Page 29 - LOTN Autumn Issue 48 2021

FAITH AND CULTURE

The Priest. The year is 2021.
The Priest opened the iron gate into the walled garden. He had just finished
his lunch and had a hour to spend alone. Since the work of the Parish had
become too much for him, he had come to live in this Care Home run by the
Church. He spent the majority of his time in the beautiful Chapel, the packed
full library or out here in the walled garden.
The Priest kept physically well and felt very fortunate. He had lived a
happy life working in a number of Parishes. He often thought of his many
Parishioners and would pray and light candles for them. Many would come
and visit him, and he loved to hear tales of what was happening in the
various places he had lived and worked during his priesthood.
He sat in the beautiful garden, smelling the scent of the many roses and
daydreaming. He was sometimes surprised when he was reminded of the
fact that he was now in his eighties. Just where had his life gone!
As a young man when he entered the Church his parents had been
surprised. They hadn’t discouraged him, but he had felt that they may
have preferred a different path for him. He chuckled to himself as his hand
reached inside his cassock pocket and felt the red rosary beads, the ones
granny had given him in her will, the ones that throughout his priesthood
had never been far from his reach. Granny would have liked that, he thought
to himself as he felt the sun shining on his face. He felt peaceful and relaxed.
He was in a place where he wanted to be, surrounded by the beauty of the
walled gardens enjoying the smells that surrounded him. The smell of roses
always reminded him of his granny. Marie had been a wonderful woman,
he thought quietly to himself that she would love the fact he had become
a priest.
As he sat on his favourite bench his mind wandering to days of the past,
he closed his eyes and drifted off into his usual afternoon nap.

The mission of the Society of the Little Flower is to promote devotion to St Thérèse of the Child
Jesus, Carmelite Nun and Doctor of the Church. Through prayers and donations, friends of
StThérèse enable Carmelites to continue her "Shower of Roses" in their ministries throughout
the world and in their education of young Carmelites.

Carmelite priests, nuns, brothers and sisters serve people in parishes, medical clinics, women's
centres, schools, retreat houses, hospitals, catechetical centres, prisons, housing, job and skills
development programmes and sacramental celebrations around the world.

Society of the Little Flower 0345 602 9884 (local rate)
Barclays House
ukweb@littleflower.org
51 Bishopric www.littleflower.org.uk
Horsham, RH12 1QJ

Charity No. 123034

Page 29