Mailnews_old

Views 397 Votes 0 Comment 0
?

Shortcut

PrevPrev Article

NextNext Article

Larger Font Smaller Font Up Down Go comment Print
?

Shortcut

PrevPrev Article

NextNext Article

Larger Font Smaller Font Up Down Go comment Print
austraLasia #2132

Pentecost in Pentameter - Saints, Dragons and Bards

JERUSALEM: 23rd April 2008 -- Shakespeare, Cervantes and St George have one thing in common - April 23rd.  The first and second of them died that day. George held sway that day long afore them. England claims him, but despite Henry V shouting "Cry 'God for Harry, England and St George'!" (according to Shakespeare, that is), George is also beloved of Catalunyans, Orthodox Christians, Moslems, Boy Scouts and butchers (being patron saint of both). So let's have a party or, a least, a Poetry Soirée!  By now, readers will have worked out that Shmuel Hanagid Street, Jerusalem, is quite your little place for culture.
    Britons and Catalunyans - at least one of both species - there are at Ratisbonne, but also the odd Japanese, Italian, Indian, Brazilian, Filipino, Ethiopian, Maltese, Haitian, Tanzanian (and Tasmanian), Sri Lankan, Polish, American, Congolese and Ecuadorian. Students belonging to the Cultural group at 'Salesian Monastery' decided to round it off to a tried and proven biblical 12 x 12 - 12 poems from 12 cultures.  It was a kind of Pentecost in pentameter.
    From the EAO perspective, Daisuke Kitagawa treated us to an exquisite Japanese cosmology in the form of Miyazawa Kenji's 'Be not defeated by the Rain', reminiscent of Proverbs.  Fr Stephen Placente opted for 
Filipino national hero and poet Jose Rizal's 'Mi ultimo adios' (though it's believed Steve is staying on for an encore).  From west of Manila, South Asia was represented by a Tamil Nadu 'Invocation to Goddess Tamil' (Jesudoss Arokiam and Vincent Raj) and 'What is gone is gone' (Eugine Kujur).
    And of course, Shakespeare.  The Rector, Fr Francis Preston, recalled his forced learning of almost the entire 'Merchant of Venice' back in 19...., something for which he is now deeply grateful, he admits.  Fortunately, fireworks from Pesach celebrations down near the Old City ensured that only Gentile ears heard the famed lines:
                               Therefore, Jew,
                  Though justice be thy plea, consider this,
                  That, in the course of justice, none of us
                  Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy.

    Australia listened, enchanted.  It did not seem to be the time nor place for 
                    On the outer Barcoo where the churches are few,
                    And men of religion are scanty.....
    Besides, Australia had booked the Good Night, and managed to get in Les Murray's  

Nothing’s said till it’s dreamed out in words
and nothing’s true that figures in words only.

which  echoed the line the cultural group had chosen to hang over the entire event.  Shakespeare again:
    My words fly up, my thoughts remain below: words without thoughts never to heaven will go (Hamlet, Act III, Scene iii)

  _________________ 
 AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific.  It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome.  For queries please contact admin@bosconet.aust.com . Use Bosconet-wiki to be interactive. RSS feeds - just go to Bosconet, click on austraLasia 2008 in the sidebar. You will see the RSS orange icon in your browser address bar - add it from there.  Avail yourself of the Salesian Digital Library at at http://sdl.sdb.org


Title: australasia 2132
Subject and key words: EAO Provinces, SA, Poetry Soirée
Date (year): 2008
ID: 2000-2099|2132 

  1. 2150_PRESS RELEASE: Archbishop of Yangon pleads with the International Community

    CategoryMYM Views462
    Read More
  2. 2149_Myanmar's Church Leaders appeal to Government to support aid workers

    CategoryMYM Views461
    Read More
  3. 2148_Pope's prayer for China

    CategoryWorld Views528
    Read More
  4. 2147_Salesian Appointed CBCI Communications Secretary

    CategoryIndia Views358
    Read More
  5. 2146_Archbishop Bo writes Yangon

    CategoryMYM Views394
    Read More
  6. 2145_New Laotian-SDB agreement highlights effectiveness of Preventive System

    CategoryVIE Views579
    Read More
  7. 2144_SIGNS OF THE RETURN TO DON BOSCO…

    CategoryFIN Views501
    Read More
  8. 2143_Some follow-up items - and Catholicos Kareken II, Supreme Patriarch of all Armenians!

    CategoryWorld Views544
    Read More
  9. 2142_Mongolia 1998-2008....

    CategoryMongolia Views522
    Read More
  10. 2141_'GC' novices make their profession

    CategoryFIS Views338
    Read More
  11. 2140_LEO ordained Leo!

    CategoryFIN Views451
    Read More
  12. 2139_HOLY SERVANTS: FIN, FIS and CIN Renewal of Profession

    CategoryFIN Views449
    Read More
  13. 2138_SALESIAN BROTHERS GATHER!

    CategoryFIS Views360
    Read More
  14. 2137_Red-letter day for EAO as large number make final profession

    CategoryFIN Views511
    Read More
  15. 2136_Kangaroo Kibbutz leaps and bounds ahead of Sachne

    CategoryWorld Views394
    Read More
  16. 2135_The Passion of GC26 put into practice in Pakistan...

    CategoryFIS Views481
    Read More
  17. 2134_Vatican II revisted: 84 year old 'Father' breathes life into day devoted to the Word

    CategoryWorld Views268
    Read More
  18. 2133_Salesians and Salesian Sisters plan to work even more closely in Korea

    CategoryKOR Views409
    Read More
  19. 2132_Pentecost in Pentameter - Saints, Dragons and Bards

    CategoryWorld Views397
    Read More
  20. 2131_WCD (not WYD) coming up - more quickly than WYD in fact!

    CategoryWorld Views361
    Read More
Board Pagination Prev 1 ... 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 ... 177 Next
/ 177