Absolute truths exist and beauty is a tangible quality which can be objectively assessed. The rejection of these two truths is what has caused much of the Catholic world to go crazy since Vatican II. How is it, I wonder, that poor Catholic immigrants to this country were able to build such awe inspiring churches and cathedrals? And why is it that the richest and most well educated generation of Catholics in history is tearing them down to make way for clam shells and concrete bunkers?

Most people don't know it yet but Benedict XVI is quietly leading a revolution. I think he's taking the right approach by not simply ordering it. His example, be it a return to ad orientem, or even his sartorial choices, is filtering down to the rest of the Catholic world. A parish can have either reverent liturgy or bad music and a Donatist inspired interior. It cannot have both; eventually one or the other will vanish.

Think of the artwork, statuary, and music in your parish (that's a simple matter for me since mine has so little). Now ask yourself: would you give the art or a recording of the music in your parish as a gift to your wife? Your best friend? I think most Catholics in my diocese would be aghast at that suggestion. They would want to give their loved one a gift of the highest quality. And yet that lack of quality is what we offer to God every day. You love God more than your wife and your best friend don't you? (Incidentally, that's a bit of advice I would give to all young Christian couples: only marry someone who loves God more than you.) We want our loved ones to have the very best. Parents make sacrifices so their children can have the best education as a matter of course. Surely we can do no less for the love of God. It will take a lot of education and catechesis to instill that love of God. And it will no doubt offend those people who believe the liturgy is more about the community than about worshiping the Lord God of Hosts, and that mediocrity (though they wouldn't use that word) is the best we can expect from a large group of people. One thing I've learned recently though is that if you're afraid to offend people, you're probably not "doing Christianity right." Over the past forty years we've operated on the principle that nothing is too cheap for God. We need to return to the principle that nothing is too good for God.
Mar. 28th, 2008 @ 07:12 pm

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» If it's Baroque, don't fix it

Congratulations to Fr. John Zuhlsdorf who really cleaned up at this year's Catholic Blog awards. Here he points to Benedict XVI's recent sartorial choices which has left a certain type of Catholic frothing with rage. Whenever I hear someone start that old "Why doesn't the Vatican sell its artwork and give the money to the poor," chestnut, it reminds me of John 12:1-8. The Gospel does not ask us to pretend to be tone deaf Donatists. The only reason why churches have beautiful art or music is they help point us toward God, the source of all beauty and truth. I know more than a few people both online and in real life who are repelled, rather than attracted, by the artistic and musical bad taste rampant in most Catholic parishes today. Granted, one ought not base one's religious convictions upon which parish has nice artwork and statuary. Good art and music do not always lead souls to contemplate God, but no art and bad music never do.
Mar. 19th, 2008 @ 10:13 pm

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» Happy birthday Uncle Billy

Cump was guilty of war crimes but at least he gave a son to the Jesuits (before the Jesuits went off the rails). Sherman was baptized a Catholic by his foster parents and the local Dominican community, though for most of his adult life he never thought of himself as a Catholic and did not practice the faith. As a child his father named him Tecumseh because "Tecumseh was a great warrior." The poor Dominican father who baptized him said Tecumseh was not a Christian name, so he was then christened William after St. William of Montevergine whose feast day it was that day. Sherman never referred to himself as William, and his friends and family always called him Cump. After a short hiatus of about 120 years, Sherman reintroduced the idea of total war into military theory. To this day many Southerners think of Sherman as the devil incarnate for his turning out old men, women, and children from their homes, and his army's destruction and looting of their property. So say a prayer for the soul of William T. Sherman today; he may need all that he can get.

Feb. 8th, 2008 @ 08:44 am

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