Piddingworth Greg Benton |
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| 'Piddingworth...where St. George's Cross is not yet banned.' --Mark Steyn |
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| May God give you the strength & courage to do your Duty... Rose West Leonard |
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| Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour (1Peter 5.8) |
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| The Michaelmas Daisy Culzean Castle, Ayrshire |
| St. Michael the Archangel is the spiritual inspiration for the observance of 'Michaelmas'. His feast day is 29th September. Michael is principal guardian and protector of the things of heaven and a warrior against evil. He is usually depicted in art with his foot planted firmly on the head of Satan, the enemy. The Mass of St. Michael launches the 'season' that, in the English tradition, marks the beginning of things in autumn...school terms, social calendars, re-newal of contracts, and the marking of diminishing daylight that leads oh-so-inevitably to the darkness of the winter months. The mornings are as crisp as fresh apples and the evenings are sleep-friendly and cool. The leaves of autumn, whose colour is brilliant against the changing sky, are falling, and the aroma in the air of that lovely smoke from lingering fires hovers neatly over the landscape. Perfectly delightful, it of course doesn't last long. I have always found Michaelmas and this time of year to be the most enjoyable. Much like being sent off as a young boy with new pencils and a kit lovingly 'packed by Mum', this academic and social year begins with both anticipation and expectation for new discoveries, new people, perhaps new friends, and an array of sporting and theatrical events. This lasts generally until Hallowe'en and the realisation that, by November, with all it's 'gloom' the 'fun' one was having in Michaelmas must come to an end. Of course, most of the world doesn't even know or care that 'Michaelmas' exists. Children aren't queuing up in stores to 'visit St. Michael'. There are no Michaelmas chocolates, Michaelmas family dinners, Michaelmas gifts or popular Michaelmas carols. More importantly, the world in general neither recognises the ancient symbolism of the Archangel nor his role within the economy of salvation, i.e., work, the battle against evil. St. Michael and his feast may not be in the daily news but it's message most certainly is 'front page'. All of which prompts one to consider the matters of great import and concern confronting us over this autumnal equinox: a very nervous economy, the ever-present threat of terror, the insidious and malicious challenges from within and without to our precious freedom and, indeed, to our quality of life. Politics, in all it's glitz, vanity, ugliness, promise and hope is at the forefront in Canada and the United States with election campaigns. It fills the autumn air with repeated messages aimed to elicit feelings of support for a candidate or cause that is often underscored with a vile and sickening drone of hateful deceit from a legion of those whose inspiration is Macchiavelli and his contemporary companions. The means and meanness in much of the communication between political 'adversaries' has, in this satellite age, become a 24/7 tortuous bombardment of half-truths, mis-information, deliberate manipulation, temptation, mocking of character, invasion of privacy, and outright lies; all characteristic of the evil that permeates the powers of this world and fuelled by a coterie of the political elite and their 'friends' in the vulgar media. The aspirations of life for millions of us, from the unborn to the elderly, the gifted and the infirm, for the stable perpetuity of a prosperous and free society is very much at stake. Even more than the rise in the price of oil, the rise in the cost of preserving and fostering our way of life; not only for us, but for those who are to come emerges as the issue of today. So much has already been lost to us in this foolish and greedy generation through the erosion of our Christian foundation. For so many of us in Canada, Britain and America much of the cultural landscape is unrecognisable. Still, we must remain steadfast, vigilant and full of hope as we view the darkness in our midst; for it is our battle. Who of us would cede, in a Faustian bargain, the lives of our children, our dear ones, the innocents, and indeed our very souls, to the likes of the devil for the sake of popularity, fool's gold and empty pleasure? Apparently, quite a few people, as we know. So many, either through wilful ignorance or selfish indifference, choose the shallow and the fraud. In our vote for imperfect people with their imperfect abilities we are required to look beyondthe slick style of 'American Idol' and discern both the real character and the authentic principles embraced by them. It is the devil's trick to mesmerise and deceive. Whatever it is that might keep us from seeing 'the light' of God, His Love and His goodness, cannot be allowed to keep us from the very high purpose to which we have been called and for which we are moved to foster at home and in our communities as well as deep within. 'Be of good cheer', our Lord said, 'I have overcome the world'. Yet the fulfilment of that wonderful promise is yet to come. In the meantime, we need to be on the lookout, not only in politics, but where we live. Our civilisation and the world itself is suffering many ills today whose origin can be placed directly in the lap of the Evil One. It is incumbent upon all of us who know Christ our King, to put on the whole armour of God and firmly side with the messengers of truth and righteousness, and St. Michael the Archangel whose prayers and inspiration we so earnestly desire. One is reminded of John Henry Newman's famous hymn written whilst he was very ill in Italy and eager to return home to England. Lead kindly light amid the encircling gloom, lead Thou me on. The night is dark, and I am far from home; lead Thou me on! Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see The distant scene; one step enough for me. I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou shouldst lead me on; I loved to choose and see my path; but now lead Thou me on! I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears, Pride ruled my will. Remember not past years! So long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still will lead me on. O’er moor and fen, o’er crag and torrent, till the night is gone, And with the morn those angel faces smile, which I Have loved long since, and lost awhile! Meantime, along the narrow rugged path, Thyself hast trod, Lead, Saviour, lead me home in childlike faith, home to my God. To rest forever after earthly strife In the calm light of everlasting life May we journey through Michaelmas and this lively season and confidently walk through the many shades of darkness that are before us, with a strength that is as that of Saint Michael, warrior of heaven...and with our feet firmly planted against evil's ugly and oft-rearing head. G.B. Michaelmas/08 |
| A MICHAELMAS MOMENT |
| St. Michael the Archangel violates the Devil's 'civil rights'. Coventry Cathedral |