Party in the Castelli

Gorgeous girl! 

 

World Religions

I completed my course on World Religions today. I truly learned so much. 

1. Did you know that Hinduism was non-theistic for the first centuries of its existence? The Vedic Tradition essentially a non-theistic religion/practice/outlook/way of life. It had no organization, no doctrine, no hierarchy, no concept of God. The second era of Hinduism introduced the Brahman priests, but Hinduism was still atheistic (amazing, right!?). Then finally deities were introduced (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, plus their wives and cohorts, etc.). I just find it amazing that these deities are non-essential to Hinduism. (It makes me like it better.) 
2. Did you know that when Buddhism spread through China and Japan, the people retained their local religions, and added Buddhism as another element in their religious life? That means that Buddhism is well-suited to be a viewpoint and way of life that is an additive to one's faith, but not a substitute for it. While Buddhism can be a religion in the proper sense, it does not violate it to "adjust" it so that it is compatible with one's faith. (By contrast, I cannot imagine "dialing back" Christianity so that it would be compatible with Buddhism. . . it would no longer be Christianity). 
3. Generally speaking, Islam does not tolerate music in religious rituals. But the Sufis branched off, pursuing a mystical and musical way of life. Then from the Turkish Sufis came Whirling Dervishes, that spin and dance in order to imitate the spinning stars and planets, as a form of worship of God who created the universe. 

Laughing

I can only laugh! Ron came home after a trip with the program this weekend to Subaico, Assisi and Orvieto. I explained to him my intense sadness about the Old Testament course--that it is over. He grasped my hand and impulsively declared: "Why not just go start with Hebrew as soon as you can?!"

I laughed out loud. I am still laughing. Ron is SUCH A DREAM COME TRUE. What a husband. How blessed I am! How does he know me so well, love me so well, live life so well? It would be absurd to start a study of Hebrew with all the stuff I've got going on. . . but why not? In all these years, I have never had such an intense encounter with God. I just LOVE the Scriptures. I love them especially in the original language. . .  which I do not know. So, why not seek God where I can find Him? 

I love my family and want to spend my time with them. With any other time, why not study Scripture? It's not what I have planned. I have lots of things planned, from creating a pilgrimage for Catholic mothers to Italy (seeing the religious sites through the eyes of motherhood), to teaching philosophy (which I ADORE), to finishing the current degree I am only one year from finishing (no small feat), to becoming more proficient in Italian (parli italiano?). But why not study Hebrew? Goodness, I am blessed.  

I LOVE THIS MAN!

Ron whizzes around Rome on his Triumph

He gives a bad-ass site lecture in Corinth, Greece

He created the "Thomas Aquinas Day" for the Rome program, taking us to Roccasecca (Aquinas' birthplace), Monte Cassino (where he was educated as a boy) and Fossanova (place of Aquinas' death)

Cooler than cool. How I love Ronnie Rombs. 

Life-Changing: Old Testament

Yesterday I completed a course on the Old Testament: Pentateuch and the Historical Books. I've been a devoted reader of the Bible since becoming a Christian at age 16. This course was life-changing. 

Fr. Mark Avila is, without a doubt, the best instructor at the Angelicum and one of the best I've ever seen anywhere. I just want to say, WHERE HAS HE BEEN ALL MY LIFE? His course is the most demanding I've had at the Ange, with heavy assignments (a quiz on 21 books of the Bible every class period, which is 2x a week). I read the 21 books at least twice and often 3 times. I was reading with a busy household whirling around me, or standing in the cold darkness before sunrise waiting at the station, or standing like a sardine on a rush-hour train. Sometimes I awoke at 4:30 or 5am just to read for another hour before starting my day.  

What was so great about the course? 

First, it was a true encounter with God. To read the historical books of the OT straight through gave me a different perspective. The Bible, it turns out, is about 1 figure: God. When you read about Abraham, Moses and Ruth, the main character of the story is actually God. You lose that view when you read the stories discretely. You think you are reading about David or Hannah, and God might be one character in the story. But when you read the historical books from start to finish (a merism!), it becomes abundantly clear that God is the "main character"--and this is a wonderful opportunity to get to know Him. 

I have a completely new relationship with God, having encountered Him through the sacred Scriptures. The reading carved deep wells of reverence into my heart. They impelled me to get on my knees and worship God, not out of fear but out of total adoration. Having encountered God in the Old Testament changes and enriches my understanding of Him in the New. Who Christ is and what he accomplished, what the Eucharist is and what it means to follow the commandments (especially the greatest one) are all the more real to me now. 

Additional take-aways: 

God enjoys creation. Scripture depicts God playfully engaging with the earth He made. I now notice the beauty of trees and the sky and see God's enjoyment (I am now completely enraptured by trees which get special mention in Genesis). 

God loves women. Fr. Avila pointed out the midwives at the beginning of Exodus engaging in the first case of civil disobedience (resisting the slaughter of Israelite babies). He asked why we know the names of two such midwives, but never even got the name of the powerful Pharaoh. God's sense of importance (who is really worth mentioning and who is not) wins my heart. I was also transformed by reading the Book of Judith. God loves women! There are terrible sins against women in the OT, to be sure (some made me actually nauseous). But God put a crack in the wall of sin against women and His justice and love shine through. I love how every king listed in the Bible is named along with the name of his mother. The queen mother was a huge role in Israel's monarchy. I had known, but did not fully realize! 

The Old Testament is constantly de-mythologizing the myths of the ancient world. I've always been taught that the OT is full of myths. But Fr. Avila's thesis is that the OT is a de-mythologizing initiative, one story at a time. Oh how true. And how that changes EVERYTHING! 

If you have not read Tobit, Esther, and Judith, read them! Tobit and Judith are my 2 new favorite books of the Bible. 

Favorite kings: Jehoshaphat (I love his prayer) and Hezekiah (I love his reforms). Solomon fairs better in the account of him in Chronicles than in Kings (ha!). David, however, won my heart anew. He is just so lovable, and you can see God's affection for human beings when you read about David in 2 Samuel. Samuel and Nathan are awesome prophets--so bold how they spoke to kings. Favorite priest? Phinehas. And Ruth--that she was a Moabite is now a much bigger deal to me, having read that the second great apostasy of the Israelites was about marrying Moabite women (Numbers 25)! What a statement of God's incredible mercy and willingness to use the weakest, the worst, those with the greatest stigma. Being a "Ruth" myself, this awareness gives me great love for God and His marvelous ways.  

I could go on and on. 

I got home after my exam on Friday. When I looked at my Old Testament book (Intro to OT, by Bergsma and Pietre), I actually shed a tear. I dreaded putting it back on the shelf, which I know I must do in the days to come because life goes on. 

I cannot thank Fr. Avila enough for being a holy man, inspiring us with his love for God and complete devotion to Christ; for the way his reading of the Hebrew text shows the insufficiency of translations into English and how he masterfully reveals that (without even requiring us to know Hebrew); For his 200+ slides, elegantly presented along with masterful lectures; for his kindness, respect and loving attention he gives every single student; for his ridiculous sense of humor (reminding me of the optimism and joy that is intrinsic to the faith--if you are not laughing, you are not yet living the full Christian life); for his contagious passion for the Word of God and for the poor but marvelous vehicle through which it is delivered (human language). 

Thank you, Fr. Avila! 

Reminiscing on our trip to Merano

 

Kim, Ken, Leah and Marvin: Bonding on NYE

Mary and I: Buddies Forever

Jacob is about to propose. . . MARRIAGE??? To Gabrielle? What does Mary think??

Everyone's favorite little girl

Rockstar, superstar, now 16

Besties

The REASON we went to Merano! Annie wants to move to Trentino Alto-Adige! Brilliant girl!

Could it be prettier? 

Could we be more fortunate? 

Look at this!

 

She said YEESSSSS!

Sebastian

 Sweet Sebastian went to the emergency room this week. He could not breathe and honestly, we thought he was dying. He lost control of his body and could hardly walk. They carried him into to the ER like a baby. 

 We are now getting him tested with all sorts of doctors. We had a big meeting with the school administration. I think all will be okay. But it is huge! Please pray for him! 

Sebo and I on special time in Rome

Enjoying the Tiber

Sebo caught eating only chocolate for dinner

Seb and I talking about our favorite artists

Sebo on the way to school, dressed like every other Italian boy in a track suit