All Souls Day . . . and St. Winifred's Day

Since November 2nd was a Sunday, today is technically All Souls Day - but it also St. Winifred's Day!

This image is from Wikipedia - Stained glass depiction of Winifred, designed by William Burges, at Castell Coch, Cardiff.

St. Winifred's story is built on legend to say the least - you can read about her here: St. Winifred.

I don't know how the name Winifred came to my family, but I am named in part for my second great-grandmother Mary Winifred Beale Harris, as were my mother and a grandaunt. We three are Emily Winifred, although many people also know me as Mary Winifred.

Our foremother Mary Winifred was a strong character - she was born in Washington, DC in 1826, but spent most of her adult life in Houston, Texas. Her husband Joseph Harris was 20 years her senior. The Harrises had six children although only four lived to adulthood. The last child was born in 1857, the same year Joe Harris died, leaving his wife with four children under the age of 10. Fourteen years later when she wrote her will shortly before she died, she left all of her estate to her two teenage daughters, because her sons had already inherited part of their father's estate (he had left his half of their community property to each child equally), and "are old enough to provide for themselves." Certainly, a legal move, but unusual in 1871. . . both for her to own land in her own name and to leave it to her girls!

The Harris family lived in what was and is downtown Houston, just across the street from Christ Episcopal Church where they were members. The church is now Christ Church Cathedral - my parish, thanks in no small part to online worship opportunities!

Mary Winifred Beale Harris

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February 2

Candlemas, the Feast of the Presentation of our Lord in the Temple in the Episcopal Church or Meeting of the Lord in the Orthodox Church. Read the whole story in the Gospel according to Luke (Luke 2: 21-38). A poem for the day: Nunc dimittis Now old Simeon can sing his song! This is the baby, this is the Lord! This is the King we have been waiting for, Now old Simeon can sing his song! Now old Simeon can sing his song: A baby - every mother's ordinary light of the world, But, my Lord, this is the Lord! Now old Smeon can sing his song! Now old Simeon can sing his song, Light and glory, salvation and heart-sword: This baby here - this is the Lord! Now old Simeon can sing his song! (from Handful of Stars , © 2018) And a very Happy Birthday to St. Hilda's and St. Hugh's School, NYC And it's Ground Hog Day! Punxsutatawney Phil predicts an early Spring . . . hope you're right, Phil!

May 4th

OK all Star Wars fans - May the 4th be with you! And with that inspiration, Christ Church Cathedral in Houston, celebrating May Fete today, says May the Fete be with you! The Christ Church May Fete began long ago - 120-130 years ago to be more specific. One of the earliest iterations, in the late 1890s, included selling tamales and coffee, and was aimed at raising funds to help with building costs. And fund raising was also needed after hurricane damage in 1900, and a devastating fire in 1938. But most of all May Fete is and always has been a celebration of friendship and support among friends who worship together. May Fete is a sign of faith and hope for the Christ Church family. This year three of the Sunday services (9 a.m., 11 a.m., and 1 p.m.) will have one big 10 a.m. bilingual service before the party begins! Over the years, the May Fete has changed and adapted - there are still a young May Fete King and Queen and an intricate May pole dance, but the most popular food...

St. John, apostle and evangelist

And on this second day after Christmas, we celebrate St. John the Divine. For me this day is a reminder of the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in New York City, a glorious place full of beauty and history where we often worshipped when I lived in New York. Monastery Icons provides this icon and explanation of St. John's life: Our St. John the Evangelist icon illustrates, the son of Zebedee, and the brother of St. James the Great. Called to be an Apostle by our Lord in the first year of His public ministry. He became the "beloved disciple" and the only one of the Twelve who did not forsake the Savior in the hour of His Passion. He stood faithfully at the cross when the Savior made him the guardian of His Mother. Over the past years we have often had cats named John or variations of John, such as Ian. And now we have Yanah whose name is also a variation of John. May you have a blessed and holy day!

Letters from Ascension Hermitage and Sanctuary

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