Punditry

For at least twenty years I have been someone who has used various note taking tools. The primary aspect being able to have a centralized location for notes that is searchable across notes.

One of the early ones I used was called Info Angel. I really loved this piece of Windows software since it did most of what I wanted and had extensive formatting features including tables. It used an Access database so I was able to copy this file back and forth between work in home. I am surprised the page for the product is still up since it hasn’t been updated in a decade. I used this pretty much until I first bought an Apple computer in 2007.

Since then, I have used OneNote and Evernote. They are both powerful products and work across different mobile and desktop operating systems. While I used these products, I never really loved them. There were just too many annoyances where I found myself having to adapt to their system instead of more intuitively for me doing what I wanted.

Once I learned and started using Markdown, then I wanted to use it for my notes. Markdown is a plain text formatting language that makes it very easy to format text while it remains plain text. I wrote an Introduction to Markdown some years ago.

Since no major note taking app used Markdown, I rolled my own system. Basically I stored each note as a file in Dropbox and used various text editors (Sublime Text, Atom, Visual Studio Code) to perform searching across folders and files. The advantage was that the system was free and fairly powerful and worked on Windows and Mac. I could also access and edit the notes on my iPhone/iPad, but not easily.

I then started to just use Apple’s Notes. This mostly worked for me as Apple had finally made synching work correctly and that Notes itself became more powerful. If it wasn’t for the fact that I prefer using Markdown, I would have stayed with this solution.

So I have been looking for something to replace this system. A year or so ago an app called Bear Notes came out. It sounded pretty interesting since it supported Markdown. It also had a yearly subscription system for more advanced features. So I was hesitant to go this route and just stick to Apple Notes.

I finally did decide to try it out since you can download it for free and get the majority of features. Just no sync between computers and mobile devices for free.

Testing out Bear Notes I quickly found that I liked almost everything about it. Within a day I started to import my notes from my previous systems and use it full time. There are multiple reasons I love this app both aesthetically and feature-wise.

Organization

One of the important aspects of note taking is finding a note you created later on. So having some kind of organization structure along with full text search is very important. Bear Notes solves this in a very interesting way using tags. Not just a single word tagging system, but one that can be nested.

For example if there was a document I wanted to add for related Carmelite studies, I could tag it with tags and subtags:

#Catholic/Carmelite/Documents

Even more powerful is the fact that I can use multiple lines of tags so that the same note could appear in two different folder locations. You can access the note in both locations along with editing the same note in either.

#Catholic/Carmelite/Documents #Documents

These tags are just typed inline with the note and when you start typing a tag is uses suggestions to show you existing tags you have used. You can place these anywhere within the note, I just place them at the end.

Formatting

First off you don’t have to enable Markdown. If you don’t enable Markdown, you will see formatting features such as in a regular word processor.

While Bear Notes allows you to use Markdown, it is also provides features like other word processors to see your formatting. They take a hybrid approach of using Markdown tags along with a visual indication of the formatting style. Thus while you can enter links using Markdown syntax, the resulting url will be hidden.

While Bear Notes allows you to use Markdown, it is also provides features like other word processors to see your formatting. They take a hybrid approach of using Markdown tags along with a visual indication of the formatting style. Thus while you can enter links using Markdown syntax, the resulting url will be hidden.

For example. this screenshot shows a note I created to quickly navigate to other notes. I can easily edit the title of the link or edit the link itself. So the link can be a url to a website or a link to navigate to another note.

The above example shows the formatting of a note I created for studying where I both pasted in text and wrote up my own notes. I like to use headers and unordered lists to organize my notes.

Formatting options can be done either via a menu or by typing them using Markdown.

Images and Files

Images can be pasted inline into your note so that they show directly anywhere within the note. References to images and files such a PDF, audio, etc can be inserted into a document. The file is then embedded into your note and this is not a reference to an external file path. It is directly stored in the note and thus can be accessed via Bear Notes on any device you are using.

The above is an example of a PDF link. Clicking on it will show the contents of the PDF.

Theming

As you can see by my screenshot examples I like a rather dark theme, this one is called “Toothpaste”. There are multiple themes to choose from with light and dark themes. These setting can be set for each device you are using this app on. Theming is part of the app subscription.

Searching

You can choose to search you note text across every single stored notes or just within a selected tag folder. There are also search tags you can use to specify files with attachments, images, or todos.

One caveat is that while searching across notes works for both desktop and mobile versions of this app. Searching multiple occurence of a word within a single note only works on the desktop version currently. In the mobile version it will just list the notes that match the search term.

Exporting

One of the important things about note taking is being able to export your note. Bear Notes supports multiple export options including on iOS. You can export a note as txt, Markdown, PDF, HTML, RTF, DOCX, ePub, and as JPG.

You can even export all the notes within a folder using formats listed above. This works amazingly well even on iOS.

Other Features

At the top of the Sidebar under Notes there are special groups that are automatially populated with notes within a certain criteria.

• Untagged: Notes without any tags defind.
• Today: Notes created today.
• Todo: Any note that has a Todo checkmark box inserted.

There are plenty of keyboard shortcuts with many of them working both on the Mac and iOS versions.

On the iPad Pro you can use the Apple Pencil to sketch notes directly.

You can add text, images, attachments, and entire web pages from extensions or on iOS via the Share Sheet.

One nice feature is that folders created from tags can have their own icon. This is visually pleasing and is part of the overall attention-to-detail this app has.

There are multiple settings and you can modify many aspects of how the app works and how information is displayed.

Pro Features

The app subscription pricing is $15 a year. This includes changing the theme along with allowing sync across all installed versions of this app (via iCloud). If you just want to use this on one device, you do not need the pro features. Regardless there is a trial for trying these features out before paying the subscription.

I am of a mixed mind about app subscriptions. Like everybody I don’t want to add any annual fees. Still when it comes to professional apps I use everyday, I want app developers to have the money to continue to develop new features and support existing one. I had no hesitancy about an app subscription for this app.

Other Concerns

Bear Notes is restricted to the Apple Mac and iOS devices. So no support for Windows or Android. While I use Windows at work, I also have a MacBook Pro there. Ideally would like multiple OS support.

This app I assume is created by a small company, so there is concern about how long this app will be around. Still even if this app stopped being supported, the data in it can be exported out. Plus since the sync uses iCloud, data storage is not dependent on this company.

Final Thoughts

I really love this app. I use it constantly. I especially like the iOS versions of the app as I also use the iPhone and iPad versions throughout the day. This is a well thought out app and you can see the attention to detail and the access to features whether you are using it on a Mac, iPhone, or iPad. They have really looked to how best implement the layout of the app in these different use cases. Overall I am very impressed and I am hypercritical when it comes to note taking apps.

So what is missing from this app? Things that I want added?

• Table formatting: Would love to be able to insert a table and enter information into it. Later versions of Markdown allow this. I imagine this is a feature that will be added at some point. After all, Apple Notes finally added it.
• Inline searching of text within a note on iOS.
• More keyboard shortcut keys. While there are a good number of these shortcuts, I always want more.

Links

• Here is a review that was done by MacStories after the app first came out. This is an in-depth review, but there have been multiple features added in the last two years.
• YouTube review of the Mac version
• YouTube review of the iOS version

Since today is the Feast of Guadalupe the second reading in the Office of Readings in the Liturgy of the Hours has the account of the miracle by Don Antonio Valeriano from the sixteenth century.

While I already knew the details of the story, I was struck by something while reading it again. The fact that just the Castilian roses were really enough of a miracle in itself to convince the Bishop of the authenticity of Juan Diego’s contact with Our Lady. Or at least good evidence when investigating his claims. This combined with the life and humility of Juan Diego certainly provided solid evidence in this regard.

The aspect that struck me is that God went further and produced the miraculous image on Juan Diego’s tilma. I started thinking about how often God works in our lives and how the answers to our prayers can seem so astounding. Yet when we look back at this we might see that this answer to prayer was multi-level and was even more amazing in further effects. That we can be really joyful in an answer to a request and reflect later that this initial answer had secondary effects that were larger in scope in your life and for others.

That God not only will answer our prayers but in a way that is unexpected and better than our initial request. Our Lady of Gudalupe’s answer to prayer became a miracle of evangelization and devotion. No doubt we only see the surface of this effect, even if amazing in itself. Plus we can’t see the future horizon of the effect.

This also makes me realize that probably in the majority of cases we don’t see secondary effects. Whether they are answered prayers or seemingly unanswered ones. It probably won’t be until the General Judgement that we might understand this. I guess this is the iceberg of prayer and that still only seeing the surface we can be thankful for this and trusting God regarding what we are unable to see.

We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28).

Connie Rossini’s Is Centering Prayer Catholic is an excellent source to see a critique regarding Centering Prayer. What I really liked is the distinctions she makes and how she compares the various statements made by the late Fr. Thomas Keating compared to what St. Teresa of Avila wrote regarding contemplative prayer. She really is trying to be as fair as possible, and does an excellent job of explaining the problems along with also accurately explaining what authentic Catholic contemplative prayer is.

Previously I have looked into some of Fr. Thomas Keating writings and statements and found them problematic. This book does a good job of focusing on the claims of the centering prayer movement.

This book also makes good caveats. For example what people might encounter under the umbrella of centering prayer, might actually be something much closer to authentic Catholic contemplative prayer. There is a good amount of confusion regarding what exactly centering prayer is as understood by some people practicing it compared to what the centering prayer movement advocates.

She also uses the document Jesus Christ the Bearer of the Water of life, a Christian reflection on the “New Age”, to compare the concerns raised with the statements of the centering prayer movement. This new edition answers objections raised by Contemplative Outreach, the organization started by the founders of the centering prayer movement.

From Amy Welborn on Devoted Bishops.

One of my regular blog reads is Ann Althouse, retired Wisconsin law professor. I don’t see eye-to-eye with her on all issues, particularly social issues, but at least once a day, she posts something interesting in a clarifying way. One of the tags she frequently uses on blog posts is [“civility bullshit.”  As in: (https://althouse.blogspot.com/2018/06/calling-bullshit-on-calls-for-civility.html)

 …because the real motivation is political advantage. Usually, the civility-demander is trying to get opponents tone it down and not take advantage of whatever hot passion and energy they’ve got on their side.

And this is absolutely, one-hundred percent correct. It applies in all types of discussions, including churchy ones.

Related is what I guess I’ll call _Collegiality BS._

(In deference to those who might be offended…)

You might recognize it as the call for a _Kumbaya_ moment. You might recognize it in calls for us to prioritize our sense of community – closeness, good feelings, acceptance at some level – above anything else. It’s a certain _interpretation_ of the Christian notion of communion. The problem is that it’s superficial and theologically incorrect. For the Catholic/Christian understanding of authentic communion is rooted in Christ’s actions, not ours. All the baptized are already in communion with Christ and each other. We don’t do it. He does. Our call is to _recognize_ that communion and build on it.

She then clarifies by providing an example of this.

After that, she talks about Cardinal Mahony’s short talk at the USCCB meeting.

But communion-awareness can shift into Communion and Collegiality BS when those preaching it are really just trying to deflect, distract and move on from uncomfortable matters. _Always_ be skeptical when someone frantically tries to “build community” with you.

Take, for example, Cardinal Mahony.

It’s appalling enough that he spoke at this week’s weird and pointless (although not _useless_ – see the difference? As in God can bring good out of anything?) bishops’ gathering.

And they all just sat there and listened. At least they didn’t applaud.

Anyway, Cardinal Mahony’s five minute talk said not a word about abuse or corruption. He was all about … our devotion to each other as members of the conference and the college of bishops.

Words to wisely follow, “Always be skeptical when someone frantically tries to ‘build community’ with you.” This is certainly one of my pet peeves when I detect what I call faux community building. This usually goes not deeper than glad-handing. Maybe as an introvert my quick-triggered detection of this is a bit skewed, yet I pretty much always detect it happens. I really desire true community and find it off-putting to find the counterfeit.

As they say, “Read the whole thing”. Especially as she goes on to pick apart what the Cardinal said along with pointing out and quoting what Bishop Steven Biegler of Cheyenne had to say. Quite a contrast.

I am not surprised that Cardinal Mahony, who covered up so much abuse and caused so much damage to his former Archdiocese, had the nerve to speak there at all. He was not the only one with more ego than self-awareness who appeared at the meeting.

It is bad enough getting junk mail.

Now I am getting junk theology mail. The included “prayer book” (single piece of paper) is a prayer from Fr. James Martin’s “Building a Bridge” book. So even worse than junk theology mail, Jesuitical junk theology mail.

Probably no way to get off this mailing list, so guess I will just have to move.

Still, I guess it could be worse. America Magazine could be sending out low-quality Catholic gifts as some Catholic charity organizations do to guilt you into donating. Although maybe they learned a lesson from the time they ran an ad for a statue of Mary covered in a condom back in 2005.

+ Image – no attribution required.

The late Father Richard Neuhaus described the sexual abuse crisis as the “Long Lent of 2002”.

Still waiting for Easter.

The seemingly never ending stories continue apace. I guess I was naive enough to think that there were some lessons learned. If there were lessons learned they were the wrong lessons. I was not naive enough to think that coverups and other forms of hiding such problems would go away. I just did not believe that the scale of this would seem to remain the same.

Lay woman’s saga illustrates clerical sexual abuse of adults illustrates that moving an abusive priest to a different parish after a short sabbatical continues on. The whole McCarrick saga shows how diocese pretty much used hush money in the form of “confidentiality agreements”.

Our charitable credibility is strained to the breaking point when Cardinals and Bishops who worked with McCarrick are doing their imitations of Captain Renault from Casablanca. This is especially strained considering the “open secret” this seemed to be. I certainly remember stories concerning this going back to at least 2005. Still I can understand not giving them credence to some extent without more proof. I was certainly not a fan of McCarrick at the time and the deception he tried to pull with the letter given to him by then-Cardinal Ratzinger. Still I did not just want to believe this as a justification of confirmation bias.

Our fallen nature, scripture, history, and common sense illustrates to us to not be surprised by the goats among the sheep. It is the enabler of the goats that mostly draw my ire. My skepticism is such that I doubt that anything will happen to McCarrick’s enablers. The Sergeant Schultz’s proclaiming “I see nothing”. I can even believe that indeed some of them discounted the rumors as gossip or motivated by political considerations. Much harder to believe that they didn’t even know of the open secret. I would love to have my skepticism regarding this proven wrong and that figuratively heads would fall. My head would bow if such happened.

I started blogging in 2002 as the scandal first drew much attention. It has never been something that had challenged my then-“new born faith” or subsequent to that.

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; (Jn 6:68)

I have read enough Church history to not be surprised by corruption in the Church. Mostly I am thankful for the grace I have received to know that I know the truth of the faith. At the same time I know that this is not just some intellectual belief, but a grace given. I can understand and have sympathy for those for of whom the scandal is indeed a stumbling block. The story I linked to above is horrific and yet the faith of that women was not abated. That a story of deepest corruption and sacrileges acts could still be a story of perseverance in faith.

Back in 2004 I suggested tongue-and-cheek some suggested religious apparel. One being substituting a mitre for a ceremonial millstone to remind them of:

“It would be better for him if a millstone were hung round his neck and he were cast into the sea, than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.” –Luke

Now I wonder if this should leave the realm of parody into reality.

That post also offered millstone-inspired apparel for the laity.

“We are not baptized into the hierarchy; do not receive the Cardinals sacramentally; will not spend an eternity in the beatific vision of the pope. Christ is the point.” (Frank Sheed)