Page 2 - GC-July-August-24

2 • The German Citizen • July - August 2024 St. Louis Church becomes new
Perspectives . . . . . home for St. Ann Shrine altar
Perspectives .
By Martin Ederer
The good, the bad and the real t. Louis Church has accepted the St. Ann Shrine Altar,
which the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo removed
Sfrom St. Ann Church on Broadway shortly after it had
by Martin Ederer need to be overly proud…nor won its appeal to the Vatican against the people of St. Ann in 2017.
Recently one of my students ashamed. I followed that up with an Swiatek Studios assembled the altar in its new home, which
commented that I’m always about observation that there are things I included a good cleaning of both the entire altar and of the St. Ann
everything German. The comment really do value about Germanness: painting. Although the altar itself dates to the early 20 century,
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annoyed me. I’ll admit that I do of‐ the dependability, the efficiency, a the painting dates to 1862. Imported from Germany, the painting
ten explain things in history from fundamental honesty, the serious‐ originally decorated the first brick St. Ann Church.
my—or my family’s—own lived ness, the ability to sweat details sys‐ The current neogothic structure begun in 1878 replaced the
experiences. When I teach World tematically. Then I added, however, first church. The entire St. Ann complex is now owned by a Mus‐
War I and World War II, I use stories that there are things about being lim congregation planning to convert the church into a mosque.
from relatives on both German and German and dealing with Germans
Allied sides to make the events that I always found annoying: the
more real to students who are now refusal to admit defeat on a view‐
so chronologically removed from point even after it has been obvi‐ Restored Shrine Altar of
these events. When I teach about ously proven wrong, the need to be
the German barbarians, I joke about a Besserwisser, placing efficiency
how some of my relatives could over humanity, the seriousness, and St. Ann at St. Louis Church
easily play the role of some barbar‐ maybe enjoying being honest a bit
ian ruler. too much when it is an opportunity t. Louis Parish, 780 Main Executed by the E.
Most of all, I tend to announce to put someone in their place – the Street, downtown, an‐ Hackner Co., of LaCrosse,
exams and assignments with a schimpfen and moralizing that was, Snounced the rededication WI, the shrine altar is carved in but‐
heavy German accent, not the very at least in the past, so much a part of of the historic Shrine Altar of St. ternut with reliefs carved in Linden The painting depicts St.
urbane English of current Germans German culture. Ann, (formerly in St. Ann Church) wood. It was installed at St. Ann Joachim and Ann seated and their
who have taken years of English in I ended with the observation with a Triduum on July 24, 25 and Church in May 1927 and was the daughter Mary kneeling. Below the
school, but the English of our older that similar pro and con lists could 26, 2024 at 7 p.m. at St. Louis gift of the parishioners of St. Ann mensa is a woodcarving depicting
ancestors who had to learn English be composed for every ethnicity, Church, Main and Edward Streets. Church. the expulsion of Adam and Eve
on the street as they got busy setting because ethnic heritages and cul‐ On Wednesday, July 24, 2024 at Created in the Gothic style, the from the Garden of Eden and Mary
up their lives in America. That tures are made up by people, and 7 p.m. there will be a litany with shrine altar is harmonious with our holding the Christ Child symboliz‐
tends to terrorize students who people are imperfect, emotional and homily by Rev. Ben Fiore S.J. On historic church and its appoint‐ ing the promise of salvation. The
never grew up with German accents inconsistent. Their cultures are Thursday, July 25 at 7 p.m. A litany ments. The centerpiece of the altar ancestry of Mary is depicted in
around them, and that’s what makes therefore an extension of all that hu‐ will be followed by a homily by contains an oil painting, attributed carvings on the two wings on either
it fun. The hope is to scare them manity, for good or for ill. Rev. Jacek Mazur. On Friday, July to a Munich master, brought to side of the painting.
straight so that they will study: You While celebrating ethnic her‐ 26 at 7 p.m. A Concelebrated Feast Buffalo in 1862 and originally hung Parking is available behind the
vill study und you vill be brilliant. I itage is wonderful, we always need Day Mass will be held. A reception in the original St. Ann Church on church and includes handicapped
do this crazy stuff not only to keep to remain aware that we are people, will follow. Emslie Street. accessibility.
my students awake but also to keep and that will always bring infinite
me awake. There’s no such thing as variations to any generalizations we St. Albertus Magnus:
a dead audience, but if I get boring, might have about any group of peo‐
I might just kill their interest. I need ple. That’s reality too.
to keep them on their toes. In any event, there’s plenty to Medieval advances toward modern science
My somewhat agitated response celebrate about any ethnic group.
to the student’s observation became As we crawl from ethnic festival to by Martin Ederer friendship, love, as well as com‐
a teachable moment about how we ethnic festival this summer, let’s all t is popular to dismiss the entire mentaries on Peter Lombard’s Sen‐
should maybe all look at all our eth‐ be cognizant that our differences medieval period as 1000 years of tences, Thomas Aquinas’s Summa
nic heritages. I started by explain‐ can be appreciated and celebrated— Iintellectual and scientific dark‐ Theologiae, and Aristotle. In fact,
ing that I never really thought about or be used as clubs we swing at one ness. One figure who plays a key Albertus is largely responsible for
loving being German (and Aus‐ another. The choice is ours—as if role in debunking that persistent but modern knowledge about Aristotle.
trian). It is simply who I am: No there is really any choice but the inaccurate myth of “The Dark While not as dismissive of
former. Ages” was St. Albertus Magnus. merely studying existing ancient
Born a few years before 1200 in works on the material universe as
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The German Citizen Lauingen (Swabia, currently in modern science was by the 17 cen‐
Bavaria), Albertus probably came
tury, Albertus’ scientific works in‐
Published by Buffalo Standard Printing from a family of some means. His sisted on empirical experimentation
3620 Harlem Rd. formation included studies in Aris‐ that the scientific establishment re‐
Cheektowaga, NY 14215 totle at the University of Padua. By Saint Albertus Magnus, a fresco jected in his own time and would
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not formally adopt until the 17 and
the 1200s Aristotle was receiving
716-831-8013 serious new scholarly attention in by Tommaso da Modena (1352), 18 centuries.
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mail@thegermancitizen.com western Europe for the first time in Chapter Hall of convent of St. Still, Albertus’ work with
Editor - Roger Puchalski centuries. Nicholas, Treviso, Italy alchemy and astrology would be
Consulting Editor - Martin Ederer Sometime in the 1220s, Alber‐ jarring to the modern mentality, al‐
For Advertising Sales call: tus joined the Dominican Order as it lesson here is that universities have though his work with alchemy did
Michelle Kisluk or Steve Kroczynski was just starting out. Theology been pretty messed up from the get- lead to his discovery of arsenic and
studies at the University of Bologna go: the deadly combination of photochemical experiments with
followed. The order then sent him overly egotistical professors and silver nitrate.
January - February March - April to lecture in Cologne and also in young, over-emotional students still Albertus’ work with astrology
May - June July - August Regensburg, Freiburg, Strasbourg confused about life. was in accord with Christian teach‐
September - October November - December and Hildesheim. He completed a During his tenure at Paris, Al‐ ings on the subject during his life‐
master of theology at the University bert wrote commentaries on almost time. It was common among me‐
of Paris, which was the premier all of Aristotle’s works. He went on dieval and Renaissance scholars to
school of theology in Europe. to become provincial of the Do‐ distinguish between an astrology
Paris became the center of a new minican order. One of his innova‐ that dictated an unchangeable future
methodology called scholasticism, tions during that tenure was to es‐ event (considered illicit because
i.e.,, systematically applying reason tablish a course of studies for Do‐ this was a “divination” that denied
and logic to Christian doctrine. The minicans that started with philoso‐ human free will) and the idea that
University of Paris hired him on as phy before formal theological stud‐ star configurations could simply in‐
professor. ies. That curriculum went on to be‐ fluence things on earth.
One of his most notable students come a feature of Catholic seminary According to the latter defini‐
was a fellow Dominican from Italy, training ever since. tion, medieval astrologers who re‐
St. Thomas Aquinas. In many re‐ Albert served as bishop of Re‐ jected divination (and therefore re‐
spects, the achievements of Thomas gensburg from 1260-1263; he also mained Christians in good standing)
Aquinas would have been impossi‐ laid much of the groundwork for the argued that just as the sun was nec‐
ble without Albertus. There is a University of Cologne. Although essary for our survival and the
story that classmates ridiculed the the University of Cologne’s formal moon controlled tides, stars could
quiet and heavy-set Thomas establishment date is 1388, Albert is exercise a much weaker but still sig‐
Aquinas as the “dumb ox of still viewed as its founder. nificant influence on human moods
Aquino.” Perhaps the most remarkable and temperaments. Accordingly,
Albertus reprimanded them, thing about Albertus was the medieval astrologers believed that
stating that one day the “dumb ox” breadth of his learning and activi‐ an understanding of celestial influ‐
would bellow so loudly that the ties. After a huge project to collect ences on could help humans to live
world would never be the same. all of Albertus’writings in one place a better Christian existence.
Suffice it to say that we know much was published in 1899, the set of Albertus Magnus died in 1280
more about Aquinas than we do his books that resulted topped out at 38 in Cologne, where his tomb is lo‐
classmates. volumes. cated. He was canonized a saint in
A second story relates that Al‐ Topics and treatises included 1931. He is also classified as a Doc‐
bertus’ brilliance once so exasper‐ logic, theology, botany, astronomy, tor of the Church.
ated his class that his students astrology, minerology (which he in‐
rushed him and started to stab him vented), alchemy, zoology, physiol‐
with their quills. Perhaps the useful ogy, phrenology, justice, law,