Monday, May 5, 2014

On Martydom in the arena: Uri, vinciri, verberari, ferroque necari: On martyrdom and the arena.

Gerome, Jean-Leon. Pollice Verso. 1872. Oil on canvas. Phoenix.
That is the oath of the gladiator, the sacramentum gladiatorium. All gladiators were to pledge a chilling promise: "I will endure to be burned, to be bound, to be beaten, and to be killed by the sword." This oath, however, is ultimately selfish, only for one's own glory.
Consider the "arena" as a metaphor. The truth is that we all are in our own arena. The Christian especially is a kind of gladiator. Paul alludes to this. And it is true that many Christians have already endured being beaten, burned, or killed with the sword; we call them martyrs. In fact, some of them were in the same arenas as the gladiators. But the difference is that the Christian did not seek his own glory but rather the glory of the Father. Here is the wonderful irony. Remember what Christ said about losing your life for his sake? That "whosoever shall lose his life...shall preserve it." And what has happened? We remember the fame of the martyr more than that of the gladiator. Who is remembered more? The martyr has found life in our continued memory of their sacrifice. 


Agenda for Monday, May 5-9, 2014:
  1. Pray
  2. Latin Proverb: Finis coronat opvs.
    1.  "The end crowns the work," meaning, finish well!
  3. Read and discuss Shakespeare's Henry V:
    1. Take notes
  4. Work on Midsummer Projects 
  5. Review HW:
    1. Midsummer Exam (5/9). This is an In-class Essay. Study Midsummer and notes. 
    2. Midsummer Memorization Project (5/20). This project is your FINAL!
    3. Be perfect.

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