I love this. I decided to hand-write in calligraphy two things; a personal prayer book and the Little office of Our Lady in the Sarum rite (which isn't printed anywhere really). Yes, you can see when I got tired, and the problems I had with the pen I used at the start. The quality is variable and some of the lines are wonky, but these two things are unique and also an expression of devotion - which is just what those medieval scribes had, to write so many pages!
I'd forgotten, but traditionally Benedictine novices are required to write out the Rule during their novitiate. The act of copying brings you closer to the source.
Thank you for this post! Tolkien’s works are the reason I first learned to take the artistry of language as seriously as you talk about near the end there. As a little aside, I finished my yearly reread of LOTR last night (and wept, as always). I am so with you about Faramir — I love the movies but they took an axe to a perfect character
I am now in the Battle of Pelennor Fields, and fondly remembering myself weeping in the back seat of my parents' suburban when I first read of Eowyn killing the Witch-King in about seventh grade!
That is a beautiful prayer. I’m going to copy it out and say it when needed. My son has been suffering from distressing dreams and I think saying this will help him. He’s 26 and suffers from serious mental illness but I can still say it for him. “May our words be worthy of a manuscript page.” That sums it all up perfectly.
I love this. I decided to hand-write in calligraphy two things; a personal prayer book and the Little office of Our Lady in the Sarum rite (which isn't printed anywhere really). Yes, you can see when I got tired, and the problems I had with the pen I used at the start. The quality is variable and some of the lines are wonky, but these two things are unique and also an expression of devotion - which is just what those medieval scribes had, to write so many pages!
I love that so much. What a beautiful exercise.
I'd forgotten, but traditionally Benedictine novices are required to write out the Rule during their novitiate. The act of copying brings you closer to the source.
Thank you for this post! Tolkien’s works are the reason I first learned to take the artistry of language as seriously as you talk about near the end there. As a little aside, I finished my yearly reread of LOTR last night (and wept, as always). I am so with you about Faramir — I love the movies but they took an axe to a perfect character
Tolkien is a master of taking language seriously.
I am now in the Battle of Pelennor Fields, and fondly remembering myself weeping in the back seat of my parents' suburban when I first read of Eowyn killing the Witch-King in about seventh grade!
That is a beautiful prayer. I’m going to copy it out and say it when needed. My son has been suffering from distressing dreams and I think saying this will help him. He’s 26 and suffers from serious mental illness but I can still say it for him. “May our words be worthy of a manuscript page.” That sums it all up perfectly.
I too found it to be a very comforting prayer. Hope it helps ❤️
We are reading your new book in our Hearthstone Fables Book Club. Yay!
Awesome!!