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DIOCESE

Contents Brother Ass

DIOCESE Pressure to conform to some notion of what
News from around the Diocese including: it is to have the perfect body is present from an
A letter from Bishop Hugh OSB.......................................... 3 increasingly young age. Children as young as
Diocesan pilgrimage to Pluscarden.....................................4 ten or eleven, both girls and boys, are being persuaded by
advertisers and social media influencers that they've got to
Deacon Graeme makes history at St Thomas' ............ 11 be thin, fit, have glossy hair, perfect skin and white teeth.
Resisting Ecological Conversion.....................................15 This is considered to be the model of success and health. The
OBITUARY fact that most of us don't naturally fit into this category is
Deacon John McEwan OFS immaterial, but the impact of this aspect of popular culture
Dom Gabriel Potter .................................................................9 can be incredibly damaging. It seems, at times, that a great
WITNESS deal of emphasis is placed on our physical appearance, but
what of the importance of our soul and our interior life,
Students' hearts in the right place ..................................21 and the undeniable link between our spiritual and physical
LITURGY selves.
A Bridgettine Mass ...............................................................23 When it comes to body image I prefer to think in terms of
FAITH IN ACTION what St Francis said about his body which he affectionately
Sancta Familia Media .............................................................24 called ‘Brother Ass’ and which calls to mind our natural
EDUCATION AND FORMATION laziness and obstinance. The Christian apologist CS Lewis
The God who hears...............................................................26 wrote in his book, The Four Loves, "Ass is exquisitely right
because no one in his senses can either revere or hate a
FAITH AND CULTURE donkey. It is a useful, sturdy, lazy, obstinate, patient, lovable
Swięto Wniebowzięcia Najświętszej Maryi Panny w and infuriating beast; deserving now the stick and now a
Polskiej Tradycji .....................................................................27 carrot; both pathetically and absurdly beautiful."
St Moluag of Lismore ....................................................... 30 That does sound about right, but to get to the point, we
St Mary's, Stonehaven ................................................................. 33 will shortly be celebrating the Solemnity of the Assumption
St Eloi, the master craftsman ............................................ 36 of the Virgin Mary. Mary, of course, was assumed into
Gallant nurse who built St Aidan's, Aviemore ................37 heaven, both body and soul. While we might feel that, this
Dishes from the Diocese - Aberdeen ............................. 39 summer, we are not quite beach body ready, it's perhaps
worth reminding ourselves that it is body and soul together
On a Wing and a Prayer - Savi's Warbler .............................41 which form our unique human nature and that both body
MISCELLANY and soul are to be valued and given the attention and
ALLSORTS of Everything .................................................... 42 respect due them, and that includes the right sort of food.
CROSSWORD AND SUDOKU ............................................ 43 And when it comes to soul food there's lots of nutrition
in this bumper issue of the LOTN starting with Bishop
Hugh's regular letter to readers. There's also lots of news
To celebrate the Feast of the from around the Diocese including the annual Pluscarden
up Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Pilgrimage and the ordination of Graeme Morrison as a
Mary our cover features a work
Permanent Deacon for St Thomas', Keith. Also, do read
front entitled, Procession of Our Lady of the Kenneth Sadler's article about why some Christians have a
Herbs, a painting by the Polish artist,
resistance to concrete action to address our environmental
Pruszkowski
Witold
crises. In addition, and, on the eve of the 70th anniversary of
(1846-1896).
Among the artist's favourite themes St Aidan's, Aviemore, Mary Golden has written a fascinating
were peasants, folk tales and legends, often combining account of the gallant wartime nurse, Anastasia Kehoe,
realism with fantasy. In the Polish folk tradition, Mary who was responsible for getting the church built. This and
is venerated on this day as Our Lady of Herbs. You can lots lots more!
find out more about this tradition and other customs Have a great summer!
associated with this feast in Poland on page 27.
Cowan

Managing Editor Advertising
Deacon Tony Schmitz 07816344241
advertising.lightofthenorth@rcd-abdn.org
Editor
Cowan Watson The Light of the North
07816344241 St Mary’s Cathedral
editor.lightofthenorth@rcd-abdn.org 20 Huntly Street
ABERDEEN
Editorial Advisor AB10 1SH
Dr Glen Reynolds www.lightofthenorth.org

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