August 11th to September 9th Islamic fast of Ramadan.

Aug. 14th 2010 On this day the former Bishop of Clifton, Mervyn Alexander died, aged 85. God rest his soul.

Aug. 24th. Feast of St Bartholomew. Born Cana, died Abanopolis, on the Caspian Sea. One of the 12 Apostles. Also known as Nathanael. Preached in India, Greater Armenia, Mesopotamia, Persia and Egypt. While on a mission at Derbend, taken prisoner by King Astyages, flayed and beheaded.

Aug. 26th. 100th anniversary of the birth of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997).  Nobel prize winner 1979. For an appreciation of her life go to the Diocesan website for a Podcast made especially for this occasion.  www.cliftondiocese.com 

Aug. 27th. St David Lewis, born Abergavenny 1616 died Usk 1679. One of the "Fourty Martyrs". Hung, drawn and quartered after being found guilty of being a Jesuit priest.         Also, St Monica, born Tageste or Carthage 331 died Ostia 387. Patron of wives and survivors or victims of abuse, especially domestic violence. Had three children, one was very head strong and wayward. His name, Augustine. See below.  

Aug. 28th. Assumption Day for the Eastern Rite Christian Church's.         Also anniversary of the "I have a dream" speach by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King in 1963.        Birthday of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832), German philosopher, writer, poet, dramatist, etc. Two especially famous works: Faust 1808 and Werther 1774.         Feast of St Augustine of Hippo, born Tageste 354, baptised 387 (the same year his mother Monica died, see above), made priest 391 and Bishop of Hippo 395 died Hippo 430. Patron of Brewers. Famous esp. for two works: The Confessions and City of God. Developed a number of doctrines of Grace, of Original Sin and of Predestination. He was at odds with the other compeating theological position, that of Pelagious. Pelagious held that Salvation was earned by good works following the example and moral principals of Jesus. The doctrine of Grace says that the world and all people are fallen and cannot earn their way to salvation but can only be given it by God, but Augustine went on to argue that such grace was given only to some people  by an all knowing God and therefore those people were pre selected. Although The Council of Carthage 418 found favour in the doctrine of Grace, the  idea of predestination has not been universally accepted and for many it is an absurd abomination.

Aug. 29th. Last Sunday of August and the traditional day for the Plague Memorial Service held at Eyam, Derbyshire, commemorating the self sacrifice, restraint and heroism of the people of Eyam who in 1665 chose not to spread the plague in their district after it took hold in their community. They did this by cutting themselves off from all contact with other people for thirteen months. 259 people died out of a population of 350. Inspired by the joint preaching and leadership of the Anglican Rev William Moupesson and the Non conformist preacher Thomas Stanley working together. A service is still held by local people at Cucklet Dell, an open space where services were held during the plague year. Interestingly the Earl of Devonshire was involved in arranging for food to be left for the villagers at a rock near by and collected by the village men. Similarly but for very different reasons food and goods were exchanged at what is now known as the Slab House on the road down the Mendips into Wells during times of plague. But this was to isolate and protect the population of Wells from catching plague that raged in the surrounding area.

Aug. 31st. Birthdays of Itzhak Perlman born 1945, musician; Maria Montessori 1870 to 1952, Italian psychiatrist and educator. Founder of the Montessori method of education with her first school in 1947. Maria was the first woman medical doctor in Italy when she qualified in 1894.        Feast of St Aidan of Lindisfarne, died circa 651.  Irish born, became a monk at Iona around 630 and 5 years later Bishop of Lindisfarne.