Archive
Leo X + Pieta + Las Culebrinas
MASS – (Fr Joseph) — Andrew the Apostle — known as the introducer.
NO PHILOSOPHY CLASSES — Fr Santos is out of town.
ARTS & IDEAS – (Fr Vallee) — modern philosophers. Renaissance popes Sixtus IV (Sistine Chapel), Alexander VI (Borgia – nepotism), Julius II (warrior) and Leo X (Medici). Michelangelo‘s Pieta. Our chapel’s murial — zodiac references.
MIAMI DINNER — today Fr Manny took all the Miami seminarians out to dinner to a fancy local Cuban restaurant Las Culebrinas. Great food and even better desert.
DOTS — “bread shark” — grass smell
must read Bible
I stumbled upon this graphic while looking for a grocery list [it’s my new Pre-T house job to keep food stocked]. It instantly reminded me of one of my favorite Scripture passage, that I would teach on the first day of 7th grade Pre-Confirmation classes. Hebrews 4:12-13 says,
Indeed,the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.
I also recall a newsflash I read in the Florida Catholic this week about Pope Benedict XVI urging Christians must read the Bible. He highlighted St Jerome’s famous line, “ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.” — we can never say it enough
moral virtues + Jim Gaffigan
SPANISH 2 – (Dr Jimenez) — new chapter 14.1
TV CATCH-UP — watched missed episodes of The Unit & Cane.
RECTOR’s CONFERENCE – (Fr Michael) — about Moral Virtues (see seperate post).
PRE-T HOUSE — watched standup Jim Gaffigan. Night Prayer. House “cleaning” meeting.
moral virtues
Today’s Rector’s Conference was for new guys on “The Moral Virtues in Relationship to Seminary Life:”
I. Opening reflection: Ephesians 4:30-5:2
II. Pope John Paul II speaks to French Bishops about Priestly Formation (March 22, 1997):
(8.) Composed of people from different walks of life, the seminary must become a family and, in that image, enable each young man, with his own sensitivity, to develop his vocation, to become aware of his future commitments and to be formed in the community, spiritual and intellectual life under the guidance of a team of priests and teachers trained specifically for this task. … Further, it is appropriate to develop in candidates the practice of the theological and moral virtues, by training them to discipline their lives and to exercise self-control. A future priest must also learn to put his life in the Saviour’s hands, to consider himself a member of the diocesan Church and, through her, of the universal Church, and to undertake his activity in the perspective of pastoral charity.
III. (this year’s seminary theme is) Living the Real: Jesus, the Incarnate Mystery
IV. Habits & Virtues
A. “Habit” — a quality difficult to uproot that is well or ill-disposed regarding his nature or operations
B. “Virtue” — good habit
V. Kinds of Virtues
A. The Natural Intellectual Virtues
1. Virtues of Speculative Intellect (Understanding of First Principles & Science)
2. Virtues of Practical Intellect (Art & Prudence)
B. The Nature Moral Virtues (Cardinal Virtues)
Prudence, Justice, Temperance, Fortitude
C. Theological Virtues (for next week)
Faith, Hope, Love
VI. Moral Virtue: PRUDENCE
A. Prudence — order of right reason applied to doing things (human acts)
B. Sins against Prudence
1. Sins by Defect
a. Precipitation (Haste)
b. Inconsideration (Thoughtlessness)
c. Inconstancy
d. Negligence
2. Sins by Excess
a. Carnal Prudence — using reason to get an evil end
b. Craftiness — use evil means to get a good end
c. Excessive Solicitude — too prudent to move (paralyzed)
VII. Moral Virtue: JUSTICE
A. Justice — constant & perpetual will to render to everyone his due
B. Verbal Justice outside of judicial proceedings:
a. Contumely (reviling, insult)
b. Detraction (backbiting) — Simple (spread truth) & Calumny (spread lies)
c. Whispering (tale-bearing)
d. Derision (mockery) — joking manner
e. Cursing — wishing evil on someone
VIII. Moral Virtue: TEMPERANCE
A. Temperance — moderate man’s appetites …
B. Vices opposed to Temperance
1. Insensibility — too much
2. Intemperance/Immoderation — do whatever you want
C. Related Virtue vs Vices
1. Abstinence (from food) vs Gluttony
2. Sobriety vs Drunkenness
3. Chastity, Purity, Virginity vs Lust
4. Meekness, Clemency vs Anger, Cruelty
5. Modesty vs Pride
6. Modesty of Action and Dress
a. Good manner in society
b. Modesty in external behavior (“father” neither too macho nor effete)
c. Modesty in Recreation
d. Modesty in Dress
IX. Moral Virtue: FORTITUDE
A. Fortitude — pursue a difficult good even in the face of death or danger
B. Vices:
1. Cowardice
2. Fearlessness
3. Foolhardiness (too clueless to know one should be afraid)
C. Assist vs Oppose
1. Magnanimity
a. Presumption (overestimate our ability)
b. Ambition
c. Pusillanimity (underestimate ability)
2. Magnificence vs Stinginess
3. Patience vs Impatience
4. Perseverance vs Inconstancy
X. Pope Benedict Speaks
XI. Colossians 3:9-17
(no finished — details need to be added)
Aristotle test + Venus + cartoon + David
MODERN PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — start Hegel. Hegel’s solution to Kant’s problems of circularity & skepticism is to unify the “knower” (subject) and “known” (object). Hegelian Absolute Idealism = subject + object are 2 moments of the process by which the absolute unfolds into reality. — if you say so?
ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — test on Aristotle. — I think I started understanding him half-way through the 3 essay questions (Plato vs Aristotle’s view of “soul” … forgot #2 … Aristotle on “virtue”)
ARTS & IDEAS – (Fr Vallee) — Boticelli‘s The Birth of Venus. Leonardo da Vinci’s cartoon sketch for Madonna and Child with St Anne and the young St John. DaVinci’s Madonna of the Rocks. Michelangelo‘s David & Bacchus.
DOTS — laundry day — worklist: floors — holy hour: Fr Rios
masculinity + Mexican food nite + garden Mass + floss
SPANISH – (Dr Jimenez) — chapter 14 vocab dictation test.
MIAMI VOCATION – (Fr Manny) — check-up interview with my vocation director.
OLD TESTAMENT – (Fr Michael) — Wisdom literature & Old Testament Masculinity to reflect on. Males: Warrior – Moses // Prophet – Jeremiah (lie detector) // Trickster – Jonah. Male Independence + Autonomy: Wildman – Elijah // Pilgrim – Abraham. Male Vulnerability: Healer – Elisha. Masculine Responsibility: The Patriarch – Abraham // The King – Solomon.
CULTURAL FOOD NIGHT — today’s theme was Mexican Food Night. — we tried to stick with the theme and avoid drinking the water
GARDEN MASS – (Fr Michael) — 9pm to change from the “routine” … “calm storm” … hit by wave … firefighter hat
DOTS — Aristotle study group — floss run
gym rats + hedonism + Annunciation + limo driver
MASS – (Fr Santos) — “gym rats” — “juice” — sacrifice.
MODERN PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — test on Hume. — I think I wrote the same answer for all 3 questions … it’s got to apply to at least one
ARTS & IDEAS – (Fr Vallee) — started Renaissance by comparing 2 painting of the Annunciation, by Sandro Botticelli & Fra Angelico.
MINISTERIAL METHODS – (Fr Michael) — (part 3) Being Discerning … level of judgement … does my understanding correspond to what is true? (Limo driver interviews ’round a hill)
(part 4) Being Responsible … level of decision … What should I do?
StB incense
Today was my first time altar serving at my home parish of St Bernadette Catholic Church in Hollywood, FL. At 10:45am Mass, I did incense with my Pastor & Deacon for the feast of Christ the King. I fumbled around, but did fine and was warmly greeted after Mass.
DOTS: 6pm Mass — Mexican food — break over — Night Prayer: “keep routine”
ReBall paintball
Still on Thanksgiving break, I checked out a new type of paintball … “reball.” A place in Deerfield Beach called ReBall Madness had an indoor field with inflatable bunkers. The “painballs” are actually made of rubber shot at 240 feet per second (as opposed to 300 fps for regular paint-balls), so they’re reusable, hence “re-balls.” It’s about $45 for 3 hours play with endless air & ammo. They also have party packages so we can get a group rate of $500 for up to 15 players (including mask, guns & ammo) … comes out to $35 each … a great deal for paintball. Maybe we can get a group of guys from the seminary there one day. — I’d rather get guys into airsoft, cuz it’s cheaper and can play anywhere.
DOTS: Arby’s — Best Buy — Call of Duty 4 — Bois call
breaktime
DOTS: St Katherine Drexel 8:15am — 8:30am — Blessed Miguel Agustin Pro — TV catch-up — Boston Market — The Ex
Thanksgiving
10am Mass at my parish, St Bernadette Catholic Church in Hollywood, FL.
Thanksgiving Dinner with family was relaxing & delicious.
my cassock
As our Thanksgiving break begins, I stopped by my parish rectory to pick up my new cassock & surpice for alter serving. I’ll be serving with my Pastor on Sunday at 10:45am Mass.
thanks dinner + Princess Bride + croquet
TESTS — Spanish & Old Testament. — both went pretty well.
THANKSGIVING DINNER — after a special 4:30pm Thanksgiving Mass (“subway” sermon), we had a great Thanksgiving dinner since we’re released for break after tomorrow’s morning Mass (which I have to serve as Acolyte).
PRE-T NIGHT — us Pre-Theologians are watching The Princess Bride in our off-campus house. Then played a couple exciting rounds of croquet in the back yard. Classic.
virtues – “Ch”
MODERN PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — Kant’s synthetic a priori : math, natural science, metaphysics, ethic/morals.
ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — Aristotle’s “virtues” … (intellect vs moral). Moderation is the “golden mean” between virtue & vice. Being virtuous means (1) being excellent & (2) acting in an excellent way
MINISTERIAL METHODS – (Fr Michael) — (part 1) Being Attentive … What am I experiencing?
(part 2) Being Intelligent … Exploring … open to new data … make connections to experiences …. How do I make sense of my experience?
DOTS — OT Study Group — Spanish Study Group — Heroes — – “Ch”
soccer finals
SOCCER — the 4 team soccer season ended today. 2 championship games at 1 & 2pm. Great games & a great time.
BODIES
BODIES .. The Exhibition — some friends invited me to the BODIES Exhibit now showing on Las Olas Blvd in Ft Lauderdale. It was creapy at first, but very educational. I especially liked the warning sign before the fetal specimens showing several stages of a baby’s development. Also got to touch a real brain and the lungs of someone who smoked for 23 years. No photography allowed, so I found some pics online (click picture). If you can stomach the creapiness, I highly recommend it — $25 + $5 audio tour. (Humanities reimbursement, too)
3 people + yacht + multiple choir
MASS – (Fr Alvarez) — there are 3 kinds of people … those that live for things (most selfish) … those that live for ideas (most frustrated/ing) … those that live for people (most happy).
MODERN PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — intro on Kant.
ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — discussed Aristotle‘s Nicomachean Ethics. What is true happiness? a yacht? … Virtue is connected with “habit” & “moderation”? … (for next time)
ARTS & IDEAS – (Fr Vallee) — today was our test for the Medieval Period. We were told (several times) that it would be multiple choice, matching & true/false. So, what was it? … fill in the blank and true/false. — must be yet another test in patience.
MIAMI MEETING – (Fr Manny) — the Arch of Miami seminarians had a meeting reviewing our handbook.
ORGAN CONCERT — 8pm tonight was “An Evening of Sacred Music” by St John Neumann Festival Choir (all volunteers) at our St Raphael’s Chapel. The event was done to thank all the benefactors who have financial assisted the seminary with various projects, especially the repair of our organ (damaged in a hurricane years ago). A beautiful choir performance, but I would have like to hear more organ (– or more cowbell).
Pre-T bowl + croquet
PRE-T SOCIAL DAY — today, us Pre-Theology seminarians got together in the afternoon for some social bonding with some bowling at Bird Bowl. The pins were stubborn, but we had a great time. — I was “Agent Black”
SOCIAL PART 2 — afterwards, we played some Boggle [11 points for CLOISTER and body parts count] and then some Croquet in the backyard [freshly soded foot-tall grass] — I was out first.
STUDY GROUP — several evening study groups to prepare for tomorrow’s Arts & Ideas test on the medieval art period.
nominalism + Mandylion + sin catcher
ARTS & IDEAS – (Fr Vallee) — turned in my reflection paper on the Christian religious icon “Mandylion.” In class we discussed nominalism … “Can God make a square circle? or a rock too heavy for God to lift?” … Aquinas says NO (can’t contradict himself) and William of Ockham says YES (can’t limit divine freedom).
LAUNDRY — Wednesday is my new laundry day and today was my first time at the new Pre-T house. Even with a busy day [3 morning classes, worklist, holy hour & finsh a reflection paper], I fit in my laundry time. As I was doing my drying, cleaning the “lint catcher” made me reflect on venial sins offered up at Mass — it could make for a good homily illustration. I took the “sin catcher” thought to “holy hour” and, since I remembered I left the dryer on, I also prayed I don’t burn the house down.
DOTS — lint catcher — house still standing — shrimp — no volleyball — online The Unit & Cane
leaking bucket + Hosea + Cuban food
MASS – (Fr Joseph) — Story of the “Leaking Bucket” … water flowers on path … just do what you’re asked to do.
OLD TESTAMENT – (Fr Michael) — we continued discussion on Major & Minor Prophets … then started Wisdom literature. I also turned in my “Bio-Poem” on the minor prophet Hosea:
Hosea
Israelite, prophet, husband, & father
Brother to Divine Empathy
Loves God, Israel, & Gomer
Who feels passionate, wounded, & righteous indignation
Who needs a family counselor, spiritual direction, & a “chillaxin” pill
Who fears self-righteousness, separation, & complacency
Who gives admonition, fidelity, & forgiveness
Who craves faithfulness, reunion, & restoration
Resident of (Northern) Israel
The Prophet
CULTURAL FOOD NIGHT — today was Cuban Food Night. — Great eating!
DOTS — morning rainbow — lead evening prayer — The Unit — Cane
SJVCS Seminary Life Album
July '09 -- hospital chaplains @ IPF
Easter '09 -- Miami SJVCS friends
the Son always finds a break in let the clouds
Feb '09 -- school vocation talks @ AMHS
Feb '09 -- cold breakfast with brothers (Matias, Fenly & Randy), now at SVDP and Imad (at SJVCS)
Superbowl '09 -- eating great @ SJVCS
Sept '08 -- Worklist Coordinators?
St Raphael Chapel mural @ SJVCS
Sept '08 -- retreats @ SJVCS
"It's not easy being green"
Catholic Kermit 
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