Verses on Various Occasions · Chapter
LXXXIV: Declension explained
The speaker laments the futility of striving to revive past glories, questioning whether renewed efforts would only lead to the same cycle of pride and decay.
What happens
The speaker laments the futility of striving to revive past glories, questioning whether renewed efforts would only lead to the same cycle of pride and decay. He concludes that such reasoning is worldly-wise and that the Church must simply obey Christ's command to shine, trusting the outcome to God.
Themes in this chapter
The Church and Tradition
The poem reflects on the Church's mission to shine and the danger of falling into form and pride.
Faith and Doubt
The speaker wrestles with doubt about the efficacy of effort, ultimately affirming trust in God's will.
Characters to notice
Key passages
“When I am sad, I say, “What boots it me to strive, And vex my spirit day by day, Dead memories to revive?””
In my sadness, I question the point of struggling daily to bring back the past.
The speaker expresses despair over the futility of trying to restore former times.
“Nay, this is worldly-wise; To reason is a crime, Since the Lord bade His Church arise, In the dark ancient time.”
No, this thinking is merely human wisdom; it is wrong to reason so, because the Lord commanded His Church to rise up long ago.
The speaker rejects his own doubts, affirming that obedience to God's command is paramount.