“O Sacred Heart, our home lies deep in Thee”
Our heart is the source of the blood that is pumped around our body to keep us alive but we also see it in another way as the source of love for one another. How often do we read the phrase “I love you with all my heart”? There is heartache when we are separated from someone we love and so many are broken hearted when they lose someone dear to them. However, how much more than the love between couples and in families on earth is the love of Jesus for all mankind! We have in church the beautiful statue of the Sacred Heart with His arms spread wide to welcome us all.
On 6th June we celebrate the feast of Corpus Christi (the Body of Christ). We are so lucky to have the Blessed Sacrament reserved in St Hilda’s – this has been the case since 1929. The light permanently over the Sanctuary reminds us of this. We have the privilege, when not constrained by the lockdown, to be able to take the Blessed Sacrament to those unable to come into church.
To those of my generation we remember the 6th June as “D Day” when our soldiers and their allies crossed the Channel at the start of the campaign in Europe that led to the defeat of the Nazis.
We also celebrate in this month, on 22nd the feasts of Thomas More and John Fisher who died for their beliefs under Henry 8th, on 24th the baptism of John the Baptist and on 29th Ss Peter and Paul.
Let us hope and pray that June lives up to its reputation and we get plenty of sunshine but also that 21st brings us the news that we are all hoping for – the freedom to return to normal life!
God Bless.
Mother of Christ, Mother of Christ
I toss on a stormy sea.
O lift thy child as a beacon light
To the port where I fain would be.
May, the loveliest month of the year, is dedicated to Mary, the Mother of our Saviour, and our Mother also. She is there, ready to offer consolation and comfort to all of us, her children. This is terribly important as we come out of the Pandemic with so many suffering the effects of personal illness and grieving the loss of loved ones.
As we set off into May we are still in Eastertide, continuing to rejoice in the wonderful news of the Resurrection. We are the “Easter People” and through our example in everything that we do or say we should be a witness to this glorious event.
In this month are some of the major feasts in the church calendar.
The 16th is the Feast of the Ascension when Jesus ascended into Heaven, and on 23rd we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples, giving them the strength and wisdom to go forth to preach the Gospel. We close the month with the Feast of the Holy and Blessed Trinity on 30th.
I extend my best wishes to you all as we draw ever nearer to the blessed day when we will be able to worship together without restrictions; in the meantime, keep safe and keep well.
God Bless.
“Jesus lives, our hearts know well, nought from us his love shall sever.”
We set off into the new month of April in the heart of the most significant seven days in the church’s year – Holy Week.
Maundy Thursday – Jesus and his apostles were gathered together for a meal, as they did every year, to celebrate the feast of the Passover; but this time it was to be so different! Jesus uttered the Words “This is My Body” and “This is My Blood” over the bread and wine – an act that is perpetuated every single day by a priest somewhere in the world.
This meal, the Last Supper, was the start of the momentous story of the Passion; after the gathering in the Upper Room the tension begins to rise as we see Jesus alone in The Garden of Gethsemane, terrified because of what he was going to endure yet agreeing to go through with it to fulfil the Will of his Father.
The 14 Stations of the Cross take us through the events of the next three days, Good Friday through to Easter Sunday. To many such an account of betrayal, humiliation, brutality and execution would seem an utter failure but as Christians we know that it was just the opposite. Death was not the end; as on Easter morning the stone was rolled away and our Lord and Saviour rose from the tomb. He has conquered death, the way to heaven has been opened up for all mankind.
I pray that you and your loved ones have a peaceful and joyful Easter and that our lives will soon no longer be overshadowed by this dreadful virus.
God Bless
On the 17th of February, the first day of Lent, we set out on a journey together, a journey that we shall be following throughout this month of March until we arrive together on 4th April at the glorious feast of Easter.
This Lenten journey of forty days is a time for reflection, as we travel we need to look at ourselves to see clearly just what we need to do to keep to the right path and not be tempted to go astray.
We are reminded how Jesus went through just such a period of forty days in the desert, undergoing temptations from the devil as he prepared himself for his three years of ministry.
When we set out on a long journey, we are obliged to stop at intervals in order to take on refreshment to keep us going. As we make our Lenten journey we should be doing the same; here at St Hilda’s we have the opportunity for spiritual “refreshment stops” with the weekly prayer sessions every Saturday in church and the Stations of the Cross on Zoom each Sunday evening. Please take advantage of these if you are able.
We are all travelling this road together, let us extend a helping hand in whatever way we can to those in need, those struggling to keep up or even straying from the right path. We can do this through prayer or in deeds of charity, so that we will all be able to arrive together at the end of this forty day journey to celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord.
God Bless