Ss. Peter and Paul, their arrest

The churches were flowing red this Friday, for we marked the feast day of the great leaders of the early Church, Peter and Paul, one an intimate friend of Christ, the other a vicious persecutor of the Christians who had a mystical vision of Christ and was almost instantly converted. One a hefty fisherman with an impetuous nature, the other an academic and a philosopher. Peter gave the Church her stability, the rock on which the house is built that will not fall (Matthew 7, 21-29). Paul provides us with the some of the original theology of the Church in his letters and with images of her members and their practice.

Neither could be tolerated for very long.

The Arrest of Peter and Paul, by H. S. Kulmbach

Picture from Wikigallery.

Today is a great day for the Roman Catholic Church, for these two men are our first leaders, among our primary intercessors and the greatest of the men and women who have honoured God and the Church throughout the ages. The office and work of S. Peter continues today in the person of His Holiness the Roman Pontiff, first bishop among equals. Just as S. Peter was all those years ago, Benedict XVI is the symbol of unity in the Church, fulfilling the command of Christ that he strengthen his brothers (Luke 22, 32). If Peter is the symbol of unity, it is Paul in his continual quest to ensure peace in the Church who commends this unity: “I… beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4, 1-6). In England and Wales, the feast of Ss. Peter and Paul is a Holy Day of Obligation, which means that attendance at Mass is required by the law of the Church.

May Saints Peter and Paul pray for the Church they built, as she continues her mission for the glory of God.

Grab on tight, Peter

“And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea.”

image

“Thou art clothed with honour and majesty,
who coverest thyself with light as with a garment,
who hast stretched out the heavens like a tent,
who hast laid the beams of thy chambers on the waters,
who makest the clouds thy chariot,
who ridest on the wings of the wind,
who makest the winds thy messengers,
fire and flame thy ministers.”

[Psalm 103 (104)]

Jubilee celebrations for HM the Queen, flower shows, excited priests and other things

The country is awash with enthusiasm for the various ceremonies and parties occurring everywhere. We shall not be short of them ourselves. I was watching the float-by ceremony at the Tower Bridge on the television yesterday. HM and Family, I thought, are possessed of great stamina. They did stand and wave all the boats by for quite a while, and the dear old Queen had a smile on her face throughout. The BBC had some interesting observations and commentary aside, from the human interest item on the ‘jubilee babies’ being born in a ward that overlooked the event to the delightful and thought-provoking descriptions of what various members of the Family were wearing, who these were designed by and how exquisite they were.

This morning, excitement was still high, as the parishioners began/continued preparations for a party to be organised and held by both our parishes on the 10th of the month, again to honour our dear Queen. Even Fr. Stanley couldn’t contain his ardour as he donned his Union hat and waved flags about.

Fr. S dons the Union umbrella hat

Later on, I wished to attend the flower festival at the Anglican parish church of All Saints, down the hill, where various persons from around the town had put up flower and other displays. The following are some images from that event. For more images, visit our Facebook page.

A display on various world religions in the chancel

The display for S. Patrick in the nave

The diamond anniversary display in the north aisle.

In case we haven’t said this already in some form…. God save our Queen.