Meditations on Constantine the Great, St. Helena, Apostolus Sanctus Paulus, and other things.

UNKNOWN MASTER, German
Darmstadt Altarpiece: Constantine and His Mother Helena
Venerating the True Cross.
207x 109 cm. Staatliche Museen, Berlin

Last week marked the annual celebration of a a man who is known for making some of the greatest advances in civil rights. But last week also marked the celebration of two (much, much more important) figures, whose influence have had a much greater impact not merely on American society or even Western civilization at large but also upon the entire world. The effect was an earthquake that shook every aspect of antiquity in the already fading twilight of the pagan Roman empire. It began, as all truly great things do--with a mother. And the fullness was realized in her son. The two people were Constantine the Great and his mother St. Helena. The feast day was yesterday, though few us knew or probably even cared.

Aside from Constantine, another figure whose affect on the world was even greater. You might be tempted to say of this depiction of St. Paul, "Wow, look at the existential features in this portrait, the cloven beard, the elongation of the face, limbs, and digits--as if time we stretching him gaunt and thin." But you would be wrong to say all that. For existentialism did not exist in the 17th century. This is El Greco. Tomorrow is the Feast of St. Paul.


Remember the Roman cognomen "Paulus"? It means small. Before his conversion to "Paul," we hear of a proud and zealous man named Saul, which means big. After he is confronted by the Lord, what was once "big" is now made "small," just God raises the valleys and puts down the mountains. Consider this aspect of St. Paul's life: his conversion, which is a feast day remember on Jan. 25. In the painting, note the emphasis on Saul's blindness. Note Caravaggio's use of light. Note his ability to create the "slow-motion" depiction of the event. Note the pleading of heaven: "Saule, Saule quid me persequeris." This language here is significant. Christ is establishes the doctrine of the Church as the mystical reality of Christ's body, not merely a metaphor. A reality. Not merely a "picture" of Jesus, but Jesus himself; "for as much as you have done it to the least of these, you've done it to me," says Christ.

GRECO, El. Apostle St Paul. 1610-14
Oil on canvas. Museo de El Greco, Toledo

CARAVAGGIO. The Conversion of St. Paul.
1600. Oil on cypress wood.
Odescalchi Balbi Collection, Rome.

Agenda for Monday, January 27:

1. Pray
2. Latin for the Week: Ego sum Jesus, quem tu persequeris. (Actus 9:5)
1. "I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest."
3. Grammar Ex: Pronoun Reference
4. Read the Tragedy of Saul: I Sam. 9-31
5. Begin Sir Gawain and the Green Knight!
6. Review HW:
1. Study Grammar Notes. Quiz on Thursday!
2. Be perfect.

Agenda for Tuesday, January 28:

1. Pray
2. Read the Tragedy of Saul: I Sam. 9-31 
3. Correct Grammar Ex. from yesterday. 
4. Hand back Macbeth Essays:
1. Review and discuss. 
2. Revise and turn in essays Friday. 
3. Oral Presentations comparing the life of Saul to Macbeth due February 12.
5. Read Sir Gawain and the Green Knight!
6. Review HW:
1. Macbeth Essay Revisions (2/3)
2. Macbeth Presentations(2/12)
3. Study Grammar Notes. Quiz on Thursday!
4. Be perfect.

Agenda for Wednesday& Thursday, January 29-30:

1. SNOW DAY!
2. Inclement Driving Conditions.

Agenda for Friday, January 31:

1. Pray
2. Work on Revisions and Oral Presentations of Macbeth Essays
3. Read Sir Gawain and the Green Knight!
4. Review HW:
1. Read Sir Gawain Stanzas 1-21. (Quiz Tuesday!)
2. Macbeth Essay Revisions (2/3)
3. Macbeth Presentations(2/12)
4. Read Sir Gawain
5. Be perfect.