Monday, December 07, 2009

The icons arrive at St Mary`s

I`m delighted to say that the icon of the Annunciation arrived today for St Mary`s and I was able to get it installed straightaway in time for the Immaculate Conception tomorrow. This is the work of Sr Petra Clare who lives in the Sancti Angeli Benedictine Skete in Cannich, Inverness-shire. Many thanks to Davey and Derek who fitted them today: the same team that installed the hanging crucifix in SS Peter and Paul`s Longbenton a couple of weeks ago. Here are a few pictures although my camera doesn`t get the colours exactly right all the time




Many thanks to the parishioners of St Mary`s who have made this possible by their donations over the last few years.

22 comments:

1569 Rising said...

What a transformation, Father.

Inspiring.

Anonymous said...

Very nice indeed. However, they would look even nicer if you built a light screen in front of the altar and placed them on that.

Thomas More said...

Be careful Father Brown. If you carry on like this St Mary's might end up looking something like a church.

Has the 'chess set' been removed from the south wall yet?

Seeker said...

Father, I'm sure the photos don't do the icons justice, but even so it looks quite stunning to me. I'll have to see if I can't make a trip over to see them in situ.

berenike said...

wow :)

icon admirer said...

Ahhhhh I was trying to imagine them in situ and now I see. They do look beautiful and they must enhance the church no end.
I am an infrequent visitor and I don't remember all the details of your church, so "chess set"...?!!!

Pastor in Monte said...

How very splendid! Congratulations!

Augustinus said...

They look wonderful, Father. Congratulations.

derya said...

Father,
They look beautiful. I am happy for you and your parish.

Ben Whitworth said...

How beautiful. As it happens, the current issue (December) of 'Catholic Life' magazine carries an article about Sr Petra Clare, which (ahem!) I wrote.

Anonymous said...

Parishioners of St Mary's are extremely proud of our icons which were paid for by donations from generous parishioners of St Mary's parish, therefore I must point out how hurtful it is when Anonymous amongst others makes such comments as "Careful or you may make St Mary's start looking like a real church" or ridiculing the rest of the building. If they find it so offensive why bother coming to worship there, how unchristian of them they attend Latin Mass in what is after all our parish church then criticise and ridicule the place, surely it is not the look or contents of the building they should be bothered about but they reason why they are there "To Worship The Lord". So instead of harping on about the faults they see in St Mary's just stop and think of how the parishioners of St Mary's feel when they read these unpleasant and unwanted comments.

zachary Fisher-Lamb said...

The icons are indeed a splendid addition!
But how sad to see an unveiled tabernacle,and worse still that you clearly celebrate the Holy Sacrifice with your back to the Blessed Sacrament...at least in its former position this was avoided.

Fr Michael Brown said...

Zachary so you can drag yourself away from Private Eye?

I agree with you about the lack of a veil. I`ve have had one made but it doesn`t work on the sqquare tabernacle: it really needs a dome. As for celebrating with the back to the tabernacle I am aware of thaht and wondered if anyone would ever comment on it. It is not good and I suppose the best thing to do would be to celebrate facing the tabernacle but I don`t think the parish is ready for that as yet.

Anonymous Too said...

What Anonymous said fits on the other foot too. There are those who never wanted the icons, never wanted the recent move of the benches, never wanted incense or any Latin at English mass. They too should stop harping on about how much they dislike all that. Maybe they should stop concerning themselves with the way the building looks. If they find all thses things offensive maybe they should find somewhere else to worship - somewhere where they won't feel they have to keep making the priest's and other people's lives miserable by their constant barrages of complaints.

Pastor in Monte said...

All my three churches have tabernacles behind the high altar. I agree that this is not ideal, but it is a great deal better than hiding the Lord in some corner!
I cannot think that anyone (including our Lord) considers that I am celebrating Mass with my back deliberately to him, but rather that he has the chief place in the church, and that I, standing forward from his throne, celebrate in his person.

madame evangelista said...

'Anonymous' I'm grateful to you for pointing out how hurtful it is when others make fun of your church building. I know I've said snide things about other church buildings in the past (not St Mary's!) and will learn to be more respectful.

The icons are beautiful, and I hope you will enjoy their beauty for many years to come.

1569 Rising said...

This blog post is becoming so typically Catholic - sniping at each other, and veering far from the point. We are all agreed that the Icons are beautiful, an aid to devotion and an enhancement to the Church. Let's leave it at that.

It reminds me of the old story of theologians debating how many angels could sit on the end of a pin, while the church and the world goes to Hell in a handcart.

I am much more concerned at the very real, calculated and serious threat to the Church contained in this Government's Equalities Bill, as portrayed in the Catholic Herald article of last week end. This is yet another attack on the Church from an atheistic lobby which has real power now, and treats the Christian communities with total contempt. It must be stopped, but Harriet Harman seems to have the bit between her teeth, and will not be budged. The Commons is, of course, supine, and it is now up to the House of Lords to amend this Bill.

If it is not stopped, then all of Christianity in this country will be irrevocably, maybe fatally, damaged.

Anonymous said...

The latest blogger (1569 Rising) is so correct it is so silly and unchristian to waste time sniping about personal likes and dislikes when such important matters are in the pipeline, we all want our churches to be a beautiful home for our Father but this is not down to decor,icons or the situation of pews it is in the love and devotion we share and offer to the Lord and to our fellow worshipper's. Let this be an end to it, may I take this opportunity to wish all who visit this site a Happy, Holy and Peaceful Christmas. Gods Blessing on us all.

Fr Michael Brown said...

`Icon admirer`, the `chess set` Thomas More was referring to is the Stations of the Cross which are all on one wall and set out out in tow rows on each side. However they are set out more like draughts than chess pieces but you get thhe idea.

andypie said...

Wow, very beautiful.

Thomas More said...

The Angel Gabriel appears to be wearing an Alice Band or something similar and to have had the ring finger of his right hand amputated. Can anyone explain these things?

Fr Michael Brown said...

Thomas, you may find this explanation from Wikipedia for the fingers useful:

When an Eastern Orthodox or Eastern Catholic bishop or priest blesses with the sign of the cross, he holds the fingers of his right hand in such a way that they form the Greek abbreviation for Jesus Christ "IC XC". The little finger is extended to make the "I"; the index finger and middle finger are also raised, with the middle finger bent slightly so that the two fingers together form the "X"; the thumb touches the lowered third finger to signify the two "C"s.

As for the hair band I can`t think of anything except that it will be useful while flying I imagine to keep the hair out of the eyes! : )