New Blog On The Block...

Back in the mists of time when I first started blogging, I was in a distinct minority. The majority of Catholic blogs were written by men, and most were from the US. Being one of the very few British female bloggers meant that I had a higher profile than I deserved. Seven and a half years later, and I'm delighted to note that there is now a huge selection of good, Catholic female bloggers... and it's impossible to follow everyone.

However, there is one new blogger who should be flagged up as compulsory reading: Yes I'm Catholic is a blog by a young student concerned with living life as a committed Catholic, and all the issues she has to face in day-to-day situations. She includes the caveat that we should "expect controversial topics, a fair amount of teenage angst, and some mushiness mixed in with the theology."

For some reason I've yet to fathom, she refers to herself as the skinny walrus. Already she has started up a series of excellent, informative and highly entertaining posts on the subject of dating. The first in the series can be found here, and the second one has just been posted. I really wish that I had had a friend like her around back when I was a student. Do go on over and say hello...

A Statement So Obviously Stupid...

The Bitter Pill has really outdone itself. It published a letter, I assume without editorial correction (I refuse to buy it in order to check) which started off with the following jaw-dropping statement:

"It was interesting to read about the new Confraternity of Catholic Clergy in the British Province of Pope St Gregory the Great (News from Britain and Ireland, 2 April). The theologically dubious description of the priest as being an image of Christ, acting in the person of Christ, and possessing an “active instrumental power” all in a way in which the layman respectively is not, cannot, and does not, betrays a clericalist and power-based notion of priesthood at odds with any notion of service."

Theologically dubious? It would appear that the letter-writer (and presumably the editor of The Bitter Pill who allowed it to pass unchallenged) is unacquainted with the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

The Catechism states:

1592 The ministerial priesthood differs in essence from the common priesthood of the faithful because it confers a sacred power for the service of the faithful. the ordained ministers exercise their service for the People of God by teaching (munus docendi), divine worship (munus liturgicum) and pastoral governance (munus regendi).

and earlier:

1581 This sacrament configures the recipient to Christ by a special grace of the Holy Spirit, so that he may serve as Christ's instrument for his Church. By ordination one is enabled to act as a representative of Christ, Head of the Church, in his triple office of priest, prophet, and king.

Tabletistas are rather keen on quoting the spirit of Vatican II. I, on the other hand, prefer the actual documents, so that there is no chance that I reinterpret things to fit in with my personal viewpoint... So, how about one of the Decrees produced by the Council? The Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests, Presbyterorum Ordinis, states quite clearly:

Wherefore the priesthood, while indeed it presupposes the sacraments of Christian initiation, is conferred by that special sacrament; through it priests, by the anointing of the Holy Spirit, are signed with a special character and are conformed to Christ the Priest in such a way that they can act in the person of Christ the Head. (n2)

And if you're not happy with a mere Decree, what about a full-blown Dogmatic Constitution? Lumen Gentium, anyone?

The ministerial priest, by the sacred power he enjoys, teaches and rules the priestly people; acting in the person of Christ, he makes present the Eucharistic sacrifice, and offers it to God in the name of all the people. (n10)

It really isn't rocket science. No ministerial priesthood = no Sacraments = no Church.

Lay people can become friends of the Confraternity and offer prayers, financial and practical support to priests. Check out the membership page of the website.

Twitch of the mantilla to the inimitable Father Z, who deserves an bravery award for reading through such tripe and having the patience to explain why it's so completely wrong. I,on the other hand, just want to slap someone...

UPDATE: To be honest, I didn't realise that the letter was actually published in 2011 (as was Fr. Z's article) as it only came to my attention on Wednesday. However, even though it's an old letter, my point still stands: it should never have been published in a Catholic newspaper without some sort of correction or editorial comment...

Just When I Thought It Was All Over..

The weather took a turn for the worse a couple of weeks ago, and both cats decided that they could tolerate each other's company if it meant sleeping on a warm duvet.

Am I the only person who scoots down to the bottom of the bed in order to avoid waking up two snoozing cats? And am I the only person who starts the night sleeping in the middle of the bed and wakes in the morning scrunched right up against the (cold) wall in the smallest space imaginable, with two cats sprawled comfortably in the middle of the bed?

Ok, it's just me who's a pushover then...

Anyway, this evening I was settling down to a quiet evening's tweeting when the catflap opened, and Miaowrini announced her arrival in loud tones. Furretti got up off the laptop case and ran to investigate. I realised that something was up - Furretti tends to ignore Miaowrini most of the time. I went to see what was going on, and a present was promptly dropped at my feet...

The mouse was alive, so I threw it out of my bedroom window into the grass (I live on the ground floor, I hasten to add!) After a minute's stunned inactivity, the mouse ran off. Miaowrini and Furretti are now sulking...

Having Fun...

I'm still incredibly busy, but I do like to try and liven up my Science lessons with a little light entertainment. A few years ago - in the era before YouTube - Tom Lehrer's Periodic Table Song was a rarity, because very few teachers could sing it right through (I did have one colleague who went from class to class as a favour to all of us!) Now everyone knows it, and it's rather dated, not least because 15 new elements have been disc-aaar-vared (and details duly sent to Haaar-vard.)

I found a catchy (aka irritating) song which goes through the first ten elements, and one of my Year 9 classes has started to join in (and even ask for it as a "treat" at the end of lessons!) However, I think that the following video trumps the lot, if only because of the animations. I'm tempted to try and learn it myself...

Blackfen's Newest MC...

Jonathan, Blackfen's Senior MC, believes in training up the young altar servers to carry out all the different roles on the Sanctuary. There is no protracted period as junior torchbearer for the first few years to get settled in before being promoted to senior torchbearer. I believe that Thurifer is a much sought-after role (something about boys and matches), and it's first-come, first-served when the duties are being assigned in the Sacristy before Mass.

The job of MC is, of course, a much more tricky one which requires much more in the way of preparation. There are certain responses to make (in Latin) and it must be rather daunting to have to tell Father which bits he needs to chant next (and point to the right spot in the Missal.) Nevertheless, Jonathan is keen to get the young boys doing this job too. I suspect he wants to retire early and spend Sunday mornings sailing instead.

One of our altar servers acted as MC today at Mass for the first time, at the tender age of 11. I only got a few pictures (his justifiably proud mama has promised to put up a few more in due course), and they're up on Flickr if you want to have a look.