Back to Steubenville for the 2009 Letter and Spirit Summer Institute with Scott Hahn

I've been invited back again by Scott Hahn to Steubenville, Ohio for the Letter and Spirit Summer Seminar sponsored by the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology. This year I'm giving a paper entitled: "Paul as Priest: The Pauline Doctrine of Priesthood, Fatherhood, and Law".

The seminar seeks to resurrect a liturgical and sacramental hermeneutic for Biblical Theology. If you're interested in this sort of thing, I highly recommend the Letter and Spirit journal volumes and the book by Scott Hahn that inspired them:




Click here for the latest edition, L&S Vol. 4

I've been looking forward to this for months. The Franciscan Friars of the Renewal will be there and they act like spiritual leaven, raising us up to Christ. Bryan Cross from Saint Louis University (blog: Principium Unitatis), Dr. Neal Judisch of the University of Oklahoma (blog: Of Towers and Tongues). Mike Aquilina of Way of the Fathers, Danny Garland of Irish Catholic and Dangerous, and so will Mitch Curtis of the Ignatius Study Bible.

Last year it was like a retreat and seminar rolled into one. I've been looking forward to this week for months.

I'll post more about it when I return back to Dallas. If I get the chance, I'll try to post something during the week, otherwise I won't be blogging until about June 4.

I will be tweeting via twitter with thoughts and photos because I can do it from my phone. Follow me on Twitter: @TaylorRMarshall

Godspeed,
Taylor Marshall

What does the Virgin Mary have to do with Westminster Theological Seminary?

Oh, the oddity of Google Ads. As you know, I have Google Ads on this blog.

Today I caught something that made me laugh. There were two Google ads next to each other below a post. One read: "Regina Catholic Tours of Fatima, Lourdes, etc." [i.e. traditional Marian shrines in Europe]. The other ad next to it read: "MDiv at Westminster Theological Seminary" [i.e. a degree program at a Calvinist Seminary].

I'm Catholic and I graduated from Westminster so I suppose that Google ads matched them up. On one hand, it's pretty funny that Westminster Seminary was paired up with the Blessed Mother. On the other hand, it's eerie how well Google can mine a website for relevant information pertaining to ad customers.

Homer's Iliad Marvel Comic Book Style

Last semester I finished a doctoral course on Homer's Iliad & Odyssey and Vergil's Aeneid. I just learned that Marvel Comics (think Spiderman, X-Men, Wolverine) has issued an animated version of the Iliad. I don't yet know whether the translation is solid or whether it accurately follows the story. All the same, I am glad to see that a comic book company recognizes the power of the Iliad and sees it as relevant for today. Maybe now someone will make a decent film version of it unlike that terrible Brad Pitt version sans deities.

Maybe I'll buy it. I want to see how Marvel depicts the gods.

Canterbury Tales and Saint Augustine of Canterbury (today's saint)

Above: St. Augustine in Canterbury
baptizes King Ethelbert of the Saxons

This blog would probably self-destruct if I neglected to mention Saint Augustine of CANTERBURY on his feast day. Saint Augustine (sometimes Austin) is to be distinguished from St. Augustine of Hippo, the great doctor the Church.

Augustine of Canterbury (d. May 604) was a missionary monk who became the first Archbishop of Canterbury in the year 598. He is the "Apostle to the English" and Anglicanism looks to the See of Canterbury as it honored diocese because of its historical link to the Rome, as it was Saint Pope Gregory the Great who sent St. Austin to England.

I've named this blog "Canterbury Tales" because it records "tales" (i.e. web log posts) and because Anglicanism was my link back to the Holy Roman Catholic Church -- having once served briefly as an Anglican/Episcopalian priest in Fort Worth Texas. As Saint Austin/Augustine of Canterbury brought the Petrine Christianity of Rome to Canterbury, England so the Holy Ghost led me along the reverse route - back into the arms of the Catholic Church in full communion with Pope Benedict XVI, the successor of Saint Peter.

Enough about that. Here's some information about Saint Augustine of Canterbury from the Catholic Encyclopedia.

Register for 2009 Anglican Use Conference in Houston!!!

I'm really excited about this year's Anglican Use Conference, and I look forward to meeting you there. It is always a great time to see old friends, both Anglican and Catholic. If you're an Anglican layman or cleric interested in Catholicism, this a conference that you do not want to miss. If you're a clergyman, it's a great opportunity to meet the Anglican Use pastors and Msgr. William Stetson of the Pastoral Provision. Moreover, Our Lady of Walsingham Catholic Church (AU) has lined up some fantastic speakers for this year's conference:

• Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston
  (For more information, click here)
  
  
• Fr. John Saward, former Anglican priest and noted English Catholic theologian
  (For more information, click here)
  
  
• Fr. James Moore, founding co-pastor of Our Lady of Walsingham Catholic Church ( For more information, click here)
  
  
• Mary C. Moorman, apologist, author, and consultant
  (For more information, click here)
  
  
• Dr. Hans-Jurgen Feulner, Professor of Liturgical Studies and Sacramental Theology at the University of Vienna.
  (For more information, click here)

Please visit the 2009 Anglican Use Conference site and don't forget to register (click here to download the event flyer pdf).

Please email questions to: Margaret Pichon

I'll see you there!

Also, please sign up for our Pastoral Provision "group" on Facebook. Simply sign in to Facebook, search "Pastoral Provision" in Facebook, and request to join.

The Order of Justification in Thomas Aquinas

Thomas’ Ordo Iustificationis in Summa theologiae IaIIae q. 113, aa. 6-8

In ST IaIIae q. 113, a. 6, Thomas answers that there are four things necessary for justification:

1. Infusion of grace
2. Movement of free-will toward God
3. Movement of free-will from sin
4. Remission of sins

This follows because there must be a mover, something moved, and the end for which there is a motion. The mover is God who operates through the infusion of grace. That which is moved is the free-will in the double movement of the free-will disposing itself toward God and away from sin. The remission of sin is the goal of the movement. Thomas calls this the “natural order” of justification (a. 8, c).

A difficulty arises in how one understands that which is moved, i.e. the free-will. Thomas grants that there are two ways of looking at the problem. First, one might look at it from the perspective of the thing moved. From point of view of that which is moved, the free-will logically first moves from sin and then to God. However, from the point of view of the agent (who is God) the order is reversed, because in the agent the form is pre-existing. The example given is that the sun with respect to removing darkness holds illumination as prior to dispelling darkness.

These distinctions regard only the natural order and do not indicate a temporal order of events. The succession of opposites is a philosophical problem that Thomas wrestles with in the replies to a. 7. It relates to the question of “instants” following “instants”. This relates to Zeno’s paradox of an infinitely divisible space or time. Thomas, following Aristotle, simply states that previous time can be terminated by an instant. The last instant of the previous time because the first instant of the subsequent time. In other words, the moment the ungodly man is justified, he is instantly infused with grace, inclined to God, away from sin, and all sins are remitted.

Thus, the four elements of justification occur instantly and simultaneously in time although logically they follow the natural order delineated by Thomas.

I received my second Masters degree (this time in Philosophy)

I received my second Masters degree, this time in Philosophy. The first Masters was in Theology. Now I just need to keep trekking toward the Ph.D.

A special thank you to my wife Joy who has been so patient, and also to the Philosophy faculty at the University of Dallas.

Catholic Church adopts automated confessionals in light of priestly vocations crisis!

You'll likely get a kick out of the YouTube video above.

Today's Canterbury Tales:

Catholic Tale: Obama at ND: Three lessons

Papal Tale: Pope praises Matteo Ricci’s evangelization in China

World Tale: Holland becomes hub of Eurabia

American Tale: Abp. Chaput of Denver speaks about Obama at Notre Dame

Personal Tale: I had a great weekend. Saw my nieces and nephews and two great graduation parties.

Great site for refuting Dan Brown's Angels and Demons

I read Dan Brown's Angels and Demons and thought it was a pretty lame novel. Interesting symbolism, but the plot and the ending were not satisfying...and of course the theology and history are dismal.

One of my alma maters, Westminster Theological Seminary, has an excellent site about the new Dan Brown made-to-movie novel Angels and Demons rightly entitled: The Truth about Angels and Demons. If this film stirs up as much controversy as The Da Vinci Code, then this is a site that you need to remember for future reference.

It is well done and it's a great place to send those who are worried or confused about the new Dan Brown movie Angels and Demons (prequel to The Da Vinci Code).

Westminster Seminary is Protestant, Calvinist in fact, so be careful about there article "What's the Difference Between Protestants and Catholics?" In all other respects, it's very well done.

By the way, in the section "Points of Agreement" (i.e. what Protestants and Catholics have in common), they list the Seventh Ecumenical Council of Nicea II - the council that defended images of Christ and the saints, along with their veneration. The veneration of icons is not something that I would have imagined a Westminster Seminary site to endorse. I'm pleasantly surprised!

Don't forget to check out the site: The Truth about Angels and Demons.

Great quote on poetry and philosophy

Poetry is to philosophy what the Sabbath is to the rest of the week.

~Augustus William Hare and Julius Charles Hare

Dionysius the Areopagite on the impossibility of Total Depravity

All Calvinists (and recovering Calvinists) may find this brief post interesting: "Dionysius the Areopagite on the topic of Total Depravity" by Taylor Marshall over at Called to Communion blog.

Excerpt:

In his treatise In On the Divine Names, Dionysius directly asks whether there can be such a thing as “total depravity”. He answers that there cannot be total depravity because that which is totally deprived of all goodness would also be deprived of all existence since anything created is also ontologically good–as confirmed by the refrain of Genesis chapter 1 “and God saw that it was good”.

New Called to Communion Video on YouTube

Tim Troutman did a great job on this new video for the Called to Communion blog: http://www.calledtocommunion.com/



Please visit: http://www.calledtocommunion.com

Four Nail Crucifixion Depicted

A few days ago a conversation broke out whether Christ had been crucified with three or four nails. Above is a typical Byzantine representation of the crucifixion of our Lord with four nails.

Top 10 Reasons to be an Episcopalian/Anglican

Top 10 Reasons to be an Episcopalian/Anglican
(from the comedian Robin Williams, who is an Episcopalian)

10. No snake handling.
9. You can believe in dinosaurs.
8. Male and female God created them; male and female we ordain them.
7. You don't have to check your brains at the door.
6. Pew aerobics.
5. Church year is color-coded.
4. Free wine on Sunday.
3. All of the pageantry - none of the guilt.
2. You don't have to know how to swim to get baptized.

And the Number One reason to be an Episcopalian:
1. No matter what you believe, there's bound to be at least one other Episcopalian who agrees with you.

Philo on the Logos as the Garden of Eden

According to Philo, the Garden of Eden is "the Logos of God", and the four rivers flowing out of it are the four cardinal virtues: prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance.(φρόνησις, δικαιοσύνη, ἀνδρία, σωφροσύνη).

Julius the Apostate and the Christian burial of Constantius

I recently found this interesting. Julian the Apostate (the last non-Christian Roman Emperor) presided over the Christian burial of his predecessor Constantius:

On December 11, 361, Julian entered Constantinople as sole emperor and, despite his rejection of Christianity, his first political act was to preside over Constantius' Christian burial, escorting the body to the Church of the Apostles, where it was placed alongside that of Constantine.

Cambridge Ancient History, v.13, p.60.

Was Christ crucified with four or three (or two) nails?

It's up for the debate. Some early writers say Christ was crucified with three nails. Others with four nails.

St. Gregory of Tours ("On the Glory of Martyrdom") and St. Cyprian, ("On the Passion" - though this is probably a medieval forgery) say "four nails".

St. Gregory Nazianzus says "three nails" (in his poem "Christus patiens").

To complicate matters, St. Ambrose seems to say that there were only two nails! ("De obitu Theodosii" in P.L., XVI, 1402). According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, other early documents imply that there were only two nails.

I can't figure out why anyone would say "two nails" since Christ had wounds in both hands and in his feet. I can't figure any way for two nails to make four wounds:

See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have. (Luke 24:39)

I seem to think three because that is the traditional depiction. Also, I trust Nazianzus better than St. Gregory of Tours and St. Cyprian - especially the statement from the latter is a forgery.

What's your opinion?

How does the Essence of God relate to the Persons of the Trinity? (Thomas Aquinas)

Augustine says (De Trin. vi, 7): "When we say the person of the Father we mean nothing else but the substance of the Father."

Yet Thomas Aquinas also says: "Concerning this, the abbot Joachim erred in asserting that as we can say "God begot God," so we can say "Essence begot essence": considering that, by reason of the divine simplicity God is nothing else but the divine essence." In this he was wrong, because if we wish to express ourselves correctly, we must take into account not only the thing which is signified, but also the mode of its signification as above stated (q. 39, a. 4).

Summa theologiae III Question 39.
The persons in relation to the essence

1. Is the essence in God the same as the person?
2. Should we say that the three persons are of one essence?
3. Should essential names be predicated of the persons in the plural, or in the singular?
4. Can notional adjectives, or verbs, or participles, be predicated of the essential names taken in a concrete sense?
5. Can the same be predicated of essential names taken in the abstract?
6. Can the names of the persons be predicated of concrete essential names?
7. Can essential attributes be appropriated to the persons?
8. Which attributes should be appropriated to each person?

Thomas Aquinas on the essence of Law

"The definition of law...is nothing else than an ordinance of reason for the common good, made by him who has care of the community, and promulgated."

Summa theologiae I-II q. 90, a. 4.

Woman at Kentucky Derby pushes Saint Paul's admonition to new limits!

Woman at Kentucky Derby pushes Saint Paul's admonition to new limits!
"That is why a woman ought to have a veil on her head,
because of the angels" (1 Cor 10:11)
Today's Canterbury Tales:

Catholic Tale: Catholic Poll on Obama's honor from Notre Dame

Papal Tale: Ron Howard says Vatican obstructed 'Angels and Demons' film

American Tale: Are Mormons against the Cross?

World Tale: China cutting down purchases of US Treasury bonds

Taylor's Tale: We had a fantastic First Communion party today with family and godparents for our eldest son.

Saint Augustine on Invoking or Praying to Saints

From the Comments:

Taylor (or anyone else who can help), Can you either post or send me a quote or quotes from St Augustine wherein he either assumes, affirms, or defends the invocation of saints? Thank you! BTW, after a long journey, I have entered into full communion with the Catholic Church this Easter Vigil. The name you see below is my Confirmation name. Thanks be to God!

- St Francis De Sales

Congratulations on being received into full communion with the Holy Catholic Church!

Saint Augustine of Hippo refers to the orthodox practice of praying to saints and martyrs in Sermon 159, 1 where explains:

'There is an ecclesiastical discipline, as the faithful know, when the names of the martyrs are read aloud in that place at the altar of God, where prayer is not offered for them. Prayer, however, is offered for the dead who are remembered. For it is wrong to pray for a martyr, to whose prayers we ought ourselves be commended."

Saint Augustine says something similar in his Homilies on St. John's Gospel 84:

"At the Lord's table we do not commemorate martyrs in the same way that we do others who rest in peace so as to pray for them, but rather that they may pray for us that we may follow in their footsteps."

There are two other passages that come to mind, but they don't explicitly reference invoking saints. Instead, the passages demonstrate how Saint Augustine encouraged and participated in liturgical veneration of the saints:

"A Christian people celebrates together in religious solemnity the memorials of the martyrs, both to encourage their being imitated and so that it can share in their merits and be aided by their prayers." (Against Faustus 20, 21)

"Neither are the souls of the pious dead separated from the Church which even now is the kingdom of Christ. Otherwise there would be no remembrance of them at the altar of God in the communication of the Body of Christ." (The City of God 20, 9)

I hope that helps. Welcome to the great assembly of the saints - both in heaven and on earth.

Saint Augustine, pray for us to God!

Photo of Benedict's Popemobile for visit to Israel

HT: Curt Jester
Today's Canterbury Tales:

Catholic Tale: Anti-Abortionist activist arrested at Notre Dame

Papal Tale: Nazareth split over Pope's visit

World Tale: Was Egypt's slaughter of pigs anti-Christian?

American Tale: "Rev" Jesse Jackson is in trouble