Ellicott City - Pittsburgh - Ellicott City

June 9, 2026 Peace and Good, A couple of weekends ago, I preached a retreat to a group of Secular Franciscans in Villa Maria, Pennsylvania (just outside of Youngstown, Ohio). It was a good sized group, and I truly enjoyed my time with them. Unfortunately, I had come down with a cold a couple of days before, and I all but lost my voice by the end of the retreat. Yet, the presentations went well, and there were some good discussions. These days I am helping out at the shrine and the nursing home, and doing some taping and writing and spiritual direction. Pretty much the usual things from day to day. I spoke with the Provincial and asked him if I were staying here for the foreseeable future, and he said yes. (I checked with him because we are celebrating our provincial chapter in these days, and there are always a lot of changes during chapter years). I have started a 3 week zoom series on the Book of Revelation for the deacons of Baltimore to serve as a form of continuing formation. We are getting a good turnout. I offer the lessons for 1 and a half hours each Monday evening. If the deacon in charge of continuing formation wishes, I will continue this service in the fall with another offering. I came up with an idea for later in the summer: a commuter's retreat. It would be a weekend retreat, Friday evening, all of Saturday, and Sunday morning. We don't have any sleepover facilities, so people would come in for the talks and times of prayer, and then go home. I should know shortly if the staff think this would be a good idea. I finished some books: Aretha Franklin by Hourly History This is a quick biography of the life and career of this great singer (the Queen of soul). It speaks of her Christian background, her virtues and some of her shortcomings, and of the rise and fall of her popularity over the years. Silent Film: A Very Short Introduction by Donna Kornhaber This short introduction presentation speaks of the birth of the silent film and its development and of its eventual demise as the film industry adopted movies with a sound track. The author emphasizes the artistry of the silent film, of its importance in various countries, and of its present value to scholars and those who want to see the birth of acting in this new genre. Cities of God by Rodney Stark This is a book that uses statistical information to trace the growth of the Christian faith in the Roman empire (as well as the influence of various groups that we would classify as heretical). He challenges certain ideas (such as the fact that Paul the apostle left a well-developed Church when he died). She speaks of the importance of location (near the sea or not), size of the city, presence of mystery cults in the city, etc. The Age of Benjamin Franklin by Robert Allison This is an overview of the life and career of Benjamin Franklin as well as the story of his times. We see Franklin develop from a publisher to a scientist to a diplomat and legislator. Allison debunks myths about him and shows how he was truly a great man for his times and beyond. Anatoliy Golitsyn by Charles River Editors This is the story of a KGB defector who first helped the CIA to understand the Soviet system of disinformation. He wanted to be needed by the CIA long after his usefulness wore out, and his submissions often produced a sense of paranoia in the upper levels of the institution. Scribes and Scripture by John Meade and Peter Gurry This book speaks of the process of the production of the first written texts of the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, of the process of their copying, and then of their translation first into other ancient languages and then into today’s vernacular. The authors are somewhat tilting toward the Protestant viewpoint, but they are not opposed to crediting Catholic contributions. Conclave 1559 by Mary Hollingsworth This book chronicles a conclave held in 1559 in which Pius V was elected pope. It deals with the cardinals who were used to dirty politics and a pampered lifestyle (as well as bowing to the influence of France and the Holy Roman Empire, etc.) This was a conclave that lasted over three months in order to come to a conclusion. Saxons vs. Vikings by Ed West This is part of a series of books on the history of Great Britain. This one, obviously, deals with the early years. It speaks of the influence of the Saxon and then the Viking invaders (and of their interaction during the conquests). West has a great sense of humor, and this book and the rest of the series are well worth reading. The Popes: Every Question Answered by Rupert Matthews This is a book which covers an incredible period of history, from the days of St. Peter up to the papacy of Pope Francis. Each pope is given three to five pages of description. There are occasional asides on major topics of the era. There are occasional outlines of other historic events occurring during various eras of history. The author is fair in his appraisal. He does not have any axes to grind (at least as I was able to see). I really enjoyed reading this book. It gave me a much wider perspective on the history of the Holy See. The Florentines by Paul Strathern Strathern is a great author in whatever topic he writes about. This one deals with the period of history for the city of Florence when it was the center of the Renaissance and of the power of the Medici family. He describes what the city was like, what economic and political and military pressures determined the course of its history, and of famous individuals who forever shaped the city and its culture (Machiavelli, da Vinci, Michelangelo, etc.) Fire and Light: How the Enlightenment Transformed Our World by James MacGregor Burns This is an overview of the period of the enlightenment, running from the 18th to the 19th century. Burns deals with the major figures of this period, but also with some of the major movements (e.g. American Revolution, French Revolution, move in Great Britain for greater democracy, elimination of the slave trade, elimination of slavery, woman suffrage, etc.) Burns is a great history author, and his treatment of the topic is extensive and informative. Nuclear Weapons: A Very Short Introduction by Joseph Siracusa This is a part of the very short introduction series. In audio form, they run from about 3 to 5 hours, and they are a series of short articles (often 10 to 15 minutes) on various topics concerning the main subject. In this case, the book deals with the development and use of nuclear weapons, and also of questions of diplomacy concerning the use and control. Viking History: 500 Interesting Facts by Ahoy Publications This is simply an amalgam of factoids on Viking history, culture, religion, personalities, etc. Every once in a while, there is a gem among all the other details of their existence. Have a good week. Shalom fr. Jude