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By Humblepiety (Reporter)
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Life and death, and football of course!

Monday, November 2, 2015 12:06

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(Before It's News)

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The calendar has turned the page from October into November; the nights have drawn in, with the dark descending dramatically, covering the familiar with a bleak shadowy hue. The pace of this year can be described as frenetic, in the sense that it has flown by so quickly. This month the concentration spiritually is upon the departed, loved ones, and unknown souls too. Prayer is urgent and insistent, a cry of hope amidst the despair of the reality of death, loss and separation. Prayer is offered not just to placate the emotions of the living, but for the benefit of the dead. Grace is offered to Christians throughout the journey of life and yet grace is not always taken on board, or sought after. The prayers of the living seek to aid the dead as they pass from life to the promise and hope of faith, which is heaven.

Not everybody leaves this world fully prepared to meet God. I love the poem “The Dream of Gerontius.” Written by Cardinal John Henry Newman, in January 1865, and have found it a great source for reflection. The end of the poem when the soul is coming to meet the judge, the angel speaks of the soothing waters and the fullness of grace, and a tingling emotion of gratitude floods through me as I read!

Angel Softly and gently, dearly ransom’d soul,
In my most loving arms I now enfold thee,
And, o’er the penal waters, as they roll,
I poise thee, and I lower thee, and hold thee.

And carefully I dip thee in the lake,
And thou, without a sob or a resistance,
Dost through the flood thy rapid passage take,
Sinking deep, deeper, into the dim distance.

Angels, to whom the willing task is given,
Shall tend, and nurse, and lull thee, as thou liest;
And Masses on the earth, and prayers in heaven,
Shall aid thee at the Throne of the Most Highest.

Farewell, but not for ever! brother dear,
Be brave and patient on thy bed of sorrow;
Swiftly shall pass thy night of trial here,
And I will come and wake thee on the morrow.

Death is not a general topic for conversation, but it looms in the near distance. It is worthy of our thought and so much material is offered to help us to keep faith in the promises of Christ, none more so that Christ himself who said in the gospel John 11:25-26

²⁵ Jesus said: I am the resurrection. Anyone who believes in me, even though that person dies, will live, ²⁶ and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.

Football, as the great Liverpool manager Bill Shankly, once said

'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.'

This month a new manager has been appointed to the Villa! A man called Remi Garde, an ex Arsenal player from the 90’s and ex manager of Lyon. There are several young French players at Villa and it is hoped that he will get the best out of them. His injection of enthusiasm, his determination to succeed, might give a modicum of hope that we will stay up! Time will tell…but I am hopeful! I am hoping he will bring back the « la joie de la vie » back to Villa Park!

Source: http://humblepiety.blogspot.com/2015/11/life-and-death-and-football-of-course.html

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