Mind and Cosmos

Taking a short break from pony-related matters, I briefly note, for my more philosophically-inclined readers, that Thomas Nagel, prominent atheist philosopher and critic of mind-body materialism (physicalism), recently came out with a new book where he purports to forge a middle road between a materialistic reduction/elimination of the mind and theism. Ed Feser, Bill Vallicella, and James Chastek all give their thoughts.

Another MLP: FiM Season 3 Sneak Preview!

From New York Comic-Con:

We get our first glimpses of the Crystal Ponies, who all seem to be feeling down for some reason, and that reason might just be the mysterious King Somber...

Remember, season 3 of MLP:FiM is only a month away!

The Year of Faith

Since the Annus Fidei or Year of Faith just kicked off, I thought I'd share a few helpful links for some of my Catholic readers.

As the USCCB notice tells us (HT: Cari Donaldson and David Ives):

With his Apostolic Letter of October 11, 2011,Porta Fidei. . . , Pope Benedict XVI declared that a "Year of Faith" will begin on October 11, 2012 and conclude on November 24, 2013. October 11, 2012, the first day of the Year of Faith, is the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council. . . (Vatican II) and also the twentieth anniversary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. During the Year of Faith, Catholics are asked to study and reflect on the documents of Vatican II and the catechism so that they may deepen their knowledge of the faith.

The upcoming Year of Faith is a “summons to an authentic and renewed conversion to the Lord, the One Savior of the world” (Porta Fidei 6). In other words, the Year of Faith is an opportunity for Catholics to experience a conversion – to turn back to Jesus and enter into a deeper relationship with him. The “door of faith” is opened at one’s baptism, but during this year Catholics are called to open it again, walk through it and rediscover and renew their relationship with Christ and his Church.




- Jeffrey Miller of "The Curt Jester" collected all 16 documents from Vatican II into epub and Kindle format.

- Matthew Warner of Fallible Blogma started the "Read the Catechism in a Year" project. Everyday you'll receive an email with a small snippet of the Catechism to read. You can also follow along online or with the various book versions (here, here, and here).

- Don't forget the daily mass readings! Regarding Bibles, I recommend the Revised Standard Version: Catholic Edition. Ignatius Press also makes an excellent New Testament Study Bible.

IL Triello (The Trio) Adrian, Alfredo, and Eric at UCLA

After stopping by the Richard Dawkins UCLA lecture, we head off for the bus stop. I make a few jokes at Alfredo's expense, Adrian shows off his new Dawkins swag, and I give a shout-out to the guys from the Facebook Thomism Discussion Group, the Christian Bronies page, and Octavia the pony cellist.

Get your Octavia shirts today!


Some pictures:

The RPG Catholic with Richard Dawkins in the background

The Analytic Scholastic (aka "The Alfredo") with RD

Adrian with RD

Adrian and Alfredo finally meet Richard Dawkins face-to-face. Dawkins looks very pleased...

Are there Unicorns in the Bible?

Taylor Marshall and Jimmy Akin both chime in.

This is Pretty Cool

The Ohio State University marching band plays a medley of video game music from Super Mario, Zelda, Halo, Tetris, and other games during the halftime show of last Saturday's OSU-Nebraska football game.

Feast of St. Francis

Today is the feast of St. Francis, founder of the order of the Friars Minor (Franciscans).

OFM website

Some helpful material:

- Br. Athanasius Murphy, OP, "Poor Francis," Dominicana 

- Fr. George Rutler, "Saint Francis of Assisi was not a garden gnome," Sancte Pater 

- Marcel, "St. Francis, Animals, Suffering, Grace, and Redemption," Aggie Catholics 

- The Little Flowers of St. Francis (St. Francis Preaches to the Birds and St. Francis and the Wolf of Gubbio)

St. Francis taming the wolf of Gubbio

- G.K. Chesterton's St. Francis of Assisi

- The Canticle of the Sun:

Most high, all-powerful, all good, Lord! All praise is yours, all glory, all honour And all blessing.


To you alone, Most High, do they belong. No mortal lips are worthy To pronounce your name.

All praise be yours, my Lord, through all that you have made, And first my lord Brother Sun, Who brings the day; and light you give to us through him.

How beautiful is he, how radiant in all his splendour! Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.

All praise be yours my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air, And fair and stormy, all the weather's moods, By which you cherish all that you have made.

All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Water, So useful, lowly, precious and pure.

All praise be yours, my Lord, through Brother Fire, Through whom you brighten up the night. How beautiful is he, how gay! Full of power and strength.

All praise be yours my Lord, through Sister Earth, our mother Who feeds us in her sovereignty and produces Various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.

All praise be yours, my Lord, through those who grant pardon. For love of you; through those who endure Sickness and trial.

Happy those who endure in peace, By you, Most High, they will be crowned.

All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Death, From whose embrace no mortal can escape. Woe to those who die in mortal sin! Happy those She finds doing your will! The second death can do no harm to them.

Praise and bless my Lord, and give him thanks, And serve him with great humility.

Saint Francis of Assisi, Ora Pro Nobis!