A day late and a dollar short (revisiting William Wilberforce - July 30)
Yesterday was William Wilberforce’s feast day — the man who changed history. If interested, here are the readings. http://www.io.com/~kellywp/LesserFF/Jul/Wilber.html
In case it blew past you earlier this year, there is a movie out about him, which not only pertains to his perseverence to end the slave trade in England, but also highlights his animal advocacy. He helped found what became the RSPCA. This might be a movie worthy of an adult forum or two. (Well, if the Church really believes the words of the prayers that it publishes, then I think it is an obligation of the Church to find ways to inspire all church members to follow William Wilberforce’s example to “have grace to defend the poor, and maintain the cause of those who have no helper”.)
Here are a few things I just found again:
following the example of your servant William Wilberforce, we may have grace to defend the poor,
and maintain the cause of those who have no helper; for the sake of him who gave his life for us, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
(Collect from Lesser Feasts and Fasts — July 30)