There’s got to be a morning after
If we can hold on through the night
We have a chance to find the sunshine
Let’s keep on looking for the light
–The Morning After, Al Kasha, Joel Hirschhorn. Maureen McGovern
Despite the name of this blog, we do not have as many song references as seem warranted. I have always thought that NEO was the best of us for using songs – must be his Lutheran choral heritage.
This song seems appropriate for the Saturday of the Tomb, the time when Jesus was in the spirit world, preaching His victory to the imprisoned Watchers and comforting those in Abraham’s Bosom. In the physical, it was a time of despair for the Disciples. Their Master was dead, and they had no grasp of His resurrection and ascension. One of their own had proved a traitor, eventually taking his own life in a fit of guilty remorse. Peter had denied the Lord whose very status as Messiah he himself had grasp first out of all the Disciples at the Gates of Hell – Bashan, Panias, Caesarea Philippi. It looked as if Baal had won.
Sometimes it still feels like the Saturday (see Tony Campolo’s description of Christians: “Easter Sunday people in a Good Friday world”). We await the resurrection, the restoration of all things. In this world there is much to be unhappy about: sin, environmental disasters, disease, war, mental illness, and spiritual warfare. Remembering Christ’s victory can be difficult at times.
The more I think about the crucifixion, the less I feel I understand it. When I was a teen and came to Christ, I spent my first few years after my conversion reading everything Christian I could get my hands on. I could parrot phrases and could grasp the logic behind various positions. I saw God in my dreams and felt His love. But as I grow older and walk through life, my eyes opening as I have more experiences, I see my faith changing. The Cross takes on deeper significance as a model of obedience to be emulated.
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
-Matthew 16:24
Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered
-Hebrews 5:8
No one likes discipline, but it is necessary for all of us. This life in the “valley of tears” is lightened by the presence and comfort of Jesus, but we should not mistake it for the glory of the resurrection. Everyone must go through his Saturday, but Sunday is coming.
All Along the Watchtower 
Maybe, as the scientists are expecting, today is the last day of the orbiting of Tiangong-1 (the Chinese Space Station which means “Heavenly or Celestial Palace”. Of course it was serviced and visited by their Shenzhou spacecraft which translates to “Divine Craft” or “Divine Vessel of God”. How fitting it might be that this should flame out in the heavens and fall to earth on Easter . . . reminding one of satan falling from the skies to earth as he was thrown from heaven.
Yes, the day after, will come and no matter what this Communist Religion thinks it will still be nothing more than a faux satanic cult and affront to Christianity. I think there is some solace in this conclusion to their foray into the heavens.
And of all years for this to happen; the year that Pope Francis ‘sold-out’ his own true underground Chinese Church, to the faux Communist catholic church. The only thing better would be for it to fall on the head of Xi or perhaps the Communist nationalist church services tomorrow. Then perhaps this might be seen as more than a simple coincidence but as a sign from the Almighty that His enemies will become Christ’s foot-stools.
One can only hope. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
I am also concerned that Pope Francis appears to be espousing annihilationism or conditionalism rather than eternal conscious torment. I apologize if I have misrepresented his position, but this seems to me contrary to what little I know of the catechism and historical Catholicism and Orthodoxy. Why would the Orthodox acknowledge a Prince of the Apostles who says this? I used to like him, but now I am very concerned. Within Protestantism we can have this debate, but it seems out of place in Catholicism (for the record I believe in eternal conscious torment).
LikeLiked by 2 people
So do we. Perhaps the “Heavenly Palace” will fall on this antipope’s head on Easter to make the point clear.
Interesting to note that the Saint from which he took his Pontifical Title had this to say before he died:
“There will be such diversity of opinions and schisms among the people, the religious and the clergy, that, except those days were shortened, according to the words of the Gospel, even the elect would be led into error, were they not specially guided, amid such great confusion, by the immense mercy of God….
“Those who preserve their fervor and adhere to virtue with love and zeal for the truth, will suffer injuries and persecutions as rebels and schismatics; for their persecutors, urged on by the evil spirits, will say they are rendering a great service to God by destroying such pestilent men from the face of the earth…
“Some preachers will keep silent about the truth, and others will trample it under foot and deny it. Sanctity of life will be held in derision even by those who outwardly profess it, for in those days Our Lord Jesus Christ will send them, not a true Pastor, but a destroyer.”
(Works of the Seraphic Father, St. Francis of Assisi [London: R. Washbourne, 1882], pp. 248-250) [paragraph breaks added]
LikeLiked by 2 people
Interesting; I did not know that St Francis had given thought to apocalyptic material. I think many will find existing church structures shaken to the foundation by the time Christ returns. Paul confirmed Christ’s Oliver Discourse when he spoke of the great apostasy being concurrent with the Antichrist and the Abomination of Desolation at the time of the end in 2 Thessalonians 2. I was thinking as I sat in the Good Friday service about how this desolation could refer to physical churches as well as the Temple site in Israel. Think about empty buildings in areas controlled by ISIS as Christians fled the area or met secretly in houses. That truly is an abomination (Islam) of desolation (abandoned Christian sacred spaces – viz. churches).
LikeLiked by 2 people
I do expect before this mess is over that many will flee the Church and lose their belief as things get so bad that they find it impossible to believe that the Church will overcome the ‘gates of hell’.
One only need to look at the prophecies of “Our Lady of Good Success” (South American Apparition) and what was said and then reconfirmed by other accepted prophesies such as Akita and Fatima (all of which I think was not revealed). You might want to look these up and read their words: they are startlingly familiar to our day to one another and to the visions of St. Francis of Assisi.
LikeLiked by 2 people
A few years ago I looked at the Fatima declarations. I must review them Personally, I do not believe the vision of the Pope fleeing Rome over the bodies of dead priests (if a true prophecy) was fulfilled by the assassination attempt on JP II as some claim. If it is to be fulfilled, I think it likely that it will be an Islamic attack on Rome. Rome was attacked by the Muslims in the medieval period too, but the Romans, led by the Pope, repelled them.
LikeLiked by 2 people
There is much skepticism about that Nicholas. The best reference to the deception (by omission) might be the work done by Chris Ferrara. You may want to read a few of his articles on this.
LikeLiked by 2 people
But what of Pope Francis embrace of the Patriotic Catholic Association? Hasn’t he legitimized Communism? Can’t we all kiss and make up and get along now? Geeze Loueeze. Where’d they hide all them Easter Eggs? God bless. Ginnyfree.
LikeLike
Oh I liked this song when it came out. I wasn’t a Christian yet. Now, looking back it seems rather bleak. Perhaps its time to give the movie a watch again. God bless. Happy Easter!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Danken Sie, Nicholas. 🙂
I expect it is, to a point. It’s also a family thing. Other than electrical folks, most of my family were band and/or choral directors, including an ancestor that was a bandmaster for Gustavus Adolphus, probably got to see some of the world! 🙂
We’ve commented here often, that some of the best English and German (maybe American too) theology is hymnology. Which have, of course, cross-pollinated for centuries. From Luther to Handel to Bach to Wesley and on down the years. A fair amount of popular music goes the same way.
As an aside, I’ve always enjoyed that much of Led Zeppelin’s lyrics bear on the old Norse religion. Rockers used to have an education.
Important to remember that one cannot have a resurrection without death. And God’s books wouldn’t balance without somebody paying for all our sins. That’s why there is mercy for us, instead of the justice we deserve.
And that’s a good thing for the disciples, who this day were cowering in hiding in Jerusalem, wondering if it soon would be their turn. It’s hard since we know the outcome to imagine how it must have been for them that bleakest of all days, but early tomorrow they will find out that all is not what they feared.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed. I have found some of my most moving moments in church to be when hymn lyrics spoke to me. Of course the melody itself has an effect (can’t really isolate the variables). Yes, I like Led Zeppelin – and I think the Church needs to get more into the supernatural in a biblically sound way. The starvation for the spiritual world is evident in the popularity of fantasy films, hallucinogenic drugs, and conspiracy theories surrounding aliens. Unfortunately the excesses of Pentecostalism and the Charismatic Movement have scared a lot of people (including myself at times), so it’s hard to overcome the distrust and damage.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, it is synergistic, more than the sum of its parts. Music is both rational (closely related to mathematics, actually) and emotional. There are hymns that almost literally make me cry, of course, part of that may be some particular use that has been made of them. That’s why I try to find a good performance to embed, usually.
It is, I think, practically the only cure for the overwhelming materialism of the age, even secular music (which to me does not include much since about 1980) is better than a lot of the dross our culture’s provide. Christianity does (or used to do) this better than anyone, and the old forms work. One of the most moving things I was ever involved in was a do-it-yourself “Messiah” done by a university back in Indiana. Part of that is that it was nearly the last time I sang with one of my sisters and that too matters.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I feel that a lot of recent Christian music isn’t as good as what the secular world has produced. I’m biased because I was brought up on secular stuff (my father isn’t a Christian and my mother wasn’t practicing in those days). I love the old material, though: Charles Wesley in particular.
LikeLiked by 1 person
C. once said that there hadn’t been a good hymn written since 1940, my comment was that 1914 was closer. 🙂
It’s not, some of the American country stuff isn’t horrible (see anything by Dolly Parton) but on average secular stuff is better, well, why wouldn’t it be, not much market these days.
Charles Wesley is one of the best. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
LikeLiked by 1 person
And who can forget St. Thomas Aquinas as a writer of first rate hymns.
LikeLike
Personally I like medieval renditions of dies irae – I’m not a fan of Mozart’s and Verdi’s versions.
LikeLiked by 1 person
In other words, you prefer Gregorian Chant as do I. It is all about the prayer and when the music overshadows or competes with the prayer then we are likely not to get the same benefit from our attentive listening and our internal state of prayer.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is a bit of a coincidence I think that the two of you are speaking both about Gregorian Chants and conversion. One of the features of my conversion was Chant. I was given an assignment by one of my professors that to me seemed a bit odd. He gave me a cassette tape of some Gregorian Chants that I was to listen to and write a paper on for his class. Not everyone one got the same tapes. There were various types from different ages and I did the best I’d could to write what he wanted. I got a A on the paper. But that is trivial. (I rarely got anything less. Ya, so I’m braggin’ Sue me). I’d never heard anything like it before. Really. It was a historical oddity to me. I kept listening to it. It moved my heart. I knew instinctually that they were singing to God, or that is how I understood it. Turns out, that is exactly what it was. I had no clue at all about such things. I wanted to listen more. I returned the tape and went to a classical music store and bought some of my own. Solesmes Monks were the first. I put them into the dashboard of my car and when I was alone, I just listened to them. They lifted my heart up. I was just beginning my conversion then. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKm54iQ1i-M
The next one I bought was Hildegard of Bingen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ei88J4lERbk
My daughter got upset about all the weird music I was listening to in my bedroom while I studied. I loved it. I’d listen to it while reading my Bible. I really brought to my life a flame of the Spirit. I don’t know why I even need to explain that now, it seems kinda silly. I know the meaning of the words they use now and that most of what they are singing are actually Psalms of the Church and various Liturgical Prayers used in the Offices and Mass. DUH! Of course the Holy Spirit is in them. No kidding. I was listening to people praying and it inspired me. Like no body’s business. Right. That’s exactly what it is supposed to do. But I was exceedingly ignorant of Christian ways. I was a well educated idiot. I’m glad I got over that. Becareful listening to this music. It is dangerous to do so for very long if you intend to remain away from Christ and His Church. God bless. Ginnyfree.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Is this what you like?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes. I know that it does not possess the complexity of subsequent periods of music, but its simplicity seems appropriate to the subject matter.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Because it is, Nicolas; and therefore very contemplative. This is why the Church prefers Gregorian Chant and says that it should be given pride of place in the liturgy though nobody it seems in the Novus Ordo realm since Vatican II follows the wishes of the Church. They would rather play negro spirituals or moderns songs (as they cannot even be called hymns) with lyrics that are often about us and our feelings rather than a contemplation on Christ or his sufferings etc. It is totally upside down. Most of the newer music could be used at a cocktail party or a dance party. It has nothing to do with prayer and therefore to sing is to not pray whereas when it was the Gregorian Chant that prevailed it was said that to sing was to pray twice . . . which was very true.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m starting to think that you have a bit of Traditional Catholic in you. Have you explored the Traditional Catholic Mass and parishes in your area . . . if there are any?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I haven’t. There is a Catholic church in walking distance of my house, and I have been to one or two masses. Ideally, if I were to go to mass, I’d like to be able to sit somewhere where I won’t be in anyone’s way – it can be a bit awkward when people are going up for communion and I’m not. This year I have been repondering my decision not to become Catholic. There is something in me that badly wants it – but I’m not sure it is for the right reasons. When I was a teenager and wanted to convert, I had a few thoughts going through my head: A) Will God send me to Hell if I knowingly refuse to go Catholic; B) Is the Catholic interpretation of Matthew 16 the right one (intuitively it has always seemed right to me); C) Catholic art is beautiful (well, not the modern abstract rubbish); D) Something in me wants to pray the Ave Maria. My inner puritan at the time told me that much of it was ‘idolatrous’, much as Bosco does here. The fact is, amongst other things, I don’t feel good enough to be a Catholic. In fact I frequently contemplate apostasy, only to step back. But I am not a good Christian.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nor am I. Doubt is the devil’s sandbox and the only way to avoid it is by sheer will given you by the gift of the Holy Spirit. Pray, hope and don’t worry. Even the holiest of saints had their moments of doubt and feelings (like Christ on the Cross) of being totally abandoned by God. It is a test. Do you love God for Who He is or do you love Him because of the benefits you receive; like good feelings, certainty (like the Bosco’s), or because it appeals only to your senses or intellect. All these can be mastered and you will confront each of these in the journey. The journey is fraught with dangers and today when folks join they are entering at probably the height of the biggest battle Satan has ever waged against the Church. It takes courage and none of us knows if we have enough of that to persevere. We only pray that we do persevere to the end and in the meanwhile are beneficial soldiers in the fight. If wounded or martyred it should be worth the sacrifice if it was worth the sacrifice that Christ paid for our souls and to establish a refuge here on earth . . . even if that refuge is infested and besieged by many of the enemies agents. I only expect it to be that way. For there is nothing more satisfying to Satan than to attack and win small battles on the turf of Almighty God Himself. He will have his hour but Christ will have His day as Fulton Sheen always said.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh . . . and I would be a liar if I told you that I was not frightened about my decision to become Catholic. I knew my life would change and I knew also that I would lose many friends even among my relatives. But so be it. It is either True or it is not. If True there is nothing more important and if not then none of it matters anyhow. So I took the plunge and have been battling with demons ever since.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I sincerely hope you change your mind Nicholas. Becoming Catholic was the greatest thing that ever happened to me. I really haven’t met anyone who said they regret it come to think of it. I’m sure Bosco can find a few at his Calvary Chapel who will testify otherwise. But I’ve spoken to quite a few converts over the 22 years I’ve been Catholic, and not one said they regret it. Might wanna put that in your pipe and puff, puff, puff for a while. God bless. Ginnyfree.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I absolutely love Mozart’s Requiem. However, sometimes I cannot listen to the whole thing all the way thru because it scares me! Yeppers. Now ya know what kinda music rocks my world. Didja ask? God bless. Ginnyfree.
LikeLike
Agreed. Dies Irae simply doesn’t work in modern interpretations – I think it too stark, In medieval renderings such as Scoop posts, it does, hauntingly.
But then I like Gregorian chant, as well. It is part of all of our histories, and in our more conservative churches survives as the liturgy is chanted. More would be welcome to me, but the average congregant would no doubt say “too Catholic” forgetting that before we were Lutheran, or Anglican, or Methodist, or whatever, we too were Catholic.
The first time I heard a Lutheran liturgy chanted well, it was a revelation, this is how it should be, and rarely is.
Surprised? You shouldn’t be. Lutherans (and Anglo-Catholics) are the most Catholic of Protestants, and it shows.
But I do think the so-called classical composers and lyricists (Bach, Handel, Wesley, and others) bring something to the table as well, with harmony and beautiful melody which add to the feeling, not detract.
All have their uses, all should be used.
LikeLiked by 2 people
LikeLike
Ya know what, I’m a bit tired of the dead-pan mouthpiece trying to frighten Catholics with the latest “Pope Francis said————-!” to try to shake us all up and so sell newspapers, lots and lots of newspapers. It is soooooooo tiring. So what? We got a loser Pope. I told you guys n gals here that within a short time and you laughed at me. Turns out, I’ve been right. We’ve had losers before. He ain’t the worst yet although I sometimes wonder if he is actually trying to be a close second. I do not, however, believe any of the following: 1. He is the Anti-Christ. 2. He is a fulfilment of some “prophecy” the Queen of Heaven supposedly made. 3. He will be the end of the Church. 4. He will change the Church’s doctrines or dogmas. 5. He will usher in the End of the World. 6. He will be the worst Pope in history. 7. He can alter anything I believe one iota. 8. He will cause me to love my Church any less. 9. That he will also alter my love for God at all. 10. That his words will increase my love for God. 11.
That anything he says or does will alter my faithfulness to Christ. 12. That his own spiritual advise will influence my personal practices of devotion. 13. He will be canonized a Saint of the Church. Alrightie then. Nuff said. God bless. Ginnyfree.
LikeLike
I meant to say that I told you guys n gals that he was a loser way back when within a short time of his election and you laughed at me…..Insert that in the proper place above. This site needs and edit feature!!!!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well yes, he probably will be canonized a Saint if we get another in his mold after he dies or is removed . . . he has seen to that by canonizing ‘folk heroes’, and by declaring the most ordinary of things as miracles. It is obvious that he thinks everyone of his liberation theology ilk or who was a 20th century Pope ought to be canonized. But then again . . . if he is an antipope like Honorius I then nothing he has done in this regard is likely to stand. He brings scandal to the Church and the Cardinals he surrounds himself with scandalize the Church. Indeed, hold to your faith as it is all that Mother Mary, Mary Magdalene and John had to hold on to. We can do no more than that. But God willing, he will be removed if the Holy Spirit gives a backbone to the silent bishops of the world. I don’t blame those news agencies that pick up on the wild and anti-Catholic things this Pope utters as it is worthy of reporting. He should be reviled for the scandal he has brought to Christ’s Church. If he does become a canonized saint then all saints of the Church will be held in scorn: another scandal.
I pray for a quick end to this papacy and for the rise of holy bishops with backbones (fortitude and courage). May not happen in my lifetime but the Church has recovered from scoundrels before and it will again. But I will not simply pray and fast for the Church but I will also call out these cowardly Vatican leaders who hide under their desks, carry on sick sexual private lives, and steal the money of the faithful to enrich themselves. All scandalous and all of us need to let our prelates and anyone else in the Church know how bad things have gotten. If good men do nothing . . . nothing will change.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Miracles at his tomb? There won’t be any. I’m certain a few persons will come forward and claim that they’ve had miracles after praying to him, but they still have to be proven. Ya can’t fool God or those who investigate actual miracles of healing. There have to be a total of 3. God bless. Ginnyfree.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Not since JPII there don’t. In fact the number is 1. And so far they have been abused unbelievably by Francis. Oscar Romero???? Paul VI??? John XXIII??? and then a slew of people nobody heard of: more than all the other popes of history have been beatified so far. Canonization is being dumbed down and the miracles have been laughable so far.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Scoop you may find this article interesting and helpful. God bless.
http://legatus.org/st-john-xxiii-and-the-missing-miracle/
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yeah. Its par for the course these days. No miracles and no devil’s advocate. We are back to popularity contests I guess.
LikeLiked by 1 person