Tuesday 6 July 2021

Before Meals

Starfarers, 7.

"'Silence, please,' he said. 'A moment for those who wish to bless our meal.'" (p. 58)

Two cross themselves.
Zeyd bows his head.
Mokoena looks at her folded hands and whispers.
Two become meditative.
Others wait respectfully.
 
I admit to not pausing before eating although I meditate in a tradition where this is done. See here.
 
One Mayor of a nearby Borough got his chaplain to recite a prayer before a Council meeting. Many present joined in reciting the Lord's Prayer. The familiar words provided a moment of unity before the political wrangling began.

3 comments:

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

And Captain Nansen is described as being a "reform Catholic," which was puzzling. I don't think anything else was said about "reform Catholics" in STARFARERS, so we don't know whether or not they differed from plain old orthodox Catholics in communion with the Pope.

Ad astra! Sean

paulshackley2017@gmail.com said...

Sean,

Indeed. It is just Anderson recognizing that changes, whether substantial or merely terminological, will occur.

Paul.

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

True. But Catholic "terminology" has remained remarkably stable in its basics since the Letters of St. Ignatius of Antioch in the early Second Century AD.

Ad astra! Sean