Fides et Ratio

VII. Brother Columba Thomas, Dominican Brother and medical doctor

Fr. Columba Thomas grew up in Lebanon, Ohio where his family attended St. Francis de Sales Parish.  He studied at the University of Dayton, where he majored in Music (Piano) and Premedical Studies.  He then went on to medical school at Yale, where he first met the Dominican friars at St. Mary’s Church and became a Third Order Dominican.  He completed a Primary Care Residency and Chief Residency at Yale and attained board certification in Internal Medicine before joining the Province of St. Joseph.  “The beautiful liturgies and powerful preaching of the Dominicans first drew me to the Order.  Then I realized more and more that the Dominicans are uniquely positioned to effectively proclaim the Gospel and give witness to the faith in a very secularized world.”[1]

The Order of Preachers.

VIII. Bioethics Institute[2] contact number and website[3]

IX Ignatian 14 Rules for Spiritual Discernment (note Ignatius uses these ideas expressed 200-300 years earlier) for a more in-depth discussion a link is provided for those discussions https://youtu.be/JFsnraU8tAY?si=9K7K853Gx8YJLtcb

Ignatius teaches us clearly the first step is an honest self-examination. If we are secular minded, then the temptations will be different from those of a devout soul. Teresa of Avila will define humility as truth, honesty.

Text resurfaces as society need it. Abortion and euthanasia tied together. We are in challenging times. A primary challenge, cure people in the past would have died, but life now requires ongoing care. Unbelievers, suffering has no merit, no understanding o fDivine Providence.

[1] https://dominicanfriars.org/DF_Brothers/bro-columba-thomas-o-p/  accessed July 10, 2024

[2] https://www.ncbcenter.org/store/3cq8wz6tcf0uz5fib31tq0yv18kb3s   accessed July 10, 2024

[3] The National Catholic Bioethics Center

600 REED ROAD, SUITE 102,

BROOMALL, PA, 19008,

UNITED STATES

 215-877-2660[email protected]

Main Phone (215) 877-2660

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This is an orderly approach, so some time is spent in reasoned thought. How do we know truth as opposed to indoctrination? This consideration leaned into philosophy and the 4 Catholic Guideposts.

Helping us to see how this is lived out in practice, we have looked to the Great Spiritual Masters and Doctors of the Church. These men and women have given all of us written work that is trustworthy and spans ages and cultures and a life of heroic virtue.

The analogy chosen to bring these various concepts together is that of a of the seasons of a garden. From conception in hope, at the beginning to completion work of planting, the tending during the heat, finally joy at harvest. Realizing all analogies fail at some point, the garden is a thing that most of us have experience of and it bears the weight of comparison with great tensile strength.

Brother Lawrence Practice Presence of God, looking at the catalogues in winter, hope

Holy Housewives, Application of Brother Lawrence

Abandonment to Divine Providence Jean Pierre de Caussade SJ

Rooting Out Principal Faults/Sins within context of our temperaments. Being good does not fix sin. Sin is a common spot of failure to live in the presence of God.

Abandonment to Divine Providence, God is capable of working in some manner, Gods will hidden mystery, know will of God docility need some knowledge, essential necessity surrender to something above oneself.

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III. Prepare for Eternal Life recent series had many elements and great suggestions. Underlying that practical directive, was a book form the Middle Ages The Art of Dying

Council of Constance (1414 – 1418) emphasized reform, catechesis, and devout Christian living

Jean Gerson wrote a short treatise Scientia bene moriendi The Science of Dying Well, appeared at the Council of Constance and was widely distributed.

The author for the final form which was what was eventually distributed has been suggested to be Dominican but that is open to debate in academia.[1]

TS restated- The purpose of this essay is threefold: (1) to provide a general description of the Ars moriendi in its longer and shorter versions, including overall structure and content; (2) to identify key principles in the Ars moriendi pertaining to preparation for death; (3) to consider how these principles both cast light upon limitations in contemporary approaches and also provide a remedy for them.[2]

Four Last things particular judgment, heaven, hell, final judgment. Familiarity of the truths of our faith. Credo. Death should not be fearful., meditating upon upon the beginning rather that end, mystical entry point into next existence. Helps a fearful generation of dying

[1] Thomas 1

[2] Thomas 3

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Winter, planning, hope

Spring Initiation, planting and walk in the Way

Summer DNS, Death, extreme trials

Fall Harvest wheat and grapes, Eucharist banquet, heaven

NB To the extent possible, suffering and death should be supported but at the end neither can be avoided.

Art of Dying Well must be preceded by Living Well. Key how does one define living well? Great confusion in modern times. We live with so little inconvenience, compared to a 100 yrs ago. People are annoyed by our awesome life. Inability to detach from life. Expectations almost unachievable, resentment, guilt. Focus on the present, doing the next good thing, Art of Living well.

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A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,

17 Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise,

22 Do not rob the poor, because he is poor,

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XIII. Exhortation-

I remember exactly when I realized the great gift my parents gave me, a stable and loving home. The first semester I was in college. In my school, I had very limited exposure to the turbulence and the strains of divorce. There was none in my family. So, I groused about not having fancy stuff, better house, a boat, fancy cars. Of course, my Catholic education was paid for with the lack of these items, but I didn’t realize that at the time. I was just a bratty self-indulgent teenager.

That first semester September 1980, my eyes were opened to the devastation that Wilcox discusses in his book starting in the 1970’s. I was horrified. I also was greatly chastened. I asked my parents for forgiveness. I also thanked them then, and many times through the years. As I age, I thank them more profoundly.

Tightrope balance marriage proceeds children but the children purpose of the marriage. Couple love one another children require that stability, children knew they came from love. Imperative keep first thing first, the marriage union.

Divorce so easy some honored the commitment despite hardships.

End quote pg 117 The Sweet Spot: The Pleasures of Suffering and the Search for Meaning, Paul Bloom

Resources https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/02/elitism-marriage-rates-hypocrisy/677401/ paywall

Their familism finds support from the college-educated elites in California, who endorse family diversity in public but are much more marriage-minded in private, especially when children are in the picture. In their own ways, these three groups—Asians, immigrants, and more educated Californians—probably realize that the pathway to educational attainment, financial success, and the American Dream is much more likely to run through stable, married families than the alternatives.18 And so they live accordingly, even if—in their roles

as movie producers, Silicon Valley executives, educators, and doctors—they often lend public voice to the cause of progressive family values.

https://ifstudies.org/ifs-admin/resources/ifs-stateofcontradiction-final-1.pdf  pg 20 accessed Jun 17, 2024

https://youtu.be/26k8MYqvicw?si=f4XX5JdMU_e_K3Gq  accessed June 17, 2024

@25:05 Elite phenomenon of promoting family diversity when in private lives do not live this way

https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2024/02/sacred-sex      Accessed June 17,2024

Encourage suffered under less-than-ideal marriage not doomed. Compassionate it mattered and find ways to heal and not perpetuate it in the next generation.

Goodness and unity in a husband and wife.

Limelight cast onto the other for the goodness of the marriage. Selfless donation. Putting off marriage harder burden on younger woman.

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Attend church together, shared prayer predictor of higher-quality marriages

Order matters- high school diploma, work full time, marriage, children

Strives know good marriages don’t just happen, find ways of doing better

Marriage Encounter, TOOL, Communio, Couples night out (easier if there is some organizing body), Schoenstatt

Lead with what you love. Never fail to let the other is the most important person to you. 24 hrs in a day. Once an hour not too much. Not only verbal. Use 5 senses. Give entirely to the other. Tired overlook for the other who isn’t. Will the good for the other.

Love society is the ego. Marriage is not created like this. Self-donated gift to you. Mutual exchange, both know each wills the good for the other. Greeted with happiness.

Moment at the Beautiful Gate Anne & Joachim, first moment coming together the Beautiful Gate.

He sees you like the moment he did when he looked at her on their wedding. Walking down the aisle. That look was his heart. Be her. Be that woman.

XII. Motivation for the Elites to Talk Left and Walk Right

Public show of celebrating gender equality, gender nonconformity, and the abolition of traditional roles and styles of masculinity and femininity. The expressed preferences of our elites often look different from their revealed preferences. They talk left but walk right.[1]

Elites have done nothing culturally to help those marginalized. A dereliction of duty and status. Big reason for high incarceration rate and misery among the lower classes.[2] To those given more, more is expected.

MY OPINION

Misplaced compassion. True compassion, it is more difficult but not a death sentence. Free will. Mindfully compensate for the lack.

Ignorance from not seeing objective truths clearly, no realistic epistemology. Some sort of Kantian thinking.

George Bush Soft bigotry of low expectations. Tolerate in lower classes never tolerate in their own children. Never make these allowances for their children.

Regardless of the WHY, do NOT do as they say but as they do, inverted hypocrisy

[1] Wilcox 152

[2] Wilcox 219

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4 Senses of Scripture

Literal, moral, eschaton, Christ

VIII. Exhortation, refer back to Wisdom, Wealth and Moral Instruction

If one wants wealth and moral instruction in a compact presentation, this chapter is excellent. There is a definition of riches, good name, morality. Oppression of the poor leads to want.

Wisdom v3 prudence men hide from danger, simple go after it and suffer.

Moral instruction: Loose lips end one in a deep pit v14

V13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside!

There is an urgent cry from someone in great need. Ignoring it implies cruelty and injustice. The consequence will be when the wicked cries out in their time of need, he will not be answered.[1]

Friends let us be wise, wealthy and moral for our own sakes and those around us.

Consequence of sin is from sin itself.

1 Pet 5: 8-10 lion roaring, sluggard be aware of the enemy wants to devore.

Yelling and surprised about reality of the lion.

Awareness of the evil one to prepare ourselves and be ready against the attacks.

1 Pet 3:15 be ready to give an account

Prudency do not be around scoffers etc…, be aware of the company we keep

Show me your friends show you your future

V24-25 Make no friendship with a man given to anger,

Free will who surround self-become, entangle self be company keep, sets a trap. Helpful to have this instruction.

Resources

https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/most/getwork.cfm?worknum=149

[1] Waltke, 178

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My money/ our money Dave Ramsey.

Make sacrifices for marriage, spouse and kids (see closing quote)

Marriage takes precedence over golf (men) kids (women), no helicoptering

Date Nights novelty, no contentious topics, escape from pressures of parenting and work. More prevalent among the Strivers ($$ success) & Faithful (Marriage Encounter, TOOL, Communio, church instruction).

10/10 dialogue time and place for everything

Forging a unified family identity around a common last name

No D word talk, ties that bind, not an option, not a contract but a covenant

We before Me attitude

Marriage before children- God, marriage, children, work, extra curricula

Initial challenges of new parents are transient in nature, this too shall pass

Give what didn’t have. Broken home is not a death sentence. Motivating to keep working on the marriage

Good relationship someone trying to undermine

Cut off relationships that do not model what is right for kids. Advice to a bridal party in Boulder CO

Boundaries (good fences) around the opposite sex, especially in the workplace Billy Graham. Don’t think this foolish. Recognize every castle has a moat around it. Defenses person doesn’t want to fail but spiritual forces want the failure.

Wedding ring important symbol. Get all the battle array possible. Protect the gift you have the union with your spouse. Lead with what you Love

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Jonathan Livingston Seagull 1970, “A soul mate is someone who has the locks to fit our keys, and the keys to fit our locks. Richard Bach. High school reading.

Me before We. 90% of these types of spouses doubts about their marriage.

Core ambition of soul mate myth is to be happily married not stably married.

Decision to love when the romance honeymoon fades and for the betterment of the family.

Happiness is a byproduct of setting one’s sights to something beyond our limited view, virtue.

Family first model, other centered more stable and satisfying marriages[1] Taking husband’s last name shows it is a team dynamic.[2]

Two-legged chair, possible but not stable. 3 legged stool stable and promotes peace and happiness.

Stability, end goal, living life for the other, every morning willing the good for me. Different ways of defining stability.

Jonathan /seagull model examine you preconceived idea what will make me happy. Do you fit the jig saw puzzle today? Most people don’t.

My soul mate knows what I need. Communication shut down, presumption, mini animosities arise. Not mutual understanding.

Called to be childlike not childish. Counterfeit love husbands & wives to have

[1] Wilcox 87

[2] Wilcox 101

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