O Mater Dei Memento mei

Statue of Saint Bernadette in The Lourdes Grotto, St Mary's RC Church, Chorley.

She is gazing up at a statue of Our Lady of Lourdes, the Blessed Virgin Mary - and has been doing so for many decades. It's as though her face has blistered at the sight... She sees and she endures.

The poet John Hegley says that he is a 'recovering Catholic'. So am I. Nevertheless, I'd like to offer up a prayer for all of us (statues, people...) who must endure.