A soldier of Christ passes

Philippa Hodges died at Christmas.  A member of the St Elijah Secular Community in Oxford, she had been connected with the Carmelites since the 1980s.  She was a mother and a piano teacher living in Milton Keynes.  She had been battling cancer for a good few years so her death was not unexpected.  Philippa first came into Carmel as an isolate – a Secular not a member of a community, visiting the Boars Hill Priory at intervals and keeping in touch with the friars.  She only joined the St Elijah Community early in the present century.  She was quiet and reserved and shared that quality of being a strong and supportive presence that I spoke about yesterday in regard to Fr John Hughes.  Deeply spiritual, wholly reliable, the soul of humility.  Such folk may not hit the headlines but they are the salt of the earth.  Rest in Peace, Philippa.

Intercessions

Brian, Bernard, Marie, Agnes - cancer

Elara, Siena - sick children

Rosemarie - multiple afflictions

Philippa Hodges RIP