"Truly, it is the indescribable sweetness of contemplation which you give to those who love you. In this you have shown the tenderness of your charity, that when I had no being you made me; and when I strayed away from you, you brought me back again to serve you and commanded me to love you." The Imitation of Christ
I managed to record a snippet from First Vespers of the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, held at Blackfen on Saturday.
I didn't record any of the music from Sunday's High Mass because that was sung by professional singers and recording rights would have come into play. The singers on Saturday, on the other hand, were enthusiastic, talented volunteers. They did get given a rather good lunch...
With such heavenly music as this available, one wonders who in their right minds would opt for such guff as "Alleluia ch-ch" or the clap-clap Gloria...
Photos will be forthcoming... but not tonight. I need a bit more beauty sleep.
We have had a wonderful weekend at Blackfen. It was the first Saturday of the month, so we had our regular Missa Cantata, and, to see in the Patronal Feast Day, we also celebrated First Vespers. Then, on Sunday, we had a High Mass, with Fr. James Bradley of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham as celebrant.
More about Sunday's activities later... well, ok, probably tomorrow. I need my beauty sleep. The children at school have already commented on how they think I look like Darth Vadar...
After Vespers on Saturday, we sang the Marian Anthem... to the solemn tone. Fr. Tim thought that the children, in their enthusiasm, might not realise this, and might continue with the regular Salve Regina...
Nope.
These little ones are not only happy to sing in Latin, they can sing the same words to different chant tones (or whatever they're called... Leutgeb will probably tell me off for using the wrong term, which is slightly disconcerting because she makes Darth Vadar look like a pushover when she gets going. Scary? Even Fr. Tim won't mess with her!!)
The video picture is ghastly because the light from the windows messed up the phone camera - but you can just about see the children... and hear them singing...
There is much excitement at the moment about a few politicians who are calling for the time limit for abortion to be limited to 20 weeks instead of the current 24 weeks.
At first sight, it might appear that to campaign for a reduction is a good thing - some lives might be saved, and softly, softly catchee monkey, winning hearts and minds... maybe a total ban can be worked towards, eventually...
SPUC has explained why this is wishful thinking - any pro-life amendment would be voted down in the current parliamentary climate, and the opportunity to add anti-life amendments would be given, and those would probably get through.
To those who think that we need to work slowly towards getting rid of abortion, I just want to point out the blindingly obvious:
Either abortion is wrong because it is the killing of a human being, or it is not. Life begins at conception. There is no "acceptable" time at which to kill a baby. To call for a reduction in the time limit ignores this basic point.
There is currently a poll on the Telegraph's website which asks when people think the limit should be - and just for once, "total ban" is actually an option...
BTW, the photo at the top of the post is what the politicians are saying can be aborted - a baby at 20 weeks' gestation.
