Arthur Urbano
@arturoviaggia.bsky.social
Professor @ Providence College specializing in Early Christianity and Chair of the Jewish-Catholic Theological Exchange Committee | President, catacombsociety.bsky.social
Viaggia is not my name. It's what I do. #VirtualTravel for now.
Viaggia is not my name. It's what I do. #VirtualTravel for now.
Still one of my favorite pope jokes.
Journalist to Pope John XXIII: "How many people work in the Vatican?"
Pope John: "About half."
Journalist to Pope John XXIII: "How many people work in the Vatican?"
Pope John: "About half."
December 3, 2025 at 3:44 AM
Still one of my favorite pope jokes.
Journalist to Pope John XXIII: "How many people work in the Vatican?"
Pope John: "About half."
Journalist to Pope John XXIII: "How many people work in the Vatican?"
Pope John: "About half."
Misspelling? *cough, cough* (uncontrollable *cough*)
December 3, 2025 at 2:21 AM
Misspelling? *cough, cough* (uncontrollable *cough*)
The official album of the Department of Defense, uh, I mean, Warmongering.
December 2, 2025 at 4:31 PM
The official album of the Department of Defense, uh, I mean, Warmongering.
Every time Patriarch Bart sees Leo now, he's gonna ask "Are you wearing that stole I gave you?"
#SartorialTheology
#SartorialTheology
December 1, 2025 at 4:41 AM
Every time Patriarch Bart sees Leo now, he's gonna ask "Are you wearing that stole I gave you?"
#SartorialTheology
#SartorialTheology
"You will be visited by three spirits."
November 26, 2025 at 2:17 AM
"You will be visited by three spirits."
A cousin of mine who shares an interest in family history sent me some old photos of my grandfather when he was in the army. He arrived in the US from southern Italy in 1912. This photo is from 1918, just before the end WWI. My nonno is on the right.
November 25, 2025 at 9:28 PM
A cousin of mine who shares an interest in family history sent me some old photos of my grandfather when he was in the army. He arrived in the US from southern Italy in 1912. This photo is from 1918, just before the end WWI. My nonno is on the right.
Theological dialogue was not possible or advisable:
November 24, 2025 at 1:59 AM
Theological dialogue was not possible or advisable:
Soloveitchik thought it was legitimate to talk about the Judeo-Christian in terms of culture, but not religion.
November 24, 2025 at 1:56 AM
Soloveitchik thought it was legitimate to talk about the Judeo-Christian in terms of culture, but not religion.
And this key quote, published as Vatican II and debates over what would be Nostra Aetate were unfolding:
November 24, 2025 at 1:53 AM
And this key quote, published as Vatican II and debates over what would be Nostra Aetate were unfolding:
Here's a look inside. Photos from italia.it and museionline.info
November 22, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Here's a look inside. Photos from italia.it and museionline.info
About a 15 minute walk from Catanzaro's cathedral is the Museo delle Arti di #Catanzaro (MARCA). Opened in 2008, the museum specializes in paintings and sculptures from the 1500s to the 1900s, including works by Battistello Caracciolo, Mattia Preti, Salvator Rosa and Andrea Sacchi.
#VirtualTravel
#VirtualTravel
November 22, 2025 at 8:10 PM
About a 15 minute walk from Catanzaro's cathedral is the Museo delle Arti di #Catanzaro (MARCA). Opened in 2008, the museum specializes in paintings and sculptures from the 1500s to the 1900s, including works by Battistello Caracciolo, Mattia Preti, Salvator Rosa and Andrea Sacchi.
#VirtualTravel
#VirtualTravel
I've had these icons o the evangelists for about 15 years and have been telling myself repeatedly, I need to call Physical Plant to have these put up on my office wall. Finally did it this week.
November 21, 2025 at 3:38 PM
I've had these icons o the evangelists for about 15 years and have been telling myself repeatedly, I need to call Physical Plant to have these put up on my office wall. Finally did it this week.
Try the Madama Lucrezia talking statue
November 14, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Try the Madama Lucrezia talking statue
one out of two ain't bad
November 11, 2025 at 5:08 PM
one out of two ain't bad
Today students in my Intro to Bible course are doing a "What does Jesus look like?" assignment. They have a reading assignment from @joantaylor.bsky.social's wonderful book on Jesus. Then they have to find two artistic representations of Jesus, at least one non-western, and write up a short analysis
![11/11 Assignment: What Does Jesus Look Like? (instructions)
***THIS ASSIGNMENT CANNOT BE SKIPPED***DUE NOV. 11 BY 5:00PM***
What did Jesus look like? The answer may seem obvious to some -- just look at a painting or statue. But look closer. Don't they all look different? Furthermore the gospels don't describe Jesus' physical appearance. For this assignment you will read a bit about the traditions of depicting Jesus' appearance, as well as how the New Testament gospels present the multi-faceted person of Jesus Christ -- the various "narrative christologies" discussed in class.
For this assignment:
1.) Start by completing the two reading assignments listed in the syllabus: the chapter by Joan Taylor and the essay in the Anselm Bible.
2.) Next find two representations of Jesus. These can be ancient, medieval or modern; paintings, statues, or some other medium. At least one of your images must be from a non-western culture (i.e. not American [Native American is fine] or European). You may not use images that we have already use in class, nor images you plan to use in your essay.
3.) Upload each of your images to the Discussion page and include the following with each image:
some background on the image (artist [if known], date, location, purpose) [2-3 sentences];
an analytical comparison of the different theological and/or historical qualities each image emphasizes [3-5 sentences] -- here it is important that you make connections to the specific theological themes from the course and reading. You should refer to the Taylor and Anselm Bible essay (including page numbers) as relevant and the narrative christologies as guides.
source of your image (website with URL, bibliographic information of book, etc.).](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:6bz47c5ij26xycoo7xbjq3o4/bafkreiggbh6whdk3cqddzd64qtosiu4xijfupdndqhutaaq7aqtofnwa5m@jpeg)
November 11, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Today students in my Intro to Bible course are doing a "What does Jesus look like?" assignment. They have a reading assignment from @joantaylor.bsky.social's wonderful book on Jesus. Then they have to find two artistic representations of Jesus, at least one non-western, and write up a short analysis
I had in my pocket a passage from Gregory of Nyssa's De Deitate in which he also imagines a possible protest Abraham could have made, but interestingly concludes that would never have said or even thought such things.
November 5, 2025 at 3:05 AM
I had in my pocket a passage from Gregory of Nyssa's De Deitate in which he also imagines a possible protest Abraham could have made, but interestingly concludes that would never have said or even thought such things.
One participant presented a text from Midrash Tanchuma Buber in which Abraham argues with God about the test.
November 5, 2025 at 3:03 AM
One participant presented a text from Midrash Tanchuma Buber in which Abraham argues with God about the test.
Catanzaro is the city of the three V's. One of those is the city's patron, San Vitaliano. He was the bishop of Capua but his relics were transferred to Catanzaro in 1122. A chapel in the cathedral holds this silver reliquary. His feast day is July 16.
November 2, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Catanzaro is the city of the three V's. One of those is the city's patron, San Vitaliano. He was the bishop of Capua but his relics were transferred to Catanzaro in 1122. A chapel in the cathedral holds this silver reliquary. His feast day is July 16.
I was watching Charlie Chaplain's The Great Dictator and I have to say the Ghetto scene where he's accosted and beat up at the barber shop is eerily reflective of current events in this country. But no masks.
October 28, 2025 at 1:10 AM
I was watching Charlie Chaplain's The Great Dictator and I have to say the Ghetto scene where he's accosted and beat up at the barber shop is eerily reflective of current events in this country. But no masks.
He's got the expression and the posture, he just needs the top hat and curly mustache.
October 23, 2025 at 3:15 AM
He's got the expression and the posture, he just needs the top hat and curly mustache.
Who robbed the Louvre? Right answers only.
October 19, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Who robbed the Louvre? Right answers only.
Our new bishop has titled his weekly column in the diocesan newspaper "INRI" and I love it!
We're in Rhode Island and every Catholic kid at one point or another looking at a crucifix thinks that's what it means.
We're in Rhode Island and every Catholic kid at one point or another looking at a crucifix thinks that's what it means.
October 17, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Our new bishop has titled his weekly column in the diocesan newspaper "INRI" and I love it!
We're in Rhode Island and every Catholic kid at one point or another looking at a crucifix thinks that's what it means.
We're in Rhode Island and every Catholic kid at one point or another looking at a crucifix thinks that's what it means.
