Summary
This is a blog of my experiences and random thoughts at seminary.
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Catholic Thoughts Blog
Twas the night before the night before Christmas
Friday, December 24, 2004, 12:34 AM
I am back home and relaxing on break, sleeping and t.v. viewing in abundance. However, I'm also keeping up fairly well in my prayers, so I'm doing alright. The semester wrapped up well. With a boost from Laura's request for St. Thomas' Aquinas' intercession I finished writing my throughly obsessed-over Early Modern paper. It may not be the best paper I have ever written, but it's the best paper I've ever written on Hume.
On the way home my DB Derek and I toured the LaCrossian Triangle, visiting in one day the three schools our diocese sends guys to for Theology, or major seminary. Frist we saw Sacred Heart in Detroit, were we celebrated our DB Hector's ordination to deacon. A fine ceremony in which he was exhorted, among other things, to "Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach." That seminary is in a rather rough neighborhood. For most of the morning, Derek and I enjoyed ending sentances by singing the phrase "in the ghetto."
Next we drove the the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Illinois. Derek observed we had gone from the ghetto to Versailles. It is a palacial place, where the seminarians like to joke, "It's not home, but it's much." If Thomas Jefferson had designed a seminary campus, it might look like Mundelein.
Now the happy holy-day is upon us and my life will assume a schedule. Here's another short story in parting:
Years ago, I saw him in the lobby when I was working as a bellboy. I ran up and eagerly asked, "What's the secret to success?" He held up just one finger as he told me. "Kid, it's all about name recognition." The elevator doors closed between us, and he was carried away up to the top-floor suite. Thus ended my one chance encounter with Ebenezer "Popeye" McGillicutty.
Proof of Life
Tuesday, December 7, 2004, 9:39 PM
Tomorrow is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (that would be the BVM, or the blessed virgin Mary). The day has special significance for me as I will be consecrating myself to Mary so that I may be a better disciple of Jesus Christ.
Why? Mary is unique. She is the mother of the Son, a daughter of the Father, and the spouse of the Holy Spirit. Because God kept her sinless by a singular act of grace, His will and her will are one. She has "a spirit which is gentle yet strong, zealous yet prudent, humble yet courageous, pure yet fruitful." And, in addition to all that, I've had the distinct impression God wants me to, so there you go.
I have struggled to conceive a Early Modern Philosophy paper on David Hume over the past few weeks. Wierd Al has a song that goes, "Everything you know is wrong; up is down, long is short, and right is wrong; and everything you thought was so important doesn't matter." Hume's version would be, "Almost everything you know has no rational basis; cause and effect, self-identity" and so on. I hope I've pinned him for having a faulty view of probability, but we'll see how that works out. In any case, I'll take an incomplete and finish the paper over break.
In Sunday's CCD class I was showing the kids a long and narrow real-color satelite map of the Holy Land that hangs on the wall of our classroom. I layed it out across some desks and pointed out major features to them. I showed them what portion comprise Israel, and pointed out the seas and the cities of importance in salvation history. To give them some perspective, I brought over a globe and asked them to point out Israel. In a snap, they all pointed it out on the satelite map. I was quite amused.
I also had one boy demonstrate how Samson would have looking pushing against the pillars to bring down the palace to save the children of God from their enemies. Ben, standing in the doorway, arms out-streched, was a fine visual aid in resemblance of the Savior who Samson forshawdowed.
Tonight there is free pizza and cheap drinks in the pub. One of the deacons from last year is now a priest and has come back to treat us. I think that's what I'll do next.
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