IN TIME OF TUMULT

LET us walk honestly, as in the day: not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and impurities, not in contention and envy. (Romans 13:13)

Psalm 59. Eripe me de inimicis

DELIVER me from mine enemies, O God : defend me from them that rise up against me.

2. O deliver me from the wicked doers : and save me from the blood-thirsty men.

3. For lo, they lie waiting for my soul : the mighty men are gathered against me, without any offence or fault of me, O Lord.

4. They run and prepare themselves without my fault : arise thou therefore to help me, and behold.

5. Stand up, O Lord God of hosts, thou God of Israel, to visit all the heathen : and be not merciful unto them that offend of malicious wickedness.

6. They go to and fro in the evening : they grin like a dog, and run about through the city.

7. Behold, they speak with their mouth, and swords are in their lips : for who doth hear?

8. But thou, O Lord, shalt have them in derision : and thou shalt laugh all the heathen to scorn.

9. My strength will I ascribe unto thee : for thou art the God of my refuge.

10. God sheweth me his goodness plenteously : and God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies.

11. Slay them not, lest my people forget it : but scatter them abroad among the people, and put them down, O Lord, our defence.

12. For the sin of their mouth, and for the words of their lips, they shall be taken in their pride : and why? their preaching is of cursing and lies.

13. Consume them in thy wrath, consume them, that they may perish : and know that it is God that ruleth in Jacob, and unto the ends of the world.

14. And in the evening they will return : grin like a dog, and will go about the city.

15. They will run here and there for meat : and grudge if they be not satisfied.

16. As for me, I will sing of thy power, and will praise thy mercy betimes in the morning : for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.

17. Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing : for thou, O God, art my refuge, and my merciful God.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost;

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen.

O God, make speed to save us.

O Lord, make haste to help us.

In the time of War and Tumults.

O ALMIGHTY God, King of all kings, and Governor of all things, whose power no creature is able to resist, to whom it belongeth justly to punish sinners, and to be merciful to those who truly repent; Save and deliver us, we humbly beseech thee, from the hands of our enemies; abate their pride, assuage their malice, and confound their devices; that we, being armed with thy defence, may be preserved evermore from all perils, to glorify thee, who art the only giver of all victory; through the merits of thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Saint Paul, in his Epistle to the Romans, the thirteenth Chapter, doth give this commandment to all men:

Romans 13:1-7

LET every soul be subject to higher powers: for there is no power but from God: and those that are, are ordained of God. Therefore he that resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God. And they that resist, purchase to themselves damnation. For princes are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good: and thou shalt have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to thee, for good. But if thou do that which is evil, fear: for he beareth not the sword in vain. For he is God’s minister: an avenger to execute wrath upon him that doth evil. Wherefore be subject of necessity, not only for wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. For therefore also you pay tribute. For they are the ministers of God, serving unto this purpose. Render therefore to all men their dues. Tribute, to whom tribute is due: custom, to whom custom: fear, to whom fear: honour, to whom honour.


Hear also what Saint Peter saith:

I Peter 2:13-15a

Be ye subject therefore to every human creature for God’s sake: whether it be to the king as excelling; or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of the good: for so is the will of God.

GOD spake these words, and said: Thou shalt not steal.

Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, nor any thing that is his.

Lord, have mercy upon us, and write all these thy laws in our hearts, we beseech thee.

From all sedition, privy conspiracy, and rebellion,

Good Lord, deliver us.

That all in authority may truly and impartially administer justice, to the punishment of wickedness and vice, 

We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

Christ, have mercy upon us.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

OUR Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. Amen.

V/. Every violent taking of spoils, with tumult, and garment mingled with blood,

R/. Shall be burnt, and be fuel for the fire.  (Isaias 9:5)

Let us pray.

For restoring Publick Peace at Home.

O ETERNAL God, our heavenly Father, Who alone makest men to be of one mind in a house, and stillest the outrage of a violent and unruly people; We bless thy holy Name, that it hath pleased thee to appease the seditious tumults which have been lately raised up amongst us; most humbly beseeching thee to grant to all of us grace, that we may henceforth obediently walk in thy holy commandments; and, leading a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty, may continually offer unto thee our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving for these thy mercies towards us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, have mercy upon us, save us now and evermore. Amen.

Ten Commandments, Anyone?

It appears many members of the Church of England have not been learning their Catechism, as directed by the 1662 B.C.P.; and I think it but just to note that dissenters, recusants, pagans* and infidels have not learnt analogous lessons either from their respective masters:

Question. What is thy duty towards thy Neighbour?
Answer. My duty towards my Neighbour, is to love him as myself, and to do to all men, as I would they should do unto me: To love, honour, and succour my father and mother: To honour and obey the Queen, and all that are put in authority under her: To submit myself to all my governors, teachers, spiritual pastors and masters: To order myself lowly and reverently to all my betters: To hurt no body by word nor deed: To be true and just in all my dealing: To bear no malice nor hatred in my heart: To keep my hands from picking and stealing, and my tongue from evilspeaking, lying, and slandering: To keep my body in temperance, soberness, and chastity: Not to covet nor desire other men's goods; but to learn and labour truly to get mine own living, and to do my duty in that state of life, unto which it shall please God to call me.

To repeat the salient points at this present, which lessons it appears the long arm of the law (possibly to be supplemented by armed might, if need be) may now need to teach the untaught and rebellious:

...To honour and obey the Queen, and all that are put in authority under her: 

To submit myself to all my governors, teachers, spiritual pastors and masters: 

To order myself lowly and reverently to all my betters: 

To hurt no body by word nor deed: 

To be true and just in all my dealing: 

To bear no malice nor hatred in my heart: 

To keep my hands from picking and stealing, ... 

Not to covet nor desire other men's goods; 

but to learn and labour truly to get mine own living...

*It will be noted that I do not include Turks in this list: for media reports indicate that such Mahometans, schooled in the doctrines of the Alcoran, defended their neighbours' property whenas Christians and atheists alike did not.  O tempora!  O mores!


P.S.  Nor do I include Sikhs – who are monotheists also – since they, too, stood up for the rights of property, family and tradition against the revolting masses.

Time for the Army?

In the time of War and Tumults.

O ALMIGHTY God, King of all kings, and Governor of all things, whose power no creature is able to resist, to whom it belongeth justly to punish sinners, and to be merciful to those who truly repent; Save and deliver us, we humbly beseech thee, from the hands of our enemies; abate their pride, assuage their malice, and confound their devices; that we, being armed with thy defence, may be preserved evermore from all perils, to glorify thee, who art the only giver of all victory; through the merits of thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Lesson from the Epistle of St Paul the Apostle to the Romans.  
(xiii, 1-8)

Let every soul be subject to higher powers: for there is no power but from God: and those that are, are ordained of God.  Therefore he that resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God. And they that resist, purchase to themselves damnation.  For princes are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil.  Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power?  Do that which is good: and thou shalt have praise from the same.  For he is God's minister to thee, for good.  But if thou do that which is evil, fear: for he beareth not the sword in vain. For he is God's minister: an avenger to execute wrath upon him that doth evil.  Wherefore be subject of necessity, not only for wrath, but also for conscience' sake. For therefore also you pay tribute. For they are the ministers of God, serving unto this purpose.  Render therefore to all men their dues. Tribute, to whom tribute is due: custom, to whom custom: fear, to whom fear: honour, to whom honour.

Be ye subject therefore to every human creature for God's sake: whether it be to the king as excelling; or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of the good.  (I Peter ii, 13-14) 

From all sedition, privy conspiracy, and rebellion, 

Good Lord, deliver us.

Looting and violence in the UK (not at all unusual, historically speaking): time for the army to enforce law and order, methinks.  Those who smash, burn and steal should be dealt with harshly.  A curfew and orders to shoot looters would do nicely for starters.  Is it still done to read the Riot Act?  (It would not be at all unusual for all this to be done to suppress the violence on the streets, taking the long view.)

Repealed 1973, alas.

Civilization is a thin veneer over barbarism; in our atavistic modern age, amorality and glorying in destruction are just beneath the surface.  If the genie is let out the bottle, it will prove all too potent in working mischief.  Time for punishments to be meted out.  "Thou shalt not steal." – I wonder if many of the thieves know about this Commandment, or Whose it is, or what awaits those who commit mortal sins?  And what of those who destroy what the hard work of others has built up?  Let them pay the price.  

UK: New Name Needed?

Assuming, for the sake of argument, that Scotland chooses her own path and makes her own way in the future (an episode of Doctor Who presaged this not too long ago), what should the remainder of the United Kingdom – currently denominated, "of Great Britain and Northern Ireland" – be called?  Before Eire won her freedom, it was the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland; and before Ireland was incorporated fully, it was the Kingdom of Great Britain, once the old Parliament of Scotland had voted for union, and her own dissolution, back in 1707.

How about the United Kingdom of England, Wales, (Cornwall*) and Northern Ireland?  Or, perhaps, the United Kingdom of 2/3 of Britain and 1/6 of Ireland?

In any case, Her Majesty would still rule over both this successor state, and the restored Kingdom of Scotland; this would be but the latest division of the Crown, just as she rules as Queen of (the Dominion of) Canada, of the Commonwealth of Australia, and so forth.

* Some assert that Cornwall was never fully incorporated into England.

Elections, UK

Again, I've been fascinated and absorbed by election coverage – this time from the United Kingdom.  Its quaint first-past-the-post voting system, so malproportional, and inability to permit all who wish to vote – many hundreds were turned away in various cities, owing largely to the total stupidity of having voting on a Thursday working day, not on Saturday as always here in Australia – notwithstanding, the 2010 General Election has at least produced one good thing: a hung Parliament.

I am all for checks and balances: and depriving one party, or rather the Prime Minister and Cabinet formed by the leaders thereof, of total command of the House of Commons is a good thing, in that it prevents the dictatorship of the Executive.  In modern British elections, won by Labour in recent elections with little more than a third of the popular vote, this domination by an elite becomes odious and inherently anti-democratic; especially as the House of Lords has been eviscerated of all real ability to act as a house of review.

A Catholic analysis would invoke the principle of subsidiarity – the idea that decision-making ought be spread throughout the polity, to the level both lowest and best able to make decisions.  I devoutly hope, therefore, that the Liberal Democrats are able to obtain electoral reform as the price of their support for either Conservative or Labour, since making the next election fairer, and diluting the winner-takes-all reality of the present system in all but exceptional cases such as the present poll, should be much desired.

The next issue to be squarely faced ought be the consequences of devolution in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland: the U.K. has now a de facto quasi-federal system, well and good, since this is subsidiarity in action; but the "West Lothian question" (as Powell named it back in 1977) remains, in that it is perverse that Scottish MP's vote on laws applying only in England (and Wales).  As Hague said in 1999, "English votes on English laws"; on any bill for an Act not extending to Scotland (or, likewise, to the other countries of the U.K., Wales and/or Northern Ireland), the Scottish M.P.'s (and similarly those of Wales and Northern Ireland, if the issue would be dealt with by their local Assemblies) ought not vote, as the matter is not their concern nor that of their constituents.

As England alone has no devolved assembly of its own, the Parliament at Westminster must fulfil that role also; but in doing so, only MP's from areas where such laws will operate should vote for them.  But at this, how Labour will scream!  Laws not extending to Scotland would then be made without the 41 Labour MP's from north of the border; laws not covering Wales either would be made without the current 26 Labour MP's holding Welsh seats.  This would mean, in effect, that the Conservative preponderance in England – where the Tories hold 297 of 533 seats – would give them much greater powers than at present, when the Labour members from outside England can negative many measures.

Now for the next great issue at hand, also one of morality: prudence and fiscal rectitude – that is, paying one's debts lest the realm suffer a Greek tragedy...

My European Itinerary

As I've mentioned in previous postings, I'm off to the Old Country, and thence to Italy, for a few weeks after Christmas.

For the benefit of my friends and well-wishers, here are my finalized travel plans:

Wednesday 30th December

Fly to Melbourne at 9:55 am, arriving at 11:00 am; depart Melbourne at 10:25 pm for Dubai...

Thursday 31st December

Arrive Dubai at 5:40 am local time, departing at 7:45 am; and arrive London (Heathrow) at 11:35 am GMT.

(It'll be interesting to see the UK, but I must admit my images of London are largely informed by watching The Bill; at least my accommodation is just down the road from Liz and Phil...)

Friday 1st January

At some point during New Year's Day, my mate Michael (whom I'm meeting in London) and I will travel up to Oxford, weather permitting!

Sunday 3rd January

Back to London...

Monday 4th January

I fly from London (Gatwick) at 8:20 am, arriving Edinburgh at 9:45 am.

Thursday 7th January

Depart Edinburgh 6:10 am, arriving Paris (Charles de Gaulle) 9:10 am, then flying on from there at 10:05 am, arriving Florence at 12:10 pm.

(It will be good to get back there: Firenze - città bellisima!)

Saturday 9th January

I will take the train down to Rome in the morning...

Thursday 14th January

Depart Rome at 8:25 pm, bound for Dubai.

Friday 15th January

Arrive Dubai 5:05 am, depart 9:40 am; arrive Singapore 8:50 pm, depart 10:25 pm.

Saturday 16th January

Return to Australia: arrive Melbourne 8:45 am.

(My friends at the Dominican Priory in Camberwell have kindly agreed to let me stay the night there.)

Sunday 17th January

Depart Melbourne 3:20 pm; return home to Launceston 4:40 pm.

Maps generated by the
Great Circle Mapper -
copyright © Karl L. Swartz.

Many thanks to Great Circle Mapper, with which I've plotted my course (excl. Oxford and back, about 200 km)... it turns out I'll be travelling around 37,000 km in total, about 90% of the circumference of the earth - I love trivial facts.

Winter

Watching the television news, I see that Europe and North America are suffering severe snowstorms – climate change is upon us: the Ice Age cometh. ;-)

I do hope that, by the time my flight comes to Heathrow on New Year's Eve, this gridlock has eased! And on New Year's Day I need to travel to Oxford. Goodness knows how Edinburgh will be the next week...

Perhaps this poem by William Dunbar, writing just before the end of mediæval Catholic Scotland in foul dark Reformation, may strike a chord with frozen northern hemispherians, whom I'll soon be joining for some weeks:

MEDITATIOUN IN WYNTIR

In to thir dirk and drublie dayis,

Quhone sabill all the hevin arrayis

With mystie vapouris, cluddis, and skyis,

Nature all curage me denyis

Off sangis, ballattis, and of playis.

[Into these dark and wet days,

When sable all the heaven arrays

With misty vapours, clouds, and skies,

Nature all courage me denies

Of songs, ballads, and of plays.]

Quhone that the nycht dois lenthin houris,

With wind, with haill, and havy schouris,

My dule spreit dois lurk for schoir,

My hairt for languor dois forloir

For laik of symmer with his flouris.

[When that the night does lengthen hours,

With wind, with hail, and heavy showers,

My sad spirit does lurk threatened

My heart for languor does weaken

For lack of summer with his flowers.]

I walk, I turn, sleip may I nocht,

I vexit am with havie thocht;

This warld all ouir I cast about,

And ay the mair I am in dout,

The mair that I remeid have socht.

[I walk, I turn, sleep may I not,

I vexed am with heavy thought;

This world all over I cast about,

And e'er the more I am in doubt,

The more that I remedy have sought.]

I am assayit on everie syde:

Dispair sayis ay, "In tyme provyde

And get sum thing quhairon to leif,

Or with grit trouble and mischeif

Thow sall in to this court abyd."

[I am assailed on every side:

Despair says e'er, "In time provide

And get some thing whereon to live

Or with great trouble and mischief

Thou shall into this court abide."]

Than Patience sayis, "Be not agast:

Hald Hoip and Treuthe within the fast,

And lat Fortoun wirk furthe hir rage,

Quhome that no rasoun may assuage,

Quhill that hir glas be run and past."

[Then Patience says, "Be not aghast:

Hold Hope and Truth within thee fast,

And let Fortune work forth her rage,

Whom that no reason may assuage,

Till that her glass be run and past."]

And Prudence in my eir sayis ay,

"Quhy wald thow hald that will away?

Or craif that thow may have no space,

Thow tending to ane uther place,

A journay going everie day?"

[And Prudence in my ear says e'er,

"Why would thou hold that will [go] away?

Or crave that thou may have now space,

Though tending to another place,

A journey going every day?]

And than sayis Age, "My freind, cum neir,

And be not strange, I the requeir,

Cum, brodir, by the hand me tak,

Remember thow hes compt to mak

Off all thi tyme thow spendit heir."

[And then says Age, "My friend, come near,

And be not strange, I thee require,

Come, brother, by the hand me take,

Remember thou hast [ac]count to make

Of all thy time thou [hast] spent here."]

Syne Deid castis upe his yettis wyd,

Saying, "Thir oppin sall the abyd;

Albeid that thow wer never sa stout,

Undir this lyntall sall thow lowt:

Thair is nane uther way besyde."

[Then Death casts ope his gates wide,

Saying, "These within shall thee abide;

Albeit that thou were never so stout,

Under this lintel shall thou bow down:

There is no other way beside."]

For feir of this all day I drowp;

No gold in kist, nor wyne in cowp,

No ladeis bewtie, nor luiffis blys,

May lat me to remember this,

How glaid that ever I dyne or sowp.

[For fear of this all day I droop;

No gold in chest, nor wine in cup,

No ladies' beauty, nor lovers' bliss,

May hinder me to remember this,

How glad that ever I dine or sup.]

Yit, quhone the nycht begynnis to schort,

It dois my spreit sum pair comfort,

Off thocht oppressit with the schowris.

Cum, lustie symmer! with thi flowris,

That I may leif in sum disport.

[Yet, when the night begins to shorten,

It does my spirit some poor comfort,

Of thought oppressed with the showers.

Come, lusty summer! with thy flowers,

That I may live in some disport.]

Finalizing Holiday Plans

Persevering readers of this blog (if there are any) will know that I am heading to England, Scotland and Italy for a holiday at the very end of this year and the start of next - which is quite typical of me, being so contrary as to head to the far north in mid-winter! I know Traddies like to be climate change deniers out of a general sense of contrariety, but I for one wouldn't mind some warming coming up very soon...

While I have to sort out the English leg of my holiday, it will be spent in London and Oxford; but for the benefit of my Scottish contacts, my very distant relatives, I can confirm that I'll fly up to Edinburgh on Monday the 4th of January, and stay in the Athens of the North over three nights, before departing for Florence on Thursday: so I'll keep Epiphany in Scotland.

Firenze - città bellissima! I can't wait to get back there - I'll stay at my usual hotel on the banks of the Arno for two nights, and then take the train to Rome on the morning of Saturday January 9th. The local Carmelites tell me I simply must make it to the shrine of one of their incorruptibles, St Teresa Margaret of the Sacred Heart, of their Order...

Once in the Eternal City, I will catch up with several other Aussies, and we should have a pleasant time, hopefully at last including a day-trip to Assisi, before I have to leave for Australia on Thursday the 14th: I will have the weekend in Melbourne before finally getting home on Sunday afternoon.

Burns reminds me that best-laid plans gang aft agley... I trust the Lord will preserve and guide me, as He ever has.

Off to the Old Country...

Thanks for any prayers offered: I've managed to get affordable tickets for flights to and from Europe for my upcoming trip.

I will arrive in London just before noon on Thursday the 31st of December, and hope to spend about nine days in England and Scotland, probably visiting Oxford and lastly Edinburgh... then it's off to Italy to meet up with a friend of mine, with whom I'll do some travelling about - probably mainly in Rome and Florence (a visit to Gricigliano hopefully), plus Assisi, before flying to Australia from Rome on the evening of Thursday the 14th of January; I'll have the weekend in Melbourne, and get back home on Sunday afternoon.

Pray that all goes well! I look forward to meeting various people during this upcoming holiday!

Petition for Temporal Benefits

Pray, please...

As mentioned below, I am very much hoping to travel to the UK and Italy in early January 2010.

Unfortunately, it is proving incredibly hard to find affordable plane fares for travel at this time of year, and I may well have to give up on this trip.

Therefore, please pray for me that my travel agent may turn up an affordable option for my travel to and from Europe: it would be sad to have to abandon this, but c'est la vie.

In any case, God's will be done.