2021 Book and Movie Challenge

It's been a while since I've challenged myself with a big list of books and movies to read in the upcoming year. But lately I've had an urge to tackle War and Peace. Maybe it's because reading all Dickens left me with a taste for big books. Maybe it's because I read Crime and Punishment last year and so I'm not as afraid of Russian authors as I used to be. 

Whatever the reason, it took me back to the days when I'd put together a list at the beginning of every year and see how I did.

I'm keeping it as short as I can because I already know I've got some big reads coming up next year. Scott and I are going to tackle The Epic of Gilgamesh and Gone with the Wind over at the podcast. The Close Reads podcast is going to take on Anna Karenina on their Patreon feed so that will help pull me along (they are why I was able to read Crime and Punishment this year). And my Catholic women's book club always keeps my reading list pretty full. 

Plus some of the books below are real doozies. But they are all doozies I'm interesting in giving a fair trial to and possibly getting all the way through.

(Titles are marked in red when finished, with a few words on how they hit me.)

• War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy (Anthony Briggs translation) — because it's there. Result – I just couldn't care about any of the characters although I was 250 pages in. That was reason enough to stop reading.
  
  
• Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell — I loved the movie. Let's see if the book is as good or even better! Result - no. No it isn't. I got 50 pages in and gave up.
  
  
• Moved to next year — Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry — everyone's told me to read this. Time to stop fighting them. We will be reading this for a 2022 discussion on A Good Story is Hard to Find podcast so I will wait until then for the McMurtry experience!
  
  
• The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco — Did not read. I gave this a very fair trial - to page 250 but in the end the insanely detailed immersion in medieval things did me in. I no longer cared who killed those monks. I just wanted out of that nutty abbey!
  
  
• Cannery Row by John Steinbeck — the Novel Conversations podcast made this sound light and fun as opposed to Steinbeck's usual doom and gloom. So I'm trying it. Result — it was more a series of vignettes than an actual novel. Not bad but nothing I cared about much.
  
  
• A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles — another one that's been recommended  a lot and the last time it finally sounded good to me for some reason. Result — I loved this book. My review is here.
  
  
• North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell — the book I've fought hardest against in recent years. Let's see if my instincts were right or wrong. Result — Both the plot and the characters got more interesting once Elizabeth was established in Milford though I did find the romance tiring after a while. It is a book I can imagine rereading in the future although not nearly as eagerly as I look forward to reading my beloved Dickens. Elizabeth Gaskell was soooooo serious, without much to lighten the mood, and that got tiring also. However, good enough and I'm glad I read it.
  
  
• And It Was Good by Madeleine L'Engle — Did not read. This was from the early 1980s and showed it in the way L'Engle is noodling around with thoughts about faith and religion and personal approaches. Most of it was unexceptional and, I must admit, occasionally inspiring. However, there was enough of a New Agey feel and approach that made it feel just relativist enough that it kept kicking me out of the book mentally.
  
  
• Wilding by Isabella Tree — been wanting to read this since I read the WSJ review. Enjoyed this, especially the bits following the author and her husband as they reintroduced animals as like the original  ecosystem as possible and watched what happened. A lot of what happened was unexpected. (Fuller review at Goodreads.)
  


• Sailing to Sarantium by Guy Gavriel Kay — a very recent recommendation from a podcast listener. Result - 50 pages in I realized that I just didn't care about a gigantic Roman alternate history story.
  
  
• Meetings with Remarkable Manuscripts: Twelve Journeys into the Medieval World by Christopher de Hamel — this was a gift some time ago but I haven't done more than sample it. This is the year to read it all! I read this very slowly but enjoyed meeting each manuscript and the window it gave into earlier ages.
  

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Further reading inspired by the book challenge, in a way:

• Les Miserables — I've not been able to read so many big books that when I watched Les Mis and loved it yet again, then I wanted to try the book again. By judiciously using my expert skimming skills to skip things like the history of the convent and multiple chapters on Waterloo, I'm loving it.
  
  FINAL REPORT: It took three months and so much skimming but I'm glad I read it, although I will never read it again. And I'm very impressed that the Les Miserables movie (Hugh Jackman) did such a good job of carrying through important characters and themes. In fact, if I hadn't seen the movie about 5 times I would occasionally have gotten lost in the novel. As it was, I was fascinated at the places where the plots diverged between the two with both still carrying the same message. In fact, I wound up being surprised that the movie's ending was so overtly religious when the book handled religious elements in that spot with much less emphasis.

• William Wyler — we're slowly working our way through this director's filmography. We're up to Wuthering Heights and will see how far we get this year. My personal challenge here is not to skip any (such as Wuthering Heights, for example).
  
  
• The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) starring Lon Chaney — this has been on my list ever since reading Joseph's review. Result — Lon Chaney is why I wanted to watch this and he rewarded my viewing with a stellar performance as Quasimodo. I also enjoy a good epic historical film and this also hit that target. This movie challenge has hooked on silent films so much that I'm looking for other silent movies to try when these choices are all done.
  
  
• The Rules of the Game directed by Jean Renoir (son of the painter) — a classic that has been mentioned many times in our house by Rose. I want to know why. Result — Another of the best movies ever made that I don't love as much as I should.
  
  
• The Man Who Laughs — another classic mentioned by Rose a lot. Result — an enjoyable over-the top melodrama with the little grotesque, off-kilter touches that German expressionism did so well. Conrad Veidt was fantastic in the title role since his expressions had to be done solely with his eyes and forehead.
  
  
• Metropolis — a classic mentioned by everyone! Result — This movie was nuts. And I mean that in a good way. Starting with a sexy robot, mad scientist, and lots more. See my review here.
  
  
• The Phantom of the Opera (1925) — I really didn't like the modern musical. This surely has to be better! Also, some review (I can't remember where from) loved it. Not as good as Hunchback, but Chaney was still amazing.
  

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Further viewing inspired by the movie challenge since it turns out that I'm hooked on silent movies now:

• It — not the "it" you think. This is the silent movie that made Clara Bow the "It Girl." A cultural phenomenon.
  
• The Haunted Carriage — I've wanted to see this ever since reading about it years ago. The library finally has a copy. Also silent. Simply stunning drama, which is not what I expected from a 100 year old Swedish silent movie. My review here.
  
• Sherlock, Jr. — the original meta film, maybe? 1925 silent Buster Keaton film.
• The Adventures of Prince Achmed — A very creative and fun telling of an Arabian Nights style fairy tale done by a German female director. The use of detailed, intricate silhouettes was expert, with a lot of stop motion movement which was very smooth. Really impressive and the first animated feature length movie (no matter what Disney says).
• The Lodger — the most famous of Alfred Hitchcock's silent films, based on a famous story by Marie Lowndes. Artfully shot and told, with a surprisingly modern vibe for a lot of it. It grabs you from the first shot. The story is nothing new to the modern mind almost a hundred years later but it was quite suspenseful at a few moments when we were genuinely unsure who the serial killer might be. If you know Hitchcock's favorite themes and style already then it is a real pleasure to see how well he expresses them here.
   

Raazi

 

A daughter. A wife. A spy.

The film is an adaptation of Harinder Sikka's 2008 novel Calling Sehmat, a true account of an Indian Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) agent who, upon her father's request, is married into a family of military officials in Pakistan to relay information to India, prior to the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.

Last week after referencing Raazi in the Sarvam Thaala Mayam review, I was stunned to see that I never mentioned it here. So let's make up for that now, shall we?

It's a riveting spy thriller with nuanced screenplay and performances. We were on the edge of our seats.

It also introduced us to a time in Indian history which helped explain a lot of the attitude toward Pakistan which we've seen in other movies, so that prompted us to go look up events surrounding this time period. So it was educational as well. It was also our introduction to Alia Bhatt who is very talented.

Simply excellent.

Rating — Introduction to Bollywood (come on in, the water's fine!)

Sarvam Thaala Mayam (Rhythm is Everywhere)

 

A mridangam maker's son, who aspires to learn the instrument from a maestro and become a mridangam player, has to cross social and personal barriers to reach his goal.

This is the tale of a young man struggling to overcome the hurdles of low caste and shallowness (and possibly his Christianity if I read some of the derogatory comments from the villain correctly) to learn classical Indian drum playing from a master artist. 

 The young star was good and I especially enjoyed his journey to learn the rhythm of world in the second half. The final competition on reality TV was a lot of fun. I loved the call and response with the audience. I was also impressed with the effect of the mastery of the mridangam. Who knew such a simple looking instrument could be such a versatile instrument?

I'm always interested when Indian films feature classical music because it is so very different from anything we in the West would identify as classical. I first came across this in Raazi where the young husband and wife bonded over classical Indian records. I really liked the way that the contrast between progress and mastery, discovery and command were displayed through the guru and the student. This was greatly aided by the fact that the master was depicted by an Indian master actor (think Jack Nicholson fame here) and the student by an accomplished musician (who also is a good actor).

We all know the familiar beats of such a story but this movie hit them so well and enjoyably that this was a real crowd pleaser for our family. It's an engaging movie that an adventurous American viewer would like.  

Rating — Introduction to Bollywood (come on in, the water's fine!)

Psalm 4 — Deliverance and Thanksgiving

If after being deeply troubled, you cried out to the Lord and your prayer was heard and now you wish to give thanks, sing Psalm 4.

Athanasius, On the Interpretation of the Psalms 15

This is another lament but one that caught my attention with the lines:

Be angry, but sin not; 
commune with your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. 
Selah.

I like that acknowledgment that you can be angry. It is what you do with your anger that matters here. "Do not sin." And work it out in your heart (and in prayer). The "Selah" gives us the time to ponder that a bit, as we discussed in Psalm 3. The prize of the commentary on anger below comes from Jerome.

I also really like the points made about "hear my prayer." It signals a real honesty and personal relationship with God. We forget that, even in the far off days of the Old Testament, there were real people striving to know and love God better. I love finding evidence of it.

David is depicted as a psalmist in this 1860 woodcut by Julius Schnorr von Karolsfeld

4:2 Hear My Prayer

The imperative "Hear!" is regularly used as a call to attention. It means something like my old football coach's call, "Listen up, men!" It is the opening word of the traditional call to worship of the Jewish faith and provides the title by which it is known—the Shema: "Hear, O Israel. The Lord our god, the Lord is one" (Deut. 6:4). It is more than just a call to hear; it is also a call to respond in obedience. While this expression may seem a little presumptuous to use in addressing God, the psalmist is surely awre that Yahweh is free to act or not to act as he pleases. But in the midst of distress, the psalmist approaches God in no uncertain terms. The niceties of prerogatives and rank are set aside, and the psalmist approaches Yahweh directly, demanding his active response.

Psalms Volume 1 (The NIV Application Commentary)

4:4 Be Angry But Do Not Sin

Moderation Beneficial for Human Society. Lactantius: When he enjoined us to be angry and yet not to sin, it is plain that he did not tear up anger by the roots but restrained it, that in every correction we might preserve moderation and justice. ... For he has enjoined those things that are just and useful for the interests of society. Treatise on the Anger of God

==========

Especially Applicable to Rulers. Ambrose: He is not commanding us to be angry but making allowances for human nature. The anger that we cannot help feeling we can at least moderate. So, even if we are angry, our emotions may be stirred in accordance with nature, but we must not sin, contrary to nature. If someone cannot govern himself, it is intolerable that he should undertake to govern others. Letter 63

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The Christian Response. Jerome: To be angry is human; to put an end to one's anger is Christian. Letter 130

Psalms 1-50 (Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture)

Sources are here and an index of psalm posts is here. 

A Movie You Might Have Missed #31 — The Quiet Man

It's been 10 years since I began this series highlighting movies I wished more people knew about. I'm rerunning it from the beginning because I still think these are movies you might have missed.

As my pal Scott Nehring says, "If there is such a thing as a chick flick for guys, this is it." 

Sean Thornton (John Wayne) has returned to Ireland after growing up in America. Seeking peace and the family home his mother often told him of, his eye lights on Mary Kate Danaher (Maureen O'Hara) whose red hair, he is told, hints at her fiery temper. As they pursue their relationship, they fall afoul of Mary Kate's loutish brother, cultural differences, and the difficulty marriage can pose at the best of times. Throughout there is a strong humorous vein which is betrayed not only by obvious scenes but in some of the subtler lines and reactions. Which is my way of telling you to pay attention to get all you can from this film.

This is an atypical outing for director John Ford and star John Wayne as they were much better known for Westerns. Ford worked for 14 years to get this movie made and it is a true love letter to Ireland and her people.

Above all, this is the movie that made me fall in love with John Wayne and respect him as an actor. He shows such tenderness, understanding, and charm in his scenes with Maureen O'Hara that one cannot doubt we are seeing some of the real man as well as the character of Sean Thornton. Maureen O'Hara has a delightful time as the beauty with a frightful temper who feels real repentance later. As a couple, they are truly charismatic. I defy anyone to watch the scene where they are caught in the rain and not feel their chemistry ... as well as see their sheer magnetism.

Scott and I discussed this movie on the A Good Story is Hard to Find podcast.

View of Nijmegen

C.H.J. Leickert - View of Nijmegen

 

Why so much Isaiah during Advent?

 It's Isaiah-this and Isaiah-that all the way through the readings for Advent. Why? Well, consider this —Jesus began his ministry by quoting Isaiah. When it comes to Messianic prophecies, no one nails it like Isaiah and, of course, Jesus knew it.

I was really pleased to hear recently about a father who was reading bits of my chapter about Isaiah to his 5th and 6th grade sons to help them understand the Isaiah-Jesus connection.

If you've got prophet questions or prophet blocks, Thus Sayeth the Lord might be just what you need. It's accessible, it's accurate (complete with Nihil Obstat and and imprimatur), and it might help you see that the prophets still matter right here, right now in 2020.

You can read the Jonah and Deborah chapters at the links. The Amazon  sample has the first couple of chapters.

It makes a great Christmas gift — for yourself or others! Pick it up in paperback or for the Kindle at Amazon.

 

Psalm 3 — Selah

If persecuted by your own people, and you have a whole crowd against you, say Psalm 3.

Athanasius, On the Interpretation of the Psalms 15

Psalm 3 has a couple of "firsts."

It has a title: A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son. So we know who wrote it and the very difficult circumstances under which David was praying. This is really a good one to reflect on when you're having family problems. If nothing else, we can be thankful that we're very unlikely to be pursued by our son and his army to murder us. Fingers crossed, anyway.

It is the first lament psalm. Laments begin by crying out to God for deliverance, often by an individual. Then comes the specific complaints and petitions. And finally comes the confidence in God's deliverance and the psalmist's devotion to God. Often the suffering and feeling of being far from God can move the psalmist closer to God by the end.

This is the first psalm in which the word "Selah" is used. Evidently the meaning is uncertain but Wikipedia says that the general consensus is:

It is probably either a liturgico-musical mark or an instruction on the reading of the text, something like "stop and listen." Another proposal is that selah can be used to indicate that there is to be a musical interlude at that point in the Psalm. It can also be interpreted as a form of underlining in preparation for the next paragraph.

I didn't know that before and love the idea of being told to take a minute for reflection. That is the perfect way to be sure we're not just reading the psalm without thinking about it.

Rembrandt van Rijn - David in Prayer

3:1-2 Many Foes

Thoughts on the Meaning of Selah. Gregory of Nyssa: One who has comprehended the term in a definition might say, then, that diapsalma is a pause that occurs suddenly in the midst of the singing of a psalm in order to receive an additional thought that is being introduced from God. Or, one might rather define it as follows. Diapsalma is a teaching from the Spirit that occurs in a mysterious manner in the soul, when the attention given to this new thought impedes the continuity of the song ... On the Inscriptions of the Psalms

Psalms 1-50 (Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture)

I like the point where David says, "Many are saying of me, God will not deliver him." Then there is a Selah — and when I pause for reflection I realize it sounds just like today. How many times are we challenged by people who deny God exists or that He's able to help us, that we can't count on God at all? Or it could look like a self-fulling prophecy meaning that we're not worth God's attention. For every time we've faced this challenge, we can remember the great King David was right there with us. Some things are very different now versus David's time. Some, however, are just the same.

Sources are here and an index of psalm posts is here. 

Johnny Gaddaar (Johnny the Traitor)

Vikram decides to elope with his girlfriend Mini for a better life. For this purpose he decides to steal the money collected by his business partners for a drug deal. Everything goes horribly wrong.

This is a very stylized movie in the vein of Bob le Flambeur or Rififi. Which is to say it is an homage to French neo-noir while being a wonderful example of that very thing. Both of those movies were more about the people than the crime. This is no different.

We were simultaneously absorbed by the plot while appreciating the nice touches of Bollywood homage embedded throughout the film — at least those we could pick up on such as everyone's adoration of Amitabh Bachchan or Twinkle being Vikram's girlfriend's phone name. Not being Indian we knew there were countless things we missed. 

Definitely recommended and you don't have to be a Bollywood fan to appreciate this film. It is Hollywood quality, despite coming from India. It turns out that we'd seen another film by this director — Andhadhun. Those two are enough to make us eager to see his other  three  films. 

Access Bollywood has a good review with this observation which enriched the movie for me.

There’s another theme in the film about the nature of love, namely that Vikram doesn’t know what real love is. How can he be sure of his feelings for Mini or her feelings for him when they developed under duress? Vikram protests to Seshadri that their love is real, and Seshadri just shrugs.

Seshadri is one of multiple examples of what true love is that Vikram ignores in pursuit of his affair. Widowed Seshadri reminisces while listening to a recording of his wife singing. Prakash dotes on his wife, Varsha (Ashwini Kalsekar), a proud working mom. Shiva has a sweet, budding romance with the nurse who cares for his ailing mother. Shardul doesn’t seem like such a bad husband to Mini, at least by mafia-film standards. He comes home and wants to catch up on the day with his wife...

I totally missed that the first time around but will be looking for it when I watch again.

It's not for everyone and you'll know within the first ten minutes whether it is something you don't like. However, if you're unsure — as we were — let it keep going and you might wind up liking it as much as we did. 

Rating — Introduction to Bollywood (come on in, the water's fine!) This one is difficult if you're not ready for neo-noir, but that's completely independent of Bollywood.

John Paul the Great: Remembering a Spiritual Father by Peggy Noonan - UPDATED

I'm rereading this book which has inadvertently turned into Advent reading. I'd forgotten just how good it is — inspirational, informative, and, above all, a wonderful reminder of a great pope and saint. I originally read it in 2006. My original review is below. 

(I have added an update upon my rereading which is in italics at the bottom.)

Why did so many love John Paul II? If you read this book you will know why. 

Peggy Noonan writes with conviction, force and clarity about her own love and respect for John Paul II as our spiritual father. In so doing, she gives us the essence of this great pope's life and faith as distilled through the lens of her own growing return to her Catholic faith and love of God.

I only really paid attention to him after I converted in 2000 so my own experience with JPII was of him as the old pope who showed us how to live, love, and give through suffering. In fact, I was aware of respecting him but didn't realize my own great love until I read the false report of his death (a day before the actual event) on the Drudge Report. I mystified myself by bursting into great, body-shaking sobs that wouldn't stop. When I went into Tom's office, he was alarmed and, after hearing an explanation, he shook his head at me. "You love him," he said, "You just didn't know how much until now." 

 Perhaps that is why I am finding myself pulled through this book at breakneck speed. I knew the bare bones of many of John Paul's experiences as pope but this book is something like a Weigel-lite (?) biography in some ways. I am learning much about the details of his papacy even as I am brought to tears or smiles again and again by both his experiences as well as Noonan's.

I picked up this book from the library yesterday and am about halfway through. Already, I have begun to push it on others. An email here, a strong recommendation to someone there (such as to my husband who never reads "religious" books but is interested in this one).

Part of the fascination for me is Noonan's transparent honesty. She is, in a sense, every modern person who has struggled with belief, honesty, and faith itself. As she intersperses her tale with that of John Paul II, I find myself in agreement with her along the way. Her path is not exactly mine but her sentiments and struggles echo them well enough to resonate. And the resonation already is calling me to reach further in prayer...

So I was thinking about pebbles — the pebbles on the cover of the videotape, the pebbles in the Kevin Orlin Johnson book, the pebbles I saw on Jones Beach when I went out that summer to see friends.

I thought a lot.

I just didn't say any Rosaries.

I find this to be true of my spiritual life, and maybe it applies to yours as well: I think about things more than I do them; I ponder what seems their goodness more than I perform them. As if my thought alone were enough. But a thought alone isn't quite enough; it's an impulse and not a commitment, a passing thing that doesn't take root unless you plant it and make it grow.

So I just thought about all this. And was very glad other people were saying Rosaries, and when I met them, I always asked that they pray for me.

Meanwhile, the problems I was having were growing more urgent. And I would talk to God about them. But I didn't say the Rosary.

And then I believe I was told to do it.

How was she told? Well, for that I encourage you to read the book (I'm not above dangling a tasty carrot). The problem Noonan details is a problem I have myself. It is so easy to think about something rather than to do it. However, through this passage (and the miracle that follows) John Paul II is reaching me through this book and calling me back to the rosary which I began saying again this morning on my way to work. It was once a steady habit, but fallen by the wayside somehow as things sometimes do.

Perhaps it also helps that Noonan was heavily influenced by Kevin Orlin Johnson's book Rosary, which also pulled me into the rosary soon after my conversion. I have never known anyone else who read it and so that helped get my attention. (Off topic is a question I always have meant to ask: does anyone else have this book and, if so, does their book smell of roses? I assume they somehow put the scent in the paper which is a nice touch but always wondered as I never could find any reference to it in the book credits.) [Update - it turns out no one else has had this experience except my family.]

Noonan also references others who have perspective and personal experiences such as George Wiegel, Michael Novak, Richard Neuhaus, and even actor Jim Caviezel who portrayed Jesus in The Passion of the Christ. The snippets that she quotes have made me interested in reading more indepth about John Paul II.

Go find this book and read it now!

UPDATE (part of the original review)

I have now finished the book and it holds up right through the end. To her credit, Noonan does not skirt the places where John Paul II was not perfect and which contributed to such problems in the American church as a "cardboard" Mass or the sex scandals. She examines the problems and the various degrees of blame which could be attributed to the areas where John Paul's lacked in leadership. I found especially interesting her theory of why the pope was so deficient in handling the sex scandal problem. It was a theory that I hadn't heard and one that some may say is too kind, however, I think it possibly is quite right.

However, this does not diminish his great overall achievements both for Noonan (and many, many others personally) and for the Church as a whole. The book ends on a note of JPII's legacy to Benedict XVI. I will leave it to you to see Noonan's nickname for Pope Benedict which I hadn't heard before but is so apt that I laughed with delight when I read it. Again, this book cannot be more highly recommended.

REREADING UPDATE

In the chapter "The Great Shame" where Noonan talks about John Paul's failings, in particular the sex scandal, she recounts being asked to speak at a meeting of Catholic conservatives held by Cardinal McCarrick and Bishop Gregory. Over a decade after the original meeting, with the knowledge of Cardinal McCarrick's true nature and behavior now revealed, it was chilling to read about his reassuring nods and kind smiles to some of her most heartfelt points about the victims and the Church. More than anything it reminded me of how well he masqueraded, as good predators do, as an understanding, caring person who is to be trusted.

Psalm 2: The Lord's Annointed King

When finding fault with the conspiracy ... against the Savior you have Psalm 2 ... which accuses the impious and those who act contrary to law.

Athanasius, On the Interpretation of the Psalms 14, 15

Psalm 2 is interesting because there are three ways to look at it. The first is as a secondary introduction to the psalms since it has no heading or author listed, as all other psalms do, except Psalm 1. It is of a category called the royal psalms which are concerned with the kinds of Judah who felt they were authorized and empowered as God's adopted sons, his representatives on Earth as it were. Finally, after the Babylonian exile, these psalms were viewed as promises of messianic hope and expectation. What the human kings couldn't do, God would do through the Messiah, his "Anointed One."

That's a lot to lay on a liturgical song, but then again, the Bible is the place where you find layer upon layer. Let's throw in another layer — what is the Holy Spirit saying to us today using Psalm 2?

Gerard van Honthorst,
King David Playing the Harp, 1622

Remember that at the time this text was written, we "Johnny-come-lately" Christians were the nations—outside the people of God, seeking to make our own way in the world. ...

We must still count ourselves on the side of the nations when we take up their banner of "freedom" from God's rule. Even Israel—the people of God‚ could think of God's bonds as restrictive chains and seek to throw them off. ... whenever we buy into the world's way of placing self and satisfaction before all else, we become the nations once again. ...

Whenever we read this psalm, we must be careful not to reduce it to a mere messianic prediction of the ultimate submission of the unbelieving nations to the authority of God's rule and kingdom. It is that, but it remains much more than that. ... it should remain for us who name the name of Jesus a powerful caution to lay down daily our own banners of personal freedom and self-satisfaction in order to "kiss the Son." When we do so, we avoid the path of destruction that Psalm 1 warns against, and we also discover that the imagined fetters and chains are instead the "cords of human kindness" and the "ties of love" with which God leads us into "the glorious freedom of the children of God" (Rom. 8:21).

Psalms Volume 1 (The NIV Application Commentary)

Sources are here and an index of psalm posts is here. 

A Movie You Might Have Missed #30 — The Mill and the Cross

It's been 10 years since I began this series highlighting movies I wished more people knew about. I'm rerunning it from the beginning because I still think these are movies you might have missed.

This film is a luminous masterpiece that is an art movie in every sense of the word. 

Painter Pieter Bruegel the Elder (Rutger Hauer) explains the meaning of his painting, The Procession to Calvary,  to his patron (Michael York) from within the painting itself. That is the description from the back of the DVD case which gripped my imagination and made me take it home. We were not disappointed. As Roger Ebert said, "If you see no more than the opening shots, you will never forget them."

This is an art movie in every sense of the word. Dialogue is spare, the pace is deliberate, and sometimes it can be difficult to tell where real life ends and the painting begins. Those elements contribute to this movie's power, as we are introduced to a dozen of the over 500 characters in the painting in an extraordinary blend of live action and special effects. As the artist imagines them coming to life with a new morning, we follow the characters to their eventual inclusion within the art. With careful scene framing and lighting as luminous as that of any painting, we truly felt as if we were within a painting.

Most of what I have said would not actually tempt me to watch the film. It must be experienced and is very difficult to describe. It came to my attention after being recommended as a contemplative piece during Lent by Joseph Sousanka, but I think this film stands on its own as a unique piece of art which anyone may appreciate. It certainly should fascinate anyone interested in the making or appreciation of either art or films.

A looking deeper hint — pay attention to how many times you see bread, whether being carried, eaten, or made. And then think of the Mill of God and the Cross of Christ, with all that implies for Catholics.

You will either love it or hate it, but you will not forget it. (And then you'll go to a museum.)

Pieter Bruegel's The Way to Calvary
via Wikipedia

Calories and morals

Calories are not the same as morals. No food can be either "naughty" or "virtuous." It's all just food.

Bee Wilson, First Bite

Wild Turkey

Plate 1 of The Birds of America by John James Audubon,
depicting a wild turkey

 

Psalm 1 — The Blessed and the Wicked

If you wish to declare someone blessed you learn how to do so and whom to call upon and the words to say in Psalm 1.  

Athanasius, On the Interpretation of the Psalms 15

I won't put the whole psalm every time, but for our first look, let's  have the whole thing. 

Keep in mind that this psalm is meant as a foundation to understanding the entire book of psalms. That was a new idea for me — the psalms were put by editors into specific order. Well, it seems obvious when you say it, but I've always just thought of them as a general collection. 

Let's begin!

¹ Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
    nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
² but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and on his law he meditates day and night.
³ He is like a tree
    planted by streams of water,
that yields its fruit in its season,
    and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.

⁴ The wicked are not so,
    but are like chaff which the wind drives away.
⁵ Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
    nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
⁶ for the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
    but the way of the wicked will perish.

I always love any reference to the tree planted by streams of water, which pops up in various places in the Old Testament. It is a favorite image. Here there's a little extra interest because it is contrasted with the chaff later on. Of course, if a plant doesn't have enough water, what happens? It withers and eventually will disintegrate and blow away. If hard times come and you don't have deep roots in the water, that is your fate. If you aren't rooted in the solid worship and word of God that's what happens. 

 Let's get a bit of insight from some wise men who have meditated upon these words over time.

Hebrew text of Psalm 1:1-2

1:1a Blessed Is the Man

Foundational for the Book of Psalms, Basil the Great: Like the foundation in a house, the keel in a ship and the heart in a body, so is (Psalm 1 as a) brief introduction to the whole structure of the Psalms. For when David intended to purpose in the course of his speech to the combatants of true religion many painful tasks involving unmeasured sweats and toils, he showed first the happy end, that in the hope of the blessings reserve for us we might endure witout grief the sufferings of this life. Homilies on the Psalms 10.3

==========

The Crown to Be Conferred, Ambrose: What a delightfully apt beginning! Those who wish for a grand display and a great celebration to add glory to the games generally promise a prize. They make much of the honor of the crown to be conferred. All this is to make the contestants more eager to take part and to strain every nerve in order to win. This is what our Lord Jesus does. He promises us the glory of a heavenly kingdom, the sweetness of everlasting rest, the happiness of eternal life. Commentary on Twelve Psalms 1.13

1:4 Like Dust Blown by the Wind

Driven by Every Temptation, Chrysostom: Even as chaff lies exposed to the gusts of wind and is easily caught up and swept along, so is also the sinner driven about by every temptation; for while a sinner is at war with himself and bears the warfare about with him, what hope of safety does he possess; betrayed as he is at home, carrying with him that conscience that is a constant enemy? Homilies Concerning the Statues 8.4.

Psalms 1-50 (Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture)

This comment really struck home for me, thinking of the master gardener planting the tree deliberately and the idea of thriving where I am planted. This also resonates when I think of my gardening daughter, Rose's, care and nurturing of her plants and how she delights when they thrive under her carefully plan for the correct environment for each.

The faithful tree is not simply a wild oak that takes its position by happenstance. Those who delight in Yaweh's torah are "planted" (a passive participle) — as by a master gardener — in the place where they can receive the nourishment they need to flourish. Like a tree planted in a conservatory, well watered and provided with a protective climate, the leaves of this tree never wither, and is able to remain consistently faithful.

Psalms Volume 1 (The NIV Application Commentary)

Here's a lovely reflection from a more modern wise man that takes us into considering how God provided for Jesus' upbringing with a righteous man.

Psalm 1 presents the classic image of the ‘just' man. We might well think of it as a portrait of the spiritual figure of Saint Joseph. A just man, it tells us, is one who maintains living contact with the word of God, who ‘delights in the law of the Lord’ (v. 2). He is like a tree, planted beside the flowing waters, constantly bringing forth fruit. The flowing waters, from which he draws nourishment, naturally refer to the living word of God, into which he sinks the roots of his being. God’s will is not a law imposed on him from without, it is ‘joy.’

Pope Benedict XVI, Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives

Sources are here and an index of psalm posts is here. 

1914 Ivory Soap Ad

Jesse Wilcox Smith, illustrator
via My Daily Art Display

 

A Movie You Might Have Missed #29: Stranger Than Fiction

It's been 10 years since I began this series highlighting movies I wished more people knew about. I'm rerunning it from the beginning because I still think these are movies you might have missed.

This movie is an unexpected delight, as unique and original in its own way as About a Boy was, and that is high praise indeed. It's one of my top ten movies.

 29. Stranger Than Fiction

Harold Crick (Will Ferrell) is an IRS auditor with an incredibly dull life. One day he begins hearing a woman's voice narrating his every action. Unbeknownst to Crick, he actually is the protagonist in author Karen Eiffel's (Emma Thompson) latest novel. We are shown dual realities as Ferrell tries to discover why he is hearing the voice and Eiffel investigates method after method of killing off her character. When Ferrell hears the voice mention his impending death the search takes on a new urgency. He  enlists the aid of a literary professor (Dustin Hoffman) and life takes new turns as he begins to incorporate the professor's advice into his life.

This movie tells an original and delightful story while pointing out that things like a warm cookie, the touch of a hand, a hug, or a little act of kindness can transform our lives and make them worth living. It is also part of the genius of this movie, that such hackneyed phrases can take on a new and redemptive life when the viewer is seeing them ... and that is because they are true.

(My full review is here. After you've watched the movie, you may care to hear Scott and me discuss it at A Good Story is Hard to Find.)

Tahoto of Kogenji Temple in autumn

Takayoshi Endou, One of the most famous temples in Tamba,
the Tahoto of Kogenji Temple in autumn.

 

Changing what you eat

We mostly eat what we like. Before you can change what you eat, you need to change what you like.

Bee Wilson, First Bite

August Afternoon

 

August Afternoon, Appledore, Childe Hassam

Queen Elizabeth, Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary

 

Portrait of Queen Elizabeth (1899). Gyula Benczúr.
Via Books and Art.

Do click through the link for a little more information about Queen Elizabeth.

The virtue of keeping on top of our moods

The practice of charity involves a whole series of virtues. These virtues support and defend charity. They include loyalty, gratitude, mutual respect, friendship, deference, affability, refinement ... If we are to live the Lord's New Commandment, we will often need to be on top of our moods. We will have to make an effort to be cordial, to spread good cheer, to be optimistic. It may be more natural for us to act in just the opposite way, to give in to critical spirit, to let slip harsh words, to use bad language, to become easily annoyed ... These are signs of a lack of supernatural struggle.

Francis Fernandez, In Conversation with God, vol. 5

The Psalms - initial notes and sources

David dictating the Psalms

Recently my daughter Rose picked up a translation of St. Augustine's commentary on the first 50 psalms or so. My interest was piqued and I began thinking about reading through the psalms, along with a bunch of commentary — a very casual Bible study, in other words. And what better to do than to bring you all along for the ride?

There are a few psalms which I love, but in general I've not paid much attention to them. However, Athanasius's word below strike home. So I feel inspired to dive in deeper.

All the books of Scripture, both Old Testament and New, are inspired by God and useful for instruction (2 Tim 3:16), as it is written; but to those who really study it, the Psalter yields especial treasure. … Each of these books, you see, is like a garden which grows one special kind of fruit; by contrast, the Psalter is a garden which, besides its special fruit, grows also some those of all the rest.

And herein is yet another strange thing about the Psalms. In the other books of Scripture we read or hear the words of holy men as belonging only to those who spoke them, not at all as though they were our own … [however with] Psalms it is as though it were one’s own words that one read; and anyone who hears them is moved at heart, as though they voiced for him his deepest thoughts.

[T]he Psalms thus serve him who sings them as a mirror, wherein he sees himself and his own soul ...

Just as in a mirror, the movements of our own souls are reflected in them and the words are indeed our very own, given us to serve both as a reminder of our changes of condition and as a pattern and model for the amendment of our lives. ...

For I think that in the words of this book all human life is covered, with all its states and thoughts, and that nothing further can be found in Man.

Athanasius, Letter to Marcellinus on the Interpretation of the Psalms

Hebrew Poetry 

Let's take a super quick look at the way Hebrew poetry works because that's what the psalms are, after all.

Hebrew poetry doesn’t rhyme. It uses parallels to reinforce thoughts and make impact with creative repetition. You thought free verse was something new? Nope, it’s from Mesopotamian times and probably even before then. They’re just the first ones who wrote their songs down.

There are different sorts of parallels but these are easy to pick up. I don’t love poetry and I don’t love free verse but I began to enjoy Hebrew poetry once I discovered those parallels.

My mouth shall speak words of wisdom,
my heart shall offer insights.

Psalm 49:4

The second line above, parallels the point of the first, but by repeating the thought in different words which enrich and beautify.

A second method, of course, is to parallel by using contrasting or negative imagery to make the first point even stronger.

The wise heart turns to the right;
the foolish heart to the left.

Ecclesiastes 10:2

Last but not least is a method where the second part completes the thought from the first line.

As the deer longs for streams of water,
so my soul longs for you, O God.

Psalm 42:2

Adapted from Thus Sayeth the Lord by Julie Davis

Sources  

• The Book of Psalms: Translation with Commentary by Robert Alter
  Hebrew scholar Robert Alter's translations routinely made the top ten list every time one was published. No translation and commentary I have read has so vividly brought alive scripture. The commentary is cultural and literary rather than religious, just fyi, but that simply enhances it for the reader who already has a religious grounding.  
• Psalms 1-50 (Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture) edited by Craig A. Blaising, Carmen S. Hardin
  A truly stunning commentary consisting solely of Church Fathers. There are more than sixty-five authors and over 160 works excerpted in this commentary, some of which appear for the first time in English here.
• Psalms 51-150 (Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture) edited by Quentin F. Wesselschmidt. Vol. 2 of the psalms for the series. 
• Expositions of the Psalms 1-32 (Vol. I) (The Works of Saint Augustine)
  The inspiration for beginning this whole thing! It's a combination of essays and sermons. I am more drawn to the sermons which are more casual, but we'll see what hits me as we go along.
• Psalms Volume 1 (The NIV Application Commentary)
  This series is so thorough about ancient sources, very even handed, and really good about providing a way for insights into modern life via ancient text.
• The Navarre Bible: The Psalms and The Song of Solomon
  Great for the fact that they include so many comments from the Fathers of the Church, Catholic saints and popes and great thinkers, as well as including pertinent bits from the Catechism and other Church documents. 
• NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible
  Provides  context on the customs and culture of the Hebrew people and the ancient peoples around them. This is based on history, archaeology, and literature of the ancient world.
  
• Food for the Soul
  In his inimitable style, Kreeft offers reflections on each of the Sunday Mass readings, excepting the psalms (which I wish he'd included). These amount to a series of mini-homilies on each reading and I like them a lot so far. My review is here.
• The Word of the Lord
  Biblical scholar Dr. John Bergsma provides commentary on each Sunday's selection of readings. Whether you are a homilist seeking insight into the meaning of difficult scriptural passages or a Catholic desiring a deepened understanding of the readings you hear at Mass, The Word of the Lord series is an invaluable guide. My review is here.
• Morning and Evening Prayer: Meditations and Catechesis on Psalms and Canticles
  by Pope Benedict XVI
  This series of catechesis begun by Pope St John Paul II and completed by his successor Pope Benedict XVI is devoted to promoting the Liturgy of the Hours as a prayer of the whole people of God. These two popes offer original and illuminating reflections on each of the psalms and canticles leading the reader to deeper meditation and understanding. , Pope John Paul II

An index of psalms studied is here.

Big Bend National Park in 1899

Man sitting on a jonboat in Santa Elena Canyon in what is now Big Bend National Park
but was then unmapped territory during a U.S.G.S. survey back in 1899.
Via Traces of Texas

 

Every day of my life is a page of this book

So to make sure that there are no surprises at the last moment, I often like to take this book in my own hands — this book that I'm in the process of writing, whether I like it or not, as long as I live. I like to take it up and open it and let my soul read it. And that's very easy and very useful to do at the time of prayer or or examining one's conscience. I like to think that every day of my life is a page of this book; and when I begin a day what I have in front of me is a blank sheet of paper. And sometimes I run quickly through the pages already written, and allow the blank pages to pass through my fingers — the pages which are as yet unwritten because the time hasn't yet come. And in a funny way some pages always stay on my fingers: they are the days I don't know whether I'll get to write, because I don't know when the Lord will show me this book for the last time. ...

The "name of the game" is examination of conscience. You will gain a great deal of knowledge of yourself and of your character and your life. You will teach yourself to love God and to pin down your desire to make good use of your days by making clear, effective resolutions.

S. Canals, Jesus as Friend
via In Conversation with God, vol. 5

A Movie You Might Have Missed #28: Lagaan

It's been 10 years since I began this series highlighting movies I wished more people knew about. I'm rerunning it from the beginning because I still think these are movies you might have missed.

I am hard put to it to think of any four hour movie I'd recommend. When I add that it is a Bollywood sports film, that just increases the odds against it. Yet this movie's charm is undeniable.

A small Indian village battles a sadistic British officer during the time of the Raj. He has imposed high taxes or "lagaan" which a prolonged drought makes it impossible to pay. Rallied by one independent soul, Buvan, the villagers find themselves in a winner-take-all cricket match. You might want to treat this one like a mini-series as the 4-hour length that would make Martin Scorsese envious. However, I will add that Tom and I never regretted a minute of it.

This is a delightful story of the triumph of the human spirit, complete with Bollywood dancing and singing that moves the story along in the best musical style. I will add that, by the end, you will have a fairly decent understanding of cricket. I will also add that, noticing hair as I do, it was rather painful whenever the young villager who pushes everyone on to fight for their rights had his head uncovered. Possibly the worst haircut ever. As Tom said, "He looks like a young Vulcan." Other than that though ... enjoy!

Rating — Introduction to Bollywood (come on in, the water's fine!)

Scott and I discuss Lagaan at A Good Story is Hard to Find.
Hannah and Rose discuss Lagaan at An American's Guide to Bollywood.

If you want your children to eat better ...

If you want your children to eat better, don't tell them what to do. Eat better yourself.

Bee Wilson, First Bites

Of course, this holds true for much more than eating. If you want your kids to live their faith and to love it, first do it yourself.

Monterey Coast

 Monterey Coast, Theodore Wores

Updated: Finally — The McCarrick Report

Yesterday the Vatican  finally released their report on  former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick who also was a sexual predator. This is a really lengthy document and I have not had a chance to read it but I can point you to a few places that I'm finding useful in beginning to get a handle on it.

I'll add to this as I come across other sources I like. I'm swamped with work right now so my time is a bit limited.

National Catholic Register -  they have a link to the full text and feature the Vatican's summary of the document.

Morning Glory radio show - I listen to the podcast. They will unpack the report a little at a time for several days in a row. They spent the first fifteen minutes today getting started.

UPDATED

Bishop Barron on The McCarrick Report - listen or watch here. An excellent and insightful discussion.

What you learn at the dinner table

The table was the place for family business and for family quarrels as much as a place for eating. but most important, it was where we shared stories and learned lessons. I remember one night when the subject of managing money came up. Daddy took ten dimes out of his pocket and laid them out on the tablecloth. He said, "You give the first dime to the church. The second dime goes in your savings account. And you live on the rest. That, he said, was called tithing, and is how we should manage our money and our lives.

At that small white table in our hot kitchen, we learned the values and traditions that I later tried to teach — to recommend to — my own children.

Robert Khayat, quoted in A Gracious Plenty

The Princess and the Goblins

 The Princess and the Goblin, by George McDonald, illustrated by Jessie Willcox Smith, (1920)

This is via a piece at My Daily Art Display about the illustrator. Check it out for more illustrations and to learn about the artist's life. I like this book a lot, but not nearly as much as my mother does. If you haven't read it, do give it a try. C.S. Lewis just loved George McDonald's writing and there's a good reason why.

The Cemetery Gates

The Cemetery Gates, Marc Chagall, 1917
via J.R.'s Art Place

Psalms Index

Canticles Index

(In alphabetical order)

• Daniel 3:57-88, 56 — Let Every Creature Bless the Lord
• Philippians (2: 6-11) – He humbled himself

Psalms Index

(Written in chronological order through Psalm 48. After that, as whimsy and inspiration takes me.)

 Initial Notes and Sources

• Background — The prevailing Western worldview is  no more "modern" than the worldview of the first Christians
• What is More Pleasing Than a Psalm? — what experience is not covered by the reading of a psalm?
  
• Psalm 1 — The Blessed and the Wicked
  
• Psalm 2 — The Lord's Anointed King
• Psalm 3 — Selah
• Psalm 4 — Deliverance and Thanksgiving
• Psalm 5 — The Holiness of God and the Power of Words
• Psalm 6 — A Prayer for Healing
• Psalm 7 — God Has Prepared His Deadly Weapons
• Psalm 8 — The Back Parts of God
• Psalm 9 — Confidence in God
• Psalm 10 — Plea for God's Judgment
• Psalm 11 — Trust in the Lord
• Psalm 12 — The Promises of the Lord are Pure
• Psalm 13 — Waiting on the Lord
  
• Psalm 14 — Fools Deny God
• Psalm 15 — Who May Dwell with God?
• Psalm 16 — Faithfulness to the Lord
• Psalm 17 — Prayer for Protection
• Psalm 18 — A Prayer of Thanksgiving
• Psalm 19 (part 1) — The Glory of Nature and the Law
• Psalm 19 (part 2) — God's Self Revelation 
• Psalm 19 (part 3) — Right Relationship with Nature and God 
• Psalm 20 — The King and the Community Can Trust God with Their Desires
• Psalm 21 — Thanksgiving and Trust
• Psalm 22 (part 1) — What Did It Mean Before Jesus Quoted It From the Cross?
• Psalm 22 (part 2) — The "Today" of Suffering God's Silence and the "Today" of the Resurrection 
• Psalm 23 — Trusting the Shepherd
• Psalm 24 — Who is This King of Glory?
• Psalm 25 — He Teaches the Sinners and the Humble His Way
• Psalm 26 — I Have Led a Blameless Life
• Psalm 27 — The Lord is My Light and My Help
• Psalm 28 — Plea for Divine Assistance
• Psalm 29 — The Lord Blesses His People with Peace
• Psalm 30 — Praise for Healing
• Psalm 31 — Into Your Hands I Commend My Spirit
• Psalm 32 — Happy Those Who Are Forgiven!
• Psalm 33 — The Sovereignty of God
• Psalm 34 — Praise for Deliverance
• Psalm 35 — Plea for Divine Assistance
• Psalm 36 — The Wicked and the Righteous
• Psalm 37 — Fret Not Because of Evildoers
  
• Psalm 38 — Prayer in Sickness
• Psalm 39 — To Know Gladness
• Psalm 40 — Waiting Patiently
• Psalm 41 — Prayer for Healing
• Psalm 42 — Thirsting for God
• Psalm 43 — Hope in God
• Psalm 44 — Prayer for Victory
• Psalm 45 — A Wedding Hymn
• Psalm 46 — God is Our Refuge
• Psalm 47 — God is Exalted
• Psalm 48 — The Power of Zion

Spiritual acts and practical resolutions

Meditation moves our will to make spiritual acts such a the love of God and neighbor, desire of heaven and eternal glory, or zeal for the salvation of souls; it makes us long to be like our Lord, awakens a sense of compassion, wonder and joy, or fear of offending God or of judgment and hell; it leads us to hate sin and have confidence in the goodness and mercy of God and to be ashamed of the sins of our past life.

...you must not dwell upon them to such an extent that you forget to make practical resolutions according to your own special needs; for example, the first words of our Lord on the Cross will surely arouse in your soul a desire to forgive your enemies and to love htem, but this is of little value unless it leads you to make a special resolution to that end, saying to yourself, "I resolve not to be annoyed any more by anything which so and so—perhaps a neigbor or a servant—may say to me, nor by any affront which some other person may offer me; on the contrary, I will say this or that to win him over," and so on. In this way, Philothea, you will correct your faults in a very short time; but if you rely upon your spiritual acts alone it will take you a very long time and be very difficult.

St. Francis de Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life

A little more that grabbed me from my daily reading.

Thank You to Our Veterans

Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it… it flies with the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it. —Unknown

This is just so darned true. Our soldiers and veterans are so worthy of our thanks and pride. I think of my brother who has said several times, with becoming modesty, that he really just wanted to help other people. 

This moving photograph shows Chief Master Sgt. John Gebhardt, superintendent of the 22nd Wing Medical Group at McConnell Air Force Base in Kansas, holding an injured Iraqi girl. The picture was taken in October 2006, while Sgt. Gebhardt was deployed to Balad Air Base in Iraq. According to the Air Force Print News, the infant girl Sgt. Gebhardt held in his arms "received extensive gunshot injuries to her head when insurgents attacked her family killing both of her parents and many of her siblings." An Air Force Link article about the sudden fame he gained as the subject of this photograph reported that:

The chief had a knack for comforting [the injured Iraqi girl] and they often would catch a cat nap together in a chair. "I got as much enjoyment out of it as the baby did," he said. "I reflected on my own family and life and thought about how lucky I have been." While deployed to Iraq, the chief tried to help out any way he could. He figured holding a baby that needed comforting that would free up one more set of arms that could be providing care to more critical patients. "I pray for the best for the Iraqi children," he said. "I can't tell the difference between their kids and our kids. The Iraqi parents have the same care and compassion for their children as any American."

Source: Snopes

I haven't said it enough because none of us really can but to our veterans as well as those serving now ... thank you from the bottom of my heart.

A Saucer of Milk

 A Saucer of Milk by Carl Holsøe