Decadence and the Fall of Rome

I think the Empire is on its way out, my friends. Don't get me wrong, there's a lot to be liked about America. Unfortunately, I am increasingly coming to the conclusion that most of it is in the past. America is at a crossroads, and I fear we're going to veer wildly in the wrong direction and possibly careen off the edge of the cliff, if something serious does not change soon. The social and moral problems that we face are only getting worse as time goes on. American people seem to have so embraced a life of hedonism and secularism that there is nothing stopping them (us) from the complete corrosion of our moral values. That, dear friends, is always the beginning of an age of total moral decadence, and that, in turn, is usually the last phase of any great society. We need more Fulton Sheens in this country if we're going to get it turned around.

You might wonder what, exactly, I'm talking about. Well, in case you haven't heard, the economy is in something of a bad state. There are people still losing their jobs or still unemployed, people struggling to get by and put food on their families' tables. These people exist in the United States today in the highest numbers that they have in recent memory. In the midst of all this financial hardship, the worst economic recession since the Great Depression, there is a company that offers such a ridiculously opulent luxury to swanky high-income customers that I am truly appalled by its mere existence. Here's an example:



Do you know what that is? That's an Apple MacBook Pro, plated in 24-karat gold. Yes, that's right. It's one of the most expensive computers on the market today, and now there's a company out there offering to plate its external elements in 24-karat gold, just in case you have a little extra spending money at this time of year. In case you're wondering, you can also get a whole host of other electronics (iPhones, Blackberrys, other computers, TVs, etc.) plated. Gold isn't the only option, either. They also offer white gold, platinum, chrome, and a host of others.

As Jesus commanded the apostles in the Garden of Gethsemane, "Pray!"

Disjunction of the Week #5

As many of you are likely to already know (thus raising questions about why I bother to talk about it), this coming Sunday is called "Gaudete Sunday," with "gaudete" being that Latin word, "Rejoice!" This is the third Sunday of Advent, set aside to take a moment and be joyful in the midst of what was not quite a sorrowful season, but which is decked out in purple nevertheless. As with Laetare Sunday in Lent, Gaudete Sunday is one of only two occasions throughout the entire year wear priests have the option (option) to wear "rose" (more or less pink) vestments. Thus, Disjunction of the Week #5:

Rose vestments, or violet vestments?

My Answer: Rose vestments. Sure, it may not be everyday anymore when you can see a man dressed in pink, and that may have certain very unfortunate connotations in American society. Nevertheless, the Church is not about American society. The Church is not about any society. In fact, the Church is about changing American society for the better, as with any other. I think the symbolism and meaning behind the use of rose vestments is really cool, and I like to see priests taking full advantage of all the variety permitted by Holy Mother Church. Thus, I'm down with rose vestments.

That said, there are good rose vestments, and there are bad rose vestments. Basically, the difference is that between a dignified, manly "rose" and a weak, pathetic, girly "pink." A man, a priest, should never look girly or effeminate when celebrating Mass. I think the vestment at the top of this post is an example of the good kind of rose vestments (they are available here). An example of the bad kind might be something like this:



We'll leave it at that.

His Eminence

Well, Angelo Cardinal Sodano left our humble town yesterday afternoon and is now safely back in Rome. I am expecting to sort through all of the video and still photography that was taken during his visit soon and post whatever comes out as the best of the best. Our photographer reportedly took around 800 pictures. There's going to be a lot of sifting...

As for personal impressions, the Cardinal was a very warm, down-to-earth man. I had the opportunity to serve a private Mass for him yesterday morning, after which he gave me a Papal rosary as a gift. It was a wonderful experience for me, one that not many minor seminarians in this world can boast of (excuse the terminal preposition). His presence among us was truly an honor, and all of the festivities were fantastic. More to come ASAP.

(Above, Father Paul McDonnell welcoming Cardinal Sodano to the seminary chapel during his Solemn Mass on the Feast of St. Joseph Marello, Saturday, May 30th.)

Disjunction of the Week #4

Folks, allow me to preface this by saying that, over the course of the next week-and-a-half or so, there shall be a great many more posts of more substantive matters. After all, we are staring down the barrel of the Triduum and Feast of St. Joseph Marello, which begins this Wednesday at 7:00 PM (all are invited--it's at the seminary in Laflin). What's more, after the day's festivities on Saturday (the Feast), there is the Solemn Pontifical Mass of Thanksgiving (a mouthful that never gets old, in my humble opinion) with Cardinal Sodano. For those incapable of scrolling down, that Mass is at 3:00 PM on Sunday, May 31, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, in Pittston. You are deeply encouraged to attend. So, with posts of a serious nature ahead, and finals week now just behind, I feel safe and justified in dedicating the remainder of this post to the Disjunction of the Week:

Now, allow me to preface this by saying that, in my opinion, it is a very serious matter. This is no disjunction to be wantonly disregarded. If you answer it wrong, we will likely no longer be friends (I hope the sarcasm dripping off these past few sentences is thick enough for you to catch.) So, to prevent all further ado, I give you, Disjunction of the Week #4:

Nathan's Famous, or Sabrett's?

My Answer: Sabrett's. Admittedly, this is a difficult and important for every person to make as they grow out of their adolescence and flower into thriving adulthood. Also admittedly, there are merits to both choices. First, let's begin by examining the other, incorrect, choice, which is Nathan's. I do enjoy Nathan's. Don't get me wrong about that. What's more, they are single-handedly responsible for the invention of the only sporting event that I watch with any regularity, the Annual Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest. Who could allow the Fourth of July to pass without seeing those ten minutes (now) of glory? Nathan's has a lot going for it and, all kidding aside, I can respect the possibility that some of you may fall into the grievous error of choosing Nathan's over Sabrett's. Allow me to instruct you as to why you would be wrong:

The merits of Nathan's aside, Sabrett's does, in my opinion, have an even greater cultural impact. I know, with the Contest on the list of Nathan's achievements, this seems like a hefty and perhaps indefensible claim. Nevertheless, I would posit that Nathan's has essentially that and that only on the list of their cultural gravity. One gigantic achievement, and that is all. From what I hear, the Contest is not even all that popular outside of Coney Island, with some people preferring lesser sporting events like the "Superbowl" and "World Series." In the face of that, what does Sabrett's have? When a sane person thinks of New York (the important part, that is), they ought to have a few very certain ideas come to mind. Among them, if they meet the previous requirement of sanity, I should say would be the hot dog vendor, the guy on the street in the tin tank with that blue and yellow umbrella proudly proclaiming his purpose. The dirty-water-dog. It is part of the life and breath of that Town, and, for as much as I may pretend to deny it, I have to admit that the old Urbs (well, technically not the old Urbs) is indeed the center of at least all American civilization.

I don't really know what it is. It's one of those things for which I have an intellectual intuition without being able to find an adequate means of expression. There's just something about the experience of going up to that guy and asking for "one with chili and cheese" and cracking open a can of Coke while walking down the street to the hustle and bustle of it all, enjoying a 100% beef natural casing hot dog that you know was simmering quietly in a vat of its own delicious juices (as well as those of its companions) for hours before you picked it up. Actually, there's a hot dog vendor here in Scranton (Sabrett's, of course). I went to his stand when it was on campus a few times and witnesses will likely recount that, as I unwrapped the gleaming aluminum foil and took that first incomparable bite, I could be heard to say, dog still in mouth, "Now that's America." And so it is. Your thoughts?

Weekend Update

Well, the last week of classes is about to be safely behind me. That's right, the spring semester of my third year is speeding toward the finish line, incredibly enough. Hard as I may find it to be this much further down the path of formation, I still have six years ahead. Of course, given how quickly the past three seem to have gone, I am sure the remaining six will fly by, as well. Father Paul will be sending me all over the Wyoming Valley for Masses in no time. Those ruminations aside, next week is still finals week, and so I do have a lot to do in this coming week. A few papers to write, a few exams to take, and hopefully to come out alright in the end. And then we have to prepare for the Cardinal....

Well, before I head off to eggs and sausage land (breakfast, that is), I thought I would give you the next disjunction of the week, this one is #3:

St. Augustine, or St. Thomas Aquinas

My Answer: St. Augustine. Don't get me wrong, St. Thomas Aquinas is certainly a stand-up saint and Doctor of the Church. In fact, I would not dispute the claim that his theology is the official version, fully endorsed by the Church, and that this is a claim to fame of which even our dear Augustine cannot boast. Additionally, St. Thomas definitely composed some killer music. I also have to mention that there's a certain innocent joy one gets in considering St. Thomas as the pudgy Dominican who doesn't talk a lot, but who can give a serious beat-down to any philosophical or theological opponent in writing. St. Thomas is definitely worthy of n amount of praise, n being a number approaching infinity. I'm just saying that I think St. Augustine is worthy of n+1 amount of praise.

And why? Well, I think Augustine was a cooler guy. For one thing, he has a truly inspiring conversion story. For another, you've got to give him some additional props for defending the Church so bravely and accurately when it was under attack after the fall of the Roman Empire. The way I see it, St. Augustine is the Catholic Church's James T. Kirk, the guy who forged the path, the great pioneer in whose footsteps all others must follow. St. Thomas Aquinas, by that analogy, is like Jean-Luc Picard. In many ways, he may be a more efficient, capable starship captain (theologian and philosopher), but that's only because he had the good example of that first predecessor to follow and embellish.

Your thoughts?

The Pope in the Middle East

Well, for those few who read my blog...and are unaware, I just wanted to take a brief moment this evening and write up something a wee bit more serious that the disjunction of the week, which would be to briefly comment that our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, is currently on his pilgrimage in the Middle East. Since Pope Paul VI took his landmark, history-making pilgrimage there after the Second Vatican Council, this trip has become something of a Pontificate tradition. Unfortunately, the Middle East remains a place of bitter hatred and controversy, and the Holy Father's trip has is not without a certain level of security risk to it. Thus, I would only urge all of us, as he himself has done, to pray, not only for his safety and the safety of all those involved, but also for there to be some true spiritual progress made by this pilgrimage in the direction of greater peace and concord between the Middle East and the West, between Islam and Christianity.

Disjunction of the Week #2

Well, I have committed myself to coming up with a new disjunction for us to discuss once weekly, and it shall always be on Friday, and so I shall do that now. Keeping in mind that these disjunctions are explicitly intended to induce humor, I give you:

Star Trek, or Star Wars?

My answer: Star Trek

For me, this is truly a tough question. Going far back into my childhood, I can actually remember staying up late on the weekend with my parents and watching The Stargazer with Jack Horkheimer, followed by reruns of the original Star Trek That's right, despite being born in 1987, I was raised on the original, the real McCoy (pun most definitely intended). The Next Generation was also there, but I always enjoyed the original more, for some reason or another. Watching Star Trek with mom and pop is one of the fondest memories that I have, and it was through that experience that I developed a life-long interest in science fiction in general. I remain very much a Trekkie.

Still, Star Wars has not been without its impact on my life. While the Trek is undoubtedly a means to examining certain germane cultural questions in a fictional setting, Star Wars is a science-fictional re-presentation of some of humanity's eternal struggles, like any good literature often will be. Star Wars explores the "big questions" of good and evil, love and hate, destiny and free will, and life after death. The films (I speak particularly of the original three, though I am not entirely averse to the CGI-laden second trilogy) also have a formidable soundtrack, fantastic battle and hand-to-hand scenes, some great jokes, and, perhaps most important to me, the archetype of the wise old sage. I love the wise old sage, and Star Wars was gracious enough to supply two of them, Obi Wan Kenobi and Yoda. As the sages get older and physically more feeble, they only become wiser and their command of the Force becomes greater. It's fantastic. Still, despite the profound contribution of Star Wars, it does suffer from some stolen themes and plot devices. I fully encourage you to read the Baghavad Gita and discover that Hindu monks came up with Star Wars thousands of years before George Lucas was born.

In all, I think that Star Trek is just more perennial, more fun, a better vehicle for social commentary and exploration of new ideas, and has had a greater social impact. I think more people identify with the phrase "Live long and prosper" than they do with "The Force be with you," and I think society is justified in that.

ANNUNTIO VOBIS

Gaudium Magnum! On Pentecost Sunday, 31 May, 2009, His Eminence Angelo Cardinal Sodano, Dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals and former Vatican Secretary of State, will celebrate a Solemn Pontifical Mass of Thanksgiving at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish church here in Pittston, PA!

The occasion for the celebration is the eightieth anniversary of the presence of the Oblates of St. Joseph in the United States, their first assignment having been here in Pittston. Additionally, this celebration is planned to coincide with the celebration of the feast-day of our Founder, St. Joseph Marello, a priest of Cardinal Sodano's own home diocese. The Mass will begin promptly at 3:00 o'clock.

Local clergy and Oblates of St. Joseph will concelebrate, as well as visiting clergy from Raleigh, NC; California; and Perú. The Bishop Emeritus of Scranton, James C. Timlin, D.D., will assist in choir. The general public is invited to attend the Mass and join us in our joyful celebration. Members of the press, other bloggers, etc., are fully encouraged to advertise this event themselves in order to gain as much wide-spread attention for this celebration and the visit of Cardinal Sodano, a rare privilege for a small town in Northeast PA.

The cardinal is also seen here imposing ashes on the head of John Paul II (santo subito):

St. Joseph the Worker

I would be remiss, of course, if I neglected to mention the handsome man on our left.
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Who is he, you might ask? Well, he is St. Joseph the Worker, indeed, the very same Joseph venerated on March 19 as the Spouse of the Virgin Mary. Today, however, he is venerated on a separate feast-day and for a separate reason, and that is, precisely, his status as an entirely ordinary, common manual laborer. Tradition tells us he was a carpenter, and that is why we see him operating a laborious manual drill by the candle-light of what seems to be a young girl, but is probably supposed to be Our Lord. (Kudos to Georges de la Tour for that intensely masculine rendering.) In any case, this feast-day was decreed by Pope Pius XII on 1955 to be celebrated on May 1 each year, in order to sanctify the secular (sc., of heavily communist influence) celebration of labor in and of itself common in Europe, thus continuing an ages-old Church tradition of sanctifying a non-Christian celebration by placing a new Christian celebration over top of it.

So, the message to be drawn from this is, of course, that work is a good thing, not a necessary evil. Work is a person's way of participating in the Divine act of creation, by maintaining and sustaining the creation that God has given us to watch over. Work is a means of sanctification and of cultivating virtue, as both St. Joseph and his Foster-Child were well aware. Work, however, is not a supreme good simply in itself, as the secular celebration might have us believe. Work ought not to be venerated for its own sake, but for the sake of the fact that it is yet another way in which the Lord allows us to imitate Him in one of His most profound activities. It is another way for us to "be perfect, as...[our] heavenly Father is perfect."

Disjunction of the Week

I've decided to start a new segment here on the old blog, which I am calling the Disjunction of the Week. For those who have not sat through a grueling logic course (and then, like me, had the audacity to take a second one for kicks), I will explain that a disjunction is a choice between two options. Technically, logicians will also allow for the making of a third choice, "both." However, to keep things simple, I would like to limit us to an either-or scenario. It is my hope that readers will find my weekly disjunctions entertaining enough to participate in via the comment box, and also that they will motivate me to post more regularly, since I will now have a weekly obligation. Without further ado, this week's disjunction:

Does pizza come in "pies" or "trays"?

My answer: Having been acclimated to the entire pizza realm mostly by my father's family, I say that pizza comes in "pies." For the record, my father's family is half from Miners' Mills, Wilkes-Barre, and half from Jersey City, NJ. The Miners' Mills portion (Gramps) emigrated to Jersey City after World War II, but brought the Jersey City portion (Mamu) back with him to Harvey's Lake in the 1970s, and thus I consider my father mostly a Jersey boy. Among them, pizza can never come in trays, and I have inherited their point of view. However, special mention should be made of that rectangular form of pizza that could clearly never be a "pie," either. It is my opinion, since "tray of pizza" is not a phrase in our vocabulary, that these should always be called "sheets."

Now, it is of particular note that the pizza recipe prevalent in this area is largely the Old Forge style, quite distinct from anything available in the environs of New York or, from what I understand, Chicago, the two big-name varieties sold here in the US. The fact that the local pizza recipe is distinct does, in my opinion, warrant the change in its attendant vocabulary, and so I would never dispute with someone who calls one of these a "tray" of pizza. The phrase, however, remains foreign to me and I only use it when "going local" for the sake of you townies. This is one of the ways in which it is sometimes evident that I am not so much a Pittston kid as I sometimes think.