Fides et Ratsio (+ Science)

One of the main themes here at seminary, as you could well imagine, is Faith and Reason. Everyone is quite into that, to say the least!

A week ago, I went to a friends house for dinner and my friends 14yo son asked me about creationism, and how I reconcile old testament creation stories in light of scientific discoveries. He was just shooting of questions, and not really interested in the answers so much as to put me on the spot. I mumbled something that probably didn't make sense.

Then on the way home, it occured to me. I don't know. I don't know anything about that whole arena of theology vs science, creationism, vs evolutionism etc. I don't even know where science stands. Furthermore, I am pretty unarticulate when it comes to anything scientific whatsoever.

And Dr. Velarde, and Weigel in Pope John Paul II's bio, constantly talks about the need for authentic scientific pursuit etc.

So, I had a talk with Fr. Guarino, a great theologian, about this mini-crisis. He reccomended a bunch of different authors etc after a conversation we had, but I ended up buying these. I finished the first one (only 80 pages-very very general overview, exactly what I wanted) and will be working on the second one (very long, extensive and comprehensive) over the next few months. The third one, just looked fun.

1. Natural Sciences, A students guide, Stephen Barr

2. Ancient Faith and Modern Physics, Stephen Barr

3. Miracles and Physics, Stanley Jaki

The Examen

I just read a book called the Examen Prayer by Tim Gallager OVM (oblate of the virgin Mary), "the foremost expert (english speaking) in Ignatian spirituality in the world"- Fr. Gerry McCarren.

The book is about St. Ignatius "Examen Prayer" something that has become somewhat well known in different ways. The 12 steps of AA is partially based on this. It's a traditional catholic practice.

Anyway, the book is awesome (only bout 12 bucks on amazon). It's a keeper. It was one of the most helpful books I've read recently regarding prayer, and growing deeper into prayer.

Objective Review: 9

Subjective Review: 9

MC Review: 8

One theme I am noticing over these past few weeks here at ICS is growing deeper into prayer. Not by our own efforts (cooperation of course) but by the Holy Spirit's inititiave and interest in us. He slowly leads us into deeper and richer places, close to pure Truth. The Truth.

Show and tell

2 things that I must share:

1. This article. Abbreviated Dona Nobis Pachem review--
Objective Scale: 9
Subjective Scale: 9
Miles Caritas Scale: 9

But perhaps you won't agree.

2. This photography.

Fr. Barron

Fr. Barron has a lot of new stuff on his website www.wordonfire.org and on youtube.

This one is very good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eyF0PiIY_o

John

WHat's your email? I'll re-invite you to be a tenured Mile once again. A new Pentecost within Miles Caritas so-to-speak.

Don't Forget

Miles:

Don't forget the Dona Nobis Pachem Miles Caritas book/film (or anything) review. It's based on a 10 point scale 1 being lowest 10 being highest. It has three categories.

Objective Scale
Subjective Scale
MC Scale (miles caritas scale) which indicates how much the reviewer thinks the other Miles members will appreciate the work.

Response and Others

Yes, I'd say so. It's quite relevant...The second part of that is very dark. yikes.
--


I'm reading a bio on JPII and one of his "spiritualities" or approach to pastoring was the "spirituality of acommpaniment. He wanted to share life with his "sheep". To share in their pain and suffering, their joys etc. like Christ. He didn't do this intentionally but it's the way it happened. It was other people saying that's how he ministered. His friends/parishoners said, "he never pried into anyones life, but we invited him into the most intimate parts. He mastered the art of listening. He respected our freedom and enabled us to discover our identity. He enabled us to become more human. He met was where we were and showed us how much Christ loved us. He didn't try to be one of the young folks in an immature way. The young folks wanted to be like him".

I love it...
--
And I just read (over the past few months) two incredible bio's on John Vianney. One is long and detailed and one is clever (it reminded me of the way chesterton wrote about St. Francis- witty, etc. But in order to read this you have to have some knowledge about him to begin with, or there might be confusion... I highly reccomend reading about St. John Vianney, especially during this year.

Spirituality of September

The unfortunate, neccesery, inevitable, depressing, hopeless beginning of death. Decay and despair looming. A part of man dies each September. Summer is over. Another year is gone. To me, New Years should be September 1st. That's when a year dies. So does our livlihood, our youth, our innocence.

It hits me each each, stronger each year. The slow waning of true life and joy. Transition. It's all a big paradox though, because transition, in it's death, also cultivates life. A small seed is planted. It begins again.

"Let us begin again, because up till now we've done nothing"
-St. Francis (right before he died)

"Wake me up when September pasts"
-Greenday

Chesterton

"The first [of the three major ideas that sum up Christianity] is the human instinct for a heaven that shall be as literal and almost as local as a home. It is the idea pursued by all poets and pagans making myths; that a particular place must be the shrine of the god or the abode of the blest; that fairyland is a land; or that the return of the ghost must be the resurrection of the body. I do not here reason about the refusal of rationalism to satisfy this need. I only say that if the rationalists refuse to satisfy it, the pagans: will not be satisfied."

Chesterton, The Everlasting Man

Thanks Simon

Simon, Thanks for the kind words. I'll probably be seeing more of you now that I'll be in nyc. I'll be with the guys in gray. Blessings,
Miles Brendan