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Treasures of Lambeth Palace Library - 400th Anniversary Exhibition
1610-2010
To celebrate 400 years since its foundation, Lambeth Palace Library
is set to open its doors with a fascinating exhibition, 'Treasures
of Lambeth Palace Library - 400th Anniversary Exhibition 1610-2010',
opening in Lambeth Palace's Great Hall from Monday 17 May until
Friday 23 July 2010.
On show will be key items collected during Lambeth Palace Library's four
hundred years as a working library. Treasures include a Gutenberg Bible
(Mainz, 1455), the first book printed in Western Europe from movable metal
type; the 12th century Lambeth Bible, regarded as one of the monuments of Romanesque
art; and King Richard III's 15th century manuscript Book of Hours, which was
in his tent at the Battle of Bosworth in August 1485.
Monday 17 May to Friday 23 July 2010. It will be held in The Great Hall, Lambeth Palace Library, Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1 7JU. For further information and advance bookings (recommended), visit www.lambethpalacelibrary.org or ring 0871 230 1107
Have you ever tried using Celtic Prayer to pray?
At one level praying is fairly straightforward. It is simply starting a conversation. But the problem is you are talking to a person you can’t see with your eyes, nor touch with your hands, and whose voice you can’t hear with your ears. No matter how real God may be to you, there is always a problem with the fact that God is so different to humans. So some people try to be very other-worldly and hope they can have a sensible conversation with God that way. But even they have problems.
The early Celtic Christians, who flourished in Britain and Ireland from the 6th century onwards, did it differently. They discovered that God made himself known to them through the creation around them. They saw him in the sturdy oak and the opening primrose; they heard him shouting through the storm and whispering through a silent moonlit night. They learned to sense his presence through this blessed earth.
And so much Celtic prayer refers to Creation. Thus a prayer by the great St.Columba was written on a beach, probably on the island of Iona and there he ‘hears the waves chanting a tune to God’ and they in turn inspire him to worship God. He says prayers that rise from his soul, and everything he sees – the golden beaches, waves, rocks, seaweed - all become images that he uses in his prayers.
They also knew that creation could be very disturbed, and whilst it could be so beautiful, it could also be violent. We are told that when there was thunder and lightning around, the great St.Chad at Lichfield would turn to prayer, for such outward disturbance made him aware of inner disturbance in his own soul and he confess all that he felt was wrong in his life which caused harm to others.
Jesus said that it was the ‘pure in heart’ who could see God. The way to see God and hear God is to start with our normal human experience of this world, but then allow that seeing and hearing to touch our hearts. The Celtic Christians were people of the heart, and creation in all its moods, is a great way to allow our hearts to become open. Then with an open or ‘pure’ heart we will find ways of having conversations with God.
When you plan your garden this Spring
Plant three rows of peas:
Peace of mind
Peace of heart
Peace of soul.
Plant four rows of squash:
Squash gossip
Squash indifference
Squash grumbling
Squash selfishness.
Plant four rows of lettuce:
Lettuce be faithful
Lettuce be kind
Lettuce be happy
Lettuce really love one another.
No garden should be without turnips:
Turnip for service when needed
Turnip to help one another
Turnip the music and dance.
Water freely with patience and
Cultivate with love.
There is much fruit in your garden.
Because you reap what you sow.
To conclude our garden
We must have thyme:
Thyme for fun
Thyme for rest
Thyme for ourselves.