Elvis. Faced his Particular Judgment 45 years ago today. SO tragic. I think of Elvis and mourn when I contemplate Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus. Elvis was baptized, but never had the Sacraments or the Rosary. And he lived and died like it, too. It was the dirty lie of “cheap grace” that allowed him to think that he could indulge his passions without consequence – because he was baptized and sang spirituals every night.
Our Blessed Lord says, “If you love Me, keep My Commandments.”
Si diligitis me, mandata mea servate.
He gathered his back-up singers, all gospel singers, male and female, and made them stay up and sing Southern Spirituals all night after their stage shows. He had no interest in singing anything recreationally other than spirituals.
But as John 14: 15 makes crystal clear, that’s not even remotely enough.
Elvis is yet another example of a man who should have been evangelized by the Holy Catholic Church – but the “laborers were few”, as Our Lord put it. Understatement of the day, right there.
I listened to Elvis’ spiritual oeuvre non-stop growing up. One of my absolute favorites, which has SO much more immediate meaning now is “Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho”.
When do we march on the occupied Vatican? Anybody got a Ramshorn?
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho
Jericho Jericho
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho
And the walls come tumbling down
God knows that
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho
Jericho Jericho
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho
And the walls come tumbling down
Good morning sister Mary
Good morning brother John
Well I wanna stop and talk with you
Wanna tell you how I come along
I know you’ve heard about Joshua
He was the son of Nun
He never stopped his work until
Until the work was done
God knows that
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho
Jericho Jericho
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho
And the walls come tumbling down
You may talk about your men of Gideon
You may brag about your men of Saul
There’s none like good old Joshua
At the battle of Jericho
Up to the walls of Jericho
He marched with spear in hand
“Go blow them ram horns,” Joshua cried
“Cause the battle is in my hand”
God knows that
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho
Jericho Jericho
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho
And the walls come tumbling down
You may talk about your men of Gideon
You may brag about your king of Saul
There none like Joshua
At the battle of Jericho
They tell me, great God that Joshua’s spear
Was well nigh twelve feet long
And upon his hip was a double edged sword
And his mouth was a gospel horn
Yet bold and brave he stood
Salvation in his hand
“Go blow them ram horns,” Joshua cried
“Cause the devil can’t do you no harm”
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho
Jericho Jericho
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho
And the walls come tumbling down
Up to the walls of Jericho
He marched with spear in hand
“Go blow them ram horns,” Joshua cried
“Cause the battle is in my hand”
Then the lamb ram sheep horns began to blow
The trumpets began to sound
Old Joshua shouted “Glory!”
And the walls came tumblin’ down
God knows that
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho
Jericho Jericho
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho
And the walls come tumbling down
Down, down, down, down, down
Tumblin’ down