How
many men have crossed the globe, with threats
To
health and life, in search of earthly treasure –
The
gold of El Dorado or a cave
Of
Africk’s diamonds or the spices
Of
the East? How many met a savage end
In
fever swamps and lonely mountains,
Or
had their flesh and organs ripped apart
By
the sharpened tips of spears and arrows?
And,
worst of all, the prizes for which
They
suffered so will not follow them
Beyond
the grave, and will perish at time’s end.
But
the Christian martyrs! How many names
Are
known to us – Praise God! – but how many more
Remain
unknown, hidden in forgotten
Histories,
buried in graves hastily made?
With
them are treasures to satisfy the deepest
Longings,
to meet the greatest human needs –
Bits
of bone, blood-stained wood and stone;
Dirt
from round their graves, marble from their tombs –
Healing
of bodily infirmities,
Casting
out oppressive demons,
Granting
to the childless the boon of a fruitful womb,
And
good guidance to those adrift in life.
. . .
The rest is at https://www.newenglishreview.org/articles/true-riches/.
--
Holy
Ælfred the Great, King of England, South Patron, pray for us sinners at the Souð, unworthy though we are!
Anathema
to the Union!
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