China and Such

Yes, we've been quiet for a while.

Latest post on Nixon, no, Key, in China, is up at The Monarchist.

Lux in Tenebris

Rogier van der Weyden, Crucifixion

It is Good Friday today, the day on which the Church whole and Universal celebrates the triumph of the Suffering Christ, His assuming of all human sin and pain in His own flesh, His shaking of the grave and gate of death, His great love for broken Mankind.

We give up our sins, we offer our pain, we look upon the Holy Cross, and live.

And of course, the Usual Suspects in the media get into the crucifying spirit.

A million and a bit New Zealanders are celebrating one of their Highest Holy Days today. So what do we get in the headlines?

"Filipinos mark Easter with whippings, crucifixion"

Of all the things to say today, we must focus on an odd cultic practice in a few Filipino villages, repeatedly condemned by the Church allegedly sponsoring it.

Why?

Because it fits into the nice media narrative that Christianity (and particularly the Roman Church) is scarily weird.

Similarly, we have Vatican Criticises New York Times, in which we have a corrupt child-raping Church having a go at the fearless Tellers of Truth in the Liberal Media.

Levada, an American, said the newspaper wrongly used the case of the Reverend Lawrence Murphy to find fault in Benedict's handling of abuse cases.

The horrific case of Father Murphy, by the way, involved the repeated abuse of deaf kids.

A Times spokeswoman defended the articles and said no one has cast doubt on the reported facts.

Except, oh wait, they have.

The Charter of Holy Church from Her Lord is to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen, judge and hope, desire of the whole world.

In Him was Life. And that Life was the light of men. And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not....

Got that right.

O GOD, who for our redemption didst give thine only-begotten Son to the death of the Cross, and by his glorious resurrection hast delivered us from the power of our enemy; Grant us so to die daily from sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection; through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Collect for Easter Day, Book of Common Prayer.

Amazingly Cool

Buzz Aldrin took the Consecrated Host to the Moon, and took Communion there.

I poured the wine into the chalice our church had given me. In the one-sixth gravity of the moon the wine curled slowly and gracefully up the side of the cup. It was interesting to think that the very first liquid ever poured on the moon, and the first food eaten there, were communion elements.

And so, just before I partook of the elements, I read the words, which I had chosen to indicate our trust that as man probes into space we are in fact acting in Christ.

I read: “I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, and I in him, will bear much fruit; for you can do nothing without me” (John 15:5).

Take it away, Gioacchino.

Welcome Lent

Forty days and forty nights

Thou wast fasting in the wild;

Forty days and forty nights

Tempted, and yet undefiled.

Sunbeams scorching all the day;

Chilly dew-drops nightly shed;

Prowling beasts about Thy way;

Stones Thy pillow; earth Thy bed.

Should not we Thy sorrow share

And from worldly joys abstain,

Fasting with unceasing prayer,

Strong with Thee to suffer pain?

Then if Satan on us press,

Jesus, Savior, hear our call!

Victor in the wilderness,

Grant we may not faint nor fall!

So shall we have peace divine:

Holier gladness ours shall be;

Round us, too, shall angels shine,

Such as ministered to Thee.

Keep, O keep us, Savior dear,

Ever constant by Thy side;

That with Thee we may appear

At the eternal Eastertide.

Amen.

Headline of the Week

"Madonna to have Jesus' Baby"

Something tells me this will not be an Immaculate Conception.

Gone fishin'

We've gone fishin' over the break, but we'll be back.

Fishing is the most perfect recreation God has granted His weary children.

Be Quiet, and go an angling.

Itzak Walton.

F

Noel

God rest ye merry, gentlemen, let nothing you dismay,

Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day;

To save us all from Satan’s power when we were gone astray.

Refrain
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy;

O tidings of comfort and joy.

In Bethlehem, in Jewry, this blessèd Babe was born,

And laid within a manger upon this blessèd morn;

The which His mother Mary did nothing take in scorn.

Refrain

From God our heavenly Father a blessèd angel came;

And unto certain shepherds brought tidings of the same;

How that in Bethlehem was born the Son of God by name.

Refrain

“Fear not, then,” said the angel, “Let nothing you afright

This day is born a Savior of a pure Virgin bright,

To free all those who trust in Him from Satan’s power and might.”

Refrain

The shepherds at those tidings rejoiced much in mind,

And left their flocks a-feeding in tempest, storm and wind,

And went to Bethl’em straightaway this blessèd Babe to find.

Refrain

But when to Bethlehem they came where our dear Savior lay,

They found Him in a manger where oxen feed on hay;

His mother Mary kneeling unto the Lord did pray.

Refrain

Now to the Lord sing praises all you within this place,

And with true love and brotherhood each other now embrace;

This holy tide of Christmas all others doth deface.

Refrain

God bless the ruler of this house, and send him long to reign

,And many a merry Christmas may live to see again;

Among your friends and kindred that live both far and near—

That God send you a happy new year, happy new year,

And God send you a happy new year.