I remember reading a sentence of Aquinas's to the effect that the blessed in heaven would be like the drunk upon earth. Why? Ecstasy, i.e. living outside oneself. A google search of Aquinas drunk heaven turned up this sentence: in the theology of St. Thomas Aquinas, in heaven "the saved will literally be drunk on God." The Bacchic urgings of the ancient world find a consummation in the Christian heaven?I also stumbled upon a wikiquote that puts my original point this way: The most hopeful people in the world are the young and the drunk. The first because they have little experience of failure, and the second because they have succeeded in drowning theirs. Admittedly funnier.
This musing on drunkeness has nothing to do with my purchase of the classic cocktail shaker. Lest the lowly minded be inclined to misinterpret my teachings (or purchase) I will provide another wikiquote: Man cannot live without joy; therefore when he is deprived of true spiritual joys it is necessary that he become addicted to carnal pleasures.
My father taught me two things. One, don't put a thief in your mouth to rob your brain. If his doctrines on fast food hamburgers and saturated fats in general had been as strict as his teaching on the fruit of the vine, perhaps he would be among us still today.
Two, if you're depressed then order something in the mail. That is advice I live by: human life is nothing without a solid hope. It's advice that's helped me out of as many difficulties as Aquinas's sorrow can be alleviated by good sleep, a bath and a glass of wine.
6 comments:
An amusing post, Jamie. Though I'm not exactly sure what it says about me when the first post that I choose to comment on from this worthy blog is an alchohol-related one. I promise to comment more faithfully (and soberly) in the future.
Speak kindly of me to your Kindling friends.
Father Barry:
In nomine omnium sanctorum, who the heck are you?
Normally I wouldn't be so curious, but if I have a comment from a man of the cloth I'm always curious. Doubly so if he knows of the mysterious "Kindlings." Triply so if he or she has a blog with the name of "Cuchulain" in it.
Having recovered from the surprise every student recieves upon remembering that their teachers possess first names, I will proceed to gloat. Like this: ahah. Ahahah.
Why this sudden good humor?
Because I know who Father Barry is. He comments on my sister's blog upon occasion. (well, perhaps those aren't quite grounds for claiming aquaintance. ...but I'm always ready to take the rare opportunity of knowing more than a teacher about something.)
There's more, however; I have a bone to pick. Some time ago, Magister, I queried through a comment on this very blog whether you knew Rob(IBM fellow). A few comments later, I asked if you also happened to know a fellow who called himself Father Barry. I also supplied his first name and his occupation, but I'll leave the introducing to the good Fr. himself--clearly, MY attempts are quickly forgotten. I see how it is. I see how little my comments and questions are regarded.
We'll see about my talking in class after this. We'll see.
Oh, and I've a question for Fr. Barry, if he doesn't mind--how did you happen upon the wealth of Hansoniana? I'm curious to know how you found it.
I might have slightly more philosophical comments about the "beatific hangover" sometime in the future. But for now, I've blabbered on long enough.
Hansonius says - Father Barry:
In nomine omnium sanctorum, who the heck are you?
Normally I wouldn't be so curious, but if I have a comment from a man of the cloth I'm always curious. Doubly so if he knows of the mysterious "Kindlings." Triply so if he or she has a blog with the name of "Cuchulain" in it.
I must admit that leaving fairly anonymous comments on the blogs of people I actually know is very bad form.
I must also admit that it is a great deal of fun. Nearly as much fun as the fact that my pseudonym nearly always makes people think I am a priest.
I am not. Karl Malden was as much of a priest as I am. (That is a smallish hint, but should point the classical film fan in the right direction.)
As to my actual identity, I am not quite prepared to divulge that information yet. This is too much fun. For me, at least. (Course, I suppose you could hunt down "mccaleb's" comment. I am honored to have already received a mention on Hansoniana. My "fame" proceeds me, it would seem.)
I am myself curious, however. I suspect I know who "mccaleb" is, and I certainly know the sister. But I'm not exactly sure...would there be Colin Firth pictures floating about, perhaps? Or are there even more McCaleb siblings?
As for how I know of Hansoniana, I must confess that the Kindlings are heavily involved. The rest will be revealed in due time.
And Jamie: The "Cuchulain" comes from the fact that I am not Irish - but with I was. And from the fact that Lady Gregory's collection of Irish Mythology is one of my favorite works. The Irish possess my favorite mythology, hands down. (A fairly distant second would be the Norse mythology. And the Greek/Roman stuff is far, far behind. Though I should perhaps not say that to someone with The Aeneid so close at hand...)
"Two, if you're depressed then order something in the mail. That is advice I live by: human life is nothing without a solid hope. It's advice that's helped me out of as many difficulties as Aquinas's sorrow can be alleviated by good sleep, a bath and a glass of wine."
I can't say I'm depressed, but the idea of ordering something by mail seems quite sound. It would be nice to have a little certainty now and then.
Haha. I know roughly where the comment is too, but I doubt that having forgotten its existence Magister will remember its whereabouts.
Fr. Barry: not too many Colin Firth pictures are floating about, due to the fact that at this moment they are firmly anchored in my locker. You have, however, the right idea.
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