THE RECTOR WRITES [15th November]

The Rector writes .. .. ..

There is a remarkable exhibition at the National Galley (which runs until 24th January) called “The Sacred Made Real: Spanish Painting & Culture 1600-1700”. As its title suggests, the exhibition includes paintings and artefacts from an intensely Catholic culture at the height of the Counter-Reformation and as such, some of the critics have noted, could not have been envisaged even a decade ago. For all kinds of complex reasons (partly to do with the newer waves of immigration) British society is changing and becoming more open to imagery and concepts which past generations would have considered anathema. This early part of the 21st century does provide the Catholic Church with fresh opportunities for evangelisation and where the Faith can be presented in a form that has intellectual and cultural integrity we can expect to find signs of a rich harvest. Richard Dorment, an occasional parishioner and the art correspondent of the Daily Telegraph, has noted how many contemporary British artists are deeply influenced by Catholic imagery (not least in the current display of Damien Hirst paintings at the Wallace Collection). We seem to have laid to rest some of the ghosts from the past leaving more people sympathetic to the Catholic option.

For many years now the priests of Opus Dei have been hearing confessions at Saint James’s six days a week. This is a generous commitment on the part of Opus for which we are extremely grateful. Of its nature the ministry of reconciliation is a hidden one but its value cannot be underestimated. Day by day people know that they can come to Spanish Place to be renewed in the loving mercy of God. Many come with the ordinary sins of human veniality; others will have heavy burdens from which they need to be released. Not for nothing does the Catechism of the Catholic Church treat Penance under the heading of “The Sacraments of Healing”. So much is going on in the parish in a quiet, unpublicised way, which is of great benefit to souls, and we should be thankful for it.

In the Judaeo-Christian tradition no easy distinction can be drawn between bodies and souls (the Apostles’ Creed talks of belief in the “resurrection of the body” i.e. the whole person), and it is right and proper that, as well as trying to provide nourishment for the spirit we should not forget the very real social needs that confront so many around us. I have been very impressed by the commitment of the Society of St Vincent de Paul in all the effort which goes into the twice-weekly soup run organised in the social centre, and it is also fitting that our premises should host the De Paul Trust in its work with the young unemployed and those seeking to build a new life after prison terms. As part of the parish’s concern for genuine inclusion there has been an on-going project to provide access for the disabled to both church and crypt. We have now reached the stage where tenders have been returned and are being considered. It is hoped that work will begin early the New Year and that the necessary disruption will be kept to a minimum. We have been blessed with marvellous resources; we must ensure that our stewardship of them is both wise and open-handed.