Sunday, February 6, 2011

Song of the Strange Ascetic - GKC

I'm heading off to Ohio to be interviewed by Marcus Grodi for his EWTN show. God bless, gentle reader, and keep me in your prayers. I'll leave you with my personal favorite poesy by dear ol' Gilbert Keith:

If I had been a Heathen,

I'd have praised the purple vine,

My slaves should dig the vineyards,

And I would drink the wine.

But Higgins is a Heathen,

And his slaves grow lean and grey,

That he may drink some tepid milk

Exactly twice a day.


If I had been a Heathen,

I'd have crowned Neaera's curls,

And filled my life with love affairs,

My house with dancing girls;

But Higgins is a Heathen,

And to lecture rooms is forced,

Where his aunts, who are not married,

Demand to be divorced.


If I had been a Heathen,

I'd have sent my armies forth,

And dragged behind my chariots

The Chieftains of the North.

But Higgins is a Heathen,

And he drives the dreary quill,

To lend the poor that funny cash

That makes them poorer still.


If I had been a Heathen,

I'd have piled my pyre on high,

And in a great red whirlwind

Gone roaring to the sky;

But Higgins is a Heathen,

And a richer man than I:

And they put him in an oven,

Just as if he were a pie.


Now who that runs can read it,

The riddle that I write,

Of why this poor old sinner,

Should sin without delight-

But I, I cannot read it

(Although I run and run),

Of them that do not have the faith,

And will not have the fun.


- Gilbert Keith Chesterton

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Shake, Rattle and Roll

Momentous day for Earth Science yesterday: we had a vvery close encounter with, fortunately, a small asteroid; and Yellowstone registered a 3.4 magnitude earthquake - large enough to warrant bold print.

Protectress of the Church

On this feast of Saint Agatha, check out pal Frank's post, For Our Lady, the 'Terror of Hell' (and other misbehaving heretical imps, as per above).

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Ignoring Vital Values

I appreciate and agree with the writer of this article. See what you think.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Understanding Egypt

I have heard some remarkable blather about the protests in Egypt and Tunis from a priest who should know better than to equate what is going on there with the work of our Lord in the days of His flesh.

This article is an important one. So is this. And for further reference, there is Canetti's Crowds and Power. But ultimately pull down your Things Hidden From the Foundation of the World if you would really understand the protests.