Prayers For The Bishop...

Bishops have an unenviable task, that of leading the flock entrusted to them by Christ. Not a job I'd care for - I have enough problems shepherding my own soul.

So please, of your charity, pray for the repose of the soul of John Jukes, OFM Conv., Auxiliary Bishop of Southwark, who died earlier today.

Requiescat in Pace.

Bones Brings Out The B-Side...

Bones has much to answer for...

His Hermeneuticalness has been singing "Some more, some more, Summorum Pontificum" over and over. I now can't get the refrain out of my head. If ever I came close to throttling a cleric, today was the day.

As he promised, Bones has released the follow-up - "Across Universae Ecclesiae," which, IMHO is much better...



"Save the the Liturgy and save the World!"

Food For Thought...

At this time of year His Hermeneuticalness treats us to our annual reminder about the Four Last Things. We had Death at the beginning of November, followed by Judgement. Today it was time for Hell.

As often happens, one thing resonated for me. This week it was the fact that God has given us time. We get this stretch of time given to us in which we can repent of our sins and bad decisions and poor judgements.

Mulling this over, I was struck by a sudden thought: Time only affects the physical universe - it's measured in terms of the Earth spinning on its axis and orbiting the Sun... or, if you're more up-to-date, by atoms decaying. All physical stuff.

The angels didn't get given the luxury of time.

We really shouldn't waste such a unique and precious gift. We need to make the best use of it - for our eternal salvation - that we can.

Just a thought.

Calendar Clash...

Today happened to see the Towards Advent Festival and the Annual Requiem for deceased LMS members. Both were due to happen at Westminster Cathedral, and I had high hopes of once more scooting along to the Festival for a bit before toddling along to the Requiem Mass.

Alas, I'm still feeling rather grim. I decided that I was too ill to get to the Low Mass at Blackfen, and that sitting in a cold church for the period of Adoration wouldn't do me any good at all, and so I stayed in bed all morning. I had considered journeying to London by public transport for the events in London, but it looked jolly cold outside, and I decided that it wasn't a good idea...

I opted to do the politically incorrect thing and drive all the way. Naturally, it being Saturday, my journey was seriously impeded by roadworks, but I understand from Annie (we chatted briefly after Mass) that there were quite a lot of engineering works on the trains as well, so I wouldn't have been any better off. Sadly, the delay meant that I didn't have time to go to the Towards Advent Festival (though I did bump into Fiorella afterwards - she had apparently been signing books) and I was a little late for the Mass itself. I met quite a few friends there afterwards, including Seán from Juventutem London who stopped to chat briefly, and I spotted Paul Smeaton there too.

The Mass was beautiful - every Mass is beautiful, really, but this was Mass "with all the trimmings." There was a point after Communion where all the sacred ministers and servers were moving around the sanctuary in total silence in what appeared to be an exquisitely choreographed manner, and I was quite overwhelmed by it all - the majesty and, at the same time, the simplicity (it was, after all, a Requiem.) Stunning.

I wasn't allowed to take photos (the one above is actually from last year), so I shall link to Joseph Shaw's collection as soon as he overcomes his computer glitches and puts them online...

Another Blogging Cleric...

It seems that Fr. Bede Rowe has been blogging on the Q.T.

Do go over to read his very entertaining blog - A Chaplain Abroad - which details some of the things he's encountered in his role as chaplain of Chavagnes International College.

I had no idea he was blogging... I do wish people would tell me stuff like that, or leave a comment or something...

*grumble, grumble... rhubarb... mutter*

Feline Fellowship...

Monsignors Furretti and Miaowrini are pleased to announce that Pushkin the Oratory cat has published a book of his exploits, including the time he met the Holy Father..

The book launch is to be held on Monday 21st November (just in time for the Christmas market) and all proceeds from the sale of the book will go towards providing a more snug, warm and dry Oratory for Pushkin to dwell in more comfortably. Apparently there was flood damage last year, and no cat should be expected to have to put up with damp conditions.

The Monsignori  have asked me to pass on their best wishes, though they were just a little miffed that, despite senior clerical rank, they were not invited to the press launch. I shall probably have to placate them with morsels of smoked salmon...

A Neat Bit Of Evangelisation...

"On the Cross, Jesus said, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' Why would he say that if he knew he was God?"

That question is quite a common one, in my experience. Most people in Catholic schools know enough of the Gospels to throw something similar at you, triumphantly, as if it would completely undermine the faith as taught for two thousand years. After all, people in the past were just dumb, weren't they?

Even the devil can quote Scripture.

I think that what we have lost is the idea of Tradition. Tradition now tends to be associated with stuffiness, and harking back to the bad old days, and being against progress. However, the living Tradition of the Catholic Church is very different. It is the knowledge, passed down through the centuries, (NOT "old wives' tales") which fleshes out the accounts in the Gospels - the things which St. John records as being too numerous to write down.

Stuff that people just used to know.

Of course, with modern teaching methods, one can never "just know" anything - one has to be able to give chapter and verse - reasons for one's knowledge. Not just so-and-so said, and I trust them to tell me the truth, but actual reasons, and anyway one must always recognise that this is just one opinion among many...

I think that, since the sort of biblical exegesis we've seen with the New Jerusalem Bible and its ilk - exegesis which depends on treating the Scriptures as dead documents to be translated as "accurately" as possible - we have lost the idea of the Scriptures as the living Word of God, interpreted through the Church's Tradition. I said this once before, when I noticed that the writings of the saints about Scripture passages didn't appear to correspond to the meanings given to those same passages today... which is why I tend to prefer the Douay-Rheims version of the Bible when looking stuff up. That's the version the Church used for most of her history.

Anyway, Pat Archbold has obviously found a brilliantly inspired way to answer the question about Jesus' cry from the Cross. He managed to identify the modern-day equivalent of common knowledge and tradition and apply it. I have to admit that I didn't get the cannoli reference - not being an American male brought up on the Godfather films - but I'm sure there are other frames of reference which could be substituted...

Kitty Conundrum...

I've been stuck at home this week, curled up under the duvet. I've gotten out of bed to feed the cats, and that's about it. I've mostly been asleep.

This afternoon I started to take a bit more interest in my surroundings. I heard the catflap bang, followed by a high-pitched squeak, and some scampering from two excitable kitties.

I decided to go and rescue the mouse rather than listen to it being tortured... or even to hear it escaping somewhere in the flat.

The cats heard me coming, one of them grabbed mousie and both shot back out through the catflap, presumably to continue elsewhere.

I guess that's a live mouse for the Kitty Kill Count. But my two Monsignori are certainly doing better than Larry, Number 10's (rather inefficient) Rodent Removal Operative. Three mice since February?? Is that all?? Mine have only had hunting licences since April, and even if you divide their spoils by two...

(BTW, the cats just came back with another mouse... or possibly the same one. I managed to rescue it this time...)

A Minor Victory...

After all the hype and media interest, and all the millions of pounds invested in research which would, apparently, be the answer to prayer for thousands of patients, it has finally dawned on one major research company that human embryonic stem cell therapies don't work, while adult stem cell research is producing the goods.

Of course, that's not quite the way the spin is playing.

Officially, Geron, a California-based company responsible for carrying out the world's first official trial using embryonic stem cells, has decided to pull the plug on the research because of the "current environment of capital scarcity and uncertain economic conditions."

Medical research companies don't "just stop" following particular avenues of research after ploughing millions into it. Not when they get as far as human patient trials.

In other words, despite all the money being poured in, the results aren't forthcoming.

Twitch of the mantilla to Luke Coppen (Editor of the Catholic Herald) who tweeted this one earlier.

Calling All Pregnant Women...

The Good Counsel Network does wonderful work in helping to support women through crisis pregnancies, many of whom might have gone on to have an abortion without the support GCN gives.

The workers at GCN have noted that many women really do change their views on abortion when they get to see the reality of their unborn baby through an ultrasound scan. It's much harder to kid yourself that it's just a blob of tissue, or just a ball of cells when you can see fingers, toes, a heartbeat...

Anyway, GCN have an ultrasound machine. But they need help in training people to operate it. So they're asking for women who are between 5 and 13 weeks pregnant to volunteer for a scan. No cost, a free scan and a picture of the baby to keep, and travel expenses can be refunded. The scan is supervised by a qualified consultant. The only snag is that the GCN need women to phone to book a scan on 020 7723 1740.

This is a very easy way in which you can support the work of the Good Counsel Network, so please consider helping if at all possible.

Gender Differences...

Someone once told me that a priest (or possibly a bishop, I can't remember) declared that the implementation of the Novus Ordo would result in a Mass attendance comprised of women and children.

On a purely subjective level, I have noticed that there seems to be a much more balanced attendance at the Extraordinary Form Mass than at the Ordinary Form, and far more men at the former than at the latter...

Now there are many more options in the Ordinary Form - and I'm rather interested if it is the ad orientem worship which causes the difference, or the use of Latin, or just the fact that the usus antiquior hasn't been denuded of all the extras, such as the preparatory prayers, and that there aren't any "options."

The polls are in the sidebar - do go across and vote. I'm interested in your preferences, not what you actually attend.

Too Many Cat Posts...!

Well, I don't care, because I seem to be in good company...

I wonder if the kitty gets to put the im-paw-matur on all documents? Or should that be the im-purr-matur? I shall have to go back and check with Fr. Z on his blog - What Does the Purr Really Say? Fr. Tim might also wish to express an opinion over at The Purrmeneutic of Continuity...

Twitch of the mantilla to Terry Nelson for the photo.

Time For Another Cage Match...?

First of all came the epic Trial-by-Kitty of The Remnant versus the Catholic Times. Monsignor Furretti, despite her youth, showed great discernment, and the Remnant survived. Then the Inquisition moved on to consider the case of The Catholic Herald versus The Suppository. A two-kitten panel of Monsignori decided very firmly in favour of shredding the latter... if cats had thumbs they'd probably have arranged an auto da fe, but one works with the tools God has provided.

It has been suggested that perhaps it is time for some further suitable test of orthodoxy for my two hooligans as they enter the cat equivalent of teenagerdom. Any suggestions?

Help Prevent Abortion Provision Being Imposed As A Duty...

John Smeaton has alerted people to plans, under the Health & Social Care Bill, to introduce statutory regulations forcing Local Authorities to provide abortions as part of the new NHS arrangements. This will create a conflict for any councillor who objects to abortion. Regulations forcing Councils to set up contracts with abortion providers (NHS or private) would also create the false idea that there is a legal right to abortion.

Please write to your local councillors asking them to write to their chief executive requesting clarification of what the regulations will require. It is important that no statutory duty to commission abortions should be imposed on Local Authorities under the NHS reforms.

Renewing My Vows...

I made private vows nine years ago. Some of my friends at the time were horrified - "What if Mr. Right turns up tomorrow?" I pointed out that he'd be Mr. Wrong, because he was too late: God got there first! I can honestly say that I haven't regretted my decision.

I'm renewing my vows next month (I don't need to renew my vows, they are permanent as far as I'm concerned) which makes an excellent excuse for a party. It'll be on 3rd December, which is the first Saturday, so that means that we have our monthly Missa Cantata and visiting schola. The Mass starts at 10:30am, and is finished about 11:30am, and I will renew my vows after Mass. There will be a bit of a party in the large hall, and then solemn sung Vespers at 2:30pm to finish up.

You are all most welcome. It would be helpful to know numbers (for catering purposes) but don't let that put you off if you suddenly find you're free...

Praying For The Dead...

Each year we have a ceremony for blessing graves in the parish. It's a very moving occasion, and, after praying for all the dead, Fr. Tim walks around, blessing any graves that people ask him to bless. The visit to a cemetery in the first week of November has a plenary indulgence attached, so, although there is a feeling of sadness, there is also some joy in the knowledge that, just by going to the cemetery and saying a prayer for the faithful departed, souls are freed from Purgatory.

Do remember to pray for the forgotten souls in Purgatory as well as for your loved ones...

November Kicks Off...

First of all a Missa Cantata at Our Lady of the Rosary Blackfen for the Feast of All Saints. Stirring stuff as Leutgeb would probably say - she's good at penning short, succinct phrases to capture the moment. I realise that it's probably very unfashionable of me, but I really do like the Missa de Angelis... though I'm not quite as keen on Credo III.

And then, this evening we had another Missa Cantata for the Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed, better known as All Souls' Day. Also stirring - but in a very different way: the propers are plaintive, mournful and very moving, while the Dies Irae thunders out, warning of the fate which, but for the mercy of God, awaits each of us.

The cherry on top of this wonderful treat consists of the opportunities for obtaining a Plenary Indulgence at the start of November, either for oneself (which always strikes me as a little bit of a waste in my case, unless I was fortunate enough to get in there just before I went to meet my Maker, as all the merits would, no doubt, disappear within the first five minutes as I succumbed to one or other of my besetting sins) or, more usefully, for one of the Holy Souls... perhaps for the most forgotten soul who has no-one to pray for him.

If you weren't lucky enough to get an EF Mass with all the trimmings ("Ablutions* at the Catafalque" as Zephy is wont to say!) then you can always get your fix by looking at the YouTube video I made with last year's photos...

*Yes, I know it's absolutions at the Catafalque, as does Zephyrinus, when he's sober...

The Advent Of... Well... Advent...!

Joanna Bogle sent an email round to remind us that, along with Advent itself, the Towards Advent Festival is rapidly approaching. It's on Saturday 19th November at Westminster Cathedral Hall.

The Festival opens at 10 am, and there will be a formal opening at 10:30 am with the Gallery Choir of the Cathedral Choir School. The Hall will be packed with stalls and displays from lots and lots of Catholic groups and organisations, and there will be books, DVDs, holy cards, Christmas stuff, statues, rosaries, and more on sale. I wrote about last year's Festival (and posted some pics too!)

This year the main speaker will be Mgr. Keith Newton of the Ordinariate - he's on at 1:30pm. I suspect that a lot of people will want to go and hear him.

Although admission to the Festival is free, there is a charge of £2 to attend the talks.

That Extra Hour...

I hate the changing of the clocks. It irritates me - I honestly can't see the point. London is on the Prime Meridian, zero degrees longitude... all time zones throughout the world use Greenwich Mean Time as the baseline.

Monkeying about with the clocks each year so that we can have British Summer Time is pretty pointless. The guff about the changing of the clocks giving us an extra hour's daylight is complete rubbish - we have exactly the same amount of daylight as we would get without changing the clocks...

Another excuse is that the number of road accidents with children on their way to school in the early morning darkness is reduced. I wonder why the accident rate for children going home in the dark evenings doesn't matter?

It annoys me because, just as my body is adjusting to light levels in the summer mornings, I suddenly have my body rhythms interrupted by the jump forward. My body tells me it's 6am... but the alarm clock says 7am. Somehow or other the extra hour "gained" in the autumn doesn't seem to register in the same way.

As for moving the clocks so as to be on the same time zone as Europe, well, that's just crazy!

Ok, rant over. I just had to get that off my chest.

BTW, we return to GMT tonight, so the clocks go back an hour. I wonder if the kitties will try to wake me up for breakfast...

Better Late Than Never...

Having been ridiculously busy of late, and unusually disinclined to go anywhere near my computer during my week off, I have suddenly realised that I never did get around to publishing my photos from the recent LMS pilgrimage to Aylesford.

Very remiss of me.

The music was a real treat - and there was a thrill associated with the thought that it had been composed by a contemporary of St. Simon Stock, the founder of the shrine at Aylesford. The Kyrie has to be the longest I have ever encountered: I have never been at a Mass where the celebrant gets to sit down while waiting to get to the Gloria!

The Mass was in the Relic Chapel. During the sermon, Fr. Tim reminded us that St. Simon's skull was kept in the reliquary behind the altar...

I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with Aylesford. I am astonished by how little is made of the fact that this is the place where St. Simon Stock had a vision of Our Lady, and then started the devotion of the Brown Scapular. The place is relatively close to where I live, only 45 minutes down the motorway, but I don't go there as often as I could - mostly because I associate the place with dreadful diocesan liturgy and horrible school trips... and damp (which makes my joints ache.) However, none of these factors were in evidence for the LMS pilgrimage!

Part of the fun of pilgrimages is getting to meet up with friends - I discovered that Paul Smeaton had apparently let the side down by turning up without a tie. His punishment was to be forced to model the proposed new Juventutem London tie by Seán... I sincerely hope that was a joke, as the tie has got to be one of the most ghastly items I have ever encountered...

After the Mass I had a lovely chat with the Reluctant Sinner, though we had to make a mad dash back so as to make it back for Fr. Tim's talk.

After the talk, we finished the pilgrimage with Benediction...

I didn't take many photos on this occasion, but Joseph Shaw took lots, and they can be found on his excellent Flickr site. I even found a photo of me which I consider acceptable...

(I'm the blonde wearing black, on the right-hand side, with a mantilla...)