THE ROLE OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE MEMORIZATION OF SACRED SCRIPTURE

From my friend Paul of Theandric:

Last year around the time of the feast of St. Matthew, I described how God put on my heart to begin devoting time to the memorization of major sections of Scripture.  I’m happy to say that I have continued to devote myself to this challenge, even if my initial enthusiasm has waned at times, requiring me to re-commit myself on more than one occasion. 

After my last guest blog at CBB, a reader wrote to me expressing an interest in beginning some memorization.  I offered some tips, and in doing so it reminded me of the element of spiritual warfare that is an important aspect to consider when we’re trying to grow in our love of God.  The truth remains that Satan is real, and just as he tried to do disrupt God’s plan in the life of Christ, he will also try to halt, twist and altogether destroy God’s plan in our own lives.  

Before we address the issue of scriptural memorization itself, let’s first consider some of the tactics of the devil.  I am going to offer this passage from Matthew’s gospel to serve as a departure point of our reflection.  To provide context, this passage recounts what occurred after the magi failed to return to inform Herod that they had found the Christ Child.

“When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi, he became furious. He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the magi.” Matthew 2:16

Fortunately, before Herod ordered the massacre, the Lord had already warned Joseph that Herod intended to destroy the child.  After the warning, Joseph obeyed the Lord’s directive and fled to Egypt with Mary and the infant Jesus. 

Now this passage can tell us so much about how the evil one thinks and operates.  The first thing we should note is that the devil wants to destroy life itself.  As Jesus warned us, the devil is a “liar and a murderer from the beginning.” Murderers earn the name by committing murder, that is, by destroying life.  In contrast, Jesus proclaimed, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.” 

In the case of Herod, we can be certain that his own heart had been corrupted by the influence of Satan, for Herod, corrupted by the sin of pride and lust for power, would not abandon his plan to destroy Life.  Since the magi did not inform him of the whereabouts of the Christ child, he then devised a diabolical plan to commit a full-scale massacre and to destroy life that was still in its nascent stages.  This led to what we know as the “massacre of the innocents” -  the barbaric destruction of innocent, weak and vulnerable children.  But again he failed in his quest to destroy Jesus. 

This shows us a second aspect of how the jealousy and pride of the devil causes him to seek the death of something holy and humble.  If he cannot destroy life at its beginning, he won’t give up on trying to kill it when it is still weak and vulnerable. 

So now get back to considering the challenge of learning God’s Word by heart.  If we’ve prayed about it and discerned that God is inviting us to memorize His Word, we know it will take time, effort and daily devotion.  And just as a child does not become a man in a day, we won’t be able to learn God’s Word by heart in a day.  If we say “yes” to the Lord, we must be aware that the evil one is going to be saying “no” to our desire to do the will of God.  So we can acknowledge at the outset some important lessons of spiritual warfare:

#1. The devil will try to stop you before you begin a good work.

#2. If he can’t stop you from starting, the devil will try to stop you after you’ve begun, especially in the nascent stages.  While old habits die hard, new habits die young!

Let’s take #1 first.  How would the devil try to stop you from memorizing the Scriptures before you begin?  Here’s some of my ideas how.  Feel free to share your own. 

a. He will try to make you believe that the whole idea is too ambitious, and only suitable for those who have no full-time job, no children, no hobbies, etc. 

b. He will keep you preoccupied with finding a “perfect translation” such that you don’t bother beginning at all, since we are exposed to a variety of translations in our worship, spiritual reading, etc., making you worried that somehow becoming more familiar with one translation will “confuse” you… 

c. He will keep you preoccupied with surfing the internet throughout the day so that you never commit to memorizing even one passage of scripture, or at least stall your efforts to make progress.  (This was and is the tactic that continues to plague me!)

d.  He will tempt you with a slew of other tantalizing forms of spiritual reading, that will take priority over reading the Gospels themselves.  The secondary sources, while certainly helpful for the spiritual life, should always remain just that, secondary sources.  Should we not seek the Primary Source itself, the Word of God, in whom we live and move and have our being? 

Thanks again to Tim for this great blog and the chance to share some of my reflections.  Next time I intend to comment on how the devil will try to destroy your good work after you’ve begun. 

Theandric - Face to Face/Tantum Ergo

A Reflection on Scripture Memorization

This past Saturday was the feast of St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist.  Paul, from Theandric, has graciously provided a short reflection concerning his attempt to memorize Scripture.  I think you will enjoy it.   

“Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly…”

 

Earlier this year the Lord issued me a challenge to start memorizing the Word of God, starting with the Gospel of Matthew.  I had discerned that He wanted me to be more mindful of the time I spend during the day, especially in terms of my use of the internet and social media.  Like many of us in this age of “smartphones”, I’ve developed what could be described as a compulsive routine in which I’m incessantly checking my phone for new updates, whether they be in the form of news, emails, “likes” or “tweets.”  Amidst this constant stream of information there remains a “still, small Voice” that is waiting to be heard. 

 

Before I share a bit about how the memorization of Scripture has affected my spiritual life, let me mention a bit of teaching from Pope Benedict XVI, taken from his Message for the 46^th World Communications Day:

 

Attention should be paid to the various types of websites, applications and social networks which can help people today to find time for reflection and authentic questioning, as well as making space for silence and occasions for prayer, meditation or sharing of the word of God. In concise phrases, often no longer than a verse from the Bible, profound thoughts can be communicated, as long as those taking part in the conversation do not neglect to cultivate their own inner lives. It is hardly surprising that different religious traditions consider solitude and silence as privileged states which help people to rediscover themselves and that Truth which gives meaning to all things.

 

It is this “neglect of the inner life” that the Lord was warning me about, but thanks to His grace I took up the challenge to create some room in my mind and heart for the Word to dwell.  So far I have been able to memorize chapters 1 through 7 of Matthew’s Gospel (although I skipped Matthew’s lengthy genealogy, so as not to be overwhelmed at the outset!)  In doing so, I have experienced an increased sense of connectedness to Christ, even while I still struggle with keeping the right balance in terms of my use of new media.  There is a great feeling of peace and joy that I feel that comes from knowing that I value the Word of God enough to give it a primary place in my heart and mind.  For those of you who may feel God is calling you to something similar, I think you’ll find that it serves as a form of “active lectio divina” – a way to meditate on God’s Word even amidst all the daily tasks and roles we have to fulfill. 

 

Let me share just one recent instance of a powerful moment which resulted from committing scripture to heart.  This is a good example of the way that the Lord can break through to us through His Word even in the most mundane moments.

 

One evening I was emptying the dishwasher, which in our house is both an act of charity (since my wife hates doing it) and an act of penance (I hate it too, especially since it seems we have hundreds of sippy cups.)  In order to distract myself from this chore I decided to recite to myself the portions of Matthew’s Gospel that I had memorized thus far.  Before long I found myself recounting aloud the visit of the Magi:

 

“Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.” After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage…”

 

And then in that moment of saying those words out loud, “they prostrated themselves and did him homage,” I found myself unexpectedly in tears.  There was something beautiful that stirred in my soul without being aware of it.  In an instant the Lord shared with me something beautiful about the visit of the magi.  He showed me that before offering their gifts, the magi in fact offered a more precious gift – the gift of themselves, in the form of adoration.  Consider how far the magi traveled to participate in Eucharistic Adoration!  And furthermore, the Lord pointed out to me that He is pleased when we offer him our gifts and talents, but what He first wants us to give Him is our very selves.  As Blessed John Paul II so often reminded us: “Man cannot find himself except through a sincere gift of self.”  How blessed are we, that Our Lord Jesus Christ has given us the gift of Himself, in both Word and Sacrament!  

 

So for those of you, whose hearts may be stirred at the prospect of growing in your knowledge of the Gospel, consider if the Lord is inviting you to take up a similar challenge.  If we have the time each day to check social media, news, and yes, even blogs again and again and again -  we certainly have the time and space to devote ourselves to being truly and deeply familiar with the Word of God.  And then we will be able to experience more fully what St. Paul assures us: “the Word is near you, on your lips and in your heart.” 

7 Questions: Paul Tiseo of Theandric

1) Could you talk a little bit about how Theandric got started? Where did you get the name?  What would you say are your main musical influences?

Theandric began as a solo project when I was in my twenties, but I’ve been making music ever since I was in grade school.  After several years of imposed and torturous piano lessons, I convinced my parents to buy me a bass guitar.  I was about 12 years old when I began taking regular bass guitar lessons at the local music store, and later I picked up acoustic and electric guitar as well.  As a teenager, I was a big fan of hard rock and heavy metal, but later my interests broadened to include a wide range of music, including jazz, classical, and world music.  With regards to the name “Theandric”, it was a theological word that I heard used in a homily once.  At the time I didn’t know what the word meant but I thought it sounded cool!  I thought it would make a great band name.  After I learned the meaning, I found that it was the perfect word to express my musical philosophy, which is essentially to allow my human nature to cooperate with the divine nature in the creative act.  Even though Theandric started as a solo project, I’ve always had the vision of including more musicians under the Theandric banner, and we’re starting to get there with the addition of the talented Elizabeth Esqueda to our group. 

As for influences, there are a few artists and composers that I would consider my favorites, and you’ll see that they are quite diverse: in terms of rock music I really like Genesis, King’s X, Iron Maiden, and Juliana Hatfield.  In terms of classical and sacred music:  Messiaen, Arvo Part, and Sir John Tavener.  In the Christian music realm I really like Fr. Stan Fortuna, Tori Harris and the acclaimed guitarist Phil Keaggy.  In particular, the guitar playing of Phil Keaggy has had a tremendous impact on the development of my acoustic guitar playing.   

2) You have a new album out entitled "The Door of Faith".  It has a very different sound than your previous metal album "Up the Irons".  Was this intentional from the beginning and can we expect more of the same in the future?

The EP “Up the Irons” was really my first experience in making a professional sounding recording and releasing it worldwide.  The music style was in tribute to one of the my favorite bands, Iron Maiden, whose music I’ve enjoyed since I started playing guitar almost 25 years ago.  But it really wasn’t meant to define all my musical intentions - it was just a fun musical idea that I had and needed to put to rest.  There is one song on that EP called “Adoro Te Devote” which was part of my original vision for Theandric, which was to utilize elements of Gregorian chant within a heavy metal framework.  But over time I felt my musical interests shifting, and I believe that the shift in sound and approach of the songs on “The Door of Faith” was really a response to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.  I had been working on the song “The Dream of Joseph” about St. Joseph’s experience of the announcement of the birth of Christ (Matthew 1:18-25) and I found I really enjoyed writing in a stripped down, acoustic style, where the melodies and intimacy take precedence over guitar riffs.  Once I embraced this style of writing the ideas really started flowing and I knew I was on to something.  For now, I intend to continue writing in this style because I feel it is the best use of my gifts to serve the Word.     

https://soundcloud.com/theandric/the-dream-of-joseph

3) The lyrics for this new album are saturated with references and quotes from Sacred Scripture.  How has the Bible shaped your songwriting?

The Word of God has been indispensable for the development of my songwriting. Having a scripture passage in mind most often serves as a springboard for song ideas.  As a songwriter and composer, I cannot think of a higher calling than to cooperate with the Lord in spreading His Word.  I think every artist wants his work to be memorable and lasting, and the Lord reminds us that “heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”  So for me this form of creativity is a way to connect with something eternal, which ultimately is the everlasting love of God.  Also, writing the songs for this album has been a form of Lectio Divina for me, as it has allowed me time to contemplate more deeply into some of the personal experiences in scripture, such as those experienced by St. Joseph, St. Thomas, and the Blessed Mother. 

http://youtu.be/PodEQoACK1U

4) My wife and I were just listening to the song 'Ave Maria' on our way back from Church recently.  Could you talk a little bit about that song and the beautiful voice of Elizabeth Mihalo Esqueda who accompanied you on this track?

https://soundcloud.com/theandric/ave-maria

Elizabeth’s participation in this project was truly a gift of God’s Providence.  She is a very talented singer, not to mention a humble and enthusiastic person.  I had placed an ad in the archdiocese music newsletter and she responded to my search for a female singer to participate in the recordings.  From the beginning I had envisioned a female voice being an important part of the songs, as I wanted the music to reflect more of the diversity of the Body of Christ, and the complementarity of the sexes.  And of course, the Marian songs “Ave Maria” and “Annunciation” required that feminine sound and spirit to make them truly come alive.  Elizabeth contributed an incredibly beautiful performance.  She also really helped me in improving my Latin pronunciation! : )

5) Our Pope Emeritus Benedict called for this year to be the Year of Faith.  What kind of influence has his example and writings had on you, both personally and musically?

Without a doubt I have Pope Benedict XVI to thank for the inspiration and initiation of this project.  The announcement of the Year of Faith and the accompanying document “Porta Fidei” provided me with not only the album title but also the inspiration to do a full album’s worth of songs.  I ended up consulting many of his writings while songwriting, such as Deus Caritas Est, The Spirit of the Liturgy, and Behold the Pierced One.  I think I’ve also felt a particular affection for Pope Benedict as my own father’s name is Benedict.  I’ve made a point of releasing both of my albums on July 11^th, which is the feast of St. Benedict according to the ordinary liturgical year.  Another bit of trivia: I had my wedding ring inscribed with the words ‘Deus Caritas Est’ as a reminder of my vocation.  Truly I was really blessed by the pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI, and I’m grateful there is still so much more of his work to study and reflect upon to grow in my faith. 

6) I know that Eucharistic Adoration is a big part of your spiritual life.  How has it impacted your songwriting?

The most fulfilling aspect of the preparations for this album was the simple act of taking my guitar with me to the chapel to work in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament.  Not only was it very fruitful creatively, but spiritually as well.  I enjoyed being with the Lord to offer Him my creative gifts, but also I relished being with Him in the silence of His Presence.  This has now become my preferred mode of composing, if the chapel is available and I can be alone with the Lord.  And now that I think about it, this whole project has helped me appreciate more fully how the Lord is present to us in both Word and Sacrament.  The Eucharist and the Word both nourish us and strengthen us, and they are inextricably linked.  Also, another unexpected grace from Eucharistic Adoration has been an increasing desire to spend time in front of the Blessed Sacrament.  This has helped me feel grounded and humble.  Like many artists, I dream of playing before large crowds and having my music be known far and wide, but over these past few months I find myself longing more to be in the presence of just that One. 

7) As customary for the last question, do you have a favorite scripture passage?

It’s so tough to choose just one!  I’ve already mentioned 1 John 4:16, which pretty much sums it all up, but currently the scripture that has been hanging on my heart has been Matthew 5:3: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”  It was the first scripture that I taught my three-year-old daughter and we pray it together at bedtime.  There is a haunting mystery in that beatitude that keeps calling me in a powerful way.  I feel like I could spend the rest of my life just contemplating that one line.   

Bonus Question:  You are, of course, the genius behind the Catholic Bibles Blog Theme Song.   Can we expect a follow up any time soon?

Yes, yes, I definitely want to do an updated theme song for the Catholic Bibles Blog!  I know that the current theme has a “selective appeal”, if you will.  I already have an idea for the next theme song which will utilize lots of Latin chant, scripture, and more cowbell…gotta have more cowbell!

Official Theandric website: http://www.theandric.com

http://www.facebook.com/TheandricMusic

http://www.twitter.com/TheandricMusic 

http://cdbaby.com/cd/theandric

Theandric- Everywhere I Go (King's X Cover)

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http://www.theandric.com/

Theandric -- XIV

Another rocking song from Theandric, the creator of the official Catholic Bibles Blog theme song. This time, Theandric provides a meditation on the Fourteenth Station of the Cross, when Jesus is laid in the tomb.



Lyrics:

Wrapped in a shroud of silence
Your sacred body without breath
Swallowed by the stillness
Our Lord was put to death

Where else can I go?
You had the words of everlasting life
But now you lie in darkness
And all I have is tears

My yoke is easy and my burden is light.
Suffering is joy when your heart is filled with love.
I walked this Way with your sins upon my back.
My yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Unless the grain of wheat falls to earth and dies,
It remains just a grain of wheat.
Take up your cross and follow after me.
I am the Life that Death cannot defeat