THEOLOGY OF THE BODY

THEOLOGY OF THE BODY STUDY GROUP NOTES
Fr. Thomas Loya, November 14, 2009
[Sr. Helena's useless comments in brackets]

for archived video of this class and past classes:

www.ustream.com/channel/theology-of-the-body

This TOB series is applying TOB to everyday issues. We've covered "gay marriage," healthcare, women and priesthood, etc. We can apply a sacramental/Catholic worldview to everything.

Since the 16^th century, we have a veil over our eyes and don't see things in a sacramental worldview any more. We see everything ONLY through a scientific-rationalist lens [which is minimalist and impoverishing!] So now we don't have the right view of nature, the human person, reality, anything! We no longer see things as integrated: body and spirit.

It's interesting that atheists and the sexual revolution say the same thing we're saying: "I AM my body." But they stop there. We would continue and say "I AM my body AND my soul. Together." My body delivers my WHOLE person.

We have taken love/sexuality/body out of the heart of the Trinity and divorced it from any context, and so we can do whatever we want with it: redefine, use, abuse, etc. AND we've left a gaping hole in the Trinity so our view of God is incomplete, and we don't understand how these two "things" could possibly go together. Sex is dirty and God is holy, right?

Passage from "Book of Tobit" in the Bible—Sarah and Tobias' wedding night. [You've gotta read this whole book!] Tobias: "You know I don't take this wife of mine for lust." Lust is always bad—it's treating someone as an object for our own self-gratification; it appropriates the object of lust. Desire sees that something/someone is good and wants it, but always with respect, boundaries, treating persons as persons.

Even in the "good old days" (pre-Vatican II) of the Church's past, marriage was sometimes seen as a just a place to legitimize your lust*, unbridled concupiscence [especially on the part of the man]. This attitude caused true abuse of wives and thus even pushed women toward contraception!

___________________

*This was never part of Church teaching, but rather an attitude and practice.

There were some good things about the approach of the pre-Vatican II Church to sex and even the sexual revolution got some things right (emphasis on the person, the personal, mutuality).

It's all about INTEGRATION.

p. 606 TOB text: The language of the body is the language of the liturgy. Because both have their source in God.
p. 612 TOB text: The language of the liturgy elevates marriage. "Conjugal life, in some sense, becomes liturgy."

The ONE FLESH UNION finds its context in the EUCHARIST which finds its context in the SACRIFICE OF THE CROSS which finds its consummation in the HEAVENLY WEDDING FEAST. Everything is all about one thing: THE SPOUSAL MYSTERY (GOD'S LOVE). LITURGY is where this is all played out. That's why THE EUCHARIST is the "source and summit" of our life.

[We can just vaguely talk about God's love, but how does God love?] Spousally!!!! God loves us freely, fully, faithfully and fruitfully.

God recreated the human race in Jesus and Mary, mystically. Fulton Sheen: "How did old humanity begin? Nuptials. How did the new humanity begin? Nuptials. Jesus, the new Adam, looked down from the Cross at the new Eve. The Church was born from His side. The blood and water from Jesus' side was the seminal fluid of the new Church." "Marriage bed of the cross was one of pain, not pleasure."

When did Jesus call Mary "woman"? At WEDDING of Cana and on the CROSS. (Two weddings.)

Icon (triangle)—Jesus, Mary, John (John represents the new offspring) "Behold your mother." "It is consummated."

Mary and Joseph were living the heavenly marriage on earth. It was a virginal marriage. [Virginal means totally God's, body and soul. Marriage means total union, body and soul. We will be able to do both in heaven, but not on earth!]

The imagery of the Passion is Christ the Bridegroom, stripped, crowned, hands bound. We tend to look at it very literally: he was being tortured. But what was it mystically? In Eastern Church, Holy Week is "week of the Bridegroom."

"Christ emerges from the tomb like a bridegroom coming from the bridal chamber and fills the women with joy." –Eastern Easter Sunday liturgy, written by saints.

[Everything is not the same. That's why we need to integrate it.]

Church architecture is patterned after the Jewish temple. The Eastern Church has retained this. [And didn't God give the directions for the Temple?] [Fr. Loya describes the interior of the Eastern churches.]

The priest only went into the holy of holies for the loftiest of reasons.

Liturgy is about "something" on high coming down to us.

The priest faces East [all churches were built facing the East, but now Latin Rite doesn't do it any more] and only turn to the people for the Word, the Eucharist and the Blessing. These 3 things are the acts of insemination: planting something in the Bride.

The very architecture, rhythm of the liturgy matches REALITY, bodily and mystically.

Father Loya highly recommends book "Spirit of Liturgy" by Cardinal Ratzinger, p. 78 & 79: "The idea of priest facing the people is a misunderstanding of the Roman basilica, the Last Supper. In antiquity, the presider never faced the people. The table was horse-shoe shaped. The way we are doing liturgy now is over-emphasizing the role of the priest and lessening the role of God." Ratzinger: liturgy becomes a "self-enclosed circle." The circle model is more feminine. The male role drops out and we LOSE THE SPOUSAL MEANING / REALITY / ACTION. [By overemphasizing the male role, everything else gets out of whack, the feminine pushes back, perhaps even takes over, and then there is a power struggle.]

[We see things literally, one-dimensionally and so we lose the mystical reality. And "mystical" means "the MOST real."]

If liturgy goes well, everything proceeds forth from that. Liturgy informs life.

Posture/gesture/sound, everything in liturgy is meant to get us to participate in the spousal reality.

The Tridentine Mass had abuses creeping in—the priest/altar boy were doing their own thing. The people were doing their own thing. Vatican II wanted to fix that. Latin is still the language of the Church. But vernacular is OK. We weren't supposed to change the fundamental nature of the liturgy, the theology of the liturgy.

We need to listen to God / the Church / the Bible about our Church, not what the world says about our Church.

[We can't be "all one" in the sense of a radical egalitarianism because we're NOT all the same and we know that instinctively and so we struggle to be distinct when that distinctiveness is obliterated.]

[It's not just "balance," it's "integration."]

#1617—CCC—Everything is about the nuptial mystery!

Everything IS "sexual" in the sense of the Spousal Mystery.

Evdokimov—good Russian theologian to read (book on womanhood, book on love) but he does go off on contraception (won't say it's ALWAYS instrinsically evil)

Love hurts…..

Gender is theology, theology is gender. Gender is everything. "Male and female he created them." The order of creation is clearly gendered. Are their all kinds of gender confusions and disorders? Yes! But there are all kinds of other disorders in creation as well.

You can't change the divine order, you can only pretend!

The husband must love the bride, not understand her.

POPE BENEDICT AND THE NEW MEDIA (HE TOTALLY GETS IT)

Church must adapt to the way media are impacting culture, pope says

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) --

New media are not just instruments for communicating, but they are having a huge impact on culture -- on the way people interact and think, Pope Benedict XVI said."This constitutes a challenge for the church, called to proclaim the Gospel to people of the third millennium," the pope said Oct. 29 during a meeting with members of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications. The content of the Gospel message remains unchanged, he said, but the church must learn how to transmit that message to new generations and must do so by taking advantage of the new technology and new attitudes toward communications. Pope Benedict said one of the marks of the new media culture is its multimedia and interactive structure.

New technology is not leading to developments only in television or radio or the Internet, but is "gradually generating a kind of global communications system" in which media are used together and the audience participates in generating content, he said. "I want to take this occasion to ask those in the church who work in the sphere of communications and have responsibility for pastoral guidance to take up the challenges these new technologies pose for evangelization," the pope said.

Pope Benedict encouraged all producers and users of media "to promote a culture of respect for the dignity and value of the human person, a dialogue rooted in the sincere search for truth (and) for friendship that is not an end in itself, but is capable of developing the talents of each person to put them at the service of the human community. "The pontifical council, he said, is called to study the new media culture and offer Catholics ethical guidance so that they recognize the importance of the communications media and use it effectively to spread the Gospel.

MOVIES: "THE 13TH DAY" (OUR LADY OF FATIMA)

This is a triumph of a film. And I don’t think I’ve ever used that word for a film before. “The 13th Day” was screened here at the 1st Annual John Paul II Film Festival in Miami: http://www.jp2filmfestival.com/. British producer Natasha Howes (birthday: May 13, feast of Our Lady of Fatima) was present.
I was prepared not to like this film, and very apprehensive about not liking it because I was a panelist. Two friends had already seen it and didn’t seem to know what to do with the film, how to react to it. I knew it was in black and white, and not only that, it was presented in the noir genre. Although I’m a fan of b/w, I know that the younger generation is not, and I fully expected something sensationalized, and perhaps amateurish. I also love the oldie-goldie movie “Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima,” and consider it definitive. I couldn’t imagine anything topping it or even coming close. All of my fears were unwarranted.

“The 13th Day” was created to spread the message of Fatima (a wealthy benefactor is making this his life’s mission, and approached Natasha who connected him with the Higgins brothers, Ian and Dominic, who wrote, directed, shot and edited the film). It was going to be a ten-minute informational short, but it morphed into a feature film. The Brothers Higgins (our new Catholic Coen brothers?) have a very particular artistic view and have combined older film-making techniques and sensibilities (think “Passion of Joan of Arc,” “Citizen Kane,” “Diary of a Country Priest,” with a pinch of Westerns thrown in) with modern digital film making capabilities. The result? Stunning genius and a truly intense religious and spiritual experience. This would make an excellent retreat film.

I don’t particularly care for the above-mentioned films from which “13th Day” draws. However, “13th Day” has made me appreciate this style of film and actually enjoy it. That’s talent. (Much the way the movies “Moonstruck” and “Life is Beautiful” changed my mind about opera and made me understand it and like it.)

This is a highly stylized film. Ultra-dramatic blocking, soft focus, chiaroscuro, use of surreal, almost-colorized color, all help us focus on what CANNOT be seen. The choice of a kind of serious, spooky, supernatural thriller tone (replete with requisite ravens) is rigidly adhered to. And why not? We’re talking grave spiritual warfare here: World War I, World War II, hell—what matters could be more weighty? And real? However, the film doesn’t feel stiff. It is luminous. The actors get to emote as the camera lingers on the human face. The three children are first generation Portuguese non-actors, and they give natural, realistic performances, almost in contrast to their more polished adults counterparts. Our Lady’s face is beautiful, luminescent and glimpsed through bright white light. This film portrays Our Lady of Fatima almost as Our Lady of Sorrows. But it makes sense—the world was enduring incredible suffering during the Great War, and Our Lady could see, in God, the future suffering of the 20th century.

The clothing, especially, is utterly realistic. The story is told in a simple, straightforward, increasingly spell-binding way. (Some in my theater who did not know the story of OLF missed a few pieces of the story—their fault; but the “3 secrets” are only visualized without explanation that these ARE the secrets—moviemakers’ fault.) The audio is crisp and staccato.

The voiceover of adult Sr. Lucia (now a Carmelite nun) draws us through the events, and although I usually would have agreed with one panelist (who dislikes voiceover, and as a film purist myself, voiceover is NOT the visual medium of film: “show, don’t tell”), I found that this extraordinary visit from heaven adapted itself well to a spiritual memoir—“This truly happened to me. I saw her with my own eyes….” It makes the supernatural less at a remove—“A long time ago, three little children….” I am curious now to know how much of the narration was Lucia’s actual account.

Another panelist (a professional in the field, as was the other panelist) who works in Catholic young adult ministry was disappointed that the film wasn’t more “mainstream.” He seemed to think that it wouldn’t appeal to young adults. But judging from the little sprouts in the audience (see below), this might not be the case. “13th Day” is something so entirely different, it grabs attention.

My two favorite scenes are: 1) when Jacinta dances in prison (a foretaste of heaven—when sinners and saints unite)—and weren’t all the sacrifices and penances the children were making FOR sinners? 2) the old woman who doesn’t fear the miracle of the sun because she knows her God is good. What an image of standing, enduring the “day of the Lord”! (When you hear the “poof” of the flashbulbs and see the still photos of the miracle of the sun, those are real pictures from 1917.)

The special effects are exciting and made me think: why SHOULDN’T we be using SPFX for the Divine? (And not just for monsters, explosions, witchcraft and destruction.) I love the SPFX in the movie “St. Patrick” when St. Patrick duels it out with the druids.

There is much time for reflection during the deliberately-paced shots and scenes. One can’t help but examine one’s conscience, but not in a morbid way. When Lucia is asked: “Are the secrets bad or good?” She pauses: “Bad for some, good for others.” That’s just a fact. And one may find oneself wishing to pray more, to make sacrifices to save souls as Our Lady asked. This film truly communicates faith, communicates the reality of God, the eternal stakes—a difficult task for the screen. And perhaps we should learn to be afraid of what is true horror.

And now, about the kids in the audience. There were a lot of tweens (9-12 yr olds), and one little girl, Lulu, was even celebrating her birthday with her friends at the film. It dawned on me that the protags were kids! (I would have loved to have made it more "spiritual" by questioning them: “What would you have done if Our Lady appeared to you?” “Do you think you would have the courage to go through what those kids went through?” etc., but I tried to keep to more strictly “film criticism.”

ME: “You guys (kids) aren’t supposed to like black and white. Did you like it?”

KID: “The black and white was OK. It was a very emotional experience for me.”

ME: “Were you ever scared?”

KID: “Yes, a little—when the ground opened up to show hell, and when the hand from hell grabbed her.”

The kids really wanted to talk about the movie, and when producer Natasha was fielding questions, the young people wanted explanations about what different scenes meant. I kept thinking: “Wow—wouldn’t it be great if we had religious film festivals like this all over the country and got the kids in the audience talking?”

This is not a terribly fanciful film. The characters of the children were researched along with various anecdotes that find their way into the movie.

I could go on and on about this film. But when you buy the DVD this December, make sure you watch it with your friends on a big screen. And pray a rosary afterward. Mary asked for 1) the rosary to be prayed for world peace 2) prayers and penance for the conversion of sinners 3) conversion of Russia. We need to continue to pray for Holy Mother Russia today. 75 years of communism decimated the country in many ways. Today, Russia is losing 1,000,000 Russians every year to abortion, immigration, and death from old age. Check out Mary, Mother of God missions, rebuilding the Catholic Church in Eastern Russia: http://www.vladmission.org/

OTHER STUFF:
It’s appropriate that an Our Lady of Fatima movie be shown at a “John Paul II” film festival. He was truly THE Fatima pope.

--JP2G was shot (it is believed by the Russian KGB working through a Bulgarian hit man) on May 13, 1981—anniversary of first apparition. The bullet is now in Our Lady’s crown in Fatima.
--Recuperating, JP2G became convinced that the only way to achieve world peace and to combat atheism was through the consecration of the world to Mary’s Immaculate Heart.
--May 12, 1982, a second attempt was made on JP2G’s life IN Fatima by a mentally-ill Lefebvrite priest who managed to stab JP2G with a bayonet (JP2G hid his non-life-threatening wound and went on with the Mass). This attempt was caught on camera and is in the JP2G documentary: “Testimony.”
--JP2G finally consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on March 25, 1984, in union with all the bishops of the world (AND the Orthodox bishops) as Our Lady asked. (Pope Pius XII consecrated the world to IHM in 1940 & 1953, but he did it alone which Lucia said did NOT fulfill Our Lady’s request. Paul VI also consecrated the world, alone, in 1964.) Sr. Lucia said that the 1984 consecration fulfilled Our Lady’s request, and said: “Now, God will keep His word.”
--1989, the Berlin Wall came down (due also to JP2G’s anti-Communism efforts in Poland)
--1989, Gorbachev visits the Vatican and promises JP2G that there will be religious freedom in Russia. Gorbachev states that the Russian people need spirituality.
--October 13, 1989, Gorbachev receives Nobel Peace Prize.
--October 13, 1991, Catholic Archbishop of Moscow travels to Fatima for celebration. It’s televised in Moscow.
--June 26, 2000, JP2G directs that the 3rd message of Fatima be promulgated (it involves a bishop in white being shot). See “The Message of Fatima” at http://www.vatican.va/
--Lucia died the same year as JP2G: 2005

See http://www.fatimafamily.org/ for more information. There’s also an awesome, lengthy, uncontested entry for JP2G in Wikipedia that includes interesting facts about JP2G, Fatima, Russia and communism!

Archbishop Fulton Sheen once said that the Muslims will be converted through Our Lady of Fatima (“Fatima” was the daughter of Mohammed, Muslims already have a great devotion to Our Lady, and in parts of the world, Muslims are already joining Catholics to pray to OLF).

MOVIES: “MOTHERHOOD”

I almost gave this movie a "DNR" (Do Not Recommend), but I stuck it out, and the ending was worth it.

"Motherhood," starring Uma Thurman as Eliza, a fortysomething aspiring writer living in trendy Brooklyn with her husband Avery (the balding Anthony Edwards, who gives a solid, convincing performance) and two small children, examines the modern (or timeless?) conflicting desires of, well, mothers with small children. I was eager to see what filmmaker Katherine Dieckmann would do with this conundrum. Whither feminism? New solutions? How would she avoid clichés and tired depictions of tired Mommies? Any Theology of the Body?

"Motherhood" floundered from the start. Although throwing herself into the role of pleasantly-frazzled, borderline-ditzy Eliza, Uma—sporting a crazy-fountainlike-updo throughout--is just too classy and elegant to pull it off in my estimation. And don't expect any high drama here. Eliza is happily married and adores her adorable kiddos--check out the majorly gap-toothed Clara (Daisy Tahan): a face NOT only a mother could love. The relative familial harmony is a welcome relief from TV shows and movies about marital/parenting strife. A couple in love with each other and with their kids that act like they're in love? What a concept!

However, the film's tone is uneven (mostly a light comedy), scenes are in need of serious editing/shortening, and I never bought for one minute that Eliza was actually stressed, although the whole story is an episodic series of Eliza sweating the small stuff. There is a tedious (unfunny) obsession with the challenge of parking in Brooklyn. Eliza's interactions with friends and neighbors is affected, and the entire pace of "Motherhood" drags and often feels more like a play.

I'm sure many women will relate (or commiserate) with Eliza and find the movie amusing and even consoling: You are not alone! There is a great sisterhood of motherhood and we're all having a bad day together! The theme, question and thread throughout is: "What IS motherhood?" or rather, what does Eliza think motherhood is? She must answer this question for a Mommy blog contest she's entering—if she ever gets enough time to sit down and write.

So, when does "Motherhood" get good? When Eliza and her husband have a heart to heart, and he helps her get in touch with her truest beliefs about maternity. Eliza and hubby Avery are not on parallel tracks or living in their own pragmatically intersecting worlds. Eliza can only really define herself in relation to him and the kids and vice versa. Here's an important point for feminists: Men, husbands and fathers also define themselves in relationship to women (or should). When Eliza is envying Avery's seemingly easier life, he reminds her of all the sacrifices fatherhood requires of him, his own dashed dreams, and how they made their decisions TOGETHER to lead the life they're living.

Today's women are smart. They are grappling with the often unattainable dreams of "having it all," and the realities and requirements of motherhood. There's a new T-shirt that riffs of the 70's women's lib anthem: "I am Woman. I am strong. I am invincible. I can do anything. I am tired." Many women are unapologetically opting out of the workplace to be stay-at-home mothers, at least while their children are young. When Clara begs her Mom not to get a "real job," Eliza asks her why it's OK for Daddies but not Mommies. Her daughter answers: "Because Daddies just do some things, but Mommies do everything." (And Eliza had been wondering if her kids even noticed all she did for them!)

It's a serious concern that "Motherhood" raises: How DO women retain some time for themselves, maintain a personal creative outlet (that will make them better Moms) within "ridiculously tiny wedges of time"? You'll have to see the movie for suggestions! (Hint: kids have a lot to teach us.)

Theology of the Body is evident in the mutuality of Eliza and Avery's relationship. But "Motherhood" is nonplussed about how to deal with sex, so it goes with the present culture: sex is trivialized. BUT always with that "echo" and longing and intuition that maybe it does mean more than simply "wanking off."

The cinematic ending of "Motherhood" is not perfect, it's not spectacular, but it's "good enough," like many moms. The ending of "Motherhood" is bumpy and uneven and messy, and there are a few things I would like to redo in it, like motherhood. Ultimately, motherhood is not a career, it's a relationship. It's family.

OTHER STUFF:

--One of my close friends, a single mom, tells me: "Motherhood was NEVER meant to be done alone!"

--In a sense, "Motherhood" deals with the opposite problem of "The Feminine Mystique's" ennui!

--The punk-y soundtrack ain't bad, but it's sometimes employed in a disjointed, mildly intrusive way.

--"Collins makes her strongest case, and showcases her finest writing, on the subject of what feminism has not been able to do. It is not easy to attentively raise your children while holding down a good and demanding job. Feminism did not remake the world of relationships. It did not change the fact that when Julia Roberts's adorable hooker was carried off by Richard Gere's handsome businessman at the end of "Pretty Woman," none of us would have preferred to watch him rest his silvery head against her lovely shoulder, snuggling, safe at last in her strong arms. Feminism did not resolve the conflicting desires for passion and domesticity, familiarity and romance." (Amy Bloom's review of new book: "When Everything Changed—The Amazing Journey of American Women from 1960 to the Present" by Gail Collins.)

--"I used to write fiercely lyrical prose, now it's mostly everyday stuff." –Eliza bemoaning her lack of time for writing. "It is more original to give life than to create." –JP2G, "The Irradiation of Fatherhood." "Art should be an affirmation of reality, not a denial of it." –Sr. Helena

--"I believe that women themselves, with their energy and strength, with their predominance, so to speak, with what I would call their 'spiritual power,' will know how to make their own space." –Pope Benedict XVI (re: the fact that, according to canon law, the power to take legally-binding decisions is limited to sacred orders)

--"When she has catered adequately for her home, then and only then can woman look outside it to enlarge her influence for doing good. By doing this, women, who constitute what is often erroneously termed 'the weaker sex' become the hidden, true creators of a nation's strength, prosperity and progress. 'Cherchez la femme—look for the woman' says the well-known French proverb. Would you understand any country aright? Then study its women, for no nation can rise higher than the daughters of Eve who are found within it." ---Blessed James Alberione, SSP, Christian feminist

--For men, women are the way to God. For women, men are the way to God.

--Clara's 6^th birthday party: Women ARE memory, nostalgia, sentimentality. Women remember. "Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." Luke 2:18-20

--Why do we (women especially) have such a hard time defining "the mission of women," "motherhood"? I have experienced this in Theology of the Body study groups, and suffer from this myself!

THEOLOGY OF THE BODY: CHRISTOPHER WEST FINALLY RESPONDS TO HIS CRITICS

(OVER HIS APPEARANCE SEVERAL MONTHS AGO ON "NIGHTLINE")

What is the alternative to an effective sexual redemption? If man remains bound by his lusts, is he even capable of loving with a pure heart? Marriage, in this view, comes to be seen and lived as a “legitimate outlet” for indulging our disordered desires and the celibate life comes to be seen and lived as a life of hopeless repression. And we end up “holding the form of religion” while “denying the power of it” (2 Tim 3:5)? “Ne evacuetur Crux!” – John Paul II exclaims, “Do not empty the Cross of its power!” (see 1 Cor 1:17). “This,” he said, “is the cry of the new evangelization.” For “if the cross of Christ is emptied of its power, man no longer has roots, he no longer has prospects: he is destroyed” (Orientale Lumen 3).

Mature Purity
The teaching of John Paul II is clear: liberation from concupiscence – or, more precisely, from the domination of concupiscence (John Paul II used both expressions) – is not only a possibility, it is a necessity if we are to live our lives “in the truth” and experience the divine plan for human love (see TOB 43:6, 47:5). Indeed, Christian sexual ethos “is always linked . . . with the liberation of the heart from concupiscence” (TOB 43:6). And this liberation is just as essential for consecrated celibates and single people as it is for married couples (see TOB 77:4).

It is precisely this liberation that allows us to discover what John Paul II called “mature purity.” In mature purity “man enjoys the fruits of victory over concupiscence” (TOB 58:7). This victory is gradual and certainly remains fragile here on earth, but it is nonetheless real. For those graced with its fruits, a whole new world opens up – another way of seeing, thinking, living, talking, loving, praying. But to those who cannot imagine freedom from concupiscence, such a way of seeing, living, talking, loving, and praying not only seems unusual – but improper, imprudent, dangerous, or even perverse.

Why, we should ask ourselves, does such a cloud of negativity and suspicion seem to hover over the realm of sexuality? The distortions of sin are, of course, very real. But through the grace of redemption, can our sexuality not become in our practical, lived experience the realm of the sacramental and the holy? Can it not become the realm of a truly sacred conversation? “To the pure all things are pure,” St. Paul said (Titus 1:15). But to those bound by lust, even the pure seems impure. Oh, how tragic when we label as ugly that which is beautiful!

full text: http://bit.ly/23C15x

CARING FOR CREATION

Presentation:
"FOOD AND FAITH:

So, Eat Like a Catholic, Already!"

October 27, Tuesday, 7—8PM
(light supper at 6:30)
Holy Name Cathedral Cafeteria
(corner of State and Superior—Chicago—free parking
at HNC parking lot)
All are welcome!

Enthusiasm for cooking shows, "slow food," locally grown food, vegetarianism and organic food is on the rise. But what does it all have to do with our Catholic Faith? Lots! The Judaeo-Christian tradition has always had much to say about "food and faith."

We are privileged to have Christine Gutleben with us from the Humane Society of the United States' "Animals and Religion" program to screen the 26-minute film: "Eating Mercifully." The HSUS promotes more humane farm animal legislation and encourages corporations to adopt higher farm animal welfare standards. We will learn how everyone can make a difference for farm animals by making simple changes that support more humane farming practices. Christine has been interviewed recently on Relevant Radio.
Sr. Helena Burns, fsp, from the Daughters of St. Paul / Pauline Books & Media will give an introduction from the Scriptures and Church teaching regarding our relationship to animals.

"Animals, too, are God's creatures and even if they do not have the same direct relation to God that man has, they are creatures of His will, creatures we must respect as companions in Creation." –Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger "God and the World," Ignatius Press, 2002

Christine Gutleben is Director of the Animals and Religion program of the Humane Society of the United States. She has an M.A. from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, where she studied theology and the interplay between food and faith, and a B.A. in religious studies from UC Davis. She has experience farming in the Central Valley of California, and developed an understanding of the mechanics of sustainable agriculture.

Sr. Helena Burns, fsp, is a member of the Daughters of St. Paul, an international congregation founded to communicate God's Word through the media. She is finishing her M.A. in Media Literacy Education, has a B.A. in theology and philosophy from St. John's University, NYC, and gives workshops on John Paul II's "Theology of the Body." She is the movie reviewer for "The Catholic New World," Chicago's Archdiocesan newspaper. She was going to be an ornithologist (birds) but God had other plans.

COMING SOON: COMPREHENSIVE DVD ON PORN PREVENTION AND RECOVERY FROM THEOLOGY OF THE BODY PERSPECTIVE!

www.theologyofthebody.net

DVD: "Face the Darkness--Illuminate the Night"

THEOLOGY OF THE BODY: ADVENT WOMEN’S RETREAT

Advent

Women's Retreat

Saturday December 5 9:00—3:00

(doors open @ 8:30)

“Every Woman’s Journey”--answering “Who Am I?” for the feminine heart.

DIRECTOR: Katrina J. Zeno is co-Foundress of Women of the Third Millennium, author of “Every Woman’s Journey” and “God Reveals the Body,” and an international speaker on the genius of women, the Theology of the Body, marriage and the Eucharist, chastity, the single life and prayer. She is the co-host of a 13-part series on the Theology of the Body for EWTN. Born and raised in San Diego, Katrina earned her B.A. in theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville. She is a single mother and dance instructor living in Arizona. Read more about Katrina at her website: http://www.wttm.org/

Pre-registration/Pre-payment required to hold your place.

Please call: 312-346-4228 Space is limited, so don't delay!

$35 (includes breakfast and lunch) DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 27

Sponsored by: Pauline Books & Media/Daughters of St. Paul

NEW LOCATION: Marytown
1600 W. Park Ave., Libertyville, IL www.Marytown.com

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MOVIES: “WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE”

Some movies are events as well as movies. "Where the Wild Things Are" is one of those movies. The irresistibly-illustrated book (of the same title) has been a "kid's choice" favorite the world over since 1963.

"WWTA" is a tight collaboration between author, Maurice Sendak, 81, and fiercely-original, indie-experimental director, Spike Jonze, 39. The result? Definitely not Disney, but while avoiding many Hollywood tropes, Jonze has made the movie accessible to kids and adults alike. Is it a kids' movie? Nope. Jonze is clear that this is a movie ABOUT children (specifically boyhood, in my opinion) not FOR children, although he definitely wants children to see it. There has been some completely unfounded concern that the PG-rated "WWTA" may be too scary for kids. Say what?! There is NOTHING scary in this movie. Like, at all. (And I'm a bigger chicken than most four year olds.) The munchkins in my theater were giggling.

For those unfamiliar with the plot (or would that be as fantastical as an island of nine-foot monsters?), Max (the gifted Max Records) is a "wild thing" of a boy who—irate about the usual childhood travails: feeling alone, powerless and set upon by everyone--runs away from home via sailboat (in his mind in the book, in "reality" in the movie), and winds up among large furry creatures who make him their king. From the get-go, these comically-named beasts (Carol, Ira, Judith, Terry, Bob, KW) are dangerously ambivalent towards Max. There is much talk of "eating." Max's vivid imagination gets him out of one fix after another. (Stories soothe savages.) But these monsters—fickle, petty and jealous as they are—demand truth from Max. The truth about himself he hasn't been willing to look at. They ask very direct questions and expect him to deliver on his promises. The golden-crowned Max is given free reign (literally) to make all his dreams come true. But dreams aren't that easy. Relationships are complicated, and "it's hard to be a family." The whole "king" thing made me think of Israel asking for a king (instead of having God as their sole king). Monarchy is hard on imperfect subjects AND fallible kings. Subjects demand that their kings make them "happy," and kings think they can.

Main man monster, Carol, (the moon-faced, striped-belly horned monster I remembered most from the book, voiced by James Gandolfini) is closest to Max. He bounces like a bumble (cf. the abominable snow monster in "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"), and has a major crush on KW, but she keeps her distance because of his unpredictable temper. Actually, it seems that Carol has the same unrealistic expectations about life that Max does, and that's why their relationship is quickly moribund. Details Max hasn't dealt with from his real life haunt him in his make-believe world: "You're out of control!"

The monsters' characters are well developed and their constant mumbling and commenting amongst themselves is a real delight of the movie. And they look exactly like the book's illustrations. The movie plot was creatively expanded from the book's meager ten sentences. Jonze (a skateboarder who may never have grown up himself) understands how children play, so, much of the movie is physical action: tromping through forests and deserts, snowball fights, dirt-clod fights, getting deliciously wet and dirty. The naturalness of the settings—real forests, real deserts, real oceans, harkens to pre-all-SPFX filmmaking, when the outdoor sun glinted in the camera and you felt you were breathing in the same air as the actors. Herculean efforts on the part of the filmmakers are required, but the payoff is worth it! Jonze's music video background is evident as the soundtrack meshes in a perfect complement to the action, without driving it or overpowering it.

"WWTA" is a great movie for kids to exercise their "moral imagination" with. What happens when Max makes and then breaks rules? Even in a game? Are there real consequences? How about when Max lies? Do "people" get hurt?

There is a non-PC honesty to "WWTA." Max barks, roars, howls and speed-runs with an unrestrained freedom seldom seen in today's tightly-orchestrated portrayals of kids. One of the best relationships in "WWTA" is between Max and his mom. She's not a stereotypical "too-busy-for-my-kids-working-single-Mom." Rather, Max selfishly wants her every minute. Like "Coraline," "WWTA" reminds us that "there's no place like home," but sometimes we're going to need to get away in order to appreciate that fact. (How about your local Cineplex?) Oh yeah, and it's great to be a kid.

OTHER STUFF:
--We all need a fantasy world to go to. For Christians, it's the realest dimension called "heaven."
--The very, very beginning of the movie will remind you of "Harold and the Purple Crayon."
--One of our sisters (born in 1963 like me) from Samoa had the book when she was little!
--There's been some great interviews with Sendak and Jonze in the media. Check out Newsweek's (one of the best).
--Max smiles a lot.
--Love the veiny noses on some of the monsters.
--Hilarious when Max's science teacher starts scaring students about global warming, pollution and the sun dying. What's the message here: things to be truly scared of? Or not?

FREE SPEECH & SIDEWALK COUNSELING

Many pro-life people have the wrong idea about sidewalk counselors. Many think they are "screaming and waving pictures of aborted fetuses" in the women's faces. (Those types show up at other types of pro-life rallies and would have no success "counseling" women.)

The reason sidewalk counselors are being persecuted is because they are effective. (Bad for Planned Parenthood's business. Remember, PP is making $$$, the counselors are not.) I know some of these counselors. They are young professionals. They have told me that the information the women freely take from them (abortion alternatives) is often ripped out of the woman's hand as she enters the clinic. (So much for choice. So much for informed choice.) The counselors are offering women more information (regarding the life-altering choice they are about to make) AND are offering ongoing help should they change their minds.

WHAT’S REALLY GOING ON AT LASALLE & DIVISION?

(Information provided by Nora Doherty)

Alderman Vi Daley: 43rd Ward (Lincoln Park/Old Town) Office numbers: 312-744-3071 773-327-9111 773-327-7103 (fax) Ward Office: 735 W. Wrightwood
About the proposed ordinance: Curtails freedom of speech Helps Planned Parenthood on Division/LaSalle perform more abortions Makes it a CRIME to pass out crisis pregnancy center info to women entering an abortion mill in the City of Chicago within FIFTY FEET of the entrance to the abortion mill.
About the context: For every Saturday during the past year, many observant Catholics have assembled to pray together at the abortion mill on LaSalle and Division. This facility boasts the ability to abort 50 people per day. Our group has counseled women and encouraged them to keep their babies or give them up for adoption. Our group is still closely mentoring three pregnant women who will have babies within the next three months. Planned Parenthood calls the police every weekend, despite the reality that no laws have ever been broken. Every week, the police pull up in a patty wagon, remind us not to block the door, and leave. We know from monitoring the traffic every week that our presence has resulted in fewer customers for this facility. This is why they have asked Vi Daley to introduce this new law.
Fun Facts: Planned Parenthood disclosed more than a billion dollars in revenue for a single year. Planned Parenthood's CEO makes more than a million dollars Planned Parenthood's political action committee "Personal Pac" pays out more than 100K to influence local elections in Illinois. To see if your elected officials are on their payroll, check with the Illinois Elections Board. The abortion mill at Division and LaSalle has told at least one patient "we do 50 of these a day." You can actually see Planned Parenthood's "review" on Yelp.com Planned Parenthood gives out free abortions to any woman who claims she was raped. They do not report rape to the authorities. Planned Parenthood does not pay real estate tax on their Division/LaSalle location. Estimated tax liability would be more than six figures. But they see no problem needlessly utilizing public services when they call the police every week on people praying a Rosary.

MEET SOME CHICAGO SIDEWALK COUNSELORS!

SIDEWALK COUNSELORS HELP WOMEN CHOOSE LIFE! CM- 21, one son and expecting a baby girl in November Sidewalk counselors listened to her story and encouraged her to keep her baby. We have since referred her to obtain help from numerous organizations, including charities and government. She is an enthusiastic mother and is looking forward to the day she can welcome her daughter into her home. GB – 30, two children, expecting twins Planned Parenthood did an ultrasound on her prior to her scheduled abortion and learned that she was pregnant with twins. Good business people as they are, they sent the boyfriend out to get more money since aborting twins costs more. When he came outside, we counseled him about adoption options and abortion-related mental issues. He went in and got her out of there. She is now formulating an adoption plan for her unborn babies. MW – 18, one child, now expecting a baby After having just gotten "over the hump" with the early challenges raising her first child, she was looking forward to going back to school. When she found out she was pregnant, she initially concluded that getting educated and bringing her baby to term were mutually exclusive goals. We counseled her about child care options and obtaining her GED. She chose life for her baby and sat for the GED exam a few weeks ago.

According to the Tribune article, the sidewalk counselors at Division & LaSalle are "vicious."

Do we look "vicious" to you??

David, 31 Sales/MBA Student	Nora, 31 Attorney/Mother of 2	Shannon, 28 Nursing School/Collegiate Athlete	Julie, 34 Publishing U of I grad

CHICAGO BUBBLE ZONE AROUND ABORTION CLINICS

Calls have been flooding into Chicago Mayor Richard Daley's office urging him to veto the Bubble Zone ordinance passed yesterday, but we've got to keep the pressure on. Several people e-mailed me last night to say they couldn't get through on the Mayor's line. It turns out they shut down the automated system overnight, but it's back on now. You need to call between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Central Time in order to register your vote. Here are the instructions again:

1. CALL the mayor's office at 312-744-3300.
2. PRESS 1 to connect to the Bubble Zone poll.
3. Then PRESS 2 to vote NO on the Bubble Zone.

Even if you don't live in Chicago or even if you already voted, you can still call to voice your opposition to this pernicious ordinance. EVEN THE ACLU IS AGAINST THIS INFRINGEMENT ON FREE SPEECH! This is our last chance to stop the Bubble Zone without the burden and expense of a court battle. If Mayor Daley doesn't veto it, sidewalk counselors in Chicago will be stripped of their FirstAmendment rights to reach out to abortion-bound women. And then Planned Parenthood will move to muzzle pro-lifers with similar Bubble Zones in one city or town after another. So let's pull together to stop the Chicago Bubble Zone. Yours for Life,-- Eric
P.S. Get the full story on yesterday's protest and watch the video of the press conference on the steps of Chicago's City Hall here: http://prolifeaction.org/#video Eric Scheidler Executive Director Pro-Life Action League Tel: 630-896-1200 Facebook: http://prolifeaction.org/facebook..Pro-Life Action League6160 N Cicero Ave, Ste 600Chicago, IL 60646, USATo unsubscribe or change subscriber options visit:http://www.aweber.com/z/r/?rOwMrCzMtCysjBzsbOwctEa0rKxMLMwcnA==

THE NIGHT WE LOST SR. BERNADETTE

Me (out of step), Sr. Nancy, Sr. Kim, Sr. Bernadette
(2008 Christmas Concert Tour)

6 p.m.--It was a dark and stormy night. No, it wasn't. I'd like to start off thus dramatically, but, hey, I'm talking about a night in Los Angeles where it's never dark or stormy. They say New York is the "city that never sleeps," but judging from the lights and freeways in L.A. at 3 a.m., the distinction really should go to Tinseltown. And of course, it never even rains from April to October.

6 p.m.--It was a bright and peaceful night. Several visiting nuns and my residential self decided to go rollerblading on Venice Beach. We parked on a side street, split up in pairs according to speed and agility, and agreed to meet back at the van at 9 p.m. I teamed up with Sr. Bernadette, an inline skating neophyte (while I'm probably the equivalent of a brown belt). I felt sorry for her because no one wanted to be held back by her wobbly forays into the wild world of Venice Beach sports. Sr. Bernadette is actually a magnificent Irish step dancer, but wheels do change everything. I coped with her lagging problem by steaming out ahead and then elipsing back to join her.

A great time was had by all. The sun began to set right on cue at 9 p.m., and
Sr. Bernadette and I headed back to the Astro. We had covered quite a bit of boardwalk and couldn't remember exactly where we had parked on the parallel side street.
Sr. Bernadette was tired, so I offered to skate north while she waited at a streetlight for me. If the van wasn't there, it must be south. I skated several blocks north and then doubled back. As I sailed by Bernie under the streetlight I shouted: "It's this way!" The last words I heard from her were: "IN THE STREET??!!!" Obviously, she did not want her aura grazed by automobiles on the narrow thoroughfare (but those sidewalks were so goshdarn bumpy!) I sped ahead, assuming she was somewhere behind me, having her teeth rattled silly by the "surf's up!" wavy slabs of concrete that passed for sidewalk. After a few blocks I halted and spun around. No Bernadette. Hmm. She probably went back to the beach where the skating was easy, I figured.

I pumped on a few more blocks, looking down the roads perpendicular to the boardwalk. No trace. I reached the van. All the other nuns were sitting on the curb, skates off.
"Have you seen Sr. Bernadette?" Shrugs.
"You lost her?"
"Well, no. She left me."
We waited till 9:30. All census-accounted-for persons had left the Venice vicinity, and the denizens of the night had appeared. I was getting nervous.
"Maybe we'd better look for her."
"Does she even know the convent phone number or address?"
"No."
"Does she have any money or anything on her?"
"Just the clothes on her back and the transportation on her feet."
We paired off again. Two began cruising in the van, two skated the streets, two stayed where the van had been, and I took off for the boardwalk after calling home and learning Sr. B. hadn't phoned. Needless to say, my imagination was racing. Petite Sr. Bernadette has beautiful blonde hair, perfect teeth, and no street smarts. What if she had been abducted (and all that goes with that)? What if she was lost and was about to be abducted? Even though she's a big girl now and a former SoCal (Torrance) native, she was a visitor and I was her partner and that made me somehow responsible. I kept seeing images of her parents in front of me, and I kept trying to explain to them what happened, recounting her last words: "IN THE STREET??!!" That's all they would have to hold
on to.
--"Well, Mr. and Mrs. Reis, whatever happened, it happened within three blocks of where I left her."
--"I was trying to do her a favor--she was tired."
--"Everything will be all right--she can handle herself (yeah, right)."
--"OHMYGOSH, I'M SO SORRY!!"

I bladed my thighs skinny up and down at least two miles of ever-more abandoned pathway. What if she got turned around and headed to Malibu? The same "interesting" people watched me go back and forth. I had to keep my cool--they couldn't know anything was wrong. I couldn't look like I was looking for someone, and I certainly couldn't describe Sr. Bernadette to them and ask them if they'd seen her. I couldn't make them think I was lost!
10 p.m.--The God Squad regrouped. We called home. Nothing. Suddenly, the nose of a black-and-white car tilted around the corner (the way only creeping police cars pitch from side to side. Good shocks, I guess). A sight for sore eyes! I flailed them down atop my worn eight wheels--black leggings, safety pads, oversized Our Lady of Guadalupe T-shirt and all. I was quite rattled at this point, but had the presence of mind to make a long story short by using policespeak.
"We're looking for a 26-year-old, white Caucasian male!" I spluttered.
"I mean female! Blonde, rollerblades, green T-shirt!"
"Name?" asked one of the vallium-calm cops that looked like he had just graduated from high school.
"Sis--, um, Bernadette Reis (didn’t want to blow our cover). She's from the East Coast and she's really naive! She's been missing for over an hour now!"
"We'd love to help you," (hearty nods from his partner) "but there's a disturbance in Hollywood, and all units have been called over there."
"So what am I supposed to do??"
"Weeeellllll...," (if police wore suspenders, he'd have had his thumbs under them) "we could take a spin around the block for you" (more hearty nods).
"Oh thank you--anything would help."
"And if she doesn't turn up, you can fill out a Missing Persons Report at the station on
Culver and Centinela" (reassuring smile).
My stomach did a triple somersault. (Or to use an in-line skating metaphor: My stomach did a Japan Air and landed fakie).
Thankfully, Officers Skip and Biff did more than one revolution. They joined our cruise nuns for a good fifteen minutes. I continued speed skating Venice Beach.
10:30 p.m.--Another phone call home: same results. Mother Superior was now fit to be tied. My feet were numb stumps, but I sallied forth one more time. I found myself about two miles away from our field headquarters, and I just couldn't glide another inch to get back. Once again, the black-and-white nose leaned around the corner toward me.
I flagged them down.
"Could I possibly get a ride?"
"Hop in."
I decimated the styrofoam cups on the floor of the back seat with my smoking rubber tires. Evidently the disturbance in Hollywood (probably a crowded premiere) could wait, because the squad car was going 3 mph down the boardwalk (I know because I looked). I could have crawled on my hands and knees faster. Then the squad car began making stops as Skip and Biff chatted up their favorite homeless beachfolk friends. My heart was going 103 mph in grief and panic. I was just ready to get out of the cruiser and skate the rest of the way when the nuns showed up, all in the van now. Sr. Nancy shook her head at me. I transferred vehicles."Good luck!" grinned Officers S & B.
11 p.m.--We cruised in silence. Suddenly, under a streetlight--actually, the same streetlight I had left Sr. Bernadette under--a blonde mane toussled a few times. Yup, she hadn't moved a wit. She had removed her skates and sat on the curb--never intending to follow me south. She was blocked by a mailbox, so we never saw her. Her understanding was that I was getting the van and would come pick her up. An attitude my mother would describe as: "Peel me a grape." A tsunami of relief washed over me, and the image of Mama and Papa Reis--now contented--faded to black. I slid the van door open.
Sr. Bernadette flashed a perfect smile: "Hi!" She was a placid as Skip and Biff.
"Where were you??!!" I feigned anger for the sake of the livid search party.
"Right here! Where were you is the question!" Bernadette heaved her well-rested carcass next to me on the seat. No one in the van would look at either one of us. We headed back to the ranch. I positioned my bare feet in Bernadette's face.
"Kiss my blisters."
The two of us laughed to hilarity, but contrary to the song: Laugh and the world does not laugh with you. Our stone-faced fellow passengers were gritting their teeth in unison. To this day, it's a touchy issue with them. Soreheads! So we lost a few hours and shortened our lives with worry! All's well that ends well. It was an adventure. Venice Beach after dark.

Evidently Sr. Bernadette has a charism of invisibility. Not a month later, her parents (the real ones, not the phantoms) were unable to find her in plain view at an airport and had to resort to airport security to locate her.

The weird, wasted time we spend spinning our wheels (literally) are those scraps of life that are "in betweens," "interims" that defy categorization. They are completely unproductive, absurd and are best dealt with by giggling. When God's divine economy is revealed in heaven, we will understand what the heck they really were. Until then, how do I spell RELIEF?
B-E-R-N-A-D-E-T-T-E.

© Sr. Helena Burns, fsp

COLBERT INTERVIEWS DAWKINS

THEOLOGY OF THE BODY: NEW BOOK FOR/ABOUT WOMEN!

http://tinyurl.com/y8ve3mh

Can't say enough about this book! Just what the doctor ordered! Small gift-book style.
Pithy yet meaty. (Wait, isn't that redundant?)

MOVIES: “SURROGATES”

"Unplug yourselves…and look in the mirror. This is how God made you. We're not meant to experience life through a machine." Thus opens "Surrogates," an intriguing, inventive, satisfying, futuristic thriller, set in a time when people don't come out of their homes any more, but live every aspect of their lives (work and play) through their good-looking, real-life avatars or "surrogates." Surrogates are robots that are so life-like it's hard to tell them from their "operators," except that they're a little too perfect. Of course, some operators choose "Surrogates" very different from themselves, much like people today creating divergent online personas.

"Surrogates" repeats elements from "Invasion of the Body Snatchers," "Blade Runner," "I, Robot," "District 9," and "Wall-E," but is unique in that it is about real humans living vicariously, hooked up to "stem chairs"—super-sophisticated VR (virtual reality). Everyone uses surrogates except a rag-tag band of resisters who live on a run-down "reservation," led by "The Prophet." The status quo highly encourages use of surrogates because it is "safer," "cleaner," etc. The company that makes the surrogates has as its slogan: "Do what you want. Be what you want."

The history and lingo of this brave new world are quickly set up in the opening scenes, and we're ready to follow FBI agent Tom Greer (the well-cast Bruce Willis), on the trail of a brand-new kind of crime: two operators died when their surrogates got destroyed. But this is not supposed to be possible. Something is going radically wrong.

Amidst crime-solving and existential questions about what it means to be human, there is a moving love story between Tom and his wife who are both grieving the loss of their young son. Tom is rethinking his use of a surrogate while his wife is using hers to escape from life, and escape even from Tom. She says of her "surry": "This is who I am now." This is so realistically portrayed that it makes you think of those of us here and now who are holed up in homes and offices, addicted to or slaving away at an online existence, and perhaps acquiring a blurred sense of our own identity. "Surrogates" operators look rather pale and sickly. Real humans are disparagingly called "meatbags" (by operators speaking through surrogates: self-hatred, anyone?) It's chilling to watch the middle-aged, vulnerable, flesh-and-blood Tom out on the streets among the young, eerily-gorgeous, airbrushed, steely, powerful, slightly-mechanical, clinical, cold surrogates, and watch how they treat him (air of disdain). Much food for thought, she said, as she typed her movie review hunched over her glowing screen after many hours at her glowing screen….

Are "surrogates" a future possibility? In the film, surrogates are also used for war—something the U.S. military is already working on (we have "drone" planes bombing in Pakistan as we speak, robots that approach and diffuse bombs, and potential recruits training on video games such as "America's Army").

There was 1) one piece of "on the nose" dialogue, 2) one faulty continuity visual, 3) one big logic gaffe, and 4) one inexplicable device, but other than that, a very smart yarn with sharp dialogue and superb acting. It made me think of how pockets of people ARE choosing to "resist" the "online life" in its infancy. Christopher West (Mr. Theology of the Body) was recently interviewed on Nightline, but he couldn't watch himself because he doesn't have a TV. A friend called him and said: "Just go to a neighbor's house!" But alas, Christopher lives in Lancaster, PA. All his neighbors are Amish!!

OTHER STUFF:

--Theology of the body? The whole movie is quite literally a TOB movie!

--A bold, remarkable visual statement about true beauty at the end of this film.

--Gotta keep track of who's real and who's a surrogate, and then who's "operating" which surrogate when. But it's not THAT hard.

--Reminds me of the supertacular DCTalk futuristic music video "Breathe." Everyone walks around like zombies with oxygen masks on (in some kind of police state), until someone rips one off and realizes they can breathe and it's great and it's OK and they won't die.

--Takes place in Beantown, USA! (Specifically "Dawchestah")

--SPOILER ALERT! 1) "If they killed my son looking for me—then it's my fault!" 2) Miles Strickland's body suddenly disappears as it's supposed to be burning on the bier 3) How the hey is the "rebirth of humanity" supposed to happen if everyone on the planet gets killed? 4) Why didn't the surrogate just untie the portly human computer geek and let HIM type in the codes and stuff at the end, instead of having him dictate it to the surrogate?

PHILOSOPHY: DAVID FOSTER WALLACE

The late writer, David Foster Wallace, (also a brilliant philosopher) defeats fatalism as a philosophy: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/14/magazine/14wwln-Wallace-t.html

THEOLOGY OF THE BODY: CARDINAL RIGALI & BISHOPS SUPPORT CHRISTOPHER WEST

Bishops Affirm Support for Christopher West, Send Message to Theology of the Body Institute

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, SEPT. 17, 2009 (Zenit.org).- The archbishop of Philadelphia and the bishop of Harrisburg are expressing support for Christopher West and his work at the Theology of the Body Institute.In an Aug. 10 statement released today, Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia, who is chairman of the institute's episcopal advisory board, and Bishop Kevin Rhoades, head of the diocese where the organization is located, affirmed their "strong support" for its "important work."The prelates affirmed: "We are convinced that John Paul II's Theology of the Body is a treasure for the Church, indeed a gift of the Holy Spirit for our time."Yet, its scholarly language needs to be 'translated' into more accessible categories if the average person is to benefit from it."To do this is the specific mission of the Theology of the Body Institute, and we believe that Christopher West, the Institute's popular lecturer and spokesman, has been given a particular charism to carry out this mission."The communiqué continued, "In light of recent discussions, we are happy to state our full confidence in Christopher, who continues to show great responsibility and openness in listening carefully to various observations and reflections on his work and in taking them into account."The prelates affirmed that West is in communication with them as his local ordinaries, and has their blessing.In our view, they stated, the institute's "programs, courses, and materials reflect strong fidelity to the teaching of the Church and to the thought of Pope John Paul II."The prelates affirmed their "enthusiastic encouragement" for the work of the institute, and expressed the hope that more people, including priests, deacons, religious and laity, will "avail themselves of the valuable training and resources offered" by the institute.--- --- ---On ZENIT's Web page:Full text: www.zenit.org/article-26893?l=english

MOVIES: “THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE”

YYYY

Ever since God made us clothes to cover our bodies, we've been obsessed with those coverings. But what is fashion? What is beauty? Anna Wintour, editor of "Vogue" magazine, and her longtime collaborator, Grace Coddington, seem to know.

Grace Coddington & Anna Wintour

In "The September Issue," a low-key PG-13 documentary (could've been PG)--an A & E indie film that feels like television--we not only get to follow Anna and Grace all over the world to fashion shows and fashion shoots, and observe their interaction with the world's top designers, we also get inside Anna and Grace's heads and eyes as they work on the September issue of Vogue (a phonebook sized mag). What's the big deal with the September issue? It's THE time of year when women see what's new and change things up in their wardrobe. And Anna Wintour will have a lot to do with making or breaking what's "in." She is considered the world's most powerful woman in couture.

If you read/saw and enjoyed "The Devil Wears Prada," a novel-into-film about Anna Wintour (played to the teeth by the incomparable Meryl Streep), penned by a young woman who used to work at Vogue, you'll want to meet the real Wintour. She's more an intensely-focused British businesswoman than the ice queen she's made out to be, although she doesn't readily suffer foolishness. It's fascinating to watch her work and carry herself with a sort of unquestioned absolute aesthetic moral authority. "Vogue" not only operates like a tightly run ship, but also like a religion. "High priestess," "pope," "church," and "infallible" are alternately used to describe Wintour's world and verdicts.

Grace Coddington, a former model from Wales, is a hands-on stylist and a warm complement to Anna's efficiency. If Anna is the soul of "Vogue," Grace is the heart. (Interestingly enough, the names "Anna" and "Grace" both mean "grace.") Despite the tremendous respect, admiration and trust in each other's ability, you'll probably want to get out of the way when they go toe to toe over their differing tastes. Both are women of incredible resolve who love what they do. So much of what they do is simply SEEING. Anna and Grace's eyes take us through "SI." Anna's fixate like a hunter's, Grace's constantly dart around, gathering and creating.

This documentary is getting high marks from all corners, and for fans of "Project Runway," and "The Rachel ["I die"] Zoe Project" or fashion magazines in general, "SI" is a wonderfully human window into the day-to-day innermost workings of the industry. I expected this doc to be a fast-pasted, pumping catwalk, madcap ride, but it's actually quite contemplative. Models (and their crazy world) don't figure in too heavily. "The September Issue," after all, is just that: an "old media" printed periodical (albeit dominated by pictures), and Wintour's world is anything but frenzied. (Sing to yourself the Mary Poppins' song: "A British household is run with precision….")
I was hoping to learn something about color and fabric and artistry and design, and I did. Anna is less candid about her rationale than Grace, and because of that, Grace begins to steal the show. Grace comments that she feels "left behind," because she's a "romantic," and she hearkens to a sensibility of the past (which shows up so elegantly in her artistic choices—I'm with you, Grace!) However, she draws herself up bravely and says: "But we have to charge ahead." Anna echoes these words about fashion being futuristic: "So, what else?" This must be the meaning of "fashion forward."

Never having flipped through even one issue of "Vogue," I was pleasantly surprised that Wintour's choices tend to be classic rather than avant-garde (like the New York Times Style Magazine which I DO read: you know, models throwing raw meat at each other, sitting on rubbish heaps, and often dressed in garb that one wouldn't even wear on Halloween). The ethos of "Vogue" is to tell stories through the photos, to create thematic worlds of fantasy and make-believe. Wintour's personal style is conservative, feminine, multi-colored, contained and slimline—always looking like a young Mom from the 60's or 70's. Her hair and makeup fit her perfectly and give her a certain agelessness.

What's fascinating about the Vogue offices and those that work there, is that it seems Wintour alone dresses up every day. Others, especially the women, are make-up free, with often unkempt hair and the plainest of clothes. Most are model thin. There are many wonderfully human ("they're just like us") moments, inclusive of Anna, Grace and everyone else: When Anna leaves the room, the staff look around nervously: "So what are we supposed to do with feathers this Fall?" Someone breaks the tension: "Wear 'em!" And even the best designers make giant fashion faux pas. Wintour herself wishes for "a better back end."

In the opening minutes of the film, Wintour shares that she thinks some people are intimidated by fashion, they don't understand it, and so they put it down (reminiscent of Anne Hathaway's character in the film "Devil Wears Prada" being cut down to size by the Wintour-character when she giggles at the seriousness with which everyone is taking fashion).

So, do nuns care about fashion? Why not? We're women, aren't we? At World Youth Day 2000 in Rome, I was with twenty other congregations of Sisters. We voted on the prettiest habit, and the Sisters of Life won. Designer: the late Cardinal O'Connor.

OTHER STUFF:
--Anna Wintour wears/promotes fur. :[
--There were many men in my audience. The whole audience felt free to groan (disagree) with Anna's decisions.
--"September Issue" has lots of genuine, not-set-up humor.