Death is Eternal #384

Sunday. January 21, 2024. 2,122 words.

Death is Eternal is back! After a long and restful vacation, I’m back in Canada, ready to write new chapters of my weekly newsletter. Although, if we’re being honest, Death is Eternal never went away for real, making the “is back” part kind of a lie; after all, how can something be back if it never went away in the first place? Regardless of all that, let’s delve deep into whatever I have to say today.

Contents

1. Fidel Castro’s Excommunication (1962)

2. Writing: Edenic: The Foundation

3. Bye!

4. Life (from December 3, 2023 to January 28, 2024)

5. Death is Eternal review #262: Red Sparrow

6. The end

1. Fidel Castro’s Excommunication (1962)

“Do you wish to see me?” Archbishop Dino Staffa inquired, his presence commanding the Papal Chamber as he crossed its threshold.

“Oh, indeed, Archbishop. Please, do come,” replied Pope John XXIII, his tone carrying a subtle weight that underscored the solemnity of their encounter.

As the Archbishop approached, Pope John extended his hand, a symbolic gesture met with the reverent kiss of Staffa upon the Papal ring. The palpable tension hung in the air, laden with unspoken urgency.

“How may I be of service to you?” inquired the Archbishop, his eyes betraying a curiosity tinged with apprehension.

“Fidel has cast out Bishop Eduardo Roza Masvidal and a legion of priests from the shores of Cuba,” the Pope declared with a measured gravity.

A nod of acknowledgment from the Archbishop conveyed an awareness of the seismic ripple that such an expulsion had caused.

“We cannot permit such actions to go unanswered. Nations must not entertain the notion of emancipation from our influence. They must not forget to fear us, to fear the Church,” asserted the Pope, his voice carrying the weight of centuries of authority.

“Do they?” The Archbishop’s response was subtle, a masterstroke of diplomacy concealed within a simple question.

“Of course! We are the Church, for God’s sake! Once, we held dominion over the world. Even now, we wield our influence with a gentle touch. But should nations entertain the audacity to think they can sever ties with us, we must respond with unyielding force,” the Pope proclaimed, a fervour evident in his voice.

“And what course of action do you contemplate?” queried the Archbishop, a familiarity with his friend’s temperament allowing him to anticipate the direction of the conversation.

“I shall pronounce excommunication upon Fidel,” the Pope declared with a steely resolve.

“Can such a proclamation be justified based solely on the act of expulsion?” The Archbishop, ever the voice of reason, sought clarity.

A wry smile played upon the Pope’s lips. “Ah, but therein lies the brilliance of our response. I shall invoke the 1949 decree of Pope Pius XII.”

The Archbishop, openmouthed in astonishment, dared to voice his doubts, “The Decree against Communism?”

A nod from the Pope confirmed his suspicions. “Indeed. The fourth question within the 1949 Decretum: ‘Do Christians who profess, defend, or promote materialistic Communist doctrine incur the penalty of excommunication as apostates from the Christian faith, with the penalty reserved so that the Holy See may only lift it?’ To which, in this instance, the unequivocal answer is ‘Yes.’”

The Archbishop, though respectful, dared to question the practicality of such a stratagem. “Forgive my audacity, Your Eminence, but will the faithful readily accept such a blatant fabrication?”

The Pope’s gaze shifted, not with ire but with a touch of sorrow. He regarded his friend with a quiet pity, recognizing a deficiency in understanding. A moment of pregnant silence hung between them before the Pope spoke, each word carrying weight.

“My dear friend, the people will believe because they possess something you lack: faith,” the Pope uttered in almost a whisper, the truth reverberating through the chamber.

The Archbishop, incredulous, began to speak, but a wave of the Pope’s hand signalled the conclusion of their discourse. The Archbishop, though eager to voice his reservations, found himself unheard as the Pope turned away, retracing his steps with an air of finality.

There was no need for raised voices or pursuit. The Archbishop departed silently, grasping the harsh reality that, in matters of faith, doubt could prove a more formidable adversary than even the staunchest opposition. And in the realm of the Church, lack of faith could serve as a justification for excommunication—a potent weapon as powerful, if not more so, than any political ideology.

The end

2. Writing: Edenic: The Foundation

Credit: Adilson Farias

So, here I am, sitting down to share my thoughts with you, and initially, I had something else planned for this session. However, yesterday marked a special occasion: the fourth anniversary of Edenic: The Foundation, a significant milestone for the book, a project I hold close to my heart. In light of this celebration, I decided to change course for today’s discussion. If I happen to forget what I initially intended to share, don’t worry: I’ll come up with an entirely new topic. In any case, you can expect this segment to be a regular feature in seven days.

Now, let’s delve into the world of Edenic. It is one of my two books translated into English, the other being Suicidal in Heaven: A Journey of Choices. Edenic was part of my grand plan to publish my works in the language of the country I was going to migrate to. Call me naïve, but I believed writing in English would increase my chances of becoming a best-selling author, given the larger English-speaking audience compared to Portuguese. Unfortunately, that dream hasn’t materialized yet.

After this preamble, let’s shift our focus to the book itself. But before we do, allow me to provide a bit more context, especially for those of you who haven’t been with me since my days of writing and producing content in Portuguese. (I must admit, even in the third paragraph, I find myself stuck in the introduction—I suppose being away from words has brought back my prolix nature.)

Edenic initially was a podcast, with the pilot written, recorded, and edited on Feb. 24, 2018. It was a “daily” podcast, airing from Monday to Saturday, and it featured 314 episodes along with five specials. The episodes were a five-minute newscast with four news stories set in the fictional city of Edenic, a place where anything and everything is possible, akin to the vibe of Welcome to Night Vale.

The podcast eventually came to a halt because, well, creating 20 storylines per week, coupled with the demands of recording and editing, proved too time-consuming and (almost) led me to burnout. Surprisingly, after a year immersed in that universe, I didn’t want it to end. After taking a brief step back, I desired to tell more stories within that world, but I knew podcasting wasn’t the route I wanted to take. So, I returned to what I do best: writing.

However, I faced a dilemma. Writing a book set in the present day of the city wouldn’t capture the essence of the podcast. The solution? Drawing from my fascination with history, I decided to turn back the clock. I crafted the origin story of Edenic, aptly titled The Foundation. Initially, I planned to create a series of books spanning from the foundation to the present day. Yet, after completing the first one, I was done with that universe. Occasionally, I miss it, but it’s not a creative longing—just a fleeting, normal yearning.

Despite moving on from this universe, at least for now, I take pride in creating it and spinning numerous tales set in its present while giving it a rich past. Edenic: The Foundation might not top my personal list of favourite books (there’s something in the tone that bothers me; it almost feels like a children’s book), but its universe holds a special place in my heart. So, if you don’t understand Portuguese, I highly recommend reading the book. You’ll catch a glimpse of something I’m genuinely proud of—a world that, for a time, consumed my creative energy and gave rise to countless stories.

3. Bye!

Here’s where we say our farewell to the free subscribers. If you want to read the rest of Death is Eternal, consider becoming a paying subscriber. If you already are a paying subscriber, first of all, thank you very, very much! And second, I’ll see you on the other side of the paywall.