An English Deacon

                                                  The Power Of Art

1. Chartres Cathedral, France

2. Kinver Church, England

3. Saint-Étienne’s Church, France

4. St. Matthew’s Church, England

5.Mezquita De Cordoba. Spain

6.Killaloe Church, Ireland

7. Leon Cathedral, Spain

8. Saint Gudula, Brussels

9. St. Mary’s Cathedral Basilica,USA

In these crazy, dangerous times, it is important now, more than ever for us to build a closer relationship with our Guardian Angels who help to guide and protect us.

It is not down to luck. 

Almost 22 years ago on the 13th March 1996 a man killed 16 children, a teacher and injuring 15 others before committing suicide in Dunblane Primary School. 

It was, and still is, the deadliest mass shooting in British history. 

People were obviously outraged by the atrocity and by the next year it was illegal to own handguns (basically any gun not barrell loaded) unless they were of ‘historical importance’ i.e. made before 1919.

Owning a gun legally in the UK is hard. You must get a 5 year licence i.e. a background/capability check (yup it runs out), you must give a valid reason for needing a gun (i.e. the humane slaughter of animals/vermin); self defence is not a valid reason for owning a gun. You must be subjected to an inspection of your home where you have to show police where you are keeping the guns and ammunition, these must be kept in separate locked containers, and if you are needing to move the guns you must show that these containers can be moved whilst the guns are locked away.

Through all of this we have one of the lowest gun homicide rates in the word and last year only 26 people died in a gun related incidents (this includes air rifles and imitation guns), and most of these are from illegally obtained guns. It’s got to the point that if someone does die of a gunshot wound it is on the national news.

This being said we have a healthy National Rifle Association in the UK, but instead of demanding people be allowed to own weapons they teach marksmanship (traditional and modern) and promote shooting sports like clay pigeon shooting, which is very fun and we often have it at village fêtes.

The fact that gun control is still a debate in the US is astounding to me. 

The fact that Sandy Hook was 5 years ago and there is still a debate on whether gun owners should be subjected to background checks is astounding to me.

The fact that someone can get an automatic or semi-automatic weapon and shoot hundreds of innocent people from the 32nd floor of a hotel is astounding to me.

The fact that each year we hear on the news that there has been the ‘deadliest mass shooting in American history’ is astounding to me.

How is this even a conversation?

Call your senators, your representatives at all layers of government, tell them you want stricter gun laws, tell them that this can’t keep happening.

29th September >> Pope Francis’ Homily During Morning Mass at Santa Marta: The Archangels: “Our Fellow Travelers”

(Photo - Pope Francis Celebrates Mass In Santa Marta © L'Osservatore Romano)

Michael, Gabriel and Raphael are “our traveling companions” and have an “important” role in the journey of Christians towards salvation, Pope Francis said in his homily at Mass at Santa Marta on September 29, 2017, the feast day of the archangels.

“The Lord sends them to accompany us on the way of life,” the Pontiff recalled, who defined the Archangel Michael as the one who “fights the devil.” He fights the “great dragon,” the “ancient snake”, who seduces “the whole inhabited earth,” the Pope added, whose homily was reported by the Vatican Radio.

“The Great Michael”, commissioned by God, fights (and defeats) the devil. It helps us on our way to Heaven to make war, “not to be seduced.”

Archangel Gabriel is the one who “brings good news”. He has indeed brought the announcement of salvation “to Mary, to Zachariah, to Joseph,” and to help Christians never forget the Good News, that “Jesus came with us” to save us.

Archangel Raffaele “walks with us,” said Francis, who recommended asking him to offer protection from the “seduction of making the wrong step.”

The Pontiff has thus formulated the following threefold prayer or supplication: “Michele, help us in the struggle”, “Gabriel, bring us news, bring us the Good News of Salvation” and finally “Raffaele, take hold of the hand and help us on the Path.”