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Newsletter 7th August 2011
The slow month of August so not many things to tell you about this week. I hope that you are able to enjoy a holiday break.
This week the feast of St. Dominic is on Monday. He was born at Palencia, near to Valladolid. The feast of St. Lawrence is on Wednesday. He appears in a stained glass window by the St. Joseph Altar. Thursday is the feast of St. Clare, the sister of St. Francis. Friday is the commemoration of St. Jane Frances de Chantal, the companion of St. Francis de Sales. The title of his book “An introduction to the Devout Life” sounds daunting but it is full of good, common sense spirituality.
And here is something from St. Francis de Sales:
It is said that if we write some word on an almond that is sound, replace the shell, and plant it, all its fruit will bear this word. I myself have never approved the method of those who, to reform a man, begin with the exterior things such as deportment, clothing or hair. On the contrary, it seems to me that we must begin with the heart.
(…. I am sorry Chad, I shouldn’t have mentioned the need for a hair cut …..)
Already some forms have been returned for the First Communion classes. Please let me have them promptly, as I need to order the books for the children fairly soon.
Peter has been here recently and has looked at the bees. We have not fed them this summer but they are doing well and there should be some honey in the autumn. If you feed them now, they simply enjoy it and do not produce any more honey. They will need a feed in the late autumn. The apple trees continue to do well. There are six different types and some are better than others. The Bramleys have been the best this year but I am disappointed with the Pippins. The mint has taken well in the herb garden and I hope to add some more parsley soon.
It has been pointed out that the mention of the road works and the station lift in the newsletter had the desired effect. Within days the holes in the road had been filled in and the new lift was in operation.
A recipe from my niece. She liked to have this whilst waiting for her baby to arrive: at this time you are allowed to eat anything. An avocado cut into slices, some feta cheese, some slices of tomato and some black olives. Dress with a little pepper and some olive oil. She tells me that it goes very well with some slices of cold chicken.
Next Sunday we keep the feast of the Assumption of Our Blessed Lady. It has been transferred from Monday 15th to the nearest Sunday.
A prayer for today:
Lord, we pray thee that thy grace may always prevent and follow us, and makes us continually to be given to all good works: through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.
(the old sense of “prevent” which means “to go before us).
The other day, coming back by train from Victoria with a friend, we looked for the remains of the former station at Lewisham Road, just before St. John’s. You can see traces of the platforms. The station, a typical South Eastern timber clad building still stands and is used to sell scrap items from old houses. Originally the line continued to a station at Greenwich but was diverted into Lewisham in the 1920s.
Some George Herbert this week:
But that thou art my wisdome, Lord.
And both mine eyes are thine,
My minde would be extreamly stirr’d
For missing my designe.
Were it not better to bestow
Some place and power on me?
Then should thy praises with me grow,
And share in my degree.
Can anybody tell me where this comes from?
… and so was Dante too for one night at the band on the esplanade she had hit a gentleman on the head with her umbrella because he had taken off his hat when the band played God sae the Queen at the end.
Best wishes to you all
Monsignor Nicholas Rothon