He Leadeth Me by Walter J. Ciszek, S.J.

Fr. Ciszek was a Jesuit priest who, in 1928 as a young man, answered Pope Pius XI’s call to train for the “Russian missions.”   Fr. Ciszek was imprisoned in Siberia for twenty-three years and returned to the United States in 1963.  He was an American from Shenandoah, Pennsylvania!  I had labored under the impression that he was Polish by birth, a European long accustomed to totalitarian oppression. 

The book is intense, concentrated, even ponderous at times.  First, there is the matter of just following the sequence of events--where Father Ciszek was and when, why he was imprisoned, solitary confinement, the interrogations, hunger, doubt, his transfer to a slave labor camp, physical suffering, facing and surviving a firing squad, “freedom” in Siberia and then his return to the United States.  Plenty to digest.

Then there is the theological and spiritual side with the lesson that Fr. Ciszek drives home over and over.  I took it to be this:  Thy will, Lord, not mine.  He recounts how he came to understand and accept his imprisonment.  He instructs us to be grateful and stalwart servants of the Lord, able always to bend to God’s will, never presuming we can go it alone.  Life isn’t casual.  People are not random physical bodies created to chase sunshine and  rainbows. Every hair of one’s head is accounted for.   Your life has meaning.   Go about figuring it out.

Joseph Gilmore and William Bradbury

Lord, I would clasp Thy hand in mine,

Nor ever murmur nor repine,

Content, whatever lot I see,

Since ‘tis my God that leadeth me!

 

He leadeth me, He leadeth me,

By His own hand He leadeth me:

His faithful foll’wer I would be,                              For by His hand He leadeth me.

 

The Next Pope by Edward Pentin

 

Nineteen cardinals who might be pope are profiled in this lengthy book which is a thoroughly researched study including copious footnotes and pleasant, full-page color photos of each candidate.  These “leading candidates” as the subtitle refers to them represent four continents. 

There are three from Africa (Cardinals Napier, Sarah and Turkson), two from Asia (Cardinals Ranjith and Tagle), three from North America (Cardinals Burke, O’Malley and Ouellet) and the remaining 11 are from Europe with just over half that representation belonging to the Italians (Cardinals Bagnasco, Parolin, Piacenza, Ravasi, Scola and Zuppi).  The other European countries represented are the Czech Republic (Cardinal Duka), the Netherlands (Cardinal Eijk), Germany(Cardinal Muller), Erdo (Hungary) and Austria (Cardinal Schonbrun). 

This book offers insight into the minds of men who have devoted themselves to the Church and who operate at high levels within an ossified and unwieldy bureaucracy (if that’s not redundant).  They range from noble-born to the son of a communist truck driver.  They might be a scholarly heavyweight or an intellectual lightweight.  They may preside over dancing at the altar or they may express concern over any variation in the liturgy.  They may behave with modest decorum as regards their public position while others clearly enjoy the spotlight.  Some of the few common points among them are age---the youngest is approaching 70 and the oldest is 82--a belief in the real presence and the grave evil of abortion. 

So thoroughly did I become drawn in to the other-worldly world of these cardinals that I was compelled to put other reading aside until I had finished Mr. Pentin’s book.  What I had anticipated would be a dry, encyclopedic kind of coverage was anything but.  Edward Pentin allowed the cardinals to speak for themselves and he arranged the material by topics making it easy to jump in at any point or to easily access information about each cardinal. 

I highly recommend this book.

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What follows are some of my observations based on mere speculation and first impressions, perhaps frivolous.  I also made my own list of cardinal favorites. 

Cardinal Tagle from the Philippines comes in dead last as a promising future pope. He is dubbed the “Asian Francis” and appears to have not much in his head in the way of brains.  As disastrous as Tagle, would be Ravasi, Zuppi, Schonbrun or Parolin. Ravasi is the cardinal who arranged the Vatican costumes for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York back in 2018.  Zuppi finds his inspiration in the Sant’Egidio community.  Parolin is the Vatican Secretary of State, politician par excellence, very involved in the current China policy of the Vatican.  Cardinal Schonbrun is some version of a soft, accommodate-the-culture Catholic on most issues.  Cardinals Turkson and Napier were surprisingly undynamic. 

As for our North American cardinals, I fear none are destined for the Chair of Peter simply because they don’t speak enough languages!  Cardinal O’Malley might be described as fluent in Spanish and naturally Cardinal Ouellet would speak French. But none of our three North Americans is mentioned as having Italian among their languages or fluency in anything other than their native tongue.  Meanwhile, their brother cardinals across the pond are described as fluent in anywhere from 5 to 10 languages.  Cardinal Ranjith is said to command English, Hebrew, Sinhalese and everything in between, a total of 11 languages! 

Also, by virtue of our history, our North American cardinals do not deal with the range of problems that the other cardinals face---the legacies of communism and colonialism, proximity of Muslim countries, poverty and health epidemics such as AIDS or malaria, polygamy, the consequences of underdevelopment such as lack of transportation, potable water and so on.   Here in North America, we are confronted with neither the atheism of the Czech Republic nor (sterile, secular Canada and even the USA aside for a moment) the depth of secularism in the Netherlands where less than 5% of self-proclaimed Catholics attend mass. We increasingly feel our religious freedoms threatened, but we are not, as in Sri Lanka, a Catholic minority in a predominantly Buddhist culture. 

Most unusual were the impressions I took away of German Cardinal Muller and the American Cardinal Burke.  Both cardinals, highly moral and exceedingly competent men, are frequently interviewed on EWTN when the more traditional Catholic perspective is wanted.  They sound forth eloquently on many issues about which it’s obvious that they’ve thought deeply.  When Cardinal Burke speaks one can almost feel the intellect and faith at work. Yet, given the international character of the papacy, Cardinal Burke seems so solidly American and Midwestern that he is more logically suited to remaining on our national stage. 

Cardinal Muller is a man who appears to exist almost in the ether. His reasoned thinking and moderated tone, along with a mind that seems uncompromisingly bent on precision of thought and expression are traits present to such an extent that it’s difficult to see the Cardinal engaged in everyday problem solving or meet-the-press-moments that must be required of a political figure such as the Vicar of Rome.

Here then is my lineup.  Edward Pentin writes that Cardinal Scola was the “bookies’ favorite at the 2013 conclave” …but “not enough Italian cardinals could unite around him.” In no particular order, my lineup also includes Cardinal Scola as well as Italian Cardinals Piacenza and Bagnasco, Dutch Cardinal Eijk, Hungarian Cardinal Erdo,  African Cardinal Sarah, and Asian Cardinal Ranjith.  These cardinals impressed me as men capable of governing the bureaucratic Church as more than mere administrators or politicians by bringing their depth of mind and character to the office.     

 

Three books about the Reformation

 Three Reformers by Jacques Maritain 

With apologies to Fr. George Rutler, this book may as well have been written in Saami, Xhosa or Old Church Slavonic for all that I was able to get out of it.  It was Fr. Rutler, Catholic priest, sage and prolific writer, who recommended this book. 

We have had Three Reformers in our home library for years.  I read it at last to supplement my reading on the Reformation (Will Durant’s Volume 6).   We have the book because some questions arose in our family concerning the role of the Catholic Church in the Reformation.  At that time, we attended the Church of Our Saviour (38^th and Park in New York City) where Fr. Rutler presided.  When we directed our questions to Fr. Rutler, he replied that we should get this book and read it.   What better recommendation could one have? 

The author is French philosopher and Catholic convert Jacques Maritain. The three reformers are Martin Luther, Rene Descartes and Jean Jacques Rousseau. Maritain sees these men as respectively, a reformer of religion, a reformer of philosophy and a reformer of morality.  According to Maritain, they “dominate” and “govern all the problems which torment [the modern world.]” 

This is a book of philosophy.  I have a weak mind when it comes to that subject which is probably why I have little interest after a point.  Except for occasional phrases or short paragraphs, the content just didn’t resonate with me. For example, the portion of the book on Descartes is divided into three sections entitled ‘The Cartesian Revelation,’ ‘The Angel and Reason’ and ‘Continuation and End.’ Even the section titles didn’t orient me so I started off with a deficit.  Here is a quote. “It remains—and this is what concerns us—that the Cartesian ideas come from God, like angelic ideas, not from objects.  Thus the human soul is not only subsistent as the ancients taught, causing the body to exist with its own existence;  it has, without the body, received direct from God all the operative perfection which can befit it.” 

Here my story ends.  I have preserved some notes on this book for reference should my knack for philosophy one day improve.  For the philosophers and deep-thinkers out there, you will want to read this book recommended as it is by one of the respected Catholic priests of our day. If you do read it, please give me your thoughts. 

Characters of the Reformation by Hillaire Belloc 

Hillaire Belloc is an entertaining writer.  He is also a Catholic writer, but whether you are Catholic, Protestant, Jew or Sufi, his religion shouldn’t be the reason you choose to read him or not.   He’s clever and insightful and his writing is accessible.  Raised in England, he is the son of a French father and an English mother.  He is considered one of the great writers of the Edwardian era along with George Bernard Shaw, G.K. Chesterton and H.G. Wells.

In this short book, Belloc gives sketches of 23 different figures of the Reformation, largely concentrating on England.  England! Belloc contends that had England not succumbed fully to Protestantism, Catholicism would have prevailed and the Reformation would have been reduced to individual pockets of Protestants confined mostly to urban areas throughout Europe. Bear in mind that when Elizabeth assumed the crown in 1558, Britain was still roughly two-thirds Catholic. 

The introductory chapter is an overview and political history of the Reformation.  Belloc gives the traditional reasons for the Reformation-- the rise of nationalism; the corruptions, offenses and wealth of the Catholic Church; the growth of commerce and the wealth generated by that growth;   the rise of a mercantile class;  the triumph of rationalism over scholasticism. According to Belloc, the Reformation lasted 200 years and there are several stages. From 1517-1537 he describes a period of mostly chaos.  Next, Calvin, through his writings and focus, imposed order on the development of Protestant groups creating a more direct challenge to Catholicism and the institution of the Catholic Church.  In the second half of the 1500s, there ensued hostilities, confiscation of Church property, violence and warfare.

Belloc describes what occurred in Britain as “. .  . a succession of incidents which marked each of them a step more difficult to retrace.”  That is, there was a series of random, feckless actions that set into motion a political and religious tsunami that couldn’t be stopped.  Henry’s undisciplined nature caused him to lust after Anne Boleyn.  Anne Boleyn demanded marriage.  Henry then demanded divorce.  Thomas Cromwell, who Belloc describes as creating “the breach” between England and Rome, egged Henry on in the King’s provocation of the Pope.  Cromwell was also responsible for the pillage and theft of Church property.  And so it went.

We progress through Elizabeth I who is the mere “puppet” of William Cecil according to Belloc.  (He further humiliates the great queen describing her as “dried up and wizened, with a skin like parchment, already old but looking a far older ruin than she was.…”)   Belloc takes us through the reign of James I of England (James VI of Scotland) and the ensuing struggles among the various developing nations of Europe. We meet the Emperor Ferdinand II, Cardinal Richelieu, Gustavus Adolphus, Oliver Cromwell and others ending with Louis XIV.  Belloc also gives helpful sketches of philosophers Rene Descartes who is credited with giving us Rationalism and Blaise Pascal who gave us Emotionalism.  Both men greatly influenced the culture of the  ensuing years. 

This is an excellent book of the over 100 that Hillaire Belloc has written.  I have taken abundant notes on each of the twenty-three historical figures.  I make frequent reference to my notes and the original text as I continue my reading on the Reformation and its aftermath.    

Philip II by Henry Kamen 

Philip II of Spain lived from 1527-1598 and he was the son of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor and Isabel of Portugal.  He was a central figure representing Catholic Europe in the post-Reformation years.  Unfortunately, this author failed, in my opinion, to bring enthusiasm and imagination to the life and times of Philip II.  

Philip II is not a necessarily disagreeable figure but I never grew to like him.  Not particularly handsome in my estimation, he wasn’t particularly dynamic either. The author made occasional attempts to counter the image of Philip as serious and one dimensional, but the king emerged nonetheless as uncharismatic, unimaginative and aloof.  Though adequately educated, scholarship was not his strong suit.   As a young prince he enjoyed hunting and jousting.   He spoke only Castilian and a bit of Latin and Catalan despite the far-flung empire over which he reigned.  He did eventually amass impressive libraries and art collections, and he developed an interest in architecture and painting and gardens when, through his princely travels, he was exposed to the Renaissance culture of the rest of Europe.  

Steadfastly Catholic, Philip was a conscientious king who took his role as monarch seriously.  He reigned over a vast empire that eventually included the entire Iberian peninsula, the Netherlands, the Kingdom of Naples, the duchy of Milan, Sicily, Sardinia and the Philippines.   He had an alliance with the Holy Roman Empire, the Emperor being first an uncle and following him, a nephew.  Philip II had dominion over the Portuguese possessions in Asia and South America, and, don’t forget, Spain had an entire colonial empire in Mexico and South America along with parts of the North American continent. Consistent with the era and the rest of Europe he ruled over a minimally united kingdom and had to answer to local officials, governors and nobles. He dealt with numerous, agencies, committees, counselors, secretaries and advisors.  He reigned through letters, reports, directives and spent so much time at his desk that he earned the occasional sobriquet ‘paper king.’  He had traveled in his youth but Philip never left the Iberian peninsula after 1559.    

He was an apparently faithful husband to four wives, all of whom pre-deceased him. He had a short first marriage to Maria of Portugal.  She bore him a troubled son, Don Carlos, who died at the age of 23.  In Philip’s later years, he became particularly close to his daughters Isabel and Catalina whose mother was the French Elizabeth of Valois daughter of Catherine de Medici.  His successor was his only surviving son Philip III, born of his fourth and last marriage to Anna of Austria.  His second marriage to the English Queen Mary Tudor was not depicted in this book as the tragic affair it is sometimes made out to be. The author suggests that Philip was respectful of Mary and English ways and that he may have actually had some affection for her. 

Unfortunately, the book doesn’t become really engaging until well into the middle, along about page 178 which begins Chapter 7, ‘The World of Philip II.’  The author finally gives the reader some context for Philip II’s reign.  We begin to understand more about the culture of Spain and its role in Europe at the time. He describes the king’s day-to-day routines, his various residences, his family life.  The author does give a good discussion of how Philip II governed. There is a fair amount of information on Philip’s handling of the Moriscos and Conversos, the Inquisition, the Escobedo Affair, the continuous unrest in the Netherlands, affairs with England and the defeat of the Spanish Armada.  

With all that, the book comes up short in my estimation.  There are some good maps, a substantial photograph section and a very helpful chart of the royal family and lines of succession.

Ten Dates Every Catholic Should Know by Diane Mozcar

Here are the dates and chapter headings just as given in this readable and rich book of less than two hundred pages.    

313 A.D.         The Edict of Milan and the Liberation of the Church
Constantine granted Christians the right to worship freely thus ending years of persecution.  Not to be confused with Theodosius I who declared Christianity the state religion of the Roman Empire in 380 A.D.
 
452 A.D.         St. Leo Repulses the Huns 
I liked this chapter because of the historical background to the actual event when Pope Leo confronted Attila from across the Mincio River---“I am Leo, the Pope.”
 
496 A.D.         The Baptism of Clovis Gives Birth to France
One can never tire of reading the history of France’s formation as a Catholic nation: the Frankish Merovingians, Clovis, Clothilda, St. Genevieve, St. Remigius and the miracle of the chrism.
 
800 A. D.        The Coronation of Charlemagne, Father of Christendom
More on France with the Frankish mayor domos—Arnulf, the Pepins, Charles Martel, Pepin the Short--- who replaced the lazy Merovingian kings until the time of Charlemagne himself.  The author sees this era as the consolidation of Western Christianity.
 
910 A.D.         The Founding of Cluny and The Revival of Religious Life
William the Pious, Duke of Aquitaine is the layman who founded Cluny.  Read on about St. Berno and St. Odo who carried out its mission.
 
1000 A.D.       Gateway to the Church’s Most Glorious Age
The High Middle Ages (1000-1300 A.D.) is the backdrop to events including Pope Gregory VII and the Investiture Controversy.
 
1517 A.D.       The Protestant Catastrophe
Obviously, a chapter about the Reformation. 
 
1571 A.D.       The Battle of Lepanto: Our Lady’s Naval Victory
Christianity is saved from the infidels.  The author sets the stage for Pope Pius V’s call to arms with Don Juan of Austria at the helm. She begins with John Hunyadi and St. John Capistrano and the Siege of Belgrade in 1456, includes Scanderberg and Albania and Suleiman the Magnificent’s attempts to break through to Vienna.  I have to admit I found the background more interesting than the famous naval battle itself.
 
1789 A.D.       The Age of Revolution
This chapter is devoted to the French Revolution as ushering in the “heady ideas” that “continue to influence the world today.”

1917 A.D.       Fatima and the Twentieth Century
One hundred and four years after Fatima, how much has changed?  The author notes the “doctrinal confusion” and “moral ambiguity” of the 21^st century. Yet, I think she intends the events of Fatima to be taken as hopeful despite our rather shoddy track record so far.
 
Now read the book.  You will not be disappointed.  The author writes in an accessible scholarly tone and she clearly knows and loves her subject.