But Teachers Live In Cupboards In School...

Occasionally, I wonder what students think their teachers do at the end of the day and at weekends.

Today, at the end of a lesson, a voice piped up from the back of the room, in tones of surprise and mild outrage: "Miss, you were seen the other night in a sort-of club place, and you bought a beer!"

I think they were more outraged by my lack of embarrassment than by the actual event...

One Just For Greg...

Greg is one of the intrepid cyclists off to Rome next week. I really couldn't resist this cat photo, as it seems to have been composed especially for him...

Short Cycling Update...

... or rather, I should say, a cycling shorts update!

Sorry - couldn't resist. Anyway, my friends are getting close to their departure date (Monday 5th July, if you're interested) and have been getting themselves kitted out.

Mary's Meals sent them the t-shirts. They have even prepared a Press Release (helped by a journalist friend) though I haven't actually seen it yet. Their donations page shows that they've reached just under half of their target sponsorship amount, so, once again, if you possibly can help them, please do - the charities they have picked (Mary's Meals and the Cardinal Winning Pro-Life Initiative) are definitely deserving causes, and ALL the money raised will go to them.

In any case, pop over to their blog, Via Romea, as they have just discovered the joys of SiteMeter, and their stats need a wee bit of encouragement... and tell them I sent you.

Lesnes Abbey Blessed Sacrament Procession...

On Sunday, at 3pm, there was a very important event. No, not the one involving Germany.

We had our annual Blessed Sacrament Procession among the ruins of Lesnes Abbey. Two deaneries are involved: Greenwich and Bexley, and it's a pretty amazing witness to Our Lord, I think. This year numbers were slightly down, because of the World Cup game between Germany and England.

It was also the hottest day of the year so far, with the temperature reaching 30°C (this is around 86°F - which apparently means more to some people) and since the ruins are pretty much down to foundation level, there wasn't much in the way of shade. I usually feel cold, but this time I was quite comfortable in a t-shirt... (which I was wearing under a rollneck pullover and jacket!)

The two deans were responsible for the proceedings this year - Fr. Michael Scanlon, Dean of Greenwich, gave the Benediction, while Fr. Tim Finigan, Dean of Bexley, preached the sermon. They were sorting out a few last-minute arrangements when I persuaded them to smile for the camera!

Two years ago I took plenty of photos of the ruins themselves, and explained a little of the history of Lesnes Abbey - my ankle and knee were still playing up a bit this year, so I didn't go round getting many photos, but the ones I did take are available on my Flickr pages. If you use them, I just ask for a link (and also that they are only used for non-commercial purposes.)

Anyway, I offered up a prayer on behalf of my favoured football team (as far as I support any football team, which is about as far as I can throw a player)... and that prayer appeared to have been answered: 4-1 is pretty definitive. England fans can complain that they had a goal which was disallowed as often as they like... Germany went on to score two more, so even if we granted the disallowed goal, it's still a clear win. Not that I'm gloating... However, perhaps now people will stop blathering on about football...

Pontifical High Mass...

It's strange, but when I have plenty of stuff to blog about, I just don't seem to have the time... and when I have the time, it's because I haven't been doing anything worth blogging about!

Anyhow, yesterday was a busy but enjoyable day. It started with the usual Saturday morning routine in the parish - Mass according to the usus antiquior, Exposition for an hour with the opportunity for Confession, and then Benediction. I woke up slightly late, and then got stuck in traffic, which made me a few minutes late for Mass... and I was then horrified to see that Fr. Tim didn't have any servers (many of them had been snaffled for Westminster) and so I had to make the responses (don't worry, His Hermeneuticalness hasn't gone all liberal - I do this from my place in the pews... I certainly don't "serve" Mass!)

After Benediction was over, I phoned for a cab to take me to a train station. I wanted to go to Westminster Cathedral for the Latin Mass Society's Annual Pontifical High Mass, but I was in the mood to have a drink or two in the Buckingham Arms in Petty France afterwards, and that meant leaving my car behind in the church carpark (there wouldn't have been time to go home first!)

Unfortunately, the taxi was ridiculously delayed in getting to me, so I was late for Mass a second time... but not too late: the preparatory prayers were still being said. That's the advantage of Pontifical High Mass - it takes a while for it to get started...

I noticed that there were five servers from Blackfen on the Sanctuary - this sort of thing is getting to be almost routine for them. Still, the sheer size of the Sanctuary must make it quite a daunting experience.

The Mass was awesome: a real feast for the senses, and all of this helps to raise the mind and heart to God. Once Mass was over, I wandered around, saying a few prayers and taking some photos before heading outside to meet up with friends.

The body of St. John Southworth had been moved to the centre of the cathedral nave in preparation for his feast day, so I took the opportunity to take a photo...

I also wandered over to the Blessed Sacrament Chapel...

... and then the Lady Chapel...

... not forgetting a close-up of the High Altar and the Sanctuary...

You can see more photos (just a small selection, honest!) over on Flickr...