Optimusmastro and the Catman!

A little vid on myself and my brother, the Catman.  Frank has been nothing short of my big bro, guiding me through the emotive waters of discernment!  Offer this guy prayers, cause he's gonna be a true priest of Jesus, not to mention an intellectual ass kicker par excellance! (he says words like 'pontificates')  Pure awesomeness!,.. Enjoy!  (and yes,..chairs on wheels, sooooooo rock! )  God bless!

Sacred Heart of Jesus,........Have mercy on us!

God Bless Idiots,..

Maybe that's a little harsh,. but,..

A short post today, a little anecdote,………….Ahhh,…So it happened again, calm, cool, and collected Marco turned into Optimusmastro  and needed to cut a WWE style promo on the Jack T Chick fanclub.   I recently bought Catholicism and Fundamentalism by Karl Keating, (Again) and low and behold inside the book was inserted a little comic book by these Chick devotees. 

My friends, Christian formation begins when one encounters the Risen Christ, and then seeks to understand Reason in the light of Faith and vice versa.  What that means is that your brain isn’t handicapped by refusing to search through the natural order of reason why things are the way they are!  I know that there are many a good Fundamentalist with a sincere Faith in Christ and God bless them!  We have some differences, but ultimately we pray that they search for Truth.  Some as well meaning Christians do more with less!  

As a Catholic, our formation begins with philosophy, and proper understanding of what we can know about things in nature.  Revelation builds upon philosophy.  My dear protestant friends, kindly keep an open mind, remember any authentic dialogue, we need FUNdamentalists who are cool, not fundaMENTALists who are completely insane and devoid of any coherence!

St Thomas Aquinas,……………………………..ora pro nobis!

Optimusmastro Retreat Journal,...

**Warning this blog post will deal with personal issues**

Yup so we are all called to different vocations.  Some are called to marriage, still others to consecrated lay celibates, and yes, others to the priesthood.  A few months back I wrote a little piece regarding ‘Diocesan vs Religious.’ (The one where I’m pictured with Brother Patrick OSB, as we both studied together at the Grand Seminary of Montreal.)  Well, as I write this post, I am well aware of one little factoid,..Yup!  You guessed it!  I, Optimusmastro will never, (and the Rock means,..evvvver,.become a monk!).

Of course a little primer, and this little adventure actually begins late last week.  Each year, the different groups of seminarians together with their respective animation leaders go off for an end of the year Retreat.  For our group, we were off to St Benoit du Lac, a Benedictine monastery near the American border(I’m spelling it American style, so that google may find the word easier inside the ‘search’ ;)) in the Eastern Townships of Quebec.  Ironically this is Brother Patrick’s community.  They are cloistered, which means, along with wearing a habit, they take their vows of chastity, obedience and poverty.  The novices are completely cut off from the world, and must ask permission to see their family and friends.  While I can appreciate the call to constant prayer, (Vigil/Matins 5:00am, Laudes 7:30am, Holy Mass 11am, Vespers 5pm and Complines 7:45pm) and the quiet, it can get well,..too quiet!  (Hence why I’ve discerned my call to diocesan priesthood!)  Their meals are eaten in silence (there is however a reading from either the Bible or a spiritual book during the time they eat.), and the refectory is only open during the hour.  Guests can be invited to eat with the monks, but usually external guests must eat in a separate refectory, all the while still maintaining silence. 

So like any other Saturday morning, started my day with morning meditation, then off to train Jiu Jitsu at Gracie Barra.  While rolling, a not so well timed jump, had me land square on my toes which were driven into the mat.  Prognosis?  A spraign,…sigh,.. Saturday evening went to Mass as my foot was swelling and looking more mutant like as the night progressed.  Going to bed Saturday night at my parents, I knew that training, just even walking would be a chore.  Sunday morning, meditation, then Mass, my director was going to be concelebrating at my home parish, and myself?  Well I was about as mobile as a slug,..Nonetheless we left that afternoon for St Benoit du Lac and our Retreat was officially under way!  Sunday evening, we entered into silence, in order to allow God to speak to our hearts. 

Day 1, Monday.  I was up but didn’t make it to vigil that morning, I elected to stay in bed.  My foot was now that size of a small tortoise and my mobility matched it.  I went to participate in Laudes, then breakfast.  All of this silence along with people from all walks of life.  The good thing about a retreat is that it can act as not just a spiritual recharge, but also a physical one.  A few years back, I would have laughed myself silly at this very notion, and would have opted for Cancun, beach, all inclusive hotel along with a little CocoBongo or Senor Frog’s at night.  Well we all can and do evolve, so I find myself spending time with a cloistered community of Benedictine monks and embracing their way of life.  Our evening meditation focused upon Pastores Dabo Vobis, the letter by Pope John Paul II regarding the formation of priests.  My area of improvement is my sanguine character, which can work both to my strength and to my detriment.  I need to learn to be patient and charitable,.. The issue that I’m struggling most with as I type this is not training or working out because of my injury and the diet that we have at the monestery isn’t exactly approved by a nutritionist. 

Day 2, Tuesday:  Same thing, up early, this time I attend Vigil at 5am and the chanting of the monks is surreal.  It creates an incredible prayer climate and your morning meditation just flows.  The Blessed Sacrament, the chanting of the Psalms, the environment is beautiful.  The image lasting with me is Jesus on the Cross.  How our Lord is inviting me to share in His passion.  Remember that I’m still hurt, my mobility is limited and now we are going on the third day without training, my ego is taking a beating.  The next issue was being invited to the monks refectory to share lunch with them.  They aren’t exactly the most talkative bunch!  At 4pm we gathered for a tour of the monastery and the grounds, and even got to go behind the cloister!  (A rare treat for outsiders!)  At night our group gathered and the topic was conversion, where we are right now as opposed to where we were at the beginning of the year.

Day 3, Wednesday:  Today’s reflection continued, as again I attended the vigil prayer at dawn, my foot starting to feel a little better.  (Still can’t train, can’t go for a jog, and there is no gym here.)  Holy Mass was beautiful, the Gregorian chant almost caused me (Marco) to change into Optimusmastro, (Banner/Hulk style) and deliver a WWE style promo as to why we can’t experience Eucharist like this on a regular basis.   My prayer being offered was for my own personal sanctification.  I am temperamental, and I seek closure on an issue with a family member whom I love very much (and is equally as hot headed), that really weighs on my heart.  My conscience clean, yet my heart broken.  To compromise?  An easy scenario, simplistic and quick, but the imagery I get is the Apostles compromising truth to avoid being killed.  So I wait, I pray, offer reparations, and leave the reconciliation on God’s time.  Just sometimes I wish I could ‘undo’ events, not to say that I would not react in the same manner, but just that the event didn’t have to transpire.  (think Jesus’s prayer in the garden Holy Thursday evening.)  The other issue weighing heavily on my heart is chastity and celibacy.  My time as a trainer caused me much regression, and drinking the kool aid of secularism, money and girls were my gods. Our Lord is making me fully realize the extent of my sinful lifestyle.  It is not easy for a priest to live in solitude, let alone a discerning seminarian.  The sacrament of Reconciliation is there, but sometimes the enemy through whispers, will entice a temptation and yes, we will act upon it, thinking we will just ‘confess’ it later.  My Spiritual Director once told me that in order to purify gold, it must be purged with fire.  My prayer through these issues, at times mimics the prayer from the Rich man and Lazarus parable, (with me being the Rich man begging to quench my tongue).  For our afternoon ‘break,’ Brother Patrick took us on a tour of the monastery grounds, the lake and most importantly, where they make the apple cider and the cheese!!! 

Priesthood is difficult, it is about taking up one’s Cross to follow Jesus.  Carrying the Cross means dying to one’s self, because eventually there is a crucifixion.  We must however, trust in the Resurrection, as this is where our Faith truly lies, but that doesn’t mean it’s gonna be easy.  As I prepare for bed, I am fully aware of two things.  The first, is that my Jiu Jitsu injury is a little wink from the Holy Spirit.  God is a jealous God, and wanted my full attention, especially on this retreat.  I can admit that if I was mobile, I would basically be doing my normal seminarian day, just in a different location.  Oh yeah, there would be prayer and silence, but also my working out.  Monday (Chest and legs) and Tuesday (Back) Wednesday (Kettlebells,..) you get my point,.. The second thing?  Well its quite obvious why I’m such an Optimus Prime mark!  He freely went to his death for the autobot cause!  Truly Prime is my generation’s Christ figure, as was Aslan the Lion before him. 

Day 4, Thursday; Once again, my day started with vigil prayer in the morning.  Today’s reflection was going to center around solitude, as opposed to loneliness.  Today’s priest will find himself more often than not by himself in a Rectory, or God forbid, an apartment.  Interlinked with these idea is also a continuation of yesterday’s finding of my weaknesses (I only named two, Lord knows there are so many more!)  So I went before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and began to sort out this issue.  It turns out our Lord revealed something else to me!  Essentially conversion or dying to one’s self is a life long journey and trusting Jesus is a lot harder than we think!  You see, despite this new lifestyle, there has always been a part of me that has kept the ‘old man’ in me alive.  I’m not just talking about girls, pornography, masturbation, money, fame, etc,..All these things are symptoms of my lack of trust in the Lord!   Trusting Jesus, means much more than Thomas’s affirmation in St John’s Gospel.  He put his hand in the wounds, but Jesus says ‘Blessed is he who has not seen, yet believes!’  WOW!  We are a generation of ‘Show me!’ (Except when it comes to ordering crap from infomercials, y’know, knives that can allegedly cut through anything?  The ‘ShamWow,.’ Etc,.).Yet trusting in the Risen Christ, where by the way, there is enough secular evidence from an extra Biblical standpoint that we could easily mount an argument that there is more of a case for Christ than for the existence of Napoleon.  Our lack of Faith is an enabler.  It becomes a ‘just in case’ escape hatch, so that if we discern that we aren’t called to priesthood, then we can easily get married, (by the way, that too is a calling) and get on with our lives.  Pascal’s wager in reverse?

The good news is, regarding lack of Faith, we are not alone!  St Peter, (who Christ would pick to lead His Church) suffered enough brain farts throughout the Gospel you’d have thought he was a tad dim witted.  Obviously not a brain surgeon, St Peter was rebuked by Christ for not having Faith, not understanding, not trusting and then, the coup de gras!  He betrays Him!  What does this example give us?  One word, HOPE! 

Day 5, Thursday; The final day of this Retreat in a certain sense, and already the fruits are strating to appear.  Our Lord has shown me so many faults, so many of my own weaknesses, fragilities and insecurities that I don’t even know where to begin.  Luckily my Spritual Director will tell me, probably drill sergeant style.  Once again, the day began early with vigil, but this time after prayer, I decided to skip Lauds and breaksfast, and just sleep.  I guess I needed it.   My meditation for today was fatherhood, and how in a certain sense, I am discerning a call that traditionally does not experience biological fatherhood, but a spiritual one instead.   The other issue that is now popping into my head, is the call toward ‘holy indifference,’ something that I really struggle with.   I guess I’m a facebook, twitter, social media junkie, and perhaps along with all the other little parasites, Our Lord is inviting me to get that under control.  We live in such a world that is so connected, that we cannot imagine freedom from even our cell phones.  During my stay, I connected with Facebook through my blackberry, I needed to know what was going on!  Herein lies my weakness, and the enemy knows all too well how to solicit the emotions of the ‘old man.’  Past relationships, girls moving on, friends getting married, friends partying and you get a ringside seat to watch it all through your homefeed.  Surely, in times of Grace, we can rest assured that the supposed ‘joy’ is not a real joy, but a contentment, especially during the ‘fun’ old school partying moments.  The times, however, whereby we see friends with children, smiling as their vocation to be parents is realized is something that can and does play with your head.  Everyone on earth is called to a vocation, and tonight during our workshop, we were invited to look at the three, married, single, priesthood and religious.  The natural inclination for any man is to find that perfect wife, to have children, to be the dad coaching the hockey team (my case would be martial arts!) early in the morning, and eating supper as a unit.  God however, it would appear, is calling me to something different and that I need to trust.  Whatever the calling, my life as a Catholic is to accept the universal call to Holiness first and foremost, to sanctify myself and those around me.  From there, God’s plan for my life will reveal itself.

Throughout this blog, you have read my critiques regarding abuses in Liturgy, why I question ‘altar girls’ and why the world just doesn’t function the way I think it should.  Well, if that were the case, I guess we wouldn’t need a Saviour.  Jesus invites us to let him do the heavy lifting, (think of the Footprints poem) all we have to do is trust.  As I write this, it is now Friday, and once again, I prayed vigil, but went back to my room and slept.  Here I stand, injured, (my foot still nowhere near 100percent,.) contemplative, and naked before my very self.  The crucifixion of the old man must happen this year, as I need to shut the door on my past.  

I will say this, that religious life, cloistered, silence is most definetly not for me!  These monks will be partying a la Ace Ventura 2 style after we leave, there is no doubt in my mind! 

                                                                                                        

St Benedict,.................................ora pro nobis!

The Fr Copleston SJ TKO of Russell,..

Kirk Cameron always pops up on my radar screen along with his Australian buddy attempting to prove God's existence, you remember my banana example?  (Search Kirk Cameron in my search engine on the site.)  Well, I have decided to publish a paper I did regarding the Fr Copleston SJ vs positivist philosopher Bertrand Russell.  Obviously not an Optimusmastro rant and rave but instead a breakdown of how Fr Copleston PWNS Russells!!!!!!!!!! Booooyaaaaa!  (There are footnotes and a Bibliography as this paper was done as an academic commentary.)

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          This paper will seek to analyze whether or not Fr Copleston scored a decisive knockout over Bertrand Russell in their famous debate over the existence of God.  The next question we would have to ask ourselves is whether or not, the media would adhere to such a reality.  Our culrure, educated and modern seems to take a more or less aggressive if not downright condescending attitude toward belief in God. Richard Dawkins, the internet atheist challenge as well as modern science has all too often forgotten that when debating an issue concerning God or a First Cause, this exercise requires not so much a physical endeavor, but instead must resort to using a metaphysical approach.   Too often this same culture wrought with nominalism cannot adequately assign a name for the hybrid belief system that is ‘Atheist’ (False) or more precisely ‘Agnosticism.’  In today’s world, this agnostic position dressed up as so-called atheism seems to be ‘en vogue,’ and to paraphrase Pope Benedict XVI, only adds fuel to the dictatorship of relativism.  Our world’s way to rationalizing is in crisis, in part due to there being a crisis in metaphysics.  This reality is essentially what is causing the reality of God, the belief if you will, to be called into question.  The thesis will highlight not just the deficiencies in contemporary thought, but will attempt a ‘tale of the tape,’ References which will be later expanded upon throughout this paper will be Fr Copleston’s usage of Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz’s ‘Contingency’ argument which seemed to completely catch Russell off guard.  To go one further, we can even go further back to Aristotle, and at one point again, which will later be expanded upon, Russell argues that it is useless to speculate about a ‘First Cause.’  Physicist vs Metaphysicist.  To reiterate the thesis, is that did Copleston score a definitive knockout in his debate with Russell, and the answer is yes.  What remains in this paper is to articulate how that got to be so.  The breakdown will follow the Contingency argument, the Religious Experience argument, and finally the Moral argument. 

The Players 2.

         

          Bertrand Russell, a contemporary philosopher, versed in various schools of thought and famous for authoring, among other books, his Why I am not a Christian.  In is within this book that Russell includes the transcript from the 1948 BBC(British Broadcasting Corporation) debate.  [1]Bertrand Russell, the child of an aristocratic family is credited as the founder of atomic propositons whereby this becomes evident in his debate with Fr Copleston. 

Father Fred Copleston SJ,(Society of Jesus) a Catholic priest, specifically a Jesuit and convert from Anglicanism.  Fr Copleston was a professor of the history of philosophy and lectured at Heythrop College in England.  Besides his radio debates with notable philosophers, Fr Copleston also was a Thomist scholar who attempted to synthesize Thomas Aquinas 5 Arguments by separating and expanding upon them in an easier format so that a ‘lay’ person could understand.  In this debate, although his thinking is very Thomist, his contingency argument comes from the mind of Leibniz and serves to be the determining factor in what many people see as a knockout of Bertrand Russell.

    

         

The Debate 3

          The debate itself took place on the BBC radio in 1948, and transcripts can be found anywhere outlying the various topics.  At the outset, Fr Copleston set the tone by defining what they both mean when they refer to God.  In doing so, Fr Copleston SJ, determines the rules as how both men will proceed within the debate context, which in many respects was along the lines of a back and forth exchange and not much a structured ordered affair.  The follow up was to determine what belief system he (Fr Copleston) was going up against, and after having come to a common definition of God, Russell also was asked whether he fell into the Atheist or Agnostic camp.  Russell answered with the latter.  Russell also fell right into the next issue with Copleston asking if Russell agreed that if God doesn’t exist, human beings and human history as we know would have no other purpose that essentially what they gave themselves.  In this light, Fr Copleston, is drawing a clear line between something that is searching for a truth or a cause of things, as opposed to something that is subjectivist and therefore would have no reason to exist.  Thus no God, no values!  For this issue, Russell disagrees and believes that they can be logically distinct from each other.  Following the fight analogy, Fr Copleston seems to be ‘jabbing’ and ‘hooking’ his opponent, thereby setting up his flurry of big punches, his rights, and his uppercut. 

    

          Father Copleston begins with the ‘Contingency’ argument right away and is into his assault early and fast, and explains to Russell that he wants to divide the argument, three ways, essentially using Leibniz’s argument as the cannon.  (See Leibniz’s argument)  Russell counters that he doesn’t know how to counter the argument but puts forth the idea of necessary being.  That it can only be applied to propositions.  For this we must know define what a proposition is and do the two players agree to the same definition.  By Russell putting forth the idea of [2]necessary being and having already been clarified at the onset of the debate, he must accept the Thomistic understanding, which is essentially where Fr Copleston is headed.  Russell concedes that the Contingency argument cannot be debated at that time, and that it would be in their best interests to move onward.  Round one,  Copleston scores a knockdown on Russell.

          The second issue to be brought up is the question of the ‘Religious Experience.’  Copleston begins by stating that he himself does not regard this particular point as a ‘proof’ for the existence of God, but seems to venture into the idea of Love in the agapic sense.  Although Copleston readily admits that this can’t be used as an argument to prove God, it is important nonetheless to show that this round in my opinion goes to Russell.  Copleston basically said that the basis of Religious Experiences can point to God, but again , he must rely contextually upon the notion of the Contingency argument, which is still leading the charge.  Copleston begins the ‘Round’ with clarifying what he does not mean, and that is ‘not just feeling good.’  What happens next, is that Russell points and tears into Copleston reasoning by interrupting and equating the ‘feel good’ experience with Japanese novelists unable to feel good unless they have driven many people to suicide. In citing a statement as such, Russell plays into more of the psychological approach, and can lead  to viewing God as the simplistic ‘pie in the sky.’  While Copleston claimed to not see the relevance between the two, and brought into the debate citing the experiences of someone such as St Francis of Assisi, that there was never a serious psychological consideration hampering his view that God (personal Love) must exist.  Russell counters with citing many imbalanced people who ‘hear’ Satan speaking to their hearts and goes on to reassert again, that it is not the existence of God that he is questioning but merely the dogmatic definitions that have been formulated. 

          The third issue tackled within this debate was the argument from ‘Morality.’  In this respect, once again it can be safely said that the edge went to Fr Copleston.  Essentially Copleston argues that mankind’s development of a moral code can be used as a proof for the existence of God.  Russell, weakly counters that that is an assertion which cannot be proven.  Russell believes that morality could have developed as part and parcel of the natural evolution of man.  Therefore, his instinct for survival, (and good government?) would eventually create a moral law regardless of the existence of a God or not.  In this light, [3]Russell clearly shows that he is a relativist. 

          Early on, Fr Copleston, did not let up especially after having established the pace within this debate.  One could easily see that it in many respects transcended the very idea of the simplistic God vs Evolution debate that saturates the modern subjectivist camp in every form of media, print or news program. 

The Knockout/Tap out blow ‘Contingency’ Argument. 4.

            Where Fr Copleston scored his knockout, or as is more accurate, where Russell seemed to abdicate by not being prepared for, or by simply dismissing it, is when Fr Copleston brought up the ‘Contingency’ issue, otherwise known as Leibniz’Cosmological argument.  To leave out an explanation of the Contingency argument would presuppose that the reader already knows the theory.  First we must define what exactly is ‘Contingency.’ From the latin, [4]contingere (to happen).  Therefore inside this logic, an event must be contingent if there is a chance that it might not have happened.  This becomes evident when Russell states that it is useless to argue this point despite the claim from Fr Copleston that he accused Russell of not understanding the argument and that it is, in fact rooted in reason.  This argument, to paraphrase protestant theologian, William Lane Craig reconstructs Leibniz argument basically into four categories., instead of the usual five.

a)    Anything that exists has an explanation or cause for it, whether it be the subject in question or something outside of it, causing it.

b)   Should the universe have an explanation, then that explanation would logically have to be God.

c)    The universe does exist so therefore, we reaffirm the first part, (a)

d)   Therefore the explanation of the universe, its ‘causality’ must be God.

          Boxing has evolved in today’s understanding whereby ‘contact’ sports not only rely upon the knockout, but can also rely upon the ‘tap-out,’ whereby the opponent literally claims he’s had enough.  Fr Copleston’s reference to contingency is in many respects this tap out that is insinuated.  What was most interesting, is that the first actual right hook is thrown by Fr Copleston right at the beginning of this debate, whereby he proposes a definition of God thereby eliminating any chance of Russell attempting to create a straw man argument. 

Conclusion 5

         

          Too often we are presented especially in today’s high tech information age that belief in a Deity, a personal creator of some sort is at best superstitious while at worst dangerous.  The American Political landscape is littered with political candidates who must present a position of whether or not they are ‘believers’ or not.  Television has its share of controversy with satirists such as Bill Maher claiming to not to believe in the God who sits upon the clouds wearing a grandfatherly white beard and gently watching over all mankind.  To the shock and dismay of such people, the Catholic does not profess this idea of God either.  While Richard Dawkins is promoting his books and agendas, the secular press is busy readying the Theist’s defense with an apologetical strategy consisting of well meaning but intellectually inept characters representing a fideistic view of not just Christianity but of God as a whole.  St Thomas Aquinas five proofs are not cited, not going further back is any consideration given to either Plato or Aristotle.  Therefore the classic search for Truth, ‘Arche’ is not respected.   [5]Philosophy(Lover of wisdom) as a metaphysical(beyond the physical) exercise is not given any consideration.  Why metaphysics?  The answer is quite simple, because metaphysics, in its proper sense is not something esoteric, but is very much a proper science and can go where physics can’t.  The same holds true for [6]philosophy, which is in and of itself another proper science.  Epistomology is the science of knowing things and knowledge can come through experience inside the arena of cause and effect.  It is through this technique that Copleston TKO’s Russell in the debate, as he had no clue about what to do with the contingency argument.

         

            For anyone who was present for this debate or heard it live, it would seem that Bertrand Russell was 

unprepared to face up to a philosopher of the caliber of Father Copleston.  Bertrand Russell would critique 

metaphysics as a whole in his work ‘Mysticism and Logic,’ and in reality his inability to step up to Fr

Copleston due to his lack of metaphysical training was his own undoing.  Any exercise in attempting to prove

the existence of God, can always make a person think of Pope John Paul II’s Fides et Ratio and thus

through history show that there has never been a conflict between Faith and Reason.  After going through this

debate, an argument can be made, that not only from the Contingency issue which made Russell more or

less ‘TKO’(Technical Knock Out) instead of a full blown knockout.  To conclude, any debate between a

theist and an atheist (agnostic) presupposes both relativism, as well as chaos theory.  If the world is not

ordered, then every other thing that hangs on everything else, (ie Contingency again) will naturally be called

into question.  Something the so-called educated new-atheists have forgotten to think about.  Every effect

has a cause, everything except for the uncaused cause must depend upon something else for its own

existence, it is not itself the cause of its own existence and it is precisely in this light that the atheist 'logic' falls

into an epic fail.

Bibliography

1.      Capaldi, Nicholas, Kelly, Eugene&Navia, Luis E, Journeys Through Philosophy, New York, Prometheus Books, 1982

2.      Fazio, Mariano, Labastida, Francesco Fernandes, A History of Contemporary Philosophy, Rome, Italy, Scepter Publishers, 2011

3.      Honderich, Ted, The Oxford Companion to Philosophy, New York, Oxford University Press, 1995

4.      Kreeft, Peter, Summa Philosophica, South Bend, Indiana, St Augustine’s Press, 2012

5.      Maritain, Jacques, The Degrees of Knowledge, Notre Dame Indiana, University of Notre Dame Press, 6^th edition, 2002

6.      Stevenson, Jay, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Philosophy, New York, Alpha Books, 2005

***Other Sources

Transcript of the debate from BBC availiable at  www.philvaz.com

---

[1] Fazio, Mariano, Lebatista, Francisco Fernandez, A HISTORY OF CONTEMPORARY PHILOSOPHY, Scepter Publishers, p174

[2] Honderich, Ted, THE OXFORD COMPANION TO PHILOSOPHY, Oxford, p608.

[3] Stevenson, Jay, THE COMPLETE IDIOTS GUIDE TO PHILOSOPHY, Alpha publishing, p331

[4] Reese, W.L.  DICTIONARY OF PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGION, Humanities Press, p105.

[5] Reese, W.L.  DICTIONARY OF PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGION, Humanities Press, p431

[6] Kreeft, Peter, SUMMA PHILOSOPHICA, St Augustine’s Press, p43.

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Soooooooo,...Now all you guys know that I'm a Thomist!  I've never hid it from anyone!  Comes back to the old adage,..Why do I believe in God?   Because its true!!!!!!!   To my protestant or other non-Catholic/non Christian friends, Ask your self why I'm Catholic???  And your right, this isn't exactly Kirk Cameron and his bananas,..

St Thomas Aquinas,......................................................................ora pro nobis!

God can and does call the Average 'Joe'

Well, my first year as a candidate for priesthood is now coming to an end, and I can honestly say that I've never been happier.  The danger with a vocation, is that God always leaves our free will intact, and though it is Christ who initiates the invitation to 'Follow Him,' it remains ultimately our own proper decision.

Today's blog won't be long, but will only offer a little reflection.  The past few days, the daily Gospel has been from St John.  Specifically notions such as being 'Born Again'(Born from Above) and the need for conversion.  This general idea needs to transcend the mandatory sports slogan at sporting events.  From my own life, conversion is ongoing, one day at a time.  My prayer life begins with a hour of meditation before the Blessed Sacrament, and truthfully, I can't see that changing.  That concerns the 'Internal' the Spiritual dimension, however from the external, I have noticed a calm and stillness instill itself in my heart,..(St Augustine's quote about our hearts being restless comes to mind,..)  What's the point?  Our world needs an encounter with the Risen Christ, only He can heal.

Herein lies the reality, especially after one meets the Risen Christ, is that we remain who we are!!!  Really we do!  So often I get told by friends, or others that I don't fit the priest model,.well did the Apostles?  Does anybody really fit it?  I've mentioned this waaaay too often, but perhaps its needs to be said, I STILL train, I STILL practice Jiu Jitsu, I'm STILL a comic book geek!  I'm STILL a Transformers afficionado, the difference, is that ALL of it comes second to Jesus!  As for the women?  Guess what?  God does not take away your manhood!  Celibacy is not natural, it is SUPERNATURAL!  So while in discernment, one must see if there is an authentic call to celibacy, and through Grace, can it be lived out authentically and freely!  You take precautions, but that doesn't mean you close yourself off.

St Pio de Pietrelcina,..............................ora pro nobis!

Pope Fiction and Media Nuttiness,...

     So it would seem that the media will soon be lighting up the message boards with a ‘This just in,..’ or better still, a ‘Breaking News!’  The story is that after a month of gushing from the social justice crowd, That Pope Francis in his Wednesday audience promoted the traditional roles of women as mothers and grandmothers.  The feminazis must be beet red with anger, their pantsuits crinkling with sweat from their furor.  (here)  Obviously in trying to separate Francis from Benedict, the media has all but covered every move the Pope has made, from the foot washing of the juvenile muslim girl yet covered up his positions on abortion, same sex unions, Satan, Confession(that’s biggie!) Eucharistic Adoration and Marian devotion.  Now suddenly, while the Traditional Catholics say ‘duh.’. the Traditionalists complain about his inexperience with the Extraordinary Form of Mass!  Pope Francis will soon be angering both the Rad Tradies and the Extreme Left, the media Honeymoon will soon be over.

     First off Happy Easter!  Christ is Risen!  Indeed He is Risen!  I hope everyone had a Blessed and Holy Easter.  Myself, this was truly a special Easter as it was my first as a Seminarian and sitting in the Sanctuary of the Church was a little surreal and a very intimate and spiritual experience.

     I haven’t blogged since the Easter season, busy with prayer, the Triduum and frankly upset and still hurting over the complete lack of respect shown to the Holy Father by so-called ‘Traditionalist Catholics.   I will not comment upon Pope Francis in any negative way.  Sadly, the Traditionalist movement has not reacted with the same obedience.  ‘But Marco, The Pope needs to,..blah blah blah,..’  Sorry.  The Pope is chosen by the Holy Spirit through the College of Cardinals, (not by consulting certain blogs!)  I for one, am not going to tell God what I think!  Instead, when I don’t understand something, (When Pope Benedict wanted to open a discussion with priests regarding Catholics and the issue of divorce in 2005,..) I take it as an opportunity for prayer and growth in personal holiness/sanctification. 

     We need to draw a distinction between a ‘Traditionalist’ as opposed to a ‘Traditional’ Catholic. A ‘Traditionalist’ to paraphrase a seminarian brother of mine, (Thanks Frank S) subscribes to an ideology. Any Catholic faithful to the Magisterium can rightfully be called a Traditional Catholic, although personally I tend to discourage the label and much prefer Catholic.  Catholic means that I accept the Teachings of the Catholic Church in Her fullness.  Truth cannot change, yet dogmas can and do evolve.  (We must remember that Aquinas at his time was nearly treated as a heretic for using Aristotle as his base.  The common school of thought was Plato and St Augustine.) 

To all the modernist heretics;

     The Pope will not ordain women.  This issue was closed in 1994, despite all the calls for the contrary.  The Pope can wash the feet of all the muslim women in the world, this act was done as a pastoral jest, one of service, not of ordination!  The media should have also said that the Pope is open to ordaining muslim girls to the priesthood,… Yup its that ridiculous!

     To all the angry whacko tradies;

The Pope will not repeal ‘Summorum Pontificum.’  Why would he?  The communities which celebrate Mass in the Extraordinary Form are growing in number, and their age is significantly younger than the people who frequent the Ordinary Form of Mass.  Why would he alienate a large part of his flock?  A Pope doesn’t undo what his predessesor does, he builds upon it!  Obviously this Pope’s charism is not Liturgy, (Monsignor Marini’s face being priceless,..as so far he has remained Master of Ceremonies) so I doubt this will be his priority. 

     To conclude, it will take some time for Pope Francis to learn how to be Pope.  Pope Benedict had his style, and Pope Francis will have his, in many ways the beauty of Catholicism!  To the modernist crowd, despite all your wishful thinking, no Truth will ever change, EVAAAAA!  To the RadTrads, if you don’t like something, sanctify yourself by praying and fasting!  Chill out and breathe!... In the end, its all about Jesus, not about our personal preference.

Our Lady of Fatima,.......................ora pro nobis!

Blowing Off Steam,..

Lord Jesus I thank you for the gift you gave Holy Mother Church.  The Holy Spirit selected Pope Francis and I along with all the baptized faithful, pledge obedience, loyalty and respect.  These are exiting times.  I think back to 2008, when 'Confessions' was launched, I Optimusmastro was in a relationship with an amazing woman, discerning marriage,.. (actually was running away fro priesthood! ) and we were in the middle of Pope Benedict's reign.  All Popes are gifts to the Church and in many respects, represent where the Church's mission is at the moment.  Pope Francis has already indicated that he is a man of prayer, deeply devoted to the Blessed Mother, and to the poor.

What saddened me, were the reactions almost immediately that the so-called 'Spirit of VII' crowd was diappointed,....again.  This Pope has about as much chance of ordaining women and marrying gays, as of repealing the laws of gravity.  He is a stalwart defender of orthodoxy, but what makes him truly dangerous, (in the socialist view) is the fact that he is extremely pro preferential option for the poor!  WOW!  Truth and humility?  Has there been any other?  Well,.. All Popes charism's were necessary at the time of their elevation to the Papacy,..But this Pope has shown strength and humility,..

On the other side of the coin,. **sigh**.  I have never hid the fact that I love the Liturgy.  Though I consider myself a Blessed JPII kind of guy, I admired Benedict for his Liturgical appreciation.  Ordinary Form and Extraordinary both accepted and promoted.  Liturgy at the end of the day is the work of God, and the people participate in it.  What I do have a problem with is the angry radical crowd of Liturgical perfectionists angry at anything not Latin.  Then within minutes of Francis' election they were complaining that he didn't celebrate the EF Form?  C'mon!!!!!!!  First off, I love the Extraordinary Rite, I really do,.. but a well celebrated Ordinary Form is great too,.. This is not a question of 'either' 'or'... But instead of, 'Both' 'And!'...I appreciate Church Militant TV, as well as EWTN, Catholic Answers, and of course Word on Fire!!!! (Fr Barron is my modern intellectual hero while I await the day to train with Fr Steve Grunow! ;)) What I do have a problem with is not so much the Vortex, with Michael Voris, but the fanbase who eagerly await the next episode exposing liturgical abuses within an Ambrosian Rite parish in Iceland,.. These people remind me of people, (sorry to say this,..) who are addicted to porn, complete (sorry for the image, but,..) with a box of kleenex beside them.


The Church is the Mystical Body of Christ, but She is also very human.  Jesus promised infallibility, not impeccability, and we at times seem to forget that.  In St Matthew's Gospel, we read that the gates of hell will not prevail.  That, my friends, is Jesus speaking!  So whatever Pope steps out on the balcony is the will of God!  By obedience do we attain sanctification!  Pope Francis, I, your lowly seminarian pledge my obedience to you.

Thanks be to God for the gift of Pope Francis!