An Ecumenical Invitation

This is my tenth; his name is Damien—

Not Damien of Braganza, on whose day

My second youngest, Catherine, was born

(Antonia Fraser is her godmamma),

But Damien after Father Damien,

Whom Holy Church has just beatified.

But I forget, you’re not a Catholic,

And this will seem too technical to you.

Still, never mind, there’s whisky over there,

Gin, sherry—help yourself—no, not for me.

    Teresa, please take Damien away

I want to talk to Mr Betjeman.

    Well, tell me what you think of the reforms.

I understand that you have had some too,

Isn’t The Times improved beyond belief?1

It’s so much bigger than it used to be!

I never like that term ‘non-Catholic’—

The word we used to use for Anglicans,

Though several of my really greatest friends

Were once non-Catholics—take Evelyn Waugh

(God rest his soul!) and Graham Sutherland;

And quite the sweetest girl I ever knew,

A district nurse, was once a Methodist—

But oh, so happy as a Catholic now.

Now, won’t you give our churches back to us?

Then you’ll be Catholics too! I realise

It’s somehow all mixed up with politics,

The Holy Father, though, will see to that;

What was I saying? England’s heritage—

It does seem such a pity, doesn’t it?

Those fine cathedrals crumbling to decay

Half empty, while our own, though brash and cheap,

Are always, always, crowded to the doors.

    But still I didn’t ask you here for that,

I want to speak of something near my heart—

The Catholic League of Women Journalists.

I, for my sins, am President this year

And with ecumenism in the air

I thought—you’ll know the Holy Father’s said

That all the Christians in the world, the rank

Outsiders, I mean those outside our ranks,

As well as Catholics, must play their part,

And that was why I thought of asking you

To give us this year’s annual address.

It’s quite informal, only half an hour.