Video – Fr Angelo – Standing Fast #24: The Fighting Spirit
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Ave Maria!
Over a period of time the ideal of Chivalry slowly degenerated. In this episode, Fr. Angelo tries to recapture its true meaning in light of the Catholic ideal of Chivalry. Listen to Fr. explain how the Chivalrous spirit arose from a fighting spirit, and when moderated, could be transformed into virtue.
For more on Marian Chivalry in the Modern World: MaryVictrix.com
Ave Maria!
This was excellent. I’d add, though, I think chilvary was supposed to work both ways. The woman was to inspire virtue in men.
But sadly women expect men to be like themselves these days. Men are so complicated I think, but they tend to have “compartments”. Some of these are private. The sooner women respect those private thoughts and reflections the better the relationship. Today women expect men to expose everything.
That men and women are different is a shocker to many people – used to be common sense.
E. Gormley,
You are right. Chivalry for Women will be a topic another day. It was the duty of a lady to expect deeds of honor from her man and to desire him to be honored by others for his honorable life.
The whole point of my efforts is that while women do inspire the more noble aspects of man, men cannot just imitate women, especially in matters of religion. Women can experience piety for its own sake and progress spiritually by leaps and bounds. Men need to translate piety into a form of action, even into a fight.
Fr. Angelo,
You answer reminds me of a song called “Flying Man” by Bruce Woolley and the Camera Club.
You might also expore the aspect of “legacy” for men. I think that men, whether single or married are engaged in preserving or passing on some “legacy” – this can be in the form of children (biological or spiritual) , some work, institutions, or something physical (like buildings or collections or even monetary with a purpose). But this is the battlefield for men of all ages – whether it’s physical warfare or spiritual or both.
Women – and there may be some argument from feminists – are all about their men – husbands, sons, bosses. While there are plenty of examples of women achieving on their own “legacies” they often do them for the men in their lives and their children – and often because no one else can fill that spot at that time.
Even single women in the work force find their time doing emotional support for all the people in their work group.
These are generalities of course, but there are roles that are satisfying in this life and they generally have a different focus depending on gender.
And lastly, I think you are too kind to my gender, the thing that holds women back is the fear of losing control over the central “home” whatever form that takes. There is the problem of the “queen bee” – there can’t be two queens in the hive, you understand. And often concern over another’s behavior in their sphere of dominion isn’t spiritual at all – it’s jealousy or a desire to control. Or on the other side – it’s a lack of trust in God’s ability to do a better job then they are doing.
I am looking forward to more of your series on this subject.
Yours in Jesus and Mary, Liz Gormley
You will not find “Flying Man” on the internet.
It has a Beatlesque sound to it. The album English Garden (New Wave genre) is dominated by a wistful longing for the past, a clear eye to the struggle ahead, a desire to live a full life, and a recognition that victory was not certain. Here’s a bit of it:
Flying Man
Chorus:
Early morning, motor flying
Getting up at three
Oh you know it?s hard, you?ve got to understand
I don?t care if everybody
wants to laugh at me
I?m your local man, flying – flying man
I’ve gotta, gotta go now – back on patrol….
E. and Liz,
Thanks for the insightful comments. I will check out the song. You might take a look at my latest post on maryvictrix. I would be interested in your thoughts.
I have thought of the concept of legacy relative to men, under the title of patrimony or nobility. Birthrights have come to overwhelm the concept of nobility, when, in fact, its origins had to do with a patrimony of excellence and an expectation of that excellence to be carried out by sons. I go so far as to think of Chesterton and his definition of tradition as the democracy of the dead. Perhaps we could say that patrimony is the protection of the rights and assets of the dead.
Liz,
I did not intend to be too kind to your gender. You haven’t given me a chance. ;-). Chivalry is an ideal, and there is a connatural role for women to play in the restoration of chivarly. Assets also have liabilities. The same gifts that grant to women their place as guardians of the heart and hearth make them subject to all the petty jealousies, drama and manipulation that we all know too well.
Fr. Angelo,
I am E. (Elizabeth) and Liz – sorry for the confusion. I’ll check it out and get back to you – as soon as possible. I’m not sure of Chesterton’s quote – but he liked to say things to stir things up. I only know enough of his writings to get myself into trouble.
And I’m afraid the album English Garden is out of print – I’m fortunate to have the 1979 original LP. It’s a gem.
However, the themes in it are not unlike a lot of popular culture at that time and maybe later we can discuss some more accessible pop-culture on that subject. Pop culture is how people “talk” to each other these days because that’s all they have in common – no one knows history or literature or even agree on the same doctrines of faith.
Sad, but you have to work with what you’ve got.
And as to legacy, the Holy Father addressed that in his homily at Yankee Stadium – he talked about the legacy of this country in connection with the ideal of True Freedom (in contrast to “free to be me”). Gotta go. Liz Gormley
It just occured to me what your Chesterton comment might mean? JRR Tolkien wondered if a monarchy might be the answer to the ills of modern life? Is that it?
I personally don’t know though I hope not. Something has to change however and to some degree I think it is. I’m hoping, though, it’s not too late.
Liz,
No, monarchy had not really occurred to me. In the context of chivalry I thought of legacy as meaning the patrimony proper to nobility, which, as I said, is not so much a matter of birthright as it is virtue, or at least it should be. My adaptation of the Chesterton quote had to do with the obligations we have to our fathers. We create legacy by preserving it. The best legacy we can produce is to preserve our patrimony and make it better for the next generation.
Fr. Angelo – sorry I missed this yesterday.
Yes, I agree with this interpretation. Right and wrong, the permanent things, etc. are not up for “consensus”, but it is something that previous generations built up as a treasure of wisdom for us to study and put into practice in this generation. So you could call the democracy of the saints maybe. And then the next generation is to add to it.
Preserving all that is a constant struggle – and requires both men of action and scholars – and sometimes both together. That’s what I think.
God bless you. Liz