Heaven is a Cruise Ship

The SS "Desert" Princess

The Catholic blogosphere has become somewhat agitated over the Father Z/Michael Voris "Lenten cruise".  I posted my reaction to the "Lenten cruise" on December 5.   There have been some great reactions from other bloggers, my favorite being from Terry Nelson at Abbey-Roads.  I love this:

"Well it's really quite simple, I'll say the black

and do the red, and you collect the bread."

"That's swell Ollie!  We should put that on a mug."

Most Catholic bloggers do not think it is a great idea to have a luxury cruise during Lent.  There are exceptions, but even they are couching their statements, thinking maybe a cruise during Lent is not the best thing to do, but let's not be judgmental.  They seem to think it is all about bashing Michael Voris.  I can't speak for others, but trust me, in my case that is absolutely not true.  

Then there is Tancred over at The Eponymous Flower.  He is in full support of this cruise, no holds barred, and he seems to have little regard or patience for those who disagree with him.

Tancred starts out by giving us the "modern, contemporary" view of Lent, which is that it is basically just like any other time of year, and there is really nothing special you have to do during those 40 days.  He says that those who do feel is it a more solemn, sacred time of year are part of a "newfound Jansensim", and says this view "borders on the hypocritical."

Edit: is there a rule against taking some form of recreation even during Lent? In a time when most Catholics don't fast during Lent , much less avoid meat [how sadly true], this newfound Jansenism on the part of some borders on the hypocritical.

Tancred seems to either have forgotten or just does not know that all Catholics were required to do the Great Fast until the time of now Venerable Pope Paul VI in 1966, when he said Catholics should voluntarily fast.  Of course, that resulted in no fasting, but that's for another time.  So Tancred's accusation of "newfound Jansenism" is completely wrong, in that this view is neither "newfound" nor "Jansenism."

Then Tancred tries to justify the cruise by saying well, going on a cruise with Father Z is a whole lot better than those Catholics who support birth control, abortion or homosexuality.  I certainly can't disagree with that. But how does that make a Lenten cruise a good idea?

For what could be worse? Supporting abortion, sodomy, the distribution of condoms and Marxist schemes using the Catholic name, or going on a cruise during Lent with Father Z?

Surely, some of these effete newly austere navel gazers [ah, the name calling that adds so much to his argument] have the purest motives when they attack Michael Voris and FatherZ for holding a Lenten Retreat aboard a ship bound for the Caribean islands.  [I, for one, am not attacking either Voris or Father Z.  I am attacking the idea of a Lenten cruise - there is a big difference]

Tancred now tries to tell us that those of us who oppose the idea of a Lenten cruise "would do well to take a close look at what they're objecting to."

A retreat can be a a beautiful place, even a kind of hothouse, with good food and companions, where a man can withdraw, retreat, from the rigors of his life to take stock, still his heart and listen for God's voice.

Christ's "companion" in the desert

Is Lent about going to a "beautiful place, a kind of hothouse, with good food and companions"?  I don't think that is what our Lord did when he went into the desert for 40 days.  First, I wouldn't call the desert exactly beautiful.  Secondly, our Lord went there with absolutely no food or water and no companions other than an occasional scorpion or other desert creature.   He most certainly did "withdraw, retreat, from the rigors of his life . . . still his heart and listen for God's voice," but He sure didn't do it on a luxurious cruise ship with great food, entertainment, and surrounded by others intent on worldly pursuits.  Thankfully, we are not required to follow the literal example of Jesus Christ, but we should try to emulate it as much as we are able to, at least spiritually.

Then Tancred tries to tell us that a cruise ship is a foretaste of heaven:

Most retreat facilities fall nothing short of luxurious and might be accused of providing a vision of heaven and are comparable to an above average to luxurious hotel. After all, what is a cruise ship but a hotel on the water? Even the more austere retreat houses are far from uncomfortable, but not all of us are Carthusians, or meant to be.

This is heaven?

A cruise ship provides "a vision of heaven"?  Does this mean that "The Love Boat" was the closest representation of heaven that we have ever seen?  I remember reading that "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him."  (I Cor. 2:9).  I don't think the Apostle Paul would agree with Tancred that a cruise ship is a good representation of heaven.

Tancred, the problem is, not very many of us are ready for heaven, and in the meantime, we have to say no to our desires and wants, at least once in a while, and turn away from luxury and creature comforts so that we can eradicate the sin in our lives.  Holy Mother Church has given us Lent, a liturgical period when we can concentrate on eradicating sin in our lives in a more intense manner than at any other time of the year.  I'm certainly not saying that we can never go on a luxury cruise.  There is a time and place for this, but it ain't Lent!

Tancred now resorts once again to name calling:

Any way, the Catholic Church's own puritanical Jacobins are up in arms all over the place and the usual suspects are making themselves heard. Some of the most vocal critics have been on"apologetics" cruises themselves, which were quite expensive and frankly decadent, upwards of 10,000 dollars.

I have never been on a cruise, so I really can't speak to this.   But at least these "apologetics" cruises were not held during Lent.

Tancred tries now to tell us that this cruise is actually quite cheap:

The cost of going on a Father Z and Michael Voris cruise is $1,000-$2,000, which is rather Spartan in comparison.

The cheapest price for this cruise is $1,083.89, double occupancy.  Then of course you have to figure in the cost of air fare, transportation to and from the airport, clothes and other sundry items you may need to buy, taking time off from work, getting someone to watch your house and/or kids and/or pets.  (At this price, unless you are truly wealthy, a family is not going to go with the kids.  It will be, at best, Mom and Dad.)  And, of course, you know you will be spending more money when you're actually on the cruise itself.  If you're really interested in what a typical cruise costs, you can go here.  It's far more than the base figure given in the ad.  For a married couple to go on this cruise at the cheapest price will probably be close to $5000.   Tancred may consider this spartan.  Most of us out in the real world do not.

I can completely understand those who want to do this cruise.  They really like and admire these two men, and the chance to spend an entire week with them in beautiful surroundings is truly tempting.  It's not tempting to me, but that's neither here nor there.

It is ironic that both Voris and Father Z represent themselves as "traditional" Catholics who support traditional Catholic practices.  One of the strongest traditions in the Church was the Great Lenten Fast.  Yet, by offering this cruise during Lent, Voris and Father Z are actually pressuring people to turn away from the Great Fast and instead, do the exact opposite by indulging their material senses.

I can only conclude this the same way I concluded my first post on this subject.  I know how the DH and I are going to save thousands of dollars this coming Lent.