I dag er det nøyaktig 125 år siden den katolske forfatteren J. R. R. Tolkien ble født, 3. januar 1892. Jeg kom over en interessant bloggpost om ham og hans holdning til ekteskapet i kveld.
Det er Sam Guzman, bedre kjent som bloggeren the Catholic Gentleman, som har skrevet posten Tolkien Speaks: The Secret to a Happy Marriage.
Tolkien er en av mine yndlingsforfattere. Det er fascinerende å få et innblikk i hvor ytterst romantisk og samtidig jordnær og definitivt ikke-romantisk han var. Les, så skjønner du hva jeg mener.
"No man, however truly he loved his betrothed and bride as a young man, has lived faithful to her as a wife in mind and body without deliberate conscious exercise of the will, without self-denial. Too few are told that — even those brought up in ‘the Church’. Those outside seem seldom to have heard it.
When the glamour wears off, or merely works a bit thin, they think that they have made a mistake, and that the real soul-mate is still to find. The real soul-mate too often proves to be the next sexually attractive person that comes along. Someone whom they might indeed very profitably have married, if only—. Hence divorce, to provide the ‘if only’.
And of course they are as a rule quite right: they did make a mistake. Only a very wise man at the end of his life could make a sound judgement concerning whom, amongst the total possible chances, he ought most profitably have married! Nearly all marriages, even happy ones, are mistakes: in the sense that almost certainly (in a more perfect world, or even with a little more care in this very imperfect one) both partners might have found more suitable mates. But the ‘real soul-mate’ is the one you are actually married to. In this fallen world, we have as our only guides, prudence, wisdom (rare in youth, too late in age), a clean heart, and fidelity of will…"
(Til tolkningen for ikke-katolikker: "Det velsignede sakramentet" er nattverden/kommunionen/eukaristien.)
Les hele artikkelen Tolkien Speaks: The Secret to a Happy Marriage her.
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| BE A MAN. BE A SAINT. Fra bloggens egenpresentasjon: "More than ever, the Church needs men. Sadly, many Catholic men have believed the lie that being holy isn’t manly, and that the faith is boring. They leave religion to women and children and simply tune out. But holiness is for men. There is nothing more difficult, rewarding, or manly than becoming a saint. The spiritual life is full of combat, struggle, hardship, and adventure. It requires blood, sweat, tears, perseverance, and courage. It isn’t for the faint of heart. Catholic men are called to leave mediocrity behind and to strive for greatness. The Catholic Gentleman exists to inspire men to holiness—to love God, to serve others, and to deny self. And to do it all with class and classic manly flair." |
Jordnære livsråd fra en far
Her er et utdrag fra Tolkiens brev til sin sønn Michael:"No man, however truly he loved his betrothed and bride as a young man, has lived faithful to her as a wife in mind and body without deliberate conscious exercise of the will, without self-denial. Too few are told that — even those brought up in ‘the Church’. Those outside seem seldom to have heard it.
When the glamour wears off, or merely works a bit thin, they think that they have made a mistake, and that the real soul-mate is still to find. The real soul-mate too often proves to be the next sexually attractive person that comes along. Someone whom they might indeed very profitably have married, if only—. Hence divorce, to provide the ‘if only’.
And of course they are as a rule quite right: they did make a mistake. Only a very wise man at the end of his life could make a sound judgement concerning whom, amongst the total possible chances, he ought most profitably have married! Nearly all marriages, even happy ones, are mistakes: in the sense that almost certainly (in a more perfect world, or even with a little more care in this very imperfect one) both partners might have found more suitable mates. But the ‘real soul-mate’ is the one you are actually married to. In this fallen world, we have as our only guides, prudence, wisdom (rare in youth, too late in age), a clean heart, and fidelity of will…"
Romance and glory
Dette er det samme brevet der Tolkien skrev noe som er blitt et av hans mest kjente sitat:"Out of the darkness of my life, so much frustrated, I put before you the one great thing to love on earth: the Blessed Sacrament … There you will find romance, glory, honour, fidelity, and the true way of all your loves upon earth.”
(Til tolkningen for ikke-katolikker: "Det velsignede sakramentet" er nattverden/kommunionen/eukaristien.)
Les hele artikkelen Tolkien Speaks: The Secret to a Happy Marriage her.
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| THE ONE GREAT THING TO LOVE ON EARTH: "Out of the darkness of my life, so much frustrated, I put before you the one great thing to love on earth: the Blessed Sacrament … There you will find romance, glory, honour, fidelity, and the true way of all your loves upon earth.” (J. R. R. Tolkien) "Jesus has made Himself the Bread of Life to give us life. Night and day, He is there. If you really want to grow in love, come back to the Eucharist, come back to that Adoration." (Den hellige Mor Teresa) Foto: Ragnhild H. Aadland Høen i St. Paul kirke i Bergen |
Denne posten har blitt oppdatert med sitater av Tolkien og Mor Teresa etter at den ble publisert i går kveld.
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