Work Like There's No Praying

... And pray like there's no working.

In private correspondence I recently bemoaned to my brothers Aramis and Porthos that regardless of what we see and attempt to explain about the present cultural crisis whose symptom set includes (a) most recently the U. S. financial meltdown, (b) the on-going western demographic suicide (with its concomitant dionysian promiscuity, abortuary child sacrifice cult, and degenerate "lifestyles"), and (c) return to structural paganism in a twin-pincer attack by the proponents of (b) above and the Scimitar, we see precious little difference made by our efforts. If lawmakers continue their exercises in futility and fear of Main Street (e.g., what voters will do when they see their pensions are gone), we may see such drastic efforts as I put in fiction in The Dionysus Mandate.

We are fortunate that such a faithful son of the Church as René Girard has set forth, at the very least, a taxonomy of sin that offers bountiful avenues of investigating and thematizing in ever more nuanced ways the enemies of Catholic truth and the patrimony of the Magisterium.

But what past that? Talk, talk, talk? Unlike some who get trapped in an ugly adversarial doubling rivalry that pass themselves off as "righteous" or at least superior (though they can't explain why coherently), defenders of Catholic truth know full well our own sinfulness and aptness to human "funny business," to use Bailie's turn of phrase. We know we can't get into a spitting contest or claim to cast the first stone in innocence. Our last recourse to is legitimate defense; our first, chivalry to all.

And what does that mean? It means first to place oneself in position to receive God's grace provided for us through the Sacraments of the Church: assist at Mass frequently; engage in the Sacrament of Reconciliation frequently; honor one's life-long nuptial Vows, celibate or marital (the greatest Adventure). Practice the Virtues, Cardinal (justice, temperance, prudence, fortitude) and Theological (faith, hope, charity).

And pray constantly. I find the Jesus Prayer of the Eastern Church a powerful aid, inserting not only myself, but others in it: Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me/(Name) , a sinner. It is a remarkably tonic spiritual practice for keeping Our Lord at the center of one's being while not dismissing anyone from one's psyche - even enemies who need our prayer.

And, of course, find ways to distance yourself from the mimetic swirl.

Of all these, the Theological Virtues strengthened and made possible by the sacramental grace of God encompasses the greatest contribution we can make. Work like there's no praying and pray like there is no working. Deo gratias.