*****
Wayne A. Holst, Editor
*****
Colleagues List Blog:
http://colleagueslist.blogspot.com/
My E-Mail Address:
waholst@telusplanet.net
New "Quicklinks" are now included
with many items. Otherwise, scroll
down to find your selection in the
body of the blog, as in the past.
*****
Special Item in this Issue -
A Personal Reflection:
A Troubled Lenten Assessment of
"Miserere" by Gregorio Allegri
http://tinyurl.com/d27ax2
___
Colleague Contributions:
Ron Rolheiser
http://tinyurl.com/82hldla
Jim Taylor
http://tinyurl.com/88reys6
Lorna Dueck
http://tinyurl.com/7ybejkk
___
Net Notes:
Troubles at the Vatican
*finances
*assassination threats
*scandal-plagued order
http://tinyurl.com/8yeelhh
http://tinyurl.com/8695j6n
http://tinyurl.com/7vhggqb
Vatican Lashes Out Over Leaks
http://tinyurl.com/6pgvt6b
Priesthood Not About Celibacy
http://tinyurl.com/79pyds9
Skepticism Greets Xi's Speech
http://tinyurl.com/79rwtaa
Austerity Must Have its Limits
http://tinyurl.com/82w8ybu
Angelou: Obama's Remarkable Job
http://tinyurl.com/6p467eu
Spong Queries Newspaper Editorial
http://tinyurl.com/6nm7mrh
Religion in the UK - Under Threat?
http://tinyurl.com/7p4xbrz
http://tinyurl.com/7eharvz
Arctic Bishop Valued Inuit Culture
http://tinyurl.com/7jfv26c
Scots and UK Begin Referendum Talks
http://tinyurl.com/7daq6uw
___
Global Faith Potpourri:
Fourteen ENI Geneva stories.
___
Wisdom of the Week:
Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Rachel Naomi Remen
Saint Basil
Martin Luther King Jr.
___
On This Day:
Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin sign
Yalta Agreement during WW II (1945)
http://tinyurl.com/6vjvfmw
Burial chamber of King Tutankhamen's
unearthed tomb unsealed in Egypt (1923)
http://tinyurl.com/6vcrrsp
President Nixon departed on his historic
trip to China (1972)
http://tinyurl.com/893asyy
*****
Closing Thought - Thomas Aquinas
(end)
******
Dear Friends:
As we approach the Lenten Season for
another year, I would like to share
a personal reflection on how my mind
has changed concerning some of the
key themes of this important time
on the liturgical calendar.
It is entitled:
"A Troubled Lenten Assessment of
"Miserere" by Gregorio Allegri"
It emerged from my personal experience
of rehearsing a beautiful musical
expression with the St. David's Chamber
Choir this week. The anthem was first
created for devotions in the Sistine
Chapel, the Vatican in Rome, almost
400 years ago.
___
Colleague Contributions:
Ron Rolheiser (San Antonio, TX) -
writes of the good news he has
to share with readers this week.
Jim Taylor (Okanagan, BC) -
tells us how hoarfrost provides us
with an important spiritual image.
Lorna Dueck (Toronto, ON) - takes
a strong stand in combating child
porn; as legislation is currently
under government consideration.
___
Net Notes:
It has been a noisy week around the world!
"Troubles at the Vatican" - internal
finances, assassination threats against
the pope and having to contend with a
scandal-plagued order are part of the
challenges faced by Rome this week
(Reuters News Service, the Telegraph UK,
and the Washington Post)
"Vatican Lashes Out Over Leaks" - as
criticism swirled, so did counter-attack,
and here is one official Roman response
(Reuters News Service)
"Priesthood Not About Celibacy" -
a Catholic commentator from Asia argues
that the church is linking celibacy and
priesthood too intimately (Uca News)
Skepticism Greets Xi's Speech - as the
new VP of China visited America for the
first time this week, some criticism
from Hong Kong followed him (Uca News)
"Austerity Must Have its Limits" - the
EU, led by Germany, has come down hard
on Greece in exchange for a bailout, but
there are also good arguments against
economic heavy-handedness (Tablet, UK)
"Angelou: Obama's Remarkable Job" - as
might be expected, a respected black
voice has come out strongly in favor
of the Obama presidency (Guardian, UK)
"Spong Querries Newspaper Editorial" -
still standing strong, the famous bishop
from New Jersey tackles the editorial
board of a major Minnesota newspaper
(New Catholic Times)
"Religion in the UK - Under Threat?" -
as official religion in the UK falters,
two newspapers - often on opposing sides
of the debate - report similar arguments
(Guardian and Telegraph, UK)
"Arctic Bishop Valued Inuit Culture" - no
one could have spent time in Canada's north,
as I did in the 1980's, without hearing of
the legendary Anglican bishop John Sperry,
who died recently (Anglican Journal)
"Scots and UK Begin Referendum Talks" -
while experienced and thoughtful Canadians
hold their breath, new talks begin on
Scottish independence (Guardian, UK)
___
Global Faith Potpourri:
This week we are treated to fourteen
religion-related stories from around
the world by Ecumenical News International
___
Wisdom of the Week:
Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Rachel Naomi Remen,
Saint Basil and Martin Luther King Jr.
share their insights with us.
___
On This Day:
From the archives of the New York Times
we can read the stories as they happened:
Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin sign
Yalta Agreement during World War II.
Burial chamber of King Tutankhamen's
unearthed tomb unsealed in Egypt.
President Nixon departed on his historic
trip to China.
*****
Closing Thought -
This week, Thomas Aquinas closes our
time together.
A blessed Lenten Season to all of you!
Wayne
********************************
SPECIAL WINTER STUDY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Introducing the Full Program
ST. DAVID'S MONDAY NIGHT STUDY
WINTER 2012
"The Other Face of God:
When the Stranger Calls Us Home"
by Mary Jo Leddy
Ten Monday Nights -
January 16th - March 26th, 2012
(except February Family Weekend Monday)
See the study schedule:
http://tinyurl.com/78f2ll2
Information about the book from Amazon.ca:
http://tinyurl.com/c6aror6
Visit Romero House, Toronto on the web:
http://tinyurl.com/7c9dsb4
NOTE: Mary Jo Leddy is coming to St. David's
the weekend of April 20th-22nd. Watch for new
information as it becomes available.
*****
ST. DAVID'S ACTS MINISTRY AND
THE FAITH AND SPIRITUALITY CENTRE
ON THE UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY CAMPUS
Welcome to our -
LENTEN STUDIES 2012
Noon Hour Book Discussions for Faculty,
Staff and Students Winter Series for 2012:
"An Altar in the World" by Barbara Brown Taylor
Discovering God in the ordinary experiences of life
March 2nd - March 30th - five Friday noon sessions
Time and Location for all sessions:
12:00 to 1:00PM in the Native Centre Board Room
Located above the Dairy Queen, Mac Hall Student's
Centre
Led by: Wayne Holst,
Coordinator of the ACTS Ministry, St. David's United
and a Faith and Spirituality Centre Liaison.
Cost of the book: $15.00 each
http://tinyurl.com/7qpxcmw
*****
Join us this year for stiumlating campus discussions!
For more information: Adriana Tulissi 403-220-5451
Co-ordinator, Faith and Spirituality Centre, U. of
C. - artuliss@ucalgary,ca
*****
SPECIAL ST. DAVID'S LINKS
Contact us at: asdm@sduc.ca (or)admin@sduc.ca
St. David's Web Address - http://sduc.ca/
Listen to audio recordings of Sunday services -
http://sduc.ca/St_Davids_United_Church/Audio.html
STUDY ARCHIVES
An accumulation of thirty-five books studied
since 2000 can quickly be found at:
http://tinyurl.com/6oxmyj4
This collection of study resources represents
more than a decade of Monday Night Studies at
St. David's, plus extra courses too!
You are welcome to use our course outlines,
class notes and resource pages in your personal
and group reflections.
******************************************
SPECIAL ITEM
A Personal Reflection:
A Troubled Lenten Assessment of
"Miserere" by Gregorio Allegri
Based on Psalm 51
***
First, listen to a beautiful
interpretation by the Chapel
Choir of King's College Cambridge:
http://tinyurl.com/d27ax2
---
The English translation used here is
from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer:
Have mercy upon me, O God, after Thy
great goodness.
According to the multitude of Thy mercies
do away mine offences.
Wash me thoroughly from my wickedness:
and cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my faults: and my
sin is ever before me.
Against Thee only have I sinned, and done
this evil in thy sight: that Thou mightest
be justified in Thy saying, and clear when
Thou art judged.
Behold, I was shapen in wickedness: and in
sin hath my mother conceived me.
But lo, Thou requirest truth in the inward
parts: and shalt make me to understand wisdom
secretly.
Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall
be clean: Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be
whiter than snow.
Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness:
that the bones which Thou hast broken may
rejoice.
Turn Thy face from my sins: and put out all
my misdeeds.
Make me a clean heart, O God: and renew a
right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from Thy presence: and take
not Thy Holy Spirit from me.
O give me the comfort of Thy help again: and
stablish me with Thy free Spirit.
Then shall I teach Thy ways unto the wicked:
and sinners shall be converted unto Thee.
Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God,
Thou that art the God of my health: and my
tongue shall sing of Thy righteousness.
Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord: and my mouth
shall shew Thy praise.
For Thou desirest no sacrifice, else would I
give it Thee: but Thou delightest not in
burnt-offerings.
The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit:
a broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt
Thou not despise.
O be favourable and gracious unto Sion:
build Thou the walls of Jerusalem.
Then shalt Thou be pleased with the sacrifice
of righteousness, with the burnt-offerings and
oblations: then shall they offer young calves
upon Thine altar.
---
Some Background:
While it was, for some time, the private preserve
of the Vatican - and anyone caught 'leaking' it
in the seventeenth century could be excommunicated -
good evidence has it that the young Mozart visited
and heard the piece during a Sistine Chapel Holy
Week service. Later that day he copied it down
entirely from memory, returning to another chapel
service to make a few corrections.
Then, in travels to London, Mozart shared the piece
with British historian Dr. Charles Burney who
published it in 1771. Word also has it that Mozart
was summoned to Rome by the pope. However - instead
of excommunicating him - the papacy showered him
with praises for his musical genius.
(It pays to be a protege if you break copyright!)
Later in the 18th and 19th centuries, Mendelssohn
and Liszt, among others, transcribed it.
In modern times, not only has the King's College
group (heard above) sung it, but also John Rutter,
Harry Christophers, Andrew Parrott and Graham
O'Reilly created versions to great public acclaim.
---
My Thoughts:
I have always loved this piece since first
hearing it performed by various religious/
classical ensembles - mainly English. I also
like Sistine Chapel versions sung in the
original Latin.
What I find difficult to appreciate, however,
is not the music, but some of the lyrics which
are, unarguably, direct translations of Psalm 51.
Scanning the text my eyes focus on such phrases
as the following:
"Wash me throughly from my wickedness..."
"Behold, I was shapen in wickedness: and in
sin hath my mother conceived me..."
"Then shall I teach Thy ways unto the wicked:
and sinners shall be converted unto Thee..."
---
An unease enveloped me as the St. David's
Chamber Choir, of which I am a member, was
beginning to prepare this piece for a service
of worship during Lent.
It's hard, while rehearsing, to pay equal
attention to both the music and the words.
Sometimes, however, the words are so dramatic
that they overshadow any focus on the music.
I began to reflect on how - at one point in my
life - terms like "my wickedness" or "in sin
hath my mother conceived me" or "I will teach
thy ways unto the wicked" - would have meant
little. It was the common "liturgical lingo"
with which I was acquainted since youth.
Gradually, however, the terror of such words
began to hit home and I was not happy with
them. They were overwrought and inappropriate.
Is the best way to reach the hearts of people
achieved by saying how wicked we all are?
Is the message of Jesus essentially a
"clobber them down to raise them up"
expression?
What part did my father have to play
in the fact that I was conceived in
a sinful act?
---
I could go on, because I know that many
Christians with whom I associate have no
problems with these words. The words
don't mean anything to them (or) they
were also raised on the same kind of
"law-based" faith that I was and take
it for granted as part of the liturgy.
Please don't accuse me of falling prey to
modern interpretations that gloss over such
time honored and respected doctrines as
original sin or law/gospel theology. The
fact is, I was deeply grounded in such
theology and did my share of trying to
ground others in it during the first two
decades of my career in the pastoral ministry.
I just don't find such ways of describing
the human condition very helpful to me
any more. I've lived through times when
I felt judgement, rather than grace, coming
from people to whom I looked - even appealed
to - for support. Should a theology of grace
not come forth at that time? It did not.
I also found that the language of original
sin and law/gospel did not appeal to many
of my students. Fortunately, at least some
of them considered me a passable Christian
mentor without hearing traditional theology
from me.
What has changed in me, I wonder?
Maybe the fact that I am well into the
second half of life makes me less interested
in re-entering the old fights that once
appealed to me.
But most of all, change has happened because
I discovered love and acceptance from people
who sought to reflect the way of Jesus, without
allowing those harsh theological caveats to
inhibit a gospel based essentially on love,
not fear.
****
So, as I join fully in rehearsing
Allegri's "Miserere" during this holy
Lenten season, I am both troubled and
elevated.
Troubled - because of some of the words/
interpretations I see rooted there, and
Elevated - because I believe I can truly
be engaged with the beautiful music
without bogging myself down in unhelpful
semantics.
Perhaps there are others who know -
from their own spiritual journeys -
about which I speak.
******
For more information on Miserere, read
the Wikipedia article:
http://tinyurl.com/2pqqky
****************
COLLEAGUE COMMENT
RON ROLHEISER
San Antonio, TX
Regular Columnist Writes
"In Gratitude" for Cancer Cure
Personal Web Site
http://tinyurl.com/82hldla
---
JIM TAYLOR
Okanagan, BC
Personal Web Log
"Hoarfrost: When the
Invisible Becomes Apparent"
http://tinyurl.com/88reys6
---
LORNA DUECK
Toronto, ON
Globe and Mail
February 17th, 2012
"It's Child Porn -
We Need Bill C-30"
http://tinyurl.com/7ybejkk
*****
NET NOTES
TROUBLES AT THE VATICAN
Financial Scandal -
Reuters News Service
February 13th, 2012
http://tinyurl.com/8yeelhh
---
Assassination Threat Against Pope -
The Telegraph, UK
February 10th, 2012
http://tinyurl.com/8695j6n
---
Legion of Christ Scandal-Ridden
Disgraced Leader and Troubled Order -
Washington Post
February 15th, 2012
http://tinyurl.com/7vhggqb
*****
VATICAN LASHES OUT OVER LEAKS
Describes 'Leakers' as Wolves
Reuters New Service
February 17th, 2012
http://tinyurl.com/6pgvt6b
*****
PRIESTHOOD IS NOT ABOUT CELIBACY
Priest Debates the Requirement
Uca News
February 16th, 2012
http://tinyurl.com/79pyds9
*****
SCEPTICISM GREETS XI'S SPEECH
Human Rights Issue a Sore Point
As Chinese VP Visits Obama
Uca News
February 15th, 2012
http://tinyurl.com/79rwtaa
*****
AUSTERITY MUST HAVE ITS LIMITS
EU's Treatment of Greece Assessed
The Tablet, UK
February 18th, 2012
http://tinyurl.com/82w8ybu
*****
MAYA ANGELOU: OBAMA
HAS DONE REMARKABLE JOB
Black Writer Praises President
The Guardian, UK
February 15th, 2012
http://tinyurl.com/6p467eu
*****
SPONG QUESTIONS NEWSPAPER EDITORIAL
Minneapolis Star-Tribune Uninformed on
the Subject of Homosexuality, He Says
New Catholic Times
February 13th, 2012
http://tinyurl.com/6nm7mrh
*****
IS RELIGION IN THE UK UNDER THREAT?
Militant Secularism Threatens Nation
The Guardian UK
February 15th, 2012
http://tinyurl.com/7p4xbrz
---
"The Church is Under-Appreciated"
The Queen Speaks in Defense
The Telegraph
February 15th, 2012
http://tinyurl.com/7eharvz
*****
ARCTIC BISHOP TREASURED INUIT CULTURE
Bishop Sperry - English Missionary
Converted by the People he Served
Anglican Journal
February 15th, 2012
http://tinyurl.com/7jfv26c
*****
SCOTTISH AND UK GOVERNMENTS
BEGIN REFERENDUM TALKS
The Guardian, UK
February 12th, 2012
http://tinyurl.com/7daq6uw
*****
GLOBAL FAITH POTPOURRI
Ecumenical News International
News Highlights
10 February 2012
Anglican breakaway groups confront
a new power struggle
Nashville, Tennessee (ENI news) Founded
by breakaway U.S. Episcopal priests who
left their former denomination because
they felt it was too liberal, the Anglican
Mission in the Americas is now in the middle
of another ugly church feud. Last time the
fight was over sex and salvation. Now the
fight is over money and power, between the
Anglican Mission's U.S. leaders and the
overseas Anglican group that adopted them,
Religion News Service reports.
_____
Church expert welcomes Council
of Europe stance on euthanasia
(ENI news) - A church official has urged
Christians to reflect on euthanasia after
a new resolution by the 47-country Council
of Europe. "It's important that people agree
on the same definitions," said Richard Fischer,
executive secretary of the Church and Society
Commission of the Conference of European
Churches (CEC). "It's also very important
to reflect clearly when people ask what might
happen to them in particular circumstances.
People often confuse euthanasia and assisted
suicide with other procedures, although these
are quite different in the practice of European
countries," the French Lutheran pastor said.
The 25 January resolution condemns euthanasia
but supports living wills, advance directives
and continuing powers of attorney for patients
facing death. The council is based in Strasbourg,
France.
_____
Christian communicators
celebrate World Radio Day
(ENI news) - The World Association for Christian
Communication (WACC) is urging its partners to
mark World Radio Day, 13 February, since this
venerable technology "guarantees spaces for
ordinary people to have a public voice and to
be heard by decision-makers." The Toronto-based
organization noted that World Radio Day "seeks
to raise awareness about the importance of radio,
to facilitate access to information through radio
and to enhance networking among broadcasters." It
was established by UNESCO last year, with the
initial idea proposed from the Spanish Academy
of Radio four years earlier.
*****
13 February 2012
Evangelical churches rise in France,
attracting youth
Paris (ENI news) - The atmosphere is like a
pop concert: in a darkened theater in the
lively Montparnasse area of Paris, hundreds
of young people sing catchy songs and wave
their arms in the air, while a group plays
booming music on stage. But this is Hillsong
Church. The Australian-born Pentecostal
church set up a branch in Paris in 2005 and
has seen its congregation grow from a few
dozen people at its first meetings to around
900 now at each of its two weekend services,
conducted in French and English. The youthful,
enthusiastic, multi-ethnic crowd is in sharp
contrast to the diminishing gatherings in
French Catholic churches, and it represents
the rise not only of Hillsong, but of the
evangelical movement as a whole in a country
that is officially secular, observers say.
_____
Japanese ponder taking funerals
out of temples
Tokyo (ENI news) The 48 billion-yen (US$618
million) Japanese funeral industry is changing
as more households cut down on the expensive
business of dying during the global economic
downturn. In 2009, Aeon Corp., one of Japan's
biggest retail chains, went into the funeral
business, normally the domain of Buddhist
temples. Its goal was to reduce funeral costs
by making bulk purchases of funeral-related
items. Current estimates are that Aeon will
have 100,000 funeral customers in three years,
reports Majirox News, an Internet-based news
service that covers Japan. Many Japanese are
choosing cheaper funerals as the aging
population is growing.
*****
14 February 2012
Kenyan faith leaders exchange roses
as reminder of HIV/AIDS
Nairobi, Kenya (ENI news) - At a Roman Catholic
church center near the Kenyan town of Thika,
red roses were exchanged among faith leaders
on Valentine's Day as reminder of their call
to love and care for people infected and affected
by HIV and AIDS. The Christian and Muslim leaders
had gathered under the Kenyan chapter of the
International Network of Religious Leaders Living
with or Affected by HIV/AIDS to discuss how to
strengthen current approaches being used to fight
the epidemic. "A red rose is a sign of love, but
many people infected by HIV/AIDS don't often get
the expression of it. In most cases they face
animosity, but as religiousleaders, we can be
different," the Rev. Joseph Njakaiof the Anglican
Church of Kenya told ENInewson 14 February.
_____
Indonesian Christians continue fight
to reclaim church building
(ENI news) - In Indonesia, Protestants who have
been illegally prevented from worshipping in or
outside their building are continuing the fight
to reclaim it. As religious leaders attended the
2012 World Interfaith Harmony Week at the House
of Representatives last weekend, dozens of
Indonesian Christian Church (GKI) Yasmin
congregants held Sunday services in front of
the State Palace in Jakarta. "This is our way
to show our concern for this country. We've been
barred from our church for months. Our house of
worship is sealed," said GKI Yasmin spokeswoman
Dwiati Novita Rini.
_____
Pope contributes to restoration
of Algerian basilica
Rome (ENI news) - Pope Benedict XVI is among
those contributing to the restoration of the
Basilica of St. Augustine in Annaba, Algeria,
in a project that the Vatican said is "a
symbol of the brotherhood between Christians
and Muslims," Vatican Radio reported. Church
officials were careful to point out that the
contribution, which was not quantified, was
from Benedict directly and also through the
"Papal Foundation," but not by the Vatican
itself. The 112-year-old church was built
on a hill overlooking the ruins of Hippo,
the episcopal see of St. Augustine.
_____
Assemblies of God marking
100 years in Nicaragua
Managua, Nicaragua (ENI news) - The Assemblies
of God church in Nicaragua is in the middle of
a three-month centennial celebration that will
culminate 21 April with an official
commemoration in Managua. A two-day caravan
of 170 vehicles set out on 28 January from
the Pacific port city of Corinto, where the
Rev. Benuz Shoneckey set foot on Nicaraguan
soil in 1912. The caravan retraced the route
Choneckey and his wife, Yegui, used in
establishing a mission in the Central American
nation, ending up 145 km to the north in the
capital of Managua.
_____
15 February 2012
Faith groups participate in peace initiative
for London Olympics
London (ENI news) - Faith leaders and community
groups in London are promoting "One Hundred Days
of Peace" -- an initiative to develop a "peace
legacy" for the London Olympic Games this summer.
Churches, schools and colleges, together with a
coalition called London Citizens that includes
more than 300 faith and community groups are
organizing ecumenical programs of prayer and
a range of activities linked to the Olympics
to promote peace. These include a campaign
called City Safe, which aims to build a network
between shops and businesses across London to
fight crime. Other activities involve street
vigils, talks, discussions and the creation
of several peace gardens.
_____
British Methodists echo Argentine
counterparts' hopes for peace
(ENI news) - As the dispute between Great
Britain and Argentina over the Falkland
Islands continues to simmer, British
Methodist leaders have joined their
Argentine counterparts in praying for
peace between their two nations. In a
response to the Argentine Methodist
Church, the Rev. Leo Osborn and Ruth
Pickles, president and vice president
of the British Methodist Conference,
wrote, "we pray that the rhetoric of
confrontation be replaced with a
language of peace and reconciliation."
Earlier this month, Argentine Bishop
Frank de Nully Brown wrote to the
British Methodist Church, expressing
his desire for their governments to
resolve their issues peacefully,
according to the Latin America and
Caribbean Communication Agency.
*****
16 February 2012
Berlin exhibit explores artifacts
from Islam's most sacred site
Berlin (ENI news) - This spring, Berlin's
Pergamon Museum is hosting an exhibit that
explores the cultural history of the Arabic
Peninsula over thousands of years and brings
artifacts from Islam's most sacred site to
Germany for the first time. At its center
is an object that has great significance for
Berlin's 250,000 Muslims: A 400-year old door
that covered the entrance to the Kaaba, the
cubic stone structure at the heart of Mecca,
from the 17th century to the middle of the
20th century.
_____
Maryknoll nuns in Philippines
celebrate interfaith work
Baguio City, Philippines (ENI news) - As
Philippine-based Maryknoll nuns joined their
counterparts in other parts of the world in
celebrating their order's centenary this year,
they cited their interfaith education efforts.
"Our group's pioneering work was mainly in
hospitals and schools, which included opening
schools among the Muslims," Sister Margarita
Jamias told ENInews. Jamias headed the
coordination of the centennial celebration
of the Congregation of the Maryknoll Sisters
of St. Dominic last 11 February in the northern
Philippine city of Baguio.
*****
WISDOM OF THE WEEK
February 13th, 2012
"At some thoughts one stands perplexed, above all
at the sight of human sin, and wonders whether to
combat it by force or by humble love. Always decide
‘I will combat it by humble love.’ If you resolve
on that once and for all, you can conquer the whole
world. Loving humility is a terrible force: it is
the strongest of all things, and there is nothing
else like it.”
- Fyodor Dostoyevsky, from "The Brothers Karamazov"
---
February 15th, 2012
"In the silence of listening, you can know yourself
in everyone, the unseen singing softly to itself and
to you."
- Rachel Naomi Remen
---
February 16th, 2012
"I cannot persuade myself that without love to
others, and without, as far as rests with me,
peaceableness toward all, I can be called a
worthy servant of Jesus Christ."
- Saint Basil
---
February 17th, 2012
"Truth crushed to earth will rise again.
How long? Not long! Because no lie can live
forever. How long? Not long! Truth forever
on the scaffold, wrong forever on the throne.
Yet that scaffold sways the future and behind
the dim unknown standeth God within the shadow,
keeping watch over [God’s] own. How long?
Not long! Because the arc of the mortal
universe is long but it bends toward justice."
- Martin Luther King Jr.
*****
ON THIS DAY
Provided from the archives
of the New York Times
On Feb. 11, 1945 - President Roosevelt,
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill
and Soviet leader Josef Stalin signed the
Yalta Agreement during World War II.
http://tinyurl.com/6vjvfmw
---
On Feb. 16, 1923 - the burial chamber of
King Tutankhamen's recently unearthed tomb
was unsealed in Egypt.
http://tinyurl.com/6vcrrsp
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On Feb. 17, 1972 - President Nixon departed
on his historic trip to China.
http://tinyurl.com/893asyy
*****
CLOSING THOUGHT
"Those who are in great fear are so intent
on their own passion that they pay no heed
to the sufferings of others."
- Thomas Aquinas
Fear is a great passion. It can take over
our souls. That is why Aquinas warns us that
to build our lives in fear is to banish
compassion. Our fear can swallow our care of
others. It ruins our lives and it ruins our
potential for making community, building
friendship and exercising love.
If fear is the opposite of love, it is also
the slayer of love and compassion. Beware of
fear. Develop a prayer life that stands up
to fear and keeps fear outside the door of
our hearts.
- Matthew Fox in "Christian Mystics"
(end)
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