Ben Myers of Faith and Theology has a post on Sufjan Stevens entitled Theology with Sufjan Stevens: heaven in ordinary.

I got turned on to Sufjan Steven by Huw (I am grateful for that) and have enjoyed him ever since.

I like the breakdown Ben Myers does of —Casimir Pulaski Day.— It is a striking song – painful and hopeful. I would add that outside Illinois Casimir Pulaski Day does not exist as a formal holiday, and is relatively unknown. But in the song as in life, on the holiday, the Holy Day, we find death and hope, death and reassurance. It makes me think that to many God is the non-existent, unknown holiday. He is unknown and unrecognized. Because of that the hopelessness of death is overwhelming – and in the song especially the death of a young person. For those who are cognizant of the unknown, unseen holiday it is different.