"God's Justice and Judas"

I have been going nuts trying to think of something appropriately Holy Week-ish to post.  Finally I gave up trying to come up with something original, and headed over to Tradition in Action, which is often quite helpful in the way of providing articles for me to steal - er, borrow, pictures and all - and shamelessly repost.  (You all seem to be rather against clicking links, so I don't really have a choice, do I? Right???)

Today, as you may or may not know, is Spy Wednesday, named for Judas' "spying" on Our Lord, apparently.  I'm not really sure how that works, since Jesus treated him as if nothing was wrong....it doesn't really seem like he'd need to spy.  But whatever.  That's what it's called. I'm probably missing a vital piece of information or something...I'm not feeling very intelligent today.
Anyway, I thought this was a very interesting and enlightening article.  Hopefully you will too.

God's Justice and Judas

Never did the love of God express itself in a more pungent and tender way than when Our Lord spoke to Judas in the Garden of Olives. The guards did not know how to distinguish Our Lord from St. James the Greater who was very similar to Christ. So, they needed someone to unmistakably point Him out so they could take Him prisoner. Judas agreed with the Pharisees to deliver Our Lord for the price of 30 silver coins. The arranged sign of recognition was a kiss.

"With a kiss you betray the Son of Man?"

When Judas approached Our Lord to kiss Him, Christ said to him: “Judas, with a kiss you betray the Son of Man?” He allowed Judas to kiss Him. He could have easily prevented that scene. The power to stop it was not lacking to Him.

Indeed, a few moments later, when the guard asked Him: “Are you Jesus of Nazareth?” He answered: “I am.” After He spoke those words, all the guards fell with their faces to the ground because they could not bear the majesty of His Person. He could have averred Judas from his purpose with a simple gaze. But He did not.

He said: “Judas, with a kiss?” Each word was simultaneously an act of love and of wrath. “Judas, with a kiss?” That is to say, “Judas, you chose the symbol of friendship and love to come to betray Me.” “You who bring your face close to Mine, do you not remember all the graces I gave you? You whom I consecrated Bishop some hours ago…?” In that act, Our Lord reminded Judas of all the good he once had. It was, therefore, a supreme act of love.

But Our Lord added these words: “Do you betray the Son of Man?” Christ also brought to his attention the enormity of his ignominy. In fact, nothing could be more infamous than that treason, precisely because of its injustice. One friend owes friendship to another. Instead, Judas had hatred for Him. Further, Judas simulated the appearance of friendship to make the worst possible action. In that action, evil was multiplied by evil, making his act of betrayal particularly repulsive.

The soldiers fall powerless at the words of Our Lord

It was not a simple treason: Judas was delivering God Incarnate to death… Further, Our Lord knew that Judas was planning such a betrayal and, in the name of mercy, did not send him away, but remained silent. To the crime of delivering Jesus Christ to Deicide, the traitor added the abuse of His mercy and silence.

I believe that in all of History nothing was more terrible than that recrimination. He was offering Judas the grace of repentance. If Judas would have repented, who knows what would have happened? He could have had a most edifying life and death. But he rejected that last sublime invitation. From that moment on, the hatred of God fell directly upon him.

The justice of God acted in such a way that Judas’ name became synonymous with the ultimate degree of infamy. When someone wants to throw the vilest possible epithet at a person, he calls him a Judas. This is how the action and very person of Judas became execrable to all.

Describing Hell in his famous work Divine Comedy, Dante Alighieri places Judas at the lowest level, in the very mouth of Satan, being eternally gnawed by him. It is an unspeakable torment: No one even sees his face but only the despairing movements of his legs that protrude from Satan’s mouth.

We know how Judas ended. After the betrayal, he went back to the Pharisees to return the 30 coins, but no one wanted that cursed money. He left the Sanhedrim and wandered in torment for a while through the city. Finally, he found a rope and hung himself on a fig tree. He judged himself, knowing that he would go to Hell, the place he wanted to be. It was a choice made for all eternity.

Favorite Poetry: Batter My Heart

While doing English 12 work today I learned about John Donne, about whom I had previously known very little.  I was struck with the selections of his poetry in my textbook, though, and I think I shall look for more.
This particular poem I especially liked for its intensity, almost violence.  I also love the marriage/love imagery - as a "wannabe nun," I'm always a sucker for lovers' terminology applied to the spiritual!

I could almost use this poem as a prayer.  Is that "allowed," do you think?

via Google Images

Batter My Heart
By John Donne

 

Batter my heart, three-personed God; for you

As yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend.

That I may rise and stand, o'erthrow me and bend

Your force to break, blow, burn, and make me new.

I, like an usurped town, to another due,

Labor to admit you, but oh, to no end;

Reason, your viceroy in me, me should defend,

But is captived and proves weak or untrue.

Yet dearly I love you and would be loved fain,

But am betrothed unto your enemy;

Divorce me, untie or break that knot again, 

Take me to you, imprision me, for I,

Except you enthrall me, never shall be free,

Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me.

Isn't it striking?  *sighs in poetical bliss*

Incidentally, do any of you know anything about Donne?  Have any favorites you could recommend to me? Do tell!

Of Convents and Clouds

I believe I owe my faithful readers (no posts in over a week, yet I just broke 8000 pageviews!) a bit of an update.  You see, I just haven't been able to come up with quality posts lately.  I'm not sure why.  Sometimes as I'm falling asleep I mentally write The Post of the Year, but by the time morning comes the idea has either been forgotten or has lost its luster.  Why is night such an exaggerated time?  People are always more emotional, more ambitious, and even more open at night.  I'm sure there's a reason for that, and I should very much like to know what it is.

(slightly creepy super-edited photo by me)

 So what have I been doing with my time lately?  Reading good books and indifferent ones, redoing algebra tests over and over till I have the problems memorized, trying (and mostly failing) to keep Lent properly, writing book analyses and doing tests on medieval and Elizabethan literature.  Also stalking people's tumblrs and crying over documentaries on The Lord of the Rings, but I rather prefer to ignore those bits.  Most importantly, I've been preparing for a Very Significant Visit to a certain convent.  Early tomorrow morning - so early that the stars would probably be out, if it weren't for the fact that it'll be cloudy - I shall be dropped off at the airport by my dad and thus embark upon my first trip alone.  Really, my first anything alone.  I'm not really scared, but there is a slight nagging in the back of my mind that's saying don't you dare mess up or so help me...

I love plane flights.  I've been on quite a lot, compared to most people, for which I am quite grateful. From the US to Germany, Germany to Scotland, back to the US, Virginia to Pennsylvania and back, and now this.  I'm not really sure what it is about flying that I like so much.  Probably it's just that - the fact that I'm flying.  Seeing cars turning into insects and rivers into threads, then the whole earth becoming a patchwork quilt, till finally you disappear above its curve into clouds that make a sort of fairy mockery of land - banks of vaporous continents, sky like oceans between them.  It's lovely.  And if you have the good luck to be flying at sunset (which I won't, this time), it's even better.

(photo by me)

But flying's not even the best part, because after all that, I shall arrive at a tiny little airport in the middle of New York and be met by smiling Sisters in graceful habits.  I'll be taken to a beautiful convent with Our Lord residing in a chapel a few yards away. I'm going to spend a whole week living a life I've dreamed about since I was six.  "Excited" doesn't even come close to describing my emotions.

~:~:~:~:~:~:~

 

Well, that got a bit out of hand.  I usually try not to spill myself out so much, but I think I'll let it go for now, because without the spilling this wouldn't be much of a post, would it?

So you won't see me for another week - not that it'll make a difference, as you usually don't see me for weeks at a time, anyway.

I'll be praying for you all from my convent chapel!

British Accents and Summer Camps

I have been tagged by the lovely Rose of The Golden Road, and since I've been at a loss for something to post about, as well as feeling a bit guilty for ignoring my tags for so long, I've decided to do it.

Rules

*Acknowledge the person who passed the award to you and provide their link.
*Include the award logo on your blog.
*Answer the ten questions posted below.
*Make up your own ten questions for the next people.
*Nominate blogs and link those you have especially enjoyed reading. The number you can select is up to you.
*Notify each individual that you have nominated them.

1.  What is your favourite accent? (British, Irish, Scottish, etc.)
This is actually a hard one.  Of course, like every other American girl, I go crazy for English accents, but I find most European accents highly intriguing.   A few days ago I watched an interview of a Romanian singer who spoke pretty much perfect English, but with a slight, rich accent.  Another singer, Cécile Corbel, speaks English with a noticeable French accent, which is also really interesting.  Ooh, and Regina Spektor.  She's Russian and Jewish and from NYC, and she has the coolest accent when she sings. Russian accents are pretty high on my list.  I dunno, accents are just a "thing" of mine.  But to answer the question properly, I'll go with typical old British.  It is, after all, the only accent I can properly imitate.

2.  Your house is on fire; you have 60 seconds.  What is the one thing that you grab? (Yes, I stole this question from the movie Leap Year.  If you haven't seen it, you should.  It is marvelous.)
 (I did see that movie, actually, a long time ago.  It was definitely fluff, but everybody needs fluff once in a while, right?)  
The one thing I would grab...well, in real life, chances are I would be too freaked out to grab anything but my shoes.  If somehow I had a bit more presence of mind, I'd grab my purse.  You definitely need money (and a library card?) when your house is burning down.

3.  You are taking a ramble through the woods heedless of time or place.   Suddenly, you find yourself miserably lost.  What do you do?  (Hysteria is a acceptable option.)
Hysteria would definitely be my first reaction, followed by a decision to randomly choose a direction and walk until something pops up that gives me an idea where I am.  I've done this in real life (though not in a forest) and it usually works, surprisingly.  I do not, however, necessarily recommend it as a desirable course of action.

4.  What is your worst fear?
Hell.

5.  If you could instantaneously be fluent in one language, which would it be?
French, because I need it to graduate.  Also it's pretty.

6.  Would you rather have plain vanilla/chocolate ice cream or a sundae with all the toppings?
Much as I like plain vanilla ice cream, if you put it next to a sundae, the sundae's gonna win, hands down.

 7.  Would you rather watch a scary movie while at home alone or ride the largest roller coaster in the world?
DEFINITELY ROLLER COASTER.  The stupidest scary movies will have me in a heart attack.  I don't know how I ever got through Doctor Who with as little emotional damage as I did.  Roller coasters, on the other hand, are about the only thrilling activity I indulge in.  

 8.  You're stranded on an island for a year.  Choose one fictional character to have on the island with you.
Ooh, I like this one.  It's really hard.  It'd have to be a female, of course, for reasons of propriety, which should narrow it down...but I still can't decide.  Maybe Rosalind from As You Like It? Or Elnora Comstock from A Girl of the Limberlost. This is much too hard.  I've read too many books! I can't choose.

Elnora Comstock. [x]

9.  What is one of the most thrilling things you have ever done?
Well, as you may have surmised, I'm not much of a thrill-seeker.  You might laugh, but I think one of my most thrilling experiences was going to a traditional Catholic girl's camp for the first time three or four years ago.  Of course, as a little girl living in Germany I had all sorts of adventures, but unfortunately I sort of took them in stride, not finding anything particularly unusual about driving into Spain near midnight or going to Rome in one of those trailer things the week of my ninth birthday.  A lot of the "thrill" quality of a thing is in how you see it.

This was taken during my last year of camp, in 2011.  I'm closest to the front on the right-hand side

.  [x]

10.  You are swimming with a group of friends when a splashing fight breaks out, describe your methods of warfare and survival.
Um...well I actually can't swim.  But if I was wading with a group of friends, my method of warfare and my method of survival would be the same: constantly splashing around myself in a circle so that nobody could get near me. And shrieking.

 Now for my questions:

1.  If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, which would it be?
2.  You're in a play, and you can pick any part you like.  Are you a main character, a supporting character, or the random person holding a tray in Act II?
3.  Who is your favorite saint, and why?
4.  Would you sleep outside, with no tent, in the summer? 
5.  You're at someone's house.  There's no one there around your age.  Do you talk with the grownups, play with the kids, or awkwardly pet the dog and hang around the snack table till it's time to go?
6.  What qualities do you look for most in a friend?
7.  If you know about the Four Temperaments, tell which one(s) you are.  If not, just tell about your personality/temperament in general.
8.  What sort of blog post do you have the most fun writing?
9.  Are you more likely to fall in love with the characters of any given movie/TV show, or the plot?  Or maybe something else, like cinematography or costumes?
10.  Do you act the same way in public as you do in private, or do you act in different ways depending on the situation?

 I shall pass the tag on to Treskie at Occasional Randomness.
And...um....that's all.  The rules did say that you could tag as many people as you want.... I just don't seem to have many tag-inclined followers who haven't done this one yet.  If you'd like to do it, don't be put off by the fact that I didn't tag you.  Help yourself, do.


Well that was fun.  Thanks for helping with my writer's blogger's block, Rose!

Hope you all are having a good Lent!
 
(By the way, please excuse the highly uneven sprinkling of pictures in this post...it was too hard to find pictures for all of the questions, so I just did the easy ones. )
 

"Do you have joy without a cause, yea, faith without a hope?"

Once again, this is a post which I began some time ago and never finished.  I am no longer writing the essay in question - it has long since been graded, and I got an A, so you should listen to me when I talk about it.

The eponymous White Horse. (via google images)

 
I am continuing my time-honored tradition of procrastinating on English essays by writing about the subject of the essay here on my blog.  (See here, here, here, and here.)  It's like a passive-aggressive reaction or something.  I dunno.

This time the essay - and thus the blog post - is about my favorite epic poem in the history of ever - namely, The Ballad of the White Horse.  What's so great about it, you ask? Well, first and foremost, IT'S CHESTERTON.  I have about as much respect for him as I do for Tolkien, though in rather different ways.  Chesterton's intellect is intimidating, but that doesn't mean he's difficult and boring.  Au contraire.  His writing is the most hilarious, colorful, gorgeous thing that you can imagine.  But anyway, back to the the Ballad.  Just in case you don't really know or "get" what it's about, I'll give you a bit of a synopsis. 

The Ballad of the White Horse is the tale of King Alfred the Great of England and his battle against the Danish invaders in the ninth century.  On a greater scale, however, it is the endless story of the struggle betwixt good and evil, Christian and pagan.  Religion, history, legend, and myth blend seamlessly into an epic poem deserving of the name.

There.  Publishers should totally employ me to write their blurbs.

Really, I hardly know what else to say.  Does that every happen to you, where you like something so much that you don't know what to say about it? Maybe not.

I suppose the best thing is to let it speak for itself.  Here's my favorite part, which also happens to be the most famous, thanks in part to a certain Regina Doman, whose novel The Shadow of the Bear included the first stanza about the Men of the East.  That was actually the way I was introduced to the poem, and as it is quite lovely, it sparked my interest, so thank you, Mrs. Doman.

To give you some background, this is Our Lady speaking to King Alfred in a vision.

"The gates of heaven are lightly locked,

We do not guard our gold,

Men may uproot where worlds begin,

Or read the name of the nameless sin;

But if he fail or if he win

To no good man is told.

"The men of the East may spell the stars,

And times and triumphs mark,

But the men signed of the cross of Christ

Go gaily in the dark.

"The men of the East may search the scrolls

For sure fates and fame,

But the men that drink the blood of God

Go singing to their shame.

"The wise men know what wicked things

Are written on the sky,

They trim sad lamps, they touch sad strings,

Hearing the heavy purple wings,

Where the forgotten seraph kings

Still plot how God shall die.

"The wise men know all evil things

Under the twisted trees,

Where the perverse in pleasure pine

And men are weary of green wine

And sick of crimson seas.

"But you and all the kind of Christ

Are ignorant and brave,

And you have wars you hardly win

And souls you hardly save.

"I tell you naught for your comfort,

Yea, naught for your desire,

Save that the sky grows darker yet

And the sea rises higher.

"Night shall be thrice night over you,

And heaven an iron cope.

Do you have joy without a cause,

Yea, faith without a hope?"

Isn't it just lovely?  Maybe it's just me, but I think it makes you feel very strong and fearless, like you could withstand anything in the strength of the Faith .  I don't know why.  Paradoxes (like "joy without a cause" and "faith without a hope") just really appeal to me.

Now to make this a proper book review.  I give it 5 out of 5 stars, suitable for....erm, anyone who can understand it, really.  In general, I'd say highschool level.

Have you read The Ballad of the White Horse? (If you haven't, go get it now.  You can read it on Project Gutenberg here, if you like.) What did you think of it, if you did read it?  And have you read any of Regina Doman's books?