Leicester Cathedral
The Digital Archaeology Dept of De Montfort University, Leicester have created a digital journey from Roman times to the present, a journey spanning more than 1,500 years.
The digital journey takes about 6 minutes accompanied by music from the Cathedral Choir singing Nunc Dimittis.
Click here to continue reading 002 Leicester pr 28-09-24
Click here to read about Derby Cathedral – 001 Derby pr 21-09-24
Fr. Derek writes…
In February 2023 I started a series of reflections on England’s Cathedrals with the reflection ‘Stairway to Heaven’ where I invite you to begin a journey, a pilgrimage, to some of our ancient places of worship, studying and breathing in the beauty of our cathedrals. These sacred spaces, places that still can touch the hearts of people today and places that can take our breath away. It was my hope that these reflections would be a pilgrimage, albeit a virtual one, to be taken slowly and not rushed. We started in Carlisle, and travelled to the northeast of England and journeyed around the country ending at Chester in July 2023. There was a break from the theme of cathedrals, but I returned to explore cathedral’s in the Northern Province of the Church of England. We now are going to complete our virtual journey to cathedrals by visiting the remaining cathedrals in the Southern Province of the Church of England.
My constant companion on this journey around the cathedrals has been ‘England’s Cathedrals’ by Sir Simon Jenkins, who coined the phrase ‘Stairway to Heaven’ . I have valued his comments and learn much from his book. Since starting the reflections in February 2023 I have got more familiar and confident in using the resources available on the internet. Also, I have taken advantage of cathedrals putting more on their websites including YouTube video’s.
There are some down sides, websites can be updated so the link may change and using YouTube for music often has advertising and I have no control over the contents. They become a constant reminder of the world in which we live, I hope they do not interfere, too much, with your time of reflection.
I hope you find time, space to soak in the part of our heritage.
Kindest regards, Fr. Derek
It might seem that I began these brief autobiographical essays the wrong way round, beginning with how Dominic was remembered, rather than what he did. However, the man’s character is crucial to understanding his mission, which, to our eyes, and in our multi-cultural setting, can seem dogmatic, exclusionary, and intolerant. Dominic’s life work was the conversion of the Cathars of southern France; a semi-Christian sect who combined Christian ideas with forms of neo-platonic Gnosticism.
To continue reading click here 02 St Dominic (002) 14-09-24
Our thanks to Br Samuel Eccleston for this reflection
Domingo (Dominic) de Guzman was a contemporary of St Francis who embarked on what was in many ways a parallel mission. Spanish, rather than Italian, tall and red-headed rather than short and dark, and always a quiet and religious man, rather than a youthful libertine, he was in these ways unlike St Francis.
To continue reading click here 01 St Dominic (002) – 07-09-24
We started our reflection on this Canticle with the focus of Sun and Moon and the four elements earth, air (wind), fire and water. In medieval times all matter was composed of these elements. Our second reflection looked at pardon and peace, from the broadest of canvases we moved to human relationship, our third and final reflection on the Canticle of the Creatures faces death.
These words were composed in the time of Francis’ declining health and facing death. These words are a stark reminder of the reality of life and that life comes to an end, we cannot escape death.
10 The Canticle of Creation – Death where is your victory-pr-31-08-24
Praised be You, my Lord,
through those who give pardon for Your love,
and bear infirmity and tribulation.
Blessed those who endure in peace,
for by You, Most High,
shall they be crowned.
(Verses 10-11)
After the opening words of the Canticle, these words do not fit easily into the flow of words of praise for creation. I could well imagine that any editor suggesting that these verses and the following verses 12-13 should be taken out of the canticle and become the starting point for a new canticle where the focus is on suffering. These verses were added to the original Canticle of the Creatures. Francis was in decline, and they were dictated to the brothers caring for him, by Francis toward the end of his life.
In these words, the poem changes from words of praise for creation to humanity and pain and suffering that is never far away.
09 St Francis The Canticle of Creatures pr2 – 24-08-24
The Canticle of the Creatures was written by Francis towards the end of his life. It was written over three periods of time. Verses 1-9 and 15 are believed to have been written in 1225, verses 10-11 were written in 1225 and verses 12-14 in September 1226, shortly before his death in October 1226. (see the Canticle in and at the end of the Reflection)
It is generally agreed that this Canticle is amongst the earliest poems to be written in the vernacular, Umbrian, as opposed to ecclesiastical Latin. It was written to be sung, the last verses were dictated by Francis to Bro Angelo and Leo and sung by them shortly before his death.
Click here to continue reading…08 St Francis – The Canticle of the Creatures pr 17-08-24
In all probability, Clare would have heard of Francis and his conversion. There is an account that in her late teens she heard Francis preach at San Giorgio, Assisi. Francis impressed her. One of the brothers close to Francis, Rufino was cousin to Clare and he played a part in Clare and Francis meeting. This was 13th century Assisi, so such a meeting and subsequent meetings had to be arranged with care. Clare had a chaperone, and Francis had Brother Philip accompany him. We have no account of what took place at these clandestine meetings other than that Clare should endorse the life of penance.
We can date Clare making her commitment to Palm Sunday 1212, where she receives her Palm Cross from Bishop Guido, who knew Francis well. Thompson* suggests that perhaps Bishop Guido was aware of what was going on and Clare receiving the cross personally from the bishop was a signal that he approved. That evening, Clare left…
Click here to to continue reading 07 St Frances and St Clare-pr-10-08-24
It seems appropriate that a man with a developing love of poverty should find himself in a ruin of a church. He understood his call was to rebuild the church, which given the state of the building was a reasonable assumption to make. Francis was to recognise that rebuilding the Church was the whole Church not just a church building.
Francis’ rebuilding of San Damiano, Assisi, was early in his conversion and led to him effectively stealing from his father and selling materials to fund the restoration. Francis appeared before the Bishop of Assisi and Francis was to repay the money, renounce his inheritance and strip off his clothes. The bishop intervened and covered Francis with his cloak. Francis was to sever all contact with his father. This was a turning point for Francis and in his conversion..
Click here to continue reading 06 St Francis and places of prayer and celebration pr – 03-08-24
Francis, the Poverello, ‘Poor Little Man’ had, following his conversion, set out to follow the words of Jesus to the rich young man. (Matthew 19:16–30, Mark 10:17–31 and Luke 18:18–30). It would not be an exaggeration to say he developed a love of poverty. His first steps along this journey of conversion was a solitary experience. Francis was to write ‘The Lord gave me some brothers’ and so Francis was to become the leader of group of men who were committed to a life of poverty. This group later was to be called Friars Minor or Lesser Brothers. The title means literally they were to see themselves as lesser than their brothers. Francis was also to be a Lesser Brother, a truly radical stance.
To continue reading, click here: 05 St Francis – Not alone or 27-07-24