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| Maarten van Heemskerck - The Four last Things, 1565. Royal Collection Trust, Windsor. |
The Evening Recollection was held at the Assumption Warwick Street on Tuesday 29th November. The evening began with sung Vespers of the Little Office Our Lady, followed by a most excellent talk by the Rector, Fr Mark Elliott-Smith, then Holy Hour, two priest were on hand to hear confessions, and ending with a fraternal party in the Chapter Room.
The text of the talk is given below. We are greatly indebted to Fr Elliott-Smith, a good friend of the Order, for his generous time and hospitality at the altar.
"DEATH, JUDGEMENT, HEAVEN AND HELL"
A rottweiler, a chihuahua, and a cat all die and appear before the Judgment Seat of Heaven. God asks the rottweiler, "Why should you get into Heaven?"
The rottweiler says, "I protected my family for years, and died saving them from a crazed killer."
God says, "Well done, boy. Come sit at my right hand. How about you, Mr. Snuffles?"
The chihuahua says "I didn't die heroically, but I did provide love and comfort to an elderly lady in her last years."
"Good enough. Come sit on my left." God turns to the cat. "How about you? Why should you get into Heaven?"
The cat looks up and calmly says, "because you're in my chair."
Well, it’s Advent, it’s an Evening of Recollection, it’s dark outside, and cold to boot. What better way to cheer you up than by thinking about death?
Or rather, what we have traditionally called “The Four Last Things”, Death, Judgement, Heaven, and Hell.
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