Piddingworth Greg Benton |
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| 'Piddingworth...where St. George's Cross is not yet banned.' --Mark Steyn |
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| Live as free people, yet without using your freedom as a pretext for evil; but live as servants of God. (1Peter 2) |
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| Thank you very much for your support! |
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| IN YOU, O LORD MY HEART SEEKS REFUGE |
| Attende Domine, et miserere, quia peccavimus tibi. Attende Domine, et miserere, quia peccavimus tibi. Ad te Rex summe, omnium Redemptor, oculos nostros sublevamus flentes: exaudi, Christe, supplicantum preces. Attende Domine, et miserere, quia peccavimus tibi. Dextera Patris, lapis angularis, via salutis, ianua caelestis, ablue nostri maculas delicti. Attende Domine, et miserere, quia peccavimus tibi. Rogamus, Deus, tuam maiestatem: auribus sacris gemitus exaudi: crimina nostra placidus indulge. Attende Domine, et miserere, quia peccavimus tibi. Tibi fatemur crimina admissa: contrito corde pandimus occulta: tua, Redemptor, pietas ignoscat. Attende Domine, et miserere, quia peccavimus tibi. Innocens captus, nec repugnans ductus; testibus falsis pro impiis damnatus quos redemisti, tu conserva, Christe. Attende Domine, et miserere, quia peccavimus tibi. |
| Some time ago, on the American Jay Leno television programme, a speed contest was demonstrated between two 'text messagers' with their latest Blackberry and two gentleman who are experts in Morse Code. When the audience was asked which of the two means of communication was the 'fastest', all bets were on the 'text messaging'. Morse Code, after all, has been around for about 170 years and that's almost as old as eight-track players! It came as a surprise to some that Morse Code won the contest. From arrows to pigeons to signals on a ship, people over the centuries have sought to find the fastest way to communicate. Who could forget in Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet, that it was a Friar on a donkey who failed to get a message in time to give good news to Romeo and prevent, in his despair, a tragic suicide. There is a time for speed. Any fire or ambulance or police service know that quick and effective communication can save lives. The ever-growing internet demands more and more speed and the 'dial-up' arrangements that started the whole business has now given way to broadband hi-speed connections; permitting not only fast 'surfing' from one site to another but the efficient downloading of images, art, music and other things of considerable size. This site, with all the music, video and animation, would be practically impossible to use without broadband. Website designers often warn those who hope for many visitors to their sites that 'speed' in uploading is essential. The theory goes that people don't want to sit and wait for things to 'come up' and that if a web's pages are 'slow', the visitor will move on...along with any custom one might have expected from them! Fair enough. What of the content that is the pursuit of the internet surfer? These past few years have seen a humungous rise in so-called 'Blogs'; sites where people can express their opinions about things; mostly politics it would seem. There are a gazillion of these and anyone can set up their own 'Hyde Park corner'. The most popular of these 'commentaries', either because of their high traffic or for the appeal of the host, are almost frenetic in their ever-fervent desire to 'post' and 'respond' with personal points of view. A large part of the appeal of these sites is that they afford the 'common man' the opportunity to be 'heard' outside the much-more controlled (and some would say 'controlling') mainstream media. It is not surprising, then, that these blogs reflect the culture in which the 'comman man' lives. Whilst there are clearly some that display very useful, thoughtful, insightful, meaningful and, in some places, clever and witty observations, they really are few and far-between. The prevalence, like diarrhea, of vulgar, ignorant, illiterate and far-too-often malicious opinion is almost impossible to escape; even on the 'better' moderated and organised sites. In the blogosphere, just about anything goes and for a very large number, all expressed opinion is 'equal' in it's value. Just as 'cable news' with it's ever-breaking headlines of things happening now has become something of a fever swamp of dizzying proportions, so has the internet itself. It's fast, it's new, it's now, it's in-your-face. The notion that information, given and received, might be offered in a considered, thoughtful and informed manner, or that there really is greater value for one to focus attention, even for a long time, on one thing, doesn't register well in today's world 'o cellphones with satellite, GPS, and instant everything. Similarly with the writing of a letter on real trees in real ink. E-mailing has become the default means of putting things in 'writing'; much to the chagrin of those legion who by mistake have sent a copy to someone who shouldn't see what was said. In addition, responses to e-mails sent are expected immediately! It's now considered 'rude' to not catch the fever. Ordinary life has taken on something akin to being in the middle of the floor of the stock exchange where frenzied traders jump, scream, and hand-signal their buying and selling. They will tell you how exciting it all is. Perhaps what we need of more is a little less frenzied excitement and a more peaceful, thoughtful and deliberate reflection on the things going on around and through us. The Ontario government recently introduced a February holiday called 'Family Day' with the argument that families need more time to be together. We used to have a 'Family Day' once a week, not once a year. There really was a time when such a notion was considered normal; when one could take a holiday without text-messaging, e-mail or the laptop. Sunday used to be a day given over to worship and rest; where the gathering of family and friends for dinner was not considered to be an either a distraction or an intrusion from life but the celebration of it. There is a stability that comes with simply being within one's family circle; where one is not normally expected to 'perform'. So it is with the enduring principle of taking time for and away with the self; a time for reflection that cannot be hurried or where the flow information is fast, noisy and furious. The enrichment of the soul occurs most in the uncluttered and quiet openness that many of us call prayer, mediation or contemplation....of life, of love, of suffering, of pain and hurt, of failure, of hope...of God. In these lengthening of the days, the season of Lent, we are afforded a frame for that enrichment into which canvas we are able to show a self-portrait with all the light and shadow that reveal it's true self... and heart. Consider the message that has been sent and written for all time: COME HOME...you are forgiven...you are loved. |
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| Hear us, O Lord, have mercy upon us: for we have sinned against thee. To thee, Redeemer, on thy throne of glory: lift we our weeping eyes in holy pleadings: listen, O Jesu, to our supplications. Hear us, O Lord, have mercy upon us: for we have sinned against thee. O thou chief cornerstone, right hand of the Father: way of salvation, gate of life celestial: cleanse thou our sinful souls from all defilement. Hear us, O Lord, have mercy upon us: for we have sinned against thee. God, we implore thee, in thy glory seated: bow down and hearken to thy weeping children: pity and pardon all our grievous trespasses. Hear us, O Lord, have mercy upon us: for we have sinned against thee. Sins oft committed, now we lay before thee: with true contrition, now no more we veil them: grant us, Redeemer, loving absolution. Hear us, O Lord, have mercy upon us: for we have sinned against thee. Innocent captive, taken unresisting: falsely accused, and for us sinners sentenced, save us, we pray thee, Jesu, our Redeemer. Hear us, O Lord, have mercy upon us: for we have sinned against thee. |