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Communist Manifesto + lost weekend + homosexuality
HOMEWORK CATCH-UP — behind on some assigned reading, I spent some of the day reading The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx for Contemporary Philosophy class tomorrow.
PRE-THEOLOGY UPDATE — (1) the chapels in our off-campus housing should be done in about 4-6 weeks. (2) Since we raised concerns about feeling distant from the campus community, our personal “free-weekend-a-semester” opportunity has been rescinded. (3) Our house will have resident priest in a couple weeks. (4) Our backyard furniture has no status yet.
RECTOR’s CONFERENCE – (Fr Michael) — part 3 of a series on Fatherhood titled after a 2005 Vatican document, “The Instruction on the Criteria for Vocational Discernment with Regard to Persons with Homosexual Tendencies in View of Their Admission to the Seminary and Holy Orders.” [full text of document]
PRE-THE NIGHT PRAYER & ROSARY — 10pm.
INCONSISTENT SCRIPTURE — as I’m practicing tomorrow’s Mass reading (I have lector duty), there are 2 passages to choose from since it’s the feast of the Conversion of St Paul. There’s a detail in both that is inconsistent. In one reading, when Paul is blinded by the light and hears Jesus speak to him, his companions “heard the voice” of Jesus … but in the other passage, they “did not hear the voice.” I tried finding some footnotes in various Bible versions, but only found a note in the NRSV that noted the inconsistency, but didn’t give any possible explanations. — I need to look up a comentary in the library
means well + ethical hero + dualism + Taliban
MASS – (Fr Alvarez) — [an “extremely liturgically strict” priest is a poor example]
AQUINAS – (Fr Vallee) — 3 reasons for studying philosophy: (1) apologetic, (2) dogmatic, and (3) pastoral. Nemo dat quod non habet = no one gives what they don’t have. CCD teacher that only teaches emotion … 8th grader observation: “She means well, but doesn’t mean much.”
CONTEMPORARY PHIL – (Fr Santos) — finished Kierkegaard‘s Either/Or. The “ethical existence” is choosing to be who and what one truly and uniquely is (a subject, a self, unlike any other self, unlike any other thing). Even though we have many potential directions, TO WILL EVERYTHING IS TO ULTIMATELY WILL NOTHING (one’s energy is dissipated). The self willing involves an ongoing task/process, not a finished product. Negative view of the “mystic.” The “ethical hero” is interested in becoming a “genuine human being” and “honesty to oneself” ready to give up the aesthetic if it classes with the ethical or “for the sake of” something higher. The RELIGIOUS STATE is an intensified version of the ethical, making a relationship with God the highest priority. — need to read Karl Marx Communist Manifesto for Friday.
MEDIEVAL PHIL – (Fr Vallee) — elitism (death penalty debate) + virtue (through humility) + dualism (the Forms eternal are a problem to creation) + Justin Martyr (creation, faith & reason) + Philo the Jew (the Forms are ideas in the mind of God)
WORKLIST — with the rain, the “outdoor guys” were reassigned to help other crews, which made our McCarthy House crew finish even faster.
HOLY HOUR – (Fr Alvarez) — Taliban + scandal + “be a man”
DOTS — Next
synoptics + Mark + Matthew + Columbian food + pro-life Rosary
MASS – (Fr Santos) — “the sabbath was made for man , not man for the sabbath”
SPANISH 2 – (Dr Jimenez) — chapter 15 on haber + past participles. If we stay on schedule this semester, we’ll try to read the Spanish version of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
NEW TESTAMENT – (Fr Michael) — today, we started the Synoptic Gospels (reviewed side-by-side syn-optically), more specifically the Gospels of Mark & Matthew. Even though Mark is the shortest gospel book, 80% of Mark’s verses are reproduced in Matthew while 65% is in Luke. There may also exist a hypothetical source “Q” that scholars propose to explain other similarities between Matthew & Luke not borrowed from Mark.
CULTURAL FOOD NIGHT — today was Columbian food night with a small army of cooks creating some great food.
PRO-LIFE ROSARY — after dinner in the McCarthy Chapel on the anniversary of Roe vs Wade for the dignity of all human persons, especially for the end to abortion.
MLK + 5 Bell Hotel + free day
MASS – (Fr Joseph) — New Wineskins gospel inspired the story of the “5 Star Hotel.” Struggling owner of the “5 Star Hotel” asks for advice about saving the business. Answer: (1) keep a positive attitude, (2) change the name to “5 Bell Hotel”, and (3) hang 6 bells out front by the sign. —Genius!
MOVIE FREE DAY — Since today is Martin Luther King Day, we didn’t have classes, so I went to see some movies with friends. At the theatre, In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale was aweful (King Burt Reynolds should have made that obvious). At home, watched 1408 (confusing end).
PRE-THE COMPLINE & ROSARY — together at 10pm. In Honor of Martin Luther King and in solidarity with all our brothers and sisters who are suffering persecution and oppression around the world.
Liga Orante + Little Flower + Big Cheese
MASS – (Archbishop Favalora) — 11am Mass was a special occasion for Liga Orante, a Spanish group that supports & regularly prays for vocations. They also presented the Archbishop with a $12,500 check for St John Vianney College Seminary (where I’m at). Afterwards, we had lunch. — I also served Mass as incense thurifer … not my best work
CONFIRMATION RETREAT — from 1-6pm, four of us seminarians (1 from Diocese of Orlando & 2 from St Petersburg) assisted a Confirmation retreat at Little Flower Parish in Miami (nearby). Since the retreat was in progress since 8am, we walked in during a great talk by a young woman about chastity. She also sang a song that she wrote at age 16 for her future husband. [It reminded me of Rebecca St James’ song Wait For Me.] Afterwards, talks on vocations started with a married couple, then a single woman, religious sisters and each of us seminarians shared our vocation journey to the 60+ eighth graders. Then, visiting priest Fr Juan Carlos Paguaga (pastor of St John Bosco Parish) led an awesome adoration & benediction service that we served at. To close the retreat, we had a lively 5pm Mass.
MIAMI SOCIAL — most of the Miami seminarians were at Immaculate Conception Parish in Hialeah. Fr Francisco “Paco” Hernandez invited us all to their 5pm Mass and have dinner.
BIG CHEESE — after the Confirmation Retreat, I joined some St Petersburg guys (from the retreat) at the Italian restaurant Big Cheese on a rainy evening.
Major Minor Day + sick
I was still pretty sick today (missed Mass & morning class), but by the afternoon, I felt better and wanted to get involved in the special event today. Today, we host Major Minor Day, where the seminarians from St Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary (major) join us here at St John Vianney College Seminary (minor) for fellowship, soccer, food and prayer.
We started with a tour of the new Pre-Theology houses (off campus) to rub in what they didn’t have (and still don’t) when they were here. Then we played an awesome game of Minor vs Major soccer where we destroyed them with a final score of 6-1. Solomn evening prayer @ 5pm followed by wine & cheese and ending in a great dinner feast with fellowship. — A tradition I hope they continue
McCarthy House + new worklist
NEW WORKLIST JOB — we got new semester “Worklist Jobs” (on Wed afternoons) and “House Jobs” (daily) today. For worklist, I am “Head of McCarthy House.” There are 4 of us seminarians that clean the priest residence & faculty offices. Garbage, sweep, mop, dust, vacuum, & stock fridge drinks. For house job, 2 of us have McCarthy House … basically we check on the house daily for minor clean-up and maintenance. — my favorite part is the beautiful McCarthy House Chapel
DOTS — “PB” left — Holy Hour incense — keep the Church in my discernment — MP3 curse
Jewish colloquy + Nicaraguan food — “PB”
NEW TESTAMENT – (Fr Michael) — today was “colloquy“ (discussion group) about chapter 5, “The Religious & Philosophical World of New Testament Times,” of Raymond Brown‘s An Introduction to the New Testament. Much of our discussion involved the clashing views of the Jewish Sadducees, Essenes and Pharisees, but also included Greco-Roman Cynics, Epicureans, Stoicism, Sophists and Gnosticism. — stimulating
CULTURAL FOOD NIGHT — tonight was Nicaraguan Food Night. — lots of good flavors.
DOTS — starting to get sick today — found out another seminarian has discerned to leave seminary [“PB“] — extra prayers for him
beast of burden + men are right + Unknown God + body theology
MASS – (Fr Michael) — today’s Mass intention was for Pope Benedict XVI, very appropriately with the Gospel reading of Jesus telling Peter to “Feed My Sheep.” The story behind the significance of the Corbinian Bear on the Pope’s coat of arms (upper right) was told. According to the background on Saint Corbinian (a Frankish bishop), a bear killed his pack horse on his way to Rome so the saint commanded the bear to carry his load. Pope Benedict XVI first adopted the symbol when, still known as Joseph Ratzinger, he was appointed Archbishop of Freising-Munich in March of 1977. He retained the bear in his revised coat of arms when becoming Cardinal in the same year and when elected to Pope in 2005. In addition to the obvious reference back to St. Corbinian, the founder of the diocese where Benedict was bishop, the bear represents Benedict himself being “tamed by God” as a “beast of burden” to bear the spiritual burdens of Benedict’s own ministries first as bishop, then as cardinal, and now as pope.
AQUINAS – (Fr Vallee) — more on Modernity and the extremes of Rationalism (reason) & Fideism (faith). Nature + supernature. Grace + nature. Samuel Taylor Coleridge quote: “Most men are right in what they affirm, and wrong in what they deny.”
CONTEMPORARY PHIL – (Fr Santos) — opening quiz on reading of Kierkegaard‘s “Equilibrium between the Aesthetic & the Ethical” in his book Either/Or. Introduced “inauthentic existence,” “radical subjectivity,” “disolving into a mutitude,” and self as “task” & “a dynamic process.”
MEDIEVAL PHIL – (Fr Vallee) — reviewed Stoicism and reflected on St Paul in Athens (Acts 17), especially his approach to preaching the gospel message among the Greeks of his time about their statue to the “Unknown God.”
MINISTERIAL METHODS – (Fr Michael) — “Classroom Management.”
RECTOR’s CONFERENCE – (Fr Michael) — usually on Thursday, this was an exceptional day since this Thursday we’re hosting the seminarians from the St Vincent’s Major Seminary in Boyton Beach, FL. Today’s topic was (part 2 of 3) on the Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body.
DOTS — night walk — Superman Returns — busy day
parent’s love + sons of God + Bart Simpson + Flanders
MASS – (Fr Santos) — today’s Gospel is the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River by John the Baptist where ‘ “a voice [God the Father] came from the heavens, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” ‘ (Matt 3:17)
With a very loose (but very illustrative) connection with a scene from The Simpsons Movie (since Fr Santos is a BIG Simpsons fan), he reminds us of our need to be affirmed as “sons of God,” countered with the experience of abandonment as Jesus on the cross pleading, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matt 27:46).
In The Simpsons Movie, Bart Simpson sees an affirming and nurturing side to Ned Flanders (Christian father with 2 kids next door) that he does not recognize in his own father Homer Simpson. Bart agrees to let Flanders take him fishing, where Bart drops Flanders’ favorite fishing pole to an agressive fish. Bart, expecting to be choked for messing up (like Homer would), starts gagging and shortly realizes Flanders doesn’t hit him in disappointment. 
In fact, Flanders reaffirms Bart by saying the only reason to lay his hand on his son would be to “pat him on the back” affirming him. Even as Flanders pats Bart on the back, Bart flinches expecting a “hit” but, instead, realizing affirmation feels so good that he requests another.
We all need affirmation … in what we do … in what we think … in times of struggle … in times of joy … but, mostly, in who we are, “sons of God.” — the Lord loves us more than we love ourselves … it’s hard to accept, but a parent’s love is the grace of our relationship that makes our Christian lives so alive, so joyful, so fruitful, and so awesome!
student government – “FE”
STUDENT GOVERNMENT — our Student Government (of St John Vianney College Seminary) had their first meeting for the semester today. The main order of business was election of a new Executive Secretary, since the post is open because the seminarian (“FE”) discerned the priesthood was not for him [– my prayer are still with him as he follows the Lord]. Not much new stuff was discussed … dismissed!
perhaps + Spanish Lord’s Prayer + NT culture + Argentinian food night
MASS – (Fr Santos) — [half sandwich Christmas gift] Jesus’ multiplication of 5 loaves & 2 fish. A supernatural miracle by Jesus … or PERHAPS a selfish crowd was moved to give from their personal stash. — Maybe? Just as fantastic of a miracle. Perhaps.
SPANISH 2 – (Dr Jimenez) — this is the second semester (the second part – I didn’t fail!) of Spanish 2. Among other things, we went over the Lord’s Prayer in Spanish (especially since the version in the Spanish Liturgy of the Hours books is completely different): [Lord’s Prayer in various languages]
Padre nuestro, que estás en el cielo
Santificado sea Tu nombre;
Venga a nosotros Tu reino.
Hágase Tu voluntad
En la tierra como en el cielo.
Danos hoy nuestro pan de cada día.
Perdona nuestras ofensas,
Como también nosotros perdonamos a los que nos ofenden.
Y no nos dejes caer en la tentación;
líbranos de todo mal.
[Porque Tuyo es el Reino, el Poder y la Gloria por siempre, Señor. Amén.]
NEW TESTAMENT – (Fr Michael) — today, we started the semester with the Cultural Settings of the New Testament.
CULTURAL FOOD NIGHT — today was Argentinian Food Night for dinner. Great!
DOTS — “rejoice + divine compassion + slavery + freedom + sons of God” — watched Live Free or Die Hard
semester begins + Aquinas + Contemporary Philosophy + Medieval + Ministry + Amber Spyglass
MASS – (Fr Michael) — God is the same yesterday as today, on vacation, on retreat, back in the daily routine. Do you believe in Jesus? How is your life different because of your belief?
AQUINAS in the 20th CENTURY – (Fr Vallee) — this is a senior level course that focuses on the rediscovery of St Thomas Aquinas thought in the 19th & 20th centuries, in the areas of epistemology, metaphysics and anthropology. Readings will be from Gilson, Maritain, Marechal, Rousselot and John Paul II’s Fides et ratio. No term paper. Tests are open notes & open book — (translation: It’s hard!). Large class.
CONTEMPORARY PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — started reviewing Modern Philosophy era. LOTS of reading. Martin Buber – I and Thou … Hans-Georg Gadamer – Truth and Method … Martin Heidegger – Introduction to Metaphysics … Edmund Husserl – Phenomenology and the Crisis of Philosophy … Soren Kierkegaard – Either/Or (our first reading assignment) … Karl Marx – Communist Manifesto … Friedrich Nietzsche – The Anti-Christ … Paul Ricoeur – Oneself as Another … John Robinson – Honest to God … Adam Smith – The Wealth of Nations … Alfred North Whitehead – Religion in the Making. — I should probably be reading right now!
MEDIEVAL PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Vallee) — reviewed a timeline of philosphy periods. This class will focus on Augustine (Confessions), Anselm, and Thomas Aquinas (Summa Theologica, On Being and Essence, The Thought of Thomas Aquinas). Our main test is Frederick Copleston’s A History of Philosophy, vol II. 2 papers. — finally some Augustine & Aquinas!
MINISTERIAL PRACTICUM – (Fr Michael) — reviewed the basic about ministry (from last semester). This course will be about the practical skills need for ministry. Next year, we’ll be assigned Monday night “Apostalic Work” in the areas of CCD catechesis or Homebound Visitation. We’ll be going out to visit other seminarians in their work assignments throughout the semester. Today, we also learned “How to Create a Lesson Plan” for CCD class. — finally some hands-on!
DOTS — “Kr” Lauds blessing — listened to first half of The Amber Spyglass (His Dark Materials trilogy) on audio
practical atheism
On the first day back to seminary after a 2 week Christmas break, the Rector Fr Michael had a Rector’s Conference disguised as an “Orientation Meeting” with some great points to think about as we begin a 4 day silent retreat tonight.
Beware of “practical atheism” when we say our prayers … and don’t live them.
Christianity is a lifestyle, not just an idea. C.S. Lewis quote: “For when you get down to it, is not the popular idea of Christianity simply this: that Jesus Christ was a great moral teacher and that if only we took His advice we might be able to establish a better social order and avoid another war?” [from chapter 23 of Mere Christianity]
Pope Benedict XVI quote on priesthood:
The priest must be a believer, one who converses with God. If this is not the case, then all his activities are futile. The most lofty and important thing a priest can do for people is first of all being what he is: a believer. Through faith he lets God, the other, come into the world. And if the other is not at work, our work will never be enough; When people sense that one is there who believes, who lives with God and from God, hope becomes a reality for them as well. Through the faith of the priest, doors open up all around for people: it is really possible to believe, even today. All human believing is a believing-with, and for this reason the one who believes before us is so important. In many ways this person is more exposed in his faith than the others, since their faith depends on his and since, at any given time, he has to withstand the hard-ships of faith for them….
There is a mutual given-and-take in faith in which priests and lay people become mediators of the nearness of God for one another. The priest must also nurture the humility of such receiving in himself ….
The first “task” a priest has to do is to be a believer and to become one ever anew and ever more. Faith is never simply there automatically; it must be lived. It leads us into conversation with God which involves speaking and listening to the same degree. Faith and prayer belong together; they cannot be separated. The time spent by a priest on prayer and listening to Scripture is never time lost to pastoral care or time withheld from others. People sense whether the work and words of their pastor spring from prayer fabricated at his desk. [Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, from A New Song for the Lord, tr. by Martha M Matesich, NY: Crossroad Publishing Co., 1996, and quoted in Magnificat for Holy Thursday, March 24, 2005.]
[Other links not mentioned today …The Nature of Priesthood (1990 speech by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger) … Pope Benedict XVI’s Homily to Seminarians in Cologne: “If You Abide in Christ, You Will Bear Much Fruit” (August 19, 2005 World Youth Day Meeting)]
According to St John of the Cross, few will have an ecstacy prayer experience. Opening poem of his Dark Night of the Soul [insert here].
Ended with a guided meditation, “Feed my sheep.”
X-Mas Midnight Mass
Did some last minute Christmas shopping. Served 6pm Christmas Vigil Mass with Msgr Strano & Deacon Lou at my home parish of St Bernadette Catholic Church in Hollywood, FL. At 11pm, there was a Christmas Program combining a history of Christmas tradition from around the world with the choir’s carols. I had a short reading part from Genesis (God kicking Adam & Eve out of the Garden of Eden). Then Midnight Mass. The procession began with our “Army of Acoloytes” (high school alter servers). I carried in the holy water to bless the nativity scene on the alter. A beautiful service. After Mass, I got a great picture with my family and our Pastor Father Dalton.
1st sem grades
Today I received my grades for my first semester in St John Vianney College Seminary:
Arts & Ideas – (Fr Vallee) — B
Ancient Philosophy – (Fr Santos) — B+
Modern Philosophy – (Fr Santos) — B
Ministerial Methods – (Fr Michael) — A
Intermediate Spanish – (Dr Jimenez) — B
Intro to Old Testament – (Fr Michael) — A
DOTS — Stephen King’s The Mist [PF]
Family Day + StB
MIAMI FAMILY DAY — today, Archbishop Favalora hosts all the Miami seminarian & their families for a Mass & luncheon. We started the morning with a seminarian group picture in our black suits (for a vocation poster) at ~9:45am. I served as “cross bearer” for the 11am Mass —by the grace of God, I didn’t fall over with that heavy 2-piece cross. The Archbishop have a great sermon including family support and after Mass gave all the servers a “ring blessing.” After Mass, we had a great lunch.
HOME PARISH — later in the afternoon, at my home parish St Bernadette (in Hollywood, FL), I joined the RCIT class for their Christmas party and served with incense with Mgsr Strano.
MOVIE — The Nanny Diaries with Wendy’s & canolli.
Gaudeamus skit + gifts
ARTS & IDEAS – (Fr Vallee) — last exam & turned in reflection paper on “Amadeus highlighting the Modern Period”
GAUDEAMUS — There’s a tradition at the seminary, called Gaudeamus, where a skit is performed to make fun of seminarians. At the end of the first semester, all new guys are highlighted. At the end of the second semester, seniors are highlighted. Since I’m a “new guy,” over the last week, guys are asking what I think they “have on me.” I have no idea — hopefully nothing that will haunt me throughout seminary. After dinner at 9:30pm, we all gather in the Community Room for the “show.” Just when I think I’m safe, the FIRST guy that comes out is “ME” — making fun of me taking fruit (if that’s all the got, I dodged that bullet!). The whole skit was hillarious with great impressions, including the Rector Fr Michael, Fr Santos, Fr Vallee, & Bishop Noonan.
CHAPEL GIFTS — Our last activity together (besides tomorrow’s morning Mass) was Night Prayer in the Chapel. Afterwards, each class presented their Christmas gifts to their chosen priest and the Rector’s staff presented each of us with a gift — a SJV personalized messenger bag — AWESOME!
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.
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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