14 November 2021

Sunday intercessions, 14 November 2021,
Remembrance Sunday

Displays in a peace exhibition in Coventry Cathedral (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2021)

In peace let us pray to the Lord.

We pray for the leaders of the nations,
that you will guide them in the ways of freedom, justice and truth.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

We pray for those who bear arms on behalf of the nation,
that they may have discipline and discernment,
courage and compassion.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

We pray for our enemies, and those who wish us harm,
that you will turn the hearts of all
to kindness and friendship.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

We pray for the wounded and the captive,
the grieving and the homeless,
that in all their trials they may know your love and support.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

Most holy God and Father,
hear our prayers for all who strive for peace
and all who fight for justice.
Help us, who today remember the cost of war,
to work for a better tomorrow;
and, as we commend to you lives lost in terror and conflict,
bring us all, in the end, to the peace of your presence;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Throughout November in this group of parishes,
we also remember with thanks all who have died in the past year, including:

Alan Fitzell; Arthur Gilliard; Ena Downes; Gill Killick; Joe Smyth; Kenneth Smyth; Linda Smyth;

We remember those who are remembered and mourned by parishioners this month, including:

Jack and Eileen Ryall …
Jack Shorten …
Marian Locke …
Kathy …
Lil Gilliard …
Hazel …
Brendan Quinlan …

May their memories be a blessing to us.
We pray for all who are sick or isolated,
at home, in hospital …
Ruby … Daphne … Sylvia … Ajay … Cecil … Pat … Mary … Ann … Vanessa …

Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

The Act of Remembrance:

They shall not grow old,
as we that are left grow old;
age shall not weary them,
nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun
and in the morning,
we will remember them.
We will remember them.

Silence is kept

When you go home
tell them of us and say,
for your tomorrow
we gave our today.

The Litany of Reconciliation (Coventry Cathedral):

All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

The hatred which divides nation from nation, race from race, class from class,
Father Forgive.

The covetous desires of people and nations to possess what is not their own,
Father Forgive.

The greed which exploits the work of human hands and lays waste the earth,
Father Forgive.

Our envy of the welfare and happiness of others,
Father Forgive.

Our indifference to the plight of the imprisoned, the homeless, the refugee,
Father Forgive.

The lust which dishonours the bodies of men, women and children,
Father Forgive.

The pride which leads us to trust in ourselves and not in God,
Father Forgive.

Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

‘Christ in Glory’ … Graham Sutherland’s tapestry in Coventry Cathedral (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2021)

‘As the Father has loved me,
so I have loved you;
abide in my love’

‘Father Forgive’ … the cross in the ruins of Coventry Cathedral (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2021)

Patrick Comerford

Sunday 14 November 2021

Second Sunday before Advent, Remembrance Sunday


9.30 a.m.: The Parish Eucharist, Castletown Church

11.30 a.m.: Remembrance Sunday Service, Holy Trinity Church, Rathkeale

Readings: Isaiah 2: 1-5; Psalm 4; Revelation 1: 1-7; John 15: 9-17

The Reconciliation statue in the ruins of Coventry Cathedral (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2021)

May I speak to you in the name of God, + Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen.

When I was growing up, and in my early adult years, Coventry Cathedral had a very interesting influence on my ideas both about architecture and about practical expressions of my faith.

The architect who designed the chapel at my boarding school based his plans and designs on the designs and plans by Sir Basil Spence for the new cathedral at Coventry.

Although there is a significant difference in size, both were built at the same time, in the late 1950s and early 1960s, both have tall, frosted glass forming the entrance, and both have side coloured windows that pour in light from behind the congregation.

Both the chapel and the cathedral have a large wall behind the altar rather than the traditional east window – although the statue in Gormanston bears no comparison with Graham Sutherland’s overwhelming tapestry in Coventry.

The opening of Coventry Cathedral in 1962 was an impressive live televised moment that many of us still remember from our childhood. I was a ten-year-old at the time. I visited the cathedral a few years later, and all my expectations and anticipations were more than met.

In my late teens, I was impressed too by the ministry and outreach of Coventry Cathedral, with the emphasis on reconciliation and peacebuilding. Later in life, it turned out, for many years my friend from CND days, Canon Paul Oestreicher, was the Director of the International Centre for Reconciliation at Coventry Cathedral, working with the Community of the Cross of Nails (1985-1997). He was later succeeded by Justin Welby (2002-2005), now Archbishop of Canterbury.

Now, as an adult of mature years, Coventry Cathedral continues to be impressive and attractive. So, after a few days retreat and time off at Lichfield Cathedral last month, two of us visited Coventry Cathedral one afternoon, and stayed on for Choral Evensong.

The new Coventry Cathedral celebrates its sixtieth anniversary next year (2022).

But this is not the first – or the second – but the third cathedral in Coventry. In the closing days of World War I, when a new Diocese of Coventry was formed in 1918 to cater for that part of the expanding, heavily industrialised West Midlands, an earlier mediaeval cathedral had long been destroyed. So, the city’s large mediaeval parish church, Saint Michael’s, became the cathedral of the new diocese.

Saint Michael’s had been one of the largest parish churches in England when it became a cathedral in 1918. But it did not remain a cathedral for very long: 23 years later, on this night, the night of 14 November 1941, the German Luftwaffe blanket bombed Coventry.

The city was targeted because it was known for its industries, including factories making aeroplanes and munitions factories, and it was at the heart of the motor industry. The Coventry Blitz continued into the morning of 15 November, and Saint Michael’s Cathedral was among the many buildings in the city centre razed to the ground.

The Provost of Coventry Cathedral, Richard Howard (1884-1981), was one of four firefighters who went on the roof to try to save the cathedral. At around 8 p.m. a fire broke out in the cathedral and despite extinguishing the initial fire, other direct hits caused fires that ultimately led to the destruction of the city.

In just one night, more than 43,000 homes, the entire city centre, two hospitals, two churches and the police station were destroyed by around 500 tons of explosives. About 568 people died in the raid, and more than 1,000 people had serious injuries.

The heart was ripped out of the city. All that remained of the cathedral was its tall, 300-ft Gothic tower and the shell of its red sandstone walls.

In the morning, Jock Forbes, the cathedral stonemason, found two wooden beams lying in the rubble in the shape of a cross and tied them together. This became the Charred Cross and was first placed in the ruins of the old cathedral on an altar of rubble.

That morning, Richard Howard used a piece of chalk to write the words ‘Father Forgive’ on the sanctuary wall of the ruined Cathedral. He was recalling Christ’s words on the Cross, ‘Father Forgive them.’

But notice the subtle omission: In dropping the word ‘them,’ and instead saying simply ‘Father Forgive,’ he was reminding us, reminding everyone, that we all need forgiveness, not just those who have harmed us.

Later, after the Blitz, Richard Howard formed the Cross of Nails, made of three three large mediaeval nails from the roof truss of the old cathedral. It is now placed in the centre of the cross on the High Altar.

The Cross of Nails has become a symbol of peace and reconciliation around the world. There are over 330 Cross of Nails Centres all over the world, all of them bearing a cross made of three nails from the ruins, similar to the original one. When there were no more nails, a continuing supply has come from a prison in Germany.

All around the cathedral today are signs of reconciliation and forgiveness.

The statue ‘Reconciliation’ is linked to the Department of Peace Studies at Bradford University, and was presented to the cathedral in 1987.

The ‘Choir of Survivors’ is a sculpture presented to the cathedral as a gift from a church in Dresden, the German city that was also blanket-bombed during World War II.

But, for me, the most moving part of the cathedral ruin is the area around the former east end and high altar. Here Richard Howard’s words, ‘Father Forgive,’ were carved on the wall behind the rebuilt altar in the spring of 1948. On the altar stands a version of the Charred Cross, in a shape similar to the Cross of Nails.

Under the Cross, we are all offered God’s forgiveness, and we too need to offer forgiveness and reconciliation.

‘As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love’ (John 15: 9-10).

And so, may all we think, say and do be to the praise, honour and glory of God, + Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen.

The ‘Choir of Survivors’ by Helmut Heinze at the west end of the ruins of the Old Coventry Cathedral (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2021)

John 15: 9-17 (NRSVA):

[Jesus said:] 9 ‘As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.

12 ‘This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. 16 You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. 17 I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.’

‘Age shall not weary them’ … fading poppies among weeds by the roadside in Comberford village, Staffordshire (Photograph: Patrick Comerford)

Collect:

Almighty Father,
whose will is to restore all things
in your beloved Son, the king of all:
Govern the hearts and minds of those in authority,
and bring the families of the nations,
divided and torn apart by the ravages of sin,
to be subject to his just and gentle rule;
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

Post-Communion Prayer:

God of peace,
whose Son Jesus Christ proclaimed the kingdom
and restored the broken to wholeness of life:
Look with compassion on the anguish of the world,
and by your healing power
make whole both people and nations;
through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Blessing:

May God grant to the living Grace,
to the departed Rest,
to the Church and the world peace and concord,
and to all us sinners Eternal Life, Amen.
and the blessing...

Dismissal:

Go in peace. Love one another as Christ has loved us.
Thanks be to God.

A prayer for peace at the west front of Westminster Abbey (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2020)

Hymns:

62, Abide with me (CD 4)
537, O God, our help in ages past (CD 31)
494, Beauty for brokenness (CD 29)

The World War I Memorial in Holy Trinity Church, Rathkeale, Co Limerick (Photograph: Patrick Comerford)

The World War II Memorial in Holy Trinity Church, Rathkeale, Co Limerick (Photograph: Patrick Comerford)

Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition copyright © 1989, 1995, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. http://nrsvbibles.org

Material from the Book of Common Prayer is copyright © 2004, Representative Body of the Church of Ireland.

Material from Common Worship is subject to copyright © The Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England. Further information on this copyright is available at this page.



Praying in Ordinary Time 2021:
169, Remembrance Day windows

The East Window is one of two war memorials in Saint Mary’s Church, Tipperary, and commemorates three members of the Bell and Lyle families (Photograph: Patrick Comerford)

Patrick Comerford

Today is the Second Sunday before Advent and Remembrance Day. Later this morning (14 November 2021) I am presiding and preaching at the Parish Eucharist in Castletown Church near Pallaskenry, Co Limerick, and taking part in the Remembrance Day service in Holy Trinity Church, Rathkeale, Co Limerick.

Each morning in the time in the Church Calendar known as Ordinary Time, I am reflecting in these ways:

1, photographs of a church or place of worship;

2, the day’s Gospel reading;

3, a prayer from the USPG prayer diary.

As part of my reflections and my prayer diary, my photographs this morning (14 November 2021) are of Remembrance windows in a selection of churches.

Harry Clarke’s ‘The Madonna with Saints Aidan and Adrian’ (1919) … a war memorial window in Bride Street Church, Wexford (Photograph: Patrick Comerford)

A prayer from Westminster Abbey:

May God grant
to the living grace,
to the departed rest,
to the Church and the World peace and concord,
and to us sinners eternal life.

The World War II window by Gerald ER Smith in Saint Editha’s Church, Tamworth, shows the Risen Christ in Glory and illustrates the canticle Te Deum (Photograph: Patrick Comerford)

Mark 13: 1-8 (NRSVA):

1 As he [Jesus] came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!’ 2 Then Jesus asked him, ‘Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.’

3 When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, 4 ‘Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?’ 5Then Jesus began to say to them, ‘Beware that no one leads you astray. 6 Many will come in my name and say, “I am he!” and they will lead many astray. 7 When you hear of wars and rumours of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. 8For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs.’

The war memorial window in the High School, Dublin, originally in the school chapel in Harcourt Street, Dublin (Photograph: Patrick Comerford)

The Prayer in the USPG Prayer Diary today (14 November 2021, Remembrance Sunday, Second Sunday before Advent) invites us to pray:

Peaceful God,
May we take refuge in you.
Let us trust and care for each other,
pursuing peace and justice
in place of war and conflict.

Saint George in a war memorial window by James Powell & Sons in Saint Fachtna’s Cathedral, Rosscarbery, Co Cork (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2021)

Yesterday’s reflection

Continued tomorrow

The World War II memorial window by Henry Holiday depicting Christ the King in Saint Editha’s Church, Tamworth (Photograph: Patrick Comerford)

Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition copyright © 1989, 1995, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. http://nrsvbibles.org

The Maurice Peel war memorial window in Saint Editha’s Church, Tamworth, depicts Life, Death and Resurrection (Photograph: Patrick Comerford)

Byron’s sighs and loves over
three years in a palace on
the Grand Canal in Venice

Byron gave the name ‘the Bridge of Sighs’ to the bridge linking the Doge’s Palace and the prisons in Venice (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2021)

I have long associated the poet Lord Byron with Greece and the Greek of War of Independence. But I was reminded in Venice this week that Byron lived in Venice for three years, from 1816 to 1819, after he was forced to leave England due to his debts and following too many sex scandals.

Byron is one of the legends of the city, known for his palace near the Grand Canal, his swimming feats and his notorious love-life while he lived in the Mocenigo Palace, between the Rialto Bridge and Saint Mark’s Square, for three years. I was staying this within walking distance of this palace, in the Hotel San Cassiano in the Ca’ Favretto, in the Santa Croce district, on the Grand Canal.

Byron lived in the Mocenigo Palace with 14 servants, two monkeys, a fox and two mastiff dogs, and there he composed the first songs of Don Juan, although it does not mention the city.

In the Querini Benzon Palace on the Grand Canal, Byron also met his last love, the 18-year-old Teresa Gamba Guiccioli, wife of the rich and much older 60-year-old Alessandro Guiccioli from Ravenna.

Those three years in Venice, which was then a city in sad decline, proved to be a turning point in Byron’s career. Venice became the subject of a number of his poems, including Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage and the Ode to Venice, and its history provided the theme for two major dramas.

Byron also composed his social satire, Beppo, regarded by many as one of the wittiest and most amusing works ever written on Venetian life. In Venice, Byron explored the potential of the ottava rima verse formthat would come to embody his poetic voice and all its vices.

While crossing the bridge linking the Doge’s Palace and the prisons, Byron invented the name ‘the Bridge of Sighs’ – a reference to the imagined sighs of condemned prisoners as they caught a glimpse of Venice for the last time – and so made this one of the best-known bridges in the world.

For a time, he lived briefly on the island of San Lazzaro degli Armeni with the small community of Armenian monks. There he learned Armenian and was involved in the publication of an English-Armenian dictionary.

Byron often swam too to the island of Lido to visit the old Jewish Cemetery, the perfect place for his romantic spirit, or to ride his horses.

Gregory Dowling’s guidebook, In Venice and in the Veneto with Lord Byron, visits places in Venice and on the islands of the lagoon that Byron visited and wrote about. He also invites readers to visit a number of places in Veneto associated with Byron, including visiting Verona, Vicenza, Padua, Este, ArquĂ  Petrarca and his villa at La Mira, where he spent the summer months.

Saint Mark’s Square, with Saint Mark’s Basilica and the Campanile (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2021)