Liberation Nation

We fight wars to control
We pick and chose our friends
Don’t take us for hostile
We need to tie up loose ends
And unleash a Shell

We fight wars to free
People in need of unrest
Let us force you into democracy
As we beat our chests
And steep some herbal tea

We torture for truth and freedom
We take away dignity
We just need to catch them
We’ll show them free
Come on lets beat some

Liberties we take for safety
We keep you safe and sound
Dang your fruit is tasty
We steal your rights by the pound
Declare a state of emergency

If you don’t like what we please
Let us know it’s a free country
We can bomb whom we tease
Our king shakes hands with royalty
He collects taxes and fees

Stop!

We need to make it right
Its time for us to fight
Stay in the front of the bus
And take it from the top

Lets pray that hearts are moved
And minds are opened up
To the truth that soothes
And the Word that held the cup

-Dominic Tramontana

The Evolution Of The Popemobile

Clerical Whispers has a cool article on the history and evolution of the Popemobile.

From this…

1930 Mercedes-Benz Nürburg 460

To this…

Mercedes-Benz G500

Pretty funny interview of John Zmirak by the Catholic Guy

Here is a funny two part interview of John Zmirak, co/author of several books such as “The Bad Catholic’s Guide to Wine, Whiskey, & Song.” The interview is performed by Lino Rulli who is a three-time Emmy award winner. You may know him for his work as a producer on such films/documentaries as “Champions of Faith” and “The Last Flagraiser.” Both men are very funny.

Part 1

Part 2

Music in the Sacred Liturgy

I like contemporary Christian music, but I don’t like it during Mass. I realize and respect that there is room for various forms of music in the Sacred Liturgy, but if it aint traditional, it aint for me. My church, like many churches, has a contemporary music Mass on Sunday. I know and love all of the people involved, but I really don’t care for the music or the instruments used to perform it (guitars and electric piano). It is very distracting to me.

I don’t like the idea of trying to make the Mass ordinary or contemporary. It is a 2000-year-old form of worship in which we hear the Word of God and take part in His eternal sacrifice of the cross. How does a modern Top 10 Christian Billboard artist fit into that? I don’t think he or she does. Maybe for some people, that kind of music helps them worship fuller, but for me it constantly reminds me that I am in the year 2000 and takes me away from the historical event we are re-presented with in the Mass, Christ’s Sacrifice.

Another reason I don’t believe liturgical music should be contemporary is that contemporary music is unproven. It fades. It might not be around in five years. The Holy Mass deserves better than some fleeting attempt at art. It is the equivalent of using glass chalices. We shouldn’t use them because they might break. Jesus deserves better than that.

I don’t want to rob people of their contemporary music if it truly helps them worship, but I don’t want to lose the traditional music I feel is proper for the Sacred Liturgy either.

If 12:00 PM Mass is contemporary music, then lets have the 8:00 AM Mass at the other end of the continuum. Organ, choir, Gregorian chant, songs written more than 100 years ago. Sacred music. Music, which has stood the test of time. Music worthy of Christ’s Mass. That’s what I want.

Catholic Wallpaper: Glory Be

Here is another wallpaper I created. I wasn’t going to post it at first. I wasn’t sure I liked how it came out. But my wife liked it. So here it is.

Enjoy.

Art is an objective thing. Art has an objective ideal. And art has a subjective appeal.

There’s been some discussion on this blog about what art is. I have made the argument that objectively speaking, art (as a “thing”) is communication. However, a couple readers (Richard and David) have pointed out that art is beauty and beauty is the attraction to perfection. So, the argument follows that, because God is the ultimate objective Beauty, art is a means to convey the beauty of God.

Though I knew Richard and David were correct, their opinions initially seemed at odds with my theory. After all, my definition of objective art would include “art” which I find totally offensive. So, I spent some time reconsidering my statement. My conclusion is that we are both correct.

I stand by my assertion that objectively speaking, art (as a “thing”) is communication. However, I also believe that art, when done well, communicates beauty. And, as David pointed out, beauty is our attraction to perfection. And we all agree that God is the only real Perfection. So, as a particular piece of art approaches perfect beauty, it begins to reveal to us, God. This is why we find art so beautiful—it reminds us of God. But lets be clear, even the beauty of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel is only to God’s beauty what darkness is to light.

I believe in an objective Beauty. I also believe that the goal and achievement of faultless art is the communication of that objective Beauty—God’s perfect beauty. However, because artists, like all humans, are imperfect, our ability to portray and/or see beauty varies with skill and is colored by experience and always falls short.

If an artist is able to convey beauty in a way I can relate to, meaning he or she has the skill and the life experience necessary to convey the message to me, than I will be able to recognize beauty in his or her work. And in as much as I am able to recognize this beauty, I am able to see God in the artists work. But neither the artist’s ability to portray beauty nor my ability to recognize beauty changes the objective reality of God’s perfect beauty. Our ability to convey and perceive perfection is always flawed and varied; therefore, outside of the Beatific Vision, what is considered art is subjective.

The subjectivity of art lies not within what beauty really is—Perfect Beauty, like objective Truth, is not subjective—but rather it lies within our ability to portray and perceive beauty.

Cool statue of the great John Paul II

Pápež Košice

I’m Sleepy

I’m tired of the personal attacks
Against me
and the ones who can’t fight back

I’m tired of the years of abuse
And anger
and hate without an excuse

I’m tired of fighting up the hill
While so many preach the pill

I’m tired of defending my sanity
When so many are blind to Thee

I’m tired of staying awake
When I’d rather sleep for your sake

I’m tired of never knowing
Whether I am dying or growing

-Dominic Tramontana

Catholic Wallpaper: John Paul II

Here is a wallpaper I just made while thinking about the great Pope John Paul II.

I hope you enjoy it.

The Obstacles

Some take the road less traveled
Before them they seek the strange

I take the road quick revealed
Before me lies my calling

To some it is the journey
Which motivates their actions

To me it is the target
Which sustains my fortitude

Some reach the end of the path
And miss the journey before

I reach the end of the road
And meet my Creator there

-Dominic Tramontana