Because nothing says 'I love you' like death and damnation

[tree_and_leaf]

From Ashley (1990) The Dominicans.

The [Dominican] community in Bologna had its troubles, including demonic incidents which, after Dominic's death, led to the establishment of the Salve Regina procession. Several of the brethren got the idea they should become Cistercians...

Possibly they didn't like demons.

I have a feeling that this may not be the most serious history of the OP out.

In other news, i had ocassion to visit the (very useful, although their comments on Protestantism and Neo-Platonism are a bit tendentious) online edition of the New Catholic encyclopaedia http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/

The sidebar adverts, however, are something else entirely. I have to admit that I was surprised that the antique prints one site was advertising as perfect gifts for first communion, confirmation, the purchase of a new home, birth of child or grand child included this charming image:





A grandchild with parents one disliked, I assume.

In its original context at http://ourladyoflourdescatholicgifts.com/Damnation.html along with many others. There's also a salvation one, but it's merely sentimental, as opposed to sentimental and insane.

NB: I have no particular axe to grind against the Catholic church (see earlier post on the latest encyclical), but this is just... bad, in a cracktastic way.

Though at least the theological reasoning behind it is easier to follow than with some of the religious tat, whether Catholic or Protestant, which I have seen.

Comments

[sammee42.livejournal.com]

Oh my Zeus. If I had seen that image when I was a child, I would have had nightmares for weeks. First communion, Bah! More like, 'An image perfect for elliciting tough theological questions long before your children are ready to understand them'.

However, theologically I agree that is better than the normal 'tat', as you say. And at least it isn't merely sentimental.

Certainly not suiting the happy occasion of a new birth, but it might suit the purchase of a new home if you happen to be a theology buff or a person ordained in the church (and want to store it where no visitors will lurk and you want to avoid tough theological questions before the appropriate time).

[tree_and_leaf]

Yeah, I could actually see it working as an ordination present, as long as the person being priested had a robust sense of humour.... (Vicarages/ manses are usually too big, so it shouldn't be too hard to keep it away from people in sensitive spiritual states requiring counselling!)

I do know how to spell 'occasionally', honest!

[dolorous-ett.livejournal.com]

Oooooooooo!

I'm trying to think of what it would be a good present for... a Welcome to Our Department present, perhaps, for a particularly spat-ridden one?

[tree_and_leaf]

Or a (Not) Sorry You're Leaving present for a boss everyone hated?

[aervir.livejournal.com]

Now that this identity problem has been solved (by us confirming that we are indeed who we think we are *g*), I can happily comment away in your journal, can't I?

For some reason, this picture amuses me greatly. I think I'd loved it as a child; well, at least during the phase when I would reread the Book of Revelations before bed-time because I considered it to be the "best horror story ever". Not sure what my theological reasoning behind that remark was... :)

[tree_and_leaf]

Indeed, comment away; you are very welcome.

the "best horror story ever"

Well, it does have clear affinities with the post-nuclear-holocaust type of science fiction, which is generically close to horror, since it relies on the same emotional effect; the difference with Revelations being, of course, that you get catharsis.

Oh, I think the picture is really funny, too - I also think that the artist has made his Ape-headed beast too cuddly; it looks more like one of the strange beasts in 'The Princess and Curdie'.

[dolabellae.livejournal.com]

Yes, it is a bit cuddly, isn't it! Like the Devil-dragon being trodden on by St Michael in that picture in the National Gallery, with its big grin...

[aervir.livejournal.com]

The difference with Revelations being, of course, that you get catharsis.

Of course, as an adult reader, I've become aware of this, too, but as a seven-year-old kid, I tended to focus more on the really interesting bits with the Horsemen of the Apocalypse and the dragon... :)

Completely unrelated to both discussions of Revelations and cuddly ape-headed beasts -- but I've just noticed that you were listening to The Tolkien Ensemble when you wrote the entry above. And it just makes ridiculously happy to see that other Tolkien fans like their music, too.