Ellicott City - Hampton

August 15, 2026 The Solemnity of the Assumption Peace and Good, These days have been much of the ordinary except for the provincial chapter the last week of July and of a trip I had Thursday and Friday to Hampton, Virginia (4 hour drive) for the interment of the ashes of Anne Hamilton, the wife of one of my spiritual directees. We had a service at the cemetary which included songs, scripture, and remembrances. We then had a reception at a local Red Lobster with many members of Anne's schoolmates (who were all ages around 82 years old). They all told stories about Anne, and I was really impressed by their comraderie and joy. The only downside in the trip was travel on route 95. I could not believe the number of cars on the road both Thursday and Friday. I am keeping up with the podcasts on the readings of the day. I also finished a pretty big project. Each Sunday we have had a short reflection at Mass on St. Francis for the Year of St. Francis. Each Tuesday we have been having a short reflection on how St. Anthony was a true disciple of St. Francis. I finished up all those reflections til the end of the Year of St. Francis. I can start working again on articles for the Messenger of St. Anthony from Padua. I also finished a series of give zoom sessions with a ladies group in Alexandria, Virginia. I always love doing things like that. We had various topics throughout the weeks, and we had a good discussion while I was on line, and then the ladies continued their discussions afterward. I will be doing zoom classes for a parish group in the fall, as well as for a group of Deacons and their wives. I finished some reading and listening: Angel of Death by Jack Higgins This is one of Jack Higgins spy novels. His writing style is a bit over the top, but nevertheless entertaining. An agency under the direct authority of the Prime Minister investigates a series of seemingly unconnected murders (except for the fact that they were all committed with the same gun). They discover an unlikely group of assassins working under the guidance of a Soviet GRU (military intelligence) agent. Death of an Addict by M.C. Beaton This is a detective story set in a small village in Scotland. This is the first book of this author that I have read, and it was quite a good story. A young man who was an addict but has stopped using and seems to be getting his life together is found dead of an overdose. The local policeman does not agree with the verdict of his superiors that the death was accidental, and he follows up until the truth is found. Epic Fails in American History by Ahoy Publications This is one of the Ahoy Publications (most of which are simply lists of trivia about a given topic). This one presents short presentations about plans and initiatives that went sadly wrong and created a great deal of chaos (financial, political, etc.). This is not a very heavy read, but it gives a lot of interesting details. Caligula by Stephen Dando-Collins This is an overview of a very troubling emperor of Rome during the early days of the empire. He began well and was actually very popular, but then it seems as if he suffered some sort of illness that changed his character to that of a murderous and paranoid tyrant. He was eventually assassinated by members of his guard who then raised Claudius, his uncle, as his successor. The Roman Conquest of Brittania by Charles River Editors This book speaks of the conquest of Britain from the days of Julius Caesar, to the failed invasion of Caligula, to the conquest during the reign of Claudius (which Claudius used for his glory even though he was only present there for a few days). It deals with the tribes that opposed the invasion and of the changes in culture after the Romans were in charge. The History of Art in 50 Paintings by Peter Russell This is a book sponsored by Delphi Masters of Art. It gives the background to the artist and a particular piece of art of 50 different artists throughout the ages. Like the other Delphi books, it is not an especially in depth study of any of the works or artists, but it does present a good and interesting introduction of them. Arrayed in Crimson: Martyrdom and Persecution in the Early Church by Andrea Molinari This is an account of the martyrdoms of the early martyrs of the Church, both as historic facts and the spirituality and value of their witness (of their lives but also of their writings and the writings about them). It is quite well done and worth a good listen. The is a Learn25 course. The Virgin of Guadalupe by Charles River Editors This is a short presentation of the apparition at Guadalupe in Mexico. The author studies the historicity of the event and the tilma upon which one sees the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He deals with the sources for these things. He also speaks of the religious and political consequences of all of this. I found the author to be skeptical but not cynical. Masters of War: History’s Greatest Strategic Thinkers by Andrew Wilson This course goes through a number of theorists and practitioners of military science. Wilson shows the strengths and weaknesses of each of the figures whom he proposes, from Machievelli to Clausiwitz, from Napoleon to very modern figures. The course (from Great Courses) is worthwhile for those interested in the topic. St. Francis of Assisi: Understanding the Prayers and Gifts of St. Francis by Charles Smiech This is a Learn25 course by one of my friends, an OFM friar who lived at our friary in Chicago. It is a good reflection on some of the major themes of the spirituality of St. Francis and how they can and should be used today to live a simple and yet profound spirituality. At the Table with Jesus: Understanding the History, Context and Meaning of the Last Supper by William Burton This is a course by Learn25. I have to admit that this was one of the few courses offered by this company that I did not like. The author has a few pet theories that he continues to push all throughout his presentation. He tortures certain interpretations to make them say what he wants. There is some good information in his lectures, but I cannot recommend this particular course. The Big Melt by Jeff Goodell This is the story of a voyage to Antarctica by a scientific team to measure the effects of global warming upon a glacier which is breaking up. The author organizes the material into a series of vignettes, each of which deals with some aspect or some event in the trip. It is an interesting read. Have a good week. Shalom fr. Jude

Ellciott City - the Maratime Center

August 1 Peace and Good, Summer is rolling along quite quickly. I have been busy with the normal ministry in this area (confessions, preaching, celebrating Mass, etc.). I have also begun to work on a new Good News Note on the idea of offering up our suffering - what that means and how to do it. The weather here has been quite hot, as it has in many parts of the country. I have been doing a series of one hour classes for a study group from Alexandria, VA on Wednesday afternoons. I have completed three and have another two to do. I enjoy this sort of thing, and since this is done by zoom, it is a lot easier than having to travel to a place to do it. This past week we held our provincial chapter at the Maratime Center out near the Baltimore airport. Around 70 of us gathered to plan the next four years of life and ministry for the province. It went very well. One of the projects that was approved is some renovations on the grounds here at Ellicott City, especially establishing more parking which is sorely needed given the number of people who are coming to our events. I have finalized the plan to do a series of zoom classes on the Gospel of Mark for the deacons and their wives in November. I did a three class series on the Book of Revelation in the Spring, and it came off quite well. I have finished some reading and listening: Agent 355 by Marie Benedict This is a short story of a young woman who joins the Patriot’s cause during the Revolutionary War. She is living in New York which was occupied by British troops. She play the society belle and listens in to conversations that give clues as to the plans of the British, and she then hands those secrets on to another spy. Four Lost Cities by Annalee Newitz This is a presentation of the history and excavation of four important ancient cities. The author speaks of Angor in Cambodia, Pompeii in Italy (buried under ask by the explosion of the volcano Vesuvius), Catalhoyuk in Turkey (one of the earlies cities in history) and Cahokia in the US (an immense complex of native American mounds just outside of St. Louis. The author is not a professional archeologist, but she presents the finding of many of those who have worked these sites. Finding Jesus: Faith. Fact. Forgery by David Gibson and Michael McKinley I was a bit skeptical about this book because I thought it would be one of those books that tries to demythologize everything, but it was not. It is actually an honest look into the life and teaching and background of Jesus and his immediate followers. The authors do not try to be sensationalistic in their presentation, and they weigh the pluses and minuses of various theories. I especially appreciated their coverage of the Shroud of Turin. Marx in 90 Minutes by Paul Strathern This is part of a series of short books about various philosophers and great figures by the acclaimed historian Paul Strathern. This book presents the life and teaching of Marx without getting into esoteric theories. Strathern is not afraid to show the virtues and weaknesses of the person whom he is presenting. The books, including this one, are a good overview before one dives into that person’s writings. Conspiracies of World War II by Alexander Macdonald This is a series of stories about the spies and their plots during World War II, both from the ally and axis sides. It deals with human activity (actual spies, rescue networks for downed flyers, etc.) and with the description of coded messages. It even deals with the strange attraction of Hitler to the occult. This was an interesting read. Cleopatra’s Daughter by Jane Drawcot The daughter of Cleopatra was taken to Rome after the death of her mother (Cleopatra) and father (Anthony). She, Cleopatra Selene, was raised by Anthony’s widow Octavia who also happened to be the sister of Augustus Caesar. She eventually married a man who was made king of Numidia in Africa. The author gives good background information, but almost everything she says about Cleopatra Selene is speculation for very, very little was written about her. , The Skeptic’s Guide to the Great Books by Grant Voth This is a presentation from the Great Books. It presents some books that might not be on a professors list of most important books to read, but the books nevertheless present some of the same lessons that larger and more difficult books give. It was actually a very entertaining and informative course and I would recommend it to anyone who wanted a help on the “to do” list for future reads. 1453 by Roger Crowley This is the story of the conquest of Constantinople by the Turks in the year 1453. The author is very clear in his presentation. He is fair in presenting all the sides of the story and is not prejudicial toward one or another. I thought that the book might be filled with scenes of blood and gore, and there is a bit of that but not as much as I might fear. Overall, I thought the book was excellent. Who’s who in the age of Jesus by Geza Vermes This is a list of many, many people who take part in the story of Jesus. The treatment is alphabetic, and mostly fair (although there were a couple of strange theories here and there). He was of Hungarian Jewish origin, but taught in Great Britain where, for a while, he served as a Roman Catholic priest. The Black Prince by Michael Jones The Black Prince was the son of King Edward III, and he was famous for being a famous warrior and chivalrous knight. He died before he could come to the throne. He was called black either because that was the color or armor that he wore or some people thought he was black in his moral values (probably the former). The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie This is one of Agatha Christie’s first important works, and this was the first time that I had ever read it. It is a Hercule Poirot story in which the detective tries to solve the murder of a rich, elderly woman, most probably through poisoning. It has the usual twists and turns of a Poirot story. Augustine: Philosopher and Saint by Philip Cary This is a Teaching Company on the person and teachings of St. Augustine. The teachings part is drawn especially from Augustine’s Confessions and City of God. The author shows the originality of Augustine and how his teachings influenced theology in the Middle Ages and beyond. Have a good week. Shalom fr. Jude