Dear Friends

We certainly can’t claim that this week will have been uneventful! What great news to hear of the safe rescue of that young football team and their teacher in Thailand, although terribly sad that it was at the expense of a brave young navy diver who ran out of oxygen when planning their rescue.  We offer our prayers for him and the young family he left behind.

And closer to home, who knows what state our government will be in by the end of the week?!

​On Wednesday of this week, whether or not the country is celebrating another football success, the Church will be celebrating the feast of St Benedict, founder of the monastic order of Benedictines. He founded a monastery on Monte Cassino, in Italy, where he wrote his Rule of Life. A humble man, he would no doubt be amazed to learn that his ‘simple school for prayer’ and his ‘modest rule for beginners’ led to the foundation of communities which kept the Christian flame alight throughout the dark ages. These communities have fed the poor, transformed societies, promoted learning and scholarship, and today provide solace, perspective and retreats to both religious
and laity throughout the world. I have enjoyed many visits to one of their sites, Douai Abbey, in Berkshire. Below is one of my favourite prayers written by St Benedict.

“Almighty God, give me wisdom to perceive You,
intelligence to understand You,
diligence to seek You,
patience to wait for You,
eyes to behold You,
a heart to meditate upon You and life to proclaim You,
through the power of the Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.”

With every blessing
Mother Eileen