Tuesday 21st April

Canon Michael's words for the Memoria of St Anselm

I am sure all of us would like to wish her majesty the Queen a very happy birthday and many happy returns of the day. There is no doubt she has lived a long life of dedication and service to our country. God save the Queen.

Today is the feast day of St Anselm . He was Archbishop of Canterbury back in the days of king William Rufus and then Henry 1st. Kings in those days were forever trying to be in control of the Church. St Anselm would have none of it and defended the rights and independence of the Church.

Anselm wasn't one who wanted to be centre stage in national affairs. He was a Benedictine monk. He was Italian by birth and spent a long time in the famous Norman monastery at Bec. He loved the life of study and was an ideal novice master, being a man of deep prayer. The quiet life of a monk came to an end however, when he was asked by the Pope to be the Archbishop of Canterbury.

St Anselm's writings are still studied today. He produced an interesting argument for the existence of God. It's called the ontological argument. He loved seeking knowledge about the wonders of the world. He loved questioning. He coined a phrase which all Christian scholars delight in when he said "I believe in order to understand". Faith in the wonder and majesty of God is the best response to all philosophical questions about existence and the meaning of life.

                                                                          Parish news

I  offered Mass yesterday for the people of the parish.Today I will offer Mass for Fr Patrick Breen who used to be P.P of Ulshaw Bridge.

Please pray for my Auntie Tess who is in James Cook  Hospital with that dreaded virus. She is 91 years old and is at the moment stable.

I know we are all grateful for the dedication of all who are doing so much in caring for the sick at this time. They have our prayers, gratitude and admiration.

Canon Michael