Ditch Doc

The liturgy is the primary way by which we come to know God. God is three Persons. So go ahead and adjust the language, music and symbolism of the Mass to make them totally understandable on the first go. But only if you have previous experience of coming to know, completely, three people in the space of an hour. If, on the other hand, you’ve found that even your non-divine friendships continue to deepen for as long as they last, then give me a liturgy that I can chew on for eighty years or so.

From KOMO4’s evening news: 

“Scottish police say they had no intelligence prior to the attack…”

Oh, Eternal Lord God, who alone spreadest out the heavens and rulest the raging of the seas, who has compassed the waters with bounds until day and night come to an end, be pleased to receive into thy almighty and most gracious protection the persons of us thy servants and the fleet in which we serve. Preserve us from the dangers of the seas and from the violence of the enemy, that we may be a safeguard unto our most gracious sovereign lady, Queen Elizabeth and a security for such as pass upon the seas, upon their lawful occasions, that the inhabitants of our commonwealth may in peace and quietness serve thee, our God, and that we may return in safety to enjoy the blessings of the land with the fruits of our labours, and with a thankful remembrance of thy mercies to praise and glorify thy Holy Name, Through Jesus Christ our Lord,

Amen

…stands for three things:

1. Ordo Sancti Benedicti

2. Oriented strand board

3. Okanagan Springs Brewery

Even official discussion of a horrifying crime can be an occasion of good writing. A condemnation written with mastery of the language and the ear carries so much more authority than a dry one. Although the severity of the crime prevents any rejoicing over the passage, this exerpt from a press release of the BC College of Physicians and Surgeons is a beautiful example:

Dr. X’s actions constituted “turpitude of a marked character involving inherent wickedness, dishonesty and disgraceful conduct”. The Council of the College endorsed that opinion and expressed its unqualified condemnation and complete denunciation of the conduct…

According to the morning news, “Investigators in Europe, Asia and North America are now involved in the alleged plot to blow up ten airliners over the Atlantic…”