Category Archives: saints

Why Benedict?

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You’d not think a rule by a bearded man would have much appeal to the rule-challenger that I like to think I am. Whilst it’s true that I’m not very good with the great men, I have a place in my heart for Benedict and for the communities of Benedictines that continue to welcome and nurture me. These sisters and brothers have been most kind and worshipping with them has been renewing.
My remembered version of the Rule of St Benedict concentrates largely on the beginning with a few bits in the middle. What I remember is it’s not supposed to be onerous or harsh and that’s how I try to interact with it.

When felting wool I take a few strands and lay them down, and then I take a few more and lay them down and then a few more and so on. It isn’t until quite a few layers are built up that I add the warm soapy water that will felt them together into a new project. Benedict doesn’t mention the community felter alongside cellarer, porter and prior or abbess but that role of taking strands and bringing them together is a community role. It’s one I enjoy and in my community felting I bring together different layers of the remembered bible, remembered rule and remembered stories and silences of all kinds.
So today I remember all those who engage with the Rule of St Benedict in whatever way, whether written down, remembered or felted and I give thanks for hospitality and worship felted together over hundreds of years, new communities emerging in new colours and prayer and silence still nurturing.

In our life and our believing
The love of God

11th July 2018

Inner Farne

St Cuthbert died on Inner Farne and there is a small chapel dedicated to him amongst the seasonal migrating seabirds:

Strong stomached were the saints
Who to Inner Farne for solitude came.
Annually their congregations would increase
With raucous crowds of visiting terns.
Today the pilgrims brave the seas,
Salute the seals, gasp at the maid’s brave route,
And gently tread their way to the chapel door.
Mindful of the egg strewn path,
Where Cuthbert still cradles Oswald’s head.
On the rim of the font in the yard,
An artic tern, an epic voyager,
catches my eye before soaring skywards.
Try it, you might like it, it seems to cry.

In our life and our believing
The love of God

Inner Farne 23.05.2018

At Bamburgh

Today’s prayers are from a visit to St Aidan’s church, Bamburgh, where Aidan is said to have died. There is a memorial there to him who came from Iona and founded the first monastic community at Lindisfarne. Bamburgh was also the place of birth and death of Grace Darling, hero.

Shrouded in mist and emerging from memory we remember the saints of the North, who in charity, fortitude and hope kept the faith in their own day that we may have it to pass on in ours.

For the example of Aidan, the faithful:
Lord have Mercy
For the example of Oswald, headless of his own safety:
Lord have Mercy
For the example of Grace, courageous and selfless:
Lord have Mercy

Whatever faith you have, use it like Aidan.
Whatever purpose you have pursue it like Oswald.
Whatever strength you have deploy it as courageously as Grace.
Whatever life you have live it fully to the Glory of God.

As the fog shrouds the coast in mist and gentle rain waters the land, remember, whether you can see them or not:
Deep peace of the running wave to you,
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you,
Deep peace of the shinning stars to you,
Deep peace of the Son of peace to you

(traditional blessing)

In our life and our believing 
The love of God 

Bamburgh 22.05.3018