ragon
THE
P RTAL
January 2019
Page 5
The bleak midwinter
“In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone.”
Snapdragon reviews Christmas past and present
W hat on
earth is one to make of sin, the world and the devil this Christmastide,
as the Christ child lies in His crib surrounded by the angelic host on that ridge high
above the plain in the Judean hills? Much the same really. Doubtful government by doubtful
people; foreigners posing awkward questions; empire and faith in doubtful harmony;
housing not entirely fit for purpose and shepherds in short supply. Thank goodness that this
time round the church is in such good shape to welcome Our Lord.
The news from Los Angeles is
particularly uplifting this month.
Sisters Mary Margaret Kreuper and Lana Chang, having
managed to steal at least $500,000 worth of school
funds to pay for holidays in the well known American
retreat centre of Las Vegas, have asked for the prayers
of the parish from which they so freely stole over a 20
year period. At the time of writing, the diocese did not
intend to press charges, having apparently reached a
deal with the Order about restitution.
The sisters are “now in a religious house under
the supervision of community leadership”, which is
a strange thing to say, given that is what some of us
thought was about normal if you were a monk or a
nun. One is used to the sexual predators being asked
to spend time reflecting on errors in their lifestyle
choices but to see the same thing being done to thieves
is remarkable.
Meanwhile from Rome the really serious news is
that the Holy Father continues to refuse to wear the
red shoes that Popes have always worn to remind
themselves that they stand in the shoes of the martyrs
and that they may at any time be called upon to give
up their life for the faith. Perhaps even more serious
is the fact that he refuses to order the immediate
beatification of Chesterton. What on earth is the point
of it all if the obviously holy cannot be sanctified and we
cannot have another martyr pope? What a marvellous
Christmas present that would be for both him and us.
And so to Christmas, where the fires have been
unusually good this year. Wonderful apple wood and
well seasoned oak making for lovely smells and drying,
hot, satisfying heat that even the dogs think will do.
This year we had 41, and 8 dogs, to lunch on Christmas
Day and that is a lot. Mutton broth, since you ask, and
syllabub and one or two other things as well.
Boxing Day was much easier as a result, because
apart from the devilled kidneys the Hunt breakfast
was simply our leftovers and a lot of port. I don’t
really approve of hunting in a hard frost but it does
mean that the lawns don’t get so cut up by the horses’
hooves. Discovery of the season was a 2006 Grand Cru
Classe Balesterd la Tonnelle which drifted in with a
grandchild and which went well with goose, venison
Some, and I mean some, good news from Australia, and apple dumplings. Now that is a wine and a half.
where Archbishop Philip Wilson’s conviction for
We sang carols before climbing into cars for midnight
misconduct in public office has been overturned on
appeal. The Magistrate said that the Bishop was a mass and it was lovely to hear the sound of angels at
liar who chose not to report a priest he knew to be a home and abroad. Present of the year has been a freshly
predator to the police. On appeal, the Judge said he polished silver ear trumpet which was made in Dublin
believed both victim and Bishop. Both were trying to for my great, great grandmother in 1848 and which we
tell the truth, both were trying to remember things thought had been lost for ever years ago. Now I can
that had happened long ago and neither should be sit back and listen to the wireless while the youngsters
categorised as criminal or dishonest simply because read to me bits and pieces of Dickens, Trollope and
they did not agree about what had been said years the Lymington Tide Timetables to remind me of my
before. The Crown has announced that it intends to dear and somewhat late father. Happy Christmas one
and all.
appeal the decision.
Actually perhaps it isn’t, given the church’s somewhat
ambivalent attitude to corrupt banking practices and its
less than straightforward approach to parish finances.
One very well known apostle got into difficulties early
on with some silver that ought not to have been his.
I do so hope at this pantomime season that the same
fate does not befall our two ugly sisters.