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16_Tablet13Feb21 Diary Puzzles Alanus.qxp_Tablet features spread 09/02/2021 16:38 Page 13

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fathers’ own beautiful chapel, on the ground Vatican’s square ball floor inside the Oratory house, was restored some years ago, paid for by the same donor THE ENGAGING bromance comedy The who had commissioned the fresco background Two ends with Anthony Hopkins and behind Darío Fernández’ calvary scene inside Jonathan Pryce on a sofa watching the July the Oratory church executed by Alan Dodd. 2014 World Cup Final, Hopkins as The fathers’ generous benefactor was Della Emeritus Benedict cheering on Germany and Howard, a doctor’s daughter from Patrickswell Pryce as crestfallen at Argentina’s in Co Limerick who became one of ’s defeat. Of course, it’s all fantasy. grande dames. She died last November; she But what if it were Uefa’s European would have turned 96 on Christmas Day. Championships and the team to support was Working in London in the 1940s Della met that of the State? Liam Kelly, the art dealer and collector Denis Howard, who steers the work of the ’s Office at of the military historian Sir Michael Ampleforth and is the author of The Glorious Howard. They married at the Oratory in July Journey (Darton, Longman and Todd), a 1951. Della discovered she had a good eye. She book of reflections based on the film for use became a period furniture adviser to Sotheby’s in Lent by individuals or groups, worked in playing against teams such as San Marino, and an accomplished collector in her own right. the Vatican in the 1980s and played football Monaco, and small Italian clubs. Della organised a stall and a charity auction for the Vatican City State. The Vatican’s own “I think we should have been allowed to join at the Oratory’s summer fair. She had taste, league was founded in the 1970s with teams Uefa”, Liam laments. “Not having our own sta- charm and persistence. Her friend Celia Lee representing the , the Police, dium would have been an obstacle, admittedly, of Della’s beloved Polish Hearth Club remem- the Swiss Guards, Osservatore Romano, but St Peter’s Square is surely big enough to bered her pointing out the window of a smart (for whom Liam was a tireless put a few jumpers down as goalposts.” Knightbridge shop and telling her that when box-to-box midfielder), the , she called there, they had 14 scarves on display; and the Vatican Bank (“leaky at the back, “THE PRECAUTIONS taken have success- Della had procured every one for the fair. always giving things away, never having a fully contained the contagion,” the fathers of She lived round the corner from the Oratory good defence”, jokes Liam). From all these the London Oratory have announced, and and attended Mass every day until lockdown teams a national squad was chosen to rep- public Masses have resumed after the out- nudged her to acquire a computer for the first resent the Vatican at international level, break of coronavirus in the community. The time so she could enjoy livestreamed services.

PUZZLES

PRIZE CROSSWORD No. 743 Alanus Across 20 (& 11 Across): OTT Dumas novel idea for 6 Dutchman’s directions for heretical 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 Time to muse concerning hymnal and Covid protection? (4,4) leader (6) 8 poetic works (5) 22 City girl from France (5) 7 Handel work about seer following saltire

9 10 4 Forbid court cards we hear and so 23 See 10 Across with cross (6) incapacitate (6) 24 Actually in brief way in for sacristy (6) 8 Bank income from appeal of Apostle 9 Cause creative idea from part of church? (7) 25 Means of fastening hospital against Peter’s working gear? (3,8) 11 12 10 (& 23 Across): When I’m outside poisonous creatures (5) 13 Belt for messenger? (8)

13 overworked can rest in private 15 Directional help in car from above? (6) chamber (5,7) Across 16 Heavenly body of Holst’s work (6) 14 11 See 20 Across 1 Puzzling thing in Elgar’s varied music (6) 17 Are you an assassin as well? (6) 15 16 17 18 12 Before end skinflint pleading for 2 Me being next to Nativity witness in Italian 18 Hostility of a lost soul we ended up 19 20 mercy (8) shrine town (6) with (6)

21 14 Last drink remedy when canonisation 3 Roman poet metamorphosing about the 21 Cross for life in Christian Khartoum (4) invalid (7) time of Christ (4) 22 23 19 Mammal first animal with a short route for 5 Arrange cue for and pope opposed to five into Noah’s refuge (8) Gnostics (8)

24 25

Please send your answers to: Crossword Competition 13 February, SUDOKU | Challenging Solution to the 23 January puzzle The Tablet, 1 King Street Cloisters, Clifton Walk, London W6 0GY. Each 3x3 box, each Email: [email protected], with Crossword in the subject row and each column field. Please include your full name, telephone number and email must contain all the address, and a mailing address. Three books – on , Monasticism numbers 1 to 9. and Philosophy of Religion – from the OUP’s Very Short Introduction series will go to the sender of the first correct entry drawn at random. n We cannot process entries or prizes at present. Please keep entering. Winners will be notified and prizes awarded as soon possible.

Prizes kindly donated by

Solution to the 23 January crossword No. 740 Across: 1 Ghent; 4 Pascal; 9 Lucifer; 10 Delft; 11 René; 12 ; 14 Capella; 19 Tropaion; 20 Dewi; 22 Libel; 23 Holiest; 24 Galaxy; 25 Sisal. Down: 1 Galero; 2 Eocene; 3 Taft; 5 Aedicula; 6 Caliph; www.oup.com 7 Luther; 8 Praise To The; 13 Parallax; 15 Stalag; 16 Pombal ;17 Jewels; 18 Pistil; 21 Albs.

16 | THE TABLET | 13 FEBRUARY 2021 For more features, news, analysis and comment, visit www.thetablet.co.uk