Today is the 260th anniversary of the birth of our national bard, Robert Burns (1759 – 96). Happy Burns Night! Archbishop Leo Cushley paid great tribute to Burns on BBC Radio Scotland ahead of Burns Night 2018 when he highlighted the Ayrshire poet’s friendship with Bishop John Geddes (1735–1799), Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of the Lowland District of Scotland, pictured below.

"The intellect and humanity of the Catholic bishop seemed to prove attractive to Burns," said Archbishop Cushley delivering BBC Radio Scotland’s Thought for the Day, "Meanwhile, Geddes was struck by the “uncommon genius” of the Ayrshire poet, so much so that he purchased no fewer than five copies of the Edinburgh edition of Burns’ work for the Scottish seminaries on the continent."

"So, as we raise our glass at dinner this evening, let us learn from Burns -- and from Geddes. May our differences not lead us into needless dispute; May our discussions be robust but always respectful; Indeed, may man to man the world o'er, brithers be – if only for an evening. Happy Burns Night!" Archbishop Cushley's BBC Radio Scotland Thought for the Day is reproduced in full below:

"Good morning Gary,

Let kings and courtiers rise and fa',

This world has mony turns

But brightly beams aboon them a'

The star o' Rabbie Burns.

Yes, today marks the 259th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, that Ayrshire ploughboy turned poet turned farmer turned excise man turned national bard whose immortal memory many of us, including myself, will toast this evening. But why?

Well, I’d give three reasons: Burns’ canon of work; Burns’ cronies; and Burns’ courage. Let me explain.

Here is a man whose short life seemed to consist of a struggle against miserable external powers and internal weaknesses yet more miserable. The 20th century Catholic writer, GK Chesterton, summed up Burn’s life as “beginning grey and ending black”.

Despite this, Chesterton observes that “Burns does not merely sing about the goodness of life, he positively rants and cants about it” such that he labels the Bard an “offensive optimist”.

It was this “offensive optimism” that made Robert Burns a man of generous heart who knew how to acquire, cultivate and treasure friendships. Among those trusty cronies, as it happens, was my predecessor, Bishop John Geddes.

“The first (that is, finest) cleric character I ever saw was a Roman Catholic,” said Burns of the “Popish Bishop Geddes” in a letter of 1787.

The intellect and humanity of the Catholic bishop seemed to prove attractive to Burns. Meanwhile, Geddes was struck by the “uncommon genius” of the Ayrshire poet, so much so that he purchased no fewer than five copies of the Edinburgh edition of Burns’ work for the Scottish seminaries on the continent.

So, as we raise our glass at dinner this evening, let us learn from Burns -- and from Geddes. May our differences not lead us into needless dispute; May our discussions be robust but always respectful; Indeed, may man to man the world o'er, brithers be – if only for an evening. Happy Burns Night!"

Bishop John Geddes (1735-1799) by Thomas Fraser. Courtesy of Blairs Museum.