From Malcolm Guite: A Sonnet for George Herbert

New post on Malcolm Guite

A Sonnet for George Herbert by malcolmguite Gentle exemplar, help us in our trials On February 27th the Church of England keeps the feast and celebrates the memory of George Herbert, the gentle poet priest whose book the Temple, published posthumously in 1633 by his friend Nicholas Ferrar has done so much to help and inspire Christians ever since. In an earlier blog post I gave a talk on George Herbert and the Insights of Prayer, today, on the eve of his Feast Day, I offer this sonnet, part of a sequence called 'Clouds of Witness" in my poetry book The Singing Bowl. The sequence is a celebration of the saints, intended to complement my sequence Sounding the Seasons. You can get this book in the UK by ordering it from your local bookshop, or via Amazon, and I am very happy to say that both books are now available in North America from Steve Bell who has a good supply in stock. His page for my books is HERE As always you can hear me read the sonnet by clicking on the title or the 'play' button. 1234166-george-herbert.mp3 George Herbert Gentle exemplar, help us in our trials, With all that passed between you and your Lord, That intimate exchange of frowns and smiles Which chronicled your love-match with the Word. Your manuscript, entrusted to a friend, Has been entrusted now to every soul, We make a new beginning in your end And find your broken heart has made us whole. Time has transplanted you, and you take root, Past changing in the paradise of Love, Help me to trace your temple, tune your lute, And listen for an echo from above, Open the window, let me hear you sing, And see the Word with you in everything. malcolmguite | February 26, 2018 at 9:56 am | Tags: canterbury press, christianity, George Herbert, literature, Sonnets, Steve Bell | Categories: christianity, politics | URL: https://wp.me/pj0Sl-1iy

Benedict - author of The Rule, founder of Western Monasticism

From the blog of Malcolm Guite

A sonnet for St. Benedict

On July the 11th the Church celebrates the feast of St. Benedict of Nursia, the gentle founder of the Benedictine order and by extension the father of Monasticism. A moderate and modest man he would have been astonished to learn that his ‘simple school for prayer’, his ‘modest rule for beginners’ led to the foundation of communities which kept the Christian flame alight through dark ages, preserved not only Christian faith, scripture, and culture,but also the best of Classical Pagan learning and culture, fed the poor, transformed societies, promoted learning and scholarship, and today provides solace, grounding, perspective and retreat not only to monks and nuns but to millions of lay people around the world.
Here is my sonnet for Benedict, drawing largely on phrases from the Rule, I dedicate it to the sisters at Turvey Abbey. It appears in my second book with Canterbury Press, The Singing Bowl

As always you can hear the sonnet by clicking on the ‘play’ button or the title.

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Benedict

You sought to start a simple school of prayer,
A modest, gentle, moderate attempt,
With nothing made too harsh or hard to bear,
No treating or retreating with contempt,
A little rule, a small obedience
That sets aside, and tills the chosen ground,
Fruitful humility, chosen innocence,
A binding by which freedom might be found

You call us all to live, and see good days,
Centre in Christ and enter in his peace,
To seek his Way amidst our many ways,
Find blessedness in blessing, peace in praise,
To clear and keep for Love a sacred space
That we might be beginners in God’s grace.