Friday Miscellany

(source: Wikimedia)

Today is the feast of Robert Bellarmine, one of the brightest lights of the Counter-Reformation. His writings are utilized by trads these days, usually to champion geocentrism or to compile practical methods of deposing an heretical pope. He also wrote such devotional works as The Mind's Ascent to God, The Art of Dying Well, and The Seven Words on the Cross. Cdl. Bellarmine was not canonized until 1930, and his feast was moved to the day of his death in the 1969 revisions. Mr. Ryan Grant of Mediatrix Press has been translating and publishing St. Robert's works in English over the last few years.

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Today is also the anniversary of the first apparition of the Virgin at Fatima in 1917. Mr. Grump is happy to encourage the study of the Second Eve's messages to the Portuguese children, but worries about the aspiration of certain priests and laymen to bottleneck every aspect of Catholic life and spirituality through the Fatima messages, miracles, and secrets. Her messages are timely, but were hardly meant to become a replacement for common sense and good cheer.

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(source: Wikimedia)

Recently Mr. Grump had the opportunity to dialogue, so to speak, with a devotee of the Brown Scapular. This particular young lady could hardly be described as a traditionalist, but was more defensive of the sacramental than most traddies. My attempts to argue that the Brown Scapular is a sign primarily of Carmelite devotion gained little purchase, as she also thought that every Catholic should love Carmelite spirituality. Further thoughts on the Scapular are still in development.

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The attacks on Catholic traditionalists by neo-conservative pundits are increasing in regularity and viciousness. Apologist Dave Armstrong in particular is responding in kind to Hilary White's mockery of neo-con doublethink; Fr. Longenecker has been threatened with a lawsuit by Chris Ferrara for the vile suggestions he's been making; and the Patheos bloggers have been writing full of wrath, as if they know their time is short. The level of this dialogue (so to speak) and others like it is unfortunately very low and lacking in the emotional detachment needed for certain kinds of intellectual work. It is a curious aspect of human nature that the people most willing to dish out emotionally charged abuse are also the people least willing to accept it in humility and good humor.

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Speaking of good humor, Mr. Grump is rather enjoying the recent blog launch of the Tumblar House Lounge, which features original pieces as well as excerpts from the books of their published authors. Not everyone will agree with the theological peculiarities of the authors, but it is curious that the spiritual descendants of Fr. Feeney are often less gloomy than the rest of the traddy world.

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Speaking of a lack of good humor, one cannot help but notice that proof of the Archdiocese of New York's supposed hit piece against Michael Voris does not appear to be forthcoming. Surely this means that the Church Militant apostolate is opening itself up to charges of libel and defamation. Perhaps this is nothing new for Mr. Voris's organization, but presenting the evidence would be useful for defending themselves against their critics. (And while Voris is airing his dirty laundry, surely he can come out of the toupee closet as a bald man. We assure the CM intern crew that this would not reflect poorly on Mr. Voris STB's masculinity.)