While I was not the only (nor indeed the most fervent) supporter of Same Difference in the seminary, I am a fan. I must regester my shock and sorrow at their loss. I feel it, deep in my heart, and a tear comes to my eye whenever I hear one of the songs they covered "Don't Feel Like Dancing" and especially "Never had a dream come true". It is sad, because they probably don't feel like dancing, and this dream, for them, has not come true. So, if they do read this seminarians blog, I wish them joy and hope and that I'll buy their album, if they release one.
Today I have been buying presents for a party, it was stressful in the big city, full of bustling people, I constantly had my eye on my wallet, such is modern life. By the end of the day, i.e. today, I was shattered, my feet were aching and my head was spinning, and my arms were tired after carrying around 24 presents for various people. I was expressing my discomfort (not that I'm a complaining type, you understand, merely that to express emotion is a basic psycological neccesity) and my friend, a brother semianrian, reminded me that the people surrounding us were, in the majority, only doing it as slaves of materialism, we, at least, were performing a service. We had the great O antiphon to look forward to at evening prayer. This both saddened and perked my spirit.
Anyway, I have written enough, not enough, beloved brothers and sisters, chiao for now.
5 comments:
More pious clap-trap from out-of-touch-with-the-real world seminarians. God help us. Slaves to materialism? Performing a service? Utter tosh. Who the hell do you think you are?
Well.... let's not be uncharitable here. It's all well and good to think "everyone else around here is filled with materialism" and we don't even know them. No, people don't "have" to buy things. But let's not be too hasty. That frazzled looking woman "over there?" Maybe she has a daughter dying of cancer for whom mom would love to see face light up with a gift that says: "Yes, dear, maybe some would see this as frivolous, but it gives me pleasure to see your face light up with this gift." or the man sacrificing something he'd dearly love so he could give his wife something he knows she'd like, but would never spend the money on herself to "pamper herself" with. I think there's a lot of good in most people. Let's not do a blanket job in attributing crass motives to them when we don't even know them personally.
Dear Readers, I think what the Hermit was trying to say was that all this pressure to buy the latest gadgets, toys and clothes today is a result of that evil new religion - consumerism. It has nothing to do with Christmas, which is all about celebrating the birth of Our Lord and Saviour.
I heard today that many shops ihn London will be opening to begin their sales at Midnight tonight - this is of the Devil, he is trying to compete with Midnight Mass, trying to keep as many people away from church as possible!
This is not pious clap-trap or a generalisation of all people but a simple comment on how the Solemnity of the Birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ has been turned into something completely secular through the medium of Materialism.
This is undeniable!
I loved my gift, thanks! 'The Art of Travel'.
I though seminarians were supposed to be 'pious and out of touch' with the real world'. Isn't that the whole point out retreating to a seminary for 6 years? Surely by escaping the vice of secular society they can become more spiritual and that's good for parishes when they come out. I don't think we benefit from 'down with the people' priests, I think our priest should be other worldly.
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