Prayer Time ….. or ….. Thinking Time
Saint Francis of Assisi thought that God told him to rebuild an old derelict church building. So Francis went to work with great gusto. Later he heard God tell him ‘not the building – the Church made of people.’ So Francis got busy with the unending task of rebuilding the Church. His work continues even to this day.
Saint Padre Pio is reported to have stated he had no problem praying for a happy death for his long-deceased Grandfather.
Saint Anthony, whose reputation for great homilies, first came to Italy searching for Francis of Assisi. Along the way, he tried preaching sermons, but nobody wanted to listen. So the story goes, he turned toward the waters and began preaching to the fishes. Now, many believe the fish rose to the surface and listened raptly to St, Anthony.
Saint Maximillian Kolbe, O.F.M.-Conventual, who volunteered to die in place of a fellow Nazi death camp prisoner, is officially adopted as Philosopher/ Publisher/Writer Patron Saint of this Publication by P. J. Chalmers, Ed.D., O.F.S. Philosopher/Publisher/Writer. In Honor of him, we post the following prayer:
“O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. And for all those who do not have recourse to thee; especially the Masons (AF&AM) and all those recommended to thee.”
This prayer is Kolbe’s Miraculous Medal Prayer that accompanied the foundation of the Militia Immaculata on October 16. 1917 (p.7) 2020. Official Prayer Book of the Immaculata, USA. Peoria, IL. Militia of the Immaculata.
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AN EXAMINATION OF IMMORTALITY – A STUDY FROM PHILOSOPHICAL WRITINGS OF JOHN DUNS SCOTUS. by Patrick J. Chalmers, O.F.S., Ed.D. copyright 2020.
In taking on this task, let it be noted that this represents the work as translated by Allan Wolter, O.F.M. … Wolter, Allan, O.F.M. (Translator). 1987. Philosophical Writings, A Selection. Indianapolis, IN: Hackett Publishing Co.
This study is based not on this author’s opinion, but rather interpretation of Allan Wolter’s translation.
Where best to start this exploration of John Duns of Scotland for this interpretive examination (hermeneutic research) may be to re-trace the Scotus path. He (Wolter) began with six major themes: metaphysics; natural knowledge; the existence of God; the unicity of God; human knowledge; and, last, spirituality and immortality of the human soul.
Our current concern, the eternal soul, illuminates the idea that life exists without end. This study tests the ideas presented in the Current Read, by P.J. deCamera (the pen name of Patrick J. Chalmers) presented as creative fiction.
Note that in the days of Scotus, scholars presented their ideas in public disputations. They argued points of view. This Scotus argument came about as a critique of Thomas Aquinas-style proofs of the soul’s incorporeal and immortal quality or condition. Scotus own view was rendered with more guarded conclusions.
The opening (p. 134)
“I ask: Can it be known by natural reason that there will be a general resurrection of mankind?“
Any good argument has at least a pro and a con. Scotus offers five proofs of eternal life through natural reason and three proofs against knowing of eternal life through the same natural reason. He then opens theoretical knowledge to the tests of, not observation, but rather, logical reasoning.
And, he proceeds to define the logical method, which includes three separate propositions: the intellective soul is the specific form of man; the intellective soul is incorruptible; and, the specific form of man remains forever outside the composite. (intellective simply means our ability to reason and know, and think, and understand and choose freely – as in intelligently and with free will).
Scotus, once again, provides the pro and con arguments to each.
His response to the logical method consumes over twenty-two pages of reasoning, so for the sake of brevity let’s just go to a summary of his five-page conclusion concerning the “Arguments”. First, he dismisses natural reason as a way of knowing the existence of a general resurrection and also dismisses the desire of being forever happy as a way of knowing just as finding happiness with another is not to call it perfect happiness. Then Scotus points to the idea of going on forever through the continuous succession of individuals. He says no to that as well. So, for individual eternal life, he concludes our belief in our own immortality is a gift from God.
Scotus’ conclusion: ” … thanks must be given to our Creator, who through faith has made us most certain of those things which pertain to our end and to eternal life– … “
JOHN DUNS WAS A 14TH CENTURY FRANCISCAN in the Order of Friars Minor.
He “flourished at Cambridge, Oxford, Paris, and died at Cologne, p.xv He was most born in 1266 and died November 8, 1308. He was an ardent Theologian Philosopher, lecturer, and writer. Should the reader choose to pursue deeper knowledge of his work a great place to start is the translation by Allan Wolter called “Duns Scotus: Philosophical Writings.
If you want to know more about Franciscans, contact me (see the Contact Page for my email address), Dr. Patrick J. Chalmers, O.F.S.
Of course, I’m only one of over 350,000 Secular Franciscans worldwide, and then there are way more men and women (very hard being exact on the numbers, but my guess is about 50,000 people) in Catholic Consecrated Franciscan Orders. And many, many more Franciscans from various Protestant denominations. I would not be surprised if there were well over half a million people who identify themselves as Franciscans. We
Franciscans do a lot of good in the name of Love through Peace and Good; isn’t that what we need more of to heal all the people? And we can always use more help. The reward for you is eternal life where everything really is perfect.
O.F.S. are the initials for Ordo Franciscanus Saecularis, which means Secular Franciscan Order, and that means we are just everyday people who have banded together, in hopes of doing good and being peacemakers. So, what are you waiting for, find out more about us? You too can become a Secular Franciscan
If you want to contact me: drpjchalmers@gmail.com
or:
Visit the International Web Page https://ciofs.info/.
There’s also the OFS/USA website https://secularfranciscansusa.org/
P J deCamera - Writers Times 