Today is the feast day of Blessed James Duckett, who was martyred after he converted to Catholicism during the reign of Queen Elizabeth. He is the patron of book sellers and printers because he converted after reading a Catholic pamphlet and from that time was fervent about distributing Catholic books on the sly. His bookbinder turned him in, hoping to receive a lenient sentence for another crime, but they both hung together. Duckett will always be memorable to me as a reader, and as a failed collaborator in a literary project.
Tomorrow I leave to go to my grandmother’s funeral. She died peacefully this past weekend after being diagnosed with a strange stomach cancer back in the fall. I’m so thankful for the visit we had in January. Her death was not a surprise except in that it was so soon and that it came without suffering, a mercy for my grandmother and my mother. My grandmother had nursed my grandfather through Parkinson’s and seemed fearful of being a similar burden. My mother was looking forward to nursing her, but her prayers for answered.
And now we pray for her soul and for safe travels.
Back soon.
In the Shadow of the Past
2 months ago
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