...of workers for Aid to the Church in Need gathered in London for the annual conference and training day. These are the men and women who go from church to church to raise funds for the people who are being persecuted for their faith in various countries. There were presentations on a range of topic including a report from field worker John Pontifex, focusing on the Middle East. Mass, lunch, sessions tackling the practicalities of fund-raising.
As the day drew to a close we gathered in the beautiful chapel - we were at a conference centre run by nuns in Roehampton - for a Holy Hour and Benediction. This was led by an Eastern-rite Deacon. As we entered, he was pacing the chapel with the thurible: instead of merely incensing the altar and the sanctuary, he was filling the whole church with incense, and his measured, prayerful pace and the swish of the thurible and the scent and sound of it drew us in, and conveyed a message that the whole place was holy and sacred. This is an idea that we in the Western rite can take up instead of stopping short at the sanctuary steps.
Benediction was beautiful - we sang the O Salutaris and Tantum ergo with joy and were led in an Eastern-rite prayer, and the Divine Praises...
Shrove Tuesday - pancakes at suppertime, with lemon and sugar. Lent starts tomorrow. A friend and I have covenanted together to maintain our Lenten resolutions and be accountable to each other. We have invited Blessed John Paul to be our patron for this season.
So here goes...
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment