The Millette/Garez choir has arrived! We did the Sunday Mass yesterday, and are doing the Christmas day Mass tomorrow. Also on our busy schedule is the Mary Mother of God Mass on January 1st. We sure have started off with a bang! Or maybe more like a whimper. You see we all have colds. It's hard to sing with a cold. As soon as you move to elevate your voice you are greeted by snot and choking. I mean literal choking, not the "you sure blew that one!" kind of choking. We'll get by though. I'm just relieved to not have to listen to the regular St. Eugene's choir during those Masses (drums and 80 year old women and all). 

Singing in a choir is fun. It can be nerve wracking, but the important thing to remember is that it is just that, a choir. All that is expected of you is that you do your part. There is no sense in worrying about other people's parts. My part is simple: stand in the back and try not to sing too loud. I think they told me that because my beautiful voice overpowers the whole congregation with its radiance. What other reason could there be for me to sing quietly in the back?

I must say that when singing at Mass I really look forward to singing the more difficult, yet conversely more beautiful, songs. For instance, yesterday we sat around in the choir and sang our normal selection of songs and Mass parts (City of God, Sing a New Song, Let There Be Peace on Earth... just kidding, more like On Jordan's Bank, etc.), yet all the while I was looking forward to singing Adoramus Te Christe in three part harmony during the offertory (it would be four part, but neither Stephen and I are tenors). Once it came time to sing it I got a little nervous, but hey, I make a fool of myself in front of my class everyday, so what's the big deal! It's nice to make beautiful music, or try anyway. Besides, ultimately we sing for Jesus, and not for the entertainment of others. 

So hopefully Jesus won't mind the colds and snot. 

It might even keep us humble.

Our Saviour Comes

Recently I have been meditating (if you can call it that) on the Sacrament of Confession and the wonderful cleansing effect of grace poured into the soul of the confessee (is that even a word?). What a wonderful gift we have in this Sacrament!

Growing up we attended bi-yearly family day retreats at the Oratory of St Philip Neri in Toronto, one in Advent and one in Lent. I think it was there, under the direction of some of the most amazing priests I have ever met, that I truly came to value Confession. I would try to prepare myself very well for these confessions and make a more thorough examination than, say, my other confessions. And these priests would really, truly advise and feed my soul in the confessional. I felt clean when I left there.

Thankfully, I have finally completed my Advent confession now in preparation for Christmas. And, yep, feel clean... until some nasty comment or something gets the better of me. 

As I've been taking walks on the trail this past week with Joseph I have marveled at the continued presence of the hoarfrost on the trees. And, as I've taken these opportunities to try to make sense of my endless list of sins, I've looked at those trees and desired my soul to look the same. I want a snowy white spot inside where I can welcome the newborn Christ-child into my heart.

But time and again I feel as though my own sinfulness is overwhelming. When I haven't been to Confession in a long time, I feel as though there's so much muck in me that it's not worth sifting through. I have a burden that I'm carrying around: the burden of my own sinfulness, the weight of little things done that add up to become big.

I find that there are two stages of realizing the need for Confession. In the first, I feel like I should probably go, but convince myself that it's not such a big deal, hasn't been that long, or that I just don't want to. In the second, which comes after a longer time, I know I need to get to Confession and I want to, in order to rid myself of my own ugliness that I can't stand being around any longer. 

It is in these moments when I realize my own brokenness and inability to rise above my human weakness, that I am so grateful for the Sacrament of Confession. For the chance to make things right and know that God has forgiven me.

And as I looked at the Nativity in these days of Advent, I marvel that we have such a gift of forgiveness only because of a tiny little baby in the manger. Is it not the greatest gift that God took on our human nature to free us from our sinfulness? We are saved from our fallen human nature through the Incarnation and birth of a Saviour. What greater joy than to know the love of God in His Son whom He sent to redeem us!

O come, O come, Emmanuel

And ransom captive Israel

That mourns in lonely exile here

Until the Son of God appear

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel!

7 Snippets: Random

Another week has just flown by here. I'll just give you a few snippets:

{one}

Joseph has perfected the art of fake laughing. All day long he'll go around chatting to everyone and then promptly crinkle up his face and give a fake laugh. Then he'll laugh at his own joke. I tried to capture it on camera today, but this was as close as I got:

{two}

We've got our house! We move in sometime near the beginning of January. It's two blocks from the elementary school where Dan is teaching and far too big for the likes of us. With 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and a finished basement you can all come and visit us -- once we have some furniture, that is. Yep, we still need to buy a bed and loads of other stuff to fill our little house.

{three}

When do kids learn to sleep through the night?! Or at least 4-5 hours in a row? We never get a good night's rest, ever. Maybe Joseph will be better in his own house? Maybe. I don't  even need to tell you that we're a little worn out and tired this week. And poor Dan's been getting up somewhere in the wee hours of 5:30am most days.

{four}

I just turned around from the computer to find that Joseph had taken my toiletries bag off the bed and emptied its contents on the floor. Deodorant, bobby pins, face wash, nail clippers... everywhere. He must have sensed something was coming because he immediately turned around with a grin and kindly offered me a bobby pin like he was doing me a favour. A few minutes later I turn around to find he's eating a sponge.

Just trying on Grandpa's reading glasses

{five}

 I can't believe that Advent is just flying by and Christmas is coming so quickly. Speaking of Advent, we haven't heard one song for this lovely season at Mass. Can you believe it? Not one "Oh Come Divine Messiah" or "O Come, O Come Emmanuel". I used to get tired of hearing the same old songs every week, but now I'm pining for them. We surely need a music revival in this diocese and not some kind of create-your-own-song event, but real, beautiful, and sacred music.

{six}

Joseph is starting to really pick up on the meaning of words and understanding what we're saying. This week Grandpa asked him nonchalantly if he wanted a bath. Immediately, Joseph's mouth formed an "oh" and he ran for the bathroom, a big grin on his face. We weren't planning on bathing him -- after all he has a bath almost every night! -- but his enthusiasm won out in the end.

Our little man has the most beautiful voice. He loves to sing at Mass and anywhere else too. The other day we were singing "Immaculate Mary" at Mass for the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. I whispered to Joseph that he should sing too. He waited. And waited. Then when we were all finished the song, Joseph started singing his own song for Mary.

{seven}

We woke up yesterday morning to a winter thaw. Well, not really, but it sure felt warm out. The temperature went up to -12 degrees! We've had mornings recently of -30 with a high for the day of -22, without the wind. This sure ain't the place for wimps, I tell ya!

Hopefully we'll have some better photos for you next time. We haven't been too diligent in taking decent ones recently.

Formal v. Informal Education... Kind of...

As I continue in my baptism-by-fire teaching of grade one, perhaps the biggest shock for me has been the differences in teaching in a small-town Saskatchewan school vs. teaching in an Ontario city. Here are just a few observations:

1) Food - I remember when I was on my grade five practicum in Ontario I asked my associate teacher about the possibility of bringing in treats for the kids some day. She looked at me in horror! Noooo! Never!!! Why, what if something happened!!?! I may as well call the ambulances ahead of time if I were to give them a piece of candy! As for bringing snacks for kids who do not have any, or even allowing kids to share some of their lunches... perish the thought! That is a lawsuit waiting to happen.

So needless to say I was a little shocked when I saw some of the teachers in Tisdale using candy as a bribe, er, external motivator to encourage learning. I guess it's no big deal here.

2) Staff Room - So I go to the staff room for lunch in Tisdale and I start hearing about how Mrs. So-and-So's llamas and cows are doing. Then I hear a great discussion on the best way to cook moose meat. Following this, I hear a thoughtful talk on how the U.S. medical system, though scary for those without insurance, does have some good points that could be used in Canada. All the while there is no profanity or bashing of the principal.

Two things that stood out for me in all the staff rooms I was at in my Ontario schools was the swearing/gossip, and the talk about television shows. Oh my! T.V. T.V. T.V.!!! Maybe this was because so many people I worked with in the Ontario schools were not yet married, and thus had too much free time at night. Sounds reasonable.

3) Discipline - There are some students of mine that give me trouble. I don't back down though. I can be pretty hard on them if they keep asking for it. I was thinking the other day though: "maybe I'm too hard on this kid..." So I asked my principal about this particular student (the principal teaches my class art and gym). The principal promptly responded: "yeah, that kid bugs me sometimes... I told him to shut-up yesterday..."
Oh. Never mind.

In Ontario I noticed more of an emphasis on passing troubled students off to the principal or vice-principal. In Tisdale I notice that the teachers are more-empowered to "let the kids have it" if they deserve it. On one hand that means more responsibility for the teacher. On the other hand, let's face it, it's nice to have more freedom in keeping students in line.

But lest you think my class is rough and tough with lots of screaming. No! It's actually a happy little classroom (with the occasional grade one meltdown, of course).

4) Technology/Money - Here Ontario hands down has an advantage. In Tisdale I have to try and book the computer lab in competition with many many many other classes. I like the computer lab. I take my students for 40 minute chunks and they learn, at their own pace, with great phonics and math games. They like it. I like it. Most importantly I find they really learn while there. However, it is a pain in the butt to try and book that lab. It's always full!

In Ontario there are mega huge computer labs. There are smartboards, with all the latest smartboard gadgets, in every classroom (that'd be awesome). There are laptop carts. There is just about everything you could hope for. On the contrary, yes, believe or not, in Tisdale we still do this:

5) Locked Doors - *Note, I was going to write about this even before the tragedy of yesterday occurred* 

If you want to get into a school in Ontario you have to go to the front door and buzz the secretary. She then has to push a button which temporarily unlocks the door. You then have to go straight to the office and report why you're there, fill out some paper work, and wear a visitor sticker on your shirt. I remember telling the teachers and staff at the schools I was in that this procedure seemed kind of stupid. I said that if someone really wanted to get in with a gun, he'd really have nothing to stop him from doing so. Sadly yesterday we found out, in a most horrible and tragic manner, that there truly is nothing to stop a killer from getting in. The NewTown Connecticut elementary school had just installed the locked-doors system two weeks ago. The latest reports are that the gunman forced his way into the school, before then carrying on with his murder rampage on the staff and young students. Horrible! It's a terrible way for me to have to make a point, but I'll repeat what I said while I was at Ontario schools: locking the doors is not going to stop someone from coming in with a gun if they want to. It just won't. Do I have answers for this? No. I'm just criticizing without answers. Very poor, I know.

In Tisdale the doors are all unlocked, all day. There is no paperwork to fill out if you are visiting the school. You go in, say hi to the secretary, and then go where you need to go. It's probably about as safe as an Ontario school. I think the locked doors system is more about making people feel safe.


That's a brief rundown on some of the differences I've noticed. Each system has its perks and pains. Oh well. I must say that I enjoy the more informal atmosphere in Tisdale. But then again, I never was very formal.

Filiparty

There was hope a few years back. The near-dead parish of St. Eugene's, Nipawin, SK, started seeing a boost in Mass attendance. "Wow!" the self-proclaimed Nipawin liturgists must have thought, "our seventies folk/hippie-liturgies must really be bringing in the people!" "Outtasight!"

The reality was, however, that Nipawin was being invaded by immigrants from the Philippines. As they came we started to hear so many stories about the great faith of this Asian country. We heard about their martyrs. We heard about the seemingly endless number of baptisms that a priest in the Philippines would have to perform each Sunday (in some cases 300+ a day). The churches? Full past capacity. The seminaries? Full also. It seems that Nipawin was in for a much needed spiritual boost. It wasn't long after the initial wave of immigrants arrived that Nipawin was assigned a Filipino priest. "Hey" we all thought, "they could start a Filipino choir, and even have a Filipino Mass from time to time!" What exciting times. Finally a secular, materialistic, and empty society could encounter some real faith!

How does the song go?

The sun came up,
and the world turned around,
but I saw right through it,
it will go back down...

Hope and Ruin...

It just wasn't to be. We soon realized the truth. The sad truth. And nothing but the sad truth. They're no better than the rest of us. Original Sin did not spare the Philippines. We all are quite messed up.

We soon noticed a trend with the Filipinos. They were always getting together. Hey, no problem with that. Well, they were always getting together to party. Party. Party. Party. They got together and partied like everday was Friday, Friday, gotta get down on Friday.

Manny Pacquia fight? Party!

A child's 3rd birthday? Party!

A new fence? Party!

Parish fall supper? Skip it and go have a party elsewhere!

Yesterday during a special noon Mass in honour of the Immaculate Conception Becca and I kept hearing laughing and screaming during Mass. It turns out that a Filipino contingent was busy decorating the basement of the church for a special Filipino party to be held later in the day.

Serves us right.

A Filipino Mall

It's too easy to simply hope that a group of people will arrive and turn things around for you. What were we thinking? Life doesn't generally work like that. If you want faith where you are then you'd better lead the charge. Need a saint in your area? Well... what are you waiting for? (What am I waiting for?)

I think of the words of, I think it was, St. Theresa of Avila. She said that you are to find love wherever you go. If you do not find love there... then put love there, and then you will find it. And did not St. Paul say that we are no longer Greek or Jew, servant or free... Filipino or Canadian... we're all in Christ.

So there continues to be little or no faith around St. Eugene's in Nipawin, or pretty well the whole diocese of Prince Albert for that matter. No sense in complaining about it. I guess we should do something about it.

It won't be easy.

But if it's successful, can you imagine the party we'll have in heaven someday?

Happy Days

I'm sorry you don't hear much from us these days. Truth be told, Dan is the better and more dedicated blogger and since he's now working long days, our blog has suffered.

Joseph's favourite pastime: taking everything out of all the drawers and cupboards

The grade ones are getting used to their new teacher and it seems like they even like him. Well, of course they like him! Dan's been bringing in different instruments to play music with them. They've been singing their ABC's to accordion music and discovered their new favourite song is the "Pirate Song" on guitar by Mr Millette. They've even learned a thing of two about discipline which, it seems, they never learned before -- you know, the word "no". It's still a challenge for Dan, but it seems to be getting a little easier. Between dealing with many kids with behavioral problems and teaching a grade he never remotely expected (or learned) to teach, he's doing a wonderful job!

Much of a belly? Ha! It's really just the angle

 We've become house hunters too! We're hoping to find a rental house in Tisdale at least until July when Dan's position is finished. Whether we continue on there with a contract position or move on elsewhere is yet to be decided. Now, while houses seem to be within our price range and decent, we have two major issues. One: We have no furniture! I mean NO furniture. So, if you have any leads on free and/or cheap stuff, we'd love it! Maybe I should add, we can't coming to Ontario to pick it up (much as we'd love the trip)! Two: Despite being excited about the possibility of having our own place, we'd dearly miss the Nipawin grandparents! Joseph and I would be bored. I wouldn't be able to get him excited first thing in the morning by saying, "let's go see Grandpa" or after changing him, "go give Grandma a kiss". They've already told us that they would visit a lot -- you know, take every coffee date, lunch outing, or drive in Tisdale -- and that we'd have to come back once a week, so I could make bread for them.

Tub time -- I can't believe how grown up he looks!

This morning Joseph discovered his shadow. It was so very funny! I was putting laundry in the wash, which he usually helps me with, handing me each item. But Joseph was busy. I couldn't figure out why he was standing in front of a shelf staring at the floor and then it hit me! He walked slowly forward, examining his progress, then backed up, gazing at the ground. He turned around and walked the other way, looking behind him at the dark little outline. Then he got down on his hands and knees and crawled. He was so immersed in his findings that I startled him when I called him after a few minutes, and he ran down the hall away from his shadow.  

No More Letters, Please

There is a New Evangelization in the Catholic Church! Yesiree, the Bishops of Canada have picked up the cause originally instituted by Pope John Paul II many many years ago. A New Evangelization! How nice! Say it to yourself slowly: "The New Evangelization." What a nice ring! Golly I feel like dancing!

What is this New Evangelization? How will it work? What is its actual meaning? No one really knows, but to begin, it means that if you're a bishop then you write a letter. Write letters to be read in church. Write letters to sit on the CCCB website for all staff members to proudly glance at. Then, wait two weeks and write more letters. The letters should talk about how there is to be a New Evangelization. "But wait!" you say, "don't the bishops already write letters all the time? How is this a New Evangelization?" Yes, bishops do write letters, but this time the letters will have the words "New Evangelization" in them, ergo they will be newer and surely to be listened to with the same ardour as a cloistered nun doing her daily lectio divina. The New Evangelization means that new churches will have to be built to house the throngs of people who return to church. The diocese coffers will soon overflow with new tithes. Heck, if all goes well then a diocese-wide theme song... no, wait, a Canada-wide theme song with both French and English verses... could be created and sung at every liturgy in the country. What unity! What New Evangelizing! The Spirit is a movin'!

Ok. 

Enough. 

Stop. 

No more silliness. 

The irony is too much for me. That is, how do you expect a New Evangelization by using the same old tried-tested-and-failed methods? More letters to be read in churches? More CCCB publications to be ignored? Can you blame people for ignoring them? And anyway, the best publications the bishops come out with are the ones that essentially reaffirm a teaching from an encyclical, to which the faithful laity says "but we already knew that, because we just read the actual encyclical instead..." I don't mean to put down all the bishops in Canada here. The Lord knows just how faithful and courageous good bishops such as Mulhall of Pembroke and Archbishop Prendergast of Ottawa have been for the Canadian Church. I speak of the same old tired antics of the CCCB and its old boys club. You know, the ones that stand by D&P at every step.

The more I hear the words "New Evangelization" beings spewed from countless letters, the more I wonder what it actually means. Right now it is only words. Empty words. No substance. Nothing to sink your teeth in, so to speak.

But now I propose a true New Evangelization. Why not use methods of evangelizing that actually work? Now that would be new indeed. How about seeing bishops praying in front of abortion clinics weekly or, if possible, daily? How about seeing a mandated increase of Eucharistic adoration in each parish? How about teaching priests how to say the Mass properly without making up half the words? You know, "save the liturgy, save the world" as Fr. Z. always says. How about taking an actual stand on those who wish to have their child baptized while the parents never go to church, and have no intention of ever going to church? How about shutting down D&P and all other "Catholic" organizations that are not actually Catholic? How about mandating that seminarians learn Latin and study the works of Aquinas (as Canon Law commands) or even take up such pious practices as wearing cassocks? How about having priests wear their collars, and thus be a visible sign of their sacred calling? How about... how about... 

How about just living the faith.

Perhaps the greatest evangelist in the history of the Church was St. Francis of Assisi. St. Francis simply lived the Gospel. He preached the Gospel with his life, not with letters. We're tired of letters. They don't mean anything to anyone anymore. Please, no more letters. 

No more letters for us. 

Now that would be a New Evangelization.

Graces of State

I don't think I ever really believed in what Catholics call "grace of state" until I became a mom. If you're Catholic then you know what I'm talking about. We use the term "grace of state" when we mean that God provides the graces necessary to deal with whatever we need to deal with in our particular state in life. Of course, in order to cash in on this special grace we have to been in tune with the Church's modes of providing grace (i.e. the Sacraments). But for some reason I could never really see this grace at work in my life until Joseph's birth.

I'm sure that as a university student God certainly provided me with a whole lot of grace. And during my sometimes agonizing (okay, I exaggerate a little) discernment process of what to do with my life and whether to marry, there was certainly lots of grace. But it's never so evident as when you're a parent.

That parents with young children survive day after day, month after month on very little sleep or being woken up multiple times per night must be a proof for God's providential grace of state. There is no way I could have done it as a university student. Not to say that I don't still complain when I'm woken up several times a night, but I'm almost positive that in my pre-motherhood days I actually would have snapped completely. 

In addition, this special grace is so particular -- not just "grace for mothers," "grace for fathers," etc -- that we are provided with grace to have patience with our particular child or our particular spouse. Often I think, there's no way I could be married to so and so or be a mother to that child, I wonder how his wife/her parent does it. But that's just the point. Grace of state is particular to my own state in life. 

Dan and I will sometimes compare our days and marvel at how the other deals with their daily tasks. Dan is finishing his first full week teaching a rowdy, misbehaving, set-back group of 21 grade one students. I can't imagine being in his shoes -- having the daunting task of teaching all those kids to read and write, dealing with their awful parents, and spending 45 min driving each way getting to work. I tell him how what he's doing is amazing! But he'll simply reply that I'm just as busy caring for Joseph every day, all day long. Yeah, but this isn't work. Well, it is. But it's work that is fitted to my state in life, as a mother.

It's an encouraging thought that when Christ told St Paul "my grace is sufficient" He really meant it. That means that we each have enough grace for our state in life -- as a mother/father, wife/husband, student/teacher -- at this moment. It means that I don't have to be worried that I can't handle 4 young children at one time or that I'm scared of having teenage children. I don't have 4 children. I don't have any teenagers. If and when I ever do, God will provide the grace necessary. And that is an encouraging thought.

The Saddest Day of the Year :(

I just want to say how sad I am that at around 9:30pm tonight there will be no more football. The feeling is similar to how December 26th means no more Christmas, or how after finishing Becca's home made spring rolls means there will be no more for another 2 years.

I will be sure to enjoy the game, and the pizza... but no spring rolls, of course. Maybe next year.

Prediction: Calgary 32, Toronto 28

_______________________________________________________________________________

On another note, it's been extremely hectic trying to figure out how to teach grade one! Especially since I haven't been left any guidelines or sample lessons or anything. The hardest part is simply having to take over midyear, and not knowing where the students are at. I suppose I could give them a week's worth of tests...

As I introduced myself to the students last week, we held a Question and Answer segment. Basically the students were allowed to ask me questions about myself, I would then answer them, and then they'd draw a picture of how they perceived me. Here are a few questions they asked which basically summarize the whole segment:

"Do you like jungles?"

"Do you go to Tobin Lake every summer?"

"Are you scared of jungles?"

"Do you like the beach? I like the beach!"

"Do you go to the park?"

"Did you know you look like my uncle?"

"I like jungles!"

   _______________________________________________________________________________

Christ is King. Amen.

5 Snippets: Cute & Funny

Joseph has been delighting us with some of his recent antics. As he begins to talk and learn about all the things are around him, it's cute and funny to watch. Here's a little taste for you:

{one}

One of Joseph's favourite pastimes is looking at all the various statues of Jesus, Mary, and the saints in our bedroom and the living room. When in our arms he'll point to them, indicating he wants an up-close introduction. Our routine is to pick them up one at a time, tell him who it is, and then he gently opens his mouth wide to give each one a kiss. He is totally delighted with his heavenly friends.

{two}

Joseph has started reading books. Dan mentioned this in one of his posts already. Most recently, we were "reading" The Runnaway Bunny. We got to the page when the little bunny says he will become a sail boat and sail away from the mother. "If you become a sail boat," says the mother bunny, "I will become the wind and blow you where I want you to go." So I blow. Then Joseph blows. No matter how much I act out all the other pages in the book, he keeps turning back to this one, delighted with the wind he's figured out how to make.

{three}

A church in town here puts on an interactive Christmas show every year called "Bethlehem Live". It's exactly what the title says: a live journey to Bethlehem that you take. When we went last Friday night, they led us from station to station outdoors while Roman soldiers accosted us, bandits tried to steal our money, real horses scared off the bandits, merchants tried to sell us goods in the marketplace, and an innkeeper told us there was no room at the inn. It was all very exciting with outdoor fires, wonderful costumes and actors, etc. Finally, we reached the stable where Mary and Joseph showed us the (live) baby Jesus. Baby Jesus was lost on Joseph. Instead, our Joseph turned around to look at the (real) sheep and calf in the stable with an ecstatic: "Emma". So now thinks any medium size animal is an Emma, not just all dogs.

{four}

Joseph has picked up a new habit to indicate generally "yes" or his interest in something. He tucks his double chin down into his chest and walks around bobbing his whole upper body in a nod. It looks ridiculous! And it's so darn cute. 

Reading with Daddy

{five}

I've already mentioned Joseph's love for his heavenly friends, but I can't resist adding another story. Recently, we started putting him to sleep in his own room (Uncle Stephen's room while Stephen's away at school). The first night we turned on a beautiful night-light of Mary. "Wow" was Joseph's reaction. I told him it was "Mama Mary". "Mama Mama," Joseph then told Dan, pointing to her. We had to turn out the light to get him to go to sleep. He also loves a tiny little plastic statue of the Infant Jesus in Stephen's room. Joseph knows who it is and calls Him "Isus." We were talking about "Isus" the other day and to our surprise Joseph turned around, with the statue in his hand, and pointed to "Isus" on the cross on the wall. Smart kid!

Jesus Loves Me This I know, for the Summa Tells Me So!

Throughout the past 2 1/2 months I have been taking a Christology course through Holy Apostles College and Seminary. Now I have taken Christology courses before, be it through the Academy or even at Redeemer (from the perspective of the Eastern Orthodox). In these courses the study of the Church Fathers was emphasized. However, this current course is different. Namely, it examines Christology through the mind of St. Thomas Aquinas, via the Summa Theologica and the the Summa Contra Gentiles. As a supplement we are also studying many of the works of Cardinal Ratzinger/Pope Benedict on Christology. Also, the course is a 900-level course, which essentially means it demands more work and deeper insight.

Currently I am studying in anticipation of my final exam in two weeks. I won't have much time to study while I teach, so I thought it best to start now. I am currently pouring over many Summa articles. Here are some of my favourites from this semester (though I have dumbed them down slightly)...

III, Q. 1, Art. 2 - Whether it was necessary for the restoration of the human race that the Word of God should become incarnate?

I like this question because it is the grandaddy of all questions for Christians. Did Christ have to come down as man to save us? To answer, in the words of Bilbo Baggins: "well no!...    ...and YES..."

Essentially Aquinas gives the classic distinction of relative vs. absolute necessity. Absolutely speaking, Christ did not have to come down as man to save us. God could have snapped his immaterial fingers and man could have been saved. However, relatively speaking it was necessary. In other words, it was fitting that Christ became man; to help strengthen our faith, hope, and charity, and to atone for the sins of man to God through the sacrifice of the God-man. Very fitting indeed. But not of absolute necessity, which in a sense demonstrates all the more the love of God by willingly humbling himself to become man, and suffer.

So the next time something doesn't go your way, don't get mad at God! He knows what it's like to suffer...


III, Q. 1, Art. 5 - Whether it was fitting that God should become incarnate in the beginning of the human race?

In other words, why didn't Jesus come earlier? Or even, as article 6 asks, why didn't Jesus come at the end of the world? Why come when he did?

Quite simply, the world wasn't ready for Jesus at the beginning of the human race. It took many years to understand that, golly gee, this world is messed up and needs some saving. On the other hand, waiting until the end of the world would be a little late, don't you think? Sort of like getting the answer to a movie while the final credits are rolling.


III, Q. 3, Art. 8 - Whether it was more fitting that the Person of the Son rather than any other Divine Person should assume human nature?

Could the Father have come instead? Or how about the Holy Spirit? Or what about all three?
Yes, yes, and yes.

But, it was more fitting that Jesus come. Why? Jesus is eternally begotten of the Father. In other words, as the Son he's the best exemplar. He's the best example of what it means to be made in the image and likeness of God, for he is the image of the invisible God. Does that make sense? Sigh. Just read the article.


III, Q. 4, Art. 1 - Whether human nature was more assumable by the Son of God than any other nature?

Why didn't God assume the nature of a butterfly instead? That's discrimination! God should be taken to the human rights tribunal. Or, why didn't God assume the nature of an angel? Surely angels are higher than men!

Well, irrational creatures lack dignity for God to assume their nature. Sorry butterflies. You're nice, but not that nice. On the other hand, angels have no need of God taking on their nature to save them. Angels are good, and will always remain good.

But what about the devil and his demons??? Their choice is an eternal choice. They can't be saved, because they have made an eternal decision to disobey God. So to hell with them!


III, Q. 7, Art. 3 and 4 - Whether in Christ there was faith? Whether in Christ there was hope?

Christ had no faith. Christ had no hope. Now go out there and be Christ-like!

True. But Christ didn't have faith because faith is for Divine things unseen. And Christ had the beatific vision (i.e. he constantly beheld the Divine, for he was Divine). Christ didn't have hope either, for God is the object of hope, and Christ is God. So, strictly speaking, Christ did not have faith or hope (but he had charity, of course).


III, Q. 8, Art. 8 - Whether Anti-christ may be called the head of all the wicked?

Who doesn't love a good debate on demonology? I feel like Brent and Hank at Corner Gas debating the age old question: "Who is worse, the devil or the Anti-Christ?"

The devil is worse. The devil is first in the order of wickedness and sin. The devil also has more power and influence of evil. However, in a sense the Anti-Christ will have the wickedness of the devil most fully impressed on him. Further, the Anti-Christ more closely represents the opposite of Christ. You know, the Anti of Christ, hence the name the Anti-Christ. It gets the point across. So in that sense he's a greater mockery to Christ. But the devil is still the head of the wicked.

With all of this in mind, I hope you don't have to go to sleep anytime soon...


III, Q. 15, Art. 2 - Whether there was the "fomes" of sin in Christ?

I just like this question because of the word "fomes." Fomes is a Latin word meaning "tinder." In other words, it refers to our likelihood, or tremendous inclination, to sin. Christ did not have this "tinder" towards sin. Why? Because Christ always obeyed right reason. His reason perfectly controlled his passions. Therefore, there was no inclination to sin in Christ. He just followed reason perfectly.


III, Q. 18, Art. 1 - Whether there are two wills in Christ?

Christ is not Gollum, but he does have two wills - one Divine, and one human.  If Christ didn't have a human will then he wouldn't truly be a man. If he didn't have a Divine will then he wouldn't truly be God. Simple, isn't it? It's hard to believe so many heresies started over such a simple truth.

I love how Pope Benedict XVI, who as Cardinal Ratzinger, explains Christ's two wills:

“the two ‘wills’ are united in the way in which two wills can be united, namely, in a common affirmation of a shared value. In other words, what unites the two wills is the Yes of Christ’s human will to the divine will of the Logos. Thus, in concrete terms – ‘existentially’ – the two wills become a single will while remaining, at the ontological level, two independent realities.”

Behold the Pierced One - p. 92

If our wills are totally united to doing God's will, in essence we will be acting as one will (though in actuality it will be two). Very beautiful, Pope Benedict!


So, there you have some of my favourite articles from this semester. I really didn't do them justice. You'll just have to read them yourself!

Let it Snow!

Winter set in here almost a month ago. The first snow fall came and stayed. The Ontario girl in me is thinking, "It's going to be one long winter!" Although Saskatchewan is home now, I don't know if I'll ever get used to these long, cold winters. And yet, I'm really enjoying the snow and cold, for now.

A beautiful prairie sunset just across the road

I bought my second and third pairs of long underwear this year. I remember vividly laughing at my mom who gloried in her own long underwear when I was young. Well, maybe I'm still laughing a little because it doesn't get near as cold anywhere in Southern Ontario as it will here. Mind you, it hasn't spiked down to -30 or even -25 yet. And I'm not sure if I've ever experience -40 or -50. 

My happy men

On beautiful sunny days I'm happy to spend time playing outside, but when it's overcast or snowing a little I'm much more inclined to avoid any outing. Thankfully, I feel some kind of motherly obligation to take my outdoors-loving little guy outside everyday. The result is, it's good for both of us!

Our 2nd snowman of the year

We've made a couple of snowmen already this year. Unfortunately, the dog (Emma) has knocked them over. One day shortly after building the snowman, Joseph and I were yelling at Emma for chasing vehicles. Scared of us, she turned on her heels to run off and smacked right into the frozen snowman. Serves her right!

Emma's jealous of all the attention Joseph receives

We've also made a few little snow angels and you wouldn't believe how cute they are with a 14 month chubby little body! Our favourite daily activities, though, are to walk the trail through the woods and sled in the ditch -- ahem, our hill. With our good old bag of hard-as-rock lawn fertilizer in the back for weight, Joseph's sled keeps him pretty happy. As long as we keep moving, that is. We like to check out all the little footprints on the trail, guess how long it will be before some of the leaning trees tumble over, and call for Emma when she gets too far away.

Joseph loves it when we run around the trail

We've also been doing a LOT of bird watching! When the bird feeder was first filled, Grandpa could barely keep up with the birds to fill it fast enough. We watch the grosbeaks, finches, chickadees, wrens, and, of course, the nasty blue jays. Some days there are up to 6 or 8 grosbeaks vying for feeder space.

Two male grosbeaks snacking

One morning a male grosbeak flew right into the window. Grandpa retrieved the stunned little bird before Emma could harm it and brought him inside. It was all we could do to keep Joseph from touching it. He was so excited! In his high little voice (as opposed to his low manly voice), he was chit chatting to the bird and going back and forth between the rest of us telling us about the bird.

Grandpa and Joseph save the grosbeak

I can't tell you how many times we've stopped to say, "It feels like it should be mid-December." And then let the reality sink in that it's still over a month until Christmas. And after Christmas is when Winter really sets in. Yes, we're in for a long winter! But the Christmas music has already begun in earnest here. And I now know why my mother-in-law insists on no Christmas music until after Remembrance Day. Since Monday we've heard nothing but Christmas music all day, everyday. Not that I'm complaining. I've married into a family that certainly takes everything Christmas-related very, very seriously. If you did something one year, well, it's tradition. And the day after Christmas is one of the saddest days of the year because you have to wait a whole year to open presents again!

Coin Answer

Just in case one of you didn't figure out the riddle from Wednesday...

Place 3 coins on one side of the scale, and 3 coins on the other side of the scale.

(c) (c) (c) = (c) (c) (c)                              (c)(c)

If the scale balances then weigh the remaining 2 coins to see which one is heavier.

(c) = (c)

If, when weighing 3 vs. 3, the scale tips downward on one side, balance 1 vs. 1 from that side. If one of them weighs more then there you go. If they balance then it is the other coin that weighs more.

That will give you two weighings.

3 Coins in a Fountain...

Here's a little brain-teaser for you as we hit the middle of the week.

There are 8 coins, and they all look the same. Now 7 of the coins weigh the same amount while the other coin weighs just a little bit more. Say you have a balance for a scale... using the scale only twice, can you tell me which coin is the heavier one? How?

The Unemployment Rate Just Dropped.

Last Tuesday - Becca and I pray to St. Joseph along the lines of: "Dear St. Joseph, you are the man. Even Jesus and Mary had to obey you in life. I really really need a job, and soon..."

Wednesday - The phone starts ringing off the hook with two different principals competing for my teaching services.

Thursday - Off to Tisdale Elementary School for an interview. The interview is with the principal and vice-principal only. Apparently their superintendent is ok with that. It goes well. They offer me a job on the spot teaching 0.80 fulltime grade one.

Friday - Off to William Mason School in Choiceland for an interview. The interview is with the principal and a superintendent. There is another candidate to be interviewed as well. Here I learn more about what the school division is actually like (it mirrors my teacher's college experience). The position in question is for teaching fulltime kindergarten/gr.1-6 social studies. I'm quite uneasy about kindergarten. Accordingly, I don't even shave in preparation for the interview. Alas, the interview goes well. Two hours later I am offered a job there.

You'd think I'd learn by now. Always be specific when praying. I guess I forgot to tell St. Joseph that teaching grades 4 and up perhaps would be more suitable for me. Nope. Instead I must choose between kindergarten, grade one, or unemployment.

Saturday - Work at the Co-op. There's nothing like shoveling snow, driving a forklift, and moving lumber around to clear the old head.

Sunday - Utter agony over what to do. I start looking into other options such as being a professional burger flipper at MacDonalds. To top it off, the Riders lose a nail-biter in the playoffs.

Monday - Decision Day. I wake up completely clueless as to what I should do. At first I was leaning towards taking the Choiceland position. Then, I was leaning towards taking nothing at all. After nearly two hours spent in the church, I decide, due to a lack of a gut feeling, to go with the best apparent rational decision out there. Becca later affirms this position. And so, we decide to accept the Tisdale Elementary School position.

...And then white smoke came rising from the Sistine Chapel

I will be starting at Tisdale Elementary School within a week. There I will teach core grade one subjects to 22 eager students. The position ends June 27th, and is not quite fulltime, which will be fine. It will allow me a little more time for getting accustomed to teaching grade one, as well as finishing my current Christology course. If I can manage alright, I may take another Masters course during the winter semester. But that decision can wait for another weekend. Also, the drive to Tisdale is upwards of 40+ minutes. If need be, Becca and I can move there during the Christmas break. Again, that's another decision that can wait for the time being.

It is a little nerve-wracking thinking about teaching grade ones. They're just... they're just... just... so small. But as one principal once told me, kids are kids. They might get bigger and more annoying, but deep down they're all just kids.

So that's the story of our weekend here. Thanks be to God.
I guess I should've listened to Garfield:

A Poor Sport

I love sports. The thrill of victory. The agony of defeat. I soak it all in. There is a Roughrider theme song which has the words:

"Well, seasons come and go. Like the glory and the pain.

One sure thing I know. It's we'll live through that again.

Even in the worst of defeats *cough* 13th man *cough* there is one thing we know, we'll be back. Hope springs eternal every new season.

  

Not so much in politics.

In politics if you lose you wait four years for another shot. In the meantime you lose 5.5 trillion dollars (possibly more this time around), 4 million babies to abortion, put leaders of Catholic organizations in jail for failing to act against Church teaching, continue redefining marriage and morality, raise taxes, beat up Israel... oh yeah, and put your neighbours to the North in a tough spot by your non-existent economy.

In sports you maybe get a new coach, get rid of a few players, sign some new players, have the draft, and next thing you know it's training camp again. Nobody dies. Life goes on.

Not so much in politics.

I guess there are a lot of solid Catholics who will wake up feeling miserable down South. But I'm sure they will dust themselves off and get back to work. You think the devil is resilient? He's got nothing on a ticked off Catholic.

As for those who voted for Obama, they're pretty elated right now. There's nothing like getting your own way, even if it is suicide. Nietzsche would be proud. But hey, there's no arguing democracy. Right?

Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner.

                                                                                                                            ― James Bovard

I think I'll go watch some football.

More Ontario Trip

Although it's been almost a month now since our trip to Ontario, this blog still has very little to show for it. I wanted to share with you a few pictures from our trip and they've been sitting here for quite some time. So here they are...

The reason for our trip: the wedding of Mr & Mrs Carruthers -- don't they look super happy?!

Our chauffeurs -- ain't that one snazzy Carolla?

The family with our newest brother-in-law addition. Joseph's face = priceless!

Our own little family

The Godfather, Uncle Jim

Grandma, thrilled to have her little grandson 

Triple trouble: Joseph, Kallum, and Conor. These little guys had lots of fun watching each other during the weekend.

Our walker -- Joseph entertained us almost nightly with his wind-down-for-bed walking craze

A beautiful fall hike with Grandma and Grandpa and the good ol' baby backpack from the last century (seriously)

Joseph admires a stick

Brrm, brrm. Joseph was thrilled to be on the quad with Grandpa, despite what his expression says.

A walk with Great-Grandma and Sam (whom Joseph affectionately called "Emma" -- the universal word for "dog")

Our pre-packing room disaster! Thanks so much for the use of your room, Bridget! Sorry, I don't have even one picture of you.