bioluminescence, both the phenomenon and its possible importance for practical purposes in our modern world. The presenter is excited about her topic which is obvious, but she does present a good amount of interesting information. Henry Ford and the Building of Modern Capitalism by Jef Webb This particular course in the Learn25 series was a real challenge for the presenter because Webb had to balance the genius of organization and business enterprises with the fact that Ford was an anti-Semite (of great proportions). Webb does a good job of being honest and forthright with both dimensions of his subject. Have a good week. Shalom fr. Jude

Ellicott City

November 5, 2024 Peace and Good, I have been back in Ellicott City, quite busy with the regular forms of ministry here (confessions, Mass, lectures, guiding days of recollection, etc.). I love this type of work. I am now offering a four week course on the Gospel of Luke which is the Gospel we will be using in the liturgy this coming year. I have a morning session and an evening session (the same material). The evening session is live streamed and can be found at the Companions web site. This Saturday I will be offering a full day workshop on the Book of Revelation. The weather here has been glorious - beautiful fall weather. The leaves are about half fallen off of the trees. I had my 9th immunotherapy today. Only three more to go. I have been tolerating the therapy very well. I would like to ask you all a favor. Please remember three people with stage four cancer in your prayers: Jean Louis, Peggy and Heather. I finished some reading and listening: The Pentateuch by Michael Guinan This is a Learn25 presentation on the books of the Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers of Deuteronomy). The professor is good at organizing and presenting the material. I did not hear any great new discoveries, but for me it was a good review of what I had previously studied. Galileo by Guy Consolmagno This is a Learn25 presentation on Galileo and his troubles with the Vatican. Guy Consolmagno is the official astronomer of the Vatican and a Jesuit brother. I have heard his other presentations that I thought were better organized. This presentation had a feel of containing a lot of material that was not immediately relevant, as if he were struggling to fill out the required number of lessons. Yet, he does a good job of showing that the Vatican was and is not anti-science, and that the Galileo affair is much more complicated than one would first imagine. 1066 by Jennifer Paxton This is a Great Courses production to speak about England in the years before the Norman invasion (Vikings and Danish rulers), during the invasion (Harold and William and the other major figures), and after the invasion (the conquest of the rest of England, the doomsday book. It is well organized and presented. The Spies who Never Were by Hervie Haufler This is a great account of the spies that Great Britain invented and used as a double cross to confuse Germany concerning the British war plans. One of the most famous episodes was that of Mincemeat, where a deceased man with secret plans was left off the short of Spain so the Germans would receive the false war plans that the allies intended to land in Sardinia or Greece and not in Sicily, which was the real plan. There is also the story of Garbo, so called because his role was beautiful as he invented a whole cadre of accomplices that were a product of his imagination. Ethiopia by Wendy McElroy This is a short history of this mysterious land on the horn of Africa. It is one of the few Christian nations in this area (Christian from very early days). It has been ruled by emperors and factional leaders throughout its history. For a while, it was mistakenly identified as the dwelling place of Priester John. The history runs from prehistoric times to the death of Haile Selassie. Ireland by Wendy McElroy This is a short history of the island nation from prehistoric times to recent decades. It gives a good history of the interaction of Ireland and Great Britain, as well as Irelands tragedies of the famine, of religious and political strife, of poverty and forced emigration, etc. Game of Mirrors by Andrea Camilleri This is about a Sicilian detective who has to investigate his crimes in a bureaucracy that is confounding and filled with small and large corruption, and a culture that does not believe in telling its secrets. The staff is good but at times comical. In this volume the inspector has to deal with truth and levels of illusion that are confounding. The most important thing to do in these cases is to know that one does not know. Iron Kingdom by Christopher Clark This is a thorough study of Prussia as a region and as a culture. It begins with the earliest settlements and amalgamation of the Prussia region, and ends with the rejection of the Prussian mentality (and even the region of Prussia) in the aftermath of the Second World War. Churchill’s Bomb by Graham Farmelo This book deals with the British attempt to produce the atomic bomb at the beginning of the war, their collaboration with the Americans, areas of concern in that relationship, and Churchill’s interest in scientific matters, but at times his fuzzy understanding of those things. While Britain sent many good scientists to the States for this research (including many foreigners who sought refuge in Great Britain), they also sent Klaus Fuchs who spied for the Soviets and handed over nuclear secrets to them that allowed them to develop their own atomic bomb. The Heist by Daniel Silva This is the story of an Israeli secret agent (and part time assassin) who is trying to steal the exploited riches of the Syrian ruling family. Gabriel Allon is the main character. He killed many of the Palestinians who were involved in the Munich Olympics Massacre. He is getting ready to take over his agency. In his other life, Allon is also a world-famous art restorer. Have a good week. Shalom fr. Jude

Arroyo Grande, CA - Ellicott City, MD

October 24, 2024 Peace and Good, I finished my series of lectures at our novitiate in Arroyo Grande, CA. This is half way between Los Angeles and San Francisco. There are three novices this year, each from a different country (Germany, Great Britain, and India). This provided a wide background to add to the discussions on Biblical thopics. I presented the four Gospels in overview (especially as they intersect with Franciscan values) and the psalms. I do this presentation every year. What is nice is that I also do a presentation to the postulants each year, so by the time I arrive at the novitiate, I already know the novices from the previous year. I came back from California on Monday night on the redeye. I had messed up my schedule and had a full day of work on Tuesday, including Mass at the Shrine. I was able to get through the day without falling asleep on anyone. Yesterday I started a four week course on the Gospel of Luke, the gospel we will be using this coming year in our liturgy. I offer a two hour lecture in the morning and the same topic in the evening (which is also broudcast on the Companions website). We had a good, active crowd in both sessions. I do it twice because the morning session is for those who are retired and possibly hesitant to drive in the evening, while the other session is for those who work. I am giving a couple of days of recollection this weekend, one for a Bible Study group and one for the sisters at the rest home where I occasionally say Mass. The weather these days has been magnificent. It is not too hot, and all the leaves are changing color. I finished some books: Michelangelo and the Pope’s Ceiling by Ross King Ross King is an incredible expert at telling stories about art and history. I had actually read this book many years ago, but it was so good that I wanted to read it again. The book deals with the fact that Michelangelo was not trained to do fresco, his difficult relationship with Pope Julius II, the irascible personality, his family problems, his artistic choices on the ceiling, etc. I would recommend this and any other books he has written. Eiffel’s Tower by Jill Jonnes This is a very good book on the construction of the Eiffel Tower for the World Exhibition held to celebrate the centennial of the French Revolution. Jonnes speaks of the opposition before and even after the construction. She speaks of some of the major figures who visited the tower (e.g. Edison, the Shah of Persia, etc.). She speaks of other activities at the exhibition (the Wild West presentation with Wild Bill Cody, the art exhibitions, the cultural presentations, etc.). Vikings by History Nerds This is an overview of Viking history and culture. It speaks of their incredible geographic extension (from Russia to Sicily to North America). It deals with their languages, their mythologies, their reasons for plundering, etc. It is not an extensive treatment, but it gives a good outline on the topic. Operation Barbarosa by David Stahel This is a long treatment of the planning and execution of the invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II. The author’s thesis is that while the German army seemed to have sufficient forces to do this, they in fact did not have replacements (for soldiers or munitions or even trucks), they were poorly led, and they bled their strength away on pointless attacks which left them vulnerable when the Soviets were able to replace soldiers and arms that were lost in the early days of the invasion. Nature’s Mutiny by Philipp Blom This is about the little ice age that hit Europe from the beginning of the 14th century to the 19th century. The climate was significantly colder and wetter which destroyed many harvests, leaving people malnourished and susceptible to disease. Blom also speaks of the intellectual revolution occurring at the same time, as well as the growth of national movements. The only difficulty is to connect the dots in his theory – did these movements occur at the same time or were they caused by the climate change? Dust by Patricia Cornwall I think that this is the last book by Cornwall that I intend to read. He write about a medical examiner, but every book she writes is more and more about her difficult relationships with most of those around her (family, co-workers, etc.). I just don’t feel like reading a book where there is nothing but kvetching. The Echo of Greece by Edith Hamilton This is a short overview of some of the most important figures of Greek culture. Hamilton is a scholar of Greek and Roman history and art. She speaks of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Alexander the Great, etc. in this account. She has an interesting theory toward the end of the book that it would have been better if Christianity were more Greek (accepting more ideas and variety) and less Roman (legalistic). Yet, when you think about it, the Greek world has suffered long periods of violent controversy over that same variety. Guangzhou by Charles River Editors This is some of the history of the city of Guangzhou (Canton) in China. The author especially emphasizes the colonial era under the influence of the British empire. The Death Trade by Jack Higgins Sean Dillon, the hero of this series, tries to find a way to rescue an Iranian scientist who has been forced into doing research work on a nuclear device (his specialty was developing isotopes for medical purposes). The action a bit black and white, almost like a superhero story, but it is entertaining all the same. Karl Rahner: Theologian of Grace by Richard Lennan Rahner was an incredible theologian just before and during the Second Vatican Council. Many of the ideas found in the writings of the Council are found in his writings. He especially speaks of the fact that God has already revealed His grace in our lives and one of the most important tasks we can perform is to recognize that presence and embrace it. The Dispatcher by John Scalzi This is a very strange story of a dispatcher (someone who kills people at the point of death). Those people immediately appear in their homes as they were a few hours before their death. A detective is investigating the disappearance of one of the dispatcher’s co-workers. This leads to meetings with a billionaire whose wife had just died and an ex-Mafia organization. It is a strange, very good story. Prince of Fire by Daniel Silva This is one of the volumes of the series written by Silva on the secret service of Israel. His hero is Gabriel Allon, a painter and famous art restorer. He was also an assassin who killed members of the squad who attacked the Israelite at the Munich Olympics. In this volume, he kills a mysterious Palestinian mastermind who seeks revenge for the death of his father at the hands of the Israelis. He has been in hiding while he planned attacks on symbols of Israel (e.g. embassies). Have a good week. Shalom fr. Jude

Ellicott City, Md - Arroyo Grande, CA

September 13, 2024 Peace and Good, All is going well. I have been working quite a bit at the shrine in these days with confessions and Masses (as well as St. Joseph's nursing home nearby). I truly enjoy this work. I have also started to do quite a bit of spiritual direction. These past few days were great. On Thursday evening, I had a session with a men's group on Eschatology, what will happen after our death and the end of the world. The next morning I had a talk and Mass with a group of 80 second graders visiting our shrine. Saturday morning, I had Mass at the nursing home (for residents and for the sisters there). Talk about a rapid change of roles. I am now at our novitiate in Arroyo Grande, California to give a workshop to the novices on the Gospels and the psalms. I have een doing this every year for a long time. I enjoy this time to help our novices see these Sacred Scripture books in a Franciscan light. I will be here for a week, and then back to Ellicott City where I will begin a series of adult ed classes on the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Revelation. I finished some reading and listening: Jackson Pollock by Charles River Editors I have never liked the paintings of Jackson Pollock, but this short treatment of his life left me stunned. He came from a not so promising environment, and he seems to have suffered both some learning disabilities and emotional/psychological disabilities. He effectively drank himself to death at a relatively young age, a truly pathetic story. The Battleship Potemkin by Charles River Editors This is the story of the Russian battleship in the Black Sea that was the site of a mutiny during the uprising in 1905. The proximate cause of the turmoil was the lack of decent treatment of the crew (especially in terms of the food they were served). There was also a rebellious spirit in the air following the rapid industrialization of the country (with great social inequalities) and the loss of the war with Japan that left the country humiliated. Caravaggio by Francine Prose This is a very good overview of the life and art of this artist of realism and chiaroscuro art. His life was a mess, always getting in fights and drinking beyond measure. He was exiled for murder and died on his way back to Rome when he had received a pardon. His art was not always appreciated in his own days, but his style was often copied later. Prose gives tremendous insight to his choice of scenes and images used in his most famous paintings. Germany by Ralph Raico This is one of the history courses on various countries offered by Audible.com for free. It is a good overview of history from its earliest days to the modern times. A History of Ancient Greece by Eric Cline This is a Modern Scholar Course that gives a good outline of the history of ancient Greece. It is not very profound, but it does give a good review of the material. Tales of Troy and Greece by Andrew Lang This is a retelling of the story of the Trojan War and the events that preceded and followed it. It was done at the end of the 19th century, so it is a bit dated. Yet, it even throws in comments about archeological discoveries which is a useful addition to the story. It serve as a good intro to Greek legends. The Sacred Year by Michael Yankowski An Evangelical youth pastor has a crisis of whether he really believes and lives what he is sharing with the young people to whom he speaks. He goes to a Benedictine monastery and an elderly monk advises him to create a sacred year in which he goes back to the basis of his spirituality. The story is well told and very profound. The manner of narrative is filled with enthusiasm and a spirituality that is clearly not phony but is discerned and lived. Great Catholic Scientists by Michaelle Franci-Donnay and Guy Consolmagno This is a Learn25 course on Catholic scientists who over the centuries have shown that science and faith do not have to be two opposing forces in our world. The great majority of male scientists are Jesuits, which is to be expected because Consolmagno is a Jesuit brother, the official astronomer of the Vatican. The man/woman team work in tandem in the presentation. The most important insight is that in science, as in faith, one must be filled with a sense of wonder. Constantine the Emperor by David Potter This is a long but very good presentation of the life and career of the emperor Constantine. It deals with the confusing politics as he won control of the Roman Empire. It speaks of his role in the development of the Catholic Faith, especially in his sponsorship of the Council of Nicea. This political/religious role mirrored that which a Roman Emperor exercised in the Empire and with the official pagan religions. The book is well worth reading. The Sign of Jonas by Thomas Merton This is a journal written by Merton some years after he entered the monastery, while he was in formation for the priesthood until the time that he was called to be the Formation Director for theological and philosophical students in the monastery. The beginning comes across as if Merton knows he is writing for others, and he therefore feels he must write the correct edifying things. Later in the book one can sense that he becomes more real, especially as he delves into the mystery of God. The Best Short Stories of Mark Twain This is an anthology of Twain’s stories, especially his later ones. They display the naughty cleverness which challenged political and religious authorities whenever he sense a spirit of hypocrisy. Heretic Queen by Susan Ronald This is an account of the rapport of Queen Elizabeth I with the religious realities in her realm which were complicated for they included the official Anglican Church, the Puritanical Calvinist movement, and the recusant Catholic remnant. This became even more complicated when the Pope excommunicated Elizabeth as a heretic, and when Elizabeth had Queen Mary of Scotland put to death. Have a good week. Shalom fr. Jude

Ellicott City

September 29, 2024 Peace and Good, This has been a quiet couple of weeks. I am settling into my new rhythm of activities. I celebrate Mass at the shrine on the property and at St. Joseph's Nursing Home (about a half hour away). I listen to confessions at the Shrine. I am giving spiritual direction to an increasing number of people. I am taping my podcasts and writing articles in the free time. It is keeping me busy, but not too busy. There are a lot of people talking to me about the upcoming election. I keep speaking of the advise of Pope Francis, to choose the lesser of two evils. Yet, the spirit of the campaign leave a lot of people unsettled. I continue to do my immunotherapy, which is really not all that bad. I had a little problem this week with a sinus infection, but that is passing. The annual inundation of stink bugs has arrived. My roon looks like a scene from the Exorcist with all the bugs crawling around it. They are not troublesome, just creepy and stinky when one catches them. I have finished some reading and listening: Unseen Diversity: the World of Bacteria by Betsey Dyer This is a Modern Scholar course on bacteria. The professor loves her work, but she doesn’t come across as nerdy. I have to say I learned a lot. One example is that for all the thousands of types of bacteria, only about 50 are pathogenic. Furthermore, many bacteria and viruses are actually helpful. I would recommend listening to this course if you have a chance. Edward III: the Perfect King by Ian Mortimer This is a thorough biography of the life and deeds of King Edward III. His father had been overthrown by a usurper and Edward II’s queen. Edward had to seize power and once he did, he proved himself to be a good king (according to the definition of his times). The author is a bit fawning in his account, but he does tell a good story. The Anglo-Saxon World by Michael Drout This is a study of the Anglo-Saxon world from the arrival of these German invaders and settlers into the Celtic and by now Romano-Britain world until the arrival of the Vikings and the Norman invaders under William the Great. The author clearly loves his topic, and he presents the various lectures with enthusiasm and respect. It is a good course (Modern Scholar) to give an overview on the topic. Cassender of Macedon by Charles River Editors This is a short biography of one of the leaders of the Macedonians who ruled parts of Alexander’s empire after his death. The whole period is filled with wars and alliances and betrayals. Maybe that is the most important thing to remember. At the same time, even though most things were chaotic, Greek culture was being diffused throughout the vast empire that Alexander had conquered. A House Reunited: How America Survived the Civil War by Jay Winik I have read Winik’s account of April, 1865, the end of the Civil War and the beginning of the healing that needed to take place after that disastrous cataclysm. This course from Modern Scholar is similar to the material that he presented in his book. The People’s Dynasty: Culture and Society in Modern China by Robert Shepherd This is a very well done study of the culture of modern China. The author has lived and studied there. He especially shows how some of the facile judgments made about China could just as easily be applied to the US (e.g. the insatiable desire for possessions, government surveillance of the internet). He speaks of efforts of some at a grass roots level to address problems like corruption and pollution (without ever criticizing the government or the party). The course is quite insightful. The Life and Times of Mark Twain by Michael Shelden This is an account of the life and career of Mark Twain. It speaks of his various careers as he gradually found himself as a writer. He is presented as the first American author to really write in American idiom (and not in a version of British high-class expression). He is seen in his relationship with his society, with his family, etc. He is even seen in his genius as he published his works on a subscription basis, thus multiplying their appeal, and as a failure in most business enterprises, losing vast amount of money on investments. In Michelangelo’s Shadow: the Mystery of Modern Italy by Joseph Luzzi This Modern Scholar course has nothing to do with Michelangelo. It is about Italy, its culture, its language, its food, its families, its regions with their own personalities, etc. The course is taught by the son of an immigrant from Calabria, thus someone who knew the tension between Italy as a nation and the local version of being Italian in one of the provinces. I would not say that the presentation is profound. It is more heartwarming and for me, who lived in Italy so long, familiar. High Seas, High Stakes: Naval Battles that Changed History by Timothy Shutt This is an overview of some of the major naval battles throughout history. It is not all that technical a presentation, more of a nice anthology to entertain the listener with a bunch of stories. Understanding Democracy in America by Ken Masugi This is a critical reading and application of the book Democracy in America by Baron de Tocqueville. The presenter comes from a particular point of view (less government, more individual liberty, allowing religion and values guide the nation and its citizens). The presentation, though, was well done and enlightening. The Life and the Writings of John Milton by Seth Lerer This is a Teaching Company course on the writings of John Milton. A couple of years ago I read Paradise Lost, more so that I could say that I had read it than to enjoy it. I do not like Milton’s style nor often his Puritanical and Patriarchal message. I felt I owed it to him and myself to listen to this course. I can’t say I like Milton any more after finishing it. The professor presenting it is a bit too fawning upon Milton and his writings. From Spinning Wheels to Steam and Steel by Jennifer Popiel This is a Modern Scholar presentation on the industrial revolution. What I liked about the presentation was that it was not only from an engineering point of view, but it also dealt with the social and political repercussions of this massive change in how society was organized. The Giants of the British Novel, Part 1 by Timothy Shutt This is an overview of the British novel from its earliest days to the time of Jane Austin (this is the first part of a two part presentation). Shutt, whose other courses I have listened to, is an excellent presenter. He gives enough material about the author’s life and perspective and about the ambient in which he/she wrote to help one better understand the message being presented. Have a good week. Shalom fr. Jude

September 19 Peace and Good, Last Monday I had my six month CT scan, and it went very well. The mass in my lungs has shrunk even more from the three month scan. I am still on immunotherapy for the next six months, but that does not have such a big effect on me as chemo did. In these weeks I noticed one of the lasting effects of chemotherapy. I have developed curly hair. I call it a chemoperm. I am helping out more and more at the shrine, and I am now getting quite a few requests for days of recollection and retreats. I have to be careful because I tend to say yes to everything. I finished a writing project for one of our magazines in Assisi. I checked with the Padua friars about where I stand with finished articles, and they told me I am set until March of 2026. So these days I am trying to get ahead with the podcasts on the daily readings. I am also working on initial ideas for some Good News Notes. I spoke to one of our staff about the possibility of doing a "what do you want to know about the Bible" question site on our Companions web site. I finished some reading and listening: God Wills It: Understanding the Crusades by Thomas Madden This is an excellent course (Modern Scholar) on the crusades from both the Christian and the Muslim dimension. The professor does not try to take one side or the other. He points out the mistakes of both sides in the conflict, as well as their successes (e.g. how could the Christians expect to hold the Holy Land with most of the crusaders deciding to go home to Europe after their time of service). Creating Humans: Ethical Questions Where Reproduction and Science Collide by Alexander McCall Smith This is a very, very good treatment of reproduction questions including the difficult issues of in vitro fertilization, abortion, birth control, surrogacy, gene engineering, sex choices, etc. The professor organizing the course (Modern Scholar) is very balanced and respectful. He does not attack one position or another, but rather weighs them on the basis of human dignity. The Battle of Sekigahara by Charles River Editors This is a major battle fought between war lords in Japan at the beginning of the 17th century in which the Tokugawa dynasty won the role of daimyo and ruled Japan (along with a figurehead emperor) until the time of the Meiji restoration in the 19th century. The Battle of Lepanto by Charles River Editors This is a short account of the Battle of Lepanto. This was a battle fought between the forces of Christian Europe and the Turks whose fleets were endangering even the ports of the Western Mediterranean. The Christians won a monstrous victory. It did not really disable the Turkish empire, for within one year they had rebuilt their fleet. But it did protect most of the western Mediterranean from Turkish depredation. Greek Legacy: Understanding the Overwhelming Contribution of the Ancient Greeks by Timothy Shutt This is a Modern Scholar quick presentation of some of the most important values of Greek society, why these values developed, and how they were passed down in their society and ours. It also deals with questions of government, culture, etc. Again, Shutt is a good presenter and he presents enough information without overwhelming one with trivia. The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World by Jennifer Tobin This is a Modern Scholar course on the seven wonders of the ancient world. Tobin presents how these were built, why, what remains of them, etc. It is not a deep study as much as a pleasant overview. Fundamental Cases: The Twentieth Century Courtroom Battles that Changed our Nation by Alan Dershowitz I don’t especially like Alan Dershowitz, but this Modern Scholar course is tremendous for it gives good insights into various important American courtroom cases. He deals with the Scopes trial, the Rosenburgs, O.J. Simpson, the Gore/Bush election decision by the Supreme Court, etc. It is a wide range of topics, but Dershowitz’s original view of what occurred has made me reflect upon what I believed about the cases. Moby Dick: America’s Epic by Timothy Shutt This is an overview of this American classic from Modern Scholar. Shutt is one of the main presenters with this company, and even though his presentations have an extremely wide range of topic, he seems to do all of these courses well. One ends up with a tremendous insight into the personality of Melville and how it was expressed in the main characters of this novel. The Making of Martin Luther by Richard Rex The author of this book is not especially a fan of Martin Luther. He outlines the early days of his rebellion against Catholic authority and teaching. Luther does not come across as a very virtuous character. Touchy, self-righteous, argumentative, etc. would be adjectives to use for Luther according to this account. I think I enjoyed the account because it did not present Luther from a worshipful point of view, but showed what he really was like. The Iliad and Odessey of Homer by Timothy Shutt This is an overview of these two great sagas by Homer (if there was an historic Homer). He gives insight into what is playing out in the reaction of Achilles (pouting and all but betraying his fellow Greeks because of what he considers to be an insult) and the cleverness and scheming nature of Odysseus. This study is very helpful to more fully understand these works. The Dawn of Political History: Thucydides and the Peloponnesian War by Fred Baumann This course from Modern Scholar is not so much on the Peloponnesian War as the account of that war written by Thucydides. Why did he say things the way that he did? Why did this Athenian author write his account in Sparta? We see that, at heart, he still considers himself to be Athenian, but he is not above criticizing them for their failures to live up to their greater values. Vatican II by John O’Malley This is a Learn25 course on the Second Vatican Council. John O’Malley was a Jesuit professor at Catholic University. He is tremendous on history topics. This course gives one an inside view on the political/religious movements which guided the council. I strongly recommend this course and his other courses. Religions of the East: Paths to Enlightenment by Stephen Prothero This is a Modern Scholar course on the history and beliefs of some of the Eastern religions such as Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism, etc. It shows the differences between the beliefs and practices, including of the various form of Buddhism found in the countries where it became important. The professor knows his material and is able to communicate it well without being a proselytizer of any particular belief. Have a good week. Shalom fr. Jude

Ellicott City, MD - Castro Valley, CA - Seoul, Korea - Castro Valley, CA - Ellicott City, MD

September 5, 2024 Peace and Good, As you can see in the title of this blog, I have been travelling a bit. I went to South Korea to be with our friars during their pre-chapter assembly. Before I finished my role as Assistant General, I did a canonical visitation of that province. This means I spoke with every member of the province and produced a report on how I saw things going. They are now getting ready for their provincial chapter, and they discussed all of the reports (including mine) to get some ideas of the topic which they had to treat at the coming chapter. The trip is very long, so I broke it up a bit, coming into Castro Valley (Oakland) and staying a there on the way out and the way back. This was a very good idea, because the trip from SFO (San Francisco Airport) to Seoul was 12 1/2 hours on the way in and 11 hours on the way back. I am in the midst of jet lag right now. There is a 13 hour difference in time zones between here and there. Covid is breaking out badly there, but I don't think I have contracted it. The next couple of days will tell, but I did get a booster before I headed out. It was hot, hot, hot there as well as humid. I ended up doing most of my daily walks in the dining room in the retreat center where we met. The friars were great to me. I really like them and the work that they are doing. They have a good variety of work - parishes, retreat centers, school for handicapped children, home for mentally challenged men, home for the elderly, etc. I finished some reading and listening: Maimonides: the Life and World on One of Civilization’s Greatest Minds by Joel Kraemer This is a long and detailed account of the life and career (doctor, leader of the Jewish community in Egypt, compiler of the law of Israel, philosopher, etc.) of the Jewish sage who was born in Spain, fled to Morocco when there was a persecution against the Jews by some Muslim conquerors, and then to Egypt where he became one of the personal physicians to Saladin and other Muslim rulers and their families. The book is very informative but at times a bit technical when it comes to questions of Jewish law. Who was Jesus by N.T. Wright I think a better title for this book is “Who Jesus wasn’t.” The author examines a number of theories that have come out in recent years concerning Jesus, and he basically tears them to pieces. He is a middle road theologian who reasons very well both from the text and from what is logical. I would very much like to read some of his other books. A History of Ancient Israel: From the Patriarchs through the Romans by Eric Cline This is an overview of the archaeology and history of ancient Israel. It is a course from Modern Scholars. Cline is very respectful to the text of the Hebrew Bible, but he allows archaeological discoveries to question what is written (in a very respectful manner). This is a fine course for someone to better understand why things were written as they were and what probably actually happened in those days. Rome Last Citizen: the Life and Legacy of Cato by Rob Goodman This is a well written biography of Cato the Younger. He followed the example of Cato the Elder, his great grandfather. He was a Stoic, famous for his asceticism (and yet he was known to have been a significant drinker). He was the voice of ancient virtue, but he was incapable of compromise, so much of what he argued was lost by his intransigence. He was a sworn enemy first of Pompei, and then when he came to view Caesar as the more dangerous enemy, of him. Margaret Thatcher: A Modern Leader by Amy Edwards This is a short teaching company course on the life and career of Margaret Thatcher. She was a formidable woman. In fact, it was said of her government that she was the only true man in the cabinet. Some of her economic reforms in Great Britain were sorely needed, some were heartless and poorly planned. She did mark a turning point in the way the country was governed. The Ancient Lydians by Charles River Editors This is the story of a tribal unit from ancient Libya who threatened and eventually blended with the Egyptian land. Their story shows how complicated the determination of where one people began and the other left off could be. Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico by Charles River Editors This is the tragic story of a prince of the Holy Roman Empire who allowed himself to be talked into becoming emperor of Mexico by the Emperor of France, Napoleon III. He was told that he would be well accepted, but these were lies. After a couple years of civil war, he was overthrown and executed, while his empress, Carlotta, lost her mind for most of the rest of her rather long life. The Passover Haggadah by Vanessa Ochs The Haggadah is the book which is used for the celebration of Passover. Ochs gives a history of the book, especially when they came to be accompanied by artwork. She speaks of various Haggadahs that were produced for special purposes (e.g. to commemorate the Holocaust, for feminists, for gays, etc.). The book is OK but not much more than that. One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic: A History of the Church in the Middle Ages by Thomas Madden This is a Modern Scholar presentation of the Church from the time of the Roman until the 15th century. The professor gives a very balanced presentation, neither exaggerating the holiness of the Church nor letting it be seen as a constant cesspool of corruption. I would recommend this course. The Spanish Mystics: Ecstasy and Communion by Peter Tyler This is a relatively short presentation on the mystical theology of St. Theresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross. Rather than presenting them as people who were constantly in ecstasy, Tyler shows how they tied their experiences to a strong commitment to service (especially of the poor). Interesting is Tyler’s mention of the Muslim and Jewish belief of one’s spiritual life as a type of castle, an image used in Theresa own book. The World of George Orwell by Michael Shelden This is a tremendous presentation on the life and writings of George Orwell, the author of 1984 and Animal Farm. The professor teaching this course (from Modern Scholar) does not use stereotypic ideas about him, but carefully investigates his beliefs and how others twisted what he believed and wrote. I would highly recommend this course to anyone who is interested in Orwell. Viracocha by Charles River Editors This is a short presentation on the major god of the Inca people and how they caused the peoples they conquered to worship him (while they were allowed to keep their own deities. It speaks of the history of the Inca empire, from its earliest days as little more than a city state until it had become an enormous rich empire. Finally, it speaks about the Spanish conquest of the empire through the conquistador Pizzaro. Have a good week. Shalom fr. Jude

Ellicott City

August 18, 2024 Peace and Good, Things have begun to get a bit busy in the last couple of weeks. I have been asked to be available to spiritual direction, and I have been asked by a good number of people to do that. It has been a real joy to me. I get to share spiritual ideas with people dealing with their concrete circumstances. It is such a privilege. Likewise, I have been assigned to listen to confessions in the Shrine quite a bit in these days. Some of those confession periods are amongst the best I have ever celebrated since I was ordained. On the Assumption, I was the celebrant at the Shrine. After Mass, we had a break out session for those who wished to attend on the Life of Mary as seen in the New Testament. It was followed by a question and answer period. It very very, very well. I submitted a possible schedule for other adult ed sessions this fall on the Gospel of Luke (which is the Gospel for Sundays of this coming year), the concept of the Holy Year, and the Book of Revelation. I have also been participating in a Bible Study group (on the readings of the coming Sunday) with a group from Alexandria, VA (by zoom). I am with them about an hour. It has been great, especially considering the rich Gospels these weeks on the Bread of Life. This Tuesday I am heading to South Korea for a pre-chapter assembly. I had done a visitation of the province for our Minister General, and now they are meeting to prepare the work of their provincial chapter. It is always good to listen to the observations of an outsider to get perspective on what is going on. I will fly to Oakland and stay at one of our friaries for a day to give myself a bit of a rest, and then fly off to Seoul. I will follow the same pattern on the way back. My strength has largely returned, but I don't want to push it too much. I finished some reading and listening: The Difficult Words of Jesus by Amy-Jill Levine Amy-Jill Levine is a professor who is Jewish in her background, and this provides her with ample information concerning the Jewishness of Jesus. She attempts to study some of the more difficult sayings of Jesus. At times, her insights are very useful, but at other times it comes down to the phrase that she wouldn’t like God or Jesus to be like this or that. Dante and His Divine Comedy by Timothy Shutt This is an overview of the Divine Comedy. The author begins his presentation by speaking of the life, career, and exile of Dante from his native city of Florence. He then goes through Dante’s epic chapter by chapter. It is a complicated poem, and Shutt’s study is also complicated. The Divine Comedy is almost the sort of book that one would have to study with the most ample number of footnotes to explain the subtle references Dante is making to theology, this own society, individuals, and references to other classical works. 1774: the Long Year of Revolution by Mary Beth Norton This book is by an author who wrote of the point of the British loyalists in America at the start of the American Revolution. This is clear in her portrayal of the reaction of people to the growing tension between the colonies and the mother country. In spite of our foundation myth, there was considerable pressure to resolve the issue peacefully and to find a way to lessen the influence of the more radical movement in the country. Conflicts that Shaped Pharaonic Egypt by John Darnell This is a history of Egypt from its earliest days and the first Pharaoh of a united kingdom until the end of Pharaonic power under Cleopatra and the conquest of the Romans. The professor works hard to show how upper Egypt (southern Egypt) was more influential in the development of the country than was lower Egypt (especially the Delta). He sees the Delta as a source of difficulties for it was where foreign invaders could enter. Now I Know Geography by Max Lewis This is only a short but entertaining presentation of oddities of geography throughout the world. There are towns that appear on maps that don’t exist, there are island nations that are all but destitute and survive on payments to adopt certain positions at the UN, there are sites of one state that are enclaves completely surrounded by other states, etc. The Invention of Russia by Arkady Ostrovsky This is an account of the period between the fall of the Soviet Union and the rise of Vladimir Putin and how plutocrats who owned TV networks shaped the dialog between those who wanted to return to a more secure era (Communism), those who wanted to profit on the confusion, and those who wanted to create a new Russia. The Dead Sea Scrolls: the Truth Behind the Mystique by Lawrence Schiffman This is a Modern Scholar presentation on the Dead Sea Scrolls. Like any course on this topic, it speaks of the discovery of the scrolls after World War II. It presents information about the culture of the Jewish world at the time that these scrolls were produced and placed in the caves around Qumran. It asks what the background of the Qumran community was. It speaks of the relationship between the origins of Christianity and these scrolls. Finally, the professor speaks of the silly conspiratorial theories that he has heard concerning the scrolls. Mind, Brain, Behavior by Kevin Corcoran This is a study from Learn25 on the role of the brain and how it relates to the mind and the person. Corcoran speaks of oddities of how the brain works and what these tells us. It asks question of whether the mind is simply the functioning of the various complicated parts of the brain, or whether the person exists even without the mind, and also whether there is a possibility of the mind and person existing after death. The Giants of Irish Literature by George O’Brien This is a study of some of the major Irish authors of the 20th century: Oscar Wilde, W.B. Yeats, James Joyce and Samuel Beckett. If anything, the presentation, while very informative, guaranteed that I will not spend the time and effort to read these authors’ works. Their use of language and writing is so complicated that it almost becomes an experiment in obfuscation. The Battle of Flodden by Charles River Editors This is the story of the climatic battle between the Scots and the English at the beginning of the reign of Henry VIII. The king was actually in France at the time, and he made Catherine of Aragon his vicar and she organized the army that proved tremendously victorious over the Scots who were allies of France at the time. This battle was the beginning of the end for the independence of the Scots. How to Believe: John Donne by Roz Kaveney This is a short collection of reflections on the person and poetry of John Donne. The author admits that he is a non-believer, so his Holy Sonnets are difficult for him to understand. Yet, this short book has made me want to read a longer biography and study of Donne. Unearthing the Past: Paleontology and the History of Life by Jeffrey Martz This is a study of the science of paleontology and also of its findings about the various eras of life upon the world. It is packed with scientific information, so it would probably be good to listen to it more than once. Yet, I enjoyed the presentation very much. Islam and the West by Seyyed Hossein Nast This is a bit of an apologia showing the importance of the cultural contribution that followers of Islam have made throughout the centuries. The professor gives good information, but he is also very prejudiced in his presentation (showing how Islam was always the victim, showing how the followers of Islam were just and kind conquerors while Christians were cruel and ignorant, arguing that the problems in Islam are results of Western colonialization). It would be a much better presentation if he could be more impartial in his presentation. Have a good week. Shalom fr. Jude

Ellicott City

August 5, 2024 Peace and Good, I hope everyone is well. The big news here is the heat. It has been in the 90's for over a week now, and Baltimore tends to be very humid. It does cool off enough in the evenings for me to get my walk in. I have been taping a number of reflections for the scripture readings. I managed to finish a month's worth this past week, which means that I am well into October. That is good, because the friars in Assisi have asked me to write some meditations for them (which I did once before last year). I write them in English and they have them translated into Italian. I am helping up at the Shrine with confessions and the noon Mass, and at St. Joseph's Nursing Home with Mass about once a week. I really enjoy both of those assignments. Tomorrow we are having a meeting to speak about the future of the Shrine (how to improve its facilities, its program, etc.). I will bring up some suggestions that I have seen over the past months. fr. Gary, who is the director of the Shrine, is very open to new ideas. At the end of this month, I am flying to Korea for a meeting of the friars of that province. I did the canonical visitation of the friars, and they are now preparing for their provincial chapter. This will be the first really long trip since I was sick, so I am planning to break up the trip in San Francisco for a day going and coming back to rest up a bit. I finished some books (reading and listening): Bethlehem and Nazareth by Charles River Editors This is a short presentation of the two towns which were so important to the life and ministry of Jesus. It gives background historical information, what happened in the days of Jesus, and then what has happened to them throughout the centuries (e.g. under Rome, the Byzantines, the Ottoman Turks, the British, etc.). Shakespeare: The Seven Major Tragedies by Harold Bloom This is an overview presented by the Modern Scholar course on the seven tragedies of Shakespeare. The professor gives extensive examples of what he is trying to say with passages taken from the plays. He provides background information which helps one better understand the plays. At times, though, there is the feeling that he is quoting a bit too much, going on and on. Upon this Rock: A History of the Papacy from Peter to John Paul II by Thomas Madden This is a Modern Scholar course on the papacy. The professor is honest about the strengths and shortcomings of individual popes and eras in the history of the papacy, he does not use his information to attack anything. His presentation is straight forward and informative. Behold the Mighty Dinosaur by John Kricher This is a Modern Scholar presentation of dinosaurs, both in their historic and biological sense, but also in their impact upon culture with modern presentations of dinosaurs in forms that run from science fiction films to cartoons. The professor has a very, very good style of presentation, and I look forward to listening to some of his other courses. How Catholic Art Saved the Faith by Elizabeth Lev This is a study of how the Counter-Reformation used art in all of its forms to present its dogmatic message and to combat what it believed were heretical positions proposed by the Protestant reformers. The author speaks of the roles of particular artists, of their overall messages, of their techniques and of the end product of their efforts. 24 Hours in Ancient China by Dr. Yijie Zhuang This is part of a very good series which deals with the everyday life of people in a particular area at a particular time. It speaks of those in privileged positions, but also of those who are on the outskirts of society. These studies are very entertaining, but also incredibly informative. Scotland Yard by Charles River Editors This is the story of the foundation and development of Scotland Yard, the crack detective force in London. It gives an historic outline, but most of the material is the study of a few major cases, including the study of the Jack the Ripper murders. History Myths Exploded by Jeff Webb and Christopher Fee These two professors study the various set beliefs of people about individuals or history (e.g. that Lincoln set the slaves free, the role of JFK, etc.) and shows how they are either trustworthy or at other times more spin than reality. The pair prove to be equal opportunity challengers, never holding a set social or political agenda, but rather seeking for the truth as much as we can truly know it. Old Bones by Preston Douglas and Lincoln Child An archeologist seeks out the remains of a camp left by the Donner party (and a possible fortune in gold coins) while an FBI agent investigates the strange disappearance of bodily remains of the members of a certain family. While the two parties don’t especially like each other, they prove to be an inventive team for solving the mystery. From Augustine to Chesterton and Beyond by Michael Higgins This is a Learn25 course based on a series of autobiographical accounts of the spiritual life of important Christians from the time of Augustine (and his Confession) to the Second World War and the martyrs Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Jesuit Alfred Delp). The presenter is very respectful, although occasionally a bit too effusive in his praise of individuals and their teaching and actions. I would recommend this course highly. Blitzkrieg by Charles River Editors This is a short overview of the use of blitzkrieg by the Nazi’s during World War II, especially in Poland and France and Russia. The book speaks of the rearmament of Germany (often in violation of treaties established after World War I), of the governance of the army and Hitler’s growing control of it, of techniques of coordination during the battle between infantry, tanks and air forces, etc. The Sumerians by Charles River Editors This book speaks of one of the first civilizations to exist in Mesopotamia. They lead the cultural foundations for the cultures that succeeded them (Akkadian, Babylonian, Assyrian, etc.). They invented writing and operated an extensive system of irrigation. They were mostly governed as city states (or at times an amalgamation of city states). Have a good week. I will be praying for you all tomorrow on the Feast of the Transfiguration. Shalom fr. Jude

Ellicott City

July 27, 2024 Peace and Good, This has been a rather normal week with various doctors appointments (which have gone well) and helping out at the Shrine. I have begun to do some spiritual direction, and I quickly acquired a number of women and men who have asked me to accompany them. This is something that I enjoy doing. It requires an intense listening to the story being presented and a respect for the way which the other interprets reality, but at the same time the courage to challenge the other to see things in a different light. Most people involved in it would not really call it spiritual direction any more, but rather spiritual accompaniment. I am also accompaning a Bible study group over zoom. This week we looked at the Gospel for tomorrow, which is one of the riches in the entire New Testament. I think this was one of my favorite sessions in all the adult ed I have done over the years. I have been asked to do a month of reflections for one of our magazines in Assisi. This will be the second time that I do this for them. I write the reflections in English, and they translate them into Italian. This means I am writing for three magazines now, one in Padua, Italy, one in Assisi, Italy, and one in Nairobi, Kenya. I have finished some reading and listening: The Five Civilized Tribes by Charles River Editors This is a presentation of Charles River Editors that seems like the binding of five separate books into one presentation (e.g. there are obvious repetitions throughout the presentation). It deals with the tribes of Native Americans in the Southeast of the US. These are tribes that mostly tried to enculturate, but given their fertile land and the gold found on it, they were pushed out of their ancestral, treaty guaranteed lands during the Jackson administration (certainly a case of ethnic cleansing). The Mohave Desert by Charles River Editors This is a short overview of one of the large deserts in the Southwest United States (which includes Death Valley). The book speaks of the geography of the area, its inhabitants (especially the Native Americans), its fauna and flora, and its history in the days of exploration from Spanish times to the American entrance into the area. The East African Slave Trade by Charles River Editors This is an outline of the slave trade in the east of Africa, especially by the Arabs who would kidnap (or buy) slaves to carry ivory to the coast, and then sell them as slaves. The entrepot of this activity was the island of Zanzibar, which was a dependent state of Oman. British missionaries fought the trade without great success, but eventually the British government stepped in and stopped it in the late 19th century. Six Wives by David Starkey This is a long account of the six wives of Henry VIII. The author especially emphasizes the stories of Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn. He also deals at length with the issue of Henry’s first marriage and its dissolution. The account is good and thorough. John Henry Newman by Philip Bochanski This was a topic that I wanted to investigate. It is the story of the great Anglican theologian who converted to Catholicism and eventually became a cardinal during the so-called Oxford movement. This is a Learn25 presentation, and the professor gives a good outline of his life, the reasons for his conversion, and his theology. I would recommend the course, even if it might be necessary to listen to some parts more than once to get its full value. Ax by Ed McBain The detective books of Ed McBain are definitely dated, but they provide and entertaining narrative about detectives in the big city who have to work out the “who did it.” The language would be considered a bit racist and patriarchal today, but it probably was not the case when the books were first written. Freedom at Midnight by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre Like all of Lapierre’s books that I have read, this is a monumental account of the push for independence of India, dealing with what occurred before, during and shortly after that momentous event. As I read it, I was surprised that one of the heroes of the process was Lord Mountbatten, the last viceroy before independence, and the first representative of the British government after. It speaks of the process of gaining independence, but especially of the disastrous consequences of the division of the land between India and Pakistan, with the igniting of dormant religious tensions. The Battle of Borodino by Charles River Editors This is a well written account of the invasion of Russia by the Grand Armee of Napoleon. It speaks of the delaying tactics of the Russians and their scorched earth policy which kept the French in Russia much longer than they intended, and how that had disastrous consequences for the army due to the weather, disease, hunger and sniping by the Russian cavalry. The Battle of Lepanto by Charles River Editors This is an overall account of the famous naval battle which slowed the advance of the Ottoman forces in the eastern Mediterranean. It was one of the few moments in which Christian forces in Europe agreed to work in tandem. The Ottomans were able to rebuild their fleet quickly, but the battle caused them to be much more cautious in their attempts to extend their naval influence. Brilliant Blunders by Mario Livio This book speaks of scientific investigations that proved to be on the wrong track, but nevertheless provided the impetus for others to find the right answers to the mysteries. It deals with physics, genetics, etc. Great Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt by Bob Brier This is a Great Courses 12 lecture course on the pharaohs of Egypt from the first, Narmer, to the last, Cleopatra. The presenter chooses individuals and situations that were unique and important, such as the pharaohs who built the pyramids, those who conquered to the south and east, those who tried to change the religion of the nation, etc. Notorious London: A City Tour by Paul Deslandes The is a Great Courses presentation on the strange things that one can find in the city of London. It is an entertaining account of these sites and their history. Have a good week. Shalom fr. Jude

Ellicott City

July 20, 2024 Peace and Good, I hope you are all well. I have been in Ellicott City these days. I am helping out quite a bit at the Shrine as I get more strength, and I am working on my podcast reflections on the daily readings. My latest book, Praying for Wisdom Every Day, has been published. I don't have any big writing projects right now, but I am sure something will come along. I have started doing spiritual direction for people who come to the Shrine. Fr. Gary, the director, asked me if I were open to the idea, and in a few days five people asked me for it. This is something I really like to do. The weather here is Baltimore has calmed down a lot. It is only in the 80's and not over 100. I have made plans to travel to South Korea at the end of August. I was the visitator of that province, and they are now getting ready for their provincial chapter, so it is good for me to be there to give them some feedback. Doing reports on countries where the culture is so different is touchy. I make it clear that my observations are coming from a different culture, and also that many of the things I am reporting are not my thoughts but what they said to me. I finished some reading and listening: Conviction by Denver and John Nicks This is the story of a poor African-American farmer in Oklahoma who was framed for a murder that he most probably did not commit. Officials in the state and area tried to railroad him to cover up the corruption that existed in the work release program in the local prison (from which a prisoner probably committed the murders). Thurgood Marshall is the lead attorney from the NAACP who fights the case. Ancient Gaza by Charles River Editors This is the story of the region to the southwest of Israel that was originally inhabited by the Philistines and then was conquered by every empire that passed by. The account is not all informative, relying in quoting some of the few references to the area in the Old Testament. The Industrial Revolution by Patrick Allitt This is a Great Courses presentation, a rambling account of the birth and growth of the industrial revolution (especially concentrating on Great Britain and the United States). The author is very good and his presentations cover an enormous amount of ground. He deals not only with the mechanical and economic dimensions of the industrial revolution, but also of its impact upon the people involved (workers, owners, people living in the area, etc.). The Mosquito by Timothy Wineg This is an account of how the most dangerous animals in the world (for more people are killed by mosquito bites and diseases carried in them than any other animal attack) and how it has interacted with humans throughout their history. The author speaks of the affects of mosquito infestations on a number of wars (including the American Revolution). He speaks of the discovery of the fact that mosquitos are a vector in the transmission of disease. He also speaks of the possibility of controlling their damage through some type of genetic modification. Bloodlands by Timothy Snyder This is a tragic account of the lands between the German-Polish border and the Ukrainian-Russian border during the 1930’s and World War II. It speaks of the horrific murders of entire populations first by Stalin (e.g. the Ukrainian famine) and by Hitler (the murder of the Jews, Slavs, Russian prisoners, etc.). Add that to the horrors of World War II (with the systematic attempt of the Nazi’s to kill off many of the Slavs to create land for their people). It is a difficult book to read because it is so painful to read what some humans could do to others. The History of Ireland by History Nerds This is a short history of Ireland and its people from pre-historic times up to the modern times. Because it covers such a large scope of time, and it is a relatively short presentation (a couple of hours of material), it is a very quick overview without much detail. What Science Knows about Cancer by David Sadava This is a Great Courses course on what cancer is, especially in terms of chemical and genetic foundations, and how it should be treated. The course provides so much, sometimes technical information that I know that I will have to listen to the course once again in the future (but I realize that it is well worth the effort to do that). This course takes more work than many of the Great Courses presentations, but it is well worth it. DNA by James Watson This is a book which speaks of the discovery and implications of DNA. The author is one of the discoverers of the double helix configuration of this genetic material. Watson is good at giving a narrative (but sometimes a bit parochial in his outlook). He is not always so good at seeing some of the dangers involved in the manipulation of genetic material (for crops, for animals, and especially for people). For as much as he mouths the dangers of DNA experimentation, he nevertheless seems to devolve into an attitude that if we can, we should. The Wailing Wind by Tony Hillerman This is a Tony Hillerman book about detectives on the Navaho nation reservation who must investigate a murder which has something to do with gold mining but also with the protection of a sacred area. The whole series of books are tremendous, and I find myself racing through each of them because they are so well written. This is no exception. Addicted to Mediocrity by Franky Schaeffer This is a screed written by an evangelical artist against the tendency to be satisfied with poor art by the Church (accepting it only if it serves for fundraising or proselytism). He argues that the Good God who created the universe in beauty expects us to continue His work in art of all forms. While the message is aimed at his own ecclesial movement, it could be applied to the Catholic Church as well which at times accepts and promotes art and culture which is insipid. Joyce’s Ulysses by James Heffernan This is a Great Courses presentation on the famous book by James Joyce called Ulysses. The presenter explains that Joyce loosely based this account of one man’s life in Dublin at the turn of the 20th century upon Homer’s classic account of Ulysses’ return home after the Trojan war. It is a book of incredibly complicated language and plot, and I never wanted to expend the energy to read it. This course gave me the opportunity to know its content without having to do the exhausting work of reading it. St. Catherine of Siena by Sr. Suzanne Noffke This is a Learn25 course on the life and writings of Catherine of Siena. The author makes the point that while we think of her as a contemplative, she was most active in the world around her (care for the poor, politics involving even the Pope, city state politics, etc.). She died quite young, but yet left a richness of spiritual insights that had her declared a Doctor of the Church. The presenter does a good job of quoting from Catherine’s own writings without being overly laudatory or pietistic. Have a great week. Shalom fr. Jude

Ellicott City - Buffalo - Ellicott City

July 5, 2024 Peace and Good, I am writing this in a sweltering Baltimore, so much so that I am going to be taking my daily walks inside the house. I got to go up to my hometown of Buffalo to visit family and friends. This is the first time that I have been there in a couple of years. I love the friendlikness of the Buffalonians. The people are great, as is the food. The wweather and job situation could use a bit of work. I noticed at the airport how many people wore some type of clothes that publicized the Buffalo Bills. I don't think there is a city with better fans other than possibly Green Bay. I am back in Baltimore, working on some small projects and helping out at the Shrine. I enjoy celebrating Mass and listening to confessions there. We are doing the local parishes a great service becuase most of them don't have a lot of hours of confession available. We have two or three confessors on call for an hour before our noonday Mass. I am in the process of getting my faculties (permission to conduct public ministry) from the Baltimore archdiocese. I have been without faculties from anyone for the past year because I was in recovery, but now I am well enough to help out here and there as needed. I finished some reading and listening: FDR: the First Hundred Days by Anthony Badger This is a balanced book dealing with the attempts of FDR to face the financial crisis of the great depression, especially with a whirlwind effort in the first 100 days of his administration. The author finds middle ground in the account, admitting that some things could have been done better, but also that it was a time of crisis when something significant had to be done immediately. There are still some who argue that FDR’s efforts prolonged the depression, but they tend to argue that the government should never be involved in these things, that the market would correct itself (not thinking of those who were crushed in the mean time). Theology and Science by Matthew Ogilvie This is an interesting course from Learn25 on whether one can reconcile the finding of science with theology. He avoids the Galileo affair to deal with more modern topics such as evolution, genetics, eugenics, etc. The professor is well versed in Thomistic theology and science and he shares a number of invaluable insights. The Spies of Warsaw by Alan Furst I have read most of the books by Furst. He writes about the period just before World War II and sometimes during the war. His books have covered topics in Parish, Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary and now Poland. This one deals with a spy for the French who is trying to ferrit out German secrets from agents who pass over the border (a year or so before the war began). He has to deal with a bureaucracy which makes his job all but impossible. It is a must read. The Other Side of History: Daily Life in the Ancient World by Robert Garland This is a rather long (48 lectures) and very enjoyable course from the Great Courses that deals with ancient history, but most of all from the perspective of ordinary people (instead of the great names and great dates which are often the main content of histories). The presenter does a fine job of providing ample detail without ever being boring. I would recommend this course even to someone who is only slightly interested in the topic. The Boxer Rebellion by Charles River Editors This was a nativist rebellion at the beginning of the 20th century in China. The country had been sadly exploited by a number of imperialist nations as well as by its own corrupt aristocracy. This is a short account, but it does give quite a bit of information (but as usual, from a European perspective). Central Europe by Richard Hottelet This is a short presentation of the history of the central European nations throughout their history from prehistoric times to the post-communist era. The book is an overview without a lot of detail, but it is wroth reading. Modern Scholar: Shakespeare: Ten Great Comedies by Raphael Shargel This is a course on the comedies of Shakespeare. It is the kind of course that should be accompanied by a reading of the Shakespeare plays. The professor gives some brilliant insights into the action and characters of those plays. It has made me marvel at the insight of this great playwrite. The Gettysburg Gospel by Gabor Boritt This is the story of the short address that Lincoln made at the dedication of the cemetery in Gettysburg after the battle during the summer of 1863. While the speech seemed all but insignificant in comparison with the two hour speech provided by the main spokesman, Edward Everett. Yet, over time Lincoln’s address has been recognized as one of the most significant speeches every written. Agent 110 by Scott Miller This is the story of the head of the OSS office in Switzerland during the war, Allen Dulles, who would eventually become one of the first directors of the CIA. He was a bit of an amateur who was playing as spy, making some mistakes but also providing valuable information on Germany and the German troops in Italty. The Waters of Siloe by Thomas Merton This is a book written by Thoams Merton when he was a young monk in his monastery in Gethsemane. This book was requested by his superiors and it is a quick history of the trappiest movement and an overview of their spirituality. One of the highpoints was the explosion of trappiest vocations right after World War II (partly because of the life changing experience of the war, but also due to the book, the Seven Story Mountain, that Merton had written). Paper by Marc Kurlansky Marc Kurlansky has written a series of brilliant books on various topics such as cod and oysters. This volume presents the story of the invention of paper and its manufacture first in Eastern countries, and then throughout Europe. It speaks of the end of the era of parchment and the rise of printing. The cook is very, very interesting. The Rise of an Empire by Stephen Dando-Collins This is the story of the career of Themistocles, the hero of Athens, who convinced the people to prepare for the coming Persian invasion by building a massive fleet which was able to defeat the Persians in the battle of Salamis. Ironically, this great hero was eventually rejected by the people of Athens who hated anyone who became too important and therefore presented a danger to the democracy (at least in their own view). Have a good week and keep cool. Shalom fr. Jude

Ellicott City

hJune 20 Peace and Good, Summer has arrived early in Baltimore. Today will hit the 90's. Of course, there is an irony that it is hotter in New England. The climate has been crazy this Spring. Floods, heat, fires, etc. I really believe that while part of the change might be due to natural causes, it is still true that our multiplication of Carbon Dioxide levels in the atmosphere is having a big effect. I have been in Ellicott City since my last blog. This Saturday I gave a presentation on prayer in St. Anthony at our Shrine. This is a year of prayer in preparation for our Holy Year next year, a year of a pilgrimage of hope. I outlined the ideas presented in St. Anthony's writings concerning how we come to a true prayer life. The talk went well, and at the end I invited whoever wanted to come to the conference room to ask any questions about the faith that they wanted. That was even better. I hope to do this more often in the future. This Sunday I will fly up to Buffalo to visit family and friends. I decided to fly because it is an 8 hour drive (a bit long for my energy level) and I have tons of frequent flyer miles on Southwest. I finished a project for our friars in Assisi. They are celebrating the centennial of the stigmata of St. Francis, and they prepared a demonstration based on a document that St. Francis himself wrote right around that time. It is a Praise of the Most High God on one side of a piece of parchment and a blessing for one of the friars on the other. I had my fourth immunotherapy on Monday. Eight more to go. This does not affect me as much as the chemo and radiation, but there are still some small side-effects (sleep, digestion, etc.). I finished some reading and listening: William Wallace by History Nerds This is the story of the famous Scottish hero who was portrayed in the film Braveheart by Mel Gibson. Admittedly, there are gaps in information given to the lack of documents in this era (which tended to be produced by monasteries, and also by the victors in the various battles). The Persian Invasion of Greece by Arthur Keaveney This is an overview of the relationship between Greece and Persia, between the West and the East over centuries from the golden age of Greece to the time of Alexander the Great. While not exhaustive, the book is well done and gives a very good outline of the various events. Sea Monsters: A History of Creatures from the Haunted Deep in Legend and Lore by Charles River Editors This is a short overview of many of the accounts of sightings of sea creatures. Most of the book is first hand accounts which tend to be repetitive and not all that informative. The author does speak a bit about scientific theories of what is being seen, but that part of the treatment is relatively light.+ The Incas: Inside an American Empire by Terence D’Altroy This is a tremendous course from Modern Scholar on the Inca people. The professor presents an overview of their history, a treatment of their religious beliefs, a sociological presentation on their culture, a study of their architecture, agriculture, etc. This is a topic of which I knew relatively little, and I feel fully rewarded in having listened to this course. Seven Skeletons by Lydia Payne This is the account of various archeological finds of human skeletons and how they influenced the public’s attitude toward archaeology and evolution. These include Lucy, Peking Man, Hobbit, etc. The account is presented in a light manner to the scientific element of the account is not overwhelming. The Napoleonic Wars by History Nerds This is just a short outline of the rise and fall of Napoleon and the various alliances he formed and battles he fought. The account recognizes his military genius, but also his cruel indifference to the sufferings of the people who were victims to his overwhelming ambition and pride. Pilgrims and Puritans 1620-1676 by Christopher and James Lawrence Collier This is an account of the arrival of the Pilgrims (religious exiles from England) and the Puritans (a group more Calvinistic in their approach of state and religion). They wanted to build a heavenly Jerusalem on the earth. Some of what they did was laudatory, some of it not so much. They were incredibly judgmental and cruel to religious dissidents (which is odd considering that they, themselves, were fleeing religious persecution). They did not always have a good relationship with native Americans. Blessed Fr. Solanus Casey: An Inspiration for Our Faith by Dan Crosby This is a learn25 course on the life of Blessed Solanus Casey, a Capuchin from the mid-west who was beloved by the people whom he served. He was famous for being willing to listen to anyone’s problems and offer spiritual advise, he helped to feed the poor, and he was responsible for many, many miraculous events throughout his life. Living History: Experiencing Great Events of the Ancient World by Robert Garland This is a Teaching Company course on individual events in ancient history from various nations around the world. The professor is entertaining, and the 24 lessons seemed to be too little given the talent of story telling that Garland has. Lotharingia by Simon Winder This is an interesting book that is difficult to classify. It deals with the portion of Europe that makes up Eastern France and Western Germany along with the territories in between. It is part travelogue, part history book, part a reader on the local cultures in this area. This is one of three volumes written in a similar genre (the others being Danubia and Germania). I enjoyed the book, even in the author’s ramblings which at times wandered here and there. C.S. Lewis: Christology and Cosmology by David Fagerberg This Learn25 course goes through the various writings of C.S. Lewis, especially his Narnia volumes, and describes the Christology contained therein. I cannot say that I am that interested in reading the Narnia cycle, but this short course provided me with the information I need to know what it is all about. The professor is extremely well informed about Lewis’ writings, and about their deeper theological significance. The Louvre by Charles River Editors This is a short history of the famous Parisian Museum. It began as a royal palace, but over the years evolved into a center for the collection of artworks of the royal family, and then as a museum open to all. The account speaks of its various collections of sculpture, paintings and prints and other documents. Have a good week. Shalom fr. Jude

Ellicott City

June 12, 2024 Peace and Good, I have some very good news. I had my CT scan this past Monday, and the doctors who examined the results said that I am in remission with my lung cancer. They cannot be sure that everything is complete, so I will continue immunotherapy for the next nine month, with CT scans every three months to see how things are going. But this was a very positive development. I also had a bit of a setback when I developed vertigo last Friday. I was taken to the hospital. This is the first time that I have suffered from it, so it was very confusing and, given my history of cancer, frightening. It turns out that it does not seem to be related to the cancer. It is strange, but I feel that it has given me one more thing by which I can emphatize with people who are suffering from this ailment. I finished my translation of the Italian Children's New Testament stories. I am now working on a presentation for Saturday on prayer in the life of St. Anthony (whose feast is tomorrow). His feastday is tomorrow, but we have a day of recollection on Saturday when more people are free in St. Anthony's honor. This is the year of prayer in preparation for the Holy Year in 2025. I have finished some reading and listening: Thebes: the Forgotten City of Ancient Greece by Paul Cartledge Paul Cartledge is a tremendous author on ancient topics. This book which speaks of Thebes is a good example of his work. Not as famous as Athens or Sparta, Thebes nevertheless played an important role in the history of ancient Greece. It was the legendary birth place of Oedipus. It was destroyed by Alexander the Great for rebellion and to serve as an object lesson to other cities that might consider opposing him. It was considered to be a city that did not play the proper role during the invasion of the Persians. Shadows in the Jungle by Larry Alexander This is an account of the Alamo Scouts during World War II. They were specially trained forces who infiltrated behind enemy lines to spy on them, occasionally to attack certain installations, and even to liberate prisoners of war. They served in the islands of the South Pacific including Philippines. The story of these scouts is well told and inspiring. Empire of Mud: the Secret History of Washington, DC by J.D. Dickey This is a history of the origin of the city of Washington D.C. from its origin to the beginning of the 20th century. The author deals with practical questions (buildings, sewage, paving of roads, hygiene) and with political questions (how the city lost most of its local autonomy in the aftermath of a series of scandals, and also as a way to crush the influence of the African American population of the city). The account is very informative. The Fall of Europe by Fred Majdalany This is basically a history of World War II, but from a European point of view, and from a mostly western point of view (the Soviets are only rarely mentioned). Oddly, the account takes into considerable consideration the period before the war, but then concludes the account with the period around the time of the attempted assassination of Hitler in the Valkyrie affair. Smoke Signal by Marie Benedict This is a novella about Bletchley Park (the secret site in World War II where the enigma code of the Germans was broken). Agatha Christie makes one of the characters a man with the last name of Bletchley. The crew at the Park try to discover whether the name was chosen by accident or purposely chosen. It turns out that Agatha has discovered a band of Soviet spies by accident and is trying to get the attention of the Secret Services to investigate them. Alexander the Great by Kelly Mass This is part of the very short biographies of great figures throughout history. This edition gives good information in a presentation that doesn’t last much more than an hour. The Real History of Witches and Witch Hunts by Thomas Fudge This is a Learn25 course that deals with the phenomenon of people being accused of being witches and put to death. He carefully documents the various trials and tendencies, including such things as torture to force a confession, evidence given by young children, fantastic stories that seem to have been invented to stop the torture, etc. The research is well done. The professor shows how this was both a Catholic and Protestant phenomenon, and he correlates the periods of the worse persecution to other outside factors (religious warfare, famine, etc.) which probably influence the search for a scapegoat. The American Revolution by DK DK is a series of books that are extensive explorations of a topic with a hundred or so somewhat independent essays (but all with the same texture and format). This volume on the American Revolution gives ample information on the causes, conduct and consequences of that war. It is a must read (or listen) for those interested in the topic. The Fever of 1721 by Stephen Cross This is the story of an epidemic of smallpox in Boston in 1721, along with the controversy about the new experiments in inoculation (not yet with cowpox but with a hopefully limited amount of material taken from smallpox pustules). One of the men involved in this was Cotton Mather, the famous Congregationalist preacher who helped in the convictions of the Salem Witch trials. Another was a young Benjamin Franklin who worked in his brother’s press shop. The Cambodian Campaign during the Vietnam War by Charles River Editors This short book speaks about the invasion of Cambodia (and Laos) during the Vietnam War. The author feels that the military has been judged harshly by the press (which by this point of the war were hostile to the governments of the US and Vietnam and the military). The author points out that most of the supplies and reinforcements for the Vietcong were being transported along the Ho Chi Ming trail or were being shipped into the port of Sihanoukville in Cambodia, and that the invasion cut off supplies of arms and food for many months. Eleanor of Aquitaine by Charles River Editors Eleanor is one of those historic figures who seems too sensational to be true. She was married to two kings: that of France and of England. She went on the crusades with her French husband, possibly committing incest with her uncle on the way. She ruled over a large territory in southern France. She rebelled against her husband (Henry) along with two of her sons. She was held under house arrest in a castle for much of the latter part of her life, eventually being freed when her son Richard the Lion hearted took the throne. The March of Folly by Barbara Tuchman Tuchman is a great historical author. This book speaks of a number of episodes in history in which the people engaging in a warlike policy should have known better, but they blinded themselves to some obvious truths because of pride or arrogance or illusion. She speaks of the war with Troy, the wars fought be the Medieval Papacy, the American Revolutionary War and the Vietnam War. In each case, she shows how those involved did have options which they chose to ignore. Have a good week. Shalom fr. Jude