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A personal shift

 As many of you know, I have been a bit quiet these last few weeks. I have had a change in circumstances-changing jobs and going back for another Master's degree in education.  I started up my new job this week. It has been interesting to observe how schools work after not largely being in a formal school classroom in 25 years. Lots more technology. Smart boards, Chromebooks etc. That was to be expected. I was somewhat taken back by teachers playing playlists from their computer into the big screen smart boards, both during class down time but also when they are simply in their class rooms by themselves planning or grading.  I am not sure why that surprised me as much as it did. I guess the last time I was student teaching, none of that largely existed unless someone brought a boom box and played a CD or something, which was extremely rare in my recollection.  I think we have become afraid of the gift of silence. We have to have background noise. That sort of makes m...
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Gone fishing

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The Church and Seculat Art

I had a question posed about the Church and Secular art: I was just wondering if the Catholic church has any official teachings regarding the music we can or can’t listen to. Prior to my reversion, everybody had some sort of different interpretation. Some people were more convicted than others about certain genres, opinions were very strong, and I didn't know what to believe. So I never really knew if there was any official teachings or standards that we should follow. With that being said, now that I’m Catholic, I’m wanting to revisit this topic again. I appreciate you all and hope everyone has a great weekend. God bless. My response:  Historically, actually, the Church has had a lot to say on the effect of secular arts on the Catholic soul. You usually have to consult theologians and teachings from the ordinary magisterium, but, yes, there is a lot of historically mine about the effects of secular arts (from music to sculpture to theater) on the soul.  Even going back to the...
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Thoughts on Magnifica Humanitas: Part 6 (Chapter 4)

Due to some unforeseen changed in my personal life (you know, little things like career change and going back to graduate school), I have fallen woefully behind on continuing my reflections on Pope Leo XIV's new encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas . This is also partly due to the fact that I found Chapter 4 to be a bit of a slog to read through and mentally process. So, I have taken some weeks to got through it and collect my thoughts. While I would quibble a bit over various sections in the preceding chapters and prologue, I was generally on the same page of where he was going (or at least where I thought he was going) with this encyclical. His overviews and recaps of Catholic Social Teaching since Rerum Novarum in the late 1800s have been solid. He took a few liberties in his summations of Catholic Social Teaching, but, for the most part, I was in general agreement with where he started and where he landed in those chapters.  Chapter 4 was a bit of a different bird. I was a bit surp...
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Annulment and Abuse

I got a question about abuse and whether that is grounds for annulment under Catholic canon law. As I am not a Canon lawyer (nor do I really wish to become one because a Marriage tribunal would never want me on the tribunal because I would ask too many really hard questions), I queried our Marriage Tribunal and received this response.  First, the question (redacted fro privacy):  What does the church do in cases of abuse in marriage? Is remarriage permitted after? It seems to me that abuse is a violation of vows . . .   The answer I received from my Diocese's Marriage Tribunal that is remarkably succinct and on point: First, abuse depending on the circumstances, is certainly grounds for a separation or even a divorce to ensure the safety of the abused spouse and any children. The question of remarriage is a little more complicated. To remarry after a divorce requires showing that the original marriage was null, that it was in fact defective somehow and therefore ...
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Weeds and Creation: A Reflection for the 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

     In the intricate design of creation, God acts as the ultimate sower. He plants seeds of faith within the hearts of humanity, and cultivates a garden of that eventually produces the fruits of hope, grace, and redemption. Today’s Bible readings illuminate the Divine intention behind this act of sowing. These passages invite us to think about the importance of nurturing the seeds of faith that God has sown in our lives, by recognizing that our response to His grace can yield a bountiful harvest for ourselves and for others.      Wisdom 12:13, 16-19 reminds us of God’s omnipotent role as the just judge who governs creation with wisdom and compassion. This passage underscores that God, in His infinite understanding, knows the hearts of all people. He also knows the complexities of the world because He created it. His decision to sow seeds of faith in us is a testament to His desire for our flourishing and reconciliation. God’s mercy is a guiding force, enc...
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Changing course, or getting back on track?

I apologize for no blog updates this week. I am woefully behind due to the 4th of July holiday, myself catching a bit of a summertime cold, my daughter having to have a tonsillectomy this coming week, and starting school again as a graduate student this next week. Life has been extremely busy for me this week. I hope to return to regular blogging again this weekend or early next week.  I can't remember if I have shared my latest personal news.  f I have not, I guess it is time to let the cat out of the bag. After much thought and prayer (for like the last 5 years at least), I have decided to get back into education. I initially had a teaching license in Tennessee 25+ years ago but never used it (and it long since expired). So, as of August 1st, I doing two things. One is that I am going to be starting a new job at a small country school outside of town. Initially, going to be a para/substitute/bus driver (and probably get drafted to be an assistant football coach at so...
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