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All in the month of JULY It was: 200 years ago, on 30th July, that Emily Bronte, the British writer, was born. She was best known for her novel, Wuthering Heights. 175 years ago, on 19th July that the British steamship SS Great Britain, was launched.  Designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, it was the longest...

High Days and Holy Days for July As saints’ days do not change from year to year, most of these have appeared on this site before.  The one with an asterisk is new this year. For the first half of each year (Advent to Whitsuntide) our focus is on what God has done for man,...

1st July             St Theobald – choosing God, not money If you are thinking of turning your back on wealth and privilege, in order to do something you feel God is calling you to do, St Theobald (1017 – 1066) may be the saint for you.   He was born into an aristocratic family at Provins in...

Looking at You (all articles)   You meant to loan it to them – but now they won’t give it back Three coffees are good for you ‘Silver cyclists’ are on the rise Are you an online dating addict? Food lovers grow their own Burning calories as you garden Millennials opt for low-alcohol drinks Exercise...

2nd July            St John Francis Regis – patron saint for relief workers Do you ever admire relief workers?  Those hardy folk regularly appear on our TV screens, actively seeking out the disease-ridden, starving, destitute people of the world, instead of avoiding them, as most of us try and do. John Francis Regis (1597 – 1640)...

3rd July             St Thomas the Apostle – confused and doubting Thomas, one of Jesus’ 12 apostles, was an impulsive, confused, honest sceptic.  Jesus could understand and work with such a man.  Thomas’ impulsiveness was evident when Jesus prepared to visit Lazarus in Bethany.  It was a dangerous trip to make, because of the Jews,...

4th July             St Elizabeth of Portugal  –  compassion for prostitutes St. Elizabeth of Portugal (1271 – 1336) could be the patron saint of all well-to-do women who have compassionate hearts.   As wife of Denis, the King of Portugal, Elizabeth became a byword for her acts of piety and charity to the poor.  She founded...

6th July            Thomas More, Reformation martyr These days, lawyers and politicians are held in the lowest esteem by the public, along with tabloid journalists and estate agents. St Thomas More was both a lawyer and politician, who is today much admired for holding steadfastly to his faith-based principles. He lived in dangerous times, when anyone,...

7th July            St Boisil of Melrose – patron saint for ordinands? Have you ever noticed how life-enhancing good ministers are?  St. Boisil (d.c.661) should be their patron saint.  He did nothing spectacular, but he did everything that mattered. Boisil was a monk who became abbot of Melrose, in the Irish monastic tradition.  Boisil knew about...

7th July            St Willibald –  the first ever Anglo-Saxon travel writer Where do you go on your summer travels?   If you enjoy including a Christian element to your trips, such as making a pilgrimage, or visiting places rich in Christian history, then St. Willibald (d. 876) is the saint for you this month.  He...

11th July          St Benedict – author of the famous Rule St. Benedict (c.480 – c.550) was an abbot and author of the famous Rule that bears his name.  Because of his Rule, Benedict is also the Patriarch of Western Monasticism, and Patron Saint of Europe. Surprisingly little is known about his life.  Born at Nursia,...

14th July          St Camillus de Lellis  – patron of the sick Sometimes those who suffer are best at helping others in a similar situation.  Discharged from the Venetian army with an incurable leg wound, St. Camillus (1550 – 1614) founded a religious order called the Ministers of the Sick (the Camellians).  Both in their Holy...