Ellicott City

February 23, 2026 Peace and Good, These have been relatively quiet weeks. For one thing, we have been spending these past couple of weeks getting over a bad snow and ice storm. This is the longest I ever remember snow being all around in Baltimore. It was just about gone when we received another few inches last night and shut most things down again. I have been running a class on the letters of St. Paul. We have finished three of the four presentations (they are on youtube). The classes have been great, and I am really enjoying interacting with those who are attending. I also had a class on Saturday about our Lenten practices. I have begun a parish mission at the Catholic Community of South Baltimore (two combined parishes, Holy Cross and Good Counsel). We ahd to cancel tonight's talk, but I will be there again tomorrow and Wednesday. There are two other friars who will be making presentations at the Shrine in these weeks: Fr. Terrance who is from Great Britain and Bro. Douglas who is a retired teacher. I am very happy that we are presenting a whole range of topics for the people who come to the shrine, and there are more and more people showing up. Our biggest problem is parking, especially when there is snow on the ground. I have finished some reading and listening: Amelia Earhart by Charles River Editors This is a biography of the thrill-seeking woman flyer after World War I. She had great difficulty to be taken seriously, but she did astounding deeds. She eventually disappeared while on an attempt to fly around the world. In this account, she comes across as someone who refused to follow anyone else’s rules, whether it concern her flying or even her marriage. Year without Summer by Hourly History At the beginning of the 19th century, there was a great explosion of Mt. Tambora in what is today Indonesia. Although very few people in the West knew of this event, its effects caused enormous climatic (and eventually political) changes. There was so much dust in the atmosphere that the summer of 1815 was cold and rainy, and most crops were destroyed in the field. The least destructive effect of the explosion were brilliantly red sunsets, seen in the paintings of a number of artists such as Constable. Meister Eckhart: Unlocking a Mystic’s Spiritual Wisdom by Donald Goergen Meister Eckhart is a German mystical theologian from the end of the 13th and beginning of the 14th century. He was a Dominican, and famous for his brilliant but somewhat controversial theological pronouncements. He emphasized the unknowability of God and how we must give up our desires to define God in our own terms. This Learn25 presentation has its good moments, but it gets caught up in ideas that the author doesn’t really explain as clearly as he could have. Innocent Graves by Peter Robinson This is a detective novel set in England. A young girl is killed, and her body is found in a graveyard. The police (who are intelligent and yet a bit flawed in a very human way) must sift through the varied clues in the story (as well as class prejudices due to the fact that the young girl comes from an aristocratic family). The characters are believable, and one can identify with many of them. The plot is well developed. I would certainly read more of Robinson’s books. Farewell the Trumpets by Jan Morris This is the story of the origin of the British Empire, its mechanisms and attitudes while it was at its height, and the eventual end of the empire. The book is written by a person who sees both the good in the empire and its shortfalls. While he speaks with a bit of nostalgia about it, he nevertheless understands how it had outlived its usefulness. Old English Literature by Rene Trilling This is a Great Courses presentation. It speaks about the original languages of Great Britain and how they interacted with new languages brought by invasions (e.g. Latin, Anglo-Saxon, Danish and French). The parts about the myths and sagas and even the legal documents were very good, but the grammar lessons on Old English (only two of them) were a bit of a waste. Japanese History: 500 Interesting Facts by Ahoy Publications This is part of a series of books that present 500 factoids on various topics. This one deals with the history of Japan from its earliest days to the present. I enjoy this type of book for it reminds me of what I learn when I watch Jeopardy on TV. Hearing, Tasting, Touching: Understanding the World Through our Senses by Rolf Nelson This is a Modern Scholar study of the human (and also of some animal) senses. He speaks of the organs which process the various senses, of difficulties with them and what causes this, and of sense possessed by other animals that humans might actually have to a lesser degree (e.g. echolocation of bats, the ability to sense magnetic fields of birds, etc.). The Parthenon by Mary Beard Mary Beard is an excellent archeologist of the Greco-Roman world. This volume deals with the history of the Parthenon in Athens. It speaks of the ancient origins of the buildings on the Acropolis, their use in later times (under the Christians and the Muslims), and their condition today. She necessarily has to deal with the question of the Elgin marbles, carved pieces that were taken from the Parthenon and now housed in the British museum. Unlike many other archeologists, Beard is respectful of all of the various ages of use of this temple (e.g. its days as a Church and as a Mosque). The History of the Medieval World by Susan Wise Bauer This is a magnificent collection of small essays on various events and personages of the Middle Ages. It does not only deal with Europe, but rather includes the Arab world, Persia, India, China, Korea and Japan. Each of the essays is about 10 to 20 minutes, and they follow a logical chronological order. Bauer has written two other similar volumes dealing with Ancient times and the Renaissance, and I fully intend to listen to them. Great World Religions: Hinduism by Mark Muesse This is a Great Courses presentation on the beliefs of those who call themselves Hindu. Muesse makes it clear that this title is a Western term that is used to describe a vast collection of people and beliefs that have similarities but which do not really have a credal belief. He also speaks of the foundational texts most Hindus use. The presentation is very thorough and respectful. Ancient Sicily by Charles River Editors This short book covers the history of Sicily from its earliest days to the settlements of Greeks and Carthaginians to the arrival and conquest of the Romans. We see the culture of the Sicilians, the rise of tyrants, and the many battles fought for the conquest of this grain rich area. Have a good week. Shalom fr. Jude

Ellicott City

February 2, 2026 Candlemas Day Peace and Good, I have been in Ellicott City, doing a lot of spiritual direction work. I am catching up from the appointments I could not make while I was in Texas giving a retreat to our students, and also to all the appointments that had to be cancelled in the recent bad weather. Here in Baltimore we have had the coldest week I every remember. Hardly any of the snow that fell a week ago has melted. I think that will change a bit this week, but it will probably make conditions in the evening and night dangerous for all the melted snow will refreeze as ice on the roads. I have a couple of writing projects that I am working upon as time permits. One is to revise a number of the Good News Notes that I wrote many years ago. The other is I am doing short reflections for the Sundays of this year on the life of St. Francis and his spirituality (given that this is the year of St. Francis) and the other is to do short reflections for Tuesdays of this year (showing how St. Anthony was a good disciple of St. Francis). Then there are the normal daily podcasts on the readings for the Mass of the day. I don't have any big events in these coming weeks, other than two parish missions in the area. I have been doing a number of one time events (talks, question and answer sessions, etc.) for faith sharing groups in the area, and I truly enjoy that kind of work. I have finished some reading and listening: Wittgenstein in 90 Minutes by Paul Strathern This is part of a series of short books on philosophers produced by Paul Strathern, a very good historian on things British. This volume was very confused because the life and teachings of Wittgenstein were very confused. He especially dedicated himself to studies in language and logic, and more than once he declared all other philosophy to be dead. At the very least, Wittgenstein is seen to be self-contradictory and an incredible egoist and strange. The Bombardment of Fort Sumter by Jonathan Gianos-Steinberg This is a short account of the early days of the Civil War, for the secession of the Southern States to form the Confederate States, to the role of Presidents Buchanan and Lincoln in those days, to the decision of the Southern States to force the issue at Fort Sumter, a Federal fort in the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina. Gauguin by Delphi Art Books This art book presents the story of Gauguin who started his career as a stock broker and then decided to become an artist. I liked Gauguin’s pastoral works, but I found his paintings of humans a bit odd. He was influenced by the time he spent in Martinique and Tahiti. I have to say that he will not be one of my favorite artists. Tales of the Cryptids: Mysteries of Creatures that May or May Not Exist by Kelly Milner This is a collection of stories about mythic animals that have been spoken of for centuries. The author recounts how much evidence there is for the existence of these creatures. He also presents a couple of stories of animals that everyone thought were mythic, but then turned out to actually exist. The First Paul by Marcus Borg This is a study of the theology of St. Paul, especially from the viewpoint of his radical sociology (speaking well of both Jews and pagans and being, mostly, considerate of the role of women). Borg argues that many of the phrases that moderns dislike about Paul were actually from the letters which he did not write (e.g. the Pastorals, Ephesians, Colossians, etc.). His insights are very good, even if I think he pushes his point of view a bit too much. 5 Lessons from Augustine by Oswald Sobrino This is part of a series of short presentations on various theologians and philosophers in which Sobrino quotes various sayings of the main figure and then discusses the value of what has been said. This is the first volume that I have read. It seemed as if Sobrino was using Augustine simply to say what he felt needed to be said. The Catch by Mick Herron This is the story of a spy whose job is not really in the field, but much more to be the tender of other not so important people, one of whom has decided to accept agency funds but not be accountable to his superiors. The Chinese Zodiac in Cultures and Traditions by Cindy I-Fun Cheng This was a series of lectures explaining the animals associated with the Chinese Zodiac and other factors that enter into establishing a prediction for people. The professor relates the mythological background of each of the animals and how they relate to people today. Polar Explorations by Multiple Professors This is a collection of various topics on life and weather and wildlife and topographical issues at the North and South Pole. The various professors are obviously excited about the topics they discuss. The lectures are a bit uneven in value, especially since some are dedicated to particular, narrow topics (e.g. photography in these areas). Nevertheless, the course as a whole was very good. The Battle of the Kalka River by Charles River Editors This is the story of a major battle between the Mongols and the troops of the various Russian city states. The Russians, being terribly disorganized, were soundly defeated and then and later they passed under the yoke of the Mongols. One good thing, however, is that the Mongols really only asked for tribute and did not interfere with the culture or language or religion of their conquered peoples. The Enemy by Lee Child This is one of the Reacher stories by Lee Child. In this case, a general dies of a heart attack while he is on his way to a mysterious meeting. Reacher must sort out what he was doing in a motel far off his expected travel plans, and also what the meeting would have been all about. It turns out to be a much more involved mystery that one would have expected. Mozart: His Life and His Music by Robert Greenberg This is a Great Courses presentation, part of a series on great composers. Greenberg is insightful and funny at the same time. He gives a very good insight into the work and the person of Mozart, dispelling many of the myths that have arisen about him over the ages. Mozart comes across as a brilliant, obsessed, slightly broken composer who was probably too inventive for his time (but would be appreciated much more in years to come). Have a good week. Shalom fr. Jude

Ellicott City - San Antonio - Ellicott City

January 14, 2026 Peace and Good, The good news is that my arms are almost completely healed. I will have my last xray of the elbows this coming Thursday. Last week I was in San Antonio to give a retreat to our post-novitiate friars and also some OFM friard who study down there. The topic was the Book of the Prophet Isaiah. I think it went quite well. I am catching up on spiritual direction this week, for all the people whom I could not see last week. I love doing this work. I get to sit and speak about spiritual things with people. It is great. The weather here in Baltimore is cool, but not all that bad. In San Antonio, it was in the 70's and low 80's. I and the friars watched a Kevin Costner special called the First Christmas. It is presented as a type of documentary. It is one hour and 40 minutes long, and it is very good. It is available on Disney and Hulu. I finished some books: Brother Francis by Eileen Douglas This is a very simple biography of St. Francis. It is not profound in its insights, but it is good to go over the basic facts every once in a while because they were in danger of slipping into the background. C.S. Lewis: Christology and Cosmology by Michael Ward This is a Learn25 course on the writings of C.S. Lewis. This course is the case of a professor who has written on a rather narrow topic and presents it as the explanation to everything that another author has written. There are some good insights, but I could not recommend this particular course. Kant in 90 Minutes by Paul Strathern This is part of a series of monographs by Paul Strathern on various philosophers. The author admits that the thought of Kant is very often so dense that almost no one can understand it. He mixes facts with mild humor, making the books in this series enjoyable, even if the topic is quite profound. Pompei: Daily Life in an Ancient Roman City by Steven Tuck This is a course from the Teaching Company. The professor deals with the city of Pompei before, during and after the explosion of Mt. Vesuvius. He speaks extensively of what we can learn about the daily lives of the people who lived there. He deals with the archeological ruins and what they mean. This is a fine course, well worth seeing. The Mormon People: the Making of an American Faith by Matthew Bowman This is a history of the beliefs of Mormonism from its earliest days to the present. It speaks of the lives and careers of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. It deals with some of the greatest controversies, e.g. the teachings on polygamy, the battles between Mormonism and federal troops, a massacre that Mormons seem to have instigated against a wagon train of settlers. It also outlines the structure of the religion, the beliefs of modern Mormons, etc. William Shakespeare by Chronicle Press I don’t think that I would be reading the short books produced in this series if they were not free on Kindle. These books tend to be poorly edited. Yet, this volume on the life and writings of Shakespeare is one of the best I have found in this series. The author deals with the fact that we have so little first hand information on Shakespeare’s life (e.g. no personal letters). We have to deduce what we can from his own writings and from some occasional outside sources, e.g. court records for lawsuits, etc. A History of Japan by R.H.P. Mason and J.G. Caiger This is a rather long history of Japan from its earliest days up to the present. It deals with pre-historic culture, the rise of the warrior states, the role of the emperor, the period of the shoguns, the Meigi revival and the growth of the modern Japanese state, and World War II and its aftermath. It also deals with culture and religion, e.g. the tension and cooperation between Buddhist and Shinto beliefs. This is a very good study of Japan. A History of Ancient Rome by Frances Tichener This is a series of lectures from the Modern Scholar series. The professor is clear and informative. Once in a while she makes a statement about facts that I am fairly sure are not entirely accurate. Yet, the lectures are well prepared and presented. Gladiators: Deadly Arena Sports of Ancient Rome by Christopher Epplett This book speaks of the birth of gladiatorial and animal-based entertainment in anci3ent Rome. It traces its cultural and religious roots, and then speaks of the practical consequences of running massive forms of entertainment that might involves scores of gladiators and hundreds of wild animals (which were used to fight each other, to fight so-called hunters, or even to kill prisoners). The author deals a bit with the psychology of the crowd that would entertain themselves with such bloody events. HE also speaks of the end of gladiatorial combat and eventually also animal spectacles due to the influence of Christianity. The Buried Book: the Loss and Rediscovery of the Great Epic of Gilgamesh by David Damrosch This is a book that speaks about the discovery and decipherment of clay tablets in Iraq which told the story of Gilgamesh, e.g. a great hero from Mesopotamian culture. It deals with some of the careers of archeologists and their respect or lack thereof of the local culture. Toward the end of the book there is also an overview of the people and culture that produced these stories. Banned Books by DK DK is a series of books that give short articles on a topic, often thrown together in a somewhat haphazard manner. This volume speaks of books that have been banned for religious, political, or moral reasons. It deals with the content but also the consequences of the banning (which, ironically, was often to call attention to the book and to boost its sales). 10 Great What-ifs of American History by Adam Jortner This is a series of lectures about possible alternatives in history, how things could have gone very differently if only one thing had changed, e.g. if Columbus had not discovered America, if JFK had not been assassinated, etc. I usually don’t like alternative history, but these scholars are serious about their efforts, giving good reasons why this or that could have happened and what the consequences might have been. Napoleon by David Bell This is a rather short biography of Napoleon. The book is not a deep study of any part of his life or career, but it does serve to give a good outline of the facts about Napoleon’s life. Have a good week. Shalom fr. Jude