****
GLOBAL AND ECUMENICAL IN SCOPE
CANADIAN IN PERSPECTIVE
Wayne A. Holst, Editor
My E-Mail Address:
waholst@telus.net
Colleagues List Web Site
http//colleagueslist2.bogspot.com
*****
ASH WEDNESDAY EDITION
Dear Colleagues -
I introduce to you the latest in the
Orbis Spiritual Masters Series with
this week's Colleagues List.
It is entitled "James Martin -
Essential Spiritual Writings"
I hope you find it helpful.
Thanks to those colleagues who have
contributed to this issue and I welcome
Pauline Miller, who writes from my
home community and congregation
in St. Jacobs, Ontario (see below).
I try to keep us all current with
Net Notes, and spiritually nurtured
with Wisdom of the Week.
Thanks for joining me.
Wayne
*****
SPECIAL ITEM
Book Notice -
JAMES MARTIN Essential Writings
Selected With an Introduction
by James T. Keane
Modern Spiritual Masters Series
Orbis Books, Maryknoll,NY
2017, 245 pages. $22.00 US/
$29.00 CAD. Kindle $12.00 CAD
ISBN #978-1-62698-213-0
Publisher's Promo:
Gathered here together for the first time are
selections from the writings of James Martin, S.J.,
the nation's most well-known Catholic priest and
spiritual writer. Sources include his numerous best-
selling books, his articles for America, and his essays
from sources as diverse as the Huffington Post and
Portland Magazine.
This famous Jesuit offers reflections and insights on
everything from prayer to depression to sexuality to
finding one's individual path to holiness; along the
way he introduces the reader to saints and sages
ranging from Thomas Merton to Mother Teresa to
his wise nephew Charles.
James Martin Bio:
James Martin, SJ is a Jesuit priest, editor-at-large
of America, and bestselling author of numerous
books, including Jesus: A Pilgrimage and The Jesuit
Guide to (Almost) Everything. He has written for
many publications, including the New York Times
and The Wall Street Journal, and is a regular
commentator in the national and international
media, as well as having served as the "official
chaplain to The Colbert Report."
--
Edited from the Introduction by James T. Keane:
The unfortunate restrictions on a volume
off essential writings from a scribe as prolific
as James Martin are necessarily ones of
scope and depth... the difficult job of pruning
becomes a monumental task.
I do not deny that some healthy branches
have been cut away... and that ultimately
some good fruit had to be cut. This meant
favoring Martin's shorter, more journalistic
selections over long passages from his books.
... In all this I did seek to find a balance
between breadth and depth.
He might prefer this book be recast in
terms of that all-important term in Ignatian
spirituality: discernment.
Regardless of the terminology, it is my
hope that the selections that follow give the
broadest and deepest appreciation of James
Martin possible and truly present the essential
insights of a modern spiritual master.
--
My Thoughts:
James Martin has written insightfully on a
wide range of topics over the years, but a
central focus of his writings is the Catholic
faith.
I would ask those who are not Catholic to
allow him some slack, since at the heart of
his work is a profound ecumenical awareness.
It was through his association with America
Magazine, a high quality journal of the Jesuits
of New York City, that I have come to know
him over the years. Like many of his confreres,
he has ventured and challenged the papacy
and other authorities, but he remains a loyal
Catholic. That is an important understanding
to take with you as you engage his work.
The Jesuits have always had a teaching charism
since their founding by the Spaniard Ignatius
of Loyola and I have admired the fact that
they have established a great many institutions
of higher learning and media centers around
the world. Martin models his order at its best.
(Pope Francis was trained and served as a Jesuit
for many years - and he carried on a love-hate
relationship with his order until the time of
his election to the papacy.)
Martin has tended to avoid conflict with his
order, but his gifts as a teacher and writer
have often been tested - and for the better
of the church, his order, and himself.
He writes with depth, simplicity, clarity and
compassion. With these gifts he has taken
on some big issues like the clergy abuse
scandal and other major crises plaguing
the Catholic Church today.
Friends of Martin praise him for his friendliness,
intellect, wit and practical accessible spirituality.
He knows the art of communication and has
honed his capacity to use modern media to
spread his insights.
His book "Jesus - A Pilgrimage" (2014) is
an excellent study that shows his mastery of
both the Jesus of history and the Christ of
faith http://tinyurl.com/zcr267f
I am pleased to introduce or re-introduce
this modern spiritual guide to Catholics and
non-Catholics alike. Martin adds a fresh
perspective to our understanding of what it
means to be Christian today.
***
Buy the book from Orbis:
http://tinyurl.com/hcokuhv
http://tinyurl.com/z3y7yoy
COLLEAGUE COMMUNICATIONS
Pauline Miller,
St. Jacobs, ON
February 25th, 2017
Re: "Pure" - the New CBC TV Series
Hello Wayne,
An article about the CBC Series, “Pure” appeared
in (our local paper, the Observer on February 16,
2017. I thought you might be interested in a
Waterloo County perspective on this series.
You can view the article at the website below.
"CBC series is pure bunk, say local Mennonites"
http://tinyurl.com/zptb7xt
I also appreciated the article:
“Opening Worship Leadership to the Laity
America’s New Ministers Changing Protestantism"
Christian Science Monitor, Feb 6, 2017, in your
Colleagues List, February 5th, 2017
http://tinyurl.com/zwzhufl
to St. James Council regarding moving forward to
search for pastoral leadership.
Presently, there is a proposal that four churches
(St. James, St. Jacobs; St. James, Elmira; St. Matthew’s,
Conestogo and Faith, Fergus ON) go together as a parish
with three full-time pastors. We would each keep our
own buildings and have our own church council There
would be a parish council with 2 members from each
of the churches... by the way,
Maple syrup season has started really early. Sure hope
it gets cold again, because if the trees start budding,
the maple syrup season will be over. Had 16 degrees
celsius on Thursday, a thunderstorm on Friday, and
then last night we had snow again.
Saw a robin on Saturday. So spring is coming.
Pauline
***
COLLEAGUES CONTRIBUTIONS
Mark Whittall,
Ottawa, ON
Personal Blog
February 25th, 2017
"Six Days Later"
https://tinyurl.com/z5xftwk
--
Isabel Gibson,
Ottawa, ON
Traditional Iconoclast Blog
February 25th, 2017
"Canadian Treasure - Stuart MacLean"
http://tinyurl.com/j9d59p7
--
Martin Marty,
Chicago, IL
Sightings,
February 27th, 2017
"The Church Militant"
https://tinyurl.com/za4cs3c
--
Jim Taylor,
Okanagan, BC
March 1st, 2017
"Doing Our Dirty Work for Us"
https://tinyurl.com/z2dhn2c
--
Ron Rolheiser,
San Antonio, TX
February 26th, 2017
"Of Virtue and Sin"
https://tinyurl.com/h2d6o7z
****
NET NOTES
ASH WEDNESDAY PHOTOS
Use Your Head
Catholic News Service
February 22nd, 2017
http://tinyurl.com/j7lq3fs
--
FRANCIS SAYS GIVE TO HOMELESS IN LENT
"Don't Worry About How They Will Spend It"
America Magazine
March 1st, 2017
https://tinyurl.com/jgmv85z
--
THE BENEFIT OF DOUBT
IN CHRISTIAN FAITH
Faith Grows and Develops
Through Challenge
Christian Week
February 28th, 2017
https://tinyurl.com/zzmnqko
--
MAHERSHALA ALI FIRST MUSLIM
TO WIN AN ACTING OSCAR
Lead Role Was in "Moonlight"
Which Won Best Picture
Religion News Service
February 26th, 2017
https://tinyurl.com/hexlv4x
Viola Davis Gives Powerful Acceptance Speech
After Winning Oscar for Her Role in "Fences"
The Christian Post,
February 26th, 2017
https://tinyurl.com/j9dntqx
--
INTERFERENCE IN RELIGION
GROWING IN CHINA
Christians Push Back
Against Growing State Controls
UCA News
March 2nd, 2017
http://tinyurl.com/hph6vl2
FOUR AMERICAN MOSQUES
RECENTLY BURNED
Such Events are Unprecedented,
Prompting Assessment
Buzzfeed,
February 27th, 2017
http://tinyurl.com/jhx4ho6
--
WOMEN REMAIN ON THE
CATHOLIC CHURCH'S PERIPHERY
Significant Change Seems to be Elusive
UCA News Asia
March 1st, 2017
http://tinyurl.com/zuemujz
--
FAITH PUTS GHANA AT HEART
OF GLOBAL CHRISTIANITY
African Nation Now has an Identity
Based on Religious Fervor
Religion News Service
March 2nd, 2017
http://tinyurl.com/zg3a6r7
--
PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIAN
COPTS IN EGYPT CONTINUES
Mobs Destroy a Church Crying
"Egypt is Islamic"
CBS News Sixty Minutes
December, 2016
http://tinyurl.com/j5ywuyv
Christianity Today,
February 27th, 2017
"100 Christian Families Flee ISIS in Sinai"
https://tinyurl.com/jeyc7v3
Religion News Service
February 25th, 2017
"Egyptian Leader Seeks to Resettle Sinai Christians"
https://tinyurl.com/gwgblym
--
HOMELESS FIND A CHAMPION
IN CANADA'S MEDICINE HAT
Alberta City Offers a Model
for Other Urban Centres
New York Times,
February 27th, 2017
http://tinyurl.com/zp3lo8k
****
WISDOM OF THE WEEK
Lent comes providentially to reawaken us,
to shake us from our lethargy.
- Pope Francis
--
We must be free not because we claim freedom,
but because we practice it.
- William Faulkner
--
Dividing the world into the "us" and "our enemies"
categories creates fears. A deceitful justification
for aggression and war.
- Asghar Farhadi
--
... those who choose not to empathize enable real
monsters. For without ever committing an act of
outright evil ourselves, we collude with it, through
our own apathy.
- J.K. Rowling
--
The cross is not a defeat, but a victory. It is the
dramatic reassertion of the fact that God’s love
is sovereign, that the rulers of the world do not
have the last word, that the kingdom of God has
defeated the kingdom of Satan, that the kingdoms
of the world have now become, in principle, the
kingdom of our God, and of his Messiah: and he
shall reign for ever and ever.
- N.T. Wright
--
“Do you understand what I have done to you?”
the Lord asked his disciples after washing their feet.
He asks us the same thing every time we have been
helped through humiliation and distress.
He asks it especially, however, in the time of Lent,
and every time we celebrate the Lord’s Supper or
hear the message of salvation.
In all these things he is carrying on the loving service
of washing our feet and working for our sanctification.
- Johann Ernst von Holst
***
ON THIS DAY
"Adventist Cult in Waco Texas Gun Battle - 10 Killed"
https://tinyurl.com/pwsxa9e
"Bomb Explodes at New York's World Trade Center"
https://tinyurl.com/lq7q4pv
(end)
***
CLOSING THOUGHT - Wendell Berry
The soil is the great connector of lives, the source and
destination of all.
It is the healer and restorer and resurrector, by which
disease passes into health, age into youth, death into life.
Without proper care for it we can have no community,
because without proper care for it we can have no life.
(end)
****
For Those Interested -
ST. DAVID'S ACTS MONDAY NIGHT WINTER STUDY
A Ten Week Series January 23rd - April 3rd, 2017
Monday Evenings, TM Room 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
"How Jesus Became God -
The Exaltation of a Jewish Preacher from Galilee"
http://tinyurl.com/gqzkcbx
Author: Bart D. Ehrman
Registration/Hospitality and Book: $60.00.
Book only: $20.00
35 copies were secured for sale.
All copies have been sold.
Our Evolving Course Design:
http://tinyurl.com/j3nv7nd
--
Here is the total course content from our
completed Monday Night Autumn 2016 Study:
"Reclaiming the Bible for a Non-Religious
World" by Bishop John S. Spong
http://rtb.stdavidscalgary.net/
Check our entire archives for all 48 books
studied since 2000:
http://tinyurl.com/q3bw6dh
***
ST. DAVID'S ACTS THURSDAY MORNING STUDY
Ten Sessions February 2nd - April 6th, 2017
"Joshua and Judges" - Formative Hebrew History
Ten sessions 10-11 AM
Gathering at 9:30 AM
In the St. David's TM Room.
No charge
Study resource -
"The DK Complete Bible Handbook"
Edited by John Bowker
http://tinyurl.com/odxlv7q
***
ST.DAVID'S SPIRITUAL TRAVELERS PROJECT, 2017
South Africa has been chosen as our location!
We plan a nineteen-day tour that combines a
focus on faith, social justice culture, and nature,
and it will begin mid-month of October 2017.
A beautiful brochure with trip cost, itinerary, and
many helpful travel hints has been published.
http://tinyurl.com/hucsaf7
Twenty-five persons have already put down deposits
to claim a $300. saving. Our optimal group size for
maximum meaning and value is 28-29 persons and
we are close to reaching that departure goal, seven
months from now..
Contact Rostad Tours: http://tinyurl.com/hucsaf7
*****
