Red Hat Arrives From Rome...

Last Sunday, Cardinal Furretti's red hat arrived from Rome, courtesy of Annie Elizabeth and family who acted as couriers.

Annie and her family were in Rome for the FIUV pilgrimage Mass at St. Peter's in thanksgiving for Summorum Pontificum. You can read her excellent summary of the pilgrimage procession and Mass, along with some stunning photographs over on her blog. There are also two very amusing (and impressive) video clips of her youngest child singing the Salve Regina and the Regina Caeli (yes, I know it's the wrong season, but he's only three!!) from the roof of St. Peter's.

I tried to photograph Furretti with the hat on, but she was so ecstatic at its arrival that she wouldn't let go...

LMS Requiem Mass...

I attended the Requiem Mass for deceased Latin Mass Society members and their families at Westminster Cathedral this afternoon. The Mass itself was wonderful. Despite being able to attend the Traditional Latin Mass every weekend at Blackfen, I like to go to these big Masses every now and then, to remind myself that I am part of the wider Church... as well as enjoying a bit of extra pomp and ceremony!

It's a shame that, given the occasion, the Bishop's sermon didn't reflect on the need for us to pray for the dead. There was a lot about the love and mercy of God, which is all well and good, but we also need to remember that Hell exists, and we need to make a conscious effort to avoid it. St. Bernadette was reported as saying that she feared languishing in Purgatory for lack of prayers for the repose of her soul after her death. If such a saintly individual was so concerned to have prayers and Masses offered, then we more fallible types should really bear it in mind...

Joe Shaw was taking plenty of photos, and I'm sure that they'll end up on his blog in due course...

Wonderful News...!

I am completely bowled over! Due to the generosity of one of my readers, I have been able to get a new computer!

I opted for an Acer laptop, as I thought it would be more versatile. I bought it this evening but couldn't play with it immediately as Rosary & Benediction was on this evening... and I wanted to say a prayer or two in thanksgiving. I am still getting to grips with Windows 8 (grrrr) but need to get to bed, as I have school in the morning.

So, blogging will resume very shortly. Watch this space!

Update...

The computer chappie has confirmed that my computer is well and truly dead. Something to do with a motherboard. Apparently it's cheaper to buy a new computer than fix the old one. But that's not an option right now... Ho hum. Could be worse...

Blogging Has Been Suspended...

My desktop computer has died, and I can't afford to get it fixed just now - or afford to get a new one. I can't blog from school, and blogging on my mobile phone is too much hassle. I hope to be back up and running soon!

I Don't Want To Jump On The Bandwagon, But...

Lots of stuff has been written about the recent woes of Dr. Tina Beattie. She has complained that there is a blog campaign against her, and that is the reason she has had a couple of speaking engagements cancelled. There are some excellent summaries out there - Mark Lambert has the most comprehensive round-up, including links to Dr. Beattie's cries of victimisation.

Time to call a spade a shovel, I think.

Yes, several bloggers have written posts decrying her opinions, and expressing relief that she will not be given a platform at Catholic institutions to air her opinions.

However, this is not the "sovietisation" of the Church. This is what happens when faithful, orthodox Catholics (who are, quite frankly, totally hacked off at having her personal opinions touted as being compatible with Catholic teaching) get to demonstrate their democratic right to exercise free speech. That's what blogs are for - they allow those of us who wish to do so (without the benefit of friends in the mainstream media to give us a platform) to express our views to a wider audience.

Dr. Beattie's invitations to speak are extended to her in her capacity as a Catholic theologian. After all, that's the billing she gets in The Tablet. It's the description she gets given in the mainstream media. No-one contacts me to ask if I will talk on the teachings of the Church - I have no official standing. She is asked to speak solely on account of her position. If the views Dr. Beattie holds and expresses are not in accord with the teachings of the Church, (although she is at total liberty to hold and express those views) then it is no surprise that the invitations to speak at Catholic institutions are withdrawn.

Hardly rocket science, is it?

Dr. Beattie can think, say and write whatever she wants. She has that freedom. But she can't do it and honestly claim to be speaking as an authority on Catholic theology.

Prayers From Papa Stronsay...

Now there's an offer you can't refuse!

The Community on Papa Stronsay are offering to pray for the deceased relatives and friends of anyone who asks. They even want to encourage prayer for dead enemies!

Just send an email with the names to the dedicated email address and the names will be printed off and placed near the tabernacle in the chapel, to be remembered at each Mass during the month of November.

The Community is a real prayer powerhouse, so get those names in! Free some more souls from Purgatory!

All Souls...

The Mass was totally awesome.* You could almost hear the cheering from Purgatory...

There are a few more photos (only a couple) on my Flickr page.

*Yes, the Mass is always awesome, but some times it's more awesome than others...

New Blog On The Block...

A brand new blog has come to my attention - and just for once it isn't a blog which I just haven't seen before. Matthaeus just started blogging on Sunday at Sub Umbra Alarum Suarum - though he has been a commenter for much longer. Do go over and welcome him to the Blogosphere.

He has a beautiful shot of a church or chapel as his background wallpaper which one just glimpses as the page loads. Very tantalising, and a promise of good things to come, I think...

Celebrating The Feast...

We really are very blessed at Blackfen. A week ago we started our Quarant'Ore celebrations and then had four Missa Cantatas in four days. Then Low Mass on the Monday. Today we had the first of another four Missa Cantatas - today's was for the Feast of All Saints.

We were very lucky to have a surprise visitor for the Mass - Clare from Brighton joined us, and sang with Julia and the choir. It sounded really wonderful. Singing is thirsty work, so a visit to the Parish Club afterwards was in order...

The servers proved to be a little camera-shy on this occasion.

Tomorrow we have a Missa Cantata for the Commemoration of the Holy Souls, then we have our regular First Saturday Missa Cantata and the usual Sunday parish Missa Cantata. Eight Missa Cantatas in eleven days is pretty impressive for a parish church...

All Saint, All Souls & The Month Of November...

The month of November is often portrayed as a gloomy one. In the Northern Hemisphere it is marked by cold, wet weather and grey skies. The nights are getting longer. The year is coming to a close, and it feels like everything is doom and gloom, with the Church's emphasis on death, the Holy Souls and Purgatory. The joyful celebration of the Feast of All Saints lasts a single day. The Holy Souls get a whole month...

And yet, in reality, the month of November, properly considered, should be a beacon of hope and light for us all. It shows us to what we aspire, and it shows us how we will, most probably, attain it.

We start with the great Feast of All Saints. A glimpse of heaven, it is the Church Triumphant, and we are given a chance to honour all our favourite patron saints, but also, more importantly, we are given the opportunity to celebrate the many saints who are unrecognised...

There are two categories, I like to think, of unrecognised saints. The first one is that of the really saintly individuals who just don't attract a cultus after their death. They will never be canonised because the Church needs a couple of miracles (at least) before that happens, and it is rare that miracles are granted unless we ask for them. Without groups of people actively praying to the deceased for those miracles, and campaigning for the Church to recognise them as saints, the individuals just never make it "onto the books." We may be fortunate in our lives to meet such individuals and to recognise their saintly qualities, but they are the hidden saints.

The second category is, for me, the more interesting one, because it is where most of us hope (and expect) to end up. We all want to be saints (well, anyone who believes in an afterlife, that is.) We just might not describe it that way. Think about it - when was the last time you heard anyone actually declare that they want to go to hell for all eternity? By definition, everyone who is in heaven is a saint. Today is the day to celebrate the mercy and love of God that allows us to hope that we might one day scrape in. All Saints' Day also celebrates all those who have ended up in heaven after their time of purification in Purgatory, and, as such, is a celebration of "the hope which is in us".

Our sins mean that we deserve to go to hell, because all sin is an affront to God. But through the mercy of God, those of us who have not separated ourselves from him by unrepented mortal sin can still hope for heaven. Purgatory is where we are made fit to be in God's presence - it is a gift to us, as we would be unable to bear being in his presence if there was the least stain of sin on our souls. This is the Church Suffering - though every soul in Purgatory rejoices in that suffering which allows them to get to heaven. And so, tomorrow, we celebrate the fact that Purgatory exists - All Souls' Day is even more dear to me than All Saints' Day, and the two are inseparable.

The thing is that the Holy Souls in Purgatory can do nothing for themselves. The process of purification is beyond their control. The Church, however, allows us to help. The prayers and penances offered by us, the Church Militant, for the Holy Souls gets them to heaven. Every Plenary Indulgence offered on their behalf brings a soul out into the Beatific Vision for all eternity. Plenary Indulgences applied to one's own soul only last until the next venial sin - so, for most of us, it is a fleeting benefit!

November, with the extra emphasis placed by Holy Mother Church on prayers for the Souls in Purgatory, is a month of great rejoicing.

This Explains Rather A Lot...

I had heard from several sources that Bishop Kieran Conry was rather resistant to the celebration of Mass in the Extraordinary Form, and that, as a result, requests for the TLM in Arundel & Brighton weren't encouraged (to put it politely) despite the provisions of Summorum Pontificum.

Having read a summary of the Bishop's thinking on the Mass at the time of the Reformation, it all becomes clear.

If, as Bishop Conry appears to, one believes that:

"...over the centuries, and especially after the Protestant Reformation, many of the elements of the Mass had become obscured. Much of this was a consequence of the continued use of Latin, which served to alienate and distance people from the action of the Mass"

then obviously one would be very averse to its continuation.

Unfortunately, Bishop Conry appears not to have read Eamon Duffy's classic, The Stripping of the Altars, which paints a very different picture of faith and worship among the laity in England and Wales.

He also doesn't appear to have read The Spirit of the Liturgy by Pope Benedict (written when he was Cardinal) or else he wouldn't talk about the priest having his back to the people.

Even more unfortunately, the Bishop doesn't appear to have paid any attention to the documents of Vatican II either... you know, the ones which called for Latin to be retained in the Mass, and Gregorian chant to be given pride of place (among other things)...

Pray for the Bishop. And pray for his flock.

New Cardinal For England & Wales...

In a shock announcement, it seems that there is, after all, to be a new Cardinal created for England & Wales.

My saved friend, Eccles, gave details of the six new Cardinals to be appointed in the next consistory, and, at first sight it appeared that England & Wales was not to be honoured. However, this was actually an administrative error, so there has been a special catsistory, held for the specific purpose of awarding a red hat for England & Wales.

I can reveal that the new Cardinal was none other than Monsignor Mastai-Furretti.

Cardinal Furretti is reported as being rather chuffed by the news, though she did want to send her condolences to Archbishop Vincent Nichols, who has lost out on yet another red hat opportunity...

Mgr. Guido Miaowrini was unavailable for comment. She is sulking. I will probably find a headless pigeon in my bed shortly...

Bara Brith...

Some time ago, Leutgeb had promised to bring back a sample of the spotty Welsh bread for which her blog is named.

The loaf made its appearance during a quick restorative drink in the Parish club, just after the second Missa Cantata of the Quarant'Ore on the Friday evening...

Celebrant, singers and a couple of servers were all in need of sustenance after the Mass, so the loaf didn't last long. One solitary slice remained, with all of us eyeing it hungrily, wondering who would make the first move. We decided to divide it equally...

As you can see, it proved to be delicious...

Feeling Lost...

Well, that's the end of the Quarant'Ore at Blackfen for another year. It's very strange, but, as the Blessed Sacrament is reposed in the Tabernacle after being exposed for the forty hours, there is a terrible sense of loss. I'm not the only person to have noticed it - and yet, Our Lord hasn't gone anywhere. He still awaits us in the Tabernacle of every church, and at every Mass.

I said it in my last post, and I'll say it again - it really is a tremendous privilege to be able to assist at the Forty Hours, even if only for a short time.

You can read Fr. Tim's account of it, and see a few more photos taken during the Forty Hours over on Flickr.

Quarant' Ore At Blackfen...

On Thursday we are starting our annual Forty Hours' Exposition, commonly known as the Quarant' Ore. It's a wonderful event. It starts with Mass, and a Procession, and a Litany, and then Our Lord is exposed on the Altar for Adoration for the next forty hours (hence the name.) Then everything finishes with another Mass, Litany, Procession and Benediction (I think... I'm a bit hazy on how it ends because I'm usually keeping my eyes open with matchsticks by this point...)

It is a tremendous privilege for the Parish to have the Quarant'Ore. People can come along to the church whenever they can, for as long a time as they want... or, if only for a few minutes, that's ok as well. If you are fortunate enough to be able to attend at the end, there is a palpable sense of loss as the Blessed Sacrament is reposed in the Tabernacle. It is incredibly moving.

It reminds me of my own return to the Church, twenty years ago - and it's as vivid as if it was yesterday - I became aware that Our Lord is waiting for each one of us, waiting for us to turn and face him, to spend some time with him, to invite him into our lives. He will never force himself upon us, he just waits for us to recognise him and accepts whatever acknowledgement we give him.

It rather brings a lump to my throat just thinking of how immensely patient he is with us.

Now What...?

Rorate Caeli reports that Bishop Williamson has been expelled from the SSPX. Given how close the SSPX seemed to get to being brought back into full communion with Rome (is that the right term?), it will be interesting to see if this makes any difference.

No, I don't really understand all the ins and outs of the situation. Archbishop Lefevre defied Rome and ordained priests and bishops - and Bishop Williamson was one of those bishops. If he now goes off and ordains priests and bishops, will there be another breakaway group? And what happens next?

I do, however, hope this paves the way for reconciliation of the SSPX...

I also wish that someone would write an idiot's guide explaining the whole thing...

Requiescat In Pace...

When I saw Bernini's Elephant Obelisk in Rome last May, it reminded me of my dear friend Quentin, who blogged as Dominic Mary. He loved hippopotamuses (should that be hippopotami?) but elephants came a close second, and he posted a series of elephant photos when they appeared as part of a temporary outdoor exhibition around London.

Today's Latin Mass at Blackfen was offered for the repose of his soul - it's his anniversary - so it seemed like a good time to post my photo of Bernini's Obelisk as a tribute...

You can see some more photos I took during my visit to Rome over on Flickr. I've still got two days' worth of photos to label, but you can have a look at what I've done so far...

Lourdes Water...

The Grotto at Lourdes, the site where Our Lady appeared to St. Bernadette, is currently under about 3 feet of water.

After days of torrential rain, the River Gave burst its banks, and pilgrims were evacuated from nearby hotels along with about 40 people who were forced to leave their homes.

The basilica itself is still accessible, according to the report on CNA. I assume they mean the Immaculate Conception basilica and Crypt, at the top of the ramps, rather than the Rosary Basilica itself, which is on the lower level, though, as the entrance to the Rosary basilica is up some steps, it's just possible that this is above the level of the flooding.

I love Lourdes, and have been there on pilgrimage several times. Being in a mountainous region, it does get rather a lot of rain. When I went there in 2009, it was pretty wet... it rained so hard one afternoon that my mascara was washed down my cheeks. I made sure I wore waterproof mascara after that. The locals were speculating then on whether the Gave would burst its banks, and we were told that Brancardiers had been piling up sandbags along the banks on the opposite side to the Grotto. I took a photo of the bridge across the Gave near the Grotto...

And, for comparison, here's a photo of the bridge in 2010:

You can see how much more space there is under the bridge. You can also see how high the wall is on the Grotto side of the river. The current downpour is said to be the worst in 25 years.

The photo below is a shot of the Grotto, taken from the point at which St. Bernadette had been kneeling when she saw Our Lady (if I recall correctly) - and I've included this one because of the altar and the candle stand. Admittedly, the stand does change in height depending on which candles are placed in it...

And now, for comparison, have a look at the following pictures of the Grotto yesterday... Check out the top of the altar in the first picture...

Twitch of the mantilla to Fr. Ray Blake for those last two photos.

CNA had the following video clips from Friday, showing the rising water levels. It's heartbreaking to watch.

Fortunately, there don't seem to have been any deaths, and at least this happened at the end of the pilgrimage season, so those affected will have some time to get things sorted out before next year.

The webcams in Lourdes are down at the moment, due to the flooding. Pray for all the pilgrims, and all those who live and work in Lourdes.

More About Cats...

Photo: Steve Back, Daily Telegraph

Maybe it is something to do with the weather...

It seems as though my two Monsignori are not the only kitties with relationship problems. Larry, the Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office at Number 10 Downing Street, had a spat with his next-door neighbour, Freya, the First Moggy of the Treasury.

Police were called to break it up. No-one, other than the two protagonists, knows whether "Hiss. Spit. Snarl. Miaow" translates as "You don't run this government, you plebs" and Google Translate doesn't have "Cat" as an option (yet) which is possibly why there have been no calls for the resignation of either Larry or Freya.

Larry does have form. His first major photocall was marked (literally) by him scratching a reporter. He also doesn't seem to be particularly effective at his job. I have only heard of one dead mouse being presented to David Cameron during the whole of Larry's time in office. A simple glance at the sidebar tally (Kitty Kill Count) will demonstrate what really keen kitties can achieve. The Opposition appears to be woefully negligent in not calling for a full enquiry...

In other news, my Monsignori appear to have called a truce. They actually rubbed heads and noses yesterday, and Furretti licked Miaowrini's tail. At the time of writing, Miaowrini is curled up on the sofa and Furretti is sprawled out above the computer monitor. It won't last...