Girls Teach the Boys Some Chivarly

Speaks for itself.

from hotair.com

To Veil or Not to Veil, That Is the Liberty

Genevieve Kineke has written a number of posts on chivalry over the years. It’s one of her blog categories. She has some interesting things to say and links to many good sources.

Of late, Genevieve has been involved in a debate on women’s use of chapel veils, which I have not followed myself aside from what I just read on her blog.

Over the years, I have found myself arguing reciprocally for the formation of a Catholic culture on the one hand, and for a broadminded exercise of prudence on the other. In reality, there is no contradiction between the fighting spirit of prowess and the moderating spirit of courtesy, but that is not to say that finding the balance is easy. I can appreciate what Genevieve means when she says:

The tradeoff which always concerns me is the inhospitality with which many interpret some acts of piety, which bear the aforementioned “code.”

We are always fighting to hold our ground as the swamp of our godless culture encroaches upon the sanctuaries of our homes and churches. As a motley group of sinners, Catholics will not always agree on how best to do this.

Unless usages like the chapel veil are mandated again by Rome there will always be legitimate arguments about the relative merits of such traditions. And even if Rome were to solve such questions, we will continue to disagree in good faith concerning practical discernment relative to our way of living as Christians in non-Christian world.

I think too much is at stake not to seek our advantages in terms of restoring tradition; however, without a great deal of virtue this often translates into a kind of inhospitality, where the ones alienated are often those who would be otherwise most likely to embrace a more Catholic way of life.

I really don’t think there are any pat answers here. I am often told that I should be more black and white. (That should say something about the circle in which I travel). We who crusade for Catholic culture don’t like gray–any gray. Unfortunatley, some things are gray. And upon many things Catholics of good will can and, in a sense, must disagree.

In a lecture entitled “Culture and the Coming Peril,” G.K. Chesterton used the word “vulgarity” to describe modern culture, and he defined vulgarity as “standardization at a lower standard.” Indeed, he argued for a high standard, but not for complete uniformity. He ended his lecture with these words:

[T]here never was a time in the whole history of the human race when it was more necessary to defend the intellectual independence of man that this hour in which we live.

The secularists, as we know, are not at all committed to diversity in the way they contend. They wish to stimy all debate, as they do, for example, in regard to the issue of same-sex marriage. The answer to the dictatorship of relativism, however, is not a to have a rule supplied for everything to which everyone must conform. There is a place for rules. There is also a place for liberty.

In certain things unity. In doubtful things liberty. In all things charity (St. Augustine).

But even where there is no argument asserting the binding nature of this or that practice, but just that its merely “better” or “more Catholic,” we are going to run into tension. And that is not altogether a bad thing. We need a fighting spirit. We need to regain some Catholic territory and burn into our hearts an unambiguous Catholic identity. But we also need to avoid all that is sectarian and narrow minded. We can’t turn the Church into the club of our own opinions, no matter high minded or traditional those opinions may be.

The path, I think, is to be as good natured and as open to the upright intentions of others as possible. G.K. Chesterton and his brother Cecil used to bring a stack of books each to the dinner table and vigorously argue to their hearts content. Later in life, Chesterton said that he had never had a quarrel with his brother because they always argued. There is much to be said for that.

The Passion of Joan of Arc. . . Again

Well, good St. Joan was betrayed by the Burgundians, condemned by ecclesiastics who should have protected her, abandoned by the King she fought for and burned by the English. As a reward her story has been printed to celluloid I don’t know how many times now, and most of this waste of celluloid should be burned in the square of Rouen in reparation for the crimes of Hollywood against this great Virgin Warrior.

In spite of his flaws, I have a great deal of respect for Mel Gibson and wrote a little booklet, praising his Passion movie. Even so, I have been stopped in my tracks. Tabloid sites are claiming that he now plans to produce another Passion movie, this time a remake of the The Passion of Joan of Arc, a 1928 French silent movie that has been hailed as a landmark of cinema.

The gossipy part of the story (and I hope it is just gossip) is that he has asked Britney Spears to play the title role. The funny thing is, given Gibson’s quirkiness, he is just the man to do it and perhaps even to pull it off. Nevertheless, the yuck factor is a bit too much for me. I wish Miss Spears well, and hope she gets her life together; however, she would have to turn a miraculous performance to make me forget what she has stood for, which is diametrically opposed to the holiness and purity of the Maid of Orleans. I know. . . I know. . . This is what actors do. Their job is to pretend to be someone they are not. Even so . . .

I just hope this is not another crime that Hollywood will have to atone for. I will be the first to throw a fagot on the pyre.

Noble Behavior in Holy Week

The following is an account of the Holy Week piety of St. Elizabeth of Hungary. Try this on for size, ladies:

Nothing can express the fervor, love, and pious veneration, with which she celebrated those holy days, on which the Church, by ceremonies so touching, and so expressive, recalls to the mind of the faithful, the sorrowful and unspeakable mystery your redemption. On Holy Thursday, imitating the King of Kings, who, on this day, rising from table, laid aside his garments, the daughter of the king of Hungary, putting off whatever could remind her of worldly pomps, dressed herself in poor clothes, and, with only sandals on her feet, went to visit different churches. On this day, she washed the feet of twelve poor men, sometimes lepers, and gave to each twelve pieces, a white dress, and a loaf.

All the next night she passed in prayer and meditation upon our Lord’s passion. In the morning, it being the day on which the divine sacrifice was accomplished, she said to her attendants, “This day is a day humiliation for all: I desire that none of you do show me any mark of respect.” Then she would put on the same dress as before, and go barefoot to the churches, taking with her certain little packets of linen, incense, and small tapers; and, kneeling before one altar, would place thereon of these, and, prostrating herself would pray awhile most devoutly, and so pass to another altar, till she had visited all. At the door of the church she gave large alms, but was pushed about by the crowd, who did not know her. Some courtiers reproached her for the meanness of her gifts as unworthy of a sovereign. But though, at other times, her alms-deeds were most abundant, so that few ever were more splendidly liberal to the poor, yet a certain divine instinct in her heart taught her, how, in such days, she should not play the queen, but the poor sinner, for whom Christ died.

Science Confirms It

Wires. Just like the nice man said.

See we fuddy-duddy chivalry guys are not all washed up after all.

Gray Matters

This should turn up the heat. Too funny. Too true.

Hat tip to Jen.

Even Lefty Feminists Have Had Enough of Disney

No more Disney Princesses. Off with their heads!

I am blogged down with catching up and with Christmas. Ho, Ho, Ho.

Its official: not only right wings nuts see the hyper-sexualization of girls in the Disney marketing strategy.

Bloody Feminist Pirates!

Here’s one for Mr. Gibbs.

I only saw the first Pirates Movie on a flight to somewhere. I have heard it was all downhill from there, what with a blooming goddess and the rest. Par for the course, no?

Here is Wikipedia on Elizabeth Swann (emphasis mine):

Unlike most young women in her time, Elizabeth is independent and spirited. Throughout the films, she transforms from a graceful, mild-mannered lady to a true and courageous pirate. Elizabeth has always been fascinated by pirates, but she is often revolted by their aggressive and wild nature, especially Jack Sparrow. Even after becoming a pirate, she retains her sense of propriety, as well as her loyalty and compassion for loved ones (namely William Turner).

Elizabeth adapted well to pirate life, although she had previously learned how to handle a sword from her (at the time) fiancee, Will Turner. She is able to defend herself against multiple opponents and can fight using two swords. Elizabeth has natural leadership abilities, quickly learned seamanship, and displays a talent for battle strategy, devising many defensive and offensive maneuvers against her opponents. It should be noted that she is the only character in the film to use a chinese Jian as her weapon of choice, which is ironical considering the setting it was used in: The Jian, known as the most civilized and elegant of all chinese weapons, ended up being a pirate’s weapon.

I guess every other woman of her time, with rare exception, was a servile dolt who could do nothing for herself. Thank God, for Elizabeth, who was independently minded enough to become a pirate! Of course, Hollywood creates the absurd illusion that a woman can be feminine and at the same time win at a man’s game by his own rules. At the beginning of the first movie, the young and ladylike Elizabeth sings the pirate song:

We pillage, we plunder, we rifle and loot. Drink up me ‘earties yo ho! We kidnap and ravage and don’t give a hoot. Drink up me ‘earties yo ho! Yo ho, yo ho a pirate’s life for me. We extort, we pilfer, we filch and sack. Drink up . . .

Of course, there’s no mention of ravishing and raping. But hey, Elizabeth will just cut to pieces anyone who gets in her way. Right? The great feminist illusion.

I know its just fantasy, so I am not about to wax philosophical about Pirates of the Caribbean. Even so, it is typical of the absurd feminist propaganda we have to endure everywhere.

I fondly remember growing up with the original ride at Disneyland in California. It was a blast and nothing to be taken seriously. Of course, the movies are fun too and no more to be taken seriously than the ride. As long as one knows that the fun is absurd, fine by me. What concerns me is the predictable presentation of the modern heroine, an icon of the notion that no woman but a feminist can be “independent and spirited” (read intelligent and influential). Bloody feminist rubish.

Lest the Girls Feel Left Out

The ladies have chashed in. Here is a review. Copy cats. Some of it seems interesting, although, someone named Goddess Musings is fond of it because feminist propaganda is woven “stealthily” into the text. Look for yourself.