The moment of grace: finally finishing my speech on humanitarian aid to Africa to the Council of Europe. Job done.

The moment of grace: a Mass at the Cathedral packed with young.

I was looking at some Surrealist paintings and I was struck by the importance of not always looking at the things in a concrete and rationalist way. This thought was curiously relaxing. On the way back to the hotel, reality set in: my bicycle tyre got caught in a tram track. I flew off. When I got up, I realised the little finger or the end of it was at a horrible angle and obviously broken.

The moment of grace: the excellent French health service that straightened it.

A very long drive to the Council of Europe at Strasbourg. The moment of grace, closing my eyes and seeing a kind of translucent orange glow as dawn broke.

A day of moving about so I just got to the Cathedral five minutes before it closed. The small little moment of grace.

A week trying to recognise her little graces. St Therese tells us that every day one should look for some little spiritual grace. This I tried to do this week.