Licensing Fr David Maudlin S. Mary de Castro 3 May 2013

S. Paul writing his second letter to the Corinthians:

‘It is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry’

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For many of us our first sight and abiding memory of S. Mary de Castro is its glorious spire,

which even now soars above Leicester as it powerfully competes for its place on the city skyline. Pointing to the heavens, calling people to prayer and worship, it draws the eye and beckons us the church. And once inside, Saint Mary’s certainly does not disappoint. For this is a church where skill, generous giving,time and talent have been lavished over centuries in honour of the God who so generously gave us his Son Jesus, the gift of life in abundance now, and heaven to come.

Past generations in return, honouring God’s generosity, have usgifted this church.

But with it comes great responsibility --- as we try our best to honour its past, to celebrate and maximize its present, and to secure its future. This is the patrimony that now, together with the officers and congregation of S. Mary’s, falls into the hands of Father David.

I hope not literally! As I know there is a huge amount of fundraising going on on to secure the spire and make safe the fabric of this most glorious of all clay jars!

The word ‘spire’ is a fascinating one. Yes, it can mean a spike or a tapering stem but it can also a bit more obscurely mean to breathe, coming to us through old French from the Latin, and as I’ve discovered in my Italian classes, used in modern Italian. Inspirare to breathe in and espirare to breath out. We get all those interesting and useful words such as expire, aspire, transpire, inspire.And so breath comesinto somethingto give it life, to make it live.

And surely tonight is all about ‘inspire’.

Father David, you know this church well, you love its people, you delight in its liturgy and music, and to your surprise and our joy, God has called you out of ‘retirement’ to be his pastor and priest. To inspire his people here in living out the gospel ---- with flair and passion.

I can’t resist it, I apologize in advance, but I’d be surprised if at this moment, just before you take your oaths and receive the Cure of Souls you might be beginning to ‘perspire’!

For the beginning of any new ministry is a time not only of excitement and anticipation but also of fear and trembling in the service of the Lord. The ‘mysterium, tremendumfascinans’ of the theologian Rudolph Otto.It’s quite a task that lies ahead, and as in your chosen text for this evening, S. Paul rightly says when we are left to ourselves we are nothing more than clay pots.

This is where another of those ‘spire’ words can come to the rescue –‘transpire’!

For we pray tonight that the Spirit of God will fill you, will give you the energy, the wisdom and discernment you need, only saving ---- that you continue to be prayerful and open to himand in fellowship with his Son Jesus, who is the source of all that in life has meaning.

Again as S. Paul observes:‘It is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry’

Father David, breathe deeply, be inspired and all the other ‘spires’ for the sake of the Kingdom in this most holy, hallowed and consecrated space that is so loved and we know as

S. Mary de Castro in Leicester.

Thanks be to God.