Potpourri

Chocolate Shop in Brussels
1. When I came over here, I knew that I would have the option of coming for Christmas, or coming for the Chapter in January, but probably couldn't come for both. Then they scheduled the exam period beginning January 15 - the chapter starts January 17 and so I thought that was the end of the story. I would be coming for Christmas.

But this is Belgium. Here, it is possible to change the exam schedule ... for a just cause of course.

Last week I asked at the canon law office, and Greet, the secretary there--who is wonderful, told me who to talk to in the various schools. I'm currently taking classes in the schools of Law, Theology and Canon Law. So after talking with all the appropriate people, I found out that exams aren't scheduled yet, so no one even knows yet if there will be a conflict. However, once exams are scheduled, in early December, they will be happy to work with me to get my exams scheduled around the chapter.

2. The course materials are starting to be published and available. However, the shops that sell them are opened at odd hours, and of course for each school it is a different place with different hours. However, over the next few weeks I should manage to get those. The materials are the familiar collections of photocopied articles and other documents.

3. I received a letter in my mail box today. It is in dutch, but the best I can make of it, there is a 'arts project' afoot on our street. They want each resident to post a poem and a lamp in their window for a certain two week period. Now remember, the pedestrians here walk right by your window, so could easily read a note posted there. The purpose is to inspire folks on their way to work or to classes. I'm supposed to email the author of the note to say whether or not I will participate.

4. I've been told our street has a good community spirit. I know, at least by sight lots of the folks and one lady brings me food on occasion. 'Dit is te grote voor mij - This is too much for me,' she said this morning as she handed me a half head of cauliflower. So I had some for lunch.

5. This is a swan I met on my Sunday bike ride. The same day, I heard a bagpipes wafting through the woods, and followed the sound to where a group of musicians and flagbearers were practicing, near the Arenberg Castle. Click here for movie. It may take a little time to download.


Peace,
Amy

...Supreme, full, immediate, and universal ordinary power ...

In my Foundations of Canon Law class the professor was discussing the relationship of theology and law in the Code and in the field of Canon Law. He showed how passages from the Vatican documents were lifted and pasted into the code. E.g. a passage on collegiality was taken from Lumen Gentium 22 and put into canon 330. One problem with this is that the Vatican documents weren't written in legal language, so pasting them into the code causes some consternation to the juridical types. Another problem is that the text is pasted in without the context, and the discussions that accompanied the concilliar text. For example, there was an official explanation with that passage of Lumen Gentium which basically said that when we say collegial, of course, we don't really mean collegial, we mean it in a really hierarchical way.

--Okay those of you who know of my anarchisitic bent can imagine how this was setting with me. I'm cool with collegiality, but I want it to mean collegiality. And of course the CSJ Sectionals are discussing shared and equal authority.*

So anyway, the discussion continued to show how legal texts have to be viewed in the light of the theology and values of the community for which the law is written. Then we went on to another canon. It turns out that the very next canon, after the one about Jesus founding a church and the apostles acting in communion, is the canon about the pope having 'supreme, full, immediate, and universal ordinary power'.

--What? how did that happen? How did we get from 'I came to serve' and 'let the one among you who aspires to greatness serve the rest' to 'supreme, full, immediate, and universal ordinary power'. What were they thinking? Whose church is this? Who is in charge here? Did they read the gospel? Honestly, how did this happen?

Of course I have read those passages before, but I guess I was a little crankier than usual when they came along this time. Also the examples that when along with the explanation. E.g. after 20 years of development of the new Code of Canon Law, JPII took the final text and pulled stuff out and put stuff in that didn't have the benefit of all the consultation and input that had gone before.

In the study of Canon Law, I knew that the power structures of the church would be problematic for me. They are very hierarchical and not terribly respectful of the gifts of the spirit that are poured out extravagantly in the hearts and lives of all people of every place and time. Coming face to face with the brutality of 'supreme, full, immediate, and universal ordinary power' makes me so happy that I'm in a religious community. For the most part, that has not been our image of authority. And certainly in the present age we are struggling to discover the contours of new models of leadership. Shared and equal is looking better and better. It is true that there are some difficulties with the language, and even with how it is most appropriately implemented. But at least we're discussing it! Collegially! And when we mean collegial, we mean that word in its natural meaning.

Tonight, Timothy Radcliffe OP is here on campus for a talk on speaking the truth and remaining at one with the church. I'm hoping for some insights and inspiration.

These pictures were taken at the Provincial Park near Leuven. Sunday was a lovely sunny day, and I biked out there. There is the lake and lots of walking trail and sports fields. There were lots of people enjoying the day. It was delightful!
Peace,
Amy

* I didn't get in on sectionals this round. But I was on Skype with Mary McGlone as she was on the way to her sectional. She said she would be happy to skype me in - so I'll give that a try for the spring sectionals.

Waiting for Paint to Dry

Well, I finally got out to get something put on the wooden window frames in my apartment. This may seem a simple task. But no, this is a major project. First of all, you have to find a store that sells the substance you're looking for. So I went to several stores and looked at the pictures on the cans near the paint brushes. When I found something promising, I looked at the can and read things like: "De grondlaag voor buiten hout verzekert de hechting ..." This of course isn't terribly helpful. So I took down websites and went to the internet and checked out their english language sites, only to find out that the product was a cleaner, not some sort of finish.

After some weeks of this, I found the right store, and talked to the guy there who spoke english. Yeah! He sold me some Lazuur, a brush and wit spiriten. Thus equipped, I checked the weather forcast - partly cloudy for three days in a row. Partly cloudy generally means it won't rain which is about the best I can hope for. Then I went to work.

I cleaned the frames, figuring the first ones would be ready for painting when I finished the last. I managed to open the paint can with my multi-function pocket knife and began painting. Since I was using Lazuur, perhaps lazuuring is the correct term here, but one can never be sure.

No sooner had I started than my neighbor came over to see what was going on. I think she asked if I was supposed to maintain the wooden frames. I think I said to her that I had to take care of the wooden frames, but not the other exterior areas: alleen de hout, neit meer. That seemed to satisfy her. Later she came over and said it was mooie, that means beautiful, so I was definitely moving in the right direction. But then she said something else. When I looked puzzled, she said it louder. Unfortunately, volume wasn't the problem.....

I finished the two windows and the lower part of the door in the front, then went on to the window and door in the back. Now I'm in the front room with the windows and doors standing open, front and back. It is probably in the low 60s today. So far no one has walked in, and only my one neighbor has commented.

The canon law club canonica is getting together tonight for dinner and a movie. This is the only time the various years and the two language groups ever gather, so it should be fun. However, I'm hoping that the windows and door will be dry enough to close, at least in the front.

--Oh yes, that's my bike in the front room. It's the easiest place to keep it, as long at isn't too sloppy and rainy. There isn't always a place in the nearby bike rack, and I haven't figured out how to hang it on the hooks at our building.

Well, back to Latin,
Pax*,
Amy

*In response to a comment, I had to put Pax where I generally put peace. I stand corrected. Thanks Pat.