Sep 20 Thomas Johnson et al.

Thommy and John

good morning
I love you

happy saturday! first up at about six and in slow motion until I headed to Mass. Fr Fideles is a holy man - or I am simply taken by his quiet hispanic demeanor.... the deacon, a transplanted brooklynite who brought his accent with him, is, simply, annoying in manner and voice as well as in substance of his readings and his sermons - too often read from a cookbook.... but, it’s Mass. it’s in a beautiful church. and there’s plenty of room behind the pillars in my ND sweatsuit.... followed by barnes and noble, a venti white chocolate, the times and the new yorker [I was in newark last saturday and got the nyc version of the times and the news and the post plus was taken in by a friend’s new yorker, re-addicted again but it’s much too expensive for the cartoons. want a christmas gift hint? the entire new yorker, from the beginning, on disc for $179....

the first feel of fall. and it got me to notice the leaves are beginning to turn. we live in one of the most beautiful places in the world. especially in fall. in about a month, take the drive to Charlotte or roundtrip ashville on the state roads that wind that way - - the zen of the fall drive to inhale the splendor of the leaves...

I’m sorry I didn’t get to see John at Family weekend. I was surprised he wasn’t part of the crew for the show - I left after the Hair number. I saw the original on broadway - and several times since. not only was the performance not talented, the audience did not get it - except, I suppose, those of us who remember the original, have the tied dyed t-shirts, even the album [that’d be plastic then tape, not disc]. the age of Aquarius should still have some philosophical appeal to youth and the young at heart: but talent does matter in keeping a patron in the seats. if John’d been part of the show, I’d have stayed for the duration. .... today I’ll be meandering through the uncg library. and have already bought my ticket for next weekend’s family weekend.... oremus pro nobis....

[catholic angels and saints; catholic encyclopedia on line]

September 20, 2008
Thomas Johnson d. 1537

The Carthusian Charterhouse in London.... the Carthusian Order is a contemplative order [monks and nuns]. Founded in Grenoble France by St Bruno [whose bio takes you on a trip of holiness as well as Church eleventh century history]. The Carthusians assimilated the eastern hermit or eremetical way of life - think St Anthony in the desert, the Carthusians in their monasteries - - years in monastic community then for those truly prepared, a step into the eremetical life.... Bruno began in the desolate valley of the French alps - think now, ski resort and the olymbpics of jean claude kiley!

Thomas Johnson was a priest member of the Carthusians’ London Charterhouse [not a steak house]. Our favorite anti-papist anti-Catholic King, Henry VIII, would not allow the presence of any opposition to his claim of sovereignty: even or especially [think about it] the silent group of eremetical monks in the midst of his capital city. On May 18, 1537, the good english king required the 20 monks and 18 brothers remaining in the Charterhouse to take the oath of supremacy. [you too are expected to take oaths of fealty - such oaths take many forms with myriad consequences should you not comply. you have to know when you are taking such oaths; or acquiescing to them. the cost of the oath may be much greater than the benefits of remaining faithful to your baptism.]

Thomas Johnson, Thomas Green, Thomas Scryven, William Horne, William Greenwood, John Davy were among those sent to Newgate gaol for their abstaining from proclaiming the oath of supremacy.

Thomas Johnson starved to death in Newgate.... by the king’s command. a silent death in the midst of the sustenance of a community of prayer and the grace of God. He died on 9-20-1537.





September 20, 2008
John Charles Cornay d. 1837 c. 1988

Msgr Pallu, Bishop of Heliopolis, Vicar Apostlic of Tongking, and Msgr Lambert de la Motte, bishop of Bertyus, Vicar Apostolic of Conchin-China founded The paris society of foreign missions. These bishops left france in 1660-62 to their respective countries. they crossed persia and india on foot. The purpose of the new society was - and still is - the evangelization of infidel countries [might that include the usa today?] by founding churches and ordaining priests under the leadership of local bishops. Building the church from the bottom up....

John Charles Cornay was born in france and joined the foreign missions and was sent to Vietnam. [a place in the news again these days - in the news and in my face for most of my college years].... John Charles Cornay was kept n a cage for months and subjected to hideous cruelties before being beheaded. [each of our countries seem to have a favorite method of denigration. how do those who oppose your catholicism put you in a cage and torture you?



September 20

Sts Andrew Kim Taegon, Paul Chong Hasang, et al. [1839, 1866, 1867] c. 1984

Priests from the Paris Foreign Mission Society ound a strong Christian community in Korea under lay leadership. Andrew Kim Taegon was among the first priests. Paul Chong Hasang was his lay apostle Tonto.


Martyrs of Korea
JPII also established this more general feast on Sep 20.

e.g., our faith was brought to korea in a unique way. Korean intellectuals who went to China to learn about the world discovered Christian books. Ni-seung-houn studied Catholism in Beijing in 1784 - baptized Peter Ri. He converted many countrymen when he returned home - - see, it may be necessary to move away from the apron strings and repressions of home to rediscover your faith.

In 1791 Christians were declared foreign traitors. and the martyrdom began. you too are and will be seen as traitors when you adhere to your Catholic faith. The faith endured under the persecution in Korea. The Church continued to send missionaries - - and these real foreigners were also martyred. for the next century and more.



I love you
dad