Bad Times as a Gift from God

It occurred to me recently that the bad times we have all been experiencing are a gift from God. As a collective whole, our society has gotten to the point where many of us expect a certain lifestyle. This should not include anything we have not planned for--not emergencies, not setbacks and certainly not (unplanned) children.

It does not even occur to us any more to help each other and so many children are being raised without any knowledge of a Power higher than themselves. It is no wonder these children are now rioting throughout the "civilized" world for the latest toys. This is, apparently, what this generation considers "civil disobedience." I would suggest to them that they read up on Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi's philosophies and find out what civil disobedience is really all about.

I think this economy is a gift to us from God, frankly. We need some shaking up--our whole society does. Since we don't seem to appreciate what we've been given, it is being taken away so we learn to feed each other instead of sitting at the table with our too-long chop sticks starving because we don't see the option of sharing.

Bad Times as a Gift from God

It occurred to me recently that the bad times we have all been experiencing are a gift from God. As a collective whole, our society has gotten to the point where many of us expect a certain lifestyle. This should not include anything we have not planned for--not emergencies, not setbacks and certainly not (unplanned) children.

It does not even occur to us any more to help each other and so many children are being raised without any knowledge of a Power higher than themselves. It is no wonder these children are now rioting throughout the "civilized" world for the latest toys. This is, apparently, what this generation considers "civil disobedience." I would suggest to them that they read up on Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi's philosophies and find out what civil disobedience is really all about.

I think this economy is a gift to us from God, frankly. We need some shaking up--our whole society does. Since we don't seem to appreciate what we've been given, it is being taken away so we learn to feed each other instead of sitting at the table with our too-long chop sticks starving because we don't see the option of sharing.

Poetry Wednesday--Peter Menkin

Today's poem is Poetic Recitation on the Rule of St. Benedict by Peter Menkin. It is quite short and read by the author. July 11th was the feast of St. Benedict, father of monastic Christianity.

Poetry Wednesday--Peter Menkin

Today's poem is Poetic Recitation on the Rule of St. Benedict by Peter Menkin. It is quite short and read by the author. July 11th was the feast of St. Benedict, father of monastic Christianity.

Art and Beauty Tuesday--Illuminated Manuscripts

This tiny and very old work of art is Saint Benedict from an illuminated manuscript.  These figures were drawn inside the initial letters of main pages of hand-copied bibles, Gospels, Psalters and Books of Hours. Sometimes these illustrations were drawn in the margins.

Copying these books was a tedious task, especially since artificial light was limited to candles and oil lamps.  In the early part of the Medieval period, the same monks who copied the text did the illuminating.  By the High Middle Ages, these jobs were separate and by the 15th century, some monasteries were paying artists outside to do this work.

I love how the artist has shown such emotion in this one little painting.  The saint holds his head in his hands in exasperation, perhaps, with the monks he is destined to lead, or perhaps, it is fatigue from the early morning Office he must get up to pray.

Even saints have difficult days!

Art and Beauty Tuesday--Illuminated Manuscripts

This tiny and very old work of art is Saint Benedict from an illuminated manuscript.  These figures were drawn inside the initial letters of main pages of hand-copied bibles, Gospels, Psalters and Books of Hours. Sometimes these illustrations were drawn in the margins.

Copying these books was a tedious task, especially since artificial light was limited to candles and oil lamps.  In the early part of the Medieval period, the same monks who copied the text did the illuminating.  By the High Middle Ages, these jobs were separate and by the 15th century, some monasteries were paying artists outside to do this work.

I love how the artist has shown such emotion in this one little painting.  The saint holds his head in his hands in exasperation, perhaps, with the monks he is destined to lead, or perhaps, it is fatigue from the early morning Office he must get up to pray.

Even saints have difficult days!

Music Monday--Old Roman Chant

This Old Roman chant is from the 6th century, when Saint Benedict of Nursia was living and being educated in Rome.   He soon fled the worldliness that he saw there to seek solitude.

You can hear how ancient this is!  Very, very like the eastern Christian chants, and much like other chants from that region as well.   Memorizing.  Modern music just doesn't compare to this.

Here are the lyrics and translation.

Tecum principium in die virtutis tuae in splendoribus sanctorum: ex utero ante leciferum genui te.

You shall have sovereignty in the day of your power
in the beauties of holiness:
you are my son, born before the morning star.