Feast of the Annunciation

Today is a wonderful day for us all! We celebrate today Mary's "yes" to God - the day the Word became Flesh and dwelt among us!

Our salvation began on this day, the Annunciation (or Incarnation).

Side note: One of the very few days that Tolkien specifically names in The Lord of the Rings is this day, for it is this day that Frodo and Samwise were finally able to destroy the One Ring. Middle Earth's salvation began on that day.

[image sources: Annunciation, Annunciation Icon, Ring]

Pride and Prejudice

Well, we just watched the movie (with Keira Knightly) and I think this is just great.

In fact, it's Made of Awesome.

Pride and Prejudice as told with Yahoo! emoticons.

Sample?

...

The Dolorous Passion I

I've been reading The Dolorous Passion as my main Lenten reading. The beginning, as I mentioned, is not difficult to get through. It's amazing how much detail there is in the book. No, it's not Scripture or inspired. It's merely a private revelation, which the Church always gives us the option of accepting or not. Catholic Answers gives us a bit of an explanation (full text is at the above link):

"Throughout the ages, there have been so-called ‘private’ revelations, some of which have been recognized by the authority of the Church. They do not belong, however, to the deposit of faith. It is not their role to improve or complete Christ’s definitive revelation, but to help live more fully by it in a certain period of history. Guided by the magisterium of the Church, the sensus fidelium [collective sense of the faithful] knows how to discern and welcome in these revelations whatever constitutes an authentic call of Christ or his saints to the Church. Christian faith cannot accept ‘revelations’ that claim to surpass or correct the revelation of which Christ is the fulfillment, as is the case in certain non-Christian religions and also in certain recent sects which base themselves on such ‘revelations’" (Catechism of the Catholic Church 67).

These visions, then, are left up to us as to whether or not we wish to accept them. Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich, however, was bound by them, since she was given them. (This site provides much more detail, and New Advent has information on the topic, as well, though their depth often proves a bit much for me. EWTN also has some information on private revelations here.)

Since we've declared Sundays in Lent to be (nearly) electronic-free - no computer, no Wii, no TV - I haven't posted yet on what I've read. I read through the first part of the book, which contains descriptions of the preparation for and the celebration of the Pasch. It ends with Jesus and the eleven (Judas had gone on to finish his betrayal of Our Lord) leaving the Upper Room and going to the Garden.

I mentioned it before: this part is the easiest to read. You are drawn into the story and drawn into the celebration. How could the Apostles have really known, even if Jesus Himself was trying to tell them, that so much could go so "wrong" in such a short time? No wonder they couldn't believe Him!

Some of the details were interesting, such as there being a portion of the Blessed Sacrament left and that it was stored - with a lamp lit nearby - in a space within the Upper Room. This setup gives the impression that perhaps that was the first church and that there was a Tabernacle there. I found this idea intriguing. It also reminded me of our own Holy Thursday Mass, when the priest consecrates enough hosts to remain for Good Friday services. (Good Friday and Holy Saturday are the only two days of the year that there are no Masses celebrated in any Catholic churches in the world. The Easter Vigil, because it begins well after sundown, is considered to be an Easter Mass.)

One thing that is standing out for me during this reading of the book is that Judas is presented as one who has been more and more dissatisfied with Jesus' non-action. To our human eyes, it doesn't seem that He is establishing His Kingdom: the House of David that will never fall, the Kingship that will never end. And Judas' impatience has driven a wedge between him and God.

How often are we this way? I know that there are times when I am impatient with God, when I want Him to just HURRY UP and do something. When I pray for something - something good and wonderful and right - only to be told, "Wait."

I don't want to wait. I'm like a small child in Toys R Us, pitching a fit and kicking on the floor, screaming, "I WANT IT NOW!!!"

But God's time is not ours, and we must all remember that. We can't be like that child. We can't be like Judas, trying to force our timing on God. Patience.

I've begun the next part of the book, as well, which begins with Jesus and his Apostles arriving at Mount Olivet, where Jesus begins to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane. This is where it becomes difficult and emotionally exhausting to read.

First, let me explain a little about that.

When you watch the movie The Passion of the Christ, there are visual elements you might miss. You can't see everything at once, or you might close your eyes at a painfully difficult part of the movie. But when you read about the Passion, you can't avoid it. It's all there, and it's all laid out in front of you.

When you're confronted with Jesus in the Garden, His soul nearly crushed with sorrow over our sins, it's painful to see. He suffers in Gethsemane because He sees the sins of humanity: from the fall of Adam to the end of the world. And when Sister Emmerich says that she sees her own sins among them, you realize that your own sins are there, too.

For me, I realize that my sins are there, and it hurts me to know that I've caused Our Lord this suffering. When Sister Emmerich speaks of those who reject the Faith or the Church, of those who blaspheme, of those who remain in the Church and yet wound her from within, I realize that I'm there. She sees my sins, too. Surely she did not see them as clearly as her own, but there they are.

And the thought that I would see my sins, laid out before me, knowing that they were a cause for the lashes on the back of my Savior, the nails in His hands and feet ... that is nearly unbearable.

When Jesus goes to his Apostles - Peter, James, and John - and finds them exhausted from fear and sleeping, I know this is how He finds me most of the time. Sleeping.

He is anxious, but still, He is their Shepherd. And He is gentle when waking them. "Could you not stay with me but an hour?"

Am I so gentle when I find my own children doing something aside from what I left them to do? This comes up and practically slaps me in the face. Even these great saints, these Fathers of the Church, were not perfect. Why do I expect more from others? Why do I expect so much less from myself?

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

I'm still in the garden, as far as my reading goes, and it is rather difficult from here on out. I'll update again when I can. I need to take breaks from this book at times, and that's when I'll update from the other books I'm reading this Lent.

Have a blessed and fruitful Lent!

[image sources: The Dolorous Passion, Gethsemane]

What's Wrong with the World I

Not very far into this book just yet, but I definitely like Chesterton's beginning. I've read other books on fixing society - I do have a degree in education, you know, and education degrees contain nearly as much information on how to fix our students as how to teach them (or even content) - and Chesterton's observation that they start with all the problems and then lead up to the Grand Solution to Fix It All is dead-on.

However, he proposes that this is an incorrect way to go about fixing society. First, he says, we must know where we're going with society. What does a healthy society look like? If left to mere humans, we get about 4 billion different ideas. There must be a standard. After all, medicine has that standard of what a healthy body looks like, so doctors all have the same goal: get the body as close to that as possible.

I've yet to get into the second chapter here. I'm taking a little break this morning to work further into The Dolorous Passion. I'm still reading about the preparations for the Passover, so it's easier reading now. (Funny how we're gently brought into the story, and then it seems to go horribly wrong. That must be how the Apostles felt. Here we are, celebrating Passover. Jesus has really been talking about His death a lot lately, but this isn't a night for sadness! And then the Seder is different suddenly and Judas is leaving and John is more upset than anyone else and Jesus leaves before the fourth cup and we're going to the garden to pray. And the garden is quiet, but Jesus ... oh! Jesus what's happening to You? Why is Judas back...? And so reading this book is a lot like being present - a fly on the wall, if you will - at the Passion and Crucifixioin of our dear Lord. I'll write about it in its own post, as it deserves that.)

The weather is warming up here, and so I'm going to send the girls out to play before lunch - while the snow is still here - and take that opportunity to really start reading. A little music in the background, a cup of coffee by my side, and a book in hand.

Sounds about right to me.

Lenten Reading

I'm giving up certain parts of my online activities for Lent, and instead I'll be doing some spiritual reading.

First on my list is a book I've read before, but is very difficult for me to read (emotionally). It's The Dolorous Passion, which was the book that Mel Gibson read and used to "fill in" details between Gospel accounts when he made The Passion of the Christ (which we watch every Good Friday). Sister Emmerich was a mystic who had visions of Our Lord's Passion and Death and was asked to have them committed to paper before she died.

It is a very. tough. read.

So in between reading that, I'll be working on reading Mother Angelica's Private and Pithy Lessons from the Scriptures and What's Wrong with the World (Chesterton). This will be my first Chesterton book! (I'm a bit excited, especially after reading Dale Alquist's introductory book on Chesterton.)

Not that I think I'll finish all of those, but I do have a couple of other books on my list of things to read. First, there's The Imitation of Mary. It's another difficult read, if only that it forces me to face how far I have to go in order to be the kind of Christian I ought to be. Then I've also remembered that I've got another book that I started and sort of put aside: Introduction to Christianity, by then-Cardinal Ratzinger.

I'll try to post here about what I'm learning (and how I'm doing). I am really trying not to give myself too much to accomplish during Lent; as I learned a few years ago when I tried to do too much, that is just setting me up for failure. However, I am a voracious reader when I'm not occupying myself with time wasters online, so I do anticipate having enough time to get through at least the first three books, if not more. The biggie will be The Dolorous Passion. Like I said, it's a difficult read for me. It's emotionally exhausting. And it is an in-your-face reminder of why Jesus died and what He went through for me.

There are things I'm planning on doing aside from reading more. One that I've already made public is my commitment to participating more in 40 Days for Life. I plan on going (with the girls) to pray outside Planned Parenthood more often - hopefully once a week at a minimum - during this campaign. You, too, can participate in the 40 Days event, even if you aren't able to be there physically. We need prayers - lots of them - and those prayers can be quite powerful. If you can, pray and fast for us and for the 40 Days campaign. Really, you're praying and fasting for those mothers who are contemplating abortion, their children, and those people who work in the abortion clinics across the country.

[image sources: books, 40 Days for Life]

Fascinating Book

I'm reading a book called Shattered Dreams, an autobiography of a woman who grew up as a Fundamentalist Mormon and was the second of ten wives to her Fundamentalist husband.

I have to say that the whole Mormon/LDS doctrine is just very strange. And I feel horrible for this poor woman - she was just so brainwashed about "The Principal" that she just succumbed to it - even against her better judgement. (A brief history of Mormonism can also be read here.)

It's the kind of book that just sucks you in when you start it. Engrossing!

Book Worm Meme

Jean tagged me for this.  I can play, but I'll leave a somewhat open tag at the end because I am swamped.  

************

The Rules:
Pass this on to 5 blogging friends. Open the closest book to you, not your favorite or most intellectual book, but the book closest to you at the moment, to page 56. Write the 5th sentence, as well as two to five sentences following that.

************

Okay.  Here goes with the quote.  It's from my Bible, which happens to be the closest book that isn't a product guide for software.  (Those aren't really books.)  If I would have had to turn around, I think I might have come up with schoolbooks, as there is a shelf full of them behind me.  LOL!  New American Bible, Saint Joseph Edition:

"Bring them to me," said his father, "that I may bless them."  (Now Israel's eyes were dimmed from age and he could not see well.)  When Joseph brought his sons to him, he kissed and embraced them.  Then Israel said to Joseph, "I never expected to see your face again, and now God has allowed me to see your descendants as well!"

Joseph removed them from his father's knees and bowed down before him with his face to the ground.  Then Joseph took the two, Ephraim with his right hand, to Israel's left, and Manasseh with his left hand to Israel's right, and led them to him.

(Genesis 48: 9b-13 - link is Douay-Rheims)

Now for that semi-open tag.  I tag anyone who is going to be participating in the National Night of Prayer for Life on the night of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.  Remember to leave a link to your post (not just the main blog link) in the com boxes below.

A New Place to Play!

(As if I actually need that!)

Found via Maureen Wittmann:

Book Quotes!

Some gems:

• Wear the old coat and buy the new book.
  Austin Phelps
• Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counsellors, and the most patient of teachers.
  Charles W. Eliot (1834 - 1926), The Happy Life, 1896 [That one reminds me of the Holy Father. When his papal apartment was refurbished and his books - all 20,000 of them - were brought to him, he said that he was so happy that his friends were with him again. He sounds like my kind of man.]
• A good novel tells us the truth about its hero; but a bad novel tells us the truth about its author.
  G. K. Chesterton (1874 - 1936)
• Do give books - religious or otherwise - for Christmas. They're never fattening, seldom sinful, and permanently personal.
  Lenore Hershey

What fun!

And I do wish more people would give the girls books for Christmas and birthdays. They have too many toys as it is, but there are never too many books - just too few bookshelves.

Please browse my eBay items. Thank you.

Fake "Family-Friendly"

I've been reading children's books lately in an effort to screen things for Big Girl. Well, probably for Little Girl, too, but she's not finished with nearly every book in the house, as Big Girl is.

Some books are famous - they've been made into movies - and these are among the ones Big Girl would like to read. Though she hasn't seen either one, she wants to read (and see) both Harriet the Spy and Bridge to Terebithia. I insisted on reading both before letting her loose on either for a good reason: Shilo. Yes, the book about the boy and a dog.

I did not screen Shilo and regret it now. The boy in the book thinks a man is mistreating his dogs, and he becomes attached to one of the new dogs who keeps running away. The boy decides he's going to somehow get the dog away from his master and keep him. He wants to buy him (man paid $40 for the dog), but what happens is that the boy hides the dog after he finds him out again. Then he proceeds to cover up that he's got the dog. Let's count the problems here:

• covetting
• lying
• stealing
• more lying
• disobeying parents

And in the end, he gets to keep the dog, in spite of the fact that because of him, the dog was attacked. It's a wreck, and my explanations to Big Girl about why I didn't like the book (which I read when we watched the movie) only brought her to tears. She can't understand why it's so bad. "It's FICTION!" she continues to cry to me. Yes, but when I realized that the movie and the book were so similar, I was sorry I let her read it. The role model in the book breaks several big Commandments, and is rewarded in the end!

And so I was trepidatious about Harriet and Terebithia, despite both being considered great children's literature.

I have now nixed Harriet the Spy. Harriet spies on her friends and various people in town - sneaking all over, hiding in bushes - and then writes about them in her notebooks. The girl is absolutely fanatical about routine and about the notebooks. She is, quite simply, addicted to the notebooks. Her obsession is revealed after the contents of her writing is discovered by her friends, who discover that she's been writing mean-spirited things about them all. They keep her notebook, and the next morning, she leaves early for school so she can buy a new one and continue writing. She cannot function without the notebooks. (It's actually very sad.) She is sorry, but not for hurting anyone, and not for spying on people, and certainly not for writing such nasty things. She is only sorry that people looked insider her notebook when it said "PRIVATE" on the front cover. She is actually angry and feels that it's not her fault that everyone is hurt by her actions and words. In the first section of the book, she has a nursemaid who winds up leaving to get married. She is heartbroken, as the nurse (Ole Golly) was like a mother to her. When Harriet's world is crashing down around her, her parents try contacting Golly to get her to talk to Harriet about what has happened. Golly tells her that she must always be true to herself. Sometimes, she tells her, people will get hurt by the truth, so she has to decide if she wants to apologize or just tell a lie. Small lies are good if they spare people's feelings. (I kid you not, it says this.) Now, Golly tells Harriet, use your spying to write stories because you wanted to be a writer.

Harriet winds up being rewarded in the end for her dispicable actions. (What is to be expected in a book where God is not mentioned even once? What is there to regret if you only tell the truth? Who cares if it's only opinions and not necessarily the truth?) Harriet winds up being the editor of her grade's page of the school newspaper. She starts using her spying to tell stories (still mean-spirited) about people in town that she has been sneaking around on. Everyone loves her stories for the paper, her friends accept her back without question (or apologies or even Golly's other suggestion: lies), and all is well.

Harriet is a spoiled brat who is mean and nasty. Harriet does not change her ways. Harriet is rewarded for being a spoiled brat who is mean and nasty.

Great message.

Then Terebithia, which I really wanted to read a LOT. First of all, the story is beautiful. Really, really lovely. I actually cried - make that sobbed - at the end of the book. But the reason I'm now trepidatious about this book is the language. There were multiple uses of "hell", "damn", and the Lord's name in vain (which is actually a bit mild, as in "Lord!", but I know will bother Big Girl a bit). And let's not forget the use of the term "bitchin'", as in "they start bitchin' at you for breaking crayons." These are completely unnecessary, and it is a real shame for them to be in there. That said, the book is definitely for a more mature child - probably upper elementary at the earliest, if you can stand the language - because of the death of a character in the book. (Which explains my sobbing last night.) I want to watch the movie before I decide about the book. I might - maybe - read it to the girls in preparation for watching the movie, as long as the language is a bit more tame in the film. I know Walden Media will have stuck to the book closely, in spite of the girl looking wrong, because that is just what they do. But, again, I was caught off-guard by the language, and I'm glad that I decided to preview the book first.

One more thing. Our family movie this weekend (did you think I'd forgotten?) was The Rookie with Dennis Quaid. What a really wonderful film! The story (a true one) was really inspirational, and everyone loved it.

I have two problems with it, though. (Gosh, I look like a real complainer here, eh?) The Rookie is rated G. Yet in one of the early scenes, we are treated to an ass-grab - CLOSE UP! Holy cow, I don't do that to my husband near the kids, why on earth do I need them to see that filling the entire TV screen???!!!??? And there were a few "damns" and "hells" in there, too. People, this movie is rated G, and I felt like I should have screened it first. It's completely unfair that such material is in a G-rated film. Can't I watch anything with my children without being assaulted by inappropriate material any more?? Why should I have to screen a movie that is for "General Audiences" to be sure I don't get a full-screen shot of someone's butt being grabbed (right at the crotch, mind you!)???? I dang-near fell off the couch, I was so shocked!

From now on, I think I'm going to have to stick to movies made before 1960 for family movie night. At least Pollyanna and Mary Poppins didn't have innuendos and ass-grabbing. Neither did Briggadoon. Yes, we'll be looking for old musicals for next week. Or maybe Charlie Chaplin. It's getting harder and harder for me to trust that a family film is really that.

And, as far as books go, I'll be looking into getting For the Love of Literature by Maureen Wittmann as soon as possible. I need some help in getting decent books that protect my girls' innocence and still challenge them.

Please browse my eBay items. Thank you.

Library Book Sales

While leaving the library last night, I noticed a C.S. Lewis book on the table (ten cents), so I went back to get it. (It's The Weight of Glory.) Then I noticed this other book on the table right under it.

I bought it so I could have the pleasure of destroying it, thereby protecting people from the lies of Jack Chick.

Please browse my eBay items. Thank you.

Book Meme

Esther tagged me for a book meme!


1. What book have you read in the last six months that has really stayed with you? Why?

In This House of Brede. I'd read about Rumer Godden often at Julie's blog, and then I finally decided to read this after seeing a favorable review at The Curt Jester. I keep wanting to find out more about what happened to the characters after the book was finished!

2. What is one of your favorite childhood books?

My favorite book from childhood? I have no idea! I read so voraciously, it was practically ridiculous! I can tell you two of my favorite children's books, though, that I didn't read until I was an adult and that I've read again and again. First is The Giving Tree, which I didn't discover until I was 21. I stood in the bookstore sobbing uncontrolably when I finished it. The other is by Max Lucado: Just in Case You Ever Wonder. In Lucado's book, he tells his daughters that he loves them unconditionally and forever. It is beautiful and tender, and Big Girl used to make me read it every night before bed for nearly a year. I had it memorized. ;)

3. Do you have a favorite book of the Bible?

Yes. More specifically, I have a favorite chapter in that book. I love the sixth chapter of the Gospel of Saint John because it contains Christ's promise of the Eucharist. When it comes time to read that at Mass, I close my eyes and smile serenely as I listen, and I thank God for His sublime gift of the Holy Eucharist!

4. What is one book you could read again and again?

There are a few books that I've read more than once. Uncle Tom's Cabin, which is beautiful and heartbreaking, I'm gearing up for a re-read of The Lord of the Rings, and the moment I finished In This House of Brede I wanted to pick it up and start it over again. (Still want it for my birthday, honey. Don't forget!)

5. Is there a book you would suggest for Lenten reading? What is it and why?

I don't have a Lenten reading list, which makes me wonder if I ought to since so many other bloggers do. However, I did take time to read The Dolorous Passion one year, and it was just amazing. What we do make sure to accomplish each year is to watch The Passion of the Christ every year, preferably on Good Friday. (No, the girls aren't allowed to watch it yet, or even to look at the book I have with the beautiful pictures from the movie. Too much for them at their tender ages.)

And because we all love bonus questions, if you were going to publish a book what would it be? Who would you want to write the jacket cover blurb expounding on your talent?

I'd like to finish my book about a large Catholic homeschooling family and get it published someday. As for the jacket ... that's a toughie. I'm honestly not sure. I can't fantasize about it, so I keep coming up with friends of mine (who might be willing to do it, anyway).



[image source]

Please browse my eBay items. Thank you.

Brede

FIN!

I cried. Beautiful.

Holding Soccer Dad at gunpoint to make him read it right away.

Okay, so it's a plastic ray gun. Still...


[image source]

Books!

I was supposed to have written a review of Shepherds' Tale in December, but due to being smacked with the 2x4 God has with my name on it ("I said, 'Be still!'") and ending up in the hospital, I haven't written that review.

It's a-comin', though, and I am also working on finishing In the Shadow of Our Lady, about Blessed Mother Teresa's devotion to the Blessed Virgin. It's really wonderful so far, but I haven't sat with it in a bit.

Also, I am in the last part of In This House of Brede, which, after seeing snippets of it on Julie's blog, I finally started in on due to the big thumbs-up review Jeff gave it. (I actually started it in Barnes & Noble, got through the Prologue for it, and found myself in tears. I went to the library the next day and they found a copy in one of the other branches. I've been whipping through it since Monday afternoon.) I was up until midnight last night reading it. I've had "reading lunches" with the girls so I could keep it up.

I'd love a copy for my birthday. :)




Please browse my eBay items. Thank you.

Book List

I decided to keep track of what I read in '08, including what I read out loud to the girls. (I won't keep track of smaller books, perhaps used in school, but of the longer chapter books I read to them.)

I started the list already, but I will surely be adding a few more soon. (I've already just remembered a book I'm in the process of readings - started last year - that I need to add.)

Saint Nicholas Comes Early

We don't need no stinkin' polar bears or compasses!

We have ASLAN!

May 2008.

And every year after that until the books are finished.

Thank God - and I mean that - for Walden Media.

Please browse my eBay items. Thank you.

Golden Compass Conversations

Oh, there have been plenty! But Mark Shea has had some really good stuff on it, including this post from today, where he lets us in on how Pullman, anti-Christian and fervant atheist, could wind up with certain Christian themes sneaking into his novels, such as the beautiful nature of sacrificial love.

In the Harry Potter novels, Christian elements and images are found everywhere, because the author had every intention of telling a fundamentally Christian story. She was trying, for all her faults as a writer or philosopher, to cooperate with grace. In His Dark Materials, Christian elements creep in only because Pullman could not successfully block out the light of Christ completely, despite his best efforts to do so. By way of analogy, Satan cannot rid himself of his own being, intelligence and will (all gifts of God and testimonies to His glory) without ceasing to be altogether. This hardly means that Satan "means well". Evil is *always* parasitic on good and must always, to some degree, pay tribute to it. Pullman's evil work is no exception. That does not mitigate the fact that it is evil.

That is one of the best explanations I've read on this! If I'm feeling better and stronger spiritually, I might pick up the books sometime just to see. But I make no plans on giving them to my children, as I think giving them such blatantly anti-Catholic books would only serve to confuse their young minds. (For the record, I'm not afraid of them hearing or reading things that are not Catholic, but I limit it severely right now, when they are still developing their consciences. When they are older and better equipt to deal with themes such as these, I see no reason to keep those ideas from them. After all, if I insulated them from anything non-Catholic, we'd rarely leave the house, and they certainly wouldn't be involved in most of their activities.)

Please browse my eBay items. Thank you.

Christian Parents: Be Aware of Compass Themes!

(Update: Below, I have added a link to Paul's post on the topic and inserted the link to the L.A. Times article. Sorry for leaving that out the first time.)


I've posted before about The Golden Compass and the trilogy from which it comes. Philip Pullman himself has said that this series is about "killing God" and it is basically the anti-Narnia.





Now, I might just have to borrow the book from the library and find out for myself, but in the meantime, I am getting my information from trusted sources. I've now found that the famed Snopes has a page up about the books and forthcoming movie.





What bothers me is the line that they are "dumbing it down" or "removing the anti-religious parts" for the movie. This makes no difference when children watch it and then get the books from the library or for Christmas. Then they get the full-tilt anti-Christian propaganda.





Don't be snowed on this one. This series of stories, as well-written as they might be, are about killing God. They are about indoctrinating our children with atheism.





Other recent stories in the news:

• Fox News: "Christian Groups Claim Pro-Atheist 'Stealth Campaign' in Nicole Kidman Fantasy Film 'The Golden Compass'" - excerpt:

Pullman has not been shy in the past about verbalizing his beliefs — or, some might say, nonbeliefs — and his intentions in writing the "Dark Materials" novels.

The novelist has said they are in response to C.S. Lewis' "The Chronicles of Narnia," the popular children's fantasy series of which "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" is the first book — written by Lewis to teach Christian ideals to kids.


"I loathe the 'Narnia' books," Pullman has said in previous press interviews. "I hate them with a deep and bitter passion, with their view of childhood as a golden age from which sexuality and adulthood are a falling away." He has called the series "one of the most ugly and poisonous things" he's ever read.

• The Catholic League has a video up on the topic. (It was the opening page for the videos this morning, and I'm sure it will remain so for now.) They also have put together a pamphlet on the movie which is available for purchase.
• Regular Guy Paul has his own thoughts on the topic in "Why Homeschool, Part 14"

One amazingly dim piece I read on the movie (and books) was from the L.A. Times. It contained this bit of "logic":

Pullman's refutations aside, Catholic theology in the books is depicted as sinister and the villains are often cardinals and priests. The "Church," or the "Magisterium," answers to the "Vatican Council," and kidnaps children, tortures witches and aims to suppress all natural impulses and control the world. In one book, "Dust" is described as the physical manifestation of Original Sin.

In the film, however, there's no mention of the Church or Catholicism. The bad guys are known only as the Magisterium, which in fact is the term the Roman Catholic Church uses to describe its body charged with interpreting "the Word of God." Weitz, who described himself on one fan site as "a lapsed Catholic crypto-Buddhist," explained those changes to fans in 2004 as a way to allay the studio's early concern that the "perceived anti-religiosity" of "His Dark Materials" would make the franchise "an unviable project."

With all this, how can they say that it has no anti-religious (or anti-Catholic) themes? How can Nicole Kidman, who professes to be Catholic and came back to the faith recently, star in a movie that is based on a book so blatantly anti-Catholic??



And why do these Hollywood people not think that the same children whose parents would feel okay about them going because it's supposedly not anti-Christian will later pick up the books and get the full dose? It's like a vaccination!



You make the decisions for your family, but make an informed one. If you're a Christian, check out what Christian organizations are saying about this movie and the trilogy of books on which it is based.



Previous posts at Domestic Vocation on this topic:

• The Golden Compass Points Children Away from God


• Where Does the Compass Point?

[image source]

What Made Me Cry Today

Suddenly Christoper Robin began to tell Pooh about some of the things: People called Kings and Queens and somthing called Factors, and a place called Europe, and an island in the middle of the sea where no ships came, and how you make a Suction Pump (if you want to), and when Knights were Knighted, and what comes from Brazil. And Pooh, his back against one of the sixty-something trees, and his paws folded in front of him, said "Oh!" and "I didn't know," and thought how wonderful it would be to have a Real Brain which could tell you things. And by-and-by Christopher Robin came to an end of the things, and was silent, and he sat there looking out over the world, and wishing it wouldn't stop.

But Pooh was thinking, too, and he said suddenly to Christopher Robin:

"Is it a very Grand thing to be an Afternoon, what you said?"

"A what?" said Christopher Robin lazily, as he listened to something else.

"On a horse," explained Pooh.

"A Knight?"

"Oh, was that it?" said Pooh. "I thought it was a --- Is it as Grand as a King and Factors and all the other things you said?"

"Well, it's not as grand as a King," said Christopher Robin, and then, as Pooh seemed disappointed, he added quickly, "but it's grander than Factors."

"Could a Bear be one?"

"Of course he could!" said Christopher Robin. "I'll make you one." And he took a stick and touched Pooh on the shoulder, and said, "Rise, Sir Pooh de Bear, most faithful of all my Knights."

So Pooh rose and sat down and said "Thank you," which is the proper thing to say when you have been made a Knight, and he went into a dream again, in which he and Sir Pomp and Sir Brazil and Factors lived together with a horse, and were faithful Knights (all except Factors, who looked after the horse) to Good King Christopher Robin ... and every now and then he shook his head, and said to himself "I'm not getting it right." Then he began to think of all the things Christopher Robin would want to tell him when he came back from wherever he was going to, and how muddling it would be for a Bear of Very Little Brain to try and get them right in his mind. "So perhaps," he said sadly to himself, "Christopher Robin won't tell me any more," and he wondered if being a Faithful Knight meant that you went on being faithful without being told things.

Then, suddenly again, Chrsitopher Robin, who was still looking at the world, with his chin in his hands, called out "Pooh!"

"Yes?" said Pooh.

"When I'm --- when --- Pooh!"

"Yes, Christopher Robin?"

"I'm not going to do Nothing any more."

"Never again?"

"Well, not so much. They don't let you."

Pooh waited for him to go on, but he was silent again.

"Yes, Christopher Robin?" said Pooh helpfully.

"Pooh, when I'm --- you know --- when I'm not doing Nothing, will you come up here sometimes?"

"Just Me?"

"Yes, Pooh."

"Will you be here too?"

"Yes, Pooh, I will be, really. I promise I will be, Pooh."

"That's good," said Pooh.

"Pooh, promise you won't forget about me, ever. Not even when I'm a hundred."

Pooh thought for a little.

"How old shall I be then?"

"Ninety-nine."

Pooh nodded.

"I promise," he said.

Still with his eyes on the world Christopher Robin put out a hand and felt for Pooh's paw.

"Pooh," said Christopher Robin earnestly, "if I -- if I'm not quite --- " he stopped and tried again --- "Pooh, whatever happens, you will understand, won't you?"

"Understand what?"

"Oh, nothing." He laughed and jumped up to his feet. "Come on!"

"Where?" said Pooh.

"Anywhere," said Christopher Robin.

* * *

So they went off together. But wherever they go, and whatever happens to them on the way, in that enchanted place on the top of the Forest, a little boy and his Bear will always be playing.

From The House at Pooh Corner, by A. A. Milne

copyright 1928, E. P. Cutton & Co., Inc.

copyright renewal 1956 by A. A. Milne

[image source]

Yes! Yes! Yes!

Mark Shea has a phenomenal post (replete with spoilers) on Harry Potter. It delves into several of the most prevalent arguments against the series and rebuts them, I think, very well. (I'm sure he'll be relieved to know that I approve of his writing.) He also has a lengthy comment from a reader that gets to the heart of the problems we have with Dumbledore in the last book.

I won't post it here, but when you go, be aware that there are spoilers, so if you haven't read the last book, don't say I didn't warn ya.

Read it here.

The Golden Compass Points Children Away From God

There's been more discussion of the upcoming movie The Golden Compass. I cannot stress enough that you need to keep your children away from this movie. ALL of them, teens included. It is Pullman's goal to pull children away from God, and especially away from the Catholic Church.

Jean at Catholic Fire has put up a post with links to other sources, including an older post on Pullman from Against the Grain. The former has quite a lot of information and links.

Thomas, the American Papist, had a post up yesterday with lengthy quotes from the Amazon website's reviews of Pullman's series. He includes a clip of the movie's trailer in the post. It is worth watching. Of course, the "evil Magisterium" stuff should be a big red flag to us all.

Also posted yesterday: Ignatius Insight's Carl Olsen's take on the movie, as well as on Nicole Kidman's apparent ignorance of the anti-Catholicism contained in the three-part series that she has signed up to be in. He's got a plethora of links for you to check out. I must take a snippet from this post, too. This is what he found a Phillip Pullman's site:

Some of the articles and talks I've written are to do with the subject of religion, which I think is a very interesting one. The religious impulse – which includes the sense of awe and mystery we feel when we look at the universe, the urge to find a meaning and a purpose in our lives, our sense of moral kinship with other human beings – is part of being human, and I value it. I'd be a damn fool not to.

But organised religion is quite another thing. The trouble is that all too often in human history, churches and priesthoods have set themselves up to rule people's lives in the name of some invisible god (and they're all invisible, because they don't exist) – and done terrible damage. In the name of their god, they have burned, hanged, tortured, maimed, robbed, violated, and enslaved millions of their fellow-creatures, and done so with the happy conviction that they were doing the will of God, and they would go to Heaven for it.

That is the religion I hate, and I'm happy to be known as its enemy.

From time to time I have a new thought on the subject. When I come up with something worth writing down, I'll put it here.

Hopefully, this helps you realize that Pullman is indeed an enemy of your children - or at least their faith - even if you are only slightly attached to your faith.

Keep an eye open here. And please warn parents about the anti-Christian (and especially anti-Catholic) themes in these books.

[picture source]

Christine