“Freethinkers argue that beliefs should be based on rationality….”

WGN Radio reports on their website a new phenomenon beginning in Chicago. (Click here). Secular organizations around the country are organizing the promotion of “freethinkers” who “argue that beliefs should be based on rationality, not on religious tradition or dogma.” The co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Annie Laurie Gaylor, comments in an article quote, “We have to reach them [atheists], provide an alternative to religion and let them know we're here. Many of us reject the idea of blind faith.” They accomplish this through ads with slogans like “Sleep in on Sundays” or “In the beginning, man created God” and other multimedia ads, programs, and organized movements.

The article and those in the movement anticipate strong religious right outcry. My outcry comes from different reasons than they foresaw. I am more sad than angry that they are promoting and rallying the atheist secular cause. What really makes me angry is their complete lack of engagement with the religious right. If they wanted to engage productively in the public sphere, I would have expected them to do their homework which includes delving into 2,000 years of Christian (specifically Catholic) scholarship. Reason has always been at the forefront of Catholicism enlightened by Faith. Until they are ready and willing to engage on an equal playing field, there is no debate and no possible way to engage with them in their emotional and moral relativistic arguments. Until they engage with religious reason instead of rejecting it outright because of faith they are as close minded and as bigoted as they claim their opponents to be. The Church is ready and willing to engage in dialogue. Join in the relentless pursuit of Truth. “You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (John 8:32)

Pope Benedict XVI spoke on faith and reason in his General Wednesday Audience on 16 June 2010:

FIFA WORLD CUP 2010 - SOUTH AFRICA

Perhaps I'm making up for the fact that I barely saw any of the Winter Olympics 2010 in Vancouver. Could be. I filled out a bracket online with less care than when I did the NCAA Tournament bracket and picked PORTUGAL. Let's see how this turns out.

Each Chapter Affects Another

Suddenly, I find myself stateside.

My four months in Rome have drawn to a close. They were the fastest four months of my life. I am continually praising God for each blessing and grace I received while abroad and I look forward to how God plans to use these graces.

Thank you for reading my writings over the course of the semester. I didn't have time to fit all I wanted to say, and I probably never will, but I intend to continue posting throughout the summer not only recollections from Rome but whatever tickles my fancy while the summer rolls along.

The end was very bittersweet. I knew it was time to come home but the whole experience was something very special...nothing like it will happen again, even at Bernardi. Thank you to the chaplaincy; my teachers, mentors, and professors; the students of Bernardi and the Angelicum and all my new and old friends; and anyone who worked and contributed to the semester from the States or Italy. In one of my graces of the semester, I saw how everything we learned fit together; from art to social justice, theology to everyday concerns, everything fits together through the Catholic Church. I couldn't study one subject without referencing another. This grace also extended to my own life as I piece together my goals for sacred music within the Church and how God is calling me to serve Him. As one chapter comes to a close the rollercoaster peaks at another apex ready to turn and fly careening down another mountain. Let's go, Lord. What do you have in store this time?

Veni Creator Spiritus

Rose pedals fell through the dome of the Pantheon about noon following Mass on Pentecost.

Praying on a Run

I went for a run today.

I piled a bunch of more upbeat songs onto my "On-The-Go 1" playlist and ran wherever my heart desired. I circled Piazza Cavour, ran past Castel Sant'Angelo, and then ran up the street leading right into Saint Peter's Square. I knelt facing Saint Peter's Basilica and prayed for the newly ordained Father Jeremy Trowbridge and permanent Deacon Steven Pulkrabek, among others who were, at that moment, at the Cathedral in Rockford, Illinois in the midst of their Ordination Mass. Continuing on, I ran up a road and hill off to the south side of the square. I found a great view of the city where a wedding party was taking pictures.

As I began to wend my way through Trestevere, Father Stan Fortuna's "Unborn Victims of Violence" came on my iPod. It comments on the political situation of abominations against life with particular reference to the United States. Shortly before the song ended, I stumbled upon what I think was a celebration of the 32nd anniversary of RU-486. My iPod and this rally could not have been a coincidence. I knelt and prayed for the whole situation.

As I left, the gathered group began some sort of march. I thought how thankful I was that there was such a small crowd. In fact, the showing was rather pathetic. Then I remembered a fact I read in the Wednesday 19 May 2010 English Edition of L'Osservatore Romano: over 200,000 faithful gathered for the Holy Father's Regina Caeli Address on Sunday 16 May 2010 to show support for and solidarity with Pope Benedict XVI in light of recent scandal in the Church.

Lucifer's grip on the world is tight but our Victory has already been won.

A very blessed Pentecost to you and your family!

CHRIST IS RISEN!! ALLELUIA!!

Very early in the morning after the Sabbath, when the sun had just risen, they came to the tomb, alleluia. ~Antiphon for the Canticle of Zechariah, Easter Sunday

Here are a couple pictures from the Easter Vigil at Saint Peter's Basilica.
Despite how the media or secular world may attack Our Church and the Holy Father, the recessional after the Easter Vigil shows how much The Church and Benedict XVI are loved!!

Exsultet

Rejoice, heavenly powers! Sing, choirs of angels!
Exult, all creation around God's throne!
Jesus Christ, our King, is risen!
Sound the trumpet of salvation!

Rejoice, O earth, in shining splendor,
radiant in the brightness of your King!
Christ has conquered! Glory fills you!
Darkness vanishes for ever!

Rejoice, O Mother Church! Exult in glory!
The risen Savior shines upon you!
Let this place resound with joy,
echoing the mighty song of all God's people!

My dearest friends,
standing with me in this holy light,
join me in asking God for mercy,
that he may give his unworthy minister
grace to sing his Easter praises.

V: The Lord be with you.
R/: And also with you.
V: Lift up your hearts.
R/: We lift them up to the Lord.
V: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
R/: It is right to give him thanks and praise.

It is truly right
that with full hearts and minds and voices
we should praise the unseen God, the all-powerful Father,
and his only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

For Christ has ransomed us with his blood,
and paid for us the price of Adam's sin
to our eternal Father!

This is our passover feast,
when Christ, the true Lamb, is slain,
whose blood consecrates the homes of all believers.

This is the night when first you saved our fathers:
you freed the people of Israel from their slavery
and led them dry-shod through the sea.

This is the night when the pillar of fire
destroyed the darkness of sin!

This is the night when Christians everywhere,
washed clean of sin
and freed from all defilement,
are restored to grace and grow together in holiness.

This is the night when Jesus Christ
broke the chains of death
and rose triumphant from the grave.

What good would life have been to us,
had Christ not come as our Redeemer?

Father, how wonderful your care for us!
How boundless your merciful love!
To ransom a slave
you gave away your Son.

O happy fault, O necessary sin of Adam,
which gained for us so great a Redeemer!

Most blessed of all nights,
chosen by God to see Christ rising from the dead!

Of this night scripture says:
"The night will be as clear as day:
it will become my light, my joy."

The power of this holy night
dispels all evil, washes guilt away,
restores lost innocence, brings mourners joy;
it casts out hatred, brings us peace, and humbles
earthly pride.

Night truly blessed when heaven is wedded to earth
and man is reconciled with God!

Therefore, heavenly Father, in the joy of this night,
receive our evening sacrifice of praise,
your Church's solemn offering.

Accept this Easter candle,
a flame divided but undimmed,
a pillar of fire that glows to the honor of God.

Let it mingle with the lights of heaven
and continue bravely burning
to dispel the darkness of this night!

May the Morning Star which never sets find this flame
still burning:
Christ, that Morning Star, who came back from
the dead,
and shed his peaceful light on all mankind,
your Son, who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

Amen.