Circa Hickman

"The Bruise Brothers"  - 2001

The start of the Advent Season this past Sunday



And a Happy Feast of St. Andrew and prayerful wishes to our son on his name day.

As one of the twelve apostles, Andrew was very close to Our Lord during His public life; he was present at the Last Supper; beheld the risen Lord; witnessed the Ascension; shared in the graces and gifts of the first Pentecost, and helped, amid threats and persecution, to establish the Faith in Palestine.

He was crucified by order of the Roman Governor, Aegeas at Patrae in Achaia, and was bound, not nailed, to the cross, in order to prolong his sufferings. He was martyred during the reign of Nero, on November 30, 60 A.D.

St. Andrew's relics were transferred from Patrae to Constantinople, and deposited in the church of the Apostles there, about 357 A.D. When Constantinople was taken by the French, in the beginning of the thirteenth century, Cardinal Peter of Capua brought the relics to Italy and placed them in the cathedral of Amalfi, where most of them still remain.
St. Andrew is honored as the chief patron saint of both Russia and Scotland. He is also the patron saint of fishermen.

Charity and Poverty of Spirit

Words to live by from the Seraphic Father Francis:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Many apply themselves to prayers and offices, and practise much abstinence and bodily mortification, but because of a single word which seems to be hurtful to their bodies or because of something being taken from them, they are forthwith scandalized and troubled. These are not poor in spirit: for he who is truly poor in spirit, hates himself and loves those who strike him on the cheek.

SSPX in the Philippines

The SSPX has launched another rosary crusade, this time in the Philippines to combat the "Reproductive Health Bill" there.   SSPX priests are collaborating closely with the Filipino Hierarchy, in particular, Cardinal Vidal and Archbisop Aniceto, who are promoting the crusade throughout the country under this great threat.

A Few Thanksgiving Pictures

Thanksgiving Reflection

I sit here late on Friday night wondering what to write in a blog neglected over a vacation week; a week filled with a few "honey-do" accomplishments around the house and the long preparation for the short consumption of one of the most comprehensive meals of the year. There is much to be thankful for, but God forbid I only consider being thankful one day of the year. Indeed, my life should be one of continual thanks and that thanks returned to God through charity to my neighbor.

Charity admittedly has been much on my mind lately -- mostly out of frustration at my own deficiencies, haunted by the words of St. Paul: "And now there remain faith, hope, and charity, these three: but the greatest of these is charity." Deficiency in charity is one of the greatest obstacles to the apostolate. St. Paul admonished the petty bickerings in the early Christian communities and urged them to live lives above reproach and in charity for one another. Our Blessed Lord Himself said to not bother approaching the altar until one has made peace with his brother.

We Christians know that charity is an essential. We know this, we know our faith, yet we allow the devil to sow discord among us, as he surely laughs at our stupidity. We are human, and surely disagreements will arise. It is in such disagreements that the Christian example should shine. There should not be suspicion. There should not be a questioning of intentions. There should be benefit of the doubt and forgiveness if offense was given. And if an injustice is truly done, then there is a suffering. We as Catholics know that suffering is all part of the race that we run and necessary for achieving the goal. God help us to grit our teeth and pray a Deo Gratias when it comes. How about even forgetting the gritting of teeth and instead smiling -- easier said than done, I know, yet therein lies virtue.

Without a Catholic disposition towards all of our brothers and sisters in Christ, God's work cannot be done through our tiny incapable hands and the apostolate will grow cold. Without a Catholic disposition to all we meet in the world, the Light of Christ will not penetrate hearts and inspire conversions.

What are we doing here? What are we doing for Christ? We are meant to be leaven -- the salt of the earth. " But if the salt lose its savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is good for nothing any more but to be cast out, and to be trodden on by men."

As we prepare to enter the season of Advent in just a few hours, I hope to make of myself a thanksgiving through a greater love for my family and of my neighbor. Perhaps I might then be ready and capable of undertaking the most important thanksgiving, the thanksgiving for the little babe lying on the straw, shivering in the cold night air, a small taste of the suffering that He would later undergo for love of me.

Ode to St. Cecelia

O villain, villain, smiling, damned villain!

He auditioned for Horatio (my favorite).  However, we just received word that Andrew got the part of King Claudius in Hamlet for the Junior Play in early February ... second most lines in the play.   He'll have fun playing the villain, I'm sure.

This isn't Andrew.  It's Derek Jacobi who plays a smashing Claudius.

Where Is The Outcry?

Imagine a Jewish Temple was overrun by terrorists resulting in horrific carnage of innocent life -- or perhaps a Buddhist Temple in Tibet or even a Mosque somewhere in Arabia. The outcry from the international community, from world leaders, from the U.N. would ring loud and clear, and for quite some time. It would be featured on CNN and late night news shows for weeks.  Where is the loud, sustained outcry against the attacks on the Iraqi Christians I wonder? The Syriac Catholic lineage is ancient in the Middle East. They were among the first in history to hear the gospel message, from the mouth of the Apostle St. Thomas, and convert to the faith of Jesus Christ. Where is the outcry?

3-Year-Old Adam was at Mass on October 31st when Muslim Terrorists stormed his church.  When little Adam yelled at the terrorists to stop shooting people, one terrorist put a gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger. Requiescat in pace, Adam. You are now living the reward of your great courage among the saints in Heaven.

UnheardCries.com

Pa-Pa Pa Pa

Our family really enjoys Mozart's Magic Flute. Happy and fun.

Whiteface Expedition

Our local League of Christ the King tries to organize healthy social events for the youth of our parish.   Recently, our esteemed Officer Kraengel led a mini-expedition up Whiteface mountain followed by a folk concert and pizza.

Albert the Great

There are few men in history who have earned the title "The Great". Saint Albert, my adopted patron, is one of them and today is his feast day. He was gifted with one of the greatest minds of all time and was a precursor in a way to many great minds who would follow.

He was known as the "teacher of everything there is to know," was a scientist long before the age of science, was considered a wizard and magician in his own lifetime, and became the teacher and mentor of that other remarkable mind of his time, St. Thomas Aquinas.

St. Albert the Great was born in Lauingen on the Danube, near Ulm, Germany; his father was a military lord in the army of Emperor Frederick II. As a young man Albert studied at the University of Padua and there fell under the spell of Blessed Jordan of Saxony, the Dominican who made the rounds of the universities of Europe drawing the best young men of the universities into the Dominicans.

After several teaching assignments in his order, he came in 1241 to the University of Paris, where he lectured in theology. While teaching in Paris, he was assigned by his order in 1248 to set up a house of studies for the order in Cologne. In Paris, he had gathered around him a small band of budding theologians, the chief of whom was Thomas Aquinas, who accompanied him to Cologne and became his greatest pupil.

In 1260, he was appointed bishop of Regensberg; when he resigned after three years, he was called to be an adviser to the pope and was sent on several diplomatic missions. In his latter years, he resided in Cologne, took part in the Council of Lyons in 1274, and in his old age traveled to Paris to defend the teaching of his student Thomas Aquinas.

It was in Cologne that his reputation as a scientist grew. He carried on experiments in chemistry and physics in his makeshift laboratory and built up a collection of plants, insects, and chemical compounds that gave substance to his reputation. When Cologne decided to build a new cathedral, he was consulted about the design. He was friend and adviser to popes, bishops, kings, and statesmen and made his own unique contribution to the learning of his age.

He died a very old man in Cologne on November 15,1280, and is buried in St. Andrea's Church in that city. He was canonized and declared a Doctor of the Church in 1931 by Pope Pius XI. His writings are remarkable for their exact scientific knowledge, and for that reason he has been made the patron saint of scientists.

Crane Fall Music Festival

Amanda performed three piano pieces today for the Crane School of Music's annual Fall Music Festival. Amanda is pictured above with her music teacher Miss Ting. She performed very well. After all of the performances, the performers were given some helpful advice by Crane faculty members who were judging the student performances. Below is a clip of one of the professor's offering Amanda a few performance tips.

Amanda's Crane Recital from Albert Hickman on Vimeo.

Our Children Need Good Music

“Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.” - Plato

Listen to the first piece (below), Vois Sur Ton Chemin (See Upon Your Path). Even if you do not understand a word of French, the song touches you through the music. This is why judging music goes beyond lyrics if it is a vocal piece. In most cases, the music will either lift the soul or draw it down -- lyrics will play a supporting role. I am not an expert on music. I played brass instruments growing up, had a little music theory and a couple of music appreciation courses in college. Musical training is not necessary for discernment. Consider your state of soul and where your mind is when listening to various pieces of music. Music penetrates deeply and moves you in ways that you do not even perceive. On the spiritual level, any piece of music, be it sacred or secular, is either bringing you closer to God or drawing you away from Him.

The Golden Thread - Peter, the Keys and the Papacy

Singing in Silence

I am not sure if I posted this one sometime ago or not. Even so, it is worth posting again. 

Circa Hickman

Circa 2001

A Gem from Fr. George Rutler on Extreme Vegetarianism

I was delighted to read the Manichaean ramblings of Danel Paden, director of the Catholic Vegetarian Society (“Letters,” June 2003). It confirmed my theory that fanaticism in Western society alternates between nudism and vegetarianism, both of which contradict the order of grace.

As an optimist, I happily trust that Paden confines his extreme commitments to vegetarianism.

Taste is one thing; it is another thing to condemn meat eating as “evil” and permissible only “in rare and unfortunate circumstances.” Paden disagrees with no less an authority than God, Who forbids us to call any edible unworthy (Mark 7: 18-19), and Who enjoins St Peter to eat pork chops and lobster in one of my favorite revelations (Acts 10: 9-16). Does the Catholic Vegetarian Society think that our Lord was wrong to have served up fish to the 5,000, or should He have refrained from eating the Passover Lamb? When He rose from the dead and appeared in the Upper Room, He did not ask for a bowl of Cheerios, nor did He whip up a meatless omelette on the shore of Galilee.

Man was made to eat flesh (Genesis 1: 26-31; 9: 1-6), with the exception of human flesh. I stand on record against cannibalism, whether it be inflicted upon the Mbuti Pygmies by the Congolese Army or on larger people by a maniac in Milwaukee. But I am also grateful that the benevolent father in the parable did not welcome his prodigal son home with a bowl of radishes.

Vegetarians assume an unedifying posture of detachment from the sufferings of vegetables that are mashed, stewed, diced, and shredded. In expensive restaurants, cherries are publicly burned in brandy to the applause of diners. It is not uncommon for people to submerge olives in iced gin and twist the peels of lemons. Be indignant, vegetarian, but not so selectively indignant that the bleat of the lamb and the plaintive moo of the cow drown out the whine of our brother the bean and the quiet sigh of the cauliflower.

Vegetables have reactive impulses. Were we to confine our diet to creatures that lacked sense and do not even respond to light, we could only eat liturgists and liberal Democrats.

The Rev. George W. Rutler
New York City

Phila. Opera Company at it again...

This time at Macy's.  They just cannot stop singing :). I remember when this Macy's in downtown Center City was the flagship John Wanamaker's store. Every Christmas, there would be a wonderful walk-through 'A Christmas Carol' display featuring the real great grandson of Charles Dickens at the end signing books. I have many a good memory visiting that store, particularly at Christmas time, and my mother treating me to lunch at a charming restauraunt up on one of the balconies in full view of the amazing Christmas light display.

What's Wrong with this Picture?

The FDA continues to oversee the sickening of the country with its mass processed, genetically modified food.  Not a week seems to pass where there is not a news report of tainted food from the supposedly safe and regulated mega food factories, be it meat, peanuts, dairy products or produce.  Here is the latest:  http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/05/cheese.warning/index.html?hpt=T2. 

Ironically, this week it is tainted cheese.  Why so ironic?  Because the FDA is constantly treating small farms who sell non-pasteurized dairy products (read: the way people have been making and eating them for centuries) like terrorists.  Here is just the latest example of what the Feds have done to a small, family run all-natural cheesemaker in Missouri: http://www.remnantnewspaper.com/Archives/2010-1031-big-brother-watch.htm.  This sort of thing happens all of the time, where even Amish farms are raided by federal agents bearing firearms if they dare sell any of their unpasterized milk products to the local public.   What is going on here?

See: Don't Drink the Milk & Raw Milk Facts

Culture Wars

I ran across a great talk presented by Br. Andre Marie, M.I.C.M titled Controversial Considerations on Culture.   In it, Br. Andre distinguishes between high, low and bad culture.  He makes the point that if a soul cannot 'detox' and make a break with bad culture that it will be impossible to hold the Catholic Faith.  Why?  Because bad culture is at variance with Catholic morals, decency and a proper social order.  In short, bad culture is antithetical to Our Lord Jesus Christ.

A Counter-Culture (bad culture) is the dominant culture today.  It is no surprise that it openly attacks and mocks Our Lord, the Church and Christian beliefs and practices in general. As important as it is to hold fast to the Traditional Mass and Sacraments, it is perhaps equally as important to get the cultural element right in Catholic family life.  The burden is on we parents to read, understand, and make the necessary hard decisions to weed out the bad and replace it with the good (and we must replace and not just take away).  Bad culture is probably the greatest threat to children, a happy and godly life here on earth, and eternal happiness in heaven later.

Download and listen to this talk by clicking the link above.  It is only $3.00.

Joshua is 7 Today



circa 2005



Challenges Facing Catholic Parents Today

Dylan McDonald and his wife, Joanne, run a first-rate family apostolate in Northern New Jersey.   Here is an interview they gave a few weeks ago.  Dylan and Joanne address in particular the challenges and misunderstandings that often arise trying to raise a virtuous Catholic family from within the extended family circle itself.     

Challenges Facing Catholic Parents Today (Dylan and Joanne McDonald):

All Souls

Requiscat in Pace