-Our Lady in the Church" by Marian Nesbitt (Longrnans, 1913, p. 151) will be of interest to those concerned about the canonisation of King Henry: "The saintly martyr. St. John Fisher. Bishop of Rochester. tells us that King Henry VI received 'the Sacrament of the Altar at mid-Lent ELnetare Sunday?]. and again upon Easter Day. with so great reverence that all were astonished thereat; for at his first entering into the chapel where the Sacrament was. he took off his bonnet and knelt down upon his knees, and so crept forward devoutly till he came to the place where he received the Sacrament',"
To us nowadays who are used to frequent Communion for the rank and tile owing to the teaching of St. Pius X Holy Communion only twice over Lent and Easter may seem rather meagre, but one must realise that the practice or discipline of the Church in this matter has varied in accordance with time, place and circumstances.
To those who like myself are convinced of the heroic sanctity of King Henry this infrequent reception of the Holy Eucharist in no way militates against his claim to the honours of the altar.
Possibly in King Henry's case it was a matter of a higher form of self-denial or conformity with the current practice of the Church, Geoffrey C. Parr 145 Cauldwell Hall Road, Ipswich.
SIR'-Mr. John Harvey gives
clearly the sources upon which he drew for his admirable chapter about King Henry Vi in his book "The Plantagenets". He does not refer to "The Religious Life of Henry VI" by Cardinal Gasquet.
Undoubtedly both authors used much common material, but as certainly Mr. Harvey has ternpered his work to advantage with much of his own erudition. The effect is enhanced by reason that this is independent. Mr. Geoffrey Parr has done service, however. by drawing attention to a good book so easily obtairable.
II. M. Gillett 86 West Hill. S.W.15.
SIR,-Henry VI was only following his Divine Master in being a "glorious failure" and he might well be adopted as the patron saint of failures-for even the process for his canonisation was stopped by the incidence of the Reformation.
He might also be invoked by those who are plagued by officious relatives and friends-and henpecked husbands should find him particularly sympathetic!
Unity Kirke HeatherlandLs, Aldringharn.
Leiston, Suffolk.