The Boars Hill Carmelite friars have a plot in Wolvercote Cemetery, on the northern edge of the city of Oxford. This same cemetery houses the mortal remains of two of the most famous English-language writers of the twentieth century – J R R Tolkien and C S Lewis (members of a small group who became known as the Inklings). I have not been able to discover any connection between either of those figures and the Carmelites, but perhaps someone will enlighten me on that score. I have been reading a thesis about various literary figures around 1900, and the author refers to George Macdonald (sometimes credited with having founded modern fantasy fiction) having found inspiration in Teresa of Avila; and we know that C S Lewis was greatly taken with Macdonald’s book Fantastes. Perhaps then Lewis did read Teresa? I must consult those who know about these things. She has a way of getting into all sorts of people’s hearts and minds. I have been researching the history of her influence, and by far the biggest chapter is the 20th, which is double the length of any others.
Intercessions:
Marie, Bernard (and wife Angela), Agnes – cancer
Siena, Elara – sick children
Rosemarie – multiple afflictions
David - housebound
Sandra - multiple bereavements
Wojtek – massive heart attack leaving him incapacitated
RIP Anthony Kirke, husband of Judith Kirke OCDS (distributors of the Carmelite Diary)
RIP Roswitha Watson OCDS (former President of St Therese Community, Oxford)
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