Song of Angels

“The first Christmas hymn in history, which established for all time the inner melody of Christmas, was not composed by men. Saint Luke transmits it to us as the song of the angels who were the ‘evangelists”’ of Christmas night: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men’—the men who enjoy his favor, the men of good will. This hymn lays down a criterion. It helps us to understand what Christmas is really about. It contains a word that moves people today more than any other single word: peace. The biblical word shalom, which we translate in this way, means much more than the mere absence of war: it tells us that human affairs are as they should be, it denotes well-being, a world in which trust and brotherhood rule, a world without fear or deprivation or cunning or falsehood. Peace on earth—that is the goal of Christmas. But the angels’ song speaks first of a principle without which there cannot be any lasting peace: the glory of God.

If we are concerned about men and their well-being, we must first of all be concerned about the glory of God. The glory of God is not a private matter left to the arbitrary whim of the individual; it is a matter of public concern. It is a common good, and where God is not honored among men, man too cannot be honored. This is why Christmas is about peace among men: thanks to Christmas, the glory of God has been reestablished in a new way among men.”

~   Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI)

I heard a cover of this tonight. It was awesome. For your Thursday…

Real situation
Album: Uprising (1980)
Lyrics:
Check out the real situation,
Nation war against nation,
Where did it all begin, when will it end..
Well it seems like, total destruction,
The only solution.
And there ain’t no use,
No one can stop them now,
Ain’t no use, nobody can stop them now.

Give them an inch, they take a.. yard.
Give them yard they take a mile,
Once a man and twice a child,
And everything is just for a while.
It seems like, total destruction,
The only solution.
And there ain’t no use,
No one can stop them now.
Ain’t no use no one can stop them now.
Ain’t no use no one can stop them now.
Ain’t no use no one can stop them now.

Check in the real situation,
Check it out, check it out,
Nation fight against nation,
Where did it all begin, where will it end.
Well it seems like total destruction,
The only solution.
No use can’t stop them,
Ain’t no use can’t stop them,
Ain’t no use no one can’t stop them now.
Can’t stop them now. (no one can stop them now)
Ain’t no use no one can stop them now.
Ain’t no use you even try.
Ain’t no use got to say bye bye.
Ain’t no use no one can stop them now.
No one can stop them now…

▶ Ola Gjeilo – Ubi caritas – Phoenix Chorale – YouTube

If you listen to the lyrics, “Born in the U.S.A.” is about the troubles of a young working class man who is sent to the Vietnam War and his troubles that continue upon his return. The Reagan administration, wanting to capitalize on its popularity but perhaps misunderstanding its message, asked if they could use it for their reelection campaign. Springsteen said, “No.” Springsteen was raised Catholic but we don’t believe he is practicing.

Some recommended articles:
Flannery O’Connor’s Mark on Bruce Springsteen
Springsteen Can’t Hide His Catholic Past
The Catholic Imagination of Bruce Springsteen

Born down in a dead man’s town
The first kick I took was when I hit the ground
You end up like a dog that’s been beat too much
Till you spend half your life just covering up
***
Got in a little hometown jam so they put a rifle in my hand
Sent me off to a foreign land to go and kill the yellow man

Come back home to the refinery
Hiring man says “son if it was up to me”
Went down to see my V.A. man
He said “son don’t you understand now”

Had a brother at Khe Sahn fighting off the Viet Cong
They’re still there he’s all gone
He had a woman he loved in Saigon
I got a picture of him in her arms now

Down in the shadow of penitentiary
Out by the gas fires of the refinery
I’m ten years burning down the road
Nowhere to run ain’t got nowhere to go

Born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
I’m a long gone daddy in the U.S.A.
I’m a cool rocking daddy in the U.S.A.

Somebody autotuned the Pope. Song goes a little something like this:

You are truly free
You are truly free
You are made truly free in Him
You are made truly free in Him
Truly free in Him
Truly free in Him
Truly free in Him
Him, Him, Him, Him,
Him
Him
Him
Him
Him
Him

“Violence and arms will never resolve the problems of men.“ Pope Warns Against War, January 13, 2003

We miss you.

“Child with Toy Hand Grenade in Central Park,” photograph by Diane Arbus

Here is the photograph that inspired Graham Nash to write his song “Teach Your Children.” Nash said the song is about the societal implications of messages given to children about war, among other things. The song first appeared on the album “Déjà Vu” by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young released in 1970.

 ▶ Teach the children well ( with lyrics) – Crosby Stills – YouTube

▶ George Harrison: Beware Of Darkness – YouTube

▶ Elvis Presley Gospel -Peace in the valley for me – YouTube

Oh well, I’m tired and so weary
But I must go alone
Till the lord comes and calls, calls me away, oh yes
Well the morning’s so bright
And the lamp is alight
And the night, night is as black as the sea, oh yes

There will be peace in the valley for me, some day
There will be peace in the valley for me, oh Lord I pray
There’ll be no sadness, no sorrow
No trouble, trouble I see
There will be peace in the valley for me, for me

Well the bear will be gentle
And the wolves will be tame
And the lion shall lay down by the lamb, oh yes
And the beasts from the wild
Shall be lit by a child
And I’ll be changed, changed from this creature that I am, oh yes

There will be peace in the valley for me, some day
There will be peace in the valley for me, oh Lord I pray
There’ll be no sadness, no sorrow
No trouble, trouble I see
There will be peace in the valley for me, for me