David and freedom

The beauty of the David is not only in the sculpture, but in the concept: David represents Liberty for the people of Florence!

SES 2006

Don Bosco Hall is filled again for the Salesian Education Seminar. I've got to prepare a presentation for tomorrow… I'm a little at sea, if truth be told. But this morning I'm working away on it… Here's a visual that I hope to use of Mary Help of Christians from a church in Ecuador.

Fathers Day

Got back to California on the night of June 16th… spent Saturday 17th with my brother Mario and his family for an early Fathers' Day celebration. Then on Sunday spoke with my brother Sal, whose children gathered with him for Fathers' Day in Tucson.

Fathers Day seems to remain as the uncelebrated holiday in many quarters, but is was good to see that my brothers children and grandchildren celebrate them with great affection. Talking with Sal by phone and watching Mario first-hand reminded me of the affection we had as children for our grandfathers. We had a bit of a language barrier; this will not be the issues once Mario's and Sal's grandchildren start to talk.

Happy Fathers Day!

Distinguishing

It is important to make a distinction between "spiritual theology" and "spirituality". The reason is that there are a lot of folks who think that "spirituality" has nothing to do with theology. It is sort of a code word, at times, for non-affiliations. How many folks say "I'm not religious but I'm spiritual". I don't say that in judgement, but if I've heard this from one person, I've heard it from 100. Spirituality can be the code word more than a way of life… and in a Christian perspective, Spirituality is really "life in the Spirit" and a responsiveness to God who calls. Sprituality as spiritual theology is a serious study of how God calls and the many ways that human beings can truly respond to that call. Spiritual theology leads to spirituality if it is true; spirituality seeks its grounding in spiritual theology if it is authentic.  


In Christian terms, and certainly in Catholic terms where the Incarnation is so real a principle, all our other preparation comes into play. This is where we become "interdisciplinary", etc. Still, the methodology will be theological for the spiritual theologian.

June comes in like a lion!

Rained all afternoon yesterday, and on the southside of Rome there was hale. Vatican Radio this morning said that yesterday was the coldest June 2nd since 1976. In fact, the temperature when we went to breakfast this morning was hovering around 10°. There is snow in mountains at 500 meters. At the present moment there are new editions of clouds building up, and rain is predicted again today. That hasn't stopped the pilgrimages. Streets around the Vatican will be closed all weekend. 300,000 pilgrims already have "ticket" to the mass for Pentecost in St Peter's Square.