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CCD 7th: Incarnation + Chapter 1 + God Proofs (day 6)
Today, in our 7th grade pre-Confirmation class, we …
[story] “Father + Son + ant hill”
Incarnation = “God becoming man (flesh)”
- We bow & genuflect for the incarnation
- — in front of tabernacle or alter @ Mass
- –@ the name of Jesus in prayers
- –during Nicene Creed @ Mass
- –@ transubstantiation @ Mass
- –before receiving Communion
(p12) How do I experience God? As a parent? Loving Heavenly Father? A powerful & limitless presence? As a close friend? Jesus? my own specific way?
(p13) Aristotle’s 5 Proofs of God
- Prime Mover … nothing moves on their own
- First Cause … everything is caused by?
- Necessary Being … why do things exist?
- Ultimate beauty, goodness & truth … what standard sets good/bad, true/false, etc.
- Great Designer … mind, eyes, creation?
Blaise Pascal, 17th century French math + scientist said, “There is a God-shaped hole in the human heart that nothing else can fill.”
HOMEWORK:
- finish reading textbook Chapter 1 (The Source of All Life),
- do “Pop Quiz” handout with parents,
- pray over 3 events in your life where you felt God present + journal a letter to God after each.
Socrates balance of happiness + true humility
FUNDAMENTAL ETHICS – (Fr Vallee) — Ethics of Plato vs Aristotle. Plato’s Philebus & The Republic.
Ethics for Plato is (1) eudaemonological (“Happiness for each and every creature consists of possession of the hightest good to which his or her nature has access.” ), (2) intellectual (virtue = knowledge, sin = ignorance), and (3) formalism, absolutist (circumstances don’t matter, we must contemplate the forms, anamnesis).
Ethics for Aristotle is (1) eudaemonological, (2) practical (habit), and (3) consequentialist (virtue-based).
Pleasure is a result of good, not good a result of pleasure. To Socrates, happiness is a balance of many needs and desires, with a perfect balance of the soul among beauty, proportion and truth.
A great quote from Frances de Sales … “true humility is to see yourself as you are seen in the eyes of God, not more than you are and not less than you are.”
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
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”
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).
gothic variety + gargoyles + corruptio
MASS – (Fr Santos) — when it comes to bad influences and avoiding scandal, be transparent and trust formation.
MODERN PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — summarize Hume.
ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — Aristotle‘s 3 kinds of soul … vegetative, animal & rational.
ARTS & IDEAS – (Fr Vallee) — discussed variations in gothic architecture: French/German, English, Spanish, & Italian Gothic. Then gargoyles (with water spouts) & grotesques (no spouts). // corruptio optima pessima est = “corruption of the best is the worst” // — guys care about winning, no matter what kind of baseball team.
MINISTERIAL METHODS — missed class ‘cuz of last night Denny’s (I think). — I can’t eat like some of these younger guys … old man!
1000 bell church + grassness + screen door
MASS – (Fr Joseph) — in today’s readings, “you are the temple of God.” — Small Island Church with 1000 Bells … earthquake sinks island … legends says, only the “pure of heart” can hear the bells … waves block sound … after month, one can finally hear the bells.
MODERN PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — Hume on “God.” — no miracles — [Međugorje]
ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — Aristotle on “soul.” — potency & actuality — analogies:
1st potency = (matter) = EYE / MIND / GRASS / ACORN SEED
1st actuality + 2nd potency = (form) = SIGHT / THOUGHT / GRASS-NESS / ACORN’s NATURE ESSENCE
2nd actuality = ACTUAL SEEING / THINKING / ??? / TREE ?
DOTS — soccer semi-finals — cable internet — new locks — “screen door”
De Anima + wax + incense
MODERN PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — Hume on “self.” There is no real “present.” We need to make connections for survival/living/existence … “fides” (faith) & “fiducia” (trust/confidence).
ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — Aristotle‘s De Anima on the “soul.” His “soul” explains WHY something is alive, and not otherwise. // (don’t ask about Jesus in the Trinity using Aristotle’s form/matter?) // Man has a potentiality of becoming a corpse? // biggest advantages of Catholic over Protestants is we are (1) incarnational & (2) sacramental
ARTS & IDEAS – (Fr Vallee) — Romanesque vs Gothic architecture.
WORKLIST — today I did “polishing” of all candle stick holders … which means I use a hairdryer to melt off the wax. — my fingers are still waxy
HOLY HOUR (bonus) — today I alter served during benediction at holy hour. I was the thurifer (incense guy) holding the thurible (incense burner on chain). I was nervous (afraid the coals would die out), but did ok. Holy hour included a considerable reflection on our fragile vocation. — memorable
DOTS — PreT lunch — spanish study group — Bionic Woman — CCC
okra
MODERN PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — Hume on the “world” — what is “okra“? — describe it
ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — Aristotle — modes of “being”
DOTS — roomie
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