This is my last journal entry regarding my sabbatical in Britain. In past entries, I wrote of the various places that I visited with some tongue-in-cheek musings on the food, vocabulary, media as well as my own reflections on the nature of my sabbatical.
The one area that I should address is religion. As you may know from your study of history, Britain was heavily influenced in its ancient history by the religion of the Celts. The coming of the Roman Empire introduced mythological gods which were adapted by the Celtic people to some degree. The greatest impact came from Christian evangelization of Britain with St. Patrick, St. Columba and other notable missionaries. By medieval times, numerous abbeys were already established--each wielding considerable political and religious power. Under the Tudor dynasty, Christianity was furthered until the conflict with Henry VIII over his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. Failing to secure an annulment from Rome, Henry severed ties with Rome, and proclaimed himself the head of the Church in England. He then confiscated most of the abbeys and church property throughout Britain. Both the Catholic and Protestant faith were favored depending on which monarch was in power. At different times, both Protestants and Catholics were persecuted and many were martyred on both sides.
It was not until the mid 1800's that Parliament allowed the re-establishment of the Catholic hierarchy in Britain. Prior to that time, there were still Catholic parishes in and around Britain but they were very much autonomous without any leadership to speak of. In the last 100 years, many dioceses and bishops have been established. To some degree, the bishops of Britain remain vocal about moral issues and are occasionally criticized by the powers that be. Of course, we all know that the Church of England itself is conflicted over various issues and has experienced recent schism as a result.
England appears to be one of the most secularized societies in Europe. No doubt, this is due, in part, to the various religious conflicts of the past. Church membership here is the lowest in Europe and most people don't seem to be very interested in the practice of religion. There are many wonderful church buildings--Anglican cathedrals dot the English landscape-- but they are little more, it seems, than nice places to hold flower shows or musical performances. The fact that most of the well known Anglican cathedrals charge admission to tourists reveals the lack of support that comes from having solid congregations. At no time did I find a Catholic cathedral or parish that asked for an admission fee.
The English media also appears to be very much anti-religion. Criticizing and even making light of both the Anglican and Catholic hierarchies is in vogue. When the former Prime Minister, Tony Blair, indicated his desire to become Roman Catholic, the media had a field day. Caricatures of him and the Pope were common fare in the morning newspapers. When the Vatican issues a statement or teaching about a moral issue, the negative response is quick. Recently, a prominent self-proclaimed atheist wrote an editorial criticizing the Church for being backwards and irrelevant. There is also a strong push to make abortion legal on demand without any restrictions whatsoever. England has the highest abortion rate in Europe. The decline in personal morality is directly proportional to the decline in religious belief.
That aside, there is very much a Christian spirituality that is still evident here. There are numerous retreat centers such as the one I have resided in these past three months. There is an ecumenical movement here which shows Anglicans and Roman Catholics coming together to deal with social concerns. There are thousands of priests and religious from Ireland who make England their home and are busy spreading the Gospel. There are faithful clergy and religious in Scotland, England and Wales. The Catholic hierarchy of Britain is not afraid to speak out and is slowly reestablishing its identity. While the persecution of Christianity continues in various ways, the faith is alive and well--making strides as it always has even in times of difficulty.
I am grateful to have experienced the opportunity for my own spiritual renewal here in England. As I take leave of Hawkstone Hall, I pray for the spread of the Gospel in Britain and for a revitalization of the Gospel in a land that boasts many ancient saints and holy people.
Fr. Perry
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Beatle Boots
Quick! What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think Liverpool? If you answer “The Beatles” or “Fab Four” or “Lennon and McCartney,” you are correct!
LIVERPOOL is the place where a young John Lennon met a young Paul McCartney. Together, they formed a band and the rest is history. I made that journey through history at the Beatles Museum in Liverpool. It is an unassuming place outside but, once you walk through the doors, you enter into another time in the history of Rock ‘n’ Roll. With a headset to guide me, I walked through a maze of passages which recounted the early life of the Beatles in picture and sound: how they came together to form a band, what musicians of the time influenced them, and how their career took off in the early ‘60’s. In every room, there are original instruments used by the group including other personal affects. One room is a re-creation of "The Cavern" —the pub where the Beatles played numerous times before becoming international stars. In a room dedicated to John Lennon, I was able to look through his famous tinted glasses. The piano on which he composed “Imagine” is there with hand-written lyrics. Overall, it was a great experience and a “must see” place for fans of the Beatles.
Liverpool itself is a port city and the home of a powerful football (soccer) club. But it is also a depressed area. High unemployment and juvenile delinquency have left their marks on the city that was once known for its ship building and prosperous ports. Today, you can walk through some revitalized areas with interesting shops but it is not without having to pass by dilapidated housing, graffiti-marked walls and trashy streets.
My time in Liverpool ended with a visit to the Roman Catholic Cathedral. It was built in the 1960's and was very controversial given its strange design. The Cathedral is built in the round--seating about 2000 people. The outer wall has several smaller chapels--each dedicated to a particular virtue or gift of the Holy Spirit and each designed with different colors and works of art. Compared to the lofty Anglican Cathedral just down the street, the Catholic Cathedral may not be so impressive but it has the warmth and friendly feeling of a parish church that is an active place of worship.
In contrast to Liverpool, YORK is a classy, ancient city which boasts a 2000 year old history. Founded as a Roman outpost, it passed through the hands of the Normans and Saxons before being rebuilt in medieval times. Under the hugely impressive structure of York Minster (Anglican Cathedral), excavations have uncovered the remains of a Roman fort, a Saxon church, a Norman church, and a medieval church. A Roman well under the foundation of the present church still gathers water which flows to the sea! The Cathedral boasts some of the largest stained glass windows in Britain. One window --nearly 1000 years old-- contains illustrations from every book of the Bible and is considered to be one of the finest examples of medieval stained and painted glass. York is also a great place to window shop. I found stores and outlets that would be familiar to U.S. shoppers. For those who don’t care to shop, tea houses and pubs are ready to serve you any time of the day.
My time in Liverpool and York were memorable and presented me with two very different pictures of life in Britain.
Fr. Perry
LIVERPOOL is the place where a young John Lennon met a young Paul McCartney. Together, they formed a band and the rest is history. I made that journey through history at the Beatles Museum in Liverpool. It is an unassuming place outside but, once you walk through the doors, you enter into another time in the history of Rock ‘n’ Roll. With a headset to guide me, I walked through a maze of passages which recounted the early life of the Beatles in picture and sound: how they came together to form a band, what musicians of the time influenced them, and how their career took off in the early ‘60’s. In every room, there are original instruments used by the group including other personal affects. One room is a re-creation of "The Cavern" —the pub where the Beatles played numerous times before becoming international stars. In a room dedicated to John Lennon, I was able to look through his famous tinted glasses. The piano on which he composed “Imagine” is there with hand-written lyrics. Overall, it was a great experience and a “must see” place for fans of the Beatles.
Liverpool itself is a port city and the home of a powerful football (soccer) club. But it is also a depressed area. High unemployment and juvenile delinquency have left their marks on the city that was once known for its ship building and prosperous ports. Today, you can walk through some revitalized areas with interesting shops but it is not without having to pass by dilapidated housing, graffiti-marked walls and trashy streets.
My time in Liverpool ended with a visit to the Roman Catholic Cathedral. It was built in the 1960's and was very controversial given its strange design. The Cathedral is built in the round--seating about 2000 people. The outer wall has several smaller chapels--each dedicated to a particular virtue or gift of the Holy Spirit and each designed with different colors and works of art. Compared to the lofty Anglican Cathedral just down the street, the Catholic Cathedral may not be so impressive but it has the warmth and friendly feeling of a parish church that is an active place of worship.
In contrast to Liverpool, YORK is a classy, ancient city which boasts a 2000 year old history. Founded as a Roman outpost, it passed through the hands of the Normans and Saxons before being rebuilt in medieval times. Under the hugely impressive structure of York Minster (Anglican Cathedral), excavations have uncovered the remains of a Roman fort, a Saxon church, a Norman church, and a medieval church. A Roman well under the foundation of the present church still gathers water which flows to the sea! The Cathedral boasts some of the largest stained glass windows in Britain. One window --nearly 1000 years old-- contains illustrations from every book of the Bible and is considered to be one of the finest examples of medieval stained and painted glass. York is also a great place to window shop. I found stores and outlets that would be familiar to U.S. shoppers. For those who don’t care to shop, tea houses and pubs are ready to serve you any time of the day.
My time in Liverpool and York were memorable and presented me with two very different pictures of life in Britain.
Fr. Perry
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Independence Day
Well, another Independence Day has passed but, in many ways, it has been a very unique one for me.
First, it is only the second time that I can remember being out of the country during the 4th of July holiday. The first time was back in my high school days when I visited Mexico. Even then, our tour guide bought some illegal fireworks and we had fun lighting them at night and tossing them at each other! Only in Mexico!
Secondly, even though I received many good wishes from the group here on the occasion of our independence day, it was clear that it wasn't necessarily something many Brits think about. Perhaps that has to do with the fact that we were once their colony and that they still hold a bit of ill-feeling about our ability to successfully throw off the yoke of the British monarchy over 230 years ago. I'm not sure if this is a valid excuse given the fact that many Brits would like to rid themselves of the monarchy. Suffice it to say that, with the exception of sympathetic feelings for Queen Elizabeth, most of the population doesn't seem to care much about Prince Philip, Charles, or any other member of the Windsor family.
The more plausible explanation for the low key acknowledgment of US Independence Day might be that most of the UK is now preoccupied with its own struggle with terrorism which has reared its ugly head again. Several weeks ago, two cars rigged to explode near a popular London market were found. Fortunately, they failed to explode and were successfully defused. Then, a few days ago, two terrorists rammed their burning vehicle into the entrance of Glasgow airport. While no one was killed, the incident sent shock waves through Britain and instigated a massive search operation that resulted in the arrest of 7 alleged terrorists-- nearly all of them employed as health care professionals in Britain.
During the past several days, the British Broadcasting Company (BBC) has covered little else during its news programs and the video of a burning vehicle stuck in the doorway of the airport has been etched into the minds of most people.
In a particularly poignant way, the threat of terrorists seeking to create chaos in Britain reminded me of the cost of freedom that both the U.S. and Britain enjoy. That freedom has made it possible for both nations to open their doors to immigrants from almost every corner of the globe looking for a better way of life. But the same freedom has also opened our doors to those who seek to undermine that freedom. Whatever gripe some may have towards our nations, it is unimaginable that some people would be willing to maim and kill innocents to express their frustration.
So, in my own quiet way, I offered a little prayer for the United States on this 4th of July and joined in everyone else's prayer for the well-being and protection of the British people during this time.
Fr. Perry
First, it is only the second time that I can remember being out of the country during the 4th of July holiday. The first time was back in my high school days when I visited Mexico. Even then, our tour guide bought some illegal fireworks and we had fun lighting them at night and tossing them at each other! Only in Mexico!
Secondly, even though I received many good wishes from the group here on the occasion of our independence day, it was clear that it wasn't necessarily something many Brits think about. Perhaps that has to do with the fact that we were once their colony and that they still hold a bit of ill-feeling about our ability to successfully throw off the yoke of the British monarchy over 230 years ago. I'm not sure if this is a valid excuse given the fact that many Brits would like to rid themselves of the monarchy. Suffice it to say that, with the exception of sympathetic feelings for Queen Elizabeth, most of the population doesn't seem to care much about Prince Philip, Charles, or any other member of the Windsor family.
The more plausible explanation for the low key acknowledgment of US Independence Day might be that most of the UK is now preoccupied with its own struggle with terrorism which has reared its ugly head again. Several weeks ago, two cars rigged to explode near a popular London market were found. Fortunately, they failed to explode and were successfully defused. Then, a few days ago, two terrorists rammed their burning vehicle into the entrance of Glasgow airport. While no one was killed, the incident sent shock waves through Britain and instigated a massive search operation that resulted in the arrest of 7 alleged terrorists-- nearly all of them employed as health care professionals in Britain.
During the past several days, the British Broadcasting Company (BBC) has covered little else during its news programs and the video of a burning vehicle stuck in the doorway of the airport has been etched into the minds of most people.
In a particularly poignant way, the threat of terrorists seeking to create chaos in Britain reminded me of the cost of freedom that both the U.S. and Britain enjoy. That freedom has made it possible for both nations to open their doors to immigrants from almost every corner of the globe looking for a better way of life. But the same freedom has also opened our doors to those who seek to undermine that freedom. Whatever gripe some may have towards our nations, it is unimaginable that some people would be willing to maim and kill innocents to express their frustration.
So, in my own quiet way, I offered a little prayer for the United States on this 4th of July and joined in everyone else's prayer for the well-being and protection of the British people during this time.
Fr. Perry
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