Author: Father Albert

Mockingjay Part 2 – Hope for What?

Posted on by Father Albert
{Spoiler Alert} At Last! Here we are at the end of this series on the Hunger Games. I followed the movies, so this is the second part of Mockingjay. Recall that throughout the series I've been following two threads of influence: Love/resistance vs. hatred/violence. When I got to part 1, however, these two shifted focus a little into the difference between hatred/cruelty vs. "just war." Indeed, those two trains of thought emerge almost explicitly right at the beginning of this movie, which takes us quickly to the battle in District 2 against "The Nut," an important military compound. They can't get in...Read More

Mockingjay Part 1 – O Cruel Fate

Posted on by Father Albert
Welcome to the third installment of my series on the Hunger Games. Anyone who read my last post on Catching Fire and then watched this movie just might get the idea that I somehow support the Capitol. This is because they spend a great deal of time and energy trying to convince the districts to lay down weapons and resume peace. I too advocated for peace as a hypothetical alternative to the way the story actually turns out. Yet, there are two key differences: context, and hypocrisy. First of all, my idea was a hypothetical that only would have worked if taken up...Read More

Catching Fire – Flames of Love, Flames of Hatred

Posted on by Father Albert
aaaaaand we're back! This is the second post in the series on Hunger Games. Last time I tried to look a little at what it means to pursue freedom under oppression. Recall that I tried to emphasize two related but different streams of influence in the overall plot of revolution: violence and resistance - it'll come up again. This time I'd like to consider another question: what is love? It's becomes clear very early on that Katniss' "love" for Peeta was primarily an act in order to save their lives, but Peeta is no doubt in love with Katniss. Right away,...Read More

Hunger Games – The Desire for Freedom?

Posted on by Father Albert
May the odds be ever in your favor. What about the evens? I mean, evens are sooo much better. They let you divide by 2, and two is always better than 1! The odds have to pick one, but the evens let another win too! Amiright? Righto, so... I guess I've been doing a lot of watching and thinking lately. You may have noticed my plan to build up for Star Wars episode VII. Well, that got me thinking and I realized that the final installment of the Hunger Games trilogy (quadrilogy?) comes out this weekend! Suddenly I remembered that it was the Hunger Games that first got...Read More

Episode III: Forgive me Father, for I have Sithed

Posted on by Father Albert
Greetings! Today I continue my journey through Star Wars. Last week I began with Episode II  and Anakin's failure to keep to his integrity. This week, I've taken a look at Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and guess what I've found? A Catholic Sacrament! Well, sort of. There's actually a ton of material here for reflection (how the devil lies, pro-life, how evil can look good, the dangers of relativism, etc.), but today I'll just focus on Jedis going to confession, and the sad reality that we can't all just get along after all... Bam! Fshwoon! VVMMMMM! KSCHHH! "Good... Kill...Read More

Daily Collection: St. Josaphat

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Collect taken from the memorial of St. Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr Collect: Stir up in your Church, we pray, O Lord, the Spirit that filled Saint Josaphat as he laid down his life for the sheep, so that through his intercession we, too, may be strengthened by the same Spirit and not be afraid to lay down our life for others. Through our Lord Jesus Christ... "Stir up in your Church, we pray, O Lord, the Spirit that filled Saint Josaphat as he laid down his life for the sheep" -- We call to mind that Josaphat was killed for his defense of...Read More

Episdoe II: Attack of the Clones? or the Hormones?

Posted on by Father Albert
Baah, BAAAH, bu-bu-bu-Baah-baah... A short while ago, on a planet not far away, a digital citizen began an adventure. The Ephesian, excited by the hype of the upcoming Force Awakens, set out to re-watch and review all the prior episodes. After surviving the pod race and witnessing the death of Qui-Gon Jinn, we join him as he muses his way through the emotional Episode II, Attack of the Clones. Greetings digital visitors! While people on the internet are sensationalizing the new theory that Jar Jar Binks is a Sith Lord, I'd like to explore a different concern: how Star Wars displays...Read More

Daily Collection: Pope St. Leo the Great

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Collect taken from the memorial of St. Leo the Great, Pope  Collect: O God, who never allow the gates of hell to prevail against your Church, firmly founded on the apostolic rock, grant her, we pray, that through the intercession of Pope Saint Leo, she may stand firm in your truth and know the protection of lasting peace. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son... "O God, who never allow the gates of hell to prevail against your Church, firmly founded on the apostolic rock" -- We recall the promise made to Peter by Jesus in Matthew 16 and use it to stir...Read More

Daily Collection: Martin de Porres

Posted on by Father Albert
The Collect is taken from the optional memorial of St. Martin de Porres, religious. Collect: O God, who led Saint Martin de Porres by the path of humility to heavenly glory, grant that we may so follow his radiant example in this life as to merit to be exalted with him in heaven. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son... "O God, who led Saint Martin de Porres by the path of humility to heavenly glory" -- This recalls the verse that "whoever humbles himself will be exalted" (Mt 23:12) and offers the concrete example of Martin de Porres in receiving that promise. "grant...Read More

Daily Collection: Sts. Simon & Jude

Posted on by Father Albert
Collect taken from the feast of Sts. Simon and Jude, Apostles and Martyrs Collect: O God, who by the blessed Apostles have brought us to acknowledge your name, graciously grant, through the intercession of Saints Simon and Jude, that the Church may constantly grow by increase of the peoples who believe in you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son... "O God, who by the blessed Apostles have brought us to acknowledge your name" -- The knowledge of God, the gift of Faith, is something passed down to every generation through God's apostles. We praise him for sending these who spread the Gospel...Read More