WALLACE S. JUNGERS
This book is the second collection of Mr. Jungers’ e-mails sent to a group of ex-Jesuits, who have banded together on the internet to exchange ideas on a variety of subjects. The title, “Letters to Companions in Christ” was inspired by the name the west-coast group calls itself, “Westcoast Companions”. The name, “Companions”, ultimately derives from the original name of the Jesuits, which was, “The Company of Jesus”, founded by Ignatius of Loyola in 1534.
As this book was being written, a firefight in Fallujah was being fought by the Marines from Camp Pendelton, just one-half hour north of where Mr. Jungers lives in California. The latter chapters deal with the theory of a just war as initially fashioned by St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas. This collections of “Letters” attempts to build an ethic for pre-emption against the asymmetric threats of international terrorists in the present age.
The dialogue among this group of ex-Jesuits is brisk and sometimes brutal; no one gets a free ride on any idea put forward. So, Mr. Jungers has taken pains to document the citations from other writers upon whom he relies. Besides the four Evangelists, his frequent recourse is to Paul, Augustine, and Aquinas, the three main men of Western Christianity.
Wallace S. Jungers, S.T.B., is a graduate of Woodstock College in Theology, where he studied under the renowned theologian, John Courtney Murray. He also has been awarded degrees in Philosophy, Ph. L., and in Chemistry, B.S.
Mr. Jungers taught Chemistry at St. Joseph’s Prep in Philadelphia and at Loyola College in Baltimore.
With this book, “Epistles from a Modern Christian”, he continues his research into Early Christianity, which he began with his other books:
Jesus Christ in Glory (Rev. 2nd Ed.),
St. Paul, St. John and St. Augustine,
Reflections on Christ in Glory,
Prayers of Early Christianity,
Of the Holy Spirit,
Resurrection,
The Beautiful One,
Augustine Latine,
The Evidence of Christianity,
The Confessions of St. Augustine,
The Passion of Jesus Christ, and
Ancient Christian Prayers,
The Victory of the Early Christian Martyrs, and
Epistles From a Modern Christian.
From the viewpoint of a modern Christian, Mr. Jungers has been explaining the New Testament to believers who are searching for a better understanding of the “vera et sincera” (true and honest) deeds of Jesus of Nazareth. Well versed in Greek and Latin, Mr. Jungers translates from the Greek text of Mr. Kurt Aland et alii (4th Ed), called UBS4.
As an advocate of the modern trend of “Praying the Scriptures”, Mr. Jungers brings life to these ancient documents, which form the basis of the Christian Faith.
He lives in La Mesa, California with his wife, Sue, who is the retired long-term principal of Mt. Carmel Academy in Chicago. They have two married daughters, Jane and Jennifer, and three grandchildren, Jane’s Kurtis, and Colin, and Jennifer’s Amber.
Recently, Mr. Jungers’ wife, Sue, wrote these words to a friend, who had inquired about Wally:
“Describing Wally is really very easy.
He is not at all complicated or complex.
In fact, he is a very simple man.
He is always smiling, loves his wife, and daughters, and grandchildren.
You can set your watch by him.
When he was in Chicago he got up at the same time every day,
Meditated and prayed regularly, read scripture and scripture scholars,
Wrote about the early Church,
Swam for an hour, had a half a glass of wine and three crackers with cheese
While watching Tom Brokaw, ate dinner, watched TV and went to bed at 9:00 every night.
Thank you for your interest in my husband
Who sits on his little mountain in California
And tries to find more ways to love God and his family.”
This book is the second collection of my e-mails sent to a group of ex-Jesuits, who have banded together on the internet to exchange ideas. The title, “Letters to Companions in Christ” was inspired by the name the west-coast group calls itself, “Westcoast Companions”. The name, “Companions”, ultimately derives from the original name of the Jesuits, which was, “The Company of Jesus”, founded by Ignatius of Loyola in 1534.
As is evident from the Table of Contents, the subject matter is varied, but always with the theme of modern Christianity. Mel Gibson’s movie, “The Passion of the Christ” was the glue that bound together the first collection, called, “Epistles from a Modern Christian”. The current state of events in Iraq is the theme for this collection, especially whether or not the United States was justified in waging war against Saddam Hussein.
As this book was being written, a firefight in Fallujah was being fought by the Marines from Camp Pendelton, just one-half hour north of where I live here in California. The latter chapters deal with the theory of a just war as initially fashioned by St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas. This collections of “Letters” attempts to build an ethic for pre-emption against the asymmetric threats of international terrorists in our present age.
The dialogue among this group of ex-Jesuits is brisk and sometimes brutal; no one gets a free ride on any idea put forward. So, I have taken pains to document the citations from other writers upon whom I rely. Besides the four Evangelists, my frequent recourse is to Paul, Augustine, and Aquinas, the three main men of Western Christianity.
These e-mails represent my daily meditations upon the great events of Christianity and their modern applications. Let me say along with the great St. Augustine: those ideas that I have put forth that are from God redound only to His glory; for those that are purely my own, may He forgive my lack of wisdom.
