Risen, Gods, Surfing

Unrelenting joy
The Easter Octave continues, with every day being the Eighth Day of creation.

Celebrations of the whole Triduum all over the world teemed with anticipation and joy. Here is a sampling of a marvelous variety of voices, past and present:

Here. Here. Here. Here. Here. Here.

We all had our local celebration flavors, no doubt. Feel free to wax on about it below, if you care to.

Gods, Men
My wife and I saw the based-on-a-true-story Of Gods and Men at Varsity Monday eve.

Eight Isn't Enough
8 of us there in a the huge theater. If we want great, faith-saturated culture to emerge in our midst, we must support it. I highly encourage you to go!

Lovely, Liturgical
It was stunningly beautiful; wonderfully subtle in a European tradition of film. There was a thread of sung liturgy throughout the movie's unfolding dramatic events - a kind of liturgical procession toward a final hidden martyrdom. This was the most impactful part for me. Also, the monks were truly icons of a form of heroism accessible to those of us who fear the power of our own weakness were we to face the prospect of suffering and death for our faith.

Islam?
It also contained a powerful perspective on the role Islam played in these monks' fate - here are the final words of the 'Abbot' of the small community of monks (taken from his actual letter):

Should it ever befall me, and it could happen today, to be a victim of the terrorism swallowing up all foreigners here, I would like my community, my church, my family, to remember that my life was given to God and to his country. That the Unique Master of all life was no stranger to this brutal departure. And that my death is the same as so many other violent ones, consigned to the apathy of oblivion. I've lived enough to know, I am complicit in the evil that, alas, prevails over the world and the evil that will smite me blindly. I could never desire such a death. I could never feel gladdened that these people I love be accused randomly of my murder. I know the contempt felt for the people here, indiscriminately. And I know how Islam is distorted by a certain Islamism. This country, and Islam, for me are something different. They're a body and a soul. My death, of course, will quickly vindicate those who call me naïve or idealistic, but they must know that I will be freed of a burning curiosity and, God willing, will immerse my gaze in the Father's and contemplate with him his children of Islam as he sees them. This thank you which encompasses my entire life includes you, of course, friends of yesterday and today, and you too, friend of last minute, who knew not what you were doing. Yes, to you as well I address this thank you and this farewell which you envisaged. May we meet again, happy thieves in Paradise, if it pleases God the Father of us both. Amen. Insha'Allah.

Words sealed by his blood.

Surfing?
Also heard Soul Surfer was excellent, though of a different, American flavor. Next on my movie list.

Christ is risen! Alleluia!