I was too late to the party yesterday, trying again this morning:
Have a blessed Easter, Rod, and get well soon! I will never unsubscribe, nor will I insult you. I just want to suggest, perhaps, some contradictions in your thought that might be more evident to your readers than to you.
You are making a career - a passion, a calling- and, yes, a movie! - about the profound, Satanic evil of communist totalitarianism.
China just happens to be… an evil, Satanic Communist totalitarian state. Why should we be in bed with them? Because it makes our corporate executives richer, and our lives easier?
My (Hungarian, Jewish, 98 year old) dad is still bitter America didn’t keep fighting in WW2 to liberate all of Europe, rather than hand half of it to Stalin. But he at least understands the stakes of the argument, the countless American GI lives that would have been sacrificed to do so. You, however, are refusing to fight because of… the S&P?
Please, honestly, tell me your plan to extricate ourselves from our reliance on the evil of Communism.
Is it 1) to give them even more of our money, partner even closer with them, in hopes that wealth and American business presence will liberalize them? This, honestly, is a great argument… except that we already tried it and failed! You know this is what our leaders were convinced of in the 90s. It was wrong. China is just as totalitarian as ever, and now we’re a lot more like them, we are losing our freedom faster than they’re gaining theirs. And all the money they made from us? They used it to buy influence in Canada, Australia, etc etc so that the world overall is far more communist than before.
Is it 2) plan B: cut the evil bastards off?kick em out of the world economy, or at the least our economy.
If not, what is your plan C? Total war? If so, can you envision, given the tight mutual dependence of our two economies, any way to get through B or C without major gnashing and wailing of teeth from Wall Street? And if you can’t stomach that, should we just give up, oh also stop funding LNBL while we’re at it?
Ok, sorry for lame politics stuff. Everybody go to church and remember what truly matters… He is risen!!
God has a plan to liberate us from China. It can't be done in 120 days. It will require a lot of prayer and persistence. Remember how Joshua circled Jericho and had the Jews blow on horns, and the walls o Jericho simply fell down? It will be like that--something we can't foresee. Faith and prayer can move mountains. Maybe God will have the Christian people within China rise up and throw off the Communist shakles. Who foresaw Gorbachev leading to the liberation of the Russians from Communism in 1989? Not me, not anyone (I have been reading a lot about Russia from my youth.)
We erred in allowing our manufacturing capacity to be exported to Communist China, or really any other nation. Now we make almost nothing and depend on China for everything. It's not good, and it has to be stopped--otherwise, we become a China vassal state, if we aren't already one.
I'd give up Chinese paper clips if I could find American-made paper clips. I'd give up Chinese-made tools if I could find American-made tools. I will not buy on Temu. I try not to watch Tic-Toc. The CCP uses slavery and does not respect human rights. They are filling the country with Fentenyl which kills 200 people per day in the USA,on average--many of them below age 30. By the time I finish writing this comment, 1 more person will have died, on average. May they rest in peace. They are threatening to invade Taiwan. They mistreat Catholics and Uyghers. They have lousy products. I don't trust their quality control. They invented CV and let it out on the world--with funding by the US taxpayer, thanks to Fauci and Collins, who have committed crimes against humanity. They have more gain-of-function bioweapons in the pipeline But the drugs I buy have raw materials made in China, and there's not a doggone thing I can do about it. I like the Chinese people and people of all nations--generally. Not too fond of the Taliban and ISIS, etc. Don't care for the Mullahs in Iran. It's the CCP I can't abide.
Aren't you concerned that we are completely dependent on a communist regime with a leader for life? Communist leaders are not benign. They do not respect human life. They will kill anyone they please. They will slave children or commit genocide. Do you want to be "under their thumb"? Why would God want that for any people?
Re: You, however, are refusing to fight because of… the S&P?
Wilfully trashing one's economy in a conflict is a case of shooting oneself in the gut-- it almost ensures one will lose. Why make ourselves weaker just so we can preen ourselves on an imagined virtue of not dealing with Bad Guys?
In 29 years years of being Orthodox I have never heard a word about Tollhouses in any church. The only place I see it is on Very Online Orthodox discussions. (Not accusing your personally of being that).
"Like the groom over the bride, so is My love over those who believe in Me. They thought Me rejected, destroyed. I wasn't. Hell saw Me and was miserable. Death cast Me up along with others. I have been gall and bitterness to death. I went down with it to the uttermost depth, and it released My feet and head, for it couldn't endure My face.
I made a congregation of living men among its dead and spoke to them with living lips. My word wasn't empty. The dead ran toward Me, screaming, 'Son of God, pity us. Be kind and bring us out of the bonds of darkness. Open the door into Your being. We perceive our death has not touched You. Save us, Redeemer.' I heard their voice and stored their faith in My heart. I set My name upon their heads. They are free men and Mine."
—a 1st-century AD text called *The Odes of Solomon*
I was wondering why Rod was visiting a Starbucks when there's a Scruton Cafe in his area, that caffeinated shrine to the late English philosopher with better coffee, but we see here that the Almighty can use anything to reach people even a burnt-tasting, brown water dispensary. He was meant to met that barista.
I'm not a big fan of Starbucks coffee, but it is miles better than what they serve at that Scruton, I'm sorry to say.
And I may not be a big fan of Starbucks, but I'm a huge fan of *my* Starbucks -- the one whose baristas I know, and they know me. Always with a smile. I don't even have to tell them what I want; they know: venti latte (with coconut milk in Lent), two extra shots. One the first real spring day we had here, I took them all fresh tulips. Sometimes they give me a free pound of ground coffee, just to be nice. We have a relationship. There are coffee shops in my neighborhood with tastier coffee, but I prefer to drink it with my friends, the baristas.
Happy and Blessed Easter to all whether ye be tea or coffee . Rejoice, Christ has Risen, Christ has truly Risen!🙏( I myself am tea, no coffee but me Granny was from Yorkshire)
What a terrific essay for Holy Saturday! I love the miracle of the flames, and I have no explanation for it…I also had never seen or read the sermon of St. John Chrysostom from fifth century, amazing.
Happy Easter everyone! As my mother would say, Hristos a inviat, adeverat a inviat!
Now wait a minute. According to Rod, and Wikipedia also, Seraphim Rose was born in 1934. Ms. Lushnikova describes an incident involving S.R. that happened in 1945. Which would make him 11 years old at the time. Was S.R. a time traveler too? Someone’s chronology is off.
Father Seraphim Rose’s book ‘Life After Death’ had such a profound impact on me that I bought most of his books (those currently available). Fr Rose was (is…) a profound thinker. He was obviously a very special man. The fact that he remains relatively ‘obscure’ to the wider public has always fascinated me. I hope to see his legacy discovered by the world.
Thank you, Rod, for this beautiful post. I wish you and all your readers a joyful Easter. May the Holy Spirit fill your hearts with the love of Jesus and may He bless us all in His Divine Mercy. Amen.
Calling Rose a “gay American” is nothing short of slanderous and certainly scandalous. Rod uses the term here as an identity, something Rose would have rejected outright: our particular sins are not our identities. Even if Rose engaged in the sin - which is not clear at all from the historical record - referring to him as “gay” strikes an utterly false note about him as well as rejecting the message of orthodoxy which rejects the notion of creating identities out of sins.
The only place in the entire literature by or about Rose that references his possible homosexual dalliances is in a memoir from an unreliable female friend of his from his youth.
Rose experimented in many areas in his youth, possibly including sexually, but he was not “gay” in the way that word inevitably implies for people today. It slanders his legacy to refer to him as such.
Goodness, calm down. I only brought that aspect of his life up because it shows how profound his conversion was. The things he had to surrender to follow Jesus were very great. Far from taking away from his sanctity, I believe this magnifies it.
And, I think it gives hope to Christians struggling with same-sex attraction. I know three Catholic men who live lives of chastity, carrying a heavy cross. It is hard for us unmarried heterosexuals to live chastely, but at least we have the possibility of marriage. Not same-sex attracted Christians, who are looked down upon by the world for refusing to live gay lives, and sometimes looked down upon by Christians who consider them to be uniquely sinful.
Rose lived decades ago. He was not anything in any way we understand it today. However Rod did not invent the information that before his conversion the guy was into men and had a boyfriend. That's pretty much an established fact, and he never denied it, only said "I am dead to all that now."
I think naming Rose as gay in the memoir added a contemporary way to appreciate him. And anyway, he was in San Francisco at the time, certainly a key gay U.S. city, so hard to not think of him inclined that way.
Excellent, Rod. Kingsnorth was exactly right: America has within itself 2 opposing souls: Babylon and anti-Babylon. Therefore, the country is at risk of breaking apart. I pray not. Two, both St. Father Seraphim Rose and his mentor, St. John Maximovitch (the name Maxi- sort of give it away) both have serene, angelic aspects in their facial expressions.
Benedict Optees, let us all be united in our prayers for a prosperous, faithful UNITED States, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all! And for the international Benedict Optees, may God protect and prosper your nation equally and as well and not let stubborn extremists pull your nation in two. The great uniter: Christianity.
Here a St. Benedict quote:
"What dear brothers (and sisters) is the more delightful than the voice of the Lord calling to us?"
Praying for Julcsi's return to the Christian sheepfold. You did well to give her a free copy of your wonderful new book "Living in Wonder", Rod.
An Easter-Egg song attached. Lisbeth Scott has such a beautiful voice. Look, interplanetary travel included with the song. Better than riding with Elon to Mars, a hot planet with no trees. "Thinking is the best way to travel" (Moody Blues)
Dead-end link. Lisbeth Scott is the lovely voice on a lot of Paul Schwartz music. He is a wonderful music arranger/maestro. I love all his music, use it to pray.
Thanks for this excellent Holy Saturday meditation. Or should I say “Holy and Great Saturday”? 🙂
Happy Easter all!!
I was too late to the party yesterday, trying again this morning:
Have a blessed Easter, Rod, and get well soon! I will never unsubscribe, nor will I insult you. I just want to suggest, perhaps, some contradictions in your thought that might be more evident to your readers than to you.
You are making a career - a passion, a calling- and, yes, a movie! - about the profound, Satanic evil of communist totalitarianism.
China just happens to be… an evil, Satanic Communist totalitarian state. Why should we be in bed with them? Because it makes our corporate executives richer, and our lives easier?
My (Hungarian, Jewish, 98 year old) dad is still bitter America didn’t keep fighting in WW2 to liberate all of Europe, rather than hand half of it to Stalin. But he at least understands the stakes of the argument, the countless American GI lives that would have been sacrificed to do so. You, however, are refusing to fight because of… the S&P?
Please, honestly, tell me your plan to extricate ourselves from our reliance on the evil of Communism.
Is it 1) to give them even more of our money, partner even closer with them, in hopes that wealth and American business presence will liberalize them? This, honestly, is a great argument… except that we already tried it and failed! You know this is what our leaders were convinced of in the 90s. It was wrong. China is just as totalitarian as ever, and now we’re a lot more like them, we are losing our freedom faster than they’re gaining theirs. And all the money they made from us? They used it to buy influence in Canada, Australia, etc etc so that the world overall is far more communist than before.
Is it 2) plan B: cut the evil bastards off?kick em out of the world economy, or at the least our economy.
If not, what is your plan C? Total war? If so, can you envision, given the tight mutual dependence of our two economies, any way to get through B or C without major gnashing and wailing of teeth from Wall Street? And if you can’t stomach that, should we just give up, oh also stop funding LNBL while we’re at it?
Ok, sorry for lame politics stuff. Everybody go to church and remember what truly matters… He is risen!!
God has a plan to liberate us from China. It can't be done in 120 days. It will require a lot of prayer and persistence. Remember how Joshua circled Jericho and had the Jews blow on horns, and the walls o Jericho simply fell down? It will be like that--something we can't foresee. Faith and prayer can move mountains. Maybe God will have the Christian people within China rise up and throw off the Communist shakles. Who foresaw Gorbachev leading to the liberation of the Russians from Communism in 1989? Not me, not anyone (I have been reading a lot about Russia from my youth.)
We erred in allowing our manufacturing capacity to be exported to Communist China, or really any other nation. Now we make almost nothing and depend on China for everything. It's not good, and it has to be stopped--otherwise, we become a China vassal state, if we aren't already one.
Liberation from China will, to one degree or another, require asceticism, a turning away from the "stuff" China pours out.
We've gotta defeat their ancient strategy of flooding the barbarians with gifts.
Stopping the gifts on the supply side won't help in the long run. The demand has to stop. That's where the asceticism comes in.
Right: we have to defeat their strategy by saying no to their gifts.
I'd give up Chinese paper clips if I could find American-made paper clips. I'd give up Chinese-made tools if I could find American-made tools. I will not buy on Temu. I try not to watch Tic-Toc. The CCP uses slavery and does not respect human rights. They are filling the country with Fentenyl which kills 200 people per day in the USA,on average--many of them below age 30. By the time I finish writing this comment, 1 more person will have died, on average. May they rest in peace. They are threatening to invade Taiwan. They mistreat Catholics and Uyghers. They have lousy products. I don't trust their quality control. They invented CV and let it out on the world--with funding by the US taxpayer, thanks to Fauci and Collins, who have committed crimes against humanity. They have more gain-of-function bioweapons in the pipeline But the drugs I buy have raw materials made in China, and there's not a doggone thing I can do about it. I like the Chinese people and people of all nations--generally. Not too fond of the Taliban and ISIS, etc. Don't care for the Mullahs in Iran. It's the CCP I can't abide.
I don’t need that “stuff”!!
I don’t think God is interested in liberating the US from Chinese manufacturing
Aren't you concerned that we are completely dependent on a communist regime with a leader for life? Communist leaders are not benign. They do not respect human life. They will kill anyone they please. They will slave children or commit genocide. Do you want to be "under their thumb"? Why would God want that for any people?
Re: You, however, are refusing to fight because of… the S&P?
Wilfully trashing one's economy in a conflict is a case of shooting oneself in the gut-- it almost ensures one will lose. Why make ourselves weaker just so we can preen ourselves on an imagined virtue of not dealing with Bad Guys?
I sense a discussion on Toll Booths coming soon.
Huh?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerial_toll_house?wprov=sfti1
I always feel accomplished when I out church nerd everyone.
LOL
I'm down.
In 29 years years of being Orthodox I have never heard a word about Tollhouses in any church. The only place I see it is on Very Online Orthodox discussions. (Not accusing your personally of being that).
It’s in the realm of church nerds. I only know about it is as a Catholic from discussions about what purgations happens after death.
Sure. What it isn't, is formal dogma. I'm not sure when or how it originated, but it may be a metaphor that some people took literally.
Implicitly, it's a commentary on the tax system of the Byzantine Empire. (I first heard of this in a Byzantine history book by Cyril Mango.)
Krystos voskres!
Lots of unofficial theology in the Catholic Church too
Χριστός ανέστη!
Christ has risen!
Πράγματι ανέστη!
Indeed He is risen!
Happening presently:
"Like the groom over the bride, so is My love over those who believe in Me. They thought Me rejected, destroyed. I wasn't. Hell saw Me and was miserable. Death cast Me up along with others. I have been gall and bitterness to death. I went down with it to the uttermost depth, and it released My feet and head, for it couldn't endure My face.
I made a congregation of living men among its dead and spoke to them with living lips. My word wasn't empty. The dead ran toward Me, screaming, 'Son of God, pity us. Be kind and bring us out of the bonds of darkness. Open the door into Your being. We perceive our death has not touched You. Save us, Redeemer.' I heard their voice and stored their faith in My heart. I set My name upon their heads. They are free men and Mine."
—a 1st-century AD text called *The Odes of Solomon*
Beautiful! Thanks, Sethu.
I was wondering why Rod was visiting a Starbucks when there's a Scruton Cafe in his area, that caffeinated shrine to the late English philosopher with better coffee, but we see here that the Almighty can use anything to reach people even a burnt-tasting, brown water dispensary. He was meant to met that barista.
You answered your own question. God sent Rod to the fallen-away Christian to invite her back into the Christian sheepfold. We should all pray for her.
I'm not a big fan of Starbucks coffee, but it is miles better than what they serve at that Scruton, I'm sorry to say.
And I may not be a big fan of Starbucks, but I'm a huge fan of *my* Starbucks -- the one whose baristas I know, and they know me. Always with a smile. I don't even have to tell them what I want; they know: venti latte (with coconut milk in Lent), two extra shots. One the first real spring day we had here, I took them all fresh tulips. Sometimes they give me a free pound of ground coffee, just to be nice. We have a relationship. There are coffee shops in my neighborhood with tastier coffee, but I prefer to drink it with my friends, the baristas.
Beautiful, Rod.
Mrs Alcuin (who never forgets anything) just reminded me we drank only tea at Scruton, so that's on me and my fading powers.
Happy and Blessed Easter to all whether ye be tea or coffee . Rejoice, Christ has Risen, Christ has truly Risen!🙏( I myself am tea, no coffee but me Granny was from Yorkshire)
Thank you for the portion from John, Golden Tongue. True then, True now. Amazing Grace!
How sweet a song, that saved a wretch like me...
What a terrific essay for Holy Saturday! I love the miracle of the flames, and I have no explanation for it…I also had never seen or read the sermon of St. John Chrysostom from fifth century, amazing.
Happy Easter everyone! As my mother would say, Hristos a inviat, adeverat a inviat!
Chrysostom's sermon is read before Liturgy starts every Pascha at Greek monasteries.
Blessed Pascha to you Rod! Thanks for all you do. Great essay.
Now wait a minute. According to Rod, and Wikipedia also, Seraphim Rose was born in 1934. Ms. Lushnikova describes an incident involving S.R. that happened in 1945. Which would make him 11 years old at the time. Was S.R. a time traveler too? Someone’s chronology is off.
The miracle story is about St. John Maximovitch, not Seraphim Rose.
Father Seraphim Rose’s book ‘Life After Death’ had such a profound impact on me that I bought most of his books (those currently available). Fr Rose was (is…) a profound thinker. He was obviously a very special man. The fact that he remains relatively ‘obscure’ to the wider public has always fascinated me. I hope to see his legacy discovered by the world.
Thank you, Rod, for this beautiful post. I wish you and all your readers a joyful Easter. May the Holy Spirit fill your hearts with the love of Jesus and may He bless us all in His Divine Mercy. Amen.
Ah.
Calling Rose a “gay American” is nothing short of slanderous and certainly scandalous. Rod uses the term here as an identity, something Rose would have rejected outright: our particular sins are not our identities. Even if Rose engaged in the sin - which is not clear at all from the historical record - referring to him as “gay” strikes an utterly false note about him as well as rejecting the message of orthodoxy which rejects the notion of creating identities out of sins.
The only place in the entire literature by or about Rose that references his possible homosexual dalliances is in a memoir from an unreliable female friend of his from his youth.
Rose experimented in many areas in his youth, possibly including sexually, but he was not “gay” in the way that word inevitably implies for people today. It slanders his legacy to refer to him as such.
Goodness, calm down. I only brought that aspect of his life up because it shows how profound his conversion was. The things he had to surrender to follow Jesus were very great. Far from taking away from his sanctity, I believe this magnifies it.
And, I think it gives hope to Christians struggling with same-sex attraction. I know three Catholic men who live lives of chastity, carrying a heavy cross. It is hard for us unmarried heterosexuals to live chastely, but at least we have the possibility of marriage. Not same-sex attracted Christians, who are looked down upon by the world for refusing to live gay lives, and sometimes looked down upon by Christians who consider them to be uniquely sinful.
Rose lived decades ago. He was not anything in any way we understand it today. However Rod did not invent the information that before his conversion the guy was into men and had a boyfriend. That's pretty much an established fact, and he never denied it, only said "I am dead to all that now."
I think naming Rose as gay in the memoir added a contemporary way to appreciate him. And anyway, he was in San Francisco at the time, certainly a key gay U.S. city, so hard to not think of him inclined that way.
Excellent, Rod. Kingsnorth was exactly right: America has within itself 2 opposing souls: Babylon and anti-Babylon. Therefore, the country is at risk of breaking apart. I pray not. Two, both St. Father Seraphim Rose and his mentor, St. John Maximovitch (the name Maxi- sort of give it away) both have serene, angelic aspects in their facial expressions.
Benedict Optees, let us all be united in our prayers for a prosperous, faithful UNITED States, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all! And for the international Benedict Optees, may God protect and prosper your nation equally and as well and not let stubborn extremists pull your nation in two. The great uniter: Christianity.
Here a St. Benedict quote:
"What dear brothers (and sisters) is the more delightful than the voice of the Lord calling to us?"
Praying for Julcsi's return to the Christian sheepfold. You did well to give her a free copy of your wonderful new book "Living in Wonder", Rod.
An Easter-Egg song attached. Lisbeth Scott has such a beautiful voice. Look, interplanetary travel included with the song. Better than riding with Elon to Mars, a hot planet with no trees. "Thinking is the best way to travel" (Moody Blues)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cqy3uuUKr8k
Happy Easter everyone! Easy on the chocolate!
I, too, found that idea interesting.
I call them Victorian Libertines.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tumblr.com%2Flizabeth-scott&psig=AOvVaw1mwYqmbB6AS03i5hvf8Dbz&ust=1745166959962000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBMQjRxqFwoTCLiP9vHD5IwDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAJ
This is the Lisbeth Scott I was thinking of.
Dead-end link. Lisbeth Scott is the lovely voice on a lot of Paul Schwartz music. He is a wonderful music arranger/maestro. I love all his music, use it to pray.
Thank you Rod! Christ is trampling down death by death at this very moment!
You might be interested in the conversion of the poet Robert Lax (1915-2000).
Blessed beyond words as I anticipate Easter morning.