Pirouetting Jesuit
As far as I can tell this article by Michael Higgins the president and vice-chancellor of St. Thomas University in Fredericton, N.B. also is not parody.
King David was fond of dancing. But then again, so was Salome. As you can see, the Scriptures are rather non-committal with regard to the efficacy of dancing. In other words, it can be to a fine end or it can be to a deadly end.
Jesuits are very fond of dancing as well, and presumably it is all to a good end. A Jesuit dance ensemble from Boston College regularly performs and provides instruction in matters pertaining to liturgical dance. They are not entirely unique in this undertaking. As a recent article in The Tablet of London indicated there is a remarkable Indian Jesuit by the name of Saju George who believes in the profound relationship of the sacred with Indian classical dance. He is an expert in Kuchipudi and, more especially, Bharatanatyam.
Bharatanatyam is originally a Hindu temple dance that has undergone some significant change since 1947. When he was asked how it is possible to integrate traditionally Hindu religious practice with Catholic spirituality Father George responded that "we have to go through a rigorous training — physical and mental. The form of dance involves a commitment of the whole person, body and soul. Everything that is danced is in place of God. God may be Shiva, or Krishna — or one of the other gods of the Hindu tradition.
"As a Catholic, I found that the dance may be in its traditional roots Hindu, but that it had the potential to express a Catholic commitment to Jesus through our own hymns; to make the spirit of the Bible alive in dance and in movement. Our hymns can be danced."
Jesuits are not unaccustomed to taking art forms that are indigenous to a non-Christian culture and adapting their best in order to communicate in a vital and creditable way the message of the gospel. They also do it within the Catholic tradition itself, as was exemplified by the Jesuit enthusiasm for baroque ballets in the 17th century.
So proficient were the Jesuit dancers and choreographers that one Parisian wag mused that no one could pirouette as well as a Jesuit.
"No one could pirouette as well as a Jesuit" has got to be one of the funniest statements I have read in a while. It is unfortunately just so easy to visualize a pirouetting Jesuit. After all they have such flexibility when it orthodoxy that it is easy to also imagine a bodily flexibility to rival the most experienced contortionist. Not to engage in Jesuit bashing and all of that, but things like this don't exactly come as surprises - more like expectations.
Father Saju George S.J. in a picture that deserves a captions contest.
"What you mean someone stole my flute?"
"I learned how to make this hand signal from Ronnie James Dio."
Not that other order's might not do the same as I have noticed with the Dominican-can.
It usually annoys me when somebody brings up King David when it comes to liturgical dance. Last I checked King David was not dancing in the Temple before the altar sacrifice, but was engaging in a bit of private devotion outside of the liturgy. Even so he scandalized some people by his actions such as Michal one of his wives. Outside of the Mass if you want to engage in devotional dancing with joy and praise to God, knock yourself out. I grew up seeing performances of modern dance and it just isn't my cup of tea, but if you want to get together with others to try to truly praised God than go ahead. The only dance I want to see at Mass is TranscenDANCE.
Known as 
I am speachless. (Except for: PRIEST SHOULD NEVER DANCE PERIOD END OF DISCUSSION!)
Michael Higgins used to be the president at my school...he left our campus, but he'll never leave our headlines... I don't know what the Jesuit-fetish is about though...
Father George, I see, is yet another priest without a collar...
"what...? I have shakespeare in the park practice right after mass!"
"fill the collection basket or I keep doing this..."
""I learned how to make this hand signal from Ronnie James Dio."
ROFLM[deleted]O!
Years ago an associate pastor at my parent's parish did a liturgical dance wearing a black leotard. He pranced and shimmied around the altar in a decidedly unmanly fashion. It left everyone speechless.
He later became art director for the diocese and wreckovated many churches... turning them into whitewashed, bare tombs. He also flagrantly took up with a male lover and siphoned money from churches by charging them for services he was paid by the diocese to provide. He recently left the priesthood.
The bishop, who tolerated the priests sin, still allows churches to use him as an "art" consultant. The story is here, the priest was Rod Stephens: http://www.ocregister.com/commentary/greenhut/greenhut60902.shtml
So... when I see a priest prancing, I am filled with holy rage. I have had more than enough of the Velvet Mafia and the shame that they have brought on our Church. I cannot bear to see them prancing round an altar.
+JMJ+
All I can see is Fr. John Hardon, S.J., God rest his dear soul, ROLLING OVER in his grave!!!!
God have mercy, what a fool!!
Thought of this later: Instead of trying to Christianize a Hindu temple dance, how about preaching the gospel. That would be novel, and it just might work!
Wow, that just looks so stupid. I boggles my mind that guys actually think to themselves, "Hey, this is a good idea."
I have only one thing to say to Fr. George - there will be plenty of time for liturgical dance in Purgatory.
God Bless,
RyanL
Maybe the priest is doing an exaggerated form of sign-language.
I'm in the same boat as L, Michael Higgins was president at my school and he made a huge heterodox mess of things.
St. Ignatius Loyola pray for this priest. St. Ignatius founded the Society of Jesus, he was a knight, and a warrior against satan and paganism. He definitely would have a tongue lashing with this unmanly priest.
We must treat all priests with respect for their office. This guy is definitely not respecting his office. This looks like something out of a bad Aladdin musical.
I have Indian friends who legitimately do this kind of dancing. They take it very seriously and it's really a lovely thing to see, although (surprise!) pretty foreign to me. There is a time for "inculturation" and a time to just respect the differentness and "otherness" of another culture from a respectful distance. This is *so* one of those times...
Is this a re-run. It seems news of this dancing jesuit was posted in the blogosphere (even here at the jester?) several months back.
I know I'm supposedly a comedy writer, but the only caption that comes to my mind is "Poor St. Ignatius."
This Week's Episode:
Jeanie and "Raj" play a prank on Maj. Nelson that backfires with hilarious results.
"Dr. Bellows, I can explain everything...JEANIE!!"
Quis Consurget Mihi Adversus Malignantes?
I'm almost positive you've linked to Stephen Colbert's parody of liturgical dance before, but it might be worth mentioning again: http://youtube.com/watch?v=zSyEKvt9RV8&mode=related&search=
Margaret,
I'm curious, do you know if the Malabarese and Malankar Christians of India incorporate dance into their respective liturgies too?
Uhgah!!! Stop with your bad self.
Do these pants make my butt look fat?
"No one could pirouette as well as a Jesuit." Somebody please write a novel that opens with that line. Maybe it could be set in LA.
Perhaps we should all let Michael know what we all think of his dance column.
Here is his email??
mwhiggins@stu.ca
Oh, don't worry about the question marks...it's been a long day...
Hey, come on babe,
follow me, I'm the Pied Piper,
and I'll show you, where it's at...
And the winner of today's Charades game is Father George for his portrayal of Pan.
These pants are too tight.......right there....make me step sideways. I wonder if anyone can guess. Oooh.. Giggle.
"Aqualung, my friend, don't you start away uneasy. O you poor old sod, you see its only me."