Amongst my various introductory calls since arriving in Rome this August, I have had the opportunity to visit the Venerable English College and the Pontifical Scots College. These are both ancient institutions – the Venerable English College celebrates the 650th anniversary of its foundation, by King Edward III, next year – which throughout their history have been dedicated to the ideals of high education and self-sacrificial service.
The two colleges, as well as the Irish College and the Beda which I have yet to visit, now train young British men for a lifetime of service as priests in the Roman Catholic Church. Once upon a time, this was seen by many British people as an activity directly inimical to the state and its interests. Indeed, the list of martyrs on the memorial stones at the English College, along with the rather gruesome catalogue of their deaths at the hands of the governments of 16th and 17th century England, is more than impressive. And the close links between the Scots College and the exiled Stuarts did not endear it to the 18th century Hanoverian dynasty.
But now anyone of good faith has a lot to thank these Colleges for. We all see in our daily lives the hard work in communities that parish priests perform up and down the land. They are there to look after the spiritual, but increasingly also the social and sometimes physical needs of their parishioners. They work closely with people of other faiths – the English College next week will celebrate the visit of a number of Anglican alumni – and their doors are open to all those who need help. In a way, they are the epitome of the Big Society in action. It is these Colleges that prepare so many young men for this service. They do so in the name, of course, of the Catholic Church. But it is communities of all faiths and none, up and down the United Kingdom, that benefit. A vote of thanks.