.
(are too kind).

And don’t spend a lot of time mulling my comments. Whenever they seem off-center it’s highly-probable they are. I blame it on being hit up side the head a few too many times by a certain not-to-be-mentioned implement of chastisement. But then that begs the question: which came first, the duck or the egg, the YOD (oops) or the ADD?

Before you answer that, remember what a wise man/guy once said: “You, too, Leequod (are too kind)".

O O
( ♫ )

Thanks, Kevin. You are most kind.

(BTW, this is the kind of “pardon” I have no difficulty dispensing).

:)

OK, got it: Rolley's comment shows what is missing on Catholic campuses directly, by its subject, but also indirectly by its excellence. Without a desire to see the Unseen, these institutions will lose their excellence. And that's a huge loss for a Christian group known for its quality in all it attempts.

Whew! Thank you, Lord - I was worried I would be up all night over this.

OK, I'm struggling here. I *want* to tell Kevin this: "Dear friend, if we really saw God face-to-face all the time, wouldn't we be in a perpetual state of awe? So Rolley is such a blessing hereabouts because he regularly gives us a foretaste of Heaven."

But for the life of me, I can't figure out how to tie that back to the topic of secularism in "Catholic" institutions. Alan is absolutely correct, and Rolley's comment certainly expands upon what Alan said. Still, ...

I mean, I remember how some years ago Peter Kreeft said his employer, Boston College, was often known as "BC" - which, he added wryly, could also stand for "Barely Catholic". So this isn't a new problem so much as a worsening one.

Yet what that has to do with Rolley's routine, seemingly effortless brilliance, I'm not sure.

Maybe I could say that the thing that's really missing on those campuses is the faith to see even a glimpse of the Unseen.

Hmph - dunno. Gonna have to go think about this for a bit...

Pardon my admiration, but that is brilliant. I am rather in awe, Rolley.

.
Alan, you’re absolutely right (as usual, my friend): the “unwritten creed” that predominates campus thought has a synonym; it’s called “the spirit of the age” (as I know you know). Show me something that is not “spiritual” and I will eat my shortsummary of “what’s *really* going on here in this wicked world of ours. . . .

THE EARTHLY (WHAT I SEE) vs. THE SPIRITUAL (WHAT THE ANGELS SEE) every time we are faced with a moral choice:

WHAT I SEE: I face a decision: do the right thing and suffer for it, or cut myself “slack” at the expense of conscience.
WHAT THE ANGELS SEE: My Enemy and I face off on the field of battle; I, a small, fumbling servant of Christ; he, an impressive warrior, skilled in the art of combat.

WHAT I SEE: Alone with my thoughts, I feel the power of my natural inclinations: my temptation is to flee.
WHAT THE ANGELS SEE: The Enemy taunts me and declares the obvious: I am no match for him.

WHAT I SEE: I remember God’s commandments; and despite the difficulty of doing the right thing, I recall that He says that when I am weak, then I am strong; and I recall that He wants me to count it all joy when I encounter various trials because the testing of my faith makes me stronger in the faith, better able to stand and fight as I deliberately remind myself that God is with me and for me in every trial.
WHAT THE ANGELS SEE: The Enemy is amused as he watches me perform a brief act of devotion even here on the field of battle. He approaches.

WHAT I SEE: I am trembling, for I can “see” my so-called “enemy” in the form of opposition, hardships, obstacles, daunting responsibilities; but I cannot see God. All I have is His word. I remind myself that He is faithful and that I am His beloved.
WHAT THE ANGELS SEE: The Enemy sees me sweat and shake; he laughs with scornful confidence and great malice. He spits his threats and curses in my face, and brandishes his mighty sword.

WHAT I SEE: I advance, afraid, yet determined, because I know the Lord has said He is with me and will never forsake me. The Spirit, my Comforter, reminds me of the cross of Jesus and what it means. My faith is strengthened. I take heart and determine to face my “enemy.”
WHAT THE ANGELS SEE: My Enemy marvels that I so glibly rush to my doom. He considers me a joke, seeing how ill-suited for battle I am. With malice and disgust, he raises his sword to kill me swiftly, easily.

WHAT I SEE: Remembering the cross, in humble adoration I shout the praise of Jesus in my heart; I tell my body to obey; I call it a poor servant because it trembles even though I know the Lord has promised He will not fail me.
WHAT THE ANGELS SEE: The Enemy sees me stumble to my knees, crawling about foolishly on all fours on the ground before him, groping for my sword. “Such an easy kill”, he says to himself. “God’s people are weak, despicable fools, cowardly vermin.”

WHAT I SEE: With grim determination, I face my mundane challenge, whispering, “I do this in faith and obedience to You, Lord.” So saying, I embrace my responsibility; I do my simple duty.
WHAT THE ANGELS SEE: The Enemy sees me suddenly back on my feet, sword in hand. Bewildered but not at all intimidated by this unexpected turn, he swings his weapon, intending to take off my head. Instead, his sword meets mine, suddenly upraised, and shatters like glass. He staggers back in amazement, perceiving in his foe a skillfulness and degree of might that he never dreamed possible. Fear surges through him. He turns to run, but before he gets two steps he hears my voice, as great and terrible as an enraged lion: “Pray you die swiftly and with little pain, my Enemy.” And with that I plunge, with impossible speed, the full length of the ruthless sword of the Spirit into his gibbering heart.

EPILOGUE:

WHAT I SEE: That evening, I stop by Starbucks with friends for some coffee and good Christian fellowship after a hard, but otherwise seemingly uneventful day.
WHAT THE ANGELS SEE: Gabriel and his friends can hear weeping and the gnashing of demonic teeth all the way across the Chasm. They rejoice that the humble, glorious soldier of Christ was not missing in action.

I have spent more than a few hours on campus at Georgetown University in Washington, and always was sort of shocked to find myself standing next to one of the many inscriptions, found in almost every building and in many of the hallways, which said: "Ad Majoram Dei Gloriam ." Latin meaning: "For the greater glory of God." It is the Jesuits Credo and GU is a Jesuit school. It always gave me a thrill as a Christian to have that silent stone witness beside me reminding me of what life is all about. I am not sure if other students got it, but I did translate it for some standing by a few times. More than once I was tempted to do a "Paul on Mars Hill" where, upon seeing a statue in the Athens agora with the inscription "To The Unknown God," he proceeded to tell the folk about the God who really was there (and was basically unknown) - see Acts 17. But I refrained, lest I harm someone's rights to remain unknowing. I guess stone markers and plaques don't mean much in the postmodern age anyway. At least the Greeks seemed to pay some attention to them.

I recommend you take some time and read the article linked above. The writer is exactly right. There is an "ethos" in schools, GU included, which seems set upon a very pointed goal with "liberal" leanings. People argue over whether there is a creed for such on university campuses (all kinds, not just Catholic). I don't think there is a written one, but there sure seems to be an unwritten one, with firmly-defined lines. You can tell when you have stepped over it by the icy looks you get in the elevator when descending from the ivory tower in the company of some professors who heard about your transgression.