Fr. Z's Blog | Formerly entitled: "What Does The Prayer Really Say?" – Clear, straight commentary on Catholic issues, liturgy and life by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf o{]:¬)

The Lord’s Ascension, Beans, and You

Posted on 25 May 2017 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

We have lovely customs in our wonderful Roman Catholic Church, including special blessings on certain feast days, often tied to the changing of the seasons… in Rome, that is. It’s the Roman Church, after all.

Today, the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord, was decorated with the opportunity to bless beans.

In Rome at this time of year the “broad beans” are at their peak. I was recently in Rome and sated my longing for broad beans with pecorino and cold white wine… the combination of which is a material proof of God’s love.

But I digress…. but not really.

The connection of this time of year in the Roman calendar with beans is ancient indeed. During May in ancient Rome the master of the house would walk around the dwelling on the nights of the Lemuria (9,11, 13) waving beans to ward of evil spirits. On the Kalends of June (1 June) there was a pagan feast of the Sacrum Carnae Deae when beans and bacon were offered in sacrifice and consumed. In fact, the June Kalends were called Kalendae Fabariae. Latin faba is, of course, “bean”, and the Italian is still the same, “fave”. The essentials don’t change much, as it only right. For this feast the ancient Romans ate a mess of beans and bacon. Any excuse, right? In his Fasti the poet Ovid writes of beany blessings:

Pinguia cur illis gustentur larda Kalendis
Mixtaque cur calido sit faba farre, rogas?
Prisca dea est, aliturque cibis quibus ante solebat,
Nec petit adscitas luxuriosa dapes.

I enjoy Ovid… it just rolls and rolls out so effortlessly. In any event, beans and bacon were as big back then as they are now. It’s amazing how consistent we are. You get much of the same effect with your fave and pecorino cheese (salty fat).

And don’t forget the awe inspiring fave in tegame. I didn’t have a chance to get that during my last trip, alas.

The the ancient Roman cookbook complied in the 4th c. and attributed to Apicius (US HERE – UK HERE), there are various bean and pea recipes. A good one. HERE and HERE

Pisam Vitellianam sive fabam (Peas or Beans à la Vitellius)

Pisam coques lias. teres piper, ligusticum, gingiber, et super condimenta mittis vitella ovorum, quae dura coxeris, mellis uncias III, liquamen, vinum et acetum. haec omnia mittis in caccabum et condimenta quae trivisti. adiecto oleo ponis ut ferveat. condies pisam, lias, si aspera fuerit. melle mittis et inferes.

Peas or beans with yolks are made thus: cook the peas, smoothen them; crush pepper, lovage, ginger, and on the condiments put hard boiled yolks, ounces of honey, also liquamen, wine and vinegar; mix and place all in a sauce pan; the finely chopped condiments with oil added, put on the stove to be cooked; with this flavor the peas which must be smooth; and if they be too harsh in taste add honey and serve.

If you don’t have a lot of liquamen, use garum (or substitute colatura or even Vietnamese fish sauce, which is similar).

A Bean Blessing is not, alas, in the Rituale Romanum, but another blessing, for any sort of food, can be used. Bring lots of beans, perhaps along with bacon, to Father and ask him to bless them.

P: Our help is in the name of the Lord.
All: Who made heaven and earth.
P: The Lord be with you.
All: May He also be with you.

Let us pray.

Lord, bless this creature, [beans], and let it be a healthful food for mankind. Grant that everyone who eats it with thanksgiving to your holy name may find it a help in body and in soul; through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

It is sprinkled with holy water.

There is a separate blessing for bacon (“lard”… ascension of the lard?):

P: Our help is in the name of the Lord.
All: Who made heaven and earth.
P: The Lord be with you.
All: May He also be with you.

Let us pray.

Lord, bless this creature, lard, and let it be a healthful food for mankind. Grant that everyone who eats it with thanksgiving to your holy name may find it a help in body and in soul; through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

It is sprinkled with holy water.

I hope you will all be “full of beans” for this Feast of the Ascension of the Lord!

UPDATE:

Fr. Hunwicke has a fun post about Ascension Beans! HERE

He includes the blessing for grapes… “Benedic +, Domine, hos fructos novos vineae…”.

Posted in Hard-Identity Catholicism, Just Too Cool, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged Ascension Thursday, bacon, beans
1 Comment

PHILIPPINES: Muslim terrorists kidnap Catholic priest, 13 others at cathedral

Posted on 25 May 2017 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I haven’t read much about this in the news, have you? The Religion of Peace is at work in the Philippines.

From a reader…

The reason for the email is a story coming out of the Philippines. Muslims kidnapped a Catholic Priest and 13 lay Catholics at the Cathedral of Our Lady help of Christians: https://www.rt.com/news/389525-philippines-hostage-priest-church/

In case you didn’t know martial law has been declared in parts of the Philippines.

This attack is important in part because Our Lady help of Christians explained here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Help_of_Christians represents a great Catholic victory against the Muslims at the battle of Lepanto.

So the fact the Muslims picked the Cathedral of Our Lady help of Christians the day before the feast day of Our Lady help of Christians is hugely symbolic. The demonic Muslims flew the ISIS flag over the the Cathedral of Our Lady help of Christians before they burned it to the ground. Can you help getting more attention on this story?

Catholics need to know about Father Chito Suganob and the 13 Catholics being held. Sadly the so called “Catholic” media has not helped and the American media ran a few stories of no importance. The clergy has been useless as well. I hope I never get kidnapped by Muslims our people won’t even know to pray for me! So anything you can do to help getting eyeballs on this would be helpful. The SSPX does great work in the Philippines:
http://sspxphilippinemissions.com/

Posted in The Coming Storm, The future and our choices, The Religion of Peace | Tagged ISIS, Islamic terrorism, The Philippines
11 Comments

Vigil of Ascension Thursday

Posted on 24 May 2017 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Here is something I wrote a loooong time ago – 2006 – for an WDTPRS article in the print version of The Wanderer. I had a column there for 11 years.

…(I)n some places the Feast of the Ascension, which falls always on a Thursday, has been transferred to this Sunday. That would make it “Ascension Thursday Sunday”, I suppose.

In addition, the third edition of the Missale Romanum issued in 2002 now provides us with a Mass for the Vigil of Ascension, which wasn’t in previous editions of the Novus Ordo. Moreover, the prayers for the new Vigil of Ascension are not the same as those found in the pre-Conciliar Missale for the Vigil. Also, there are now proper Masses for the days after Ascension, most having alternative collects depending on whether or not in that region Ascension is transferred to Sunday. Since many people do not have access to the prayers for the Vigil of Ascension, let’s look at them this week. First, here are the antiphons. Ant. ad introitum: Regna terrae cantata Deo, psallite Domino, qui ascendit super caelum caeli; magnificentia et virtus eius in nubibus, alleluia. (Ps 67:33,35) Ant. ad communionem: Christus, unam pro peccatis offerens hostiam, in sempiterum sedet in dextera Dei, alleluia. (Cf. Heb 10:12)

COLLECT:
Deus, cuius Filus hodie in caelos,
Apostolis astantibus, ascendit,
concede nobis, quaesumus,
ut secundum eius promissionem
et ille nobiscum semper in terris
et nos cum eo in caelo vivere mereamur.

This was modified from a prayer in ancient sacramentaries such as the Liber Sacramentorum when it was used on Ascension Thursday having its Station Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica. Here is some liturgical education for you. The eucological formulas (the prayers), for the Ascension found in what is sometimes called the Leonine Sacramentary surviving in one 7th century manuscript in Verona (the Veronese Sacramentary) are the oldest prayers we have in the Roman liturgy! The Missale Romanum and those ancient collections consist principally in prayers for Masses which in fancy liturgist talk are called “eucological formulas”.

You might not immediately recognize astantibus as being from asto or adsto, which that ascendant lexicon of Latin lemmata, the Lewis & Short Dictionary, says means, “to stand at or near a person or thing, to stand by” The L&S will also inform you that asto has the synonym adsisto.

If you have ever heard the phrase “to assist (adsisto) at Holy Mass” this is the concept: you are present and actively participating.

Also, during the Roman Canon, the priest describes the people as circumstantes, “standing around”. This doesn’t mean they there around the altar with their hands in the their pockets (though I admit I have seen that happen). Rather, they are there morally and spiritually “around” the altar, participating each according to their vocation and capacity. So, circumstantes is used to identify the baptized who are present.

SUPER LITERAL VERSION:
O God, whose Son today ascended
into the heavens as the Apostles were standing close by,
grant us, we beseech You,
that, according to His promise,
we may be worthy both that He lives with us on earth,
and that we live with Him in heaven.

The Apostles, who were adstantes, actively participating in the Lord’s Ascension before, during and after the actual moment if the Ascension, both listened to the Lord and watched the Lord. Similarly, at Holy Mass we actively participate before, during and after the consecration, both by listening to the Lord speak through the texts and watching what the Lord does in the liturgical action.

LATER ADDITION in 2011:

NEW CORRECTED ICEL (2011):
O God, whose Son today ascended to the heavens
as the Apostles looked on,
grant, we pray, that, in accordance with his promise,
we may be worthy for him to live with us always on earth,
and we with him in heaven.

When the Second Person took up our human nature into an indestructible bond with His divinity, indestructible, we were thereby destined to sit at God’s right hand, first in Christ and then on our own. Christ makes us worthy, no one else. Christ alone. It’s all His. And because it’s His, it’s ours.

Posted in Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, WDTPRS | Tagged Vigil of Ascension
5 Comments

You Do It WDTPRS: Mary, Help of Christians

Posted on 24 May 2017 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Along with being the Vigil of Ascension THURSDAY, today is the feast of Mary, Auxilium Christianorum…Help of Christians.

Here is the Secret, in Latin, from the 1962 Missale.

Let’s see what you can do.

For WDTPRS pieces, I try to find something about the

provenance of the prayer (whether it is ancient, or modern)
vocabulary and syntax: tricky words, imagery, structure, etc.
compare different translations
theological point
spiritual and practical application

Omnipotens et misericors Deus, qui ad defensionem populi christani in beatissima Virgine Maria perpetuum auxilium mirabiliter constituisti: concede propitius; ut, tali praesidio muniti certantes in vita, victoriam de hoste maligno consequi valeamus in morte.

Have a go.

Posted in Our Solitary Boast, WDTPRS | Tagged Help of Christians
9 Comments

Crux tweets horrid image of Pope Francis, Pres. Trump… funded by @KofC

Posted on 24 May 2017 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

CRUX is funded by the Knights of Columbus.

CRUX posted this image on Twitter concerning the meeting of Pope Francis and Pres. Trump. Link to Tweet HERE

Knights of Columbus… is it time to cancel your insurance?

Moderation queue is ON.

UPDATE:

John Allen of Crux apologizes.

Posted in CRUX WATCH | Tagged Crux, Knights of Columbus
52 Comments

About Manchester and other terrorist attacks – a couple of rants and ACTION ITEM!

Posted on 23 May 2017 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

My heart goes out to the people harmed in the recent terror attack in Manchester, England.

As the usual reportage goes on, I’ve been getting messages on my phone from a friend which underscore something important not being well addressed in the media. The messages, filled with frustration and not a little anger run along the line of…

“I’m sure the British will organize a beautiful and moving and above all INCLUSIVE memorial service in Manchester… They’ll organize a moving and INCLUSIVE memorial service. The Choirs!!! The Vestments!!! The Royals!!!””

The point: We must not be content to “sit upon the ground and tell sad stories of the death of”… our neighbors. We must act.

What to do?

There’s more.

On Facebook, my friend Fr. Jeffrey Keyes posted something that resonates with the same frustration and anger but on a different cleft.

H/t Beverly Stevens
WARNING: RANT
I do not want to see flowers laid outside the Manchester Arena. I do not want to see Facebook profiles with sympathetic screens. I do not want to see people crying on TV.
I do not want to hear politicians & prelates denounce ‘terrible acts’. I do not want to hear people decry that ‘we won’t succumb to fear’. I do not want to read people scolding others for ‘bigotry’. (News flash: Islam is NOT a race. It is an ideology masquerading as a religion.)
I want to see people GET A CLUE.
Our culture is heading down the crapper, and quick. Why? Because parents take their little girls to see ‘Ariana’ who boasts about getting ‘f**ked so hard I can’t walk.’
Yep. And what happens when this culture of MIDDLE CLASS DEBAUCHERY crashes headlong into the serpent of radical Islam?
Manchester. Paris. Orlando. San Bernadino. Nice. Berlin. On and on and on and on.
Westerners, we cannot hire enough police or field a big enough military to fight this.
The only answer is to return to MORALITY. Yep, that awful, terrible word. And while I am at it: RESPONSIBILITY.
END RANT

I don’t think the ranter is merely “blaming the victims”. It’s more than that. That ranter also wants us not to be complacent.

What to do?

First, action is required, thoughtful action in line with what Benedict XVI wrote in his Message for the World Day for Peace in 2005 (for 2006).

Also, I have in mind that this is the 100th anniversary year of the apparitions of Our Lady at Fatima. Consider what Ven. Fulton Sheen said about Fatima and Islam back in 1952. Sheen thought that Mary, who appeared in Fatima, is the key to the conversion of Islam. In The World’s First Love (US HERE – UK HERE) Sheen wrote:

Mary is for the Moslems the true Sayyida, or Lady. The only possible serious rival to her in their creed would be Fatima, the daughter of Mohammed himself. But after the death of Fatima, Mohammed wrote: “Thou shalt be the most blessed of all the women in Paradise, after Mary.” In a variant of the text, Fatima is made to say: “I surpass all the women, except Mary.”

[…]

The missionary effort of the Church toward this group has been, at least on the surface, a failure, for the Moslems are so far almost unconvertible. The reason is that for a follower of Mohammed to become a Christian is much like a Christian becoming a Jew. The Moslems believe that they have the final and definitive revelation of God to the world and that Christ was only a prophet announcing Mohammed, the last of God’s real prophets.

At the present time, the hatred of the Moslem countries against the West is becoming a hatred against Christianity itself. Although the statesmen have not yet taken it into account, there is still grave danger that the temporal power of Islam may return and, with it, the menace that it may shake off a West which has ceased to be Christian, and affirm itself as a great anti-Christian world power. Moslem writers say, “When the locust swarms darken vast countries, they bear on their wings these Arabic words: ‘We are God’s host, each of us has ninety-nine eggs, and if we had a hundred, we should lay waste the world with all that is in it.'”

The problem is, how shall we prevent the hatching of the hundredth egg? It is our firm belief that, the fears some entertain concerning the Moslems are not to be realized, but that Moslemism, instead, will eventually be converted to Christianity — and in a way that even some of our missionaries never suspect. It is our belief that this will happen not through the direct teaching of Christianity, but through a summoning of the Moslems to a veneration of the Mother of God. This is the line of argument:

The Koran, which is the Bible of the Moslems, has many passages concerning the Blessed Virgin. First of all, the Koran believes in her Immaculate Conception and, also, in her Virgin Birth. The third chapter of the Koran places the history of Mary’s family in a genealogy which goes back through Abraham, Noah, and Adam. When one compares the Koran’s description of the birth of Mary with the apocryphal Gospel of the birth of Mary, one is tempted to believe that Mohammed very much depended upon the latter. Both books describe the old age and the definite sterility of the mother of Mary. When, however, she conceives, the mother of Mary is made to say in the Koran: “O Lord, I vow and I consecrate to you what is already within me. Accept it from me.”

When Mary is born, the mother says: “And I consecrate her with all of her posterity under thy protection, O Lord against Satan!”

[…]

This brings us to our second point, namely, why the Blessed Mother, in this twentieth century, should have revealed herself in the insignificant little village of Fatima, so that to all future generations she would be known as “Our Lady of Fatima.” Since nothing ever happens out of heaven except with a finesse of all details, I believe that the Blessed Virgin chose to be known as “Our Lady of Fatima” as a pledge and a sign of hope to the Moslem people, and as an assurance that they, who show her so much respect, will one day accept her Divine Son, too.

Evidence to support these views is found in the historical fact that the Moslems occupied Portugal for centuries. At the time when they were finally driven out, the last Moslem chief had a beautiful daughter by the name of Fatima. A Catholic boy fell in love with her, and for him she not only stayed behind when the Moslems left, but even embraced the faith. The young husband was so much in love with her that he changed the name of the town where he lived to Fatima. Thus, the very place where Our Lady appeared in 1917 bears a historical connection to Fatima, the daughter of Mohammed.

[…]

Sheen has quite a bit more on this topic. (Aside… had you read that before? His position isn’t much advertised, is it.)

So, an action item that all of us can perform would be to take Mary’s messages at Fatima serious and do serious penance and reparation for sins against Her Immaculate Heart. Reparation is the core of the Fatima messages and ongoing phenomenon that is Fatima. We are only, as Sr. Lucia said, in the “third day” of the Fatima “week”. Mary said that, if we heeded her messages, many disasters could be avoided.

Consider one of the points that was stressed in Our Lady’s messages at Fatima:

“Certain fashions will be introduced that will offend our Lord very much.”

Our Lady didn’t specify what those fashions are, but I think, like Justice Potter Stewart, “we know it when we see it”. If Our Lady and Our Savior are offended by some “fashions”, imagine what they think about the lyrics of songs by “Ariana”, hinted at in the guest rant above. And it was at her concert, or rather cacophony, where the the terror snake killed the innocent.

Nations must act to deal with the larger threats. The terror snake’s head must be crushed, and that will require force and, alas, blood.

Also, it wouldn’t hurt to follow the course suggested by Sebastian Gorka in his thoughtful book Defeating Jihad: The Winnable War by Sebastian Gorka. (US HERE – UK HERE).

Let us recognize that this is a religious war that is being waged. More on that HERE. Also, let us find ways to discredit the Islamic terror brand.

Meanwhile, what do we do?

We – as individuals and as groups, such as parishes and dioceses – must plan and organize to do serious penance and reparation for the sins against Mary and her Immaculate Heart.

Consider, dear readers, taking on some mortifications.

Consider making the Five First Saturday Devotion.

Consider learning more about the Fatima messages.

Consider doing a thorough examination of conscience and then…

GO TO CONFESSION

The moderation queue is ON.

Posted in Mail from priests, Our Catholic Identity, Our Solitary Boast, The Coming Storm, The Drill, The future and our choices, The Religion of Peace, Wherein Fr. Z Rants | Tagged Fatima, Fulton J. Sheen, Islamic terrorism, Manchester, Our Lady of Fatima, terrorism, The Religion of Peace
47 Comments

Approaching Jupiter

Posted on 23 May 2017 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Stepping aside from things churchy for a moment, here’s a spiffy video spotted at Astronomy Pic of the Day.

EXPLANATION FROM APOD:

What would it look like to approach Jupiter? To help answer this, a team of 91 amateur astrophotographers took over 1,000 pictures of Jupiter from the Earth with the resulting images aligned and digitally merged into the featured time-lapse video. Image taking began in 2014 December and lasted just over three months. The resulting fictitious approach sequence has similarities to what was seen by NASA’s robotic Juno spacecraft as it first approached the Jovian world last July. The video begins with Jupiter appearing as a small orb near the image center. As Jupiter nears from below, the planet looms ever larger while the rotation of its cloud bands becomes apparent. Jupiter’s shrinking Great Red Spot rotates into view twice, at times showing unusual activity. Many white ovals are visible moving around the giant planet. The video ends as the imaginary spacecraft passes over Jupiter’s North Pole.

Posted in Just Too Cool, Look! Up in the sky! | Tagged APOD, Jupiter
1 Comment

A First Things article recommended, about Pope Benedict

Posted on 23 May 2017 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Be clear before reading: It is not complimentary toward Pope Francis (which might bother some) or toward Card. Kasper (which shouldn’t bother anyone).

That aside, the useful piece includes background on the dispute between Card. Ratzinger and Card. Kasper with his notions of the “‘data’ of experience” back in the 90’s over the issue of Communion for the divorced and remarried. Some here might not know about that, or remember it well.

You can also see in the piece the pernicious role that Jesuit-run America Magazine had during that debate.

One thing in the piece that caught my attention was the line: “There would be no Anglican-style diversity for Catholics—not under John Paul.” Doesn’t it seem that that is what libs want?

In any event, the piece is worth reading.

Posted in The Drill | Tagged Benedict XVI, Card. Kasper, divorced and remarried, First Things
12 Comments

ASK FATHER: Visible tattoos and altar service

Posted on 23 May 2017 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader…

I was at Mass today at a parish with exceptionally reverent liturgies, communion received at the communion rail kneeling and on the tongue, male-only altar servers and EMHC, but something kept catching my eye and distracting me-one of the altar servers, who was also acting as an EMHC had a rather prominent tattoo on the backside of his hand.

Albeit, nothing offensive, but it was so distracting. Every swing of the thurible all I could see was his tattoo. Receiving communion, try as I might to ignore it, I caught myself trying to read it and see what it was (three nails and the Alpha and Omega symbols). Even the most slack jobs don’t permit visible tattoos. Is this permitted by the Church, or should visible tattoos be covered up when serving at the altar!

GUEST RESPONSE: Fr. Tim Ferguson

Personally, I’ve always found tattooing to be odd. I understand that in some cultures, especially in the Pacific, it is an important thing, a rite of passage and a way of defining oneself.

In the Holy Land, there is a centuries-old practice of pilgrims getting tattooed as proof of a completed pilgrimage

In our culture, tattooing is mostly seen as a sign of rebellion. Young people flaunt their rejection of their parents’ norms by having something permanently etched into their skin. I was recently intrigued by a news story about Mark Wahlberg, who is, by fits and starts, returning to the practice of the faith (and I am not holding him up as an ideal). Mr. Wahlberg had several tattoos and was getting them removed. He took his teen children with him to witness the painful process of removal, so that they might learn from his mistakes.

Back to the question. The Church universal has no rule prohibiting the tattooed from serving at the altar. Some may cite the prohibition from tattooing in Leviticus, but that’s from the old ritual law from which Christ freed us, much like the kosher laws. It would be entirely appropriate for a parish to have a policy on the matter or even a diocese to have particular law, mindful of the sensibilities of the local populace. Absent that, a priest would be within his rights to disallow someone whose appearance was inappropriate in some way, from attending him at the altar. No one has a right to serve.

This instance, as weird as I find tattoos, seems to be not inappropriate.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged tattoos
32 Comments

Anthony Esolen makes a point – with napalm

Posted on 23 May 2017 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

The brilliant Anthony Esolen (how I envy his prose) makes a point – with napalm – at the increasingly useful Crisis today. The post confirmed me in my desire never to be on his bad side.

He begins…

Don’t Let A Foolish Idea Go Unchallenged

Father, I must confess: I have made comments on social media.

There is at least one thing that social media illuminate, and that is the unwillingness or the incapacity of people to reason. I attribute it in part to “critical thinking,” which turns otherwise intelligent people into perpetual sophomores, ready to play what they think is the ace of trumps, but what is actually a dog-bitten Monopoly property card for Marvin Gardens when the game is bridge. It is a plexiglass Cone of Silence over the brain; nothing gets in and nothing gets out.

A case in point. The subject today was abortion. A woman burst out, “What century are you living in? Do you actually believe”—and let’s stop right there.

The person’s implicit premise is that people grow wiser, nobler, more righteous, and kinder to puppies with each passing generation. Otherwise why bring up the business about a century?

Let us ask this person, call her Missy, to tell us about other peoples and other centuries. “Missy, are you saying that Athenians of the fourth century B.C. were better than Athenians of the fifth century B.C.? Or, to bring things closer to us, are you saying that Italians in the 1400s were better people than were Italians in the 1300s?”

Missy can now make one of several moves. She can flounce out of the room. She can say, “I am not talking about Athenians or Italians.” She can say, “I guess that they were better.”

If she flounces out of the room, you return to reading The Brothers Karamazov while you take a sip of gin and tonic.

If she says she is not talking about Athenians or Italians, you may ask what she has against Athenians and Italians, seeing as she seems to have exempted them from her rule, which is that moral progress in human affairs is smooth and inevitable, like the flow of water down a hill, with fish bones and paper wrappers and other dead things floating along with it. Were the Italians during the age of the Medici crime family, the popes with bastard children, and warlords such as Gattamelata or mercenaries such as John Hawkwood, better than the Italians of a century before?

Of course she will not know about the Medici crime family.

[…]

There’s more, and it’s great.

Esolen’s post reminded me of a talk I once heard in Rome by the late, and deeply missed, Francis Card. George. He took to pieces the lib argument that the human race has evolved beyond certain moral claims. A similar notion is embraced by lib liturgists: We don’t have to kneel anymore, because we’ve evolved out of that as a Church. We don’t have to receive with humility on the tongue anymore, because we’re all grown up now.

Just as a reminder…. Esolen translated Dante’s Divine Comedy into English and did a great job of it.

If you have never read the Divine Comedy, you should. You could start with Esolen (Part 1, Inferno US HERE – UK HERE) or perhaps with Dorothy Sayer’s fine version (Part 1, Inferno, US HERE – UK HERE). There are many renderings to choose from. I would very much like to teach on Dante someday. Maybe it’ll happen.

When you make the excellent choice to read the Divine Comedy, here are a couple tips. First and foremost, make the decision that you will read the whole thing. Don’t read just the Inferno. The really great stuff comes in Purgatorio and Paradiso. Also, read through a canto to get the line of thought and story and then go back over it looking at the notes in your edition. Dante was, perhaps, the last guy who knew everything (with the possible exception of Erasmus). Each Canto is dense with references. You will need notes to help with the history, philosophy, cosmology, poetic theory, politics, theology, etc. Really. You will need help.