I think that we call all be very provincial in our little "worlds". We often are so egotistical that we think either "Things are worse now than ever before." or "The way things are here is the way they are everywhere." Extremist perceivers with ourselves as the centerpoint.

I do not doubt that Church controversies in the time of Athanasius were much worse than 500 years ago...or even now. We all need to be steeped in history and reality outside of our own selves to gain a little humility (and thankfulness).

It is a small lesson that I continue to learn over and over again.
Born and raised in Texas and now living in Massachusetts, it's like a different world. And I wouldn't be surprised that anyone outside the US might not even see why or how. (Hopefully they needn't!) So if that change in location is "miles apart" (other than the 2000 miles apart they really are), then how much more from country to country? hemisphere to hemisphere?

That's not to point out the differences. It's to put experiences into context. Context is key. Without it, too much nonsense is perceived.

We will remember you, of course!
Thankfully, here in Boston, we celebrated Ascension Thursday on Thursday. I noticed the note in the missalette about what prayers would be different if the feast was transferred to the following Sunday. My heart was sad at all the possibilities as to WHY it might be transferred (some very legitimate...some not so). So I think my heart already said a prayer for you this week.

But back to the topic (sort of). It has also been on my heart much lately to get to know the history of our Church much better. A tough thing to do for me personally since I don't have a lot of free time for reading (at least...not as much as I'd like to) and I have vowed to finish JPII's Theology of the Body before I being anything else.

However, I have had my eye on a 3-volume set by Jurgens entitled Faith of the Early Fathers . Lo and behold, my sister sent me an Amazon.com gift card for JUST the right amount to get them. :-) So i got them. I know what I'll be reading next.