Early Church Fathers, Sunday, November 6, 2011 -- Tertullian

Image via Wikipedia"Where was Marcion then, that shipmaster of Pontus, the zealous student of Stoicism? Where was Valentinus then, the disciple of Platonism? For it is evident that those men lived not so long ago – in the reign of Antoninus for the most part – and that they at first were believers in the doctrine of the Catholic Church, in the church of Rome under the episcopate of the blessed Eleutherus, until on account of their ever restless curiosity, with which they even infected the brethren, they were more than once expelled." (On the Prescription Against Heretics 22,30 [A.D.200])

Offering Ourselves

Here's a good quote from Fr Brendan Freeman in his book Come and See:

The Eucharist is a mystery and as such cannot be fully understood by reason alone; faith must supplement our reason. But there has to be something we understand about it, something to hold onto and practice. I believe that by washing his disciple’s feet, Jesus is telling us something about the mystery of the Eucharist, something easily understood, something as easily understood as, who is more privileged? The one who serves the table? Or the one who sits at the table and is served? What does this tell us about the Eucharist? In the Eucharist, Jesus hands over his body and pours out his blood for us. Jesus’ words are repeated every day at the consecration: “This is the cup of my blood … it will be shed for you and for all. Do this in memory of me.” We know that our blood is our life force, our life. When someone says, “I offer you a cup of my blood,” they are saying very graphically that they are offering themselves, their very existence to us. Now, we cannot offer actual blood, but we can serve each other and in this way pour out our blood for the other. St. Benedict calls the monastery a school of the Lord’s service. As such, it is a eucharistic school, a place where we connect liturgy and life. However, you do not have to be in a monastery to be in this school. The message is so simple: serve each other and you will fulfill the law of Christ who came among us to serve and not to be served.

Good Point

Then there's this from Jonah Goldberg:

If you didn't know, Fringe is a TV show. If it wasn't so enjoyable, the charge that it's a ripoff of The X-Files would sting more.

One of the central premises of the show is the existence of a parallel universe where a near-exact replica of Earth exists with all the same people, living under just slightly different circumstances.


This, of course, gives me a chance to offer my longstanding complaint about the multiverse. First of all, you'd think with an infinite number of universes, it'd be easier to find good deli.

Founders Friday, Friday, November 4, 2011 – Josiah Bartlett

Image via Wikipedia"Firstly I commit my Soul into the hands of God, its great and benevolent author." - - Josiah Bartlett

Music and Culture, A Connection?

Cover via Amazon

I've been reading Fr. James Schall's wonderful book, The 

     "Plato, it is said, asked that the flute be played by a young Thracian maiden on the evening he died. When she hit a wrong note, he indicated the proper tune with his finger. This was his last act in this world.  An act worthy of Plato, since it indicated the harmony of the world even in death.  Still, Plato was quite certain that, while music could move us to our depths, it could also, almost without our noticing it. Corrupt our very souls and cities by attuning them to patterns of emotional disorder. We underestimate the power of music and its rhythms at our peril. "

I couldn't help but think back on all the changes that have occured, both in musical tastes and culture during the course of my life time.  I think Plato may have been on to something.

Life of the Mind, Schall, pg 80

 Life of the Mind, and came across this interesting passage on music:

A Word on Wednesday, Wednesday, November 2, 2011 – Bishop Fulton J. Sheen

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"Not 100 in the United States hate the Roman Catholic Church, but millions hate what they mistakenly think the Roman Catholic Church is." -- Bishop Fulton J. Sheen

Brilliant

Here’s a bit of trivia I just figured out. It turns out 2011 is an unusual year, there are four dates in particular made up of one number, one:

1/1/11

1/11/11

11/1/11

11/11/11

Can’t think of any other year where this might occur. My brilliance is amazing sometimes!  (Ever wonder if some people don't have enough to do?)