Ellicott City

June 21, 2026 Peace and Good, It is a nice, quiet day in Ellicott City. I celebrated Mass at the Catholic Community of Relay this morning. They are a small faith community which is not quite a parish, but they are recognized by the archdiocese. The community has a lot of people who don't find themselves at home in traditional parishes. The liturgy is always a little bit less organized than one would see in a parish, but it is also very human and welcoming. This past weekend was the Feast of St. Anthony. I had a small part in the celebration which was to run a question and answer session. It always enjoy those moments for it gives people a chance to ask questions that they didn't know to whom they might address them. I sometimes hold an informal session after one of our daily Masses here at the shrine. This past Monday I had the administration of the Sacrament of Anointing after the Mass which I celebrated. People really appreciate it. We had about 40 people receive it. Ths is largely due to the fact that our community at the daily Mass (at noon) tends to be older. The weather has been hot and hotter. I am finding that I have a rough time with the heat, and have to ask my doctors if it is a by-product of my medicines or of my chemotherapy. I have been helping a lady by editing a book she wrote on Eucharistic Miracles. She asked me to write a forward to the book, which I was glad to do. I always like to help other authors. I also finished a project to write short meditations for the Sunday Liturgies for this year, the Year of St. Francis. I still have three months to go with the meditations for Tuesdays, showing how St. Anthony was a true disciple of St. Francis. I will be giving a weekend retreat at Priestfield, WV, this coming weekend for the secular Franciscans. I always like working with them, and Priestfield is a really nice site. I finished some reading and listening: The Fisherman’s Tomb: The True Story of the Vatican’s Secret Search by John O’Neill This is an account of the excavations done under St. Peter’s Basilica to search for the tomb and relics of St. Peter. Tradition held that Peter was buried under the main altar, but his relics had not been seen in centuries. Pope Pius XII organized a secret search for the tomb during World War II. Some relics were eventually found which could easily be those of Peter, especially given the scientific proof that they were from a man of Peter’s age and background and the fact that graffiti around the place where they were found speak of Peter. Home Tonight by Henri Nouwen As with all of Nouwen’s books, this one emphasizes the overwhelming love and mercy and acceptance of God. The title comes from what a man with Down’s Syndrome would say to everyone in one of the Larch communities in which Nouwen lives, “Are you going to be home tonight.” Of course, Nouwen reinterprets the question to something which concerns being home with God. Graham Greene: Bipolar Catholic by Alex Terego This is part of a series of short books on Catholic figures. This one is about Graham Greene who became a Catholic to marry a Catholic woman. He believed throughout his life even as he doubted. He once said that his tendency to disbelieve was not strong enough to keep him disbelieving. He travelled extensively, especially to wild and dangerous places and one has to wonder how much was for adventure and how much was almost a death wish. The book gave me a lot to think about. The Brain: A Very Short Introduction by Dennis Holland The Very Short Introduction is a series of book which on audio run between four and six hours. They tend to be a series of lectures on various aspects of the main theme. This one of the biology and chemistry and function of the brain is quite informative. Prophets I: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Baruch by William Anderson This is a book intended for lay Bible study groups. It is not overly academic, and a good resource. I found it useful for reviewing topics. Great Masters: Liszt by Robert Greenberg This is part of the Great Courses music courses. Greenberg is great is giving the biography and outlining the music genres that the composer produced. I cannot say that I like Liszt’s music in any way, but at least now I know I don’t like it because I have studied it a bit. Reconstruction: A Very Short Introduction by Allen Guelzo Guelzo is a scholar of the Civil War, and this is a short introduction to the period after the war. Each volume in the series is between 3 and 5 hours long, and they provide quite a bit of information on various topics. This one is very well done, and it deals with the end of the Civil War, the period right after the war (both on ground and in the political sphere) and the long term consequences of choices made in those early years. The Prophetic Imagination by Walter Brueggemann This is a book I read long, long ago. It wasn’t quite as good as I remember it being. It is based on the premise that the powers that be have set up a system which hinders criticism of any form. The role of the prophet (in OT times and the present) is to vision a different future and to share that view with his listeners, even if that means that the prophet will have to pay a great price for his/her audacity. British Politics: A Very Short Introduction by Tony Wright This short book gives a good overview to the British system of government. I always believed that the parliament was a body in which all opinions were shared without fear, but the author presents it as an example of party politics (which controls who runs, what policies are to be held, etc.). He speaks of possible events (such as Brexit) which challenge the accepted system. Orthodox Christianity: A Very Short Introduction by A. Edward Siecienski This is a short overview of those who worship in the Eastern Church (not united with Rome). The author gives good definitions and explanations for why things are the way that they are. He speaks of some of the fragmentation of the Church due to political and ethnic tensions. He presents some of the spirituality of the Orthodox liturgy and Christian life. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin and the Cosmic Christ by Alex Terego This is part of a series on famous Catholics in the 20th century. The author gives a good biography and explanation for the teaching of Teilhard. He explains the difficulties he faced with his Jesuit superiors and especially with the Vatican (especially since Teilhard tried to unite the concepts of evolution with theology). The work was well done. Mysterious Etruscans by Steven Tuck This is a Great Courses offering. I viewed a course by Tuck on Pompey, and both in that and this present course he offers great insights, copious information, and he does that with a lite touch (not overly academic but very informative). The Etruscans are viewed as a community that was important at the birth of Rome, which shared much of their culture with Rome, and which was eventually conquered by Rome (largely because they refused to unite to form a single power against the incursions of Rome but rather faced it as disorganized city states. Have a good week. Shalom fr. Jude

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