Do the Math: It's Time for Trig

You may not be familiar with the work of the Westchester Institute, but this brief article highlights one of the overlooked elements of this season's presidential campaign. In a season of firsts, perhaps one like this can help motivate more to step forward and be counted.

The Knights and the Proposition

The Knights of Columbus have released this video with an up-to-date synopsis of the Catholic Church's understanding of marriage: invaluable as Californians bring family rights to the ballot box.

Just Look

Cardinal Egan posted this on his column last week--an outstanding image and an outstanding message.

Roundhouse Kick

Do you sometimes feel this election needs a little Chuck Norris in it? THE Chuck Norris as in:

• Chuck Norris counted to infinity - twice.

• Chuck Norris knows where Carmen Sandiego is.

• Chuck Norris sleeps with a night light. Not because Chuck Norris is afraid of the dark, but the dark is afraid of Chuck Norris.

and,

• There is no theory of evolution. Just a list of creatures Chuck Norris has allowed to live.

Well, now you can find him here as he puts in his two cents worth about America's decision next week.

Resources and Reasons

Joan, since having returned from Rome, has been posting to this blog with excellent commentary and information on the upcoming election, including these invaluable novenas during this urgent time. Stop and take a moment to enter into prayer--

Paws for Effect

A friend forwarded the following spoof--it offers something to chew on . . .

For more info go to http://www.snopes.com/photos/signs/dogheaven.asp

A True Revolution: Brought to You by ESPN

When you need to Chase down info, ESPN is where it's at. Here's a great story on one athlete's journey from professional soccer to professing priesthood.

Pompeii Circumstance

After having arrived in Naples, we continued south the following day (the 11th) to Pompeii, the famous Roman city buried by volcanic ash in AD 79.

The suddenness of the disaster is striking--those killed were in the middle of their daily lives.






























The way they were instantly snuffed out as an entire city seems like a scene of the Apocalypse.






































This woman was found face-down in the ash:






















Being there gives one a somber reminder of how suddenly it all could go for any one of us.

More Good News

This article was just released by the Knights of Columbus--in addition to yesterday's article this indicates that both of the pro-family measures on the California ballot are finding the enthusiastic support they need.

Speaking the Truth

A friend recently posted this compelling message from Archbishop Romero:

'This is the mission entrusted to the church,
a hard mission:
to uproot sins from history,
to uproot sins from the political order,
to uproot sins from the economy,
to uproot sins wherever they are.
What a hard task!

'It has to meet conflicts amid so much selfishness,
so much pride,
so much vanity,
so many who have enthroned the reign of sin among us.

'The church must suffer for speaking the truth,
for pointing out sin,
for uprooting sin.

'No one wants to have a sore spot touched,
and therefore a society with so many sores twitches
when someone has the courage to touch it
and say: “You have to treat that.
You have to get rid of that.
Believe in Christ.
Be converted.”'

JANUARY 15, 1978

Napoli!

We have three seminarians from Sacramento studying over here this year, and so to start the year off right we went in search of pizza.

And in Naples last weekend, we found some.

































They also had good museums down there. With Old Stuff.




























We spent some time looking around the cathedral.































Hopefully we didn't disturb this guy.

Apologies in Advance

I figured I'd say that before even posting these:

1. I thought I saw an eye doctor on an Alaskan island, but it turned out to
be an optical Aleutian.

2. Two hats were hanging on a hat rack in the hallway. One hat said to the
other, "You stay here, I'll go on ahead."

3. No matter how far you push the envelope, it will still be stationery.

4. Two silk worms had a race. They ended up in a tie.

5. I was wondering why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me.

And on the 8th Day

This good news just in from the Golden State. If you haven't been there yet, Headline Bistro is a great place to get the news and keep up on Catholic issues--

Life

What's Barack Obama's record on abortion?

Archbishop Chaput directs us to Princeton professor Robert George's article at the Witherspoon Institute. George's thorough assesment demonstrates that Obama is 'the most extreme pro-abortion candidate to have ever run on a major party ticket.' His sobering review manifests the significant impact Obama would have as president . . .

Hands On

It's always great to return to Saint Peter's, and today was my first walk over there since coming back to Rome last week. 25 men from the United States who have been studying here were being ordained to the diaconate, and so it was a splendid occasion to be a part of.

We held the liturgy at the Altar of the Chair, and so the brilliant alabaster window of the Descent of the Holy Spirit was directly above the men as they confirmed their commitment to serve the Church as ambassadors of Jesus Christ.

Bishop Callahan, auxiliary of Milwaukee, presided at the liturgy, with four other U.S. Bishops present and about a gazillion and a half priests.

Basically a lot. You could see so much joy on the faces of the many families who had journeyed over for the celebration, and it was echoed by the vigor of the choir and massive organ.

'Bless, sanctify, and consecrate these chosen men--Lord, we ask you, hear our prayer.'

Kickoff!

Yeah, basically it's plenary.

We had a little shindig down at the Basilica of Saint Paul's Outside the Walls today--the opening Mass for the 12th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. That's a mouthful, but it marks a very exciting moment for the Church, because it's diving into Scripture, which always brings revitalization.

And since Benedict held the Mass at St. Paul's Basilica in the Year of Saint Paul, those of us who attended can cash in on a plenary indulgence.

The Synod (#12 since 1967) will last two weeks, and with the title "The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church", it involves a returning to the Second Vatican Council Document Dei Verbum, promising to launch a deeper engagement in the Scriptures in daily life.

Bishop Soto Speaks Out

Earlier in September our coadjutor bishop Jaime Soto spoke down in Long Beach to the National Association of Diocesan Gay and Lesbian Ministries. Clear and insightful, his words are posted at Catholic Exchange.

Return Down Under

After climbing Grossglockner I was able to spend a few more days in Austria . . . and return down under--not to Australia, but to the cave that lies in the mountains above Gaming. I hadn't gone in since Spring of '95, so it was time to return.











Reading inscriptions that date back to the 1600's.





Four of us hiked the hour or so outside of the city and then were able to celebrate Mass hight up on the ridge at the entrance of the cave. We then began the steep descent through the mouth of the cave, and sqeezed through the tiny passage that barely allows you to shimmy into the total darkness.









Introduced to the Mud





The Carthusians of our Kartause had come here centuries ago, and left their mark: still inscribed on the walls are the charcoal names and dates of friars and priors who came through the same passageway.











Light at the End of the Tunnel

Go Boom

One of the loudest thunder crashes I have ever heard smashed in as we were finished with Mass yesterday for the Feast of Saint Francis. For a moment you weren't sure if a building had collapsed, a bomb had gone off, or Saint Francis had decided No More Mister Nice Guy. A few more peals rolled in through lunch, and we had some good rain through the afternoon--cool night.

Verso l'Alto!

So the following morning, Sunday, we set out at 6:15 am to attempt the summit.  We'd spent the night at 3278 meters, and we had another 500 to go to make it to the top at 3798 meters, but much of it was technical climbing.

Sunrise

Strapping on crampons and roping in together, we began ascending, helped by having spent the night at altitude, so we were a little more prepared for the thin air.

You can see the trail we came up over Robert's right shoulder.

Christoph's experience was essential at this point:

By approximately 8:07, we made it to the summit:

Standing below the Cross

The morning light from the summit was spectacular:

Looking South-East:

What goes up must, of course, come down.  At the bottom of this photo you can make out the cable line we used in our descent back to the glacier:

We stopped in for tea at our upper lodge before attempting this drop.

Sweeping vistas kept opening out before us as we quickly descended.

Dropping down to our lower hut.

And soon we were below snowline:

A traveler returns.

We arrived back at the base with still enough strength to stand--enough at least to hike up into the trees and find a sunlit spot to celebrate Mass, and thank God for a beautiful climb.

Grossglockner

Our guide up Grossglockner, Christoph Bacher, posted photos of our climb last weekend.  There's also some great photos of the mountain at his company's webpage: www.glocknerfuehrer.at.

Climb Every Mountain

Considering the options, it would be a daunting task to climb every mountain in Austria, so the decision was made simply to climb the highest one.

So four of us set out early Saturday morning to drive to the base of Grossglockner, south of Salzburg.

















You can see our parking spot at the head of the valley.




We started hiking up to one of the lower lodges on the mountain, where we would meet up with a guide who would take us to the snowy summit.















Lower Lodge. Not Our Guide. Quiet Type, Though.




Our guide, Christoph, brought us up to the edge of the glacier, where we roped in to traverse the snow-covered field.

























Mark was the mastermind behind this trip--here demonstrating harness and rope:



























Once out on the glacier, Christoph pointed out glacier tables, where large boulders shaded the snow beneath them, so that the sun could melt around them:








The table at lower right was probably a little too high for Mass.




We were now on the white expanse:












Having crossed it, we needed to go up the ridge to make it to the high altitude hut where we would spend the night, in preparation for our attempt on the summit.




















Latching into the cables going up the wall.






At this altitude, everything is a workout:
















Stairmaster plus:















Our efforts paid off and we were rewarded up above with spectacular scenery:














Christoph, who had been coming up the mountain throughout the year, said we had the best days of the year, as a recent dusting of snow was followed by brilliant sunlight:














We checked into our camp for the night, the highest lodge in Austria. Happily, we were able to find a nook to celebrate Mass:



















Liturgy with a View






The benefit of a lodge is we were able to grab a beer in the fire-kept warmth as we prepared for the next day's climb:

















And we could watch the sun get low:












And finally set:










In time for us to head to bed for an early send off.

Mosaic Museum

This Just In: Justinian built a lot. Of Stuff. In Constantinople.

Packing it all into our last day in the city, after having gone underground to his vast water cistern, we went to what was recently underground, the just-excavated site of the emperor's palace, where sprawling mosaics are some of the best preserved in the Byzantine world.

Amongst other themes of peaceful animals grazing or people going about their daily tasks, a surprisingly high proportion of the images depicted certain animals ferociously tearing into other animals, with ample amounts of blood portrayed:












These represented about half of the artwork . . .















Trouble by the Trunkful





And in a depiction familiar to American citizens:















Thus concluded our three week venture into Asia Minor, with the following morning holding our flight back to the Eternal City. In Rome studies would recommence shortly, but our forays into the Scriptures would be enhanced by our encounters with their place of origin.