Talk about bad hymns . . .

At least Catholics aren't to blame for this one, entitled "O God, that Great Tsunami" (Church World Resources)!

[Hat tip to Christopher]

Oh, Please!! Our Lady of Angelina Jolie???

David L. Alexander has a fine post entitled "Guadalupe" (Man With Black Hat, December 12, 2006, the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe), describing why the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe is special to him. Among other things, he writes:

I am generally not partial to images of the Blessed Mother without her carrying the Christ Child. The absence of Her Son has long struck me as a potential micro-step toward a sort of Catholic goddess-worship -- Mariolatry, if you will -- which I realize may sound silly, so I don't make much of those who believe otherwise.

But I make one exception, and that's the image used to commemorate today's Feast. Don't ask me why. You can read all about it at sancta.org, so I don't have to write about it.

Yesterday Alexander posted another article on the subject entitled, "Guadalupe Revisited" (Man With Black Hat, January 7, 2007), in which, referring to the earlier post, he added: "There was much more I would have written, mostly to lay to rest the claims of this image by some radical feminists as a "goddess" figure (not to mention other comments of mine that were... well, grossly misinterpreted). He also references a helpful, detailed analysis of the Guadalupe image by Julie D in "Our Lady of Guadalupe" (Happy Catholic, Dec. 12, 2006). Alexander continues then observes how, in many parts of the world, "devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary has supplanted the attention given to goddess images, including in Mexico." Nevertheless, he adds, "in other parts of Latin America, as well as the Caribbean, there persists among the working classes a strange mix of folk religion, one that weaves together both Christian and aboriginal images and practices."

Then Alexander comes to the really amazing part of his post. He writes:

Meanwhile, here in the more "civilized" part of the world -- Raleigh, North Carolina, to be exact -- the goddess archetype has taken on a strange new twist: "A North Carolina artist intrigued by the public obsession with celebrity has found herself feeding that obsession with a painting of actress Angelina Jolie as the Virgin Mary hovering over a Wal-Mart check-out line." ["Painting of Jolie draws notice," Yahoo!News (AP), January 7, 2007]

Alexander notes that the artist, 43-year-old Kate Kretz, describes the process of creating this piece, which is called "Blessed Art Thou," both at her website, as well as her weblog. "I honestly do not believe she meant to offend anyone, as this endeavor appears to be driven more by militant naivete than pure malevolence," he writes. At the very least, this would be shameless self-promotion. Objectively, it's also shameless sacrelidge.

[Hat Tip to Man With Black Hat]

Two free streaming videos announced

Keep the Faith reports two (free) streaming videos now available:

• Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen's "A Family Retreat," featuring for this month his discussion of "Our Cross," the 6th in a series of 12 talks given during a retreat in a Church filled with people of all ages. The description reads: "One of his best and final retreats, you will surely enjoy listening to the Archbishop as he addresses each topic in his wonderfully articulate, compelling and humorous manner."
• Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen's beautiful explanation and narration of a Solemn High Tridentine Mass of Easter, filmed in Chicago at Our Lady of Sorrows Church during the 1940's. Bishop Sheen explains the significance of each part of the Mass, as well as the actions performed by the priest and deacons and acolytes. The beauty and mystery of the "Mass of the Ages" as it was passed down to us over the centuries is beautifully elucidated, facilitating active participation in praying the Mass.

"The Best Books I Read in 2006 . . ."

Following up on last year's "Best of 2005 list," which proved popular among Ignatius Insight readers, a group of Ignatius Press editors, authors and staff have against selected their picks for the "Best of 2006 list." The books didn't have to be published in 2006 (and most weren't), nor did they have to be about a particular topic. Simply, "What were the best books you read in 2006?" The panel of voters included:

• Dale Ahlquist (president and co-founder of the American Chesterton Society, author of books on Chesterton, and associate editor of the Collected Works of G.K. Chesterton [Ignatius], as well as the publisher of Gilbert Magazine);
• Mark Brumley (President of the Board of Directors of Guadalupe Associates and Chief Executive Officer for Ignatius Press, associate publisher of IgnatiusInsight.com);
• Fr. Joseph Fessio, S.J. (Provost of Ave Maria University, Founder and Editor of Ignatius Press and of the St. Ignatius Institute of the University of San Francisco and Campion College before moving to Ave Maria University. He wrote his dissertation under the direction of Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger.);
• Jeff Grace (Managing editor of Homiletic & Pastoral Review);
• Dr. Thomas Howard (highly acclaimed writer and literary scholar, noted for his studies of Inklings C.S. Lewis and Charles Williams, and much more. Visit his IgnatiusInsight.com author page for a full listing of his books published by Ignatius Press.);
• Peter Kreeft (Professor of philosophy at Boston College and author of over forty books and counting. See his IgnatiusInsight.com author page for full listing if his Ignatius Press titles.);
• Karl Keating (Founder and president of Catholic Answers. See his IgnatiusInsight.com author page.).

"More on Turkey in Europe: The Cardinal Secretary of State Speaks"

This time, decidedly in favor. Cardinal Bertone says that it would be a mistake for Europe to keep Turkey out. And it is in Europe’s interest to help the country to become a true democracy, even if only by including it in a “second circle.” Sandro Magister, January 8, 2007 (www.chiesa)

Spanish bishops fear resurgent Islam

"Spain's bishops are alarmed by ambitious plans to recreate the city of Cordoba - once the heart of the ancient Islamic kingdom of al-Andalus - as a pilgrimage site for Muslims throughout Europe," reports The Independent in an article by Elizabeth Nash entitled, "Spanish bishops fear rebirth of Islamic kingdom" (January 5, 2007). Similar projects -- funded by the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Muslim organizations in Morocco and Egypt -- are planned for Medina Azahara near Cordoba, Seville and Granada. Nash writes:

"The bishops of those cities are alarmed at the construction of ostentatious mosques, fearing that the church's waning influence may be further eclipsed by resurgent Islam financed from abroad. Up to one million Muslims are estimated to live in Spain. Many are drawn by a romantic nostalgia for the lost paradise of Al-Andalus, the caliphate that ruled Spain for more than five centuries."

Maybe the bishops have a point; but there's only so much that can be done by lodging protests and hoping, perhaps, for some sort of state intervention in behalf of the Church. Those days are surely about over. Trends of this sort strike me as quite inevitable and not unrelated to the malaise of modernity afflicting the Church. It's well past time to retrieve the mission of the Church, to preach the Gospel and to evangelize, if we have any living memory of what that means and the compassion to undertake it.

Twisted compassion and CDS (Compassion Deficit Syndrome)

A reader writes to tell me that his brother, who is the father of a wonderful little girl with Down Syndrome, sent him the following linked article by Kathy Ratkiewicz, entitled Compassion Deficit Syndrome Identified as Factor in Death of Millions. Referring to the abortion holocaust, bathed in the twisted language of "compassion" for women, he writes: "There is something particularly deformed and repugnant in the concept some people have of compassion in this day (Isaiah 5:20)."

"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, and put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20)

Indeed, Kathy Ratkiewicz writes:

Instead of seeing children with Down syndrome as beautiful little people
with almond-shaped eyes and winning smiles, [people with CDS] see "things" who "suffer from mental retardation" and are "deformed." Instead of seeing children,
they see "choices"; instead of recognizing the humanity of people with disabilities, they tend to see them as "burdens" to be thrown off at all costs.

... [An] almost universal feature of those afflicted with CDS is that they
see themselves as compassionate, sensible and practical in their approach to
unborn babies with disabilities. They speak of their "concern" for the child
and parents, should the child be born "disabled." They speak of "options"
and may say, "We only want what is best for you and your baby." They see
themselves as compassionate when they are glad that new methods of detecting
"deformities" in utero are found--not so that they can cure the baby--but
for the single purpose of giving mothers the "choice" of getting a "safe"
abortion.

[Hat tip to M.F.]

Pelosi the papist "acid-reflux-enabler"

A reader writes: "Now that fervent Catholic Nancy [would that make Murtha Sluggo?] Pelosi has risen to the postion of Bleater of the House, perhaps you would be interested in the following acid-reflux-enabler": Pro-life group raps Pelosi "celebration tour" (Jan. 3, 2007, CWNews.com).

(Remember the comic strip "Nancy," and her pal named Sluggo, the thick-witted slug of a guy who used to hang out with her? Now we have Nancy Pelosi flitting about like the Nancy in the comic strip, looking similarly bewildered, with a similarly thick-witted Sluggo John Murtha as her sidekick. Whoever wrote the comic strip must have had prophetic prevision of the future ... or something.)

[Hat Tip to R.]

"Toward a Proper Understanding of the Catholic Just War Tradition"

Browsing about recently, I came across Christopher's post, Toward a Proper Understanding of the Catholic Just War Tradition: An Assessment of the Catholic application of just war theory to the U.S. Iraqi Conflict (Against the Grain, May 18, 2006), which, though over half-a-year old, still offers one of the best 'magazine discussions' of linked articles on the larger questions that remain: 1) Should the just war tradition be discarded as an inapplicable theory? 2) How should papal pronouncements of the war be interpreted? Whether or not one agrees with his editorial perspective, he looks at all sides of the issue and offers helpful references.

Ahmadinejad a '79 U.S. hostage taker?

"The Russian publication Kommersant has published a newly located photograph of a U.S. hostage-taker in Iran circa 1979 bearing a striking resemblance to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

"The Iranian leader has steadfastly denied he was involved in the takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and the holding of 52 Americans for 444 days despite assertions to the contrary of some of those hostages and former Iranian President Abholhassan Bani-Sadr, who says he was a ringleader and the liaison with Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini." ("Photo shows Iran leader as '79 U.S. hostage taker" © 2006 WorldNetDaily.com)

[Hat tip to M.F.]

Rambo for the Lord?

Most of you have probably heard by now about Sylvester Stallone's professed reversion to the Catholic Faith of his childhood -- a turn that was initiated, he says, when his daughter Sophia was "born sick." ("Stallone back in church, back in theaters as Rocky" -- CNS, 12/25/06)

[Hat tip to M.F.]

Theology's Continental Captivity: Reno responds

R.R. Reno, the author of the First Things article on "Theology's Continental Captivity," offers his response to your comments on our post of December 29, 2006, which I've appended as an update to the original post. Here is the link: "Theology's Captivity to Continental Philosophy" (Musings of a Pertinacious Papist, December 29, 2006).

Iran state media heralds Shiite messiah

"Iran website heralding 'Mahdi' by springtime" -- State media: Shiite messiah to kill archenemy in Jerusalem, may arrive during next equinox (© 2006 WorldNetDaily.com). Ripley was right: Reality is stranger than fiction.

[Hat tip to M.F.]

Mary, Mother of God (feast day)

So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called JESUS, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. -- Luke 2:15-21

Happy New Year

• San nin faailok! (Cantonese)
• Gelukkig Nieuwjaar! (Dutch)
• Ein Gleuckliches neues Jahr! (German)
• Sal-e no mubarak! (Farsi)
• Onnellista uutta vuotta! (Finnish)
• Zalig Nieuw Jaar! (Flemish)
• Bonne Annee! (French)
• Blian nua faoi mhaise duit! (Gaelic)
• Shana tova! (Hebrew)
• Felice Anno Nuovo! (Italian)
• Shinnen omedeto goziamasu! (Japanese)
• Bonum annum ingrediaris! (Latin)
• Linksmu Nauju Metu! (Lithuanian)
• Selamat Tahun baru! (Malayan)
• Kong He Xin Xi! (Mandarin)
• Szczesliwego Nowego Roku! (Polish)
• Feliz Ano Novo! (Portuguese)
• La Multi Ani! (Romanian)
• S Novym Godom! (Russian)
• Srechna Nova Godina! (Serbian)
• Srechno Novo Leto! (Slovenian)
• Feliz Ano Nuevo! (Spanish)
• Masaganang Bagong taon! (Tagalog)
• Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun! (Turkish)
• Chuc Mung nam moi! (Vietnamese)
• Blwyddyn Newydd Dda! (Welsh)