Dr.

Robert Hickson 28 August 2014

Saint Augustine of Hippo (d. 430)
Anton! S. "raser of Scot#and (d. 2014)

Counterrevolution as an Affirmation:
Amid the Allure of False Dialectics
$$Epigraphs$$
%&o sa! tat one 'ust resort to te 'odern (and re)o#utionar!* categories of
tougt and 'ora#s is to embezzle te necessar! mediation of ideas and a
#anguage tat are te true %natura#+ ,a!. &e trut is not on#! dog'atic and
supernatura#- inas'uc as te trut of te dog'a is not on#! te fi.ed point- but
te ai' is a#so to preserve Catholic thinking. &ere is a %natura#+ trut of te
(/ato#ic* #anguage and te concepts (as in 0oetius1 pi#osopica# definition
of %person+ (2atin %persona+)* tat is abso#ute#! indispensab#e for e.c#usi)e#!
re#igious purposes. &erefore- te c#assica# ideas of nature (of createdness-
%creatura+* and person cannot be intercanged for te 'odern (ideas of nature*
,it i'punit!. 3ou cannot e.p#ain to te Hege#ians (%dia#ectica# idea#ists+* te
trut of te dog'a ,it Hege#ian ter's- te /artesians (%'etodica#
skepticists+4 %kno,ing co'es before being+4 %cogito, ergo sum+* ,it tose
(ter's* of Descartes- te 5antians (autono'ists4 ,it no access- as te!
be#ie)e- to te %Ding an sich+ or a ting %extra mentem+* ,it tose (concepts*
of 5ant- and te 6ar.ists (%istorica# and dia#ectica# 'ateria#ists+4 %D7A6A&+*
b! using te 6ar.ist concepts and so on- because modern philosophy is
essentially anti-nature (anti$/reatedness4 opposed to te %Status Creaturae+4
i.e.- against te concept and rea#it! of %a)ing been created+* and the graces
impact is on nature not !on" the anti-nature (8*....&erefore- te goa# (of te
ne,er dia#ectica# Re)o#utionists* is to penetrate into te /ato#ic &eo#og!
and to pervert it to the roots. &e rea# knot- ,it ,ic /ato#ic &eo#og! is
gagged and coked is the abolition of sin and the separation !divorce" of
faith and sacraments (i.e.- %sanctif!ing grace+*.+
(&ese trencant ,ords are fro' te #ast 9ssa! of 6ario :a#'aro before is
deat (RIP; <une 1=>8?= 6arc 2014)- and tis 9ssa! ,as entit#ed
%2anguage @or#d1s /risis 7nstead of Dog'atic and Supernatura# &rutA+?as
pub#ised on ; 6arc 2014 in te 7ta#ian Dai#! Be,spaper- Il Foglio- a#ong
,it is 7ta#ian co##eague- A#essandro Cnocci?trans#ated into 9ng#is on The
Eponymous Flower @ebsite (&ursda!- 13 6arc 2014- ;pp.)?'! e'pasis
added4 '! brackets added)
DDD
1
%@en error as beco'e incarnate in #ega# for'u#ae and in ad'inistrati)e
practice- it penetrates so deep#! into peop#e1s 'inds tat is i'possib#e to
eradicate it.+ (2ouis$Edouard /ardina# :ie of :oitiers (181;$1880)- ,o ,as
papa##! onored as an %alter ilarius+ (i.e.- as %anoter Saint Hi#ar! of
:oitiers+*- fro' The !ingship o" Christ accor#ing to Car#inal Pie o" Poitiers
(1=23)- p. ;2)
DDD
%Batura#is' is 'ore tan a eres!F it is pure undi#uted anti$cristianis'.
Heres! denies one or 'ore dog'as (i.e.- irrefor'ab#e doctrines ,ic are %#e
"i#e #e"inita-+ and tus autoritati)e#! defined*4 Batura#is' denies tat tere
are an! dog'as or tat tere can be an!. Heres! a#ters 'ore or #ess ,at Cod
as re)ea#ed4 Batura#is' denies te )er! e.istence of re)e#ation. 7t fo##o,s tat
the inevitable la# and the obstinate passion of Batura#is' is to detrone Gur
2ord <esus /rist and to dri)e Hi' fro' te ,or#d (not on#! fro' te :ub#ic
Grder8*. &is ,i## be te task of Anticrist and it is Satan1s supre'e
a'bition....$he great obstacle to te sa#)ation of 'en in our da! (circa 18H0*-
as te Iatican /ounci# (i.e.- te "irst Iatican /ounci#- 18>=$1=H0* points out in
te first /onstitution on Doctrine- ,at ur#s 'ore peop#e into e## no,ada!s
tan at an! oter epoc- is %ationalism or &aturalism....Batura#is' stri)es
,it a## its 'igt to e'clude (not only (ur )ady but* Gur 2ord <esus /rist-
Gur 6aster and Gur Sa)ior- from the minds of men as #ell as from the daily
lives and habits of peoples- in order to set up te reign of reason or nature.
Bo,- ,ere)er te breat of Batura#is' as passed- te )er! source of
/ristian #ife is dried up (as is- tus- te #o)e for Gur 0#essed 6oter8*.
Batura#is' 'eans co'p#ete steri#it! in regard to sa#)ation and eterna# #ife
(ence to te supernatura##! infused and sacra'enta# #ife of sanctif!ing grace*.+
(2ouis$Edouard /ardina# :ie- The !ingship o" Christ accor#ing to Car#inal
Pie o" Poitiers (1=23)- pp. ;H- ;8?e'pasis and interpreti)e brackets added)
1
DDD
%(9d,ard* Cibbon1s Histor! (The Decline an# Fall o" the Roman Empire
(1HH>$1H8=?> Io#u'es)* dea#s ,it te great transition bet,een te pagan
and te /ristian ,or#dF te transfor'ation of te one into te oter....Bo,- the
*ncarnation is the cardinal doctrine of the Catholic Church. Cod ,as 'ade
'an in <esus /rist. Gur 2ord is one :erson but one ,it t,o natures- u'an
and di)ine. <esus /rist ,as a man an historical personage. 0ut in Hi'- of
Hi'- and His )er! se#f fro' te first 'o'ent of is eart#! e.istence ,as also
the +odhead pre-e'istent from all Eternity. ,uch is the Catholic Doctrine
of the *ncarnation- (n this doctrine all the development of our civilization
has depended. All the body of religion #e inherit (and re#igion it is tat
1 0ot tis tird Juotation as ,e## as te pre)ious one b! /ardina# :ie ,i## be con)enient#! found in "ater Denis "ae!1s
#ucid and generous#! caritab#e book- The !ingship o" Christ an# $rgani%e# &aturalism- first pub#ised during @or#d
@ar 77- in <une of 1=43. &e edition e'p#o!ed ere is a per'itted reprintF (5ansas /it!- 6issouriF Ange#us :ress- 1==3).
&e /ardina# :ie Juotes are to be found in tis edition of "ater "ae! on page 2= and on page 3- respecti)e#!.
2
'akes a cu#ture) derives even to its details from that AFF*%.A$*(&....
For the *ncarnation is an idea utterly foreign to /e#ish tradition and to the
/e#ish stamp of mind as indeed is the #hole spirit of the &e# $estament
and all the social and political conse0uences of Catholic doctrine in the
development of European culture...."ro' te )er! beginning- fro' /rist1s
o,n #ifeti'e- accor#ing to their own history- te! (te uncon)erted <e,s*
resisted ,at ,as (to te') te 'onstrous doctrine of te di)init! of /rist.
"ro' te )er! beginning?,it te e.ception of tose fe, ,o accepted te
/rist as te 6essia?te! eaped abuse and insu#t upon Hi' and treated
Hi' as a sort of national enemy. &ere is no trace of a ti'e in ,ic that
doctrine of the *ncarnation ,as not the cardinal point differentiating the
mass of /e#s from the ne# Church- ,eter in its Centi#e 'ass or in its
s'a## particu#ar frag'ent of <e,is /ristians.+ (Hi#aire 0e##oc- %Cibbon and
te 9bionites-+ in The Du'lin Re(iew (1=21)?specifica##! to be found in te
GctoberKBo)e'berK Dece'ber 1=21 7ssue)- pp. 2>; and 281?'! bo#d
e'pasis added4 ita#ics in te origina#. &e fu## artic#e- ,ic is )er!
i##u'inating about te ear#! /urc- 'a! be found on pages 2>;$28H.)
7n a recent co'position on Dostoie)sk! i'se#f and on is 'e'orab#e 'ain fictiona#
caracter fro' The I#iot- :rince 6!skin?bot of ,o' (6!skin and Dostoie)sk!) ini'itab#! sa,
%the soul of goodness in things evil+?,e a#so considered %a counterrevolution that is also a
spiritual affirmation+ and ten stro)e to grasp te e)en deeper 'eaning of %holiness as
counterrevolution.+
Dostoie)sk! understood ,e## te ideas and enactors of re)o#ution in pre$0o#se)ist Russia and
e a#so kne, o#iness and spiritua# ci#dood and te ,inso'e resistance of purit! and 'ora# beaut!-
and especia##! in #itt#e ci#dren and in ,o'en of deep goodness. Dostoie)sk! i'se#f %blessed life and
caused others to bless life+ and i'parted an Grtodo. /ristian %'essage of ope.+ Suc ,as te
po,er and ba#' of is affir'ation- his o#n affirmative act of counterrevolution?in response to te
anarcists- diabo#ists- and nii#ists of is ti'es of seeting re)o#ution. "or tose of te /ato#ic "ait
toda! a'id 'an! oter for's of re)o#ution and disso#ution- our o,n perse)ering affir'ation of the full
doctrine of the *ncarnation (and its inti'ate#! e.oteric i'p#ications)?as in Hi#aire 0e##oc?,i## a#so
sustain us ,it %batt#e Lo!-+ under divine grace- in our o,n resourcefu# for's of counterre)o#ution-
e)en o#iness.
Suc o#iness- if attained to- ,i## be furter nourised b! our gratefu# and eroic (toug
3
Juiet) rea#iMation of 1the 2umility of +od3 in human history- and /rist1s o,n %2o!a# 2o)e+ to te
end. Suc is on#! one i'p#ication of our deeper %)emoria Corporis+?our %6e'or! of te 0od!+- as
in Sacred &radition. &at is to sa!- our #i)ing 6e'or! of te 0od! and Hu'an Sou# of /rist- His
Di)ine :erson a)ing been so ,i##ing#! and generous#! capab#e- in His Sacred Hu'anit!- of suffering
and of a deep#! rede'pti)e sorro, (an inner'ost %#olor+)8
6oreo)er- ,i#e a#so recent#! re$considering te )er! tit#e and te'e of tese furter$
de)e#oping ref#ections %(n Counterrevolution as an Affirmation-+ 7 sudden#! reca##ed te no,$e)en$
'ore$'eaningfu# for'u#ation of a sincere tit#e ,ic 7 first presented in '! ca##o,ness to te graduate
facu#t! of a secu#ar uni)ersit! o)er tirt!$fi)e !ears ago. &at proposed (and #ater retained and
sustained) tit#e ,asF %$he 4irtue of 2ope and the 2umility of +od: 5iers 5lo#mans 4ision of
6+oddes 7ody and the Desolation of *ngratitude.+ (7 ad ten intended e)er! ,ord to count?and 7
sti## do.)
&e e.pression %te Hu'i#it! of Cod+ ,as intended to signif! %te 7ncarnation+ of Gur 2ord
Hi'se#f4 and te 6idd#e 9ng#is prase %Coddes 0od!+ (%Cod1s 0od!+) ,as intended 'anifo#d#! to
represent- as ,e##- %the *ncarnation Continued+ in te Sacra'ents (especia##! in te 0#essed
Sacra'ent)- and to consider Gur 2ord1s 0od! before- during- and after His :assion (and especia##! on
te /ross)4 tus #ike,ise to inc#ude His resurrected and transfigured (g#orified) 0od! in His Risen 2ife
during tose stirring da!s ,it His Apost#es and His 6oter before His Ascension. &e #ast part of te
dissertation1s subtit#e ,as intended to gi)e us a## so'e Ho#! "ear- as it ,ere- #est in our o,n
presu'ptuous ingratitude for a## of tese Cifts (Craces) ,e- Cod forbid- 'a! gradua##! and fina##! face
a true deso#ation ourse#)esF indeed- a %sou#$iso#ating deso#ation+ not on#! in ti'e but- peraps- a#so in
eternit!?b! our o,n free coice. "or- as C.5. /esterton often saidF %&e test of a## appiness is
gratitude.+ And te 14t$centur! :oet @i##ia' 2ang#and i'se#f- ,o ,rote Piers Plowman?is on#!
poe' and te profound fruit of is #ife#ong ,ork?a#so ,itnessed and feared that danger of
ingratitude- and of te sou#1s conseJuent #oss and a final separation from the 7eloved. @at Saint
Augustine ca##s te %second deat.+
"urter'ore- in te /ato#ic /urc1s traditiona# understanding- ope itse#f is on#! a )irtue-
stricto sensu- ,en it is a theological )irtue- a )irtue infused in te supernatura# order of grace. &at is
to sa!- tere is no natura# %cardina# )irtue+ of ope. 7n oter ,ords- ope- in natura# pi#osopica#
4
ter's- is a passion- and one of te irascib#e passions4 because- un#ike te concupiscib#e passions dea#ing
,it p#easure- an irascib#e passion is 'ore robust and co'bati)e and e)en contentious4 and it is a#so
%,i##ing+ to strugg#e for te sake of a percei)ed good- indeed e)en a good tat is a strenuous or %steep
good+ (a %'onum ar#uum-+ in Saint &o'as AJuinas1 o,n ,ords)?tat is- to stri)e for a percei)ed
good tat is possible 8but not certain9 of attainment- but un'istakab#! difficult to attain to- tereb!
reJuiring our courageous and #o!a# perse)erance.
Hope- as bot an irascib#e passion and as a teo#ogica# )irtue- constitutes a special sort of
adventure for te sou#- as it ,ere4 and ope itse#f is capab#e of combining both humility and
magnanimity in its responsive and enduring character4 and capab#e of proper#! preser)ing te' in a
regenerative e0uilibrium tat is poised bet,een (and so'eti'es a#so te'pted b!) t#o forms of
disorderF i.e.- by t#o forms of hopelessness ,ic are a#so- it sou#d be noted the t#o sins against
hope:both presumption and despair.
As ,e sa## co'e no, 'ore deep#! to consider te added te'ptations and seductions of %fa#se
dia#ectics+ ,ic beset and ca##enge us toda!- and ,ic especia##! di)ert and distract a /ato#ic ,o
is stri)ing to be enduring#! faitfu#?as ,e## as to be )irtuous#! prudent as an inte##igent strategic
inte##ect?#et us consider first the recurrent if not permanent 1allure of hermeticism.+ &at is to
sa! te t,ofo#d allure to 5leasure and ,ecret ;no#ledge and tus to a privileged Empo#erment
(and an e.ceptiona#- often secret- pro'ise of 5ersonal and .agical 5o#er) ,ic often g#orifies 9)i#
itse#f and especia##! the 5o#er of Evil. "or- #ike te :eno'enon of Sopistr!- te %A##ure of
Her'eticis'+ is a#so a per'anent te'ptation of te u'an 'ind- a te'ptation ,ic 'ust a#,a!s be
resisted and co'bated. And Bature is not enoug. Crace is needed and is indeed indispensab#e.
&e #earned "ater Hugo Raner- S.<.- as an acco'p#ised sco#ar of te Ancient :agan
@or#d- as ab#! so,n o, te Creek /urc "aters a)e discerning#! interpreted te )i)id ,isdo'
to be g#i'psed (and !earned for) in so'e of te ear#ier :agan Creek 2iterature itse#f- especia##! and
s!'bo#ica##! in te sober and e#oJuent#! poetic ,isdo' in Ho'er. "or e.a'p#e- te Creek /urc
"aters carefu##! interpreted The $#yssey and te deeper 'eaning of te seafarer Gd!sseus1 a##o,ing
i'se#f on is route o'e fro' ,ar to be tied to te 6ast of is Sip and be tereb! te'pted (tested)
b! te t,ofo#d A##ure of Sirens (te %Seirenes+)F te #ure to #ust and )enerea# p#easure4 and a#so- e)en
'ore deep#! and aunting#!- the allure to secret kno#ledge 81Gnosis39.
;
"ater Hugo Raner- i'se#f a c#assica##! educated 'an- as c#ose#! e.a'ined and #ucid#!
e.p#ained tis re)e#ator! 'atter in is book- entit#ed *ree+ )yths an# Christian )ystery-
2
especia##! in
te fina# di)ision of is book- %:art &reeF Ho#! Ho'er.+
"or tose ,o 'a! not ,it fresness reca## so'e of te a#erting ,ords and preparator!
,arnings Ho'er artfu##! re)ea#s in The $#yssey- before Gd!sseus i'se#f ,i## free#! cose to bind
i'se#f to te 'ast of is sip and tereb! face (and successfu##! resist) te entice'ents and deceptions
of te SeirNnNs (Sirens)- 7 propose to present so'e of tese )i)id scenes no,- and to use te e.Juisite#!
poetic trans#ation of te poe' b! te gifted /ato#ic sco#ar- Robert "itMgera#d.
3
At te beginning of 0ook O77- significant#! after Gd!sseus as descended into te Pnder,or#d
(0ook O7)- 2ad! 5irkN again co'es to Gd!sseus1 aid and sa!sF
%SoF a## tose tria#s (in Gd!sseus1 descent into te Pnder,or#d and during is
up,ard return to te #igt* are o)er. )isten ,it care to tis- no,- and a god
#ill arm your mind. SJuare in !our sip1s pat (o'e,ard to te 7s#e of
7taca- and to is #o!a# ,ife and son* are SeirNnNs- crying beauty to be#itch
men coasting by (te fair face of deceit8*4 #oe to the innocent #ho hears
that sound8 He ,i## not see is #ad! (:ene#ope* nor is ci#dren (son
&e#e'acus* in Lo! cro,ding about i'- o'e fro' te sea4 te SeirNnNs ,i##
sing is 'ind a,a! on teir s,eet 'eado, #o##ing. &ere are bones of dead
'en rotting in a pi#e beside te' and f#a!ed skins sri)e# around te spot. Steer
,ide4 keep ,e## to sea,ard4 p#ug !our oars'en1s ears ,it bees,a. kneaded
soft4 none of te rest sou#d ear tat song. 7ut if you #ish to listen- #et te
'en tie !ou in te #ugger- and and foot- back to te 'ast- #ased to te 'ast-
so you may hear tose arpies1 tri##ing )oices4 sout as !ou ,i##- begging to
be untied- !our cre, 'ust on#! t,ist 'ore 'ore #ine around !ou and keep teir
stroke up- till the singers fade.+ (1=8$1==?'! e'pasis added)
After 2ad! 5irkN ga)e er be#o)ed Gd!sseus additiona# counse# about o, to arri)e o'e
safe#! toug te furter tests of se)era# 'orta# peri#s- Gd!sseus %faced er+ and saidF %Gn#! instruct
2 Hugo Raner- S.<.- *ree+ )yths an# Christian )ystery (Be, 3orkF 0702G and &ABB9B- 1=H1)?te origina# Cer'an
te.t ,as pub#ised in 1=;H. &e #ast 'ain section of te book- entit#ed %Ho#! Ho'er-+ itse#f contains an 7ntroduction and
t,o captersF /apter I7?%&e @i##o, 0ranc of te Be.t @or#d+4 and /apter I77?%Gd!sseus at te 6ast+in its
tree sectionsF%&e Io!age of 2ife+4 %&e &e'ptation of te Sirens+4 and %&e 6ast tat is te /ross.+
3 Ho'er- The $#yssey (Carden /it!- Be, 3orkF Doub#eda! Q /o'pan!- 1=>1)- %&rans#ated b! Robert "itMgera#d.+ A##
e.tended Juotations ,i## be rendered- not in te poetic #ineation- but- rater- in straigt prose?for te ease of reading
and in order to keep co'pactness- ,itout spreading out te poetic units too ,ide#!. &e references to te Juoted
passages in tis trans#ation and edition ,i## be p#aced abo)e in parenteses in te 'ain bod! of tis essa!. 7t sou#d be
furter noted tat Robert "itMgera#d renders te na'e %/irce+ as %5irkN.+ The $#yssey itse#f contains t,ent!$four books-
but ,e sa## on#! be considering 0ook O77- ,ere te te'ptations of te SeirNnNs (te Sirens) are presented- as te
Creeks pass te 7s#e of te Sirens in teir o'e,ard$bound sipF %a s'a## coasting boat ,it a #ugsai#-+ a %lugger.+
>
'e (no,*- goddess- if !ou ,i##- o,- if possib#e- can 7 pass 5ar!bdis- or figt off Sk!##a- ,en se
raids '! cre,A+ (201) 7n er furter rep#!- and once again e'p#o!ing er especia##! descripti)e epitet
for Gd!sseus- i.e.-%(ld Contender-+ ,e no, are no, presented ,it 'oreF
S,ift#!- tat #o)e#iest goddess ans,ered 'eF
%.ust you have battle in your heart foreverA &e b#ood! toi# of co'batA
(ld Contender #ill you not yield to the immortal godsA &at nigt'are (of
Sc!##a and /ar!bdis- te 'ae#stro'* cannot die- being eterna# e)i# itse#f?
orror- and pain- and caos4 tere is no figting er (Sc!##a*- no po,er can figt
er- a## tat a)ai#s is f#igt.+ (201?'! e'pasis added)
@e ten see te skipper- co''ander Gd!sseus- speaking to is cre, after te goddess 5irkN
ad departed ,it gracefu#ness in te da,nF
&e cre, being no, si#ent before 'e- 7 addressed te'- sore at eartF %Dear
friends- 'ore tan one 'an- or t,o- sou#d kno, those things ;irk< foresa#
for us and shared #ith me- so #et 'e te## er forecastF ten ,e die ,it our
e!es open- if ,e are going to die- or kno# #hat death #e baffle if #e can.
SeirNnNs #eaving a haunting song o)er te sea ,e are to sun- se said- and
teir green sore a## s,eet ,it c#o)er4 !et se urged tat 7 a#one sou#d #isten
to teir song (but on#! 7" e freely chose to do so8*. &erefore !ou are to tie
'e up- tigt as a sp#int- erect a#ong te 'ast- #ased to te 'ast- and if 7 sout
and beg to be untied- take 'ore turns of te rope to 'uff#e 'e.+ 7 rater d,e#t
on tis part of te forecast- ,i#e our good sip 'ade ti'e- bound out#ard
do#n the #ind for the strange island of ,eir<n<s. &en a## at once te ,ind
fe##- and a ca#' ca'e o)er a## te sea- as toug so'e po,er (so'e %po,er of
entice'ent+ itse#f8* #u##ed te s,e##. (202?'! e'pasis added)
<ust before ,e are to ear a fe, parts of te a##uring song?a##uring te 'en to dead#! #ust and
to dead#! kno,#edge?,e see te s,ift preparations and nautica# precautions of Gd!sseus and is cre,
i''ediate#! after te! are sudden#! and strange#! beca#'edF
&e cre, ,ere on teir feet brisk#!- to fur# te sai#- and sto, it4 ten- eac in
p#ace- te! poised te s'oot oar b#ades and sent te ,ite foa' scudding b!. 7
(Gd!sseus* car)ed a 'assi)e cake of bees,a. into bits and ro##ed te' in '!
ands unti# te! softened?no #ong task since burning eat ca'e do,n fro'
HN#ios- lord of the high noon. Coing for,ard 7 carried ,a. a#ong te #ine- and
#aid it tick on teir ears. $hey tied me up then plumb amidships back to
the mast lashed to the mast- and took te'se#)es again to ro,ing. Soon- as
,e ca'e s'art#! ,itin ai#ing distance- te t,o SeirNnNs- noting our fast
ship off their point- 'ade read! and te! sang. (203?'! e'pasis added)
H
&e A##uring 2!ric is a f#attering song- seducti)e#! f#attering te pride of te Creeks and
Creece (Akaia)- as ,e## as enticing te #one#! sea'en to )enerea# p#easures and tus to teir purported
fu#fi##'ent. 7n addition to te in)itation to %take Lo!-+ tere is a#so te pro'ise tat te! ,ou#d continue
on,ard to o'e 'ore fu##! a#i)e and %'ore #earnRd+ tan before- due to teir acceptance of te
pro'ised acJuisition of secret and a#so e'po,ering kno,#edge (%gnosis+).
7n a co'pact ,a!- te decepti)e ,ords of s,eet song ,ent tis ,a!- confir'ing te et!'o#og!
of te Creek ,ord %SeirNnNs+ as sinuous %Entanglers+ or %7inders+F
%&is ,a!- o turn !our bo,s- Akaia1s g#or!- As all the #orld allo#s?
.oor and be merry.K S,eet coupled airs ,e sing. &o lonely seafarer Ho#ds
c#ear of entering Gur green 'irror.K :#eased b! eac purling note 2ike one!
t#ining "ro' er troat and '! troat =ho lies a-piningAK Sea ro)ers ere
take >oy 4oyaging on#ard- As from our song of &ro! Cre!beard and (!oung*
ro,er$bo! +oeth more learn?d.K All feats on tat great fie#d (of batt#e* 7n te
#ong ,arfare (of 10 !ears*- Dark days the bright gods #illed- @ounds you
bore tere-K Argos1 (Creece1s* o#d so#dier! Gn &ro! beac tee'ing- Charmed
out of time #e see. &o life on earth can be hid from our dreaming (and-
tus- fro' our secret kno,#edge*.+ (203$204?'! e'pasis added)
After tis in)iting 2!ric Song- Gd!sseus continues is report- as fo##o,sF
$he lovely voices in ardor appealing o)er te ,ater 'ade 'e crave to #isten
(is enticed and #ustfu##! curious %itcing ears-+ as it ,ere- %,ures Prurientes-+
in Saint :au#1s 2atin8*- and 7 tried to sa! %Pntie 'e8+ to te cre,- Lerking '!
bro,s (sco,#ing8*4 but they bent steady to the oars. &en :eri'Ndes got to
is feet- e and 9urS#okos- and passed 'ore #ine about- to hold me still. So a##
ro,ed on- unti# te SeirNnNs dropped under te sea ri'- and their singing
d#indled a,a!. 6! faithful co'pan! rested on teir oars no,- pee#ing off
no, te ,a. 7 #aid tick on teir ears4 then set me free (after '! ordea# of
peri#- 'orta# peri#*. (204?'! e'pasis added)
"ro' tese )i)id#! depicted e)ents and ,arnings as presented unforgettab#! in Ho'er1s
poetr!- te #ater /ristian interpretation ,i## find 'an! s!'bo#s to be 'ore teo#ogica##! e#aborated.
&e /urc often used a sea )o!age and %te dangers of a treatfu# sea+ (28H)
4
as a 'etapor for te
ad)entures- ence inerent risks- of tis )o!age of our 'orta# #ife unto te gracious possibi#it! of our
fina##! attaining to 9terna# 2ife?to inc#ude our enduring te 'anifo#d tests a#ong te ,a!- confronted
as ,e sa## inescapab#! be b! 'an! %seducti)e po,ers+ (32=) and b! te %necessar! and c#eansing
4 A## furter page references to "ater Raner1s *ree+ )yths an# Christian )ystery ,i## be to te edition and trans#ation
a#read! cited abo)e- and p#aced in parenteses abo)e in te 'ain bod! of te essa!.
8
peri#+ (32=) ,ic ,e 'ust at ti'es (e)en recurrent#!) be ,i##ing to face in order to test a 'an1s greater
fide#it! to /rist. "or- it is fitting for te faitfu# /ristian to die to se#f and to sin- tat te grace$fi##ed
#ife of /rist 'igt increase in i'. "ater Raner speaks of %the cleansing peril by #hich the life of
grace must be tried.+ (32=?'! e'pasis added) At %te Sirens1 7s#e-+ (33H) for e.a'p#e- Gd!sseus
i'se#f approaces is test %kno,ing#! and ,it is ears open.+ (33H) And e a#so free#! accepts is
cross- as it ,ere- open#! coosing to a)e i'se#f bound to te 'ast- ,en e did not a)e to do tat-
but cou#d a)e- rater- p#ugged is o,n ears- as ,e##.
/o'pared to 'an! oter fruitfu# pagan '!ts- "ater Raner as notab#! e.c#ai'ed %o,
#i)ing a ting ,as tis particu#ar '!t (of te &e'pting Sirens*+ (340) and- indeed- e adds- it pro)ided
te starting point for %a ,o#e #u.uriant ,or#d of teo#ogica# s!'bo#is'+ (340)?,it a purpose-
na'e#! %in order to fetc te He##enes o'e to /rist.+ (340) &at is to sa!- since te peri# abidesF %te
te'ptations of te Sirens (to i##icit )enerea# p#easures and to pridefu# secret kno,#edge and its pro'ised
po,er* ,ic #ure o'e,ard$faring 'an to is destruction.+ (341) "or- %te Sirens pro'ise 'ore tan
'an can ('a!* ope for+ (32=)?to be %ric in Lo! and #iser in (idden* kno,#edge.+ (32=?as is
e.p#icit#! c#ai'ed b! te Sirens in The $#yssey- 0ook O77F 18>$1=0?'! e'pasis added)?but 'an
'ust %not succu'b to te s,eet peri# of te Sirens+ (33H) and teir e'otiona##! carged %fa#se
dia#ectics.+ "ater Raner often speaks of te &est?te &ria#?of a %tension$#aden dia#ectic+ (341) as
in %te dia#ectic Lu.taposition of deat and #ife+ (34;) tat is %,itin te /ristian interpretation.+ (341)
0! ,a! of is interi' partia# su''ar!- and after 'uc #earned and detai#ed stud! of te /urc
"aters- "ater Hugo Raner i'portant#! sa!sF
7t is- o,e)er- te dia#ectica# Lu.taposition of deat and #ife- of peri# and )ictor!
tat is te tru#! fruitfu# e#e'ent for /ristian s!'bo#is' and it ,as tis e#e'ent
tat ,as de)e#oped and turned into a means of con)e!ing te idden truts of
te /urc and of sho#ing forth the action of grace upon the soul.
"or te "aters it ,as the Church that #as the ship of life ere be#o,- ,ic
in i''ense peri# and !et in )ictorious securit! tra)erses te sea of te ,or#d-
nor cou#d te ancient /ristians concei)e a better s!'bo# of te /urc tan
one of tose 'aLestic sips ,ic e cou#d see in A#e.andria- in Gstia or
9pesus- fro' one of ,ic Saint :au#- #anding in :uteo#i (a #itt#e to te ,est
of Bap#es and on te nortsore of te 0a!* after deadly danger sustained-
brougt te Lo!ous tidings fro' te 9ast. (cf. te te account in te ,cts o" the
,postles 28F11$13* (34;?'! e'pasis added)
=
So tat ,e 'a! 'ore adeJuate#! assi'i#ate tese nautica# 'etapors and s!'bo#s used b! te
Creek and 2atin "aters and teir #esser co''entators- ,e consider te furter insigts deri)ed fro'
"ater Raner1s #earningF
Bo s!'bo# ,as capab#e of con)e!ing in a si'p#er or 'ore con)incing 'anner
te fact tat te /urc finds erse#f bet#een t,o eterna# (sic* situations. Se
(te Ecclesia )ilitans* is e)en no,- in te 'idst of te dae'onic sea of te
,or#d- the only thing to ,ic a 'an may c#ing and be certain of is sa#)ation-
and er (te /urc1s* u#ti'ate entr! into the haven of eternit! is assured. At
te sa'e ti'e- o,e)er- se is sti## in peri#- se is still on her uncompleted
voyage- sti## co''itted to her daring venture- and her goal- te attain'ent of
,ic she hopes for in trembling- is sti## be!ond te ,a)es?tere ,ere on
te ea)en#! sore te 'o#es (stone piers- break,aters* stretc out #ike a
'oter1s protecting ar's. Deat and #ife unite ,it one anoter in tis nautica#
fortune of te /urc....And !et tis sa'e /urc is already herself a kind of
landing-place- a a)en of sa#)ation )oucsafed to us in ad)ance- certain a'id
a## uncertainties. &is ,as a tougt tat inspired (te 2atin "ater- Saint*
A'brose. %&e /urc-+ e ,rites- %is a a)en of sa#)ation and ,it
outstretced ar's she calls imperilled seafarers into te boso' of er rest (in
gremium tran-uillitatis)- for se so,s erse#f as the landing-place in #hich
#e may put our trust (cf. our %"i#ucia spei+*. (34;$34>?'! e'pasis added)
Re'inding us of te indi)idua# sou# and its peri#s- Hugo Raner addsF
&e s!'bo#is' of antiJuit! once 'ore repeats te o#d pattern and sa!s of %the
little ship of the soul+ 'uc te sa'e as it ad said of the ship of the Church-
using te sa'e Creek i'ager!. &e sou# of te indi)idua# is a#so like the
home#ard-faring (dysseus. 7t too is in peril bet#een Hades (0ook O7* and
7taca (is fina# te'pora# o'e* and desires #ith an immense yearning to
return to (and attain to* its o'e- to te a)en....$he evil po#ers are
symbolized by the ,irens and it is on#! the #ood of the mast tat can sa)e
the #ise soul- if it is ,ise enoug- #ike Gd!sseus- freely to consent to be
bound to it (as to a /ross8* (34=$3;0?'! e'pasis added)
0efore ,e return to te 'ast as a /ross- and conc#ude ,it a 'ore 'odern ana#og!- ,e ,is
to consider te )arious ,a!s te /urc "aters te'se#)es (and teir #o!a# fo##o,ers) considered te
te'pting a##ure of te Sirens- e)en as the false 8and subtle9 allure of 2eresy.
9)en te /ristian- /#e'ent of A#e.andria1s o,n %u'anist #ibera#is'+ in is e.ortator!
Protrepticus can rise to sternness and gi)e ,arnings about certain for's of meretriciousness (fa#se
a##ures #ike ar#ots or purported#! %di)iniMed+ gnostics)- but e is usua##! not i'se#f considered an
10
inspired and autoritati)e /urc "ater- as sucF
2et us flee fro' our o#d ,a! of #ife (our %syn.theia,+ i.e.- our o#d custo's and
disordered inc#inations* as from the ,irens of ,ic te stor! te##s8 "or it (te
o#d ,a! of #ife* trott#es a 'an- it #eads i' a,a! fro' trut- it robs i' of is
)er! #ife. 7t is a snare- an ab!ss (of esoteric %gnosis*- a trap- a de)ouring
pesti#ence. "or it (te o#d ,a! of #ife* is indeed an island of doom (#ike te
%Sirens1 7s#e+ (33H)* eaped fu## of dead 'en1s bones. And upon it sits a co'e#!
ar#ot- #ust- de#igting 'en ,it te 'usic of tis ,or#d and cr!ingF %/o'e
iter- Gd!sseus- ric in fa'e- co'e- tou pride of te Acaeans- steer t! sip
to te sore and harken to the voice of a god (,it specia#- secret
kno,#edge8*.+ (Gd!sse!- O77- 184 ff.*
Se praises (f#atters* tee- tou seafarer- se speaks of t! ig repute (furter
f#attering t! pride- conducing to ubris*4 but #et er feast on tose a#read!
dead. A ,ind fro' ea)en co'es to t! aid8 Sai# past #ust8 Sai# a,a! fro' te
songs. &e! ,i## bring tee deat. (3;1?'! e'pasis added)
7n an! ,ort! %counterre)o#ution+?against organiMed neo$paganis' or %organiMed
natura#is'+?a counterre)o#utionar! 'ust a#,a!s be especia##! a#ert to te %Sirens1 in)itations and
entice'ents+?te )arieties of %'eretricious seductions+ and e)en fa#se#! a##uring %fa#se$f#ag
operations+ in te /urc ,it teir designed#! subt#e %fa#se dia#ectics+ to %#ure and trap+ an ad)ersar!.
&rougout Hugo Raner1s detai#ed e.a'ination ,e ear of te Sirens1 %unbrid#ed s,eetness
and unbrid#ed #usts+ and %te deat$bringing songs of te Sirens+ (3;1)- teir %dead#! #ust and dead#!
kno,#edge+ ,erein %te '!to#ogica# dia#ectic is e)en 'ore ea)i#! carged+ as tese %entang#ers+
and %binders+ e.ercise teir %po,er of entice'ent.+ (3;>) 7t a#so suggests to te tradition of /ristian
interpreters %a ,o#e ,or#d of teo#ogica# s!'bo#is'.+ (340) 9)en te pagan 2atin poet- G)id- after
i'se#f considering o, te Sirens a#so treacerous#! proffered %secret kno,#edge+ ($#yssey O77-
18=$1=1)- ca##s te' te %#octae Sirenes+ (i.e.- te #earned and ,e##$taugt Sirens). (3;>)
&e 2atin "ater- Saint <ero'e- speaks ironica##! of te t,o %gifts+ of te SirensF %sensua#
p#easure and kno,#edge-+ bot de#i)ered b! 'eans of teir %#ulci et morti"ero carmine+ (b! teir s,eet
and deat$bearing song)?tese %s,eet$singing but decepti)e creatures...,it teir seducti)eness and
kno,#edge.+ (3;H- 3>0)
Adding a furter note about o, te #ater /ristians sa, %tese kno,#edge$arbouring
Sirens-+ "ater Raner sa!sF
11
7 a' 'ere#! concerned (ere* to point out the idea of the ,irens is e0uated
#ith false doctrine- and suc eJuation ,as on#! possib#e because the image of
the ,irens as 1kno#ers of all things3 ,as sti## a#i)e in 'en1s 'inds. 7t ,as
tus not difficu#t to make the ,iren the symbol of those #ho attack the faith
under the profession of esoteric kno#ledge or (te c#ai' of* superior
inte##ectua# po,er. "or o)er a tousand !ears the notion of the heretical ,iren
re'ained popu#ar....(And- for e.a'p#e- Saint <ero'e i'se#f sa!s-*
co''enting on te passage in 6ica a#read! Juoted ( but a#so in is i'age tat
%te eres! of <o)inian is a Siren1s song+*F %&e! ,i## intone a song of
'ourning #ike te daugters of te sirens4 for the songs of heretics can be
s#eet indeed and they deceive the peoples #ith pleasant sounds. Bo one can
sai# past teir song un#ess e stops (guards* is ears and beco'es #ike one
deaf.+ (3>3$3>4?'! e'pasis added)
:art of te /urc "aters1 treat'ent of %te Siren 6!t+ ,arned o, so'e decei)ers a)e
%s'ooted te ,aters for te seductions of #ust+ (3>4) and te! re#ated Saint :au#1s %itcing ears+
(%aures prurientes+) to te #ure of te Sirens (3>;). &e %esoteric kno,#edge+ of %te Har#ot$Siren+ ,as
a#so re#ated to %#a. 'ora#it!+ (3>;) and %'ora# indiscip#ine+ (3>H) ,ere %a## tings are (effecti)e#!
unsack#ed and tus putati)e#!* possib#e to i##u'inate (and ten %e.perience+8*.+ (3>;)
0! ,a! of contrast- Saint A'brose proposes a different /ristian standard- as Raner sees itF
@at A'brose is endea)oring to sa! is tat the Christian is like (dysseus
free and yet bound- ,o %in fu## kno,#edge+ (ence ,it true fortitude*
approaces c#ose to deat- being possessed of the po#er of 1#ise
discrimination.+ @at e 'ust a)oid is te e)er present po,er in te tings of
tis ,or#d to tempt us to our death. "or tose tings are %s,eet and dead#!+
and tese are te ,ords app#ied to te' fro' no, on ,en te! are figured
under the image of the ,irens....%(7ndeed- te :ropet* <ere'ia (sa!s
A'brose i'se#f* ,rote of 0ab!#on tat the daughters of the sirens d#elt
there. 0! tis e sougt to indicate tat the temptations of 7abylon- tat is to
sa!- of te confusion tat 'arks tis ,or#d- are #ike tose te'ptations to #ust of
,ic te ancient '!ts ad to te##. And ,e sou#d note tat these temptations
enmesh the spirits of young folk ,it s,eet and deat$bringing song (#ulcem
se# morti"eram cantilenam) as te! pass te rock$infested sores of tis eart#!
#ife.+ (3>H?'! bo#d e'pasis added)
&at is to sa!- in oter ,ordsF %&e te'ptation of te Sirens ,as to a freedo' tat re#eased te
#usts on#! to end in bondage and ruin.+ (3H>)
At te %beginning of te tird centur! A.D.-+ "ater Raner sa!s- ,e a)e %te ear#iest
/ristian archeological e)idence+ of %te Siren 6!t.+ (3HH) &erein- Gd!sseus as %bound i'se#f to
12
te standard of te /ross+ (3HH) as ,e are a#so to %stand upright despite the seductive songs of
heretics or the lusts of the +nostics.+ (3H8?'! e'pasis added) 7n tat sense- /rist is %te
ea)en#! Gd!sseus+ (3H8) and %ere #ies te '!ster!- te i''easurab#! )ast ting concea#ed beneat
si'p#icit!.+ (381) &at is to sa!- %te ,ood is te standard of triu'p+ (381)?te ,ood of te /ross.
&e faitfu# /ristian ad a#so free#! %bound i'se#f to te ,ood of te cross.+ (381) "ater Raner
ten cites a sort portion fro' an apt Creek$/ristian Ho'i#! on te /rossF
%G 'an- fear not te #oud#! roaring ,a)es in te sea of tis #ife-+ sa!s a Creek
ser'on- %for te cross is te pattern of strengt ,ic cannot be broken- so tat
tou 'a!est nai# (or bind* t! f#es to tat un#i'ited re)erence for te
/rucified and so ,it great gain attain te port of rest.+ (381)
;
6a! tis re)erent i'itation a#so- under Crace- #ead us (and oters) to o#iness- our o,n
gratefu# affir'ation as ,e## as a for' of counterre)o#ution- bot ancored in a tru#! )irtuous and ence
robust &rust and &eo#ogica# Hope T%a# sanctorum gau#ia.+ (384) Pnto te <o!s of te Saints.
C(DA
&,o perduring te'es of tis essa! and of "ater Hugo Raner1s oft$cited book are Gd!sseus1
,ise and #ucid#! courageous decision %freely to consent to be bound to (te 6ast*+ (3;0) of is sip4
and o, %te /ristian is #ike Gd!sseus- free and yet bound ! but to the Cross instead".+ (3>H)
&us te :agan 6!t touces upon /ristian 6!ster!.
&e beginning of :au# /#aude#1s profound and ric#! te.tured- but )er! #engt! Dra'a- The
Satin Slipper (/e Soulier #e Satin )?first perfor'ed in 1=43- toug first pub#ised in 1=2=?,i##
#ea)e us ,it anoter unforgettab#e i'age and 'essage ,it a deep resonance. @e sa## see it in te
pra!er of a sip,recked <esuit priest- ,o is i'se#f at first bound (b! pirates) in)o#untari#! and !et-
ten after accepting is cross- e sti## generous#! pra!s for is endangered broter- Rodrigo- te 'uc$
te'pted and 'anifo#d#! tested ero of te p#a!.
&e t,o 9pigraps of te p#a! about Di)ine :ro)idence areF (1)%+od #rites straight #ith
crooked lines.+ (%Deus escre(e #ireito pour linhas tortas.)+ (:ortuguese :ro)erb)4 and (2) %Even sins.+
; See a#so "ater Raner1s trans#ation of 6a.i'us of &urin1s #engt! and e#oJuent %o'i#! in onour of te /ross of
/rist-+ (382) on pages 382$383 of is book. %6a.i'us of &urin- an i'itator of (Saint* A'brose- and a c#ose fo##o,er of
is reasoning-+ (382) ,as te autor of tat essentia##! recapitu#ating- a##usi)e and doctrina# ser'on- Lust referred to
abo)e- and tat ser'on is ig#! reco''ended to te reader1s c#ose attention and sa)oring.
13
(%Etiam peccata.+ (Saint Augustine) 6oreo)er- in te autor1s o,n e.p#icit ,ords of introductionF
&H9 ARCP69B& (of te :#a!* is tat a## tings 'inister to a Di)ine :urpose
and so to one anoter- be it e)ents or persona#ities. 9)en te fa#terings of
circu'stance and te patterning of persona#it!- sin and fa#seood- are 'ade to
ser)e trut and Lustice- and abo)e a##- sa#)ation in te #ong run.
>
:au# /#aude# e#ps us furter b! setting te te conte.t of te action in %Scene 7 of te "irst
Da!+F
A <esuit- d!ing abandoned on a p#undered sip- pra!s for is broter Rodrigo-
te ero of te action- tat- since e as refused te direct ,a! to Cod- e 'a!
find te se#fsa'e b! ,ate)er ,inding road is o,n ,i## 'a! bui#d unto itse#f4
and tat is sinfu# #o)e- bereft of consummation- 'a! a)ai# to dra, i' fro'
se#f and #o)e of se#f unti# e attain to se#f#essness.
H
As Scene 7 of te "irst Da! opens- te Announcer introduces te <esuit "ater and sa!sF
&ere is perfect#! ,e## so,n ere the #reck of a dismasted ship drifting at
the mercy of the #aves....And- ere be#o, (te sk!*- a painter- ,ising to
portra! the #ork of pirates?probab#! 9ng#is (in te #ate 1>
t
or ear#! 1H
t
/entur!*?on tis poor Spanis )esse#- ,ou#d a)e Lust te notion of this
mast- ,it its !ards (!ard$ar's* and rigging fallen rigt across te bridge (of
te dis'asted sip*-...(and a#so* tese great sp#ases of b#ood and corpses
every#here and especially this group of nuns flung do#n on top of one
another. $o the stump of the main-mast is fastened a /E,@*$ FA$2E%-
e.tre'e#! ta## and gaunt....His torn cassock so,s is bare sou#der. 3ou 'a!
ear i' speak as fo##o,sF %/or#, I than+ 0ou "or ha(ing "astene# me so1....0ut
e is going to speak for i'se#f.
8
And no, ,e sa## ear te ,ords of te <esuit "ater direct#!F
%2ord- * thank Aou for having fastened me so8 And- so'eti'es- 7 a)e
canced to find 3our co''and'ents painfu#. And '! ,i##- at sigt of 3our
ru#e- perp#e.ed- resti)e. 0ut- to$da!- it is not possible to be closer bound to
Aou than * am- and- )erif! eac #i'b as 7 ,i##- tere is not one (#i'b* tat can
,itdra, fro' 3ou e)er so #itt#e. $rue also * am so fastened to the cross
but my cross is no longer !held" fast to anything- *t is floating on the sea.+
=
@at an i'age and i'p#icationF a so#e sur)i)or gratefu##! bound to a recei)ed and accepted
> :au# /#aude#- The Satin Slipper or The 2orst Is &ot The Surest (2ondonF Seed Q @ard- 1=31)- p. .i.
H I'i#.?'! e'pasis added.
8 I'i#.- p. 1?'! bo#d e'pasis added4 ita#ics and capita#iMation in te origina#.
= I'i#.- pp. 1$2?'! e'pasis added.
14
/ross drifting upon te sea #ike f#otsa' and Letsa'- and e is soon to be pra!ing for Rodrigo- is
)u#nerab#e broter in spiritua# danger8
7n 1=H2- anoter <esuit priest- A#fons Deeken- S.<.- first pub#ised is book- entit#ed *rowing
$l#-
10
,ic une.pected#! and fres#! presents tis sa'e scene fro' :au# /#aude#1s Satin Slipper- but
adds a furter brief co''entar! of is o,n- as ,e## as is s#igt#! different- but peraps 'ore
accessib#e- 9ng#is trans#ation fro' te "renc.
"ater A#fons reinforcing#! sa!sF
&e #iberating effect of detachment from self and te ,or#d and te ne,
freedo' of seeing a## tings in proper perspecti)e through the eyes of faith are
beautifu##! described in te great opening scene of :au# /#aude#1s p#a! The
Satin Slipper. As te p#a! opens a /esuit missionary is so,n as the sole
survivor on the #reck of a pirated dismasted ship. Fastened to the stump
of his main mast he is drifting on te raging ,aters of te ocean- ,o##! at
te 'erc! of te ,a)es. Close to death- te <esuit starts is #ast 'ono#ogueF
%2ord- * thank you for bending me do#n like this. So'eti'es- 7 found !our
co''and'ents painfu# and my #ill at a loss and railing against your rule.
0ut no# * could not be closer bound to you than * am. Ho,e)er )io#ent#!
'! #i'bs 'o)e- te! cannot get one inc a,a! fro' !ou. ,o * am really
fastened to the cross but the cross on #hich * hang is not fastened to
anything else- *t is floating on the sea.
11
&en "ater Deeken 'akes a co''entar! upon tese ,ords in tis unforgettab#e settingF
&e scene describes in a co'pe##ing fasion te situation an aging 'an finds
i'se#f in ,en e is approacing te end of is #ife. @it no so#id ground
under is feet an!'ore- e is fastened to te cross- and te cross is fastened to
noting- but (see'ing#!* drifts o)er a )oid. &e sip,recked <esuit in /#aude#1s
p#a! kno,s tat soon e ,i## sink- and !et- detaced fro' #and and #ife- e
disco)ers a ne, safet! and serenit! in fait. A 'agnificent ease and se#f$
forgetfu#ness caracteriMe te rest of is 'ono#ogue (in Scene 7 of Da! Gne of
te p#a!*. Sink e 'ust- but e kno,s tat it ,i## be sinking into te ar's of is
ea)en#! "ater. &us- e can forget is o,n fate and concern i'se#f in is
#ast pra!er ,it is stra!ing broter- Rodrigo- te ero of te p#a!. 7s tis not
te greatest triu'p of te /ristian fait- that a man can in the face of his
o#n agony and death still transcend himself and turn in loving concern to
his fello# manA
10 A#fons Deeken- S.<.- *rowing $l# (San "ranciscoF 7gnatius :ress- 1=8>).
11 I'i#.- pp. 3>$3H?'! e'pasis added.
1;
So'e <apanese 'art!rs- ,a#king to teir o,n crucifi.ion- so co'p#ete#! forgot
teir o,n i'pending deat tat te! spent teir #ast 'inutes tr!ing to convey
the glad tidings of their Faith to te on#ookers on te roadside. &e! ad
#earned tis- of course- fro' teir 6aster ,o- e)en ,en anging on te cross-
did not co'p#ain about is o,n pain- but rater concerned i'se#f ,it te
,e##$being of otersF entrusting is 6oter to te Apost#e <on- conso#ing te
good tief ,it te pro'ise of paradise and e)en pra!ing for is torturers ,o
%do not kno, ,at te! are doing.+
12
Suc is te gradua# transfor'ation and transfiguration of te Creek Gd!sseus into te
/ristian Gd!sseus and is o,n +racious Chivalry of )oyal )ove. &o te end.
Suc is is te affir'ation tat genuine /ato#ic o#iness gi)es and #i)es and consecrates.
Suc is a#so te #i)ed incarnationa# "ait1s courageous and inti'ate contribution to te
strategic and tactica# /ounterre)o#ution- #est te destructi)e re)o#utionar! princip#e and fa#se dia#ectic
of %sol(e et coagula+ triu'p- and sou#s be tereb! #ost (especia##! tose of te ci#dren).
6erc! for te 2itt#e Gnes8 As te &rue /i)a#r! of /rist for'idab#! taugt us.
(&is 9ssa! is Dedicated to te 6e'or! of '! 0e#o)ed "riend- Anton! S.
"raser- R7:- ,o ,as born on /and#e'as- 2 "ebruar! 1=4=- and recent#! died
so sudden#! and so une.pected#! in Scot#and- on te 'orning of 28 August
2014?on te "east of Saint Augustine of Hippo. 6a! tis 9ssa!- ,ic is a
sort of seJue#-
13
a#so be a s'a## and affectionate conso#ation to &on!1s be#o)ed
fa'i#! in teir sock and grief and profound#! inti'ate sorro,.)
? "inis ?
U 2014 Robert D. Hickson
12 I'i#.- pp. 3H$38?'! e'pasis added.
13 &e autor of tis essa! as conscious#! intended it to be a seJue# to t,o oter recent co'positions- because &on! "raser
i'se#f ad to#d 'e tat e ad )er! 'uc appreciated and sa)ored bot of te'- and a#so teir interre#ationsipF (1)
%"ro' 3oie #e 4i(re to *au#ium #e 4eritateF /ounterpointing &,o Satires and Saint Augustine1s Con"essions+ (1> <u#!
2014)4 and (2) %Dostoie)sk!1s :rince 6!skin- V&e 7diot1- in Gur &i'e and /ounterre)o#ution+ (4 August 2014).
1>