Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner

If you are going through hell, keep going

Thus said the esteemed Winston Churchill. I thoroughly agree with it, yet I am too exhausted right now to expound on it.

Anaphora Prayer: "We offer You, Yours of Your own, in behalf of all and for all"

This prayer comes from the Anaphora of the Divine Liturgy. Most people, when they look at this prayer, notice the offering of "Yours of Your own" to God, and recognize that the prayer is talking about the sacrificial offering of Christ at the altar.

What struck me today, as I listened during Divine Liturgy, was the latter portion: "in behalf of all and for all." Who are the "all"? Does all mean all members of the Church? All persons living on earth? All persons on earth and those deceased? Or, does all refer to something more encompassing than man alone, such as all creation?

Certainly the redemption of man is the main concern of Christ in his sacrificial offering. This is clear in Christ's priestly prayer, just before he offers himself up (John 17). However, it should be noted that redemption affects not man alone but all creation. The New Covenant brings forth a New Creation in which all things are made new. The Bread and Wine becomes the Body and Blood of Christ, and God's divine energies permeate and transform all things unto him. I believe St. Irenaeus said something similar with his theme of "recapitulation" of all creation into Christ. St. Paul, even earlier, writes: And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. (Ephesians 1:9-10)

Good Video on Catholic Liturgical Crisis

I've read several books and articles dealing with the problem of the New Mass of the Roman Rite. Many of these works assail the New Mass and its "innovations" as originating only in the 1960's. Many of these works are written in a caustic tone, and expressly uphold the Tridentine Latin Mass as far superior in every way to the New Mass.

These two videos, together forming a single production, do a great job in laying down the theological foundation for the changes made to the Mass--or rather, the introduction of a New Mass--following Vatican II. The producer of these videos is neither polemical nor triumphalist in his presentation of the divergences of the New Mass from the traditional Mass of the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church.

Part 1

Part 2

Nietzche the End-All?

I often marvel at a trend in modern thinking to place Nietzsche at the pinnacle of modern philosophy, at least in the area of morality. It as though with Nietzsche's "A-ha!" experience with Christianity that a vast curtain has arisen and man now sees himself in his true form.

The most recent example I've found of this happened today, when I purchased Crime and Punishment. Although the work is well-known for its profound Christian sense in relation to the difficulties posed by life, the publishers make no mention of this but only, on the back cover, tout the work as a prelude to the work and thought of Nietzsche.

Moleskin Journals

I only have about 10 more pages left in my Moleskin Journal. This is my second Moleskin Journal. The first one I filled by the beginning of last summer.

If you plan on keeping a journal, I highly recommend using a Moleskin. Although Moleskins are slightly more expensive (around $19-20) than some journals sold at the bookstore ($4-10), the Moleskins hold up much better. The binding has not fallen apart on me for either my present or my last Moleskin. Also: Moleskins last for about a year, at least for me; and I write entries quite frequently and of considerable length. My first entry in my present Moleskin is July 9, 2007. So, by the time I completely fill in this Moleskin, it will be about 10-11 months of entries. Not bad.

Anglican Summit Approaching

280 conservative Anglican bishops will hold a summit in Jerusalem to deal with issues that increasingly are dividing the Anglican communion.

The Lambeth Conference, a meeting held every 10 years to address unity, and expected to be attended by some 800 bishops, is just around the corner.

There is speculation that the conservative bishops in Jerusalem will boycott attendance of the Lambeth Conference. If this becomes reality, the Anglican Church may experience the greatest split since its inception.

You may read the full story here: Conservative Anglican bishops call summit

These events affect not only the Anglican Church but Western Christianity in general. Whereas Christianity in Europe and North America generally has taken a more liberal route, in the hemispheric South traditional Christian values is on the rise.