The luxury of ignorance
and
"The law of Thy love"
Saturday, September 30, 2006
The bookworm DTs
I've taken an indefinite fast from reading. This is an act of penance and redemptive co-suffering I decided to take up not only as a demonstration of my loyalty to someone I care for, but also for the benefit of that person in a very trying situation. It's coming towards the end of my seventh day without reading and I realize how agitated (dare I say nutty?) it's making me at times. Every time I turn around, I see a book. And whereas normally I would pick it up without a second thought, now I wince a little every time I pass over those books, staring at me in their as-yet-unread splendor. It's true: I'm getting the bookworm shakes.
I decided not to fast from food, because my ulcer problem makes a bad thing of going too long without food. Reading is the only thing I do as naturally and as pleasurably as eating, so, in an inspiration at Mass last week, I realized it was "off with its head" until the Lord deigns to bless the one I suffer with. It certainly is eye-opening to feel hour by hour how naturally, indeed compulsively, my mind turns to books. The good thing is that since I've allowed myself only to read the Bible, use reference materials, or study Chinese, I'm getting a lot of time in both the mundus biblica and the mundus sinica.** God be with us.
**(I make no secret of my poor Latin, so correction is welcome!)
Labels:
Memoirs and Friends
Monday, September 25, 2006
Blessed art thou...
I've been a Catholic now, officially, for a year and a half. Over time, certain Catholic assumptions have become ingrained and natural in me. For example, no matter how wonderful worship among brothers and sisters in faith may be, I am naturally aware of a feeling that something is missing. Namely? The Eucharist. A year and a half in, I do indeed simply take it for granted that worship done right not only should but by its very nature must center on the Self-Offering Lord of the Altar, the Lamb of God slain for us all.
Another ingrained perspective has to do, of course, with the Blessed Mother. Whereas in my earlier days of exploring the Church, or of having just entered it, I was very self-conscious of Marian doctrines being a conspicuous new "wart on my face -- a wart that needed elaborate, winsome "explanations" -- now I simply take it for granted that Christian piety has an intrinsically Marian dimension. Her "fiat" (or, "genoito") in Luke 1 is the pattern and foundation on which all subsequent Christian faith and obedience "bears Christ" into the world. She is not the icon of the Incarnation -- the Eucharist is -- but she is the icon of the Church, that Body which bears Christ in and into all humanity. She is not Jesus's mother on simply biological grounds (cf. Mk 3), bonds which the Gospels transcendently nullifies, but preeminently his mother by her perfect faith as the handmaid of the Lord (cf. Lk 1). Now, rather than feeling defensive about "explaining" my Mary-wart, I have tremendous peace and joy in knowing Marian spirituality is the vast index of all Christian experience, and those who do away with it are the exception, truly the ones with some explaining to do.
This Marian assumption has become so ingrained in me, in fact, that recently I was musing how I'd respond if someone, say, an Evangelical, asked why I should bother with "all that Mary stuff," and was startled to hear a few very compact, very potent replies spring to mind. (The hypothetical conversation was a result of some insights brought up in a discussion with some other Catholics.) What startled me was not the truth of the points, but rather, how succinctly and smoothly, almost reflexively, they came to mind. I no longer had to think up a "clever" reply. I naturally just laid out the rudiments of the Catholic Marian framework, realizing the "splendor of truth" speaks for itself.
What did Jesus say about a tree and its fruits? "A tree shall be known by its fruits" (Matthew 12:33).
What were the fruits of Mary? Jesus Christ the Son of God!
Hence, what kind of tree is Mary? By sheer grace, she is an unsurpassably holy and fruitful tree, literally a tree of life that does not wither or rot over the ages.
Who is the New Adam? Jesus Christ, the head of the new redeemed humanity (cf. Rom 5).
Who is the New Eve? Mary, the Mother of all the living (i.e., redeemed humanity in Christ).
What is her role as the New Eve? She supplants Eve's failure against the serpent -- or, in St. Irenaeus's words, she unties the knot of Eve's disobedience -- by being a sure and lasting opponent of the Serpent (cf. Gen 3).
Who is the glorious, celestial woman in Revelation 12? Mary, the Mother of the Messiah and his brethren, the queen whom the Dragon could not and cannot defeat.
What was Jesus Christ typologically (i.e., biblical-metaphorically)? The Word of God, the Manna of Heaven, and the priestly staff of Aaron from the branch of Jesse.
What bore these same elements in the Old Testament? The Ark of the Covenant (cf. Heb 9), which was holy above all things, not to be touched by any man (cf. Num 4, 2 Sam 6), and the undefiled seat of God's own presence (cf. Ex 25).
Who bore Jesus? Mary, the Ark of the New Covenant, holy (i.e., full of grace) above all things, untouched by any man, and the undefiled seat of God's Wisdom.
Who is Jesus? The Logos of God, God Himself made man.
Who was His mother? Mary.
Who are we in relation to Jesus? His siblings, friends, disciples, and subjects.
Who, then, is Mary to us? Our own Mother! (Cf. Rev 12 again.)
How should we treat our parents? With honor and obedience (cf. Ex 20).
Further, how would you treat your best friend's mother, or that of your master? With great honor and respect.
How, then, should we treat Mary, the Mother of God Himself? With unmatched honor (i.e., hyperdulia) as a uniquely blessed vessel of grace.
Another ingrained perspective has to do, of course, with the Blessed Mother. Whereas in my earlier days of exploring the Church, or of having just entered it, I was very self-conscious of Marian doctrines being a conspicuous new "wart on my face -- a wart that needed elaborate, winsome "explanations" -- now I simply take it for granted that Christian piety has an intrinsically Marian dimension. Her "fiat" (or, "genoito") in Luke 1 is the pattern and foundation on which all subsequent Christian faith and obedience "bears Christ" into the world. She is not the icon of the Incarnation -- the Eucharist is -- but she is the icon of the Church, that Body which bears Christ in and into all humanity. She is not Jesus's mother on simply biological grounds (cf. Mk 3), bonds which the Gospels transcendently nullifies, but preeminently his mother by her perfect faith as the handmaid of the Lord (cf. Lk 1). Now, rather than feeling defensive about "explaining" my Mary-wart, I have tremendous peace and joy in knowing Marian spirituality is the vast index of all Christian experience, and those who do away with it are the exception, truly the ones with some explaining to do.
This Marian assumption has become so ingrained in me, in fact, that recently I was musing how I'd respond if someone, say, an Evangelical, asked why I should bother with "all that Mary stuff," and was startled to hear a few very compact, very potent replies spring to mind. (The hypothetical conversation was a result of some insights brought up in a discussion with some other Catholics.) What startled me was not the truth of the points, but rather, how succinctly and smoothly, almost reflexively, they came to mind. I no longer had to think up a "clever" reply. I naturally just laid out the rudiments of the Catholic Marian framework, realizing the "splendor of truth" speaks for itself.
What did Jesus say about a tree and its fruits? "A tree shall be known by its fruits" (Matthew 12:33).
What were the fruits of Mary? Jesus Christ the Son of God!
Hence, what kind of tree is Mary? By sheer grace, she is an unsurpassably holy and fruitful tree, literally a tree of life that does not wither or rot over the ages.
Who is the New Adam? Jesus Christ, the head of the new redeemed humanity (cf. Rom 5).
Who is the New Eve? Mary, the Mother of all the living (i.e., redeemed humanity in Christ).
What is her role as the New Eve? She supplants Eve's failure against the serpent -- or, in St. Irenaeus's words, she unties the knot of Eve's disobedience -- by being a sure and lasting opponent of the Serpent (cf. Gen 3).
Who is the glorious, celestial woman in Revelation 12? Mary, the Mother of the Messiah and his brethren, the queen whom the Dragon could not and cannot defeat.
What was Jesus Christ typologically (i.e., biblical-metaphorically)? The Word of God, the Manna of Heaven, and the priestly staff of Aaron from the branch of Jesse.
What bore these same elements in the Old Testament? The Ark of the Covenant (cf. Heb 9), which was holy above all things, not to be touched by any man (cf. Num 4, 2 Sam 6), and the undefiled seat of God's own presence (cf. Ex 25).
Who bore Jesus? Mary, the Ark of the New Covenant, holy (i.e., full of grace) above all things, untouched by any man, and the undefiled seat of God's Wisdom.
Who is Jesus? The Logos of God, God Himself made man.
Who was His mother? Mary.
Who are we in relation to Jesus? His siblings, friends, disciples, and subjects.
Who, then, is Mary to us? Our own Mother! (Cf. Rev 12 again.)
How should we treat our parents? With honor and obedience (cf. Ex 20).
Further, how would you treat your best friend's mother, or that of your master? With great honor and respect.
How, then, should we treat Mary, the Mother of God Himself? With unmatched honor (i.e., hyperdulia) as a uniquely blessed vessel of grace.
Labels:
Theology
Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help
P.S. Can anyone please find me this prayer in Latin? "O Mater Perpetui Succursus..."
10/3 Tuesday - Day 1 - 2330 PM
Wednesday - Day 2 - 0830 AM
Thursday - Day 3 - 0800 AM
Friday - Day 4 - 1100 AM
Saturday - Day 5 - 2330 PM
Sunday - Day 6 - 1200 PM
Monday - Day 7 - 2330 PM
Tuesday - Day 8 - 2330 PM
10/11 Wednesday - Day 9 - 1700 PM (I did it at last!)
[3 Oct 06: I have nothing to boast of but my humility (which to say, nothing): yes, this is my third attempt at completing this novena! I may (and do) fail, but by God's grace, I will not give up.
"1: Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2: looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 3: Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4: In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood." Hebrews 12:1-4 ]
10/3 Tuesday - Day 1 - 2330 PM
Wednesday - Day 2 - 0830 AM
Thursday - Day 3 - 0800 AM
Friday - Day 4 - 1100 AM
Saturday - Day 5 - 2330 PM
Sunday - Day 6 - 1200 PM
Monday - Day 7 - 2330 PM
Tuesday - Day 8 - 2330 PM
10/11 Wednesday - Day 9 - 1700 PM (I did it at last!)
[3 Oct 06: I have nothing to boast of but my humility (which to say, nothing): yes, this is my third attempt at completing this novena! I may (and do) fail, but by God's grace, I will not give up.
"1: Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2: looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 3: Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4: In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood." Hebrews 12:1-4 ]
Labels:
Memoirs and Friends
Thursday, September 21, 2006
A triple play!
You're seeing it live, folks: a triplex blog post.
On my FCA blog I'm linking to my ignorance blog about a quandary I had on my canon law blog.
So this is what it feels like to plagiarize your own work. Shiver.
On my FCA blog I'm linking to my ignorance blog about a quandary I had on my canon law blog.
So this is what it feels like to plagiarize your own work. Shiver.
Gosh, what a surprise
I've got a new blog: http://www.followfalv.blogspot.com/, titled "法律只保護懂法律的人 - The law protects only those who understand it".
It's about canon law, which I consider to be ancient proof even boring people can get to Heaven. Of course, by starting yet another blog, on canon law no less, I become living possible proof that even boring people can get to Heaven.
Enjoy!
It's about canon law, which I consider to be ancient proof even boring people can get to Heaven. Of course, by starting yet another blog, on canon law no less, I become living possible proof that even boring people can get to Heaven.
Enjoy!
Labels:
Memoirs and Friends
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