Friday, February 29, 2008
A Night at the Opera
There's a first time for everything right? Well, a couple of nights ago was my first time experiencing the art form that is opera during a trip to see Seattle Opera's production of Puccini's "Tosca". Now knowing myself, as I do, I'm really surprised I haven't dabbled in this art form before. After all, I love classical music and classically trained voices, as well as the stage - plays and musical theatre. However while opera encompasses both of these, it is also unique unto itself. My foray into opera began a few weeks ago when one of my classmates, who had been part of an opera club in high school, suggested we gather enough people to get a group rate. I was game to go and am so glad I did. The opera was full of all sorts of sordid details....love, murder, jealousy - as any tragic story should be. The actors were wonderful and their voices just beautiful. With English subtitles discreetly displayed on a screen above the stage you didn't even have to speak Italian to enjoy it. At times, I would even stop reading the subtitles and just listen to an aria being sung. Additionally the sets were gorgeous, Act I nailed an Italian church spot on. Now I know opera isn't everyone's cup of tea...too many high notes, or what is perceived as "overacting", but I really enjoyed myself. If you haven't ever given opera a try, think about it, you might be pleasantly surprised. And you also just might see me there, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Just one of the (many) reasons my teens are amazing!
As most of you probably know, I volunteer with my parish's high school youth ministry program, Life Teen. Being a Core member is so wonderful and my teens never cease to amaze me with their love of God, His Church and their insight into their blossoming faith. This year I'm not sponsoring anyone for Confirmation an am too busy to help out with the planning so I didn't get a chance to go on the retreat. A few days ago, however, during our Guatemala committee meeting, our Pastoral Associate brought in for our opening prayer, a compilation of Beatitudes written by our teens and their sponsors during the Confirmation retreat. They were asked to think about times that teens face challenges in their faith, and how they might stand up to them. He picked a few to share with us, and now I'm sharing them with you, so that you might get a chance to be inspired by our Church's young faith!
Blessed are they who see themselves as a child of God,
for they will know His love.
Blessed are they who see God in others,
for they will be blessed with friendship.
Blessed are they who resist and do not exert peer pressure,
for they will have the confidence to stand up for themselves.
Blessed are they who are unafraid to verbalize their beliefs,
for they will sing with the angels.
Blessed are they who live out their uniqueness,
for they will accept and understand themselves and others.
Blessed are they who help the stragglers,
for they will find themselves welcomed.
Blessed are they who act when they are called,
for they will not miss the opportunity to share their gifts.
Blessed are they who can cope with life's pressures,
for they will relieve the pressures of others.
Amen!
Blessed are they who see themselves as a child of God,
for they will know His love.
Blessed are they who see God in others,
for they will be blessed with friendship.
Blessed are they who resist and do not exert peer pressure,
for they will have the confidence to stand up for themselves.
Blessed are they who are unafraid to verbalize their beliefs,
for they will sing with the angels.
Blessed are they who live out their uniqueness,
for they will accept and understand themselves and others.
Blessed are they who help the stragglers,
for they will find themselves welcomed.
Blessed are they who act when they are called,
for they will not miss the opportunity to share their gifts.
Blessed are they who can cope with life's pressures,
for they will relieve the pressures of others.
Amen!
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Time flies!
I just noticed my last post is four days shy of being a month old...time to get back into the swing of things (and take a break from studying neuro).
This week is notable for two reasons:
1 - I have officially passed the halfway point of my second quarter of PT school! This quarter has absolutely flown by, helped in large part by not having two or more tests every single week. My classes are interesting, and I love what I'm learning! I do have a big neuro midterm tomorrow that I'm currently studying for so any thoughts/prayers you could spare around 12:30 would be much appreciated ;)
2 - We are in the first full week of Lent! Hard to believe, since Lent fell so early this year...I feel like we just got done with Christmas. This a time for reflection, prayer, fasting,almsgiving...a time to journey into the desert with Christ and get our own faith journeys on track as we await the death and resurrection celebrated at Eastertime. I am hoping to focus on my prayer life which always seems to need an uplifting, especially when the busyness of life and school and even ministry get in the way.
School work calls back (alas!) but if you're in the mood for some more blogging fun, a good friend of mine just joined the blogosphere, check out Fact, Faith and Feeling on my list of friends' blogs!
This week is notable for two reasons:
1 - I have officially passed the halfway point of my second quarter of PT school! This quarter has absolutely flown by, helped in large part by not having two or more tests every single week. My classes are interesting, and I love what I'm learning! I do have a big neuro midterm tomorrow that I'm currently studying for so any thoughts/prayers you could spare around 12:30 would be much appreciated ;)
2 - We are in the first full week of Lent! Hard to believe, since Lent fell so early this year...I feel like we just got done with Christmas. This a time for reflection, prayer, fasting,almsgiving...a time to journey into the desert with Christ and get our own faith journeys on track as we await the death and resurrection celebrated at Eastertime. I am hoping to focus on my prayer life which always seems to need an uplifting, especially when the busyness of life and school and even ministry get in the way.
School work calls back (alas!) but if you're in the mood for some more blogging fun, a good friend of mine just joined the blogosphere, check out Fact, Faith and Feeling on my list of friends' blogs!
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Faith and Reason
Always the debate right? One of my latest pasttimes when I want to do something other than study is browse through news stories on my Yahoo home page. (By the way, this is an especially dangerous pasttime now that I'm taking notes on my computer and UW has wireless internet everywhere!) One of the RSS feeds on my page links to stories on the site Catholic World News and it was something on there that led me to want to comment.
Pope Benedict XVI was recently asked to speak at a Roman University called La Sapienza, which means "wisdom". The university, according to the Holy Father's speech, was actually founded by Pope Boniface VIII in 1303. However, as soon as it was announced that he was coming, a small, but vocal, group of faculty and students began to protest his coming, and protest, and protest, and protest. Finally, the Pope was forced to cancel his visit to prevent demonstrations. (If you'd like, here is the speech he would have given.)
What was the cause of this unrest? Comments made in 1990 by then Cardinal Ratzinger regarding the Church's trial of Galileo, in which he claimed the Church was "rational and just" in acting as they did, taking into account those times. However, in the same speech he stressed that the Church was not hostile to science and that Galileo continued his research with the Church's support. Pope John Paul II also publicly acknowledged the Church's fault in bringing him to trial.
What this comes down to is not necessarily your personal beliefs on whether the Church was right or not 400 years ago in acting as it did against Galileo. What is most surprising to me, is that a university, as an institution of higher learning, should be one that is open to all ideas so that we are able to rationally decide on what we believe. Yet, it seems that sometimes those who cry "free speech" (which I wholeheartedly endorse) are the fastest to strike against allowing it in those that they don't agree with, and that to me is so saddening. I think that nowhere is this more apparent than in the science and faith debate.
Recently, a friend of mine on Facebook posted a link to an article, that was about the finding of a unique dinosaur fossil. What she was pointing out, however, was the comments section. It had immediately turned into a debate between a creationist telling everyone they were unintelligent for not believing the Bible, and evolutionist telling him he was unintelligent because he believed the Bible...believe me, it was not a dialogue. As an undergrad science major who had to sit through professor telling us why religion was a hoax, I know the difficulty that exists in reconciling faith and reason today. While there are many great philosophers and Christian and Catholic professors in all fields, I wanted to ask that we just take a second to pray for our society, that attempts at dialogue and learning may not meet the closed door that Pope Benedict just did and that we all may grow as a result.
To end this (long...) post, here's one of my favorite quotes from Pope John Paul II:
"In my reading and in my studies I always tried to achieve a harmony between faith, reason and the heart. These are not separate areas, but are profoundly interconnected, each giving life to the other. This coming together of faith, reason and the heart is strongly influenced by our sense of wonder at the miracle of a human person - at man's likeness to the Triune God, at the immensely profound bond between love and truth, at the mystery of mutual self-giving and the life that it generates, at our reflections on the succession of human generations."
Pope Benedict XVI was recently asked to speak at a Roman University called La Sapienza, which means "wisdom". The university, according to the Holy Father's speech, was actually founded by Pope Boniface VIII in 1303. However, as soon as it was announced that he was coming, a small, but vocal, group of faculty and students began to protest his coming, and protest, and protest, and protest. Finally, the Pope was forced to cancel his visit to prevent demonstrations. (If you'd like, here is the speech he would have given.)
What was the cause of this unrest? Comments made in 1990 by then Cardinal Ratzinger regarding the Church's trial of Galileo, in which he claimed the Church was "rational and just" in acting as they did, taking into account those times. However, in the same speech he stressed that the Church was not hostile to science and that Galileo continued his research with the Church's support. Pope John Paul II also publicly acknowledged the Church's fault in bringing him to trial.
What this comes down to is not necessarily your personal beliefs on whether the Church was right or not 400 years ago in acting as it did against Galileo. What is most surprising to me, is that a university, as an institution of higher learning, should be one that is open to all ideas so that we are able to rationally decide on what we believe. Yet, it seems that sometimes those who cry "free speech" (which I wholeheartedly endorse) are the fastest to strike against allowing it in those that they don't agree with, and that to me is so saddening. I think that nowhere is this more apparent than in the science and faith debate.
Recently, a friend of mine on Facebook posted a link to an article, that was about the finding of a unique dinosaur fossil. What she was pointing out, however, was the comments section. It had immediately turned into a debate between a creationist telling everyone they were unintelligent for not believing the Bible, and evolutionist telling him he was unintelligent because he believed the Bible...believe me, it was not a dialogue. As an undergrad science major who had to sit through professor telling us why religion was a hoax, I know the difficulty that exists in reconciling faith and reason today. While there are many great philosophers and Christian and Catholic professors in all fields, I wanted to ask that we just take a second to pray for our society, that attempts at dialogue and learning may not meet the closed door that Pope Benedict just did and that we all may grow as a result.
To end this (long...) post, here's one of my favorite quotes from Pope John Paul II:
"In my reading and in my studies I always tried to achieve a harmony between faith, reason and the heart. These are not separate areas, but are profoundly interconnected, each giving life to the other. This coming together of faith, reason and the heart is strongly influenced by our sense of wonder at the miracle of a human person - at man's likeness to the Triune God, at the immensely profound bond between love and truth, at the mystery of mutual self-giving and the life that it generates, at our reflections on the succession of human generations."
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Retreating
Or rather, all done retreating. Don't worry, not under a rock (although that's what it may seem like since I'm still working out the whole "keep updated" part of this blog!) I spent last weekend at Black Lake Bible Camp in Olympia with my Core Team buddies from our Life Teen program. The retreat, put on by Spiritus ministries, was aimed at youth ministers and was entitled "Your Grace Pours Over Me"
There was only one speaker,a priest, who led the retreat all weekend. He was very energetic and full of ideas, and a couple of his talks were pretty good. He focused on recognizing sinfulness (what he called the "Heart of Darkness") in our lives and inviting the Holy Spirit to push that out so we could be whole for our ministry.
The best part had to be having Mass Saturday and Sunday, as well as Adoration with Benediction Friday and Saturday night. Lots of great (and needed) prayer time. It was relaxing and refreshing and helped recharge the ministry batteries for the second half of our Life Teen year!
I love retreats :)
There was only one speaker,a priest, who led the retreat all weekend. He was very energetic and full of ideas, and a couple of his talks were pretty good. He focused on recognizing sinfulness (what he called the "Heart of Darkness") in our lives and inviting the Holy Spirit to push that out so we could be whole for our ministry.
The best part had to be having Mass Saturday and Sunday, as well as Adoration with Benediction Friday and Saturday night. Lots of great (and needed) prayer time. It was relaxing and refreshing and helped recharge the ministry batteries for the second half of our Life Teen year!
I love retreats :)
Monday, January 7, 2008
Back to the Usual Craziness
It was a wonderful three weeks! Sleeping in, reading, relaxing....but of course Christmas break can't last forever, so now we're back in action for Winter Quarter
'08 (I know, I can't believe it's 2008 either!).
This break was great for many reasons! My family got all together again for the first time since June, now that my brothers are in different parts of the country and my sister continues studying on the other side of the state. It was loud and full and very rambunctious, but lots of fun to see them. This last week I got two opportunities to see old friends, first at a New Year's Day party at my friend's parents house and then at the wedding of one of my old college roommates this last weekend. She married another friend from college. The ceremony and reception were beautiful, and many of our old college group made the drive to Canada to celebrate this Holy Sacrament with them. I know their marriage will be very Christ-centered and that they will treat each other with love and respect. How exciting for them!
And now the quarter begins again...another 10 weeks of 18 credit fun! (*Insert sarcastic tone here*). Actually, in all seriousness, I know the classes will be tough and I'll have to put a lot of work into it, but I'm excited to learn the material and get into it. It sure is nice to love what you're studying :)
'08 (I know, I can't believe it's 2008 either!).
This break was great for many reasons! My family got all together again for the first time since June, now that my brothers are in different parts of the country and my sister continues studying on the other side of the state. It was loud and full and very rambunctious, but lots of fun to see them. This last week I got two opportunities to see old friends, first at a New Year's Day party at my friend's parents house and then at the wedding of one of my old college roommates this last weekend. She married another friend from college. The ceremony and reception were beautiful, and many of our old college group made the drive to Canada to celebrate this Holy Sacrament with them. I know their marriage will be very Christ-centered and that they will treat each other with love and respect. How exciting for them!
And now the quarter begins again...another 10 weeks of 18 credit fun! (*Insert sarcastic tone here*). Actually, in all seriousness, I know the classes will be tough and I'll have to put a lot of work into it, but I'm excited to learn the material and get into it. It sure is nice to love what you're studying :)
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Lost in a Good Book
It's amazing, I have a whole three weeks off from school and what do I want to with my time? Read! It seems silly considering that most of my time the last few months has been spent reading, but as much as I am awed and fascinated by the human body and everything I've been learning, you can only read textbooks so much! I've always been the type of person who loves to snuggle up with a good book and lose myself in it, so I'm reclaiming that, before textbooks gobble me up for another ten weeks.
I've finished "Letter and Spirit" a theological work by Scott Hahn that I started last summer on the interrelationship of liturgy and scripture. A very interesting book, but more studious than some of Hahn's other books ("A Father Who Keeps His Promises", "Hail, Holy Queen", "The Lamb's Supper"), so a little tougher and slower for me to get through, but I did. I'd recommend it if you have the time to set aside and dig into it.
I also just read a fiction novel "The Memory-Keeper's Daughter" by Kim Edwards, a fascinating book that explores the consequences that can result after one split second decision. I really enjoyed it.
If you're on vacation, take time to enjoy every minute! Do what you love, no matter what it is, and spend time with those you care about too :)
I've finished "Letter and Spirit" a theological work by Scott Hahn that I started last summer on the interrelationship of liturgy and scripture. A very interesting book, but more studious than some of Hahn's other books ("A Father Who Keeps His Promises", "Hail, Holy Queen", "The Lamb's Supper"), so a little tougher and slower for me to get through, but I did. I'd recommend it if you have the time to set aside and dig into it.
I also just read a fiction novel "The Memory-Keeper's Daughter" by Kim Edwards, a fascinating book that explores the consequences that can result after one split second decision. I really enjoyed it.
If you're on vacation, take time to enjoy every minute! Do what you love, no matter what it is, and spend time with those you care about too :)
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