A FOCUS ON TENDERNESS:

Last week I mentioned the book, Catholic Discordance. The sub-title, Neoconservatism vs. the Field Hospital Church of Pope Francis, gives the clue as to where the book is leading, and it concludes with the most compelling reflection on Pope Francis’s desire to evangelise by presenting the compassionate face of the Church to the world. As the book draws to a conclusion, the word, Tenderness, is repeated over and over again; for example: “God’s tenderness relates to the fragility of the world. The Father does not break the bruised reed, does not utter recriminations over the violated law, welcomes the returning sinner, embraces the humiliated son.” He suggests that if people are to be brought to the Father, the Church must be like a tender mother. Accordingly, my mind turned to the precious gift of the new icon at Bishop Eton, The Virgin of Tenderness. Originally a gift from our parishioner, John, in thanksgiving for the care of the community during the Covid pandemic, it provided a providential focus for our prayer for peace in Eastern Europe after the invasion of Ukraine. I also want to thank John and his team for ensuring that the Novena Devotions to Our Mother of Perpetual Succour were  re-introduced after the pandemic and for his continuing efforts to develop our Shrine Ministry. Note the magnificent new notice boards and his article in the forthcoming edition of the Catholic Pictorial.