www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Incognitus returns!

Apologies to everyone - my absence for the past few weeks has been an involuntary consequence of computer woes. The computer has now been healed (I trust) of its ailments. Hope that everyone has managed to hold up while I was off line.
Incognitus

Good to see you back!

The mysterious absence of a "regular" from the board does, indeed, cause one to wonder and hope all is well... glad to hear it is!

I, too, have been gone a lot as of late, with more yet to come. Spent all last week on business in New Jersey... managing to sneak in a little bit of "board time" today (Saturday), and then it's back off to NJ tomorrow for another week.

The town I'm working in (Lodi, NJ) is not far at all from Passaic - I tried unsuccessfully to squeeze in a visit to the Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel... I'm looking forward to trying again this coming week - wish me luck!

a pilgrim

Incognitus ,

Welcome back. I thought you had gone off to the Millenium celebration at Grottaferatta.

Many years,

Neil, watching to see if Incognitus' 1300th post is lucky

I know the feeling - my computer was sick before I went at the end of August and from my return it got sicker and sicker till at the beginning of last week it collapsed every 4 mins

Eventually on Friday night it had a transplant = a new Operating system and now is just like new - and there are more bells and whistles too

Let us hope that the Patron Saint of Computers will look after these creatures on which we all rely .

Anhelyna

Anhelyna,

That would be Saint Isidore of Seville. His feast is April 4th. See:

Saint Isidore of Seville [catholic-forum.com]

and you can get a statue of him, made to sit on your monitor, at:
Catholic Mart [catholicmart.com]

Many years,

Neil

Welcome back incognitus!

St. Isidore must have received a special crown in heaven to take on the patronage of computers and computer users too? Maybe St Isidore should delegate that to St Jude, patron of impossible cases (particularly in matters of my speliing)

God bless,

Paul

Dear Incognitus,

Believe it or not, you crossed my mind yesterday!

Welcome back, even if it isn't from some far away religious locale this time!

You might note, that a while ago there was a thread on the Prayer section, where we were wondering where all our 'old poster friends' had gone, and you were, ofcourse, among those listed.

So Please make sure that your computer behaves from now on!

With love in Christ,
Alice

Welcome back!

The Forum rejoices at your return!

Σώσον, Κύριε, καί διαφύλαξον η�άς από τών Βασιλιάνικων τάξεων!

"Σώσον, Κύριε, καί διαφύλαξον η�άς από τών Βασιλιάνικων τάξεων! "

Save us, O Master, and protect us from the Imperial Class!

So I take it you are not a fan of the 'Imperial class' or of the monarchy?

Alice, who is most confused by these cryptic messages in Greek....

Maybe it's "...from (those of) the Basilian Order"?

Ah, the prodigal Incognitus has returned. Bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast...

Thanks to everyone; it's nice to be welcome. I'm heartily in favour of the fatted calf and a new suit of clothes. However, I don't wear a ring. Now please ask Saint Isidore of Seville to keep this computer going!
Sorry - I couldn't manage Grottaferratta.
Incognitus

Alice, Why didn't I see any Greek letters around the venues during the Athens Olympics?

Every sign I saw was in English.

Paul

So Kobzar, what is it?

Thanks!

Sorry, in a sense, to resurrect this thread. But an utterly serious issue has suddenly arisen on another thread, now closed, which involves all of the participants who use pen-names.

Professor J. Michael Thompson eschews pen-names, at least for himself, so I may identify him as the source of the serious issue. He issued a public threat to report a priest to the Bishop for the offense of expressing an opinion. I hasten to add that Professor Thompson has apologized (it is not for me to judge that apology).

But what this demonstrates is the necessity for the use of pen-names. I am not ashamed of my own name, nor am I ashamed of my own thoughts as expressed (except, perhaps, my habit of repeating stories which I consider amusing). I am perfectly willing to defend my ideas in this forum or any other forum which does NOT involve the use of the sort of techniques appropriate to the Gestapo, the KGB, Orwell's Thought Police or similar bodies. Freedom of thought and expression are essential. If that requires the use of pen-names, then I shall continue to sign myself with a pen-name.

It is not courteous or kind to attack someone who is dead and unable to defend himself, so I will not name the hierarch who boasted in my hearing that it was his custom to assign educated clergy to places at great distances from each other, so that such educated clergy would not be able to visit each other or speak over the telephone. Maybe he got the idea from the Holy Office in Rome, which forbade George Tyrell even to engage in what they termed "epistolary correspondence" - in plain English, that means writing and receiving letters.

One of the great benefits of the Internet (and cheap long-distance phone calls thanks to the Internet) is that people who realize that critical thinking involves the need for others to criticize one's thoughts without holding threats over the head of the man who dares to think are now able to exchange their thoughts in these ways.

So, while I regret to use a pen-name, I see no practical alternative, and I rather suspect that others can understand this. So I must request that my privacy be respected, deeply though I wish that there would be no need for such a request. Diak, of course, has my complete sympathy. I dare to hope that Professor Thompson can understand the point.

To end with a conundrum for those who enjoy them: "It does not matter who said something. What matters is what he said!" That was taught by a Saint who was being overly modest. Any guesses as to his name? Hint - if anyone can provide the original Latin, I shall be most grateful.

Incognitus

Dear Incognitus,

You mean 'Incognitus' isn't your real name?

I thought it was-- and a lovely Latin one at that!

Fondly,
Alice

(P.S. ...and my prayers are with you for the coming days, dear forum friend--just as you requested )

The late Pope (may his memory be eternal!) has apologized for the methods of the inquisition, and the persecution of Galileo and other intellectuals and scientists by the Church in the past.

It is chilling to think that such fascist tendencies still exist now in our Church. I find the idea that you can be reported to the authorities for "incorrect thinking" chilling to the core.

It is ironic when the "new politically correct thinking", the feminist inclusive paranoia, and other liberal causes, employ the same strong arm to enforce their agenda. Just shows, I suppose, that the dangers that tempt those in power, attack those liberals today, as they tempted conservatives (who held office) in generations past.

Nick

The only problem I have with pen names, is that it allows some posters to throw bombs into threads and start mini-wars. They usually take off, and I suppose, lurk and enjoy the havoc they have caused. As to hierarchs, such as the one mentioned by Incognitus, we have had bishops who were saints, and also some who could give Hell a bad name. I consider us lucky when we get a bishop who is a good man, and is also holy.

ByzanTN writes that "I consider us lucky when we get a bishop who is a good man, and is also holy." This observation is correct - if anything, it is a bit weak, since such a bishop is a remarkable blessing for his Church. I will gladly bear witness that such bishops are to be found, and that when one finds them it is a discovery well worth making, with the potential to change one's own life. I shall not name any specific bishop, because I would not want to grieve such a bishop with the quasi-public praise which he would not want, but there are exemplars among quite recent Saints recognized by the Church - Saint John of Shanghai and San Francisco comes to mind immediately, to name only one.

Tip: pray for the Bishop, whoever he may be. Such a prayer is often richly rewarded (by God, that is!). Behave toward the Bishop with the reverence that our Faith asks of us - this may shock some bishops, but often enough the shock will have positive consequences.

And here are two tips for everyone, including bishops: read the seven Letters of Saint Ignatius of Antioch over and over, in many different translations, so that one internalizes the teaching of Saint Ignatius. Let that be our model for how the Church should behave. Forget about the attempts to impose the "CEO" model on the hierarchy and the parish clergy.

Heavens, I'm much too profound for this time of night!

Incognitus