Carl E. Olson's Blog, page 125
October 24, 2013
New: "The Source of Life: Exploring the Mystery of the Eucharist" by Cardinal Schönborn
Now available from Ignatius Press:
The Source of Life: Exploring the Mystery of the Eucharist
by Christoph Cardinal Schönborn
• Also available as an Electronic Book Download
Cardinal Schoenborn, who regularly gathers the people of his diocese in
the beautiful medieval cathedral of Vienna, Austria, knows how to
communicate the great Christian mysteries in modern ways. He has the
gift to integrate contemporary everyday experience with the knowledge
passed on from tradition and the great thinkers and theologians of the
church.
In this volume, focusing on the beauty and power of the Holy Eucharist,
the renown Cardinal and prolific author also explores how these rituals
often connect to the Jewish roots of the Christian story. Accessible to
all those who want to know more about the essential source of Christian
spirituality in order to elevate the depth of their experience in it,
this work defines the origins of the Eucharist in the Passover
celebration and the Last Supper, along with other key elements of the
liturgy, including sacrifice, transubstantiation, the transformation of
the bread and wine, and the significance of the Eucharist today.
A readable, beautifully insightful book for everyone who desires to
understand and experience more profoundly the central sacrament of
Christian life.
"What a fascinating and enlightening
book! Even well-informed Catholics will find valuable new insights in
this clear exploration of the roots and meaning of the Eucharist. You
will discover a compelling history of the origins and development of
Eucharistic rituals and spirituality, revealing what the Church teaches,
and how they relate to us now." - Vinny Flynn, author of 7 Secrets of the Eucharist
"This book is masterfull
written! It will reveal to you the meaning of the Mass - what it is,
where it comes from, and who you encounter! This book will help you to
fall in love, or fall more deeply in love, with Jesus in the Eucharist."
- Fr. Larry Richards, author of Be a Man
Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn, the Archbishop of
Vienna, is a highly regarded spiritual teacher and prolific writer, and a
former student of Pope Benedict XVI. He was the primary editor of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and has written numerous books including Jesus the Divine Physician, Chance or Purpose?, Behold God's Son, We Have Found Mercy, and Living the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
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October 23, 2013
A Man of Ideas: The Legacy of Mortimer Adler
A Man of Ideas: The Legacy of Mortimer Adler | Andrew Svenning | Catholic World Report
More than a decade after his death, Dr. Adler’s work of bringing philosophy to everyone continues. Max Weismann discusses the mission of the “Philosopher at Large” and his own work at the Center for the Study of the Great Ideas.
Mortimer
J. Adler passed away in June of 2001, having left an indelible mark on 20th century
philosophy. A standard history of philosophy text might place him under the
subheading of the Aristotelian and Thomistic revivals of his time, but his
contributions extend far beyond the narrow confines one might associate with
academic philosophy. He acted as the founder and director of the Institute for
Philosophical Research, Chairman of the Board of Editors for the Encyclopaedia Britannica, and co-founded
both the Aspen Institute and the Center for the Study of the Great Ideas. Adler
truly was the “Philosopher at Large,” the title of his 1977 intellectual
autobiography, because unlike many in the discipline, he spoke to a wider
audience. His interlocutors were not a close-knit circle of elite intellectuals
and his published works were not technical tracts, laced in jargon accessible
only to fellow professional academics. Adler was always more interested in the
average person, who by nature possessed the ability to think and, therefore, to
philosophize. This notion is best summed up by a phrase he came back to over
and over again throughout his life: “Philosophy is everybody’s business”—a
proposition upon which he staked his career.
“To
be a human being is to be endowed with the proclivity to philosophize,” says
Max Weismann, who co-founded the Center for the Study of the Great Ideas with
Adler back in 1990. “To some degree we all engage in philosophical thought in
the course of our daily lives.” And what is it we all should be philosophizing
about? Weismann and his mentor have a reply: “The answer, in a word, is
Ideas. In two words, it is Great Ideas—the ideas basic and indispensable
to understanding ourselves, our society, and the world in which we live.”
These
Great Ideas form the basis for Adler’s philosophic enterprise, an enterprise his
best student is now carrying on. The center operates as the resource for
accessing Dr. Adler’s works, providing members with subscriptions to weekly and
quarterly journals, lectures, DVDs, and an array of information on Great Books
programs.
Weismann’s
journey as a student of Adler began after an epiphany he had discussing Plato’s
Apology at a Great Books seminar in
1959.
20% off best-selling saint titles from Ignatius Press
Offer ends Tuesday October 29th, 2013 at 12:00 midnight EST.
These prices are available online only through Ignatius.com
20% off best-selling saint titles from Ignatius Press!
Top Ten Best-Selling Saint Books
Bakhita: From Slave to Saint
Roberto Italo Zanini
When she was about nine years old, Josephine Bakhita was kidnapped
near Darfur, Sudan, by Arab slave traders. For several years she was
subjected to brutal and humiliating treatment until she was ransomed and
taken to Venice, Italy, where she became a Catholic and a nun.
Joyfully
and serenely Bakhita served in a convent, school and infirmary run by
Canossian sisters in a small, obscure town in northern Italy until her
death in 1947. Then something even more remarkable than her redemption
happened.
Hundreds
of ordinary people came to see Bakhita lying in state, and along with
these visits came stories about how the simple nun had given comfort,
advice and encouragement as she went about her tasks as cook,
doorkeeper, nurse, etc. Almost immediately graces and miracles
attributed to Bakhita's intercession began to be reported.
Ever
since, the place where Bakhita died and the wonders began has been a
shrine visited by people from all over the world. They come to seek the
intercession of one who was no stranger to loss and suffering and yet
had given herself with complete confidence to the Lord. It is here, in
this sparsely furnished room, where Italian journalist Roberto Italo
Zanini begins his story of Bakhita and her journey from slavery to
sainthood.
Regular price: $16.95, sale price: $13.56
Joan of Arc
Mark Twain
Very few people know that Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) wrote a major
work on Joan of Arc. Still fewer know that he considered it not only his
most important but also his best work. He spent twelve years in
research and many months in France doing archival work and then made
several attempts until he felt he finally had the story he wanted to
tell. He reached his conclusion about Joan's unique place in history
only after studying in detail accounts written by both sides, the French
and the English.
Because
of Mark Twain's antipathy to institutional religion, one might expect
an anti-Catholic bias toward Joan or at least toward the bishops and
theologians who condemned her. Instead one finds a remarkably accurate
biography of the life and mission of Joan of Arc told by one of this
country's greatest storytellers. The very fact that Mark Twain wrote
this book and wrote it the way he did is a powerful testimony to the
attractive power of the Catholic Church's saints. This is a book that
really will inform and inspire. Also available as an e-book.
Regular price: $17.95, sale price: $14.36
Dear and Glorious Physician: A Novel about Saint Luke
Taylor Caldwell
Today St. Luke is known as the author of the third Gospel of the
New Testament, but two thousand years ago he was Lucanus, a Greek, a man
who loved, knew the emptiness of bereavement, and later traveled
through the hills and wastes of Judea asking, "What manner of man was my
Lord?" And it is of this Lucanus that Taylor Caldwell tells here in one
of the most stirring stories ever lived or written.
Taylor
Caldwell has chosen the grand, the splendid means to tell of St. Luke.
Her own travels through the Holy Land and years of meticulous research
made Dear and Glorious Physician a fully developed portrait of a complex
and brilliant man and a colorful re-creation of ancient Roman life as
it contrasted in its decadence with the new world Christianity was
bringing into being. Here is a story to warm, to inspire, to call forth
renewal of faith and love lying deep in each reader's heart.
Regular price: $21.95, sale price: $17.56
Holy Men and Women Of the Middle Ages and Beyond
Pope Benedict XVI
From
the start of his pontificate, the Pope has used his Wednesday audiences
to present the timeless wisdom that has been expressed in the writings
and lives of holy men and women down through the ages. He began with the
Apostles and then moved to the Fathers of the Church. Next he presented
the great Christian teachers of the late Roman Empire and the early
Middle Ages. In this volume, he picks up the thread in the high Middle
Ages with the inspirational St. Francis and St. Dominic, followed by
some of the men and women they profoundly influenced, such as Clare,
Bonaventure, and Thomas Aquinas.
The
collection goes beyond the Middle Ages and includes some
Counter-Reformation saints, for example, Teresa of Avila, John of the
Cross, and Robert Bellarmine. It concludes with a very popular saint
closer to our own times who was made a Doctor of the Church by Pope John
Paul II: Thérèse of Lisieux.
The
theme that unites these men and women across time is the constant need
of the Church for renewal. In every generation, God raises up holy ones
who challenge Christians to live as they ought-as true disciples of
Christ. Also available as an e-book.
Regular price: $16.95, sale price: $13.56
Saint Paul
Pope Benedict XVI
In this book, Pope Benedict XVI, a profound spiritual leader in his
own right and a first-rate theologian and Bible commentator, explores
the legacy of Paul. Pope Benedict follows the course of the Apostle’s
life, including his missionary journeys and his relationship with the
other apostles of Jesus such as St. Peter and St. James, and Paul’s
martyrdom in Rome. Benedict also examines such questions as: Did Paul
know Jesus during his earthly life and how much of Jesus’ teaching and
ministry did he know of? Did Paul distort the teachings of Jesus? What
role did Jesus’ death and resurrection play in Paul’s teaching? What are
we to make of Paul’s teaching about the end of the world? What does
Paul’s teaching say about the differences between Catholic and
Protestant Christians over salvation and the roles of faith and works in
the Christian life? How have modern Catholic and Protestant scholars
come together in their understanding of Paul? What does Paul have to
teach us today about living a spiritual life?
These
and other important issues are addressed in this masterful,
inspirational, and highly-readable presentation of St. Paul and his
writings by one of today’s great spiritual teachers, Pope Benedict XVI.
Also available as an audio download and e-book.
Regular price: $14.95, sale price: $11.96
Catherine of Siena
Sigrid Undset
Sigrid Undset’s Catherine of Siena is critically acclaimed as one
of the best biographies of this well known, and amazing
fourteenth-century saint. Known for her historical fiction, which won
her the Nobel Prize for literature in 1928, Undset based this factual
work on primary sources, her own experiences living in Italy, and her
profound understanding of the human heart.
Catherine
of Siena was a particular favorite of Undset, who also was a Third
Order Dominican. An extraordinarily active, intelligent, and courageous
woman, Catherine at an early age devoted herself to the love of God. The
intensity of her prayer, sacrifice, and service to the poor won her a
reputation for holiness and wisdom, and she was called upon to make
peace between warring nobles. Believing that peace in Italy could be
achieved only if the Pope, then living in France, returned to Rome,
Catherine boldly traveled to Avignon to meet with Pope Gregory XI.
With
sensitivity to the zealous love of God and man that permeated the life
of Saint Catherine, Undset presents a most moving and memorable portrait
of one of the greatest women of all time. Also available as an audio book on CD, an audio download and an e-book.
Regular price: $17.95, sale price: $14.36
Padre Pio Under Investigation: The Secret Vatican Files
Francesco Castelli
On June 14, 1921, a priest knocks at the convent in San Giovanni
Rotondo. He is in his early forties and wears a simple cassock, but he
is no ordinary priest. He is Bishop Raffaello Carlo Rossi, future
cardinal and the Apostolic Visitor sent by the Holy Office to
investigate secretly Padre Pio.
After
gathering all the evidence, the Inquisitor sketches his own evaluation
of Padre Pio, which includes his reasons for believing that the stigmata
are of divine origin. He sends his report and the depositions to Rome,
where they stay buried for nearly a century. Now, forty years after the
saint's death, these exceptional documents are published in their
entirety, thanks to the skillful research of Father Francesco Castelli.
The
documents in this book reveal every aspect of Padre Pio's life from his
amazing supernatural gifts to his health. In his depositions, he
admits, under oath, to the phenomenon of bi-location and to other
supernatural charisms, and for the first time tells the detailed story
of his stigmatization. Also included are letters from his spiritual
father and a chronology of his life. Also available as an e-book.
Regular price: $17.95, sale price: $14.36
Saint Gianna Molla: Wife, Mother, Doctor
Pietro Molla
This is the inspiring story of a canonized contemporary woman.
Gianna Molla (1923-1962) risked her life in order to save her unborn
child. Diagnosed with uterine tumors during her fourth pregnancy, she
refused a hysterectomy that would have aborted the child, and opted for a
riskier surgery in an attempt to save the baby. Herself a medical
doctor, Molla did give birth to the child, but succumbed to an
infection.
An Italian woman who loved skiing, playing piano, attending
concerts at the Milan Conservatory, Molla was a dedicated physician and
devoted wife and mother who lived life to the fullest, yet generously
risked death by cancer for the sake of her child.
A unique story, co-authored by her own husband, with his deeply
moving personal insights of the heroic witness, love, sacrifice and joy
of his saintly wife. A woman for all times and walks of life, this
moving account of the multi-faceted, selfless St. Gianna Molla, who made
the ultimate sacrifice to save her unborn child, will be an inspiration
to all readers. Also available as an e-book.
Regular price: $11.95, sale price: $9.56
A Man of the Beatitudes: Pier Giorgio Frassati
Lucianna Frassati
A beguiling and moving biography of Pier Giorgio Frassati, a
handsome, athletic and fun-loving young man from a rich, aristocratic
Italian family in the 1920's who was recently beatified by Pope John
Paul II. Pier Giorgio turned from a life of privilege to one devoted to
working with the poor, and was a courageous witness of Christian faith
and charity to many others.
Discouraged
by his affluent parents from his religious involvement and deep
spiritual life, Pier Giorgio secretly ministered to the poor and
marginalized, and was a leader of youth whose love of God transformed
the lives of all those around him. He died of the polio virus at the age
of 24, and the story of his life and death spread throughout Europe,
influencing the young Karol Wojtyla, who as Pope John Paul II described
Frassati as "a man of the eight beatitudes, a modern youth and great
mountaineer who was keenly interested in the problems of culture, sports
and social questions, as well as the true values of life." Pier Giorgio
is a patron saint of World Youth Days.
Regular price: $12.95, sale price: $10.36
Set All Afire: A Novel of St. Francis Xavier
Louis de Wohl
Saint Francis Xavier's life is, in itself, a dramatic story. With
humility and deep religious conviction, the famous Catholic novelist
Louis de Wohl takes us into the mind and heart of this great missionary
and saint who went by order of St. Ignatius of Loyola to "set all afire"
in the Orient. Louis de Wohl captivates the reader as he follows
Xavier's life from student days in Paris, through his meeting with
Ignatius, his rather reluctant conversion, and his travels as one of the
first Jesuits. The story takes the reader from Europe to Goa, India,
Malaysia, Japan, and finally, to an island off the coast of China, where
the exiled Xavier dies virtually alone. The book captures the dramatic
struggles and inspiring zeal of this remarkable saint, giving at the
same time an enthralling picture of the age in which he lived. Also
available as an e-book.
Regular price: $17.95, sale price: $14.36
Top Ten Best-Selling Saint Films
In Her Footsteps: The Story of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha
For 350 years, a young Christian Mohawk woman has been interceding
for and inspiring natives and non-natives around the world. On October
21, 2012, Kateri Tekakwitha became the first Native North American woman
to be recognized as a Saint.
This
moving documentary takes us on a journey from northern New York State
to Montrèal and Kahnawake; from Washington State to New Mexico, as we
follow St. Kateri's incredible journey of deep faith, heroic sacrifice
and love of Christ.
Featuring
many people who have been touched by her -including Philadelphia's
Archbishop Charles Chaput, OFM, of the Prairie Band Potawatomi tribe,
the only Native American archbishop; Bishop James Wall of Gallup, NM,
the diocese with the largest number of Native American Catholics; Sr.
Kateri Mitchell, SSA, the Executive Director of the Tekakwitha
Conference, and Jake Finkbonner, the little boy who received the
miraculous healing that led to her canonization - the film shows that no
one is too simple or too young to follow Christ, and that this woman,
whose face was scarred and vision was weak, is still a source of Grace
and healing for all.
Regular price: $19.95, sale price: $15.96
Saint Barbara: Convert and Martyr of the Early Church
In 303 A.D., Barbara is the beautiful, twenty-yearold daughter of
Dioscoro, the Roman governor during a time of fierce Christian
persecution. Barbara is a pagan, but when Giuliana, a slave raised
alongside her almost like a sister, is condemned to death for her
Christian faith, Barbara rebels.
She
valiantly attempts to save Giuliana, as well as other Christians being
persecuted, boldly protesting to her father and other government
leaders. When that fails, Barbara makes a daring plan for the successful
escape from prison of her Christian friends.
Saint
Barbara is also the story of her profound love for Claudio, the noble
Roman soldier whose life she saves, as well as her deep compassion for
all afflicted humanity. The courageous and holy witness of her Christian
friends inspires her to convert to their religion, a decision which
will eventually cost Barbara her life.
Regular price: $19.95, sale price: $15.96
Padre Pio: Miracle Man
This movie captures the Capuchin friar's intense faith and
devotion, and deep spiritual concern for others, as well as his great
compassion for the sick and suffering. It reveals the amazing details
and events in Padre Pio's life as a boy and throughout his 50 years as a
friar, dramatizing the frequent attacks of the Devil on him, as well as
the persecution he suffered at the hands of people, including those in
the church.
Starring
Italian actor Sergio Castellitto, and directed by Carlo Carlei, this is
an outstanding feature film on the amazing life of this great saint.
Regular price: $24.95, sale price: $19.96
Bakhita: From Slave to Saint
In 1948 Aurora Marin arrives with her family at the convent of the
Canossian Sisters of Schio, Italy, where Sister Bakhita has just died.
Aurora was hoping to see her before she died. She gathers her children
around the picture of Bakhita and tells them of the incredible life of
the woman that had raised her as her nanny.
Born
in a village in Sudan, kidnapped by slavers, often beaten and abused,
and later sold to Federico Marin, a Venetian merchant, Bakhita then came
to Italy and became the nanny servant of Federico's daughter, Aurora,
who had lost her mother at birth. She is treated as an outcast by the
peasants and the other servants due to her black skin and African
background, but Bakhita is kind and generous to others. Bakhita
gradually comes closer to God with the help of the kind village priest,
and embraces the Catholic faith.
She
requests to join the order of Canossian sisters, but Marin doesn't want
to give her up as his servant, treating her almost as his property.
This leads to a moving court case that raised an uproar which impacts
Bakhita's freedom and ultimate decision to become a nun. Pope John Paul
II declared her a saint in the year 2000.
Regular price: $24.95, sale price: $19.96
Clare and Francis
A major epic feature film on the lives of St. Clare and St. Francis
of Assisi shot on location in Italy by the Italian film company Lux
Vide, the producers of Saint Rita, Pope John Paul II and St. John Bosco.
This outstanding movie is unique among films on St. Francis because of
the historical accuracy of the story and its authentic spirit of joy and
piety Francis was known for, as well as the major role played by Clare
who is given equal stature with Francis. The two leads are played by
very appealing performers, Mary Petruolo and Ettore Bassi, who give
genuinely inspiring and beautifully moving performances of the daughter
of a patrician family and the son of a rich merchant who leave all to
follow Christ. Francis renounces his inheritance of wealth to live the
Gospel and serve the poor and outcasts. Clare reads deep into his heart
and decides to follow him, leaving her home and family to give herself
as the bride of Christ. Both found major religious orders and together
they inspire many to follow their radical call to live the Gospel, and
their impact has even reached across the centuries to change the world.
Regular price: $24.95, sale price: $19.96
The Reluctant Saint: The Story of St. Joseph of Cupertino
Maximilian Schell stars as "the flying friar", St. Joseph of
Cupertino, in this heartwarming and amazing true story of the humble
Franciscan friar who literally rose to sainthood. In the impoverished
village of 17th century Cupertino, Italy, Joseph’s peasant mother
convinces the reluctant Abbott (Ricardo Montalban) to accept her son
into the monastery. With the support of the kindly local Bishop who sees
in him a great deal more than others, and by a series of miraculous
incidents, the simple but pious Joseph is ordained a priest. Yet some
are convinced that it is the devil, not God, who is responsible for
Joseph's miraculous powers – until a final miracle reveals to all his
true sanctity.
A profound and humorous film for all ages. Also starring Lea Padovani and Akim Tamiroff. Directed by Edward Dymtryk.
Regular price: $19.95, sale price: $15.96
Saint Philip Neri: I Prefer Heaven
An epic feature film on the famous "Apostle of Rome" and great
friend of youth in the 16th century. One of the most popular saints of
all time, St. Philip Neri was widely known for his great charity, deep
prayer life, and tremendous humor. Hoping to join St. Ignatius of
Loyola's new order of Jesuits and be a missionary to India, Philip was
instead guided by Providence to seek out the poor and abandoned youth of
Rome to catechize them in the faith and help them find a better life.
He became the founder of the religious congregation, the Oratory, that
worked with the youth and also labored to re-evangelize a decadent Rome.
This
captivating film highlights Neri's great love for youth, his warm sense
of humor, contagious joy, deep mystical spirituality, and his amazing
gift for miracles. Actor Gigi Proietti gives a moving performance as St.
Philip in this beautifully produced film that is directed by Giacomo
Campiotti, director of the acclaimed films Bakhita: From Slave to Saint
and St. Giuseppe Moscatti.
Regular price: $24.95, sale price: $19.96
St. Giuseppe Moscati: Doctor to the Poor
Giuseppe Moscati, “the holy physician of Naples,” was a medical
doctor and layman in the early 20th century who came from an
aristocratic family and devoted his medical career to serving the poor.
He was also a medical school professor and a pioneer in the field of
biochemistry whose research led to the discovery of insulin as a cure
for diabetes.
Moscati
regarded his medical practice as a lay apostolate, a ministry to his
suffering fellowmen. Before examining a patient or engaging in research
he would place himself in the presence of God. He encouraged his
patients to receive the sacraments. Dr. Moscati treated poor patients
free of charge, and would often send someone home with an envelope
containing a prescription and a 50-lire note.
Moscati
was outspoken in his opposition to the unfair practices of nepotism and
bribery that often influenced appointments at that time. He could have
pursued a brilliant academic career, taken a professorial chair and
devoted more time to research, but he preferred to continue working with
patients and to train interns.
Giuseppe
Moscati died in 1927 at 46 yrs old, was beatified in 1975 and declared a
saint by Pope John Paul II in 1987. His feast day is November 16.
Regular price: $24.95, sale price: $19.96
Saint Rita
Famous as the patron of hopeless situations, St. Rita of Cascia is
immortalized in this wonderful, deeply moving film about this beautiful
woman who lived in Italy in the 14th century. Starring Vittoria
Belvedere and Martin Crewes, this powerful story combines high drama,
great love, deep betrayal, senseless tragedy, profound forgiveness and
strong faith as it tells the story of this brave and loyal woman who
married her knight, helped him overcome his dark past and convert to
faith, happily bore him two children, and later endures immense pain as
she loses everything in her life. She finds peace and new hope through
generosity of a nearby convent of sisters, and with their help she
develops a deep union with Christ that greatly inspires all who near
her.
Regular price: $24.95, sale price: $19.96
Saint Anthony: The Miracle Worker of Padua
This is the first major feature length drama on the life of St.
Anthony of Padua, the beloved miracle worker and one of the most popular
saints in Christian history. Made in Italy with top-notch acting
talent, and superb cinematography, this is an outstanding film on the
amazing life of St. Anthony. It presents Anthony as a dynamic and
appealing person who sacrificed wealth, popularity and family for the
Kingdom of God.
Born
into a Portugese noble family in 1195, Anthony defied his father's
wishes to become a knight and, instead, followed the call of God to
become a monk, eventually joining the Franciscans as a follower of St.
Francis of Assisi. Anthony became renowned for his powerful preaching
and his miracles that won countless souls to Christ. The film follows
his travels through Italy, his mission to Morocco and his meeting with
St. Francis. It beautifully portrays the power of his preaching, the
holiness of his life, his love for the poor and oppressed, and the
wonders of his miracles. Actor Daniele Liotti gives a truly memorable
inspiring and performance as St. Anthony.
Regular price: $19.95, sale price: $15.96
October 22, 2013
Men Who "Father" and Fathers Who Are Men
by Carl E. Olson | CWR Blog
When men fail to take responsibility for their actions, the most vulnerable usually pay the heavy cost
When
I first saw headlines
last week about the death of NFL's star Adrian Peterson's young
son, I was shocked. And then I was confused.
Shocked,
because the two-year-old boy, Ty, had been viciously beaten by a man
apparently responsible for watching the child. It was an act of evil,
pure and simple. Confused, because the relationships between the
various parties was not clear. Quite the contrary.
Joseph
Patterson, the man since charged with two felony counts of aggravated
battery of an infant and aggravated assault domestic, was the live-in
boyfriend of Ty's mother. They lived in South Dakota; Peterson, of
course, lives in Minnesota, where he is the record-chasing running
back for the Vikings.
Had
Peterson been married to the mother? No. Peterson has never been
married. In fact, it turns out that Peterson was not even aware of
the boy's existence until a couple of months ago, and he had not seen
Ty in person prior to the beating. Peterson, however, is engaged, and
he has two children living with him, one of whom is also two years
old,
according
to the New York Times.
And:
Peterson
said he offered financial support for Ty and Ty’s mother after he
learned he was the boy’s father. He was arranging to go to Sioux
Falls when the boy was injured on Oct. 9. Peterson skipped practice
on Oct. 10 to visit Ty in the hospital, the only time he saw him
alive. The next day, with Peterson back at practice, Ty died after he
was taken off life support.
The
various stories posted on ESPN.com and other sports-related sites
provided the basic facts of the story as they came available, but the
focus of many pieces—and especially of television commentary—was
on whether or not Peterson would play in the Vikings' next game. And,
if so, how would he do? And so forth. Among the most interesting set
of quotes were these, in the Times story:
October 21, 2013
New: "Faith of the Fatherless: The Psychology of Atheism" by Dr. Paul C Vitz
Now available from Ignatius Press:
Faith of the Fatherless: The Psychology of Atheism
by Dr. Paul C Vitz
In this updated, expanded edition, starting with Freud's "projection
theory" of religion - that belief in God is merely a product of man's
desire for security - Professor Vitz argues that psychoanalysis actually
provides a more satisfying explanation for atheism. Disappointment in
one's earthly father, whether through death, absence, or mistreatment,
frequently leads to a rejection of God.
A biographical survey of influential atheists of the past four centuries
shows that this "defective father hypothesis" provides a consistent
explanation of the "intense atheism" of these thinkers. A survey of the
leading defenders of Christianity over the same period confirms the
hypothesis, finding few defective fathers. Vitz concludes with an
intriguing comparison of male and female atheists and a consideration of
other psychological factors that can contribute to atheism.
Professor Vitz does not argue that atheism is psychologically
determined. Each man, whatever his experiences, ultimately chooses to
accept God or reject him. Yet the cavalier attribution of religious
faith to irrational, psychological needs is so prevalent that an
exposition of the psychological factors predisposing one to atheism is
necessary.
Paul C. Vitz, is Professor/Senior Scholar at the
Institute for the Psychological Sciences, Arlington, Va. and a Professor
Emeritus of Psychology at New York University. He earned his bachelor's
degree at the University of Michigan and his Ph. D at Stanford
University. He was an atheist until his late 30s. Professor Vitz is the
author/editor of a variety of books including: The Self: Beyond the Postmodern Crisis, Psychology as Religion: The Cult of Self-Worship, Sigmund Freud's Christian Unconscious, Censorship: Evidence of Bias in Our Children's Textbooks and numerous articles in professional and popular journals.
Praise for Faith of the Fatherless:
"Vitz offers a radical new thesis about the psychological origins of
atheism. By studying the lives of numerous famous atheists, from the
old atheists Nietzsche, Sartre, and Freud to the new atheists Hitchens,
Dawkins, and Dennet, Vitz discovers a startling common pattern: atheism
arises in people with dead, absent, or abusive fathers. By contrast,
prominent defenders of religious belief-including Blaise Pascal, John
Henry Newman, and G.K. Chesterton-were blessed with attentive, loving
and caring fathers. Vitz's provocative book raises important questions
about psychology, religious belief, and the importance of fathers."
- Christopher Kaczor, Author, The Seven Big Myths about the Catholic Church
"Quite simply, Paul Vitz's Faith of the Fatherless is a minor
classic, a book that should be on the short list of all those who want
to understand, in the deepest terms, the ill effects caused by the
failures of fatherhood. Faith of the Fatherless should function
as a gateway book to research in all fields examining our current,
highly-secularized culture, a culture marked deeply by both unbelief and
hostility toward the family and especially fatherhood."
- Benjamin Wiker, Author, Architects of the Culture of Death
"In deploying Freudian theory against atheism itself, Paul Vitz has
proven beyond a doubt what's missing from secular accounts of
secularization: namely, actual human beings. His thesis is intellectual
jujutsu of the first order, as anyone reading this timely revisiting
will appreciate in full."
- Mary Eberstadt, Author, The Loser Letters and Adam and Eve after the Pill
"Paul C. Vitz has republished one of the most profound books in the emperical psychology of religion, Faith of the Fatherless,
now with additional data. Here he skillfully demonstrates objective
analogies between the family experiences of articulate atheists and
their pronouncements concerning the family of God. Of course, since
there is "nothing" more personal than God-and our beliefs and
relationships to God-our capacities for personal relationship matter
tremendously in the formation of our divine beliefs. Everything is
interconnected, we know. However, Prof. Vitz's engaging style makes his
demonstration of these objective analogies especially memorable and
useful for understanding unbelief and ourselves."
- Paul de Vries, PhD, President, NY Divinity School
"The reasons for belief in God and unbelief are complex and varied and
hotly disputed. Paul Vitz makes a striking contribution to the current
debate with an elegant and thoroughly plausible explanation for much
atheism that turns the traditional Freudian critique of religion on its
head. Relying on the biographies of well-known modern atheists, he finds
significant evidence that negative childhood experiences with regard to
one's father can severely compromise one's capacity to believe in God.
Whatever one's beliefs, there is much to ponder in this well-written and
well-researched book."
- Eric L. Johnson, PhD, Director, Society for Christian Psychology
A Christian Way of Being Present in the Digital World
A Christian Way of Being Present in the Digital World | Michael J. Miller | Catholic World Report
A new (and free) e-book compiles messages by Pope Benedict XVI about social communications
When
Pope Benedict XVI opened a Twitter account in December 2012, it was
not a publicity stunt but rather the logical development of Vatican
involvement in the communications media that began with the founding
of L’Osservatore
Romano
in the nineteenth and Vatican Radio in the twentieth century. The
Second Vatican Council issued a brief Decree on the Means of Social
Communication (Inter
mirifica)
at the conclusion of its second session in 1963, declaring that “it
is the Church’s birthright to use and own any of these media which
are necessary or useful for the formation of Christians and for
pastoral activity” (IM 3).
The
intense multi-media coverage of the Council itself seemed to herald a
new era of Catholic presence in the public forum. Televised papal
Masses—whether at midnight on Christmas, on pastoral journeys or at
World Youth Days—became a regular feature in the life of the Church
and in her outreach to the modern world. The Vatican’s website
www.vatican.va
and its recently consolidated news portal www.news.va
are invaluable online resources.
In
September 2013 the Pontifical Council for Social Communications
expanded this development in yet another direction by publishing in
e-book format a collection of the World Communications Day messages
by Pope Benedict XVI. These annual messages are all dated January
24, the feast of St. Francis de Sales, patron saint of journalists,
but were promulgated later in the year during the Easter season.
Pope Benedict composed eight of them for the years 2006-2013
inclusive to offer his “reflection on some aspect of communication
with a view to both promoting public discussion and providing some
guidelines for the Church’s own engagement in this constitutive
dimension of its mission” (from the Introduction by Abp. Claudio
Maria Celli, President of the Pontifical Council for Social
Communications). The e-book is free and can
be downloaded from the Vatican website.
Some
of the messages have themes geared to other Church events, such as
the Year of the Priest (2010) or World Youth Days.
October 19, 2013
The Prayer That We Breathe
"The Angelus" by Jean-Francois Millet (1859)
A Scriptural Reflection on the Readings for Sunday, October 20, 2013 | Carl E. Olson
Readings:
• Ex 17:8-13
• Ps 121:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8
• 2 Tm 3:14-4:2
• Lk 18:1-8
How long can any of us live without
air? A few minutes at best? How long can we live spiritually without
prayer? Frankly, I often take prayer for granted. But I doubt that
I’m alone in that regard. Just as air goes unnoticed until it is
absent, prayer can, inversely, sometimes be absent until we suddenly
find ourselves in a crisis that leaves us gasping for spiritual air.
Today’s readings, as different as
they are from each other, highlight two aspects of prayer that are,
paradoxically, often overlooked and yet are readily obvious to all of
us. The Catechism of the Catholic Church refers directly to
these two qualities:
“Before confronting his elder brother
Esau, Jacob wrestles all night with a mysterious figure who refuses
to reveal his name, but he blesses him before leaving him at dawn.
From this account, the spiritual tradition of the Church has retained
the symbol of prayer as a battle of faith and as the triumph of
perseverance.” (par. 2573).
Prayer, then, is both a battle of faith
and the triumph of perseverance. We usually don’t think of prayer
in these terms because, I think, we often envision prayer as having
to be serene and peaceful, a smooth path of communication between God
and ourselves. Yet, on the other hand, we all know that prayer often
is a battle; it is a struggle against our natural inclination to not
pray if we “don’t feel like it.” And prayer can also reveal to
us the grim reality of spiritual warfare. This battle, the Catechism
insightfully points out, shows us that “Christian prayer is neither
an escape from reality nor a divorce from life.” Rather, just as
the life and letters of Mother Teresa demonstrate, “our battle has
to confront what we experience as failure in prayer: discouragement
during periods of dryness…” (par. 2728).
Today’s first reading, from the book
of Exodus, provides a dramatic example of prayer as a battle and a
victory of perseverance. The passage describes the Israelites being
attacked by the Amalekites, who were descendents of Jacob’s
brother, Esau. Moses takes up the staff of God, which had been used
previously to defeat the Pharoah, and stands on a hill, with hands
raised, overlooking the battle. The word “prayer” doesn’t
appear, but clearly Moses, the God-chosen leader of the Israelites,
is upholding his embattled people in prayer and, when he tires, is
helped by the high priest, his brother Aaron.
Justin Martyr, in his
Dialogue with Trypho, interpreted Moses’ actions as a
foreshadowing of the sign of the Cross, and John Chrysostom took up
this same image, writing, “But Christ, when he came, himself held
his hands extended on the cross by his own power.”
Both
Jesus, in today’s Gospel, and Paul, in the epistle, talk about
perseverance in prayer and faith. The Apostle to the Gentiles
exhorted Timothy, his surrogate son in the Faith, to “remain
faithful to what you have learned and believed” and then solemnly
charged him to “proclaim the word” and “be persistent.” What
we believe and what we pray are intimately connected, as expressed in
the ancient statement, lex orandi, lex credendi—“ The law
of prayer is the law of faith” (cf., CCC 1124). Perseverance in
faith is perseverance in prayer.
In Luke 17, read the past few Sundays,
Jesus spoke about faith, indicating that the apostles possessed
little of it. In Luke 18 Jesus is described as telling His disciples
“about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming
weary.” The parable He told was rather humorous—a dishonest judge
gives in to the rightful demands of a widow because he fears she will
beat him up. But the point is just as serious: true faith and
authentic prayer are persevering in nature.
Prayer is often difficult
because it is part of a battle. Praise God, that battle has been won
on the Cross by the Son of Man. May we persevere in faith and prayer,
so we might see Him face to face.
(This "Opening the Word" column originally appeared in the October 21, 2007, issue of Our Sunday Visitor newspaper.)
Ignatius Press best-sellers for the month and year
Top Ten Books of The Month
Top Ten Books of the Year
1. YOUCAT
2. The Light of the Faith
3. YOUCAT Study Guide
4. The Ear of the Heart
5. Ignatius Bible (RSV), 2nd Edition
6. The Transforming Power of Faith
7. YOUCAT Youth Prayer Book
8. In Him Alone Is Our Hope
9. 7 Secrets of Confession
10. He Comes! He Comes!
1. YOUCAT
2. Francis: Pope of a New World
3. The Ear of the Heart
4. YOUCAT Prayer Book
5. The Miracle of Father Kapaun
6. The Light of Faith
7. History of the Catholic Church
8. Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week
9. Be A Man!
10. Ignatius Bible (RSV), 2nd Edition
Top Ten Films of the Month
Top Ten Films of the Year
1. St. Giuseppe Moscati
2. Pius XII: Under the Roman Sky
3. Padre Pio: Miracle Man
4. Saint Barbara
5. Who Is Pope Francis?
6. For Greater Glory
7. Popieluszko
8. The Miracle of Father Kapaun
9. Bakhita
10. In Her Footsteps
1. Pius XII: Under the Roman Sky
2. For Greater Glory
3. In Her Footsteps
4. Saint Barbara
5. The Greatest Miracle
6. Popieluszko
7. Bakhita
8. Padre Pio: Miracle Man
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10. Powers and Dominions
Top Ten CDs of the Month
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1. Mater Eucharistiae
2. Angels and Saints at Ephesus
3. Then Sings My Soul
4. Chant: Music for the Soul
5. His Love Remains
6. Voice from Assisi
7. Advent at Ephesus
8. Harmony: The Priests
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1. Angels and Saints at Ephesus
2. His Love Remains
3. Then Sings My Soul
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7. Harmony: The Priests
8. Sacred Arias
9. Mater Eucharistiae
10. Through the Eyes of His Mother
Lust – It’s Not Always About Sex
Lust – It’s Not Always About Sex | Anonymous | HPR
Sometimes it’s about a compulsion to dominate other people that originates in childhood rivalries and persists into adulthood as an unconscious trait.
The author is a Catholic layman. As a general rule, Homiletic and Pastoral Review
does not accept anonymous submissions, especially if the submitted
essay is a critique of another. In this instance, however, we were
asked to respect the author’s anonymity for the sake of his family and
community.)
__________
For years, I struggled with impure
thoughts and desires. I prayed often and confessed sins of impurity many
times for many years. I always felt sorry for my confessors because,
despite their attempts to be helpful, I sensed that they must have
endured thousands of drearily similar confessions over the years, often
repeated by the same penitents. I have gone to many different
confessors, but have yet to find one that can do more than offer
encouragement, and recommend frequent prayer, and reception of the
sacraments. And, indeed, I find that regular prayer, daily Mass, and
weekly confession are a great help in fighting temptations to commit
sins of impurity.
Still the persistence of the
temptations was profoundly disturbing to me. I noticed that they became
stronger the greater the interval between receptions of the
sacraments. I felt a kind of pressure build up in me when I saw an
attractive woman, or picture of an attractive woman, and the pressure
would increase with each instance. I felt guilty coming home to my wife
with this pent-up urge for sexual release, but thought it was probably
normal male sexuality. Yet, I knew that it undermined my fight for
sexual purity, and threatened my soul. I was trapped in a double life
and did not know how to escape.
As I got older, I wondered if the
temptations would reduce in frequency or severity. After all, I
reasoned, this is the result of the male sex drive and when my virility
begins to wane, so will the temptations. Yet this did not happen. I
often think of a story told by a friend who spent several years as a
young man in a monastery. He asked an elderly monk the age at which his
sexual temptations would begin to diminish. The old monk looked
surprised and hopeful, “Does that happen?” he playfully asked.
Thus, I gradually learned that I could
not expect assistance from my declining hormones; lust is not something
one “naturally” grows out of.
Continue reading at www.HPRweb.com.
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