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SCRIPTURE
READINGS
|
Genesis |
18:1-10 |
| Psalm |
14 |
| Colossians
|
1:24-28 |
| Luke |
10:38-42 |
SHADOW
VICES
In
his instructions or rather warning to his followers
Jesus exhorts them to combine in themselves what
must seem to us like incompatible habits of mind.
He says 'Be therefore wise as serpents and simple
as doves' [Matthew 10, 16]. Not an easy command.
One of the difficulties contained in our pursuit
of virtue - never easy at the best of times - is
that very frequently the vices we seek to avoid
are very like the virtues we admire. Several examples
will illustrate what I mean.
In
our search for simplicity we may fall into the trap
of naivety and in the search for courage or fortitude
we may simply be foolhardy. Affection may deteriorate
into sentimentality and charity into eroticism.
In other words it is not so much a question of steering
a mid course between two extremes, but of being
aware that what we really want and need is discernment.
The
four cardinal virtues of Plato, prudence, justice,
fortitude and temperance, can easily become, gradually
perhaps, excessive caution and inability to make
a decision. Harshness and perhaps even lack of sympathy
can masquerade as justice. Fortitude or courage
can take on the dress of foolhardiness and temperance
can deprive one of sympathy for those less masterly
than ourselves. Even the theological virtues of
faith, hope and charity can be dressed up as lack
of reason, foresight and care for others or God.
In other words both the moral and theological virtues
can be imitated, but only up to a point.
The
more aware we become of the existence of shadow
vices, the more do we need to engage in a kind of
examination of our consciences, introspection rather
than circumspection, to find out where we ourselves
stand, and not those around us. Do I canonise, as
it were, my bad temper as eagerness to stand for
the truth, or my being a
selector of persons as a form of discernment and
discrimination? Only too often the real thing, that
is the virtue we search for, may have every appearance
of being what we want it to be, while all the time
it is the wolf in sheep's clothing. Self knowledge
is not always easy and we find our spirit of competition
challenged by the
praise and success others
receive, especially when it is bestowed gratuitously
on those who are close to us.
Outside
the Greek temple at Delphi there were three vital
texts, of which one was 'Know yourself! ' Alexander
Pope expanded this into a famous couplet, 'Know
then thyself, presume not God to scan; the proper
study of mankind is man.'
Fr
Anthony Meredith, SJ
FEAST
OF ST IGNATIUS
We
will celebrate the Feast of St Ignatius Loyola with
a vigil Mass at 6pm
on FRIDAY 30th JULY. The choir will be singing a
Haydn Mass and there will be a reception in the
garden afterwards. This is not only our parish celebration
but a special occasion for alumni/ae of Jesuit schools
worldwide. We invite all who were at a Jesuit educational
institution to join us on the evening of JULY 30th.
See the posters for more information
JESUIT
AND FRIENDS
Copies
of the Jesuit magazine Jesuits and Friends
are available free at the doors of the church. There
are articles on our mission work from around the
world as well as a look at our retreat house in
Wales, news from some of our parishes and a piece
on the celebrated Jesuit artist Andrea Pozzo. Please
take a copy for yourself and one for a friend.
AN
ALTAR FINDS A HOME
For
thirty years, the altar in the Agony Chapel was
hidden from view behind one of the book-cases installed
to create our book-shop space. Behind the altar
was a door opening on to Farm
Street .
This door now serves as wheel-chair access and the
new ramp will be formally dedicated when the remaining
room fittings are installed. The altar itself, after
a period of storage, has found a home at the church
of the Blessed Sacrament in Copenhagen
Street
where it has become the High Altar. This is a splendid
resurrection and you might like to drop by some
time and have a look. Copenhagen
Street
is just north of Kings Cross.
TICKETS
FOR THE PAPAL VISIT
Tickets
for Papal events in September are being allocated
to parishes and through the deaneries. We expect
to have tickets for the vigil in Hyde Park (Sept
18th) and the beatification ceremonies in Cofton
Park , Birmingham (Sept 19th). There will be more
details in the next newsletter.
MEET
YOUR NEIGHBORS
These
events are very popular, so you might want to put
this date in your diary: TUESDAY 7th SEPTEMBER.
Bloomsbury
Baptist
Church
invites
you to a tour of the church at 6:30pm
and
refreshments afterwards. The event is free. See
posters or Fr William for more information.
JESUIT-RUN
SUMMER SCHOOL
The
2010 Living Theology Residential Summer School will
take place at the new venue of Mount St. Mary's
College, Spinkhill, Sheffield
, S21
3YL ,
from MONDAY 26th JULY to SATURDAY 31st JULY. The
week is also open to non-residents.
Many
participants return each year, but ‘first timers'
will find a ready welcome and an atmosphere of sharing
and warmth in which no one should ever feel excluded.
Young people are particularly welcome.
Full
details including lecture titles, names of lecturers,
cost, and a downloadable booking form, timetable
and poster can be found on their website www.livingtheology.org.uk
. Enquiries to dedicated e-mail: lt@heythrop.ac.uk
DAY
FOR LIFE
As
is well known, the Catholic Church takes a very
strong position in defence of human life at every
stage, from conception to the final breath. The
annual Day for Life is promoted by the Diocese to
increase our awareness and to support life-related
activities and programmes in the Church. This year's
theme is care of the dying. There are leaflets at
the doors. Please be generous.
THANK
YOU!
We
periodically receive anonymous donations for the
work of the church and we would like to acknowledge
these with grateful thanks. Our running costs are
high and we also have many special events and activities
to support. In addition, we try to devote as much
of our income as possible to our own charitable
projects both at home and abroad. Your donations
go a long way to making the mission of Farm
Street
church possible. May God bless and reward you!
VOLUNTEERING
IN THE JESUIT TRADITION - COULD THIS BE YOU?!
Have
you ever thought about volunteering, but never been
quite sure how to start? Do you have between 2 and
8 hours a week that you could set aside to work
with people in London
who
are suffering the effects of poverty and exclusion?
Would you like the opportunity to reflect prayerfully
with other volunteers on how we embody the Gospel
values of the Beatitudes in our volunteering and
daily living? If so, this is an invitation
to become an active member of London
Jesuit Volunteers! We
work with many organisations across London
–
starting with our own vibrant section of the Society
of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) in this parish. We also
work as advocates, mentors and friends alongside
people in hospitals, prisons and homeless shelters
as well as in communities of people with learning
disabilities, and with outreach agencies (such as
the Jesuit Refugee Service) for refugees, asylum
seekers, forced migrants and many other marginalised
people. Most recently we have started to work closely
with Farm Street Parish to set up our own local
project for older people who are frail and/or housebound.
LJV volunteers range in age from 25 to 75+ years
old, represent a wide diversity of cultural and
international backgrounds, and are often full-time
professionals with family, work and study commitments,
as well as people making transitions, including
those moving towards and into retirement. The combination
of volunteering placement with an opportunity to
reflect upon that experience has proved to be a
powerful magnet, and meets a deep need to make modern
living meaningful. Volunteers regularly comment
on how rewarding this experience proves to be –
and are unanimous that they receive back far more
than they give!
For
more information phone Andrea Kelly on 0207 499
7002 or email andrea@mountstreet.info
CHRISTIAN
LIFE COMMUNITY (CLC)
Christian
Life Community (CLC) is for people who want to listen
more deeply to how God is at work in their everyday
lives. We meet regularly in small groups to pray
and share, supporting one another through the ups
and downs of ordinary life. In listening to one
another we grow to understand ourselves, deepen
our relationship with God and discover more clearly
how each one of us is uniquely called to respond
to God's love. To find out more contact the Southern
Regional Representative Cheryl Bernard:
0208
674 7902 or 0794 348 0651 or cherylsakura@talktalk.net
www.clcew.org.uk
.
MOUNT
STREET JESUIT
CENTRE
114
Mount Street , London W1
Bookings
and information:
Lynne
Galloway 020 7495 1673 lynne@mountstreet.info
MONTHLY
CENTRE/COMMUNITY MASS
(provisionally)
every second Sunday of the month at 7.15pm .
Once
you have attended any event here, we like to think
you are part of our ever-growing community of participants
and facilitators. Our monthly Community Mass is
an opportunity to meet for an informal ‘house Mass',
held in the Upper Room of 114 Mount Street, and
to share wine and nibbles afterwards. At present
it takes place on the second Sunday of each month
at 7.15pm
, though
we will be consulting with you by email about whether
this is the best time.
IGNATIAN
PRAYER DAYS
Led
by TONY HORAN SJ
Second
Saturday of each month (except August) from 11am-4.30pm
These
are days of prayer run in an Ignatian way, in which
there is a talk, time for personal prayer and the
opportunity to listen to each other, ending with
the Mass of the Sunday. There is no need to book
for these days just come along.
If
you would like us to put on a course or a one day
workshop on a particular topic of interest to you
now is your opportunity to make your requests.
Please
use Gift-Aid envelopes for your donations if you
are a UK
Tax-payer .
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