Laments for Israel

 I heard over the weekend about the barbaric attacks upon Israel but it was very briefly as bombings and military attacks. I had pressing family matters at the moment and also don't read news much online so it wasn't until I saw the paper yesterday morning that I learned more about the full extent of the aggression and the horrifying treatment of the innocent people there. 

Of course, I am praying for them wholeheartedly. I also was struck by the fact that I have been reading the many laments in the psalms as I slowly work my way through them. The more things change, the more they are the same. 

The psalms aren't a bad place to start when we don't have adequate words to beg God to protect the innocent and turn away evil.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. — Psalm 46:1

Mother's Ill

Mother's Ill by Gaetano Chierici

I found this at J.R.'s Art Place where he points out:

Notice how everyone seems to be after one another's food in this painting: the father is cooling down a spoonful for baby, but three other children are grabbing for it as well! And the boy seated on the floor is in imminent danger of having cats and chickens stealing his meal.

Kathal — A Jackfruit Mystery

When two prized jackfruits disappear from a politician’s garden, a spirited cop’s investigation takes an unexpected turn as she digs for the truth.

We all really loved this movie which follows Inspector Mahima Basor and her team as they pursue the ridiculous case of two stolen jackfruits. Everyone realizes it is a waste of resources but no one will say no to the politician. As you might expect there is a fair amount of humor but it is usually gentle and understated, which can be a rarity in Indian movies.

We learn a little about the team and what they care about — a dowry for a daughter, a promotion for a constable, a way to balance husband and career. And we meet other characters, most notably a village reporter who is hoping for a big story and dives into the jackfruit investigation. All are likable and even the villains aren't too heavy handed. 

The character development and plot twists were perfectly paced, and wove some serious topics very naturally into the story without heavy-handed moralizing. You don't have to be Indian to enjoy this light hearted film though I'm sure there are many little moments that we missed. 

The talented cast included some actors we have long enjoyed — Sanya Malhotra in Dangal and Badhaai Ho, Vijay Raaz in Monsoon Wedding and Gangubai Kathiawadi. All did a great job and I hope to see other movies with these actors especially the young constable and the local reporter.

Definitely recommended.

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

October

October, Theo van Hoytema

The Bells

Because Halloween is this month! When better for bells and Poe! Read it aloud for best effect.

The Bells

by Edgar Allen Poe

I
Hear the sledges with the bells-
Silver bells!
What a world of merriment their melody foretells!
How they tinkle, tinkle, tinkle,
In the icy air of night!
While the stars that oversprinkle
All the heavens, seem to twinkle
With a crystalline delight;
Keeping time, time, time,
In a sort of Runic rhyme,
To the tintinnabulation that so musically wells
From the bells, bells, bells, bells,
Bells, bells, bells-
From the jingling and the tinkling of the bells.

II

Hear the mellow wedding bells,
Golden bells!
What a world of happiness their harmony foretells!
Through the balmy air of night
How they ring out their delight!
From the molten-golden notes,
And an in tune,
What a liquid ditty floats
To the turtle-dove that listens, while she gloats
On the moon!
Oh, from out the sounding cells,
What a gush of euphony voluminously wells!
How it swells!
How it dwells
On the Future! how it tells
Of the rapture that impels
To the swinging and the ringing
Of the bells, bells, bells,
Of the bells, bells, bells,bells,
Bells, bells, bells-
To the rhyming and the chiming of the bells!

III

Hear the loud alarum bells-
Brazen bells!
What a tale of terror, now, their turbulency tells!
In the startled ear of night
How they scream out their affright!
Too much horrified to speak,
They can only shriek, shriek,
Out of tune,
In a clamorous appealing to the mercy of the fire,
In a mad expostulation with the deaf and frantic fire,
Leaping higher, higher, higher,
With a desperate desire,
And a resolute endeavor,
Now- now to sit or never,
By the side of the pale-faced moon.
Oh, the bells, bells, bells!
What a tale their terror tells
Of Despair!
How they clang, and clash, and roar!
What a horror they outpour
On the bosom of the palpitating air!
Yet the ear it fully knows,
By the twanging,
And the clanging,
How the danger ebbs and flows:
Yet the ear distinctly tells,
In the jangling,
And the wrangling,
How the danger sinks and swells,
By the sinking or the swelling in the anger of the bells-
Of the bells-
Of the bells, bells, bells,bells,
Bells, bells, bells-
In the clamor and the clangor of the bells!

IV

Hear the tolling of the bells-
Iron Bells!
What a world of solemn thought their monody compels!
In the silence of the night,
How we shiver with affright
At the melancholy menace of their tone!
For every sound that floats
From the rust within their throats
Is a groan.
And the people- ah, the people-
They that dwell up in the steeple,
All Alone
And who, tolling, tolling, tolling,
In that muffled monotone,
Feel a glory in so rolling
On the human heart a stone-
They are neither man nor woman-
They are neither brute nor human-
They are Ghouls:
And their king it is who tolls;
And he rolls, rolls, rolls,
Rolls
A paean from the bells!
And his merry bosom swells
With the paean of the bells!
And he dances, and he yells;
Keeping time, time, time,
In a sort of Runic rhyme,
To the paean of the bells-
Of the bells:
Keeping time, time, time,
In a sort of Runic rhyme,
To the throbbing of the bells-
Of the bells, bells, bells-
To the sobbing of the bells;
Keeping time, time, time,
As he knells, knells, knells,
In a happy Runic rhyme,
To the rolling of the bells-
Of the bells, bells, bells:
To the tolling of the bells,
Of the bells, bells, bells, bells-
Bells, bells, bells-
To the moaning and the groaning of the bells.

The Litany of the Counsel of the Saints II

Magnificat usually has this wonderful litany in the month leading up to All Saints' Day. There will be a posting of part of this litany throughout October.  

This litany is a meditation on what some of the saints have spoken or written. As we listen to these saints, we pray for a deeper personal participation in their sanctity. This litany represents only a small sampling of the vast communion of the saints. Feel free to add your favorites to it. One option is to sing the litany and its response.

R. (Saint's name), pray for us

 Saint Gertrude the Great: "Once again I give you thanks for your merciful love, kindest Lord, for having found another way of arousing me from my inertia." R

Saint Bonaventure: "God created all things not to increase his glory, but to show it forth and to communicate it." R

Saint Maria Maddalena de' Pazzi: "Who doesn't know what God is, should apply to Mary. Who doesn't find mercy in God, should apply to Mary. Who doesn't have conformity of will, should apply to Mary." R 

Saint Francis de Sales: "We must fight our battle between fear and hope in the knowledge that hope is always the stronger because he who comes to our help is almighty." R

Saint Jane Frances de Chantal: "Oh, how happy is the soul that freely lets herself be molded to the liking of this divine Savior!" R

Francis de Sales and Jane Frances de Chantal, medal 1867

Saint Irenaeus of Lyons: "The glory of God is man fully alive." R

Saint Agatha: "Lord Jesus Christ, you created me, you have watched over me from infancy, kept my body from defilement, preserved me from love of the world, made me able to withstand torture, and granted me the virtue of patience in the midst of torments." R

Saint Cyprian: "Our union with Christ unifies affections and wills." R  >

Saint Peter Julian Eymard: "Abide in the home of the divine and fatherly goodness of God like his child who knows nothing, does nothing, makes a mess of everything, but nevertheless lives in his goodness." R

Saint John Bosco: "What tenderness there is in Jesus' love for man! In his infinite goodness, he established with each of us, bonds of sublime love! His love has no limits." R

Irenaus, in Church of St Irenaeus, Lyon.

Psalm 39 — To Know Gladness

  If ... you wish to pray on your own behalf as the enemy prepares the attacks, there is all the more reason, in arming yourself for the battle, to sing the words of Psalm 39.

Athanasius, On the Interpretation of the Psalms

When discussing Psalm 38, I forgot to mention that we're down to the last four of the psalms of Book 1 of Psalms, The Laments of David (psalms 38-41). It hasn't escaped our notice that we've been working our way through many laments. So. Many. Laments. 

Then we'll be on to Book 2, which is the Triumphs of David! Huzzah! First though let's keep in mind that these last four laments seem to be an extended meditation on personal sin as the cause for divine judgment, the need for confession, the need for God's aid, and pleas for delivery from suffering. 

General thinking is that they were written by David and present his sufferings and trials when he is not yet delivered but is still confident that God will help him. It is worth keeping David's life in mind when reading these psalms. Of course, our lives are reflected here also and that is the more important part of any meditation.

I was struck, when reading this psalm and the commentaries, by how similar this is in some ways to Ecclesiastes. The psalmist talks about how fleeting life is, that "each man's life is but a breath. Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro." And so forth and so on.  

Never do we feel more like this than when we are in the depths of despair with no help or answers immediately forthcoming.

Were can the psalmist look for help? To God, of course!

Psalm 39 in a Franciscan manuscript

I've said plenty above but wanted to share this from St. Ambrose which really touched my heart.

39.13 To Know Gladness

Forgive Me. Ambrose. Forgive me, so that I need no longer be a pilgrim and a wayfarer. Forgive me so that I may be called home from exile. If you forgive me, before I go from this place, I shall no longer be an exile and a pilgrim. Once you will have forgiven me, I will not longer be in foreign parts. I shall be a fellow citizen of your saints; I shall be with my ancestors, who were pilgrims before me and are now truly citizens. I shall be a member of God's household. I shall not dread punishment but also merit grace through our Lord Jesus; with whom, Lord God, be praise to you, and honor and glory forever; now and always for ages of ages. Amen. (Commentary on Twelve Psalms 39.39.)

Psalms 1-50 (Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture)

An index of psalm posts is here.

Give your servant Don eternal peace, O Lord

Yesterday, I was at a deathbed with my son-in-law when his father died. Truth be told, I would have felt very out of place, but I am lucky enough to be very good friends with his mother. I am extremely fond of my son-in-law but I just love his mother so much. When she told me there were mere hours left, I dropped everything to go support them. 

Therefore, I was privileged to be there both simultaneously mourning his passing and also cheering him over the final bit of his race to his Eternal Reward.

I ask your prayers for the soul of Don Edinburgh and in support of his grieving family.

Give your servant Don eternal peace, O Lord,

and let perpetual light shine upon him.

May his soul, as well as the souls of all the faithful dead,

rest in peace, thanks to God’s grace.

Amen.

Mississippi River

 

Missippi River - View from Fire Point

Since we were talking about time's river today, let's look at a river — here is the great Missippi in lovely Fall colors.

Standing to the side of time's river

My father passed away in 1991, but I remember the things he said to me, and they are present to me in a still powerful and formative way. I think it is an earnest of our immortality that we can stand to the side of time's river and let things long past continue to dwell in us; and not just as remnants, either. Who knows, but that some experience I have long forgotten will someday return and be a central and powerful part of my future days?

Anthony Esolen, Word of the Week essay: Time

I never would have thought of immortality this way but it is a striking image and acknowledgement of how our humanity interacts with time.

Grey Heron

 

Grey Heron, Remo Savisaar

Click through to see this lovely bird with many more details in the original blog post.

The Litany of the Counsel of the Saints I

Magnificat usually has this wonderful litany in the month leading up to All Saints' Day. There will be a posting of part of this litany throughout October.

This litany is a meditation on what some of the saints have spoken or written. As we listen to these saints, we pray for a deeper personal participation in their sanctity. This litany represents only a small sampling of the vast communion of the saints. Feel free to add your favorites to it. One option is to sing the litany and its response.

R. (Saint's name), pray for us

Holy Mary, Mother of God: "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." R

Saint Gabriel the Archangel: "Hail favored one! The Lord is with you." R

Saint Joseph: [pause in reverent silence] R

Saint Joseph

Saint John the Baptist: "Jesus must increase; I must decrease." R

Saint Peter: "Lord, you know that I love you." R

Saint Paul: "We had accepted within ourselves the sentence of death, that we might trust not in ourselves but in God who raises the dead." R

The Beheading of Saint Paul by Enrique Simonet, 1887

The Gallery of HMS Calcutta

The Gallery of HMS Calcutta, James Tissot

Click on the link to see the painting larger. The detail on those gowns is really wonderful. Those were the days!

Cinderella (2015)

Kenneth Branagh's live-action Cinderella and the best of the live-action Disney remakes because they stuck to the story without trying to improve it for modern values.

Sumptuous, gorgeous, thoughtfully told, with surprising depth, charm, and a dash of humor. Perfect!

I was especially impressed with the moral underpinning and the way the evil stepmother's story subtly intertwines with Cinderella's by the end. Never has one had a better example of the reason to "have courage and be kind." This is so simple but so all encompassing that I've found it echoing through my head as I face difficult situations in my own life. I didn't expect to be motivated by Cinderella but that is the power of this telling of the classic fairytale.

I loved it long ago and loved it equally this time around. We showed it for my mother who hadn't seen it but who also loved it. I wasn't sure how my husband would take it, though he is always willing to sacrifice himself for the sake of my mom's enjoyment. However, he also really liked it as a skillful, respectful retelling of a classic fairytale and appreciated all the filmmaking.

October

October, Les Très Riches Heures du duc de Berry

Tilling and sowing are being carried out by the peasants, in the shadow of the Louvre - Charles V's royal palace in Paris.

University of Chicago

Till We Have Faces Discussion at Mythgard Academy

As I've mentioned before I'm addicted to Corey Olsen's free classes at Mythgard Academy.  He's the best of all the book podcasts that I listen to because he focuses on what the text is telling us, not on what we know will happen later in the book or getting sidetracked into tangential ideas.

I admit that I have skipped all of the Tolkien materials once they finished The Lord of the Rings. However, these have been interspersed among rich discussions of many wonderful books ranging from Dracula to Le Morte d'Arthur to Ender's Game to Watership Down. 

I'm extra excited that they have just begun Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis. It is a book that I struggle with but which nonetheless fascinates me. I've listened to various podcasts cover it but 20 minutes into the first episode I know that Corey Olsen is showing me the book from a point of view that I find irresistible. 

They're on a lot of platforms but I listen to the podcasts. Find out how to listen or watch here.

Let's Talk Angels

We've got angelic feasts coming up. Here's a post to get us in the mood ... that is a good run down of "angelic basics". I first wrote this in 2011 but it is just as good now.

+++++++++++++++++

I usually have some "mind's eye" angel thinking going on. During Mass I think about the fact that there are double the visible inhabitants, because we each have our guardian angel with us. I read somewhere that angels are always worshiping when the Host is consecrated ... I always have that mind's-eye vision of them prostrating themselves at that point. St. Josemaria Escriva always mentally greeted the guardian angel of the person and sometimes I remember to do the same. More important to me is to be sure to ask my guardian angel for guidance during the day ... according to St. Escriva, the more you "talk" to your angel, the more sensitive you are to any guidance.

I was fascinated by the entire concept of angels when I converted but wanted the real scoop ... not one of those cutesy "I met my angel" books that were popular at that time (2000). Wouldn't you know, Peter Kreeft (is there anything that guy can't write about?) has a wonderful book, Angels and Demons: What Do We Really Know About Them? Here is the quickest possible Angels 101 course from the first page of the book.

O.K., so I'm browsing through this book and wondering: why should I buy it? What can you tell me about angels in one page?

1. They really exist. Not just in our minds, or our myths, or our symbols, or our culture. They are as real as your dog, or your sister, or electricity.
2. They're present, right here, right now, right next to you, reading these words with you.
3. They're not cute, cuddly, comfortable, chummy, or "cool." They are fearsome and formidable. They are huge. They are warriors.
4. They are the real "extra-terrestrials," the real "Supermen," the ultimate aliens. Their powers are far beyond those of all fictional creatures.
5. They are more brilliant minds than Einstein.
6. They can literally move the heavens and the earth if God permits them.
7. There are also evil angels, fallen angels, demons, or devils. These too are not myths. Demon possessions, and exorcisms, are real.
8. Angels are aware of you, even though your can't usually see or hear them. But you can communicate with them. You can talk to them without even speaking.
9. You really do have your very own "guardian angel." Everybody does.
10. Angels often come disguised. "Do not neglect hospitality, for some have entertained angels unawares" -- that's a warning from life's oldest and best instruction manual.
11. We are on a protected part of a great battlefield between angels and devils, extending to eternity.
12. Angels are sentinels standing at the crossroads where life meets death. They work especially at moments of crisis, at the brink of disaster -- for bodies, for souls, and for nations.

The Letter

The Letter (c.1890). Thomas Benjamin Kennington

First, I'd like a letter that gave me that expression. Second, I'd love that dress. Oh, who am I kidding? The dress is what I'd like first!

The sheep are insolent

[The Lord says:] The straying sheep you have not recalled; the lost sheep you have not sought. In one way or another, we go on living between the hands of robbers and the teeth of raging wolves, and in light of these present dangers we ask your prayers. The sheep moreover are insolent. The shepherd seeks out the straying sheep, but because they have wandered away and are lost they say that they are not ours. “Why do you want us? Why do you seek us?” they ask, as if their straying and being lost were not the very reason for our wanting them and seeking them out. “If I am straying,” he says, “if I am lost, why do you want me?” You are straying, that is why I wish to recall you. You have been lost, I wish to find you. “But I wish to stray,” he says: “I wish to be lost.”

So you wish to stray and be lost? How much better that I do not also wish this. Certainly, I dare say, I am unwelcome. But I listen to the Apostle who says: Preach the word; insist upon it, welcome and unwelcome. Welcome to whom? Unwelcome to whom? By all means welcome to those who desire it; unwelcome to those who do not. However unwelcome, I dare to say: “You wish to stray, you wish to be lost; but I do not want this.” For the one whom I fear does not wish this. And should I wish it, consider his words of reproach: The straying sheep you have not recalled; the lost sheep you have not sought. Shall I fear you rather than him? Remember, we must all present ourselves before the judgement seat of Christ.

From a sermon On Pastors by Saint Augustine, bishop,

Office of Readings, Liturgy of the Hours

I was really struck by St. Augustine's point about the sheep being so insolent that they sass the shepherd for seeking them out. We think of that insolent rejection of God as being something so modern. Yet there are plentiful examples in both the Old and New Testaments that this is an attitude as old as mankind itself. 

Of course, we need to be sure we do not become insolent. It is also a good reminder that I need to persevere with my loved ones who I wish to bring to the joy of knowing Jesus. They know not what they do, as Jesus said.

The Visit

The Visit, Abram Efimovich Arkhipov

He really captures the mood of happy excitement and enjoyment, doesn't he?