Feb 20 Bolcan d. 480

John and Thommy

February 20

St. Bolcan d. 480

There are times when you look at a fact and know it cannot be right, right? E.g., Catholic On Line has Bolcan’s death in 840 – a man baptized by St. Patrick, how could 840 be right? Well, knowing the Irish’s propensity for fantastic hagiographics, maybe a 360 year old saint is doable. Not. We have to know enough to know what we don’t know. Know enough to know that what we are given for fact just can’t be so. [that’s where logic and a bit of philosophy training comes in handy – some things just cannot go together: the ole mutually exclusive thingy.] Catholic On Line is a reliable source. So when I saw, Bolcan, d. 840, sure why not. Then when I also saw, baptized by Patrick. I knew both cannot be so. Some “facts” [note, I’m not writing “truths”, there is Truth and then there’s something else; there are not multiple truths. Try Veritas Splendor.] just cannot be both true [in the logical true/false dichotomy. So, in that way, you can get multiple trues but not truths.] ….

Bolcan. Baptized by Patrick – what better imprimatur or how higher expectations that for one baptized by Patrick. Actually, for anyone baptized, period?

Bolcan had a priestly vocation. Not any seminaries or any site for priestly studies in Ireland at the time. As a disciple of Patrick, he coulda strung along and learned the ropes – some did. Instead, Bolcan went to France [this was way pre-Rheims ] to study and be ordained. The shortest and best way between two points may not be a straight line. Go off and learn, correctly, thoroughly, from a genuine source…. And then return….

On his return, Bolcan was named by Patrick to be bishop of Derban in northern Ireland. [when northern Ireland was only a directional connotation.]

Bolcan did not start a monastery there, instead he formed a school – we are told the best equipped school there was at the time. Best equipped? Well, a saintly bishop as the benefactor and leader. Not computers but lots of books. And quills and paper to do the scribe thing. The best teachers…. What is the best school for a person? [How is it you missed getting to the best schools for you? That’s a question from which to work backwards to answer the first question.]`

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dad