It Still Fits

Memorial of St. Thomas Becket

Perhaps it is laziness, or maybe it's just me, but with this year's run-up: the continued global struggle against public references to Christmas, the minor backlash against said global struggle, the fashion trend of evangelical mega-churches closing their doors on Christmas day (even though it fell on a Sunday), etc., it seems to me that the reflections in The Troglodyte's inaugural post still applies. Of course, given its Chestertonian roots, I'm not all that surprised. As we await the coming of the Magi on Epiphany and the end of Christmas this year, you be the judge:

Let us consider that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, AND that the Word came forth from a hole in the earth. We are familiar with the story of the Christ child in manger (no crib for a bed and all) but what is often forgotten is the nature of first-century Palestinian stables, namely that they were caves. So, not only was the Son of God born like an ordinary baby, and just as dependent on a mother, but, though His mother was only a traveler, He entered the world in the manner of an outcast. It is clear that once Jesus’ birth (like an outlaw) occurred, the concept of the place of the outlaw, the outcast, or the poor man changed radically. Just as man is elevated by God assuming his form, more too are the lowly elevated. If God chose that particular act of supreme humility, then how could any man rightly be the means to another man’s end? Therefore, one element is the recognition that individuals are important; that personal ties to individuals are important. This element of solidarity is traditionally attached to the shepherds , fulfilling the obligation put to them by the news from the heavenly hosts to adore the newborn King.

The Magi, the traditional scapegoats for popular gift-giving carry the sense of search and discovery, the desire for the unexpected, with hope for wisdom. The discovery that the lights of their own intellects faded in comparison to the light from the cave mirrors our own unrest in the pauses of our hectic schedules. Similarly, the anxiety for righteousness can also blind our search as we jump to judge this season for others. It is ultimately in these elements' emptiness that we can limit the insanity of pride’s dominion over our souls. Through these difficulties we will see so long as we affirm our belief in the mysteries of Christ in the difficulties of life, including the skepticism, the rationalism, and the secularism bombarding the story of the Incarnation.

As we stumble in the dark, may we remember where to turn in hope for the light in our search for the Big Idea. Merry Christmas.

There were many opportunities on national and international stages to turn to the Light last year, where many did, and many did not: tsunami relief, inaction in Darfur, Terri Schiavo, the papal events of April, questions of torture, embryonic stem cell research legislation, Hurricane Katrina, even the ID debate and the Vikings "Love Boat" scandal. But how many millions of daily opportunities were there just as crucial as any of these from an eternal perspective? Indeed, may more of us remember where to turn in the new year.

Bloggiversary

Well, not really. It was a few days ago, Christmas Day. First, I wish to thank you readers. This has been something between an intellectual exercise and a struggle against vanity (how else to explain the common obsession with site statistics?). Balancing blogging with the demands of work, seven children, and a wife who deserves more attention has been (and will continue to be) a challenge. In the beginning, I was not sure whether I would make it a year. That The Troglodyte has is not only because I enjoy it, but because of the inspiration from the positive feedback of readers. Thanks to you who are regular readers, thanks to you who leave comments, thanks to you who have taken the time to send me an e-mail about this, or that, and thanks to you fellow bloggers who read, comment, and link.

Second, as a demonstration of the balance question, I still have a few "end of the year" things to blog before the end of next week, but family demands will likely keep blogging light until then.

Third, with an eye to the coming year, be on the lookout for the major side bar update I've been mentioning for about six months. There will also be some format changes--some minor, perhaps some changes--and we'll see what else. As always, please let me know if you have suggestions, comments, or snide remarks.

May the joy and grace of this continuing Christmas season be with you and yours. Pax.

Announcement for Don Cook

From Mission Funeral Home:

Memorial for Don Robert Cook

Our beloved Don Robert Cook, age 43, resident of Austin, lost his battle with Melanoma on Saturday, December 17, 2005. Don, a loving husband, father, son, brother and friend will be deeply missed.

Don was born in Natchitoches, Louisiana on December 11, 1962, the seventh child of Dr. Charles Cook and Cele Cook. Don was a high school graduate of St. Mary’s in Natchitoches, LA and received his B.A. in Finance from Northeast Louisiana University in 1984.

He was preceded in death by his father Dr. Charles Cook of Natchitoches and his sister Janice Marie Cook.

He leaves to cherish his memory a very special wife, Denise Cook; his daughters, Sammy and Carlye Cook; his mother Cele Cook of Natchitoches, mother in-law and father in-law, B.J. and Jim Stephens of Orange, CA; his sister Kathy Cook of Shreveport, LA; sister Lynn Hanks and husband Bill of Plano, Texas; sister Carol McBride of Rosenberg, Texas; brother Keith Cook and wife Betsy of Natchitoches; brother Chris Cook and wife Sandy of Murphy, Texas; brother Edd Cook of Natchitoches and step-sister Trish Zeichner of Natchitoches; sister in-law Kelly Stephens of Santa Barbara, CA; aunts, uncles, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and many dear friends from everywhere Don has ever lived.

Serving as pallbearers are Michael McBride, Tony McBride, Justin Cook, Ford Hanks, Roland Salinas, & Greg Womack.

Honorary pallbearers are Whitney Hanks, Emilie Cook, Rebecca Cook, Christa Cook, Patrick Thomas, & Barry Perkins.

Don was a devoted father, husband and friend. He grew up on the Cane River where he learned to water ski and later shared his love of water sports with his wife and daughters. He also loved taking friends out on his boat to the Austin lakes. He was an avid sports fan, devoted to the Dallas Cowboys. He was highly competitive at work and play and he loved a good game of washers with his buddies.

Don achieved great success in his professional life as a pharmaceutical sales representative. He was employed by Novartis Pharmaceuticals for 14 years. He received numerous awards and bonuses for his professional accomplishments, but the greatest of these were the friendships he made.

Recitation of rosary will be December 19th at 7:30 p.m. at the Mission Funeral Home Serenity Chapel (South). The family will receive friends starting at 6:30. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated December 20th 10:00 a.m. at San Jose Catholic Church. A Reception will follow at the Funeral Home. Graveside services will be held at 11:00, on December 22nd at Memorial Lawn Cemetery in Natchitoches, LA.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the Melanoma Research Foundation, 24 Old Georgetown Road Princeton, NJ 08540. Or Hospice Austin 4107 Spicewood Springs Rd, Ste 100, Austin, Texas 78759

Don’s memory, his love of life and family will live on in the hearts of all who knew him.

The family would like to thank everyone for their prayers and love during this most difficult time. Also thanks to Dr. Hellerstedt and her staff at Texas Oncology, Dr. Camacho and staff at MD Anderson and everyone at Hospice Austin.

Giddy-up: Prayer Request Update

Family Memorial of Don Cook

It seemed a little too coincidental that I thought of my dear friend, Don Cook, this afternoon and then almost simulaneously ran across City Slickers on TV after may reference to it a couple of days ago, so I decided I needed to check my e-mail. Sure enough, I received the note from one of his neighbors that I had been praying would not come:

With a sad heart I must tell you that Don passed away this morning at 10:10. Don and Denise were alone together when he took his last breathe and she said he was very peaceful. Denise returned home to spend time with the girls and grieve. Plans had already been made for his family to visit him at hospice so they are on their way... They are expecting quite a few family members to arrive this weekend and it will be very hectic for awhile.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be Tuesday in Austin, with interment near his childhood home in Louisiana later in the week.

This has understandably been a trying day for the Troglodytrix and me, one that I choose not to describe. Don and Denise have been some of the best friends we have ever had as a couple. As soon as I finish of my six of Shiner Bock (a beer to which Don introduced me and goes, hand in hand, with the game of washers) I will begin a novena of thanksgiving for the grace of having Don as a friend and for the repose of his soul. I have asked many times that my readers and (sometimes those of the Catholic Ragemonkey) say a prayer for Don, his wife, Denise, and their two girls. I am ever grateful, as Don was, for those prayers. I ask one more time for your prayers, this time for the repose of Don's soul and that his family may know the comforting Grace of Christ and the loving embrace of Mary, the virgin Mother of God, and all the saints, while in their grief.

I will have more later... at some point.

May the angels take him into paradise: may the martyrs come to welcome him on his way and lead him to the holy city, Jerusalem. May the choir of angels welcome him with Lazarus who once was poor, may he have everlasting rest.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let the perpetual light shine upon him.
May his soul, and those of all the faithful departed, through the Grace of God's mercy, rest in peace.
Amen.

Rewind That! Children Have a Right to What?

I missed this on Zenit a couple of weeks ago (cap tip: RCB) from Pope Benedict:

"Children have the right to be born and to grow within a family based on marriage," said the Holy Father, who invited the ecclesial community to "present in all its richness the extraordinary value of marriage that, as a natural institution, is the 'patrimony of humanity.'"

In his address in Spanish, Benedict XVI stated that "the present phenomenon of secularization … hinders the social conscience from properly discovering the identity and mission of the family institution."

In recent times, continued the Pontiff, "unjust laws" have been approved that "are ignorant of the fundamentals of the same."

"New forms of marriage have been proposed, some of them unknown in the cultures of the nations, in which its specific nature is altered," he said in an implicit reference to so-called same-sex marriage.

"Truly, children are the greatest wealth and most appreciated good of the family," the Pope continued. "That is why it is necessary to help all persons to become aware of the intrinsic evil of the crime of abortion that, in attempting against a human life in its beginning, is also an aggression against society itself."

The Church reminds "politicians and lawmakers, as servants of the social good," of their duty "to defend the fundamental right to life, fruit of the love of God," he added.

When this is forgotten, Benedict XVI continued, "the elimination of the embryo or its arbitrary use" is facilitated "in the interest of the progress of science," which without ethics "becomes a threat to the human being himself, being reduced to an object or a mere instrument."

"When these levels are reached," he added, "society itself is offended and its foundations are shaken with all sorts of risks."

Given today's political penchant for all things in the Name of the Children to "avoid societal risks," you'd think there ought to be a law...

Choice on Earth, My Will to All?

Planned Parenthood continues its Predictable practice of selling, ummmm, "distasteful" holiday cards. I presume, given the confluence of those trying to wipe every public reference to "Christmas" from existence and those for whom abortion on demand is a sacrament, these are intended to celebrate their holy day of Jan. 22.

(cap tip: Holy Fool)

Hwang Fails to Compartmentalize Ethics

Hwang Woo-suk, a veterinary professor at the Seoul National University whose team gave us human cloning and an alleged ten-fold efficiency gain in creating human embryonic stem cells (hESC) so that "therapeutic" cloning is now a "practical" possibility, has agreed to a university investigation after 30 fellow professors demanded an inquiry amid allegations that he falsified research.

Dr. Hwang's team claimed last May to have produced eleven unique stem cells that matched individual patients. Photos published with the research results in the journal Science, however, appear to be duplicates. His team maintains that the original research is genuine, even though the published pictures are not.

This controversy follows an earlier ethics breach where it was revealed that Dr. Hwang lied in an attempt to conceal that two female members of his team donated eggs for ESC experiments.

The University of Pittsburgh is also investigating the team's results because of the involvement at the time of one of its own professors. Dr. Gerald Schatten has already severed ties with the South Korean team as a result of the egg donor scandal.

Aside:

I wonder when Dr. Hwang plans to begin maintaining respect for human dignity as he promised Seoul Archbishop Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk in June.

The Yee-haw Scene: Prayer Request Update

I received an update this morning from one of Don Cook's neighbors:

On Wednesday morning they transferred Don to the Christopher House.
The Christopher House is a hospice facility and a very nice one at that.
Don has a large comfortable room with a sleeper sofa and all the amenities of
home so that Denise is able to stay there with him. More importantly they
have a Dr. on staff at all times and round the clock nurses. Don appears
to be resting more comfortably and Denise is doing much better there for
sure. Now she can focus on comforting and loving him instead of nursing
him. His prognosis is the same and we do not know how much time he has or
how long he will be there but for now knowing he is more comfortable is
good.

Denise wanted me to thank everyone again for their well wishes, prayers and
words of encouragement for Don and the family.

Please (continue to) pray for Don, Denise, and their two girls, who start their what you used to be called Christmas break tomorrow, that they know and accept God's grace during this family journey.

Aside:

Here's the source of the "yee-haw scene" paid homage in the Billy Crystal movie, City Slickers.

In Other Words, Clarity and Charity

Memorial of St. John of the Cross

The Vatican released yesterday the message of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI for the Celebration of World Day of Peace, January 1, 2006, entitled "In Truth, Peace." Here's one of many truffle passages:

The truth of peace calls upon everyone to cultivate productive and sincere relationships; it encourages them to seek out and to follow the paths of forgiveness and reconciliation, to be transparent in their dealings with others, and to be faithful to their word. In a particular way, the followers of Christ, recognizing the insidious presence of evil and the need for that liberation brought by the divine Master, look to him with confidence, in the knowledge that ''he committed no sin; no guile was found on his lips'' (1 Peter 2:22; cf. Isaiah 53:9). Jesus defined himself as the Truth in person, and, in addressing the seer of the Book of Revelation, he states his complete aversion to ''every one who loves and practices falsehood'' (Revelation 22:15). He has disclosed the full truth about humanity and about human history. The power of his grace makes it possible to live ''in'' and ''by'' truth, since he alone is completely true and faithful. Jesus is the truth which gives us peace.

Aiding the Children of Sudan

Funds raised at this year's charity auction, held today by the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples at Piazza di Spagna in Rome, will go to help Sudanese children.

Lifting All Boats

Memorial of St. Lucy

Dave Hartline has an interesting piece that outlines how the tide has turned toward Catholicism after the low days of the sexual abuse scandal. I recommend reading the entire essay. His is an optimistic view that I share, and I think he also puts rightly the trend in context:

While the Catholic Church like many mainline Protestant churches had its fair share of less than inspiring priests, ministers and deacons, the Catholic Mass to believers is part of something that Jesus himself started 2,000 years ago on Holy Thursday night. Although the Church has been hit with a withering barrage of angry naysayers, like lapsed Catholic Andrew Sullivan, perhaps one can say the Church has taken their best punch and withstood it well. While there have been many ebbs and flows in the history of Catholicism, perhaps we are now beginning a new and promising flow of faith.

My only point of disagreement with Mr. Hartline is that he asserts the tide turned in April 2005 with the reaction to John Paul the Great's death and the focus on the events that followed. I think that it began in February 2004 with the release of Mel Gibson's Catholic Stations of the Cross writ large, The Passion of the Christ, an event he also mentions.

The international attention drawn to that movie, and the largely ignored lack of predicted anti-Semitic violence, made so plain the power of Christ's redemptive suffering that the secular culture could not deny, and in many subtle ways affirmed, the presence of the Holy Spirit at the end of one pope's reign and the beginning of another's. I have often advanced John Paul the Great's notion that culture is the engine of history. In this case, it set the stage by giving context for the historical events of this past April, not as a turning of the tide, but a wave we continue to ride.

Stereotypeset and Match

Quiz time! (cap tip on the first two: North Western Winds)


Republican - You believe that the free market will
take care of most things, but that the
government should be there with moderate
taxation to provide for national defense and
enforcing morality. Your historical role model
is Ronald Reagan.


Which political sterotype are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

You scored as Neo-Conservative Catholic. You see that the government of the United States was originally founded on recognizably Catholic natural law principles and reason in the tradition of Saint Thomas Aquinas, and the freedom of religion acknowledged in the Constitution has allowed Catholicism to flourish in this largely Protestant country. You recognize that the American system of government, even with its faults, is the most moral social order developed in history. You are committed to being a Catholic active in society. Like the Liberal Catholic, your views might be too determined by American culture, and you may uncritically accept many theories that may be harmful to yourself and society; instead you may need rediscover traditional Catholic teaching. You should emphasize the love of your neighbor, especially love for the poor, in your everyday business dealings. Neo-Conservative Catholic 59% Traditional Catholic 55% New Catholic 52% Radical Catholic 33% Evangelical Catholic 24% Lukewarm Catholic 19% Liberal Catholic 17% What is your style of American Catholicism? created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Classical Humanist. You think that persons are ontologically good but morally bad. You are traditional and orthodoxy is very important to you. You are most likely Catholic, or else your religion is ancient, with a long continuous tradition. You have a good sense of humor and like to take things easy. You aren't a very exciting person, but are dependable. You think that people need to cultivate the virtues of prudence, temperance, fortitude, and justice. You think that the study of science is good, but don't often keep up with the products of technological progress. You believe that the study of history has great application to understanding current events. You think that people can govern themselves most of the time, and that government needs to be mainly small; however, you do not expect too much of government. Your favorite philosophers are Plato, Aristotle, Confucius, Marcus Aurelius, Augustine of Hippo, and Thomas Aquinas. Classical Humanist 88% Enlightenment Optimist 50% Existentialist 6% Pessimist 6% What's your Philosophical Anthropology? created with QuizFarm.com

Catholic Carnival LIX is Up at Living Catholicism

Saddled Up: Prayer Request Update

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

For myself I am an optimist—it does not seem to be much use being anything else.

Sir Winston Churchil

This was a quote that graced the web site of my friend and former neighbor, Don Cook, for a while.For all its sensibility of the power of positive thinking, it betrays a type of defeatism Churchill carried through his life. Edward Short has an essay in the December issue of Crisis that examines the Old Lion's disdain for religion. One thing that Short notes is that Churchill believed that death meant extinction and that eternity was a nightmare possibility, which strikes me more as a fearful notion rooted in an ultimately nihilistic sentiment, also excerpted by Mr. Short:

If you tried your best to live an honorable life and did your duty and were faithful to friends and not unkind to the weak and poor, it did not matter what you believed, or disbelieved. All would come out all right.

Once you get below the surface of this, as anybody who faces a real, personal challenge knows, what many call sufficient for "having a good heart," is often inadequate for addressing crises until you can grasp what is honorable, duty, faithful, and kind in truth. Unfortunately, such has been the kind of crisis facing Don and his family, yet thankfully, though they may not realize it, they are better equipped than Churchill in this regard.

Defying a long track record of his own real optimism, Don's condition continues to decline. The Cooks' friend Gina has posted recently that:

Things have been very difficult for the Cooks... Sleep doesn't come easily for anyone and emotions run high. Now bedridden, Don is not in any real physical pain, but his mind will not allow him to relax.

He is no longer accepting outside visitors, or calls, save the network of family and very good friends in Austin.

Perhaps the quote that still remains on his site from John Wayne can be a key:

Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.

I only imagine that he wrestles with Churchill's "fear," as I watched my father wrestle in his own Gethsemane for a time. And I pray Don finds (continues to find) the courage to practice Faith, Hope, and Charity, the theological virtues, respectively, by which we

1.) Believe in God and believe all that he has said and revealed to us, and that Holy Church proposes for our belief, because he is truth itself [CCC 1814]

2.) Desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ's promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit [CCC 1817]

3.) Love God above all things for his own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God. [CCC 1822]

It is through truth and grace that understanding and accepting the mystery come. Gina has asked that we pray for peace in the Cook household. Indeed. Please, God, may Your face shine upon them and let Your cloak of truth shield them from further discord.

John Paul the Great on Faith, Hope, and Love #2

To become like a little child--with complete trust in the Father and with the meekness taught by the Gospel--is not only an ethical imperative; it is a reason for hope. Even where the difficulties are so great as to lead to discouragement and the power of evil so overwhelming as to dishearten, those who can rediscover the simplicity of a child can begin to hope anew

Message for World Day of Peace, 1996

Catholic Carnival LVIII is Up at HerbEly

Memorial of St. Nicholas

Darfur Petition

A Coalition for Darfur Post

A petition from Professor Samuel Totten, editor of "A Century of Genocide: Critical Essays and Eyewitness Accounts," was mentioned in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette last week.

He is seeking 2,000 actual signatures. You can get the formatted petition here, then cut, paste, sign and mail it to:

Dr. Samuel Totten
University of Arkansas, COEHP
205 Peabody Hall, Fayetteville, AR 72701

If you cannot print, sign and mail it, you can still sign it by sending an e-mail containing your name, city, and affiliation (if appropriate) to stotten(at)uark(dot)edu.

Here is the petition:

We, the undersigned, beseech the international community, and particularly, the United Nations, to organize and implement a strong, well-manned, and well-resourced intervention in Darfur, Sudan, in order to stop the ongoing genocide being perpetrated by Government of Sudan (GOS) troops and the Janjaweed (Arab militia) against the Black Africans of Darfur. In order for the intervention to be effective -- and not another fiasco as the international community witnessed in Rwanda in 1994 and then again in Srebrenica in 1995 -- the mandate must come under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which allows for peace enforcement, not simply peacekeeping. We urge that a minimum number of 12,000 troops be allocated for this mission, and that the mission be supplied with all the necessary equipment -- in good working order and adequate supplies to operate, and repair such when needed, to carry out the mandate/mission.

We also strongly urge that the mission be undertaken as soon as possible for each day that goes by an estimated 500 innocent people are losing their lives.

Proof of the effectiveness of such a mission should be based upon the following criteria:

1. An immediate end to the violence in the Darfur region;

2. Immediate access for all humanitarian aid that needs to be delivered to the internally displaced refugee camps and other areas where the victims of the GOS and Janjaweed may be seeking shelter and safety.

3. Immediate, voluntary, and safe return of the refugees to their homes and villages.

4. Accountability for all of those engaged in the planning and perpetration of the crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide.

NOTE: Please return completed petitions to: Dr. Samuel Totten, University of Arkansas, COEHP, 205 Peabody Hall, Fayetteville, AR 72701.

PS: Please feel free to make as many copies as you wish. Please also urge friends, family and colleagues to sign the petition. And if possible, please send the petition with this message as to many folks as possible, urging them to (1) get the petition signed by as many people as possible, and (2) send the petition via email to as many of their own friends, neighbors, colleagues and family members as possible urging them to do the above. By following this process I am hoping to cover all parts of the U.S. and, again, obtain as many signatures as possible.

Pope Benedict's Prayer Intentions for December

General prayer intention:

That an even deeper understanding be spread of the dignity of men and women according to the Creator’s plan.

Mission prayer intention:

That, on earth, the search for God and the thirst for truth may lead every human being to meet the Lord.

For more info, see the Apostleship of Prayer.

Week 12 - The Troglodyte Top Twelve

I must admit that this week may have been the toughest to rank with LSU and VaTech losing and UCLA getting embarrassed by SoCal, there is a log jam in the bottom half. I have generally been looking at the teams in terms of tiers. To reflect this I visually grouped the teams accordingly. Also, for entertainment purposes only, I have listed my five for the Heisman Trophy, if I had a vote. (Please no wagering).

Rank. Team (Previous)
1. Texas (1)
2. USC (2)

3. Ohio St. (5)
4. Penn St. (6)
5. Miami (7)
6. Notre Dame (8)

7. Auburn (9)
8. Georgia (10)
9. LSU (3)
10. Virginia Tech (4)

11. Alabama (11)
12. Oregon (--)

Heisman Trophy
1. Reggie Bush
2. Vince Young
3. Brady Quinn
4. Matt Leinart
5. Jerome Harrison

So concludes the "regular" season. This has been a season where actually I have seen quite a bit of football, including all the teams in the Top Twelve in at least (substantial) parts of two games. This is a bit of feat because I didn't have GameDay, nor did I go to any sports bars, this year. We now enter my favorite part of the season: interesting bowl match-ups you'd be lucky to see in a seeded, 8-team playoff (Ohio St./Notre Dame, Oregon/Oklahoma, Auburn/Wisconsin, etc.), cross-sections to test conference strengths reasonably, and another argument with my brother-in-law why a playoff system would ruin college football (and already has ruined New Year's Day). Finally, here are five questions I hope to have answered by this year's bowl games:

1. Is the SEC as strong as I think it is?
2. Is the Big Ten as deep as I think it is?
3. Is the Pac Ten as weak as I think it is?
4. Will we finally have the convincing evidence the Big East has no business with a BCS bid?
5. Will I be able to stomach the Paterno vs. Bowden hype?