...at St Joseph's, New Malden, there is adoration of the Blessed Sacrament until into the night, finishing with Benediction. It's sort of satisfying walking through the dark streets to the glowing church - which looks especially welcoming in this Christmas season with the greenery and the red candles in the window niches, and a side-chapel all transformed into Bethlehem for the crib. And then the silence, and Tantum Ergo, and the gentle drama of Benediction, and home to mugs of tea.
Watch out for renewed attacks on the Church's teachings on marriage and family, following the Pope's excellent New Year message. It's encouraging, though, to see that the Spanish rally seems to have been effective and inspiring. You can get all sorts of insights by trawling through the Internet. The Ratzinger Forum has lots of gosh-isn't-he-lovely fan-mail stuff about the Pope, but some interesting reports and comments, too, drawn from a number of sources.
Back into the routine of work today though there are still agreeable trails of Christmas all around - yesterday evening a most delightful drinks party with friends in London, a talkative gathering with journalists and vaguely political people, neighbours and friends-from-church, and delicious food, and children giggling about, and a most glorious Christmas Tree. Hostesses were the daughters of the Utley family - their father T.E. Utley was one of the wisest people I've ever met and if you haven't sampled his writing then you should be introduced to it: start here.
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