This is new . . . and annoying

I see that Photobucket, after opening the floodgates to cheesy ads and making itself otherwise extremely difficult to use has now put an ugly little stamp on all The Inn's pictures.

Time to look for a new picture host. 

Long over-due, in fact.

Chesterton on Slang . . . and Psychology . . . sort of

From G.K.'s Weekly, May 9, 1931 via the May/June 2019 edition of Gilbert! (which appears to have gotten its exclamation point back)

That is the sort of slang that is really weakening language and literature in America.  It is the weary tossing about at tenth hand of certain words supposed to belong to a science of psychology; a psychology which I suspect that the psychologists do not understand and I know that the journalists do not understand.  There was an even worse example in the case of the quarrel that arose round the alleged attack on American culture by Mr J.B. Priestley  An American lady, writing a spirited reply to Mr Priestley, poured scorn upon what she call the “sadistic” cowardice of Americans in submitting to such criticism.  What she imagined the word “sadistic” to mean the devil only knows; the devil being the only person who ought to be interested in it.  All over American magazines, even the most intelligent and interesting articles, there is sprinkled this silly slang of popular science; a welter of long words that are either utterly unmeaning, or unmeaning where they are used, or mean something entirely different.  In so far as they had any relation to psychology, or in so far as psychology had any relation to reason, the only possible effect they could have would be to provide the future with a widespread psychological study of softening of the brain.

I Bind Unto Myself Today the Strong Name of the Trinity

A wonderful hymn for Trinity Sunday, which we did indeed sing this morning.

And as is also our custom on Trinity Sunday, the creed chanted was the Athanasian Creed - Quicumque Vult.

What The Inn had to say about Trinity Sunday a dozen years ago:

Trinity Sunday is one of the major feasts of the Church but not one that ever made it big where it counts: $$$ No Trinity Sunday white sales, no Trinity Sunday carols being played in the malls with only 10 more shopping days left 'til Trinity Sunday. Not even a deracinated saint or an anthropomorphic rodent to deliver presents the night before.

 Up until the final reform of the Tridentine breviary in the early '60s (i.e., a few years before its complete replacement by the Pauline liturgy of the hours) Trinity Sunday was distinguished as the last day in the year in which the Athanasian Creed - Quicumque Vult - was recited liturgically. But no more. On an ecumenical scale of 1 - 10 (10 being best) it would only rate a 1. (And it only got the 1 because some Lutherans and Anglicans are rather fond of it.)  So The Inn may be the old Creed's only commemoration this year.  (But that was 2007.  It's been part of Bl John's Trinity Sunday for a while now.)

 And as is The Inn's custom, here is the text of the Athanasian Creed, one of the Church's four major creeds, for your edification:

WHOSOEVER will be saved : before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholick Faith.
Which Faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled : without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.
And the Catholick Faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity;
Neither confounding the Persons : nor dividing the Substance.
For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son : and another of the Holy Ghost.
But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one : the Glory equal, the Majesty co-eternal.
Such as the Father is, such is the Son : and such is the Holy Ghost.
The Father uncreate, the Son uncreate : and the Holy Ghost uncreate.
The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible : and the Holy Ghost incomprehensible.
The Father eternal, the Son eternal : and the Holy Ghost eternal.
And yet they are not three eternals : but one eternal.
As also there are not three incomprehensibles, nor three uncreated : but one uncreated, and one incomprehensible.
So likewise the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty : and the Holy Ghost Almighty.
And yet they are not three Almighties : but one Almighty.
So the Father is God, the Son is God : and the Holy Ghost is God.
And yet they are not three Gods : but one God.
So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord : and the Holy Ghost Lord.
And yet not three Lords : but one Lord.
For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every Person by himself to be both God and Lord;
So are we forbidden by the Catholick Religion : to say, There be three Gods, or three Lords.
The Father is made of none : neither created, nor begotten.
The Son is of the Father alone : not made, nor created, but begotten.
The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son : neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding.
So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons : one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts.
And in this Trinity none is afore, or after other : none is greater, or less than another;
But the whole three Persons are co-eternal together : and co-equal.
So that in all things, as is aforesaid : the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped.
He therefore that will be saved : must think thus of the Trinity.
Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation : that he also believe rightly the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
For the right Faith is, that we believe and confess : that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man;
God, of the substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds : and Man of the substance of his Mother, born in the world;
Perfect God and perfect Man : of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting.
Equal to the Father, as touching his Godhead : and inferior to the Father, as touching his manhood;
Who, although he be God and Man : yet he is not two, but one Christ;
One, not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh : but by taking of the Manhood into God;
One altogether; not by confusion of Substance : but by unity of Person.
For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man : so God and Man is one Christ;
Who suffered for our salvation : descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead.
He ascended into heaven, he sitteth at the right hand of the Father, God Almighty : from whence he will come to judge the quick and the dead.
At whose coming all men will rise again with their bodies : and shall give account for their own works.
And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting : and they that have done evil into everlasting fire.
This is the Catholick Faith : which except a man believe faithfully, he cannot be saved.

While I Was Away

Only two or three posts since March.  I didn't go back and count but that seems about right.  This may be the most neglectful I've ever been of the poor old Inn.  But we've been having health problems for a while now.  And by we I don't actually mean me.  I'm fairly healthy; just old.

But Mary has really been put through the medical and surgical ringer.  There have been several things in the past few years but in the first 4 months of this year she has had two major operations one for hip replacement and just lately a major back operation.  She's still restricted in what she can do: no twisting, bending, or lifting anything of any consequence.  (And yes, she's been informed that she can "shout, but not twist".  It was amusing the first 7 or 8 times but she's heard it enough now.)  Thanks be to God, though, the pain, the agony she was in is at last gone.   Recuperating is going to take a few more months.

So even though I'm in pretty good shape for an old guy who doesn't take particularly good care of himself, there isn't time for everything.  I've been spending days in the hospital, maintaining the home front and finding out how much she really does around here.  In general, trying to keep up with things that are -- shocking, I know -- more important than The Inn.  There is even a mountain of emails awaiting perusal but I've made most band practices and most choir rehearsals.  Yes, my time allocation priorities are not everyone's.

I hesitate to promise to be a more regular correspondent because there is also the issue of bone laziness to contend with.  But it is my intent.   Really.   It is.

Chernobyl, the Book of Apocalypse, and more

A fascinating bit of apocalyptic confluences is recorded in this piece in Fr Z's blog.  Well-worth a ponder.