Anyway, I have one wish for my birthday. This unfortunate series of events is causing me to miss the premiere of "The Dark Knight" in theaters. Therefore! When I come back on or around the 31st of the month, I would very much like to go to a showing of this excellent film with a special someone. Nothing else involved, just an outing to this one movie. Okay, it's not really my birthday.... but it'd be nice. :-)
Take a look at this recruiting poster for Army Catholic chaplains during the First World War. Simply glorious:
On the PC, though, not the Playstation 3.
Oh, for the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, my parish put up a reliquary of first class relics of Peter, Paul, and all the other apostles. Not sure if I want to ask how they got them all, though.
Two entries of note:
Vouchsafe to Go: an essay about the Christian epic film of 2008, Speed Racer.
Quote Me on That: a response to my accusation of him interspersing his everyday dialogue with movie quotes from Becket and elsewhere.
(By the way, if you're one of those weirdos who read my blog solely through Facebook, I don't think you'll be able to see the pictures, so log into the actual site. Thanks.)
This first set is dedicated to an argument where a few people were defending the lifestyle of the FLDS (fundamentalist Mormon) polygamist sect in north Texas, with their underaged bigamy and such. After a while, the defendants called me a "hysterical bigot", "totally devoid of reason" "and "troll". So I dressed up as a monk-troll and made these (couldn't find a wooden club like a troll's, so I used a lead pipe):
And my favorite:
This one I made after being called a "feminist" in the same discussion, merely for saying that the FLDS's child bigamy is "institutional prostitution".
This one is in regard to a discussion about Colleen Hammond, a well-known traditional Catholic author on modesty and "ladylike behavior". Unfortunately, she seems to believe that "ladylike behavior" means turning over all matters to your husband with a tinkling laugh and generally being ignorant.
This one's an all-purpose macro. Tired of arguing with Protestants on the Internet? Just post this in your topic:
Got the idea for this one after a forum poster asked a question like "if you're traveling in another country, are you still obligated to attend Mass on holy days of obligation, even if the country you're in doesn't?"
This one was inspired by a thread posted by a young man like myself about how hard it is to find a good traditional Catholic girl. Now, with this, you can just email to your favorite chick across the pew or online and she's bound to ask you to marry her afterward:
This one was for all the nerdy people on that forum. I'm posing here with a comic book about saints.
This one is in response to someone who said that they're not voting this election. It's only partially satirical, though, since I really am forming a Young Royalists' Society.
This one is in response to an apparent stereotype among more primeval traditionalists that "women aren't supposed to like sex".
These are two "advertisements" I've made for the forum. I'm still thinking of better captions.
And finally, once again about those damn fundie Mormon child rapists..... this one is supposed to represent a Catholic "pool boy" ringing a fundie Mormon's doorbell and coming to lure a young girl away from her duty to marry a 50-year old pervert. The black tie should be an obvious lampoon of the Mormon missionaries, and yes, that's a Douay-Rheims Bible.
Actually, this picture was the original idea for the pool boy joke, but I forgot to put a Catholic prop in it and it's too risque, anyway. And to further explain, the pool boy theme is because I've been applying for jobs as a "pool maintenance technician" for the summer, but it's actually harder than you might think to get the job. Anyway, this is the PG-13 version. LOL.
My esteemed fellow blogger, Anita Moore from V for Victory!, posts a transcript of President F.D. Roosevelt's D-Day radio address to the nation every year on the day. This is pretty much required reading, so I'm going to post the thing below. It's simply unbelievable that a President within living memory could say such things as FDR did. D-Day will, I hope, be remembered the same way that the Battle of hastings or the Battle of Tours are remembered today.
(But note that it looks better on Anita's blog with the pictures.)
My Fellow Americans:Last night, when I spoke with you about the fall of Rome, I knew at that moment that troops of the United States and our Allies were crossing the Channel in another and greater operation. It has come to pass with success thus far.
And so, in this poignant hour, I ask you to join with me in prayer:
Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity.
Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.
They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph.
They will be sore tried, by night and by day, without rest -- until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men's souls will be shaken with the violences of war
.For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and goodwill among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home.
Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.
And for us at home -- fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas, whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them -- help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice.
Many people have urged that I call the nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.
Give us strength, too -- strength in our daily tasks, to redouble the contributions we make in the physical and the material support of our armed forces.
And let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be.
And, O Lord, give us faith. Give us faith in Thee; faith in our sons; faith in each other; faith in our united crusade. Let not the keenness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment -- let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose.
With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogances. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace -- a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil.
Thy will be done, Almighty God. Amen.
From Times Online
January 10, 2008
Commons call to disestablish church is number 666
Ruth Gledhill Religion Correspondent of The Times
A motion calling for the disestablishment of the Church of England has been listed in the House of Commons as 666 - the Number of the Beast.
Labour MP John Austin, who has repeatedly tabled Early Day Motions urging disestablishment, put down his latest motion last night as MPs debated scrapping Britain's blasphemy laws.
It appeared appeared on the House of Commons order paper numbered 666, the number associated with the Antichrist in the Book of Revelation. Scholars believe 666 referred to the Emperor Nero.
The King James Bible renders Revelation 13:8 as: "Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six."
Bob Russell, Liberal Democrat MP for Colchester and one of the signatories, said: “It is is incredible that a motion like this should have, by chance, acquired this significant number.
“This number is supposed to be the mark of the Devil. It looks as though God or the Devil have been moving in mysterious ways.
“What is even stranger is that this motion was tabled last night when MPs were debating blasphemy.”
The motion is unlikely to be debated. But momentum for looser ties between Church and State is growing, as the support for the repeal of the blasphemy law illustrates. The blasphemy law favours Christianity and in particular the Church of England.
Although the attempt by Liberal Democrat MP Evan Harris to amend the Criminal Justice Bill was unsuccessful, the Prime Minister Gordon Brown has disclosed that he is consulting with the churches about its repeal.
Here's one of "those" stories about Communion in the hand.
One of these last Sundays (June 21 or 28, 1970), at the seven o'clock parish Mass, in the Beauceville Church (P.Q., Canada), the parish priest Charles-Eugene Houde (about 50 years old) was celebrant. He had already told his parishioners that they were permitted to receive the Sacred Host in their hands, according to the directives given by the Archbishopric of Quebec. This day, before the Mass, he told his parishioners the following: "Henceforth, to avoid complications, everyone of you will receive the Host in your hand for Communion . . . "At the moment of the Communion of the Mass, Reverend Houde turned to the people, holding the ciborium in his hand. Before he had time to take one single Host and make a single step, about fifty consecrated Hosts flew out of the ciborium by Themselves, They went up in the air, and dispersed Themselves around the celebrant, then slowly fell to the ground . . .
Father Houde was so much struck by the prodigy that for a few minutes he remained motionless having his face white. Then, interiorly inspired, he said to the faithful who were approaching the Holy table: "Henceforth, all of you will receive the Sacred Host on your tongue, not in your hand, because God just gave us a sign."
. . . Back at his presbytery he is reported having said: "Never in my life will I give Holy Communion in the hand."
St. George, the patron saint of England, was historically a Roman soldier who rose from tribune, then count, to a member of Emperor Diolcetian's personal bodyguard, i.e. the Praetorian Guard. However, when Diolcetian launched the last great persecution of Christianity, George was ordered to carry it out. He revealed that he was a Christian himself, and was put to death.
The story of George and the dragon comes from tales that the Crusaders brought from the east. According to one form of the story, a dragon made its nest by the spring of a town in Libya. The villagers relied on this spring for their water, but in order to get the dragon to move, they had to offer a sheep as sacrifice. When no sheep are available, the peasants offer a maiden instead, chosen by lots. One day, the chosen maiden happens to be the king's daughter. As the princess is offered to the dragon, a young soldier in his travels, St. George, protects himself with the sign of the cross and then rides into battle. He slays the dragon, rescues the princess, and the whole town converts to Christianity out of gratitude.
The story sounds a bit incredulous, I know, but if you read the dragon as a symbol of, say, Greco-Roman paganism..... it makes much more sense.
A link to my Myspace may be of use in your discernment.
Lord James in his feet-sweeping attire
Lord James as drawn by the court artist during his trial on charges of excessive attractiveness
Lord James's Official Girlfriend Application, Version 1.0
Full Name:
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Contact Information
Email:
Instant Messenger service and screen name:
The inevitable Myspace and/or Facebook account:
Phone (optional):
Your Living Habits
Note: Under Lord James's non-discrimination policy, no answer will automatically disqualify you from eligibility.
1.) Do you smoke? If so, how often?
Do you drink? If so, how often?
Do you use illegal substances? (yes, that includes Mary-Jane)
2.) What is your current occupation?
3.) What is your living situation?
4.) Do you drive? If so, what vehicle?
5.) Highest level of education completed:
6.) Do you have any children? If so, how many and how involved are you in their lives? (read: this is where you brag about your parenting skills and hopefully not the lack thereof)
7.) Do you have a criminal record? If yes, what's on it, and do you have any cool stories to share? Do you possess an axe?
Your Interests and Hobbies
Lord James is very interested in what you have to say here, so by all means, feel free to splurge on the word count here.
1.) List your top three favorite movies with a brief explanation of why for each:
2.) What is a favorite movie quote of yours? (Research on iMDB is allowed here)
3.) Do you enjoy video games or PC games? If so, list three favorites.
4.) Do you enjoy tabletop RPG's (e.g. Dungeons & Dragons, Vampire: The Requiem, GURPS)?
5.) Do you like sports? Which ones?
6.) Are you a writer and/or artist? If so, feel free to attach any of your works which are worthy of viewing.
7.) What is your favorite food?
8.) What is your sense of fashion style?
9.) If you could invent or build any one thing, what would it be?
10.) List up to three talents or abilities you have which you think may be useful for performing the job you are applying for.
Your Beliefs
1.) What is your religious and/or spiritual persuasion? Feel free to describe them in one paragraph.
2.) What is your political persuasion? As above, feel free to describe them in one paragraph.
Short Essay
1.) Please describe your idea of the perfect date.
2.) Why are you filling out this application? i.e. why are you interested in a relationship with Lord James?
3.) Are you a princess? Why or why not?
Relationship History
Please fill in the details of your last three relationships, beginning with the most recent.
Boyfriend's name:
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Reason for breakup:
Circle one: Dumper dumpee
Boyfriend's name:
Start date:
End date:
Reason for breakup:
Circle one: Dumper dumpee
Boyfriend's name:
Start date:
End date:
Reason for breakup:
Circle one: Dumper dumpee
References
Provide three references and their contact information. Attractive female friends recommended!
Certification
I hereby certify that the information given in this application is true to the best of my knowledge and that give unto Thine Excellent Majestie (you) the authorization to verify it. I also understand that filling out this application does not guarantee that I will receive the position.
Applicant's Signature:
Date:
Please submit this application to ViscountGryphon AT yahoo DOT com. Thank you for applying.
First, I saw Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull on its midnight premiere with all the fanboys and fangirls. I was a bit skeptical of its ability to recreate the feeling of the other three, but I came out satisfied. Harrison Ford is still kicking Nazi (or rather, Communist this time) butt at his advanced age. In fact, I believe he's done more stuntwork by himself in the making of this film than in the others. I was also suspicious of Shia LeBouf's character, Mutt Williams, being overly annoying. Thankfully, it turns out he's not so bad, and he's actually integral to the plot.
I also saw The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. I'm ashamed to admit that I've neither seen the first movie nor read any of the books by C.S. Lewis (despite having read his Mere Christianity and The Screwtape Letters) so I had almost no idea what was going on, plotwise. Nevertheless, it was excellent and met my desires for epicness this week. I don't know why, but I never get tired of watching CGI armies marching in formation to certain death.
A few things I learned from this movie:
1.) This series must have an insane amount of blatant Christian symbolism. That's not a complaint in any way, because it's good; just an observation. Lots of similarities between Peter Pevensie and St. Peter, for example, as leaders. Aslan as a Christ figure was very obvious, but I did some further inquiry and found that Lewis intended for Aslan to not be an allegory of Christ in the strict sense, but rather an imagining of what Christ would incarnate Himself as if He were in a fantasy world of talking animals (like Narnia).
2.) Usurpers to the throne are irritating, and even blasphemous to some degree. Lewis was surely a monarchist. Of course, this film is all about restoring a prince to his rightful place as king.
3.) Anna Popplewell is a cutie. She plays as Susan Pevensie in the film series.
It even has curtains like a stage:
I knew I should have stayed in town this weekend. Not only did I miss my church's Brass FX concert, I also missed the Corpus Christi outdoor procession and benediction. Father Phillips's report on the events, with pictures.
More pictures on this link.
"Do we all holy rites;
Let there be sung 'Non nobis' and 'Te Deum;'
The dead with charity enclosed in clay:
And then to Calais; and to England then:
Where ne'er from France arrived more happy men."
A clip from Kenneth Branagh's version:
For Trinity Sunday, the schola at today's Mass sang the Gregorian setting of Te Deum, the classic hymn of praise which, according to tradition, was composed by St. Ambrose for the occasion of baptizing St. Augustine. For the postlude/recessional, our organist played a magnificent anthem based on the Te Deum by Jean Langlais. Ah, I found a free mp3 here.
The following video features the Te Deum sung for an FSSP priest's first Mass:
Looking at the text, one can see how it was inspired and expanded from the Gloria.
| TE DEUM laudamus: te Dominum confitemur. Te aeternum Patrem omnis terra veneratur. Tibi omnes Angeli; tibi caeli et universae Potestates; Tibi Cherubim et Seraphim incessabili voce proclamant: Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth. Pleni sunt caeli et terra maiestatis gloriae tuae. Te gloriosus Apostolorum chorus, Te Prophetarum laudabilis numerus, Te Martyrum candidatus laudat exercitus. Te per orbem terrarum sancta confitetur Ecclesia, Patrem immensae maiestatis: Venerandum tuum verum et unicum Filium; Sanctum quoque Paraclitum Spiritum. Tu Rex gloriae, Christe. Tu Patris sempiternus es Filius. Tu ad liberandum suscepturus hominem, non horruisti Virginis uterum. Tu, devicto mortis aculeo, aperuisti credentibus regna caelorum. Tu ad dexteram Dei sedes, in gloria Patris. Iudex crederis esse venturus. Te ergo quaesumus, tuis famulis subveni: quos pretioso sanguine redemisti. Aeterna fac cum sanctis tuis in gloria numerari. Salvum fac populum tuum, V. Domine, et benedic hereditati tuae. R. Et rege eos, et extolle illos usque in aeternum. V. Per singulos dies benedicimus te; R. Et laudamus Nomen tuum in saeculum, et in saeculum saeculi. V. Dignare, Domine, die isto sine peccato nos custodire. R. Miserere nostri domine, miserere nostri. V. Fiat misericordia tua, Domine, super nos, quemadmodum speravimus in te. R. In te, Domine, speravi: non confundar in aeternum. | O GOD, we praise Thee: we acknowledge Thee to be the Lord. All the earth doth worship thee the Father everlasting. To thee all the angels cry aloud the heavens and all the powers therein. To thee cherubim and seraphim do continually cry Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth; heaven and earth are full of the majesty of thy glory. The glorious company of apostles praise thee. The goodly fellowship of the prophets praise thee. The noble army of martyrs praise thee. The the father of an infinite majesty; thine honourable true and only Son; also the Holy Ghost the comforter. Thou art the King of Glory, O Christ. Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father. When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man, thou didst not abhor the Virgin's womb. When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death, thou didst open the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Thou sittest at the hand of God in glory of the Father. We believe that Thou shalt come to be our Judge. We therefore pray thee, help thy servants, whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood. Make them numbered with thy saints in glory everlasting V. O Lord save thy people and bless thine heritage. R. Govern them and lift them up for ever. V. Day by day we magnify thee; R. and worship thy name, ever world without end. V. Vouchsafe, O Lord to keep us this day without sin. R. O Lord, have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us. V. O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us, as our trust is in thee. R. O Lord in thee have I trusted: let me not be confounded. |
Last Friday, my good friend Pablo informed me that a friend of his was coming to San Antonio for the weekend and that I should drive them around to show the newcomer around town and entertain him for a night. So I did.
To be honest, I thought this guy was going to boring as hell and that I would force Pablo to make me forget about the whole thing by drowning myself in a pit of American federal reserve notes.... but to my pleasant surprise, the guy was great. Actually, scratch that: he was a dandy, and I'd be more worried about whether I was interesting enough for him. His name is Michael Mattis, and he runs a column on Dandyism.net called "The Sophistocrat". We met up at a hotel downtown, walked along the Riverwalk for a bit, then retreated to a hookah cafe on the other side of town to chemically reduce our lifespans and tell ridiculous stories/jokes over the sound of funky Arabic pop music.
All in all, it was a pretty good night to burn gas and walk around in unnecessarily dressy clothing.
Armed and dangerous: This man has been convicted of wanton popery.
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