Abbey-Roads2

The temptation of St. Anthony in the desert.

I completely forgot that today is the feast of St. Anthony of Egypt. I attribute it to the pain meds I have had to take today for a continuing health problem I have.

St. Anthony, celebrated as the patriarch of Christian monasticism, and the inspiration of all monks, was born around the year 250. He left society, after selling all he possessed and went into the desert to live the ascetic life in solitude. He attracted disciples whom he organized into the first cenobitic communities of monks.

His temptations are intriguing, indicating the way of the solitary is one of combat with the spiritual forces of evil. The Vita, written by St. Athanasius, details his combat with the demons, a subject fascinating painters throughout the ages. An excerpt from Athanasius’ account of the life of St. Anthony:

” But those of his acquaintances who came, since he did not permit them to enter, often used to spend days and nights outside, and heard as it were crowds within clamouring, dinning, sending forth piteous voices and crying, ‘Go from what is ours. What do you even in the desert? You can not abide our attack.’ So at first those outside thought there were some men fighting with him, and that they had entered by ladders; but when stooping down they saw through a hole there was nobody, they were afraid, accounting them to be demons, and they called on Antony. Them he quickly heard, though he had not given a thought to the demons, and coming to the door he besought them to depart and not to be afraid, ‘for thus,’ said he, ‘the demons make their seeming onslaughts against those who are cowardly. Sign yourselves therefore with the cross, and depart boldly, and let these make sport for themselves.’ So they departed fortified with the sign of the Cross. But he remained in no wise harmed by the evil spirits, nor was he wearied with the contest, for there came to his aid visions from above, and the weakness of the foe relieved him of much trouble and armed him with greater zeal. For his acquaintances used often to come expecting to find him dead, and would hear him singing, ‘Let God arise and let His enemies be scattered, let them also that hate Him flee before His face. As smoke vanishes, let them vanish; as wax melts before the face of fire, so let the sinners perish from the face of God;’ and again, ‘All nations compassed me about, and in the name of the Lord I requited them.’ ” - New Advent

St Anthony, pray for us that we may be freed from every enchantment proffered by the world, the flesh, and the devil. By your prayers, make us worthy of the promises of Christ. Pray with us when we pray, “Arise, O Lord, and let your enemies be scattered, and may those that hate you flee before your Holy Face.” Amen

New World Order 

This image, an extreme anti-semite piece of propaganda from the Nazi era, continues to represent something of the fear and prejudice against Jews today by some uber-traditionalists - mainly those on the fringe of the Roman Catholic Church. (I am not referring to the growing number of Roman Catholics who long for the restoration of the Tridentine rite, and traditional theology and ecclesiology, etc.)

I wrote about such things in the past on the old Abbey-Roads, while the Mel Gibson fracas errupted after his anti-semitic comments during his arrest last year for a DUI. People got mad at me for having stated that I experienced similar hatred concerning Jews in conversations with some more extreme folks who identify themselves as traditional Catholics. In relating my opinion, I stated I believed there was an underlying suspicion of Jews which remains in a portion of the Catholic unconscious. My post was misunderstood by some readers as a sweeping condemnation of all Catholics, and especially traditionalists as being anti-semitic. It was not meant to be that.

Today, at Spirit Daily, which sometimes reads like a Catholic version of tabloid newspapers, Brown posted a link to The Southern Poverty Law Center with an article concerning the attitudes of some extreme traditionalist Catholics towards the Jews as regards the often repeated fear of a Zionist plot to take over the world. (Right or wrong, I usually identify these extremists with, Feeneyites, radical SSPX elements, or sedevacantists, along with many of the Fr. Gruener Fatima people - yet once again - not everyone in these groups!)

My favorite Catholic blog is Roman Catholic Blog- in his post today concerning the same article, he sums up in a few words what I have always tried to express on this subject:

“Part of the problem comes from lumping all the Jews into one category. That isn’t any more accurate than lumping all Catholics into one category, and the potential for confusion and error snowballs from there.

Bottom line: Just as it is unjust to portray all Traditional Catholics as dangerous antisemites, it is equally unjust to make sweeping generalizations about the Jewish people.” Roman Catholic Blog

The article, titled “The Synagogue of Satan” opens with alarming anecdotes that sound much like pre-WWII propaganda against Jews - nevertheless it is contemporary rhetoric (in some circles):

“From a makeshift pulpit inside an Indianna Quality Inn, a baby-faced priest angrily denounces the Jews, saying they mean to “destroy all Christian nations”…The Southern Poverty Law Center

The article goes on from there, reading like an indictment against Traditional Catholicism. Maybe because the source is the Southern Poverty Law Center, the article reminded me of the anti-Catholic rhetoric common in the Southern Bible Belt in the early part of the 20th century. What is reported as traditional Catholic prejuduice against Jews, is exactly that. However, it is not representative of Roman Catholic teaching, especially that which has come down to us from the Second Vatican Council; neither is it representative of the papacy of Benedict XVI, nor his predecessors.

I’m of the opinion that the article, along with the links contained in it - one titled, “The New Crusaders“, may work in well with the contemporary social agenda to discredit the Church and all religion, thus making it the scapegoat for all that ails the world and culture. I cannot say however, that the authors are mistaken in their coverage, it is well researched and well written. Having said that, what is contained in the report may add fuel to the anti-religious sentiment already brewing in the secularist segment of society.

I can’t help but think of the John Lennon lyrics from his song, “Imagine”:

Imagine there’s no Heaven
It’s easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today

Imagine there’s no countries
It isn’t hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace