St. Anysius and geese

No major saint today, the sixth day of Christmas, but a minor one who is also significant for Church-state relations, as well as Early Christian World Pilgrimage lore: St. Anysius was bishop of Thessalonica in 390 when Emperor Theodosius massacred 7,000 men, women and children in retaliation for a relatively minor disturbance in which a governor was killed. Theodosius was also the emperor who made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire. (Contrary to popular belief it wasn't Constantine, who merely recognized its legitimacy, and was baptized only at the end of his life.) Theodosius must have thought he was de facto head of the Church (anticipating Henry VIII by 1,200 years!), but Ambrose of Milan forced him to do penance. Ambrose was the first bishop who actually succeeded in exercising control over a Roman emperor. Compared with the fascinating history of our Catholic heritage, who cares about a gaggle of geese? (Although their eggs might be tasty with bacon. I've never eaten one. Has any reader of this ever had a goose egg?)

I couldn't find much on St. Anysius on the web, so I'm sharing a photo I took of the entry in the new edition of Butler's Lives of the Saints. Interesting little tangent for ECW Pilgrims and others interested.

As I commented on Facebook: Theodosius wasn't a madman, in fact he justly has the title of "Great." What he did was not all that unusual even for the best of rulers (of all ages including today). What was unusual was that, in the battle of wills over his repentance, Ambrose won. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodosius_I. It's a sign of greatness you can admit your wrongdoing, and a sign of small-mindedness when you have to twist reality to justify it.

Reflection on the Holy Innocents

The new edition of Butler's Lives of the Saints notes that Matthew's telling of this story in chapter 2 of his Gospel "is not purely a record of events. He is concerned to show a parallel between the infancy of Jesus and the infancy of Moses, the fate of the Innocents resembling that of the Hebrew children killed on Pharaoh's orders when Moses was born (Exodus 1:13-22)."

We don't know how many slaughtered Innocents there were. Traditional counts from several centuries later (the Byzantine liturgy speaks of 14,000, and Syrian calendars say 64,000) are exaggerated beyond any reasonable estimate of the population of Bethlehem at the time. Most modern day estimates say there couldn't have been more than a dozen or so children under two in a small village such as Bethlehem and its surrounding countryside.

Herod the Great, who died in 4 BC, was the one who built the Temple in Jerusalem, which was destroyed in 70 AD. He was also a murderous madman, who even killed members of his own family. (There was a Roman quip that it was safer to be Herod's dog than his son!) So this massacre of infants was not out of character.

Christian tradition has venerated the Innocents as martyrs, "who died not only in witness to Christ but actually instead of Christ." In England the feast used to be "Childermas."

I have always pictured the escape of Joseph, Mary and Jesus into Egypt sort of like refugees alone in a strange and alien land. Actually, that wasn't quite the case. Alexandria, Egypt, at that time had one of the largest Jewish populations of any city in the world outside of Jerusalem, possibly several hundred thousand, and it was a flourishing center of learning and culture. It's very possible they found a warm and protective welcome among the Jewish diaspora community for the time they had to spend there.

60-Minutes on Patriarch Bartholomew

Just today I was informed of last week's segment on CBS's 60-Minutes on Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople/Istanbul. It is good background for the Early Christian World Pilgrimage, and gives a strikingly realistic (and pessimistic) view of the plight of the Orthodox Christians in present-day Turkey. (Too bad one has to put up with the offensive Viagra ad!)

Regarding the re-opening of the Halki Seminary, which Bob Simon visited with the Patriarch, Considerable international pressure has been put on Turkey, and President Obama in his speech to the Turkish Parliament on April 6, 2008 (video), also focused specifically on the issue. Obama again brought up the issue as recently as last month, when the Patriarch visited him in the USA. But so far nothing has come from the government except talk and unfulfilled promises.

There are, however, some over-simplifications and historical inaccuracies in the 60-Minutes piece, in particular regarding Cappadocia. The carved churches there date from the later medieval times (11th-13th centuries), not from the very origins of Christianity as erroneously stated by the guide.

They are correct, in my opinion, though, about calling Turkey "the other Holy Land," and locating the "origins" of Christianity there. It was in Antioch (present-day Antakya) ;where the disciples of Jesus were first called "Christians" (Acts 11:26). And from there (not from Jerusalem) most of the Apostles went for the bring the Gospel to the then-known world. On our Early Christian World Pilgrimage, we will spend a full day (two nights) in this ancient city, and celebrate Mass in a present-day "house church" reminiscent of the kind of place where these first Christians gathered for the Eucharist.

The Holy Family's relevance for today

Here are my Sunday Bulletin reflections for December 27:

The last Sunday of 2009 and the Feast of the Holy Family today. I have two thoughts that I believe are worth sharing and considering. They are different, but related.

The first is that we usually consider the "holy family" to be Mary, Joseph, and Jesus, living quiet, holy lives in humble surroundings, with Jesus being raised as an ever-obedient only child, while Mary is the ever-patient mother doing her household chores and Joseph in his workshop making furniture for the village. That's a nice thought, but totally unreal. All small-town households of that time and culture were large, bustling, dynamic, and messy aggregations of all sorts of relatives living in close proximity. Even if Mary remained a life-long virgin, as Catholic tradition has always maintained, Jesus had "brother and sisters," either cousins living the same household or, more likely I think, Joseph's children from a previous marriage. Or both; very likely along with some of Joseph's or Mary's siblings. Joseph's widowed situation would not have been uncommon because the mortality rate in childbirth was high.

The point is that Jesus was raised experiencing all the beautiful and challenging messiness of family life, with many related individuals living together, whether by choice or necessity. To put it another way, Jesus experienced life not too much different in essence from our own.

The second, and related, point is that families are in trouble today mostly, I believe, because of isolation. Traditional marriage has always depended on a wide-ranging and complex network of family relationship, committed to mutual support. Now, at best, "traditional family" boils down to two people, and perhaps 2.5 children, facing the challenge of making it on their own. The wider network of family relationships no longer are part of the substance of family living, but are relegated to occasional (hopefully) friendly and festive gathering. Unlike in the past, the situations that give rise to conflicts are "nobody else's business," except of course when the media feeds on celebrities' troubles. When a couple experiences difficulty, they can't claim much support from a wider family network. All too often, there is no one willing to embrace them both and provide a context within which they can rebuild their relationship with each other.

One of the points I frequently make in my wedding homilies is that everyone who cares enough to come to witness the life-long commitment of this newly married couple, is also signifying their own commitment to support the couple in times of the inevitable trials that will come, so that their relationship may truly be for-life as they pledge on the wedding day.

As we pray for families today, please embody that prayer in your own loving support for the families of your own extended family and community. Blessings and peace of the New Year for all of you and those you love. I love you.

Swaddling bands and feeding trough

Christmas bulletin greeting:

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

What I'm most grateful for this Christmas is that I am celebrating the Eucharist with you, the people of God of Good Shepherd Parish Community.

We all know that beyond the sights, sounds and smells of the season, beyond the exhilaration of family and friends together, is the fact of what we are celebrating: God has so loved us that he sent his only Son to be our Savior.

For two thousand years, our Catholic faith has been centered on the Eucharist, the enduring sign and reality of the presence of God, through Jesus His Son, in our midst. As the beginning of St. John's Gosel reminds us, the eternal Word of God has taken on our human flesh -- our human nature fully -- and has made his dwelling with us.

One of my favorite images of the nativity dates back to the earliest centuries of the Church. It's a relief carving in marble that was unearthed on the Greek Island of Naxos, and dates to about 390 A.D. To me it speaks more eloquently than any other "nativity scene" of the reality and meaning of Christ's coming.


In the very center is the manger, in reality the trough from which the animals feed. Lying alone in the straw (you can even see its texture in the 1600-year-old weathered marble) is a little bundle with only a head showing. The infant's body is tightly wrapped in bands -- that's the meaning of "swaddling cloths." An ox and a donkey and two trees, a highly stylized palm and fig tree, are the only other figures.

The animals and trees represent all of creation, worshiping the bound-up Lord of the Universe, who bound himself by taking on the imperfection of our human nature. He has become one of us, so that we can become one with Him. And the feed-trough is not just a practical necessity of being born in a stable. It's an unmistakable sign of his relationship to us. In the Eucharist, he is our food, our nourishment , our sustenance.

As we celebrate today, let us not lose sight that all our gifts take their meaning from the One Great Gift, the gift of Jesus Himself.

May God continue to bless in abundance all those you love. Merry Christmas.

Fr. Tom Welbers

P.S. If you'd like a better, higher resolution copy of the picture, just sent me an email at thomas.welbers@gmail.com.

Peace and the Environment

Here is the text of my "Pasotr's Reflections" for the Good Shepherd Bulletin for Sunday January 3:

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

In 1968, the year I was ordained, Pope Paul VI issued the first World Day of Peace message on January 1. Every year since then in unbroken succession, each pope has continued the tradition, sending strong and thoughtful reflections to all people of good will for the benefit of humankind.

It was Pope Paul VI who first made the statement, "If you want peace, work for justice." After 9/11 with so much fear and retaliation in the air, Pope John Paul II added an important phrase: "There will be no peace without justice, and there will be no justice without forgiveness."

Pope Benedict XVI has, year-by-year, explored the ramifications of the theme of peace, touching many elements of spirituality and human life, as you can see from the list of titles of his past messages: 2006, "In Truth, Peace"; 2007, "The Human Person, the Heart of Peace"; 2008, "The Human Family, a Community of Peace"; 2009, "Fighting Poverty to Build Peace"

Although previous popes began to weave concern for the environment of our world into their reflections, the strongest voice for developing a consistent Christian approach to ecology has been Benedict XVI. His newly issued message for the 2010 World Day of Peace, "If You Want to Cultivate Peace, Protect Creation," develops the theme that he has stated many times: protecting our environment, and working to reverse the degradation of our planet that we humans have already brought about through exploitation and waste is an urgent Christian imperative.

All too often, the biblical command to have dominion over all creation (Genesis 1:28) has been interpreted as mastery without restraint. Whatever we do to profit from the exploitation of earth's resources, in this view, is legitimized and even seen as God's will. Dominion is seen to mean domination. Nothing could be further from the real plan of God, as seen even in the Old Testament, but certainly in its fulfillment in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Dominion really means that we are living in an environment, a world, that in truth belongs not to us but to the Creator. We are stewards not possessors. God has set us over creation as caretakers, not as owners.

You may want to read Pope Benedict's 2010 message, along with his previous ones. You can find them on the Vatican website at http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/peace/index_en.htm.

May this New Year bring many graces to you and all those you love. I love you.

Fr. Tom Welbers

Note that John Allen has an excellent article on the reaction to Pope Benedict's World Day of Peace Message, "Revolutionaries, Pastors, and Skeptic in Catholic Ecology."

Homily for December 20, Fourth Sunday of Advent

There's an old saying I often repeat: "Be careful what you pray for, you might get it." That sounds kind of trite and silly, until we actually take seriously what we pray about. The implications of our prayer, if we are sincere, should give us pause for thought: Do I really mean what I just prayed?

An example is today's refrain of the Responsorial Psalm:

Lord, make us turn to you;
let us see your face and we shall be saved.

Think about it. If we say "Lord, make us turn to you," we are implying not only that we are not turned to God, but even that we cannot of ourselves turn to Him. God's the one who has to do that.

The second implication of that line is that we are open to God turning us around in His way, not ours. If we are busy about all kinds of other things, that process of turning might be painful because it involves letting God remove the obstacles that stand in His way. And some of those obstacles might be things we really like, maybe even depend on – and irt very well might hurt to have them moved out of the way so God can get closer.

All that, only in the first line. What about the second line?

Well, two questions arise there. Do we really want to see His face? And do we really want to be saved?

Have you ever had to face somebody who loves you deeply, but whom you have offended, perhaps by thoughtless neglect? It's difficult, isn't it. The person you've offended may very badly want you to look at them, but your inclination is to turn away in guilty embarrassment. It takes a strong person to face the One who loves us more than we love Him. A person strong enough to put aside ego. A person strong enough to look at our own unlovableness, and to let ourselves receive the gift of love we know we don't deserve and even can't deserve.

And what is salvation anyway? That's especially difficult when many of the needs that past ages looked to God for are now supplied by modern culture and technology. We can only get in touch with our real needs and the meaning of salvation when we painfully come to terms with our limits, and that God is beyond them. When our resources are exhausted, then we can acknowledge that we are not ultimately self-sufficient. That's when salvation becomes meaningful, but that's usually painful too.

All too often, when we have to face the things in our lives that God gives us to realize our dependence on Him, we are inclined to ask, "Why me?" when perhaps we should find ways of saying "Thank you."

What does this mean practically for you and for me? How we live depends a lot on how we pray. Can I put more thought into how I pray, and what I pray for. Do I pray that God will do such and so for me, that God will make everything turn out the way I want or think I need? Or do I pray that God will use me as in instrument of his will? Is the bottom line of my prayer, “thy will be done”?

It's a hard but necessary question: ultimately, is God the center of my prayer . . . or am I?


(Note: this holimyis a slightly revised and expanded vbersion of what I wrote for today's bulletin, below.)

Praying at Christmas?

Bulletin reflection for December 20

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

There's an old saying I often repeat: "Be careful what you pray for, you might get it." That sounds kind fo trite and silly, until we actually take seriously what we pray about. The implications of our prayer, if we really mean them, should give us pause for thought: Do I really mean what I just prayed?

An example is today's refrain of the Responsorial Psalm:

Lord, make us turn to you;
let us see your face and we shall be saved.

If we say "Lord, make us turn to you," we are implying not only that we are not turned to God, but that we cannot of ourselves turn to Him. God's the one who has to do that.

The second implication of that line is that we are open to God turning us around in His way, not ours. If we are busy about all kinds of other things, that process might be painful because it involves letting God remove the obstacles that stand in His way. And some of those obstacles might be things we really like.

All that, only in the first line. What about the second line?

Well, two questions arise there. Do we really want to see His face? And do we really want to be saved?

Have you ever had to face somebody who loves you deeply, but whom you have offended, perhaps by thoughtless neglect? It's difficult, isn't it. The person you've offended may very badly want you to look at them, but your inclination is to turn away in guilty embarrassment. It takes a strong person to face the One who loves us more than we love Him. A person strong enough to put aside ego.

And what is salvation anyway? That's especially difficult when many of the needs that past ages looked to God for are now suppllied by modern culture and technology. We can only get in touch with our real needs and the meaning of salvation when we painfully come to terms with our limits, and that God is beyond them. When our resources are exhausted, then we can acknowledge that we are not ultimately self-sufficient. That's when salvation becomes meaningful, but that's usually painful too.

All too often, when we have to face the things in our lives that God gives us to realize our dependence on Him, we are inclined to ask, "Why me?" when perhaps we should find ways of saying "Thank you."

May these last days of preparation for celebrating the coming of the Messiah into our world help you to welcome Him into your life.

May God bless you and all those you love. I love you.

Fr.Tom Welbers

Martha and Mary at Christmas?

Bulletin Reflection for December 13:

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

Making room.

Are you the kind of person for everything has to be "just right"? If so, this season is really hard on you, isn't it?

I know. I used to be that kind of person. Still am in many ways, but I think I tamed that perfectionism at least a bit.

There's so much to do, so many obligations to meet, such an investment of time and energy in making everything just right for everybody.

I sometimes wonder if if it would be a good idea for the Church to give us the Gospel reading of Mary and Martha during these last days of Christmas preparation. (It's Luke 10:36-42; hey, why not read it now?) Certainly we would hear Jesus challenging all the hustle and bustle of our perfectionist preparations.

More than ever, I think it's important during this time to step aside from it all, even if only for a few minutes. Catch our breath. And let Jesus speak

Even our prayer tends to be busy. As Catholics, many of us have grown up in a tradition that told us "praying" meant "saying prayers." And if you prayed simply by saying prayers, the more time you could give was automatically meritorious, and the faster you could say them -- the more prayers you could squeeze in a given length of time -- the better you prayed. I remember doing that. If you are old enough to have any gray hairs, you probably do too.

Between now and Christmas, try to step aside, for at least a few minutes a day, from the burdens of trying to get everything right. As Jesus so often said to his followers, "Come apart and rest a while." Rest was important for him. The openness and emptiness that are part of true rest are also important, because that gives God something to do. God can't fill us with the gift of himself if we are already full with all kinds of other things.

These last two weeks before Christmas the most important thing you can do is to make room . . .for Him.

I pray that this season of preparation may be one of great grace for you and all those you love. I love you.

Fr. Tom Welbers

Last Day in Rome

This morning at 8:00 AM, I met Father Mark Haydu at the Porta Sant' Anna of the Vatican. He's the director of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums, whom I met just a few weeks ago. He's the one whowas kind enough to arrange the wonderful "Patrons' Tour" for me this morning, and it was even more impressive that he was the guide, and I was the audience of one. Altogether he gave me about two hours of his time, out of a very busy schedule. His worldwide responsibility is to try to gather support, by developing local groups of patrons, to finance the preservation and restoration of great works of our artistic and faith heritage at the Vatican Museums. The Calfornia Chapter has been particjularly active and generous for many years.

First we went to the Sistine Chapel, where we were virtually alone. He described something of the recent cleaning and restoration work, but concentrated more on the person and history of Michelangelo, and the revolutionary creativity and dynamism, interwoven with symbolism, manifested in his work. It's hard for us today to appreciated how jarring he imagery was on his contemporaries because we are so used to it, perhaps much like Beethoven in the music world.

Here's a promotional video of Fr. Mark giving a little taste of the tour.



Then, after a chat over coffee in his office, he gave me a private tour of of the recent Santa Rosa Necropolis excavations. this video is a lot more informative than the last one, and gives a really good description of the excavations.



I was able to video Fr. Mark's tour, which is a lot more extensive. I hope I'll have an edited version fairly soon to show. After this, I spent a couple of hours by myself wandering the Museums. Unfortunately, the tour of the tomb of St. Peter was not available. Another time, I guess. I'm also disappointed that the newly discovered fresco portrait of St. Paul at the virtually unknown Catacomb of St. Thecla is in the process of stabilization and can't even be opened for a private tour. Another time for that one too. (Wanna come? I'll start a list.)

So, I had a nice "last meal" in a sort of rustic trattoria somehwere along the Viale Giulio Caesare, and came back to the hotel for a nap. Took a last walk around the area, and had a little dish of gelato, then came back to write this. Now it's time for bed. Got a long way to go tomorrow.

Rome Days Two and Three

Yesterday (Saturday) was pretty chilly, cloudy, and off-and-on rainy. Kind of miserable, actually. But that didn't stop your intrepid explorer of early Christian life. Where better than to discover life and in a cemetery? Yes, I finally made it to a couple of catacombs: Priscilla and St. Callistus. They are on opposite sides of the city, so it meant some fancy connections on the subway and bus system. Successfully done.

The Catacombs of Priscilla are on the Via Salaria, somewhat northeast of the historical center of Rome; in ancient times outside the walls, but now very much in the city. They are now part of a Benedictine convent, and tours are offered under their auspices. No photos, but there is a brief photo tour at their website, and a search for images on Google will produce a lot more.

Priscilla is not the name of a saint, but was probably the wealthy Christian landowner on whose property these catacombs were dug. Catacombs were burial places, not secret hiding places. The rich and powerful pagans often had their tombs above ground -- marble monuments and such. But it was lot cheaper to dig tombs underground, and the volcanic tuff rock is easily carved out and provided the ideal medium.

While most of the catacomb walls are lined with simple tombs (loculae, Latin for "little places"), some more elaborate areas boast the earliest know Christian art, usually in the form of frescoes, i.e., painting on plaster. There are many images of Christ as Good Shepherd, and he is usually depicted as a youth without a beard in Roman garb, a far cry from the sentimentalized images we are familiar with.

In the afternoon, I took the bus to the other side of the city, to the Appian Way and the Catacombs of St. Callistus, one of the most developed catacombs as a tourist attraction. Its artwork seemed a bit more "restored" (or "touched up") than Priscilla's, but I don't know if that's the case or not.

The early Christian artwork in the catacombs tell us a lot about their life, death, and faith. One interesting note: the size of the tombs reveals the size of the people. Men were just over 5-feet tall and women just under. Thus Romans and Greeks were actually quite a bit smaller than the people of today, and I've heard that the "barbarians" of northern and eastern Europe (especially the Huns) were fearsome because they were taller.

Yesterday evening, after a bit of rest and a panino (sandwich), I took the 64 bus to a stop just south of the Pantheon, and nostalgically wandered around. I had forgotten just how massive the Pantheon is. I finished my wandering at the Piazza Navona, and enjoyed a tartufo -- as good as ever, and only 5-euros to go.

Today, I slept in a little bit, and went to 8 AM Mass at the church around the corner from the hotel. I described the liturgy in an email to fellow members of the LA Archdiocesan Liturgical Commission as follows:

For better or worse, "went to Mass" seems the most accurate description of the experience: neither hot nor cold, neither wonderful nor awful. Small amount of singing was led by the lector/server/cantor. Priest seemed attentive and communicative, but routine. Sound system surprisingly effective in a reverberant space. Small assembly, mostly locals with a few obvious tourists, scattered around church. Locals sang well and enthusiastically with minimal leadership. Interesting that there was little uniformity about standing or kneeling during the Eucharistic Prayer and the Communion, even among the locals. Priest ate all the bread consecrated at the Mass (i.e., one small "large" host, broken in half) and drank all the consecrated wine. All Communion for the people was from the tabernacle; hosts small, thin, and white. Majority, even locals and elderly, received Communion in the hand. Priest seemed about my age, and seemed to reflect a lifetime of "saying Mass" rather than "presiding at the celebration of the liturgy,"

Ah well . . .

Then, after breakfast, I took the subway (Linea A) to St. Peter's, and got to the square just in time to see the Holy Father appear at his window for the noontime Angelus. He gave a ten-minute talk in Italian on World Mission Sunday, and greetings in a lot of languages, including English, before praying the Angelus. I think I got a pretty good video, with the zoom at maximum 10x -- haven't had time to review it. In some ways this is better than the Wednesday audience; not as long and much less hassle.

I took the 64 bus to Piazza Venezia and had a good meal at the Ristorante Abruzzi, and then wandered around the Casa Santa Maria, Gregorian University, Trevi Fountain and Piazza di Spagna before heading back to the hotel to rest a little and type up this report.

Now you're up to date. Tomorrow, the Vatican Museums, and Tuesday -- home.

Rome, Day One

Sorry I didn't have a lot of blogging opportunity or initiative between the last post in Ravenna and today. Ravenna, day two, was rainy, but that didn't stoop me from spending good quality time at the Basilica of San Apollinare in Classe, which is a 5-km, 15-minute bus ride from the center of the town. More great mosaics in an impressive building. So much has happened since then, however, that I'll have to wait until I can review the pictures for a more detailed commentary.

Yesterday, Thursday, was travel to Rome day. I was hoping to write on the train, but it was so crowded and uncomfortable -- almost like an airplane -- that it was impossible not only to open up the computer but also to put two thoughts together rationally. I was pretty exhausted when I got to the "Yes Hotel," (nifty name) which is brand-newly refurbished with high tech amenities, including availab;e 125-volt power and an Ameican-style outlet. They must understand that today's travelers are into gadgets that need recharging, because the room is loaded with electrical outlets. And it's only a block from the Stazione Termini (Central Train Station), which also serves as the subway and bus hub of the city.

Today I was planning to visit the catacombs and ended up spending almost the whole day in Ostia Antica instead. Ostia was the ancient port city of Rome, and the excavations and partial reconstructions are among the best anywhere. I'm not going to Pompei or Herculaneum, which I imagine can be more impressive because of the way volcanic ash or mud preserved them. But those were resort towns for the rich and famous, and do not represent the great diversity of life in a real-world city. Ostia does. A little imagination could put one in the center of the bustling community life there. Another advantage is that so few people seem to know about it -- even I had no idea it was this extensive and well maintained -- that it's not overrun with tourists.

Subway/train connections are great, and onthe way back I visited St. Paul's Outside the Walls, The newly excavated tomb of St. Paul is barely visible through a glass opening in the shrine beneath the main altar. There is also a new door that was made specially for the Year of St. Paul, which recently concluded, with some striking relief sculptures.

It's now about 7:30 pm, and I'm kind of hungry and tired, so I think I'll get something to eat and go to bed. Rain is predicted for tomorrow, so I'm not sure what I'll do.

Ravenna, Day One

This is the evening of my first full day in Ravenna. I decided quite early on today that I would not take many videos, unless there was some kind of "action" involved. "Panorama" shots in video can be better done with a single photo. So, I have five video files and 329 photos. Maybe I can organize them on the train to Rome, and perhaps post some before I get back to GSBH. (For now, if you want pictures and info, I suggest searching for these places in Google or Wikipedia. It's worth the effort.)

So, what happened today. For one thing, the day was bright, beautiful, and neither too hot nor too cool. Thank you, Lord.

After a small but nice breakfast at the Hotel Argentario, I started walking north on the Via di Roma. Half a block from the hotel are the ruins of the "So-Called Palace of Theodoric." "So-Called" means they probably aren't. That's a long story for another time. I walked around, soaked in the history, took some pictures, and went on.

Next door is the Basilica of St. Apollinare Nuovo (I'm still less than a block from my hotel!), which was not yet open. Later.

I walked a few more blocks up (north) on Via di Roma (yes, you go south on this road far enough and you'll end up in Rome; at least that's the way it used to be), and came to the Church of the Holy Spirit, which at one time was the Arian Cathedral, and now is used as an Orthodox Church (I think), and more impotantly, the Arian Baptistery, with some fantactic mosaics.

From there I made my way to the complex of the Basilica of San Vitale, the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, and the National Museum. The San Vitale was magnificent, and I spent lots of time and took a million pictures (well, not quite). (It seemed to me that the "standard" pictures you see in books or on the internet do not give context. A lot of those "professional" pictures are better than mine. But I think mine also give context.) The Mausolem of Gallia Placidia was poorly lighted and undergoing restoration -- my pix were not so good, and some really good stuff was covered up. The National Museum was, uhm, pretty "ho-hum."

Then I walked to the Orthodox Christian (as distinct from Arian) Baptistery, called "Neonian," which is attached to the present-day Cathedral. The Baptistery was open, the Cathedral was not.) More very ancient mosaics, and the time to contemplate them. (I'm going to have to write more sometime about the distinction between these two baptistries -- Arian and Neonian -- it's fascinating.)

A bit more wandering took me to the tomb of Dante. The poor guy was exiled from his native Florence to here because the Florentine elite didn't like him putting them all in hell in his "Divine Comedy." It seems they appreciated him here, probably because the Ravennese felt the same way he did.

By now it's mid-afternoon, and I decided to take in the Basilica of St. Apollonare Nouvo, about a hundred feet from my hotel. Breathtaking is the only word I can use -- as were San Vitale and Galla Placidia. Another million or so pictures, and the promise of more commentary to come.

Late afternoon. Nap at the hotel. Then a walk around the part of Ravenna on the other side of the train station and the innermost part of the port (remember it is a port city on the Adriatic coast) and the fifteenth-century fortress called the Rocca Brancaleone. Finally found a nice spot for dinner. Restaurants are fewer than I would have thought. And then back to my room to write this for you.

I'm glad and grateful that I decide to spend two full days here; one is definitely not enough.

Tomorrow the only major things left are the Mausoleum of Theodoric, which I past on my walk this evening, and the Basilica of St. Apollinare in Classe, which is a 5-km bus ride. God willing, it will be a good day with a relaxing finish.

Blessings and peace . . .

From Venice to Ravenna

Reflections on Venice and St. Mark's in particular

For several years I have actively wondered what the great Hagia Sophia looked like in its glory days as the greatest church of all Christianity. There are some books that reconstuct the liturgy. It is clear, for example, that there wasn't an opaque iconostasis, but there was something of a low wall and arched colonnade dividing the sanctuary from the nave. There was also a marked processional pathway between the sanctuary and the ambo, from which the scriptures were proclaimed in the middle of the assembly. There was also a bishop's throne against the back wall of the apse, and surrounded by terraced rows of seats for the presbyters. The ceremonial, involving processions, singing, prayers, various rites, etc., can be pieced together from contemporary documents. There were no seats for the assembly, except perhaps for the infirm and the elderly, which to my mind probably meant considerable mobility during the lengthy liturgies. Men and women were segregated -- men on the main floor and women inthe galleries, and there was a special gallery for the emperor and empress and their court.

The few surviving mosaics are tantalizing, but even they are not the early originals -- they date more or less from the 10th to the 14th centuries. After the fall of Constantinople to Mehmet II in 1453, the Turks immediately converted Hagia Sophia to a mosque, but actually preserved many of the mosaics by plastering over them rather than demolishing them. However, Hagia Sophia suffered terrible tragedies earlier in its history. The first was the iconoclastic dominance in the 7th and 8th centuries, which methodically and meticulously, as well as ruthlessly, destroyed all artwork representing Christ, Mary, and the saints, replacing them with simple crosses and geometric designs (as one sees in the apse of Hagia Irene. Nothing survived the ruthlessness of this movement. (Exceptions are in Milan, which I saw a few days ago, and Ravenna, where I am traveling to as I write this. In addition, there is a fragmentary 5th century mosaic of the annunciation in the Archaeological Museum of Istanbul, and a well preserved icon of the Virgin at St. Catherine's Monastery at Mt. Sinai, which I saw at the exhibit at the Getty a few years ago.) When Orthodoxy prevailed after the second council of Nicea, iconic art, including mosaics, again flourished. These are the examples we see today, at Hagia Sophia and many other places, but they are not the originals.

The next catastrophe was the fourth crusade, 1204, in which Catholic forces invaded and occupied Constantinople. They greedily and ruthlessly looted the treasures of the great churches, especially Hagia Sophia and the Twelve Apostles. The latter church, since the time of Justianian, had housed the tomb of Constantine, as well as tombs or relics of the apostles, and various objects that were held to be relics of the life and passion of Christ. These found there way to various shrines in Europe, and many to the treasury of St. Mark's in Venice, which I visited on Saturday.

The church second in importance to Hagia Sophia in Constantinople was the Twelve Apostles, which was leveled after the Turkish conquest in 1453 in order to build the Fatih Mosque. (Those who were on the first ECW Pilgrimage in 2006 may remember stopping there, mainly to view some foundation stones of the original building which some archeologists speculate were part of the original church. The importance I placed on this site puzzled many Pilgrims as well as Aydin our guide. Now, armed with a little more knowledge, I hope to revisit this site in 2010.)

Why this long and very generalized historical ramblings as prelude to reflecting on St. Mark's? First, in attending two Masses there yesterday, there were moments when I had the distinct feeling that I was in Hagia Sophia. Both the overall design and many archectural elements evoked the "feel" of Hagia Sophia. And the profusion of gold-background mosaics covering nearly every square inch (centimeter, I guess I should say) of the arches, domes, walls and bays, recall the splendor of what Hagia Sophia must have been like.

St. Mark's was originally built in the 800's, and was modeled after the Twelve Apostles, which has few surviving indications of what it looked like. Experts are quick to point out the western elements that were changed from the Byzantine style, but even when I mentally adjust for them, the Byzantine character of the building and its decoration comes through strikingly clear. I suspect the dimensions are similar to the Twelve Apostles, so one can get a good idea of the "feel" of that church as well.

A note on the domes. The Byzantine domes are definitely "flatter" than one seen at St Mark's, which are taller and almost "egg-shaped." They are certainly the precursors to the taller domes one sees on St. Peter's and many later western churches (as well as the US Capitol), and I wonder if they are also a strage in the development of the "onion-dome" that characterizes many central and easten European churches.

I was saddened to see the state of the treasury. The pitifully few remnants of the glory days of Constantinople looted from the Hagia Sophia are indifferently lumped together in dusty display cases, and the relics (often substantial pieces of bone in old reliquaries, but including several good sized pieces of the True Cross) are crowded on dusty glass shelves in a small room. (At least Louis IX built the magnificent Sainte-Chapelle in Paris to house the looted relics that came his way.) Everything is labeled in both Italian and English, which was helpful. I couldn't even try to sneak a few pictures because I left my camera in the hotel room because of the rain. There are photos of many of these things on the internet, and I hope to comment further. (IMHO Venice ought to "do the right thing" and return these relics and artifacts to the Orthodox Patriarch, like Pope John Paul II in 2004 returned the relics of St. John Chrysostom and St. Gregory Nazianzen, which were also part of the 1204 heist. They are beautifully displayed and venerated at the patriarchal church of St. George in Istanbul.)

Yesterday was beautiful, sunny and clear day. (Today it's cloudy again, and threatening rain. As the train was leaving Venice's Santa Lucia Station, I could see dark clouds and some lightning in the direction of St. Mark's.) I took the elevator to the top of the campanile (bell tower) in St. Mark's Square. The view was fantastic, and I could get a great view of the city in all directions -- evn the alps in the distance. Looking down at the roof confirmed my impression of the essential Byzantine character of the building itself. I think that spending some time talking about these things, with pictures, will help future Pilgrims understand some of the background of what they will see and experience on the Pilgrimage.

In the afternoon I also walked to the Rialto Bridge, and soaked in some of the "feel" for the city itself. And now I'm preparing for another "taste" of the early Byzantine world in the mosaics and churches/monuments of Ravenna.

These are some preliminary ramblings, written on the train to Ravenna. . . .

Now I've arrived in Ravenna, and checked into the Hotel Argentario. The city is so much more relaxed and spacious than Venice, which I began to find terribly oppressive. It's cloudy and off and on rainy, but fortunately I didn't get caught in it. The hotel, a short walk from the train station is roomy and accommodating, at 1/3 the cost of the one in Venice. Everything in this city -- at least the ancient stuff -- seems to be a relatively short walk. This afternoon and evening, though, I'm going to relax. There's a market and a department store a block or so from the hotel, and I may do a little shopping. I still need an umbrella.

Sunday in Venice

Bright, sunny, not-too-warm Venice redeemed itself today, after a miserably wet and soggy Saturday. I spent quality time in St. Mark's by attending two Masses. The guards were tolerant of picture-takers after the Masses, and I got some great impressions of the church in action. To really appreciate a church you have to experience it as a place of worship, not a museum. Will reflect on it more, but not tonight -- am tired and need a good night's sleep. Train to Ravenna tomorrow.

First night in Venezia

Greetings from Venezia! After a brief but spectacular lightning/thunder/downpour storm in Milano, I successfully boarded the train to Venice about midday today. It was not one of the high speed ones, but a fast enough express – but very crowded. Then I found my way to the public boat (vaporetto) dock, and boarded #1 (also very crowded) , which, 50-minutes and fifteen stops down the Grand Canal later (I counted them on the map), dropped me off at San Marco. The Hotel Firenze is tiny -- really tinhy -- but kind of elegant in a miniature old style way, and only one short block from the vaporetto dock, and one short block from the Piazza di San Marco. I was (and am) pretty tired, so I walked around aimlessly a bit, had some gelato and then dinner (the same as I had in Milan – carbonara and a salad – but much better) – life is short, they say, so eat dessert first! It’s now about 9:00 pm (21:00) local time, and I’ll be in bed soon. Tomorrow should be a packed day of San Marco, other churches and museums – and who knows what! Weather in Venice was uncomfortably humid this afternoon, and comfortably cool this evening.

Although this is the way the sky looked at one point this afternoon, I didn't take this picture. It's a painting by Canaletto around 1730. It was a lot cleaner back then! (They are beginning a cleaning/restoration process. Your grandkids -- if you have small children now -- might see it.)

Good Shepherds in Milan Cathedral

Two of the Archbishops of Milan in the 20th century have been beatified, possibly on the road to canonization. Interestingly, each led the Milan Church during 0ne of the two World Wars: Cardinal Andrea Carlo Ferrari, WWI, and Cardinal Alfredo Ildefonso Schuster, WWII.

The newest and one of the most beautiful stained glass window in the Cathedral is dedicated to the two of them. There are two very striking images of Christ the Good Shepherd in the window, which was designed in 1988 by Giovanni Hajnal.

These images speak eloquently of the relationship of these two great churchmen to their people during time of great suffering and danger for their people.

Greetings from Milan

I arrived safely yesterday, and after good night's sleep, went off to explore the city today. Spent the morning at the Cathedral (Duomo). Cleaning of the facade and most of the exterior has just been completed, and it's splendid and bright. This is certainly one of the finest and most elaborate of all Gothic Cathedrals, and the lace-like delicate tracery and detail is just unending. Both the statuary and the stained glass windows are rich and varied, including a modern (1988) one of Blessed Cardinal Schuster, with an unusual depiction of the Good Shepherd. I was disappointed that the ancient baptistery is closed for further excavation and restoration.

After lunch of a great caprese salad and mediocre carbonara, I visited the Basilica of St. Ambrose, built by him the 4th century, which houses his tomb along with Sts. Gervase and Protase, and then to the Basilica of St. Lawrence Martyr, which part of which was also built in the 4th century and houses several splendid mosaics and frescoes of the same era.

Time to call it an evening. Tomorrow I'm taking the train to Venice.

Early Christian World in Italy: Itinerary

Over the past few years, getting acquainted with the Early Christian World sites in Turkey, it has become obvious to me that many sites in Italy relate directly to the sites we explore in Turkey--sites ranging form apostolic times to the Byzantine Empire and the interplay of the East and the West. Folr a long time I've wanted to explore those sites. Now, thanks to a wonderful gift from the ECW Pilgrims of the 2006-2008, I have the opportunity to do just that. Here's my itinerary for my trip to Italy this coming week. (Today--Saturday evening, October 3, I'm putting up the bare bones. I'll add flesh -- descriptions and more links -- as time goes on; subsequent entries will link to this basic itinerary.)

On Wednesday, October 7, I arrive in Milan at 8:50 am.

I will stay two nights at the Arco Romana Hotel, which is a 7 minute subway ride from the central station, and an even shorter subway ride from the historic center, with most of the sites I want to visit.

View Larger Map

Here's the weather in Milan. Looks like I'll be heading into rain! Warm too: 75-80 degrees F. every day for the next week.

On Friday, October 9, I'll take the train to Venice, where I'll stay in the Hotel Firenze, where I'll stay three nights (two full days). The hotel is just off St. Mark's Square, and a 5-euro boat ride from the train station.

View Larger Map

The hotel looks like it will be a great spot to relax, but I hope to get out and explore too. There are lots of places that arouse my interest.

Here's the weather in Venice.

(Only in Italy would one stay at the "Roman" hotel in Milan and the "Florence" hotel in Venice!)

Monday, October 12, will find me boarding the train to Ravenna, where I'll stay in the Hotel Argentario. , which is also close to the railroad station and many of the historic sites. Because of its pre-8th-century (i.e., before iconoclasm) mosaics and other ancient Byzantine monuments, this is the place I really want to immerse myself in. I'll be here three nights--two full days.

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Here's the weather in Ravenna.

Then, on to Rome, Thursday, October 15, where I'll stay at the Yes Hotel (yes, you got that right), which seems like a real "sweetheart" of a small hotel, just one block from the Stazione Termini (train station), which means a short distance by public transportation from just about everywhere.

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I'll be five nights (four full days) in Rome, and am not sure just where I'll go or what I'll see, but I am booked for a full day at the Vatican Museum (another link) and Scavi (excavations) on Monday. (i have no plans to see the pope -- I won't be there for the usual Wednesday audience. Maybe I'll run into him at a local trattoria or, perhaps, hofbrau.

Here's the weather in Rome.

On Tuesday, October 20, I'm returning to LAX, arriving, God willing, around 7:00 pm.

Greetings from Good Shepherd

After four months of inactivity, I'm back to blogging again. Tomorrow will mark the completion of three months as the new pastor of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills. The welcome I've received has been genuine and wonderful, and I'm beginning to feel very much at home. A total move to a new location and a new ministry at age 67 is bound to be hard, and there have been ... uhm ... moments. But, on the whole I'm settling in, and enjoying both the perks and the fresh opportunities for ministry in this new spot.

Preparations are in order for the 2010 Early Christian World Pilgrimage to Turkey next April. I've set up a dedicated website for it. I hope to update it often, so you might want to bookmark it. Its address is easy to remember: http://ecwpilgrimage.org. We just finalized the itinerary and pricing a few weeks ago ($2,950 for 22 days). I recommend anyone interested to contact me ASAP. We need a minimum of 20 participants and there's a maximum of 40. I already have commitments from 9 people, and strong "probables" from 3 more.

After three months, I am finally taking a vacation. Beginning next week, I'll be in Italy for two weeks. Although I spent two years in Rome studying liturgy in the 1970s, I haven't been back except for a very brief visit with the OLA choir in the spring of 2001. The Early Christian World Pilgrimage to Turkey has really whetted my appetite to revisit some spots with new eyes, specifically the early Christian and Byzantine sites. So I'll be concentrating on Milan, Venice, Ravenna, and Rome.

I plan to post a lot of descriptions, reflections, and pictures on this blog, so you all can come with me virtually (and in spirit). Later this evening, I plan to post a day-by-day itinerary.

But for now, if you are interested, here are some video highlights of my installation as pastor here at Good Shepherd, with Bishop Ed Clark presiding, on Saturday evening, September 12.

Not just for kids!

Although the Holy Father has spoken very positively of the potential of the internet for evangelization and even building community, and his remarks were especially addressed to young people, here's someone to inspire even us geezers.  Here's her blogspot.

More on Dolores' 100th BD party

Article in LA Times.

"Mass and martinis ..."  hmmm.

Article in LA Daily News (misspelling her name!)

"We never imagined either one of our parents would live to be 100.  But they both did.  It's wonderful." -- Linda Hope

"She's a leading advocate for adoption and a champion of Catholic causes benefiting the poor."

AP News report.

Miguel Diaz named Ambassador to the Vatican

I just read online that President Obama has appointed a pro-life Democrat university professor, Miguel Diaz, as U.S. ambassador to the Holy See.  Very interesting appointment, especially in light of the President's well-received (in Vatican circles, though not in conservative USA circles!) Notre Dame speech.

Here's the article in the NCR and the news release from the College of St. Benedict / St. John's University, where Diaz teaches.

Dolores Hope turns 100 today!

Dolores Hope is celebrating her 100th birthday today.  Bob, who died in 2003, also saw 100.  Not too many married couple have that distinction.

During my years in residence at St. Charles Church in North Hollywood (1988-94), I frequently celebrated daily Mass with Dolores in the assembly, but I never really got to know them.

The Palm Springs Desert Sun has seveal nice articles commemorating this day:

"Dolores Hope springs eternal" (May 24, 2009)

"Dolores Hope: a legend in her own right" (May 25, 2009)

Happy birthday, Dolores.  Thanks to you too for the memories!

Pope Benedict on Digital Technology

USE IT, and use it for the good, not just empty chatter.

In his Message for the 43rd World Day Communications Day, this coming Sunday, May 24, he said things like:

• promote human understanding and solidarity
• promote a culture of respect, dialogue, and friendship
• bring the witness of your faith to the digital world

He concludes with a special message to the youth of today:

I would like to conclude this message by addressing myself, in particular, to young Catholic believers: to encourage them to bring the witness of their faith to the digital world. Dear Brothers and Sisters, I ask you to introduce into the culture of this new environment of communications and information technology the values on which you have built your lives. In the early life of the Church, the great Apostles and their disciples brought the Good News of Jesus to the Greek and Roman world. Just as, at that time, a fruitful evangelization required that careful attention be given to understanding the culture and customs of those pagan peoples so that the truth of the gospel would touch their hearts and minds, so also today, the proclamation of Christ in the world of new technologies requires a profound knowledge of this world if the technologies are to serve our mission adequately. It falls, in particular, to young people, who have an almost spontaneous affinity for the new means of communication, to take on the responsibility for the evangelization of this "digital continent". Be sure to announce the Gospel to your contemporaries with enthusiasm. You know their fears and their hopes, their aspirations and their disappointments: the greatest gift you can give to them is to share with them the "Good News" of a God who became man, who suffered, died and rose again to save all people. Human hearts are yearning for a world where love endures, where gifts are shared, where unity is built, where freedom finds meaning in truth, and where identity is found in respectful communion. Our faith can respond to these expectations: may you become its heralds! 

Read more.

Pope on Young People and Internet

At today's regular Wednesday audience, Pope Benedict urged young people to make use of the potentiall of the internet to build a better world, according to a just-released AP report.  Too bad, he didn't include "old folks" like me.  But, at age 82, Pope Benedict's own use of technology is really an outstanding model.

YouTube has just posted video of the brief summary in English that the Pope usually gives at the end of his weekly audience.  

An English translation of the full text, which is always in Italian, is usually available in a few days.  I'll post a link when I find it.

UPDATE: Apparently there was no more about tis in the audience, but he was echoing his just-released Message for the 43rd World Communications Day, Sunday, May 24.  See the next post.

More Kmiec on Obama

On Monday I posted a link to Doug Kmiec first article commenting on President Obama's Notre Dame Commencement address, entitled "Obama at Notre Dame: Incomplete Eloquence."

Professor Kmiec has just published a very thoughtful follow-up article: "Why was Obama Notre Dame visit 'Eloquence Incomplete'?"  I highly recommend reading both articles, but especially the second. 

Vatican Opinion Piece on Obama in English

I finally found an (unofficial) English translation of the commentary on President Obama's first 100 days, which L'Osservatore Romano published back on April 29.  Click here.

The same blogsite, which I ran across by accident, also has a passionate and thought-provoking piece by the President of Trinity Washington University, "Catholic Higher Education under Siege?"  There is also a wonderful piece about Father Ted Hesburgh, "The Voice of Reason."

I havew not yet found an English translation of the full text of the L'Osservatore Romano's article on President Obamna's Notre Dame Commencement address.

The Vatican, Obama and Notre Dame

Severe critics of President Obama and Notre Dame may (or may not) be interested in what the Vatican's officical newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, has to say about the President's Commencement address.  

I don't know if there will be an English translation, but here's the report from Catholic News Service.

Two weeks ago, L'Osservatore Romano also printed a fairly positive evaluation of the President's first 100 days.  Again, I'm not aware of a full English translation of the article (you can read it in Italian here), but Catholic News Service again carried a summary.  (You can, however, struggle though Google's automatic translation here.)

Kmiec and Noonan

After Presidet Obama's talk yesterday, I was very interested to find out what Doug Kmiec would say.  I didn't have to wait long.  Here it is.

I was also interested in what Judge John Noonan said in his talk at the Notre Dame Commencement.  You may recall that Mary Ann Glendon was originally scheduled to receive the University's Laetare Medal, but declined almost at the last minute (here's her statement).  Noonan, who was awared the medal in 1984, was recruited by the University to give the talk in her place.  I think he speaks well for himself, for the University, and for the Church as well.

On the Notre Dame website, you can view and listen to (as well as read) the addresses given by both Judge Noonan and President Obama.

President Obama's Speech

After all the shrill shouting and hateful demonization that has led up to this event, the President's speech at Notre Dame today was remarkable.  Simply remarkable.  He speaks well for himself, and Catholics would do well to engage seriously and persistently in genuine dialogue, rather than diatribes, surrounding the wide range of human life and human living issues.

I enourage you to read the whole text of the speech yourself, and not be content with media snippets or one-sided opinions.

Or, if you don't want to read it, it's already on YouTube.  Check Deacon Greg Kandra's "Deacon's Bench" blogsite for the video.  (He's pretty on top of things.)

Fun and Frolic at Mayo Clinic

I dare you to watch this and not smile!

A Real Choice for Life

Hidden in today's LA Times Health Section is a brief article describing a young couple making a difficult and sacrificial yet, quite obviously, infinitely rewarding choice in favor of life.  It's worth reading and pondering, in addition to celebrating and passing on.  In the paper the headline was: The choice: Her life or her unborn child's. (Much better than the insipid headline of the online version.)

This unnamed woman recalls the story of Saint Gianna Beretta Molla, a very modern woman who also lived to the full her vocation as wife, mother, physician ... and who also chose rightly.

Swine flu and the Mass

If you've wondered about the safety of things we do at Mass, such as drinking the Precious Blood from the shared Communion cup, this article is for you:

http://www.olaclaremont.org/resources/flu2009.html

Saturday, April 27, 1968

I almost forgot . . . today's the 41st anniversary of my ordination.

Liturgical Ministers' Dinner and "My Way"

The reason for my previous post ("Their Way") is that that the OLA Liturgical Minsters hosted a wonderful dinner party for me, the first "farewell" of the "season," at Casa de Salsa last Friday evening,  It was a wonderful evening.  (You can see some really great pictures here.)  During it, the mariachi band serenaded my table with a lengthy performance of "My Way," one of my least favorite songs in the whole world.  It got me to thinking of a parody that appeared on "Prairie Home Companion" while I was still in Campus Ministry that lampooned the academic types with which I hobnobbed in those days.  It was such fun that I stayed up late a few nights after the first broadcast to record a repeat broadcast, and then transcribed it, and put it up on a joke website, which can still be found almost twenty years later.  (See for yourself, Google "tom welbers their way" and you'll find it.)

"Their Way"

THEIR WAY (Sung to Frank Sinatra's "My Way," of course.)  

I came, brought all my books, lived in the dorm, followed directions. 

I worked, I studied hard, met lots of folk who had connections. 

I crammed, they gave me grades, though may I say, not in a fair way. 

But more, much more than this, I did it their way.  

I memorized all sorts of things, although I know I'll never use them. 

The courses that I took were all required; I didn't choose them. 

I learned that to survive it's best to act the doctrinaire way. 

And so I buckled down, and did it their way.

  
But there were times, I wondered why I had to walk when I could fly. 

I had my doubts, but after all, I clipped my wings, I learned to crawl, 

I learned to bend, and in the end, I did it their way.  

And so, my fine young friend, now that I am a full professor, 

Where once I was oppressed, I've now become the cruel oppressor. 

Like me, you'll learn to cope, you'll learn to climb life's golden stairway. 

Like me, you'll see the light, you'll do it their way.  

For what can I say, what can I do? Open your book, read chapter two. 

And if to you, it seems routine, don't speak to me, go see the dean. 

As long as they give me my pay, I'll do it . . . their way!  

(Words by Bob Blue, sung by Michael Cooney on Prairie Home Companion, April 18, 1987. Transcribed from broadcast by Tom Welbers.)

Religion vs. Religiosity

Today's LA Times' Calendar section featured a review of a new book on Mark Twain by Tim Rutten, in which he makes an observation that has put me into pondering mode:

Twain, though an unbeliever, was one of the first American cultural observers to intuit that the country's great propblem was not religion per se, but a surfeit of religiosity.

As I ponder more, I may have a few more thoughts about light that this distinction may shed on the dialogue (or better, the rant-and-rage-filled lack thereof) that characterizes our religious / political / social interactions these days.

It should be obvious I like the word "ponder" (see some translations, e.g., KJV, of Luke 2:19).  If you check what the online Merriam-Webster has to say about it, it should also be obvious why.

The more I read Tim Rutten, the more I'm grateful that the LA Times seems to value him.  I haven't seen such perceptive wisdom (not to mention courage) there since the great Paul Conrad retired.

Meanwhile, enjoy the following post.

Who can resist this?

Faith Seeking Understanding

St. Anselm, whom we celebrate today, has always been somebody dear to my heart.  In the mid-seventies, I was sent to study liturgy at the Pontifical Liturgical Institute, which was a part of the Benedictine University and Monastery of Sant' Anselmo in Rome, atop the Aventine Hill, overlooking the Tiber and the Vatican (as well as the very interesting "Monte Testaccio" in the other direction).

Anselm himself was an amazing man: monk, abbot, scholar, 

multi-national diplomat, archbishop--an amazing intellect combined with an overwhelming and rare charm.  He lived at a time (1033-1109) when Europe was just coming out of the so-called "Dark Ages," and had to navigate in the middle of bitter and divisive church-state controversies.  (Since Constantine in the fourth century, most rulers felt they needed to control the church to achieve national unity, but this too often meant weakening faith and fragmenting the church.  That's why the papacy had to become so authoritarian and monarchical. That's an oversimplified version of what was a very complex situation.)

In his own pursuit of learning, which was guided by his motto, "Faith Seeking Understanding," he is considered the father of the scholastic movement through which univiersities began to develop and flourish over the next several hundred years.  I think he holds a special relevance to us today as we seek to make sense of our heritage of faith in the midst of a fast-paced changing world or conflicting values.  Here's a wonderful quote from one of his writings:

" Come now, insignificant man, put aside your business for a while, take refuge for a little from your tumultuous thoughts, cast off your cares, and let your burdensome distractions wait.  Take some leisure ofr God; rest awhile in him . . . put out everything [from your mind] except God and whatever helps you to seek him. . . . Say now to God with all your heart, 'I seek your face, O Lord, your face do I seek.'" (Proslogion, 1)

Easter "Day"

The church doesn't know how to let go of a good thing. Beginning on Easter Sunday, the Preface for Easter refers to the whole week as "Easter Day." One eight-day-long DAY!  Isn't it marvelous?

The eighth day (or octave) of Easter, which is now also Divine Mercy Sunday, concludes this one great Day with the giving of the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sins on Easter Sunday night. Seven, as in the number of days in a week, symbolizes earthly, human, natural completeness and fulfillment.  The eighth day is the day which opens up to etenal perfeection, the day without end.

Holy Saturday

Holy Saturday, the day of emptiness and stillness of the tomb.  The Sabbath day of rest; Jesus work is finished, and awaiting the promise and fulfillment of "the eighth day."

Wait, wait with the Lord.  Feel the emptiness and stillness.

No matter what you must do today, don't let yourself get "caught up" in activity, or anesthetized by it.

Pastor of 90210

Just today the letter came.  

I've been assigned, effective July 1, as Pastor of Good Shepherd Church in Beverly Hills.  It's a good assignment, and one of those I applied for.  Of course, there's a much longer story, but that's for another time.  Watch for more information in my open letter to all parishioners that will be available at OLA at the Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday) services.  

Also, Fr. Charles Ramirez, pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Monrovia, has been assigned as the new pastor of OLA, and Fr. John Tran will be remaining for at least another year.  Fr. Charles, of course, is no stranger to OLA, having served here when I first came as pastor back in the 1990s.

Now that the new pastors have been assigned -- I understand that the Clergy Personnel Board had to deal with a final total of 61 parishes needing new pastors or administrators (not an easy task!) -- they will now take up assignments of associate pastors.

I've already been nicknamed "Beverly Hills Pop" (after "Beverly Hills Cop," of course).  Yes, it's the church of old-time celebrities, but not too many are left.  You might enjoy visiting Gary Wayne's "Seeing-Stars" site.

Tale of Two Presidents (revised)

The President of Turkey is Abdullah Gül; Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is the Prime Minister, as was pointed out by a reader commenting on my former post.

Here are some links to articles, including several which were sent to me by Aydın Eroğlu, our wonderful guide on our Early Christian World Pilgrimages.

Obama arrives in Turkey

Turkey's president welcomes U.S. President Obama (with photos)

Turkish-U.S. aliance shines with Obma's landmark visit

Obama encourages U.S.-Turkey collaboration

Obama encourages Armenian dialogue, seeks a "model with Turkey

There are a lot more articles in the Turkish press, and link to them on their pages.  You can keep up-to-date as events of this historic visit by visiting both Today's Zaman (a news agancy that strongly suppports the current AK party's government) and Turkish Daily News (the English-language arm of the news agency Hurriyet, somewhat more "left-leaning" in supporting secularist views).  It's fascinating to compare . . .

Legacy Lectures on the Passion of Jesus

I finally got the recordings of my "Legacy Series" lectures on the Passion of Jesus in St. Paul and the Four Gospels, which I presented here at Our Ladyof the Assumption on March 12 and 26, up on YouTube.  Click here to go directly to the playlist to listen to them.  (YouTube policy requires that they have to be broken up into ten minute chunks, but the playlist organizes them in succession.)

You can download a copy of the Scripture readings, with the Gospels arranged in parallel "synopsis" format, here.  

You can also watch and listen to the presentation I gave at at the end of February at

 the Religious Education Congress, Crossing Paths with Paul.

I'm still learning the system, but hope to have the complete series, and more, up soon.

A Tale of Two Presidents

Tomorrow (Monday morning, Turkish time; Sunday night ours), President Obama is scheduled to arrive in Turkey and will meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.  (Note: I'll give a free amulet to protect you from the evil eye to the first person -- non Turkish -- who can pronounce his name correctly without looking it up; on your honor, no cheating.)

There's already a fair amount in our news about hopes and goals for the trip, for example in the LA Times, for example, an opinion piece by Jack Miles, and news reports from Istanbul and Washington.

But if you want to know what the Turks themselves think, the best place for such opinion is Today's Zaman.  Take some time following Obama from the international perspective.  It's worth your while.