Conclave - not the movie!

Sunshine to start with today and a bit warmer, but it clouded over in the afternoon. Two Eucharists to celebrate today, St Catherine's and St John's. Seven adults and two children at St Catherine's and ten at St John's, including family members of one of the regulars, who'd come on their was to Thornhill Cemetery to scatter the ashes of a brother on the parents grave. He died in Scotland and wasn't given a funeral there. I was asked if I could offer some prayers during the Eucharist, and had to improvise quickly. Fortunately the container for the cremated remains was small enough to fit on the small shelf next to the altar in the Lady Chapel, where there's a statue of Our Lady, and there was enough room for a sanctuary lamp candle as well. Once that was sorted out I was able to use from memory a few of the relevant prayers from the funeral rite. The Gospel for the day from John 6 is one I often use at funerals, as it speaks of Christ's unconditional acceptance of all who look to him. Pure providence for a pastor on this occasion!

I collected this week's veggie bag from Chapter on the way home, and cooked lunch. Clare was still on her way back from town and the meal was almost ready by the time she arrived, even if it was three quarters of an hour later than usual. Then, a walk in the park for an hour and a half, before listening to the teatime news. The papal electoral conclave has started in Rome, with large crowds in St Peter's Square gathering to  watch the inaugural Mass and swearing of secrecy oaths by electors relieved of their digital devices and assisted by total wifi blackout of the Sistine Chapel and Domus Sta Marta, where the Cardinals are housed for the direction of the conclave. Pope Francis stayed there when he was elected, and chose not to move out and  into the official papal apartments for the rest of his life Memories of him being present there as a permanent resident must be very strong for all those prelates who have stayed or visited him there since. An inaugural ballot was cast early evening, and black smoke was seen by the crowds, not unexpectedly. You can think of it as a live test of the stove and chimney as much as an opinion about candidates.

I read 'Sangre Nueva' for an hour before supper. Afterwards I sent an email to all eighteen people who have Kimber family DNA whose email addresses I have with a copy of Jack's tale and how it came to be written. I know there are a few more offspring of the most recent generation that I don't have contact details for, but am hoping their parents will pass on the story to them. It's taken me a while to get around to doing this but now I'm content it's done at last.

Then I watched a couple more episodes of 'The Good Doctor until it was time for bed.