Mara...

As you may have guessed, I tried a few times to respond to this. The Red Room has been inoperative at times due to increased traffic, for which we can blame/thank Ryoma, since he has been singlehandedly and charmingly posting all Red Room Writers' accomplishments all over Facebook, which has in all likelihood sent hordes of unexpected visitors to the site!! What a great guy! Very mentschy.

What I wanted to say to you was, in addition to thank you, how you and other Red Room friends have actually influenced my decision to actually "blog" (still hate that word) and to stay on the Red Room - and in the end to make a financial contribution to it - since my original intention was to check it out and if it wasn't interactive enough, or if there were not enough compatible minds here, to leave. Believe me - it's interactive enough - both privately and publicly! In fact, I am now considering whether or not I should have engaged in this experiment because as I told Huntington the other day - I do actually have a PhD and two other books to finish! But having lost a world of daily oral communication when we left Wales - (so many of my friends - even dear colleagues at the university don't have computers at home!) it's nice to have gained a little world in/on The Red Room. You're one of the best communicators (on and off this forum) - and I'm so pleased to have met you. Thank you for entering so readily into my writing! Hx

Diolch! (Thank you)

Bob - really nice to see you. I love your sentiment though I think it is predicated on "may the ability to produce quality work continue to flow" which is another thing altogether! Happy Lag B'omer! ~ Harrison

Rebecca- thanks so much!

I'm looking forward to buying a copy of the magazine in June too! Though obviously I shall get a complimentary one in addition to my subscription. This is an outbreak of that peculiar malady I have wherein I feel I must buy multiple copies of things "in case." But it's not because of my story which obviously I could read right here in my computer - but because of the sheer beauty of the magazine. I love my back copies and could probably build a small structure with my saved copies of Carpe Articulum, Architectural Digest, The American Scholar, The Writers Chronicle, Literary Imagination, the Paris Review and Verbatim. As Verbatim has been out of print for several decades, this illustrates my point. But they are all tidily filed away in boxes and to be completely honest, I don't keep all copies - just the faves.

Anyway, not to detract from your very kind message - thank you, Rebecca. I'd be very interested to know what you think. This is the story that I mentioned awhile back to Farzana in which there are no descriptions of any kind but everyone who has read it is certain that I have described the main character in detail!

Again, thanks for stopping by. Always a pleasure.

~ Harrison

Surfing...

I have been disappointed at times not to have seen posts of writers of whom I think highly and so have, starting with Mary, just hit the RSS button on their sites so that I am at least notified of them. It is impossible to read and/or comment on all of them but at least to see them in one's inbox, in order to know what is available is preferable to surfing all over the site. You are on RSS now - though we are in email contact, as is Mara and others - and am adding more - Sue Glasco for one since there something in her writing that keeps me reading and I don't know what it is - she reminds me of Willa Cather ... and I see that I shall quickly have too much to look at, but one does what one can in the (rapidly diminishing) free time that one has. Although I don't always see an RSS button which puzzles me. Yes, I'm pretty enthusiastic about these things. It's fun. It is at times (though rarely) meaningful as well, for I am well aware that there are spectacular writers who submitted and didn't win a prize. Or who did not submit. It's all very arbitrary. Still, it's nice that others think well of one's work. I'm pleased about this one because the publication is so visually stunning. It is just lovely to have actual art attached to my writing. Thanks, Farzana ~ Hx

Copies

Thank you, Sue! I think my mother will buy enough copies to fill the coffers of future generations - and probably my sons as well! About journals - each has its own flavour, of course and I am enchanted with the operatic splendour of Carpe Articulum. But my experience with AGNI - their care of the Word, their brilliant command of the language and their love for it, is so far the high-water mark of my experience and I don't think that will change. I am a perfect crank regarding the English language (nothing to do with accents!) and they are perfect cranks too which makes us easy, warm and compatible partners in a dying passion. This is of course not an either/or situation. I haven't had a bad experience with any editor, though I have to say that I had a couple of wrangles with rocketing nutsoid-authors when I was a special projects editor at UC Press. Which probably means that editors are nicer on the whole than writers. Or we change with our perspective. Anyway - yes, thank you - can't wait to see the finished product and I appreciate your time and warm words, very much.

~Harrison

It's kind of you to say so,

It's kind of you to say so, Mary. I always appreciate your input and I hope you're doing well. I have been glued to the final manuscript of Felicity and Barbara Pym and my eyes are stinging and my hands ready to drop off, but when I have my body back again, I will catch up on all your wonderful posts. ~H

Just submitted it!

Just sent the final Felicity and Barbara Pym manuscript to the publisher! On time! WHAT a relief. It is off to the printer this week - and from thence, who knows. Many thanks for your presence in this and other ventures. Will be in touch via email when my hands stop aching. :) x H

Concordance to Mater Amabilis

Concordance to “Mater Amabilis”
by Harrison Solow

1. Mater Amabilis: Amiable/lovable Mother” –Catholic terminology in reference to the Virgin Mary particularly in liturgical texts (litanies, ecclesiastical texts read on Feast Days, etc) and in hymns – both Latin and English. A verse and refrain of the hybrid hymn, AVE MARIA! O MAIDEN, O MOTHER, is below.

Ave, Maria! O Maiden, O Mother,
Fondly thy children are calling on thee!
Thine are the graces unclaimed by another,
Sinless and beautiful, star of the sea!

Mater amabilis, ora pro nobis!
Pray for thy children who call upon thee.

____

2. Medieval Angelology:

A succinct outline from Professor J. Jeffrys at New York University at: http://www.nyu.edu/classes/jeffreys/

The Celestial Hierarchy (according to *Pseudo-Dionysus)
First Triad Second Triad Third Triad

1. Seraphim 4. Dominion 7. Principalities
2. Cherubim 5. Virtues 8. Archangels
3. Thrones 6. Powers 9. Angels

First Triad: - “God’s faithful angels”, according to St. Thomas, these angels never come down to Earth

1. Seraphim - closest to God, main task: to encircle the throne of God while saying the Kadosh, a famous Hebrew prayer still used today, (“Holy, holy, holy”), according to ** Enoch there are four Seraphim “corresponding to the four winds of the world”, they are beings of perfect light who shine brighter than most humans can bear to see, Pseudo-Dionysus said, “seraphim” means “those that warm” and “those that burn”, they are angels of love and angels of light and fire

2. Cherubim - guardians of the stars and the path to the Tree of Life, cherubim means “those who pray”, “those who intercede” and “fullness of knowledge”, ***Ezekiel described them as having four faces (man, lion, ox and eagle) and four wings, they are the 1st angels mentioned in the Old Testament

3. Thrones or Wheels - (sometimes known as Ophanim) act as God’s transportation, their job is to transfer positive energy, this energy is focused for revealing injustices and healing people in need, the energy is believed to be sent not directly, but via guardian angels, to people

*Pseudo-Dionysus was an Armenian monk whose writings were highly commended by a number of the early popes, his main works are Celestial Hierarchies, On the Ecclesiastical Hierarchy, Ten Letters and The Divine Names, he’s referred to as “Pseudo” Dionysus because early Christians thought he was the famous Greek judge in the Bible. However he is not. He is from the 6th century and therefore not the biblical man, and so was dubbed “Pseudo” or “False” Dionsysus.”
___
3. “Whatsoever you shall bind on earth, it shall be bound in heaven; whatsoever you shall loose on earth, it shall be loosed in heaven.”

from Matthew 18:18 (New Testament, Christian Bible)

4. SETI: Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence: A science institute in California founded by Carl Sagan to seek out signs of extra terrestrial life in the Universe.

5. NPR: National Public Radio in America – a non-for-profit radio station (similar, in intent, if not content, to the BBC).

6. Shiva: Shiv'ah or shiva means "seven" in Hebrew. It is the name for the week-long period of grief and mourning for the seven first-degree relatives: father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, or spouse. Grandparents and grandchildren are not included. Daily life comes to a halt, and the mourners sit on low stools or chairs in mourning to receive visitors. Thus, the process of following the shiv'ah ritual is referred to as sitting shiva. The visitors come both with condolences and practical aid. The bereaved are not meant to do anything other than mourn and so all details of life (cooking, cleaning, errands, etc. are taken care of by others. Shiva is part of a series of bereavement rituals in Judaism and visiting the bereaved is considered to be a great Mitzvah (a good deed commanded by G-d) in all denominations of Judaism.

6. Challah: Sweet, golden yeast-bread served on Shabbat (the Sabbath) as part of a ritual dinner on Friday night and at every meal on Saturday.

7. Shabbat: The Jewish Sabbath begins at sundown on Friday and lasts until three stars appear in the sky after sundown on Saturday. All Jewish holidays begin at sundown the night before the main day of celebration, in reference to, in deference to the creation of the world as delineated in the first Book of the Torah, Beresheit, (and in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible, Genesis) where the word “evening” comes first: “And God called the light day, and the darkness He called night, and it was evening and it was morning, one day.” In traditional Catholicism, every Feast Day has a Vigil (the evening before) and limited celebration begins at that time. The only persistent practice in modern Catholicism is Christmas Eve.

Shabbat is a sacred day in observant Judaism and is called “a sanctuary in time.” It takes place primarily in the home, although there are Synagogue services. All normal activity ceases and only a certain roster of activities can be performed. Rabbi Joshua Heschel describes it thus: “The meaning of the Sabbath is to celebrate time rather than space. Six days a week we live under the tyranny of things of space; on the Sabbath we try to become attuned to holiness in time. It is a day on which we are called upon to share in what is eternal in time, to turn from the results of creation to the mystery of creation, from the world of creation to the creation of the world.”

Shabbat is a very joyous celebration, with special foods, wine, songs, discussions of Torah and the company of friends and family. It is difficult to describe the significance of Shabbat. Perhaps two illustrations will help: 1) There are no names for the days of the week in Hebrew except Shabbat. All other days are numbered “ The sixth day towards Shabbat, the fifth day towards, Shabbat...etc. 2) Sitting Shiva is interrupted for the Shabbat. Despite grief, one must celebrate Creation. The word “Shabbat” is Hebrew. The word “Shabbos” which also appears in this story, is Yiddish. The meaning is identical.

8.Post-Conciliar: After the Second Vatican Council (1962 – 1965) when the liturgy, doctrine (or doctrinal interpretation) and discipline of the Roman Catholic Church were radically re-defined.

9. “B’nei Mitzvah. A bar mitzvah means “son of the commandments” in Hebrew, and is also the term for the coming of age (and the ceremony which attends it) of a Jewish boy at age 13. “Bat mitzvah” means daughter of the commandments and again, the ceremony which attends the coming of age at 12 of a Jewish girl. “B’nei Mitzvah is the plural of both terms.

10. “Hoc est enim corpus meum.”
“This is my body.” These are the words the priest says (or rather, said) in Latin at a Tridentine (pre Vatican II Latin Mass) as he elevates/ed the consecrated host (bread). See below an excerpt from the 1962 Missal (Prayer book for Mass) from the Consecration

P. Qui pridie quam pateretur, accepit panem in sanctas ac venerabiles manus suas, et elevatis oculis in coelum ad te Deum Patrem suum omnipotentem tibi gratias agens, benedixit, fregit, deditque discipulis suis, dicens: Accipite,et manducate ex hoc omnes:

P. Who, the day before He suffered, took bread into His holy and venerable hands, and having raised His eyes to heaven to you, God, His Almighty Father, giving thanks to You, He blessed, + it broke it, and gave it to His disciples, saying: "Take and eat of this, all of you,

HOC EST ENIM CORPUS MEUM. FOR THIS IS MY BODY."

11. Sholom Aleichem literally means “Peace be with you.” Sholom Aleichem is also the name of the signature song that initiates the Shabbat meal. It sings of angels, which is why Charlotte mentions it:

The above translation is from www.aish.com which also states:

The table is set with the finest china, crystal, and silver. (When it comes to Shabbat, nothing is saved for a special occasion, for this is the special occasion!) Those who went to shul [synagogue] have now returned, and the room is filled with the warm sounds of Good Shabbos greetings. Everyone is invited to the table, as we begin the meal with song.

Shalom Aleichem! -- the traditional greeting used when two Jews meet, and the name of the song that begins the Shabbat meal Friday night. Shalom Aleichem -- May peace be upon you. Shalom ... peace ... from the Hebrew word shalem, which means complete.
On the most basic level, by singing this song, we are asking G-d to bless our home with peace; that there should be no conflict between friends or family, especially on Shabbat.

The Talmud says that when a person comes homes from shul [synagogue]on Friday night, he is accompanied by two angels -- a good angel and a bad angel. If the table is beautifully set and there is a peaceful atmosphere in the home, then the good angel says, So may it be next week, and the bad angel is forced to say, Amen -- so may it be! But if the house is a mess (both physically and emotionally), then the bad angel says, So may it be next week, and the good angel is forced to say, Amen!

Yet on another level, we are asking for completeness: that we should truly feel that we lack nothing -- that the world is complete on Shabbat. We sit back in awe at this revelation. Our weekday work is done.

The only work now is the work of Shabbat, which is something much deeper and often much harder to attain -- that is working on oneself, on real completeness, the achievement of a more ideal sense of self.

On Shabbat, one is no longer split. During the week there is the working you, the family you, the day-to-day you. But on Shabbat you are focused, with everything in harmony: family, learning, joy of life... Shalom Aleichem!

12. Midrash Va-ethanan

It is the custom (and requirement) of a child aspiring to become bar/bat mitzvah that s/he recite perfectly in Hebrew a Parsha (portion of the Torah) and expound upon it. To give, as it were an exegetical talk on this particular verse, using Midrashim (ancient commentaries/stories attached to the actual Biblical text dating from about the 2nd century (C.E.) to extend meaning beyond the literal words of the text. This parsha is actually from Deuteronomy and concerns G-d’s decree that Moses not enter the promised land. Here is an example of a small section of interpretation of the Midrash which refers to this parsha (Va-ethanan) from Schechter Rabbinical Seminary http://www.schechter.org:

“The midrash emphasizes that the importance of the observance of mitzvoth – both our obligations toward G-d, and our obligations toward other people – goes well beyond the specific act that we perform. It represents the acceptance of a cosmic order in which G-d demands moral conduct. Thus, murder is juxtaposed with negating G-d; unfaithfulness to a spouse is equated with unfaithfulness toward G-d. A thief, who lies to conceal his conduct, will swear falsely and deny G-d. Desecration of the Sabbath reflects a denial of G-d as Creator, and as the source of the mitzvoth. A lack of respect for our family and for the property of others will lead to disrespect for our parents who, together with G-d, gave us life and deserve our respect.

While personal conduct would seem to be the private matter of the individual - the individual thief or adulterer – it is perceived as bearing significance for the moral order of the world. Living in accordance with G-d’s commandments contributes to creating a more moral world. The next generation learns from our behavior, and through the performance of the mitzvoth, each of us contributes to the improvement of human society. This is a message that we are meant to transmit from generation to generation...”

13. The First Commandment:
What David is referring to is actually the second commandment in the Torah (Pentateuch). The First Commandment out of the ten reads:
“I am the Lord your G-d who brought you out of the land of Egypt” and nothing else. In David’s tradition, not worshipping idols or false gods is part of the Second Commandment.

As I was not writing this for a specific Jewish audience, I used the more commonly known division of imperatives in the Christian interpretation of the Bible, in which the first commandment is I am the Lord thy God; though shalt not have strange gods before me - or variations of that wording.

Yes, understood. Beautiful

Yes, understood. Beautiful piece. And haunting. And fitting. In my view redemption doesn't come from needing to be absolved from particular infractions, but from looking truth in the face and ignoring it. Particularly as regards self-awareness. One mostly needs to be redeemed - elevated - from and for oneself. You don't owe me anything, especially replies, since my last communications were replies to you (!) but hearing from you is always welcome. On the other hand, the danger of myopia notwithstanding, one's own world is usually preferable to others. x2 ~H