A few years ago I was fortunate enough to meet a catholic priest called Christoph Haider. His passion to reach the young people the small village of Oberhofen in the Tyrol Austria, was such that he decided to organise a concert with Rebecca St James. This was quite an undertaking for this mozart fan. If you met him you would immediately warm to him, as I did. Since then I have returned with Rebecca St James on her last tour. However, the point of this blog is he is such an encouragement to me. He often sends me an email to keep in contact and in them he says "I remember you in my night-time prayers". Isn't that a great turn of phrase?

When I was on holiday, he called me to ask how I was and to have a chat. He then sent me the following, written by the catholic theologian, Cardinal John Henry Newman. See if you find it as encouraging as I did.

"God beholds you individually, whoever you are. He calls you by your name. He sees you and understands you, as He made you. He knows what is in you, all your own peculiar feelings and thoughts, your dispositions and likings, your strengthyou’re your weakness. He views you in your day of rejoicing, and your day of sorrow. He sympathises in your hopes and your temptations. He interests Himself in all your anxieties and remembrances, all the rising and failings of your spirit. He has numbered the very hairs of your head and the cubits of your stature. He compasses you round and bears you in His arms; He takes you up and sets you down. He notes your very countenance, whether smiling or in tears, whether healthful or sickly. He looks tenderly upon your hands and your feet; He hears your voice, the beating of your heart, and your very breathing. You do not love yourself better than He loves you.

You cannot shrink from pain more than He dislikes your bearing it; and if He puts it on you, it is as you would put it on yourself, if you would be wise, for a greater good afterwards. You are not only His creature (though for the very sparrows He has a care, and pitied the "much cattle" of Nineveh), you are redeemed and sanctified, His adopted child, favoured with a portion of that glory and blessedness which flows from Him everlastingly unto the Only-begotten. You are chosen to be His, even above your fellows who dwell in the East and South. You were one of those for whom Christ offered up His last prayer, and sealed it with His precious blood."