Virtus In Medio Stat

About a year ago I came across this video by philosopher Roger Scruton. Since then I had recommended it to a professor of the arts at a state university and he now uses it in his classes. I have two of his books on culture and beauty. Check out the video. If you believe art is subjective and it is merely the expression of individuality, check it out! L.G. http://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2011/12/why-beauty-matters-roger-scruton.html

Written 2 April 2010 For the past two years or so, the spine of one particular book had been looking back at me from the same place on the shelf I had placed it after I bought it. Like many books on my shelves, I had read small parts of it before it was placed on the "queue" to be read at a later time. The book is titled Real Life, Real Love by Father Alberto Cutie, who was at the time a Roman Catholic priest of the Archdiocese of Miami. An interesting last name, especially if you don't notice the accent mark on the "e", considering the news that broke in early 2009 when he was caught on the beaches of Miami with his mistress of a few years. After reading about all that last year, it almost surely placed this book, in my mind, on the bottom of the list to be read from my collection. Since then, and hearing of other stories of other "orthodox" priests, at least seemingly or publicly, it created a sort of "loss of faith", to some degree, fo...

"Most of us live out our lives with a false picture of ourselves which we will not surrender; we dread the pain of finding ourselves less noble than we like to believe. We strain reality through a sieve of self-love, keeping out whatever truth would hurt us."   ~ Fulton J. Sheen, Way to Happiness , p. 160

"Let those who call themselves Catholics, Protestants, or Jews recall that the function of their religion is to intensify the spiritual life of man and not to empty the vials of bitterness into hearts, stirring up one against another. . . Religion must not be a cloak covering the dagger of hate!"    ~ Fulton J. Sheen, Way to Happiness , p. 158

"Perfection is being, not doing; it is not to affect an act but to achieve a character. There is nothing that makes life unhappier than its meaninglessness, and life is devoid of meaning only when it is without purpose."   ~ Fulton J. Sheen, Way To Happiness , p. 148

"The secret of a happy life is the moderation of our pleasures in exchange for an increase of joy. . . The Savior of the world Himself told us that the best joys come only after we have purchased them by prayer and fasting: we must give up our copper pennies first, out of love for Him, and He will pay us back in pieces of gold, in joy and ecstasy."   ~ Fulton J. Sheen, Way to Happiness , p. 22, 24  

"The world is far from God, but human hearts are not. That is why peace will come less from political changes than from man himself, who, driven to take refuge within his own soul from the turmoil without, will be lifted above himself to the happiness for which he was made." ~ Fulton J. Sheen, Way to Happiness , p. 19

"The overemphasis on politics today is an indication that people are governed, rather than governing. The complexities of our civilization force us to organize into larger and larger units; we have become so intent on governing what is outside of us that we neglect to govern our own selves. Yet the key to social betterment is always to be found in personal betterment. Remake man and you remake his world. We gravely need to restore to man his self-respect and to give him his appropriate honor: this will keep him from bowing cravenly before those who threaten to enslave him, and it will give him the courage to defend the right, alone if need be, when the world is wrong."   ~ Fulton J. Sheen, Way to Happiness , p. vii-viii

Note: Sedevacantism is the theological position that a minority of so-called "traditionalist Catholics" presently hold that the chair of St. Peter has been vacant for at least the last four popes. In theory, this is a valid theological opinion. Sedes Vacante only means the seat is vacant . So, how does one know the seat is vacant and who has the competence to make such a judgment? Laurence G., Jeremiah Bannister, Ken Bird, Gerry Matatics, the Dimond [biological, and not monastic] brothers? And if we made such judgments, by what authority do we teach our thesis as facts? Is teaching the role of the laity, unless delegated by the hierarchy to do as such? Is our license to teach granted automatically because of the "crisis" in the church? Does that elevate the laity who read a few books to canon lawyers and theologians? I have received a number of emails about debating the Dimond brothers. I am not interested, nor do I believe I am a competent opponent. However, ...

Discussions with an agnostic friend Since I want to maintain anonymity, I will call my friend Jack Beanstalk. Mr. Laurence I have a question for you. What brought you to your religion? What made you decide this was truth for you? I remember you in high school being quite skeptical of religion. It’s funny how the tables have turned. I am just curious to hear what brought you to Catholicism. I don’t want to debate or anything I just am curious. Anyhow, I hope you are well. Take care Mr. Beanstalk, you can call me Laurence or Mr. Laurence (it's an insider thing among my friends, we really aren’t that formal). You can get a long or short story, but I will try to give you the short story. Yes, I was quite skeptical of religion and Christianity in particular. I was raised a Catholic-Christian, but didn’t really know the basis of such beliefs. So, it was easy to let it go when science seemed to explain the things that religion claimed to. But it goes deeper than that ...

For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the prudence of the prudent I will reject. Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputant of this world? 1 Corinthians 1 I was never one to be referred to as a studious teenager. I had average grades. I failed a geography class. I didnt take school very seriously, and I was on the senior fail list. I almost didnt graduate on time. I did grow to love algebra, trig, pre calc, and physics, however. When I went to college, I fell in love with philosophy, and certain aspects of psychology. When, I became a Christian again, I fell in love with God, theology, apologetics, and debates. The depth of my knowledge of Church teachings really impressed a lot of people. So, I had sort of a following. This phenomena that happens on a larger scale with more impressive men and women, developed in me a sort of prideful boastfulness in my knowledge. Knowledge has the power to bring me to a fuller life, or to condemn me...

I had heard it said that one sign of intelligence is planning for the future, that is to say, looking beyond the immediate so as to make plans in how to achieve long term goals. Another sign of intelligence is delay of gratification, that is to say, the ability to hold off on what we want today, because perhaps there are more pressing matters at hand that ought to be taken care of first. This takes care of the all too often impulsiveness of human nature that acts on immediate wants, which are not in the best interest of the parties involved at the present moment. It seems as though I have always been a dreamer, always imagining a lofty ideal. There’s nothing wrong with that of course. After all, if lofty ideals were of no use at all, then God would not have given us the capacity for such things. Even if you do not believe in God, then I would say, there would be no evolutionary benefit for lofty unattainable ideals. Philosophers would not have wasted their time thinking up principles...

The best way of living charity lies in generously outstripping the demands made on us by justice. Such charity will generally go unnoticed, but it is very fruitful in heaven and indeed also on earth. It would be a mistake to think that when expressions such as 'the happy mean' or 'a just mean' are used regarding the moral virtues, they imply mediocrity, or somehow aiming at doing half of what we could do. The mean we are asked to aim at lies midway between excess and defect, and is in fact a summit, a peak: the best course of action, as indicated to us by prudence. Though when it comes to the theological virtues, there is no middle course. We cannot believe, or hope, or love too much. We are called to love God without limit, with a love that overflows to those around us in an abundance of generosity, understanding and charity.    ~ Josemaria Escriva, Friends of God, #83 Years ago when I was a catechist and fresh from my reversion back to the faith at the ripe ...

The other day I was sitting on a friend’s porch. I had left my watch there when we went running some weeks ago. I wanted to go pick it up before he pawned it for beer money. I had shared with him my recent sense that life seems so mundane as of late. I have a feeling I know what this is, but as of late it just seems like life is just boring or dull. I don’t know, maybe I have just fell into routine. My friend would respond with lofty theological truths. I thought it was amusing. Now I know what it feels like to hear it. I quickly joked, “Wow, you’re just full of life lessons and clichés, aren’t you?” I think he is right, however. We get bored sometimes with life, because it is a hint that there is more, beyond this life. He quoted Fulton Sheen on this. Of course this is true. But in further reflection, I would add to it, that there is more to life than what has already happened, and what is happening presently. I would say the danger of just accepting the hum drum norm, is that we ma...

I recall the night I made that hopeful commitment. I was in San Francisco , on a visit to attend my cousin’s wedding. I was at the Ghirardelli’s in the heart of San Francisco . All the cousins went out for some shakes and ice cream. In the middle of it, I received a call. She called to ask what I meant by a particular statement I texted her earlier that day. I’ll reveal this much about men, sometimes we say things we don’t mean. Women do it as well. But, I learned a long time ago that it never pays to say things I don’t mean. The reason is, at some point, the truth comes out. So, the thought must have crossed her mind to question what I texted her. I had said something to the effect of, “You make me want to change”. So she made it a point to say that she can’t change me; she won’t change me because we can’t change people. I quickly agreed. So, I had to clarify. It is not that we should set out to change people so that they can fit our ideal. I said, “I don’t want to change becaus...

I had been dragging my feet for about two years, as I considered whether or not I should continue and pursue a doctoral degree in psychology. I had been working at Cal State for about two years and substitute teaching for four. I noticed one day, while reading our program’s profiles that one of the professors in the nursing department I had worked with didn’t have a doctoral degree in nursing, but what was called “relational psychology”. She got her Ph.D. from a Catholic institution in Los Angeles called Trinity College . I looked into it. The school no longer existed. They were unable to secure enough funding to continue. So, I did a Google search and found that there was a practicing psychologist in Redlands that received her degree from that school. I wrote her an email on 05/26/10 asking her what relational psychology was. She emailed me back. Basically it is otherwise known as “contextual psychology”. My research into schools fizzled shortly thereafter. Due to certain meet...

One of the issues that I think young adults face is a problem with being able to prioritize certain aspects of their lives. Often times we want to be involved in so many things, which seem to only be natural, but the reality of it is we can't be a part of everything. We are finite creatures and our time and our energy is limited. We sign up for everything that comes our way, either out of genuine enthusiasm for the activity or perhaps it is due to cultural predispositions to always be willing to say "Yes". Remember that movie "Yes Man"? I don't recommend it, by the way. As young adults, there are probably certain things which will undoubtedly be part of your lives: faith, family, friends, education, work, organizations, affiliations, leisure, and rest. Did I get everything? I already placed them in a certain order; it is my order of importance. Your order may be different. The question is for you, do you recognize a certain order in your priorities? If so, a...

My first post on this blog was titled “ Away from tradism ”. It was intended to be a mild public statement of where I was at the time when that piece was written. Though even after re-reading it numerous times, I still believe it to be a rather sterile assessment of what I believed was lacking in the community with which I had once thought I felt was my home, theologically, socially, ecclesially, etc. I had numerous private discussions with certain individuals since then, which seemed to paint a picture of me as a churchy social drifter, one who does not take firm stands anymore, prideful, a judger, you name it. Those who have known me the longest since my reversion to the faith in 2002, you know who you are, can give testament to the minor changes I have gone through theologically. However, the social communities with which I attached myself to was a process. I wanted to find where my tendencies fit. In many ways, this is sort of like Protestantism. You have certain affinities, and yo...

Written: December 21, 2009 Mat 13:3-8, 19-23   And he spoke to them many things in parables, saying: Behold the sower went forth to sow.  (4)  And whilst he soweth some fell by the way side, and the birds of the air came and ate them up.  (5)  And other some fell upon stony ground, where they had not much earth: and they sprung up immediately, because they had no deepness of earth.  (6)  And when the sun was up they were scorched: and because they had not root, they withered away.  (7)  And others fell among thorns: and the thorns grew up and choked them.  (8)  And others fell upon good ground: and they brought forth fruit, some an hundred fold, some sixty fold, and some thirty fold. (19)  When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, there cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart: this is he that received the seed by the way side.  (20)  And he that receiv...

By Laurence G. May 7, 2011 I don’t watch many films in the theatres. One reason is the expense; another reason is, well, it’s mostly the expense. The last few films I have seen were rather emotional. This film was no exception. I think taking a step back, most folks who watch this film will be inspired by the heroic virtues of the protagonist, Josemaria Escriva and the, arguably heroic and unexpected decisions made by the antagonist Manolo. What had a significant impact on me, beyond perhaps what the film would naturally elicit, is the fact that this film depicts, perhaps a little bit of truth and a little bit of fantasy, of the life of the founder of the international group Opus Dei (The Work of God), St. Josemaria Escriva. Having been introduced many years ago as an undergraduate to the spirituality and life philosophy of the teachings of Josemaria Escriva, as well as having read his writings, and accounts of the early days of The Work, it was a delightful treat to see some of the...