THE DONKEY by G.K. Chesterton

Here is a poem that's probably a lot more accessible than the previous one. It's also the first thing I ever read by Chesterton. It was assigned by Fr. Becker.

You can't tell from this picture, but most donkeys have a black cross on their backs. Legend says that this mark was put there by God in honor of the donkey that Christ rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.

The Donkey
by G.K. Chesterton

When fishes flew and forests walked
And figs grew upon thorn,
Some moment when the moon was blood
Then surely I was born;

With monstrous head and sickening cry
And ears like errant wings,
The devil's walking parody
On all four-footed things.

The tattered outlaw of the earth,
Of ancient crooked will;
Starve, scourge, deride me: I am dumb,
I keep my secret still.

Fools! For I also had my hour;
One far fierce hour and sweet:
There was a shout about my ears,
And palms before my feet.

Fr. John Becker, S.J. (July 9, 1925 – January 19, 2008)

May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Link

The Windhover

I found this on the Internet this morning. It is an interlinear translation of the poem we read in class. It's worth a read--they make more sense of it than I did.



Here is the poem again for your listening pleasure (read it aloud):

The Windhover

To Christ our Lord

I CAUGHT this morning morning’s minion, king-
dom of daylight’s dauphin, dapple-dawn-drawn Falcon, in his riding
Of the rolling level underneath him steady air, and striding
High there, how he rung upon the rein of a wimpling wing
In his ecstasy! then off, off forth on swing,
As a skate’s heel sweeps smooth on a bow-bend: the hurl and gliding
Rebuffed the big wind. My heart in hiding
Stirred for a bird,—the achieve of; the mastery of the thing!

Brute beauty and valour and act, oh, air, pride, plume, here
Buckle! AND the fire that breaks from thee then, a billion
Times told lovelier, more dangerous, O my chevalier!

No wonder of it: shéer plód makes plough down sillion
Shine, and blue-bleak embers, ah my dear,
Fall, gall themselves, and gash gold-vermillion.

Automatic Confession

A friend of mine sent this to me. It's pretty funny.

Week 13: Homework

Reading Assignment:
Read Chapters 14-15 of Theology and Sanity, “The Fall of Man” and “Between the Fall and the Redemption”—pp. 191-231.

Questions:
1. What was the immediate effect of Adam’s sin? (p. 190)

2. What kind of death did Adam suffer from eating the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil? (p. 192)

3. List some ways that Man’s nature was damaged by the Fall. (p. 193-4)

4. Did Adam and Eve ever regain sanctifying grace? Were they able to repair the damage done to themselves? (p.195-7)

5. On page 197 Sheed says that the human race became a fallen race to which heaven was closed. What is the effect of this on members of the race who die with sanctifying grace before Christ?

6. What else fell with Adam? What else suffers the result of the Fall? (p.200)

7. Why are people born without the supernatural life? Are we guilty of Original Sin? Explain. (p. 201-2)

8. Is God unfair to deprive us of supernatural life after the Fall? (p.203)

9. Who is the lord of the world? (p.204)

10. In what ways is our testing similar to Adam’s? How is it different? (p.206)

11. What is meant by the expression “the fullness of time”? (p. 208)

12. What did the human race bring out of Paradise for the adventure of regaining the maturity it had rejected? (p. 210)

13. What are the two elements in man upon which man builds notions of God? (p.213)

14. How does human nature deform religion? (p.214-5)

15. Read pages 217-231 carefully. How does God prepare the world for the “fullness of time”?

Reflection Questions:
1. Sheed talks about the modern mood that will have none of this notion of a personal Devil. Why is it so important to not reduce evil to merely forces and tendencies?

NO CLASS TONIGHT

There will not be class tonight in observance of MLK Day.

Classes will resume next Monday, January 28th with a discussion of chapter 13, "The Testing of Angels and Men".

Week 12: Homework

Reading Assignment:
Read Chapter 13 of Theology and Sanity, “The Testing of Angels and Men”—pp. 173-190.

Questions:
1. What is the only certain way of learning something’s purpose? (p.174)

2. What is the purpose of all created beings (spiritual and material)? What is true only of spiritual beings? (p.174)

3. What is the significance of names in Scripture? What does Adam’s naming of the animals tell us about Adam/Man? (p.175)

4. On page 176, Sheed says that God has told us that our destiny is to see God face to face. How is this possible if God is spirit and has no face? (p. 176)

5. What is the name of the principle which enables us to operate above our nature? (p.176) What is another name for this principle? (p. 186)

6. Why is Pride the worst of all sins? (p.178)

7. What are the two meanings of the word freedom as explained by Sheed? (pp. 179-80)

8. Why can’t demons be totally without God? (p.183)

9. Can angels sin? (pp. 181-3)

10. How does the testing of angels differ from that of Man? Why does it differ? (p. 183)

11. What was the first man like? What were his “preternatural” perfections? (pp.183-4)

12. Cocktail Question: What is impassibility? (p.185)

13. What is the purpose of supernatural life? (p.185)

14. When are we given supernatural life? What are the first effects of it on us? Hint: Think virtues. (p.186)

Reflection Questions:
1. Reread the passage about the state of demons in Hell (p.181-82). Given how Hell is described there, how would you respond to someone who says something like “I’d rather go to Hell and be with my friends than go to Heaven and be without them?”

2. The philosopher Plato thought that people do evil because they don’t know the good; the Christian tradition disagrees with him. On page 178, Sheed suggests that sin is not merely a matter of knowledge but of a “far more mysterious thing, will.” In what ways can we strengthen our will to avoid sin if merely knowing right from wrong is not enough?

The Star of Bethlehem

Probably the best Christmas present I received was a DVD about the Star of Bethlehem. I'm thinking about bringing it in for the class to see, but in the meantime, check out the Web site associated with the film. It is a truly amazing video that shows what great lengths God goes to to reveal himself to us.

Here is the link: The Star of Bethlehem

Below is a short promotional video about the DVD.

Grow The Heart of a Man

Some of you may know Michael John Poirier. Here is a new blog for men that he's started. He wanted me to pass it on. So, please go check it out. I love the story of the origin of the blog's name--what a beautiful prayer!

Here is the link: Grow The Heart of a Man