Reward

'Salome with the Head of Saint John the Baptist', 1515–1525, by Bernardino Luini (d.1532), Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Today is the Passion of Saint John the Baptist (the ‘Decollation’ in old money), and on account of Saint John being the patron of the Ordinariate deanery in Canada (because St John is the older patron of (French) Canada; being officially proclaimed so by Pope St Pius X in 1908) today is observed as a feast in those communities of the Dominion. So a very blessed feast day to the Ordinariate clergy and faithful in the True North. May the prayers of St John Baptist keep you strong in that faith once delivered to the saints.

‘Dance for me’, time
says. ‘Half of my kingdom
if you dance well’.
The machine does so

Coming with its request
At the end not
For humanity’s head but
Its heart on a platter.

R.S. Thomas, 1913-2000