Nagasaki day and Franz Jaegerstatter

After work to the crypt for an ecumenical service commemorating the execution of Franz Jaegerstatter in 1943. he is to be beatified a martyr for peace in Austria later this year and Pax Christi organised the service which is held annually. Pat was her usual friendly self and asked me to do a reading. The music was excellent - recorder solo, soprano and 2 guitars. We sang Taize, Jaegerstatter's hymn and We will put one foot in front of another in the path of peace" which I rather liked. Then we walked to the Peace Pagoda in Battersea park. I met Bruce Kent who greeted our Bruce when he was born with a card - Liz knew him when he was a priest in Kensington. He is now married and a tireless CND campaigner. The Buddhist monks led the procession and sang at the pagoda while incense was offered. There were various speeches and songs and it all went on rather long till finally the lighted lanterns were put on the river and they floated upstream to the beautiful Albert Bridge. It was a lovely sight and it remembers the many 1000s who died at Nagasaki.