Remember The Manhattan Declaration...?

Just a year ago, the Manhattan Declaration, a call from Orthodox, Catholic and Evangelical Christians to defend three basic truths, was drawn up. I posted on it, and encouraged people to sign in support.

The three basic truths were, well, pretty basic...
1. the sanctity of human life
2. the dignity of marriage as the conjugal union of husband and wife
3. the rights of conscience and religious liberty.

Someone went so far as to create a Manhattan Declaration app for the iPhone.

It seems that this upset a few people. Michael Rogers created a petition declaring that the application was offensive, being an "anti-LGBT, anti-women application" and asking for it to be removed from the iTunes Store. It managed to gather 7,727 signatures.

Apple is a commercial company. It might want to note that anyone who signs an application which defends the sanctity of human life and marriage between a man and a woman is rather likely to be helping in the production of future customers... I mean, just think of all those families with children who need iPods, iPads, Apple Macs...

Anyway, there is now a petition out to restore the Manhattan Declaration application to the iTunes Store. It currently has 28,992 signatures... which also might help to focus Apple's policymakers.

You can find (and sign) the petition, and you can email Steve Jobs to let him know what you think.

Twitch of the mantilla to the Curt Jester.

You Remember That "Blob Of Tissue"...?

Many people who want to justify abortion and make it more "palatable" refer to the baby as "just a blob of tissue." I don't know how many weeks along this baby is, but it's one heck of a blob...


EMBED-Squirming Alien Baby - Watch more free videos

Just remember that, in our oh-so-caring "big society," abortion is allowed up to birth if there is some disability... and something as minor as a cleft palate counts as a disability...

Mantilla-twitch to Catholic Minority Report.

My Latest Blonde Moment...

I went to Bexleyheath for lunch today, literally risking life and limb - the roads are clear, but, once again, pedestrians are being expected to slither and slide over pavements where snow, slush and compacted ice are left totally untreated.

Returning to my car in the untreated car park with difficulty after lunch (I'm on crutches, remember) I discovered that I had left it unlocked...

Luckily, all the potential car thieves were busy helping themselves to the big pile of salt at the entrance to the car park...

A Blast From The Past...

I was discussing weather with a friend of mine over the phone this evening - she was watching some very sorry-looking reporters out and about around the country. It reminded me of this clip with the news reporter, Colin Baker, when he'd been having a bad day.

So, naturally, having found it on YouTube, I just had to share...

Turning Into A Bi-Annual Rant...

I realise that it doesn't snow in the UK that often. Ok, maybe it does up in the wilds of Scotland, but not that much in South-East England... and especially not that much in Greater London (that's the 'Burbs to all my readers from over the pond!)

However...

I've checked my blog. According to the posts I've put up, we have had snow in Greater London (enough to settle properly) in April 2008, early January 2009, early February 2009, late December 2009 and early January 2010 (I mentioned it in passing but didn't actually post on it!) But, you think that we'd be getting the hang of things by now...

The Met Office were warning of severe snow at the beginning of last week. First they said it would snow in London on Thursday. Then Friday. Then Saturday... meanwhile, much of the rest of the country actually did get snow.

Finally, on Tuesday morning, we got snow...

And the entire road system went into gridlock! A journey which would normally take me 15 minutes (20 minutes if I was really unlucky) took me two and three-quarter hours. I was travelling on main roads, not side roads, and there weren't any accidents or roadworks to slow things up. It wasn't as if the traffic was even crawling along slowly... it was completely stationary.

Why is it that we cannot cope with a little bit of snow?

(We can't cope with rain, Autumn leaves, fog, or sunshine either, but snow appears to be a speciality!)

Saturday's Getting Closer...

I'm renewing my vows on Saturday... Although (as I've said before) I consider the vows permanent, it's good to remind myself that I've chosen the single state for a specific reason (and I do seem to need reminding!) as well as providing a good excuse for a party.

This year is shaping up to be quite a celebration - the Mass beforehand is going to be a Solemn High Mass (unless the subdeacon gets snowed in) and quite a few people have indicated that they're in the partying mood. So, if you are in the vicinity of Blackfen, feel free to come along. Mass is at 10:30am.  The renewal of vows will be at midday, and the bunfight will be at 12:30pm.

If you're not in the vicinity of Blackfen, well, why not???

Shocked By The Latest Wikileaks...!

Larry D, over at Acts of the Apostasy, is the first blogger to examine the Wikileaks collection of Vatican secrets. Apparently there was a delay in releasing them because they were written in Latin and downloaded onto 8" floppy disks...

I think the most shocking statements have to be that:

Vatican agents had tailed and bugged author Dan Brown, citing reports that he "was getting uncomfortably close to the truth" with the Angel and Demons and The Da Vinci Code novels.

There are several pages devoted to the recent dust-up concerning the new English translation; one Vatican official is quoted as saying "Whoever came up with 'Fishperson' for Bishop Trautman deserves a plenary indulgence! Very funny!"

and

The Vatican operates a covert blog operation, which underwrites such sites as Curt Jester, Creative Minority Report, The Hermeneutic of Continuity and LOLCats.

From this you can see that my own blog is free from Vatican interference...

Finally, most shocking of all, it seems that the Vatican actually does have:

...a list of who's in Hell, they just aren't telling people about it so that no one gets upset should they discover their loved ones are on the list.

A New Catholic News Round-Up Service...

The Pulpit aims to provide a round-up of Catholic blog posts and news articles. I suppose it's a useful summary, in its way, but it merely gives a list of posts, without any comment - as such, I don't think it will be any more useful than Traditional Latin Mass in Maryland (which does much the same thing, with the occasional comment) or Google Reader, which allows me to see at least the beginning of a post. However, I think I shall keep an eye on it, if only because I might discover a few new blogs that way...

Now THAT Is How To Welcome A Cardinal...!

I remember getting terribly excited a while back, when, visiting Westminster Cathedral for a Pontifical High Mass, I spotted a snazzy car with a Papal flag.

However, I think that this demonstrates more impressive transport for cardinals... I guess that Sri Lankan Catholics like to make it clear where they're coming from...

Twitch of the mantilla to the New Liturgical Movement.

Kitty Capers...

I won't cut the kitty-posts out completely, especially as so many people ask me how they're getting on... (Yes, I realise they could just be being polite, but it suits me to take the requests at face value... especially as I've got a stinking cold and so don't feel like putting up anything more serious!)

I'm on the Ground Floor, so, once it gets dark, I prefer to have the curtains drawn. This has provided extra entertainment for the Dynamic Duo, as they can play hide and seek. One kitten each side of the curtains, and then they have to try and pounce on the other.

I've taken four short video clips of their antics...









By the way, I have decided that the black and white kitten is to be called Monsignor Miaowrini in honour of the Papal Master of Ceremonies, Monsignor Guido Marini... it is rather appropriate because she is a sweet, unassuming little kitten, cute as a button, but she can get extremely vocal when she wants something!

Advent Candles...

Being unwilling to trust the kittens with an Advent wreath, I was delighted to see that the Curt Jester has once again provided us with a virtual one for our blogs. You can get your own copy HERE, and it'll even light up another candle each week...

The New Church Year Begins...

And so, we begin the Season of Advent.

Vigil For Nascent Human Life...

 

This morning, after Mass at Our Lady of the Rosary, Blackfen, the time of Exposition was dedicated to all nascent human life, as requested by the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI...

The Holy Souls In Purgatory...

I do love the way that the Church reminds us to pray for the Holy Souls during the month of November. We start off with the members of the Church rejoicing in the Beatific Vision on the Feast of All Saints, and then, starting with the Commemoration of All Souls, we get down to praying for all those who, through human frailty, haven't quite made it... since most of us are likely to fall into the latter category, it behoves us to observe the duty of praying for the dead.

We can get numerous plenary indulgences, and partial ones too, applicable to the Holy Souls. I am always particularly moved by the practice of mentioning those forgotten souls in Purgatory who have no-one to pray for them - this group is, I fear, increasing, due to the pernicious tendency to "canonise" the deceased at his or her funeral, instead of praying for him to be released from Purgatory. There is also the problem that many people do not have relatives who believe in God, let alone in Purgatory.

This year I have created a short slideshow of photos from the Requiem Mass celebrated on All Souls' Day along with photos taken when we had our parish's annual Blessing of Graves ceremony at Sidcup Cemetery. I have set the pictures to music - a track by the vocal group Cantores Missae, from their CD, Praise to the Holiest. The Choir Director, Charles Finch, has given me permission to use the track... you can obtain the CD by emailing him, or from the website.

A Cure At Any Price...?

A week ago, I spotted a post on my Google Reader feeds... I starred it for further comment later on, but then didn't go back - well, I've been a little busy of late.

Robert Colquhoun, of Love Undefiled, spotted the story - largely buried beneath reports of a Royal engagement - that stem cells from the brains of aborted fetuses were being injected into the brains of patients who have suffered strokes, in the hope of a cure, both in Britain and California.

Sadly, this is far from being "news." Back in July 1996 I wrote an article for Faith Magazine explaining the research into foetal tissue transplantation and my fears that the use of aborted foetuses would become routine. My background in neuropsychopharmacology meant that I had access to many of the reports on this research well before the widespread use of Google to check out what was being done in the name of scientific progress and the search for a cure. The past issues of Faith Magazine available online only go back as far as 2002, but my article was copied and stored in the EWTN archives.

As more and more "cures" (as yet there have been no successful therapies involving the use of foetal stem cells, although there have been plenty of successes using adult stem cells) are sought, we must become ever more vigilant and protest against the use of aborted babies as medical material.

Confirmations At Spanish Place...

I made it to the Latin Mass Society's Confirmation service at St. James' Church, Spanish Place, but, due to the closure of the Blackfriars' underpass, I was rather late. Still, I got to see a good bit of it, and was able to get some photos, though not many.

Bishop George Stack administered the Sacrament of Confirmation according to the usus antiquior... I have to say that I find St. James' to be a very appropriate setting - lots of altars around the church, and gilded statues and votive candle stands... a feast for the senses! The interior is rather dark - they could probably do with more candles - but it just adds to the atmosphere. I did wonder whether any of my photos would come out - I don't use a flash during Masses or other church services, as I feel it is too intrusive. However, my trusty little camera didn't let me down, and, although I had to run the photos through Photoshop to lighten them a bit, the results were quite beautiful IMHO!

The music at the service was beautiful... once again, I found myself wishing that I'd had singing lessons when I was younger. The acoustics in the church are really spine-tinglingly good...

Having spotted the post by His Hermeneuticalness yesterday, I was aware that the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer (previously known as the Transalpine Redemptorists) were bringing a postulant along to be confirmed, and that Fr. Anthony Mary was planning to say Mass after the service. I spotted one of the brothers among the congregation - he had a very snazzy camera - and promptly went over at the end of the service to find out where the Mass was going to be held.

The Mass quite took my breath away. I had been warned that Communion might not be given out - it was a private Mass - but I was keen to hear Mass anyway, and, as it happened, Communion was given out after all. The Lady Chapel was beautiful and the whole atmosphere intensely prayerful.

There were only a few people present for Mass - maybe because people didn't know about it (sadly, not everyone reads blogs!) I was interested to discover that the Reluctant Sinner had been among those present - but I can't figure out which one! After Mass I went down to the Crypt for a cup of tea - I hadn't planned to go down, but I was chatting to a couple of the brothers, and I figured that the vast majority of people would have left already (I'm not that good in crowds while on the crutches.) It also gave me the opportunity to take a photo of the brothers and Fr. Anthony Mary, FSSR. I was flattered to find out that they knew of my blog, and even got round to reading it on occasion! I was presented with a copy of the Calendar - and it really is beautiful. Advance copies can be obtained for £7 on Ebay, or via their blog.

I can heartily recommend subscribing to their paper - The Catholic Newspaper - which is an excellent read! The subscription button (it's a PayPal link) is in the sidebar on the left hand side of the blog, just above the live traffic feed. The brothers were truly wonderful men, full of joy and faith, and it was a real privilege to be able to meet them (after all, my chances of going over to Papa Stronsay for a retreat weekend are pretty slim...!)

As I left, I encountered Moira (whose blog I plugged in a previous post) and then I bumped into Fr. Armand de Malleray, FSSP... I'd never met him before, despite hearing so much about him, so it was fun to put a face to the name. It's also quite handy, as I shall be going to visit my sister over Christmas, and, since she lives in Pangbourne, I shall have to sort out a Mass to attend for the Sunday. It'll be a treat to go to the FSSP church (and means that I don't need to worry about encountering any happy-clappy liturgy to sour my Christmas spirit...) After I had bemoaned the fact that my sister isn't practicing the Faith, Fr. de Malleray advised me to pray to Blessed Dominic Barberi... as well as receiving Blessed Cardinal Newman into the Church, he also died in a train at Pangbourne Station...

All in all, a wonderful day...

Before The Spin Goes Global...

No, the Holy Father did not say that using condoms was ok in the case of HIV infection. His comments really do need to be read in context. The Curt Jester has an excellent analysis of what has been published in an excerpt from the book interview... and he has also explained why it's not being reported properly...

Interestingly, Jeff refers to this as the Ginger Factor: no, not a variant on blonde jokes, but a reference to Ginger the dog (in the Far Side cartoon by Gary Larson) who only hears his own name... it's the ratio of words said to words heard and understood...

A New Catholic Blog To Check...

I attended the Confirmations at St. James' Church, Spanish Place earlier today (I promise to post something later.)

As I left the hall, I bumped into a woman who had spotted me taking photos, and, putting two and two together, decided that I must be "that Mulier Fortis."

Most gratifying!

Anyway, Moira happened to mention that she was starting her own blog, while claiming that it wasn't worth reading yet, because it was just a bit of a rant... Au contraire - having checked it out for myself, I think it shows great promise... and anyway, my own blog started because I wanted to rant about inclusive language. There is nothing wrong with a good rant.

Have a look for yourself - Moira's blog is called On a Wing and a Prayer... and tell her I sent you!

Oh, and congratulations to one of her sons, who was confirmed earlier.

Writing Style (Or Lack Thereof...)

I write like
James Joyce

I Write Like by Mémoires, journal software. Analyze your writing!

I tried quite a few blog posts, and a fair chunk of the book chapter I wrote on St. Anne Line, and I got the same result. I don't know if this is good or bad - I have never read any of his work. At least I can feel smugly superior to the Pastor in Valle - he apparently writes like Dan Brown. Shame indeed... though, of course, Dan Brown earns a lot more than James Joyce ever did...

Interesting Advice...

A lot has been said about the need for reform of the libel laws in England. If you haven't signed the petition, do so as soon as possible.

It is worth noting that, no matter where your blog is based, or where you (or your claimant) happen to live, if your blog is read in England, then you can be sued under English law. There is now some information on what to do if you receive a letter threatening libel action. It isn't much, but it is a start.

If you missed the relevant posts, go back and read Red Maria (she has three posts which link to several other blog posts on the issue - 1. Catholic Bloggers for Libel Reform - Fight for Free Speech; 2. Catholic Bloggers for Libel Reform & 3. The Catholic Blogosphere Demands Libel Reform.)

Normal Service Recommencing...

Yes, I have had rather a lot of cat posts of late. However, as even His Hermeneuticalness has admitted, cats have featured rather prominently in my life over the past few weeks, so it is hardly surprising that I have written plenty about my feline friends.

Now, however, I shall endeavour to restrict the kitty-stuff. This is, after all, meant to be a Catholic blog, not a cat-o-holic blog. Sorry, Genty.

One major exception to this rule will be a re-run of the feline orthodoxy test for Catholic publications - the im-purr-matur - this time between the Catholic Herald and The Suppository.

I don't know when I'll be able to run the test, though, as I refuse, as a matter of principle, to purchase a copy of the latter publication, and will therefore have to wait for someone to donate one. I don't actually know any friends who read a print copy, so it might be a long wait...

Involve The Laity...!

Isn't that what every Bishop in England & Wales claims to want? An informed and involved laity? Is it not the constant refrain that Vatican II was all about empowering the laity and getting on with collaborative ministry?

Well, how about their Lordships putting their money where their collective mouth is.

Transparency and accountability are the latest buzzwords, or so I'm reliably informed. It is about time that the laity in England & Wales got to hear what their Bishops are pondering... and not just after the event.

The Bishops' Conference of England & Wales is currently meeting in Leeds. I must have blinked, because I only found out that they were meeting because of the comparison with the U.S. Bishops' Conference - they have had their meetings, votes, discussions and what-have-you openly broadcast on TV, live-tweeted, blogged and sent round the internet.

Now, the proceedings of the Bishops' Conference might possibly be as exciting as watching paint dry... but we really ought to know what is being discussed. It will affect us, the laity. I suspect that quite a few priests might like to know what is being discussed as well... certainly Fr. Ray Blake thinks it would be a good idea to have more transparency.

I want to know what the Bishops are doing with regard to the new translation of the Missal, among other things.

If their Lordships really want an empowered laity, and want to engage in collaborative ministry, they need to provide information to the laity so they can be involved in discussions when it actually matters, not just after the event, when the decisions have been made. Knowledge is power, as the saying goes.

Time to get round the table and share...

Uh Oh...

Outright hostilities appear to have ceased, mainly because the two kittens have set up a coalition to defeat my toes. Skirmishes are still in evidence, however, and the two of them are currently charging around the flat after each other.

I fully expect to find the flat trashed in the morning. That is assuming they allow me to sleep...

Thanks for the prayers.

The Need For Free Speech...

I have been neglecting the blog of late, apart from a few kitty-updates, and so haven't posted anything on this subject sooner - though I did talk to a few people.

However, I just want to add my support for the petition to reform the libel laws in England. I'm not going to say anything more about it - it's been said already, and far more eloquently, by Red Maria, (she's written two other posts on the subject) James Preece, Fr. Finigan and others.

If you haven't done so already, go and sign the petition...

Kitty Capers...

I'm still unable to name my new arrival - T.S. Eliot really did have a point - and, checking the com-box of my previous post, I see a few possibilities...

Magnificat
Monsignor Guido Miaowrini
Cardinal Miaowro Piacenza
Sister Cat E Chism (or Kitty Chism)
Cardinale Miaowrini Timorous (or Miaowrini Timorpus)
Sister Carmel
Mother Angeliclaw
Mother Catbrini
Mother Priorpuss
Mother Superipaw
Sister Cat
Cardinal Pawtoghese
Cardinal Grotti

Several people have commented favourably on Monsignor Miaowrini, but I'm not sure it suits her. I shall wait to see if I get a few more suggestions.

By the way, it appears that she is a keen mouser...

A Cat-o-lick Dilemma...

As I have said, I am out for long periods during the day, and I don't want Monsignor Furretti to get lonely and bored - the flat will be trashed in a fortnight if I leave her completely alone. My initial plan - get two kittens from the same litter - was basically foiled when Catzinger croaked. Today I went to see if I could find a friend for Furretti.

I managed to find a cat of roughly the same age - not as easy as I'd have thought - and brought her home today. She's a black and white shorthair, very cute to look at, but she is incredibly timid. Every time I try and approach her, she shies away. In fact, she gets pretty nervous if I even turn to look at her, and scoots behind the armchair out of sight. I'd be happy to let her take her time, but she is wandering around, miaowing in a very plaintive manner, probably crying for her own litter-mates.

Anyway, this little kitty is another female. Her back paws are white "socks" while her front paws have a few white toes each. She has a white nose and muzzle, but a black chin, and a white bib on the front of her chest. She is about four months old, I think - just a little younger than Furretti.

Meanwhile, Furretti is throwing a strop. She is fascinated by the new arrival, but growls, hisses and spits in a most unwelcoming, antisocial way each time she approaches the newcomer. The hackles are definitely up, and battle will probably commence when I'm trying to get my much-needed beauty sleep.

I know, I know... it just needs time and patience...

I haven't come up with a suitable name. I had considered Catzinger II, but this kitty really doesn't look like a Catzinger. Cardinal Miaowro Piacenza was His Hermeneuticalness' suggestion, or Monsignor Guido Miaowrini was another of my ideas.

I've decided that I need to open it up to the com-box. Ground rules are simple - I don't want a name that could be considered a "real" person's name (like George, or Thomas) and it must be distinct from Furretti.

Thinking caps on, people...

Bishop Gene Robinson To Retire...

According to the report on the excellent LifeSite News, Episcopalian bishop Gene Robinson has announced he will be retiring "due to the strain of the controversy."

Ah, diddums...

Felix Fidei Defensor...?

It appears that Monsignor Furretti has taken her blessing seriously...

I had a copy of The Catholic Times which I had been looking at purely because I wanted to see if Monsignor Basil Loftus had really written an article stating that Christ's presence after the Resurrection wasn't a physical presence but a spiritual one. (He had.) This was before Fr. Finigan's excellent blog post on the subject... and it pretty much said everything I was thinking (and more) so I never got around to publishing my own post.

I also had a copy of The Remnant, which I get from Tom, one of our visiting schola members.

Monsignor Furretti, in one of the mad half-hours common to all kittendom, threw both papers onto the floor, examined them, and promptly shredded The Catholic Times, leaving The Remnant intact. I happened to tweet the event, and was told "Photos, or it didn't happen!"

So...

Red Maria thought Monsignor Loftus might consider issuing a writ against Monsignor Furretti... 

Towards Advent...

Last Saturday saw the tenth Towards Advent Festival of Catholic Culture at Westminster Cathedral Hall.

Despite having wanted to support this excellent event in previous years, I've always been doing something else, so I was delighted to realise that I could kill two birds with one stone, so to speak, and pop in en route to the Latin Mass Society's Annual Requiem.

I had intended to drive to North Greenwich and take the tube in to Central London... however, in the end, I decided to keep driving all the way to Victoria. I made excellent time - managing to miss some major demonstration or other which was due to close Parliament Square for most of the afternoon. Finding a place to park proved a little tricky. In desperation, I parked on a single yellow line, praying that it meant the same in Westminster as everywhere else (ie. restricted until 12noon on Saturdays - it was 1pm) and started hopping along the side of the Cathedral on my way to the hall.

I then spotted a free parking space which hadn't been there two minutes before when I had driven past. I was in a bit of a quandary... Should I go back and move my car to the better parking space (risking someone else swiping it while I tried), and maybe losing the space I already had, or should I stay put? While I hovered, Fr. Nicholas Schofield greeted me. This was just too good an opportunity to miss, and I begged him to guard the space for me, while I hopped back to my car. When I eventually got myself parked, Fr. Schofield told me he'd had to chase off two prospective space-snatchers!

I had deliberately brought coins for the parking meter. Alas, I realised that the meter in question was one of the new card-only ones... and I didn't have my cards with me. Just as I was about to panic, a friend from Blackfen, Wendy, turned up with her boys (the boys were going to serve at the Requiem Mass later) and offered to pay with her card... upon which we discovered that parking there was free at weekends, so we were both happy!

The Festival appeared to be going really well, and was extremely busy with people buying Christmas cards, Advent calendars, gifts, books and so on. I went round the stalls, asking if I could take photos, and chatting to various people I recognised, or who recognised me!

The Catholic Herald had a stall, and lots of people were stopping to chat and to collect a free newspaper... I felt a minor pang of sympathy for the poor soul manning The Suppository's stall - most people seemed to walk past very quickly, with eyes averted. It was only a minor pang... and not enough to make me want to stop or take a photo...

I was very pleased to meet, at long last, the incomparable Daphne McLeod who does such sterling work in defence of the family.

Fr. Clifton was at the second-hand bookstall, looking pretty chirpy despite the recent kerfuffle over his blog. It was good to hear that he wouldn't be giving up blogging completely.

To my delight and utter amazement, there was a stall selling items made from the Papal Tartan - the St. Ninian Tartan - and, since they'd sold out of scarves, and I don't go in for wearing ties, I got myself a pashmina... The chap on the stall didn't want to appear on the blog just yet, as he's only just starting his apostolate part time... (I didn't behead him accidentally, I wanted to show off his tie!) However, I shall give him a plug when the time comes.

I spotted Sir Dan of the Nesbitry on duty at the Faith Movement's stall, along with Joe Kelly, another good friend. Sir Dan was keen to know if I'd seen him on His Hermeneuticalness' blog following his latest Rome trip. Of course I had!

SPUC had a stall selling their excellent "proper" Christmas cards... I really dislike Christmas cards with reindeer, Santa, trees and whatnot, which ignores the whole point of Christmas - ie. the birth of Christ. I can tolerate angels (they feature heavily in the story, after all) and wise men and stars (even though they are a little later on in the narrative.) Anyhow, you can still order proper Christmas cards through the SPUC shop website.

Sadly, I didn't have as much time at the Festival as I'd have liked, because I wanted to get to the LMS Requiem Mass in the Cathedral... hopefully I'll get more time next year! Congratulations to all those involved.

Apologies...

I have been neglecting the blogs - both my own and others. I haven't been that much more busy of late, but it is extraordinarily difficult to type with one hand while holding a kitten in the other. Monsignor Furretti keeps slipping off my lap, and I am tired of getting scratched to ribbons when she attempts to stay in position. As I am out all day, it seems a bit mean to ignore her when I finally arrive home!

So far I have been unsuccessful in finding a suitable companion for her.

His Hermeneticalness doesn't want to lose his street cred by posting cat pictures - other than Pushkin of the Birmingham Oratory. However, he emailed me the ones he took after blessing Furretti...

More Kitten Stuff...

I've been writing a lot of cat-related posts of late, but people have been asking me how Monsignor Furretti is getting along, so here's the latest...

I'm not a fan of allowing animals into church - guide-dogs excepted. However, I always get important things blessed - especially my cars (well, the way I drive...) and important books. I happened to ask if it was possible to get animals blessed. His Hermeneuticalness informed me that there was indeed a blessing for animals in the Rituale... admittedly, it was for flocks and herds, but...

He also told me that St. Martin de Porres had founded a hospital for sick cats and dogs. On the strength of that sort of saintly example, I asked if, on the Feast of St. Martin, Furretti could be blessed.

It nearly didn't happen - the night before, Furretti had a rather upset stomach, and I wasn't sure if a car journey would be a good idea. However, on the Wednesday she seemed a bit better, and so I popped her into the cat carrier and drove to Mass.

I didn't take her into the church, but left her in the car. After Mass, I brought her into the Small Hall, and gave her a saucer of water. Fr. Tim then blessed her - surprisingly, she didn't object to being sprinkled with holy water - but I couldn't take a photo, as I was busy ensuring that she didn't find her way into the vestment cupboards. Fr. Tim did manage to get a photo of her afterwards.

Since then, Monsignor Furretti has been making steady progress.

Sylvester was too big to climb onto small shelves, and he was getting arthritic, so didn't tend to jump onto anything higher than my bed. Anything (other than food) which I didn't want him to get at would be safe left up on a shelf. Now, however, no matter how carefully I put things away on shelves (often behind other, larger things), she manages to climb onto the shelf and hook the objects out. Pens, memory sticks, rosaries, alarm clocks... Yesterday, she sat on a bookshelf and deliberately hooked out three books from the middle of the row and pushed them off the shelf onto the floor.

Strangely, despite the many statues I have on my shelves, I haven't found any of them on the floor... yet.

Furretti also has her appetite back.

Note to self: even though prawn crackers bear no resemblance to prawns, Furretti likes them. Despite the Chinese takeaway packing them in polythene bags, Furretti will open the bag with a single swipe of her claw, and she will then proceed to hook out a cracker and commence chewing...

Flash Mob At Macy's...

I posted before on the Flash Mob (I think that's the expression) that sang for passengers at Heathrow's Terminal 5 (as a commercial for T-mobile.) It must be quite something to get caught up in an event like this... I never seem to encounter this stuff.

In a similar vein, the inimitable Fr. Z posted a Random Act of Culture performed by the Opera Company of Philadelphia at Macy's Department Store...



Great though it was, I'm afraid that the Hallelujah Chorus has never quite been the same for me ever since I saw this version...

500 Crosses For Life...

Click on the image for more details, but basically, several pro-life organisations are getting together to hold a procession to mourn all the unborn children killed through abortion. It starts at 1:30pm at Westminster Cathedral, goes to Westminster Bridge and finishes at Westminster Abbey. I assume that means the procession will go round Parliament Square to the Bridge and then back round to the Abbey.

Please support this with your prayers if you can't get there in person...

Latest Appointment To Congregation For Divine Worship...

Monsignor Furretti ought, I think, to be appointed to the Congregation for Divine Worship...

She has already shredded the (paper) tablecloth I had on my altar, and it occurred to me that her talents (and talons) could be employed more fruitfully in various sacristies...

...such as the one that housed this, for example...

Twitch of the mantilla to Bad Vestments.

The Progress of Monsignor Furretti

I was warned that Monsignor Furretti might go the same way as Cardinal Catzinger, and told to keep a close eye on her. Unfortunately, she is definitely not herself... she's off her food and much quieter than she has been. At the risk of conjuring up images of the Dead Parrot Sketch, I think she is pining... albeit for her brother and not for the Norwegian fjords...

I was advised to leave it for ten days before getting another playmate for her, just in case there was a viral cause behind Catzinger's death (see, I told you the vet didn't know.) Personally, I think I need to get another kitten as quickly as possible, otherwise Furretti will get bored and lonely. It won't be quite so bad once she starts to go out, but right now she's cooped up in the flat... and even when I'm home, I can't spend all my time playing with her.

I'm also finding it difficult to judge whether she isn't eating because she's pining, because she's ill or because she doesn't like the food. I've tried lots of different types... she's so little that I'm loathe just to wait until she's hungry enough to eat what's available. I was eating a steak pie two nights ago, and she seemed interested in that... so much so that she nearly took my finger off when I relented and gave her a little sliver of steak (she hadn't eaten all day.) I also gave her some of my tinned tuna... this morning she ate the catfood, but she hasn't touched it since...

I'm probably worrying too much, and she'll probably eat if she gets hungry enough. There are kitten biscuits available, and water as well...

*sigh*

In the meantime, here is the Dead Parrot Sketch for those of you who don't know what I mean by "pining for the fjords" !



The audio version had a different ending: Palin says: "I got a slug." Cleese asks, "Does it talk?" Then, in a twist, Palin replies "Yeah!" and so Cleese says "Right, I'll take that one then!"