The Apologists

 Apologist comes from the Greek language, meaning defense.  That's a different meaning to us, nowadays.  But the early Christians had to constantly be on the defense from the government, Jews, and pagans.  Why?  

At that time, God was Caesar and only worship of him, was allowed.
The Jews opposed the early Christians because the Christians preached that the Jews killed Jesus.
The pagans didn't like the morality of the Christians, who criticized many of their mores.

What were the Christians defending?

There are always prejudice against new ideas, especially if it involves changing lifestyles.
Misunderstandings of what the Christians were preaching.
Cannibalism--yes, because Jesus said "Eat my flesh, drink my blood," non Christians just didn't understand. John 6:53-56
Incest--again, misunderstanding of the teachings on love of our brothers and sisters. 1 John 4:21 and Romans 12:10.
Political subversion--yes, even today.  Christians must obey their well-formed conscience, not their government or illegal orders from authorities.

Add to the above, fear.  Fear and distrust generated the hatred of Christians and unleashed persecution against them.

 

Action Galore

 Nelson DeMille's The Cuban Affair is full of action.  The main character, Mac is hired by Cuban exiles.  He's told it's to retrieved hidden money that the exiles hid, when they left Cuba, in a hurry.  But actually, that was only secondary.  First, was the titles to the exiles' property, that they wanted to show the world in international court, that they still owned.  Also, the make sure Mac would take their paperwork, there was a trunk full of soldiers' bones, the Cubans had taken from Afghanistan and tortured and left to rot in Cuban prisons. Mac wanted to show Americans what they did and bring those troops home.

The reader isn't really sure if the paperwork and bones made it home.  The CIA picked them up from their boat, which the Cubans were chasing and shooting at. The CIA said their boat was blown up and everything was lost.  Well, that's what the CIA said.

Anyway, Mac found love, adventure, and a sense of what's important in life.  What else do you want?

The Catacombs of Priscilla

 Priscilla (Prisca) and her husband Aquilla are mentioned a few times in the New Testament, especially in conjunction with the Paul.  She and her husband are notable Christians.  Her catacomb is still visited in Rome.  A catacomb is a burial place, especially for the early Christians.  The early Christians, as Jews, kept the practice of burying their dead.  It's a good thing, too, because when Christianity was outlawed, that's where the Christians went to pray, attend Mass, and hide.  

The artwork in the catacombs is extensive, as well as interesting.  Early Christian symbols and depictions of the Last Supper or Mass, depict the Eucharist.

Gandhi's Seven Deadly Sins

 Wealth without work.

Pleasure without conscience.

Knowledge without character.

Commerce without morality.

Science without humanity.

Worship without sacrifice.

Politics without principle.

A Spiritual Will

 When someone dies, confusion, if not shock, overtakes the people you left behind.  That's why people leave Legal Wills.  Legal Wills tell people who gets your property.  Also important should be a Spiritual Will, to tell everyone what you want done with your body.  If you are Jewish or Catholic, there are rites the deceased may want observed. Don't let your family guess, or worse argue.  Leave instructions--a spiritual will.

Here's what my Spiritual Will will say, now.  It may be revised.

I already have a plot and stone.  Use my insurance money for my funeral. Since I am a Lay Dominican, I would like to wear black.  My white scapular and Dominican cross is over my blouse.  Obviously, this is open casket.  I want my faith visible, as my last catechesis, to show others that faith is serious.

I want a traditional Catholic funeral Mass.  My parish priest may celebrate.  I will list what music I want and Readings.  I also want certain people to be Lectors, not family.  I want my family to pay attention to the Mass, not freak out because they have to speak in public.  Family may bring up the Offerings.  No eulogy, just a reception following the burial.  Stories will be told there, at the reception.

I like a Mass celebrated for me, now and then, and a few prayers at my grave.

That's it.  See you on the other side.

My scapular and cross look like this, to be place over black clothing.  

Echoes of the Apostles

 Did you ever wonder why the Church Fathers didn't sign their names to what they wrote?  Who wrote the Didache?  Who was the Shepherd of Hermes?  

It seems that these writings are written with authority.  Their tone is unquestionable.  They wrote about the internal organization of the Christian communities of the times. They deal authoritatively with liturgical discipline, moral conduct, wavering faith, and correct teachings.  There seems to be no need to sign their names to their works.  The community accepted the teachings, as from the Apostles.

Lafayette College fresco Christ Among His Apostles · A&S 325: Museums Studies · Exhibits @ Lafayette College

Violence Begets Violence

 The Gate House by Nelson DeMille is a sequel to The Gold Coast.  I didn't read The Gold Coast, so the characters are new to me.  I don't usually read novels in order, except for Louise Penny's Three Pine mysteries.  Books call me by name at Library Book Sales, Yard Sales, free tables--here and there, gifts, and handed over, by friends.  My friends know I'm on a Nelson DeMille kick, now, so The Gate House was given to me.

I never quite got the geography of exactly where the gate house was located, on the estate.  But I didn't worry about it because I thought it was an unnecessary complication, in the plot.  I still think so.  The main character, John Sutter has returned home, after ten years.  A family servant, friend, and client has died.  John lived with her for a while, was her lawyer, and friend.

He had left, in the first place, because he was divorced from his unfaithful wife, who had murdered her lover, who was John's client, who was also a mafioso.  

Following?

Capice?

John is back.  It turns out that as soon as John and his ex see each other, they resume their relationship and plan to remarry.  However, if they do remarry, the in-laws will retract their financial support, which is considerable.  But that's minor, compared to the problem of the mafioso's son, who wants revenge.  

That's the plot.  It's a big book.  But I took my time reading the story and I did enjoy it.