No vin-ordinaire I AM DELIGHTED to see that a book is

shortly to be published containing selections from the writings of Patrick O'Donovan.* One awaits its publication with the impatience with which one might look forward to a superb box of chocolates from that unique sweetshop near the Place Vend8me, with every morsel melting in the mouth and each whetting one's appetite for more.
Those who read Patrick over the years will agree that this is no piece of irresponsible hyperbole. He became world famous as one of the star foreign correspondents on The Observer which he joined after soldiering so gallantly with the Irish Guards during the war.
It was not long before he had become head of The Observer's Bureau in Washington. It was there that 1 first met him when he looked as he does in the Picture of him reproduced here.
His charm and bonhomie were immense. A half smile never seemed far from his lips. Few such profound thinkers ever had a readier sense of humour. Few such kind men could be more caustic when honour and honesty demanded it.
His wonderful wife Hermione, née Fitzherbert, has collaborated with David Astor in making the selection of his writings. What a difficult, not to say (no doubt painfully) nostalgic task it must have been.
Pm glad to see that the publishers in their blurb have given prominence to the fact that he was once our Charterhouse Chronicler.
Surprising to relate, Patrick was reluctant to take this over from me when 1 first asked him. But the matter was soon amicably settled over a couple of gins and ginger beer in the Cock Tavern, then the most convenient watering place for the former Catholic Herald office in Charterhouse Street.
Changeover
Also mentioned by the publishers (Esmonde Publishing) is the fact that Patrick in 1978 took over the monthly "Roman Catholic Commentary" in the Church Times.
By coincidence this was also a takeover from my humble self. Feeling that I had been writing the commentary for long enough I intimated to the editor, Bernard Palmer, that it might be time for a change. He asked me to suggest a successor and I naturally had no hesitation in proposing Patrick.
Patrick, apart from his other talents, was a pleasure to watch on television or to listen to on the wireless.
Like all great artists, he was always nervous on such occasions, but no sign of this ever showed through his majestic professionalism. And what a marvellous voice he had! So full of splendid little explosions now and again which spoke volumes.
Yes, Charterhouse had clearly come to stay with the advent of * Patrick O'Donovan: A Journalist's Odyssey (Esmonde Publishing, f5.95) will be published on October 14. Patrick. Only the other day in fact 1 saw a "chapter" of the Chronicle framed and occupying a prominent position in an extremely unusual Catholic chapel.
The chapel is the private one in Oxfordshire's beautiful Milton Manor. Patrick was describing a Mass said there in honour of Bishop Challoner whose links with the house were strong.
The Manor was once owned by an ancestor of mine, Lord Chancellor Wriothesley, but he was a strange gent and, though he had been given the estate by his royal master, Henry VIII, sold it within a year.
Via the Calton family, the house eventually came into the possession of a London lacemaker called Bryant Barrett.
Barrett made lace (and thereby quite a tot of money) for King George III, but he harboured sympathies in his secret heart for Bonnie Prince Charlie.
This was where the famous Richard Challoner came into the picture. Barrett, under the great Bishop's influence, became a devout Catholic and his second wife, Winifred Eyston (whose collateral descendants still live nearby) came from one of England's oldest Catholic families.
Challoner, the first Catholic bishop to be sent to England after the Reformation, was also the first priest to say Mass in the chapel created by Barrett at Milton.
Priests don't usually become godparents, but Challoner was Barrett's best friend and agreed to be godfather to his eldest son.
Nothing in this evocative chapel has been changed since Challoner's day though the house has been richly embellished, not least in the fascinating Strawberry Hill Gothic Library. The present owner of this house, which may be visited by the public, is Marjorie Mockler (nee Barrett), the widow of Surgeon Captain E. J. Mockler.
Drop in if you're passing. Mrs. Mockler is a charming hostess and guide.
Unfair to the fair
THE ELECTIONS to the General Synod of the Church of England which are now taking place (votes will be counted on October 4) could be crucial in certain respects.
Of the 555 members of General Synod, 501 are elected by clergy or Deanery Synods all over the country. The major issue of this particular election will be of critical importance for women.
The outgoing Synod last November voted for legislation to be prepared to permit women to be ordained to the priesthood (as has already happened in many parts of the Anglican Communion outside Britain).
The new Synod will be in a decisively strong position to influence future events. It can either take current legislation a stage further, which would seem to be the logical course, or set it back by at least ten years.
According to the prestigious Movement for the Ordination of Women, there have been signs of an attempt to "pack" the new Synod with members whose main purpose in standing is to oppose the ordination of women.
In the last few weeks, it is claimed, an alliance has been formed of opponents from two otherwise disparate wings of the Church — Anglo-Catholics and Evangelicals — now united only by a common desire to exclude women from the priesthood.
It is not difficult to see why the Movement for the Ordination of Women should be concerned. There are already some 500 deaconesses licensed for work in the Church, most of whom are working full-time as team vicars or as assistants in parishes, or as chaplains in hospitals, colleges or factories.
The vast majority of these ladies will almost certainly wish to become Deacons under the new Deacon measure, and most of them will presumably expect
to proceed to the priesthood in the same way as men do.
The Movement for the Ordination of Women has this to say on the subject: "The Church of England has very great responsibilities to the whole community.
"At a time when there is a shortage of candidates for ordination, and when opinion has radically changed, so that the majority of clergy and laity now support women's ordination, continued rejection of women's training and gifts would be intolerable. We believe that preparations must go ahead to lift the bar."
A Mass for truth
THE ANNUAL "Red Mass" will once again be celebrated on October 1 next at Westminster
Cathedral at 11.15 pm. According to a barrister friend, this Mass "is an occasion which deserves to be more widely known."
The Mass originated in the middle of the thirteenth century, being instituted to invoke the blessing of the Holy Spirit on the courts of law.
As the vestments are red, in honour of the Holy Spirit, this is one explanation for the popular name for the Mass, sometimes also referred to as the Lawyers' Mass.
In days gone by, moreover, red figured prominently in the robes of certain of the judicial dignitaries who were present.
The more romantic explanation for the name of the Mass is that the colour red has a deeper significance, namely the protection of truth and justice even, if necessary by the shedding of one's own blood.
The Mass is attended by Catholic judges, barristers and solicitors, and their families and friends. (The Michaelmas Law Term begins, of course, on that day.)
Relaxation
MISS URSULA FLEMING, relaxation therapist at Sir Michael Sobel] House, Headington, Oxford, is just about to start another of her preliminary training courses to those wanting to learn and subsequently teach her highly successful method. She has for many years been teaching relaxation both as a therapy, and for a large part of that time, as a "way in" to contemplative prayer.
Prospective pupils for her
method of teaching mostly include those, such as nurses, doctors and those connected with methods of prayer. But many others are interested for their own reasons.
The method was originally derived from the work of Mrs Gertrude Heller under the direction of Dr Willi MayerGross at Crichton Royal Hospital, Dumfries.
Her work has so proved its worth that for a good many years, Fr Conrad Pepler, OP, has given it his warm support as well as providing the appropriate accompanying liturgy — while also giving daily talks — at the courses run by Miss Fleming at Spode House and, later on at Priory Sayers Common.
The present course will occupy five weekends between now and Christmas. Miss Fleming's home address is Flat 1, 25 Upper Park Road, London NW3. Tel. 01-586 0856.
Our very own
CONGRATULATIONS and best wishes to Miss Kathy Middleditch who is getting married tomorrow.
Kathy first came to work at the Catholic Herald in the same month that I joined it as Literary Editor, July 1968. She brightened up the 'old office in Fleet Street considerably by her striking good looks and long golden hair, to say nothing of her smiling disposition.
Picture the universal disappointment when she left the paper in 1971 and the even greater satisfaction when she rejoined the fold in 1979.
Meanwhile something very important had happened. While 'working as a receptionist at Anchor House, the Seamen's Hotel and recreation club in Canning Town, she met Terry, a merchant seaman, who finally popped the big question in August of this year.
So Terry and Kathy will be married tomorrow at St Anne's Church, Custom House, with music provided by guitarists from a neighbouring parish and a reception to follow at St Anne's Hall.
We all wish her every blessing. But please don't leave us just yet, Kathy. The place wouldn't be the same without you.
polkr