Author: Mike Aquilina

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The Good Kind of Jansenism

My friend and editor Gary Jansen has a new book out, Exercising Your Soul: Fifteen Minutes a Day to a Spiritual Life. I love the book. Gary has an endearing, attention-deficit quality that lets him deliver big lessons not only painlessly, but humorously. He goes deep, and takes us readers deep, without even a whiff of pious unction. For Jansen, a tattooed foot on the subway is the start of a mystical flight. By the end of the story, we know that these everyday distractions should be graces for us as well.

Kris McGregor talked with Gary about the book and podcasted the conversation. So we get to be the proverbial fly on the wall.

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Facebook

OK, so I took up Kris McGregor’s challenge from yesterday. It’s an experiment, and I don’t know how far I’ll go with it. But the Facebook page is up. It’s the one with my photo.

Now my mom is the only one without an account.

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Fandom

I just found out there’s a Mike Aquilina fan page on Facebook. I didn’t do it, and neither did my 93-year-old mom. Neither of us has a Facebook account! (Just in case you’re wondering why my mother doesn’t appear among my fans.)

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Update: Howell, with Joy

Thanks to those of you who wrote on behalf of a patrologist in need. Here’s a good-news update:

Catholic professor reinstated by University of Illinois for fall term

WASHINGTON (CNS) — A Catholic professor barred from teaching courses on Catholicism after he defended in class the church’s teaching on homosexual behavior has been reinstated by the University of Illinois. Kenneth Howell, an adjunct professor in the university’s religious studies department, learned of the decision July 29. He did not return phone calls from Catholic News Service seeking comment. The reinstatement came days after a deadline for suing the university set by the Alliance Defense Fund, which had taken on Howell’s case. Based in Scottsdale, Ariz., the alliance is a nonprofit Christian legal defense organization specializing in religious liberty, sanctity of life and protection of family issues. Attorney Jordan Lorance, part of the alliance’s legal team working on Howell’s case, told CNS the university’s decision came as a surprise. He charged that the university had violated Howell’s First Amendment right of free speech by firing him. “The matter is resolved for the moment and we’ll be watching to make sure this is a long-term resolution to the matter,” Lorance said, noting that Howell’s teaching status for the spring semester is unknown. Howell was dismissed in May following the spring term after a student described as “hate speech” his explanation of the church’s teaching that homosexual acts are morally wrong. The reinstatement was announced in a press release from Robin Neal Kaler, the university’s associate chancellor for public affairs. The release said Howell will be on the university’s payroll when he teaches “Introduction to Catholicism” this fall.

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Homecoming

Yo! I’m heading back to my hometown of Pittston, Pa., October 2, 2010, to celebrate Our Lady of the Rosary with a big procession, fireworks, and a marching band. I’ll be the guest of the Guardian of the Redeemer Catholic Men’s Fellowship. Read all about it here.

I’ll be talking to the guys. Bishop Bambera will offer the Holy Mass. Maybe we’ll get some Old Forge pizza. You up for it? Guys can pre-register here.

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Philokalia

My son treks from our little suburb into the big city (Pittsburgh) for Mass on Sunday nights, because he likes to go to Mass at the Oratory. “The Oratorians give it to you straight,” he says. I tag along every now and then, so I know he’s right. Most of the times I go, it’s Father David Abernethy saying Mass. His liturgical manner is edifying, his homilies memorable and quite clear about what we’re supposed to be doing.

So it’s a joy for me to announce Father David’s entry into the patristiblogosphere. He’s discussing the Desert Fathers at Philokalia. Check it out!

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Roots for the Home Team!

Hey, the new book is in!

roots

I just finished taping a 10-part series on the book with Kris McGregor of KVSS Radio. But don’t wait to hear what I have to say about it. Listen to the experts:

Most Reverend Donald W. Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, says:

The Fathers of the Church have so much to say and Mike Aquilina, in his latest book Roots of the Faith: From the Church Fathers to You, helps us clearly to hear their voice.  This book opens the reader onto the wisdom of the Church’s great living tradition.  Here we find the Church Fathers’ insights on some of the most important questions of our day: marriage, the defense of human life and the meaning of human sexuality. Readers who are new to the writings of the Church Fathers will find this book inviting, engaging and a welcome guide for learning how to think with the mind of the Church.

Father Thomas Weinandy, noted patrologist and the U.S. bishops’ chief doctrinal official, says:

Mike Aquilina’s ardent faith in Jesus and his informed love for the Church and for her traditions splendidly shine forth in his new book: Roots of the Faith: From the Church Fathers to You.  He manifests this love by presenting to the reader the teachings of the early Fathers of the Church on subjects of contemporary importance, such as, the Mass, Confession, the Bible, marriage and family life, and the dignity of human life.  Aquilina’s own style is clear, lively, and imaginative.  This is an excellent book for laity and clergy alike.  It is not only informative, but it is also fun to read.

Bob Lockwood, author of A Guy’s Guide to the Good Life, says:

It is a question every Christian has to ask – do I believe what the early Christians believed? Mike Aquilina looks at our Catholic faith and the faith of our fathers (and mothers) to give a clear answer – if you could hop in a time machine and go back to the Church in its infancy, you’d find the faith you know today. With a scholar’s depth and a journalist’s gift to make it all simple, this is a book you read with a pen in hand to mark the good stuff on every page. Because Mike Aquilina defends the faith with a prayer…and a punch.

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One Is Silver and the Other …

Today the Aquilinas mark twenty-five years of wedded bliss. What did the Fathers have to say about this “silver anniversary” stuff? Here’s Leo the Great:

In a great house, as the Apostle explains, there must needs be various vessels, some of gold and of silver, and some of wood and of earth: but their purpose varies with the quality of their material, and the use of the precious and of the cheap kinds is not the same. For everything will be in disorder if the earthen ware be preferred to the golden, or the wooden to the silver. And as the wooden or earthen vessels are a figure of those men who are hitherto conspicuous for no virtues; so in the golden or silver vessels they no doubt are represented who, having passed through the fire of long experience, and through the furnace of protracted toil have deserved to be tried gold and pure silver.

My wife, Terri, has taken to the refinement rather well — well enough for both of us, I hope. She’s the purest of silver, by Leo’s standard or anybody’s, and should attain golden well in advance of our fiftieth.

I remember my dad (God rest his soul) telling my niece Melissa that he hoped to sneak into heaven by hiding behind his wife. Melissa responded that, unless he lost a lot of weight, he wasn’t gonna be hiding behind anybody.

I’d better get in shape.

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Faith That Dare Not Speak Its Name

I’ve mentioned Ken Howell to you before. He’s gradually bringing out a new edition of the Apostolic Fathers. Apparently the University of Illinois has fired him for actually believing what the Apostolic Fathers believed.

Don’t know about you, but when I was attending a big state university I had all manner of moral and spiritual notions peddled to me as Truth. Not only in the soft spots, like the humanities, but in physics and math as well. For some reason, especially in physics and math. My son and his contemporaries seem to endure the same sort of instruction today. Back in 1985 we rolled our eyes, knowing it’s the price we pay for academic freedom.

But apparently there are limits to academic freedom, and Ken strayed beyond them. Say a prayer for him and his family. Buy his book. And if you’re in a position to do something about the situation, please do.

UPDATE: In the comment box, author and patrologist Carl Sommer suggests something you might do.

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Happy St. Thomas Day

The Apostle Thomas is a figure of fascination for both believers and doubters. For me, he’s an object of obsession. I’m especially fascinated by the traditions of his work in India — preserved in epic poems, family stories, and (of course) the testimonies of the Fathers.

At long last, I’m bringing out a book on the subject: A Doubters Novena: Nine Steps to Trust With the Apostle Thomas, co-authored with my friend Christopher Bailey. It’s due out in a few weeks, but Amazon lets you pre-order now.

While you’re waiting for the book to arrive, you can celebrate the feast of St. Thomas by reading these posts:

Without a Doubt

Hindu Traditions of St. Thomas

Spice and Spirit

Friends, Romans, Christians … in Ancient India?