It is nice to finally know what Guy Fawkes day is, and to have it summarized in so short and sussinct a manner.

I have to confess that I now feel a little resentment toward the British who may take delight in celebrating the event tonight in such a diabolical way — setting fire to Fawkes’ effigy — indeed!

How long do the British want to hold on to their prejuidices? And then to have murdered a Jesuit priest atop everything else, seems more than a bit “backwards!”

I will drop my resentment this moment since I realize that is not healthy for me, and instead pray for the souls of those protestants who will light their matches since I do not want to become like them. I will also no doubt take some pleasure from hearing, should it happen, that some of them get their fingers burned when they light their effigys tonight to keep alive their silly “protests.”

It is not true that the Protestant faith came about because a licentious and hedonistic king wanted to commit adultery with another of his “girl toys” and in a pout lopped off the head of many of his wives in order to gain another, and then finally broke with the Roman Catholic Church when the pope refuses to annul his marriage? Off stomps the King and a whole country follows and bows down to him. Had to didn’t they, or face losing their own heads?

If I were Pope Benny, I would make no effort to invite the “protestors” back into the fold. I guess that is one reason I am not the pope.

Anyway, as one comedian, dressed as a Catholic nun said, during one of the Montreal “Just For Laughs” comedy special, “Some of you in the audience are no doubt Protestant. That’s okay. We know that God loves everyone………. its just that he prefers Catholics.”

Have a great day ya’all, and if you are a protestant who lights diabolical fires, may God “bless you by pouring burning coals upon your head.”
Ouch!

Forgive me Father Paul, for I know what I do.

Ron

Off to a tilted start today I am afraid. I have not yet made the 3-Minute retreat. No doubt that will balance me back into a better frame of mind.

You wrote, “Henry Garnett, Superior of the British Jesuits, knew of the conspiracy and was executed along with many other alleged conspirators.”
How well we have learned the lesson in just this past decade of the distructive power of silence. Such sad damage done to people of good will and simple faith because some choose not to speak out and call evil by its proper name whether guided by fear, misplaced loyalty or even misguided idealism.
I’m not sure if I should be comforted to know that such mistakes have existed for so long and the church has survived or mourn the division and injury it brings to the Body of Christ. I supposed it is a bit of both.
Peace

I am great fan of European history. It was one of my majors in college and I taught it in Jesuit high schools. However, both Catholics and Protestants have done terrible things in the name of religion throughout the centuries. A lot of it was politically motivated rather than an act of defense of the particular faith. So when it comes to the history of Christian denominations, I prefer amnesia. I believe in praying for and joining with our fellow Christians in sharing our faith.
As a footnote, especially to Ron, when I have been in England it struck me that Guy Fawkes Day is less a vindictive remembrance of an evil man and more a tongue-in-cheek celebration of the notion of Parliament being blown up.

Hi Eric,

I’m Ron. I was happy to see your footnote. I suspected that such would be the case Eric, such being your observation: “…when I have been in England it struck me that Guy Fawkes Day is less a vindictive remembrance of an evil man and more a tongue-in-cheek celebration of the notion of Parliament being blown up.” I was not completely sure though and I do thank you for enlightening me.

I sometimes have a dark sense of humour and my funnies get taken seriously when they, also, are said with tongue-in-cheek.

I agree with you completely when you say, “I believe in praying for and joining with our fellow Christians in sharing our faith.” In point of fact, I was very happy to hear recently of our Good Pope Benedict reaching out to Protestants.

In my daily morning prayers, I pray “for our Church and for all people of good faith and will in every religion on earth.” I did actually get off to a “tilted” start today Eric, and was too quick to jump to conclusions.

However I was not set in my conclusion about Guy Fawkes Day and thank you for “straightening” my balance a little further today.

I was happy to note that Father Paul sometimes gets “titled” too and wish all of us to have the balance that the Jesuits — along with all those in company with Father Paul through his Blog — to have only the best of days for each one of us and all of ours.

Have a great day Eric, and Father Paul, and ya’ll.

Ron

had been martyred 24 years earlier…and who wouldn’t have memories of a line like “The expense is reckoned, the enterprise is begun; it is of God; it cannot be withstood. So the faith was planted: So it must be restored.”

It’s amazing how when a church community suffers persecution the faith of the people is deepened. I found that in Malaysia where the church doesn’t have it too easy – people’s faith is so deep and joyous. In Australia a great many people have lost their faith without even realising, things are seemingly so easy here. Yet below the surface… “So the faith was planted: So it must be restored.”

I am an English Catholic and bonfire night has always been fun. Our church has a bonfire and lots of charities raise money on bonfire night. In my time it has never been a sectarian celebration. I have considered it to be a victory for democracy. The night before is mischief night and yes we did go round with our Guy asking for a penny. Guy Fawkes lived near to our home and it was fun as a child to look at the dark woods and imagine the plotting, no one ever mentioned that he was a catholic. Catholics have been persecuted in this century in England and I do think that this has lead to the inward looking rather fearful catholicism which I witness today.
Judy