If only Roman-rite churches would get rid of pews (in addition to the other needed reforms). If I ever visit Front Royal or that part of Virginia again, I'll have to visit Holy Transfiguration. Does Archimandrite Fr. Constantine-Paul Belisarius still celebrate Byzantine-rite liturgy in Front Royal? Maybe someday Fr. Christopher will be posted over here in California. But I don't think that will happen--his family lives on the East Coast. Which reminds me... I found a reference to Archimandrite Zacharias... was it over at the Crunchy Con blog or one of the Orthodox blogs? Can't remember.
From NLM: Announcement of Professor Laszlo Dobszay’s forthcoming publication
The Restoration and Development of the Roman RiteOther volumes in the T&T Clark Fundamental Studies in Liturgy include The Collects of the Roman Missal by Lauren Pristas (September 2009) and Being Liturgical. The Subject of Worship by Laurence Paul Hemming (November 2009). If the economy crashes, may the press survive to publish these important books.
Edited and with a foreword by Laurence Paul Hemming
T&T Clark London , July 2009, 240pp, app. £25.00
ISBN 9780567033864
Links for Archimandrite Zacharias, Elder Sophrony, and Silouan the Athonite:
ORTHODIXIE ... Southern, Orthodox, Convert, Etc.: Archimandrite ...
KEEP THY MIND IN HELL AND DESPAIR NOT: A Word of God for Our Generation
North Texas Orthodox Missions: Archimandrite Zacharias CD & DVD
Youtube: Archimandrite Zacharias at St. Tikhon's Orthodox Monastery
Spiritual son of the Elder Sophrony visits Diocese of the South
Archimandrite Zacharias is the author of two recent books published by Mt. Tabor Publishing, The Enlargement of the Heart and The Hidden Man of the Heart. Both books are an outgrowth of the life long experiences of the Elder Zacharias who is the spiritual son of the Elder Sophrony (1896-1993) the founder of the St. John the Baptist Monastery in Essex. The Elder Sophrony was the disciple of St. Silouan the Athonite (1866-1938). Thus his teachings are part of an unbroken chain of spiritual teachers of two great Fathers of the Church.
Sophrony (Sakharov) - OrthodoxWiki
Photos of Fr. Sophrony Sakharov
On Prayer; His Life is Mine
Patriarchal Stavropegic Monastery of St. John the Baptist (Maldon ...
St John the Baptist Monastery, Essex - Monachos.net Discussion ...
MOUNT THABOR PUBLISHING - Books by Elder Sophrony
If You Would Celebrate Pentecost - Love Your Enemies « Glory to ...
In the Presence of God - Elder Sophrony « Glory to God for All Things
Silouan the Athonite - OrthodoxWiki
Photos of St. Silouan the Athonite
CyberDesert - Philokalia Webzine -St. Silouan the Athonite
Silouan the Athonite
Home - St. Silouan the Athonite Orthodox Christian Mission
Also from SVS Press: Greek East and Latin West by Andrew Louth and Christian East and the Rise of the Papacy by Aristeides Papadakis
After Mass, Sarge and I went to lunch at the Carino's near the Raleigh-Durham Airport. I was surprised to see a group of 7 or 8 Korean teenagers there. I don't think I heard any Korean--just English. The exterior design of the chain's restaurants reminds me of Macaroni Grill, but I don't know if they are owned by the same company. I still have to go to Firehouse Subs some time, see how it compares to Togo's or Jimmy John's. I suggested it, but Sarge had a hankering for Italian. (As usual.) I ordered the chicken milano, which was good, but I think I'd have to agree with Sarge--Pierro's is probably better. (Though the bread that is given by Carino's is quite good.) I didn't really like his five cheese tortellini dish, and I was reminded why I don't like many Italian dishes, the ones that use a lot of cream for the sauce. They're just too creamy and my stomach doesn't like that.
On Thursday, after the graduation I did see a Korean--she is the wife of one of the grads, and was, as Watcher says, quite "fobby." A lot of Koreans live in the area, being associated with the military in one way or the other, though Sarge jokes that the new ACUs will put many of them out of work, since the ACU makes a lot of use of velcro for patches and such so there will be no need for them to sew them on. (Though I suppose they can still do alterations.)
Anyway... since I was with Sarge for 4 days, there was some discussion of potential spouses, and I was thinking once again about what is necessary for compatability and what isn't. I don't think I could live with someone who wasn't familiar with and interested in Latin and Western culture, or the Catholic intellectual tradition. (I can make some allowances with respect to Anglo-Celtic-Latin culture, since I'm still learning about it myself.) At the very least if she weren't familiar with these, she should be a good Catholic who recognizes the importance of these and defers to them. (And of course, obeys the Church and lives out the Church's teachings.)
I can't get along with cheerleaders for either party, though my aversion to most in the Democratic party is still stronger than it is to the Republicans. At this point it is better to just avoid talking about politics with the true believers who fall in the mainstream of either party--it's not a retreat to the ghetto, but acknowledging that it is unlikely that people will be persuaded, even if you can lead them back to their first principles and fight on that territory. It just isn't worth the exasperation. I suppose I would have the same wariness with respect to those who take Faux News too seriously.
Now it might seem that "political differences" shouldn't get in the way of a good marriage, but maybe that is tied to a rather "thin" view of what political participation is. It shouldn't be just voting, though that is what the system considers to be citizenship. We should be working for a certain kind of change, and how many of those who think the welfare state is the solution (who can and do have good intentions) would really be willing to consider a radical alternative, one that is truly just and allows people to take responsibility for their own lives, while allowing that government does have a role to play, particularly with fostering economic freedom? What can we put in practice at home to influence the community? I don't know if I want to say the domestic sphere is private, as if it is completely cut off from the "public" sphere. Rather, the political begins at home.
I joke that I am a hobbit, but it does seem to me that finding a hobbit wife is necessary for the sake of harmony within the home.
From Boundless Line:
Let's Talk About Dating, Part 1: Be Realistic
Let's Talk About Dating, Part 2: Holding Out
American Conservative: What is Left? What is Right? Does it Matter?
Hmm... the TAC Alumni website is still up.
CNN coverage of the presidential campaign was being televised at the airport, since it was the day after the Texas primary (among others). I haven't watched many of the Obama and Clinton ads, but while I was looking at some blogs over at Sarge's apartment, I did come across references to the Obama ads done by celebs... I played two for JB, who actually likes the "Yes We Can" video. I hope Sarge's nephew has forgotten the Obama chant. (I was repeating the chant for JB, and the nephew picked up on it.)
At this point is there much to be said about Dr. Paul's campaign? Daniel Larison offers Some Thoughts on the Paul Campaign. While some of his supporters at Lew Rockwell may have thought he had a chance, I wasn't as "optimistic." Still, it is somewhat of a letdown to see things coming to a close this way, though Dr. Paul has said he will continue to fight for the ideas that have helped him get so much support, and ensure they get some attention until the convention (and at the convention itself?). A restatement from Dr. Paul while being interviewed with Neil Cavuto.
The homeschooling controversy did lead me to think about these struggles with various authorities and others who oppose the Law. They may seem minor, but is there a possibility that they will lead to something more serious in the future? A new persecution of Christians in the name of promoting tolerance and the values of secular humanism?
Whose side is God on? It is a staple line in some movies that if armed conflict does happen between two religious/sectarian groups, we should "let God sort it out" and judge who is right, in the name of some sort of neutrality, sometimes implying that neither side has the support of God. Does God offer grace to everyone so that they may be saved? Yes. Does He offer them the grace to act in accordance with His law and justice? Yes. Is it possible for someone to contravene God's Law or to advocate such actions with a "good" (that is, sanctified or holy) will? At times I doubt it.
If disagreements about what is owed to God and society cannot be resolved peacefully or through separation (secession), then what other alternative is left? Assuming that armed resistance can be successful, is it therefore an option? (I think it is, contra those Christians who are absolute pacificists. Christians would be fighting not to impose their religion on others, but to protect their communities from being destroyed by pernicious influences or a government hostile to the divine order.) Unfortunately, if the South couldn't succeed, what chance do small groups of right-thinking and acting Americans have?
If such resistance cannot be successful, must one submit to the regime? Or is leaving for a different political community then an acceptable choice? While it is necessary for happiness for man to live in community with others, it does not seem necessary for him to live in a specific community. If the community is disordered and impedes his fulfilling higher obligations or obligations to his family and dependents, or threatens their spiritual well-being, then it seems that they should leave for somewhere else, even if in justice they may be required to render something back to the community for what it has given to them. The higher obligations override the lower. Charity may dictate that we do the good that we can do for our neighbor, but prudence and wisdom should enable us to recognize when our efforts will be limited and outweighed by the dangers that we risk to ourselves and our families? We should have a "thick" view of what "living well with others" means and requires, not a thin view that of course comports to the American way of life as it exists now in most places (especially the suburbs). While living with others in friendship is a good in itself, it must be open to the transcendent--the political order is not a separate sphere unto itself, as if it could be a source of complete happiness to man, because only God is man's ultimate end.
Living well with others requires justice, but justice is further ordered to friendship. Here Aristotle's account of friendship, given in the Nicomachean Ethics, can possibly be improved. Just as Aristotle did not know of the supernatural end to which man is called, he did not know that the best and highest friendships are rooted in the same supernatural end. The private good of man is not his ultimate end and as it is private, by definition it cannot be shared. Friends must have something else in common, and for Aristotle, the highest friendships were founded upon having virtue (or the pursuit of virtue) in common. This was the basis of the friends' life together. But virtue that is separate from charity is imperfect virtue--for virtue to be perfect it must be ordered to God through charity. So not only are we called to union with God, but also our friendships with others are ordered towards Him.
If one cannot leave, then one must pray for the grace and the heroic virtue to endure the persecution that will come.
Martyrology
The Roman Martyrology - Contents
Speaking of friendship... all in all, it was a good trip to North Carolina--Sarge was very hospitable and generous, and I enjoyed meeting his family and spending time with them. Thank you very much Sarge! I will have to try to write you a real thank-you when I can. I don't think he will be moving to California. That's too bad. I did appreciate the time spent at Bragg and around things military. While I do respect those who are serve in the military, especially the quiet professionals, there are things to be lamented about the state of the U.S. military. I heard some complaints from one of Sarge's friends, through Sarge, about SF being squandered and misused, and not being properly trained but going through finger drills instead. Apparently the Regular Army mentality has seeped into SF and even CAG (if the second-hand complaints are true).
AMERICA'S ARMY: SPECIAL FORCES - HOME PAGE
Needless to say, one can respect the grunts and POGs in the U.S. Army (and those in the other branches) without endorsing the National Government that makes use of them. Now back to states' rights and true American republicanism... some articles for LRC by David Dieteman:
Of Contracts and Constitutions
Three Views of the Constitution
Contra Claremont
Joseph Stromberg archive--gis "The Neo-Unionists’ Rope of Sand" and The Trouble with the Constitution
Is this enough to lure Sarge away from Milwaukee back to PR? I can't but help think of a certain blonde schoolteacher here in California... she was rather cute (and girly) when she asked me to sub for her class. I don't really know anything about her, if she is a Democrat like so many others at her school or if she has a boyfriend. Ha. I don't think there is much of a chance happening. Maybe I can go to PR with Sarge's mother and she can introduce me to a Puerto Ricana. Boricua!
The MD and her family are supposed to be coming up next weekend. Maybe I'll have the opportunity to take the niece to the park so she can go on the slide. (She continues to mention it whenever she talks to me on the phone.) And today is KCC's birthday--Happy Birthday! I haven't gotten a hold of her on the phone yet. Is she celebrating over at Fiddler's Hearth tonight?
(Turns out she was in Chicago having dinner with her husband, who is in Chicago for a business trip. They had dinner at the Brazilian bbq restaurant.)
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