Bridge Between Religion & Science

In the Saturday, August 19, 2006 edition of the San Antonio Express-News in the RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY section pp. 7B & 12B there was an article by Kirsten Scharnberg of the Chicago Tribune titled "Observatory seen as bridge between religion, science".

The article deals with the telescope & observatory atop Mount Graham, Arizona, 10,000 feet above the desert. It notes that the observatory is owned by the Vatican and operated by the Jesuits (Society of Jesus). As it states"...the Vatican for more than 100 years has funded and staffed world-class observatories, first in Italy and, since the early 1980s in Arizona..." As the sidebar to the article "Looking to the Heavens" notes "The Vatican Observatory is one of the oldest astronomical institutes in the world,..." with "...an annual budget of about $1 million." And it states: "The Vatican has one of the most important meteorite collections in the world...more than 1,200 meteorite pieces representing some 484 different meteorite falls."

Why are so many people surprised by this connection between science and the Catholic Church. Many people often forget/don't realize that our calendar, the Gregorian calendar was a result of Pope Gregory XIII's (1572-1585) instruction to the Jesuit scientists in the late 1500s and that he built the Vatican Observatory. Four hundred years later, we still use that calendar today. As Pope John Paul II noted true science and true religion cannot contradict each other. Ironically, many people believe that Christianity, and Catholic Christianity in particular, is anti-scientific. Nothing can be further from the truth--one only needs to recall the numerous scientific discoveries made by Catholic Christians, particularly Jesuits, to know this isn't true. The account of Galileo is normally raised by the detractors. Yet how many really know the facts surrounding Galileo/have studied the entire account. Few know that Pope Urban VIII (1623-1644) was a benefactor and friend of Galileo. A while back, it was either on the History or A& E TV network, that an interesting account of the relationship between the two men was portrayed.

If we believe in God as the Creator of everything that exists then true science and true religion, are and must be compatible. Why do we have a different notion--because for some reason the facts are not always passed on. This may not be malicious, but it occurs; think of the "Spanish Inquisition"--once again either on A & E or the History network a very different account than what is commonly believed was presented using historically validated records/source documents. What about "The Crusades"? What is the truth? We all need to take a close look at history--but be cautious; just remember how today the "Politically Correct" approach to everything can and often does, hopefully unintentionally, distort reality. This is not the first time events are/have been distorted. I hope I do not offend my Protestant friends when I quote John Henry Cardinal Newman, the Anglican Theologian who in the late 1900 century wrote as to why become Catholic; "To become deep in history is to cease to be Protestant".

Why is there so much misinformation. I reflect on what Dr. Goebles the Nazi propagandist reportedly noted, "If you tell a lie often enough, people will begin to believe it."

The Bread of Life

A distinguishing charateristic of Catholic Christians (and Orthodox Christians), who believe Jesus is truly present body, blood, soul and divinity in the Eucharist, is the significance of the Eucharist in their faith. Catholics take Jesus at His word in John 6 and as recorded in the synoptic gospels "last supper" account and in St. Paul's letter to the Corinthians.

I realize that there are conscientious people who believe Jesus was speaking symbolically or metaphorically in the John 6 account. For those, I suggest that they read these passages prayerfully and slowly.

I find it interesting that John 6 begins with the multiplication of the loaves and fishes and that this incident and Jesus' discourse on the eating of His flesh and blood takes place around the time of the Passover Festival. It is interesting that when Jesus was speaking, the audience took Him seriously accusing Him of cannibalism and yet He did not correct them nor plead that they stay when they began to turn and walk away from Him.

As every Christian knows, the "Last Supper" occured during a subsequent Passover Festival (a Festival associated with sacrificing lambs and/or young goats [Exodus 12]) and isn't it interesting that John the Baptist had early on in Scripture referred to Jesus as the Lamb of God (John 1:29) and that in the book of Revelation, those in heaven are adoring the Lamb. (Revelation 5:6-10; 7:13-14; 15:3-4)

Christ's words recorded in the synoptic gospels (Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; & Luke 22:14-23) are also very precise--"...this is my body....this is my blood..." When we read St. Paul's account of the "Last Supper" and his susbsequent instruction it sure implies to me that the breaking and sharing of the bread and the sharing of the cup is more than a symbolic reenactment (1 Corinthians 11:17-33). If this ritual was simply symbolic, why I ask, does St. Paul write: "This means that every time we eat this bread and drink from this cup you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes. It follows that if anyone eats the Lord's bread or drinks from His cup in a way that dishonors Him, he is quilty of sin against the Lord's body and blood. So then, everyone should examin himself first, and then eat the bread and drink from the cup. For if he does not recognize the meaning of the Lord's body when he eats the bread and drinks from the cup, he brings judgement on himself as he eats and drinks." (1 Corinthians 11:26-29)

As I noted at the beginning, the preceding passages warrant prayful reflection. I wish everyone could experience the joy and peace I receive when I receive the Eucharist.

What's In A Name?

If anyone asks when were followers of Christ called "Christians"; most of us will mentioned Acts 11:26, "It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians." Well what about "Catholic" Christians. The earliest reference I can find is in the bishop St. Ignatius of Antioch's letter to the Smyrnaeans (8:2) written between 105 and 110 a.d. in which he states: "Wherever the bishop appears, let the people be there; just as wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church." (Smyrna is the former name of Izmir, Turkey) "Catholic" means "universal" form Greek "katholikos" ("concerning the whole"). The Christian Faith after Penticost Sunday quickly spread throughout the Greek and Roman world and beyond and thus referring to the Christian Church as the "Catholic Church" was most appropriate. Today the title is definitely an accurate title as I suspect there isn't a country in the world in which there aren't "Catholic Chrsitians"--though in some, due to religious persecution they may be "underground".

To me to be a Catholic incorporates many requirements; including being a "total person"; i.e., a "unversal person". A person who loves all of God's creation/creatures--as it states in Genesis God was very pleased with His creation (1:31). Being a total person also means that I need to learn and appreciate as much about God's creation as I can in my short life; be it in science, literature, art, etc. as they are all small reflections of God. I need to be willing to listen to others, even though I may not agree with them, as then I'll learn more about others, myself, and God, and the significance of my journey through life. At the same time, I need to be willing to explain to others what I know and/or believe; hopefully opening a respectful discussion. I believe, many of us have been "short changed" in our education; we specialize to such a degree that we have lost the entire concept of a true "liberal arts" degree--a degree where we are given a "broad brush" look at what makes us who and what we are and asks the question "why" are we here. Few of us have had many courses (if any courses) in philosophy--an almost lost study in our country, and we are hurting because of this. There are philosophies abounding that are being professed and implemented right in our own country which are hurtful; without a good philisophical background how are we able to recognize the healthy philosophies from the hurtful?

Dedication

I dedicate this blog today August 15th, 2006, to the three most important ladies in my life.
1. The Virgin Mary, the Mother of my Lord. She through the years has drawn me closer to her Son, my Savior and through Him, the entire Blessed Trinity.
2. My Mother, a lady open to life bringing to life 11 children, I being the last. She was the very essence of Love.
3. My Wife, a beautiful, loving, kind lady who remained faithful to me, putting up with my many character flaws. Today we celeabrate the 41st anniversary of our marriage engagement.