Sunday 3 February 2013

Back in action

Ok, I have been away from blogging for a little while and now I'm back.

Life has been up in the air for the past month or two.

Anyhow I am settling more into the London swing of things. I have been attending daily Mass at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in Duke Street. The Divine Liturgy really lives up its name! The simple yet profound chant allows you to enter ever more deeply into the mystery of the Eucharist.

The clergy are very approachable and friendly. A good example is what happened to me recently. I was nearing the Cathedral when I saw a gentleman in a cassock. I asked him if he was a priest. He said he was and so I asked him the deep and meaningful question which I had playing on my mind at the time. He gave a very simple and clear answer to me. I then asked him: Father, just one more question. Where are the toilets? I need to go to the toilet!
"Follow me", he said. He showed me where the loos were and went on his way. When I entered the Cathedral with a friend a little while later, the priest who kindly answered my question and also showed me where the loos were was none other than THE BISHOP himself! There he was celebrating the Divine Liturgy in sumptuous vestments and an exquisite mitre on!

I know to most people this sounds like a rather silly tale, but for me it showed a real down to earth character. When I spoke to him a few days later I went up to him and gave the traditional greeting to a bishop. Here was a man, a bishop down to earth enough to show me where the loos were and answer my question yet comfortable enough as a bishop to allow me to greet him with reverence. It gave me much food for thought.

Candlemas: I went to Mass at Westminster Cathedral for the Feast of the Presentation. It was at 10:30am and it was beautiful and truly uplifting.

Now my mind is turning to Lent. As an openly, publicly confessed Chocoholic I am facing a deeply purging Lent! God give me the strength!