Blessed John Paul II

In January 1979 my wife and I visited Rome.   Inevitably, one highlight  was to be attendance at the Pope’s weekly General Audience in the Paul VI Audience Hall - a huge building that can hold over 6,000 people.   Like any other theatre it has a stage at one end and the usual procedure is for the Pope to enter from one side and take his place on the centre-stage throne.   To get the best seats you must  arrive hours before His Holiness: alas, we didn’t and found ourselves at the very back of the hall with the stage almost out of sight in the far distance.   Then there was a sudden commotion and the great door on which I was leaning swung open - and there was the Pope!   Because he was “new to the job” (he had only been elected three months before) he had decided on a whim to break with protocol and enter the Hall through the back door - and thus I was the first person he saw: he made straight for me and shook my hand!   I am not one of his flock but it was a very moving - yet puzzling - encounter.   Although it was the Pope’s face I was looking at, I had the feeling that the eyes looking at me were those of Jesus Himself - and He was pleading.   Pleading?   Later I saw it as a “let me out!” cry: here He was, trapped in all the ceremonial of the Church of Rome when He wanted to be out among His people.   Oh, well: we Anglicans are not the only Christians to have funny notions from time to time.   I still cherish that moment.

Easter 2011

What an Easter it has been, spiritually and meteorologically!   On Good Friday we had an ecumenical Stations of the Cross, conducted to great approval by the Anglican vicar; on Saturday we broke our Lenten fasts; on Sunday we had a magnificent service of Holy Communion; and today we had a picnic (in the churchyard, almost!) at East Garston, near Lambourn.   In the churchyard itself was the most wonderful Easter Garden I have ever seen.   I don't deserve such happiness.........

Cuts

It is right that Christians (and others) should 'look after' our weaker brethren - helping lame dogs over styles and that sort of thing - but we should do it with our own resources, NOT WITH BORROWED MONEY.   That's the reason our national finances are in the mess they are today.   So no-one should say "Not us!" - we must all play our part to live within our national income - it is only legitimate to question how and when the cuts must fall.

The Head of the Church

Recently I came across this in a Church magazine, celebrating a 200-years anniversary: "Briefly, Baptists believe that Christ, not the Monarch, is head of the Church".   I nearly choked on my cornflakes, then penned this reply: "I was startled by this explanation - as if Anglicans think otherwise: of course we don't!   Loyal monarchists think that the Queen is "head" of everything that "belongs" to our country, as custodian, but the true head of the Church of England is Jesus.   When King George VI died a clever non-Anglican remarked to a friend "I hear that the head of your Church died?" which earned the quick responses "Yes, but He rose again on the third day". That's us.  God bless you all - including Baptists in your anniversary year."   Then the cornflakes tasted even better...

The Europa School Diary

Each year, the European Commission publishes a European diary for schoolchildren throughout the European Union.   Three millions copies of the 2010-2011 version of this diary, distributed to schools free at the request of teachers, have been issued.  The current version does not mention any Christian feasts, but does give the dates of Islamic, Sikh, Hindu and Chinese feast days.
In a recent legal review by the High Court, Lord Justice Munby and Mr Justice Beatson are reported to have said that there is no place in British law for Christian beliefs: I applaud them for drawing attention to the way our politicians have failed us.   It is the job of politicians to ensure that our laws reflect our Christian heritage; the job of the Judges it to apply the law, not make it.
Grrr-rr-r.

Songs of Praise

An interesting programme this afternoon, full of wartime memories.   This naturally appealed to an old fogey like me: I recall those National Days of Prayer when on several occasions the King called the Nation to prayer.   I realise it's pure coincidence, but every time it was followed by a miracle of deliverance (as at Dunkirk, to which I have referred before).   I don't share Gordon Brown's politics but I warm to him when I read "We must not claim that God is on our side, but we have to hope that we are on His side".

Repatriation

Today the bodies of five service men who died in Afghanistan were brought home.   The giant Hercules aircraft flew low over Wootton Bassett to announce its arrival  then went on to land at RAF Lyneham.   With due ceremony the five coffins were taken from the plane to the Chapel where families and friends were waiting to pay their last respects.   Each family is given as long as it wishes then again with great dignity the coffins are taken to the waiting hearses.   The sad procession, five hearses, illuminated inside, coffins draped with the Union Flag, an empty hearse in case of a breakdown, and its police escort, makes it way to Wootton Basset where the first of many tributes are paid, then along the M4, A417 and A420 to the Wiltshire Police Headquarters on the outskirts of Swindon.
There, escort duties are taken over by Thames Valley Police and the cortege continues its journey.  All along the A420 people gather in groups large and small to pay their respects.   The main “vigil points” are - where the B4000 crosses the main road; at the Defence Academy in Shrivenham; and at the Folly Hill Lay-by - but all along the route people gather and traffic stops at the cortege approaches.   The “final salute” is taken outside  St Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church at the entrance to the John Radcliffe Hospital.
Our prayers go with them : may they rest in peace.