We are in the second full day of Acton U. Yesterday was tiring, but great.
This morning we had Holy Mass in the Extraordinary Form for the Feast of Corpus Christi. We considered for a moment having a short Eucharistic Procession out the door, down the hall, and through the Novus Ordo Mass, which was going on at the same time. Instead of doing that, I compromised with slightly longer elevations.
At breakfast, I sat with a couple seminarians, one from Michigan and one from Kansas, and two nice young ladies who are students at Franciscan University in Steubenville. I had a chat with the later about the differences between the Novus Ordo and the older, traditional form of the Roman Rite.
For my first lecture today: Judaism and the Market Economy.
Second lecture: The State in Catholic Thought
What an incredibly diverse conference this is. There are presentations by Jews and, at least one, Muslim. There are people from 60+ countries and I do know how many denominations. Yesterday we went from a major speech by Judge Andrew Napolitano at midday to a speech by a Japanese Evangelical artist in the evening.
On my way to my second morning talk I passed by a young African American protestant pastor with a mohawk haircut and I sat next to a priest from S. America.
The lectures are structured such that there is a generous Q&A period in each. People really engaged, tussle, challenge. Stimulating!
At lunch today, the same Japanese artist is giving another presentation.
UPDATE
I popped in for Michael Novak’s Q&A.
The state can’t interfere with our duty to God. It is prior to the state.
A priest from Nigeria asking about love in the face of wide spread suffering and persecution.
UPDATE
Afternoon lecture
Both are under threat.
Where did these come from and how are they related? And how is it that the same conditions which led to both, also serve to fuel threats to both.
Later, a point: It may be necessary to go to jail in protest of violations of human dignity. But we can protest and suffer injustice in love rather than in hostility.
Also, this fellow issued a stinging denunciation of crony capitalism.
As Christians we should be grounded in live and equal dignity. As such we can provide a great service.
I always enjoy seeing XP when there is a screen presentation.
Two Archbishops, of cities with unmistakably Catholic names, have been under the gun and have used social media to make statements.
