The Alexandrian

We’ve just published the newest issue, the second of a three-part series focusing on the theological virtues: love. I hope all of you enjoy it! Check out the table of contents or browse the teasers on the home page first.

Hopefully over the summer, I will be able to invest more time in this and actually blog somewhat. Until then, I wanted to thank all of you for reading! God bless.

We’ve just published the ninth quarterly issue, beginning a three-issue series on the theological virtues. The newest issue, on the theme of “Hope,” can be read here. I hope you enjoy it!

In this issue, you’ll find three short stories, five poems, a reflective essay and a painting. Each of them is focused, in one way or another, on hope. Feel free to comment on any one of them, even if you don’t know the author personally! Since this is a free journal and no one is paid for their work, your message of appreciation might be the author’s greatest reward.

This spring, our theme will be “Love.” With such a classic theme, we’re expecting a lot of great work. If you are interested in submitting, you can email a copy of your work to editor@thealexandrian.org – from there, it will be sent anonymously to our editing team, who will get back to you with suggestions. Submissions are due by April 1, 2010.

One of my professors recently claimed that he predicts, sometime in our lifetime or in the lifetime of the next generation, someone will receive the death penalty for killing an animal. Maybe so. I think, however, that the argument can be made that this already happens – and that, in fact, it gets worse; perfectly innocent people are killed because they might kill animals…

If you think about it, this is exactly what is being encouraged by those who call themselves “pro-choice for the sake of the environment.” Some – perhaps most – have a self-interested approach, like the Optimum Population Trust, arguing primarily that it is in the human species’ best interests to maintain a stable population. Many animal-rights activists are actively pro-life, as well, and see any other point of view as inherently contradictory. There are those, however, who definitely approach population control under the aspect of protecting animal species.

When discussing the issue at hand, the World Animal Foundation suggests that, “[o]n a personal level, there are a number of things each of us can do. Most importantly, we can control our own fertility, which means having two or fewer children.” There is no specific approval of abortion; rather, it is left up to the individuals how they wish to “control” their fertility.

If even one couple, on reading this or similar suggestions, is led to have an abortion, I would argue that we are already witnessing capital punishment. And not only punishment for having harmed an animal, but punishment for having the potential to do so, though the unborn child is still innocent.

Interested in getting advice from published Catholic writers, ideas about how to write professionally, and how to incorporate your faith in your works? (Okay, bad pun…)

Check out the online Catholic writers’ conference this coming February 25th through March 5th! Since it is online, it is also free, there are no traveling expenses and you can attend as much or as little as you like! They advertise “live chats with experienced authors and editors, workshops on all aspects of writing, daily prayer, and pitch sessions with Catholic publishers.” You need to sign up in advance – but why not give it a try?

They have 22 different presenters scheduled, who write and edit all kinds of fiction and non-fiction. Some big names (Joseph Pierce, Sophia Press, Our Sunday Visitor, etc) are represented.

Let’s make them aware of our Canadian contingent of Catholic writers!

We are pleased to have recently discovered a new Catholic publishing house in Canada, founded just this year. Justin Press recently celebrated a formal inauguration at St. Patrick’s Basilica in Ottawa, with Fr. Raymond DeSouza as a guest speaker.

Their website announces that “It is dedicated to the publication of works of Catholic culture and apologetics that reflect the teaching of the Magisterium.

“Justin Press will provide the Canadian public with access to the best thought and writing in the Canadian Catholic world. Among the outstanding initial group of contributors are Michael O’Brien, Douglas Farrow, David Warren, Lars Troide and Fr. Jonathan Robinson; we will maintain the highest standard of quality in our future publications. “

So far, they have four books in print, which you can order them from the website. Check it out – it’s exciting to see new ventures such as this one, which have so much in common with our own mission!

Well, more precisely, we have two full years’ worth of issues, now that we have published our final issue this fall on Vocation. Eight issues, each of them presenting the works of authors and artists – Canadians and internationals alike; young and old alike. We have balanced this openness by staying true to our goal of publishing a journal of Catholic thought and art, directed by young Catholics in Canada.

On my own behalf, I want to thank a lot of people: Mark Gamez, Peter O’Hagan, Andrew Rivera and all those who dedicate their time and energy to every single issue; Troy Scotchburn, Rob Koechl, Nick Rottman, Alan Yoshioka and all who have contributed to the development of the website and the direction of this project; Donald De Marco, Fr. Neil Roy, Michael O’Brien, Dorothy Cummings McLean, Brett Salkeld, Greg Sadler and all who take this project seriously and help out with advice and content; Mom and Dad and all my siblings; Naomi Rastelli, Jessica Hansen and Brenda Polk, who have endured my neglect of roommate duties while putting the issues together; Uncle Chuck, Heather, Wade, Elaine Zettel, my professors here and those from Ave, Dr. Baer, and so many others who have listened or inspired me in different ways.

Finally, I want to thank every single person who has published with us, submitted something for publication, commented or subscribed! The Alexandrian really is yours – may it prosper for many years to come.

May God bless you all.

Catherine

We’ve just published our summer issue. Congratulations, all authors, and keep submitting your work! One more issue, and we’ll have two full years’ worth; a solid foundation for our project.

This issue was a little different from the others, since it did not restrict authors to a particular theme. In order to give people more freedom to write about whatever they find inspiring, we have decided, from now on, to leave the summer issues without a theme. For instance, this fall’s theme is “Vocation,” and the winter theme is “Hope.” If you can’t think of anything to submit for those themes, you could either suggest a theme for spring, or submit your work for the next summer issue. Either way, we are trying to give new authors more opportunities to introduce their work to a community of Catholic thinkers.

While working on the fall issue (submissions are due by October 15th), we are also trying to compile a list of people we would like to invite to the board of advisors. If you have any suggestions, don’t hesitate to leave them!

God bless all of you, and thank you for making this possible.