Eye on Faith

Friday, March 7, 2014

Pope Benedict XVI: A 'wise grandfather'

(Photo: Agencia Brasil)

The Washington Post reported not too long ago that Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI joined Pope Francis "at a historic cardinal ceremony."

This event was "an unprecedented blending of papacies past, present and future," partly because cardinals are the ones to elect new pontiffs.

Nevertheless, the question remains: Why would a retired pope, one who had been expected to lead a monastic sheltered life, be actively present at this key ceremony?

Although Benedict's participation could be construed as "a blessing of sorts for

the 19 men Francis had chosen to join the elite College of Cardinals," there may be more to it than that.

During a recent interview with the Italian daily Corriere della Sera, Pope Francis offered the following explanation: He considers his predecessor to be "a wise grandfather" who is not just a "statue in a museum."

Pope Francis then elaborated upon this grandfather metaphor by stating: "I thought about grandparents who with their wisdom, their advice, strengthen families and don't deserve to end up in an old folks home."

Resources

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/pope-emeritus-benedict-xvi-joins-pope-francis-at-a-historic-cardinal-ceremony/2014/02/22/80406b6e-9bfd-11e3-ad71-e03637a299c0_story.html

http://wwrn.org/articles/41896/?place=vatican

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Ice fishing on Europa

Europa (NASA Photo)

If Earth hasn't been cold enough for you lately, you might want to consider ice fishing on Europa someday.

Dubbed Jupiter's "watery moon" by The Associated Press, Europa is "a place where astronomers speculate

there might be some form of life."

Wikipedia explains that Europa is not only the "sixth-closest moon of the planet Jupiter," but is also the "sixth-largest moon in the Solar System." Its "tenuous" atmosphere is composed primarily of oxygen, and its surface is composed of water ice. "Clay-like minerals,"

often associated with "organic materials," have been found on its surface.

NASA has allocated $15 million for planning a robotic mission to Europa. This mission, to be launched circa 2025, will surely concentrate on "searching for life in the strange liquid water under the ice-covered surface."

Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb has speculated: "There might be fish under the ice."

Sashimi anyone?

Resources

http://news.yahoo.com/nasa-plots-daring-flight-jupiters-watery-moon-215733641.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europa_(moon)

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Pope more Clark Kent than Superman

Jorge Mario Bergoglio (4th from left, 3rd row from top)

Although some might attribute powers even greater than Superman's to the pope, Pope Francis maintains that he is "a man who laughs, cries, sleeps calmly and has friends as everyone else." In other words, "a normal person…"

That being said, NBC News nevertheless reports that "Francis-mania" is as strong as ever. For example, there is a graffiti-like depiction of Pope Francis as a flying, fist-clenched superhero on an outside wall

near the Vatican.

The Pope's reaction to this? Francis has humbly stated, "To paint the Pope as some sort of Superman, a star, is offensive."

Clark Kent couldn't have said it better…

Resources

http://www.nbcnews.com/#/news/religion/pope-francis-rejects-superman-myth-ahead-1-year-anniversary-n44786

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Jupiter still rules

Statue of Jupiter (Photo by Andrew Bossi)

It is not surprising that Jupiter, king of all planets, is one of the

brightest objects in the heavens

In an article for SPACE, Geoff Gaherty tells us that Jupiter is

dominating the night sky this week. It is currently visible "even in cities with the worst light pollution."

Jupiter's moons can be seen with with the help of binoculars or "the smallest telescope." They could also be seen by the naked eye if Jupiter itself weren't so bright.

King Jupiter has not only ruled the heavens, but mighty regions of Earth as well. Wikipedia explains that Jupiter was king of all gods within the ancient Roman Empire. His ancient Greek counterpart was Zeus.

To the Babylonians, this planet was a manifestation of the god Marduk ("patron deity of Babylon"). In the Far East (Korea, Japan, China), it is referred to as the "wood

star" (with reference to the Chinese Five Elements).

Jupiter's astrological symbol is "a stylized representation of the god's lightning bolt." Germanic tradition associates Thor, the Norse god of thunder and lightning, with this jovial gas giant.

Resources

http://news.yahoo.com/jupiter-king-planets-dominates-night-sky-week-122604484.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jupiter

Monday, March 3, 2014

Church politics in Ukraine

St. Volodymyr's in Kiev (Petar Milosevic)

Back in the Soviet days, evangelical and Baptist churches were illegal in the Ukraine.

Nowadays, The Huffington Post reports that Ukraine is "2.4% Protestant," and the Baptist church has particularly grown. In fact, Interim President Oleksandr Turchynov is not only a Baptist, but a Baptist pastor at that.

This is perceived by the European Baptist Federation (EBF) as not only a victory for Baptists in Ukraine, but also a victory for all

Christians there.

A recent EBF statement declared: During all these days of protests and confrontations the Christian community in Ukraine has been the light and salt for both parties…Ukraine needs love, mercy and forgiveness! Ukraine needs Christ!

Orthodox priests have also been quite active in Ukraine during this time of turmoil. They "maintained a visible presence in Kiev throughout the protests, offering prayers to demonstrators and police alike."

Although impeached President Viktor Yanukovych has been Orthodox, during recent months the Orthodox

Church has distanced itself from his government.

Resources

http://wwrn.org/articles/41824/?&place=europe

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Drum rolls better than eye rolls

(Photo by Cryptic C62)

If spouses were to greet one another with drum rolls (or the psychological equivalent thereof), marriages could vastly improve.

Alas! Many instead douse the flames of love with eye rolls. These sarcastic ocular gestures scream DISRESPECT, and often end up spelling DIVORCE.

Zahra Barnes of SELF reports that many such eyes are so used to rolling around like a bunch of billiard balls, they don't even realize that they're doing it. She cites Dr. John Gottman, "the lead researcher behind a landmark study about divorce predictors," as stating that eye rolling shows contempt – and contempt is "the number 1 predictor of divorce…" (worse yet than "criticism, defensiveness, and stonewalling").

Since habitual eye-rollers don't necessarily realize when they're

engaging in this behavior, how can they possibly stop? The trick is to nip the behavior in the bud. As soon as a feeling of frustration

begins to well up, they can assume that eye rolling is about to begin. They can therefore purposely look down at that very moment.

This downward glance may evoke humility rather than contempt, and might even eventually become an authentic response.

Resources

http://living.msn.com/love-relationships/rolling-your-eyes-the-everyday-behavior-thats-hurting-your-relationship

From married father to Maronite Father

Peshitta (Syriac Bible)

Last Thursday was an "historic day" for the Maronite Catholic Church in the United States. It marked the first time in almost 100 years that "a married priest" was ordained there.

NBC News reports that this ordination took place at St. Raymond's Maronite Cathedral in St. Louis, Missouri. Wissam Akiki "was welcomed by hundreds of supporters" during the ceremony. Two of these supporters were his wife and daughter.

Another supporter of this ordination is Pope Francis, who gave permission for it to occur. NBC News explains that "over the years popes have made exceptions on a case-by-case basis for married men to become Eastern Catholic priests in America."

Wikipedia states that the Maronite Church (aka "The Syriac Maronite Church of Antioch") is an "Eastern Catholic Church in full communion

with the Holy See of Rome." Today's Maronite populations are mainly in Lebanon (up to 22% of the population), Syria (approximately 51,000) and Cyprus (about 10,000).

The Maronite Patriarch of Antioch serves as the head of the Maronite church. Although Maronites "share the same doctrine as other Catholics," they have their own liturgy (in Syriac, a language that is also known as "Christian Aramaic").

Although Maronite priests outside of North America are not required to be celibate, within North America

they generally are (due to "a long-term understanding with their Latin counterparts"). Therefore, Wissam

Akiki's transition from married father to Maronite Father can be thought of as highly unusual.

Resources

http://www.nbcnews.com/#/news/religion/married-dad-becomes-eastern-catholic-priest-u-s-n40986

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maronite_Church