Ash Wednesday

Let us pray.  Bow down your heads before God.
Look down, O Lord, in Thy mercy, upon those who bow before Thy majesty; that they who are refreshed by Thy divine gift may ever be sustained by heavenly aid.  Through Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Nico Neri

5 February 2010

requiescat in pace

To What Serves Mortal Beauty?

my darling thinks i have an over-attachment to beautiful things. he is right, of course, and so read me this:

To what serves moral beauty '-dangerous; does set dancing blood - the O-seal-that-so ' feature, flung prouder form
Than Purcell tune lets tread to? 'See: it does this: keeps warm
Men's wits to the things that are; 'what good means-where a glance
Master more may than gaze 'gaze out of countenance.
Those lovely lads once, wet-fresh 'windfalls of war's storm,
How then should Gregory, a father, 'have gleaned else from swarm-
ed Rome? But God a nation 'dealt that day's dear chance.
To man, that needs would worship 'block or barren stone,
Our law says: Love what are 'love's worthiest, were all known;
What do then? how meet beauty? 'Merely meet it; own
Home at heart, heaven's sweet gift; 'then leave, let that alone.
Yea, wish that though, wish all, 'God's better beauty, grace.

better than any sermonizing in the world, Hopkins.

doldrums

midwinter blues are kicking in . . . baby is teething; home is beautiful but oh-so-small; most of family and so many friends are so very far away; next year is so tenuous and uncertain; i want so very badly to chop off all of my hair.  the waiting game can be so very draining.

of course there are so many good things, too.  sometimes it is just hard to gain and keep the right perspective on everything.  so i'll sing this little song . . .