My wife (who is Italian) and I spend each summer on the beach just north of Rimini (just a few kilometers from San Marino). I might be able to talk her into running south for a few days
I had trouble getting in the right frame of mind for Divine Liturgy today, in a foreign (at least for now!) language. All I can make out is “Gospode pomiluj” plus a few other words here and there.
But when I go outside - everything is full of life, even in the sort of plain suburb I’m at now. Fresh fruits and vegetables that taste a thousand times better than in America are being sold, kids riding bicycles, everyone out walking. Even in the neighborhoods of the city that are full of really grim looking commie blocks, it’s always the same. This never fails to cheer me up. All I lack is the language - thankfully not nearly so difficult to pick up as Hungarian!
Oh Rod, be of good cheer, I will pray in church today for you to have a peaceful heart. Whenever I’m down I try to pray for humility because I know it’s me just feeling sorry for myself.
In the words of the great and wise golfer Harry Varden” never despair “!
Rod your first paragraph indicates you have a problem that you need to have looked into. Do yourself a favor and have a consultation with someone you can trust. Don’t ignore this . Best wishes.
No, I don't think just being down over a few things going on in one's life indicates a problem in need of professional assistance. This too shall pass. The PTSD thing back in January -- now that was a real problem that I needed help with, and I got it, and it was effective. Today's melancholy is a reasonable response to some events of the past few days.
Which raises a interesting question. If your moment of melancholy wasn't pathological, but was an experience God wants us to have because, when used properly, it can actually deepen our faith, does Marco ever go through such times? Does he ever feel moments of despair? Does he ever get angry at God? C.S Lewis also lost his wife at a relatively young age, and he sure wasn't smiling at her funeral. He was furious and despondent about the whole thing. You can read all about it in A Grief Observed. Perhaps Marco has reached a higher spiritual level than Lewis did. But to be honest, it is easier for us ordinary mortals to identify with Lewis than with Marco, and I must say I have greater respect for Lewis for having battled his way through his dark night of the soul.
Well. If he does ever struggle with his faith, there's not a hint of it in the article. Perhaps it is Rod"s fault for turning him into some kind of plaster saint.
He doesn’t come off as a plaster saint to me. Struggling with this world’s imperfection and corruption and with life’s hard knocks, such as the death of a loved one, doesn’t have to mean a concurrent struggle with faith. Indeed, it can strengthen faith, as well as patience, and direct our attention more towards the marvelous good things that still remain in spite of evils. This is what Marco does, seems to me. I wish I could do this as consistently as he does. For now, we hunger to see good, to see the triumph of good in the land of the living; and if we hunger, we know there is bread — the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ. (Can’t remember for sure who said that. Might’ve been Malcom Muggeridge.)
I never meant to imply that he isn't struggling heroically against the world, which he clearly is. I just meant that most of us ,if we had gone through what he has, would have found it more difficult to fight off spiritual discouragement , or even been a little more tempted to shake a fist at heaven, as C. S. Lewis did. If Rod had said just once that Marco had kicked his dog, I would actually have found him more inspiring, because more human.
“...me in an isolated life, with just my books, my icons, and a dog”
Dante knew he’d bequeathed the world something special in his Divine Comedy, yet I imagine that was cold comfort as staggered the steepness of another man’s stair and the saltiness of his bread.
You, too, are an exiled writer sharing something special with the rest of the world, a rare combination of professional journalism and personal vulnerability, the world’s third most interesting neighbor leaning over the fence to share news and views almost daily. We here are grateful for that and can’t see you as a hermit. You enjoy people and their stories too much.
"...the fantasy of selling all my things and going to live somewhere quiet, to withdraw from the world..."
I hope this is something you've taken to your spiritual advisor, Fr. N. and/or others. Given the good you're trying to fight for in preserving/reinvigorating Christianity and opposing totalitarians, it's a win for the bad guys if you retire from the field of battle. What spirit animates this 'fantasy'?
Oh, it's just a spirit of weariness. You know, because we have talked privately in the past, the full story of my divorce and related brokenness -- the stuff I can't, or rather won't, share publicly. It's a heavy cross to carry on some days.
I think that if my wife passed I would head to a small, Rocky Mountain town with the Bible, a few classic books and a laptop with which I could occasionally check in on the world and listen to some music. Population 300 or less would be perfect.
My brother bought a place in Italy in Polambaro, Chieti, Abruzo. It's not far from San Benedetto, and has mountainous views but none of the Adriatic, as it's a few hours southwest.
This was about 2 years back and the price was ridiculously low.....about 22,000 Euros. He said something like "I would be crazy not to.....I could have put half on my credit card."
I love your friend Marco Sermarini. Give him a call and then tell him what you see looking out your window. And have a wonderful laugh seeing beauty and sharing it with him. Then ask him what he sees, what he hears, what he knows, and see if your heart is not filled to overflowing like his.
St. Federica, pray for our friend Rod today! Please ask the Lord for a gift from heaven that allows him to find joy today, and in a way that he knows that Heaven has intervened. Thank you ❤️.
I'm hoping that the excursion out with a friend is helpful to your state of mind. As much as you enjoy Hungary - being in Europe, meeting people in various cities and having them come to Budapest - if you don't have some sort of everyday community, it's really, really hard. Even when I was in Germany, I could speak German, so I could do things like make it to a car parts store and figure out which spark plug wires I needed to get my car running again. (Stupid martens!) It's a huge difference! I hope you have people that you can call anytime, no matter what, but it seems like you need to have the stability of communities - both church and social - that are somewhat more permanent.
Ironically, I just finished reading, Live Not By Lies, in the lobby of the Marriott in Prague. It was moving to read these accounts of heroic Catholics and Christians who lived behind the Iron curtain. On a foot tour of Prague last night, our guide made the point that one of the most beautiful Catholic Churches, St. Vitus Cathedral, which took 600 years to build, sits in the capital of the least religious country in Europe. He stated that the Czech Republic is 80% atheist. Interestingly, Slovakia is still quite religious and Catholic. While I was reading, another American, a woman from California, saw the title of the book and struck up a conversation with me. I gave her the background about the author.
Cheer up sir, no need to despair!
My wife (who is Italian) and I spend each summer on the beach just north of Rimini (just a few kilometers from San Marino). I might be able to talk her into running south for a few days
I had trouble getting in the right frame of mind for Divine Liturgy today, in a foreign (at least for now!) language. All I can make out is “Gospode pomiluj” plus a few other words here and there.
But when I go outside - everything is full of life, even in the sort of plain suburb I’m at now. Fresh fruits and vegetables that taste a thousand times better than in America are being sold, kids riding bicycles, everyone out walking. Even in the neighborhoods of the city that are full of really grim looking commie blocks, it’s always the same. This never fails to cheer me up. All I lack is the language - thankfully not nearly so difficult to pick up as Hungarian!
“So your idea of life in heaven is a reproduction of the life you have here in earth, in San Benedetto del Tronto?” I ask.
“Yes—but perfected!”
I firmly believe that in Heaven all good things of Earth will be remembered and all languages will be made intelligible. Let us just be patient.
Just a little while and a little while more, as the priest said at Mass on my son's 8th grade retreat.
I also think we will be able to talk to animals & they will talk to us. Kinda like Narnia.
We probably won’t even have to talk. We’ll just know, and even the animals will know, because all in Heaven will be full of the knowledge of God.
I'm rereading (actually, re-listening) to the Narnia books now. Although they are clearly for children, they do lift my heart and mind.
In any case, it will be more wonderful than we can now think or imagine.
For me personally, this is one of my favorite posts of yours ever. Thank you.
Oh Rod, be of good cheer, I will pray in church today for you to have a peaceful heart. Whenever I’m down I try to pray for humility because I know it’s me just feeling sorry for myself.
In the words of the great and wise golfer Harry Varden” never despair “!
The Stylist
Rod your first paragraph indicates you have a problem that you need to have looked into. Do yourself a favor and have a consultation with someone you can trust. Don’t ignore this . Best wishes.
No, I don't think just being down over a few things going on in one's life indicates a problem in need of professional assistance. This too shall pass. The PTSD thing back in January -- now that was a real problem that I needed help with, and I got it, and it was effective. Today's melancholy is a reasonable response to some events of the past few days.
Which raises a interesting question. If your moment of melancholy wasn't pathological, but was an experience God wants us to have because, when used properly, it can actually deepen our faith, does Marco ever go through such times? Does he ever feel moments of despair? Does he ever get angry at God? C.S Lewis also lost his wife at a relatively young age, and he sure wasn't smiling at her funeral. He was furious and despondent about the whole thing. You can read all about it in A Grief Observed. Perhaps Marco has reached a higher spiritual level than Lewis did. But to be honest, it is easier for us ordinary mortals to identify with Lewis than with Marco, and I must say I have greater respect for Lewis for having battled his way through his dark night of the soul.
Unless you're the Holy Spirit this comment is out-of-line. How do YOU know what Marco's battles are/were?
Well. If he does ever struggle with his faith, there's not a hint of it in the article. Perhaps it is Rod"s fault for turning him into some kind of plaster saint.
He doesn’t come off as a plaster saint to me. Struggling with this world’s imperfection and corruption and with life’s hard knocks, such as the death of a loved one, doesn’t have to mean a concurrent struggle with faith. Indeed, it can strengthen faith, as well as patience, and direct our attention more towards the marvelous good things that still remain in spite of evils. This is what Marco does, seems to me. I wish I could do this as consistently as he does. For now, we hunger to see good, to see the triumph of good in the land of the living; and if we hunger, we know there is bread — the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ. (Can’t remember for sure who said that. Might’ve been Malcom Muggeridge.)
I never meant to imply that he isn't struggling heroically against the world, which he clearly is. I just meant that most of us ,if we had gone through what he has, would have found it more difficult to fight off spiritual discouragement , or even been a little more tempted to shake a fist at heaven, as C. S. Lewis did. If Rod had said just once that Marco had kicked his dog, I would actually have found him more inspiring, because more human.
“...me in an isolated life, with just my books, my icons, and a dog”
Dante knew he’d bequeathed the world something special in his Divine Comedy, yet I imagine that was cold comfort as staggered the steepness of another man’s stair and the saltiness of his bread.
You, too, are an exiled writer sharing something special with the rest of the world, a rare combination of professional journalism and personal vulnerability, the world’s third most interesting neighbor leaning over the fence to share news and views almost daily. We here are grateful for that and can’t see you as a hermit. You enjoy people and their stories too much.
"...the fantasy of selling all my things and going to live somewhere quiet, to withdraw from the world..."
I hope this is something you've taken to your spiritual advisor, Fr. N. and/or others. Given the good you're trying to fight for in preserving/reinvigorating Christianity and opposing totalitarians, it's a win for the bad guys if you retire from the field of battle. What spirit animates this 'fantasy'?
Oh, it's just a spirit of weariness. You know, because we have talked privately in the past, the full story of my divorce and related brokenness -- the stuff I can't, or rather won't, share publicly. It's a heavy cross to carry on some days.
I think that if my wife passed I would head to a small, Rocky Mountain town with the Bible, a few classic books and a laptop with which I could occasionally check in on the world and listen to some music. Population 300 or less would be perfect.
My brother bought a place in Italy in Polambaro, Chieti, Abruzo. It's not far from San Benedetto, and has mountainous views but none of the Adriatic, as it's a few hours southwest.
This was about 2 years back and the price was ridiculously low.....about 22,000 Euros. He said something like "I would be crazy not to.....I could have put half on my credit card."
Wanna trade brothers?
LOL!......He's the brother who probably made my mother a saint!.....so maybe we can make a deal!
I love your friend Marco Sermarini. Give him a call and then tell him what you see looking out your window. And have a wonderful laugh seeing beauty and sharing it with him. Then ask him what he sees, what he hears, what he knows, and see if your heart is not filled to overflowing like his.
I've said before that Italy and the company of your friends in the Tipi Loschi would be good for you, if no where back in the US is possible.
Marco is a great inspiration. Everyone should visit their community, full of life and faith.
Angelino è un grande, lui sì, è pure abruzzese...
Oh yes, sign me up :-)
I loved this post. Human and spiritual, a nice break from politics.
Following politics too closely is a dangerous game.
I've mostly stopped following it period. See Rolf Dobelli's excellent little book "Stop Reading the News."
St. Federica, pray for our friend Rod today! Please ask the Lord for a gift from heaven that allows him to find joy today, and in a way that he knows that Heaven has intervened. Thank you ❤️.
I'm hoping that the excursion out with a friend is helpful to your state of mind. As much as you enjoy Hungary - being in Europe, meeting people in various cities and having them come to Budapest - if you don't have some sort of everyday community, it's really, really hard. Even when I was in Germany, I could speak German, so I could do things like make it to a car parts store and figure out which spark plug wires I needed to get my car running again. (Stupid martens!) It's a huge difference! I hope you have people that you can call anytime, no matter what, but it seems like you need to have the stability of communities - both church and social - that are somewhat more permanent.
They do like to chew on cables and hoses.
The martens, that is. I’m pretty sure the Germans don’t, although I can’t watch everyone.
You never know wif ze Germans! ;)
Ironically, I just finished reading, Live Not By Lies, in the lobby of the Marriott in Prague. It was moving to read these accounts of heroic Catholics and Christians who lived behind the Iron curtain. On a foot tour of Prague last night, our guide made the point that one of the most beautiful Catholic Churches, St. Vitus Cathedral, which took 600 years to build, sits in the capital of the least religious country in Europe. He stated that the Czech Republic is 80% atheist. Interestingly, Slovakia is still quite religious and Catholic. While I was reading, another American, a woman from California, saw the title of the book and struck up a conversation with me. I gave her the background about the author.
Oh, I forgot to remind you of the movie you're supposed to watch: "The Third Man," directed by Carol Reed.
Great, great movie -- showing tonight on the big screen here in Pittsburgh, as it happens. Not 100% sure I can go yet but am going to try.
One of my very top all-time favorites. Great movie.