Up too late.

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While I am awake, I decided to read about a saint who has also been on my mind. St. Henry Newman has been someone I appreciated through time. If you know anything about him, you might understand why I have always had a contentious relationship with him. Among the problems is the notion that he is the father of Vatican II. Now, I do think Vatican II was a good thing, I also believe it was taken nearly completely out of context for many years, decades really. An inch was given and miles were taken. Like so much of what St. Newman was about, much was misinterpreted, both purposefully and meanly and quite by an honest lack of understanding. Something, I think, we share.

We share... a number of other things as well. We both, later in life, converted from similar churches. He came from the Church of England, myself from the Episcopalian church. Our interests, that of reading, peaceable living, being home bodies, and a few other things, have not been gifts we seem to have been allotted. Perhaps, as I have purchased a home and begun a sedentary life, we will depart in similarity along this line at this time. But truth to tell, only God knows what we receive.

I have always liked St. Newman. And yet we part ways, too, often. Or, at least if I understand him correctly (which I can't say I do, few can). In any case, today is his day, as it turns out. For Catholics, in the US anyway, he is remembered on this day. How odd how things turn out. Here is a prayer of his, as I finish cooking my beans, putting those up, then cleaning up afterwards. No, really. That my days stretch beyond the evening is just another of those... divergences. Though with what he had on his plate, I would suggest he often went long into the nights.

O Lord support us all the day long
Until the evening comes,
The shadows lengthen and the busy world is hushed,
The fever of life is over and our work is done.

Then Lord in your Mercy,
Give us a safe lodging,
A Holy rest and peace at the last. Amen