SUNDAY

We go on Saturday evening to the carol service at the Ramblers’ Church in Walesby. Up the muddy path to the lonely church on the Wolds, lit only by candlelight with about two hundred people crammed inside. The rood screen blazing with candles as centuries ago all rood screens would have been.

MONDAY – St John of the Cross

A long day of meetings in the City – a nice change. During Mass I think of this mystical poet and his crises of faith and doubt or at least of happiness. I think of Tolstoy: “Those who say that doing good causes them to feel unhappy either do not believe in God or what they do is not really good.”

TUESDAY

Interesting that because the concept of the Immaculate Conception is so old, this is one of the Marian doctrines that Islam shares with the Catholic Church.

“I am the handmaid of the Lord, said Mary.” (Luke 1:26)

WEDNESDAY

We drove to St Olave’s School for their Christmas Eucharist and carols – a beautiful service delivered with great verve and aplomb by their chaplain in the round. The school choir in superb form. The priest tells us he loves everything about Christmas: shopping, carols, lights, presents, etc. I am not so sure. I would be continent if it was just like Easter: a beautiful Mass and being with the family.

Monty the dog enters into our life from Battersea Dogs Home.

THURSDAY

We drive up for a carol service at Holy Rood Market Rasen. The church ablaze with candles and very beautiful. I do a reading. All the gang there, I am blessed with such good people.

FRIDAY

A not-so-great day with Monty in Lincs. The home told us he is a beagle; I think he is more wolfhound.

SATURDAY

We have driven back to qualify for the Christmas Day Serpentine Race so I go to the Tate exhibition on Art and Empire. I find this great quote from Burke on his stature: “I wish to be a Member of Parliament, to have my share of doing good, and resisting evil.”