-1-
Finally, it’s been a quiet week. I think our biggest challenge of the week
will be attending the Vigil Mass tonight for the Immaculate Conception. My understanding is that this is one of two
Holy Days of obligation that is never abrogated. I ain’t a night person, but tomorrow, with things that must be done taking up the
weekend, there’s nothing for it, we must attend the Vigil Mass this evening. One thing that concerns me is that it means
driving in the dark, on the I-25 corridor both to church and back; as I get a
little older, driving at night is more of a challenge. Wish us luck.
-2-
All the news this week is about the Holy Father getting a
Twitter account. I have mixed feelings
about that, but if he thinks it’s a wise thing to do, who am I to argue?
-3-
I began my Advent reading with the introduction Volume 1 of
Guerric of Igny’s Liturgical Sermon.
Normally, I question the value of scholarly introductions to the works
of ancient works; too often, more insight is to be gained by just reading what
the original author wrote without being prejudiced to some professor’s point of
view which may really miss the point entirely.
Yet, there was a point made that was, so to speak, a real eye
opener. It seems, and this is borne out
by reading him, that Guerric wrote from the tradition of God as light, and
Advent as the season of the coming of the Light. I think I’ve been too much influenced by John
of the Cross and others who view our growth in God as a kind of darkness. I realized I need to shake that off and am
much more comfortable with Guerric’s (and John’s Gospel) idea that to seek God
is, in truth, to seek enlightenment, not darkness.
-4-
Toying with the idea again, of trying to write a mystery
series of books based on a group of characters I dreamed up over the last
several years. I’ll keep you updated on
the progress of that.
-5-
Pet Peeve Alert! I
notice more and more often that things published on the internet, even news
stories and columns from major professional writers, contain spelling errors
and/or typos. I have long been of the
opinion that such things should happen, at worst, infrequently, at best,
never. I know for many of us who grew up
writing drafts of papers longhand, and typing (on a typewriter!) the finished
product, it’s a great temptation to write something quickly on a computer and
get it out the door, and very difficult to try to proof read the thing on the
screen. But I wish more people,
especially those who get paid to do such things, would try a little
harder. I worry what damage is being
done to an already suffering language.
-6-
A post on the American
Conservative blog, titled “Why Catholics Can’t Speak English,” covers the
question of the lack of availability of a really nice Catholic Bible
translation, and, for that matter, edition.
The author likes the Knox transition, newly released by Baronius Press,
because it was done in the context of making the language more accessible to
the English reader. Msgr Knox used the
vernacular as a prominent feature of his translation. The AC author is arguing for a new edition
that makes the Bible more understandable to the Catholic in the pew.
I’ve always taken a different tack toward Holy Scripture. I believe any translation, and edition, of
the Bible should be beautiful; the language should be somewhat elevated and
majestice. I don’t think we read the
Bible only for understanding, I think we read it to open ourselves to God’s
self-revelation and allow His Word, which is His, wholly Other, to enlighten us;
it’s not a teaching tool but something much more. I tend to think that making the language of
the Bible more pedestrian is very often an effort to bring God down to our
level, which is, of course, an impossible task.
-7-
It’s Friday! Thanks again to Jennifer for hosting 7 Quick Takes.
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