Ellicott City

August 24, 2025 Peace and Good, As you can see by the header, I have been all this week. I was actually more home than usual, for I was in my room the whole time getting over covid. I cam down with what I thought was a bad cold this past weekend, but something was just not right. I did not have all the symptoms I would have expected, and had some strange ones. I finally tested myself on Monday morning, and sure enough, I was positive. The time of recovery in my room was good. I read and listened to audiobooks a lot, and I was able to finish an editing project upon which I had been working (revising some of the Good News Notes for reprint). This week I will be at home, largely catching up on appointments that I had to move from this past week. Then a week from Monday, I and fr. Emmanuel will be heading out to California for a retreat at Santa Cruz, a town on the ocean just below San Francisco. I have noticed an interesting development these past months. More and more I am being invited to sessions of faith sharing groups to do a question and answer. I really like doing this sort of thing. It gives people a chance to ask questions of someone which they might have been pondering for a long time. Furthermore, it make me think anew about certain things, and that is always healthy. In theology, it is so easy to use definitions which sound right, but which people (including oneself) don't really understand. I have finished some reading and listening: 7 Days with Pope Francis by Anthony Ciorra This is a rather short presentation of some of the major teachings of Pope Francis in a retreat format. Thus, it is not simply a question of what he taught, but also how to apply those lessons to our spiritual life. It was good, but not tremendously profound. John of the Cross: Poet and Mystic by Keith Egan This was a tremendous study by Learn25 of the life, teachings and writings of St. John of the Cross, the Spanish mystic and contemporary of St. Theresa of Avila. Egan is a Carmelite scholar who is part of the Carmelite John of the Cross study forum. I would recommend this course to anyone who either was interested in John of the Cross or mysticism in general. Gospel of John 101 by Donald Senior This is a Learn25 course on the Gospel of John. Senior is a great Johannine scholar. His overview was very good and informative, but I cannot say that I learned too much that was new. A History of Hitlers Empire by Thomas Childers This is a Great Courses presentation of 24 lectures on the history of the rise, reign and fall of the Hitler empire. I cannot say that I learned anything new, but the course was well presented and informative. Nature of Earth: An Introduction to Geology by John Renton This is a Great Courses study of geology. The professor is good, but this is the type of course that I would like to watch more than once. One of the most interesting thing I learned was how ground water, which we are using at a tremendous rate, is not replenished for many decades if not longer. He also deals with the discovery and use of fossil fuels like oil and coal. A Murder, A Mystery, and a Marriage by Mark Twain This is an unpublished story (until recently) which deals with an ambitious father (ambitious for his own resources) and how he tries to arrange the marriage of his daughter with the man who would bring him the most profit. It is typical of Twain for its twists and turns as well as for the mocking tone taken concerning the greed and pettiness of the father. Descartes in 90 Minutes by Paul Strathern Strathern has put together a series of very short outlines of the lives of famous philosophers and theologians. He presents the person as well as the theories of the person being studied. This volume speaks quite a bit of the personality of Descartes and why his philosophical skepticism led him to the simple conclusion of “I think, therefore I am.,” a conclusion that later philosophers would challenge. Who is Jesus?: An Introduction to Christology by Brian McDermott This is a series of lectures on the person of Jesus, both as revealed in Sacred Scripture and as pictured in the theology of the early Church. The professor speaks of some of the more recent Christological developments as well, showing the strengths of shortfalls of the various positions. The First Thousand Years: A Global History of Christianity by Robert Louis Wilken I was apprehensive when I began to listen to this particular book. I was worried that it might have been a very parochial presentation of early Church history in order to buttress the author’s own belief system. That is not what I found. It was a balanced history of the development of Christianity. It even dealt with many of the Churches of the East which is something that is often left out of the story. The Joys of Ancient History by Various Authors (Great Courses). This is a Great Courses anthology of 36 lectures taken from other courses that deal with various aspects of ancient history. The topics deal with history, myth, religion, sociology, etc. I thoroughly enjoyed the collection and would recommend either this presentation or the courses from which the lectures are taken to anyone. Classical Mythology by Elizabeth Vandiver This is an overview of mostly Greek (with a small amount of Roman) mythology. The presenter is very good, and she begins by examining many of the theories on the development and meaning of classical mythology (e.g. sociology, psychology – whether Freudian or Jungian), the theories of Campbell and others. I find her opinions very balanced and are taken not to advance some pet theory but to try to come to grips with the myths as they stand. Books that Matter: City of God by Charles Mathewes This is an overview of the book written by St. Augustine after the fall of Rome to describe the relationship between the earthly reign and the heavenly reign, the earthy Rome and the heavenly Jerusalem. This is a Great Courses presentation, and the professor outlines the influences upon Augustine, his theology and philosophy, and the history of the times. Have a good week. Shalom fr. Jude

Ellicott City

August 11, 2025 The Feast of St. Clare Peace and Good I have been busy covering Masses and Confessions at the Shrine and the Nursing Home this past week. A number of friars are away for their vacation, and I have been asked to fill in a bit. It is not overwhelming in any way. I have been able to get some work done on daily reflections, but I have not had time for any writing. This past Saturday I and Br. Nick Romeo presented a workshop on the Canticle of the Creatures. Anna, who is the head of our publicity department, had suggested it since this year is the 800th anniversary of that poem (where we get the idea of Brother Sun and Sister Moon). I took the morning speaking about the scriptural background, and he took the afternoon dealing with Franciscan spirituality. We had a great turnout. It should be posted on youtube sometime this or next week. I still have a workshop in mind about the Nicean Creed, given that this is the 1,700th anniversary of that formula. I still have to work out the details, and in the meantime I am researching it a bit. The weather has been blessedly moderate, although these next few days will climb back up into the 90's. I finished some reading and listening: Captive Queen by Alison Weir This is a fictional account of the relationship between Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II of England and Normandy. The author, who has written many books on the monarchy of England during this period, is more than a bit voyeuristic in sexual terms. I have to say I was disappointed because I got the impression that whenever the author did not know what was really going on, then she felt obliged to throw in the complaint that Henry was robbing Eleanor of her authority or to get the two into bed. Wicked Bugs by Amy Stewart This is an overview of bugs that have often proven to be dangerous (to crops, to animals, to people, etc.). Each presentation is short, and the series proves to be a type of anthology. The author is matter of fact, not sensationalistic in any way. Daoism by James Miller This is an explanation of the basic concepts of Daoism and its history, especially in China. It is much more mixed up in mythology and body power flow and ideas such as this. I cannot say that I understood much of what was said, but it was a good first look at the topic and a challenge to go more into depth in the future. Extreme Offenders: Psychological Insights by Katherine Ramsland This is a study of people who have done truly terrible things. The presenter who is a scholar in this matter is clear, honest and discerning. It is not a course (great courses) for the timid, but it does delve into often hidden parts of our society. Language Families of the World by John McWorter This is a study of linguistics throughout the world and the ages. The professor who makes the presentation is well informed and knows how to present a subject that could easily be mind numbing boring in an enjoyable way. I believe that this is the type of presentation that I would want to watch again in the near future to pick up some of what I missed, but even so, I learned a lot. Delphi Collected Paintings of Edvard Munch by Peter Russell One of the few paintings I had ever seen from Munch was the Scream. This overview of his work and his life shows that the angst expressed in that painting was due to his family tragedies (deaths of a number of close relatives, mostly due to tuberculosis) as well as his inherited mental illness. It is interesting, though, that while his anxiety ridden paintings are emphasized, few speak of his beautiful nature scenes. Maybe nature was the only place he was able to find the peace he so desperately sought. Anaximander by Carlo Rovelli This is the story of one of the first Greek philosophers. He was part of the movement which no longer attributed changes to the gods but rather sought natural forces to explain them. Anaximander, for example, was able to propose that the earth was floating upon nothing rather than lying on some foundation (thus changing our view of the cosmos). While the scientific exposition was very good, the author gets caught up in an anti-religion polemic that was embarrassing because of his histrionics. The Internment of German Americans during World War II by Charles River Editors We often hear about the internment of the Japanese Americans during World War II, but this short book deals with that of German Americans (and Italian Americans). While there were some real sympathizers and even spies for the Germans, most of those sent to camps or repatriated to Germany were simply people who had come from Germany in the inter-war years. Their story is not all that well told, largely because they had to swear a secrecy oath before they were released. This is a part of history that we often don’t hear about. Spies in Tudor England by Charles River Editors This is the story of the network of spies (internal and external) during the reign of Henry VIII and especially of Elizabeth I. Some of the spy craft was political, but there was also religious spy craft as well (which the author of this short treatment is hesitant to admit). I know that Catholic forces were not entirely blameless of the situation, but I don’t like it when they are presented as the only bad actors in a confused situation. Popes and the Papacy by Thomas Noble This is a Great Courses treatment of the papacy in 24 lectures. The professor is very respectful to the tradition and teachings of the papacy. He is not hesitant to admit shortcomings (and certain periods of the papacy that were terribly scandalous). Yet, his goal is not to push one position over another, but to be as clear as he can about confusing details. I very much enjoyed his treatment. Life in Ancient Rome by Lionel Casson This is a short overview of some of the history and customs of ancient Rome. It especially deals with the period which runs from the beginning of the imperial state to the end of the reign of Marcus Aurelius. It does not deal with any topic in depth, but is a good read nevertheless. Turning Point by Jeffery Deaver This is a short novel about catching a serial killer by setting a trap that he could not resist. The story is well written and filled with twists and turns. Have a good week. Shalom fr. Jude

Ellicott City

August 4, 2025 Peace and Good, I hope you are all well. Here in Baltimore we are enjoying several days of beautiful weather after a very long stretch of uncearable heat. I have been at home helping out at the shrine and the nursing home. A good number of friars are on vacation these days, so the needs of those two sites are a bit more than is usual, but I really don't mind. I have been doing a lot of spiritual direction, and I have had to hit the pause button a few times in these months to ask people to wait for a couple of months before I would begin with them. The reason is that I tend to get a rush of new people, and I don't want to start new people too soon lest I get confused about their story. At this point I am asking people to get in touch with me at the end of October. I always feel a bit guilty about saying this, but I have to keep remembering that I cannot save the whole world all by myself. I hope to start of bit of writing in the next couple of days. I have to revise some of the Good News notes for reprint. I also have a project to do a guided tour of a series of panels which speak of the life of St. Anthony. That one is going to take more time than I expected, but I find I can only really write things when I am in the mood. I finished some reading and listening: Medieval Christianity by Christopher Bellitto Bellitto is proving to be one of my favorite professors. This is a Learn25 presentation, and Bellitto manages to present a good overview of the history and customs and religious movements of Medieval Christianity. He is very balanced in his approach, and very, very informative. I would recommend any of his courses to anyone who would ask. The Enduring Genius of Frederick Law Olmstead by Adam Rome This is a short Great Courses presentation on the designer of Central Park in New York City. I also found out in this presentation that he did quite a bit of park design in my native city, Buffalo. The professor speaks especially of Olmstead’s theories concerning the city’s obligation to provide a proper living space for people to gather beyond class divisions. His theories of park development have much more to do with the need of people for breathing room in a chaotic environment than anything else. Revolutionary Summer by Joseph Ellis Ellis is one of the preeminent authors about the revolutionary period, and this book deals with the summer of 1776, from the situation in Boston and the evacuation of British troops there, to the defeats that Washington suffered in the New York area, to the movement toward independence at the Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia. His treatment of the topic is masterful. Great Masters: Stravinsky by Robert Greenburg This is a great courses presentation of the great composer Stravinsky. The professor is well verses and funny, but I cannot say that I enjoy Stravensky’s music. I find it too modern for my taste and strange. Greenburg is a big fan of his music, but I just don’t get it. Saint Peter: Upon This Rock by Raymond Collins This is a Learn25 presentation of the role of St. Peter, especially as seen in the writings of the New Testament. I had greater expectations than were met in listening to this course. Too much of it is simply a recitation of relevant verses. There are a few good insights, but not all that many. Strong Men Armed by Robrt Lackie This is a history of the battles fought by the Marines during the Pacific theatre of World War II. There is an overview of the Marine’s role and the American plans for the war, but also there are considerable first hand accounts of what happened. It runs from Guadalcanal to Okinawa. Resurrection and the Afterlife by Candida Moss This is the presentation by an English theologian about early beliefs in the resurrection and the afterlife (before, during and after the time of Jesus). I did find this treatment quite useful, especially in terms of the apocalyptic movements in scripture and in the Jewish community at the time of Jesus (which helps us understand how his listeners would have interpreted his message). Nature Watching: How to Find and Observe Wildlife by Casey McFarland This is a Great Courses video presentation on the practice of tracking wildlife. I listened to it to get general ideas about the practice and not necessarily to be able to track deer or bear in the woods. McFarland is very excited about his material, and he presents his insights in an almost religious atmosphere (without exaggeration). It was quite good. The Scorpion’s Tail by Lincoln Child and Douglas Preston This is the story of the discovery of a dead body and a treasured golden cross that leads to greater discoveries on a Native American reservation and an Army base in the middle of nowhere. The action is good and convoluted (in a good way). The one flaw I saw in the novel was the need of the authors to throw in the presence of Inspector Pendergast. He has nothing to do with the story at all except that he is the mentor of Cory, the lead FBI agent on the investigation. Yet, he shows up in the last scene to make a discovery that no one even knew was there. Liberty and Crisis: The History of the American Revolution during 1776 by Charles River Editors This is a short (100 page) presentation on the beginning of the revolutionary war, dealing especially with what happened in the Boston area at the start of the war, the production of the declaration of independence, and the New York campaign. Cave of Bones by Anne Hillerman This is part of a series of books about police officers in the Navaho police force and their attempt to solve crimes on the reservation. In this case, there is a confusing array of the disappearance of a guide, the illegal sale of native artifacts, tribal politics, etc. The series was begun by Anne’s father, and she has carried on the story with a slightly different spin. Both authors are good and worth reading. Opium by Martin Booth This is a study of the use of opium throughout the ages. Booth speaks of its chemistry, of the various products that can be obtained (e.g. heroin, opium powder, codeine, etc.). He also speaks of attempts to limit or spread its use over the ages (think of the opium wars in the 19th century when the British empire fought for the right to sell its drugs in China). One of the elements of the story that was very interesting was how governments and spy agencies (including the CIA) have been involved in its growth and marketing (at times actively, at other times by ignoring its promulgation). Boss Tweed by Charles River Editors This is a short presentation on the career of the head of the Tammany Hall group in New York city who governed politics in the city for a couple of decades after the Civil War and who used their political and juridical power to rob the city of millions and millions of dollars, as well as fixing elections during that period of time. Have a good week. Shalom fr. Jude

Ellicott City

July 26, 2025 The Memorial of Saints Joachim and Ann Grandparents Day Peace and Good, These past couple of weeks have been the longest spread of hot, hot, hot weather that I remember in Baltimore. This week we might go up to 100. I have been doing most of my daily walks inside out house (which has a long walkway from one end of the building to the other). I have finished editing the Lectors' Workbook for next year. That is really not such a big project since I have been doing this for years, and the new books are just a revision of what we have already done. I have been able to get caught up with my daily podcasts for the scripture readings each day at Mass. I always like to be at least a couple of weeks ahead of time lest something happen and I not be able to record them for a while. This week I have been helping out at the shrine quite a bit, including a funeral this past Tuesday. The local church, St. Louis, is closed for renovation, and they have asked us to pick up some of their funerals and weeddings. I am getting ready for a workshop on the Canticle of the Creatures on August 9. This is the 800th anniversary of the poem written by St. Francis celebrating creation. The poem is the first piece of poetry written in Italian (as far as we know). Previously poetry had been written in Latin. Some people say that this move to the vernacular was the beginning of the Renaissance. I will also be working on a project due by the end of the month. I have been asked to write a script on a virtual tour of a series of large pictures on the life of St. Anthony which hangs in the main coridor of the Shrine. I have finished some reading and listening: Lectures on the Gospel of Mark by Rowan Williams I have heard that Rowan Williams was the best theologian who was the Archbishop of Canterbury since St. Anselm. These lectures were a type of Holy Week retreat on the Gospel of Mark. I can believe the theological reputation mentioned above. Williams is informative, thoughtful, and spiritual. He weighs the various possible positions, showing how they are stronger or weaker. It was a joy listening to these lectures. The Beast by Faye Kellerman This is a detective story which begins with an elderly billionaire found in his modest apartment with a Bengal Tiger running lose in the room. The team must deal with a host of suspects, and a host of complications in the story, especially when human body parts are found among the tiger’s food packages. It is a good story. Aquinas for Armchair Theologians by Timothy Renick This is part of a series on theologians and philosophers. Each presentation is one hour long to three hours. This one was on the longer side of the spectrum. The author gives a good biography and a good evaluation of the positions of Aquinas. He also has a great sense of humor, so the text does not get bogged down in theoretical positions. I especially appreciated his discussion of just war, of the principle of double effects, of natural law, etc. The Seven Sacraments by Daniel Van Slyke This is a Learn25 presentation. The author is a canon lawyer, so the presentation of the sacraments is technically perfect, but there is very little passion in the presentation. Furthermore, the professor shows an interesting fascination with the Latin liturgy. I really could not recommend this course. Why Sustainable Energy Matters by OpenLearn OpenLearn gives short presentations on various topics. This particular one is on sustainable energy. The author first of all presents the state of affairs today. Then she speaks of various green alternatives (both pro-active such as producing energy, and passive, designing structures and tasks in ways that uses less energy). The author is honest on both the advantages and difficulties and downsides of each technology. Spycraft: the Secret History of the CIA’s Spytechs by Robert Wallace, etc. This is an examination of the secret techniques of spycraft (acting as a spy, but especially the technology they would use such as cameras, communication devices, listening devices, etc.). The material comes from those who have worked on these things, so the presentation is informative and at times tascinating. Meditations on Christ’s Seven Last Words by Laurie Brink This is an examination of the seven last sayings of Jesus along with a concrete modern-day application. The material was OK, but not overly profound. I found myself listening to some of the presentations just to come to a finish of the “retreat”. Museum Masterpieces: The National Gallery by Catherine Scallen This is an overview of the various periods of paintings held by the National Gallery in London. The presenter is an art scholar who obviously loves her job and the collection found at the National Gallery. One is able to see the changes in technique from the earliest period of painting up to the beginning of the 20th century (for the collection ends there). It is well worth watching. 1776 by David McCullough We like to think of the spirit of ’76, a heroic and victorious time in American history. But this book by McCullough (who is a tremendous history author) shows that it was also a disastrous time when Washington and his troops were expelled from New York and lost Philadelphia, the capital of the nation, to the British. It was only the Christmas battle in Trenton in which Washington surprised a large camp of Hessian mercenaries and captured many of them that let the year end on a high note which gave the nation hope for a possible victory in their quest for freedom. Heliopolis by Charles River Editors This is the city in ancient Egypt that was dedicated to the worship of the Sun god. It had its ups and down, dependent upon who was ruling Egypt and which cult he had chosen to be the most important in his empire. Very little of the original city is left, largely having been used for building material by subsequent settlers in this area. Fort Henry by Jonathan Gianos-Steinberg This was one of the first battle of the Civil War and the first major victory for northern troops (led by General Grant but assisted by the Navy Commander Foote). This was the first moment in which Grant came to the attention of the nation. The battle itself was not all that significant, given that a good part of the fort was flooded because of the South having chosen a bad location for its layout, and also because a good part of the troops had already evacuated the fort before the battle even began. Lusitania: Triumph, Tragedy, and the End of the Edwardian Age by Greg King and Penny Wilson This is the passenger ship running from New York to Great Britain in 1915 that was sunk by a German torpedo in 1915, with a huge loss of life, including many Americans. Much of the account deals with the people on board, their lives, etc. Who was to blame? The British had actually made this ship into a part of the British navy, so it could not claim that it was a civilian ship. They were also carrying munitions aboard. The Germans gave no warning before they fired the torpedo(s). There are also the faults of the crew who did not maintain the life boats well or prepare the passengers ot use them if there were an emergency. To sum it up, they were all at fault to a certain degree. Utopia and Terror in the 20th Century by Vejas Gabriel Liulevicius This is a Great Courses (24 lectures) course on some of the utopian and often totalitarian movements during the 20th century (e.g. communism, fascism, national socialism, etc.). Liulevivius is a good scholar and presenter. He brings out the similarities and differences of the various groups and their expressions in various countries. This is a good course. Have a good week. Shalom fr. Jude

Ellicott City - Priestfield, WV - Buffalo - Ellicott City

July 12, 2025 Peace and Good, I hope that everyone is enjoying the summer. The weather here in Baltimore is hot and sticky, which is most often is at this time of year. This has been a busy few weeks. On June 9 I had a morning rpesentation ono the encyclical that Pope Francis had written on the Sacred Heart. It was the feast of the Sacred Heart, so it worked perfectly. I was very pleased with how it turned out, and it is now posted on youtube. That evening I went out to the retreat house in Charlestown, WV to preach (with another friar) to a group of secular Franciscans on a weekend retreat. The topic was how they could better minister to each other as brothers and sisters, especially as some of their number are aging and can become isolated. Then, Monday through Friday I gave a retreat to a group of Trinitarians at the retreat house in Mariottsville, MD, not too far down the streat from where I live. The topic was what we can learn from the Wisdom literature in the Old Testament. I enjoyed working with the group. There were about 20 of them. Then, this past weekend I flew up to Buffalo for a memorial Mass for my sister Marge at the chapel of our friary at St. Francis High School. That, too, went very well. I wish I had had more time to spend with the family, but I had to fly back to Baltimore that afternoon because I had a doctor's appointment the next morning. That appointment was a periodic CT scan of my lungs. From what I can tell from the report (I have not yet met with the doctors), it looks very good. I finished some reading; Jerusalem by Leslie Hoppe Leslie Hoppe is a Biblical scholar who is famous for his archaeological trips to the Holy Land. This Learn25 course gives the history of Jerusalem, its importance to Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and its importance and future. This is a good course with each topic thoroughly and clearly presented. I would recommend this course to anyone interested in the topic. Renaissance Woman by Ramie Targoff This is the story of Vittoria Colonna, a woman who lived in Italy during the time of Michaelangelo. She was married to an important member of the Colonna family, one of the leading families in Rome for centuries. Instead of remarrying when her husband died, she dedicated herself to religion and poetry. She was one of the first woman poets to have a book of her poems published in Italy. A good part of the book tries to show how she was fascinated by Lutheranism, although I did not get the feeling that what the author describes as Protestant ideas really were than. Mary, Mother of Jesus by Bertrand Buby This is a Learn25 course with 24 lectures on the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary in our faith and our lives. Buby is a Marianist. His presentations are not all that good. Much of the time is taken up with quoting citations or prayers. His examples from his own life are not all that inspiring. His conclusions are not always firmly based (more devotional than analytically demonstrated). Convict Colony by David Hill This is the story of the foundation of the convict colony of the British Empire in Australia. Given that the laws of Great Britain were draconian and their prisons were willed and the American colonies where they had often deported prisoners had been lost, the British had to find another land to serve as a holding cell for their prisoners. They sent them far away to Australia, often without the means for survival. The early history of the Australian colony is filled with violence (often coming from the hands of those in charge), fraud and exploitation, etc. It was only gradually that the British government came to understand more fully what was happening and stepped in to provide a better government for them. Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer This is the story of some murders committed by a small group of fundamentalist Mormons (this offshoot represents only about ½ of one percent of the Mormon body). The author compares and contrasts this movement to the founding of the religion and their migration to the Salt Lake City area. That foundation story, too, is quite violent and it is a period about which Mormons don’t often speak and at times dissemble about. At the end of the book, the author wrestles with the question of what causes certain people to become fanatical to the point of being willing to kill others. Artemesia Gentilesci by Delphi Art Classics This is one of the Delphi books which speak of individual artists and which show all of their extant works. Artemesia Genetilesci is unusual for this artist was a woman in a time when almost all other artists were men. The description of her life, her works, her artistic style, etc. are very well done. Rollo of Normandy by Chronicle Press This is the first book that I have received from Chronicle Press, which gives their books for free the first day they are listed on kindle. This one did not over impress me. About one third of the book is devoted to a futile attempt to identify Rollo (an ancestor of William the Conqueror in the literature of the Vikings. Basically, Rollo made a deal with the king of France to take over Normandy and surrounding territories in return for the promise to stop raiding the rest of France (an, in fact, help to stop other Vikings from doing this as well.). The 1928 Lake Okeechobee Hurricane by Charles River Editors This is the story of a horrendous hurricane that hit southern/central Florida from the ocean side. The greatest damage was done in the environs of Lake Okeechobee where there were many farms. The lake had a series of dykes and levees, but they were all destroyed by the horrendous surge in the level of the lake. Most of those who were killed in the disaster were the poor farm workers, mostly people of color. Ancient Palmyra by Charles River Editors We do not hear much about Palmyra today, but it was a major trading city in the Mid-East during and after the time of Jesus. One of its most famous monarchs was Zenobia, who acting as regent for her son, threatened the power of Rome throughout this part of the world. Palmyra was brought low after this rebellion, and it never recovered its status in the ancient, medieval or modern world. Unsung Heroes of World War II by Lynne Olson I have read a couple of books written by this professor, and so it was a joy to see her give a series of presentations on the Great Courses series on people about whom we might not have heard much, but who played a significant role in the course of World War II (in Europe). This includes people in the underground, politicians, kings and queens, etc. This was a very good, very informative course. Act of Oblivion by Robert Harris I think I have read everything that Harris has written, including his trilogy on Cicero and his book on Dreyfus. This book deals with the period after the death of Oliver Cromwell and the restoration of the Stuart dynasty to the throne of Great Britain. Parliament passed an act that all of the signers of the decree of condemnation to death of King Charles I were to be punished. This book deals with one man from this new regime who searches for two of the signers in the colonies of the new world. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, as I do with all of his books. Lewis and Clark by Ralph Andrist This is a short account of the Lewis and Clark expedition. Only enough information to fill out the gaps is given of the lives of these two explorers. That which is recounted, though, is quite good and gives a good sense of the heroic nature of their mission to explore the newly acquired Louisiana territory all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Have a good restful week. Shalom fr. Jude

Ellicott City - Pittsburgh - Ellicott City

June 25 Peace and good, It is hot, hot, hot. The ehat and humidity remind me of Western Africa. I have been busy mostly with work at the Shrine, spiritual direction, and assistanct at St. Joesph's Nursing Home. I have also been working on editing some works by authors who asked me to check out their works. This Friday in the morning I have a presentation on the encyclical that Pope Francis wrote on the Sacred Heart. Then in the afternoon I head over to Priestfield in West Virginia to help preach a weekend retreat to a group of Secular Franciscans. Sunday I help out at a local parish fror 5 pm Mass, and then Monday I begin a retreat nearby with the Trinitarian priests. It is going to be a very busy week. This past weekend I had a great day of recollection for a group from the Legion of Mary from Germantown, MD. It was a very interesting group of people, with the majority being either from Africa or Korea. I love working with groups like that, especially handling the question and answer sessions after I finish my presentation. I never know what they will ask, which means I have to stay very alert. I learn so much from their questions. I headed over to Pittsburgh a week ago to visit one of my spsiritual directees and I got to see my sister-in-law and nephew as well. It was a very good trip. I finished some books; Napoleon’s Worst Defeats by Charles River Editors This is a Charles River presentation of some of Napoleon’s battles. It deals with his Egyptian invasion, the defeat of his fleet there and at Trafalgar, his defeat in Russia and then in Germany, and then Waterloo. The Charles River books are getting longer and more detailed. They used to be around 50 pages, but have beefed up to around 120 pages (which still a short book, but now much, much longer than Wikipedia articles). Wesley for Armchair Theologians by William Abraham This is an overview of the life and teachings of Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement. It goes into his successes in developing his theology (largely as in opposition to the Presbyterian idea of predestinationist beliefs). Yet, Wesley tried to call people to a true conversion that could only be undertaken by the grace of God. Abraham shows how Wesley succeeded and failed in his attempt to craft a fully developed theology. Most Dangerous Place by Amtiaz Gul This is an account of what happened in northwest Pakistan, the tribal areas, during the days of Osama bin Laden and his successors. One sees the collision of deeply traditional cultures, outside Islamic influences, and the central government of Pakistan. There were so many dimensions to the story that it almost seems as if one is playing three dimensional chess. Origins and Ideologies of the American Revolution by Peter Mancall This is a rather long course from the Great Courses (48 lectures) on what preceded and what followed the American Revolution. I was a bit surprised at how little Mancall actually spoke about the revolution itself. The material he presents is well organized and most informative. I especially appreciated the discussion of the aftermath of the revolution and the writing of the constitution which sought to give some order to the governance of the new nation. In the Footsteps of Vincent van Gogh by Jean-Pierre Isbouts This is a Great Courses presentation which I watched on video (which for this course is essential, given the topic). Isbouts gives a great presentation on the life and the paintings of Van Gogh. It is not filled with psychologizing theories, although it does touch the topic of Vincent’s mental illness. One can see the growth of Van Gogh’s talent and also of the effect of his personal life upon his artwork. I highly recommend this course. England: From the Fall of Rome to the Norman Conquest by Jennifer Paxton This is a nice overview filled with a bit of humor here and there. It is part of a series on the history of England up to the present day. I would not say that it is scholarly, but it is a nice read. The Firebombing of Tokyo by Charles River Editors During the last years of World War II, the United States adopted a form of bombing in Japan which was designed to cause the greatest fire damage possible. More people, in fact, were killed in the fire bombing of Tokyo than in the atomic bomb explosions. This process was designed and run by Curtis LeMay. There are very serious moral questions of whether it is legitimate to bomb areas which one knows to be major population centers with the purpose of destroying homes and killing civilians who could work in the production of arms for the war. Mountains of the Pharaohs by Zahi Hawass This is the story of the construction and the archaeology of the pyramids by an archaeologist who has worked on excavations on these sites. Some of the information is most interesting, especially because it is presented from a firsthand perspective. Unfortunately, the author insists in giving long, complicated genealogies that are more confusing than helpful. Overall, it was a good read. Aa Short History of Medicine by Steve Parker This is a long presentation of the history of medicine from ancient to modern times through a long series of short articles on individual topics. It is part of the DK series which is all written in the same style. It is the kind of a book that one can listen to or read a small bit at a time. The Gunseller by Hugh Laurie This is a book by the actor Hugh Laurie that speaks of a former British special services member who is caught up in a plot to manufacture a fake terrorist attack so a group of arms merchants (and governmental officials in their pay) might sell a new weapon which could be of service in future terrorist attacks on cities. The pace is super-fast, and the dialog is both comical and filled with semi-hidden meanings. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this presentation. The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery This is the story of the relationship between the author and a series of octopuses (yes, she said that is the right plural form because the word comes from two Greek and not Latin words). She speaks of their intelligence, their personalities, and their life cycle. It is a book filled with the wonder which she experienced by entering into a totally strange and yet magical world. Vatican II: Understanding and Living the Spirituality of the Council by Anthony Ciorra This is a very well done series of the spirituality that was behind the calling and the documents of the Second Vatican Council. Rather than being a council to correct errors of some group in the Church, the Second Vatican Council was called to do theology in the modern world, to find a way to share the faith in a whole new atmosphere. The professor concentrates on the universal call to holiness and the outreach to people who were often not considered all that much in previous councils. I recommend this Learn25 presentation. Have a good week and stay cool. fr. Jude Saint Bonaventure by Louis Costelloe This is a biography by a Franciscan author on St. Bonaventure. It is not much more than an outline of his life, but for that it serves a good purpose.

Ellicott City - Ocean City

June 13, 2025 The Feast of St. Anthony of Padua Peace and Good. i amanged to get away for a week, staying at the condo that the friars have in Ocean City, MD. I usually become like a hibernating bear when I go there, not wanting to do a lot of things other than walk and pray and read. i managed to study the encyclical that Pope Francis wrote last year on the Sacred Heart. I am giving a talk on the feast of the Sacred Heart, June 27. I feel like I am ready for that presentation. I have two retreats in the days following (a weekend retreat and a full week retreat) which I must still prepare. The weather here has warmed up considerably. Summer has arrived, but at least the humidity is not yet miserable. Tomorrow we have a big celebration for the feast of St. Anthony with a speaker and other events. I will help out a bit by leading a discussion session in the afternoon. I have been giving a few sessions to small groups lately. They usually have a given topic, but then during the question and answer period, they roam all over the place. I finished some reading and listening; The Confederacy on the Brink by Charles River Editors This is the story of the major battles of the Civil War from the period after the First Battle of Manassas til the Second Battle of Manassas, which includes all of the battles of the Peninsula, the Seven Days around Richmond, and the battles of General Jackson in the Shenandoah. Given the skill of many of the Confederate army leaders and the lack of talent of the earliest northern army leaders, it is a wonder that the north eventually won. The Printing Press by Charles River Editors This short presentation gives a good overview of the invention and spread of the printing press. This, however, is one book of the Charles River Editors that could have used a good editor. I like most of their presentations, but the entire middle of this book is packed with material on Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation. While that period of time was important for the growth of printing, the author insists on giving tons of history on Luther that has nothing to do with printing. The Lord and His Prayer by N.T. Wright I have really been impressed with the writings of this theologian. His primary thesis is that Jesus came into the world to proclaim and inaugurate the Kingdom of God. Thus, this is his emphasis as he speaks of the prayer which Jesus himself taught his disciples. It is both a surrender to the will of God and the incarnation of that will in the lives of those who are praying it. World War II: Air War: An American Heritage Series by Stephen Sears This is an overview of the growth of the Army Air Corps’ contribution to the air battles of World War II. It is not all that long a presentation, but it gives a good idea of why they had such a difficulty in many of their earlier raids (i.e. the lack of a fighter that could accompany the bombers to the target) and of how they collaboration with the British forces (i.e. the Americans tended to bomb during the day while the British bombed at night). The Apocryphal Gospels by Bernard Buby This is an overview of some of the most important apocryphal gospels during the early centuries of the Church. These are the Gospels that were not included in the canon. Most of them were not accepted because of their Gnostic tendencies – presenting a Jesus which was very unlike the one presented in the canonical Gospels. Others contain some information which might be authentic (e.g. the names of Mary’s parents), but that information and the saying of Jesus are mixed with material which is clearly unacceptable. This was a Learn25 course. The Sugar Barons: Family, Corruption, Empire and War in the West Indies by Matthew Parker This is the story of the sugar barons during the colonial period in the Caribbean. The author deals with periphery topics (such as the relationship between the English and French and Dutch). He speaks extensively of the horror of the slave trade and the degradation in which the slaves lived. He also speaks of the tropical indolence and excesses into which many of the planters fell. 1066 and Before All That: The Battle of Hastings, Anglo-Saxon, and Norman England by Ed West This is a book which deals with England before, during and after the invasion of the Normans in 1066. The author has a dry sense of humor which I greatly appreciated. It is not that I learned anything new in the book, but it was a great review of the topic. Delphi Complete Works of Giovanni Battista Tiepolo by Peter Russell This is part of the Delphi Art series which is a great collection of studies upon the lives and works of famous artists throughout the ages. Tiepolo is a Venetian artist during the Baroque and Rococo era of art. I cannot say that I like his work all that much, but it was good to learn about his background, his techniques, etc. Under Occupation by Alan Furst Furst is by far one of my favorite authors. This is a story set in Nazi occupied Paris during the Second World War. The author of a series of detective novels accidentally comes upon some information which he passes on to the underground. The recruit him and help him set up a small network to hide operatives. He eventually must escape from the Nazis when they unravel the netword. The Hidden History of the Boston Tea Party by Adam Jortner This 6 lecture course deals with the situation in colonial America which led to the Boston Tea Party, how it was played out, and the eventually political consequences of the action. There is no sensationalism in the course, just the facts (both objective and subjective – e.g. what was going through the minds of those who perpetrated it). Hiroshima Nagasaki: The Real Story of the Atomic Bombings and their Aftermath by Paul Ham This is a very thorough treatment of the use of the atom bomb on two Japanese cities during the Second World War. It includes an overview of the politics and beliefs of the era, the development of the bomb, the specific decision to use the bomb on cities, etc. It also speaks of the aftermath and even of the attempt of the US to downplay the effects of radiation upon the bombing victims. Understanding the Dark Side of Human Nature by Daniel Breyer This was a very interesting overview of the darker side of human nature, e.g. evil desires violent thoughts or actions, culpability for thoughts and actions, etc. The professor draws a lot upon Eastern thought, but every so often also includes Christian beliefs. It is the type of course that I would like to put aside for a while and listen to it once again. Gunpowder by Charles River Editors This short gives the history of gunpowder from its earliest days (China or possibly India) through its changes over the years. It speaks of how it was first used for medicinal and entertainment reasons (fireworks), but eventually came to be used in guns and cannons. It was only the invention of non-smoking powder that would not give away the location of a shooter and of other forms of explosive that led to the lessening of the use of gunpowder. Have a good week. Shalom fr. Jude

Ellicott City - Ocean City, MD

June 2, 2025 Peace and Good, This has been a very busy period with service at the Shrine and the St. Joseph Rest Home, along with spiritual direction. I am now taking a week at a condo that the friars have at Ocean City. I do not really go to the beach. I end up walking along the sidewalks while I listen to my MP3 with books on tape. I also sit reading and listening to the waves. The sound of the waves calms me down in an instant. I have been able to get ahead in my taping of podcasts on the daily readings for the Mass. I am working right now on editing a couple of books that people have asked me to examine. I am also reading to get ready for a few presentations that I will be doing at the end of the month. I have also given a few presentations to fraternities of the Secular Franciscans. We friars have a profound obligation to work together with the Seculars, but we often do not do enough to walk with them on their spiritual journey. I have finished some reading and listening: The Psalms: Your Model and Guide to Prayer by Michael Guinan This is a Learn25 course on the psalms. The presenter gives many aspects to the composition and use of the psalms, but some of his lectures left me wanting to hear more. He has the tendency to fill in a good amount of time by citing the verses of psalms, something that I felt I could have done on my own. A Franciscan Retreat by Bill Short Bill Short, OFM, is a great Franciscan scholar. This presentation from Learn25 is a series of 12 lectures on Franciscan spirituality as applied to our everyday lives. It is well done, both from an accurate presentation of what Francis and Clare said and did, and from the application of their insights to our daily life. It was a joy to listen to his lectures/conferences. White Collar Criminal Law Explained by Randall Eliason This is a course presented by a federal prosecuting attorney who deals with while collar crime. He describes the various forms of criminal activity, the pertinent laws involved, the cases that helped refine the application of the law (e.g. Supreme Court Decisions), etc. The course is very informative and well presented. Secrets of the Occult by Richard Spence This is a Great Courses presentation on occult practices throughout the ages. Spence has tons of information, but he has the uncomfortable tendency to unite facts that could easily be coincidences and then imply that one proved the other. He always gives a disclaimer when doing this, but then he makes it clear that he really does not intend the disclaimer. Nevertheless, he does deal with some topics about which I knew very little before this presentation. Our Night Sky by Edward Murphy This is a Great Courses video presentation. The professor is a great fan of astronomy, especially at the amateur level. He explains how to do one’s observations of the stars, what one will find at different times of the year and the night, and even the mythological background for the names of various constellations. Savage Continent by Keith Lowe We tend to think that with the fall of Nazi Germany, the violence and disruption of World War II ended quickly. This book shows that this was not the case. There were millions of displaced people wandering over a devastated area. There were ancient and recent hatreds and attempts at revenge. There were the attempts to settle with those who had cooperated with the Germans. While Lowe goes out of his way not to create an exaggerated account, his information nevertheless is quite disturbing. Greek Tragedy by Elizabeth Vandiver This is a course from the Great Courses company on Greek tragedy: why, how, who, etc. Vandiver goes through the most important of the remaining plays and speaks of how they relate both to other works and to the myths upon which they are almost always based. The presentation is very good, and the professor brings out interesting side points that help to complete the picture of what was really going on. Lake Wobegon Days by Garrison Keillor This is a series of humorous stories about growing up and living in a somewhat isolated community in Minnesota. There are a couple which are more cynical than humorous, but for the most part they are good and entertaining. The material is part of the Prairie Home Companion series. The Last Days of Hitler by Hugh Trevor-Roper This is an account of the last days before Hitler committed suicide in his bunker. It is based upon eye-witness testimony of those who survived those days. It is horrific to see how the madness of the regime could reach this level. It is not an entertaining book, but informative. Greece against Rome by Philip Matyszak This is an account of the relationship between Rome and the Greek successor states to the empire of Alexander the Great. It is an incredibly confusing period (especially since so many of the characters insist on having the same name generation after generation). Yet, Matyszak manages to tell the story in an entertaining way, especially throwing out comments that lighten the tedium. War and World History by Jonathan Roth This is a very long Teaching Company course on the interplay between war and culture throughout recorded history. It is an odd sort of a collection, very often dealing with topics that have little to do with war as such. Yet, the lectures were always interesting, and the professor’s conclusions were quite insightful. I think one of the most important insights that I gained was the interplay between military preparedness and the economy of the nation state. How the Spanish Civil War Became Europe’s Battlefield by Pamela Radcliff This is a tremendous course from the Teaching Company on the Spanish Civil War. The presenter is fair to all sides, and does not accept easy conclusions on the causes, conduct and effect of the war. She even speaks about how the memory of those events are still unsettled in the minds and the hearts of the Spanish people today. Reconsidering JFK by Michael Shelden This is a Teaching Company course on the presidency of JFK. It is a very fair evaluation, showing his incredible political talents but also his incredible self-destructive attitude toward his sexual liaisons. The account is at its best in the treatment of crisis moments in the presidency, such as the Bay of Pigs invasion, the Geneva summit with Kruschev, and the Cuban missile crisis. Have a good week. Shalom fr. Jude

Ellicott City

May 18, 2025 Peace and Good, This has been a busy week with helping out at the Shrine and a couple of outside ministry calls. I finished editing the children's book on Carlo Acutis that I have been writing, and we are now waiting for art work to come in. That usually takes a couple of months. They used to use an artist in Italy, and I don't know if that is still the case. The season has changed to summer here. Everything on the property is blooming and beautiful. Of course, that means plenty of pollin, which means my hay feaver activated, which means I ended up with a sinus infection. This is pretty normal for me. Thank goodness for Minute Clinics - it makes things so much easier. I have a request. Could you please keep my sister Marge in your prayers. She passed away on Friday. She had a lot of difficulties during her life, and I really hope she is experiencing peace right now. I finished some books; “J” by Ed McBain A rabbi is killed, and a group of antisemites are suspected. This is especially because the letter J had been painted on the wall of the alley where the murder occurred. The police assume that it stands for “Jew”, and therefore was a calling card of the murderer. The story, though, twists and turns until the truth is discovered. The Secret History of World War II by Various Authors This is a long compilation of accounts of various sky efforts by the allies in order to obtain information about the war plans of Nazi Germany and Japan. The book comes across as a collection of short Wikipedia articles. Storm by Ed McBain This is a standard 50’s and 60’s detective story in which a detective takes a vacation weekend with a new girlfriend, and they get involved with the murder one of the sky instructors. The dialog is not profound in any way, but the telling of the story is entertaining. Hegel in 90 Minutes by Paul Strathern Strathern is a brilliant presenter of history topics. This is part of a series of short introductions to philosophers and other thinkers. He gives an outline of the life and the teachings of this figure from the late 18th and early 19th century Germany. Strathern is not really all that sympathetic in his presentation, basically accusing Hegel of spouting an unintelligible mass of theories that few really understood. One of Hegel’s pupils turned out to be Karl Marx (who twisted Hegel’s teaching from a Platonic approach to one that was very material and economic). Plague: A Very Short Introduction by Paul Slack This is part of the very short introduction presentation. They are 3 to 5 hours long, and they present various dimension of a particular topic. In this case, it deals mostly with the Black Death plague, but also covers some other relevant topics. It speaks of the pathology, of the cultural consequences, of the preventative measures, etc. This particular presentation is well done. How to Read the Gospel of Matthew by Ian Boxall This is a Learn25 course on the Gospel of Matthew. Its 12 lectures present a good overview of the Gospel and some of the particular emphasis that this evangelist had in his presentation. The professor is quite balanced, and one can hear his deep learning and his deep faith in the lectures. The Worst President Ever by Robert Strauss Who would one say was the worst president ever? Strauss presents Buchanan as his candidate. He was the president right before President Lincoln. He took the side of the south in the simmering argument on slavery and his inaction throughout his presidency and especially in the lame duck period between Lincoln’s election and his inauguration (which in those days occurred in early March) allowed the rebellion in the south to reach a point of no return. This does not even deal with some of the other controversies during his presidency (e.g. war against the Mormons in Utah, bleeding Kansas, etc.). Discovering West Africa: Ghana, Senegal, Cameroon by Nathan Fluellen I thought that this was going to be a studied approach to these West African countries, but it really comes across as more of an infomercial presented by a travel influencer. Fluellen does a good job of presenting some of the history and culture of these three countries, but this should not be mistaken with an academic presentation. The Empty Hours by Ed McBain This is a novella about a murder that is filled with twists and turns. From the start, there is confusion. The police mistake the race of the person killed. Then, there is a question of why anyone would want to kill this somewhat mysterious person. The police are only able to solve the mystery by investigating a series of checks that she had written in the previous weeks. The Vietnam War by John McManus This is a Great Courses presentation done my a Vietnam war vet who portrays a very balanced view of the war in Vietnam from the days under the French til the present. The course is very informative and well presented. I would highly recommend this course to anyone interested in the period. Richard III: Brother and Protector King by Chris Skidmore King Richard III is often portrayed as a hunchback villain (e.g. in Shakespeare). This book gives a more balanced view of the man. He had his positive dimension, but he also did some horrible things (e.g. the disinheriting and murder of his nephews and his seizure of the throne). Skidmore is able to tell the story and give a balanced viewpoint of what went on. The book is well done. The First Congress by Fergus Bordewich We like to think of the founding of the nation as something that went smoothly and that all of our legislators were like Greek philosophers. That just was not the case. There were conflicts and confusion right from the start. There were questions on the power of the central government, taxes, tariffs, paying of states’ debts, where the capitol should be, financial systems, etc. Yet, somehow, they got through it. This book gives a good account of those early days of the Senate and House and how they learned their roles. The Cuban Revolution by Hourly History This is a short history of Cuba. It especially deals with the time before the Cuban revolution (under Battista) and how Castro was able to overthrow the government with a force that never numbered all that many. It also deals with the whole America/Soviet Union question. The author basically blames the US for pushing Castro into the hands of the communists (which I think is a gross oversimplification of the story). God bless, fr. Jude

Ellicott City

May 12, 2025 Peace and Good, These past couple of weeks have been quite busy with serving at the Shrine, at the Nursing Home, writing, and spiritual direction. Having finished my book on Carlo Acutis, I have a bit more time to devote to the daily podcast reflections on Scripture and I am a little ahead, but I have to be careful to keep working on them. The weather has turned very nice in these days. It is already Spring with the first hints of Summer. I will be here at Ellicott City for the rest of the month, with a few talks for various groups here at the Shrine. I also have to prepare for a few retreats that I will be giving over the next couple of months. I have learned how to use Libby, an app used by the local library, so I can now listen to some books for free. I always like free. I often buy book online because I am somewhat interested in topic, but especially because they are very, very cheap. I have finished some reading and listening: Epic Engineering Failures and the Lessons They Teach by Stephen Ressler This is quite a long (26 lessons) presentation on various bridges, dikes, buildings, airplanes, etc. which failed through engineering or maintenance errors. The thesis of the professor is that even failures can lead to new insights and further safety in the future. Ressler is clear in his presentations, and I learned about forces and other elements in the design of projects. He makes listening to his lectures a joy. The History of Sugar by Kelley Deetz This is a Great Courses presentation on the history of the growth and use of sugar. A large part of the book deals with the tragedy of the slave trade which was largely fueled by the need for cheap labor on the sugar plantations. The professor also speaks of the cultural significance of sugar (e.g. birthday cakes, Halloween candy, etc.). It is only a short presentation, but it is well prepared and presented. The Face of Fear by Dean Koontz Two men decide to become supermen (in the sense of Nietzsche) by killing a series of people in a horrible way, thus creating chaos through which they can gain control. Because of circumstances, a man who is psychic and his wife are being hunted by the killers. Much of the action takes place on the top floors of a modern skyscraper where the pair must try to escape the killer using mountain climbing techniques. The Khmer Kill by Barry Eisler This is a short novel about a professional assassin who is invited to Cambodia to kill someone. While he is there, he discovers that his mission is not what he expected it to be. There is a good sense of sympathy to the poverty of the people living in Phnom Pen, and even of some of the sex workers in the city. Ancient Rome by Simon Baker This is a quite long treatment of the history of Rome from its foundation to the days of Constantine. This is the second time I have listened to this book (the last time around 10 years ago). Both times I thoroughly enjoyed the material and the style of the book. Dragon Sea by Frank Pope This is the story of the recovery effort for a shipwreck off the coast of Vietnam. It contains a very large quantity of fine porcelain which was considered unusual for the best and most porcelain was being produced in China. The book goes into questions of politics, archaeology, diving, etc. The men working on the project are not presented as great heroes but rather as quite fallible and at times venal. The Shepherd of Hermas translated by J.B. Lightfoot This is one of the books written in the early Church which did not make it into the New Testament (although some editions of it did include the book at the end). I always wanted to read it because of this. I have to admit that it is a bit tedious. It is a series of allegories and homilies all calling Christians to conversion. It is filled with dire predictions for those who are not faithful to the Gospel. It is like the Book of Revelation at its worst. Alaric the Goth by Douglas Boin This is a book I well appreciated. When we were small, we heard that the barbarians conquered the civilized Roman empire. The story of Alaric presents the other side of the story. Alaric’s greatest wish was to be welcomed into the Empire and that he and his people be treated with respect. The opposite happened, and it lead to the sacking of Rome because of the outrages the Romans had committed against the Goths. The Stuart Restoration by Charles River Editors This is a short study of the period between the death of King Charles I (killed by the rebellion led by Cronwell) and the restoration of the monarchy under King James II. It is a complicated period with political and religious differences leading to absolute chaos for quite a bit of time. Breakfast with Buddha by Roland Menullo This is a novel of a book editor who is travelling to the Midwest to sell the farm of his parents who recently died in an accident. He is tricked by his sister into carrying a Buddhist sage to whom she intended to give part of the farm. At first the man is furious, but slowly he learns life lessons from the sage. The book is well written. Agent Sonya by Ben Macintyre This is the true story of an English housewife who turns out to be a soviet army agent who forwarded many of the secrets of the atom bomb to Moscow. She was a German Jew who joined the soviet service in China, then served in Poland, Germany and Switzerland, before finally ending up in England during the Second World War. The story, if it were not true, would be rejected as too unbelievable to be true. Macintyre is an excellent author of spy stories including Dreyfus, allied spies against the Nazi’s, Soviet spies against the west, etc. Picking Popes: Conclaves, the Papacy and the Catholic Church by Christopher Bellitto I bought this short course from Learn25 a while ago, and the death of Pope Francis and the election of Pope Leo seemed like a good time to listen to it. It is only a few lectures long, but it gives a good overview to what happens when one pope dies and another is elected. A Murder of Crows by Tom Lowe A Seminole is arrested for supposedly killing a grave robber and scalping him. A couple of people, one a retired detective from Miami and the other a former agent for the FBI, investigate the case for they are absolutely sure of the innocence of the man arrested. There are a good number of twists and turns, and the novel is well written. Have a good week. Shalom fr. Jude

Ellicott City - Baltimore

April 26, 2025 Peace and Good, These weeks of Lent and Easter have been very good but busy. I preached two parish missions in these weeks, and also had Easter Masses at a parish about 50 minutes away, a place called Davidsonville. The Easter Masses were great. The parish only has one priest, and we had two sets of simultaneous Masses in the main church (c. 650 people) and the hall (c. 350 people). The pastor and staff were very welcoming. I had thought it through, and if I had stayed home at the shrine, we would have had a few concelebrants at the altar, but this way i was able to help in a place where they really needed assistance. I have finished my adult ed classes for the Spring. The Fall schedule is already set. I will speak on the prophet Isaiah, the Acts of the Apostles, and the Gospel of Matthew (since that is the Gospel we will be using in the next liturgical year). I feel a bit relieved that the lord called Pope Francis home. He was suffering so much in these months. As we say in our province, he died in the saddle, still working for the people of God til the last moment. I will be giving a retreat to a group of sisters this week, starting on Sunday evening. The run the nursing home where we celebrate Mass every day. I finished some reading and listening: What Darwin didn’t know: the Modern Science of Evolution by Scott Solomon This is a Modern Scholar course that deals with genetics and its effects upon evolution. Although Gregor Mendel had published his theory of genetics before Darwin finished his works, Mendel’s work was limited in distribution and Darwin was not familiar with it This course studies various dimensions of genetics (mechanisms, chemistry, tendencies, etc.). It is very well prepared, and the professor presents the material in a very understandable way. The Gospel of Mark: Revealing the Mystery of Jesus by William Anderson This is one volume of the Liguori Bible Series and it is intended to be a guide for a Bible study course (for individuals or groups). The material is introductory, but it served as a good refresher course for me on the topic. Cosmos by Carl Sagan This is a series of meditations on the cosmos by the famous scientist Carl Sagan. It is a written version of the television program that he sponsored on the topic. His awe of the universe and how it works is extraordinary. What I did find troubling is his constant need to attack any form of religious belief. His religion is clearly science, but any good scientist (and theologian) should recognize that there are limits to what one can know using various techniques. A Bridge to the Future: Understanding Nanotechnology by Deborah Sauder This is a Modern Scholar course on nanotechnology. The professor presents a lot of chemistry and physics, but at the end of the course I am not sure that I understood that much about the topic. Part of that is my fault, for this is the first work on nanotechnology that I have studied, so this is a first exposure to the topic. Part of the problem, I believe, is that of the professor for she seems to talk around the topic a lot, presenting tons of preliminary knowledge and possible applications, but not really nailing down the dynamics. The Wisdom of Solomon by A. Peter Hayman This is an exegesis of one of the last books of the Old Testament to have been written, probably in the century before the birth of Jesus. It was written in Greek, and it thus is not part of the Jewish or Protestant canon. It shows heavy influence from the Greek culture, even as it tries to portray Jewish wisdom as being on the same par if not superior to Greek philosophy. The Aviators by Winston Groom This is the story of three of the major aviators of the period from the earliest aviators to the end of World War II: Jimmy Doolittle, Eddie Rickenbacker, and Charles Lindberg. The author gives a good overview of their lives and centers in on certain key moments of their flying careers. Groom is the same author who wrote numerous war accounts (the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and especially World War II). Dark Invasion by Howard Blum This is the story of a German plot to sabotage shipments that the US was sending to Britain during the First World War, before the US even entered the war. While the US was officially neutral, Britain was able to blockade shipments to Germany. Thus, the food and pack animals and munitions that the US turned out were all being shipped to Germany’s enemies. A group of spies and German ex-patriots living in the US devised means of destroying those shipments. A group of detectives from New York and the Secret Service battled their plots and eventually destroyed their ring. Killer Year by Lee Child (ed.) This is a series of crime stories by new authors introduced by veteran authors. The stories run the gamut of styles and characters, and are entertaining and occasionally troubling (which one would expect of good crime stories). Tintoretto by Delphi Classics This is an overview of the life and painting career of the Venetian artist Tintoretto. He was half of a generation after Titian. Most of his work was religious paintings or portraits. He is said never to have turned down a stipend for one of his projects, no matter how little he was being offered. His art is a bit Baroque for me, not my favorite period of art. 24 Hours in Ancient Egypt by Donald Ryan This is part of a series of how it must have been to live in the ancient world. The author gives 24 stories of people in all ranks of life and how they would have lived. The book is informative and very helpful to get a more realistic picture of real life in ancient times. In this case, the author deals with ancient Egypt. Rather than give stories of pyramids and pharaohs, this book speaks about dancers and brickmakers and embalmers and officials, etc. Life in the World’s Oceans by Sean Todd This is a 30 lecture Great Courses series on life in the oceans, from the smallest plankton to the largest fish and mammals to be found there. I watched the video version of this course, and it is extremely well done. The lecturer knows how to explain scientific concepts in very understandable language. He spends considerable time speaking of sea mammals (his own specialty). I would highly recommend this course. As with all Great Courses presentations, though, it is best to wait til they are on sale (which they often are). Archaeology from Space by Sarah Parcak This is the account of archaeology done through pictures and x-rays done from space and then interpreted and studied at a ground level. It is a whole new science which has helped archaeologists discover many, many new sites which were previously unknown (e.g. covered by jungle, buried underground, etc.). The author is herself an archaeologist, and she speaks of projects upon which she worked as well as future possibilities for this technique. She has a great sense of humor which makes her work most readable and enjoyable. Have a good week. Shalom fr. Jude

Ellicott City

Peace and good, April 12, 2025 These past couple of week have been quite busy with Lenten practices. We are getting tons of people coming to Confession in our chapel. I preached a parish mission in one of our local parishes, and the next night I had a presentation in another. I enjoy the ministry, but I have to find some time to get caught up with my podcasts and to write the text of the children's book on Carlo Acutis. The weather here has been cooler than one would expect at this time of year. We have gotten some rain which was badly needed. All of nature is coming to life. The birds are singing and squaking like crazy. I have been teaching a series on the Gospel of John these past few weeks. Just one more class to go. This morning I had a session on the liturgy and readings for Holy Week. I have finished some reading and listening: Lost Scriptures: Books that did not make it into the New Testament by Bart Ehrman This is a long collection of those books which did not make it into the Bible, especially the New Testament. The author gives an overview of both what we know about the books’ authors and composition and also content. He then gives long excerpts from those books. Many of the books (and letters and acts) come from the Gnostic tradition and it is clear why they were not incorporated into the New Testament for they portray a Jesus different from what is found in the Gospels. Others are apocalypses which can be strange and very violent. Still others are inspirational works which the Church did not accept for they did not have apostolic tradition or for some other reason. World War II: Carrier War by Stephen Sears This is an overview of the movements of aircraft carriers (both Japanese and American) during the Pacific theater of the Second World War. It does not bring any revelations, but it is a good outline of what happened and why that was important. Caught in the Revolution by Helen Rappaport This is a book which covers the Russian Revolution (both that which overthrew the czar and then the communist revolution) told from eye-witness accounts of foreigners who were living in St. Petersburg and Moscow at the time. The account is filled with the sense of something great but at times terrible happening all at once. World Heritage Sites by Justin Jacobs This is a Great Courses video presentation on 24 World Heritage sites throughout the world. Jacobs gives the history of the site, its importance to ancient and modern culture, and its use and at times abuse in modern times. The sites range from the Taj Mahal and Persepolis to the Great Barrier Reef and the Redwoods. The presenter is very good, and the series is quite enjoyable. Prisoner in the Castle by Ben Macintyre Ben Macintyre has written a series of very good books about spies. This one is slightly different for it deals with the prisoner of war camp that the Nazi’s established in Colditz, a castle in Germany. The camp was for officers who had tried to escape from other camps. The book recounts their escape attempts, their interaction among themselves (for they were from different nations) and with the camp personnel, and their eventual liberation at the end of the war. The Demon Next Door by Bryan Burrough This is a disturbing story of a young boy and later young man who rapes and kills several women. He is at first defended by those who knew him, and the victims are even blamed for what he did. It was only after he was caught after some terrible deeds that everyone realized that they had a monster hiding in plain site. The American West: History, Myth and Legacy by Greg Allitt This is a great courses presentation of the American West during the 19th century. It deals with historic events, different social groups (cowboys, explorers, women, outlaws, etc.). The presenter is English, which actually helps in giving a more objective presentation of the material. Allitt is entertaining and informative in his presentations. Extraction by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child This is a short story about FBI special agent Pendergast growing up in New Orleans and a nasty man who collected the teeth of children (instead of the lost tooth man). It is filled with suspense and magical overtones. Constantine the Emperor by David Potter This is a good study of the emperor who granted religious liberty to Christians in the Roman Empire (but did not make it the official religion – that was done later in the 4th century). He was only baptized as he prepared for his death. But his political and religious movements had a great influence on the next centuries of the Roman Empire (in the west and especially in the east). He valued harmony in his reign, and this is why he intervened in various crisis of dogma in the Church (against Donatism and Arianism) which ended in the proclamation of the Nicene Creed. The Bill of Rights by Carol Berkin I always thought that the Bill of Rights were passed right after the ratification of the constitution without any difficulty. This study shows that this was not the case. Madison, who was the author of the Bill of Rights (compiling and evaluating suggestions from various state conventions to ratify the constitution) had to push his ideas through a very skeptical Congress (including those who did not the constitution and even the Federalists who had supported the constitution). Through a Glass Darkly by Donna Leon This is the story of Comisario Brunetti in Venice who must investigate a mysterious death on the island of Murano (where Venetian glass is made). The plot involves strained relationships and the treat of pollution from the industrial parts of the region and from Murano itself. I find these stories completely entertaining and even though the author is Spanish, she is able to capture the culture of Venice very well. Have a good Holy Week. Shalom fr. Jude

Ellicott City - Coronado (CA) - Ellicott City

March 23, 2025 Peace and Good, I just returned from preaching a parish mission in Coronado, California, last night. I was very pleased with how it turned out. The parishioners and the staff are great. I preached especially on our becoming parish and working together. This parish is working on a synodality pattern in light of Pope Francis' push to involve more in the decision making of the Church. Coronado is a beautiful island off of San Diego. It has a couple of navy bases, and the neighborhoods have the feel of a 1950's family TV show. Everybody seems friendly and helpful. The parish is very well run, and tons of people are involved in its various programs. This week I get back to work at the shrine, but I am also doing research on Carlo Acutis. He is an Italian young man (15 years old when he died of leukemia) who will be canonized on Divine Mercy Sunday. I have been asked to write a children's book on him. He is to be the first millenial saint. I am also going to go out to St. Mary's College in Emmittsburg to speak with the archdiocesan director of the Deliverance ministry. I think it would be very good to have someone at the Shrine who is a bit more informed about this topic. Next weekend I will be giving a retreat in Priestfield, WV to a group of women in the Catholic Daughters. It will be about hope, especially in these confusing times. I have finished some reading and listening: African History: A Very Short Introduction by John Parker and Richard Rathbone This is a difficult topic for how does one define African history – in fact, what does it mean to be African (compare the Arab and Berber tribesmen in the north of the continent with those with Bantu heritage further south)? There is a rarity of written sources, even for fairly well-developed cultures. Furthermore, much of what has been written in the past century is the history of European colonization of the African continent. The author presents recent African scholars who are trying to overcome these difficulties to produce what could now be called a true African history. Understanding Ulysses S. Grant: Portrait of a Warrior by Elizabeth Samet This is a short Great Courses presentation of the life and career of General Grant. He is presented as a good man who at times had difficulty negotiating the challenges of life. All but a failure before the Civil War, he quickly became the most important general of the northern cause. A good man as a president, he was nevertheless surrounded by not so honest people who traded on their titles for money and privilege. He was burned by financial scandals and was all but bankrupt when Mark Twain came in and saved him by publishing and marketing his memoirs. Swiping Hearts by Jeffrey Deaver This is a clever short story about a man who has violent tendencies against women but who sublimates them by breaking their hearts by enticing them to meet him over a dating site and then telling them that it was all a joke. It is a Lincoln Rhymes story in which he helps one of those women to put an end to this man’s games (which technically, were not illegal in any way(. The English Civil Wars by Blair Worden This is an overview of the overthrow and execution of King Charles I in England and of the reign of Cromell, as well as the accession of a Stuart King after the death of Cromwell. It deals with some of the social movements of the time, as well as the religious ferment (especially between the Anglican Church and the more Calvinist movements such as the Puritans). Advent and Christmas by John Baldovin This is a Learn25 course on the seasons of Advent and Christmas. There is a bit of good theology in the course, but all too much of it is the reading of prayers from the liturgy and the lyrics of Advent and Christmas songs. I would not recommend this as a good preparation for these liturgical seasons. Handsome Devil by Jeff Maysh This is a short presentation of the real life figure during the 30’s who proved to be an incredible fraudster, once accepting a bribe to sell the Eifel Tower for scrape metal. He was from Germany, but most of his scams were in the United States. He ended his career in Alcatraz after many escapes from tight situations and imprisonment. The Analects of Confucius by Robert Andre LaFleur This is a Great Courses presentation on the teachings of Confucius. I had always heard about his teachings but had never really invested in reading them or studying them. From what I learned, they are a presentation of disorganized sayings which need to be understood in a larger context. I can’t say that I share the enthusiasm of the presenter toward this topic, but this was only a first attempt to enter into this world. Freedom from Fear by David Kennedy This is a longish book on FDR and his work to alleviate the depression, and then to lead America during the Second World War. I liked the fact that the author was not committed either to praise or attack his work, but rather to provide as balanced an evaluation as he could. At times he all but forgets FDR in telling to the story of outside events. It was a good book. Understanding Greek and Roman Technology by Stephen Ressler This is a Great Courses presentation by a professor at West Point on the contributions of Greek and Roman culture to the technology used in ancient times and some of which are still used today. This includes considerations in building houses and temples, aqueducts and water and sewage systems, instruments for warfare, etc. I don’t have a mechanical mind, but Ressler explains things very clearly and gives excellent examples to show how the concept is made real. A Retreat with Teilhard de Chardin by Donald Goergen This is a Learn25 retreat course on the teachings of Teilhard de Chardin. It centers on the concept of the Cosmic Christ and how everything is in evolution toward that which God created the universe to be. I found the presentations a bit flaky, but there were gems here and there which made it worthwhile listening to the whole course. God’s Troubadour by Sophie Jewett This is a simple account (really intended for children) of the life of St. Francis of Assisi. It is part of the librivox project (out of print books read by volunteers). It is not that I learned anything new, but it is good to hear the old story every once in a while. The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence I have heard much of this work over the years. It is a simple account of a brother who tries to put God at the head of everything he does and thinks and says. He is not scrupulous in his approach, but rather filled with joy and hope that God will supply what he cannot on his own. The Oregon Trail by Charles River Editors This is a short account of the migration from the East and the Midwest to the largely unsettled land of Oregon. It speaks of the trails taken, the organization of the wagon trains used, the equipment employed, etc. One of the most obvious things is how ill-prepared most of those who travelled west were, and how it frequently led to disaster. Have a good week. Shalom fr. Jude

Ellicott City

March 12, 2025 Peace and Good, I have been home these days, helping out at the shrine and St. Joseph Nursing Home. Now and then I have a request to do an evening class at one group or another, usually scripture study groups. I like the pace of what I am doing. I have finished my immunotherapy. The last couple of infusions left me tired, but now they are over. One of the doctors told me my energy level should slowly return over the next few months. The chemotherapist told me, though, that I could have symptoms from the immunotherapy any time in the next five years. This past Monday I had a CT scan and it looks great. I have been doing this every three months, and for the next year it will be every four months if all goes well. I am working on a translation of a liturgical text from the Middle Ages in honor of St. Anthony. As far as we know, this has never been translated into English. There are a lot of texts like that. I have also been asked to do a children's book on Bl Carlo Acutis who will be canonized this Divine Mercy Sunday. He is the first millenial saint, a young boy who died at 15 who served as an "influencer" for our faith. Friday I fly to San Diego to preach a parish mission. I have been at this parish a number of times, and it will be good to be back. I finished some reading and listening: Mind Blowing Science I by Scientific American This is a Great Courses collection of video presentations on a wide range of topics originally produced by Scientific American (e.g. dinosaurs and their size, Neandertal art, pets, earthquake prediction, the importance of sleep, etc.). I found the presentations, each around 20 to 30 minutes long, to be fascinating. I have already purchased volume 2 of this series and am looking forward to watching it. Early European Christian Relics by Charles River Editors This is a short treatment of some of the relics associated with the crucifixion of Jesus. It deals with their discovery (assuming that the legends are somewhat credible), their history, and where they are found today. There is a maze of information and legend concerning all of these items, and so the author had to choose what seemed to be the most credible without saying that it was the only theory. Sanctity and Learning by C. Colt Anderson This is an overview of some of the reformers of the Church and how they shared their insights with the larger world. It is really just a smattering of figures like Pope Gregory VIII, Peter Damian, Catherine of Siena, etc. Anderson shows the figures as people who fully recognized the fallibility of the Church of their day, but also who wanted to love it into healing. The solutions they suggested depended much upon the particular circumstances of their day, but there was always a longing to heal the wounds of the Church. Lost Art: The Stories of Missing Masterpieces by Noah Charney This is a Great Courses/Audible presentation on art that has been stolen, destroyed, lost, possibly never done throughout the ages. Charney speaks of the art itself and of its artists, but also of the detectives and other agencies that search for missing pieces. The course came across as a detective novel. For Christ Assembled by John O’Malley This is a Learn25 course on the major ecumenical councils throughout the ages. I had already listened to O’Malley’s courses on Trent, Vatican I and Vatican II. This course repeats those ideas, but also presents an outline of the earliest and medieval councils. O’Malley manages to find a wonderful balance in his presentations, telling what really happened and why without getting into the pettiness that often accompanies Church meetings. The World’s Greatest Paintings by William Kloss This is a course from the Great Courses. Unlike most of those that I have used which were all audio, this was a video. The presenter is a great art critic and his explanations are tremendous. I had never understood before the importance of perspective and angularity in paintings, and Kloss showed how this functions. I will certainly be on the outlook for other courses prepared by him. City of Endless Night by Lincoln Child and Douglas Preston This is the story of an FBI special agent Pendergast (the protagonist of a whole series of books by Child and Preston) and a series of grisly murders and decapitations. The original theory is that it is a murderous Robin Hood, attacking the rich, but the story is more complicated than that. As always, the individual books in this long series are very entertaining. Women and the Bible by Barbara Reid This is a Learn25 course on a feminist approach to Scripture. It is good, and I gained a good number of insights. Yet, I always have the feeling that some of the feminist scholars want to take things too far, seeing in the text what they would like to see and not what is actually there. It would be another thing if they were to say that their conclusions are the logical progression of the thought found in Scripture, but that is not quite what many say. Cyber Spies and Secrets Agents of Modern Times by Allison Lassieur This course which is prepared by Great Courses and Audible deals with the most dangerous cyber security issues of our days, especially in terms of their impact upon national security. The professor is not an alarmist, but he is realistic in his presentations. He warns of the dangers of hackers (both individual and governmental), especially from China. The Real History of Dracula by Sara Cleto and Brittany Warman This is a joint Great Courses/Audible course on the history of the legend of Dracula. Rather than depending on the Vlad the Impaler source, the authors go into greater depths to investigate the history of the vampire legend throughout the world. They speak of modern presentations of the legend and how some of this is based upon these earlier sources, and some is based upon the invention of the modern authors. It speaks of the popularity of this legend over the ages. The only downside is that the presenters are very often giggling, as if they were telling these stories around a campfire. Understanding Eschatology by David Flanagin This is a Learn25 course on the topic of the end times. This includes treatment of the Book of Revelation and its use by various Christian sects. The lectures are understandable and informative. I would recommend this course for those interested in the topic, and especially for understanding some of the viewpoints of the Christian Nationalist Movement. Churchill and America by Martin Gilbert Martin Gilbert is a masterful author of topics such as World War I and the Holocaust and topics about the history of Great Britain. In this presentation, he talks of the relationship of Churchill and his government with America (especially FDR and Truman). Churchill, himself, was half American (on his mother’s side). Gilbert is always an informative and entertaining author. Have a good week. Shalom fr. Jude

Ellicott City

February 26, 2025 Peace and Good, I have been home these past couple of weeks, but things have been quite busy. I have been on call at the Shrine for a good number of Masses and Confessions. I have also been out at St. Joseph Nursing home a couple of times. This past Sunday fr. Tim and I anointed all of the residents which was very nice. We also led them in the requirements for fulfilling the plenary indulgence for the Holy Year. I have been writing a series of articles for our magazine in Nairobi. I have gotten 8 done, but I think the topic (Pentateuch) will require at least 20 more. No rush, though, so I will write them when the inspiration hits. I will be giving a workshop on Job and the question of suffering this weekend. It looks as if there will be a good turnout. I am spending these days in studying and reflecting upon ideas for the presentation. I have been reading a book on Rumi, the Sufi mystic/poet. I really, really like it. I find I do much better reading about poetry rather than actually reading the poetry itself. It is just the way my mind works. I had my last immunotherapy this past Monday. While these treatments were nothing like the Chemo, these last couple of immunotherapy treatments left me quite tired and even a bit loopy. On March 10 I have my one year CT scan. If that is good, then I begin follow up care which means a CT scan every three months for one year. I finished some reading and listening: Decision in Philadelphia: the Constitutional Convention of 1787 by Christopher and James Collier This is an account of the meeting in Philadelphia which produced the constitution. It deals with the issues but also the background to those issues. It gives a good idea of the personalities involved, and the various political moves made by individuals. This is part of a longer series of presentations on the history of America presented by the Colliers. Their goal is to present the essentials of history without getting caught up in small details. Religions of the Axial Age by Mark Muesse This is an account of the religions of Asia which arose during approximately the same period of time (between 900 and 300 B.C.) which would include Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism, Daoism, and Zoroastrianism. It is a Great Courses presentation. One can hear the great respect that Muesse has for these Asian religions. Bismark by Edward Crankshaw This is a long account of the brilliant yet flawed politician who manipulated Europe to give birth to the German Empire in the 19th century. Bismark is shown as unscrupulously clever, lying whenever it was convenient, concerned most of all with the accomplishment of his dreams and the growth of his legend. He sort of reminds me of Kissinger: able to get his objective realized but always leaving one questioning who ethical he was. Lexington and Concord by George Daughan This is a very good account of the growing tensions between Great Britain and its American colonies that led to the Boston Tea Party and then to the battle of Lexington and Concord with its famous shot heard around the world. The author has clear opinions on various matters which he does not hesitate to express. Boudica: Warrior Woman of Roman Britain by Caitlin Gillespie This is a presentation of the 1st century British woman who led a rebellion against Rome and almost expelled their forces from the island. Relatively little is actually known of her, so the author pads the account with background material of how women were treated in Rome and England, how the Romans colonized, other rebellions against Rome, etc. Needful Things by Stephen King This was a book that took me a long time to finish (I listened to it). The reason is that from its middle to near its end it becomes incredibly violent and negative. It ends with a bit of a victory for truth and goodness, but barely. It involves a demon who shows up in a small town and “sells” the one thing each person treasured to people in return for favors (which turn out to be cruel tricks on others to ignite violence). His power is all illusion, and the only way he is defeated is for the sheriff to turn the illusion on him. Tallulah Bankhead by Charles River Editors This is one of those short biographies presented by Charles River Editors. Tallulah Bankhead who acted in film and on the stage was incredibly eccentric, in her drinking, her speaking, and her sexual behavior. She comes across as a bit of a sad figure who sought comfort here and there but never seems to have found it. Masterpieces of Medieval Literature by Timothy Shutt This is an overview of literature before the 12th century, especially that in the Northern countries such as the Vikings and British and the Germans. I have listened to many of Shutt’s presentations in the Great Scholar series, but this one did not come together as well as his other courses. Bloody Mohawk by Richard Berleth The Mohawk River runs along the northern part of New York State from the Hudson toward the Great Lakes. It was the scene of tremendous tension and horrific warfare in the early days of its European colonization. This was especially true during the Revolutionary War when the Iroquois Federation splintered, with most tribes fighting with the British and some with the Patriots. The Man Behind Narnia by A.N. Wilson This is an odd short biography of C.S. Lewis. The author had written a biography of Lewis years ago, and this presentation is a shortened version of that. The presentation is odd because the author goes out of his way to speak of how he does not agree with Lewis any longer, and he goes on and on as to why he thinks that Lewis fell short as an apologist and author and professor. I am not sure that I have ever read a book whose author had such a large ax to grind. Vasily Grossman and the Soviet Century by Alexandra Popoff This is the story of an author who survived the Stalinist era but who was persecuted as many authors were in the Soviet Union. He was Jewish, which was enough to get him in trouble, but he also tended to tell the truth from an objective perspective, which was not considered to be socially acceptable for it did not always emphasize the role of the Communist Party. He was not a saint (as seen in how he treated women). Yet, the author draws a sympathetic portrait of him. Biblical Wisdom Literature by Joseph Koterski This is a well presented, thorough outline of Biblical Wisdom Literature. It deals with such stories such as the Book of Job, the books of Wisdom and Sirach and Qoheleth, the Psalms, etc. He not only gives the background and theology of the text but he often has asides in how one could pray a text. I can’t say I agreed with his presentation 100% of the time, but I probably did more than 90% of the time, and even the other 10% gave me things to think about. Have a good week. Shalom fr. Jude