Cor ad cor loquitur

The adage goes: '-Know thyself.' And I know myself to the point of foreseeing the inevitable: the cheeky tear in the corner of my eye made its appearance as my placement in Rome comes to an end. The evening Eucharist deeply resonated inwardly more than before. My heart was wide open to the Sacrament and the 'Bedeans', and from the college, I also sensed its open heart. Three particular signs made this manifest. Firstly, the use of the Roman Canon as the eucharistic prayer and its reference to all the heroes of the faith. Secondly, one of the hymns sung, As the Deer Pants for the Waters, so dear to Anglicans. Thirdly, the words of appreciation by the rector, Canon Philip Gillespie and the kind gesture of presenting me with a precious bound copy of St Bede's History of the English People with a personal dedication. We exchanged a warm embrace as the congregation broke into loud applause.

'History of the English People' by St Bede and a card presented by the Beda and its students

Cardinal Newman's motto borrowed from St Francis de Sales cor ad cor loquitur, heart speaks to the heart, became alive to me. Tonight, notwithstanding the pains of disunity between Rome and Canterbury, a bond was sealed between the Pontifical Beda College and I that will perdure. I have experienced the joys of fraternal love, and I forever remain grateful to the college for everything I have lived and everything I have learnt in these five weeks. I will now be a self-designated Beda's ambassador wherever I go. To the best of my ability I tried to be fully present and open to what the Beda offered and I believe I left a positive impression as a person, as a Christian and as an Anglican.

Perhaps later I will expound on the many lessons taken from Rome, but I can say for now that ecumenism, much more than sorting out theological differences, is about an everyday walk with brothers and sisters in constant prayer, in eating together, in sharing life stories, in asking honest questions and answering them sincerely. In all of this, Christ is present, and the Holy Spirit does the work of knitting people together so 'that all may be one.'