Pacha

Today at Maryknoll: an interactive conference with Tania Avila Meneses on the two cosmological visions. She had the language students step literally into the three realms of pacha, or the world as the Quechua and Aymara know it. Three interlocking circles made from what looked like dried petals symbolized the world above, the world visible, and the world below. (If you are having trouble visualizing, think of the logo for Ballantine Ale.) We took cut-outs of pictures of all things in creation, animate and inanimate, and placed them where we thought they belonged in the cosmos. Some creatures and creations overlapped realms. Also, each of us chose an element to which we felt connected and joined the appropriate realm. Guess which element your faithful correspondent identifies with most. (La respuesta: el aire.) Having populated pacha with all things bright and beautiful, and having taken our stand in the cosmic realms, then we were woven together. Our presenter had us relay a ball of orange yarn from one person to another, that is, one element to another. Earth, air, water, fire, everything was brought together. We were a cosmic cat’s cradle, taut and tight-knit. But then out came a pair of shears, and our presenter severed the threads, demonstrating what happens when we disconnect the elements of nature from one another and treat them as discrete commodities to be used only for our self-interest. Nothing we did not already know before, but we are being reminded of it so as to know better and strive to treat this one interdependent, wholly good creation better. The implication, to be discussed further in class tomorrow, is that the cosmological vision of the West has not done a good job at promoting a healthy, integral perspective on creation, or peace and harmony among all living things. Let a healthy debate ensue.

At random:

The Franciscan friars here are attending a march to promote respect for life somewhere downtown this afternoon. It leads to an assembly taking place, I believe, at the Plaza de las Banderas at the northern tip of El Prado. Unlike the March for Life in the United States, which takes place on Jan. 22, the anniversary of the 1973 Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade, this assembly occurs as near as possible to the solemnity of the Annunciation, when the Church commemorates the conception of Jesus. Unlike the March for Life in the United States, which is organized by a nonprofit independent from any church or religious organization, this march is organized by the local Catholic Church, that is, the Archdiocese of Cochabamba. Fact check: in Bolivia, abortion is illegal except for cases of incest, rape, and a woman’s health. However, maternal mortality rates are alarmingly high because nearly all the abortions procured are clandestine. A law to permit termination of pregnancies at up to 8 weeks for girls under age 17 was approved in December, then quickly repealed in January following protests. Today I pray that the movement for respect for life, which usually concerns itself with pre-born life or life nearing its natural death, may come to grips with the injustice and scandal of maternal mortality and, applying Cardinal Joseph Bernardin’s vision for a consistent ethic of life, show solicitude and concern for women, especially very young women, with unintended pregnancies.

Also: our expeditionary team destined for Tunari Peak will leave on Saturday morning at 7 a.m. from Maryknoll. The forecast in Cochabamba is cloudy, high of 80 degrees and a low of 54 at the city’s elevation. Up in Tunari it will probably be at least 30 degrees cooler, and the chance of precipitation is higher. We will be ready with raincoats and ponchos and boots and layers of warm clothing.

From my own religious community: may our Capuchin brother, Fr. Knute Kenlon, who died last week and was laid to rest yesterday at the provincial cemetery in Yonkers, N.Y., now enjoy perpetual light.

Finally, a happy birthday today to my Dad, with wishes for more years of life lived well, in peace and good health.