The murdered Copts are victims of a theological and intellectual caricature that we must wake up to
I am very sad about the murder of twenty-one Christians in Libya
at the hands of ISIS; but not just sad. I am also angry. I am angry
because no one in authority really seems to have woken up to the
situation we are in. There is nothing random about ISIS; the horrors
wreaked by ISIS are not the work of a few isolated individuals, but
rather something that we should expect given what we ought to know about
the ISIS ideology.
Hopefully, the shaky truce between Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s Petro Poroshenko, brokered in Minsk by Angela Merkel, will hold.
For nothing good, but much evil, could come of broadening and lengthening this war that has cost the lives of 5,400 Ukrainians.
The longer it goes on, the greater the casualties, the more land
Ukraine will lose, and the greater the likelihood Kiev will end up an
amputated and bankrupt republic, a dependency the size of France on the
doorstep of Europe.
This extraordinary Eucharistic hymn, by the great St. Thomas Aquinas, is
a fan favourite among the faithful. This version regretably leaves out
the second verse. The recording is from the CD illuminations, compiled
by Dan Gibson. the Latin text and English translation follow:
Pange, lingua, gloriosi Corporis mysterium, Sanguinisque pretiosi, quem in mundi pretium fructus ventris generosi Rex effudit Gentium.
Nobis datus, nobis natus ex intacta Virgine, et in mundo conversatus, sparso verbi semine, sui moras incolatus miro clausit ordine.
In supremae nocte coenae recumbens cum fratribus observata lege plene cibis in legalibus, cibum turbae duodenae se dat suis manibus.
Verbum caro, panem verum verbo carnem efficit: fitque sanguis Christi merum, et si sensus deficit, ad firmandum cor sincerum sola fides sufficit.
Tantum ergo Sacramentum veneremur cernui: et antiquum documentum novo cedat ritui: praestet fides supplementum sensuum defectui.
Genitori, Genitoque laus et jubilatio, salus, honor, virtus quoque sit et benedictio: Procedenti ab utroque compar sit laudatio. Amen.
Sing, my tongue, the Savior's glory, of His flesh the mystery sing; of the Blood, all price exceeding, shed by our immortal King, destined, for the world's redemption, from a noble womb to spring.
Of a pure and spotless Virgin born for us on earth below, He, as Man, with man conversing, stayed, the seeds of truth to sow; then He closed in solemn order wondrously His life of woe.
On the night of that Last Supper, seated with His chosen band, He the Pascal victim eating, first fulfills the Law's command; then as Food to His Apostles gives Himself with His own hand.
Word-made-Flesh, the bread of nature by His word to Flesh He turns; wine into His Blood He changes; what though sense no change discerns? Only be the heart in earnest, faith her lesson quickly learns.
Down in adoration falling, This great Sacrament we hail, Over ancient forms of worship Newer rites of grace prevail; Faith will tell us Christ is present, When our human senses fail.
To the everlasting Father, And the Son who made us free And the Spirit, God proceeding From them Each eternally, Be salvation, honor, blessing, Might and endless majesty.
There are numerous defenders of President Obama’s prayer breakfast
appeal for Christians to not “get on our high horse” about criticizing
Islamic violence and to recall the Crusades, Inquisition and American
racial segregation. These defenders seem not to understand that most
critics of the speech are not disputing wickedness by Christians but are
concerned about the context, timing, and implications of such comments,
especially in the present conflict with ISIS.
Some
defenders have likened Obama’s speech to appeals by Abraham Lincoln and
theologian Reinhold Niebuhr for national modesty, especially in time of
war, without fully considering their different context, timing and tone.
Hat Tip to Regina Magazine. The Stanford Viennese Ball Opening Committee waltzes to Künstlerleben,
or Artists' Life, op. 316 , by Johann Strauss Jr. Choreography by
Joachim De Lombaert and Kseniya Charova. For more information about the
ball, go to http://www.vienneseball.com or visit their YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/StanfordV....
The parents of Kayla Mueller, just released the last letter received from their daughter:
Everyone, If you are receiving this letter it means I am still
detained but my cell mates (starting from 11/2/2014) have been released.
I have asked them to contact you + send you this letter. It’s hard to
know what to say. Please know that I am in a safe location, completely
unharmed + healthy (put on weight in fact); I have been treated w/ the
utmost respect + kindness.
I wanted to write you all a well thought out letter (but I didn’t
know if my cell mates would be leaving in the coming days or the coming
months restricting my time but primarily) I could only but write the
letter a paragraph at a time, just the thought of you all sends me into a
fit of tears.
If you could say I have “suffered” at all throughout this whole
experience it is only in knowing how much suffering I have put you all
through; I will never ask you to forgive me as I do not deserve
forgiveness.
I remember mom always telling me that all in all in the end the only
one you really have is God. I have come to a place in experience where,
in every sense of the word, I have surrendered myself to our creator b/c
literally there was no else…. + by God + by your prayers I have felt
tenderly cradled in freefall.
I have been shown in darkness, light + have learned that even in
prison, one can be free. I am grateful. I have come to see that there is
good in every situation, sometimes we just have to look for it. I pray
each each day that if nothing else, you have felt a certain closeness +
surrender to God as well + have formed a bond of love + support amongst
one another…
I miss you all as if it has been a decade of forced separation. I
have had many a long hour to think, to think of all the things I will do
w/ Lex, our first family camping trip, the first meeting @ the airport.
I have had many hours to think how only in your absence have I finally @
25 years old come to realize your place in my life. The gift that is
each one of you + the person I could + could not be if you were not a
part of my life, my family, my support.
I DO NOT want the negotiations for my release to be your duty, if
there is any other option take it, even if it takes more time. This
should never have become your burden. I have asked these women to
support you; please seek their advice. If you have not done so already,
[redacted] can contact [redacted] who may have a certain level of
experience with these people.
None of us could have known it would be this long but know I am also
fighting from my side in the ways I am able + I have a lot of fight left
inside of me. I am not breaking down + I will not give in no matter how
long it takes. I wrote a song some months ago that says, “The part of
me that pains the most also gets me out of bed, w/out your hope there
would be nothing left…” aka- The thought of your pain is the source of
my own, simultaneously the hope of our reunion is the source of my
strength.
Please be patient, give your pain to God. I know you would want me to
remain strong. That is exactly what I am doing. Do not fear for me,
continue to pray as will I + by God’s will we will be together soon.
“A steady patriot of the world alone,
“The friend of every country — but his own.”
George Canning’s couplet about the Englishmen who professed love for
all the world except their own native land comes to mind on reading
Obama’s remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast.
After listing the horrors of ISIS, al-Qaida and Boko Haram, the
president decided his recital of crimes committed in the name of Islam
would be unbalanced, if he did not backhand those smug Christians
sitting right in front of him.
