Following my recent visit to a nearby parish (having thrown myself out of my former parish) I was pondering, doing knitting, and so I started reading about Vatican 2. As you do. It's a bit sad isn't it. And I found this in reference to a speech given by Bishop Remi J De Roo - that's a nice name isn't it?
This quote was given
"Was it not the same Pope John who was once reported as having said that Catholics were not meant to be museum keepers, but rather gardeners whose responsibility it was to prepare a beautiful harvest for a glorious future?" ie Pope John 23
Are you/your parish - a museum keeper or a gardener?
Museum Keepers or Gardeners?
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oopsorganist
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Museum Keepers or Gardeners?
uh oh!
Re: Museum Keepers or Gardeners?
Great topic Oops!
Keep the garden fruitful.
Keep the garden fruitful.
Re: Museum Keepers or Gardeners?
Are the two professions mutually exclusive?
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oopsorganist
- Posts: 788
- Joined: Mon May 16, 2005 9:55 pm
- Location: Leeds
Re: Museum Keepers or Gardeners?
Could the two things be together? That is surely another thread! 
Whereas in a museum things music would not be encouraged to grow but simply not to get mould, mildew or be changed to the detriment of its historic fabric and things would not be renewed unless beyond repair and then only with similar materials and in the style of former ages.A curator cares for the past so that the future may be informed. They do not innovate but invite contemplation. They follow many rules and have much literature to guide them. They often act as guides and can talk about the museum artifacts with interest and enthusiasm. They are often specialists in their particular field of history. In todays Heritage Industry, they provide lots of buttons for people to push.
In a garden it is impossible for things to remain the same and nature will always confound what is attempted perhaps by climate or by the ignorance, ineptitude or laziness of the technicians. Gardeners are forced to face the grandeur of Creation at its most fundamental and will often see things go badly wrong. They listen to the weather and the seasons and are constantly in the time frame of Now. They remember the past and try to recreate it but often are sidetracked by new plants and new ideas. They need to do lots of planting and sow seeds. They have bad backs and arthritis and dirty fingernails.
They provide nourishment, beauty and healing. They also act a guides and try to preserve what is most beautiful bearing in mind that this will include change, see above. Sometimes they need to prune things radically as part of the maintenance of the garden. Mildew and mould are part of their toolkit. They take rubbish and brown stuff and turn it back into goodness. They invite contemplation by providing comfy seating with a nice view of the garden. Gardening includes lots of thinking while leaning on a spade.
I think the quote said that we should be gardeners and not curators. I will check this maybe. So maybe, don't be a curator? Be a gardener.
Whereas in a museum things music would not be encouraged to grow but simply not to get mould, mildew or be changed to the detriment of its historic fabric and things would not be renewed unless beyond repair and then only with similar materials and in the style of former ages.A curator cares for the past so that the future may be informed. They do not innovate but invite contemplation. They follow many rules and have much literature to guide them. They often act as guides and can talk about the museum artifacts with interest and enthusiasm. They are often specialists in their particular field of history. In todays Heritage Industry, they provide lots of buttons for people to push.
In a garden it is impossible for things to remain the same and nature will always confound what is attempted perhaps by climate or by the ignorance, ineptitude or laziness of the technicians. Gardeners are forced to face the grandeur of Creation at its most fundamental and will often see things go badly wrong. They listen to the weather and the seasons and are constantly in the time frame of Now. They remember the past and try to recreate it but often are sidetracked by new plants and new ideas. They need to do lots of planting and sow seeds. They have bad backs and arthritis and dirty fingernails.
They provide nourishment, beauty and healing. They also act a guides and try to preserve what is most beautiful bearing in mind that this will include change, see above. Sometimes they need to prune things radically as part of the maintenance of the garden. Mildew and mould are part of their toolkit. They take rubbish and brown stuff and turn it back into goodness. They invite contemplation by providing comfy seating with a nice view of the garden. Gardening includes lots of thinking while leaning on a spade.
I think the quote said that we should be gardeners and not curators. I will check this maybe. So maybe, don't be a curator? Be a gardener.
uh oh!