Ellicott City - San Diego - Arroyo Grande - Ellicott City

October 23, 2025 Peace and Good I am sorry that my lest blog was so long ago, but a lot has been happening. I travelled to a parish on Coronado Island in San Diego where I presented a couple of weeks of Bible Study courses. I have been there a number of times, and have always enjoyed myself there. There was a good turn out and we were able to study Acts of the Apostles, the Book of Revelation and the Gospel of Matthew. I met a lot of nice people, and i felt quite at home. From there I flew up to San Luis Obispo (halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco) where our novitiate is located in Arroyo Grande. There are five novices this year, and I presented a workshop on the Gospels and Psalms. The teaching went very well. The only problem was that I had an accident. I was walking in a dark parking lot, and ran into a low brick wall, sumersalting over it. I ended up with cuts and six stitches on my forehead. There is a split in a small bone in my elbow. The muscles in both arms are giving me a lot of pain. They are a little better each day, but still quite painful. I flew back to Baltimore on the 12th. I flew United, and they took very good care of me on the trip. I have visited a couple of doctors since I got back, and it is basically a question of giving it time. I have been able to teach here (a four week class on Isaiah and a one day workshop on Acts of the Apostles). I have also met with a couple of ladies groups in these days. I can't wait, though, until I feel better. I finished some reading and listening: Philip Augustus by William Holden Hutton This was the king of France at the beginning of the 13th century and he is the one who extended the power of the monarchy to cover the entire nation (and not simply a small area surrounding the city of Paris). He was not always the easiest person to deal with, as can clearly be seen in the controversy involving his divorce of his Danish wife and his feud with the Pope over this. Yet, he did establish useful institutions in the country and he was beneficial to the peasants who had previously been subject to the rapacious desires of the nobility (including Church officials). Gone for Soldiers by Jeffrey Shaara This is fictional account of the Mexican American War (at least of the conquest of Mexico City by the forces of General Scott). It emphasizes the role of Robert E. Lee as an engineer who also served as an advisor and scout for the General. It more or less canonizes Lee as a saintly figure in the midst of other less worthy leaders. The Colosseum by Mary Beard Mary Beard is a famous British archeologist. This book presents the history of the Colosseum from its building to the present day. It gives a sense of the importance of the structure in ancient Rome, as well as its use. Beard is a down to earth scholar who is not afraid to deal with controversies. I would recommend this book and any of her writings. Seven Wonders of the Ancient World by Jennifer Tobin This is a Modern Scholar presentation on the seven wonders of the ancient world. The professor first of all has to establish which wonders should be included (for the list is changeable, even in ancient times). She then speaks of what each of the wonders was and is today. Finally, she speaks of what would have been considered wonders in the Middle Ages, in Modern times, and in the natural world. Anthony Van Dyck by Delphi Classics This book presents the life and works of Van Dyck. He was almost exclusively a portrait painter, and he spent quite a long time in England during the reign of Charles I, just before the English Civil War. His style is very baroque with figures presented in ideal presentations (as opposed to what they really looked like). Treasure in Earthen Vessels: St. Paul’s Spirituality by Ron Witherup This is an overview of major ideas of spirituality in the Letters of St. Paul. Each of the lectures deals with some major topic, such as salvation, ecclesiology, mysticism, etc. The presenter is good (if not great). This is part of the Learn25 series. Towton and Bosworth by Charles River Editors These are two major battles in the English War of the Roses, basically one of the opening battles which led to the crowing in King Edward IV, and one of the closing battles that led to the coronation of King Henry VII. The author deals with the politics of the time which were very personal and changeable, depending on who seemed to be in the ascendency at any given time. Colonial Vietnam by Charles River Editors This short book deals with the history of Vietnam in ancient times, during its French colonial days, and then during the Vietnam War which involved U.S. troops. It is able to establish some of the cultural and societal reasons why the country had such a difficult time throughout history. Masterworks of American Art by William Kloss This is a 24 lecture presentation from the Great Courses on American (North) from its earliest days to the beginning of the 20th century. The professor is great, and I have learned much about artistic influences, hidden messages in pictures, the growing proficiency of American artists (especially due to their contact with their European contemporaries, perspective in paintings, etc. Prayer and Growth in Christian Life by Thomas Merton I very much like Merton as an author, but I dislike his taped presentations. This series of lectures was made for groups of sisters in the post-Vatican II era. It is filled with many of Merton’s musings on the need for social justice and the future of religious life today. As much as he claims that he respects religious life and the religious with whom he is living, his constant complaints and criticisms betray his antipathy toward both of them. 12 Revolutionary Discoveries that Could Change Everything by Scientific American This presentation of the Great Courses amounts to a series of twelve articles on various topics that were studied by scholars from the Scientific American. Some of the findings are actually revolutionary, others are simply interesting stories that are a bit esoteric. Holy Land: An Introduction to Biblical Archaeology by Leslie Hoppe Leslie Hoppe is a great Biblical scholar. He makes this presentation in the Learn25 series on the history and the present state of biblical archeology in the Holy Land. He speaks of the tendency to do archeology not to prove a theory or back up a given text, but to find out what actually happened. He covers Jewish, Christian and Muslim archeology. He also deals with the need to engage more local archaeologists, especially Palestinians. Have a good week. Shalom fr. Jude