tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7091756463128804432.post1610690911573442827..comments2024-03-27T02:55:10.109-07:00Comments on Irish Papist: Europe and MeMaolsheachlannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09406722311993627528noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7091756463128804432.post-58981529621901839742017-05-21T19:16:28.073-07:002017-05-21T19:16:28.073-07:00I'm quite late to this subject--but I quite sy...I'm quite late to this subject--but I quite sympathize. Europe holds very little interest for me (though, to be even-handed, so does Target). I don't imply that I think the less of all of that history, all of that accomplishment, and all of that art, or that I am trying to downplay the impact it's had on the rest of the world, and on me. There just isn't any great desire to experience it firsthand. I enjoy travelers' tales.<br /><br />I say that, and then I think "But what about the pilgrimage to Santiago Compestela"? That, I must admit, I do find quite compelling (apart from the "relentless blue skies" I suspect one must brave to get there). But I think it's possibly the walking aspect that appeals to me more than anything, the idea of pilgrimage, of moving on one's own two feet towards a holy destination. Though I say that with Tomás' remark about bringing God along with one clearly in my mind!<br /><br />Mollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07922256237670687588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7091756463128804432.post-43563463435835814302017-05-18T14:00:57.959-07:002017-05-18T14:00:57.959-07:00I actually envy you slightly. Discovering PLF is ...I actually envy you slightly. Discovering PLF is one of the great joys of the literary life. Here is an introduction of sorts http://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/features/roads-less-travelled-patrick-leigh-fermor-lived-an-adventurers-life-403467.htmlmickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13984879719516554591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7091756463128804432.post-85860249931638603202017-05-18T13:47:39.026-07:002017-05-18T13:47:39.026-07:00Ha ha. OK, I'll give it a go. Never even heard...Ha ha. OK, I'll give it a go. Never even heard of him before.Maolsheachlannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09406722311993627528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7091756463128804432.post-4989863328044283122017-05-18T13:42:41.231-07:002017-05-18T13:42:41.231-07:00I'm not giving up that easily. Try the first ...I'm not giving up that easily. Try the first chapter of A Time of Gifts when PLF arrives in Rotterdam a couple of hours before dawn right at the beginning of his walk to Constantinople. The snow-covered statue of Erasmus, the quayside landlord who offers him fried eggs, coffee and Bols to send him on his way...<br /><br />Or the first chapter of A Time of Gifts when he crosses the bridge into Hungary at Esztergom on Holy Saturday...<br /><br />PLF was English and claimed Irish descent, so.... mickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13984879719516554591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7091756463128804432.post-24246724645122874092017-05-17T14:01:24.167-07:002017-05-17T14:01:24.167-07:00I have never read either of them, but I still thin...I have never read either of them, but I still think there's no hope for me!Maolsheachlannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09406722311993627528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7091756463128804432.post-35829252751687651902017-05-17T14:00:19.739-07:002017-05-17T14:00:19.739-07:00I'm shocked. Staggered! Maybe you should rea...I'm shocked. Staggered! Maybe you should read Patrick Leigh Fermor. Or Christopher Dawson. Or maybe you already have. In which case there is no hope for you!mickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13984879719516554591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7091756463128804432.post-32254844110543311792017-05-17T08:45:39.488-07:002017-05-17T08:45:39.488-07:00Remarkably, no, although I've seen plenty of o...Remarkably, no, although I've seen plenty of other TV productions of his work. Last Christmas my brother bought me a DVD production of Robert Powell reading some of his stories. I've also watched some with my horror club, including a recent series with Christopher Lee.Maolsheachlannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09406722311993627528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7091756463128804432.post-69236771894587248622017-05-17T08:42:25.214-07:002017-05-17T08:42:25.214-07:00I note your side allusion to M.R. James - a great,...I note your side allusion to M.R. James - a great, and often overlooked, creator of atmosphere. Have you seen the 1968 BBC production of "O Whistle and I'll come to you my lad"? A really brilliant ghost story, possibly better than James's original.Paulusmaximushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14183126491509874339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7091756463128804432.post-21181204617893682802017-05-17T05:35:24.682-07:002017-05-17T05:35:24.682-07:00Indeed! Although people have been moved towards fa...Indeed! Although people have been moved towards faith unexpectedly by visiting somewhere. I think if you're LOOKING for God somewhere, you won't find him.Maolsheachlannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09406722311993627528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7091756463128804432.post-26241956930984866182017-05-17T05:32:02.735-07:002017-05-17T05:32:02.735-07:00ultimately there's the old saying We won't...ultimately there's the old saying We won't find God anywhere if we don't bring Him with usTomásnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7091756463128804432.post-36010559485578391902017-05-17T04:58:11.792-07:002017-05-17T04:58:11.792-07:00I never had the desire during John Paul's reig...I never had the desire during John Paul's reign or now, during Francis' reign , not because of a any dislike mind you, but somehow I probably would have liked to visit during Pope Benedict's time, had I gone at all. <br />Virginia Woolf, of all people liked Rome, saying while she was there that she liked the catholic church after all, not that it had much overall effectSéamusnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7091756463128804432.post-9397504822097527142017-05-17T04:42:09.245-07:002017-05-17T04:42:09.245-07:00I prefer Rome seen from a distance, so to speak......I prefer Rome seen from a distance, so to speak...as a symbol or an idea or a centre. People always assume I would like to visit the Vatican, but I've no desire to!Maolsheachlannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09406722311993627528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7091756463128804432.post-53716101861951494742017-05-17T04:37:14.924-07:002017-05-17T04:37:14.924-07:00I don't think Italian style would be my taste ...I don't think Italian style would be my taste either but France has a very different style altogether. I like gothic.<br />Rome has a special "bond"with weekday Masses according to the 1962 missal, if that makes sense. In the old rite, every important season of the year has daily "stational churches" ,always an old church of Rome, something largely symbolic to most Mass goers, but which would mean a lot to anyone visiting Rome who usually attends the traditional liturgy. Also,a lot of early Roman martyrs are commemorated in the traditional Mass, this would all make Rome more enriching for people who attended this Mass daily, which I know few can do. I suspect the Church, after the Council wanted to make the church seem more universal by letting a lot of this go.<br />Still... My sister and brother-in-law could have saved a bit of money... To think....their own daughter worked in Target all through uni.Séamusnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7091756463128804432.post-2080172035568059292017-05-17T04:13:25.085-07:002017-05-17T04:13:25.085-07:00Maybe Australian Target doesn't have the aweso...Maybe Australian Target doesn't have the awesomeness of American Target!<br /><br />I did like all the crucifixes at crossroads.Maolsheachlannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09406722311993627528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7091756463128804432.post-64931422743286980042017-05-17T04:01:26.128-07:002017-05-17T04:01:26.128-07:00I've never been to mainland Europe but I never...I've never been to mainland Europe but I never suspected that Target was more interesting.<br />We have plenty of Target stores in Australia. I have family in Umbria at the moment, they seemed to have found Assisi more interesting than Target... And Castello...and Fatima. <br />On a more serious note... Everyone is bound to have different tastes, but was there no enjoyment of Europe's Christian patrimony at all? Even, granted the secularism in all countries and, indeed, the commercialisation of Christianity in some parts too, looking for large donations to enter churches etc. A very Francophile musician couple I knew mentioned,when Sínead O'Connor was ordained at Lourdes<br />"you know....there's Lourdes and there's Lourdes!"<br /><br /><br /><br />Séamusnoreply@blogger.com