The Law of Invisibility

 

By now many of our readers will have put up the Christmas tree with beautiful bright lights. But did you know ... ... ... that whenever your back is turned all the lights on the tree go out. If you're not looking then the lights just go out. Even if you trick the tree and turn your back and look in a mirror ... it won't work. The lights will remain on because the tree, or the lights to be precise, know that you are watching. 

If you turn your back and have someone else looking at the tree, it won't work either. The lights will remain on.

They only go off, or out, if no one is watching.

This is known as the Law of Invisibility as discovered by Professor Heinz Sight some years ago. He found out that if a tree falls in the forest and there is no one there to see it, then it will remain upright.

He also taught that the little light in the fridge does NOT go out when you shut the fridge door. This is a reversal of the Christmas tree syndrome. With the tree you expect the lights to remain ON - and they don't when you turn your back. With the fridge you expect the lights to go OFF - and they remain on.

To prove this, Prof Heinz Sight entered the fridge and shut the door. The experiment did not work because he was IN the fridge and therefore able to see the light; so it went OFF as he expected.  

He also nearly died of hypothermia. 

So there you have it. Enjoy your Christmas lights but don't expect them to be on when no one is watching.

 

CLICK HERE

The horizontal zebra

 

Once upon a time there was a zebra which looked different from the rest of the herd. And people don't like different, do they? Zebras don't like different either.

This zebra had its stripes horizontally. Instead of having the stripes vertically around the body like all other zebras, this one had its stripes horizontally from the neck to the rear. The other zebras did not like that. They said he was not "one of us". Whatever that means. They wanted the zebra out of the herd.

They debated, they argued, and then they voted. And the zebra was thrown out of the herd to roam all alone, lonely, and defenceless.

It soon got attacked by hyenas and was killed. They did not care which way the stripes went.

ON A MORE CHEERFUL NOTE

There once were two people who wanted to be actors on the stage. They were not very successful. The best part they ever got was to dress up together as a team into a zebra costume. Never mind the stripes. That story did not end up well either.

OH WELL ... IT SEEMS I CAN'T CHEER YOU UP TODAY

HOW ABOUT THIS?

COME ON - JOIN IN

 

How about me singing Opera? 

Or something more inspirational?

OH DEAR ...

YOU'RE REALLY DIFFICULT TO PLEASE TODAY!

 

Neighbourhood Watch

 

We have in the area where we live a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme whereby all neighbours watch out for each other and report anything suspicious to the police. We also send each other weekly e-mails advising us of anything we should be aware of in our area.

Once a month we meet at the main organiser's house, Mr Ivor Sorehead, and discuss matters that concern us all. Like for instance the fact that his dog is always barking, or that his two cats visit our gardens and use it as a toilet, or that his children are too noisy when playing football in the garden, or that whenever we have meetings in his house the biscuits are often stale and there are not enough of the chocolaty variety.

Anyway ... we have this Neighbourhood Watch Scheme and it seems to be working mostly OK; except for the fact of Sorehead's wandering cats giving us all a headache.

Years ago I was the leader of the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme in another town, but I gave it up because I hated all the greedy neighbours eating my chocolate cookies. I suggested they bring their own, and they voted me out of the Chair position.

Anyway ... back to where we live now. We've received an email lately saying there has been a number of burglaries in a neighbouring area and that we should be on the look-out, and to take extra precautions.

As a result we have had installed a wall safe in our home with a combination lock in which I keep my stockpile of chocolate cookies and jars of ginger marmalade of which I am very fond. In order to confuse any would-be intruder we have hidden the safe behind a large oil painting of a safe. Any thief would look at the painting and say, "Ha ... Ha ... They would not be that stupid to have a safe behind this painting!" and they'd leave it alone.

Also, from now on, whenever we leave the house we throw all the chairs haphazardly on the floor; also throw all cushions on the floor as well as pictures off the wall, and we empty all contents of drawers all over the place making it as untidy as possible. This way if any burglar comes in, he will see all the mess and think we've already been burgled and leave without disturbing anything.

If ever I am the only one at home, of course, we don't bother to untidy the house. Instead every so often I go to the front door and bark like a dog to frighten any passer-by. I bark two types of dogs. A big ferocious one and a tiny yappy one to give the impression we have two dogs. This often excites our own real dog who also joins in the barking. Last night he got so much into the act that he bit me in the backside.

We've also been advised that when we go out we should leave a light on and perhaps a radio or TV on so that anyone would think there's someone at home. To save electricity I don't have the radio or TV on but instead I stand behind the curtain and sing opera arias at the top of my voice. The dog sometimes joins in by howling at the top of his voice. So far, the ruse has worked well. 

Also, it seems to have frightened Sorehead's cats from our garden!

Father Ignatius in hospital

Father Ignatius had visited his parishioners in hospital so many times that he was now well known by the medical staff and the nurses. So it came as no surprise to him when one afternoon he was phoned by the Hospital Ward Matron and asked to come over as quickly as possible.

Agatha Dartford had been admitted to hospital by ambulance and she was asking for him by name.

Agatha was 93 years old and three years ago, being no longer able to look after herself, she had to leave her lovely cottage in the countryside and she was moved by her family to the Green Meadows Home for Senior Citizens.

She lost her independence that day, as well as all the lovely memories which her little cottage in the country contained.

She had moved in that little house many years ago just after marrying her husband. She raised her family there; all five of them who have now grown up and moved to other towns and cities far away with their own families.

The day she moved to Green Meadows was a dark day indeed in her life. She knew it was the logical thing to do of course; but sometimes logic really hurts. There’s no way that a frail person like her could look after herself alone in the countryside. So her family decided to sell her cottage and most of the furniture and other items which they did not want and moved her to the Home more through coercion than love.

“It’s better for you Mom. They can look after you better there; and you’ll have company with other people …” they said; “Green Meadows will provide you with all you need and you won’t have to cook or clean or do any of the household chores anymore. Aren’t you lucky Mom … it will be wonderful!”

But Agatha liked to cook for herself, and to eat when she wanted, sleep when she wanted and do as she wishes; rather than be regimented in a home with other people.

Yet; old age teaches you patience and it teaches you to accept what is inevitable and outside your control.

She was rather weak and in poor health so it seemed logical to have someone care for her; but wouldn’t it have been nice to live with one of her children and enjoy the company of her grand-children and see them grow up!

“We’ll come and visit you often …” was no substitute to living with her family and share their lives and dreams and hopes. To see them every day in good times and bad and to share their lives together.

Her children had all done well in life and all had large houses which could have easily accommodated her; but she’d be in the way no doubt and would cramp their successful lifestyles. They’d made that plain enough; even though they never actually said it.

So, reluctantly she accepted their decision and did move to Green Meadows; and indeed they did look after her very well in there. The personnel were very kind and helpful, including the nurses and medics whenever she needed them.

As for her family … yes … they visited her as promised … about once a year or so.

She was fortunate enough to have befriended Father Ignatius who used to visit another resident at Green Meadows.

So he visited her regularly about once a week and sometimes he brought her some of her favorite chocolate cakes from the bakery just next to St Vincent Church. They normally chatted for about half-an-hour or so and then they recited the Rosary together before blessing her and giving her Holy Communion.

Today, however, the priest was rushing to the hospital in response to her calls for help.

When he arrived there he was greeted by the Hospital Ward Matron who knew him well. She explained that Agatha had fallen at Green Meadows Home and had bruised her arm and left side badly. She was obviously in terrible pain and the medics wanted to take some X Rays photos to check that there are no broken bones.

But Agatha would not co-operate despite her obvious pain. The nurses tried to help her prepare for the X Ray tests and she held her left arm close against her chest and would not open her hand which was closed tightly.

They asked her what she was holding but she would not respond and closed her hand tighter still; asking for Father Ignatius to come and see her.

“Thank you for calling me Denise …” said Father Ignatius to the Ward Matron, “perhaps you’ll take me to her.”

Moments later he entered Agatha’s room and the nurses in attendance left closing the door behind them.

“Hello Agatha …” said the priest gently, “you’ve given us quite a fright … tell me what happened to you …”

“I fell at the Home Father … and they brought me here by ambulance …”

“Ah … I see; any excuse to escape Green Meadows is it …” he smiled, “or is it a trick to get me to bring you some chocolate cake?”

She smiled back and her eyes brightened at the thought.

“They want me to have some X Ray photos Father … and they want to take this from me …” she added motioning her clenched hand.

“I don’t understand …” said the priest calmly.

“When I moved to Green Meadows three years ago … just after my 90th Birthday it was … I lost everything.

“My children sold my house, they sold my furniture … and took away whatever ornaments and little things I had … or got rid of what they did not want. I had some lovely porcelain ornaments Father; and they sold the lot; or took the valuable ones for themselves.

“They moved me to Green Prison … that’s what I call it … with only the clothes I was wearing. That’s the rules of that place. They provide you with everything; including your clothes you know …

“My children even took all my old photographs of my dear Ken and I when we were wed … and the photos of the children as they grew up … and every bit of souvenir and memory that I had in that little cottage were I spent all those years …

“I have nothing in this world that belongs to me …

“Except this …” she said shaking her tightly closed hand gently.

“And now the nurses want to take even this … I want to go back to my cottage Father!”

Father Ignatius hugged her gently so as not to hurt her where she was bruised and kissed her forehead.

“Now then Agatha … you know well that your cottage was out in the country … and if you were to go back there it would mean that I’ll have a terribly long drive to come and visit you … you don’t really plan to inconvenience me do you?”

“No Father …” she said smiling.

“Besides … at Green Meadows they look after you well don’t they?”

She nodded.

“And it’s so much nearer for me …to come and visit you” he smiled.

“But I tell you what … as soon as you get out of hospital I’ll arrange with the Warden at Green Meadows to take you out for a drive in the countryside and we can visit your cottage. Would you like that?”

“Yes Father …” she replied enthusiastically.

“But first we need to have these X Rays done to make sure you’re OK. Can we ask the nurses to get on with this do you think?”

She nodded.

“Would you look after this for me Father?” she asked as she opened her hand.

And there, held ever so tightly that it had imprinted itself in her palm was a finger Rosary.



“You remember you gave me this some years ago Father?” she said.

The priest nodded gently.

“It’s all I have in the world that is mine. And I use it every time we recite the Rosary together and also every day when I sit by the window watching the birds in the garden at Green Meadows.”

Father Ignatius took good care of Agatha’s finger Rosary; and returned it to her when she’d had her X Rays done.

He also kept his promise and took her for a drive in the countryside by her cottage when she was eventually discharged from the hospital fully recuperated. And he took her to her favorite bakery for chocolate cakes and tea too!

Fear

 

It was Friday once again, and Father Ignatius took the Catechism Class at the local Catholic School.

He noticed the children were somewhat subdued and not as perky and chatty as always.

“Is everything OK today?” he asked, “you have never been so quiet … or am I going slightly deaf in my old age?”

They smiled quietly and said nothing at first, then one of them hesitated “have you not heard Father … the school is being inspected tomorrow and we will all have to sit an English test and a Mathematics test set by the inspectors … no one knows what is in the tests …

“Our form teacher, Miss Farthing, said that if we don’t do well compared to the National Average, it will cause repercussions for the school and ourselves …”

“I understand you concerns …” said the priest gently.

“It’s more than concerns …” said another pupil, “we’re afraid and worried out of our minds … no one told us of these tests until a few minutes ago …”

“And what have you done about it?” asked the priest maintaining his gentle tone of voice.

“What can we do?” replied another child, “we’ve been told they’re new national tests and even Miss Farthing doesn’t know what is involved.”

“All right …” continued Father Ignatius, “let’s spend the next few minutes on these tests … no Catechism class today …

“First of all … don’t let your fears guide you; but allow God to do so.

“You have all done various English and Mathematics tests before … and these tests tomorrow, no matter how new and no matter how different, they will only involve material which you have already been taught. I doubt very much the inspectors will test material not on the national curriculum. The tests may be new but not the subjects which you have been taught.

“So do some quick revision … nothing too long and too thorough … just general stuff which you’ve been taught so far and do your best tomorrow.

“The reason you have been given so little time to prepare is deliberate … the inspectors do this to test a whole class at a given point in time with no prior warning. They do this in every school … so you’ll be no different to anyone else.”

He stopped for a while to check they’d calmed down a little.

“And now, if I may … a word or two about fear …

“Often in life we are faced with seemingly insoluble problems. So our first instincts are to work hard at finding a solution … we struggle … we worry … and we fear what may happen next.

“And in our fears and struggles we forget that God has the answer.

“There is no problem, however inconceivable it might be, which may come to us in life which God has not met before. And if God has met it … He sure has the answer and the solution.

“I am not talking just about English or Mathematics tests here … but any problems that you may face as you grow up and become responsible adults … any problems at all … faithfully hand them to God.

“Pray to God and trust Him to show you the way ahead. He wouldn’t be an omnipotent all-knowing God otherwise.

“Our hesitation to hand over our problems to Him, is itself a problem of our own making – not His

“So I repeat what I said earlier … do not let your fears guide you, but allow God to do so.”

He stopped as he physically noticed they’d regained confidence in themselves and their abilities. He led them in prayer that they would do well and allowed them to spend the rest of the afternoon revising English and Mathematics.

Father Ignatius Books

 

Three Wishes

 

There I was face to face with St Peter. He looked at his computer monitor and said. “Yep … your credentials are OK. You’ve made it. Welcome to Heaven!”

I smiled silently.

“We like our guests to be very comfortable here” continued the Saint, “and not feel too disoriented from where they come from. So you’re allowed to go back to earth for a short period and bring with you three items from down there which will help make you more comfortable up here.

“I have to enter them on the computer … so, what will they be?”

I stopped and thought for a few moments. Three items … what could I bring from earth which will make my eternity here more pleasant … as if that were possible.

I saw him smile at that last thought.

Perhaps I could bring my MP3 player with all my music collection … that would be nice.

He frowned a little and was about to type when I added … “Oh … it’s got Latin hymns on it too …” He said nothing and I saw him type 3PM in the reflection of his spectacles.

Perhaps I could also bring my DVD collection of all those movies I never had time to see …

He interrupted my thoughts by saying, “Whilst you’re thinking about this can I also tell you that you can bring three people from down there to share Heaven with you. Who will they be?”

“Three people?” I thought, “but I know more than three people whom I’d love to see in Heaven for eternity.

“My wife … my children, my extended family, my friends, and all my Blogging friends whom I’ve ‘met’ through the Internet. There’s many more than just three people I’d like here with me.

“But … but … their lives are so inter-dependent. If I bring my wife here, who will look after the children left behind? And is it right and fair to bring young children here before they’ve had a chance to live life? How about my extended family … I can’t bring one and leave the others behind?

“This is so unfair!”

“Sit down,” said the Saint sternly, “you think it is unfair because you see things through human perspective. You analyze and measure things your way; often in a possessive manner.

“You say things like my wife, my children, my parents and my friends … as if these people belong to you.

“No one and nothing belongs to anybody and everything belongs to God.

“God gave life and only He decides when it ends and whether people come here or … the other place.

“You humans often complain when a young life is taken or when someone leaves dependents behind with seemingly no one to care for them.

“You forget that God is there to care for them, and He leaves plenty of opportunities for those people left behind to take on the task He has set them.

“Whilst everyone has his allotted time on earth, whilst there, their main job is to do His will so that when their turn comes they end up here!

“You understand?”

I nodded meekly.

“Now tell me,” he continued with a smile, “which Latin hymns do you have in your collection?”

“Not everyone who calls me 'Lord, Lord' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only those who do what my Father in Heaven wants them to do.” Matthew 7:21.

How much Manna have you got?

 

.

 This reading is a bit too long - I have shortened it a little  

EXODUS 16: 1 ONWARDS.

In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.”

Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days.”

^{... ... ...} in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was.

Moses said to them, “It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat. This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Everyone is to gather as much as they need. Take an omer for each person you have in your tent.’”

The Israelites did as they were told ... And when they measured it ... ... ...  Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed.

Then Moses said to them, “No one is to keep any of it until morning.”

However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them.

So, what are we to learn from this? Several lessons really.

God provided a way out of Egypt for the Israelites as He does for us today. Whatever problems we have in life He always provides a way out. But we have to take the way out - an action is required of us.

Having left Egypt the Israelites started grumbling and complaining instead of being grateful for their freedom. Their grumblings and complaints slowed them down into going round in circles and it took them forty years to travel a distance which should have taken about eleven days or so. A bit like us today, when we waste day after day complaining rather than thanking God for His many mercies and for saving us from many situations we know nothing about.

And the third lesson is that we should live our lives one day at a time. God promised the Israelites that He will provide enough bread, (manna), for each day. But they, like us today, doubted His provisions and gathered too much. And the next day what they had gathered was full of maggots and began to stink. 

How often do we waste our lives planning for eventualities that may not happen anyway, and in doing so we stink our lives with lack of Faith in God our loving Creator?

.

FATHER FRANCIS MAPLE

CLICK LINK ABOVE

 

I'm only human, I'm just a man
Lord help me believe in what I could be
And all that I am
Show me the stairway, that I have to climb
Lord for my sake, teach me to take
One day at a time

 

One day at a time Lord Jesus
That's all I'm asking from You
Just give me the strength
To do everyday what I have to do
Yesterday's gone Lord Jesus
And tomorrow may never be mine
Lord help me today, show me the way
One day at a time

 

Do You remember, when You walked among men
Well Jesus You know if You're looking below
It's worse now, than then
Cheating and stealing
Violence and crime
Lord for my sake, teach me to take
One day at a time

 

One day at a time Lord Jesus
That's all I'm asking from You
Just give me the strength
To do everyday what I have to do
Yesterday's gone Lord Jesus
And tomorrow may never be mine
Lord help me today, show me the way
One day at a time

 

 Lord help me today, show me the way
One day at a time

Wedding Invitation

 

Dear Dad,

How are you? I phoned you several times and left messages on your answering machine. I texted you and you did not respond. Now I am writing an old fashioned letter.

I'm getting married in the New Year and would like you to be there. Mom will be there too. I know the two of you have not spoken since the divorce, but it would be nice to have you there as a family on our day.

Your loving son.

 

Dear Son,

I shall not attend. Nothing to do with your mother.

Dad.

 

Dear Dad,

Why then? Why will you not attend Dad?

Your son.

 

Son,

Simply because you did not attend my wedding!

Dad.

 

Dear Dad,

But ... but ... I wasn't even born at your wedding with Mom. That's why I did not attend.

Your loving son.

 

Son,

That's a feeble excuse. I still would have liked you to have been there, carrying the ring perhaps ... but your mother insisted we got married before you were born. So if you're looking for a scapegoat then look at her ... not me. I was happy to wait until you were born and able to walk so you could bring the ring in church. It would have been lovely to see you there as a toddler. But she refused. She was so unreasonable from the start. She wanted to get married quickly before anyone noticed she was pregnant!

Dad

 

My Dear Dad,

This is all news to me. You mean to say Mom was pregnant when you got married? Was I a wanted baby? Am I the reason you two got married?

I spoke to Mom and she said I was a loved baby well before I was born. And that you two loved each other so much. But you wanted to wait for 18 months before you got married. Why did you want to wait for so long, by which time I would have been a toddler?

Your loving son.

 

Well son,

If you really want to know; I was selected for the world series golf tournament which, including the preliminaries, would have taken that long until we reached the finals. I had a good chance of being a finalist and really had no time to waste getting married and raising a child whilst practising my game daily and playing various elimination rounds up and down the country. 

Did your mother understand? NOOOOOO ... She was too unreasonable and wanted to get married as soon as she got pregnant. So this is what we did, and you missed my wedding, and now I am missing yours. 

By the way, I wonder if you've invited this year's golf champion? Just asking.

Dad.

 

Yes Dad ... he'll be there.

 

My dearest wonderful son,

I'll be there . I am so happy for you. I wouldn't miss your wedding for the world!

Your loving Dad.

What's all this about?

 

So this is Christmas. Many people are preparing for the big day. Buying food and drinks, wrapping presents, putting up the Christmas tree and decorations, and doing many other things to be ready for the celebrations.

But what is it all about?

Of course, the Christian message is that Christ was born as a child and was born of a Virgin here on earth.

We all know that. We heard it and said it so often that it rolls of the tongue and has become a yearly litany. But let's ask again, seriously this time: What is it all about?

To many people who do not truly believe in God the Christian message is heard with a "Yeah ... Yeah ... we've heard it all before", as they continue to prepare for the secular festivities. " The message of the Nativity is drowned by the Carol singing, albeit many are Christian based, and the music and singing and dancing.

But how about the Christians? How do they view the feast of Christmas? Is the message really understood and revered for what it is?

Let us start from the true fact that God exists. He is an omnipotent all caring and all loving, living Creator Being. No one has seen Him; and we assume that He is a Spirit. Existing yet invisible. He communicated with us in the past through the prophets and Jewish elders, and He does with us today in many ways and forms. 

When the time was right, and when He believed we were receptive in mind and body, He sent Jesus to earth so that He, (God), would experience humanity in all its form, and we, (humans), would get to see God and hear Him and speak to Him. 

This event, the coming of Jesus into the world changed the whole course of humanity. It even changed the calendar from BC to AD, and changed our lives for ever ... if we choose to believe. 

Now God could have chosen many ways to send Jesus, who was/is fully human and fully God, to earth.

He could have sent Him as a Spirit. A presence that was felt and heard and experienced. How do you think we humans would have reacted to that? Perhaps by running away as if we've seen a ghost, (Spirit), or by scoffing in incredulity unless we experienced Him personally.

God could have sent Jesus as a fully grown-up man. Appearing from nowhere. Powerful, omnipotent, loving and caring. A bit like Superman or similar hero. How would we have reacted then? We would have been so frightened out of our minds with fear and submission that we would have done anything He said to be spared of the consequences. Hardly the act of a loving God to force us into submission by fear and threats.

God could have sent Jesus as a baby born of a man and woman like all of us. He would then be accepted as "one of us" would He not? But then, we did not accept the prophets in the past, and people like Abraham, Moses and others. Why would a Jesus born out of humanity be any different?  

God decided to send us Jesus born from a Virgin by the power of the Holy Spirit. Fully God and fully human. To experience humanity in all its facets and to share in our strengths and weaknesses. Jesus was tempted by the devil, as we often are. He was tired when He fell asleep in the boat, as we often are. He was thirsty by the well, and needed food and nourishment as we often are. He felt pain when beaten, tortured, and nailed to the Cross to die horribly. 

He experienced humanity to the full; and in doing so, He taught us how to overcome our earthly journey with all its pains and obstacles and how to prepare for an eternity with our loving Father in Paradise. He came to prepare the Way. That was His Mission.

And yet today, as we prepare the dinner table, the presents and the music, there are many who refuse to believe. It is not a matter that they do not believe through ignorance. Because they do not know. It is because they obstinately and willingly refuse to believe that an omnipotent living Being exists and that He visited us in person. 

So how about us Christians? If we are to have a positive impact on people around us, do we really ... really ... understand the implications of the reality of Christmas?  

Let those who truly believe live their journeys in such a way that it makes others want what we have in their lives. Amen.

Here I Am, Lord (Is the Pope Catholic?)

 

HERE I AM, LORD

CLICK HERE 

 

IS THE POPE CATHOLIC?

Fathers Ignatius and Donald drove back from Bishop’s House after an all-day meeting with the Bishop and several other priests from the Diocese. The Bishop had called a conference to discuss dwindling numbers attending church every Sunday.

It was about seven in the evening and the priests looked forward to a light snack and watching football on TV. England was playing Italy in an important game which they just had to win.

As they entered the kitchen they found their housekeeper, Mrs Davenport, still there with her friend Edna Winterton. Now Mrs Davenport was not exactly the brightest star in the firmament, and Edna was even less so.

“Good evening ladies,” said Father Ignatius, “I would have thought you’d retired to your cottage Mrs D …”

“It is far from being a good evening, Father,” she said, “far from it indeed.”

“Something the matter?” asked Father Donald in his pronounced Glasgow accent with a hint of levity in his tone, as he usually did, “have we run out of milk again? Or is it something more dire?”

“This is no laughing matter, Fathers,” continued the housekeeper, “Edna and I have waited for your return and would have waited all night if needs be.”

“What is the problem?” asked Father Ignatius as the two priests sat down at the kitchen table.

“I’ll let Edna tell you, Fathers,” she replied, “better you hear it from the horse’s mouth … not that you are a horse, Edna; or resemble one. It’s a figure of speaking.”

Edna smiled feebly and started to explain. “It’s my niece Father. She’s a lovely girl. Only eighteen and the apple of her parents’ eyes; and mine too. We love her so, don’t we, Mrs Davenport?”

“We sure do, Edna; she’s a lovely girl all right. You’ve never met her, Fathers. She lives in Birmingham with her parents; or rather she did. The shame of it.”

Father Donald was getting impatient looking at his watch about the timing of the football game. He was about to say something when Edna continued. “Well … she is no longer with her parents.”

The priests feared the worst. Father Donald changed mode instantaneously and was about to offer comfort when Edna interrupted again. “She’s gone to University in London … you know, London down South. A real den of iniquity it is, for sure.”

“That London?” quipped Father Donald.

“I don’t understand,” asked Father Ignatius gently.

“Well,” said Edna as she wiped tears from her eyes, “she mixed with the wrong kind sadly for her. She said the Catholic Church is boring with all them Latin words in Mass and she now goes to an Anglican Church in London. Can you imagine, Fathers? One of our own going to another church? Her parents would be spinning in their graves at the news, if they were dead that is!”

Father Donald hid a smile and said nothing. Mrs Davenport joined in. “It is terrible news for sure, Father Ignatius,” she said, “Edna and I have been reciting the Rosary all evening waiting for you. We’ve done it six times I think!”

“Seven,” corrected Edna.

“Yes that’s right,” said Mrs D, “it is terrible news. Especially since our Lord was Catholic and all. And Latin was His language was it not?”

“Actually, he was Jewish,” corrected Father Donald having discovered his impatient streak once again.

“What do you mean?” asked the housekeeper.

“The Catholic Church has ancient and common ties with the Jewish religion,” explained Father Ignatius gently, “the Old Testament is full of writings from the prophets and people like Abraham, Moses, Isaiah and so on. They were all Jews. And so were Jesus and the disciples.”

“But the Pope is Catholic!” declared Mrs Davenport.

“He was the last time I checked,” said Father Donald looking at his watch.

“Look ladies … Edna,” continued Father Ignatius in his usual calm and kind manner, “the Catholic Church developed years later, but let us not concern ourselves with that now. You are worried that your niece is going to an Anglican Church, and no doubt her parents are worrying too. But let us look at another scenario. Would you rather she did not go to church at all?”

“Heavens and the Saints forbid,” Edna said, “her parents would …”

“… be turning in their graves,” mumbled Father Donald.

“The thing is,” Donald continued more seriously, “young people at that age tend to rebel against their parents, society, anything. I’m sure you ladies rebelled in some way or other when you were that age; although I cannot imagine how or what you did!

“The fact is, when you come down to it, this teenager has chosen to go to an Anglican Church. Nothing wrong with that, as Ignatius implied. Better than not going to church at all. At least she still is in the faith. In time, she may return to our Church or not. We’ll wait and see. I doubt it really matters.

“Christianity encompasses many denominations. The Catholics don’t have a monopoly on that. There are many non-Catholics in Heaven, you know. Although some Catholics seem to think we’d be the only one’s there!

“But that’s beside the point. What I advise is that you two, and the girl’s parents, should pray about this. Don’t try to persuade your niece in any way as this might push her away from Christianity altogether. And that wouldn’t be too clever, will it?”

“No Father,” the two women mumbled.

“Good,” he continued, “now … is there anything else, because there’s an important football match due to start soon!”

“So it is OK for her to go to another church?” confirmed Edna, as the two priests nodded gently and left the kitchen.

As they sat in front of the TV Father Donald said, “What a state we’re in. We have an ignorant generation breeding another ignorant generation … was Jesus Catholic indeed!”

“We have a lot of teaching to do,” replied Father Ignatius, “maybe an inter-denominational series of Bible studies sessions …”

And that’s exactly what happened. Father Ignatius contacted a number of vicars and ministers he knew from other denominations, and they set up a series of joint seminars for their various congregations.

Little did that young niece know that she was instrumental in encouraging mutual understanding and unity amongst the various churches of this little Northern town.

EXCERPT FROM "HERE I AM, LORD"

 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8868253072

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