Serendipity and St John of the Cross

Out of the blue, I have been invited to Finland to speak about St John of the Cross.  I am wondering what to make the theme of my talk.  I often ponder the graces of Providence when I think of this great saint.  I did a first degree in Modern Languages and I determined to keep up my hard-earned linguistic skills by reading French books.  My only real hobby was second-hand bookshops, and one day I came across a French translation of The Ascent of Carmel.  I was an Anglican cleric at the time and I knew nothing of its author.  I only understood about forty percent of the book but I sensed that this Sixteenth-Century Catholic knew much more about God than I did.  Many years later and after I myself had become a Catholic, I made an inquiry about the Seculars and I was asked what I knew of Carmelite authors.  Although it was a long time since I had looked at The Ascent, at that point I felt that I was being given the opportunity to go deeper into the treasures of faith which this man possessed.  I have not been disappointed since.

​Intercessions

RIP Mervyn Leach, father of two Secular Carmelites

Cancer: Brian Davis, Bernard (and wife Angela caring for him), Jacqui, Fr Jon Bielowski (Plymouth Diocese), Catherine, Alex (43 with five children), Sister Daranee Teapthong, Theresa K

Ivy – sick child

Brian (recovering from Pneumonia)

Kevin (heart attack)

William Gove (recovering from stroke)

Illness:  Katy Keeling

Siena, Elara – sick children

David OCDS – housebound

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

Mark – brain infection

Michael, Kira – vulnerable youngsters

Defence of the unborn and the elderly

We are asked to pray for the Diocese of Chiang Mai and Northern Thailand, as the Northern Mission celebrates its centenary. The process of selecting a new bishop continues.