Being and Doing – 13 October – The Communion of Saints
LET us learn from this communion of saints to live in hope. Those who are now at rest were once like ourselves. They were once weak, faulty, and sinful; they had their burdens and hindrances; their slumbering and weariness; their failures and their falls. But now they have overcome. Their life was once homely and commonplace. Their day ran as ours. Morning, and noon, and night came and went to them as to us. Their life, too, was as lonely and sad as yours. Little fretful circumstances, and frequent disturbing changes, wasted away their hours as yours. There is nothing in your life that was not in theirs; there was nothing in theirs but may be also in your own. They have overcome each one, and one by one; each in his turn, when the day came, and God called him to the trial. And so shall you likewise.
H. E. MANNING
O MAY Thy soldiers, faithful, true, and bold,
Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,
And win, with them, the victor’s crown of gold.
Alleluia.
Bishop WALSHAM HOW
oooOOOooo
These quotes are from ‘Being and Doing’ A selection of helpful thoughts from various authors arranged for daily reading.
Collected by Constance M Whishaw and first published in 1908 for members of the Being and Doing Guild whose object is to do all they can for the relief of suffering and misery.
Most of the writers are 19th Century Christians from Britain and Europe who were committed to living their faith through deeds as well as words – Being AND Doing.
For many years these words have kept me company and encouraged me on the journey of faith. I hope they will encourage others also.
Suffolk Vicar 