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Mac, Perspective,

Apple fan day

It was a great day for Apple fans. As my readers may know, I am a Mac/Apple fan and our household is all Apple (2 Mac minis, 2 iMacs – I have the new 27 inch, Apple TV, 2 iPhones, 6 iPods of various types).

The launch of the new iPad was hotly anticipated. I do see how it fills a niche and yes, I would get one (a version of two down the line).

The build up was a little too huge for my liking though because following such a build-up anything less than an absolute miracle was bound to be disappointing. I followed the Gizmodo live blog of the event (live blogging built on WordPress). I was sorry to see AppleInsider’s live feed go total fail as the event started. The last post I saw was – “We were told to turn off our cellphones.” I suppose the writer turned off his phone and was goodbye after that!?!

Everything Else, Perspective, Poetry, Poland - Polish - Polonia, , ,

2010 – the year ahead

Dearest readers,

I have several blogging projects I am going to work with in 2010.

I will likely not be doing a regular series on anything. The 2009 poetry project was a massive undertaking and frankly, was a bit too much. I’ve learned a lot in the process, but I need to take a break from that sort of posting schedule. Note too, there are a few gaps I still need to fill in for 2009 and will complete that shortly. I do hope that my poor personal translations, as well as my broader inclusions, will provide all of you with an appreciation of the depth and scope of Polish (and other) poetry. In some small measure I can see why Bishop Hodur encouraged the study of poetry. It is an inspiration, a history, a challenge, and part of humanity’s song.

On other fronts, I plan a recap of things I liked, enjoyed, found inspiration in, and had fun with in 2009. I would like to do a little with Polish art works on an irregular basis. I do plan to complete my 10 reasons series. I’m working on a piece on “The Flag in the National Church ethos.” I will also keep you abreast of the news across the PNCC, the Catholic faith in general, ecumenism, and all the goings on in Poland and Polonia.

Beyond that I am up to managing 12 websites, 9 PNCC Parishes, 1 Reformed Church site, 1 not-for-profit, and this blog. There are at least 2 other projects in the hopper.

Again, my heartfelt thanks to all my readers, correspondents, and all who gather information, inspiration, and challenge in what I write. God bless you in this new year.

— Dcn. Jim

Perspective, PNCC, , , , ,

Another forum question on the PNCC

As is my oft stated policy, I do not respond in forums.

Catholic Answers has yet another conversation on the PNCC (under non-Catholic religions — which is incorrect — the Orthodox and PNCC are completely Catholic). This conversation focuses on whether the PNCC and various Anglican splinter groups should join forces. The one point no one seems to get is that this is pretty much impossible unless the Anglican splinter groups de-protestantize (un-protestantize, something like that anyway).

The PNCC has had influxes of former Anglicans/Episcopalians (particularly clergy) over the years. In most cases it really hasn’t worked out. Those who came generally wanted their liturgy and traditions with all the Protestant muck attached, including an inability to recognize Church as infallible; weeding out personal judgment. They thought their salvation lay in being themselves, but under a valid Bishop. They were not willing to be PNCC, which is Catholic internally and externally. Of course that was a bad fit when faced with a congregation that is PNCC.

As a convert to the PNCC I know. We all start from our own point of reference, our knowledge and experience. Over time though, you have to be willing to shed some of it and re-frame some of it. If you don’t, if you just want to be who you are, but in a different Church for the sake of convenience, you are doing yourself a spiritual disservice.

The PNCC is not R.C. and is not Anglican. Over time the PNCC has matured into what it is – a Church whose externals look westward while its theology looks eastward. If you want to come, to join, to be Catholic, please do so — you are welcome. It is a joyous place to be once you get past the point of convert cognitive dissonance.

Perspective, PNCC,

Church sales, opposition to reform-of-the-reform, evangelism and more

From the Buffalo News: Church sales by diocese spur debate

For the most part, the buildings are old, difficult to maintain and situated in less-than-ideal neighborhoods.

But that hasn’t stopped buyers from snapping up former Catholic churches that many observers expected would be nearly impossible to sell.

Consider the city of Buffalo, where two years ago the Catholic Diocese moved to shut down 16 churches. Today, just one of those churches, Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Herkimer Street, is still actively being marketed.

In all, the diocese has dealt away 33 empty churches in eight counties since 2006, selling to Muslims, Buddhists and a variety of Protestant denominations, as well as museum operators, developers and nonprofit groups.

It just closed its most recent deal Friday, selling the former Our Lady of Grace Church on Route 5 in Woodlawn for $170,000 to Holy Trinity Polish National Catholic Church.

Hurray and congrats to Fr. Spencer and his congregation at Holy Trinity. More from the Buffalo News here.

“It was difficult to project what kind of success we’d have selling these properties,” said diocesan spokesman Kevin A. Keenan, noting that the economic downturn and tighter lending practices threw an unexpected variable into the equation. “We have probably defied a lot of predictions that we wouldn’t sell these properties.”

However, the diocese’s adeptness at selling churches has hardly quieted critics of the church closings. Some preservationists and city officials remain skeptical about the future of those properties. They say the diocese is more intent on getting rid of buildings than on ensuring their longtime survival for future generations.

“I don’t think they care who they sell to,” said Common Council President David A. Franczyk, who has sparred with Bishop Edward U. Kmiec over church closings. “The city is a write-off zone for them.”

As I’ve said many times. The inner city is a charity zone — it might as well be Zimbabwe or Vietnam or North Korea (excepting that people come to the Catholic Churches in droves in those places in spite of persecution). The se dioceses see rich suburban parishes as the financial ministries to help the downtrodden. What the downtrodden really need is Jesus Christ and the hope He offers, not just a hand-out.

It’s too early to call the brisk sales of the churches a win for the community, added Timothy Tielman, executive director of the Campaign for Greater Buffalo History, Architecture & Culture.

Tielman and others questioned whether some of the buyers have the capacity to maintain the properties.

“They’re selling churches to people who they know can’t afford it,” said Albert Huntz, president of traditionalist Catholic group Una Voce Buffalo. “In a year or two, these buildings are going to look like Transfiguration. They’ve been down this road before.”

Transfiguration Church on Sycamore Street was one of a handful of glorious Catholic churches that fell into disrepair after being sold to organizations that couldn’t afford the upkeep.

One of my original blog articles on Transfiguration. My father was baptized there. See here and here as well.

Huntz has a more personal stake in the sales. Una Voce, which advocates for the traditional Latin Mass, is an eager church buyer that the diocese has repeatedly turned away. The group has been trying for years to save a city church for Latin liturgies. It has looked on as nearly all of the available Buffalo churches were sold to other religious organizations.

“It doesn’t make us too happy, as to the way some of them were sold and to whom they were sold,” Huntz said.

In an interview, Keenan reiterated the bishop’s stance on Una Voce’s request, saying the group already is well served at two other Western New York parishes that provide the Latin Mass —” St. Anthony of Padua in Buffalo and Our Lady Help of Christians in Cheektowaga.

“At this time, Bishop Kmiec is not about to start adding parishes. We’re still in a reconfiguration process,” Keenan said.

Check that… I think he means: …not about to start adding traditionalist parishes.

The resistance to the reform-of-the-reform in the Roman Church is huge. These folks should be able to walk into any parish in the entire Buffalo Diocese, including those massive suburban hootenanny parishes — Jesus in the round — and respectfully request Holy Mass in the Extraordinary Rite. They should be able to but can’t because Father Happy-Clappy would throw them out, with the Bishop’s blessing. Rather, these folks get two parishes, one in downtown Buffalo, hidden behind City Hall, with nearly no residential neighborhood nearby and the other in Buffalo’s first ring suburb.

Remember that this is for a diocese that covers Erie, Niagara, Genesee, Orleans, Chautauqua, Wyoming, Cattaraugus, and Allegany counties or roughly 6,455 square miles and has a Catholic population of 702,884Wikipedia contributors, “Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo,” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Buffalo&oldid=306583981 (accessed October 28, 2009)..

Keenan also defended the sales, saying the diocese takes a close look at any prospective buyer’s financial information before agreeing on a deal.

Still, he acknowledged, “You can do all the vetting you want, and sometimes things don’t go well for an organization.”

Easy out.

Preservationists also worry that architectural details will be stripped from churches by new owners eager to cash in on the items, dramatically decreasing the value of the properties.

“Talk about temptation,” said Tielman, noting that architectural salvage dealers often are willing to offer top dollar for quality features.

It’s happened before with Catholic churches, most notably St. Matthew on East Ferry Street, which originally was bought by a church organization after it was closed by the diocese in 1993.

After being mined bare over the years, the church ended up being sold at a 2006 city foreclosure auction for $3,500.

Already, the former Queen of Peace Church on Genesee Street has been stripped of its original beauty —” although not necessarily for profit. The church was purchased by a Muslim group, and the Christian images in the stained-glass windows and interior wall murals by acclaimed painter Josef Mazur were no longer appropriate for a mosque and community center.

Darul Hikmah, which paid $300,000 for the property, removed the items. The windows were saved and preserved at the Buffalo Religious Arts Centers. Sacred objects also were reused by other Catholic churches, including St. Josaphat in Cheektowaga, which received an altar.

…

Nonetheless, the Mazur murals are gone, and the church’s huge Kilgen pipe organ, which was fully operational, was thrown in the garbage when the Muslim group couldn’t find anyone to take it.

Józef Mazur (1897-1970) was born in Poland and emigrated to Buffalo, studying at the Albright Art School in Buffalo and at the New York Art Institute. Mazur worked in a variety of media. His stained glass works can be found in churches in Philadelphia, New York City and Buffalo. Before turning thirty Mazur distinguished himself as an ecclesiastical painter in the Buffalo area. His first commission was the complete decoration of St. Stanislaus Church in Buffalo. His works can also be found in St. Adalbert’s, Blessed Trinity, the Polish National Cathedral, St. John Gualbert’s, and Villa Maria Academy, Holy Trinity in Niagara Falls, and St. Aloysius in Springville. Mazur also painted churches in Rochester, NY, Chicago, IL, Detroit, MI, Adams, MA, New Haven, CT, and Trenton and Perth Amboy in New Jersey. Mazur’s secular works include the sculpted bust of Frederick Chopin, a life-size portrait of Kazimierz Pulaski in Olean, and interior decoration at the UB Main Street Campus.

Other famous Polish-American artists are sculptor Louis Długosz of Lackawanna, Joseph Bakos, a painter of western landscapes, Józef Sławinski, scrafitto artist and sculptor, Marion M. Rzeznik, an ecclesiastical painter of numerous WNY churches, and architect Joseph E. Fronczak.

It should be noted that with a little work Mazur’s murals could have been easily saved. They are painted on canvas and attached to the ceilings and walls of the churches. They can be carefully removed and preserved.

The sale infuriated some Catholics who viewed it as a sign that the diocese had given up on trying to spread the faith.

Seems that way – I lived there most of my life and never saw any effort at active evangelization at the parish or diocesan level. While Roman Catholic plus other Catholic Churches represent a huge majority in Western New York the number of unchurched is growing.

And it was another disappointment for Una Voce, which had expressed strong interest in taking over the church.

Huntz said his group would be able to maintain a property. It has at least 200 families —” more people than in most of the small Protestant congregations that purchased former Catholic facilities.

A few years ago, Una Voce made inquiries about St. John the Baptist Church on Hertel Avenue, but the diocese sold it instead to a developer, the Plaza Group, which has put the buildings back on the market.

More important than obtaining a building, the group needs the bishop’s approval for a priest to come from outside of the diocese and serve the Latin Mass community. “For us, finding a priest is no problem, it’s just getting the bishop to say OK, fine,” Huntz said. “I don’t know what it would take to change his mind.”

Huntz and others had hoped that a 2007 decree from Pope Benedict XVI allowing for greater use of the ancient liturgy would open the door in the Buffalo diocese for a Latin Mass apostolate. The diocese “can’t say there’s a problem with the Vatican, and there are dioceses all over North America that have the same situation,” Huntz said…

Mr. Huntz sees a problem and I do as well, and it isn’t in Rome.

Perspective, PNCC, , ,

Being within the Church

Several things I have heard recently have caused me to reflect more on what it means to be within the Holy Church. Recent news of the Roman-former Anglicans provision for unity touches on the issue. That said, I see two aspects to being within the Church:

Union within the Church and under the Church’s Bishops:

I recently read a post by the Rev. Canon Chandler Holder Jones at Philorthodox in Notes on Holy Orders wherein he says:

Most Continuing Churches follow the historically Augustinian-Western approach to this subject. I should deem the practice of some other Continuing Churches, the Polish National Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodoxy to be Cyprianic in origin.

The whole issue of orders and belonging was covered extremely well, some time ago, in a post on the Cyprianic understanding of Holy Orders at Ad Orientem in Once a Priest , Always a Priest? (Thanks to the Young Fogey for the link to this). I recommend those interested in the theological difference between the Cyprianic and Augustinian understandings of Holy Orders read it.

To have Orders and to be a deacon, priest, or bishop requires that you be within the Church. Simply said, we have to be agnostic about what occurs outside the Church. Certainly we could use the cudgel of “without grace” for those outside the Church, as some online pundits do, but it is really an unnecessary exercise. All we can know for sure is that those within the Church, who have unity with its structure and Bishops, most particularly its priests, are only able to do what they say they are doing while they are in the Church under their Bishop. We are within the Church as long as we are grafted onto the Church — part of Her. If we are deposed and outside we might as well be cave men, satanists, or witch doctors — what we say is void of meaning and affect apart from the Church. Same words and actions as mimicry — no affect.

In the PNCC the issue arises from time to time in those who were formally of the clergy and who have been formally deposed. The case of Mr. Tomasz Rybka, a former priest in Poland is a case-in-point as are folks like Robert Mary Clement of the American Catholic Church or Ramzi Musallam of the Arabic Catholic Church (I won’t link to them, Google if you wish, the same vagante type stuff you see everywhere) and a few others. In the end all we can say is that whatever those outside the Church do, say, or suspect they do — regardless of the ritual used — is of no account.

The first aspect of being within the Church is an outward sign of unity, being part of the Church under the authority of its Bishops. That is a sure guarantee of the Holy Spirit’s outpouring for our lives and the life of the Church.

Unity of belief:

This one is touchier because it requires intellectual and spiritual honesty. You can pull-off of a total lack of belief in what the Church says and believes without any outward sign you are doing so. You can lie to yourself, to your wife, children, Bishop, and to God. To be within the Church however requires that you bring yourself into unity with what the Church believes; that you square your beliefs with the Church’s requirementsBecause the Church is infallible in what it teaches on Faith and Belief..

For those raised in the PNCC this is really no problem. They have had consistent and constant teaching in what the Church believes. That becomes part of them. Lifelong PNCC members have been catechized in accord with the beliefs of the Church. They don’t trip over things like the Pope (most don’t give the issue a second thought), the creed (proceeds from the Father), unheard of dogmas (Immaculate Conception, Assumption, Papal Infallibility), original sin, an understanding of Orders, scholasticism, phony homiletic constructs (every homily has to tie to the Eucharist, to a pro-life message, etc.), how the sacraments are “counted,” heaven, hell, the intermediate state, the Church’s infallibility (not one man’s), or differing Solemnities.

Former Roman Catholics, I am among them, had to trip and fall over these things. Getting there is not an overnight process and it definitely requires a conscious effort at stripping out belief systems pounded into our heads in R.C. schools, confraternity classes, and most particularly Roman seminary. It isn’t easy and takes time, but unless one is focused on being a member of, priest or deacon in, the PNCC you cheat yourself and all the members of the Church. More than that, I believe that you put yourself outside the Church in being less than faithful to It.

The PNCC welcomes everyone with open arms and speaks ill of no one who finds they must follow Jesus in another way, but if you wish to stay — if you wish to be honest with yourself and the Holy Church – with the Holy Spirit — you must purpose yourself to learn about, believe, and profess what the Church professes.

It is a huge fallacy to compare the PNCC to the Roman Church and to say: ‘We are the same except…” I used to do that. I don’t anymore. Former R.C. members of the Church carry in a lifetime of learned beliefs and in many ways they do not match with the PNCC. Can a person transition? Absolutely! I’ve done it and I’ve seen wonderful former Roman Catholics, including priests, who have committed to the honesty that change requires.

For those considering the PNCC, know that through the process of learning, which takes time and patience, you find the beauty and joy lifelong PNCC members know. You can bring yourself into unity of belief. PNCC members are open to teaching you about the PNCC’s beliefs, its prayers, its Solemnities, and Our way of life.

Bringing it together:

What is necessary is honesty on entering the Church. Honestly know that we are not Roman nor a subset of anyone else. Know that we ascribe to no dogmasDogmas are created in response to heresy. None of those dogmas, created in Rome, was a response to any heresy regarding the holy, even blessed Mother Mary. The issue of Papal infallibility was in response to the ever decreasing worldly power of the Pontiffs. invented in the past few hundred years. Know that we have our own way of life which you can be a part of. Honestly know that to be within the Church requires outward unity with your Bishop and inward honesty in believing and professing what THIS Church believes and professes.

Everything Else, Perspective, , , ,

Using the well Vodka produces too many headaches

From PC Magazine: Windows 7 Vodka and the Microsoft Hangover: Microsoft can’t change perceptions if it doesn’t get its marketing and PR acts together by John C. Dvorak

Having followed Microsoft’s exploits since its inception, I can safely say the best anyone can hope for with Windows 7 is moderate success. For all of the fanfare surrounding the new OS, Win 7 is really just a Vista martini. The operating system may have two olives instead of one this time out, but it’s still made with the same cheap Microsoft vodka…

What I like about the article, and what many of the commentators missed, was the whole issue of attention to detail. If you can’t form a good sentence and use proper punctuation in marketing materials how can you expect to build world-class software. It really is about a corporate culture lacking in attention to detail. Like building your martini, if you pay attention to detail and spend a little more on quality ingredients you end up with a better result.

I gave up on PCs long ago and have actually saved money by switching an entire household to Mac. No maintenance headaches, no required security updates every five minutes, no anti-virus software and loads of other expensive software. I look at total cost of ownership, not just up-front cost. If TCO is low you win, and that includes the cost of not spending time with your family and friends because something needs fixing or updating.

Christian Witness, Perspective,

My Alma Mater names a new President

From Canisius College: On October 20, 2009, the Canisius College Board of Trustees named John J. Hurley as the 24th president of the Jesuit university.

John J. Hurley was appointed the 24th president of Canisius College on Monday, October 19, 2009 by the college’s Board of Trustees and will assume the position on July 1, 2010. He is the first lay president in Canisius College’s 140-year history.

A 1978 alumnus of Canisius College, Hurley has served as executive vice president of Canisius College since 2007 and vice president for college relations since 1997. In these roles, Hurley is the designated senior administrative official, responsible for the college’s strategic planning, integrated marketing, legal and compliance issues and athletics marketing. He also oversees the college’s advancement operation, which includes development, public relations, creative and Web services, alumni relations and government relations…

Interesting that they wouldn’t name a Jesuit to the position. I hope that the move is a tribute to the gentleman’s skills as a leader and not a further sign of secularization in [Roman] Catholic colleges and universities. For more on that see The State of [Roman] Catholic Higher Education by Patrick J. Reilly.

Christian Witness, Perspective, Political, ,

Justice, a helping hand, and human potential

From Newsday: LI immigrants fight to win wages they say they are owed

The immigrants came in one after another. One said he was owed $6,000. Another said he was docked $3,000. Three others said they were owed $1,900, $648 and $270.

In the North Fork Hispanic Apostolate headquarters in Riverhead, Sister Margaret Smyth and attorney Dan Rodgers counseled the men for upcoming court appearances.

“If they ask you about your immigration status, you have no obligation to answer,” Rodgers said. “The only reason we’re in court is to obtain wages for work you performed.”

Advocates say many more immigrants are filing claims for unpaid wages on the East End than last year – nearly 140 so far, already exceeding the total for all of last year.

Five immigrants came to Smyth’s office Thursday, saying a painting company owes them $5,000 each. “Every month, we have 30 or more cases,” Smyth said. “Some of it’s the economy. Some of it’s just people being bad people.”

Federal and state law says workers – regardless of immigration status – are entitled to be paid for work performed.

“The fact is that the worst thing you can do is steal a man’s labor and that’s what’s going on more and more,” said Rodgers, who does the cases pro bono.

Roberto Rodriguez, 46, said he was owed $648. He was so desperate, he pawned a gold chain for $200, he said. “I just want to be paid my just wage.”

Nationally, some groups say they’ve seen a similar increase, though the Workplace Project in Hempstead said it has not noticed a rise in complaints.

“This is a big problem that existed but is being exacerbated by the bad economy,” said Raj Nayak, a staff attorney with the National Employment Law Project in Manhattan.

Advocates say while most cases filed in local courts are won on paper – usually by default, when the defendant doesn’t show up – the judgments are difficult to enforce.

When defendants do show, Rodgers tries to negotiate a settlement. But in many cases, only one or two payments will be made. “It’s never-ending,” Smyth said. “I have a whole pile of cases where they didn’t pay.”…

Wage theft, especially from those with the fewest avenues available for seeking justice is rampant in the United States as is the intentional misclassification of workers.

More on this in What Workers Face This Labor Day (see also Low-Wage Workers Are Often Cheated, Study Says from the NY Times)

On Monday, President Obama will celebrate America’s 127th Labor Day by giving a speech on “jobs, the economy and maybe a little health care” at the annual AFL-CIO picnic in Cincinnati, OH. Despite positive indications that the U.S. economy is beginning to “climb out of the worst recession in decades,” Obama’s speech will come at a difficult time for America’s workers as job losses continue. In the current recession, 6.7 million jobs have been lost through July, with another 216,000 jobs lost in August. Even those who are still working are facing significant challenges. Earlier this week, a new report financed by the Ford, Joyce, Haynes, and Russell Sage Foundations found that labor protections in America “are failing significant numbers of workers.” According to the survey, which was “the most comprehensive examination of wage-law violations in a decade,” 68 percent of the low wage workers who were interviewed said they were subjected to pay violations in their previous work week alone. This included 26 percent who were paid less than the minimum wage and 76 percent who didn’t receive legally required overtime pay. In all, the researchers discovered that “the typical worker had lost $51 the previous week through wage violations, out of average weekly earnings of $339,” adding up to a 15 percent loss in pay. The report “clearly shows we still have a major task before us,” said Labor Secretary Hilda Solis in a statement, promising that the Department of Labor in the Obama administration “will be marked by an emphasis on the protection” of the rights of America’s workers…

I was at a conference on unemployment and workforce issues last week. During the conference nineteen state workforce agencies joined in a call to extend unemployment insurance benefits.

The news at the conference was sobering. Panelists like William D. Rodgers, III, Ph.D., Professor and Chief Economist and Carl E. Van Horn, Director and Professor of Public Policy both of the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University and Lawrence Chimerine, Ph.D., Managing Director and Chief Economist at the Economic Strategy Institute all point to a recovery that is underway; with economic indicators pointing to a sustained recovery. Unfortunately it will be a jobless recovery (see U.S. Job Seekers Exceed Openings by Record Ratio from the NY Times for instance). We may not see job gains or low unemployment again until 2018. People will be desperate and there will have to be significant changes in the way we assist and work with these folks. These workers will need training to prepare themselves for this new environment and for the jobs that are available — an investment in their potential.

The assessment that struck home for me was a review of our investment in human potential. The value of our investment in the people of this nation has declined for decades (see here for instance). What we pour into education, health, wellness, culture, family, and leisure points to a wholly wrong set of priorities and an ethic where human life is considered cheap — life as just another cog in the machine. Funny how people of faith, calling government, industry, and society on the carpet over this, have spoken the truth here. Too bad — the message has fallen on deaf ears and over relatively the same period of time.

Oh, and speaking of people who do not invest in or respect human potential, Senator Michael Enzi of Wyoming is near the top of the list. He believes that people shouldn’t be empowered to take care of themselves because they just might form unions. As with many Washington insiders he thinks that people should seek the approval of business and/or government before they do anything. I can’t believe he’s from the west.

PNCC

Off to Zlot

…the annual PNCC Track and Field meet in Scranton. The marathon starts at 8am. We will have Holy Mass at the Grotto of Christ the Benign in St. Stanislaus cemetery at 10am. The rest of the events occur after Holy Mass. My son will be competing for the first time. Pray for him.

Christian Witness, Perspective, ,

Where hope is found

Eminem’s new video draws parallels between his career and the economic state of his hometown, Detroit.

Having grown up in a declining rust belt city I see the parallels. The struggle is to continuously recognize your inner beauty and that of your neighbor in the midst of decay, neglect, and abuse. Faith is that lifeline. The call of our Lord and Savior breaks through the walls and the depression. He tells you that beauty does exist — right there in your humanity and that of your neighbor.

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