A beautiful well, this morning. Everything about it, maybe particularly the fact that it seems to have escaped the effects of so much contemporary rewriting. I wish that I could escape the effects of this contemporary rewriting too. They rub and grate on me.
Thoughts on Fiona and her son : last night I listened to Samuel Barber's Hermit Song, "The Crucifixion" (the whole song cycle is one of my very favorite pieces of music), and in "The Crucifixion", the narrator says how much Jesus was grieved at the suffering he was causing his mother standing at the foot of his cross.
That says a lot to me about the way man and woman are inextricably tied in their fate, from the beginning to the end, and regularly I meditate on all the suffering (and joy) that results from this.
You are lucky that your son and family are patient with you, Paul, because they love you so much. You must be doing something right, there...
Sometimes I get uncomfortable with all of our harping on justice, considering that many of us are going on an on about Man's justice, and not God's. Solace, yes, first and foremost ? Solace and justice together ? And what if solace is all that we can hope for ?
I think, the crime against that poor child, should illicit a spiritual reckoning or justice and perhaps that what they sought, those placed that stone in such an obscure spot. The cover-up and corruption of state authorities is, alas, business as usual in the North. That's the realm of manmade BS and unlikely to bring solace or justice to his grieving mother. Even if she will never know, I would pray that this terrible wrong be acknowledged and righted, in whatever unknowable, metaphysical way.
‘And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and the books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. Revelation 20:12 NIV
Thank you very much for your kind words, Dr. Beisler. And particularly for the words "gentle wisdom" which I greatly appreciate... I am back to school now, after a long vacation !
This time the well found you! And what a poignant story. The investigation or lack of it is very unsatisfying to read about. How amazing the story of this mother's love and passion for her son at the well. Prayers for Noah and his mother.
Well this little unassuming well is definitely still ‘in use’ then!
In a very modern way too - painting a stone instead of rosaries and statues of Mary etc.
Proves too that people still very much believe in the power associated with these wells, or at least hope there is still some there.
I think we have always needed places to go, when we are looking for help. A little hidden well in the countryside of Ireland seems as good place as any to me!
As a mother of 2 boys, it makes me feel sick to think what Noah and Fiona have gone through and are continuing to go through.
I’m put in mind of Ephesians 6: For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world , against spiritual wickedness in high places.
I always think of wells ad ‘thin places’ and I pray with all my heart that Fiona’s pleas and prayers are answered by our all loving and most compassionate God.
This is what a Holy Well does so well I guess. Love reflects the sky beside a road. The iron laws of irretrievable events ... 'It happens' ... placed before a practical woman who could find help and the best for her generations. The good and the bad is cross-border ... unmended history beside a failed Empire and its precarious wider civilisation is a tricky mix. I have hopes for declared intention and for the trust in the help that comes. It seems a good thought to contribute such blessing that might be in our gift.
Paul, I appreciate your use of the word "living" when looking at these sites. True enough, religion is lived and practiced in a variety of forms and ways. When it doesn't look the way I think it should, I try to be curious and see that of God in what I observe. Your writing helps me see and do that. Thanks.
Desperately sorry for poor Fiona. No point in praying she finds peace or comfort. I can’t see how either will ever be possible. But I will pray for her. I’m sure we all will.
I am acutely aware we have only two well stories remaining. I will miss them greatly. So beautifully written and each one a meditation on far more than the place or the Saint. They keep me thinking all week. I would love similar well history for England.
Am in Canterbury today. The baptismal font in Saint Martins, the oldest parish church in the English speaking world (possible 4th century) is an old well head from a now buried well in the Cathedral grounds. Apparently there are two buried holy springs within the complex - one in the herb garden and one beneath the crypt. Why buried I wonder?
I read this this morning, took my own family to a Latin mass in a 1000 year old French abbey (my daughter is 18 and makes her own mind whether to come or not - today between leaving the house and and encountering the Latin Gregorian chant that I hadn't anticipated, she seemed to forget ..) Then this afternoon we visited a Roman and Hellenistic ruined city (Glanum) It was originally built by the Celts as primarily religious settlement, around a holy spring and holy wells. The spring is full of water and some of the wells were shrines for healing, a couple still with water, a couple of golden carp swam in the spring. I loved the link through time. This place seems to be pre Christian only. I was thinking of how it must be linked by migration of people and ideas all the way to Ireland and the well of today. I have said a prayer for the family as you suggested.
My favorite of these Well encounters so far. I think there is a bit more Christian faith in the population still, it's just now considered low-status, so we hide it from judgment.
A beautiful well, this morning. Everything about it, maybe particularly the fact that it seems to have escaped the effects of so much contemporary rewriting. I wish that I could escape the effects of this contemporary rewriting too. They rub and grate on me.
Thoughts on Fiona and her son : last night I listened to Samuel Barber's Hermit Song, "The Crucifixion" (the whole song cycle is one of my very favorite pieces of music), and in "The Crucifixion", the narrator says how much Jesus was grieved at the suffering he was causing his mother standing at the foot of his cross.
That says a lot to me about the way man and woman are inextricably tied in their fate, from the beginning to the end, and regularly I meditate on all the suffering (and joy) that results from this.
You are lucky that your son and family are patient with you, Paul, because they love you so much. You must be doing something right, there...
An added thought, here...
Sometimes I get uncomfortable with all of our harping on justice, considering that many of us are going on an on about Man's justice, and not God's. Solace, yes, first and foremost ? Solace and justice together ? And what if solace is all that we can hope for ?
I think, the crime against that poor child, should illicit a spiritual reckoning or justice and perhaps that what they sought, those placed that stone in such an obscure spot. The cover-up and corruption of state authorities is, alas, business as usual in the North. That's the realm of manmade BS and unlikely to bring solace or justice to his grieving mother. Even if she will never know, I would pray that this terrible wrong be acknowledged and righted, in whatever unknowable, metaphysical way.
P.s. intrigued by the antiquity of the stone cross!
I will add my prayers to yours. The loss of a child in such unbearable circumstances is truly terrible, may God bless her.
Justice will come. If not in this life the next.
‘And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and the books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. Revelation 20:12 NIV
Yes. And there is always the justice of "The fathers have eaten bitter grapes and their children's teeth have been spoiled". Not to be forgotten.
There certainly is no justice in this world.
I am very lucky indeed, Debra! Finding things like this only reinforces that fact.
I am so happy to read your words again. I have not seen any comments by you for a while but maybe I missed them. Keep your gentle wisdom coming.
Thank you very much for your kind words, Dr. Beisler. And particularly for the words "gentle wisdom" which I greatly appreciate... I am back to school now, after a long vacation !
This time the well found you! And what a poignant story. The investigation or lack of it is very unsatisfying to read about. How amazing the story of this mother's love and passion for her son at the well. Prayers for Noah and his mother.
Well this little unassuming well is definitely still ‘in use’ then!
In a very modern way too - painting a stone instead of rosaries and statues of Mary etc.
Proves too that people still very much believe in the power associated with these wells, or at least hope there is still some there.
I think we have always needed places to go, when we are looking for help. A little hidden well in the countryside of Ireland seems as good place as any to me!
As a mother of 2 boys, it makes me feel sick to think what Noah and Fiona have gone through and are continuing to go through.
I’m put in mind of Ephesians 6: For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world , against spiritual wickedness in high places.
I always think of wells ad ‘thin places’ and I pray with all my heart that Fiona’s pleas and prayers are answered by our all loving and most compassionate God.
This is what a Holy Well does so well I guess. Love reflects the sky beside a road. The iron laws of irretrievable events ... 'It happens' ... placed before a practical woman who could find help and the best for her generations. The good and the bad is cross-border ... unmended history beside a failed Empire and its precarious wider civilisation is a tricky mix. I have hopes for declared intention and for the trust in the help that comes. It seems a good thought to contribute such blessing that might be in our gift.
A heartbreaking story...but many more prayers will be said now for Fiona and Noah.
Nothing will be lost or forgotten.
Paul, I appreciate your use of the word "living" when looking at these sites. True enough, religion is lived and practiced in a variety of forms and ways. When it doesn't look the way I think it should, I try to be curious and see that of God in what I observe. Your writing helps me see and do that. Thanks.
Desperately sorry for poor Fiona. No point in praying she finds peace or comfort. I can’t see how either will ever be possible. But I will pray for her. I’m sure we all will.
I am acutely aware we have only two well stories remaining. I will miss them greatly. So beautifully written and each one a meditation on far more than the place or the Saint. They keep me thinking all week. I would love similar well history for England.
Am in Canterbury today. The baptismal font in Saint Martins, the oldest parish church in the English speaking world (possible 4th century) is an old well head from a now buried well in the Cathedral grounds. Apparently there are two buried holy springs within the complex - one in the herb garden and one beneath the crypt. Why buried I wonder?
I read this this morning, took my own family to a Latin mass in a 1000 year old French abbey (my daughter is 18 and makes her own mind whether to come or not - today between leaving the house and and encountering the Latin Gregorian chant that I hadn't anticipated, she seemed to forget ..) Then this afternoon we visited a Roman and Hellenistic ruined city (Glanum) It was originally built by the Celts as primarily religious settlement, around a holy spring and holy wells. The spring is full of water and some of the wells were shrines for healing, a couple still with water, a couple of golden carp swam in the spring. I loved the link through time. This place seems to be pre Christian only. I was thinking of how it must be linked by migration of people and ideas all the way to Ireland and the well of today. I have said a prayer for the family as you suggested.
My favorite of these Well encounters so far. I think there is a bit more Christian faith in the population still, it's just now considered low-status, so we hide it from judgment.
Holy Mother Brigid, pray for us, for Fiona, and for the repose of Noah's soul.
Shamrocks were visible in the last photo. Beautiful!
Thank you for these posts, Paul.