The Conversion of St Paul

Caravaggio, The Conversion of St Paul,Odescalchi Balbi Collection, Rome

I love the artwork (well it is my favourite, Caravaggio) but have never especially raved about the Conversion of Saul into Paul. It is striking and wonderful that God was able to use and transform the great persecutor into an instrument of mission, but in all honesty, I'm not fond of St Paul.  I know he's terribly significant and important etc, but he's never really been one of my faves..  St John Chrysostom (a saint of whom I am rather more fond) preached this about him:

  "The most important thing of all to him, however, was that he knew himself to be loved by Christ. Enjoying this love, he considered himself happier than anyone else; were he without it, it would be no satisfaction to be the friend of principalities and powers. He preferred to be thus loved and be the least of all, or even to be among the damned, than to be without that love and be among the great and honoured.

 

  To be separated from that love was, in his eyes, the greatest and most extraordinary of torments; the pain of that loss would alone have been hell, and endless, unbearable torture.

  So too, in being loved by Christ he thought of himself as possessing life, the world, the angels, present and future, the kingdom, the promise and countless blessings. Apart from that love nothing saddened or delighted him; for nothing earthly did he regard as bitter or sweet."

Centred on the love of God. That is ultimately what we who are Christians all ought to aspire to be.

Almighty God,
who caused the light of the gospel
to shine throughout the world
through the preaching of your servant Saint Paul:
grant that we who celebrate his wonderful conversion
may follow him in bearing witness to your truth;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Art, Food and Eucharist.

A busy, but very enjoyable day out to Glesga on Friday involving much fine art (the Hunterian is superb - I can't think how I missed it before? Whistler OK, Scottish Colourists amazing) and a very enjoyable Brasserie (Asparagus and Bayonne ham with poached egg to start, garlic prawns and cous cous for the main, creme brulee and coffee for finis) provided a suitable celebration of the 17th anniversary of my deaconing. Saturday was busy at work being a day with some overtime (steam trains and a disability disco) and then today to the Good Shepherd Murrayfield to preside at the Holy Mysteries in the absence of their holidaying Rector and to preach on unmerited grace. Work involves a sleepover after the back shift, then 7-2 tomorrow so I will be back in 24 hours!

I was rather tickled by this article on a Vicar calling the parish to arms in celebration of the building of the new Church Loos http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wiltshire/10300924.stm More power to her Bow arm!

A ginger Jesus and spinach day.

No, the meds ain't causing hallucinations: I took myself off to the Royal Scottish Academy this morning to look at the Turner in January exhibition and then into the National Gallery to feast my mince pies on familiar and well-loved things of beauty - a magnificent Immaculate Conception by some Spanish guy whose name begins with a 'Z', a still life with Monstrance by a Dutch artist and Poussin's "7 Sacraments" series. I hadn't noticed until today that in Poussin's "Baptism" picture (where John the Baptist is baptising Jesus in the Jordan) that Jesus was a redhead. Hence, "Ginger Jesus"! I'd got out of the habit, I realised, of refreshing my inner spirit with time spent enjoying art and beauty and I must make time in future to do this more often.

Then I went into the cafe under St John's Princes Street. In August it was taken over by Henderson's (the famed Edinburgh veggie restaurant) and I haven't been in. So I treated myself to spanokiptta (Greek spinach pie made with filo pastry) and salads, which brought back memories of wonderful holidays in Rhodes and Cyprus. I now have time to enjoy my idleness given that it's time limited and I'm going to make the most of it!

Music for pleasure today: Frankie Goes To Hollywood and "The Power of Love"



And just so nobody forgets the hoo-hah in Ireland:


Happy St Aelred's Day btw!

Venerating Relics?

And a surprise news snippet on my favourite artist Caravaggio:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8426166.stm

I really dislike/find distasteful the exhibiting of human relics, be they religious or not. When I went on holiday to Rome, I really did not take to the forearm of St Francis Xavier over his altar in the Gesu (no probs with St Ignatius being under and altar in the same Church). Perhaps it's a matter of cultural temperament, but I honestly fail to see any benefit to anyone by this sort of exhibition.