Ellicott City

March 10, 2026 Peace and Good, I have been quite busy in these weeks with spiritual direction and the classes which I have offered at the Shrine in Ellicott City. I finished a four week course on the life and writings of St. Paul. I was very pleased with how it turned out. We had a good number of people each session (around 50). They had a good chemistry in their interest, their questions, and their appreciation of the topic. I also had a one time class on the meaning and customs of Lent. I have a couple more classes before Easter, and then a few between Easter and the end of June. I have preached a couple of parish missions in these weeks. The first was at the Catholic Community of Southern Baltimroe, an amalgamation of two parishes. In these days I am preaching at St. Margaret's parish, which is north of Baltimore, near the Aberdeen Proving Grounds. This is a big parish with a mission church. Deacon Herman has been a tremendous help in setting everything up, driving me from the Church to the mission, etc. On Sunday, I preached at the 8, the 9 (at the mission), the 10, the 11 (at the mission) and the 12. My latest Good News Note should be out very shortly, How to offer and receive correction. I have some preliminary ideas about future topics, but have to get caught up on some projects that are already in the hopper. Spring has finally arrived, and the last of the snow mounds are melting which feels great. I finished some reading and listening: Understanding the Periodic Table by Ron Davis This is first of all a study of the development of the periodic table and its meaning. Davis then examines the characteristics of various groups of elements on the table and why they react that way (often determined by their electron arrangement, the intensity of the bonds of the protons and neutrons in the nucleus, etc. It is a bit technical, and something that I will want to listen to again in the future to catch more of what is being shared. Eruption: the Untold Story of Mount St. Helens by Steve Olson This is the story of the before, during and aftermath of the eruption of Mt. St. Helens in the state of Washington. There is a lot of attention to the precautions and lack thereof which allowed quite a few deaths during the eruption. While scientists had a fairly good idea that an eruption was to be expected, hardly anyone thought that the eruption would blow out the mountain sideways (which led to a lack of regulations in the direction of the pyroclastic flows). Celtic Mythology by Philip Freeman Freeman is an excellent author on ancient history. In this volume, he collects a series of Celtic myths (both Irish and Welsh). I have to admit that these stories are horribly violent and void of what we would call morality. The warrior is highly esteemed, while others are all but ignored. There is a heavy influence of magic and other worldly influences. These myths remind me a lot of many of the Nordic/Viking myths. The Astorians: Bold Endeavors in the Quest for Empire by Bill Wiemuth This is a short book which deals with the effort of John Jacob Astor to create a fur trading colony in the Pacific northwest at the beginnings of the 19th century. He sent two expeditions there, by sea and overland. Both of these were only somewhat successful given difficulties of travel, personalities, and the outbreak of the War of 1812. The Aeneid by Elizabeth Vandiver This is a Teaching Company course on the Aeneid, the formation epic poem produced by the Roman poet Virgin in the days of Augustus Caesar. Vandiver is very balanced in speaking of various theories concerning the work. She shows how the poem relates to Homer’s works. She further deals with the current affairs of the Roman world when the Aeneid was written. This course is very well organized and presented. Ordinary Americans in the Revolution by Richard Bell This is a Teaching Company course on a series of normal people and how the American Revolution changed their lives. Bell tries to include those who written history often ignores, e.g. workmen, women, Tories and blacks. This course is a great supplement to the histories of the Revolution usually produced which emphasize the famous men and the battles. Conquistadores: A New History of Spanish Discovery and Conquest by Fernando Cervantes This is an account of some of the famous Spanish adventurers who conquered first the islands of the Caribbean, then Mexico and finally the Incan Empire. The author tries to give a portrait of the individuals involved as well as their good and selfish motives. The author does not white wash either what they did, nor how the lands they conquered were either well governed or not. The Ancient Greek World by Jennifer Roberts and Tracey Barrett This is a short presentation (around 3 hours) on the history and culture of ancient Greece. Although it is so short, it is a good overview of the topics which it treats. I would recommend it as an introductory study of the topic. Crassus: the First Tycoon by Peter Stothard This is the story of the richest man in Rome in the days of Julius Caesar. He was part of the Triumvirate (with Caesar and Pompey). He started his career by buying up properties of those condemned to prescription during the reign of Sulla. He founded a fire company in Rome when fires were dangerous due to the fact that most buildings were made of wood. He died while trying to acquire military fame by invading the Parthian Empire (Persia). Medical Myths, Lies and Half-Truths by Dr. Steven Novella This is a Teaching Company course (24 lectures) by a doctor who examines various questions of how to avoid and fight diseases, and what effect various treatments might have (e.g. acupuncture, hypnosis). He examines folk wisdom and why it is helpful or less so. His presentations are thoughtful and very helpful. 5 Lessons from Pope Francis by Oswald Sobrino This is the second book in the series by Sobrino that I have read. The first was on Augustine, and I thought that Sobrino was using Augustine to get his own points across. In this one, I found him to give a thoughtful examination and application of some of Pope Francis’ social teaching (as proclaimed in Fratelli Tutti). He does have specific, timely application to the present day political situation in the US. Adolf Hitler by Hourly History This is a short biography of Hitler. It is very scanty at times, covering the whole World War II period in a few pages. I did not find it worthwhile reading. Have a good week. Shalom fr. Jude