Leadership is a cross

Some years ago I was talking to someone about a particular Carmelite convent I had visited; this convent had impressed me very much and I was shocked to hear that it was closing.  I asked somebody who knew the convent well why this had happened and she immediately referred to damaging leadership.  In meditating the life of St Edmund King and Martyr – feast day today – I find myself turning my thoughts again to this topic of leadership, a perennial issue that affects us all.  ‘Edmund (841-869) was born of Saxon stock and was brought up a Christian. Though only about fifteen years old when crowned on Christmas Day 855, Edmund showed himself a model ruler from the first, treating all his people with equal justice, and known as refusing to listen to flatterers and informers. In his eagerness for prayer he retired for a year to his royal tower at Hunstanton in Norfolk where he learned the whole Psalter by heart, so he could afterwards recite it regularly.  In 870 two Danish chiefs Hinguar and Hubba invaded his kingdom and at first he drove them back. They withdrew to Northumbria but soon returned with greater numbers, and pressed terms upon him which as a Christian he felt bound to reject. In his desire to avert a fruitless massacre, he disbanded his troops and retired towards Framlingham in Suffolk. The conditions of surrender the Vikings offered involved the betrayal of his people and the rejection of his Christian faith,’ so he refused and was duly put to death.  Leadership is a cross, not a banner of pride to be waved about as a means of impressing people.  This is true for those who hold leadership positions in Carmel and it should be imprinted on hearts and minds.

Intercessions:

Cancer: Brian Davis, Bernard (and wife Angela caring for him), Jacqui, Theresa K, Fr Jon B, Catherine, Richard Parker

Siena, Elara – sick children

Wojtek – massive heart attack leaving him incapacitated

David OCDS – housebound

Sophia – blind infant

Joy Smith OCDS – in hospital

Grace – troubling ailments, job difficulties, family (deceased mother and health of father)

Lucia – Overwhelmed by weariness

Mark – brain infection

Joy Smith – in hospital

Defence of the unborn and the elderly

RIP Martin Gilham, Sue Burton