Antonio the Olive

As promised, the first pictures of Antonio the Olive Tree, in my Mother's garden in Southern England, circa 2009. A solemn 'Te Deum' will offered for all who contribute to continued global warming.

In the Garden of England

Been home now for two full days, so the jet-lag is starting to wear off. Flew on a bizarrely small plane on the transatlantic part of the flight, from Philly to Gatwick. Stuck next to the loos for the whole flight: I offered it up for the sins of my parishioners. Not impressed with US Airways, seemed more like a budget airline, but without the charm of JetBlue. Gatwick was the usual British chaos everyone seems to have got used to in this country. The weather is wonderful - very sunny and warm, with everything green and fecund. Wimbledon is in full swing, with the new roof on the Centre Court keeping any rain off - there isn't any rain! The weather people on the television are in full "nanny State" mode, warning of the dangers of the heat and "procedures to take to avoid heatstroke;" we really are that stupid, apparently. I have decided that I am not going to rush around this year, trying to see everybody; mainly because I really seem to be very tired, and have been for weeks, so I clearly need a real holiday with my family and also - people can come and see me! So I am sitting in my mother's beautiful garden, reading (John Senior's 'The Restoration of Christian Culture,' and 'The Distilled Kinglsey Amis'). Her olive tree is doing very well in the heat - yes, that's not a typo - her OLIVE TREE - in South-East England! So I fully intend to encourage all forms of global warming - please do your part and go out for a needless drive in your SUV, then grill something, but make sure the air conditioning is turned up in the house. If I can work out the technical stuff, I may even use my mother's camera and put a picture of said olive tree up on the next post. I think, in the manner of Fr. 'Z', I will name the tree Antonio, in honour of St. Anthony who, once again, got me and my bags safely home. (P.S..... the picture is an old one - that's why the trees don't have any leaves!)

Home

Flying tomorrow, after Masses and a Baptism - Burlington to Philly - to London. Should be home in Kent by 10.00am, English time. Time for my annual visit with family and friends and, hopefully, a little Bellocian pilgrimage. News after arrival. Prayers for good travel please!

St. Anthony Guide....

He really is a jolly good fellow!

Year for Priests

With first Vespers of the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, the 'Year for Priests,' called for by our Holy Father, Pope Benedict, begins. With an absolutely beautiful and challenging letter, the Holy Father, it what seems to be a very personal letter, proposes the life and ministry of St. John Vianney as the model for all of us who have the burden and grace of the priesthood. A high ideal! Perhaps I could suggest, as there are now a number of priest-bloggers, special prayers for all those priests - and, of course DAILY prayer for your own parish priest - don't you do that already - and if not, why not?

Belloc Caricature

I have wanted a decent Belloc caricature for some time. I have one created while he was alive - but what fun to commission a new one! Thanks to Ted Schluenderfritz at the Catholic Illustrator's Guild (smallpax.com), I am now the proud possessor of an original watercolour. I asked him to have Belloc holding a glass of wine, as all Bellocian's know, not something unusual - and to add the lines from one of Belloc's letters which I like: "Now the Faith is not taught. It is inhabited and breathed in." As the image has already appeared on the Web, I would ask, if anyone wants to use it, that they acknowledge the artist - Ted Schluenderfritz - and the fact that it is in the private collection of the owner - the Owl - thank you!

Speech in Egypt

"Yes, my darling; it is true. But I want to hear it again and again. Tell me again what you saw."

"I saw the Son of Man," she said. "Oh! there is no other phrase. The Saviour of the world, as that paper says. I knew Him in my heart as soon as I saw Him - as we all did - as soon as He stood there holding the rail. It was like a glory around His head. I understand it all now. It was He for whom we have waited so long; and He has come, bringing Peace and Goodwill in His hands. When He spoke, I knew it again. His voice was as - as the sound of the sea - as simple as that - as - as lamentable - as strong as that. - Did you not hear it?"

Oliver bowed his head.

"I can trust Him for all the rest," went on the girl softly. "I do not know where He is, nor when He will come back, nor what He will do. I suppose there is a great deal for Him to do, before He is fully known - laws, reforms - that will be your business, my dear. And the rest of us must wait, and love, and be content."

Lord of the World by Monsignor Robert Hugh Benson, page 98.