Hidden LifeLiving as we do in the midst of rapid societal change, certain questions haunt us. How do we emerge from isolation into community? Are there durable values without which civilisation withers? Does our constant flood of words carry meaning? These Read More
After DEI?‘Wherever truth is genuinely sought, there must be a willingness to reason carefully, to acknowledge complexity, to distinguish matters of principle from matters of prudence, to learn from those with whom we disagree, and to submit our own judgments to Read More
Hospodi pomilujOne of the loveliest moments at this year’s SingCon was the repeated experience of singing, at the end of the vigil for the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Lvovsky’s 72-fold Hospodi pomiluj (Kyrie eleison) in four-part harmony, following a chromatic Read More
AutumnEach year, until you come, I forget your beauty, as the face of an absent friend: that same ruddiness that composure of a still evening waxing and waning or crinkling in laughter like leaves caught up by the wind then masked by shade so they fade from memory.
Being SuaveI balked a little when reading the collect at the end of Vigils this morning. It praises God for inspiring in St Jerome ‘suavem et vivum Scripturæ Sanctæ affectum’. The English liturgy speaks of a ‘living and tender love for Read More
Hidden LifeLiving as we do in the midst of rapid societal change, certain questions haunt us. How do we emerge from isolation into community? Are there durable values without which civilisation withers? Does our constant flood of words carry meaning? These are among the questions addressed in a book published this week, a conversation with Nicolas Diat structured on the discourse Pope Benedict XVI gave at the Collège des Bernardins in 2008. That text remains a powerful summons recalling us to the monastic roots of western culture. For my part, I’d venture to maintain that ‘the theologian’s taks is to say the unspeakable with purified words, not to invent, but to restore. It is humble work, a discourse born of silence, on our knees. […] A monastic theologian resembles a restorer of paintings. First he removes impurities, accumulated layers of dust, in order to find his way back to the original, pure form of worlds; then he undertakes to use these with reverence. To accomplish anything in this respect, humility is called for. This search for transformed words is intimately linked to the pursuit of silence.’
After DEI?‘Wherever truth is genuinely sought, there must be a willingness to reason carefully, to acknowledge complexity, to distinguish matters of principle from matters of prudence, to learn from those with whom we disagree, and to submit our own judgments to rational scrutiny. These habits of mind are, alas, rare in our public life. They are nevertheless indispensable, not only to scholarship, but also to the health of any free society.’ With these words Professor Robert P. George introduces, and commends, a book just out. It brings together a series of papers presented at a 2024 Princeton seminar in which I was privileged to participate. I spoke then of a need to ‘rescue from mythicised mists precious notions needed to speak afresh a common, desirable human purpose.’ I still believe that holds. This book provides helpful inspiration and guidance.
Hospodi pomilujOne of the loveliest moments at this year’s SingCon was the repeated experience of singing, at the end of the vigil for the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Lvovsky’s 72-fold Hospodi pomiluj (Kyrie eleison) in four-part harmony, following a chromatic pattern that first descends into the depths, then rises hopeful, and ultimately jubilant, to the tonal norm. You can find a recording here. The refrain accompanied the presiding bishop’s gracious gestures of reverence. Each aspect of the celebration conspired to make one realise that Christ’s mercy, poured out on the Cross, effectively follows us everywhere: ‘If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me’ (Psalm 139.8-10). May we never forget it. As an example of how a prayerful acclamation can cross cultural boundaries, you may wish to compare the recording indicated above with this one, which is simply terrific.
AutumnEach year, until you come, I forget your beauty, as the face of an absent friend: that same ruddiness that composure of a still evening waxing and waning or crinkling in laughter like leaves caught up by the wind then masked by shade so they fade from memory.
Being SuaveI balked a little when reading the collect at the end of Vigils this morning. It praises God for inspiring in St Jerome ‘suavem et vivum Scripturæ Sanctæ affectum’. The English liturgy speaks of a ‘living and tender love for Sacred Scripture’, but ‘tender’ doesn’t quite render ‘suavis’, which suggests sweetness. Sweetness is not what we associate with Jerome. His bad temper was legendary. It is amply attested to in his writings. He was a fearful adversary. Yet there was a gentleness to him. We sense it when we hear him speak of the Bible, which he loved deeply. The lion without which he is rarely seen bears witness to it, too. The story goes that Jerome was lecturing in Bethlehem one day when a limping lion turned up. While his students fled in dread, Jerome calmly stayed, perceiving that the lion was in pain. It had stepped on a thorn. Jerome extracted it. Such was the lion’s relief that it hung around for the rest of its life, the only companion, really, who could put up with Jerome over time. Did he recognise himself in this fierce animal? Who knows. Their partnership reminds us, in any case, that no character trait is definitive. Somewhere underneath asperity suave kindness may be found. We must learn how to provoke it.
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Today 4th October is normally celebrated as the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi- Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, Read More 1 Likes
Today we remember Blessed Columba Marmion, priest and author Columba is renowned for his many inspirational talks at spiritual conferences, and wrote three books that give a deep insight into the Catholic faith. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II Read More 1 Likes
Today October 2nd is the Feast of The Guardian Angels. We venerate them today- seeking their constant protection. Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God's love commits me here, ever this day (or night) be at my side, to light and guard, Read More 4 Likes
October 2nd is the feast of the Holy Guardian Angels. Angel of God, my guardian dear, To whom God's love commits me here, Ever this day, be at my side, To light and guard, To rule and guide. Amen. 4 Likes
Today as we welcome October we celebrate the feast day of St. Therese the Little Flower.. Prayer to St. Therese the Little Flower O Little Therese of the Child Jesus Please pick for me a rose from the heavenly garden and send it to me as Read More 282 Comments
AMEN 🙏🏼🌹Happy Feast Day in Heaven my loving & kind Little Flower (St. Thérèse)AAME🙏My granddaughter rang me from London this morning before school to tell me this as this year her class is Read More
