Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis for May 11, 2021

Perfection in truth.

Can’t really say Pig’s wrong.

For some people, it means “Rot in Perdition.”

On young died gangsta grave is written R.A.P.

Vulnerable? May heart has been beating over 50 times a minute, 24/7, for 63 y. . . aaarrrrggh . . .

Another simple truth revealed in the comics!

On the first anniversary of my wife’s passing. And it still makes that sound.

I don’t know about anyone else, but that brought a tear to my eye.

Nowadays it’s ‘random infected person’. These are dark times.

Good as an explanation as any, I guess.Though I am familiar with the acronym.

Stephan, did you have anyone in particular in mind?

That really teared (tore?) me up, Pig!

As I am , you shall be .

Two words: Rip Torn.

Yeah it’s for Really.In.Paradise.

Nice Rip!

It means Rest In Peace.

Perhaps pig could wear a washboard over his heart like a zydeco player

Rest In Peace? What about rest in peas?

Like a fine horse…. take life on like a bulldozer, but built like wet rice paper.

It took me a while, but I think I am finally starting to roll with whatever Pig says to me.

My heart ripped when my first love dumped me.

Requiescat In Pace ( Rest In Peace ) was originally uttered as an imprecation against ghosts. It is an appeal to the dead to stay dead and not come back to haunt the living.

Pig being both clueless and profound at once.

Sounds like Steve lost someone recently . . .

Philosophy majors take note.

Less wordy than his tribute to his father-in-law a number of years back. But no less profound.

For anyone who has never seen it:

https://www.gocomics.com/pearlsbeforeswine/2010/02/07

Sounds like the artist has experienced a loss………….. :(

Whoever it was, Mr. Pastis, may you remember the good times and be comforted.

Rat Ignores Pig

“Hearts will never be practical until they can be made unbreakable.” Wizard to the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz (MGM – 1939).

Sorry Mr. Pastis. I am stealing this. rip.

I didn’t think Pig had studied Latin.

Requiescat in pace is a Latin blessing with Roman Catholic ties that means “may he begin to rest in peace". This blessing is translated to ‘rest in peace’, a short saying or expression that wishes eternal rest and peace to an individual who has passed away. The expression typically appears on gravestones, and is often abbreviated as R.I.P. or simply RIP. The initial idea behind the phrase revolved around the souls of the dead remaining un-tormented in the afterlife.

History

The phrase Requiescat in pace began to be found on tombstones around the eighth century, and it was commonplace on Christian tombs by the eighteenth century. The phrase was especially prominent with the Roman Catholics. It was seen as a request that the soul of a deceased individual would find peace in the afterlife. Roman Catholics believed in and placed much emphasis on the soul, and life after death, and thus the request was for peace in the afterlife.

The phrase continued to spread and gain popularity, eventually becoming a common convention. The lack of any explicit reference to the soul in the short phrase caused people to believe that it was the physical body that was wished to enjoy eternal peace and rest in a grave. The phrase can be used to mean either aspect of modern culture.

Other Variations

Several other variations of the phrase exist. Included among them is “Requiescat in pace et in amore,” meaning “May she rest in peace and love”, and “In pace requiescat et in amore”.

(To be concluded)

(Conclusion)

The phrase is also open to other religions’ interpretations. Certain sects of Catholics believe that the term Rest in Peace is actually meant to signify the day of Resurrection. In this interpretation, humans literally rest in their graves until they summoned upward out of it by the return of Jesus.

Job 14:12-15

So man lies down and does not rise.

Until the heavens are no longer,

He will not awake nor be aroused out of his sleep.

“Oh that You would hide me in Sheol,

That You would conceal me until Your wrath returns to You,

That You would set a limit for me and remember me!

“If a man dies, will he live again?

All the days of my struggle I will wait

Until my change comes.

“You will call, and I will answer You;

The short phrase has also been found inscribed on Hebrew gravestones in the graveyard of Bet Shearim. The phrase clearly permeated religious lines. In this situation, it is meant to speak of a person who has died because he or she could not bear the evil around him. The phrase continues to be used in traditional Jewish ceremonies.

https://www.thoughtco.com/requiescat-in-pace-120922

The timing for this strip is incredible. May 5th was the fifteenth anniversary of my brother’s death. May 9th was the twelfth anniversary of my Uncle’s death. May 15th’ll be the fourteenth anniversary of my Mother’s death. These thoughts are very much on my mind at the moment.

This weekend was 50 years since my first love died. There is still a rip on my heart but I learned long ago to live with it.

Seriously, Pig?! Your Latin instructor never taught you “requiescat in pace” (usually translated as “rest in peace”)? You never saw the Undertaker wrestle on TV?

Such blissful ignorance!

Every now and then, Pastis writes something touching and sweet. Then, the next day, it’s back to the usual grating and loathsome. (To be honest, I’ll admit that if I wanted sweet and touching every day, I’d be reading “Mutts.” But my pancreas can only take so much…)

It’s “rest in peace” if you liked someone, and “rot in pieces” if you didn’t.