Spotlight

Today I went to see the film "Spotlight" - the story of the Boston Globe investigation into the sexual abuse scandals in the Boston archdiocese that ultimately forced the resignation of Cardinal Law, and blew the lid off the scale of the abuse scandal in the States.

I won't say a lot about it here.  Go and watch it.  Seriously.  There's not many films that can make me cry these days - but this one did.  And before anyone starts - it is *not* an anti-Catholic rant.  It's remarkably restrained in a lot of ways.  You just don't want to believe what you're seeing in front of you - and all the evidence is that the truth was actually even worse.

And what is bruised he will not break.

I meant to post this last week, after this hymn was sung at Sunday Mass.  Forgot, then couldn't remember the first line to look it up.  Today at mass, the hymn book fell open to this hymn and a marker that someone had left behind.  Thank you, Lord.  I can take a hint.

The hymn was composed by the Benedictine nuns of Stanbrook Abbey, and in this Year of Mercy I found myself very moved by the third verse, which paraphrases Isaiah.


When Jesus comes to be baptized, 
He leaves the hidden years behind, 
The years of safety and of peace. 
To bear the sins of all mankind. 

The Spirit of the Lord comes down, 
Anoints the Christ to suffering, 
To preach the word, to free the bound, 
And to the mourner, comfort bring. 

He will not quench the dying flame, 
And what is bruised he will not break, 
But heal the wound injustice dealt, 
And out of death his triumph make. 

Our everlasting Father, praise, 
With Christ, his well-beloved Son, 
Who with the Spirit reigns serene, 
Untroubled Trinity in One.