12 Days of Christmas (Songs) - Day 5: The Year Was 1984

-

The 12 Days of Christmas: A hidden catechesis for Catholics while they endured persecution in England (1558-1829). You can read more about it here. This year I will be posting a Christmas song for each day.

Day 5: Five Golden Rings

Five refers to the first five books of the Old Testament, the Torah. Marcion said Christians need not bother with the Old Testament. Marcion was a heretic. Christ is prefigured in the Old Testament, and he fulfills it in the New.

I've chosen two catchy Christmas songs today. The first being Do They Know its Christmas by the conglomeration known as Band Aid. The second being Last Christmas by Wham's George Michael (who finds himself in both songs). Both songs came out in 1984. A year which was prefigured by writer George Orwell way back in 1949. The world was heading for evil, according to Orwell. 

Song 1:


First thoughts? That's a lot of makeup. Second thoughts? Bono is short. Anything else? Ok, I'll state the obvious. They're sort of demeaning to Africans. Apparently Africans do not know its Christmas (I'm pretty sure the Christians there could teach us a thing or two about how to suffer for the faith). This song has aged awkwardly. Feed the world, let them know it's Christmas. Only we can save the world! Not exactly the story of Christmas and the true Saviour.

Next:


I was shocked that my wife had never seen this video before. So I showed it to her recently. She wasn't impressed. "C'mon, you know that all those couples are up to no good!" she stated. I immediately noted that she was a terrible person for being so quick to judge. Actually, I pulled out the worst reasoning a Catholic can give. "Yeah, but at least they aren't sitting around on their phones!" She had to admit that I had a point.

Ok, what is my point with this? The year 1984 was used by Orwell to show a future world embracing Communist chaos. The actual year 1984 was not so. At least not outright. Life was still lived in the realm of pseudo-caring for others, almost-innocent fun, and it was done without a rewired human brain which needs Instagram and YouTube to find purpose in life.

What of now? I would say 1984 is here. COVID-1984, as it is so lovingly termed, has done in all the optimism we find in my two Christmas songs. Feed the world? We have locked down the world, despite the increased warnings of mass starvation. Let them know its Christmas? Are we even allowed to say Christmas in public? Enjoy Christmas with friends? Stay apart!!! No gatherings! Laughter and play? Stick to your phones for entertainment.

I look back to the year 1984 with a tinge of sadness. No, it wasn't at all perfect. But it wasn't Orwell's dystopia either. That is for our times. Will it ever return to the way it was? No, I dare say we will never go back to last Christmas.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Some Concerns with the Exodus 90 Program

-
Image
An update of my thoughts on Exodus 90 can be found HERE . Exodus 90 is underway for many Catholic men. It is an intense 90 day program based on prayer, asceticism, and fraternity. For 90 days these men will take cold showers, abstain from alcohol and most media, fast twice per week, give up snacks and desserts, along with various other spiritual tasks. I applaud such a penitential spirit. The inevitable…. HOWEVER… However, I do have two concerns about Exodus 90 which could use some explaining. 1: Sundays The Church already has a wise, if not perfect, system of fasting and feasting. Catholics are encouraged to do penance on Wednesdays and Fridays (some add in Saturdays as well). In addition, there are specific periods of penance (Lent, Advent, Ember Days). Feasting occurs on Sundays as well as on major Feast Days and Solemnities (e.g. the Assumption of Mary). There is a built in balance to life. My problem with Exodus 90 is that, from what I hear, Sundays and F...
Read more

Why I Will Not Be Doing Exodus 90 Anytime Soon

-
Image
  There is always a certain amount of fear and trembling when I begin writing a piece on a somewhat unfamiliar subject. Perhaps all that will be demonstrated here is my ignorance and incompetence. To which I suppose my wife would reply: “You’d think you’d be used to that by now.” But I write this piece simply for the fact that Catholic trends, even good ones, need sober reflection and refinement. I  refer to the Exodus 90 program. [i] Earlier in 2020 – simpler times to be sure - I listened with interest to a podcast on Exodus 90. In it I heard that this program, which was founded in 2013, is an intense 90 day program based on prayer, asceticism, and fraternity. For 90 days men take cold showers, abstain from alcohol and most media, fast twice per week, give up snacks and desserts, meet weekly with a small group of participants, exercise regularly, all the while following a regimented prayer schedule. I applaud such a penitential spirit (though it seems that cold showers ...
Read more

My First SSPX Mass

-
Image
I do not write to stir up the SSPX/FSSP debate. Nor do I write to raise allegations and threats concerning being  in communion ,  schismatic , or  a   loyal son of the Church . I find doing so tiresome. If a person cannot recognize the Church is in a crisis; if a person thinks it spiritually superior to attend a polka Mass (they still exist, I assure you) over an SSPX Mass; if the mention of Archbishop Lefebvre angers a person more than the deeds of  James Martin  or the writings of  Cardinal Fernandez ; heaven help this person. Lord knows I can’t. If one “gets” what I’m saying, read on. If not, I suggest  this book  instead. It happened this past summer. My wife and I were planning our usual family pilgrimage to the Canadian Rockies. Climbing mountains while carrying a kid or two, eating rehydrated chili and peanut butter wraps, all while living like dirtbags in a tent, is the closest experience to heaven I know. Moments to live for. All e...
Read more

On Wimpy Catholicism and a Return to Manly Fasting

-
Image
The following is a talk I recently gave at a Catholic men's group: Let’s begin by examining the secular “wokeness” on fasting. Gone are the days of weight loss programs like Weight Watchers… where you simply eat less each meal! Sounds simple, right? Fewer calories means you lose weight. The problem is that it never worked that well. The reduced number of calories per meal also reduced one’s energy as well, dipped into muscle storage, and offered frugal results. Science now shows that full out fasting is the perfect method for proper health. The secular world’s latest trend is intermittent fasting . One builds up how long a person can go in between meals. The ideal is to eat one meal a day. The meal could consist of almost your regular day’s intake (say 75%). What happens is that your body, when full out fasting, actually dips into fat storage for energy. You maintain your energy, lose weight, and it’s perfectly healthy, if not natural. Science shows that intermittent...
Read more

Free Printables for Disconnected: The Broken Path

-
Image
  “ This story came as a wonderful surprise—I was expecting a children's story (which I got), but the truths it touches on brought me to tears several times. The ending was special and beautiful.” - From a review of Disconnected: The Broken Path To purchase Disconnected: Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/1778052509 USA: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1778052509
Read more

The Fire of Hell is Unlike Anything Here on Earth

-
Image
  It is good occasionally to think of the fires of hell. Knowledge of the physical torments alone ought to convert us closer to Christ. I offer a brief selection from  St. Alphonsus Liguori's Preparation for Death: The Fire of Hell. The pain which most severely torments the senses of the damned arises from the fire of hell, which tortures the sense of touch. The vengeance on the flesh of the ungodly is fire and worms. Hence, in passing sentence, the Lord makes special mention of it. Depart from Me, you cursed, into everlasting fire. Even in this life, the pain of fire is the greatest of all torments; but according to St. Augustine, our fire, compared with the fire of hell, is but painted fire. St. Vincent Ferrer says, that in comparison with the fire of hell our fire is cold. The reason is, that the fire of this earth has been created for our use; but God has made the fire of hell purposely to torment the damned. As Tertullian remarks: "Fire which is made for the use of man i...
Read more