Category Archives: Uncategorized

The Mystery of the Universe – Exploring Pope Francis’ Spiritual Vision of Creation in Laudato Si’

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It has been announced that Pope Francis will sign a new encyclical on human fraternity on October 3rd of this year. I cannot speak for other countries, but, as a United States citizen, I couldn’t think of a more timely theme to reflect upon. The hyper polarized nature of the United States has become rather worrisome. The co-mingling of an international pandemic and political aspirations has placed my beloved home atop a powder keg that feels ready to explode. I hope and pray that our Holy Father will provide insight and guidance during these difficult times. And if there is anything I think would be a good fit for Sacred Space Astronomy, I’ll be happy to comment on it! As we await the words of our Pontiff, the announcement drew me back to the Pope’s last encyclical, Laudato Si’. It seems like eons ago since Laudato Si’ was a hot topic. Though seldom mentioned now, it’s safe to say that … Continue reading →

North by Northwest

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This entry is part 32 of 32 in the series Lunarcy

A day or two short of the full moon, depending on the libration, on the northwest terminator of the moon you will find a remarkable crater that catches the eye. This is Pythagoras (133km dia.) with beautifully terraced walls and a central peak that casts great shadows across the western side of the crater and the west wall. The extreme near limb presentation of this magnificent crater gives us the opportunity to see just how shallow craters are. When on the terminator near the center of the moon, they look like deep wells but in this case the depth is only 4.8 km or 3.75% of the diameter! Shallow indeed! You can see this for yourself by making a 100mm diameter crater that is only 4mm deep. The large non-circular crater in front of Pythagoras is Babbage (148km) and to it’s left is Oenophiles (70km) and further on is the smaller Markov (43km). To the lower right of Pythagoras is … Continue reading →

Specola Guestbook | April 29-May 2, 1922: IAU 1st General Assembly part 2 – Bigourdan, Belot, Donitch, Hough, and Crommelin

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This entry is part 59 of 59 in the series Specola Guestbook

Since its founding in 1891, many people have passed through the doors of the Vatican Observatory.  A quick perusal of our guestbook reveals several Names, including Popes, nobel laureates, astronauts, actors, and saints. Last week, we began highlighting visitors who came on the occasion of the first General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union.  This event will occupy the next several entries in this column.  The visitors for today’s column include Guillaume Bigourdan, Émile Belot, Nicholas Donitch, Sydney Hough, and Andrew Crommelin. Guillaume Bigourdan Camille Guillaume Bigourdan (1851-1932) visited on April 29. Next to his name, he wrote, “Paris, Observatoire national France.” His research primarily involved the study of nebulae, of which he measured the positions of thousands. He also attempted (mostly unsuccessfully) to measure their proper motions. He was director of the international bureau of time (Bureau International de l’Heure) from 1919-1928. He was vice president of the French Academy of Sciences in 1923, and its president in 1924. … Continue reading →

Specola Guestbook | April 13-28, 1922: IAU 1st General Assembly part 1 – Aitken, Curtis, van Steenwijk, Cortie, and Stein

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This entry is part 58 of 59 in the series Specola Guestbook

Since its founding in 1891, many people have passed through the doors of the Vatican Observatory.  A quick perusal of our guestbook reveals several Names, including Popes, nobel laureates, astronauts, actors, and saints. In the middle of the page, between March and April 1922, there is a red line drawn in the guestbook. What’s that line doing there?  The explanation becomes apparent when you see what is written in the top margin of the book: The International Astronomical Union (IAU) was founded in 1919, with general assemblies of astronomical representatives from around the world to meet every three years.  The first general assembly was held in Rome in May 1922.  On the occasion of this meeting, a large number of attendees (starting with some arriving as early as April) would make a visit to the Vatican Observatory, which at the time was still located within the walls of Vatican City. Over the next several weeks starting with this entry, I … Continue reading →

The Readiness Is All: Faith, Science, Sports, and OSIRIS-REx

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The readiness is all. This famous quote from Shakespeare’s Hamlet can be spun in many ways. Ironically, the times I’ve heard this quote used most, directly and indirectly, is in the context of sports. Having worked in education environments as a major part of my ministry, I often hear student athletes share with me the importance of off season programs and how games are not won or lost on the field of play, but in the weight room, the video room, and the daily 5 mile run. A good friend of mine, Kendra Pagel, is a wonderful school counselor and a successful women’s volleyball coach I had the honor to work with while I was chaplain at Regis High School in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. In 2013, she coached the Regis Ramblers volleyball team to a Division 3 State Championship in the state of Wisconsin. When I left Regis, Kendra always invited me to her volleyball games when Regis was playing … Continue reading →

North of Brahe

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This entry is part 33 of 32 in the series Lunarcy

Center bottom we have the spectacular crater Tycho (diameter 88km) the center of the largest ray system on the Moon that completely wraps around the globe. This is two days after the terminator passed over this crater and already the sun is high enough to show the rays without washing out some of the topographic details. For orientation purposes, the large dark crater at the top is Pitatus. Just below that are two similar sized craters Gauricus (82km) on the right and Wurzelbauer (90km) and off to the right is a much smaller well defined crater with a fairly dark patchy floor, Hell (34km). To the left of Pitatus and you’ll see one of the better double walled craters on the Moon, Hesiodus A (15km) looking like a little bulls-eye target with the small central peak. The parent crater Hesiodus (44km) is above it with a small 5km central crater. Going back to Tycho we can see one of the … Continue reading →

A little Light Thinking revisited

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                                  About this time last year I met Br Guy  in Dublin for breakfast,  – here is my blog revisited It’s raining as I write, water pours down the window like syrup in a jar. Montbretia in the garden seem to generate self-made light. Each flower punctuates the greyness with orange flames on stems within the hedgerow. It is often grey days that send me light thinking and remind me of how frequently I dwell on it. Recently I met Br Guy Colsolmagno for breakfast in Dublin. A sunny morning with the promise of more light to fill the day. We had a fun catch up chat within which were several moments of encouragement sprinkled towards my work. We then headed to the National Gallery of Ireland to see an impressionist exhibition. Sorolla Exhibition Sorolla was a Spanish master of light, the exhibition held … Continue reading →

Care for Creation and Contemplation of Creation – Deepening these New (Old) Works of Mercy

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When Pope Francis put forward two new Works of Mercy that pertain to Care for Creation and Contemplation of Creation, the response was underwhelming. I wish the reason was because people realized these Works of Mercy have already been a long part of our spiritual tradition. Whether it be Maximus the Confessor’s understand of Cosmic Liturgy, St. Bonaventure’s classic the Mind’s Journey to God, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s theology of Human Ecology, or Pope Francis’ expansion of his predecessor’s work into Integral Ecology, the Catholic Church has a long tradition of expounding upon the Biblical theme of Care for and Contemplation of Creation. In regard to Contemplation of Creation, I think it’s important for us to remember that the first call to practice this spiritual Work of Mercy was presented when God makes a sacred promise with Abram (soon to be Abraham) in the book of Genesis. How beautiful for a blog dedicated to faith and astronomy that one of … Continue reading →

A Word About Our Sponsor: The Templeton Foundation, Word on Fire Ministries, and Exciting New Programs on Faith and Science!

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It’s embarrassing for me to admit, but I didn’t know what the Templeton Foundation was before Br. Guy invited me to write for Sacred Space Astronomy. Since then, not only have I been thankful the Foundation offered the Vatican Observatory a grant to help make this blog possible, but exploring the mission of the Foundation and learning about those who have received the prestigious Templeton Prize has helped me grow as a priest, a theologian, and a person. Here is a brief video explaining the mission of the Templeton Foundation. Recently, a good friend sent me a link from Word of Fire Ministries announcing they have received a major grant from the Templeton Foundation to create programs in faith and science. Of the many wonderful reasons for me to follow Word on Fire’s work in this area, the ultimate reason is rather personal: Bishop Robert Barron was one of my professors when I was in seminary. Bishop Barron, then Fr. … Continue reading →

Specola Guestbook | Oct 18, 1921: William Pickering

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This entry is part 55 of 59 in the series Specola Guestbook

Since its founding in 1891, many people have passed through the doors of the Vatican Observatory.  A quick perusal of our guestbook reveals several Names, including Popes, nobel laureates, astronauts, actors, and saints. Today’s guestbook entry is from October 18, 1921, when William H. Pickering made a visit. Next to his name, William Henry Pickering (1858-1938) wrote, “Harvard Observatory, Cambridge U.S.A.”  He was an astronomer who constructed several observatories. He was the brother of Edward Charles Pickering, director of the Harvard Observatory from 1877-1919. Edward was the subject of a previous Specola Guestbook post. He made a visit in 1913. It is possible that the occasion of the visit to the Specola was in preparation for the first General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union.  That meeting took place in May 1922 in Rome. Pickering was an inaugural member, and served on the commission for lunar nomenclature and the commission for planetary physics. Among his scientific contributions, he discovered one … Continue reading →

The Gift of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) During an International Pandemic

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In past posts, I shared with you the wonderful work the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has done to bring science into seminaries of all denominations. Last year, I had the honor of speaking at an AAAS sponsored program at Sacred Heart Seminary in Hales Corners, Wisconsin. Currently, as a pastor who needs to make important and stressful decisions in regard to whether or not we should have in-class religious education/formation or home-based education and formation during this pandemic, I have come to appreciate the work of the AAAS even more! Today’s post is not going to be a commentary on pieces by the AAAS, but simply a sharing of their resources for the readers of Sacred Space Astronomy. At this important time in our global history, may we walk with each other as one human community, despite our individual differences, to choose the best possible good for humanity. And let us pray that God will give … Continue reading →

Specola Guestbook | Feb 14, 1921: Guido Alfani

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This entry is part 54 of 59 in the series Specola Guestbook

Since its founding in 1891, many people have passed through the doors of the Vatican Observatory.  A quick perusal of our guestbook reveals several Names, including Popes, nobel laureates, astronauts, actors, and saints. Today’s guestbook entry is from February 14, 1921, when Fr. Guido Alfani made a visit. Next to his name, Fr. Guido Alfani Sch. P. (1876-1940) wrote, “Osservat. Ximeniano di Firenze” (Ximeniano Observatory of Florence).  He was a Piarist priest (Order of Poor Clerics Regular of the Mother of God of the Pious Schools, also known as the Scolopi). He directed the Ximeniano Observatory from 1904 until his death in 1940. As a scientist, his interest spanned several disciplines, including astronomy, and meteorology, but primarily seismology. He specialized in the development of scientific instruments. He is particularly noted for the invention of several seismographical instruments, including a portable tripod-mounted seismograph and the Alfani photoseismograph.  He was able to pinpoint the epicenters of several earthquakes in Messina, Avezzano, and … Continue reading →