A joy to read on this rainy day in Derbyshire. It made me laugh out loud as you painted these squabbling saints so dryly. Thankyou Paul! May you be blessed!
Very hard to tell what our long ago, before generalized writing ancestors were doing.
But animal sacrifice and paganism go together in my mind.
Back when the Psalms were written, when the Psalmist at what date ? says that the sacrifice that God prefers is a contrite, repentant heart, I wonder if he was thinking that maybe one day we would get rid of animal sacrifice ? Maybe he thought that sacrificing animals WAS NOT ENOUGH without a contrite heart, but could not even imagine that there would be no visible proof ? of sacrifice ? A contrite, repentant heart is essential, but you can't see (or smell) it, and that creates some problems.
Yes. But.... is it enough that God sees ? It depends on perspective, and trying to look at the world as God would see it, or as how man sees it, and can see it.
I am not going to try to argue this one from the devil's perspective, considering that God himself sometimes acts as a great divider, but the problems are still there... from man's perspective in a fallen world.
Wow, I really enjoyed the dry humour and what a unique well. I knew a monk who after some really painful dental work prayed that the doctor would share some of his pain. Then the poor dentist's appendix burst. Ouch, the monk felt bad about it afterwards. Holy men, they can have their prayers answered fast.
Curiously, the street lamps peer down like a studious artificial intelligence trying to make sense?
Seriously, be careful what you pray and curse, and they easily mix, even casually, and there are consequences., even sacrifice of what is precious. I am still not recovered from those iron age stories over at Martin Shaw's last Sunday.
Thank you, Paul. I always love your attention to the details of these wells, not to mention the history and humor that you share along with your descriptions. These are a treat to read on Sundays here in Costa Rica, where English legend and lore seem distant in context despite being ever close to my heart.
And now for something completely different...Thank God those school children wrote down all these local legends in the 1930's. They are wonderful, and it would have been sad if they were forgotten. I think this is my favorite installment of the Holy Wells so far. Thanks, Paul.
It says this was posted 21 hours ago. That's how long it took me to get the very obvious and now very funny Monty Python reference. Wow. As another Paul sang in another context, "When I look back at all the crap I learned in high school / It's a wonder I can think at all..."
Oh man, Paul, ha! -- maybe it real would have taken another 21 hours, I'm so dense. Of course: "Mostly harmless" :) (A correction to the earlier, obviously naiive in retrospect, entry: "Harmless.")
If this stuff was on school curriculums, as it should be, none of this sort of thing would ever happen again. Wait till I'm President of the Galaxy. Things are going to change round here ...
My favorite in the series so far. "...which was certainly good news for Ireland’s horse population" took me by surprise. So funny. The good natured humor makes you a worthy heir of the tradition you're investigating, methinks. Thanks Paul!
A joy to read on this rainy day in Derbyshire. It made me laugh out loud as you painted these squabbling saints so dryly. Thankyou Paul! May you be blessed!
A beautiful well this morning, Paul, thank you.
Very hard to tell what our long ago, before generalized writing ancestors were doing.
But animal sacrifice and paganism go together in my mind.
Back when the Psalms were written, when the Psalmist at what date ? says that the sacrifice that God prefers is a contrite, repentant heart, I wonder if he was thinking that maybe one day we would get rid of animal sacrifice ? Maybe he thought that sacrificing animals WAS NOT ENOUGH without a contrite heart, but could not even imagine that there would be no visible proof ? of sacrifice ? A contrite, repentant heart is essential, but you can't see (or smell) it, and that creates some problems.
But God does see.
Yes. But.... is it enough that God sees ? It depends on perspective, and trying to look at the world as God would see it, or as how man sees it, and can see it.
I am not going to try to argue this one from the devil's perspective, considering that God himself sometimes acts as a great divider, but the problems are still there... from man's perspective in a fallen world.
Wow, I really enjoyed the dry humour and what a unique well. I knew a monk who after some really painful dental work prayed that the doctor would share some of his pain. Then the poor dentist's appendix burst. Ouch, the monk felt bad about it afterwards. Holy men, they can have their prayers answered fast.
I loved this one. Thank you.
I too would like to see a blessed frog!
Curiously, the street lamps peer down like a studious artificial intelligence trying to make sense?
Seriously, be careful what you pray and curse, and they easily mix, even casually, and there are consequences., even sacrifice of what is precious. I am still not recovered from those iron age stories over at Martin Shaw's last Sunday.
I see the makings of a fantastic Monty Python skit in all this. Suggested cast:
St Olan - Eric Idle
St Lachteen - Michael Palin
Old Pagan Lady and Keeper of the Holy Phallus - Graham Chapman
"Ey! Ey you two! Stop mucking about with the Holy Phallus before I whack you with this shillelagh!"
A real joy to read this one on a cold rainy morning in northern Utah.
Always a good reminder that saints have human frailties. Thank you for sharing! Blessed Pascha to you and yours.
Thank you, Paul. I always love your attention to the details of these wells, not to mention the history and humor that you share along with your descriptions. These are a treat to read on Sundays here in Costa Rica, where English legend and lore seem distant in context despite being ever close to my heart.
A little humor blesses Ireland best!
And now for something completely different...Thank God those school children wrote down all these local legends in the 1930's. They are wonderful, and it would have been sad if they were forgotten. I think this is my favorite installment of the Holy Wells so far. Thanks, Paul.
It says this was posted 21 hours ago. That's how long it took me to get the very obvious and now very funny Monty Python reference. Wow. As another Paul sang in another context, "When I look back at all the crap I learned in high school / It's a wonder I can think at all..."
Mama gonna take my Kodachrome away….
But did you spot the Douglas Adams reference?
Hold on, give me another 21 hours, and I'll get it....
Are we talking about Zaphod Beeblebrox's third arm, maybe? It's been awhile...
Can you not remember the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy entry on 'Earth'? Come on man, this is a key cultural text!
Oh man, Paul, ha! -- maybe it real would have taken another 21 hours, I'm so dense. Of course: "Mostly harmless" :) (A correction to the earlier, obviously naiive in retrospect, entry: "Harmless.")
If this stuff was on school curriculums, as it should be, none of this sort of thing would ever happen again. Wait till I'm President of the Galaxy. Things are going to change round here ...
Your next substack essay series: The Total Perspective Vortex.
I've only been reading about half of the holy wells series, but you hooked me for this one at the Hitchhiker's reference.
A great yarn! I wonder if there are any blessed frogs left in Britain. And I will definitely be careful what I pray for!
I believe the last one died in the 1830's, as evinced by a famous poem from that period: .
Can I view thee panting, lying
On thy stomach, without sighing;
Can I unmoved see thee dying
On a log,
Expiring frog!’
Etc., Etc.
I think sometimes we can make things too complicated?
My favorite in the series so far. "...which was certainly good news for Ireland’s horse population" took me by surprise. So funny. The good natured humor makes you a worthy heir of the tradition you're investigating, methinks. Thanks Paul!