The Ring of Gyges

Ok Students,

We are finally back in business. Today we looked at the Ring of Gyges from Plato's The Republic. That is Plato to the left. By wearing this special ring that once belonged to a shepherd, you are able to turn it a certain way and you become invisible! You can do anything you want without someone seeing you.

Here is the excerpt from The Republic. As you consider your answer, please remember the two primary questions Plato seeks to answer in this important dialogue between Socrates and Glaucon.

“Suppose now that there were two such magic rings, and the just put on one of them and the unjust the other; no man can be imagined to be of such an iron nature that he would stand fast in justice. No man would keep his hands off what was not his own when he could safely take what he liked out of the market, or go into houses and lie with any one at his pleasure, or kill or release from prison whom he would, and in all respects be like a God among men. Then the actions of the just would be as the actions of the unjust; they would both come at last to the same point. And this we may truly affirm to be a great proof that a man is just, not willingly or because he thinks that justice is any good to him individually, but of necessity, for wherever any one thinks that he can safely be unjust, there he is unjust. For all men believe in their hearts that injustice is far more profitable to the individual than justice, and he who argues as I have been supposing, will say that they are right. If you could imagine any one obtaining this power of becoming invisible, and never doing any wrong or touching what was another's, he would be thought by the lookers-on to be a most wretched idiot, although they would praise him to one another's faces, and keep up appearances with one another from a fear that they too might suffer injustice.” — Plato's Republic, book 2.

Important note: Socrates was condemned to death because he 1) introduced strange Gods and 2) corrupted the young.

Worksheet is due at the beginning of class tomorrow (Tuesday)

Hasta mañana!

Dancing Apostles!?!

Well, I promised you dancing apostles the other day, and here they are…One of Guadalajara’s most beautiful churches is the Templo Expiatorio, or Church of the Atonement. The imposing Italian neo-gothic façade is made of stone and, just as in the Middle Ages, no cement or iron was used in its construction. The construction began in 1897 under the direction of the Italian architect Adamo Boari, who is celebrated for the Palace of Fine Arts in Mexico City. Because of wars, revolutions and various economic crises, it was not until 1931 that it was opened to the public.

Although the soaring neo-Gothic facade and its towering 25-bell carillon are impressive enough, the radiant contemporary French stained-glass windows inside are also incredible (some recent additions are not up to the standard of the original stained glass…) Besides Biblical themes, one of the glass panes is, interestingly, of architect Ignacio Díaz Morales, who finished the interior construction in 1972 (and who is buried in the Grand Crypt beneath the sacristy behind the altar). The carillon, accompanied by a mechanical procession of the Twelve Apostles, plays four times daily.

Watch the apostles dance…well, not really dance, but interesting nonetheless. Please forgive my horrible camera work – you might get seasick…

Guess where another Templo Expiatorio exists? In Spain – the famous Templo Expiatorio de la Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, the famous work of the architect Antonio Gaudí, You can visit the website here.

Muchas cosas in Guadalajara

Guadalajara has many things!

Bach…

Beethoven…

Huge Black Beatles…

And Barbie!

In a Cake!

Really!

Coming soon – hold on to your hats: Dancing Apostles!

Lo siento por favor

Sorry everyone, but español is muy difice! I have been working hard, and on Friday I received a 99% on my weekly exam!

I will try to write more frequently in the week ahead. I hope that the concert this week is a great success, and that your preparations for the performance tour are coming along. Yo espero su concierto es muy bonito!

Monsoon Days in Guadalajara

Buenas tardes! My first day in Guadalajara was very humid – it is their monsoon season, and it still rains heavily most afternoons, but octubre brings drier days and the month-long Fiesta de Octubre, which the city celebrates with music, dance, food and sporting events.

Today I visited two churches (I know…what a nerd…) very near to where I am staying. The first is the beautiful Templo de San Francisco de Asis, built between 1668 and 1692 by the Franciscan Fathers. They established a church on this site in 1552(!) The façade has columns that are described as ‘Solomnic’ because they seemingly spiral upward.

And, of course, I visited and attended Mass at the Catedral de Guadalajara, which is under the patronage of St. Mary of the Assumption (the same patron as the cathedral in San Francisco, USA.) Guadalajara’s cathedral was begun in 1561, and completed about 30 years later. It is a combination of many different architectural styles including Moorish (something we will see a lot of in Spain), Gothic, Renaissance and Classical. There are beautiful plazas surrounding the cathedral where people gather throughout the day, and they are decorated with the colors and flags of Mexico in celebration of Independence Day, which was just a week ago on September 16th. The cathedral has bright yellow steeples atop its towers, but these were only added in 1854 and a major earthquake demolished the original steeples in 1818.

The Mass today was celebrated with the Archbishop of Guadalajara and a choir of men and a few women accompanied by organ. The men had the typical wonderful deep resonant sound so common of Mexican singers. They did both a sung Kyrie, Gloria and Agnus Dei in Latin, and other literature. Not enough women for a very balanced sound, and there were intonation problems caused by the distance from the organ. It was great to hear the choir. Just as Mass started, the monsoon started pouring outside!

Well, tomorrow is the first day of school, and I have those typical ‘first day of school’ jitters which all of you experienced only a few weeks ago. I wonder what my teacher will be like? Other students? I wonder if my teacher will give lots of notes? Just kidding…Adios y hasta luego!

In Your Kindness Remember +Francisco

Dear Friends,

I have just arrived in Mexico City and got word that Francisco Moreno, the young man we have been keeping in our prayers for these many months has died. Francisco suffered greatly in his last weeks. Pray that God will command him to be taken up with the angels and saints to that place where there will be no more pain or suffering, but only health, wholeness and life. Remember Francisco's family, especially his mother and father who worked so hard to bring him to health and now grieve his loss terribly. Francisco's Funeral Mass will be in the Cathedral on Monday at 7:00 PM.

Eternal rest grant unto +Francisco, Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.

May his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.

Getting Ready for Guadalajara

I am packing and making final preparations for my departure to Guadalajara on Saturday morning. I am enthusiastic, but a little apprehensive about being on the other side of the classroom -- I will be a student again!

Guadalajara was founded in 1531, and is one of the three largest cities in Mexico. It boasts a beautiful cathedral (where I hope to make connections with our cathedral!)and serves as the capital city of the state of Jalisco. It is also home to the popular soccer (football) team Chivas - when you see Fr. Omar next be sure to tell him that you are a Chivas fan!

I'll begin posting in Mexico when I get settled. Please know that I will keep you all in my thoughts and prayers. When you say your prayers, please remember Francisco Moreno, a young man in our church who is very sick.