Book Review: The Everlasting Man by G. K. Chesterton

The Everlasting Man: A Guide to G. K. Chesterton's Masterpiece by G. K. Chesterton with introduction, notes, and commentary by Dale Ahlquist

Responding to H. G. Wells's The Outline of History, G. K. Chesterton writes a more sensible, more erudite review of human history. Wells goes for a secular understanding, based on the science of his time which was not always so precise and has definitely not aged well by our time (though it was still contemporary for Chesterton). Chesterton, being Catholic, centers history around Jesus Christ, so the first half of his book is about prehistoric man and the various pre-Christian cultures that arose in history. Chesterton recognizes that we know almost nothing about primitive humans and gives a much more rational and believable account of what they must have been like. He proceeds through various civilizations, leading to the Roman Empire where Christ was born. He describes the revolutionary impact of Christ on humanity, both individual humans and the culture in general. He then goes through a bit of the history after Christ, looking at the various other religions and offshoots of Christianity and how they point to the centrality of Christ.

The great insight Chesterton underlines is the uniqueness of both human beings and of Jesus Christ, the titular Everlasting Man. Pre-historic cave paintings are by humans of other animals. The animals never made cave paintings or established civilizations. Humans are a lot more special and odd than an evolutionary attitude admits. Christ also provides a huge change in religions. Many people put their faith in various gods, demons, or their own intellects. Only one person convincingly claimed to be God and the church He founded has outlasted a lot of the institutions that were deliberately crafted to replace Christianity. Jesus is unique in history because He is God made man.

The analysis is brilliant. The text is enjoyable, though Chesterton often cites contemporary examples that are a century away from us now. The footnotes provided by Ahlquist fill in some of the gaps, though often they just reference Chesterton making the same point in other writings, sometimes not as clarifying as they could be. Ahlquist taught this book for years, so he has a detailed understanding that helps. An appendix provides study questions for each chapter.

Highly recommended--The subtitle is not exaggerating when it calls this Chesterton's masterpiece.

Book Review: Darwin and Doctrine: The Compatibility of Evolution and Catholicism by Daniel Kuebler

Darwin and Doctrine: The Compatibility of Evolution and Catholicism by Daniel Kuebler

The supposed conflict between science and religion is the basis for a lot of arguments from people at the far end of both camps. Rather than meet in the middle by finding out about each other's positions, they hunker down in their trenches and lob truth bombs at each other. After several hundred years of conflict, you'd think they'd adopt a different tactic. For such people, the "I'm right, you're wrong" victory is more important than reconciling differences by finding the complicated, integrated truth together.

Daniel Kuebler seeks just such a reconciliation. Operating from the Catholic assumption that there is no genuine conflict between faith and reason, a concept that dates back at least as far as Saint Augustine, he looks at historic understandings of the issues. On the Catholic side, he details the growing understanding of the first chapters of Genesis and how a literal historical interpretation is both unnecessary and unlikely. The origin of the universe is described from a theological perspective at a time when the best science was a nascent science. Sure, a fundamentalist mentality can be found throughout Christian history. But wiser heads can also be found who have taken science seriously and made strides to reconcile the claims of science and the claims of Christianity. On the science side, Kuebler delves into the understanding of evolution as found in Darwin's writings which is quite different from what is asserted by many of Darwin's followers. Evolution is more complicated and incorporates more influences than natural selection. Other natural processes are involved. Digging into the details of current scientific thinking about evolution yields a more complicated and nuanced understanding of how species like homo sapiens came into existence and developed into prominence.

One issue in the debate is a matter of demarcation. Science is great at discovering and explaining processes in the natural world, including the relationships between living organisms (and those that used to live but have been relegated to the fossil record). Theology is great at discovering and explaining relationships between the divine and the human and how that impacts the lives of rational beings. Science and theology look at relationships of things but in different ways and with different ends in mind. They do not have two separate fields of truth, they have two related fields that can inform one another. 

This book is fascinating reading. It is written for a general audience, eschewing highly technical details in science and in theology. But the explanations get into enough detail to make their points. Also, the book is as up-to-date as can be, using the most current advances in both fields to establish how they can be reconciled with each other and provide mutual support and insight.

Highly recommended.

SAMPLE QUOTE:

"Much of the perceived conflict between evolution and Catholicism stems from a failure to distinguish what can legitimately be read from the Book of Nature and what can legitimately be read from the Book of Scripture. While scientific discovery--the 'reading' of the Book of Nature--can uncover how the planets move or how species are related, it cannot fully explain the purpose of man or answer why a universe that is order to support life exists in the first place." [p. 248]

Book Review: Catholic Essays by Stanley Jaki

Catholic Essays by Fr. Stanley L. Jaki

The essays in this collection were written in the 1980s, often responding to other essays or popular articles of the time. Two are lectures given on certain occasions--a paper given at a conference and a commencement address. The whole group deals with all sorts of topics, from science and Galileo to sexual ethics to business and even one on G. K. Chesterton. Jaki is a theologian and scientist by training, lending some balanced insight into the variety of issues. I had a professor who once said, "Eternal problems are always contemporary." Even though Jaki responds to his contemporaries, we still has some basic misunderstandings about, e.g., Galileo and the Church. Interestingly, Jaki predicts that the Catholic Church would reconcile with Galileo (St. John Paul II made an apology in 1992), though people on both sides of the argument refuse to stick their heads out of the trenches they've dug for themselves. 

I found a lot of value here. Like many books written for a then-contemporary audience, some references to other people or events may be obscure by now (I am old enough to remember most of them). Still, it is worth reading at least once. Jaki shows the breadth of Catholic interests in the breadth of topics he covers and uses the wisdom that has universal application.

Recommended, mildly if you are not Catholic.

SAMPLE QUOTE:

On God and multiverses: "For only God is beyond the universe. For if the word universe means anything, it excludes the possibility of another universe, let alone of other universes. If universes are in interaction with one another, they form only one universe. If they are not in interaction, they are mutually unknowable. There is indeed an elementary though devastating profundity in Newman's remark that only one thought is greater than the Universe, the thought of its Maker." [p. 18]

Book Review: When a Loved One Dies by Suicide by E. Shoener et al.

When a Loved One Dies by Suicide edited by Deacon Ed Shoener and Bishop John P. Dolan and published by the Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers

With the death of our son Jacob, we have been looking out for resources to help deal with the loss. Several people recommended this book (with its accompanying video series) for a contemporary Catholic viewpoint. While Church teaching has not changed on suicide, understanding of the nuances of situations has increased. In many cases, mental illnesses and psychological disorders have a dramatic impact on the freedom people exercise in making choices. With a firm eye on pastoral concerns, this book provides ideas and examples to help those grieving the loss of a loved one to suicide.

Each chapter focuses on one person's experience dealing with the loss of a loved one. No one has an easy time, though often the hardships show up in surprising ways. Sometimes co-workers or friends become more distant or act as if nothing has happened. But for the grieved everything has changed and feelings of guilt and abandonment can be exacerbated. The person explains how they have processed their thoughts and emotions, coming to a better place after the shock and horror of the first days, weeks, months, and even years after the loss.

While the book is focused on Catholic teachings, perspectives, and experiences, a lot of the content is valuable to anyone dealing with the suicide of a loved one. The people talk about understanding the mental state and challenges their loved ones faced (many struggled with depression or bipolar disorder). They struggle to understand why God would allow this to happen and what does it mean for their own lives. This book gives pathways to hope, to peace, that don't require membership in the Catholic Church (though certainly fellow Christians can follow 90 per cent of the way). We are Catholic and found it helpful, though the road ahead is long.

The book has a video series that goes with it on the Formed streaming service.

Book Review: Ad Limina by Cy Kellett

Ad Limina by Cy Kellett

In a distant future, the first native-born Bishop of Mars is called for his ad limina visit to Rome. Typically, bishops come to Rome once every five years but transit time takes weeks or months from Mars to Earth. Martian Bishop Mark Gastelum has been shepherd of all souls on the Red Planet for nine years before having to leave. Arranging travel is tricky. The dominant political faction, UNAC, has banned undesirable people from traveling on government-run transportation, "undesirable" being what they think of as "hate groups." Catholic views "discriminate" against "group marriages, genetically-modified people, etc." and the tolerant UNAC won't allow such people access. Gastelum books a passage on an independent shipper which takes an indirect route back to Earth. 

The route is made longer when the Fascists, a high-conservative political group headquartered on Ceres, hijacks the vessel because of a spy on board. Gastelum briefly meets the spy though he only figures out he was the spy later. The spy kills himself before docking at Ceres. The bishop, through a lot of circumstances, winds up with a coded message to take back to Earth though he does not know that either. It's just a box of chocolates for the Pope. The Fascists don't find out right away either and Gastelum books a different transport. This time, he has more of a solar system odyssey that reveals the political, scientific, and social atmosphere of the future as imagined by Kellett.

Like a lot of other science fiction, the world Kellett crafts has much in common with our own. He flags up a lot of current problems, like genetically- or surgically-modified humans, fake tolerance in social and political arenas, and cyber-addiction. The bishop gives a Catholic understanding on such issues as the story progresses and he interacts with various people. Gastelum struggles with what to do in certain situations and has plenty of failings. Humanity has hardly been perfected by scientific advancements. Those advancements just present new challenges and new opportunities.

The book is enjoyable. It has some good descriptions of future colonies where people behave very differently from other places but not from other times like ours. Some of our current problems are cranked to eleven, which provides the author a chance to talk about them in a less threatening but still obvious way (like that Star Trek Original Series episodes with the guys who were half-white and half-black). Some bits are a little preachy, but hey, the main character is a bishop. Since I am sympathetic with 99% of his ideas, I enjoyed it.

Recommended.

This book is discussed on A Good Story is Hard to Find podcast #352.

Book Review: How the Catholic Church Built Western Civilization by Thomas E. Woods, Jr.

How the Catholic Church Built Western Civilization by Thomas E. Woods, Jr.

The modern cultural reputation of the Catholic Church is negative. Recent scandals like the coverups of priestly sexual abuse add to historical complaints about the treatment of Galileo, the Jews, Native Americans, and so-called witches. Such a focus leaves out a lot of things the Catholic Church has done and continues to do. This book argues that core principles and features of Western civilizations were created and refined by the Catholic Church.

It's fairly common to read about the preservation of knowledge and classical literature by the European monks in the chaos after the fall of the Roman Empire. Less acknowledged is the institution of the university system, where information (along with professors and students) flowed freely between school in England, France, Germany, Italy, etc. Master's degrees and license to teach granted scholars status and mobility. Any topic could be discussed and students were expected to argue both sides of an issue, enabling them to have better discernment of the truth. Systematizing and rationalizing knowledge had many benefits. One was the Scientific Revolution, which requires an assumption of a rationally-ordered universe that can be known through observation and reflection.

Much less well known is the Church's contributions in the field of law. In the twelfth century, Church rules and information were brought together from various sources (the Bible, Church Fathers, papal writings, etc.) and systematized into Canon Law. European nations adopted this model, moving away from using local customs and trials by fire or combat (which don't show the truth or the guilt in a situation). Sixteenth century clergy argued about the Native Americans and what rights they had. Did Conquistadors have the right to impose religion and government on inhabitants of the New World? The foundation of international law and human rights began at this time as the humanity of the people living in the Americas was recognized if not respected. 

This development is founded on the key principle introduced by the Catholic Church. All human life is sacred, deserving respect and care. In the classical world, the sick and injured were considered expendable. No one even questioned the abandonment of disabled infants. They were left to die of exposure. In that patriarchal society, a baby girl could easily be subject to abandonment even if healthy. Women had few if any rights--divorce was a male privilege as was education and government participation. The Church's emphasis on the fundamental equality of everyone led to civil reforms and, even more importantly, to the creation of hospitals and what we now call nursing homes, where the chronically ill are cared for, not left on the street to fend for themselves.

This book is a great review of the contributions of the Church to our world. It is straightforward and persuasive. 

Highly recommended. 

Sample quote, on the dawn of international law and human rights:

In sum, Spanish theologians of the sixteenth century held the behavior of their own civilization up to critical scrutiny and found it wanting. They proposed that in matters of natural right the other peoples of the world were their equals, and that the commonwealths of pagan peoples were entitled to the same treatment that the nations of Christian Europe accorded to one another. Thant Catholic priests gave Western civilization the philosophical tools with which to approach non-Western peoples in a spirit of equality is quite an extraordinary thing. If we consider the Age of Discovery in the light o f sound historical judgment, we must conclude that the Spaniards' ability to look objectively at these foreign peoples and recognize their common humanity was no small accomplishment, particularly when measured against the parochialism that has so often colored one people's conception of another. [p. 149]

Book Review: God or Nothing by Robert Cardinal Sarah

God or Nothing: A Conversation on Faith with Nicolas Diat by Robert Cardinal Sarah

Robert Cardinal Sarah, a high official in the Vatican, started his life in an obscure village in Guinea, Africa. His town has a Holy Ghost Fathers mission from the turn of the twentieth century; Sarah is only a third generation Catholic. He was very impressed with the fathers and discerned a vocation to the priesthood, not an easy thing in a country run by communist dictators and awash in poverty. His life took many dramatic turns, eventually leading him to Rome as a seminarian. He was ordained in 1969 and became bishop of Conakry (Guinea's capital) in 1979. He was reluctant to take on the duty, thinking of himself as unworthy and unprepared. Also, his predecessor was jailed by the communist dictator Sekoue Toure. Sarah excelled, reforming the local seminary and eventually being called to Rome to another service for which he was unsure, secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. He trusted in Pope John Paul II and in the Lord that he would be successful. The story of his life is fascinating and well told by the cardinal through the book's interview format.

But his history only covers the first third of the book. The rest provides reflections and insights Cardinal Sarah has gathered over his years of service. He is forthright in his support of the Catholic faith, especially related to family and social issues. The heart of the faith is the love found in the Holy Trinity; we are meant to reflect and express that love in our lives, no matter what our station in life. He combines a wide knowledge of Scriptures and Church teachings with his experiences in Africa. This book is a delight to read and gives an interesting perspective that is both familiar and original.

Highly recommended.

SAMPLE QUOTE:

The ideological spirit is the opposite of the Gospel spirit. That is why priests who choose to follow or to propagate political ideas are necessarily on the wrong path, since they make sacred something that is not supposed to be. Ideology is by nature disconnected from reality, and it is necessarily a source of division, since it cannot win the lasting allegiance of people who are still anchored in reality, in good times and bad. [p. 130]

Book Review: Brilliant: 25 Catholic Scientists, Mathematicians, and Supersmart People by David Michael Warren

Brilliant: 25 Catholic Scientists, Mathematicians, and Supersmart People by David Michael Warren

This book of biographies is focused on Catholics who have made contributions to our scientific advancement, starting with Saint Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) and ending with Pope Francis and Karin Oberg, both still living as I write this.

The book's audience is children, so the biographies are short (three or four pages) and include a lot of nice art (similar to what's on the cover). Each bio gives, in addition to the person's scientific contributions, some historical context and how their faith influenced their lives. The breadth of discplines is impressive, including physics, mathematics, biology, chemistry, genetics, computer science, and astrophysics. Many were religious who were supported in their scientific vocations by their orders or their dioceses. Many are also lay Catholics, often parents who balanced faith, family, and career successfully. This book is a great introduction to these people and puts the lie to the supposed division between faith and science.

Recommended, highly for kids.

Book Review: Bearing False Witness by Rodney Stark

Bearing False Witness: Debunking Centuries of Anti-Catholic History by Rodney Stark

Bigotry is something that seems ubiquitous in human societies. While no one looks at themselves as bigoted, they can point plenty of fingers at other individuals, groups, or institutions as deliberately or inherently/systematically biased. While contemporary media has its darlings who are legitimate victims of stereotypical attitudes, the fact is a lot more people and groups have been and are targeted by misinformed opinions and accusations. This book focuses on the Catholic Church, which has had plenty of legitimate criticisms but also a whole host of falsehoods and wild exaggerations. 

Author Rodney Stark makes an important distinction in his introduction, "I am not a Roman Catholic, and I did not write this book in defense of the Church. I wrote it in defense of history." [p. 7] He looks at issues like the Inquisition, slavery, the Crusades, Anti-Semitism, and suppressed Gospels from historical research, i.e. what actually happened. He considers the contexts both of the events and of subsequent authors (like those of the self-proclaimed Enlightenment in the 1600s and 1700s), many who had a lot of influence and personal bias against the Church. Stark acknowledges shortcomings while setting the record straight. His writing is very straightforward and honest, with plenty of endnotes and an extended bibliography. If you want a more in-depth and accurate appraisal of the Crusades or Galileo's condemnation or Pope Pius XII's relationship with fascism, this is the book for you.

It's amazing how many egregious errors stick around for centuries and centuries.

Highly recommended.

The book is discussed in A Good Story is Hard to Find podcast #315. Check it out!

Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Upstairs

Continuing our visit to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception from yesterpost, here is an exterior picture showing the dome and the outer walls of the main level.

One side of the Basilica

The nave of the church is about 400 feet long and 100 feet high, giving it a breathtaking amount of space. The domes are even higher!

Nave

The main altar is on a raised platform called the chancel leading back into the sanctuary. 

Stairs to the main altar

Main altar viewed from the back right side

The free-standing canopy over the sanctuary altar is called a Baldachin.

Baldachin and altar

View of the nave from the back of the basilica

By the Baldachin is a papal umbrella though there is no sign identifying which pope (of the many who visited here) it is from.

Papal umbrella

Surrounding the Baldachin by the main altar are three apses dedicated to St. Joseph, Jesus, and the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Joseph mosaic depicts the foster father of the Lord and many different workers of whom Joseph is the universal patron.

St. Joseph Aspe

Yeah, that guy has a trash can

The main apse has Christ in Majesty, showing the apocalyptic vision of the Savior towering over the church. The visual is quite striking and dominates an already huge church.

Christ in Majesty

The third apse has Mary, the Mother of God, also in an apocalyptic scene. She is the woman of the Apocalypse, pursued by the dragon as her child is carried off to safety.

Marian apse

The Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary are depicted below Mary. My favorite is the Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple. The one scholar looks so scholarly to me.

Mary and Joseph find Jesus in the Temple

Yeah, who hasn't seen this guy before?

In memory of the recently deceased Benedict XVI, there's a small display of his visit to Washington. He made a special visit to this replica of the statue of Our Lady of Altotting, a gift from the people of Bavaria. Benedict grew up there as the young Josef Ratzinger.

Benedict XVI was here

The church has several domes, the main one is the Trinity Dome, featuring the Blessed Virgin Mary, eighteen saints, four evangelists, two archangels, and the Three Persons of God.

Trinity Dome

The side aisles have many chapels. The chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary was donated by the Dominicans and has a relief of Mary with the Child Jesus surrounded by fifteen flames. The flames represent the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary (this was constructed before John Paul II added five more mysteries in 2002--not sure they can add another five!). 

Our Lady of the Rosary chapel

A favorite side chapel of mine is the Mother of Sorrows Chapel. This Slovak chapel depicts the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady, six on the walls and the seventh being the Pieta in the center on the altar.

A good place to pray your confession prayers

Another favorite chapel for me is the Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel. People from all over the Americas stream in on the side walls to the central mosaic of the miraculous image from Juan Diego's tilma.

Our Lady of Guadalupe

I tried to take a picture of the organ in the back but all that came out was the huge bas relief called The Universal Call to Holiness. It shows various people drawn to the Holy Spirit.

Universal Call to Holiness

Not far from the Basilica is the Welcome Plaza to The Catholic University of America with a new sculpture called Angels Unawares. It is a second casting of by artist Timothy Schmalz, the first is displayed in the Vatican. 

The front of Angels Unawares

The back of Angels Unawares

Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Downstairs

The construction of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D. C.,  began in the 1920s. The main construction was not completed until 1959, though chapels are continually being added. These chapels represent the various ethnicities of the United States of America and various groups within the church (like the Knights of Columbus or the Franciscans). It's an impressive structure.

Front entrance of the Basilica

We visited to go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The Confessional Chapel is the Czech National Chapel and is dedicated to Our Lady of Holy Hostyn. A bronze statue of St. John Neumann (Czech national who served the church in the United States) leads into the chapel.

Our Lady of Hostyn Chapel

St. John Neumann

Just outside the Confessional Chapel is Our Lady of Hope Chapel. The chapel was a gift of Bob and Dolores Hope. Yes, that's the comedian Bob Hope!

Our Lady of Hope

The Crypt Chapel was the first one completed during construction. The first public Mass held inside was on Easter Sunday 1924. 

Crypt Chapel

The chapel is surrounded by many different altars dedicated to various saints.

The crypt's tabernacle

St. Cecelia altar

St. Margaret, more fun in Latin as St. Margarita

The statue of Our Lady of Good Health is a copy from the Basilica in Vailankanni, India.

Our Lady of Good Health

The Our Lady of Antipolo Oratory has a copy of the statue of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage from the Philippines. 

Our Lady of Antipolo

Better image of the statue's face

The Our Lady of Mariazell Chapel features an exact replica of the statue in Mariazell, Austria. The statue is relatively small and has a nice bit of stained glass behind it. 

Our Lady of Mariazell

Outside of the crypt is a long hall featuring statues of American saints. I was especially impressed with St. Kateri Tekakwitha, the first Native American saint from the United States.

Kateri Tekakwitha

A statue of St. Peter reminds me of the one in the Vatican where the foot is worn down from all the visitors touching or kissing it. This Peter still has his whole foot.

St. Peter with a full set of toes

In imitation of a small Lebanese church, the Our Lady of Lebanon Chapel represents the Maronite Rite Eastern Church. It's tiny but striking.

Reminds me of ancient churches in Ireland

The Byzantine Ruthenian Chapel represents an Eastern Church Rite that is in full communion with Rome.  

Byzantine Ruthenian Chapel

In the Memorial Hall we found a cardboard cut out of the current pope, so the kids took a picture with him (our oldest was out camping with scouts, so he missed out).

Papal photo op!

The hall includes two chairs that were especially made for Papal visits. John Paul II visited Denver, Colorado, in 1993 for the eighth World Youth Day; the chair is from the papal Mass. Benedict XVI visited America in 2008; his chair was used at the National Shrine.

Pope John Paul II chair

Pope Benedict XVI chair

In one of the halls is an impressive sculpture of the Holy Family at Rest, depicting a moment during the Flight into Egypt.

Holy Family taking a rest

The crypt level has a cafeteria that hasn't served food since the pandemic lockdown started. The fake stained glass shows foody scenes from the gospels.

Last Supper and Emmaus Disciple Dinner

More from the shrine in the next post!