Book review

(To be honest that title is a little misleading...this is more a rant then a ramble then a recommendation as opposed to a review...)

So you all know I love books (lots and lots and lots and lots) and reading and books and learning and more books. It annoys me when I try to start up a conversation with people about something I've just read (contrary to popular belief I do read about things other than the Catholic Church from time to time) and they reply, "I don't read that much." It really bugs me, knowing that people just don't read anymore. Wait for the idiotbox to tell them about it instead. And I'm not perfect, I watch more telly than is probably healthy (especially since I've been off...and daytime television is not a good thing...) but I can think of few thngs better than to just sit and absorb whatever it is that particular book is trying to tell you. To imagine (with your own mind and not with the aid of CGI) new possibilities and realities, to gain a deeper understanding, to simply sit and think about the last paragraph (instead of switch channels when something gets boring).

But enough of me ranting about nonsense. Yesterday after lunch with my college friends I (as always) headed over to Westminster Cathedral (:-D) and was extremely fortunate to find that, in the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament (oddly enough), they were having a period of adoration. You know, they probably do that every day...but I so rarely get there in time that tis very special when I stumble across such things. But...on topic...afterwards I went into St. Paul's bookshop (which I shouldn't have done...can't really afford it this side of Christmas)...and bought two more books (and I have loads at home I haven't read yet). One on the Body of Christ by Metropolitan Anthony and the other was Seven Last Words by Basil Hume. It's a tiny book, 64 pages long...something like that but it's absolutely a-ma-zing! As it says in the prologue he wrote these little meditations...or explorations you might call them of the last words of Christ on the cross as recorded in the Gospels after he found out he was dying of cancer. And most people who'd just received that kind of news would get themselves stuck in a Teufelskreis of self pity, anger and despair...but this book is full to bursting of joy and hope. You have got to read it, it really is quite amazing.

And to see the devotion to the Seven Words that Hume refers to (well...not the exact one...a modernised version from the Jesuits) click here. Can't hurt to have a little look see...after all, moved Hume profoundly...