Archive
home worklist
In order to maintain the “seminary schedule” I’ve grown accustomed to over the past few month, I was strongly encouraged (by Mom) to do a “home worklist.” — I thought “these hands were made for chalices, not calluses”
DOTS — The Simpson’s Movie [PsYcH] — gum bubble
“Spider-Pig, Spider-Pig, does whatever a Spider-Pig does … Look out! Here comes the Spider-Pig!”
Amadeus
SPANISH 2 – (Dr Jimenez) — Final Exam. — I guess it went ok?
EVENING MOVIE — tonight, we watched Deck the Hall drive-in style with a projector outside for the whole community.
WRITE A PAPER — today I re-watched Amadeus for my Arts & Ideas reflection paper due tomorrow. Here is my opening paragraph:
The Modern period, beginning with the Renaissance, is most known for its ideas in rationalism, empiricism, enlightenment and romanticism. A reflection of the time can be seen in the he 1984 film Amadeus, based on Peter Shaffer’s stage play. The story takes place during the end of the 18th century and is based on the lives of two composers of the time, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri. Within the film, signs of the “modern period” can be seen. More specifically, the modern traits of displaced eschatology, the rise of the genius and technology are demonstrated in Amadeus.
Lost Sheep + cram day
MASS – (Fr Santos) — the Lost Sheep gospel reading — don’t forget importance of the other dependent communal shephards (fellow seminarians).
STUDY GROUPS — since I have no exams today, it’s cram day for 2 exams tomorrow (Ancient Philosophy & Old Testament). Burger King & CVS runs. -Cef
EVENING MOVIE — Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer
first 2 exams + Publix
MODERN PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — Final Exam #1 — I think I over-studied with little sleep. (found out later — 78%)
MINISTERIAL METHODS – (Fr Michael) — Final Exam #2 — 25 multiple choice questions. (found out later — 2 wrong 92%)
EVENING MOVIE — Rescue Dawn in community room
DOTS — naps — Publix (ice cream, cakes, drinks, sub) — Dinner “mystery ball” w Oz — watched 3 comics (Josh, Francisco & Ron White)
vocation Mass + Jubilee Rosary + 4 movies
VOCATION MASS – (Fr Manny) –the Miami seminarians were asked to serve this morning for a special vocations Mass on this feast of the Immaculate Conception. Afterwards, we helped serve refreshments outside the Main Chapel.
JUBILEE ROSARY – (Archbishop Favalora) — 7pm tonight was a Rosary with the Archbishop during this Jubilee Year Celebration of the Archdiocese of Miami here at our Main Chapel @ St John Vianney College Seminary. Beautifully done.
MOVIE DAY — today, I watched 4 movies throughout the day … The Muppet Christmas Carol … Back To The Future … The 5th Element … Rat Race … with L-Wendy’s & D-McNuggets … I have no explanation 🙂
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.
ten piedad + soccer + lawn movie night
SPANISH 2 – (Dr Jimenez) — Spanish mid-term on chapter 12. — “Senor profesor, ten piedad de nosotros, por favor!”
SOCCER — with the stressful exam week, we had an evening of soccer (non-tournament) after dinner and played until we couldn’t see the ball anymore. — I was ball boy, again
WALK-IN MOVIE NIGHT — 8pm tonight we had a different kind of movie night for our last evening together before the weeklong “Mid-Semester Break.” We laid out on the grass & watched “Norbit” projected onto a wall outside. — Great idea! Need more OFF!
Bill Baggs – 13th floor – mexican
DAY TRIP — Today was the first opitional weekend trip planned by Fr Michael. A group of us went to Bill Baggs State Park at the tip of Key Biscayne. An afternoon of fun in the sun.
MOVIE — watched the “The Thirteenth Floor” a couple times to get the connection to Decartes (assignment for Modern Philosophy). Fr Santos likes it better than the Matrix (I wouldn’t go that far). — “I think therefore I am” … (I think?)
DINNER — Today’s dinner theme was “Mexican.” — great food
300 – refuse external trappings
MASS – (Fr Santos) — 
In today’s readings, Jesus speaks with “authority” to both preach and heal. Fr Santos (in his first Mass at SJV) began his homily by using the movie 300 to stand firm in beliefs and not be dependent on outside influences. He used the scene where Xerxes (Persians king) offers Leonidas (Spartans) money and power to surrender. Leonidas stood for principles of country, honor & his people — he refused external trappings. The Greek word for “authority” is “exusia” and means “from within your own being” which Jesus did everything by (as opposed to Rabbis and prophets who prefaced what they said with footnotes). In seminary, we’re call to focus on our own individual call (from within) to preach and heal with the “authority” of the true priesthood found in Christ Jesus. — I pay attention to any point made using a cool movie.
SPANISH 2 – (Dr Jimenez) — If “failo” means “to fail,” then I “failo” the test (needs past PRETERITE form – which I don’t know either) of the first 11 chapters of our spanish book (which was taught in Spanish 1). I over-studied last night to the point it all mixed into zero usability. Of all my classes this semester, I will need to put extra effort into Spanish.
LUNCH — we had tuna burgers. I’ve never heard of one and took a picture. — it was good.
OLD TESTAMENT – (Fr Michael) — we learned methods of studying Scripture — Fundamentalist, Historical-Critical, Human Sciences, and Contextual approaches. Need to read chapters 3 & 4 for next week.
EVENING PRAYER — a major lightning strike (nearest to me nonetheless) in the middle of prayer scared the life out of all of us.
VIRUS ATTACK — as I’m writing this post, my computer got attacked by a virus on my Shared Documents folder. — 2 scares in the same day.
movies – Greeks & 3 Amigos
MASS – (Fr Joseph) — Today’s gospel was the parable of “the ten virgins” with lamps awaiting the bridegroom — 5 were foolish (unprepared) and 5 wise (constantly ready). We are called to constantly be alert, prepared and ready for what the Lord has in store for us.
MODERN PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — Quiz today was 15 true & false question with tricky wording. We reviewed the events of the time that contributed to the Modern Philosophy.
ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — Quiz today was listing philosophy’s “3 major concerns” and “4 major problems” with short explanations. We discussed “2 ways of understanding” with lots of subcatagories that wrap around my notes.
ARTS & IDEAS – no Fr Vallee today (vacation) — but we watched a 2.5 hour PBS special on “The Greeks, the Cradle of Civilization” in the cinema room. We took a break for lunch and finished in the afternoon.
ACOLYTE TRAINING — the new guys were oriented for serving Mass or reading this afternoon. I’m serving as Acolyte a the end of the month and haven’t served Mass since 6th grade.
EVENING – watched “The 3 Amigos” — remembering the “singing bush,” “the invisible swordsman” and their trademark demonstration (of a hernia exam).
“Transformers”
AWESOME movie! Well worth the wait! “Til all are ONE!”
“Sicko”
I saw the new Michael Moore movie, “Sicko.” It was exactly what I expected … entertaining, sarcastic, biased, and 1 sided. Even though I know he’s presenting real-life situation (that I have seen for myself), he presents NO solutions to our country’s health care problems. Is he suggesting we go to a “socialize medicine” system? As great as it may sound in a perfect world, our country has spent too much time, money and effort in creating the private profit-run system we have today. I have no idea where we would even begin a major overhaul!
We know that changing a dictatorship to democracy (like in Iraq) has extreme growing pains … private to socialize health care would definitely “hurt.” The health care industry has become an established cornerstone of our country’s economy. Not to say money is more important than our health, but “money” is essentially the issue. The current industry influences other industries (stock prices & our retirement/investment accounts), competative salaries to have the best doctors & services & new innovations, and more.
When it comes to socialized medicine, we have 2 main models. In Single-payer health care, the government pays for all health care costs, while hospitals and doctors’ practices may remain private (–yeah, like that will last). In Two-tier health care (used in most developed countries, like Canada), a guaranteed public health care system exists where a private system operates in parallel. The private system has the benefit of shorter waiting times and more luxurious treatment, but costs far more than the public one for patients. Canada puts so many restrictions on the private sector with billing restrictions that the only identifiable “two-tier” is that the wealthy can go to the U.S. for treatment, and quite a few Canadians do each year. If these systems are so “great,” than why doesn’t everybody have access of getting the same level of care … having to leave their own system to the “greedy” U.S. system?
What’s the answer? I don’t know, but something needs to be changed. I don’t see any revolution coming, unless we experience a “health care 9/11” that gives the government an opportunity to save the day. I’m waiting to hear some good ideas.
The only current idea I can see is the growing use of Health Savings Accounts (HSA) under a Consumer Driven Health Care (CDHC) system. These efforts claim to bring back free-market variables into the healthcare system that will encourage competition, lower prices and improve service. This seems to be the only realistic system that can be integrated into our mess of a health care without overturning everything. Plus, I didn’t here Michael Moore mention it in the movie, so he’s probably afraid it’ll work. —but, what do I know?
Evan Almighty
Tonight, I saw the movie, “Evan Almighty.” It was great … better than I thought it would be. I don’t even remember any cheap shots at Christianity. They could have pushed “faith” a little more than “works,” but we need to take what we can get out of these big movie studios like Universal & Sony. I especially liked small details like God’s nametag “Al Mighty” or Evan’s wife named “Joan” (of Arc) and the real estate agent “Eve Adams.” Truly a great film.
MPAA film ratings
Today I saw an independent documentary on the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) called This Film Is Not Yet Rated (2006). Basically, it’s questioning the NC-17 rating criteria of the MPAA, which was started by multiple film studios in the 1940’s. They’re suspected of rating independent film stricter that film of major studios as a way of minimizing competition, cloaked behind “protecting the viewing public.” As an industry regulating itself, you’ll always have problems without alternative choices. The government should not step in (if it can help it) because the cries of “censorship” will only be worse. There should be multiple “independent” (if that exists) reviewers. It’s never gonna be perfect, but you need to create some accountability (or the government will make you wish you did). There are some good movie rater websites used by parents that could be models or alternative choices that I have seen over the years, but I need to find and add them here. If there are serious inproprieties on the MPAA, I’m especially concerned that a voting Catholic clergy member is on the board … we shouldn’t be endorsing this nonsense. — Anybody? Kermit?
Devil’s lies
I forgot what I was watching yesterday, but I started reflecting on the line from “The Usual Suspects“ by Verbal Kint (Kevin Spacey), “The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he did not exist.” I think lots of people, including Christians, deny the existence of the Devil and, therefore, sin. Besides this line, I thought the Devil has “3 great lies,” but I can’t think the last one. #1 is that “the devil doesn’t exist (therefore no sin),” #2 is that “we have more time (therefore salvation can wait),” and #3 is ? … is it “that we are gods?” I can’t remember and I don’t even know if the Catholic Church simplifies it this way. I found a Protestant sermon on the “8 Lies of the Devil“ that I’m reading now. — Anybody know the 3? Kermit?
Déjà Vu & time travel
After watching the movie Déjà Vu (with Denzel Washington), I got to thinking about the theory of time travel:
Many in the scientific community believe that backwards time travel is highly unlikely. Any theory which would allow time travel would require that issues of causality be resolved. What if one were to go back in time and kill one’s own grandfather? (see grandfather paradox) Additionally, Stephen Hawking (Homer Simpson called him “Wheelchair Guy“) once suggested that the absence of tourists from the future constitutes an argument against the existence of time travel—a variant of the Fermi paradox.
The more theories I read, including wormholes and traveling faster than the speed of light, the more impossible is sounds. Let’s get real. If the speed of light is 3 x 10^8 m/s or 186,282 miles/sec, how can we get the human body to move that fast?
Oceans 13 was good
I saw it tonight. I don’t think I could get tired of this series, while Pirates 3 was it for me (long, boring, and long).
Memorial Day – Proud of US
Today, Memorial Day, we remember the martyr patriots that make the United States the greatest country in the world. I’m grateful to have been born, raised and living here. I support this country in good times and in bad, unlike fickle Dolfans who jump ship at the sign of trouble. I’m not ashamed to be called an American, even if we are hated by the world. Even parody movies like Team America: World Police can’t deny the importance of the U.S. in the world. Just look at today’s demonstrations in Venezuela when Chavez closed a TV news station because they spoke out against him. Why the outcry? That’s what you get when you elect a dictator. The people like Chavez because he speaks out against Bush and the U.S., but then borrow our freedoms (of the press, in this case) when they open their eyes. People in the U.S. have the right to support Chavez, hate Bush, call our troops “terrorist” & “baby killers,” blame US for world problems, and condemn the very country that grants the freedom to do so. People are dying to come into this country, so remember you can leave anytime you’d like to your choice of socialist, communist or “benevolent dictatorships.” The media criticized Pat Robertson for his assessment of Chavez, and now the U.S. will probably have to fix another mess the world has created (yet another reason to hate us).
On Sunday, I learned of yet another parish youth now in Marines in Iraq. I’m extremely grateful for soldiers’ sacrifice. If medical conditions didn’t keep me out of the military, then I would be in Iraq myself. God’s got a funny way of closing some doors to open others, I guess. May God bless the troops, this country, and all those fighting for freedom worldwide. — I’m praying for you all.
Spiderman & Venom
I saw “Spiderman 3“ today, all 2.5 hours of light-speed CGI fight scenes separated by long relationship breaks and some cheesy musical dance numbers by Tobey Maguire. Not being a really big Spiderman fan, I found Venom to be an very interesting character that I knew little about. As an alien symbiote organism that needs to bond and feed off a living host, it gives the host enhanced physical abilities, at the cost of fatally draining them of adrenaline, eventually killing the host. This particular parasite (attached to Spiderman), however, wants to bond with its host instead. It seems to feed off Spiderman’s weaknesses, anger and revenge, and multiplies its devastating, yet tempting (at times) effects. The rejection of the symbiote leave it extremely bitter toward Spiderman, a trait it shares with its future hosts. The movie’s byline reads “the greatest battle lies within.”
What I saw was an extreme visual for our own “dark-sides,” manifested in Venom, who exploits our weaknesses because we’ve fed and allowed it to grow for so long. I don’t know if that’s the intention of the character, but I couldn’t help but connect Venom with deep-rooted sin that’s ignored and allowed to grow. If we could only “see” what our sins do to others, ourselves and, above all, our Savior, we would run to cross in humble submission to His grace & mercy. In ministry, demonstrating that in love & mercy is not done through our own ability, but through our own submission to the “Anti-Venom” that we invite everyday (not just one conversion experience) as a light to our darkness.
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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