Random Thursday
Remember last month's post about breathing and meditation ("Woe the Man with Halitosis")? I mentioned that breathing has played a big role in the meditation practices of many religions, but not, from what I could tell, in Catholicism. It looks like I was right. I stumbled across this cyber-paper last weekend, "The Art of Breathing in the West," and there's virtually nothing from the Roman Catholic world about breathing. This is apparently the best the writer could find, "[I]n Ignatius of Loyola's Exercises it is hinted that one should sanctify one's breathing by linking it constantly to its metaphoric function . . .". If you're interested in meditation and breathing in Eastern Orthodoxy and other religions, it's worth checking out. It was written in 1968. * * * * * * * Woe to the Progressives. "He who govern a state by his wisdom is a scourge to it; while he who does not do so is a blessing." Lao Tzu. * * * * * * * Comte the Clown. Henri de Lubac essentially (and properly) mocks August Comte in The Drama of Atheist Humanism (possibly the best nonfiction book of all time). Comte set out to create a pseudo-religion, raping Christianity of all the symbols without adopting any of the dogmas. The talented Alain de Botton describes the Comte system in this article, though he gives it far (far) more credit than it deserves.
Received in an Email
A preacher said, "Anyone with 'special needs' who wants to be prayed over, please come forward to the front by the altar."
With that, Leroy got in line, and when it was his turn, the Preacher asked, "Leroy, what do you want me to pray about for you?"
Leroy replied, "Preacher, I need you to pray for help with my hearing." The preacher put one finger of one hand in Leroy's ear, placed his other hand on top of Leroy's head, and then prayed and prayed and prayed. He prayed a "blue streak" for Leroy, and the whole congregation joined in with great enthusiasm.
After a few minutes, the preacher removed his hands, stood back and asked, "Leroy, how is your hearing now?"
Leroy answered, "I don't know. It ain't 'til Thursday."
