6th July

This is the feast of St. Maria Goretti, a young woman who died when she was assaulted in the early years of 20th century. Her assailant went to prison but there was a process of reconciliation between him and her parents and he attended her canonisation with them in later years. She is buried in the basilica of Nettuno on the coast south of Rome. In the same church is the statue of Our Lady of Ipswich, which looks just like that of Our Lady of Walsingham. The legend is that English sailors from East Anglia sailed into the port to do some business but strong winds forced them back into port every time they tried to leave. They eventually left a lot of the weight behind and the statue in the church. When they returned to England it was the time of the Reformation and all the statues of Our Lady in East Anglia had been destroyed. Back to the present day. We meant to go to Pekora Nera last night which I really like but it was closed so we ended up in Jheel the Indian Restaurant across the road and it was very good. Meanwhile today we have been down to Lancaster for a small input into the Trustees meeting and then back for the school Governors tonight which happens in a few minutes. The last of the year, and the last before we become part of the new Academy.