College Chaplain 

Friends,

We are enjoying the first week of Spring even in the lockdown. Let us give thanks to the Almighty Father, the Lord of eternal Spring. We keep praying for our country and the world that the pandemic will be ended soon so that we can resume our communal life.

This Sunday (5th September) will be the Father’s Day, let us remember to show our gratitude to them, especially to pray for them.

On 25th August I read this spiritual reading during the morning prayer, and I want to share with you all. Louis IX (1214 - 1270) became King of France at the age of 12. He was married and had eleven children, to whom he gave an excellent upbringing. He wrote this spiritual testament to his son.

My dear son, in the first place I teach you that you must love the Lord, your God, with all your heart and all your strength; unless you do so you cannot be saved. You must guard yourself from everything that you know is displeasing to God, that is to say, from all mortal sin. You must be ready to undergo every kind of martyrdom rather than commit one mortal sin.

If God sends you tribulation, you ought to endure it, giving thanks, realising that it is for your good, and that, perhaps, you have deserved it. If however the Lord confers some benefit on you, you must humbly thank him, and be on your guard not to become the worse for it, either through vainglory or in any other way. You must not offend God with the very gifts he has given you.

Assist at the Divine Office of the Church with joyful devotion; while you are present in church do not let your gaze wander, do not chat about trifles, but pray to the Lord attentively, either with your lips, or meditating in your heart.

Be compassionate towards the poor, the destitute and the afflicted; and, as far as lies in your power, help and console them. Give thanks to God for all the gifts he has bestowed upon you, so that you will become worthy of still greater gifts. Towards your subjects, act with such justice that you may steer a middle course, swerving neither to the right nor to the left, but lean more to the side of the poor man than of the rich until such time as you are certain about the truth. Do your utmost to ensure peace and justice for all your subjects but especially for clergy and religious.

Devotedly obey our mother, the Roman Church, and revere the Supreme Pontiff as your spiritual father. Endeavour to banish all sin, especially blasphemy and heresy, from your kingdom.

Finally, my dear son, I impart to you every blessing that a loving father can bestow on his son; may the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and all the saints, guard you from all evil. 

May the Lord grant you the grace to do his will so that he may be served and honoured by you, and that, together, after this life we may come to see him, love him and praise him for ever. Amen.

Let us pray.

Our Father, Who art in heaven, 

hallowed be Thy name; 

Thy kingdom come; 

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 

Give us this day our daily bread; 

and forgive us our trespasses 

as we forgive those who trespass against us; 

and lead us not into temptation, 

but deliver us from evil. 

Amen

Fr Paul