Interiority

An interior life-- perhaps we can revive that. All these plugged-in people walking around-- they're trying to connect to the world, but they only end up dismissing it. Trapped in their electronic selves.

"The kingdom of God is within you." Start there. With silence, even boredom. Move on to repentance. Sit in front of the tabernacle. Say the rosary.

Green salad, peach.

Matthew 11:20-24

Heard a good sermon on Matthew 11:20-24, where Jesus upbraids Chorazin and Capernaum. "Woe unto thee..." One of those passages we want set in social-historical perspective, so to speak, lest we actually have to take it seriously. Why was Jesus being so hard on those people? Because they knew better. If even Tyre and Sodom could comprehend, then the people of the Law even more so.

Do our children know? Have we taught them? Have we passed down the law and the prophets, the traditions and the philosophy? The fear of the Lord? Or have we left them bereft?

View from San Damiano

I'm sure not everyone knows the story of St. Francis and the cross in the church of San Damiano. At some point I'll have to give a full account.  In the meantime, here is a picture of Assisi as seen from San Damiano. That will have to do for now. It is a fault, though not a grievous one, that I have St. Francis preaching to the birds at the top of the blog of the Cross of San Damiano Cybersociety, especially since the cross is so beautiful, and so meaningful to our mission of the Thursday fast. "Rebuild my Church, which you see is in disrepair." Those were the words Francis heard 800 years ago at San Damiano. Please persevere a few centuries more. We can do it together.

Green salad with a banana. Lettuce from a friend's garden. Photo from a friend. Thanks to all.

Further Hopes

Got off track a little, hope you are doing better. Ours is a religion of forgiveness and new beginnings. Green salad and a banana for lunch.

If we fill the churches again, I would hope for a revival of Thomism. I miss the clarity of it. I remember mornings reading Aquinas on the top floor of the college library. There was a lot of natural light up there. My mind and spirit would  rise, as if lifted on some crystal pavilion.

Here a crystalline version of new beginnings: the Visitation, two pregnant women talking, so beautiful.

Second Thursday

Glorious spring day out. A perfect day. You could never create anything as beautiful as spring.  Had you never experienced it, could you even imagine it?

The Church has many enemies, but always cultivate peace in your heart, like St. Francis of Assisi. It's all in God's hands, ultimately.  Just pray, and keep your fast. You are no more in charge of this undertaking than you are of spring.

Diary Entry

Ate a regular breakfast, then just had a spring mix salad and a banana for lunch. Then, inspired by the example of my pastor, I founded the Cross of San Damiano Cybersociety. The Cross of San Damiano Cybersociety is dedicated to rebuilding the Catholic Church in America. Members promise to fast and/or abstain every Thursday in accordance with their health and circumstances, and to pray for renewal. In our parish, only 26% of registered parishioners attend Sunday Mass regularly. From what I've read, this is about the national average. Membership is open. Become a follower. There are no dues, just the duty of a Thursday fast.

Fill the pews again.