Vale, Petre

I felt rather unwell today, and in fact had to leave work early; a good long sleep made me feel a lot better, and whatever was the matter seems to have passed, thanks be.

It was lucky that I was over whatever had been ailing me by this evening, since this was the last chance for my housemates and I to meet up with Peter, our friend from Bunbury, since Peter, having come up to Perth for a few days, is returning to Bunbury tomorrow, and will leave Australia on the 15th prox., since he's joining the Carmelite Monks in Wyoming.

Peter came round, and we had some fairly hearty soup I concocted (shades of that budae jjigae I had last week!), together with some beer (Unibroue, from Quebec). He recommended that I blog about all this, so here you are, Pete!

I had to drive him over to Fr Rowe's place, since he's staying there overnight so as to be able to get into town very early in the morning to meet a friend, and so we shared a last bit of conversation, a mix of seriousness and joking.

Partly humorously, I suggested that he write up in his cell the text Quoniam propter te mortificamur tota die (Ps 43:22), once he arrives to begin his hidden life of contemplation and penance!

More seriously, I think that the following text of St Paul (Colossians iii, 1-17), a favourite of mine (especially the opening verses, used in the Office at Eastertide), bears much consideration, whether as a monk or indeed as any Christian, seeking to save one's soul:

Brethren:
Therefore, if you be risen with Christ, seek the things that are above; where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God:
Mind the things that are above, not the things that are upon the earth.
For you are dead; and your life is hid with Christ in God.
When Christ shall appear, who is your life, then you also shall appear with him in glory.
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, lust, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is the service of idols.
For which things the wrath of God cometh upon the children of unbelief,
In which you also walked some time, when you lived in them.
But now put you also all away: anger, indignation, malice, blasphemy, filthy speech out of your mouth.
Lie not one to another: stripping yourselves of the old man with his deeds,
And putting on the new, him who is renewed unto knowledge, according to the image of him that created him.
Where there is neither Gentile nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian nor Scythian, bond nor free. But Christ is all, and in all.
Put ye on therefore, as the elect of God, holy, and beloved, the bowels of mercy, benignity, humility, modesty, patience:
Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if any have a complaint against another: even as the Lord hath forgiven you, so do you also.
But above all these things have charity, which is the bond of perfection:
And let the peace of Christ rejoice in your hearts, wherein also you are called in one body: and be ye thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you abundantly, in all wisdom: teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual canticles, singing in grace in your hearts to God.
All whatsoever you do in word or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Well, this has probably been the last time I shall see Peter; he has very kindly promised to pray for me and all the others here in Perth, and I ask any readers to pray for him, that he persevere in his holy vocation if such be God's will for him.

I would also appreciate prayers at the moment, for I have various things to deal with, and would appreciate spiritual aid.