The Pillar of Cloud

Lead kindly light, amidst encircling gloom,
Lead thou me on.
The night is dark, and I am far from home,
Lead thou me on.
Keep though my feet, I do not ask to see,
The distant scene.
One step enough for me.

Newman entitled this poem The Pillar of Cloud. It is a reference from the Old Testament  to describe God’s presence, in the midst of major difficulties, by day. At night, this is referred to as: The Pillar of Fire. Our local Saint’s prayer is very apt for our present troubled circumstances. God is travelling with us, wherever we are, whatever we are doing. Newman, on board a ship around Italy, had just recovered from a life threatening illness. His words remind us that Jesus said “I am with you till the end of time.”

Fr Peter Conley