February 2003 Archives

Prayers Requested

For a struggling mother of five who is having some considerable difficulties.

For me as I begin to assume the duties of regional formation coordinator. (I know I'm qualified for the job because I feel woefully inadequate. Any other feeling would indicate that I don't have a clue as to what's required. (Which, mysteriously, is also true, but at least feeling woefully inadequate, I'm more likely to follow the Lord.))

From the Immortal Robert Southwell S.J.--Martyr

A wonderful poem.

Look home Robert Southwell

Retirëd thoughts enjoy their own delights,
As beauty doth in self-beholding eye ;
Man's mind a mirror is of heavenly sights,
A brief wherein all marvels summëd lie,
Of fairest forms and sweetest shapes the store,
Most graceful all, yet thought may grace them more.

The mind a creature is, yet can create,
To nature's patterns adding higher skill ;
Of finest works with better could the state
If force of wit had equal power of will.
Device of man in working hath no end,
What thought can think, another thought can mend.

Man's soul of endless beauty image is,
Drawn by the work of endless skill and might ;
This skillful might gave many sparks of bliss
And, to discern this bliss, a native light ;
To frame God's image as his worths required
His might, his skill, his word and will conspired.

All that he had his image should present,
All that it should present it could afford,
To that he could afford his will was bent,
His will was followed with performing word.
Let this suffice, by this conceive the rest,—
He should, he could, he would, he did, the best.

The syntax is rather convoluted, but the line "Man's soul of endless beauty image is," is spectacular--a reminder of our divine "heritage" and in whose image and likeness we are made, even if some days we feel it somewhat less than others.

Okay, so the Ultimate Link

To the Sacred Texts site--Christianity. There is a small selection of texts, but some that I have seen nowhere else. This site is a treasure trove of the sacred traditions of a great many faiths.

If you always wanted the "inside scoop" on what happened in Paradise, take a gander at The Book of the Bee translated by one of my all-time favorites from my early youth E. A. Wallis Budge, whose books I used to learn to read hieroglyphics when I was fourteeen.

There is much to enjoy on this site, so visit, and enjoy. Be aware, however, that the texts lean heavily on the side of gnosticism, universalism (aforementioned Book of the Bee) and other interesting side-roads in Christianity.

A quotation from Sayings of the Jewish Fathers, another wonderful selection from the Midrash and the Talmud.

"3. Antigonus of Soko received from Shime'on ha-Çaddiq. He used to say, Be not as slaves that minister to the lord with a view to receive recompense; but be as slaves that minister to the lord without a view to receives recompense; and let the fear of Heaven be upon you."

Learn from Tradition--The Midrash

A midrash is kind of a predecessor to the Catena Aurea recording as it does the statements of various commentators and the stories of wise rabbis related to selected passages of scripture. The Midrashim and the Talmud provide for us a kind of window into the view of scriptures of the ancient Hebrew people. Here is a selection from the Midrash on Lamentations:

from Tales and Maxims from the Midrash--Midrash Lamentations God in his love and mercy provides the remedy even before the disease visits us. He sent the sweet balm of comfort through one prophet before another of his prophets uttered his lamentations over the woes and sorrows which had overtaken Jerusalem and its people. In the first chapter of the Book of Lamentations Jeremiah pours out his bitter heart in twenty-two verses, alphabetically arranged; but before Jeremiah thus uttered his sorrows the prophet Isaiah anticipated each of his colleague's woes with words of comfort suitable to the complaint.

Beautiful--speaking to the unity of the message of the scriptures.

Okay, I Have Resisted. . .

But I'm afraid that I've decided that I'm charmed. . .Mommentary. Have you noticed I like, I mean really like, domestic blogs? They give a sense of normalcy and comfort--what's more they give me ideas and approaches. Great stuff.

Vanity of Vanities

Mr Moffat laments, or at least notices that "there is nothing new under the sun." And he's right. Most of what we do is putting new tinsel on very old trees--but that's okay, because most people are of the mind that the only purpose for aged wood is to build a bonfire. Check out what Mr. Moffat has to say in the matter.

I just indexed the three extant parts of the Study Guide. I intend to add to the index commentary on St. John of the Cross as it has occurred at the blog. (This is one reason I'm convinced that Movable Type would probably be a smart move for me--the indexing alone is worth a fortune to those of us with Librarian Minds.) To the Left-Hand Column grows by leaps and bounds. Please pardon our dust.

I have my doubts about the display on this one because of the table, but I think it will mostly make sense.

Anyone who would like a relatively readable copy, please e-mail me and I will send a worddoc.

St. John of the Cross
The Ascent of Mt. Carmel

Read pages 132-141, starting at section 5 of Chapter 6 on page 132. St. John of the Cross is describes how appetites produce certain effects in the soul. “For the appetites weary, torment, darken, defile, and weaken it [the soul]. The following passages deals with one or more of these effects. Use the chart to summarize information about the effects, symptoms (if any), how God treats it, and suggestions St. John of the Cross may have.

Effect Symptoms (or Signs)---- God’s Response---- St. John’s Advice
Weary Ch. 6--5-7
Torment-Ch 7--1-4
Darken(Blind) Ch 8--1-7
Defile Ch 9--1-7
Weaken Ch 10--1-4

Okay, Despite What I Said this Morning, I'm Back on Haloscan

I know that I won't stay with Enetation, and so every day with them is the loss of more comments. As it is I've lost six or seven important ones, but better that than dozens. I suppose I need to remember this next time I'm flip-flopping and then just not do it.

It's FACE, not FAAC

See the comments at The Mighty Barrister for corrections. My thanks to him for the correction. The entry below has been corrected in accordance with this information, but I wanted to be sure to thank Mr. Barrister for his good deed.

Haloscan Appears to Be up Again

But they have some sort of mysterious, unidentifiable problem that may or may not result in them getting the whole thing working again. I think I'll wait a day or two before I comment out Enetation and put back Haloscan.

Another Personality Test--Medieval Personality
Again a test, no more accurate than any of the others, but interesting in its conduct. Go to Gospel Minefield for the Link. (Kathy got it from the blogmaster at Not for Sheep.)

And for those dying to know, here is my Medieval Personality:

Your distinct personality, The Dreamer-Minstrel might be found in most of the thriving kingdoms of the time. You can always see the "Silver Lining" to every dark and dreary cloud. Look at the bright side is your motto and understanding why everything happens for the best is your goal. You are the positive optimist of the world who provides the hope for all humankind. There is nothing so terrible that you can not find some good within it. On the positive side, you are spontaneous, charismatic, idealistic and empathic. On the negative side, you may be a sentimental dreamer who is emotionally impractical. Interestingly, your preference is just as applicable in today's corporate kingdoms.

I know there are some among you who just roll your eyes and say--"Boy, if that isn't the truth!" See--now you know why.

The Church is Still One

Have I said that I love project Canterbury? If not, I do. And the following passage from a set of three talks titled "Catholicism and Roman Catholicism" is one of the reasons.

Meanwhile, while we must be true to our distinctive responsibilities in the place where God has put us, we must, by all means, constantly remember that the divisions within the Church, though they are sadly deep, do not go near the root. In the unseen world where Christ is and the blessed dead, and in the Holy Spirit who works in every heart and every sacramental ordinance, the Church is still one. Let us live in the sense of that deep and high unity, subsisting at the heart of our wearisome divisions; and let us ask that the prayers of all the saints, reunited now even though they were separated on earth, may be with us to encourage us to faithfulness; to faithfulness alike in our struggle to become better Christians, in our struggle to reform our own part of the Church on the original Catholic pattern, and in our struggle to knit together again the sadly divided communions of the one Church of Christ.

So too with this translation of Lancelot Andrewes Doctoral Dissertation on Tithes. (Note the link connects to a PDF document--you'll need Adobe reader to look at it.)

A Note From Project Canterbury

This was received yesterday. I think we're at Greenwich -5, so the time indicated in the passage below for the Enthronement of the Archbishop of Canterbury would be 9:40 am, for those interested.

The celebration day tomorrow of our Father among the Saints, George Herbert, has been chosen by the new Archbishop of Canterbury for his enthronement (I recall from 1975, the new Archbishop Donald Coggan, of blessed memory, spoke of the typing slip that had spelled the word `enthornment'!). So a good day for an update of new materials added to the Project Canterbury website, and what better than to begin with an account of the sufferings and martyrdom of an Archbishop of Canterbury, William Laud. By the way, the service begins at 14.40 hours GMT and it is being carried on the BBC website here.

Justice: Human and Divine

Some have commented on mercy and justice and on God's justice. I will not presume to say that they are wrong in their contention that "an all-merciful God is not a just God." Of this, I can say little or nothing. However, I think Jesus has some guidelines for our thinking about justice in the form of a parable.

from Matthew 20:1-16 1 "The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 Going out about nine o'clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and he said to them, 'You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.' 5 So they went off. (And) he went out again around noon, and around three o'clock, and did likewise. 6 Going out about five o'clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, 'Why do you stand here idle all day?' 7 They answered, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You too go into my vineyard.' 8 When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.' 9 When those who had started about five o'clock came, each received the usual daily wage. 10 So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them also got the usual wage. 11 And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, 12 saying, 'These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day's burden and the heat.' 13 He said to one of them in reply, 'My friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? 14 Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? 15 (Or) am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?' 16 Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last."

Fallen humans can have only the most general sense of justice--the justice of concupiscence, of greed, of pride.

In thinking about the attributes of God, I find it better to focus on the continual images we are given of Father, sometimes even of mother (Psalm 131), and of Him who against all justice stretched out his arms on the cross and died. In that action, justice was redefined--if we had ever had a sense of it--that sense must have changed. And today I know that "I see now through a glass darkly."

It is better to leave to God what He can and cannot do and to confine myself to praying, fasting, hoping, and adoring. My hope is not in justice but in mercy, I certainly do not wish to get what I deserve.

RICO and FACE

Warning Will Robinson! Warning!

There is much right and proper rejoicing about the Supreme court rescinding an earlier ruling that subjects political speech to prosecution by RICO. HOWEVER, keep in mind that FACE (Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances) passed 8 years after the case that was just overturned, grants the same penalties, the same criminal record, and the same onus as RICO. Only FACE is focused entirely on Abortion Clinics and protesters--no need to prove injury, no need to prove anything. Step inside the magic circle and you're in violation. I don't know if FACE has been tested in court , but I doubt that it would be overturned on a first amendment ruling. So, while RICO is a triumph for first amendment rights of political speech, it is not the tremendous pro-life victory so many think it is. We are still muzzled, and more than muzzled, I believe FACE sets something like a 150 foot "clearance zone" around a clinic entrance.

So those who were thinking about getting out the pickets, rein in your enthusiasm. We haven't won yet.

Note: Entry Corrected thanks to comments at The Mighty Barrister--thanks Barrister

Desperation!

I must be able to hear a voice. I feel as though my fingers have gone deaf! Thus enetation and complicated commented out blogger code. This rubber band and paper-slip fix should implode of its own weight in a matter of hours. But while I am awake. . .

While Looking for St. Francis Borgia

I stumbled upon this. Also written by a Jesuit, Fr. John Baptist Scaramelli, S.J., I found it worthwhile and interesting. This link is largely so I can look at this again tonight when I have more time.

We had a Chirp

Now if you'll look in the left-hand column, there's also a Honk

I also added A Father's Life, because despite the age-difference in ourselves and our children, "A Father's Life" Blogmaster and I are otherwise quite similar. I need to hear from more Dads. It's one of the things that makes me regret the loss of bloggers like GoodForm. I hear too little from those fathers out there with small children (Mr. White, Mr. Kairos--please take note).

An Appalling Oversight

I never fail to be amazed at the range, the clarity, and the depth of thinking I find at A Religion of Sanity yet I know it has been a long time since last I brought it to anyone's attention. There is sane, carefully considered thought--most often on things not controversial, that perhaps ought to be. Please go and enjoy--wonderful food for thought and prayer.

Oh How I Long for a Stable Commenting System

That's all I wanted to say. People can't talk to me. I am sad.

Libertarians for Life

I'd like to give credit to this for someone--it might have been Chris Burgwald of Veritas, but I'm afraid my surfing is a blur. However, this link leads to a most interesting collection of articles by libertarians, theist and atheist, who draw upon a remarkable array of backgrounds to give good evidence as to why abortion is evil. See this article, "A Libertarian Atheist Answers Pro-Choice Catholics (the original reference) in particular. Wonderful! Truncate the URL to go to the main page--really interesting stuff.

A Prayer, Strangely Appropriate

A prayer from St. Thérèse that seems strangely appropriate for the time.

Prière inspirée par une image représentant la Vénérable Jeanne d'Arc St. Thérèse of Lisieux

Seigneur, Dieu des armées qui nous avez dit dans votre Évangile : "Je ne suis pas venu apporter la paix mais le glaive " armez-moi pour la lutte, je brûle de combattre pour votre gloire, mais je vous en supplie, fortifiez mon courage.... Alors avec le Saint roi David je pourrai m'écrier : " C'est Vous seul qui êtes mon bouclier, c'est Vous, Seigneur, qui dressez mes mains à la guerre... "

Ô mon Bien-Aimé ! je comprends à quel combat vous me destinez, ce n'est point sur les champs de bataille que je lutterai........
Je suis prisonnière de votre Amour, j'ai librement rivé la chaîne qui m'unit à Vous et me sépare à jamais du monde que vous avez maudit.... Mon glaive n'est autre que l'Amour, avec lui je chasserai l'étranger du royaume. Je vous ferai proclamer Roi dans les âmes qui refusent de se soumettre à votre Divine Puissance.

Sans doute, Seigneur, un aussi faible instrument que moi ne vous est pas nécessaire, mais Jeanne votre virginale et valeureuse épouse l'a dit : " Il faut batailler pour que Dieu donne victoire. " Ô mon Jésus, je bataillerai donc pour votre Amour jusqu'au soir de ma vie. Puisque vous n'avez pas voulu goûter de repos sur la terre, je veux suivre votre exemple et j'espère ainsi que cette promesse sortie de vos lèvres Divines se réalisera pour moi : " Si quelqu'un me suit, en quelque lieu que je sois il y sera aussi, et mon Père l'élèvera en honneur. "

Être avec vous, être en vous, voilà mon unique désir.... cette assurance que vous me donnez de sa réalisation me fait supporter l'exil en attendant le radieux jour du Face à Face éternel !...

I particularly love the last line. (Please pardon the very rough translation) "To be with you, to be in you, this is my sole desire, the assurance that you give of its realization helps support me in exile, awaiting the radiant day [when we will be] Face to Face eternally."

Wiping a small tear from my eye, I say, "Yesterday, I had the most hits ever in one day at this site. And yet... and yet...most of them were looking for Galileo."

Then a thought occurs. Perhaps one or two of the hundred or so that visited, maybe only one, but perhaps someone saw something in their search that might serve as a proper instrument to bring them to the Lord. Hallelujah and cheers. A demain, Tristesse, open the door to joy!

The Pope has hailed the internet as a great tool of evangelization, which is why it is so critical to make a comfortable, welcoming presence on the web. I hope that in the course of their travels yesterday one or two found such a home and will stop in at more places in St. Blog's. May the Lord use our words to bring Souls to Him.

The Big Drop (a fragment)
Steven Riddle

I Paddling Out
Paddling out shows you that you have
placed yourself in the hand of God.
Mountains shift around you, moving past
as you cut through the aquamarine frame.
Did you know that this blueness, this clarity
this water as sharp as glass means no life
flourishes here? And yet you set youself,
a fleshly jewel amid the adamantine, sapphire rolls,
and your entire world ascends until the slope
you ride embraces the cloud weary sky,
and desends to where the kraken's eyes
are the sole source of light.
And they stare through you.

II-Catching the Wave
Catching the wave, you weigh the world of water
that passes just beneath you. A breath of wind
a hint of the passing swell, and liver, heart, or brain,
you know this is not the one, it waits
and you smell it, hear it, taste it,
it weighs in your stomach a finely balanced stone
that shifts and shifts until it tilts and you are
up, standing at the edge of the abyss,
and you caught it.

III-The Big Drop
From shifting mountains as blue as God's eye,
the white water crest chases you down the wall,
A continuing and relentless all-embracing fall.
This is it, the big drop, that leaves your stomach
at the top, fine-balanced stone and all.
You ride your breath down the massive waterwall

© 2003 Steven Riddle

Tribute to the Fallen

I'm sure that everyone who reads this also reads Ms. Hall's Blog; however, she is doing a wonderful thing publishing day by day a tribute to those who died on September 11. There is no way to say an appropriate thank you for this service, so this link must serve the cause. Thank you Ms. Hall.

Wednesday Intentions

This is a fast day, please e-mail me your intentions, I will take the with me to Mass today, or barring that add the to evening prayer. If you've contacted me before with an ongoing concern, rest assured, I will be praying for it.

Exorcists or Christ?

Ms. Hall writes:

Having spent an insane amount of time studying possession and exorcism (for the book that I wrote, and because I find it fascinating in general), I believe that someone like Osama Bin Laden or Saddam Hussein or Adolf Hitler is "perfectly possessed", meaning they are the embodiment of evil. Any exorcist worth his salt will tell you there is no amount of praying that will help that person. I've had two different exorcists say to me, "You just have to hope someone will lock them up before they kill too many people."

(This quote is one of the reasons I really like Ms. Hall's blog--she's straightforward and says exactly what she thinks. That is truly admirable, and at times, truly provocative in a good sense--stimulating thought and discussion.)

And I rather abruptly commented in her blog that I didn't believe these exorcists. (I apologize if I seemed rude--it was the haste in writing and not intentional) And I do not. However I believe a statement of that sort should probably be better explained than I offered on the blog.

I take for my example the parable of the importunate widow. The message we are to draw from that is to never cease in prayer for whatever cause. The parable doesn't say, "Pray until you decide it's useless, or until someone tells you that it isn't worthwhile," but pray always, continually. By constantly imploring God, we will achieve the ends of our prayer if they are within His Will.

I wonder where we would be if St. Isaac Jogues, St. Paul Miki, St. Charles Lwanga and, who knows how many others had determined that Satan had too strong a hold so resistance via prayer was futile, that some people perhaps some nations were beyond the reach of God's grace.

No, God's arm is not too short. There is no one living who passes beyond the reach of His redemption. To believe that someone is irredeemable and utterly beyond the help of prayer is to believe that God is not capable of fully effecting His Will. I cannot believe that anyone passes beyond that veil while living. However, I do believe that some may die without having been redeemed--that is certainly possible. I like to think it unlikely--but I won't debate that point. Suffice to say that I'm in the von Balthasar, Neuhaus camp on this issue.

I'm afraid that here I'm inclined to believe our Lord and Savior and the magisterium of the Church--neither tell us to give up hope or to abandon prayer even for the most depraved of souls.

The Ingoldsby Legends

Stories in verse,
amusing and wry,
a whole lot of people
just up and die.

A rage down the ages,
now out of print
cause publishers say
they won't spend one cent

to bring to the public
the lays they once sang,
they need all their money
to pay Stephen King.

So visit this site
and see for yourself,
pull The Ingoldsby legends
off the e-shelf.

A sample:

From The Ingoldsby Legends HINTS FOR AN HISTORICAL PLAY; TO BE CALLED WILLIAM RUFUS; OR THE RED ROVER.

Act 1.
Walter Tyrrel, the son of a Norman Papa,
Has, somehow or other, a Saxon Mama:
Though humble, yet far above mere vulgar loons,
He's a sort of a sub in the Rufus dragoons;
Has travelled, but comes home abruptly, the rather
That some unknown rascal has murder'd his Father;
And scarce has he pick'd out, and stuck in his quiver,
The arrow that pierced the old gentleman's liver,
When he finds, as misfortunes come rarely alone,
That his sweetheart has bolted,-- with whom is not known.
But, as murder will out, he at last finds the lady
At court with her character grown rather shady:
This gives him the 'blues,' and impairs the delight
He'd have otherwise felt, when they dub him a Knight.
For giving a runaway stallion a check,
And preventing his breaking King Rufus's neck.

Act 2.
Sir Walter has dress'd himself up like a Ghost,
And frightens a soldier away from his post;
Then, discarding his helmet, he pulls his cloak higher,
Draws it over his ears and pretends he's a Friar.
This gains him access to his sweetheart, Miss Faucit;
But, the King coming in, he hides up in her closet;
Where oddly enough, among some of her things,
He discovers some arrows he's sure are the King's,
Of the very same pattern with that which he found
Sticking into his father when dead on the ground!
Forgetting his funk, he bursts open the door,
Bounces into the Drawing-room, stamps on the floor,
With an oath on his tongue, and revenge in his eye,
And blows up King William the Second, sky-high;
Swears, storms, shakes his fist, and exhibits such airs,
That his Majesty bids his men kick him down stairs.

Act 3.
King Rufus is cross when he comes to reflect,
That as King, he's been treated with gross disrespect;
So he pens a short note to a holy physician,
And gives him a rather unholy commission,
Viz, to mix up some arsenic and ale in a cup,
Which the chances are Tyrrel may find and drink up.
Sure enough, on the very next morning, Sir Walter
Perceives in his walks, this same cup on the altar.
As he feels rather thirsty, he's just about drinking,
When Miss Faucit in tears, comes in running like winking;
He pauses of course, and, as she's thirsty too,
Says, very politely, 'Miss, I after you!'
The young lady curtsies, and being so dry,
Raises somehow her fair little finger so high,
That there's not a drop left him to 'wet t'other eye;'
While the dose is so strong, to his grief and surprise,
She merely says, 'Thankee, Sir Walter,' and dies.
At that moment the King, who is riding to cover,
Pops in en passant on the desperate lover,
Who has vow'd, not five minutes before, to transfix him,
-- So he does,-- he just pulls out his arrow and sticks him.
From the strength of his arm, and the force of his blows,
The Red-bearded Rover falls flat on his nose;
And Sir Walter, thus having concluded his quarrel,
Walks down to the foot-lights, and draws this fine moral.
'Ladies and Gentlemen,
Lead sober lives;--
Don't meddle with other folks' Sweethearts or Wives!--
When you go out a sporting, take care of your gun,
And -- never shoot elderly people in fun!'

A Film about St. Thérèse

I thought about posting this last when, when I first got it. But I figured the entire blogworld had received notice. It's largely an advertisement, but a very attractive, nicely arrayed advertisement for a film which, if as good as the design of the site, will be very good indeed. So go if you wish to see a preview of a film titled Thérèse There are clips of the film, soundtrack files, and other multimedia and html-delivered information. The credited director is Leonardo Defilippis.

The soundtrack, written by a Carmelite Nun, seems to be very good if a trifle too sweet in some places. I'd like to be able to hear the whole thing to determine overll effect.

Recently Added to Sacred-Texts

Sacred Texts is a site dedicated to sacred texts of the world. And today I stumbled across a small gem--Tales and Maxims from the Midrash. The text has a few problems because there are a number of hebrew words that do no show in txt or html. However, take a look at the Midrash Song of Songs. I particularly liked:

From Tales and Maxims from the Midrash [this is presented out of order because I liked it best, and if I am to keep your attention for only a moment, let it be with the excerpt immediately following] Rabbi Simeon b. Jochuah made it a point to cement affection between man and wife. A man came to him once from Sidon and asked him to grant him a divorce from his wife, as his ten years of conjugal bliss had brought him no offspring. The wise Rabbi, who read impulsiveness in the man's character, told him to go home and make a sort of a feast in commemoration of the coming event. 'I see no reason,' he said, 'why, a divorce should not be celebrated in some way, similar to the tying of the marriage knot.' The man, in expectation of his approaching freedom, was right glad of the opportunity of making merry, and gave a banquet; and being in good spirits be said to his wife: 'See, I am prepared to give you the most valuable thing in my house to take with you if you offer no obstacle to our divorce, and will return to your father's house.' When, after the banquet, he fell into a deep slumber, she got her servants to carry him to her father's house, whither she went herself. On awakening and finding himself in the house of the man with whom he was about to sever his relationship he asked his wife who was by his side the meaning of all this. 'I have done nothing against your expressed wish,' said his spouse it was only last evening that you offered me the most precious thing in your house.' The man was very much touched by this manifestation of true affection on the part of his wife, and when they appeared again before the Rabbi the following day, the sly sage could not conceal a smile as he asked the man what he could do for him. 'My wife and I have come to ask your prayers on our behalf, so that the Lord may grant us an heir or heirs.' The good man prayed to God to grant their desire, if in his wisdom it seemed good for them, and the couple did not remain childless for very many days.--Mid. Songs 1.

Moses, Aaron and Miriam died by having their souls drawn out by God's kiss. 1--Mid. Songs 1.

What wisdom considers to be her very crown, meekness looks upon as her mere sandal.--Mid. Songs 1.

Do not look upon a parable or simile lightly, for some difficult passages of Scripture may be explained through them; just as one may find anything lost in a dark place by the aid of a candle.--Mid. Songs 1.

The Torah has been compared to wine, water, oil, and honey and milk. Just as we find water all over the earth's surface, so do we find the Torah; water will never cease from this globe, neither will God's laws cease. Water comes from the heavens, and the Torah came from heaven. There is a noise when water descends, and the Torah descended amidst thunders. Water quickens the thirsty soul; so does the Torah quicken him who is thirsty for knowledge. Water cleanses impurities, and God's laws do the same. Water coming down by drops can form a river; so if a man acquires Torah bit by bit he may eventually become a great scholar. Water, unless one is thirsty, cannot be drunk with any degree of pleasure; in the same way, unless one has a craving for the Torah, its study, if enforced, will become a burden. Water runs from high places and seeks the lower portions of the earth; so the Torah will not remain with the haughty man, but rather seeks out the lowly. Water is not kept in golden or silver vessels, but is best kept in earthenware; so the Torah will not be retained except by him who is meek of spirit. A man of distinction will not think it beneath his dignity to ask for water from the meanest individual, neither is any one too great to despise instruction from the most insignificant person. One may drown in water if one cannot swim; so, unless one possesses a thorough knowledge of the Torah and all its meanings, one may be drowned in it. But it may be said that water gets stale if kept for a time in a vessel, and that the same should apply to the Torah. Remember therefore that it is also likened to wine, which improves with age. Again, water leaves no trace on him who tastes it, and the same, it might be said, must be the case with the Torah. But here again we must remember the comparison of the Torah to wine. just as wine has a visible effect on one who drinks it, so the studious man is at once known when one looks at him. Water does not rejoice the heart, and it might be concluded that the same is true of the Torah; hence it is likened to wine, since each rejoices the heart. Yet wine is sometimes injurious; not so the Torah, which is compared with oil. As oil is capable of anointing any part of the human body, so is the Torah an anointment to its possessor. But oil again has a bitter taste before it is purified; is this, then, equally true of the Torah? No; for the Torah is compared to milk and honey, each of which has an agreeable taste, while when blended they have healing properties as well as sweetness.--Mid. Songs 1.

From Last Night's Reading

I love Alexander Pope. I may be his one living fan. Study of Pope has all but vanished from the University. Indeed, I got but a small smattering in my undergraduate work when I took a course in eighteenth century writing. And yet Pope has such a wry wit and a quick line. He does not hesitate to smash preconceived notions and he is not kind to those who revel in their own foolishness. And so the excerpt below shows:

from Essay on Criticism Alexander Pope

               Avoid extremes; and shun the fault of such,
          Who still are pleas'd too little or too much.
          At ev'ry trifle scorn to take offence,
          That always shows great pride, or little sense;
          Those heads, as stomachs, are not sure the best,
          Which nauseate all, and nothing can digest.
          Yet let not each gay turn thy rapture move,
          For fools admire, but men of sense approve;
          As things seem large which we through mists descry,
          Dulness is ever apt to magnify.

I really like the advice for modern society--"At every trifle scorn to take offense." How often have we seen people in the blogworld become riled over a miswording or a difference of opinion that has no substance? We forget that it is not only permissable, but wonderful, that different people view things in different ways. Some become offended if all do not agree with them. On the other hand, isn't disagreement a source of error correction? Isn't it the way we learn when we have gone astray?

But better than the advice is the wonderful zinger--"That always shows great pride or little sense." Or, in some notable cases (I think of my own when I fly off the handle) both. In fact, I believe that little sense must walk hand in hand with great pride, because pride shoves out everything except an overweening sense of self--and if all of sense is occupied with self, there is little else that can wedge itself in.

A Cautionary Note from St. Ephraim the Syrian

from The Pearl, Hymn 7 St. Ephraim the Syrian

As in a race saw I the disputers,
The children of strife,
[Trying]
To taste fire,
To see the air,
To handle the light:
They were troubled at the gleaming,
And struggled to make divisions.

The Son,
Who is too subtle for the mind,
Did they seek to feel:
And the Holy Ghost
Who cannot be explored,
They sought to explore with their questionings.
The Father,
Who never at any time was searched out,
Have they explained and disputed of.

The sound form of our faith is from Abraham,
And our repentance is from Nineveh and the house of Rahab,
And ours are the expectations of the Prophets,
Ours of the Apostles.

I was very pleased, but quite surprised at the reception of St. Josemaria Escriva's "Seventeen Evidences." I have added it to my permalinks--although you can always find it again at the "Writings" site in the left hand column. Since I first discovered the list some three or four years ago, I have kept a copy of it tacked up on my cubicle wall right next to the icon-card of St. John of the Cross. Each day I do a little challenge--see if I can lower my number from the day before. What usually ends up happening is not that I lower the number but that I switch the infractions I incur. I know that with time and grace this will change and the Lord will lead me out of myself and into useful service. Until then, the checklist is an assist--a reminder of my imperfections, my arrogance, and my lack of charity. The saints are truly wonderful lights.

Another Strangeness

Never have I had visitors in such numbers before coming from one search. However, today, eleven of twenty visitors came to find the answer to the question: What 17th Century scientist dared to suggest that God's sun had spots? I think poor sitemeter has gone a bit batty. Either that, or there is some sort of contest out there for this answer. One of the answers, is of course, Galileo, who published a work in 1613. However, might I suggest that other search strategies would be more effective? For example, taking merely the key parts of the phrase "sunspots" and "seventeenth century" might produce better results. Welcome to my site, sorry those who visited early did not find what they were looking for.

Marching Orders from Our Holy Father

Thanks to Katherine who sent me the alert.

A Zenit News Release

POPE DECLARES ASH WEDNESDAY A DAY OF PRAYER AND FASTING FOR PEACE
March 5 to Be Set Aside Especially for the Middle East

VATICAN CITY, FEB. 23, 2003 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II called for a day of prayer and fasting for peace, especially in the Middle East,
to be observed on Ash Wednesday, March 5.

"For months the international community has been living in great apprehension because of the danger of a war that might disturb the
whole of the Middle East region and exacerbate the tensions that, unfortunately, are already present at the beginning of the millennium," the Pope said today, explaining the reasons for his decision.

The Holy Father made this announcement before praying the midday Angelus with the crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square.
"It is a duty of believers, regardless of the religion to which they belong, to proclaim that we will never be able to be happy if we are against one another; the future of humanity will never be able to be assured by terrorism and the logic of war," the Pope continued.

"We Christians, in particular, are called to be like guardians of peace in the places where we live and work," he explained. "We are asked, that is, to be alert, so that consciences will not yield to the temptation to egoism, falsehood and violence."

Because of this, the Pontiff invited "all Catholics to dedicate with special intensity next March 5, Ash Wednesday, to prayer and fasting for the cause of peace, especially in the Middle East."

"Above all, let us implore God for the conversion of hearts and a generous view in just decisions to resolve with adequate and peaceful means the contests that hamper the pilgrimage of humanity in our time," he said.

"In every Marian shrine an ardent prayer for peace will be raised to heaven with the praying of the holy rosary," the Pope added. "I trust that also in parishes and families the rosary will be prayed for this great cause on which the good of all depends."

"This common invocation will be accompanied by fasting, expression of penance for the hatred and violence that contaminate human relations," John Paul II noted.

"Christians share the ancient practice of fasting with many brothers and sisters of other religions, who in this way want to be despoiled of all pride and dispose themselves to receive from God the greatest and most necessary gifts, among which, in particular, is that of peace," the Holy Father stressed.

This is not the whole story, access the rest from whatever newsfeed one finds Zenit at.

Call for Prayers

Ms. Hall asks for prayers for her Brother, an Air Force Chaplain who will be reassigned to the Middle East. Let us all pray for him and all of the brave men and women of the American Armed forces who do so much for us even as they wait. Remember especially Ms. Hall's brother and Eric Johnson of Catholic Light

Please pray for two sets of friends who have upcoming interviews for job positions--several interviews throughout the week. Times are very difficult and between the two of them these men have responsibility for supporting 10 souls.

By Request--Seventeen Evidences of a Lack of Humility

from The Furrow (273)
St. Josemaria Escriva

263

Allow me to remind you that among other evident signs of a lack of humility are:

—Thinking that what you do or say is better than what others do or say;

—Always wanting to get your own way;

—Arguing when you are not right or — when you are — insisting stubbornly or with bad manners;

—Giving your opinion without being asked for it, when charity does not demand you to do so;

—Despising the point of view of others;

—Not being aware that all the gifts and qualities you have are on loan;

—Not acknowledging that you are unworthy of all honour or esteem, even the ground you are treading on or the things you own;

—Mentioning yourself as an example in conversation;

—Speaking badly about yourself, so that they may form a good opinion of you, or contradict you;

—Making excuses when rebuked;

—Hiding some humiliating faults from your director, so that he may not lose the good opinion he has of you;

—Hearing praise with satisfaction, or being glad that others have spoken well of you;

—Being hurt that others are held in greater esteem than you;

—Refusing to carry out menial tasks;

—Seeking or wanting to be singled out;

—Letting drop words of self-praise in conversation, or words that might show your honesty, your wit or skill, your professional prestige ... ;

—Being ashamed of not having certain possessions

Blogger Bizzaritie

Blogger is alternating between showing the full site and a site truncated at last Thursday in several locations, including my own. I noticed this on Kathy the Carmelite's site and my own so far. Has anyone else seen it? I know that some are getting through to the full display because I've gotten a comment or two today, but here's another server anomaly.

I just saw a posting over the copier at work that reflects a sentiment with which I agree. Something from Abraham Lincoln who points out that "There is no honorable way to kill, and there is no gentle way to destroy. There is nothing good in war, except its ending." Now, I concur with the sentiment, and particularly from a man who nevertheless led a nation through a national nightmare. However, no matter how much I may agree, I must conclude, as obviously Lincoln did, that sometimes war may be necessary to prevent an even greater evil and to right incredible wrongs.

But what I more disturbed at, is the necessity of others to foist upon me their viewpoints. Why is this posted? Why is it allowed to be? Whether I'm inclined to the sentiment or not, it strikes me as at best discourteous and detrimental to the conduct of a business to allow the posting of such divisive sentiments. What if I were not sympathetic to the meaning of this quotation now being used as a screed?

I recall Josemaria Escriva's list of the seventeen evidences of a lack of humility--number 4--"to give your opinion when it has not been requested or when charity does not demand it." (Admittedly most of us bloggers trip over that one on a daily basis). But whatever I may believe, it is certainly not appropriate for me to make of it a "command performance."

Another Agonizingly Slow Day at St. Blog's

The check on the old Site Meter shows that numbers are down about fifty percent for this time on a Monday. So expect light traffic and relatively few comments (those concerned about such things). Now, I'd like to know why the decline--not that I'm concerned, just incredibly interested in predictors of internet behavior.

Christian Quote of the Day--so Apropos

For this reason the apostle Paul said of Christ, "In him are hidden all the treasures of the wisdom and knowledge of God." The soul cannot enter into these treasures, nor attain them, unless it first crosses into and enters the thicket of suffering, enduring interior and exterior labors, and unless it first receives from God very many blessings in the intellect and in the senses, and has undergone long spiritual training.

The gate that gives entry into these riches of his wisdom is the cross; because it is a narrow gate, while many seek the joys that can be gained through it, it is given to few to desire to pass through it.

... from a spiritual canticle by John of the Cross (1542-1591)

In recent days I have found the most extraordinary words coming out of my mouth and thoughts coming out of my head--things that in my wildest imagination, I could never envisage myself saying or thinking. And sometimes these words and thoughts have led to actions that, once again, have surprised me beyond all bounds.

For example, I had heard, and I honestly believed that people could offer up their difficulties for the benefit of others. I knew this was true, but I suppose there was a subconscious codicil to this overall principle--such action was for the saintly, for the cloistered nun, for the priest, for "professionals." If offering things up were televised, it would bear the big legal warning: "What you are seeing is done by trained professionals. Do not try this at home."

Gradually God worked on my hard heart and head. I came to realized that for what it was worth, I could do this also. I have only started doing so recently, in the past few months, and I have heard all around me extraordinary stories of grace. These are perhaps the little consolations that St. John of the Cross tells us are offered early on to beginners in prayer to encourage them to continue in the way of grace and prayer. And they are encouraging--they tell me that prayer and sacrifice works--often beyond our own wildest expectations.

I have always been pacifist in tendency--but a few years ago militantly so. I was a person who felt that those who did not hold my pacifist convictions either did not understand them or was in league with the devil. I never said as much aloud, but I'm sure my attitude must have conveyed something of my contempt for such people. Today, I remain committed to the cause of peace by conscience--I don't know if that COULD change (although I leave all to God), but I also am committed to the cause of individual liberty of conscience. It is not for me to dictate to another where they should stand on an issue that is so bound up in how God created them and the relationship between God and that person. More than that, it is incumbent upon me to support them in their convictions through my prayer and small sacrifices. My prayer must always be for the ever increasing strength of the bond between a soul and God.

Also recently I discovered that I do care about souls. I care about souls and their approach to God in a way that never entered my conscious life before. I am astounded by how much I care and by how much I want to pull others along with me into the Divine Ballroom--first to waltz, and then to tango with God. Strange metaphor, but I see before me St. Teresa and her sisters, tambourines and dancing. I see David who danced before the Lord. I am called to the intimate embrace and the magnificent openness of a dance with God.

I continue to be careless, lazy, self-serving, self-indulgent, and sometimes arrogant. God doesn't change your personality in one fell swoop--but I am more aware of the times these things surge to the forefront, and I am committed to letting God have His way with them. I still have vices and little attachments that I really want to give up, but have not yet the strength to abandon (Lord, let me observe silence, but not yet. Lord, let me pray continuously, so long as I can continue to read my Science Fiction books. . . you all know the drill). These are places where He will work if I will listen, observe, and obey.

There are many other transformations that have taken place in recent days as well. I have done none of these things myself. I'm not even certain that I ever prayed for these things. Had I known they were likely to happen, I might have prayed against them. One thing I am fairly certain of is that St. John of the Cross intercedes for me daily, hourly. I feel like a favorite child, so strong is the impression of his presence in my life. Who could be more powerfully configured to appeal to me? One of the world's great poets who also knew God intimately, almost a perfect match for my exact interests. His prayers are part of the changes in my life of recent date. But there is more than that. I have honestly prayed that God's will be done--that is the extent of my cooperation with grace. I haven't really acted all that much on it. When I try to do it on my own steam, I fail miserably. But when I do pray, I pray for God's will and the strength to see it through. And slowly God seems to be leading me out of myself and into the image of His son. I am very, very far from my goal. But it seems that I begin to understand what Jesus says more. I don't always act on it, but the words begin to make sense--puzzle pieces are falling into place. I am often led to say and write things that I could not possibly have done even last year. I have grown in love with my precious wife and son, and I have become utterly committed to making their lives better regardless of the personal cost. This is a place where I can be entirely self-sacrificing and not make a radical display of it. No one needs to know the hundreds or thousands of little things that take place that are gradual mastery of self and immolation in God.

Cooperating with grace is actually quite easy--surprisingly easy (My yoke is easy, my burden light.). It is a matter of praying the Lord's prayer and meaning it--of hearing the words "thy will be one on Earth as it is in heaven," and willing that I might be the instrument of that will. It is a matter of growing in love with God and relying upon the Holy Spirit and the sacraments to support me when I might otherwise fail. And I do fail, often, daily. Then it is a matter of recalling with Brother Lawrence as I look up to heaven, "It is ever thus when I abandon your grace.," and recommitting to the right direction.

Cooperating with grace is nothing that can be done by oneself. Even cooperating with grace requires grace, but one must make the act of will and one must take steps, even though they are small steps, when prompted. One must seize the myriad opportunities that are all around and humbly, gratefully approach Incarnate Love and show Him how much one loves. Only in this way can God's ultimately effective grace take root and begin to flower in one's life. Meaningful prayer and meaningful small steps toward God are our first, stumbling infant's steps--arms outstretched ready to fall. . . and to be picked back up, dusted off and set on our feet again by an all-loving Father.

A Most Excellent Link

I'm so glad there are so many bloggers who are able to find such worthwhile site. From One Pilgrim's Walk (scroll to the second entry) a wonderful site about Takashi Nagai

Adoption Day

Heralded by slogging around the Magic Kingdom for eight hours. Pirates first and foremost for the "boneman." Spiders in the Haunted Mansion, the Carousel, Snow White, and Let's not forget Astro Orbiter and that all-time favorite Buzz Lightyear. The joys of having a four-year. Thank you God for this magnificent gift. This evening Spy Kids 2 (probably) and early to bed for everyone.

Finally a Relevant and Meaningful Quiz

From Kathy the Carmelite, I got this quiz. Relevant and meaningful. And it would be more so, if only the quiz constructor had chosen not to write over the supercool wave.

What Natural Disaster are you? Take the quiz!

Call for Prayers

Ms. Hall asks for prayers for her Brother, an Air Force Chaplain who will be reassigned to the Middle East. Let us all pray for him and all of the brave men and women of the American Armed forces who do so much for us even as they wait. Remember especially Ms. Hall's brother and Eric Johnson of Catholic Light

My friends thank everyone for their prayers. After a great deal of pain and still hurting, things are on the mend. They thank everyone for the great outpouring of prayer that held them up during the flood and carried them to a new place in the Lord. They know that there is more work ahead, so continued prayers are requested, but they are profoundly grateful to all who have helped.

Please pray for two sets of friends who have upcoming interviews for job positions. One on Monday and one on Tuesday. Times are very difficult and between the two of them these men have responsibility for supporting 10 souls.

Tolerance and Charity

Ms. Hall asks a legitimate question on her blog that inspired a bit of thought: Was Jesus Tolerant?

The answer to that is very simple--no. Tolerance is not a virtue--it is a lowest common denominator--it is, "as long as you leave me alone I will leave you alone." Tolerance is soft and weak and vapid, containing nothing of import. It is merely the barest scratch on the surface of adamantine Charity.

Christ was Charitable, not tolerant. Charity is a rock to tolerance's sand. Charity is a command to tolerance's suggestion. Charity demands a great deal from us. We must love people we do not wish to love. That doesn't mean that we simply allow them to go their own way and God speed to them. Sometimes it means that we say, "Generation of Vipers," "Ye Whitewashed sepulchers." Sometimes we bind wounds, sometimes we use a hammer, but we use it when nothing else will do the job--when we must wake those ruined souls around us, and wake them we must, because THAT is the act of charity. The act of tolerance is to "let sleeping dogs lie." We do not confront the homosexual in the self-styled delusion that has become a lifestyle when we tolerate. When we are charitable, we confront the lie even as we welcome the person. Charity is about the cherishing of souls in the same way God cherishes them. This means that tolerance doesn't even come remotely close to starting to be enough. Tolerance is just a whisker away from the sin of sloth. It asks nothing, tells nothing, demands nothing of us. We can be tolerant simply by not commenting or noticing. We can walk obliviously through life and be tolerant. Charity demands observation and it sometimes demands confrontation. Jesus didn't coddle the money-changers in the temple, and yet I believe He acted both in righteous anger and in true charity both to the money changers and those who observed what happened. They could begin to understand what faith and love of God were really about--not about careful, meticulous observance of laws, but self-giving--self-giving unto death.

So to Ms. Hall's very legitimate, germane question the answer is undoubtedly NO. Jesus was not tolerant--He was not a divinely inspired wimp--He is God incarnate and hence has the attributes of God Himself--pure love--pure charity, pure care and desire for every human soul. He will leave the 99 and seek the lost one--an act of charity. An act of tolerance would allow the one to wander wherever he would choose and perhaps say, "I'm Okay, you're okay--everything's cool." Tolerance does not risk itself. Tolerance does not die crucified. Only Love did and does that. Only Charity and desire for the good of all.

Strombus gigas

I mention this "queen of shells" in a comment below, and this image is from the source two posts below. Glorious.

More Wonderful Resources from Project Canterbury

The Doctrine of the Church of England on the Real Presence examined by the Writings of St. Thomas Aquinas

And on another subject:

Christian Marriage: An Instruction
an excerpt:

TURN, then, to the factors in the marriage relationship which make for happiness. The most important thing, as we stated before, is the sharing of the deepest ideals, kneeling in prayer together night by night, and at the altar rail on Sunday; encouraging each other in everything that is sensitive and fine; offering sympathy and understanding even before it is needed.

Oh Praise the Lord for He Is Good

His love endures forever.

And you'll think the reason for my praise silly--but here it is. I've just discovered that the first 8 volumes of the Journal of the Academy of Natural Science of Philadelphia is available in electronic format. In addition such important scientific papers as Audobon's prospectus for Birds of America and Rafinesque's Ichthyologia Ohiensis ( a major work on Ichthylogy in Ohio, and Rafinesque gave his name to one of the most prominent fossils in southwestern Ohio Rafinesquina ponderosa.

Okay, so I have odd enthusiasms.

Oh, and the journal includes the work of the major Early Conchologist Thomas Say who gave Latin names to such items as the Olive Shell.

On Islam

I just talked Ms. Hall's ear off over in the comment box for this post. I trust she can forgive me and that the disagreement comes off as respectful and not vituperative--although I always distrust the nuances that can be applied to words. Please accept my word for it, it is intended as a respectful disagreement.

I honestly do not know what to make of Islam. I suppose I would have to have the same feelings in approaching any religion I was unaware of. I recall Gandhi's possibly apocryphal remark that , "Christianity is a wonderful religion, too bad so few practice it." Is this also a possiblity with Islam? Culturally I have been persuaded otherwise, but is that a result of the blinders I have chosen to put on? After all, I suppose if one wished to, one could find enough incidents of Christian violence around the world to claim that Christianity was no religion of peace. I don't know that this is true, but then I come prepackaged with bias in that arena as well.

The Islamic Supreme Council of America seems to represent a voice of reason and solid support for both Islam and the United States. I could be a dupe.

However, as I pointed out, as Christians we do not have the luxury of being anti-anyone. We can opposed ideas, notions, dangerous actions, idiocy, and any number of other things, but we cannot be against the people holding those notions. That is not to say that when they threaten our existence we are to stand meekly by and let them wipe us out. Nor does it say that we should preemptively take care of them (pre-emption, in my mind does not refer to our present crisis). Jesus demands that we love one another. Charity is a virtue only in so far as it is practiced toward those who oppose us and hate us (reasonably or unreasonably).

So, I say let us focus instead on the beams in our own eyes, and not be so willing to swallow the foaming-at-the-mouth media image of Islam that we have been spoon-fed. It is ironic how the media so "tolerant," "liberal," and anti-Bush could also portray so strong a negative image of Islam, while telling us that it is a "religion of Peace." Were I a little more paranoid I would say that we have a remarkable instance of the Minitruth employing double-speak.

Current Reading List

I do this from time to time, I'm uncertain why. Perhaps it will spark some interest somewhere or perhaps it is a way of clearing out the cobwebs.

Edith Wharton--Ethan Frome AND The Buccaneers
Roger Zelazny-Lord of Light (Accidentally picked this up last night while prowling around looking for something to do and it netted me in very readily. Not as fine as some of the great short work--"He Who Shapes," "The Doors of His Face, the Lamps of His Mouth," "A Rose for Ecclesiastes," but still a remarkably fine sustained accomplishment.
Nathaniel Hawthorne--House of the Seven Gables (yes, still--what's the rush?)
G.K. Chesterton--Heretics--ditto
Karen Hall--Dark Debts
Ronald Knox--Captive Flames
Greg Tobin--Council--A sequel to Conclave and nowhere near as good

I suspect that I shall finish them in the following order: Zelazny and Hall. I suspect that I shall drop Tobin, and that I will continue to linger over the extraordinary prose and imagery of House of the Seven Gables. Heretics will continue to be a time-to-time read. With Lent approaching I shall probably pick up Richard John Neuhaus's remarkable Death on a Friday Afternoon yet once again.

Fickle, I guess you would call it.

True Equality

Christianity is the religion of true equality. It can be nothing else from its very foundations. God is our Father. We are all His children. How can there be anything other than equality? Does an all-loving parent cherish one sibling above another? Does a Father who is worthy of the name prefer a child? He may assign one task to one, and a different task to another, but it is with the same deep and abiding love.

Stumbling through the blogworld I happened upon a comment that suggested that some feel less worthy than another. Some may feel that what they have to say is unworthy to be heard. Here, at least, that is not true. I don't demand that anyone comment or that anyone feel compelled to join the conversation. But I do invite everyone to feel free to do so. As brothers and sisters in Christ, every person is valued and cherished. Unless the commenter makes of him or herself a nuisance, every comment is worthy of respectful consideration. I strive to give this to each person who passes through, and I wish to assure everyone that the more voices heard from, the better. All are welcome, all are invited to speak. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ, all equally worthy of joining the conversation whose final end is the edification of all.

So, please feel welcome, but not by any means required, to say whatever is on your mind. I will endeavor to treat all such comments with respect and consideration. You are brothers and sisters in Christ and I pray for each of you each day. After all, it is what we Carmelites are here for!

Our Lord's shalom to all.

Very Slow Day at St. Blog's

So the perfect opportunity to announce that I am seriously, very seriously rethinking the direction of this blog. It seems that it has become too diffuse. All would be better served if I were to revert to the tighter focus and clear purpose of the goal of this blog--to encourage everyone to a life a deeper prayer.

I was thinking also about opening up a multi-blog--perhaps an online Carmelite chapter that would allow the resident Carmelites to deepen their commitment to vocation while exercising our vocation of evangelism in Prayer. I don't know yet what form this might take, but I can think of a great many potential participants, and I think it would prove beneficial to many. Blogs like "The Journey," and "Conversations that Matter," already take large steps toward this goal, but I would like to move even further along. So, Carmelites out there, don't be surprised if you get an e-mail from me in the near future. (Also don't be surprised if you don't--these things require a great deal of prayer.).

Blessed Titus Brandsma

Several days ago I wrote of Blessed Titus, and I had been looking for this wonderful online source--Leopold Glueckert's Titus Brandsma: Friar Against Facism.

Religion in Science Fiction

Apropos of nothing here's an interesting list of Science Fiction writers and their religious affiliations.

A New Writing Blog

Ms. Hall has establish a new writing blog, Write this Way and immediately I can heartily recommend it. Go and see what's happening.

Forthcoming

In the near future I plan to review a book by St. Blog's own Ms. Karen Hall. It was a Book-of-the-Month Club main selection, and the back cover touts that it is "Soon to Be a Major Motion Picture." I don't know if it ever made it under a different title, but I don't think so. Ms. Hall has already issued strong cautions about this "early" work and I will keep in mind what she has to say about it. However, early investigation shows the writing to be good, although not as riveting as the genre normally entails. However, I am coming in off Peace Like a River (not to mention a day of illness) and that may well taint my overall view. I'll let you know what I think, but I suspect that I will enjoy it tremendously despite some elements that may not please all St. Blog's Parishioners.

Ms. Hall has been working with Mary Doria Russell whose work, The Sparrow was an incredibly fascinating, intricate, and ultimately horrifying and touching study of Jesuits in Space. (Yes, I know it sounds funny, but it is magnificent--perhaps the best such work since James Blish's A Case of Consience) Perhaps someday soon, I should make a list of Catholic and Christian Science Fiction. I invite contributions from the gallery.

Book Review: Leif Enger: Peace Like a River

Author: Leif Enger
Book: Peace Like a River
Recommendation: Lukewarm--great prose, poor story, sketchy, outrageous, and often unbelievable characters and motivations

Despite being beautifully written, Peace Like a River suffers from a great many problems, not the least of which is the fact that it is about five times longer than the story material supports. The story is episodic and not particularly insightful--it often strikes one as being a disjointed series of events connected only by being linked to the central characters. These characters, in turn, are largely caricatures in varying degrees of plausibility. Dad--a devout pentecostal Christian who is know to effect miracles and to walk on air; Swede, an astoundingly precocious young girl (perhaps nine years old) who writes the most astoundingly horrid Robert Service-like verse* about Mexican Outlaw Valdez and who seems to have an endless stream of anecdotes and information of dubious provenance about the Old West; Davey, eldest son and cold-blooded murderer with whom we are supposed to be sympathetic because his actions are taken in a supposedly just cause; Reuben, the narrator and the child who demonstrated one of his father's first miracles by breathing at all; Roxanna, a sketchily drawn woman who meets the family and immediately falls in love with them all inviting them into her house and her life, even though they are obviously refugees and escapees.

Perhaps some of my antipathy toward this novel is the rave reviews that come from the media about this "profound" novel of faith and miracles. Peace Like a River has been compared to Huckleberry Finn and To Kill a Mockingbird. It bears no resemblance to either of these. The only similarity is that the main portion of the book deals with the life of children during a crisis in the family. The writing, while reasonably adept and occasionally evocative, is not of the very finest. Perhaps the author's other limitations also cripple the prose to some degree.

The story concerns what happens when the eldest brother in the family murders two people (in a premeditated fashion) and then flees justice. It also concerns the power of faith and the effect of miracles. Unfortunately in this overblown structure much that is good gets completely lost. We have no real sense of the miraculous and no sense of the normal. The children are eighty-year olds hidden in the bodies of pre-adolescents. Father is a fountain of mercy, kindness, rightness, and miraculous healing powers and other mysterious powers that blind state-troopers to the fleeing group, but still allow the feds to ultimately find them.

Thematically, the book is repugnant, as we are asked to sympathize with Davey who murders two people in about as cold-blooded a fashion as possible. Were that not bad enough, other characters allow murders, injuries, and other mayhem to occur. We are supposed to sympathize and care whether or not these people are brought to justice. I found myself only wishing that they would be incarcerated and this labored story could wend to its rightful rest.

It took me several weeks to force myself through this book--had it not been for some truly sterling moments in the writing and two different book-groups reading it, I would have abandoned it long ago. I can recommend almost any other book reviewed in the last month or so before recommending this disappointing and laborious effort at narrative. I am absolutely convinced that this author can really write--I hope that next time he chooses to give us a story worthy of his abilities.

Now, to give another perspective--I read this for a book group consisting of about ten people, most of the rest of whom enjoyed it tremendously, siting their sympathy with Swede most particularly as a compelling aspect of the novel. Chacun á son goût.

*Here a sample of the dreadful "The Shooting of Dan McGrew"
A bunch of the boys were whooping it up in the Malamute saloon;
The kid that handles the music-box was hitting a jag-time tune;
Back of the bar, in a solo game, sat Dangerous Dan McGrew,
And watching his luck was his light-o'-love, the lady that's known as Lou.

Fast and Pray

Please remember that today has been a kind of informal day of fast and prayer at St. Blog's for a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Iraq. Those who can do so, please help with this effort. Thanks.

A Quotation from a Guilty Pleasure

Yes, it's from one of my all-time favorite favorite films Pollyanna

"When you look for the bad in people, expecting to find it, you surely will."
Attributed to Abraham Lincoln, and even though I blogged it before, it is worth repeating. Because the opposite is also true.

Another Quiz--For Some of our Less Frequent Visitors

Here are another few of my favorite things from a different category. Later, still another category. I found about four of these with google. I'm sure adepts will do better. Author, book, and "first or last line"

1. Stock cue SOUND: "Presenting SCANALYZER, Engrelay Satelserv's unique thrice-per-day study of the big big scene, the INdepth, INdependent INmediate INterface between you and your world."

2. For a week Mr. R. Childan had been anxiously watching the mail.

3. He left, and Mike pushed back his halo and got to work. He could see a lot of changes he wanted to make.

4. The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel.

5. The Deliverator belongs to an elite order, a hallowed subcategory.

6. Here I pause. If you wish to walk no farther with me, reader, I cannot blame you. It is no easy road.

Keep in mind this is rather a "specialty list." Google for answers prohibited, but if you want to google and show me it can be done, please e-mail me.

Another from Mr. O'Rama

Who nominates St. Augustine as "Most likely to be a blogger." I find this persuasive, but I've several other nominees, just based on sheer volume and the obvious need to communicate:

(1) St. Alphonsus di Liguori--that man not only could write, he did--reams and reams and reams and reams. I've never much cared for it except in excerpts, but he was out there informing the Catholic World.
(2)St. Francis de Sales--another inveterate writer--again so much you can't hold it on a flock of shelves.
(3)St. Robert Bellarmine--although obviously, he would be running a clog, not a pure blog.

I invite other nominees, either based on the degree of self-revelation, or on sheer volume of prose. This could be most interesting. St. Clare or St. Isidor (I've seen various arguments) will be/is the patron of the Internet. We need a partron for St. Blogs--someone big, someone charismatic, someone with umpf and someone NOT from any of the Major orders so we don't have a tertiary just war here. Let the nominations begin.

By the way, I have two nominees for the post--St. John Chrysostom, and St. Ephrem the Syrian.
[Later: Ms Huntley suggests the glorious G.K. Chesterton, a nominee, despite my own reservations, that I find persuasive.]

Some Advice for those Struggling from Jean Pierre de Caussade

Jean Pierre de Caussade is another of those who for his work of spiritual direction alone, I would have canonized. I have no knowledge of his life, so I do not know if he comes anywhere close to the needed heroic sanctity--but if not, he has helped me many times:

Abandonment to Divine Providence--Section 2 Jean Pierre de Caussade

(available online here)

The duties of each moment are the shadows beneath which hides the divine operation.
"The power of the most High shall over-shadow thee " (Luke i, 35), said the angel to Mary. This shadow, beneath which is hidden the power of God for the purpose of bringing forth Jesus Christ in the soul, is the duty, the attraction, or the cross that is presented to us at each moment. These are, in fact, but shadows like those in the order of nature which, like a veil, cover sensible objects and hide them from us. Therefore in the moral and supernatural order the duties of each moment conceal, under the semblance of dark shadows, the truth of their divine character which alone should rivet the attention. It was in this light that Mary beheld them. Also these shadows diffused over her faculties, far from creating illusion, did but increase her faith in Him who is unchanging and unchangeable. The archangel may depart. He has delivered his message, and his moment has passed. Mary advances without ceasing, and is already far beyond him. The Holy Spirit, who comes to take possession of her under the shadow of the angel's words, will never abandon her.

There are remarkably few extraordinary characteristics in the outward events of the life of the most holy Virgin, at least there are none recorded in holy Scripture. Her exterior life is represented as very ordinary and simple. She did and suffered the same things that anyone in a similar state of life might do or suffer. She goes to visit her cousin Elizabeth as her other relatives did. She took shelter in a stable in consequence of her poverty. She returned to Nazareth from whence she had been driven by the persecution of Herod, and lived there with Jesus and Joseph, supporting themselves by the work of their hands. It was in this way that the holy family gained their daily bread. But what a divine nourishment Mary and Joseph received from this daily bread for the strengthening of their faith! It is like a sacrament to sanctify all their moments. What treasures of grace lie concealed in these moments filled, apparently, by the most ordinary events. That which is visible might happen to anyone, but the invisible, discerned by faith, is no less than God operating very great things. O Bread of Angels! heavenly manna! pearl of the Gospel! Sacrament of the present moment! thou givest God under as lowy a form as the manger, the hay, or the straw. And to whom dost thou give Him "Esurientes implevit bonis" (Luke i. 53). God reveals Himself to the humble under the most lowly forms, but the proud, attaching themselves entirely to that which is extrinsic, do not discover Him hidden beneath, and are sent empty away.

No Matter How Wretched I Am Feeling

This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it! (Psalm 118:24)

All things work to the good for those that love the Lord and are called according to His Name. (Rom 8:28)

For in HIm we live and move and have our being. . . (Acts 17:28)

Feeling Absolutely Wretched Today

Well, I have no idea why I forced myself to go to work today. I feel dreadful. No dreadful doesn't even begin to hold a candle to how I feel. And yet at the same time, I begin to see this as a gift that the Lord has given me. I wouldn't mind at all if He decided to take it back or perhaps not send the same one again; however, a gift it is.

So, I will offer up this wretched endurance of a day, however it may turn out, for the intentions of all those who have written to me and for one special person in particular.

Given that this is a tranistory and minor discomfort in the scheme of things, it probably isn't the most efficacious offering--but the way I see it, a gift is ours to use as we choose, and if I use this one till the batteries run down, God can effect good works in the lives of others.

Praise the Lord, for He is good, His love endures forever!

If This Doesn't Undermine All the Others

How Republican Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Most interesting. Cynical liberal yet? I hardly think I deserve the epithet "liberal" much less cynical. Although that's the view from inside.

Took All the Quizzes at And Then

And this was the only result I liked. But pauvre enfant--isn't Nachtmusik misspelled?

Take the test, by Emily.

First and Last

This quiz is simple. Identify the work, the author, and whether the line is the first or last of the work in question. No googling for answers, as they can all be readily found. This isn't a quiz to test use of internet, but to test native home-spun recognition.

1. Stately, plump Buck Mulligan came from the stairhead, bearing a bowl of lather on which a mirror and a razor lay crossed.

2. It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.

3. [This one's a bit tricky]It is a little remarkable, that--though disinclined to talk overmuch of myself and my affairs at the fireside, and to my personal friends--an autobiographical impulse should twice in my life have taken possession of me, in addressing the public.

4. My father's family name being Pirrip, and my Christian name Philip, my infant tongue could make of both names nothing longer or more explicit than Pip.

5. I lingered round them, under that benign sky: watched the moths fluttering among the heath and harebells, listened to the soft wind breathing through the grass, and wondered how any one could ever imagine unquiet slumbers for the sleepers in that quiet earth.

6. It was the devious-cruising Rachel, that in her retracing search after her missing children, only found another orphan.

7.There was no possibility of taking a walk that day.

8.One summer evening in the year 1848, three Cardinals and a missionary Bishop from America were dining together in the gardens of a villa in the Sabine hills, overlooking Rome.

9. In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since.

10.So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.

11. Once upon a time and a very good time it was there was a moocow coming down along the road and this moocow that was coming down along the road met a nicens little boy named baby tuckoo.

12. Lily, the caretaker's daughter, was literally run off her feet.

13. It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.

14. For there she was.

Naturally, the last lines are somewhat more difficult that the first. Remember--no googling

The Post I Killed

I just killed a post, before it was even posted, because it seemed uncharitable. Make that two posts--my apologies to the people who may have seen the one that I actually did post.

A Reasonable Taxonomy

Of blogdom may be found here.

A highly impactful (to borrow from the blogmaster above) instigative, I mean investigative report here L. A. Confidential it ain't, thanks be to God.

Coming Soon

Perhaps as early as this evening--whenever I can gather up the resources--a quiz first and last.

Chez Dylan, An Interesting Quiz
And being the wretched god-forsaken iconclast I must be:

1. Black or white? Yes--one is meaningless without the other.
2. Plaid or stripes? Paisley--preferably in brilliant psychedelic colors. If not, plaid, in Isle of Skye tartan.
3. Paperback or hardcover books? PDA--electronic formats of all sorts.
4. Color or B&W printer?Actually--PDFs, but if forced--Black and White--color sucks up ink like nobody's business.
5. Golden oldies or the newest tunes? Golden Oldies--real oldies like Vivaldi.
6. Ice cream: in a cone or a dish? In a Baked Alaska, definitely.
7. Bath or shower? Bath, preferably in the huge unenclosed salt-water tub called the ocean. The point is not to get clean, it is to be IN water.
8. Are you outgoing or shy? Believe it or not, extremely, well shy isn't the right word, but unobtrusive, blending with wallpaper and carpet.
9. Answer the phone when it rings, or screen calls? Let it ring--rarely anyone I wish to speak to.
10. VCR or TiVO? DVD, definitely. There's nothing on television I care to see at all anyway. And DVD I can watch Endless Summer endlessly and freeze a perfect crystal clear vision of the waves at Waimea bay.

From the Magnificent Indictment of Modern English

By George Orwell--

from "Politics and the English Language" George Orwell

Now that I have made this catalogue of swindles and perversions, let me give another example of the kind of writing that they lead to. This time it must of its nature be an imaginary one. I am going to translate a passage of good English into modern English of the worst sort. Here is a well-known verse from Ecclesiastes:

I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth

Here it is in modern English:

Objective consideration of contemporary phenomena compels the conclusion that success or failure in competitive activities exhibits no tendency to be commensurate with innate capacity, but that a considerable element of the unpredictable must invariably be taken into account.

This is a parody, but not a very gross one. Exhibit (3), above, for instance, contains several patches of the same kind of English. It will be seen that I have not made a full translation. The beginning and ending of the sentence follow the original meaning fairly closely, but in the middle the concrete illustrations--race, battle, bread--dissolve into the vague phrase "success or failure in competitive activities." This had to be so, because no modern writer of the kind I am discussing--no one capable of using phrases like "objective consideration of contemporary phenomena"--would ever tabulate his thoughts in that precise and detailed way. The whole tendency of modern prose is away from concreteness. Now analyze these two sentences a little more closely. The first contains 49 words but only 60 syllables, and all its words are those of everyday life. The second contains 38 words of 90 syllables: 18 of its words are from Latin roots, and one from Greek. The first sentence contains six vivid images, and only one phrase ("time and chance") that could be called vague. The second contains not a single fresh, arresting phrase, and in spite of its 90 syllables it gives only a shortened version of the meaning contained in the first. Yet without a doubt it is the second kind of sentence that is gaining ground in modern English. I do not want to exaggerate. This kind of writing is not yet universal, and outcrops of simplicity will occur here and there in the worst-written page. Still, if you or I were told to write a few lines on the uncertainty of human fortunes, we should probably come much nearer to my imaginary sentence than to the one from Ecclesiastes.

Much of what he discusses here was the groundwork for 1984. On a side issue, Peter Kreeft, a magnificent thinker and apologist, has said that Aldous Huxley--a sloppier writer--produced a more convincing image of the kind of "soft totalatarianism" into which the world would progressively degenerate. He felt that 1984 by contrast was somewhat more passé--not really a possibility in the new world into which we had entered. While I concur that the elements of Huxley's Brave New World abound in our society, creeping evidences of 1984 also linger and proliferate. Worse, it may be that Huxley's end is that of well-developed "first world" countries, but Orwell's that of less affluent nations. Does it matter? Not really, because whatever way society goes, we need not join the overall flow. We do not have to consent to what is being done or offered. And we are a "peculiar people, a race held apart." Our destiny is neither of these, even if we live in societies pervaded by them. Our destiny is Heaven, our occupation, prayer, our goal union with God. All incompatible with whichever vision of the world you find more likely.

Wednesday Intentions

It is Wednesday. In addition to my friends listed below and a peaceful resolution to the present crisis, I'm willing to offer any other intentions that arrive to me by the time I go to Mass at about 11:30. Sign up now! Don't miss out!

Rejoice Oh Blogworld, It Seems that Haloscan hath Returned

Our patience is rewarded.

Exciting Electronic Publications

Okay, you already know that I have very. . .uh. . . catholic, that's it, catholic interests. So, you won't be surprised by what follows. This is some of the most exciting stuff I've seen in a while.

First off, a a complete translation of the Babylonian Talmud, one of the major tractates in the Talmudic literature.

The Seidenstricker Translation of The Tale of Genji by Lady Murasaki (the answer to the guess what/who of the other day). Seidenstricker is a reknowned expert on Japanese History and Civilization, having written several books on the topic.

An online translation of La Vita Nuova

Fifty essays of George Orwell, that is officially inaccessible from the United States, so you'll have to go and look for it at Australia Gutenberg. This collection includes his famous defense of P.G. Wodehouse. (You'll find the inimitable essay "Politics and the English Language" as relevant today as it was in 1947.)

Tread delicately around this one--one of the most important books in the history of recent religion, edited by R.A. Torrey, the title The Fundamentals says it all.

Some true apocryphal New Testament works along with some Anti-Catholic diatribe and some early noncanonical espistles.

Something Many Will Not Care For

A compilation of quotes from the Holy Father on War in Iraq.

I have said many times, very clearly where I stand. I stand on and in prayer for God's will in this matter. But my emotional stand is well reflected in this line from the Pope:"I say: NO TO WAR! War is not always inevitable. It is always a defeat for humanity."

That said, I must also quite regretfully acknowledge that there are forces in the world that sometimes lead to a defeat for humanity. War is not inevitable; however, sometimes it may be necessary. Sometimes humanity must be defeated so that it is not annhilated. I should further remark that this is an extraordinary statement for a person who has beatified and canonized innumerable martyrs to the Nazi terror. That war may have been a defeat for humanity, but I find it impossible to contemplate the horrors of what a possible no-war "victory" for humanity might have been. Mind you, I'm not criticizing the Holy Father, but I must say that I do not understand completely the fullness of what he might mean.

My solution and recourse as always is to hope that war may be averted and pray that God's "will be done on Earth as in Heaven," which is to say, perfectly. So to extract another quote from the article, "WE must multiply our efforts for peace. One cannot stand idle in front of terrorist attacks, but equally one cannot stand idle in the face of the war now appearing on the horizon. " And so, I take the best action a private citizen may take in the face of this peril, an action I am absolutely certain the Holy Father would approve, I pray for God's will and hope that His will is peace, but accept whatever may come. We take action through our prayer and I've finally learned that prayer should not necessarily seek to persuade, but it should present our best hopes and offer our submission to God's will should it not coincide with what we would like.

More Insight from Fr. Ciszek

My profound thanks to Jeanetta for the introduction to a book I would never voluntarily have picked up. The book is a blessing and a balm in a great many ways, and last night I read yet another passage that I found profoundly meaningful at this juncture in my life.

from He Leadeth Me Father Walter Ciszek, S. J.

The next time I saw him [his interrogator in Lubianka prison] , however, he had a new proposal. He told me that the people upstairs wanted me, instead to go to Rome and serve as an intermediary between the Kremlin and the Vatican. . . . I agreed as far-fetched and absurd as it all sounded. . . .Whether I went to Rome or not was for God to decide, for him to arrange. Discussions of this Roman business took up many sessions with the interrogator, yet through it all I remained totally detached and perfectly relaxed. . . .

Through all this, I remained at peace. Where before, the notion of such cooperation would have upset and tormented me, I felt no such distress any longer. If these things were to be, then they were to be --for a purpose God alone knew. If they were not to be, then they would never happen. My confidence in his will and his providence was absolute; I knew I had only to follow the promptings of his grace. I was sure, completely sure, that when a moment of decision came he would lead me on the right path. And so it happened. When at last the interrogator asked me to sign an agreement covering the Roman business, I just refused. I had not thought of doing so in advance; in fact, I had simply gone along with everything up to that point. But suddenly it seemed the only thing to do, and I did it. He became violently angry and threatened me with immediate execution. I felt no fear at all. I think I smiled. I knew then I had won. (p.. 80-81)

Sometimes in the course of events, when we have prepared with much prayer and fasting and when we have put ourselves in God's hands, we find exactly this. Something unexpected occurs--something we never planned for, perhaps never desired, and yet something entirely within God's perfect will. If we trust Him, He will lead us, gently but firmly. If we put ourselves into His hands, He will use us to His greater glory and it is possible that the world will see a new saint. But we must buckle down and not insist upon our own way. What looks like a terrible, tragic, hurtful, and deadly defeat is transformed by His mercy and grace into a grand and spectacular victory. We may not be able to see it all--but as we trust in His will and mercy, our lives are completely transformed, and the lives of those we touch as well.

Continued Prayers

Thank you all for praying for my friends, and I ask you all to continue your prayers. The crisis has reached a momentary resolution, but there is still a long way to go and much healing to occur. Pray that both spouses have a clear sense of God in their lives and that this sense leads them together to form a strong family.

For the people involved, you may want to check out the resources at Dave Reuter's Site Become What You Are. Look particularly in the left-hand column.

Google Buying Blogger

Given that Google has recently bought Blogger, I think I'll wait around a few weeks to see what transpires as a result (if anything). There's no rush to do anything and I tend to be very fond of the status quo. The unfortunate outage of the last few days with Haloscan is annoying. But these things do happen and as much as I miss the conversation, if anyone still needs to get hold of me, e-mail is available.

Favorite Vegetables

Alicia at Fructis Ventris had a list of favorite and least favorite vegetables. An interesting point of her list is that garbanzo beans are on her list of least favorite vegetables. They are usually on mine as well. But interestingly, properly treated they leap right to the top of the list. For me it isn't the flavor that is the problem, it's the texture. Whirl those things with a little tahini until they are unrecognizable and voila--Tabouleh--one of the favorite things in the whole world. Dry them out and grind them up and they make this fantastic spicy Indian bread.

However, no offense to their fans, there just isn't anything one can do with the lima bean that makes it anything other than utterly disgusting. You can whirl it all day long in a blender. . . on second thought that's also too nauseating for words.

Later Ms. Huntley noted, as I am certain many others did, that I mistakenly wrote "Tabouleh" when I meant hummus. She is correct--hummus it is--kalamata, roasted red pepper, plain--it just doesn't matter. She also makes oblique reference to another favorite babaganoush. From another vegetable I don't particularly care for whole and cooked (Eggplant). Two delicacies from the arguably inedible.

A Question of Sinfulness

I found this excerpt at one of the sites noted below:

In Belgium, Dom Bruno (Henri Reynders), who died in 1981, was a Benedictine monk who helped to protect at least 300 Jewish children from the Holocaust by providing them with false identification papers.

I was disoriented, but gratified by this. I was told that it would be a sin to lie about the something even in order to accomplish a very good thing, such as saving several hundred people. Thus, I doubt that this man will ever be beatified, but I do rejoice, however wrongfully, that he saved the children he did.

Other Good Sites for Saints and Blesseds

Here's a site I stumbled on with much good information regarding Holy Persons of the Catholic Church.

Here's another detailing the Martyrs of the Third Reich including Father Adam Sztark and companions whose cause was promoted 23 March 2000. Most of the links are broken, but the names are there to google.

[Later:] Better page, probably the same material here. This higher level link has a great wealth of information about Catholics and the Holocaust.

A Short Excerpt from a Brief Life of Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity

Not as well known as her near contemporary St. Thérèse of Lisieux, here is a bit about Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity. Some of her letters are available online via ICS (see left-hand column).

From reading St. Paul, Sister Elizabeth discovered her vocation or mission. She would be a "Praise of Glory" or "Laudem Gloria" praising God dwelling within her offering a ceaseless "Sanctus". She simply could not understand how a person could carelessly leave God Who dwells within the soul in order to turn to the world and earthly things. "God dwells within you, do not leave Him so often", she advised. Even as she worked the sisters noticed her recollected attitude. She once wrote, "It is wonderful to recall that, except for the vision of seeing God, we possess God as all the Saints in Heaven do. We can surely be with Him always and no one can take us away from Him. He dwells in our souls!" Sister Elizabeth devoutly referred to the Blessed Trinity as "my Three."

Five Future Saints

I really liked this list of five future saints at And Then?

To this list there are so many I would like to add so I'll add my five favorites that are not already on the previous list.

1. Kateri Tekakwitha
2. Elizabeth Leseur
3. Titus Brandsma [Later: Sorry, it took me a while to find the link to this the most famous of his writings.
4. Elizabeth of the Trinity
5. I will not put his name as he is still living, but those who know this place well know who he is.

Peter Singer--Should HE Be Benevolently Euthanized?

I don't normally deal with subjects of controversy here, but reference to this piece of hideousness arrived in my email box courtesy of the Ratzinger Fan Club. Singer, who supports "euthanizing" the disabled, infanticide, and bestiality, among other equally abhorrent practices, is our "Ethicist Laureate," using as his soapbox a chair at Princeton University.

A caption on one of the photographs reads, "The author doesn't see Singer as a monster, though perhaps she wishes she did." I think of Hannah Arendt's comments regarding Adolf Eichmann at his trial--"The Banality of Evil." I think of C.S. Lewis's name for the instrument of darkness in That Hideous Strength--N.I.C.E. Whether the author sees it or not, Singer is the ethical equivalent of Goebbels, Goering, and other engineers of the final solution, " If people, for whatever reason, do not meet the appropriate standards, they should cease to be an inconvenience to me." To my mind that makes a monster.

Not as Calming as the Real Thing. . . Nevertheless

Another poetry infliction--this one quite strongly imagistic from a poet that I've never much liked, but to whom I am gradually growing accustomed. Some day soon, perhaps I shall warm up to her.

An Aquarium Amy Lowell

Streaks of green and yellow iridescence,
Silver shiftings,
Rings veering out of rings,
Silver -- gold --
Grey-green opaqueness sliding down,
With sharp white bubbles
Shooting and dancing,
Flinging quickly outward.
Nosing the bubbles,
Swallowing them,
Fish.
Blue shadows against silver-saffron water,
The light rippling over them
In steel-bright tremors.
Outspread translucent fins
Flute, fold, and relapse;
The threaded light prints through them on the pebbles
In scarcely tarnished twinklings.
Curving of spotted spines,
Slow up-shifts,
Lazy convolutions:
Then a sudden swift straightening
And darting below:
Oblique grey shadows
Athwart a pale casement.
Roped and curled,
Green man-eating eels
Slumber in undulate rhythms,
With crests laid horizontal on their backs.
Barred fish,
Striped fish,
Uneven disks of fish,
Slip, slide, whirl, turn,
And never touch.
Metallic blue fish,
With fins wide and yellow and swaying
Like Oriental fans,
Hold the sun in their bellies
And glow with light:
Blue brilliance cut by black bars.
An oblong pane of straw-coloured shimmer,
Across it, in a tangent,
A smear of rose, black, silver.
Short twists and upstartings,
Rose-black, in a setting of bubbles:
Sunshine playing between red and black flowers
On a blue and gold lawn.
Shadows and polished surfaces,
Facets of mauve and purple,
A constant modulation of values.
Shaft-shaped,
With green bead eyes;
Thick-nosed,
Heliotrope-coloured;
Swift spots of chrysolite and coral;
In the midst of green, pearl, amethyst irradiations.

Outside,
A willow-tree flickers
With little white jerks,
And long blue waves
Rise steadily beyond the outer islands.

An Infliction of Poetry

My sincerest apologies, but the second line of this poem, featured prominently in Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory forced me to seek it out and present it to you all. I remember this as a favorite from childhood--which will, in turn, give you some notion of my childhood.

Sea Fever John Masefield   I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by; And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking, And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking,

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.

How Francis Parkman Views Them

Here's a small sample from the work mentioned yesterday that gives you a notion of the strength and the beauty of the writing:

from The Jesuits in North America in the Seventeenth Century Francis Parkman

It was an evil day for new-born Protestantism, when a French artilleryman fired the shot that struck down Ignatius Loyola in the breach of Pampeluna. A proud noble, an aspiring soldier, a graceful courtier, an ardent and daring gallant was metamorphosed by that stroke into the zealot whose brain engendered and brought forth the mighty Society of Jesus. His story is a familiar one: how, in the solitude of his sick-room, a change came over him, upheaving, like an earthquake, all the forces of his nature; how, in the cave of Manresa, the mysteries of Heaven were revealed to him; how he passed from agonies to transports, from transports to the calm of a determined purpose. The soldier gave himself to a new warfare. In the forge of his great intellect, heated, but not disturbed by the intense fires of his zeal, was wrought the prodigious enginery whose power has been felt to the uttermost confines of the world.

Guessing Game of a Beautiful Passage

From a most famous novel:

In a certain reign there was a lady not of the first rank whom the emperor loved more than any of the others. The grand ladies with high ambitions thought her a presumptuous upstart, and lesser ladies were still more resentful. Everything she did offended someone. Probably aware of what was happening, she fell seriously ill and came to spend more time at home than at court. The emperor's pity and affection quite passed bounds. No longer caring what his ladies and courtiers might say, he behaved as if intent upon stirring gossip.

Can you name the novel and the author? Bonus if you can name the time period/genre. This is yet another work that has recently become available in electronic format.

Prayers Redux

My thanks to the many who have offered their prayers for my friends, and I ask once again--today is an important day, for prayers for discernment, for compassion, for love, and for self-sacrifice on the part of these two who are struggling so hard against the forces of the enemy. There is nothing that delights the enemy more than breaking up a family unit--in this he can cause the very foundations of society to erode and the structures built on top of this are so much easier to bring down. If we pray family by family, person by person for those in crisis, we fight the "war in heaven." If you attend Mass today and can afford to linger a bit, please pray for my friends and offer for them the prayer to St. Michael the Archangel--for if there is a battle raging, it rages at the heart of the family and the heart of our society.

Thanks.

Jesuit Alert

For those interested both in the Jesuits and in historiography and some of the finest writing in history, you might want to visit Blackmask to find Francis Parkman's magnificent The Jesuits in North America in the Seventeenth Century. If you don't want HTML, you can go to the main site, search the title and find PDF, files for PDAs, and several other formats. What a wonderful gift e-publishing grants us--to keep an entire library of the world's most important resources in the space of a letter.

More Thoughts on MT

It seems that MT comes with its own built-in commenting system that will only dissolve if you're unable to access the site anyway because of server self-immolation. This is a distinct advantage, as glancing at Haloscan as it comes back up, it appears that all comments from yesterday have entered the furnace of Moloch. This is the second time in a very short period--one wonders.

Blogging Advice

I'm seriously considering either upgrading the blogger account so I can store and post images or moving to another server. I've already heard from one person on moving to another server, I'd love to hear from others out there about your experience. I just read the documentation that comes with Movable Type, and I'm absolutely convinced that this is not as difficult as they make it sound, but it sounds quite daunting--like I'll be spending the rest of my life trying to configure Movable Type. Frankly, I just don't want the fuss. So those who use movable type, or who have a suggestion about different blogging software, I'd love to hear from you and hear about your experience. If you use MT was it easy? How is the CSS in the template? Does DHTML work? I'm moderately comfortable in the HTML world, but I am not a programmer and when you start throwing perlscripts and sql commands and databases, I back off quickly. Also, were you able to transfer Archives. (I suppose that is of little important, as I've saved all of mine as straight HTML so I should be able to merely have a static direct link page.

What Obscure Animal Are You

I took the quiz over chez Kathy the Carmelite and couldn't get the picture to post. So I decided for myself which one I am (of my own group of things) and will anounce it here:

Obscure animal quiz:

Image from the "Deadly Beauties page"

You are a blue-ringed octopus--reclusive, shy, adaptable, and not particularly pleasant when irritated.

(Octopods and their relatives are among my very favorite animals. So much so, in fact, that I can only eat select Paella (those without the poor little octopods in them).

Some Interesting Music

I've had a visitor here several times who leaves a comment from time to time. Each time I visit his site and think about adding it somehow here. Today I've decided to do so. This particular gentleman produces some rather interesting arrangements of ancient music and some compositions of his own. If you are interested in things Medieval, you may want to visit Tunes by Táncos and its companion site.

On "The Hair"

Two problems: from the age of about sixteen to the age of about 25 when I was married, I have no pictures of myself, they are extremely limited even after that (I'm extremely camera shy, going far out of my way to avoid them. Most years there is exactly one picture of me, taken at the company Christmas Party with my lovely wife.). And right now I'm on Blogspot free, and I'm uncertain about the ability to upload such things, even if I had them. I'm very carefully considering moving to my own site, but that will probably have to wait until I can work out the time to really look at movable type and a couple of other blogging programs.

Sorry to disappoint you. But I'll search and see if I can find something similar if that would be amusing.

Especially Urgent Prayer Request

I come to you hat in hand so often looking for prayer, that I am humbled to approach once again. But I have some friends who need a really special sacrifice of prayer this weekend. They have reached a crisis that seems irresolvable by mere human means, and need Divine assistance. Please pray for them as a great many other souls are touched by this difficulty, not the least of whom are their five children. Please utter a special prayer for this family in their time of trial. Thank you all for being there to ask.

Taking the Low Moral Ground

Though I've seen several people posting favorite blogs, I fear I must slink away with my tail between my legs and say, I can't do that. Why? Because, if you weren't a favorite, one upon whom I relied for daily sustenance, you wouldn't be in my side column. So I think by virtue of my list I have professed my favorites. And then if I were to try to rank them, it would change daily, because my favorite du jour is largely dependent upon what I most need in the day. So please excuse me if I profess no favorites, I'll just use my mother's old ploy, "I love you all equally in different ways." And now, may the curtain of charity descend on this embarassing performance.

Addressing Disappointment
Thanks to everyone for the kind words in my post below about disappointment. But I really wasn't fishing for comments. I was merely reflecting on the fact that the post on the Little Flower (which was kind of a rapid knock-off to encourage those alienated from her to try to find a way to speak with her) had received several comments; whereas this much more elaborate post had received relatively few.

But then, isn't that an indication of where the Holy Spirit is speaking in a person's life? So, my disappointment isn't anyone else's problem, and perhaps it is indicative of the fact that as a new "convert" to the admiration of the Great St. Therese, I should perhaps write more about her.

As I said in the original, I do not criticize, and I do deeply sympathize with those who have some difficulty connecting with her. As some have pointed out, the prose is sometimes an obstacle, her followers can be seriously off-putting, and the aura of "magic" about her can be very disorienting.

Anyway, perhaps I should pay better attention to very obvious signals that are sent from the readership and not worry so much about whatever message I may be trying to get across. Surely these comments are in some sense an indication of where God would have me be. And wasn't that the point of the post over which I was lamenting?

So, someday soon perhaps--more of St. Therese and a lot more of St. John of the Cross (although every post concerning him seems to stun people into aphasia--possibly due to the fact that I complicate him more than explicate. But I'll work on that.)

Thinking About the Seventies

Mr. Disputations and Ms. Hall have declared their relief at no one being able to Google their college years. I fear if anyone had googled mine they only stood to die of boredom--you know the type-studious, not quite straight A, but curve breaker. My only real divergence is that every now and again I'd trot down to Commander Salamander's in Georgetown and get my hair spiked and done in a variety of non-natural,. but quite washable colors.

Dylan, Ms Huntley, Kathy the Carmelite, Gregg the Obscure and others have propounded lists of 70s favorites. That said, I thought I'd list a few of my favorite groups from the seventies, because I have a very difficult time with specific songs. Each of these artistes were such that I'd collected at one time every extant work, and still have a considerable number of them. I'd be interested in how many people know some of the more obscure members of this list:

Be-Bop Deluxe (loved everything from Axe Victim to Surreal Estate)
Bill Nelson
Ultravox!
John Foxx (his electronica of Pater Noster is fascinating)
Curved Air
Darryl Way
Camel (particularly Snow Goose and "I Can See Your House from Here")
Van der Graaf Generator
Pete Hammil (Especially 'In a Black Box')
Human League
Lene Lovich
Classix Nouveau
Ramones
Sex Pistols (PIL)
The Clash
The Dead Kennedys
Devo
Jethro Tull
Kansas
Kraftwerk
Klaus Schultze
Reichmann "Wunderbar"
Tangerine Dream
Edgar Froese
Pink Floyd
UK
OMD (Particularly the fantastic "Tesla Girls")
Genesis (only so long as the encompassed the then gigantic ego of Peter Gabriel--don't know what he's like now)
Kate Bush (Still a favorite)
Gentle Giant
Any Girl Group--from the GoGos on
Renaissance (particularly the adaptation of Albinoni's Adagio)
Gary Numan
David Bowie in all of his multifarious incarnations
The Residents (Probably my favorite group of all--saw them four times in Concert--advertised as "The Pre-Fab Four" Louisiana's Greatest Pop Band)
ELP
Roxy Music and even Brian Ferry ("More than This")
New York Dolls
GenX
Billy Idol (Rebel Yell and White Wedding--he could sneer with the best of 'em)
Brian Eno
Robert Fripp
King Krimson
Talking Heads and their spinoff The Tom-Tom Club
Spandau Ballet
Duran Duran (before they hit it big)
Human League (prior to major hit)
Forget the name of the group but one of their great songs "Les Soucoups Volants Verts"
Horslips (Particularly "Happy to Meet, Sorry to Part", "The Tain" and "The Book of Invasions.")

and last, but hardly least

The Tubes (who can forget "What do you want from life" and the immortal "White Punks on Dope." You shoulda seen 'em in concert--a real hoot--kind of like a less violent Plasmatics)

Enough--I'm just recalling that the 70s and early 80s were the last time I really was interested in what was happening in music. Been much out of the loop subsequently. I thought I didn't know much about the '70's, but then got to thinking about it and realizing, that's when I really started learning about popular music.

A Quieter Day Today

Played out all I had to say yesterday. Today is a day for listening. As I travel about, I may find things to respond to, and stand ready for a little typing--but otherwise, it is probably wiser not to place too heavy a burden on loyal readers who had their hands full yesterday.

Also

Going along with the previous post "Disappointment," I have noted as well that there seems to be a rather diminished hit-list today and this week. I always wonder about numbers. It is in my nature, and nothing I have control over--so I apologize. I find statistics, parametric and otherwise fascinating. I would love to develop a technique that really gave me an insightful analysis of all these blips and changes in frequency. The probably mean little to nothing, but wouldn't it be really interesting to know?

For Those on a Duct Tape Run

Read this first (link from Minute Particulars). Just one note on the article:

Charles Murtaugh's Blog-- Slightly scarier to the casual observer, but probably less dangerous ultimately: the "dirty bomb." All the points above apply, as well as the observation that radiation is much less hazardous than most people think. The real danger here would probably be panic, as people try to flee town -- so maybe hiding in the basement is best, but eventually you'll have to emerge. If you're near the site of release, perhaps you will inhale enough hot particles to be endangered -- but I suspect that this would happen before the authorities had time to alert you to the release. This seems like a good rule of thumb for all bomb-type terror attacks: if you can hear a "bang," you're better off trying to put maximal distance between yourself and the explosion, than to hide in your basement. Basement option: toss-up between counterproductive and useless.

Given what many basements in the peidmont, valley and ridge, and even some placers in the coastal plain are sitting on, I'd say that the Radon is more likely to get you than the dirty bomb. I'd go with supremely counterproductive for the entire east coast and not much use anywhere where you have anything other than sedimentary rock underneath you. And of course, here in Florida, basements are for swimming with the Manatees.

A Meaningful Life

Among the sayings of the compassionate Buddha is one that runs something like this, "Life is dukkha," (pardon the spelling). Now Katherine of Not For Sheep can correct the possibly errant impression I may give of the meaning of this phrase, but it is often taken to mean that "Life is suffering." And that is true--so long as the life lived is one of attachment to the things of the world. This is where Buddhist thinking and Christian thinking in some small ways run parallel. Buddhists have their own thoughts about what this revelation requires and the great Christian Mystics have other insights.

All life lived desiring this thing or that thing (no matter how noble the object) or caring for this possession or that possession, or searching for beauty or for almost anything other than relationship with God, is suffering because once you have these things, the hole within is not filled, you merely discover an entirely new landscape of holes.

But the meaningful life, the life that transcends suffering, is the life of sacrifice. When we truly abandon ourselves and offer all that we have and all that we are for the glory of God, when we sacrifice even the deepest things of our hearts, hopes and wishes, dreams and fantasies, when we are completely stripped of all the trappings of self that the world has imposed, we begin to find underneath the reality of self that is our gift from God. So long as we are filled even with very good intentions and attachments--I want to preach to the world, I want to make God's word known to people who have not yet heard it--we are lost. Because perhaps what God wants for us is to be the best, most loving, most Christian denizen of our home block. Maybe He desires that I become more of a compassionate and loving father. Maybe His Will for another is that they be a happy shoe salesperson. Until we fall into that place that God has made for us and get used to the life of service He wants us to lead, we will suffer.

We have to remember first and foremost, "Our hearts are restless, O Lord, until they rest in thee." There is no other contentment or meaning for the human heart. Seeking to find a meaning beyond God's is simply a path of greater suffering. The path of glory is "I must decrease so He might increase."

Disappointment

Now, this is not a call for commiserating posts or even for identification or comment, but it is a means of trying to clarify much of my theme for the day.

I was very disappointed in the lack of response the "Spirituality of My Fair Lady" got. Now, from no response one can tell absolutely nothing. Some people may have been profoundly stirred and had no response. Some may have been puzzled. Others may have considered it a flippant knock-off of a moment. There is no data, I cannot even conjecture how it was received. And that, in some sense is fine. My disappointment is not with the audience, but rather with myself.

One of the things I really want to share is the desire to "set all afire" for the Lord. To shake people from their everyday ruts and get them thinking about God and the relationship with God in new ways. To use modern means, metaphors, and ideas to make ancient truths that are just beginning to trickle through my much ossified perceptions available much more readily to everyone. At that, I have failed, momentarily. So I must regroup, pray some more and listen more carefully to what the Holy Spirit is whispering to me. I truly believe that He has gifted me with the charism of exhortation. I define exhortation as a two-fold charism--preaching to the converted, and encouraging those who desire a closer walk but do not yet feel it.

Do not be surprised if there are more and similar posts in the near future. I will be trying to shock everyone out of their complacency and get them really thinking about where they are with God. While there are issues of moment in the world today, there is no issue of moment of greater importance in eternity. "If God be for us, who can stand against?"

So, while I'm disappointed in my inability to strike the right chord, it leads to greater inspiration to keep trying and to keep praying and listening. I can tell you that God is moving powerfully and using the prayers of the faithful to work wonders that we have not yet become aware of. Of this I am convinced--we shall see great wonders from the Lord. Perhaps it is only that each of us who turns our heart to Him will experience these wonders, that I cannot say, but the Lord is a Lord of Wonders and of love, and He has of recent date showered me with great consolations.

Apologies for Anything Harsh or Overbearing

All of that which lies below was written in fever-pitch as fast as fingers can type and still retain some accuracy. Thus, there may be turns of phrase that are less than precise or wording that is sharper-edged than usual. If so, please accept my sincere apologies, and please accept the writings below in the spirit in which they were given me, great joy and thankfulness to the Holy Spirit, to the Loving Father, and to Jesus Christ, my dearly beloved Elder Brother and my King. God has given me so much good that I am hardpressed to even think of ways to return any small portion of it to Him. But as they occur to me, I promise, that I will return all that He gives me the strength to do.

One More Reminder Before Morning Sign-Off

"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path."

Praise God. Jesus Christ (Thy Word) is the light for our way in the world. Follow His leading light and you walk assured.

The Little Flower

A commenter remarked that the saccharine devotions and songs to the Little Flower largely poisoned any possible devotion she might have for this great saint. I truly understand that. For the longest time I thought St. Thérèse was a holy wimp, and simpering doormat and a syrupy fool--her devotees seemed like a bunch of grade-school children waiting around for a shower of roses to fall on them, and I half-wished they would--thorns and all. Thank goodness God was more gentle with me than I with them.

The only remedy for the poison of misled devotees is to know the Saint for yourself. Abandon all of her followers and talk directly to her, most particularly in the ninth through eleventh chapters of her Autobiography. (Get the translation from the Institute of Carmelite studies--the only one that does justice to this magnificent work of spirituality). The earlier chapters of the Autobiography present their own difficulties, but these later chapters are a gem. If you are disinclined to this work, get Maurice and Thérèse a compelling, beautiful, and deeply moving book of the correspondence between Thérèse and a brother missionary priest.

Come to know Thérèse and you will be glad that you have done so. Her message for all of us is the reification of the Father's love as a loving father. He is not distant and He does not withhold his bountiful Love--Jesus Christ, our Salvation.

Warriors for Christ

I have always hated that terminology, that mindset, that way of looking at things. And yet it is one that is most appropriate. We must be warriors for Christ--warriors of Love, absolutely uncompromising in the message of God's love for each of His children. We must abandon our own way and follow completely and explicitly the way of the Lord. We must receive our marching orders and then we must act. We must reach out in prayer and in fact to each person who has been left along the side of the road, casualties of our society and of the War in Heaven. Each of our abandoned brothers and sisters calls to us and reaches out for us. We have no right, no time, no ability to say, "Wait, I'll get someone to help." We must be their help. Through the Holy Spirit, we must be their strength. We are God's chosen people, and by that "we" I mean every person on Earth--now, working in God's will, we must make that reality rather than mere words.

Links Found in the Pursuit of the Last Entry

If you like lyrics and libretti:

Lyrics Heaven

Take a moment and learn from the inimitable Eliza Doolittle

Words! Words! Words! I'm so sick of words!
I get words all day through;
First from him now from you!
Is that all you blighters can do?
Don't talk of stars, burning above;
If you're in love, show me!
Tell me no dreams filled with desire
If you're on fire, show me!
Here we are together in the middle of the night!
Don't talk of spring! Just hold me tight!
Anyone who's every been love will tell you that
This is no time for a chat!
Haven't your lips longed for my touch?
Don't say how much, show me! Show me!
Don't talk of love lasting through time.
Make me no undying vow.
Show me now!
Sing me no song! Read me no rhyme!
Don't waste my time, show me!
Don't talk of June, don't talk of fall!
Don't talk at all! Show me!
Never do I ever want to hear another word
There isn't one I haven't heard.
Here we are together in what ought to be a dream;
Say one more word and I'll scream!
Haven't your arms hungered for mine?
Please don't "expl'ine," show me! Show me!
Don't wait until rings wrinkles and lines
Pop out all over my brow,
Show me now!

This song seems the basis for a sound spirituality. Think of these as the passionate lyrics that God sings to us--I've heard every word, in every language, in every place, at every time. Stop the flood of words, and if you love me, do something about it. "Don't talk of stars burning above, if you're in love show me!"

How?

"If you Love me, you will keep my commandments." It's time for me at least to shut up and start showing God I love Him. Believe it or not, I actually see this blog as one possible way to do that (but only one, and a small, flickering, feeble light it is). God's people need constant encouragement, a constant reminder of His abiding love. When I spend some time talking here, I am showing concern for my neighbor and expand beyond my own round of petty concerns. If I can bring encouragement to a single soul, to one person a day, or a week, if I can open the door to God for a brief second so that someone can see what lay behind, then the service done through me is incalculable. When I hold a door open, when I smile at a stranger, when I whisper the encouragement to love, when I work to bolster those who are failing, it is not me, but the Spirit within me. Let Him reign.

So, how do I show God that I love Him--I let Him reign in my life. I get out of the way and I do what He says. I follow that most despised of admonitions in my proper relationship with God, "Wives be subject to your husbands as to the Lord." For my spirit is the Bride of Christ, and in fact, He is my brother on Earth and my bridegroom in heaven. (For a man, this has to been one of the most difficult things in the world to say and internalize) But why else would John Donne say:

Holy Sonnet XIV

Batter my heart, three-personed God, for you
As yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend;
That I may rise, and stand, o'erthrow me, and bend
Your force to break, blow, burn, and make me new.
I, like an usurped town, to another due,
Labour to admit you, but Oh, to no end.
Reason, your viceroy in me, me should defend,
But is captived, and proves weak or untrue.
Yet dearly I love you, and would be loved fain,
But am betrothed unto your enemy:
Divorce me, untie or break that knot again,
Take me to you, imprison me, for I,
Except you enthrall me, never shall be free,
Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me.

So, I must submit to the Lord, my God, my head, my spiritual spouse, He who loves me and shows me both in words, in the Word, and in the actions of daily life. It is time that I offer Him more than my words, and show Him that I love Him.

and Praying

(4) Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice.
(5) Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand.
(6) Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanskgiving let your request be made known to God.
(7) And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil 4: 4-7)

And I pause to ask--what better place is there to keep our hearts and minds? We can keep them vested in the paltry passtimes and pale wonders of this world, or we can store them with Christ Jesus and show all people the Glory of the Lord through His action in us.

One further note: You may wonder why I separated the two passages so close in proximity. I did so because each provides a full day of contemplation and rejoicing. Each forms a separate and perfect unity for contemplating the extent of God's passionate, all consuming love for us. Even if you can only give a short time--fifteen or twenty minutes, there are a great many things to be derived from meditating on each of these beautiful passages separately.

and Praying

And now the Word from Our Sponsor:

(8) Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

(9) What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of preace will be with you. (Phil 4:8-9)

Praying and Praying

This, from Fr. Ciszek:

He Leadeth Me Walter J. Ciszek, S. J.

I had not really left myself open to the Spirit. I had, in fact, long ago decided what I expected to hear from the Spirit and when I did not hear precisely that I had felt betrayed. Whatever else the Spirit might have been telling me at that hour, I could not heat. I was so intent on hearing only one message, the message I wanted to hear, that I was not really listening at all.

The tendency to set acceptable conditions upon God, to seek unconsciously to make his will for us coincide with our desires, is a very human trait. And the more important the situation is, the more totally committed to it or the more completely our future depends upon it, then the easier it becomes for us to blind ourselves into thinking that what we want is surely what God must also want. (p.68-69)

All those guilty, raise your hands. Mine will be highest. I ALWAYS pray for God's will--so long as it is done in my way at my convenience. Praying God's will may be one of the hardest things in the world when you are praying for a sick loved one, for patience in dealing with your children, for people in broken relationships, for desires that hit very close to the heart. And yet, it is the most efficacious prayer. Abandoning yourself to God's will opens up channels of grace that make the fuss of the moment vanish. Emersing yourself in Divine Love and Wisdom make all things of Earth pale in comparison. When Jesus told us that we would not be tried beyond our strength to endure, He wasn't talking about our own will--we are constantly tried beyond our own strength. He was talking about our wills united to that of God. We cannot be tried beyond our ability to endure if God is our strength, and God can only be our strength if we unite our own wills to God's will. God is not a well we dip into--He is where we live, and move, and have our being. He is not frosting on the cake, He is the oxygen we breathe. We do nothing of ourselves save deny Him.

So, next time I trot out the laundry list of all the things I have on my heart, I plan to trot it out in His will. He knows what I want and knows far better than I do what is good for me, thus I will give Him all in all. But I will do so by His will. Don't ask how it will happen--I don't know. But I know, infant that I am, that if I take that first tottering step, His hand will be there to encourage me to walk, and I will finally learn how to walk.

Praise God!

Maxims for the Day

The joy of the Lord is my strength.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

I love you Lord, my strength.

The all-gracious King has seen fit to allow the world another day--"This is the day the Lord has made, let us be glad and rejoice."

"Light shone in the darkness and darkness comprehended it not."

More Favorite Saints

Yes, more favorite saints. As I said in the comment box below, my favorites are constantly shifting depending upon my focus and the needs of the moment. So I thought of some more favorites:

St. Columba--who rebuked the Loch Ness Monster.

One who slipped off my radar initially, but who really is a top favorite is the Blessed Niels Stensen--Founding father of crystallography, the law of superposition, and the law of original horizontality (both laws relating to the interpretation of geological strata) also within his Prodromus were some of the foundational principles and ideas of palaeontology. Thus, a true saint for a scientist and particularly for a geologist.

Maximilian Kolbe comes to mind as another Saint whom I would like to have the courage to emulate.

St. Paul, St. James, and St. John, each exemplary.

For non-saints, but great influences, people I can think of include Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection, Julian of Norwich, Walter Hilton, Hugh of St. Victor, Richard Rolle and Jean-Pierre de Caussade--both great writers on wonderful spiritual matters.

Blessed [corrected from St.--see comment] Henry Suso, and St. Jan van Ruysbroeck also leap to mind as appealing in a great many ways.

St. Claude de la Colombiere and St. Louis de Montfort also leap to mind as highly praiseworthy. St. Philip Neri and St John Bosco fit the bill for "Dear Lord save me from sour-faced saints."

St. Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain, St. Seraphim of Sarov, St. John Cassian. . . And on and on and on.

What do we learn from this little exercise? The bounty and generosity of God in our human models is inexhaustible. We have an array of saints for every situation, for every mood, for every moment in life. We have guides at all times and for all time who, each and every one, point the way to sanctity and blessedness. God cannot be outdone in all that he does for us.

Darkness and Light

Praise God!

Perhaps it is my innate stubbornness, perhaps naivete, perhaps sheer bull-headed stupidity, but whereas all around me see much of darkness and terror, it seems to me that God is pulling aside the cloak that shields His grace and everything about me glows with the light of His favor, His love, and His glory. I wrote just this evening to a friend and said that sometimes God's love is hard, but God grants us the strength to bear all trials and all hardships, and nothing is sent to us merely to crush us to the ground. In all that comes, there is the grace of the moment, the grace of what God is giving for that exact time and that exact place. His Spirit is moving through the world even as we read and speak. His glory streams out, unstoppable. His grace, a neverending stream of such purity and loveliness that no water on earth can begin to capture its beauty. His voice is the voice of the brook, the roar of many waters, the whisper of the wind, the patter of the rain. But His voice says all that needs to be said, and those who take shelter in Him can come to no permanent harm.

If you look with the eyes of the world, darkness seems poised like the Fenris wolf to devour all. But all that the darkness can devour is dust--everything that is important lies beyond the reach of darkness or any worldly care. Our salvation and our hope is in God's holy will, and His will is always, ultimately done, even if it must be done awkwardly. Let us pray instead, that His will may be done perfectly.

Praise God!

Five Favorite Male Saints

Enetation apparently consumed my post Chez Kathy, so for those who were burning with curiousity as to my favorite saints--the list follows:

1. St. John of the Cross (shocker)
2. Blessed Titus Brandsma
3. St. Raphael Kalinowski
4. St. Elijah/St. Samuel
5. St. Albert of Jerusalem

Now, were we to set aside ALL carmelite Saints this would be my list of favorite non-carmelite Saints

1. St. Francis Xavier
2. St. Paul Miki and Companions
3. St. Augustine (although I'm far too much like him to like him)
4. St. Thomas Aquinas/St. Patrick
5. St Cuthbert (for reasons you cannot even begin to imagine)

And sitting in another Category entirely--favorites that are a constant recourse
1. St. Thomas More
2. St. John Fisher
3. St. Edmund Campion
4. St. Robert Southwell
5. St. Isaac Jogues and Companions/ Jesuit Martyrs of North America (St. Jean de Brebeuf)

Is it any wonder that I find little place in my heart for Dylan's favorite, and admittedly very fine translation of the Psalms?

Theology

I admit it. I am a theological nitwit and dunderhead. The vast majority of Theology flies right past me and makes no more impression on me than the phases of Venus. But this man, and this post in particular, make theology nearly as interesting as fractals (in my estimation, that's really going some). I greatly regret that I cannot take a course with him. I truly believe that it would be a great blessing, and those who are privileged to do so should every day count their blessings. Thank you, Mr. Miller, both for your blog and the service you do for us all as you educate young people.

Invitation

Because my brain is too feeble to manage to remember just a first Wednesday, I shall be fasting each Wednesday. Along with fasting, we must also have prayer--I will offer the intentions of all who wish to contact me and leave a message (e-mail or comments) at Mass tomorrow. Thank you all ahead of time for the opportunity to serve.

Prayers Needed

Please remember Senator John Kerry as he undergoes surgery tomorrow. May God guide the surgeon's hands to effect a cure. And also the host of lesser known, but no less loved men and fathers who suffer from the same disease--may God cure them all, ease their suffering, and aid their families in the course of this terrible disease.

Please also remember Katherine in your prayers. Lift her high up and let her bathe in the beautiful warmth of the merciful, loving, and utterly devoted Father.

The Most Wildly Inaccurate Quiz Yet

From Disordered Affections--go to her site, my results are the same. (I did post the results, but it made the column width for all entries uncomfortably wide, so for readability, I deleted it.)

I can tell you now that true, card-carrying far left liberals form a large cordone around me (I think 50 fity) and stay assiduously on their own side of it.

Sharing My Lectio from Last Night

1 Corinthians 1:18

18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

What I hear here, in direct contradiction of much of what I had been taught in the Baptist Church is that we "are being saved." Now Baptists and other fundamentalists seem to believe "once saved, always saved." In contrast, Paul's words seem to imply that salvation is an on-going process. Even if his statement is applied to a corporate entity, the implication is that we all together are being saved, but the process is, as yet, incomplete.

What does it mean for me, for us all? I think of Gerard Manley Hopkins--"the world is charged with the grandeur of God." Grace is available to us all. As Portia says, in The Merchant of Venice, speaking of the quality of mercy :it droppeth from the heavens as the gentle rain." Grace is abundant and never ending, like a gentle rain that thoroughly soaks into parched ground. I am that desperately thirsty ground, I am the parched earth. I can reach out for life-giving grace with a simple prayer. If only I would open my eyes I would see the saving grace, like a golden net protecting me even from myself. The whole world is charged with it invisibly and mightily--it is the thought that holds all that is together. It is the ever shifting gentle silken ties that draw me to Him all unknown. Grace abounding to this chief of sinners, grace unto bodily and spiritual salvation, but it is not accomplished, until we with Jesus on the cross say, "It is accomplished," the final, joyous complete stepping into His Kingdom and His Way.

Lord, give me your grace. Let me sacrifice everything for you. Let me offer all that I am and all that you have given me in complete accordance with your will and grace. Give me the opportunity to sacrifice so that I will learn better to love thee, seek thy face, and follow the path of grace that leads like a cataract to salvation. Through the sacrifices you allow me, may I learn to truly love souls and drag them with me into the undeniable vortex of grace.

I read about "prayer experiments" in Richard Foster's book on Simplicity. And I thought to myself, just recently, why don't we act on this. Below is a brief sharing of some of the results. It took a while for me to decide to share this, and again it is personal, so if such details bother you, please don't read further.

Even though St. John of the Cross admonishes us not to seek and cling to consolations, he also tells us that such consolations are offered to beginners as encouragement along the way. And so I share this consolation, praising His Holy Name. Last week, perhaps Monday, maybe Tuesday, I was suffering some minor back pain, although, as with all back pain, it seemed anything other than minor. It was the kind of pain that probably could have been eased by taking an ibuprofen or an aspirin. My wife had been suffering with our beautiful son’s behavior. I decided to engage in a prayer experiment. I offered this minor pain for her suffering. Amazingly, not only was that day better for her, but many after.

Last Wednesday, I engaged in a first Wednesday fast for her. I failed at the complete fast, finally having to eat dinner because food was totally occupying my mind. Even so, God rewarded the attempt. When my wife got home from work she was upset about something and came into the house in quite a mood. I was able to absorb the mood without any hurt, and thus was able to help her. (My normal response would have been to lash out in return.) Our little sacrifices, tiny though they are really work to the good of the entire world around us. If our vocation is marriage and family, the good starts there and ripples outward.

I have determined to offer at least a daylight fast every Wednesday for the intentions of my own family and all the families out there. God honors even the smallest baby steps made in His direction.

Early Church Fathers--Additional Texts

Found this while looking for some other texts on CCEL. These are texts that are not part of the famous 39 volume translation of the Church Fathers. The editor asks that we make these more widely available. Those who are interested, please go and harvest.

So What Exactly Is the Point of that Previous Entry?

Realizing that the purpose could be mistaken, one rushes to make clear intent. I did not intend to present myself as exemplar, but to point out that in our dealings in the world, we have very few opportunities like those afforded by blogging. Think about it--too often we blurt out whatever idiotic words come to the mouth while in conversation--whatever hateful, hurtful, bilious and revolting notions that crop up in our heads often spill out through our mouths. So contrary to many who say that blogdom affords the opportunity for a great many slip-ups, I simply aver that careful consideration before punching the post button can alleviate worlds of problems. That you needn't rush to comment--the post will probably be there a while, think carefully how you might best address whatever ugly phantoms have been forced out of hiding, and then do so, charitably. That's the point of the previous post--we can choose not to say things that simply inflate our own sense of self at the cost of others.

Sometimes You Just Need to Know When to Keep Your Mouth Shut

Or, in this case, your hands off the keyboard. Three times today I have typed long responses in various comment boxes around the web, and before I hit the fatal "post" button, I thought, "Why are you writing this? Hasn't it already been said? The author was not asking for a majority opinion, your input has not been solicited, courtesy and charity do not demand it--why intrude? All three times, I have stayed my wicked hand, and the comment has gone unposted. And you know what? I don't feel demeaned, diminished, impoverished, or otherwise detracted from. In fact, I rejoice in the fact that I have said little (let's not go so far as to say nothing) that I regret.

Praise God for the little reminders that make of community life so much better an experience. Who knows how many hurt feelings I have not caused today? Who knows who I have not offended who otherwise might have gone off quite put out? Some things simply don't need to be said. I don't really need to get them off my chest, you don't really need to hear them. By not saying them, we benefit the blogging community enormously with the opportunity for good will. It's amazing the way God works through the very small things for our greater good.

Noted later: Make that four--I just deleted another tartly worded post elsewhere in blogdom, in a place known not for being a comfortable place.

Available Online

A study of The Forgotten Hermitage of Skellig Michael for all you Celtiphiles and other followers of the monastic/ascetic tradition. University of California press--so who knows what the agenda may be, but worth a look.

A Site Too Cool for Words

Yep. This is it! The Pleisiosaur site, filled with info and old texts regarding these swimming reptiles (note: NOT dinosaurs--rule of thumb--if it obligatively swims or soars it is NOT a dinosaur). You must see this wonderful compendium of all the old info, and much new.

A Notion I'm Toying With

I'm thinking about starting another blog that is simply an ongoing commentary and explanation of The Ascent of Mount Carmel and other works by Carmelite writers as I begin to understand them myself. Understanding them is, of course, more than a matter of mind, it is a matter of heart and of living the Carmelite vocation.

In this way, I would be able to post all manner of notes and notions and guides and lists without unduly interfering with the flow here. I'll be thinking about it for a bit longer, but if it seems like a good idea to you, drop me a line and let me know. No point in starting a blog in which there would be little to no interest.

Slow Day at St. Blog's

Seems a very slow day--fewer hits and fewer posts than usual. Is the weather everywhere as glum and sullen as it is here? (We need a few glum and sullens--just as with people, relentlessly bright and cheery becomes a bit de trop.

Please Pardon the Mess

Please Pardon the double list of links. Right now I'm starting to use blogroller, and I wanted to be certain everyone was on it before I deleted the hardcode. Also note: those who have blogs that begin with the definite or indefinite article, I am deleting said article because they have yet to invent a reasonable alphabetizer that does not use Articles for order. (Another of my many annoyances. I get the impression I would probably make a reasonably good Poirot or Nero Wolfe.)

Mr. Miller Has Returned to Us

After a short haitus, I suppose much like Sauron out of Mirkwood (hardly a flattering comparison, I know, but this is one shadow of light you can't keep down). So please visit The Curt Jester.

Also, please remember Mr. Miller's mother in your prayers. She died just yesterday.

From the Document on the New Age

PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR CULTURE PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE JESUS CHRIST THE BEARER OF THE WATER OF LIFE A Christian reflection on the “New Age” It should be recognized that the attraction that New Age religiosity has for some Christians may be due in part to the lack of serious attention in their own communities for themes which are actually part of the Catholic synthesis such as the importance of man' spiritual dimension and its integration with the whole of life, the search for life's meaning, the link between human beings and the rest of creation, the desire for personal and social transformation, and the rejection of a rationalistic and materialistic view of humanity.

The present publication calls attention to the need to know and understand New Age as a cultural current, as well as the need for Catholics to have an understanding of authentic Catholic doctrine and spirituality in order to properly assess New Age themes.

The remainder of the document is as interesting as this brief excerpt, and for those once involved in the movement, or those who know people who still are involved, it seems essential reading.

So is this true?

And what do these things taste like anyway. Particularly odd quiz to take as I don't like alcohol at all (see there's come of the Baptist left over in me). Also odd since I chose fajitas and guacamole--however, Thai food will do in a pinch. (Actually more than do--anything with lemongrass has got to be good.) Gin smells like bad perfume to me, so the combo of perfume and lime juice seems iffy. (Nice picture--goes well with the whole concept of space-age-bachelor-pad music--see below.)

""Which cocktail are you?""
brought to you by Quizilla

Thanks to Father Keyes and Father Jim

All Chant, all the time, 24/7, here.

The Ever Informative, Ever Delightful Project Canterbury

Offers us this wonderful piece. I particularly relish the passage highlighted.

Oh, and note the date. Any other such wonderful pieces that should have been written even so much as a year later are lost to the web for upwards of twenty years thanks to the strangulating piece of idiotic copyright law foisted on the public by the protectors of Mickey Mouse. (Yes, I'll keep mentioning it, as it irritates me beyond all reason that this perversion of obvious intent is permitted--and it is damaging.

The Eucharist as the Center of Unity By Ralph Adams Cram

A paper read at an Eucharistic Conference in All Saints,' Ashmont, Oct. 12, 1923.

American Church Quarterly volume 14, 1923
pp 265-276

AMIDST the manifold terrors and portents of a dissolving social system, now in the vortex of signs and wonders that declare the unhonoured ending of the era of peculiar civilizations we ourselves have known, that another of unknown character and quantity may take its place, there are indeed many signs of hope, forecasts of a better future than perhaps we deserve, and amongst them none is more heartening than the consciousness that arrives at last that the disunion of Christendom is an evil thing, evilly engendered; that it lies close at the root of current (calamities, and that--humanly speaking--only through speedy reunion may anything of value be saved from the wreck and the world enticed into paths that may lead, not to final calamity and a new era of Dark Ages, but to vital regeneration and a true renaissance. By force of events the truth is fast being borne in upon us that, so great is the need, so monstrous the courses we have boastfully followed for so many generations, nothing can be allowed to stand in the way of Catholic reunion; neither inherited prejudice nor personal predilection, neither pride however justified, nor self-interest however poignant and commanding. It is not for us to say "the fault lies elsewhere, let another take the first step." We cannot hold back on some technical point of dogma, some detail of discipline, crying ''non possumus" when in our souls we mean "non placet." Schism is so grave a sin, continued disunion so acute a peril, that we are bound in honour to waive anything, everything, except the final and solemn monitions of conscience, and even here, when conscience seems to call most clearly, I conceive it to be our duty very scrupulously to search within ourselves that we may test the call and be positively assured that it is not conditioned by undertones of pride, stubbornness and self-interest. The time that, is left us is not very great; there is weakening and failure of organic religion all along the line, hidden from common sight by the dazzle of conferences and congresses and the sporadic fires of local activities. These indeed are, and we thank God for them, but meanwhile sixty-five per cent of the people of these United States ignore religion altogether, while in government, in industry and commerce, in education, in social life, religion. bulks less and less and degeneration steadily continues. We have tried sectarianism and manifold isolations; we have rejected the one, visible, organic Church of Catholicity for the vision of a mystical Church Invisible of Protestant theory, and the results are pressing upon us, the fruits ripe for the fall. What shall stand in the way of repentance and amendment? Is there any sacrifice one would not make, is there any humiliation one would not endure, if so we could make an end, and bring fulfilment to the prayer ''that they all may be one?''

On Mandelbrot and Fractals

The pictures that you might see around the web of the Mandelbrot set are a kind of haze on a very precise, very interesting mathematical entity. Fractals images are generated around complex numbers--that is a number with a real root and an imaginary root. (recall that the basic definition of an imaginary number i is the square root of negative one--or that number which, when multiplied by itself will yield negative one.)

A number in the complex plane is tested to see if it belongs to the Mandelbrot set. The test is to plug the number into the equation

Z= Z^2+C.

The number you are testing is C. Z starts at zero. You calculate the value using the value of C. Once you arrive at a value, you use the new value to plug back into the equation. Say for example you start with 2i. The answer the first time around to the equation is 2i. The next time you figure your result, you will need to calculate

Z=2i^2+ 2i, or -4+2i

For a point to be part of the Mandelbrot set (the dark area of any Mandelbrot diagram) the magnitude of the value of Z (the absolute value) must never exceed 2. Thus, with our example, 2i is not a point on the Mandelbrot set, nor is it likely even to be in an interesting area around the set.

Now, some points will never exceed 2; for example, 0i will never exceed 2, because the result will always be 0. If results do exceed 2, they will rapidly increase to infinity. You assign colors to points based on how rapidly the value of Z increases in that region. Thus you get the highly colored, multi-textured diagrams of the Mandelbrot set. Of course, the Mandelbrot set is only the most famous body of fractals. There are all sorts of ways to generate fractals, including such things as julia sets, cantor dusts, sierpinski gaskets and triangles, koch curves, and newtonian basins of atrraction. Each yields a unique and beautiful pattern. Anyway, I hope that this brief introduction has sufficiently impressed you that you feel free to go forth and explore this amazing mathematical world.

Click here for an image of a fractal from a private page. Click here to see the page and get perhaps a clearer explanation for what is happening.

A Quiz of a Different Sort

Pick the one from each list below who does not belong, and then state why:

1. Poincare, Cantor, Mandelbrot, Peitgen, Sierpinski
2. Mattise, Derain, de Vlamick, Rousseau
3. Gaugin, Stevenson, Somerset Maugham, Toulouse-Lautrec
4. Albert Michelson, Roman Polanski, Joseph Conrad, Karol Wotyla, Arvo Part
5. Bronson Alcott, Louisa May Alcott, Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne
6. Matthew Lewis, Ann Radcliffe, Horace Walpole, Jane Austen, Thomas Peckett Prest, Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Okay, that will do for now. I expect, that 1, 2, and 4 may be more difficult than the others.

Answers etc.

Many of you were able to get many of these--congrats. Perhaps the next ones should be a trifle more difficult.

(1)When and What is "Bloomsday?" June 16th, the day on which the whole of Ulysses takes place. Each year in Dublin, I'm told there is a Bloomsday tour that allows you to visit all the pubs Leopold Bloom and Stephen Daedalus did.
(2)What is the Literary significance of October 6 [modified note originally incorrectly:10]? Mad Hatter's Day, or Happy UnBirthday, A Lewis Carroll celebration in the U.S. based on the price tag in the Mad Hatters hat (congrats to Ms. vanHuben on this one--only one correct response)
(3)(an easy one) Who were Acton, Currer, and Ellis Bell and what is their claim to fame?(The Bronte Sisters pen-name for poetry)
(4)What is an "Appointment in Samarra?" (A meeting with death.)
(5)How are Shakesperean and Petrarchean sonnets different?(Congrats to Dylan the only one to get this one--there are actually two reasonable answers other than language--Rhyme Scheme--Pet. abba,abba,cde,cde (although the sestet can have only two rimes or the rime order can vary cde,ced; cde, edc, etc.) Shakespeare: abab cdcd efef gg. The other reasonable answer is that most of Petrarchs Sonnets (if we're going back to the progenitors are addressed to Laura, many of Shakespeare's to the "Dark Lady," never given a name or clearly defined.)
(6)What claim to fame had Virginia Woolf's Father? Leslie Stephens--Editor, partial writer, and redactor of the Dictionary of National Biography, a kind of Victorian Era, "Who's Who"
(7)Jonathan Swift's wife was related to what other famous literary figure? "Stella" was related to Robert Herrick.
(8)Author of "Absalom and Achitophel" this poet became catholic late in life. Who was it? John Dryden

Many people knew a great many of these answers, congratulations to all who attempted the quiz. Perhaps something trickier later.

A Few of My Favorite Things--Annotated
Below are my annotations to my list. If there is something I should have described further and did not, please leave a note in the comment box and I'll be happy to amplify.

Basho,
Li Po and Tu Fu and the fact that I still use Wade-Giles rather than the cumbersome and no more accurate Pinyin
Robert Herrick and the entire metaphysical crew
Christina Rossetti
Claude Debussy
Ralph Vaughn-Williams
Les Sept (Les Six--the most famous of whom were Arthur Honneger, Darius Milhaud, and Francoise Poulenc, plus Ravel)
Scarlatti
Couperin
Rene Magritte and Yves Tanguy ( I assume all know Magritte, a Belgian surrealiste whose work has been often enough ripped off [a while back Ceci n'est pas un pipe became the inspiration for ads on St. Blog's] that it is familiar. Yves Tanguy is a french counterpart with a wierd kind of infinite plane, biosculptural surrealism that was popular on the covers of science fiction books in the 1970's. My copy of Philip K. Dick's The Man in the High Castle has a Tanguyesque cover, as do many works published at the same time. [The cover is not in any way indicative of what is in the book.] See here, for the very few images available online.)
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (Unrivaled German Expressionist film filmed in 1919. Check here for stills and history. The only thing that comes close is the eerie and indicipherable "Un Chien Andalou" by Luis Bunuel and Salvidor Dali.
tropical temperatures, sights, and foods
salsa, rhumba, conga, meringue, and cubano-latino jazz
Bachianas Brasilieras (particularly # 5, which, with its wonderful vocalise I always think of as Rima's theme)(Composition by Heitor Villa-Lobos, Number 5 is among the most famous of the pieces, particularly with it's Aria, originally arranged for soprano and guitar--the vocalise is among the most lovely ever composed. To find out more about Villa Lobos, look here. A midi file of the piece may be found here.
Yma Sumac (The Incan Princess, vocalist with a four octave range, exotic, mysterious, and beautiful, look here for more.
(Since I mentioned these two I should add Green Mansions)( A novel by W. H. Hudson, among his more famous works. Notably features Rima, the Bird Lady).
Lounge Music--Most particularly Les Baxter (a.k.a. Space Age Bachelor Pad music--a quirky kind of jazz pop fusion that has various other "genres" (Tiki music, etc.) Revived in popularity in the 90's giving rise to the retro Brian Setzer phenomenon as well as the inimitable Combustible Edison. Click here to hear some Bob Thompson--try "Starfire." Click here to go Amazon and pick up a 30 second play of Les Baxter. Hard to believe that these guys gave way to the 101 strings and Montovani. )
The Stray Cats and sucessors
Thorne Smith (especially Night Life of the Gods and I Married a Witch
P.G. Wodehouse
All of H. Rider Haggard (this should be a guilty pleasure, but I can't muster up much in the way of feeling bad about it--unlike my sneaking enjoyment of much of Ken Russell's oeuvre--apropos of nothing)

Okay, already, I can see that it is an example of TMI.

Later Today--

Complete answers, perhaps a discussion of the Mandelbrot set, for those who desire to know it's beauties, and perhaps an annotation of some of my favorite things. Ms. Hall did so, and it didn't even occur to me that some of those objects might be both obscure and of interest to some. (I expected some to be obscure, but none to be of interest).

Already from Kathy's Blog, a Treasure

YES! Without any manipulation of the answers at all, I am. . .

We Are Delighted to Announce. . ."

That she-who-must-have-a-blog (Kathy the Carmelite) indeed does now have one. Please visit The Gospel Minefield and give Kathy a friendly welcome to St. Blog's.

English v. Latin

Dipping a toe, carefully into the raging waters of Latin v. English, I have this to offer from this morning's Mass:

The Mass itself was transcendently beautiful. Spoken and sung in English, entirely, it was done in accordance with the rubrics of the Novus Ordo, and was truly inspiring. English can be a perfectly acceptable language for conveying the majesty and the beauty of the Mass and what is going on. Latin is no better suited, and for those of us not raised Catholic, or without Latin in our backgrounds, it could prove obstructive.

But I think in looking at this issue, I have discovered, at least in part what the partisans of the Mass in Latin object to. First, there are some things that would greatly improve even the beautiful Mass I attended. To have the Priest presiding at the altar rather than performing for the congregation would enhance the entire liturgy. Second, OCP should probably be disbanded, disincorporated and their hymnals specifically prohibited from use in the Church. Our recessional hymn was "We are the Light of the World," and while that is indirectly true, I find the hymn troubling in the way many find other hymns just a little aslant from a true worship song. It tends to sound as though we were in the Church of Walt Whitman--"Myself I sing." "Celebration of the Self."

Perhaps it is the music experience that could be enhanced. Even choirs that are supposedly "ministering" have a tendency to perform rather than to lead. They choose works that not everyone can participate in and then choose arrangements that make it impossible for any who wish to follow to do so. I do not particularly like being shut out of the Gloria because the music minister has chosen some arrangement that one has to be able to sing "Der Holle Rache" in order to start to sing. Now, those who are cradle Catholics, this may simply seem de rigeur having been the way it was always done, I don't know. But being a recent add-on to the church, I rather like singing/reciting the Gloria and the other parts of mass that we are to participate in.

My suggestion would be for those creative minds that do so much in liturgical music to figure out who to adapt chant modes or plainsong or other monody or polyphony to English texts. (Admittedly one needs GOOD English texts to do so, but nevertheless. . .) Such an enhancement to the modern Mass would profoundly change the entire tenor of the experience. We would still understand completely what we were saying and doing, and yet it would be done together and in a way that hearkens back to the long history of music and liturgy from which the Church draws her liturgies. We should be expanding liturgical music in a liturgical way, not in a broadway/showtunes way. Trash the modern hymnals and return to those hymns that speak the truth and do not cater to our own egos.

Perhaps this would help everyone. The only reason Latin seems more magnificent and wonderful is that modern liturgists can't wrest it from the trappings of the past to tinker with it. This advantage I grant to the Latin Mass and its trappings. I also grant that it can be a truly magnificent Mass. But so too can the English, properly done, and rather than focusing energies on a return to the past, I would suggest that we are better focused by bringing the best elements of that past to the modern Liturgy and reforming the liturgy with respect for the wealth of tradition and beauty that the Church has as her treasury and heritage.

Ongoing Prayer Requests

Please remember Franklin as he travels from his interview to home. Pray for discernment and light.

Please remember Gordon and all of those who are seeking employment.

Please remember Kairos Guy and his wife--St. Gerard Majella and Our Lady of Guadalupe are two good intecessors for their needs.

Please remember to pray for God's will in the resolution of the crisis in Iraq.

Please remember among all of these prayers to pray for yourself--that each of you is moved to seek a closer, more intimate union with God.

An Unexpectedly Productive Workday

Sorry about the haitus yesterday--had a workday and had two or three poems, one of which I may present for comments here shortly.

Expect the answers to the questions later today--after mass and whatever is the day's activity with boy.

Non-Guilty Pleasures

Basho,
Li Po and Tu Fu and the fact that I still use Wade-Giles rather than the cumbersome and no more accurate Pinyin
Robert Herrick and the entire metaphysical crew
Christina Rossetti
Claude Debussy
Ralph Vaughn-Williams
Les Sept
Scarlatti
Couperin
Rene Magritte and Yves Tanguy
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
tropical temperatures, sights, and foods
salsa, rhumba, conga, meringue, and cubano-latino jazz
Bachianas Brasilieras (particularly # 5, which, with its wonderful vocalise I always think of as Rima's theme)
Yma Sumac
(Since I mentioned these two I should add Green Mansions)
Lounge Music--Most particularly Les Baxter
The Stray Cats and sucessors
Thorne Smith (especially Night Life of the Gods and I Married a Witch
P.G. Wodehouse
All of H. Rider Haggard (this should be a guilty pleasure, but I can't muster up much in the way of feeling bad about it--unlike my sneaking enjoyment of much of Ken Russell's oeuvre--apropos of nothing)
St Blog's
and countless others, but I start here.

To Explain My Guilty Pleasure

Visit this website. Can't vouch for anything else on the site, but she's generated some incredible images. See the "Ultrafractals" for some Mandelbrot manipulations and magnifications. Xenodreams is not strictly speaking a fractal rendering, but it does use fractals for some of the images, and these are lovely. My work is much more mundance, but if you're interested in the stuff, it is all mesmerizing. And here you will find the Internet Fractal Database.

Yikes!

No wonder no one can get question 2, the date is October 6. Sorry.

The Spectre of the Second Horseman

A recent letter from the Dominican Superior has John at Disputations thinking hard about war. And I know a great many others are as well.

Here's my take. Whether we go to war or not is not my decision. No one is going to ask me, they probably won't even include me in a poll. Thus it is completely out of my hands. I suppose were I moved to do so I could stir up some public opinion and perhaps persuade a senator or a congressman who was already inclined that way to resist the tidal surge. But the fact is, I am not so moved. I can do nothing. . . or can I?

In fact, I can do the most influential, most powerful thing there is to do--I can pray for God's will to be done. I need not worry about the relative justice or injustice of this war. I do not have to heed any number of letters, protesters or provocations. I do not have to figure out whether the war is just or not, because like it or not, if there is one, I am involved. Mind you, I do not criticize those who are thinking and questioning, because that is their role--my role is to encourage everyone to pray, not for what we want, but for God's will to be discerned and done by those who will make the decision. Hard and earnest, heartfelt, and self-sacrificing prayer is my advice to all. Hold your opinions, analyze the information, trust Bush, trust Daschle or whomever, but above all these, trust God first and foremost. If His Will is done, and it will only be so through the constant and complete sacrifice of prayer, then it is right. We believe this, trust this, and act on this. So, for those with a vocation and calling to prayer (this includes everyone) and those with a special charism for prayer, consider making an hour sacrifice of prayer each week, or if you can each day. Let God's will be done on Earth.

Another Guilty Pleasure

Constructing, deconstructing, and navigating sucessively smaller iterations on fractal orbital diagrams. Generating pictures of the Mandelbrot set at ten-million magnification, and then setting the colors to flow (incredible--like Peter Max or something). Generating julia sets and cantor sets. I don't know that I learn a thing from all of this--but the pictures are incredibly beautiful and wonderful. Doesn't seem like much guilt would accrue--but let me tell you--you can spend some time with some of these--particularly if you're using hyperbolic functions.

Virtual Perpetual Adoration

You can't confess over the internet, but apparently you can adore. Don't know how I feel about this. I'll have to try it at work someday soon.

An Oblique Hint

To one of the questions no one has guessed--Sir John Tenniel--now you have to tell me why as well.

Literary Trivia

(1)When and What is "Bloomsday?"
(2)What is the Literary significance of October 6 [modified note originally incorrectly:10]?
(3)(an easy one) Who were Acton, Currer, and Ellis Bell and what is their claim to fame?
(4)What is an "Appointment in Samarra?"
(5)How are Shakesperean and Petrarchean sonnets different?
(6)What claim to fame had Virginia Woolf's Father?
(7)Jonathan Swift's wife was related to what other famous literary figure?
(8)Author of "Absalom and Achitophel" this poet became catholic late in life. Who was it?

That's enough for now. E-mail or comment your answers. I shall withhold comment for a day or say while waiting.

Coming Soon

I hope--poems with titles like "The Big Drop," "In the Barrel," "Cape St. Francis," "Surfing Biarritz," and "Tuavara."

Guilty Pleasures

I am inspired today by Ms. Hall to list five guilty pleasures, having indulged in the top one last night:

(1) Surf Movies and Beach Movies (especially ANYTHING by Bruce Brown)--Last night's festival--Samuel and I watched Endless Summer and then, hey, whuddayaknow--there appears, as if by magic upon the glowing tube fed by the glassine cable Endless Summer II
(2)Truly bad cinema--usually in groups--Billy the Kid v. Dracula (by William "One-Shot"Beaudine, one of the true artistes of bad cinema) Plan Nine from Outer Space, and The Horror at Party Beach. Truly delectable.
(3) Taking mindless internet quizzes.
(4) Eating all the toppings you might find on a turtle sundae with no ice cream (usually on crushed graham crackers).
(5) Olives--kalamata, sicilian, Roma, green, black, Manzanilla, Manzeras, Egyptian--you name 'em, I've never met an olive that wasn't immediately and delectably consumable.

Oh and add to the list
Agatha Christie novels, or any golden age detective fiction
Xanth novels (no, I won't explain for those who do not already know--you'll just have to find out elsewhere--this is too guilty)
My many pairs of baggies and my huarchi (I know I'm not spelling it right) sandals
Pseudo surfing with boy (sense a theme here)
Very small dogs--yorkies, chihuahuas, teacup poodles, maltese--these canines in miniature just wipe me out.
Early Stephen King novels (forget the recent overblown drivel)
H.P. Lovecraft
Varney the Vampire and the entire stock of Late 18th and Early 19th century Gothics, including The Monk
REAL cherry coke--cloyingly sweet

I shall desist--my stock of guilty pleasures is the only remaining evidence that I was once a Baptist. I shouldn't parade it too boldly. (Actually attending a good Baptist sermon/prayer meeting/revival also is a guilty pleasure--the Baptists know how to preach like nobody's business, and they are intent, serious, and driven by the Lord--however, I always feel a little qualm)

Category: Could Have Cared Less, The Winner Is. . .

Yes another quiz result. This one via Summa Minutiae.

You are a Dubliner.


What's your Inner European?
brought to you by Quizilla

And this result with answers like Latino, and Ay Carumba.

The World of Star Trek, Today--Conspiracy Theory

Mr. O'Rama is dubious, but I don't know, perhaps it was the warp drive that caused the problem. Go here and look for the entry for about 3:15 today (February 6, 2003). Then drop Mr. O'Rama a line correcting his obvious misapprehensions considering the world of FTL travel. I knew this was true all along, and don't we still wonder what's with Area 51 and Hangar 17?

Another Blog--Not St. Blog's But Interesting

Mr. Craig Biggerstaff has stopped by here on occasion and made some insightful and interesting comments. You might be interested in his blog, which is, in small part, the chronicle of a man searching for the right place in faith. Enjoy Page Fault Interrupt.

S.I.C.L.E.

From a mother who could do with all of our prayers and support. I don't usually post this kind of thing, but I saw it yesterday somewhere and thought about it, and then saw it again at The Might Barrister and decided that as much as I had been moved and informed, it would be good to make this blog available to the greatest number of visitors possible. It is the chronicle of a woman who was convinced against her better judgment to have an abortion because of an extremely debilitating and sometimes life-threatening condition she suffered from.

Christianity and the New Age

My thanks to Mr. Nixon of Sursum Corda who directed me to this wonderful Vatican Document on the New Age. Go and read it yourself, it is most interesting for those acquainted with the movement, its notions and practices. I swooped down upon it with my wonderful PDA conversion utility and now will carry it with me until I have a chance to absorb the entire thing. (It is somewhat lengthy).

Father Rahner, Redux

In many places throughout St. Blogs, Fr. Karl Rahner, S. J. has been the subject of much conversation. Now, even if some of his thought is suspect, that does not damage the entirety of his opus. Just as Origen is still read for his vast body of orthodox work, even though his universalist tendencies were heretical, so with Fr. Rahner who coming from a later time, made no divergence of the magnitude of Origen's. (And let's face it, universalism is very appealing when one wishes for an all-loving God. I tend to give Origen the benefit of the doubt in this matter, as it was early on in the formulation of doctrine and his error seems one of charity). Okay, now that I've riled half of the world with those comments, my point is that even one who is in error on some things (as who is not?) can have a truly close, truly deep walk with God. Fr. Rahner saw fit to share that with us:

from Encounters with Silence Chapter 1 "The God of My Life" Fr. Karl Rahner, S. J.

But when I love You, when I manage to break out of the narrow circle of self and leave behind the restless agony of unanswered questions, when my blinded eyes no longer look merely from afar and from the outside upon Your unapproachable brightness, and much more when You Yourself, O Incomprehensible One, have become through love the inmost center of my life, then I can bury myself entirely in You, O mysterious God, and with myself all my questions.

Love such as this wills to possess You as You are--how could it desire otherwise? It wants You Yourself, not Your reflection in the mirror of its own spirit. It wants to be united with You alone, so that in the very instant in which it gives up possession of itself, it will have not just Your image, but Your very self.

Dissenter or not, and I leave that between Rahner and his Judge, there is no doubt in my mind that Fr. Rahner longed for and described a powerful, beautiful, and fulfilling union with God. Again, I cannot say whether he lived to see fulfillment of this desire, but it is my ardent prayer that he experiences it now in the bosom of His Majesty.

Haloscan

Okay, you all may have noted that Haloscan is warping in an out as they do some server work. Initially we lost all posts prior to yesterday. Presently, I have lost all posts from yesterday, but have recovered many of those prior to yesterday. This is all in the scheme of things, and while disconcerting, certainly no cause for rethinking the strategy already adopted here. I thank God for the ability to hold these conversations at all, and I thank all the kind people out there who take the time and energy to comment. Eventually these warping shifts will settle down until the next dust-up; until then, I encourage patience and charity. After all, the people who run Haloscan are providing a free service, and I've yet to see any indication of how they are supporting this endeavor.

Simony

Don't suppose you thought you'd hear that term outside of a class on Medieval History. But here's an essay stemming from the Blessed Miguel Pro page on modern day simony.

Both this and the previous site are courtesy of Fr. Ray Bucko. The Miguel Pro site is also maintained by Ann Ball.

Jesuit Documents Online

Here you will find The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents Travels and Explorations of the Jesuit Missionaries in New France 1610—1791. Discovery occasioned by dipping into Brian Moore's Black Robe.

Another Interesting Excerpt from the Writer in Question

On learning from writing how to read:

I wrote this book and learned to read. I had learned a little about writing from [the previous work]--how to approach language, words: not with seriousness so much, as an essayist does, but with a kind of alert respect, as you approach dynamite; even with joy, as you approach women: perhaps with the same secretly unscrupulous intentions. But when I finished [this book] I discovered that there is actually something to which the shabby term Art not only can, but must, be applied. I discovered then that I had gone through all that I had ever read, from Henry James through Henty to newspaper murders, without making any distinction or digesting any of it, as a moth or a goat might. After [this book] and without heeding to open another book and in a series of delayed repercussions like summer thunder, I discovered the Flauberts and Dostoievskys and Conrads whose books I had read ten years ago. With [this book] I learned to read and quit reading, since I have read nothing since.

Joining the Guessing Game

I thought I would join the guessing game business with a passage from a book that exemlifies why I prefer fiction to nonfiction. So the guessing here, because this is so easy--the author, the title, the character "speaking," what is going on, and who is being referred to. Bonus points for the derivation of the title.

Through the fence, between the curling flower spaces, I could see them hitting. They were coming toward where the flag was and I went along the fence. Luster was hunting in the grass by the flower tree. They took the flag out, and they were hitting. Then they put the flag back and they went to the table, and he hit and the other hit. Then they went on, and I went along the fence. Luster came away from the flower tree and we went along the fence and they stopped and we stopped and I looked through the fence while Luster was hunting in the grass.

"Here, caddie." He hit. They went away across the pasture. I held to the fence and watched them going away.

"Listen at you, now." Luster said. "Aint you something, thirty three years old, going on that way. After I done went all the way to town to buy you that cake. Hush up that moaning. Aint you going to help me find that quarter so I can go to the show tonight."

At Disputations--What You Can Do

As always, marvelous and incisive analysis at Disputations addressing the serious question of what you can do when your Bishop appears to be acting up. (To start with, one should carefully consider what one is thinking if that question even occurs, but assume that there is just blatant injustice and disregard for the spiritual welfare of his diocese). Mr. da Fiesole, very kindly points out that the real redress doesn't have to do with money, but has to do with battle where battle really matters--in the spiritual realm. If the demons deluge the Church, one doesn't fight them by depriving abandoned mothers of help or taking food out of people's mouths by withholding money. One battles them through prayer, fasting, and if anything, greater alms. If your Bishop is beleaguered--perhaps rather than not tithing, one would do well to consider and extra hour or two a week of prayer to assist him in his necessities. I paraphrase, Mr. da Fiesole says it far better and more succinctly, and you can read his indictment of the pseudo-scientism of the atheist/agnostic contingent as well.

More Prayer Requests

For continued healing and growth for friends in California.

For Franklin as he goes for a job interview on Friday.

For Gordon as he continues looking for employment.

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers in these matters.

Title: Lying Awake
Author: Mark Salzman
Recommendation: Yes, recommended for all, with small qualifications

Kathy the Carmelite mentioned this book in a comment about literature. She likened it to Mariette in Ecstasy, which I enjoyed very much. And indeed the two share some similarities. Both are divided into chapters whose titles are based on the liturgical calendar. Both are about nuns in contemplative orders undergoing some manner of crisis. Both are short, dense, and beautifully written. I prefer Hansen's book to Salzman's in terms of both style and content.

Salzman's novel chronicles the tale of Sister John of the Cross who has become a poet of some talent. Sales of her work have allowed the small Carmelite congregation in the heart of downtown Los Angeles to restore their convent buildings. Many people appear to be coming to the Lord, and her work has attracted at least two new postulants to the convent. Sister John seems also to have intense mystical visions and experiences.

As the story continues we discover that these experiences are, in fact, symptoms of TLE (temporal lobe epilepsy) which carries with it a phenomenon called "hypergraphia." The author of this book advances the theory that Dostoevsky may have suffered from this disease and Teresa of Avila as well (she is, after all, the patron of those with headaches--another symptom). The crisis of the novel revolves around Sister John's need to make a decision about what to do with regard to this problem. Simple surgery to remove a benign tumor will stop the TLE and presumably both the visions and the writing.

Without going further into the story, I can stop here to give my strongest reservation about the book. Salzman seems to describe the routine of contemplative life fairly well, but I do not know that he has capture the interior life of the true contemplative. What is more, one could read the book as suggesting that religious experience is largely the result of a diseased brain or mind. Unlike Hansen's book, in which, while ambiguous, it seems fairly obvious that Mariette is genuinely a contemplative of some degree, Salzman's book is the testimony of an agnostic or atheist who seems to be trying to be sympathetic to faith, but in actuality presents a fairly dismal picture.

All that said, it really is a minor point, because one can ignore authorial intent and purpose and make up one's own mind about what is going on in the course of this novel. The character of sister John is intensely sympathetic and well drawn. The crushing agony of decision is well done, and the routine of life well described. The writing is without flaw and the author is obviously sympathetic toward his character if somewhat dubious of the reality of her experience.

It is a beautifully rendered work, and with the small caveat noted, well worth the reader's time and attention.

Announcements and Apologies

First, my apologies to everyone, both visitors here and people on whose blogs I commented yesterday. I did not realize the state of exhaustion I was suffering until I practically fell asleep in my dinner plate. If what I said was curt, dull, or just plain incomprehensible, chalk it up to talk while sleeping.

Second, for those for whom it matters--this is the first Wednesday of the month.

Finally, I have no intention of either stopping nor even of slowing down what transpires at this blog. I learn a tremendous amount and I am deeply rewarded for the effort in any number of intangible ways. Further, it gives me a much larger extended family to pray for, and thus I can make myself useful in addition to being such a nuisance.

As Threatened--Greg Tobin, Conclave a Review

Title: Conclave
Author: Greg Tobin
Recommendation: If you don't have anything else to do and need some light, moderate-to-liberal Catholic Fiction.

Ok, so first off--it's hard to say for certain where this author stands on many Catholic Issues, until one gets to the end of the book. That said, he's no Andrew Greeley, and that is much to the good. We do get a "married priest" and a priest who is involved with a married woman, and a priest who contemplates breaking his vows, and then through the courage of a woman friend ends up not doing so. However, all of these things are tastefully (unlike the tabloid trash-writing of the unsurpassably lurid Fr. Greeley) and they are all germane. In fact, they provide a nice backdrop for thinking about the comments that we make about others.

The conclave of the title is the gathering after the death of the present Holy Father (May the Good Lord protect and preserve him). In the course of the conclave, we learn much about the life of a papabile American Cardinal of moderate to liberal sympathies. There are a couple of twists and turns. And the author seems to not much care for the work of certain conservative groups, and Opus Dei comes under particular attack, although that is not the name given.

Your life will not be noticeably enriched by reading this book, but I also suspect that it sha'n't introduce moral error. So in the scale of things, this is a good thing to read when your brain is too tired for anything serious, and yet you don't want to fill your mind the with vast wasteland that is much of modern television.

Mr. Tobin has a second book in the series--Council which I anticipate is likely to be a good deal more irritating that I found this little volume.

I'm Back and Have My First from Fr. Ciszek

Okay, something nice and short to ease me back into the world of blogging.

He Leadeth Me Walter J. Ciszek, S. J., I knew then what I must do. I experienced then what I had heard before from spiritual directors or read in spiritual books but never fully understood: that God's will can be discerned by the fruits of the spirit it brings, that peace of soul and joy of heart are two such signs, provided they follow upon total commitment and openness to God alone and are not founded upon the self's desires. That the validity of a call can be tested--whether it be the call of a vocation or of some new departure within that vocation--by the movements of the soul that accompany it. That the movements of God's grace must always be accepted and understood in virtue of the life of faith, because ultimately the truth of every mysterious action of his grace is discerned in the light of faith rather than by powers of reason or of intellect. (p. 30)

Led to this saintly man by either the blogmaster at De Fidei or Disordered affection, or perhaps both, I'm glad I picked this up.

In the near future I shall post reviews of two books: Conclave by Greg Tobin, a potboiler, but fun, and Lying Awake by Mark Salzman, read at the suggestion of Kathy the Carmelite (mixed reviews, mostly good). Continued commentary on St. John of the Cross and a studied disregard of nearly everything of moment happening in the world today. Queries to the world about Walter Ciszek (most particularly to his noted Partisan at De Fidei Oboedientia). And other things too trivial to contemplate at the moment.

A Sinner's Meditation

Please forgive the very personal nature of the next piece. If you do not care to meet a sinner, do not read it. If you will pay the admission price (one prayer, brief or long, for strength and salvation for this broken one), then I invite you in and hope that it will in some way edify.

I sit in the quietness of the Church reflecting on the horror of the day, my sinfulness, my selfishness, my lack of direction, my lack of will. I surrender to every base impulse, I give myself over to the things that will destroy me--things that will eat away at me until there is nothing of me left. I do not have to serve these urges--my life is not slavery to sin. But I stray, even slightly, in the routine of prayer and I am utterly lost and swept away on tides of passion. I must mortify the flesh and seek wholeness through union. I must worship the Lord and seek diligently not to vex Him. My love is an empty and rotten shell of what human love can and should be. It is the roasted husk of lust, charred and brittle, unable to hold the life-giving water that flows from the Lord.

I fail Him and choose to press the crown of thorns down upon His brow. My passion washes away the efficacy of His own as I choose the jeering of the crowd even over the relatively light task of Simon the Cyrene. And I say in essence, "What a fool You were to die for the likes of me. I certainly would not return the favor."

Can this unregenerate man ever see with heaven's eyes, or is he utterly lost in the labyrinth of self and lies? I cannot know Him if I do not try, if I will not face the blood I have drawn, and which marks the price paid for me. That face, the open door to God, is framed now, doorposts and lintel with the precious blood of the lamb who was slain because of me, and by the power of that blood, the Angel of Death is warned away, and Satan and all of his minions cannot enter through the door. When that curtain was drawn over the sacred face, the thought in His mind and the words on His lips were for me, personally, substantially, intimately. He offered me a clean heart and pure blood that would move the way He moves, and sing in the music of life the mystery He has seen fit to share with me. Thank you O Lord.

On Complaints and Criticism

Because I will be off to a business meeting tomorrow, I have no idea how much time I may have to blog--usually giving over some time at lunch and before work (the meeting will encompass these times). So I offer this entry and the next in the spirit of providing some food for thought for the day.

from Prayers of Hope, Words of Courage Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan

Complaints and Criticisms
Criticism is easy; it is within everyone's reach. A pessimistic nature easily finds the defects and shortcomings in others. But everyone, without exception, has defects. Even the saints needed a lifetime to become Christ-like, to become perfect "as our heavenly father is perfect"

Keeping an account of people's faults is a fruitless task. Not only are you showing your pride and ill will, but you are also wasting your time.

To remember a person's defects is to hold onto the past and to concentrate on that person's worst side, as if no other existed! No one's life is frozen,; everyone is constantly evolving, changing, growing. You must concentrate your entire attention on the present and the future rather than the past. One who has sinned, but who bears his or her past with sorrow may be a saint today or will become one tomorrow. Such a person may make swifter progress on the road toward holiness than me. While I waste my time and strength criticizing and complaining about others, those who seemed to me to be further behind on the road are setting out and moving forward quickly and soon will have gone far beyond me.

The Innumerable Advantages of Copyright in Perpetuity

Yes, I know, but it's my hobby-horse and I've ridden it for a while now.

Then there's the ebook community. Dr. Michael Hart, who as founder of Project Gutenberg was there to protest the '76 extension along with the '96 one, might not be seen to gain much from this ruling, what with his being a staunch advocate of global literacy, education for a healthy democracy and all that stuff. However the man's volunteer organization would have just gotten bogged down and confused at the chance to legally add Harlem Renaissance writers or dumb old Scott Fitzgerald to their oft-mirrored, instantly accesible free book collection.

With the Bono Act upheld, Gutenbergers know that they can only work on materials printed before 1923, keeping things from lapsing into total chaos and sparing Dr. Hart from having to answer a bunch of questions about whether Hemingway's Sun Also Rises could be added this year or next. Sigh of relief I hear, Michael?

OK, you're asking: what's in it for schools? . . .

Get the rest here.

St. John of the Cross

I have no profound and beautiful insights. I can share with you nothing of wisdom or kindness. And being in such a dragged out state (for whatever reason), it is perhaps better to let St. John of the Cross speak my mind.

from The Ascent of Mount Carmel--Book 1, Chapter 6 St. John of the Cross

4. Wherefore, if the soul rejects and denies that which it can receive through the senses, we can quite well say that it remains, as it were, in darkness and empty; since, as appears from what has been said, no light can enter it, in the course of nature, by any other means of illumination than those aforementioned. For, although it is true that the soul cannot help hearing and seeing and smelling and tasting and touching, this is of no greater import, nor, if the soul denies and rejects the object, is it hindered more than if it saw it not, heard it not, etc. Just so a man who desires to shut his eyes will remain in darkness, like the blind man who has not the faculty of sight. And to this purpose David says these words: Pauper sum ego, et in laboribus a indenture mea. Which signifies: I am poor and in labours from my youth. He calls himself poor, although it is clear that he was rich, because his will was not set upon riches, and thus it was as though he were really poor. But if he had not been really poor and had not been so in his will, he would not have been truly poor, for his soul, as far as its desire was concerned, would have been rich and replete. For that reason we call this detachment night to the soul, for we are not treating here of the lack of things, since this implies no detachment on the part of the soul if it has a desire for them; but we are treating of the detachment from them of the taste and desire, for it is this that leaves the soul free and void of them, although it may have them; for it is not the things of this world that either occupy the soul or cause it harm, since they enter it not, but rather the will and desire for them, for it is these that dwell within it.

These seem very difficult words indeed. And yet, I do not think they are as hard as we make them. John's way is a way of denial to obtain all. We do not latch onto the smaller pleasures of the senses and appetites, but we release them, deny them, and in so doing move forward to the greater pleasure of walking more closely with God, and then to the ultimate pleasure of union with God.

Now, of what does this denial consist? I do not think that it means that you do not see or hear things, but rather that you exercise a strict custody of what you do see and hear. A thing once seen cannot be unseen, a thing once heard cannot be unheard. Denial is first, denial of entry, and second, denail of a place in our heart. There are some things we should just forego. We know it and sometimes choose to indulge in those things anyhow. Other things are good a meritorious to have seen and heard, but they are not meritorious to linger over and to practice to the point of distraction from God. It is good to have seen the Leonides, it is not so good to spend six or seven hours a day recreating the Leonides in our own minds.

So denial is both about keeping some sensation out and about letting those things that do enter leave no trace upon us. Denial is, in some small part, an exercise of will. But as with all such exercises, they are ineffective without the participation of Divine Grace. (If the Lord does not build the house, then in vain do the builders labor). So we may start by exercising a kind of custody, but we must do this for the right reason--love of God. If we are practicing these things for our own sakes, then we are becoming attached to the very notion of denial. Detachment seems quite a tricky business until we realize that though it is entirely necessary, it is merely a means, not an end in itself. All is Grace and all is gift--if we lean upon the Lord, He will find a way.

As If It Matters

Courtesy of the blogmaster at Not For Sheep. . .

Which OS are You?

Blood Oranges

A fabuously rare fruit in northern climes. Or at least it used to be. In my entire time I don't recall setting my eyes upon one, unless you count John Hawkes's book of that title. But they are in season in Florida now, and they are wonderful, a taste of heaven. Much like an orange, though I don't think they ever sweeten. The flesh remains tart and if the climate is right "becomes bloody" as a much admired friend terms it. The skin is orange but the inside is deep, dark red, and the taste is unimaginable and wonderful. Oh, I was born to be a tropical boy--here I revel in the land of guavas, blood oranges, mangoes, papayas, and perhaps most wonderful of all key limes--the juice of which is extracted for that most delectable of confections. Glory be to God for exotic tastes.

Everyone who visits here is a blessing to me. Everyone is welcome, and everyone is encouraged to comment, and correct. I would hope that I do not err so badly as to provoke incivility (it hasn't happened very often--once that I can think of, some time ago). (From the tenor of this one might conclude that I was Episcopalian--the most gracious and most civil and pleasant of all of the faiths--but I'm not.) There is ample room for serious disagreement and serious engagement. And I promise all of you that I will do my very best to treat you all as the Lord has commanded, with respect, with love, and with tender care for your dignity and persons. If I am angered or otherwise aggravated, I will contact you privately and I will not make a public spectacle of it. I want this to be a place of serenity and even of some mid-level disagreement over things that are not central to our faith. And if I have offended by word or deed, first accept my sincere apologies, but also feel free to let me know by e-mail, it will go no farther than myself, and being one seeking detachment, I will appreciate the lesson in humility. (See, you have a Golden Opportunity to be Our Lord's instruments of Mercy.) I've already had several, and I will need countless more. And I want everyone to feel at home and feel comfortable talking to me as they see fit. I'm actually relatively difficult to offend so long as you aren't hawking anti-Catholic wares--so please, pull up a chair, pour yourself whatever you're drinking and rest awhile. I'd like to think that we have here "a momentary taste of being from the well amid the waste." Or at least a second-rate watering hole.

Our Lord's Shalom to all who visit.

Eternal Rest Grant Unto Them O, Lord
And to their families peace, comfort, and sure knowledge of your presence.

from The Ascent of Mount Carmel--Book 1, Chapter 6 St. John of the Cross

IN order that what we have said may be the more clearly and fully understood, it will be well to set down here and state how these desires are the cause of two serious evils in the soul: the one is that they deprive it of the Spirit of God, and the other is that the soul wherein they dwell is wearied, tormented, darkened, defiled and weakened, according to that which is said in Jeremias, Chapter II: Duo mala fecit Populus meus: dereliquerunt fontem aquoe vivoe, et foderunt sibi cisternas, dissipatas, quoe continere non valent aquas. Which signifies: They have forsaken Me, Who am the fountain of living water, and they have hewed them out broken cisterns, that can hold no water.[117] Those two evils -- namely, the privative and the positive -- may be caused by any disordered act of the desire.

We seperate ourselves to God alone, or we struggle always against the crushing weight of desire and ownership. There is no middle way. God really, really likes the Frank Sinatra song, "All or nothing at All." I often hear Him say, "Half a love never appealed to me."

From St. John of the Cross

An austere and beautiful reminder.

from The Ascent of Mount Carmel--Book 1, Chapter 4 St. John of the Cross

4. All the being of creation, then, compared with the infinite Being of God, is nothing. And therefore the soul that sets its affection upon the being of creation is likewise nothing in the eyes of God, and less than nothing; for, as we have said, love makes equality and similitude, and even sets the lover below the object of his love. And therefore such a soul will in no wise be able to attain to union with the infinite Being of God; for that which is not can have no communion with that which is.

The Ascent is available online here.

One heart, one mind, one goal--Union with God, and mysteriously that Union is completed only in the salvation of souls. I don't understand it, but I thank God for it.

Off to the Carmelite Meeting

I'm off to my meeting, so not much this morning, but I'll be certain that you all are mentioned in our intentions at morning prayer. And if there's anything a Carmelite knows how to do it is to pray. What a blessing each person of this wonder cyberparish is--what a magnificent and awe-inspiring blend of personalities--why, it's almost like the real world!