Ellicott City

December 28, 2025 Peace and Good, I have been home at the Shrine for the past couple of weeks. It has been very busy with spiritual direction appointments as people were getting ready for Christmas. I have also been writing a few articles for the magazine in Padua, Italy for which I write (in English). This series has to do with relatively minor archaeological discoveries and how they incluence the way that we look at the Bible. The smallest thing can give evidence either for or against the historicity of events mentioned in Sacred Scriptures. I will be flying down to Texas in a week to preach a retreat to our post-novitiate students. This year I have covered all the levels of formation, giving workshops to the novices and postulants and now the retreat to the students. People have so remarkably kind to us these days with baked goods, etc. I am sure that all of us have put on 10 pounds during the holidays. I was listening to a presentation on spirituality a few days ago by Ilia Delio, a Franciscan sister. She spoke of creation, and how God sang everything into being. This is the first time I have ever heard this expression, and it just sounded so right. It fits in well with what I have been thinking about the role of hmans in creation to be the choir masters to lead creation in the praise of God (as St. Francis did in his Canticle of the Creatures). For Christmas, I was also reflecting on how, when we give adjuctives to God, it involves power and control. Yet, when he came to earth, he came as a helpless baby. Does this mean that God is not only all-powerful but also all-vulnerable? I have finished some reading and listening: The CSS Alabama by Charles River Editors The Alabama was a ship built in Great Britain during the Civil War, theoretically as a trading ship but everyone knew that it was really constructed as a commerce raider. It travelled throughout the Atlantic and even into the Indian ocean and sank numerous ships before it was sunk by a Union battleship off the coast of France. Mandela: an Audio History by Nelson Mandela This is a short outline of the life and career of Nelson Mandela, largely told by excerpts from his speeches and writings concerning the fight for justice in South Africa. The Assassination of the Archduke by Greg King and Sue Woolmans This book is a bit long for the topic and spends much time talking about the indignities that the wife of Archduke Ferdinand suffered from the fact that she was a Morganatic wife. She was not a member of the higher level of royalty in the Austro-Hungarian empire, so she and Ferdinand had to give up the rights of their children to inherit the crown, and she was treated poorly throughout her marriage. The author deals with the shocking lack of protection they received when they visited Sarajevo and the incredible heartlessness with which they were buried, raising suspicion that Franz Josef knew about the coming assassination attempt and was actually part of some of its planning. The Fall and Rise of China by Richard Baum This is a long series of lectures on the history of China from the 19th century to the present. The author is familiar with the topic both from theory but also from personal experience in the late decades of the 20th century. The lectures are insightful and informative. The presenter has no axes to grind, but is quite honest about both the positive and negative developments of the various periods of Chinese history. Chinese History: 500 Interesting Facts by Ahoy Publications This is a series of factoids about Chines culture from its earliest days up to the present. I like this sort of book. It is like a primer for the TV show Jeopardy. Camille Pissarro by Delphi Art Works This is part of a series of books on famous and influential artists throughout the ages. This one deals with a person who could be considered to be one of the most influential artist in the second half of the 19th century, bringing in new art techniques and serving as a mentor of other men who would eventually become famous artists themselves. I did not find Pissarro’s portraits that inspiring, but his landscapes and portraits of everyday life are breathtaking. The Phoenicians by Captivating History This is a short history of the Phoenician people (from what today is Lebanon), their origin, culture, religion and history. They became quite rich through trading, and thus became an appealing target for surrounding empires (e.g. Persians, Egyptians, Alexander the Great). They also founded a trading empire all throughout the Mediterranean world, including the city of Carthage. Volcanoes: A Very Short Introduction by Michael Branney and Jan Zalasiewicz This is part of an extensive series of very short introduction books. It contains a series of short articles on volcanoes. It is very informative, if a bit dry (which is sort of what one should expect when one pastes together a series of Wikapaedia articles on a particular topic. It does give a ton of information on the topic. Bone Cold by Debra Webb This book is based on the story of a series of children who have been abducted. It turns out that they are products of a Nazi based scientist who is doing genetic and cloning experiments. The detective and her estranged FBI husband hunt for the truth and possibly for their own daughter who was also abducted. The Pirate Hunter by Richard Zachs This book is based on the premise that Captain Kidd was hired by the British government to hunt other pirates and he was betrayed by various people who then accused him of being a pirate himself. The author seems to have decent evidence, but I always get worried when an author seems to be on a crusade to prove his own argument, which is what this author seems to be doing. Marx’s General by Tristam Hunt This is a biography of Frederick Engels, the collaborator and financier of Karl Marx. The author tells the story of the development of the Marxist theory, and of how Marx and Engels need each other as they set the groundwork for this movement. Hunt tells the story from the viewpoint of Engels, an industrialist who financed Marx who spent his time theorizing. It also deals with the flaws in the characters of each, and of the tragic consequences of both their theories and the hijacking of their theories. The Legends of the Jews by Louis Ginzberg This is a long retelling of Jewish legends that have evolved over the centuries concerning the early days of the Jewish faith up to the time of Moses. These are not stories contained in the Bible, but rather fictional embellishments of the story to show how the Jewish characters were incredibly heroic and virtuous, so much so that even pagans recognized their greatness. Have a good week. Happy New Year fr. Jude

Ellicott City

December 14, 2025 Peace and Good, I am writing this blog looking out the window at a beautiful snowy forests scene. We received a couple of inches of snow last night and everything is covered with just enough snow to make it the perfect winter scene. The snow has stopped, at least for now. I have to admit that being from Buffalo, it is what we would call a light frost, but here in Baltimore they judge it differently. I have been busy with spiritual direction these weeks, often having three or four people each day (in addition to Masses and confessions). It is a good rhythm, and i feel very useful doing this. I have also started to write a new series of articles for the Messenger of St. Anthony, the magazine for which I have written since 1982. This series is on particular archaeological discoveries and how they impact on Biblical knowledge. None of the discoveries is tremendous, but in archaeology, even the smallest things can give one insight into the larger society. I will be here in Baltimore until early January when i will fly down to San Antonio to preach a retreat to our students down there. My elbows and arms are healing nicely (after my fall in California). The x rays I had this week show that the broken bones are healing. My left arms is about 95% back to normal, while my right arm is 80% (which is confirmed by how well healed each arm is). I have finished some reading and listening: Hannibal: The Military Genius who almost conquered Rome by Eve MacDonald This is a well presented visual biography of the Carthaginian military leader who invaded Italy and consistently defeated Roman forces, and yet who lost the war because the Roman didn’t know when to give in. The professor gives a great account of the background of Hannibal, his military techniques, the difficulties Rome faced in this war, etc. The Fetterman Massacre by Charles River Editors This was one of the largest defeats of the US forces as they set up forts on Native American territory in the Western States. This one occurred in the Powder River area in 1866 (a decade before Custer was killed). The first half of the book tells the story of how the Native Americans camping around Fort Kearney learned the techniques used by the soldiers and then baited and ambushed them. Fetterman took a large contingent out to defend some soldiers who were cutting wood and had been attacked, but he went too far and was attacked by a massive force. The second half of the book speaks of the question of who was to blame for what happened. Babylonian Mythology and Legends by Chronicle Press This short presentation gives an outline of the pantheon of Babylon and Sumerian and Akkadian cultures. It is not as organized or as complete a presentation as I would have wished, especially because these are cultures that interacted with Canaanite and Jewish cultures. The Secession of the South by Jonathan Gianos-Steinberg and Charles River Editors This short presentation speaks about the process of the session of the southern States upon the election of Abraham Lincoln and especially after he called up the militia after the attack on Fr. Sumpter in the Charleston harbor. The author makes very clear that the states seceded because of slavery and not to protect states rights. Aquatic Cryptids by Chronicle Press This is part of the cryptid (legendary but scientifically unproven) animals, this one dealing with sea creatures such as the Loch Ness Monster. The author gives the various stories without fighting for their veracity or falsity. It is a good overview. Baltic Mythology and Legends by Chronicle Press This is a short catalog of some of the pagan gods of the Baltic region. The one thing I did not like about the presentation is the obvious bias against Christianity, as if it destroyed something that is good and precious. Furthermore, the author makes it sound almost as if these gods are still being worshipped. While I believe that there are some surviving pagan customs in the cultures of that area, I doubt that people are running out to the woods to make sacrifice. River of the Gods by Candice Millard This is the story of the discovery of the source of the Nile River by two British explorers, Richard Burton (not the actor) and John Speke. The book covers both their exploration efforts, and their prickly personalities. It is astounding how two men of such willingness to suffer all sorts of difficulties were so petty and vindictive in their relationship with each other. Covert Operations in World War II by Charles River Editors This is an outline of a few of the covert operations of the British and American espionage services during World War II. I have read other books on this topic which I found much more informative, but that is to be taken for granted given the short nature of the Charles River presentations. Meister Eckhart’s Book of the Heart by Jon Sweeney and Mark Burrows This is a book of poetry based on the theology/spirituality of the German Dominican mystic Meister Eckhart who emphasized the unknowability and love of God. I usually don’t like poetry all that much, but this volume was a pleasant surprise. Pierre-August Renoir by Delphi Art Books This is a good presentation of the art of Renoir and an outline of his life. The Delphi series presents a chronicle of the artist’s life illustrating the points being made with some of his masterpieces. It then shows all of the extant pictures one after another. I enjoy the various volumes of the series. Raoul Wallenberg by Hourly History Raoul Wallenberg was the Swedish businessman/diplomat whose efforts saved thousands of Jews in Budapest when the Nazis gained control of the country and began deporting the Jewish people to the extermination camps. Ironically, he was arrested by the Soviets when they conquered the city and was never seen again, probably dying in a prison or prison camp in their Gulag. Canine Cryptids by Chronicle Press This is part of the chronicle press series which cover a number of interesting topics. Cryptids are hidden or unknown animals (at least from a scientific viewpoint). This book presents the stories without fighting for or against their veracity. The only problem with this book and others in this series is that they seriously need a better editor. It is not unusual to have lines or even paragraphs repeated within a couple of pages. The History of Superheroes by Lan Dong This is a Great Courses/Audible presentation of the history of superheroes in the comics and video. It is a short presentation, and it is good to get a perspective about which heroes worked well at what era and why. Have a good week. Shalom fr. Jude