Here’s a little about St. Cuthbert courtesy of Ancient Faith Radio
St. Cuthbert from Durham Cathedral
3 thoughts on “Happy Feast Day Cuthbert!”
Catholic Saints buried in Anglican Cathedrals! One of my favorites too. If sea otters like you can you be bad?
Caught Mass at a small convent (St. Aloysius) in downtown London at 7:30am before boarding my plane…
The following excerpt is from my email to my wife this morning:
“…Awoke – showered – (and) ironed my shirt in 35 minutes flat, and got out the door to catch Mass at St. Aloysius. The walk was about ten minutes, and the map that was created by apple on the iPad was off by 2 blocks and on the wrong street. By the time I got to the church, it was 7:33am. Once there, the sign on the church door read… “7:30 am Mass is in the Convent on 32 Phoenix Road.” This necessitated a half block retrace, wherein I approached what looked like a series of flats. I wrung the bell and a moment later an elderly nun answered the door, and ushered me upstairs to a tiny chapel – approximately 8 elderly nuns (one in habit – who turned out to be a visitor from the Franciscans in Newcastle), and the priest. It was lovely Mass – albeit with a lot of sitting – rather than the typical perfunctory standing or kneeling (due to their advanced age I suspect).
Afterwards, and in my unwillingness to deny them their offer of hospitality, the sisters took me into their dining hall and treated me to a cup of tea – and of course, offered every manner of fruit or toast with marmalade. I stuck with tea… Big surprise. Little was said – though they do know I am from DC, a Benedictine Oblate and am married with 5 children.
It was lovely, and their kindness and quiet joy penetrated me; such that it has lingered like a fragrance on my clothes, even though I am now back at the Renaissance Hotel at St. Pancras – the difference and contrast of my surroundings couldn’t be more dramatic – simplicity, silence and joy in one space – opulence, wealth, hustle and bustle mixed with hoochee-koochee music in the other.
I float between two seemingly incongruous worlds… Doing my best to fit somehow seamlessly in both – whilst at the convent, at peace in the stillness but all the while keeping track of the time; ever-ever-ever-mindful of my schedule to catch my flight, the knowledge of the timing of my walk, how many blocks, how long it will take, and all the emails I need to catch up on – – – back at St. Pancras, carrying the peace from the convent like a secret treasure that no one around me would ever detect or fully understand. Perhaps in existing in both places – I am good at being in neither.
Notwithstanding the duality/duplicity of my present state, at least I am honest with myself… All the while, people pass by me – businessmen, ministers of state, actors, influencers… and all I can feel is each heartbeat, each breath, each quiet prayer – as my heart seeks alignment with Christ…”
Catholic Saints buried in Anglican Cathedrals! One of my favorites too. If sea otters like you can you be bad?
Caught Mass at a small convent (St. Aloysius) in downtown London at 7:30am before boarding my plane…
The following excerpt is from my email to my wife this morning:
“…Awoke – showered – (and) ironed my shirt in 35 minutes flat, and got out the door to catch Mass at St. Aloysius. The walk was about ten minutes, and the map that was created by apple on the iPad was off by 2 blocks and on the wrong street. By the time I got to the church, it was 7:33am. Once there, the sign on the church door read… “7:30 am Mass is in the Convent on 32 Phoenix Road.” This necessitated a half block retrace, wherein I approached what looked like a series of flats. I wrung the bell and a moment later an elderly nun answered the door, and ushered me upstairs to a tiny chapel – approximately 8 elderly nuns (one in habit – who turned out to be a visitor from the Franciscans in Newcastle), and the priest. It was lovely Mass – albeit with a lot of sitting – rather than the typical perfunctory standing or kneeling (due to their advanced age I suspect).
Afterwards, and in my unwillingness to deny them their offer of hospitality, the sisters took me into their dining hall and treated me to a cup of tea – and of course, offered every manner of fruit or toast with marmalade. I stuck with tea… Big surprise. Little was said – though they do know I am from DC, a Benedictine Oblate and am married with 5 children.
It was lovely, and their kindness and quiet joy penetrated me; such that it has lingered like a fragrance on my clothes, even though I am now back at the Renaissance Hotel at St. Pancras – the difference and contrast of my surroundings couldn’t be more dramatic – simplicity, silence and joy in one space – opulence, wealth, hustle and bustle mixed with hoochee-koochee music in the other.
I float between two seemingly incongruous worlds… Doing my best to fit somehow seamlessly in both – whilst at the convent, at peace in the stillness but all the while keeping track of the time; ever-ever-ever-mindful of my schedule to catch my flight, the knowledge of the timing of my walk, how many blocks, how long it will take, and all the emails I need to catch up on – – – back at St. Pancras, carrying the peace from the convent like a secret treasure that no one around me would ever detect or fully understand. Perhaps in existing in both places – I am good at being in neither.
Notwithstanding the duality/duplicity of my present state, at least I am honest with myself… All the while, people pass by me – businessmen, ministers of state, actors, influencers… and all I can feel is each heartbeat, each breath, each quiet prayer – as my heart seeks alignment with Christ…”
Happy Cuthbert Day!
Sightseeing on the company dime again, huh? 😉