tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3348523519788188753.post2905440477645633894..comments2024-03-12T04:14:16.271-05:00Comments on The Rad Trad: Lady TeresaThe Rad Tradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00899289024837953345noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3348523519788188753.post-19984827825871693182016-08-03T11:38:17.081-05:002016-08-03T11:38:17.081-05:00Waugh includes an exchange between Ryder and Lady ...Waugh includes an exchange between Ryder and Lady Marchmain after it becomes clear that Sebastian is almost completely off the wagon. In it we see how deeply LM reveres her dead brothers and (I think also) her father as ideals of manhood, making clear that she has compared her husband and son to them and found them to be cowardly and lacking in virtue in the balance.<br /><br />This may reveal the character defect of greatest importance in justifying Blanche's harsh opinion of her. I was left with the thought that of course this was not the first time that unattainable expectations were placed upon those closest to her, and we see in her a character who will not accept what God has given to her as He has chosen to give it to her, but insists that her way and timing are better, even to the point of driving her husband and son away from her when they despair of living up to her expectations of being other than who they are.<br /><br />That said, Blanche is too harsh in his critique, likely a result of his own personal shortcomings. The trap of false comparisons LM makes is an easy one to become ensnared in, and Cordelia's merciful understanding of her is the better one, even as Cordelia makes faulty attempts to compensate for LM's faults, e.g., sneaking liquor to Sebastian during LM's imposed restriction. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17964298747742754697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3348523519788188753.post-18954826561902636002016-08-03T11:37:29.403-05:002016-08-03T11:37:29.403-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17964298747742754697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3348523519788188753.post-62223832070643795142016-08-01T09:24:27.583-05:002016-08-01T09:24:27.583-05:00Can there be witchcraft without the actual craft o...Can there be witchcraft without the actual craft of the wicca and practice of the rituals involved? People can send thoughts as curses and blessings even while looking at an icon of Christ in Church, but will it come to terms? In any case, God hears anything we send to the icons of the Saints and everything else. And any curse is a sin for which will surely have to pay for. <br />The prayer of St. Cyprian, Martyr, former grand wizzard killed by witches for betraying their secrets, is aimed against curses (whether they refer to invoking Divine justice against someone or just plain wishes of evil). From it is quite clear that spells have to be bound with matter in this world and pieces of the subject's body (what happens to our DNA probes we leave in hospitals..? one might wonder).<br />Evelyn Waugh, a convert, was probably expressing his angst, that also great atheists of Europe (like Pierre Onfray, Umberto Ecco) express against what they perceive as witchcraft related to devotional Christianity. Pierre Onfray calls witchcraft the fact that people fast and suffer and ask Christ for charisma or graces. Deep down inside he shows he's more superstitious than a hermit living to read only signs of the unseen world of God and Heaven by saying this. I have also observed superstitious fears in many atheists I have met - belief in strange personal practice (e.g. I cut my hair and it rained; I want some rain, should I cut my hair?) which may be a vague mood sent by God to bring them back. Many communist leaders were superstitious too despite their claims. But without Christ the supernatural is only seen as chaotic torment and nightmare. <br />Just because someone is aloof, talks of strange things does not make them neither a witch nor a terrorist. Witches practice witchcraft, terrorists practice terrorist war. It is however also knowledge from the Holy Fathers of the Church that being aloof, depressed, incapable of coherence, one could be cursed and bounded. Demonized is a different state and it doesn't happen to just everyone. The Church says Demonized is being unable to converse with the world. The Saints were out there, by Creation and/or by their own effort, but they were usually capable of talking with the world, some even demolished Pagan arguments, God would send them the words.<br />Wouldn't a mother get desperate if she sees her children are not okay? Give up her romantic love for her husband, get insane, torment herself and even those around her, until she finds Christ and manages to trust Him with her children and things get a move. Was it easy for Virgin Many to entrust Christ to Himself when she saw him suffering? But He loved His mother, saw she suffered, and told her aiming at John: "woman, that is your son." (which is one of the invisible ways in which Theotokos works through the Church, mother of many yet with only one Son). Because it was written the one with many children will have none and the one with no children will have many - Isaiah ch. 54.<br /><br />Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09224676979690855135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3348523519788188753.post-70540178125955314762016-08-01T09:00:39.458-05:002016-08-01T09:00:39.458-05:00Every time I read "Brideshead" or watch ...Every time I read "Brideshead" or watch the miniseries, I come away with a new impression of Lady Marchmain. She is more complex than she appears to the other characters, or to the reader at first glance.J.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04821093432726247774noreply@blogger.com