The beam in my own eye notwithstanding I couldn't help noticing the rigorous fast to which the eminent, worthy-to-be-followed Mr Zed is adhering this Lent. Cold showers and dry toast all round! If modern Papist fasting rules were not so conspicuously...non-existent, I'd suggest he had a papal dispensation for it. But we all know Zed is an authority unto himself.
Zed is one reason I could never, ever believe in universal salvation. My own sense of justice tells me that this man is hell-bound, along with all his miserable benefactors. More on him later...
We have a saying in my country that is roughly translated to: "An eye that does not see, a heart that does not hurt". Maybe if you stop reading his blog you might save your heart some trouble.
ReplyDeletePlus you are making him a bit more popular... I never knew Mr.Zed existed before your posts here.
I don't actually read his blog. But I do read a blog that disparages Zed and all his works. That's where I got the link to Zed's Lenten penances.
DeleteJudge not that ye be not ...
ReplyDeleteOh, who cares?
Mr. Z does look like a man accumulating a bad future for himself, but be careful of wishing it on him. We are all in need of mercy. Also, second-hand information is rarely entirely trustworthy.
ReplyDeleteAs Pilgrim Fool seems to suggest, Mr Z really does not matter to how you live your life. I think that it is sufficient to recognize his mistakes and avoid them oneself... although it could be helpful to others to publicly note that he, as a public figure trading in spiritual advice, is actually making a public display of vice.
Still, calling him out on that can be a very dangerous thing (as in "occasion of sin") if it leads one into hatred and defamation. Falling into such vices can lead to great suffering for yourself and those who love you---family, friends, fellow parishioners, etc.
I did look at the blog of Mr Z. It was disturbing... as can be your blog when you go off on a tear. Concerning Mr Z, I think he is not somebody I would turn to for advice. I hope that he recovers, but I do not expect it to be likely. Anyways, that is not something about which I could take effective action.
ReplyDeleteAnother question, if you were to fast for lent, what would be the benefit?
Many people can stand to drop some weight, but that is probably not the case for you, and, even if it were, it would not be a very noble or uplifting thing to do... trading one worldly concern for another, perhaps. It could also remind one of the suffering prevalent in the world, and of one's attachment to worldly pleasures. I suppose also that it could be a part of taking up one's cross. However, enough speculation on my part. What do you see as valuable in lenten penitential practices?
Fasting avails nothing if we have not charity.
DeleteI agree. Your advocacy of charity touches my heart. Although I am not Christian, I place great hope in charity. I also hope that you can find a place where you can celebrate Easter properly.
DeleteDear Patricius,
ReplyDeleteWhile I tend to agree with your overall opinion of the Z, I'd suggest you simply ignore him unless it is to pray for him. During this lent I'd like to recommend that you tone out all the things that you find aggravating (be they Roman Catholic excesses, women "priests", liturgical wrongs, or what have you) and focus instead on something that brings you joy. Take up daily prayer of some sort (Roman, Anglican, Byzantine, Syriac, Coptic... it really doesn't matter), attend church if you can, and try to ask God what he wants of you.
Lent is usually the time where my life changes for the better as I shut out many of the needless distractions and reposition myself again to what is truly important. I ask - for your own sake - that you attempt to do the same.
In Christ,
LOB
There is one more thing I desperately need to get off my chest before the season begins in earnest and then I promise you I shall devote my energies to more worthwhile things.
DeleteI am already planning a trip to my alma mater to undertake some research in the great theology library there.
This is good news.
DeletePatricius, I would like to thank you for directing me to Fr. Z's entry regarding food. Normally, as I am an accomplished cook myself, I appreciate his occasion forays into recipes. However, on this occasion, I noted, both to myself and to his comments section, that his entry was nothing but 'food porn'.
ReplyDeleteWhile I may, during Lent, perhaps give the recipe for Russian marinated mushrooms (using dried shiitake or possibly), that recipe is also what my late brother-in-law would call 'full metal Orthodox', and would qualify for any fast.
I would agree with you, Patricius, that going on in one's blog about rich food during Great and Holy Lent is less than helpful for those of us who are attempting to be 'lovers of the fast'.
C.S Lewis says something like that in the Four Loves, doesn't he, about food and pornography.
DeletePlease do share that recipe!
DeleteWatch this space: recipe follows, probably on Friday.
DeleteAs promised, the recipe can be found at the following web address:
Deletehttps://bernardbrandt.wordpress.com/2015/02/27/a-public-lenten-service-russian-marinated-mushrooms/
Thank you, Bernard. That looks rather good, I shall try it this week.
Delete