Three things: Areopagus/Flynn's, Apples/Iannuzzi's, Br. Matthew/Langs'

The turnout was great at the Ianuzzi's, and the atmosphere was especially exciting, who knows why. God's grace, I think.

Last time our questions were:
1. How do you know that it is God talking to you and not just yourself?
2. One of my friends (who is Catholic) thinks that the Scapular is superstitious. How do I explain that it is not?
3. “Trust in Him and you shall not be put to shame.” What about all the Protestants who do believe in Christ and trust that He has saved them? When they die, believing that they are going home to God, does He turn them away?
4. Is it okay to be proud of your appearance or is that already vanity?
5. Which is truer: Ontology of the Many or Ontology of the One? Or is it somehow both?
6. How do you think of a new homily every day? Have you ever said the same homily twice?
7. If there is a tree hanging over the sidewalk, can you take the fruit? And what about missing a holy day, is that wrong? If you knew it was the day but you were at work or something.
8. Are little kids influenced by teenagers from different families?
9. How much authority does the Pope have over bishops? How much freedom do bishops have individually and in groups, such as the USCCB?
10. There is a family of Satanists near my house that have a bunch of fake chopped up bodies. I’m tempted to throw bricks through their windows but I know that would be vandalism. How can I hold in my anger?

Next time, we meet at the Flynns. That's Friday, November 20. Everyone bring some munchies, it doesn't have to be anything large.

More events: Sounds like the dads are getting restless with their chainsaws again. This e-mail went out, and I publicize it here: "On Saturday November 7 after 1:00 pm everyone is invited to come and cut firewood. They have tons of dead ash trees! Please bring a dish to share. Wood that is cut can be taken home. Women and children are welcome, there will be a campfire etc. Feel free to send this to anyone who may be interested. Please contact Mike or Janet Iannuzzi for more information. (586)-784-8422."

And, finally, there has been a wonderful invitation to the Langs to all the teens who can be reached: "Dear Friends, Our son, Br. Matthew (Cannon's Regular of St. John Cantius, Chicago) will be making a home visit for Thanksgiving. During this time he would like to give a talk to the youth and young adults. The Lang Family has graciously offered their home for this to take place. We're planning on Sat. Nov. 28 at 7:00 PM. Br. Matthew will talk about religious life, specifically the evangelical counsels, and then Br. Chad (also making his home visit, and brother of Lisa Yamen), will speak about coming to a better understanding of music. The talks will be geared for ages 14 and up (as some of Br. Matthew's talk will deal with celibacy); parents are also welcomed. If you have any questions, you may email me cschuster429@gmail.com, or call 248-628-0868." I encourage lots of attendance, this sounds great.

Off to Mr. I's

The meeting at the Peters, I thought, was exceptional: many graces for everyone!

We discussed first the matter of friendship as found in St. Ambrose, On the Conduct of the Clergy, book III, chapter, and we will have a bit more to see from that before moving on to Cicero's De Amicitia (On Friendship).

In the Q&A part we discussed plenty of questions this time:

1. Why don’t Protestants make the Sign of the Cross? Why don’t Protestants have any other sacraments, besides Baptism?
2. Can a person attain perfection before death?
3. Socrates said that the soul has three parts: appetite, spirit and reason. What in this is true?
4. Why (when God created the animals) did he make certain ones so ugly? Also, if animals started killing each other after the fall of our first parents, why did some animals (like lions) have canine teeth?
5. Is it wrong to hug your boyfriend or girlfriend? Obviously, anything sexual outside of marriage is wrong; but its just a hug!
6. All those who believe in evolution, how do they explain that we stopped evolving?
7. What elements of Eastern philosophy, particularly Japanese, gave justification to ritualistic suicide? A.k.a hara-kiri.
8. Do you think that dating as a teen is a good idea?
9. Obama and Granholm are really ticking me off. Can you name one thing so I can have a reason to love them? Because I can’t see any.
10. Predestination, predestination, predestination… what does it all mean? What does the Church say about who is saved?
11. Where did we get the rosary? I don’t mean the prayers; I mean the beads and cross sacramental.
12. Is it a sin to speed?

Next time we meet at Mr. I's - that's the Ianuzzi's - and that's the third Friday of October, the 16th: 435 Miller Rd. Allenton, MI 48002

I include the photo

De Amicitia (On Friendship)

"Join the Areopagus, and See the World!" That can be our motto. The world, or at least Michigan. Our next location is in St. Clair!

But first: This year, we'll take some time philosophizing about friendship. For those who missed, I'm starting with a Father of the Church, the great St. Ambrose, and some snippets he wrote about friendship. We'll also see some things from Joseph Pieper, and will not fail to consider a good deal of Cicero's magnificent classic, "De Amicitia" (On Friendship).

At the Kots, our questions were:

1. Can a widowed man become a priest?
2. How did dinosaurs come to be?
3. How many fruit roll ups are in one box?
4. Do you think evolution is true?
5. Did Jesus have a last name? Or did any people in the old times have a last name?
6. How do you forgive someone who does bad things to you?
7. What is the difference between meditation and contemplation?
8. Why does the Church only allow men to do things in the Mass? My sister says it is sexist.

Mr. Peters invited us to his house, his address is: 402 S. Sixth St., St. Clair, MI 48079. Hilary has his phone number, in case you need it. Come, bring some munchies, but above all, bring a friend!

Picture: St. Ambrose, mosaic, in the Tomb of Pope Pius XI in the crypt of St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City.

Next Discussion: the Kots', Aug. 21

A great thanks to the Rochons for hosting us in July. We had intended to be out of doors, but just barely enough rain fell to make it impossible. But their house was so nice, plus all the outstanding art work from Mr. Rochon and the whole family made it seem like we were meeting in an art museum!

Last month's questions were:

1. If a boy is annoying you and you are a girl, are you allowed to hit him?
2. Can non-Catholics go to heaven?

3. Can a midget become a priest?

4. Last month we talked about dressing down for guys. Is dressing up (modestly of course) bad?

5. What do I say to people when they ask me about my scapular?

6. What life's lessons can be learned from Star Wars? =)
We also returned to discuss a question, "What is freedom," and went over a passage from Friedrich Hayek. Then a big discussion broke out about comedy and tragedy in Shakespeare.

The next place we'll meet is at the Kots' house: 3268 Breen Rd., Emmett, MI 48022. That's August 21 (the third Friday of the month, like usual), 7-9pm.

If weather permits, we'll have a nice fire outside, too. Come and bring a few friends, and if possible, with a snack or two to pass and share. If anyone needs questions on how to get there, just contact Hilary.

And come with great questions and topics of discussion... Odysseus the Box is always eager to get filled up!

Busy July for Areopagites

Ok, superheroes, there's lots going on in the next couple weeks:

1. The Trailblazers retreat, July 10-11.

2. Areopagus at the Rochons, 7pm on July 17. If you don't know where they are or how to get there, please contact Hilary. It might be a long drive for many of you, but it will be worth it! It's been two months - at least for me, I know the Mahers had a fun afternoon in June when I was gone - so there's much to discuss.

3. Bike hike! Everyone is invited, on July 30, for an evening at the Krays. Mr. Kray will take us on a big long bike ride to who knows where. We set out at 2pm - bring water and sun screen! - and when we get back, we'll have a potluck dinner and some rec time for the rest of the evening. I'm rather nutty about biking, so I can't wait!

1. Mahers, Fri. June 12 THEN Rochons, Fri July 17

Wasn't it great seeing the Kray's house without three feet of snow burying it? I'm happy to announce, also, that our team won the soccer game!

For next month, there's no Areopagus, but Mr. Maher invited everyone to his house on Friday, June 12, for a "sports day at the Mahers." I encourage everyone to attend. Then we're back to our philosophical and theological discussions in July, on the third Friday as usual (the 17th). Then we'll meet at the Rochons. If ever you came down Gratiot and saw the cow on the roof, they live right around there. The Kots are in August (Just after our Trailblazers pilgrimage), and then we'll start a new year.

The questions at the Krays were:

1. I read that it is Church law to deny Christian burial to those who knowingly and deliberately commit suicide. At what point do priests discern that state of mind?

2. Can you talk about the Head of Homeland Security’s recent comments that retired war veterans, pro-life advocates, etc. must be considered possible terrorist threats?

3. I heard the Vatican was discussing the topic of multiple universes. Do you know anything about that?

4. What is freedom?

5. Are there different or new Holy Days of Obligation the Tridentine rite of the Mass?
What is the best way to explain what a scapular and its purpose is?

May 15 at the Krays

We'll meet at the Krays on May 15. Weather permitting, we'll have a soccer game starting at 5pm.

A cordial "Thank You!" to the Simpsons for our April Areopagus. We have one more left of this school year, and we'll meet at the Krays. I have never seen their home, unless it was under three feet or so of snow! In June, we won't meet, but some families have been talking of a meeting anyway. In July, the Rochons will host us for an outdoor event, and the Kot family has offered another outdoor Areopagus in August.

April's questions were:
1. What do you do with scapulars and rosaries that are broken or worn out? I know that we can't throw them out; should we burn them?
2. What are your thoughts on Little Persons in the circus? (Intelligence sources identify Henry behind this question... a question, may I add, right up there with "Why does Hilary love turtles?")
3. Can you have more graces by having a Tridentine Wedding?
4. If a girl sees a guy touching some of her girl friends in a way that isn't particularly impure, but is unecessary and shouldn't be done, what should she do? Tell him to stop? Pull his hands away? Tell the girls parents? Do nothing because the friend should handle it on her own, even if she doesn't know what she should do?
5. What are the conditions for breaking your Lenten promises? Can you say a rosary to make up for it?
6. What do you think the world would be like if Jesus did not die for us? Would we be able to practice our Faith as freely?
7. If all venial sins are forgiven at communion, why do people go to confession after receiving communion at Mass? (assuming no sacrilege was committed)
8. Is it wrong to lie to someone if you are saving their feelings from being hurt?
9. My mom said that taking too much time dwelling on our appearances is vanity which is sin. For instance: taking too much time fixing our hair, painting fingernails, being concerned about our clothing not being an "in" brand or designer... Is she right? Would people who don't wear makeup, or aren't concerned about appearances be maybe holier? I don't remember anything about saints taking time for such things, what is your opinion?

These were great questions, and many more await us on May 15. We're planning a soccer game at 5pm, to wind us up for the discussion session.

So, on May 15th, the Krays' house: (810) 796-4049; Their address is: 4572 Merrick Dr., Dryden, MI, 48428. (Click here for a Google Map)