Hetre’s how this week’s arts and culture column begins:
Msgr. Lorenzo Albacete (1941-2014) was born in Puerto Rico, majored in physics and aerospace science, and was ordained in 1973. He was a New York City-based public intellectual and became close friends with both St. Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI.
Notoriously rumpled, perpetually late, he chain-smoked, loved food, drink, and good conversation, and had a wicked sense of humor.
I’ve written here of his 2021 book “The Relevance of the Stars: Christ, Culture, Destiny” (Slant Books, $19).
In February, Slant Books launched a new title from Msgr. Albacete: Cry of the Heart ($16), an extended meditation on the mystery of suffering.
READ THE WHOLE PIECE HERE.
hi heather
of course are our diminishments valuable. we should not hate them.
everything is precious .
and – true there is a loss of personhood in our world.
but – what to do?
be a good person yourself,right?!
Try to be a whole person yourself, maybe…
Heather, suffering is a topic we will never stop needing to contemplate. I wish I spent more time thinking and writing about what I see. The short comment is, I see in health care an intolerance of suffering. People are consoled and urged to chose death over the expense and suffering involved in caring for the ill and disabled. I have far to go myself in thinking and praying through this. We can save lives that will live on for years in great need of care, but do we have the will, love, and resources to give that care? Many people are faced with these monumental decisions.
So glad the piece resonated with you, Ingrid. The effort to annihilate suffering only leads to more frightful, anti-human suffering…you’re right. We will never get to the bottom of it…but we can abide…thanks for sharing the column with friends.
Thank you for continuing the conversation after the NY Encounter. I am glad you’re back from NY and are slowly falling in love with Tucson. God has drawn you to Himself and there for a purpose, and this patron in the form of Msgr Albacete is just one of many who are pulling for you!
Thank you, Angela, yes! Pulling for all of us, especially in these days of Lent…
Great to see you “live” on the Youtube session! I’m anxiously awaiting the arrival of Cry of the Heart…. also reading God at the Ritz. Love this man. And you too, of course!
I hope you’re as moved, and challenged, as I was by Cry of the Heart, Elizabeth. I truly believe Msgr Albacete was a saint.