When I was a child, I heard of a local doctor who supposedly died of a broken heart. And just the other day, a dear friend of mine told me he thought he would die of unrequited love; a broken heart! Of course I held back the tears, telling him, "Don't be silly," gave him a tender hug, then poured us both some wine.

..But I had to wonder.

Your post causes me to ponder his plight even further. He is such a strong being. Lionhearted, for sure.Yet that very same heart always seems to affect his health.

I've seen first hand, in a positive way, what the mind, one's faith (or lack thereof) and the love of others can do for someone's health. If that positive can save someone, imagine what the opposite could do. Indeed, one's emotional and mental state can weigh heavily upon the heart. Thank you for your insightful posts about Queen Catherine of Aragon.