.
... and why the series is so popular. Hat-tip to Sentire cum Ecclesia, an Australian convert-from-Lutheranism blogger whose blog goes onto my blogroll as one which I feel I ought to keep up with.
Here is part of what His Eminence says:
"We should remember that young people today are so used to the marvels of technology that magical fantasies are less exceptional for them than for their parents and grand parents. As always most children love entering the world of magic, fairy stories, escaping the limits of normality (I wasn't one of these) and readers love a fast moving tale, especially when the adventures are exotic, the trumpets are calling the good to battle and the narrative is strong and racy.
Through television and computers young people know much more than their predecessors, but often only at a surface level. They are encouraged to be curious, provided the curiosity is not costly or demanding and many have an itch for novelty, a fascination with technological marvels, the mysterious and abnormal, especially if they are ignorant of genuine religious traditions.
Many of this last group are restless and rootless, seeking limits, yearning for a good cause and more than happy to identify with the victims of injustice, with those who bravely confront evil and loyally stick with one another.
Harry Potter fits their bill as a hero, although he also appeals to good young Christians.
The series deserves to be widely read, but I am unsure why it is so hugely popular. We live in an uneasy, somewhat empty time of change."
Here is a Catholic Prelate who really seems to understand: his being host to the World Youth Day in Sydney next year seems providential.
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1 comment:
Had a look at SCE, liked the mugshot, but won't be blogrolling him soon on the evidence of the piece "Ambused by Traditional Catholics" - not as an ally, anyway. If he thinks Dr Hull and Martin Mosebach are representative of an SSPX "line", he's under a considerable misapprehension. Hull and Mosebach have written the two most important books by layman on the liturgical debacle; I am more or less entirely of their persuasion myself (as anyone familiar with The Undercroft's better moments must be aware); but if the SSPX are too, they've certainly kept it from me for twenty-five years.
Once again though, we can see where the really interesting debate in the Church is happening: forget the liberals - they're off the radar; the real action is in the theological confrontation between Traditionists and "Conservatives".
This is the really interesting
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