Friday 27 February 2015

If you see George Herbert in the Road, Emulate Him

"He was noted for unfailing care for his parishioners, bringing the sacraments to them when they were ill, and providing food and clothing for those in need....Never a healthy man, he died of consumption at the early age of 39."

On this Saint George Herbert's Day, I pledge myself to unfailing care of the Beaker Folk. I shall take tea lights to those who are ill. I shall provide pebbles and food for those in need.  I shall mop their consumptive, romantic brows. I shall be unstinting in the time I put into this sacred mission. And then, when the day's labours of care are o'er, I shall long bother the night watches with the composition of metaphysical poetry.

Thank goodness it's only one day a year. I'm dreading it. Not surprised it killed George Herbert

5 comments :

  1. A man that looks on glass,
    on it may stay his eye;
    or if he pleaseth, through it pass,
    and then the heaven espy.

    ReplyDelete
  2. A man that looks on glass,
    on it may stay his eye;
    or if he pleaseth, through it pass,
    and then the heaven espy.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sorry to ruin the mood, but

    “She's the sort of woman who lives for others - you can tell the others by their hunted expression.”
    ― C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters

    ReplyDelete
  4. Its easy to be a faithful little sunbeam for three years in the priesthood. I'd like to see what kind of saintly role model of a parish priest he was after thirty-three years. He may well have succumbed to cynicism, weariness, bickering with the verger and fatty degeneration of the poetical faculties by then.
    Of course, I adore the man's poetry.....

    ReplyDelete

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