Tenebrae

If you are fortunate enough to live near a church which has Tenebrae, I encourage you to go. I miss this special Holy Wednesday service, which begins with a procession of lit candles and proceeds through the singing of the Lamentations of Jeremiah, with a candle being extinguished until the entire church is in darkness. Then, the congregation takes the hymnals and bangs them on the pews to create the sound of the earthquake which happened when Christ died.

Tenebrae means shadow or darkness. The ancient form was, as this note from Catholic Encyclopedia states,  On the three days before Easter", says Benedict XIV (Institut., 24), "Lauds follow immediately on Matins, which in this occasion terminate with the close of day, in order to signify the setting of the Sun of Justice and the darkness of the Jewish people who knew not our Lord and condemned Him to the gibbet of the cross."


The simplicity of the service, which is only a meditation on the Death of Christ, is a fitting beginning to the grand liturgies of the Triduum.



"How doth the city sit solitary that was full of people; How is the mistress of the Gentiles become as a widow; the princess of provinces made tributary! Weeping she hath wept in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks. There is none to comfort her among all them that were dear to her: all her friends have despised her, they are become her enemies."


Several of the Psalms are also sung, with some readings from St. Augustine on the Psalms.

"Think not, therefore, that the wicked are in this world without a purpose, and that God worketh no good out of them. Every wicked man liveth, either that he many himself be corrected, or that through him some good man may be exercised."

Seminarians praying at an abortion mill--our future generation of priests

Seminarians from the Pontifical College Josephinum wearing their house cassocks (which identify them with their particular seminary), and praying outside of an abortion clinic:

In Caritate Non Ficta

Lenten Series of Perfection--The Illuminative Stage

Father Gabriel continues with his clarification of St. John of the Cross' stages of purification.
The movement from the prayer of meditation, which uses the active imagination, to the prayer which does not rely on the senses is the movement from beginner to the next stage, which is contemplation. Contemplation is more pure, more spiritual than meditation. This is the stage of simple, yet prolonged prayer. This is also the stage of passive formation. God takes over and if the soul cooperates, there is a level of illumination which happens, connected to spiritual knowledge and discernment. Father Gabriel makes a very important distinction that that the soul should not take the initiative spiritually, but wait for the passive activity of God. The soul lets God take over, even one's actions. This implies a great trust as well as the detachment from all else. This Illuminative Way is a transition period.

One needs a spiritual director for all these stages, although, the infused knowledge, ironically in a way, gives one guidance directly.

Perfection Series for Holy Week

Father Gabriel in his book on St. John of the Cross, writes this:


Love sujects the love to the object loved; it make him love all that the beloved will; it transforms the willl of the lover into the will of the beloved, so that it is as though there were no longer two will but only one: that of the beloved, to which the lover conforms himself completely.

Father is quoting St. John and paraphrasing a longer section. The first stage of the purification of the sensible part of the soul is something which most of us understand. Yet, how many times, do we start and stop this process, going backwards because we either lack courage or generosity, or, simply, love?

The lover, as Father points out, responds quickly to a suggestion or question. In fact, the true lover anticipates the requests or desires of the beloved. And, as he states, "To do things thoroughly, not by halves; such is the outstanding characteristic of Carmelite spirituality."

Part of the poem, only one of St. John's from the Ascent, reads

Strive always not after that which is most easy, but after that which is most difficult;
Not after that which giveth pleasure but after than which giveth none; 
Not after that which ministers repose but after that which ministers labour;
Not after great things but after little things;
Strive not to desire anything but rather nothing.


Without this purification, true contemplation cannot happen. It is the empty heart which can receive God.

Before the serious days set in, some fun from one of my young readers

Rugby at Chavagnes and Leadership Skills

The Rugby team at the International English College in Chavagnes is getting a great reputation in the area for two things. Firstly, the team is winning matches and showing that even small schools can compete. Secondly, some of the other teams' supporter and even coaches have noted the "leadership" qualities of the players. I think that in a small school environment, students have a greater chance of taking responsibility for many different types of activities and for the older boys to be good role models for the younger ones.

Leadership must be taught, and I am a firm believer in leadership training, even at the younger levels. The world is in great need of competent, moral and ingenious leaders. School and home are the breeding grounds for leadership skills.

Some aspects of leadership training involve respect for those who are under one's care, such as the "captains" of the various "houses" for the boys. Sport, of course, encourages leadership skills and even reveals the hidden talents of some boys who may not shine in the classroom environment. Many times, however, those youth who are leaders in academia are also leaders in sports. Rugby, being a traditional English sport, is being played in French schools as well, which surprised me. Of course, I am waiting for the "summer game", cricket to start up, then I shall really pay attention to the matches....

Updates from Spencer

Two important notes in the press today. One, from the great Spencer, that the Coptic Christians have removed themselves from constitutional talks in Egypt, as the talks are useless.


"The Coptic Orthodox Church General Council agreed with the approval of all of the council's 20 members to withdraw from the constitutional assembly... as it found it was pointless for the church to be represented following the comments made by the national forces about the way the assembly was formed," the state news agency said, quoting a church statement....


Also, France is managing to do what Britain does not manage, and that is deporting imams and jihadists for preaching militancy. I admire the French Government for responding to the recent murders with decisiveness. I wish the British Government was so determined. Here is the link.

Red Alert Because of North Korean Launch -- Drudge

I predicted that if Obama thought he would lose the election, he would start a war. Now, the missile shield has been activated in the Pacific and three ships sent to the strategic areas of the Pacific. Pay attention to this development

Here is the report.

Three interceptor ships near Japan and the Philippines, as well as U.S.-based interceptors, are ready to shoot down the North Korean missile if space-, land-, and sea-based sensors determine its flight path is targeted at the United States or U.S. allies, said officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.


The BBC also reports that Japan is on alert to hit any missiles from Korea.


Last Friday, Japanese Defence Minister Naoki Tanaka issued an order to intercept the rocket if it threatened Japan's territory.

South Korea also warned earlier last week that it might shoot down any North Korean rocket that strayed into its territory.

But satellite images taken last Wednesday indicated that work at the Tongchang-ri launch site in North Korea was under way, a US university said.

The controversial launch comes only weeks after North Korea agreed to return to talks on its nuclear programme in return for food aid from the US - a deal which is now on hold.

More Cherry Blossoms

Happy Birthday, to my Dad, who is 89 today.

People who eat chocolate have less body fat??????? Wow...great ready for those Easter rabbits

http://start.toshiba.com/tv/3/player/vendor/CBC/player/grab/asset/grab-vmB5nv7rbk

Ah, sometimes life is good.

Looking forward to a Rococo's egg, if I am good....

A Dangerous Development in France--the Rise of Communism

The Communist Left is gaining power in the run-up to the French elections and it is a dangerous thing. In the Independent today, this article and the news on the television here in the Vendee, carried the bad news on the anti-American, anti-capitalist Melenchon is gaining ground.

The second factor upsetting all calculations is the surge of support for Mr Mélenchon's high-energy, anti-EU, anti-American, anti-big finance campaign. Mr Mélenchon, an ex-Trotskyist and ex-Socialist, has swept up most of the support that normally scatters in the first round over candidates of the "further left". His call for a people's revolution, overturning existing financial and political institutions, has united – unexpectedly – some Greens, the remaining Communists, various Trotskyists, and the anti-globalist "alternative" left.

I am concerned this will happen all over Europe. The seeds have been there waiting for the correct conditions. This period reminds me of the time before the revolution in Russia.

Blooms opening today in Japan

Today, the blossoms are blooming in Japan. Here are some Kyoto photos.

The Demands of Love--Perfection Series continued

Continuing on the theme of perfection and middle-age, I come to the writings of St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila. She writes, "God gives Himself wholly to the soul which gives itself wholly to Him."

Father Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen wrote a book in 1940 about the stages of the interior life. I used some of his insights in the title yesterday, the metaphysics of love.  In his chapter entitled, The Demands of Love, the good father points out that the person who continually seeks God, will be met by Him in Love. We need the Love of God in order to love Love. A good prayer is "God give me Your Love so that I can love You." As Father Gabriel and St. John of the Cross note, this union of love is infused, but the soul can prepare itself for such a meeting of Love. The real beginning of growth is St. John's idea of nothing, NADA. We must become detached from all things, people, the past, the future, living in the now and waiting for God to meet us, as we cooperate in a purification of the senses. The empty soul is a free soul.

And only in that soul is there room for God. The NADA, the nothing, leads to the All, the TODO. How many times have we loved someone and wanted desperately to give all, to be all for this person we love. We want to be our best, to grow in love, to make the other all he or she can be as well--we wish the best always for the beloved. And, like God, we want that beloved to reach a perfection of his or her self so that he or she can be happy with God for all eternity.

So, too, God wants all the best for us and for us to be happy with Him now and in eternity. To empty ourselves is like carving out a hole in our heart for God to come in and take over. NADA-TODO.

What does it mean to give our all for God? It simply means, Father Gabriel tells us, that complete conformity to the Will of God begins this giving of our all. This is the easy and the hard part. We, as Father writes, "divest" ourselves of all that is not God.

"God, take my heart and give me Your Heart. Break all my attachments to things, people, my history, my future. Be all to me."

The Doctor of the Church and Father Gabriel want the soul to do this without delay, quickly, with generosity. Generosity means that the soul allows God to strip one of all the detachments. This is partly the "active work of the soul", that is "to let one's self be despoiled." This can be painful or joyful, or even both.

Make a resolution this week, Holy Week, to follow the way of perfection, to start being generous with God.

The Metaphysics of Love--Perfection Series continued

Reading St. John of the Cross again, at a older age, makes me realize that the world today conspires to separate the middle-aged from their true vocation in life. At a certain stage, I would say between 55-60, to begin with an arbitrary set of five years, the older person's life changes from being concerned with the outward life, such as making money, buying a house, getting married, raising a family, taking care of parents, etc. to a slower paced yet infinitely important time of life. This is the time for the development of the interior life. Without this time, a person does not reach the perfection necessary to avoid purgatory, nor does that person come into the union with God, which is possible for all.

In my mini-series on perfection, Garrigou-Lagrange repeats that all Catholics are called to this higher call of oneness with God. This call, as I have described on this blog before now, is for the many, not the few.

In the time of middle-age, the pursuit of the active, exterior life should melt away into an inner energy of the building of the interior life. Now,in this day and age of financial unrest, many middle-aged people, including myself, find that we must keep working longer than we thought, as pensions have been cut, or have disappeared entirely. The restless pursuit of the necessary, food, lodging and so on, must continue later than the baby-boomers planned. This is a serious threat to our interior growth, so important for learning and obtaining love.

The society is against us, with the false, siren call of early retirement or incessant travelling. In fact, a financial crisis may help some people my age simply stay at home, and read, pray or wow, even study their Faith.

The restlessness of youth must be supplanted by a time of reflection and withdrawal from the world. If this does not happen, the Catholic cannot grow.

Being involved in parish duties is fine, but unless there is the awareness that the interior life is like a plant which needs tending on a daily basis, the spiritual life will wither and die in the spiritual life, there is no status quo--only going forward or going back.

My advice is to simplify. Husbands and wives in the empty nest, help each other pray and meditate. If one must work, the other must help that one to time and energy for this interior life. This must be considered a priority.

The metaphysics of love demands that we are purified by active and passive transformation. We can cooperate with God in the active purification, by giving time and energy to prayer and study. As I have said before here, we need to cooperate with grace, and God only comes to those who ask Him to come. The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit is given to all Catholics in the sacraments of the Church. But, the Holy Spirit will not work against our will. Actively, we seek God. Then, passively, we receive His gifts, His Love. But, this takes focus, the focus of the interior life.

to be continued.....

From the Vatican

Vatican Approves Blessing for Child in the Womb

WASHINGTON, D.C., MARCH 29, 2012 (Zenit.org).- The Vatican has approved the publication of the Rite for the Blessing of a Child in the Womb, which will be printed in English and Spanish, according to a press release from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.


It will be published as a combine d booklet and should be available for parishes by Mothers' Day.


The approval came from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in Rome.


I'm impressed with the beauty of this blessing for human life in the womb, said Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities of the USCCB.


I can think of no better day to announce this news than on the feast of the Annunciation, when we remember Mary's 'yes' to God and the incarnation of that child in her the womb that saved the world.


The blessing was prepared to support parents awaiting the birth of a child, to encourage parish prayers for and recognition of the precious gift of the child in the womb, and to foster respect for human life within society. It can be offered within the context of the Mass as well as outside of Mass.

40 Days for LIfe in Bedford Square

And, a bishop, Bishop Alan Hopes, plus the pro-lifers, out-numbered the protesters two-to-one. Praise God for Life on this day, the beginning of Holy Week. This was on Day 39

Photo sent by Carole Smith of God's Precious Infants, Great Britain and the 40 Day for Life Team.
Robert Colquhoun, thanks and--Kudos.

Palm Sunday

What was the Blessed Virgin Mary doing when Christ was being hailed as a King?

April Night Sky

The April sky is a wonderful arena of various constellations which are well-known favorites. As Orion settles into the west, Betelgeuse is still one of the brightest objects. The constellatoins of Gemini, as mentioned below, Auriga, with the very bright star, Capella, Cepheus, Draco, Bootees and Hercules are obvious. Also, one of my favorites, Lyra hold the bright star Vega and M57 a Planetary Nebula. Tonight, look towards the North, Northwest, and Northeast for these, except Orion, which is in the far west, with Gemini right above Betelgeuse. Your point of reference is always the Big Dipper, also known as Ursa Major, or the Plough.

If you are looking south, Leo is obvious, with the bright star Regulus. Also to the West, you can see Cancer,  and Canis Major, with Procyon, a bright star. Virgo, with Spica is also up, and if you find Virgo, you will find Coma Bernices, between Bootes and Virgo. All these I have seen for two or three nights in France in the country. Orion is just setting.

The April sky will also, later in the month, witness the great meteor shower, the Lyrid, which one can see clearly around April 22nd. I saw one shooting star two days ago, and three in January, so I an waiting for this wonderful shower. The diagram shows where to look.

For all my trad friends.....

The Deceit is Becoming Obvious--

Finally, someone else besides Dr. Sanity, myself and a few others online, are beginning to recognize the deceit of POTUS. That the Wall Street Journal condemns the insider, narcissistic president as out of touch with the populace and his own Dem party. The Voice of Sauron has cracks it in....

An American president has to make cooperation happen.

But we've strayed from the point. Mr. Obama has a largely nonexistent relationship with many, and a worsening relationship with some.

Dr. Sanity says it best, and here is part of her brilliant take on her blog.The traditional medical definition of sociopathy is a personality disorder characterized by a lack of social responsibility and failure to adapt to ethical and social standards of the community.

If we think about that definition for a moment, we can perhaps begin to understand what is going on in our world today; and the reason that a huge number of people have embraced a fundamentally sociopathic--and "progressive" lifestyle, all the while convincing themselves that they are "compassionate", "post-racial" and just.

Under the pervasive influence of postmodern philosophy and rhetoric, the ethical and social standards of the community have, unfortunately, been slowly evolving and eroding. 

In western culture, ethical and moral standards used to be anchored to the real world (i.e., to reality); but in the postmodern wilderness in which the political left and most of its most visible spokespeople--i.e., leaders in the Democratic Party-- wander aimlessly, ethics and morality are relative and "anchored" to feelings and whim; which inevitably unleashes the baser and more vile aspects of human nature. 

The 20th century became the playground (and litter box) for the narcissist; and by the time the 21st century rolled around, malignant narcissism was not even considered deviant, it had gone mainstream. Since psychopathology continually evolves and worsens if it is not confronted and dealt with, what we have now in our culture, particularly the political system, is the endstage of psychological evolution under postmodernism: the sociopath who disguises his or her sociopathy by selflessness (now marketed as "hope and change").

These selfless sociopaths are people who basically could not care less about an individual human being.

They think in terms of movements and achieving some grand scheme of "social justice"--which is far from real justice and the search for truth. 

Individual human beings are expendable; it is the collective or State that matters; and, as long as they stand in the way of the implementation of the sociopath's great ideas and compassionate execution of those ideas they can be ignored, marginalized and even killed. To this type of mind, individuals are merely the fodder used to build "great" societies from the all the utopian fantasies and collectivist wet-dreams.

It used to be that with the rise of civilization, political sociopaths--selfless and selfless-- were (thankfully) few and far between. Even so, when they appeared in history, they wreaked havoc and destroyed lives with great abandon for "the greater good". Needless to say, a central aspect of the 'greater good' was always the advancement of their own glorious self and their ideas.

We can thank primarily the postmodern political left and its useful idiots for the persistent, unyielding, and willful celebration of--and ultimately mainstreaming of--malignant narcissism. We have entered the age of postmodern sociopathy and nihilism.

What does it matter if the lives and freedoms of so many individuals are sacrificed to the murderous oppressors of the world; or, for that matter, even the compassionate oppressors of the Democratic Party--who, after all, want only the best for you of? 

If you "kick out the wealthy" then you have the wonderful socialist paradise of Cuba or the currently evolving one of California; or the magnificent utopia of North Korea with all their misery, poverty, oppression and progressive enlightenment!

Under the uber-enlightened and progressive reality-based left, wealth will be redistributed and the human mind enslaved--but so what? As the eminent leftist and quintessential nihilist Joseph Stalin once remarked, "Death solves all problems - no man, no problem." 

In the long run we are all dead anyway, right?