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