Last Sunday afternoon in the nave of The Cathedral of All Saints, we enjoyed reading and praying through poems of George Herbert with Sister Katherine Hanley, CSJ, PhD, known as Sister Kitty to her students and many friends, many of whom were once her students or those who know her through spiritual direction.

We called it a retreat, and so it was. I strain to describe an event that was both communal and a private experience for each who was there. George Herbert’s poems seem to also sprout from liminal space defying description. He referred to them as “a picture of the many spiritual conflicts that have passed betwixt God and my soul.”

Times being what they are, we questioned whether to have this event that was postponed in Lent in the Cathedral at all, or to have it on Zoom, as we have done with other poetry events since the pandemic shut-down. Sister Kitty, who has mastered Zoom, said she would prefer to be in the Cathedral. I found that most were willing and able to come, and I daydreamed the masked retreat as another would a masked ball.

After the event Sister Kitty wrote:

It was a joy for me to see the faces and to see people nodding, giving me thumbs-up, diving into their purses to take notes, and being there together.  I felt that we were a community even with the spacing! The cathedral was a perfect venue and Herbert would have been delighted, I think.

I think so, too, because Herbert instructed a friend to publish his poems only if he thought they would help people. A minister said to me recently, “Times are hard because ‘church’ means we know ourselves when we are together.” Herbert the poet brought us together with Sister Kitty, but I was also aware among the eyes and masks of the ministers, teachers and private persons—those who stand in the gap of spiritual conflict—of Herbert the man and priest.

Here are some of your reflections:

I was an English major in college and grad school, so going back to the poems of George Herbert was a treat. And since those school days, I've been on a faith journey as an Episcopalian, so his images, ideas, and language resonant even more. Sister Kitty is a fine teacher.

I found that the historical context and Sister Kitty's love for Herbert's poetry made the poems come alive when she read them. As a priest, I also found the Dean's reflections on the poem Aaron very thought-provoking. Thank you for hosting this event.

I would have liked to have heard a recording or performance of some of the hymns based on the poetry. Since this was a retreat it may have been nice to have some extended time for silence and reflection on the poetry.  Maybe start earlier in the day? It is always a pleasure to hear Sr. Kitty.  I was also touched by the Dean's remarks and sharing of a poem.  A great day.

It was great! Would love more Sister Kitty Time!

Thank you. It was so wonderful.

“The Collar” is the poem that spoke volumes to me! The words that jumped out to me were; “leave thy cold dispute of what is fit and not. FORSAKE THY CAGE.”

"Love (III)" ia a favorite Herbert poem, that served as inspiration for a favorite Vikram Seth poem, “Host,” written in response to Herbert's "Love (III)"  after Seth purchased Herbert's home. 

Host

I heard it was for sale and thought I’d go
     To see the old house where
He lived three years, and died. How could I know
     Its stones, its trees, its air,
The stream, the small church, the dark rain would say:
     “You’ve come; you’ve seen; now stay.”

“A guest?” I asked. “Yes, as you are on earth.”
     “The means?” “… will come, don’t fear.”
“What of the risk?” “Our lives are that from birth.”
     “His ghost?” “His soul is here.”
“He’ll change my style.” “Well, but you could do worse
     Than rent his rooms of verse.”

Joy came, and grief; love came, and loss; three years –
     Tiles down; moles up; drought; flood.
Though far in time and faith, I share his tears,
     His hearth, his ground, his mud;
Yet my host stands just out of mind and sight,
     That I may sit and write.

Consider joining us on Zoom which is surprisingly well-suited to small groups reading poetry, for a W.H. Auden group meeting once a month October through May led by Evan Craig Reardon. Click HERE to learn more about it, and HERE for a free Zoom session with Evan on poetry on the Dean’s Forum next Monday.