The Dreamer's Day: Love vs. A Gentleman

Wednesday, 18 February 2009

Love vs. A Gentleman

A post on another blog reminded me today of a funny story I heard a couple of weekends ago. The boys public (private if you are in the USA) school system in England is a reasonably famous elitist system. A vicar at a church a friend of mine attends told how, when he was visiting one such school, a headmaster told him that to tutor boys in how to become a gentleman they would use Paul's Corinthians 13 replacing the word LOVE with A GENTLEMAN

So:-

⁴Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

BECOMES

A GENTLEMAN is patient, A GENTLEMAN is kind. He does not envy, he does not boast, he is not proud. ⁵ He is not rude, he is not self-seeking, he is not easily angered, he keeps no record of wrongs. A GENTLEMAN does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. HE always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Quite a nice idea for the most part but when you get to the end you meet a little problem:

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

BECOMES

And now these three remain: faith, hope and A GENTLEMEN. But the greatest of these is A GENTLEMAN.

Clearly humility is not on the agenda here!

10 comments:

Bernice said...: Hi Squelly,

I love your blog and all you've done on Lourdes. This post as well, such a unique way of putting the Gentleman in it.; 18 February 2009 at 20:34
SQUELLY said...: Thanks so much! It was kind of you to drop by and leave a comment. God Bless!; 18 February 2009 at 21:24
Cathy Adamkiewicz said...: But so charming!
Thanks for visiting me - it's a pleasure to meet you as well.
Your kind comments were so appreciated. Our "little ones" are certainly praying for us - what a gift.; 19 February 2009 at 00:18
SQUELLY said...: I really enjoyed my visit! Thanks for stopping by here and leaving a comment. Amen to your words - to have a brother watching out for me from heaven is a wonderful thing.; 19 February 2009 at 00:43
Tracy said...: oh my gosh, that is so different, I don't know what I would think as a parent if my sons were being told this, I think I like it until as you said, the end is an issue, I learn something new and interesting each day:); 19 February 2009 at 00:45
SQUELLY said...: I know- it is pretty odd! It sounded a reasonable idea to me at first until that end bit cropped up. No idea who thought of it but it doesn't quite work does it? Still it is slightly amusing and, as you say, food for thought ;-); 19 February 2009 at 00:51
Debbie said...: It is a great idea until you get to the end! I think I have met some gentlemen who adhered to that.; 19 February 2009 at 16:22
SQUELLY said...: Haha! me too!; 19 February 2009 at 17:19
Aubrey said...: Wow! That is a very neat idea! I might have to incorporate that into the raising of our boys.; 19 February 2009 at 19:11
SQUELLY said...: It would be nice to meet a few more chaps who had been tutored that way ;-); 19 February 2009 at 19:46

The Jubilee Prayer 1858-2008

God our Father among all creatures You have formed Mary, the perfect creature, the "Immaculate Conception." In Lourdes she proclaimed this name and Bernadette repeated it. The Immaculate Conception; this is a cry of hope: evil, sin, and death are no longer victors.
Mary, precursory sign, dawn of salvation! Mary, you, the innocence and refuge of sinners, we pray to you.

Ave Maria, gratia plena!

Lord Jesus, You gave us Mary as our Mother. She shared Your Passion and Resurrection. In Lourdes she showed herself to Bernadette, saddened by our sins but radiant with Your light. Through her, we entrust to You our joys and our sorrows, our own, those of the sick, and those of all people.
Mary, our sister and our mother, our confidant, and our help, we pray to you ...

Ave Maria, gratia plena!

Holy Spirit, you are the Spirit of love and unity. In Lourdes, through Bernadette, Mary asked for a Chapel, and for people to come in procession. Inspire the Church which Christ is building on Peter's faith: that it may be one. Guide the pilgrimage of the Church: that it may be faithful and daring!
Mary, you are filled with the Holy Spirit, you are the spouse and the servant. You are the model for Christians, and the maternal face of the Church. We pray to you ...

Ave Maria, gratia plena!

For the many graces received, for all the conversions, all the forgiveness, all the healings, for the vocations and promises which you have witnessed or engendered, for the love of serving others, which you have let us experience, Our Lady of Lourdes we thank you!

Benedicta tu in mulieribus!

With all our brothers and sisters of the human race, with all people in need of peace and justice, with young people in search of a way, you who appeared so young to little Bernadette, with all those who are in mourning, who are ill, handicapped, or facing a setback, with those who may have a reason for despair: Our Lady of Lourdes We pray to you!

Ora pro nobis!

Because you are the smile of God, the reflection of the light of Christ, the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, because you chose Bernadette in her misery, because you are the star of the morning, the gate of Heaven, and the first resurrected creature we praise you, we acclaim you and with you we sing the wonders of God,

Magnificat!