WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

I doubt not then but innocence shall make false accusation blush, and tyranny tremble at patience.

This Week: Newman, a poem.

-


Brethren, in the days before our beloved Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman is raised to the altar as Saint John, we might gather around a table of his writings and savour the clarity, depth and breadth of this master of the theological arts.

And so a poem on (i.e., contra) liberalism. One could hope that the pious supporters of a certain synod might stray near Newman's writings and restore in themselves a preference for Catholicism.

Laudetur Iesus Christus!


{144}

"Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel. Howbeit from the sins of Jeroboam Jehu departed not from after them, to wit, the golden calves that were in Bethel, and that were in Dan."

Ye cannot halve the Gospel of God's grace;
Men of presumptuous heart! I know you well.
Ye are of those who plan that we should dwell,
Each in his tranquil home and holy place;
Seeing the Word refines all natures rude,
And tames the stirrings of the multitude.

And ye have caught some echoes of its lore,
As heralded amid the joyous choirs;
Ye mark'd it spoke of peace, chastised desires,
Good-will and mercy,—and ye heard no more;
But, as for zeal and quick-eyed sanctity,
And the dread depths of grace, ye pass'd them by.

{145}

And so ye halve the Truth; for ye in heart,
At best, are doubters whether it be true,
The theme discarding, as unmeet for you,
Statesmen or Sages. O new-compass'd art
Of the ancient Foe!—but what, if it extends
O'er our own camp, and rules amid our friends?

Palermo
June 5, 1833.

Comments

Post a Comment

Your comments will be appreciated and posted if 1) they are on topic and 2) preserve decorum.

Stand by your word.

Popular Posts

It's Here! The Saint Peter Gradual: The Chants of the Mass for Sundays, Solemnities, and Feasts.

-
Image
Click on Images to Enlarge Our pastor, the Very Reverend Fr. Carl Reid, returned from the recent clergy gathering in Houston, Texas, and revealed the brand new Ordinariate Gradual. That is, the  Saint Peter Gradual: The Chants of the Mass for Sundays, Solemnities, and Feasts. Apparently, the seventy or more copies of the initial run were snapped up immediately. One can easily imagine that  The Gradual will become an important addition to the Ordinariate liturgical experience. It communicates a vital aspect of the Patrimony. Diocesan English-speaking Catholics may wish to enhance their (Ordinary Form) Masses by making the Proper chants ( Introit, Gradual Psalm, Offertory and Communion ) of The Gradual a central part of their liturgies. Choir directors would do well to include those chants in every Mass since they do define the distinct character of each Mass. Please see the image above to purchase copies: fstravinskas@hotmail.com. The Gradual employs moder...
Read more

A Bishop Missing The Obvious Signs Obviously?

-
Image
Air Martin It seems that God’s signs are going unnoticed by those whom the lay faithful rely on for guidance. What signs, you ask? Let’s give credit to writers who are capturing what should by now be the most obvious sign—or collection of signs—of God speaking to His people, His Church. Brian Williams @LiturgyGuy Yesterday Charlotte ordained 10 men to the priesthood, a record high in the diocese’s 54 year history. Interestingly, 8 of the 10 ordained came from parishes directly impacted by Bishop Martin’s restrictions against the TLM and/or altar rail ban. Meanwhile, two of the mega parishes in Charlotte, both of which fit the liturgical style +Martin favors—including one with over 12,000 registered families—haven’t produced a priestly vocation since well before COVID. Will this vocations boom continue in the coming years under Bishop Martin? Also interesting to note that one of the twelve ordained this past week by the FSSP also grew up here in Charlotte serving at St. Ann’s TLM. Bisho...
Read more

Angelic Thrones: The Many-eyed Ones

-
Image
Thrones, also known as Ophanim (Hebrew: אוֹפַנִּים ʼōp̄annīm), meaning “wheels,” are described in Ezekiel’s vision of the merkabah (chariot) in Ezekiel 1:15–21. These wheels are connected to Daniel 7:9, where they are called galgal , often described as “the wheels of galgallin ” in a “fiery flame” and “burning fire.” They are shown as four eye-covered wheels, each formed from two nested wheels, moving together with the winged Cherubim beneath God’s throne. The wheels move in harmony with the Cherubim. The Celestial Hierarchy of Dionysius refers to the Thrones from the Old Testament description as the Third Order of the First Sphere, the other two superior orders being the First Order, the Seraphim, and the Second Order, the Cherubim. CHAPTER VII Of the Seraphim, Cherubim and Thrones, and their first Hierarchy The name of the most glorious and exalted Thrones denotes that which is exempt from and untainted by any base and earthly thing, and the supermundane ascent up the steep. Fo...
Read more

Slaughter Not The Sacred Liturgy

-
Image
Screenshot | Charlotte Ordinations | CM Author Sarah Cain writes at Crisis Magazine about the naughty and knotty situation in the Diocese of Charlotte. Inspired by a recent ordination Mass, the author captures the flavour of the event as well as offering a wider perspective. Avoiding the Blackpill Temptation by Sarah Cain crisismagazine.com/opinion/avoiding-the-blackpill-temptation ... Ours is a diocese that has been the subject of an abundance of articles over the past couple of years, ever since the newly-appointed Bishop Michael Martin instituted controversial changes. The music at this weekend’s Ordination Mass was grossly inappropriate. Even that phrasing is somehow an understatement(.) (T)he bishop held up the Host weakly with one hand, as he is now known for doing. It’s a posture that is difficult to understand as anything other than indifference. Thus, the projection of such casualness is a source of pain for many faithful Catholics. A woman in a red choir robe sat in the s...
Read more

Sharing The Beauty Of Evensong In The Catholic Church

-
Image
DURANDUS | NLM Evensong is a liturgy of the Daily Office where psalms and other biblical passages are sung or said, usually close to sunset. The Latin word vesperas was rendered as aefensang  by Old English speakers, and this became "evensong" in modern English. https://singtheoffice.com/  | Music companion for chanting the Office. Variable audio support available. A very useful site! Structure The office of Vespers normally includes psalms, the Magnificat , a hymn, and other prayers. By the Early Middle Ages, it became common for secular clergy to combine Vespers and Compline . By the sixteenth century, worshippers in western Europe conceived 'evensong' as Vespers and Compline performed without break. Modern Byzantine services advertised as 'vespers' often similarly conclude with Compline . Background The Anglican archbishop Thomas Cranmer created choral evensong as a component of the Book of Common Prayer (1549) during the Edwardian Reformation, drawing on t...
Read more

Obedience In Catholic Terms

-
Image
The Church recently celebrated Good Shepherd Sunday. How many were paying attention to Christ's teaching? Addressing the Jewish teachers, Jesus told aspiring leaders, or shepherds, that they had forfeited their position. John 10:25-30 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” Those are some sobering words for clergy. Obedience in Catholic teaching is not merely “doing what you’re told.” It is a faithful, loving alignment of your will with God’s will, expressed concretely through lawful authority, especially in the forms God has establi...
Read more

POPE LEO XIV Magnifica Humanitas

Even in the darkest nights, the Lord raises up men and women who refuse to give up, who persevere in doing good, who protect the vulnerable and open pathways to reconciliation. The memory of the saints, righteous people and the oft-forgotten peacemakers, show us that grace does not magically eliminate conflict, but instead it inspires active resistance to evil and an astonishing creativity in doing good” (paragraph 211).

THOMAS SOWELL

It is bad enough that so many people believe things without any evidence. What is worse is that some people have no conception of evidence and regard facts as just someone else's opinion.

MARCUS AURELIUS, Meditations

The best revenge is to be unlike him who performed the injury.

TACITUS

Formerly we suffered from crimes; now we suffer from laws. When the State is corrupt, then the laws are most multiplied.

AMICUS EPICTETI

Whoso doth wield unjust grievances as weapons to shun his duty shall suffer a chastisement more grievous than any he may lay upon the innocent.

WORDS TO THE WHYS

A man of righteousness rendereth his aid most freely unto the poor; yet a deceiver doth devour the innocent.

LEONARD VAN ROET

Wherefore doth a man endure false witness, whilst his accuser escapeth all chastisement?