Mass at the Little Sisters of the Poor, Newcastle

Tonight there will be a Missa Cantata in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite at the chapel of the Little Sisters of the Poor, Westmorland Road, Newcastle at 7pm. This is in response to a request from a group of residents in the home. It has taken two and a half years of negotiation to bring this about so we hope all goes well. Thanks to David O`Neill for working to bring this about.

Madame Evangelista

I`m delighted to see Madame Evangelista is back. You can find her new blog here. The first few posts are a little on the ranting side as Madame admits. (I`m glad to see Forest Murmurs manages to get a vote of confidence however.) As usual there is plenty of food for thought and Madame offers an interesting perspective on Catholic life.

Schola Borealis

Just a reminder that the Schola Borealis will be singing at Brinkburn in Northumberland next weekend when they present a day of Benedictine office.

O BLESSED CROSS!

A GREGORIAN CHANT WORKSHOP
AT BRINKBURN PRIORY
ON SATURDAY 2ND MAY
(10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.)


MUSIC FROM THE RICH BENEDICTINE
HERITAGE CONCLUDING WITH FIRST
VESPERS OF THE FINDING
OF THE HOLY CROSS

LED BY THE SCHOLA BOREALIS
ALL WELCOME, WHETHER EXPERIENCED
OR COMPLETE BEGINNERS
THE WORKSHOP IS FREE BUT THERE IS AN ADMISSION CHARGE TO THE ENGLISH HERITAGE SITE
FURTHER DETAILS FROM DOROTHY ALLEN
TEL: 0191-520 3231OR BY E-MAIL FROM: alan@scottishgregorian.org.uk

After dinner

The Fathers and other conference members in song after the formal dinner at Ushaw on 22/04/09!

Private Masses at Ushaw

I have taken these from the Middlesborough LMS blog for anyone who may not have seen them there. Many thanks to Roydosan.

More pictures from Ushaw

The first two are from the High Mass on Monday:





Fr Elkin, a former student at the college and parish priest of Barnard Castle, celebrates Missa Cantata of St Anselm on Tuesday.


The sacristy ready for private Masses on wednesday

More when I get them. Thanks to Leo Darroch (LMS committee member and president of the International Federation Una Voce) for the photographs.

LMS Conference at Ushaw

Words can`t express how marvellous this week at Ushaw has been. I realise that part of this for me was that having been a student there for five years I never thought to see St Cuthbert`s chapel and the other altars used for the Extraordinary Form Mass. Nor did I ever expect to celebrate a High Mass on the high altar.

There was so much to enjoy: coming down in the mornings and seeing a hive of activity in the sacristy as priests got ready to say their private Masses or others returned from their altars; seeing the Masses in progress as I made my way to an altar, singing the offices of Lauds and Vespers; finally seeing the throne above the high altar used for the Blessed Sacrament during Benediction; the company of about thirty like-minded priests; the dedication of the altar servers; the beauty of the chant; the wonderful organ playing of Peter Locke; Byrd`s four-part Mass today; the fabulous vestments provided by Richard Luzar; the good food and the glorious weather on Monday and Wednesday. I can`t wait to do it all again next year.

Oh yes there was teaching as well. I was teaching an advanced Low Mass group. It is over twenty years since I studied the rubrics so I found it as useful for myself as I hope my group of three found it. I discovered I`d been making quite a few mistakes!

Well done the Latin Mass Society, and especially Paul Waddington, for all his work in making it all happen.

To Ushaw

On a brighter note I am looking forward very much to the week ahead at Ushaw. Twenty-one priests have signed up for the LMS training course and I look forward to a week with good company. The first item on the timetable is Solemn High Mass tomorrow at 11am and I have the privilege of being celebrant: I never thought I`d see the day when I would do this at the high altar in St Cuthbert`s chapel.

During the week I was contacted by the Schola Gregoriana of Cambridge`s organiser of their study weekend at Ushaw in June where I`ll be subdeacon at another High Mass, so that is something else to look forward to.

Let`s hope the LMS conference goes very well and becomes an annual event.

Easter and Holy Week: reaction

Last week I was pleasantly surprised by how many people in the parish came forward and said how much they enjoyed the music at the Easter Masses. This week a very nice lady in the nicest possible way told me she though it was terrible and why couldn`t there have been a Gloria and Sanctus that everyone could join in, like today when we had the Salazar Gloria? Apparently 80% of people in the parish agree with her. (Given that `Chant Sunday` is one Sunday a month that means that the 20% who do like it get 25% of the available Sunday Masses so that seems ok.)

I sighed. Why can there not be some give and take? Why can people not be tolerant of the likes of others and try to accommodate them rather than seek to eliminate anything that is not to their liking. As parish priest I give the green light to all kinds of things I don`t find to my taste but which I recognise are important to others. We have plenty of music with guitar but once a month we have some chant, which, as yet, people don`t join in. Previous to my appointment here this wasn`t a problem as I had a weekly Latin Mass and left the OF Masses alone. That made me happy and those who didn`t want to go to the Latin Mass had the OF Masses to go to. (Although it should be said I had constant pressure from those who regarded the presence of the EF Mass in their parish as a grave embarrassment and they did their best to stop it. However while it was decided to move me, the EF Mass continues in the parish and last Sunday even replaced the 9am English Mass, which if I`d done would have produced a deluge of letters to bishop`s house.)

However it does get rather wearing but I`m afraid I won`t be put off and hope that one day ears and hearts may be opened to the beauty of Gregorian chant.

Easter and Holy Week

I have just about recovered from the last week sufficiently to drag myself to the computer keyboard. According to the Tablet this week I shouldn`t even have the time to do that. Robert Mickens, the Rome correspondent, has this little outburst about priest bloggers:

`..it is extraordinary that ordained ministers can find so much free time and energy to "feed a blog". Is it possible that they have no housebound, hospitalised or imprisoned parishioners in need of their presence and ministry? It is also extraordinary that their bishops allow this. But then again we are living in extraordinary times.`

This is in the context of the recent happenings in Manila where the Vatican has rebuked Cardinal Rosales for his extremely restrictive interpretation of Summorum Pontificum. Mickens sees Rome`s intervention as a response to the fuss created in the blogosphere rather than coming from the diocese of Manila itself. However I don`t think he has this humble blog with its 200 readers a day in his sights. Half an hour every few days is all it takes to run. Our bishops last year appeared to give their approval to priest bloggers.

Holy Week went well. Alan and Bruce from the Schola Gregoriana of Scotland led Tenebrae. We had quite a good turn out for Good Friday Tenebrae. The Good Friday EF service attracted a good group of singers but only a small congregation. I know it was somewhat short notice but I thought that out of all those who express an interest in the traditional Roman rite in the diocese a few more might have come. While the 1962 Good Friday has its usual oddities (that Pater Noster said in unison drives me wild) on the whole I find myself agreeing with Fr Hunswicke on this as on so many things.

I was determined this year to find a rattle for the Triduum. I went to Fenwick`s in Newcastle thinking they would be bound to have one. No luck. I wanted one of those old fashioned football rattles but didn`t really expect to find one in a sportshop so thought any rattle would do and scoured Eldon Square thinking that I was sure I`d seen a Mothercare there years ago. I found the Early Learning Centre and bought two garish rattles for £3 each which the servers enjoyed using. However I have since done a simple Google search for `football rattle` and found these for £1.99 each, so next year will be better. Our altar servers do like having things to do.

The OF Easter vigil went much better than it ought to as I hadn`t given any thought to the music imagining that it was all in hand only to find out, on Saturday lunchtime, this was not the case. Fortunately the Alan and Bruce proved very adaptable. Bruce made up some responsorial psalm responses and taught them to the congregation before the vigil. It really went very well. On Easter Sunday morning, as it co-incided with the monthly `chant Sunday` we were well equipped to provide chant at the OF Parish Mass. We had the introit `Resurrexi`, Kyrie, Gloria, sung responsorial psalm, English version of O filii et filiae at the offertory, Sanctus, Agnus Dei, Now the Green Blade Riseth at Communion and Thine be the Glory to end. The church was very full and I only heard positive comments afterwards although I was worried that this might be more Latin than would prove acceptable.

However it was somewhat draining. Glorious weather on Easter Monday made for a relaxing day part of which was spent tidying up the flower beds with our parish gardening team.

Happy Eastertide.

More Archbishop Nichols

This is very late but I`ve been rather tied up with Tenebrae and sick Communions and confessions as well as the usual Triduum. I thought this interview yesterday with the archbishop yesterday gave hope. Yes, he side-stepped the difficult question of the `husband with Aids` case but his response to Mr Blair`s attempt to lecture the Pope was worth waiting for. Particularly enjoyable was his statement that he will follow Pope Benedict: we wait to see if that includes the liturgical agenda. Perhaps one of the more hopeful recent episcopal appointments?

Funeral Mass for victims of Italian earthquake

I was interested to see that, according to the BBC, there will be a requiem Mass celebrated by cardinal Bertone on Good Friday for the victims of the recent earthquake. I don`t ever recall hearing of a Mass being celebrated on Good Friday before.

May they rest in peace.

More Lindisfarne Gospels

The picture I used for the post on the Lindisfarne Gospels gave rise to quite a few comments as to why the lion, symbol of St Mark, was accompanied by the words `imago leonis` as if it wasn`t obvious. Here`s the picture of St Matthew.

The bad news is that the symbolic figure of a man is accompanied by the words `imago hominis`. I`ve no idea why this is necesssary. Is there an expert on Anglo-Saxon art out there who can provide some enlightenment? And who is that peeping out from behind the curtain?

Ok, something about archbishop Nichols

Rebecca asks why I haven`t posted anything on the appointment of archbishop Nichols. So here goes. Here`s a video from the press conference. I enjoyed the first half in particular.

So that`s where it was!

Hardly a day goes by in St Mary`s presbytery without the parish priest spending time hunting for something he`s lost. It`s usually the diary but not always. Last night I spent half an hour looking for my car key until I began to think where I`d last seen it and decided that the best place to look was in a pile of papers on a chair in the kitchen and there it was.

So I have a lot of sympathy for people who lose things. In today`s Times there is a story of how the Turin Shroud was lost for over a hundred years but recent research has now revealed where it was: the Templars had it. The Vatican is backing up the story in L`Osservatore Romano:

Barbara Frale, a researcher in the Vatican Secret Archives, said the Shroud had disappeared in the sack of Constantinople in 1204 during the Fourth Crusade, and did not surface again until the middle of the fourteenth century. Writing in L'Osservatore Romano, the Vatican newspaper, Dr Frale said its fate in those years had always puzzled historians.

However her study of the trial of the Knights Templar had brought to light a document in which Arnaut Sabbatier, a young Frenchman who entered the order in 1287, testified that as part of his initiation he was taken to “a secret place to which only the brothers of the Temple had access”. There he was shown “a long linen cloth on which was impressed the figure of a man” and instructed to venerate the image by kissing its feet three times.

Now to relax after a long Palm Sunday.

Ushaw throws light on Henry VIII

Another Telegraph story. A prayer roll, kept as Ushaw since the mid-nineteenth century and unknown to Tudor historians, is going on loan to the British Library. It reveals the sincerity of the young King`s Catholic faith. Here`s an extract from the article:

Dr Starkey said: "I knew nothing of its existence until I began my research for the exhibition, so it has been a very exciting discovery.

"Many academic historians have long argued that Henry was sceptical of religion from his youth, and that this scepticism ultimately led to the break with Rome and the Reformation.

"But what we have here, for the very first time, is absolute concrete evidence to the contrary. The Ushaw roll shows just how conservative and pious he was as a young man and how he was, in fact, two very different men before and after his divorce.

Good morning!

I have never started Mass by saying `Good morning` after making the sign of the cross. Sometimes I have been asked why I don`t do it. Well, because it brings the sacred liturgy down to the level of a purely secular encounter. I can hardly wait for the new ICEL translation to come into force where we will have the greeting`The Lord be with you`: `And with your spirit`. It will be worth it for that alone.

Now I see that I have been getting it right all these years after all. According to the Telegraph there has been a meeting for priests in the diocese of Leeds where it has all been explained. Sounds great. Will we be due such a meeting in Hexham and Newcastle? Is this something that is doing the rounds?

Here is an extract from the Telegraph`s report. Yes, the debate has been going on a long time about whether we are `doing a cabaret or are we actually celebrating the Eucharist`


A spokesman for the diocese said: "The review of the liturgy is looking at whether there are elements of the service that have become a bit too distracting.

"People might argue that if you go in to a house, you say 'hi', but the priest is not going in to a house. He is going in to a sacred service. We need to emphasise that the priest is president of the community and is presiding at the service.

"It is a debate that has been going on in the Church for a long time – are we doing a cabaret or are we actually celebrating the Eucharist?

"The fear is that if some guidance is not given and general decisions are not put down, the interpretation of the liturgy leads to unsuitable things, like strobe lights and girls in hotpants. The aim of the new translation is to bring more dignity to the service."

Holy Week at SS Peter and Paul`s Longbenton

For anyone who was wondering whether there will be any Extraordinary Form events this year at Longbenton I can confirm that Tenebrae will be sung at 10am on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. Also there will be an EF Good Friday service at 5pm. Many thanks to our Scottish friends for making this possible.

Where do the Lindisfarne Gospels belong?

The North East of England is an area with a clear identity. It was for this reason that a few years ago the government first tried to introduce a regional assembly here. It was voted down by the region. Maybe it was because we didn`t want yet another layer of bureaucracy. However one issue of local identity that is still making the news is the location of the Lindisfarne Gospels. Many in the region want them returned here as an item of local pride. This seventh century manuscript has in recent years been on display in the region. Pressure continues for it to have a permanent home here, most likely in Durham cathedral treasury. They were removed to London from Durham during the dissolution of the monasteries.

This week it was announced that the British Library would lend the book to the region for three months every seven years. They will next be here in 2010. The Newcastle Journal has been reporting on the story this week:

During Tuesday’s meeting between the Library and North East MPs, Durham City’s Roberta Blackman-Woods told Sir Colin Lucas, chairman of the British Library Board, that it made “much more sense” for the North East to have the Gospels and for them to loan them to London once every seven years.

Ms Blackman-Woods said Sir Colin “just smiled at this suggestion”.

She said: “The campaign has tremendous resonance in the North East because people really do think that these Gospels belong to the region.

“They were written here and they are related to the early development of Christianity here.

“People think deep down that there is something here linked to their heritage and we want them in the best place to reflect that. I’m not surprised by the support shown across the North East, because this is very deeply felt.”

I`m delighted that there is strong feeling in the North East about our Christian heritage: it`s not something I often notice!

The Journal is conducting a survey regarding regional opinion on the matter. I`m not sure what to think but on balance I believe it may be a good thing for the region to have them back, especially if it stirs up pride in our Christian heritage.

LMS Training Conference for Priests at Ushaw: April 2009

I understand that preparations are going well for this conference in April. There are a few places still available for priests who would like to come. I also understand that the principal guest speaker on the evening of Wednesday 22nd April will be Lord Gill. I am told that:

Lord Gill has spoken previously at the AGM of the Latin Mass Society and served the wider traditional movement as a Councillor for the International Federation Una Voce. He is a Senator of the College of Justice in Scotland, since 1994; Lord Justice Clerk, since 2001; Chairman, Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. The Rt Hon Lord Gill is in much demand as a speaker and he said he is delighted to be able to support such a worthy event as this LMS training course for priests.

Holy Week

It is interesting to see how many celebrations of the Triduum there will be around the country this year according to the Extraordinary Form. I`m still not sure what I`m doing as yet and will try to find out in the next few days whether we are having Tenebrae and, maybe the Good Friday service, according to the EF. In the meantime this is an impressive list from around the country, sent out by the LMS.

Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter Masses 2009

London Masses

Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane, WC2
Palm Sunday 5 April 6.00 pm Sung Mass & Blessing of Palms
Monday 6 April 6.30pm Sung Mass
Tuesday 7April 6.30pm Sung Mass
Wednesday 8 April 7.00pm Tenebrae
Sacred Triduum
Holy Thursday 9 April 6.30pm Sung Mass and Procession to the Altar of Repose
Good Friday 10 April 3.00pm Good Friday Liturgy
Holy Saturday 11 April 7.00pm Vigil and High Mass

The Oratory, Brompton Rd, SW7
Palm Sunday 5 April 9.00am Low Mass
Easter Sunday 12 April 9.00am Low Mass

St James, Spanish Place, George St, W1
Palm Sunday 5 April 9.30am Low Mass
Easter Sunday 12 April 9.30am Low Mass

St Mary Magdalen, East Hill, Wandsworth SW18
Palm Sunday 5 April 11.00am Sung/Low Mass
Easter Sunday 12 April 11.00am Sung Mass

St Thomas Aquinas, Ham Common, Ham
Palm Sunday 5April 6.00pm Blessing of Palms and Sung Mass
Partial Sacred Triduum
Holy Thursday 9 April 6.00pm Sung Mass and Procession
Good Friday 10 April 5.00pm Good Friday Liturgy
Easter Sunday 12 April 6.00pm Low Mass

Chapel La Retraite School Atkins Rd Clapham, SW12
Palm Sunday 5 April 10.00am Blessing of Palms Procession and Mass
Sacred Triduum
Holy Thursday 9 April 6.00pm High Mass and Procession to Altar of Repose
Good Friday 10 April 3.00pm Good Friday Liturgy
Holy Saturday 11 April 7.30pm Vigil and Sung Mass

St Bede’s Thornton Road Clapham Park London SW12
Easter Sunday 12 April 10.45am High Mass

Chapel of the Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth 60 Grove End Rd St John’s Wood
Sacred Triduum
Holy Thursday 9 April 8.00pm Solemn Mass ‘in Cena Domini’
Good Friday 10 April 3.00pm Good Friday Liturgy
Holy Saturday 11 April 10.00pm Vigil and Sung Mass
Easter Sunday 12 April 11.00am High Mass



Sacred Triduum Ceremonies in other Dioceses

Brentwood
Holy Thursday 9 April St Antony, St Antony’s Rd, Forest Gate, London E7 6.15pm Sung Mass & Procession
Good Friday 10 April St Antony, St Antony’s Rd, Forest Gate, London E7 12.30pm Good Friday Liturgy
Holy Saturday 11 April St Nicholas, Gledding Rd, Manor Park, London E12
4.30pm Vigil & Sung Mass

Leeds
University Catholic Chaplaincy, Notre Dame Chapel, 5 St Mark’s Avenue, Leeds
Holy Thursday 9 April 7.30pm Procession & Sung Mass
Good Friday 10 April 3.00pm Good Friday Liturgy
Holy Saturday 11 April 7.30pm Vigil & Sung Mass

Plymouth
Lanherne Convent St Mawgan Nr Newquay Cornwall
Holy Thursday 9 April 7.00pm Mass and Procession to Altar of Repose Adoration to 12 Midnight (Matins at 11.15pm)
Good Friday 10 April 3.00pm Good Friday Liturgy 7.00pm Stations of the Cross
Holy Saturday 11 April 8.30pm Easter Vigil and Sung Mass

Portsmouth
St William of York, Upper Redlands Rd, Reading
Holy Thursday 9 April 7.00 pm Mass & Adoration
Good Friday 10 April 1.30pm Stations of the Cross
3.00pm Good Friday Liturgy
Holy Saturday 11 April 10.00pm Vigil & Mass

Shrewsbury
Sacred Heart Church, The Cross, Moreton, Wirral CH46 9QB
Holy Thursday 9 April 5.00pm Mass & Procession
Good Friday 10 April 5.00pm Good Friday Liturgy
Holy Saturday 11 April 5.00pm Vigil & Mass

Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday Masses in other Dioceses

Arundel & Brighton
Easter Sunday 12 April Our Lady of Consolation, Park Lane, West Grinstead
3.00pm Low Mass

Birmingham
Palm Sunday 5 April The Oratory, Woodstock Rd, Oxford 8.00 am Low Mass
The Oratory, Hagley Rd Birmingham 9.30am Low Mass
St Mary, Harvington, Kidderminster 3.00pm Low Mass
St Peter, Waterloo Rd, Cobridge, Stoke on Trent 3.00pm Low Mass
Easter Sunday 12 April The Oratory, Woodstock Rd, Oxford 8.00 am Low Mass
The Oratory, Hagley Rd Birmingham 9.30am Low Mass
St Dominic, Margaret St, Stone, Staffs 3.00pm Low Mass

Brentwood
Palm Sunday 5 April Our Lady of Lourdes & St Joseph, London Rd, Leigh on Sea 4.00pm Low Mass
Easter Sunday 12 April St Philip’s Priory, Chelmsford 8.00am Low Mass

Cardiff
Palm Sunday 5 April Poor Clare Convent, Much Birch, Hereford 6.00pm Low Mass
Easter Sunday 12 April Poor Clare Convent, Much Birch, Hereford 6.00pm Low
Mass

Clifton
Palm Sunday 5 April St Benedict, Stratton on the Fosse, Radstock 11.15am Low
Mass
Prinknash Abbey, Cranham, Gloucester 3.00pm Low Mass
St George, Boreham Rd, Warminster Wilts 6.00pm Low Mass
Easter Sunday 12 April St George, Boreham Rd, Warminster Wilts 6.00pm Low
Mass


East Anglia
Palm Sunday 5 April St Laurence, 91 Milton Rd, Cambridge 9.15am Low Mass
Our Lady & St Joseph’s Chapel, Lawshall, Bury St Edmunds
3.00pm Low Mass
Easter Sunday 12 April St Laurence, 91 Milton Rd, Cambridge 9.15am Low Mass

Hallam
Easter Sunday 12 April St Theresa of the Child Jesus, Prince of Wales Rd, Sheffield
12.30pm Low Mass


Hexham & Newcastle
Palm Sunday 5 April St Mary, Barnard Castle, County Durham 9.00 am Low Mass
Sacred Heart & English Martyrs Thornley, Co. Durham 9.30am
Low Mass
St Dominic’s Priory, New Bridge St, Newcastle 11.30 am Sung
Mass
St Joseph, High West St, Gateshead 12.00 hrs Low/Sung Mass
SS Peter & Paul, Long Benton, Newcastle 6.00pm Sung Mass
Easter Sunday 12 April St Mary, Barnard Castle, County Durham 9.00 am Low
Mass
St Joseph, High West St, Gateshead 9.00am Sung Mass
Sacred Heart & English Martyrs Thornley, Co. Durham
9.30am Low Mass
St Dominic’s Priory, New Bridge St, Newcastle 11.30 am Sung
Mass

Lancaster
Palm Sunday 5 April Our Lady Star of the Sea St Annes on the Sea 3.00pm Low
Mass
Easter Sunday 12 April St Peter’s Cathedral Balmoral Rd Lancaster 12.15pm Sung
Mass

Leeds
Palm Sunday 5 April The Sacred Heart Broughton Hall Skipton 11.30am Sung Mass
Holy Spirit, Bath Rd Heckmondwike 11.30am Low Mass
St Joseph’s, Pontefract Road, Castleford 3.00pm Low/Sung
Easter Sunday 12 April St Peter’s, Leeds Rd, Bradford 3.00pm Sung Mass
St Joseph’s, Pontefract Road, Castleford 3.00pm Low /Sung Mass

Liverpool
Palm Sunday 5 April St Mary Magdalen, Leyland rd, Penwortham 9.00am Low
Mass
St Anthony, Scotland Rd, Liverpool 3.00 pm Low/Sung Mass
Easter Sunday 12 April St Mary Magdalen, Leyland rd, Penwortham 9.00am Low
Mass
St Anthony, Scotland Rd, Liverpool 3.00 pm Low/Sung Mass

Menevia
Palm Sunday 5 April The Holy Name, Vergam Terrace Fishguard 4.00pm Low Mass
Easter Sunday 12 April Our Lady of the Taper, Cardigan 3.30pm Low Mass


Middlesborough
Palm Sunday 5 April St Alphonsus, 5 Westbourne Grove, North Ormesby 6.00pm
Low Mass
Easter Sunday 12 April St Alphonsus, 5 Westbourne Grove, North Ormesby 6.00pm
Low Mass

Northampton
Palm Sunday 5 April Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Amersham Rd, Chesham Bois,
Bucks 10.30 am Low Mass
Sacred Heart, Pope Close, Flitwick, Beds 5.00pm Low Mass
Easter Sunday 12 April Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Amersham Rd, Chesham
Bois Bucks 10.30 am Low Mass
Sacred Heart, Pope Close, Flitwick, Beds 5.00pm Low Mass

Nottingham
Palm Sunday 5 April Our Lady of Victories & St Alphonsus, Bitteswell Rd,
Lutterworth, Leics 3.00pm Low Mass
Holy Souls, Frodingham Rd, Scunthorpe 3.00 pm Low Mass
Corpus Christi, Southchurch Drive Clifton, Nottingham 3.00pm
Low Mass
Holy Cross Priory 45 Wellington St Leicester 4.00pm
Low Mass
Easter Sunday 12 April Our Lady of Victories & St Alphonsus, Bitteswell Rd,
Lutterworth, Leics 3.00pm Low Mass
Holy Souls, Frodingham Rd, Scunthorpe 3.00 pm Low Mass
Corpus Christi, Southchurch Drive Clifton, Nottingham
3.00pm Low Mass
Holy Cross Priory 45 Wellington St Leicester 4.00pm
Low Mass

Plymouth
Palm Sunday 5 April Lanherne Convent St Mawgan Nr Newquay Cornwall
10.00am Sung Mass
Plymouth Cathedral Wyndham St West Plymouth TR8 4ER
3.00pm Sung Mass
Easter Sunday 12 April Lanherne Convent St Mawgan Nr Newquay Cornwall
10.00am Sung Mass

Portsmouth
St William of York, Upper Redlands Rd, Reading
Palm Sunday 5 April 11.00am Procession & Mass
St Peter, Jewry St, Winchester
Easter Sunday 12 April 12.15pm Sung Mass

Salford
Palm Sunday 5 April The Holy Name, Oxford Rd, Manchester 4.00 pm Low Mass
Easter Sunday 12 April The Holy Name, Oxford Rd, Manchester 4.00 pm Low Mass

Shrewsbury
Palm Sunday 5 April St Plegmund, Tattenhall Rd, Tattenhall 6.00pm Low Mass
Easter Sunday 12 April St Vincent, Bentinck Rd, Altrincham 3.00pm Low Mass
Our Lady & St John, Telegraph Rd, Heswall 6.00pm Sung Mass

Southwark Kent
Palm Sunday 5 April St Francis, Week St, Maidstone 12.30pm Low Mass
Easter Sunday 12 April St Simon, Brookfield Rd, Ashford South 12.00hrs Low Mass

Westminster Herts
Palm Sunday 5 April Holy Trinity, London rd, Baldock 3.00pm Sung Mass

For details of all other Masses over the Easter period contact the LMS office

The Sacred Triduum in London and other Dioceses Easter 2009

London

Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane, WC2
Sacred Triduum
Holy Thursday 9 April 6.30pm Sung Mass and Procession to the Altar of Repose
Good Friday 10 April 3.00pm Good Friday Liturgy
Holy Saturday 11 April 7.00pm Vigil and High Mass

Chapel, La Retraite School, Atkins Rd, Clapham, SW12
Sacred Triduum
Holy Thursday 9 April 6.00pm High Mass and Procession to Altar of Repose
Good Friday 10 April 3.00pm Good Friday Liturgy
Holy Saturday 11 April 7.30pm Vigil and Sung Mass

Chapel of the Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth 60 Grove End Rd St John’s Wood NW8
Sacred Triduum
Holy Thursday 9 April 8.00pm Solemn Mass ‘in Cena Domini’
Good Friday 10 April 3.00pm Good Friday Liturgy
Holy Saturday 11 April 10.00pm Vigil and Sung Mass

Easter Sunday 12 April 11.00am Solemn High Mass

Sacred Triduum Ceremonies in other Dioceses

Brentwood
Holy Thursday 9 April St Antony, St Antony’s Rd, Forest Gate, London E7 6.15pm Sung Mass & Procession
Good Friday 10 April St Antony, St Antony’s Rd, Forest Gate, London E7 12.30pm Good Friday Liturgy
Holy Saturday 11 April St Nicholas, Gledding Rd, Manor Park, London E12
4.30pm Vigil & Sung Mass

Leeds
University Catholic Chaplaincy, Notre Dame Chapel, 5 St Mark’s Avenue, Leeds
Holy Thursday 9 April 7.30pm Procession & Sung Mass
Good Friday 10 April 3.00pm Good Friday Liturgy
Holy Saturday 11 April 7.30pm Vigil & Sung Mass

Plymouth
Lanherne Convent, Lanherne, St Mawgan, Nr Newquay, Cornwall
Holy Thursday 9 April 7.00pm Mass and Procession to Altar of Repose Adoration to 12 Midnight (Matins at 11.15pm)
Good Friday 10 April 3.00pm Good Friday Liturgy 7.00pm Stations of the Cross
Holy Saturday 11 April 8.30pm Easter Vigil and Sung Mass



Portsmouth
St William of York, Upper Redlands Rd, Reading
Holy Thursday 9 April 7.00 pm Mass & Adoration
Good Friday 10 April 1.30pm Stations of the Cross
3.00pm Good Friday Liturgy
Holy Saturday 11 April 10.00pm Vigil & Mass

Shrewsbury
Sacred Heart Church, The Cross, Moreton, Wirral CH46 9QB
Holy Thursday 9 April 5.00pm Mass & Procession
Good Friday 10 April 5.00pm Good Friday Liturgy
Holy Saturday 11 April 5.00pmVigil & Mass



Partial Triduum
St Thomas Aquinas, Ham Common, Ham TW10
Sacred Triduum
Holy Thursday 9 April 6.00pm Sung Mass and Procession
Good Friday 10 April 5.00pm Good Friday Liturgy

Easter Sunday 12 April 6.00pm Low Mass

Times article on Westminster succession

Ruth Gledhill gives a useful summary today of the latest on the Westminster (or is that Canterbury?) succession race with a new candidate entering the field: Archbishop Paul Gallagher, nuncio in Guatemala! Even Paddy Power seems to have given up on all this.

The secret Archbishop of Canterbury

At the end of today`s Mass for the consecration of our new bishop, Cardinal Cormac Murphy O`Connor got up to say a few words in the course of which he said: " When I became archbishop of Canterbury..." Is this a new twist to the never ending tale of Westminster?

We had a beautiful day for the whole event. However I`m scouring the internet to find an image of bishop Cunningham as from my place in the cathedral I couldn`t see him nor the altar or anything apart from the backs of a few eminent churchmen. It was also difficult to make out individual speakers. It was good to sing the Veni Creator and Te Deum in the original. The ordinary was to a setting by Joncas.

Here`s a bit of video from yesterday courtesy of the Newcastle Journal. Fr Peter Stott, the diocesan chancellor, gets a major role.

Ecclesia Dei Commission goes into action

I spotted this story from Clerical Whispers on the Catholic Church Conservation blog. It seems some dioceses are still having trouble understanding Summorum Pontificum and rather hoping it might all just go away.

The Ecclesia Dei Commission has responded to requests from the faithful in Killala diocese for provision of a Mass in the Extraordinary Form. The Council of Priests voted against provision being made and the bishop accepted this advice. Anumber of priests and faithful were unhappy about this decision. I wonder why those priests who were unhappy did not just start saying the Mass anyway as the decision to do so is in their hands since Summorum Pontificum. The story continues:

The 'Ecclesia Dei' Commission, headed by Cardinal Darío Castrillón Hoyos, then wrote to Bishop Fleming insisting that the restriction was forbidden under Church law since Pope Benedict had made universal provision for the availability of the Mass in the extraordinary form.

In its letter, the Commission insisted that neither Bishop Fleming, nor the Council of Priests, had the right to place a restriction on a right approved by the Pope.

Bishop Fleming has now designated the Church of the Assumption, Ardagh, Crossmolina, Co Mayo as the centre for the traditional Mass in the Killala diocese and the celebrant will be Fr John Loftus, a priest of the diocese.

So things do get done and the Ecclesia Dei Commission can make a difference. Hurrah!

New Bishop Tomorrow

Well tomorrow`s the big day as Canon Cunningham is consecrated as the 13th bishop of Hexham and Newcastle. Here`s an interview he did this week with the Newcastle Journal.



I`m sure he`ll be in the prayers of many. There`s also an interview with the bishop-elect by one of the episcopal vicars on the diocesan website. The transcript can be read here.

Brinkburn 2009

I have recently had confirmation that Mass can take place at Brinkburn, Northumberland, on Saturday September 5th at 12 noon. This will be the 14th year we have gone there. One difficulty I had this year is that the North East Catholic History Society, whose chairman I became recently, always have an outing in September. This year to make life easier they have decided to come to Brinkburn that day. I hope that we will have a Solemn High Mass.

In another development, last year at Brinkburn the heritage consultant expressed interest in Gregorian chant and told some of the choir he would like to encourage the singing of chant at the priory. So a group has formed under the name of the Schola Borealis. Here are the details I have received:

You may be particularly interested in the two workshops for Gregorian Chant under the title Schola Borealis. It is further described by the organisers ~ A day of Benedictine chant. Come along and bask in the tranquillity of this ancient music. All are welcome, whether experienced or complete beginners.

There are two dates, the 2nd May and the 25th & 26th of July. The second date culminates with a sung Mass at noon on the Sunday and is again further described: A weekend workshop in Gregorian Chant celebrating the feast of St James the Greater, Apostle and Patron Saint of pilgrims, and culminating with Sung Mass on Sunday at noon.

Details of the other events can be seen here.

Vatican announces Year for Priests

Today the Vatican Information Service has announced that the Holy Father has declared a Year for Priests from June 19th-June 19th 2010 to mark the 150th anniversary of the death of St John Vianney, the 'Cure of Ars'. The statement says:

Benedict XVI stressed the need to "have care for the formation of candidates to the priesthood", a formation that must maintain "communion with unbroken ecclesial Tradition, without pausing or being tempted by discontinuity. In this context, it is important to encourage priests, especially the young generations, to a correct reading of the texts of Vatican Council II, interpreted in the light of all the Church's doctrinal inheritance".

Priests must be "present, identifiable and recognisable - for their judgement of faith, personal virtues and attire - in the fields of culture and of charity which have always been at the heart of the Church's mission".

"The centrality of Christ leads to a correct valuation of priestly ministry, without which there would be no Eucharist, no mission, not even the Church. It is necessary then, to ensure that 'new structures' or pastoral organisations are not planned for a time in which it will be possible to 'do without' ordained ministry, on the basis of an erroneous interpretation of the promotion of the laity, because this would lay the foundations for a further dilution in priestly ministry, and any supposed 'solutions' would, in fact, dramatically coincide with the real causes of the problems currently affecting the ministry".

It is somewhat demoralising, as a priest, to be told that we should be promoting structures which mean the Church can more or less run without us, so this last paragraph is very welcome. The first paragraph is pretty good too.

`Can we go to the Masses at Ushaw during the training conference?`

This is a question I am asked quite a lot whenever the conference is mentioned. The answer is yes. I am grateful to Jane Teresa for drawing attention to this information which I hadn`t noticed.

LATIN MASS SOCIETY TRAINING CONFERENCE FOR
PRIESTS WISHING TO LEARN THE EXTRAORDINARY
FORM OF THE ROMAN RITE
(TRADITIONAL LATIN MASS)
at USHAW COLLEGE, DURHAM
Monday 20 April to Thursday 23 April

The following services will take place in St Cuthbert’s Chapel at Ushaw College and
will be open to the public:

Mon 20 April
11.00am Solemn Votive Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Cum Jubilo)

5.30pm Vespers of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Tues 21 April

8.00am Lauds

11.15am Missa Cantata for the Feast of St Anselm (Lux et Origio)

5.30pm Rosary & Benediction

9.30pm Compline

Wed 22 April
8.00am Lauds

11.15am Missa Cantata for the Feast of SS Soter & Caius (Cunctipotens
Genitor Deus)

5.30 pm First Vespers for the Feast of St George & Benediction (Solemn Form)

Thurs 23 April

8.00am Lauds

11.00am Solemn Mass for the Feast of St George (Polyphonic, Byrd)

Members of the public are asked to be in their places 5 minutes before the starting times.

Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos and Ushaw

Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos, the head of the Vatican commission Ecclesia Dei, has written in a letter to Leo Darroch, the head of Una Voce International, saying how pleased he is about the forthcoming Latin Mass Society training conference for priests at Ushaw. The full text can be read here. He writes:

I am particularly pleased to know that the course planned for the month of April will be held at Ushaw College, a distinguished seminary which has served the dioceses of Northern England for over 200 years.

My hope is that the course at Ushaw College will be a further step in the implementation of the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum and thus will manifest our Holy Father`s conviction that "the two forms of the usage of the Roman Rite can be mutually enriching"

Having spent five years at Ushaw I get a shiver down my spine to read these words and think that Ushaw College will be the site for this initiative. There are still a few places available.

Fr Briggs in town (or toon)

Fr Briggs of Chislehurst, Kent, came to visit this week. For those who may not remember, from the references on the Hermeneutic of Continuity where he has a cameo role, Fr Briggs is a devoted fan of the Blessed Pius IX. While playing around with YouTube we found this musical tribute to Pio Nono. Not only this but a whole cantata with music by Rossini in honour of this extraordinary Pope. Can we look forward to a cantata by James MacMillan in honour of Benedict XVI?

Here`s an extract from the Rossini cantata coupled with a homage.

Another LMS press release

I mentioned this news about The Universe a while back. Here is the press release.

13 March 2009

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE LATIN MASS SOCIETY

For Immediate Release

British Catholic Newspaper – The Universe – Introduces Special Weekly Page for Extraordinary Form (Traditional Latin Rite) News

After prompting from the Latin Mass Society of England and Wales, The Universe has introduced a weekly page of news and listings for the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite (Traditional Latin Rite). The page will commence in the issue of Sunday 15 March.

The Universe will also publish the full weekly calendar for the Extraordinary Form. This will be provided each week by Gordon Dimon, the LMS’s Senior MC, who also compiles the LMS’s annual Ordo which is used by priests worldwide.

John Medlin, LMS General Manager, said: “The Universe is obviously moving to catch up with The Catholic Herald which already has wide coverage of Traditional Rite affairs and even the ultra-liberal Tablet which publishes a weekly link to the Traditional calendar on the LMS’s website” (www.latin-mass-society.org).

He went on: “The Universe has dragged its feet for years in relation to the Extraordinary Form so this is good news. I will be asking all the LMS’s Representatives across England and Wales to send stories and pictures to The Universe.

“I think The Universe had found that its core ‘justice and peace’ market was ageing and collapsing and is urgently seeking to connect with younger generations who are developing a great interest in the Traditional Rite. The LMS will do all it can to help!”

Of the weekly Catholic papers in England and Wales, only The Catholic Times is now holding out against the Traditional trend, but apparently changes will soon be underway there as well.

. . . . ENDS . . . .

For further information, please contact John Medlin, General Manager, or James Murphy, LMS Office Manager, on (T) 020 7404 7284;
(F) 020 7831 5585; (E mail) thelatinmasssociety@snmail.co.uk

LMS Press release

The Latin Mass Society confirms the resignations of the Society’s Chairman, Treasurer, and Chaplain

Mr Julian Chadwick resigned as Chairman of the LMS on Monday 9 March. The Chairman’s resignation follows that of the Society’s Chaplain, Fr Antony Conlon, on 3 March, and the Society’s Treasurer, Mr John Eidinow, has subsequently also tendered his resignation.

The Committee of the Latin Mass Society passed a motion of no confidence in the Chairman on 7 March. Recent events had undermined the Committee’s belief in the Chairman’s managerial competence and discretion. It was felt that decisive action had to be taken to restore the confidence of those who work with the Latin Mass Society and those who contribute to its internal discussions.

The former Chairman and Treasurer, or their associates, have seen fit to publish parts of their resignation letters to at least one internet blog. This is unfortunately symptomatic of a recent pattern of behaviour that had come to cause grave concern to the Committee. In any Society there are bound to be differing views represented on its governing body, but it is for that body to resolve those differences in confidence and not the general public by internet debate.

The accusations made by Mr Chadwick and Mr Eidinow in their letters are either false or misleading. A lengthy discussion of the points raised in their letters is inappropriate, but the following must be emphasised:

The Committee has not sacked anybody.
The Committee recently passed a unanimous resolution confirming its obedience to the Holy See.
The Committee is completely committed to Summorum Pontificum.
Allegations of anti-clericalism are ludicrous.
The Society’s financial affairs are in good order, and are fully audited.

These and other recent attempts to damage the Society’s reputation are distressing, and distract from the excellent work that the Society has done, and will continue to do, to promote the usus antiquior.
. . . . ENDS . . . .
For further information, please contact John Medlin, General Manager, or James Murphy, LMS Office Manager, on (T) 020 7404 7284; (F) 020 7831 5585;

Washing machine or the pill?

The Vatican newspaper, L`Osservatore Romano, carried a piece for International Women`s Day which claimed that the washing machine has done more to liberate women than the pill. An interesting point? I was at a conversation a few days ago where a number of women were recalling how for their mothers wash day did take all day, so it may be true. Here`s the story on Independent Catholic News.

First Holy Communion help?

Today I had a meeting with our First Holy Communion catechists. One of the things that came up was the issue of certificates. I had wanted to get away from the certificates that I found when I got here which have a picture of a loaf of bread and glass of wine. So I bought certificates from the CTS which show The Last Supper (see the illustration). I thought they were nice. However they were not popular at all. There were complaints that the paschal lamb looked more like a rat and that St Peter looks angry and although Judas is meant to look unpleasant they didn`t like this either. So I got out my First Holy Communion certificate from 1966 by Laverty and Sons of Leeds and that was very popular. It shows Jesus standing with a chalice and about to administer the Host to a group of five children. Behind them is a cherry tree in full blossom. I was surprised that this was popular and said I`d try to find something similar. However searching on the web has produced no results. I even tried the SSPX Angelus Press but couldn`t see anything.

If anyone has any idea where to find any tasteful First Holy Communion certificates would you please let me know?

Wilfrid: Our Forgotten Saint?

Today at the North East Catholic History Society we had a talk by Richard Lomas, a retired lecturer from the history department at Durham University, on the life of St Wilfrid. I was particularly interested to hear this as St Wilfrid has become a bit of an interest of mine since being parish priest of St Wilfrid`s Gateshead for ten years. One thing I had forgotten, but remember thinking about when I was in Gateshead, was that 2009 marks the 1300th anniversary of the saint`s death. The anniversary falls on April 24th to be exact.

Often in diocesan events when our local saints are mentioned it is always the holy trio of Aidan, Cuthbert and Bede. Wilfrid has fallen out of favour. (I asked bishop Dunn why this was once and he told me it was because Wilfrid was `too Roman`. I presume he was joking.) However even given his current status I thought there might have been some recognition of the 1300th anniversary of this important figure in the life of the Church in the North East.

As Richard Lomas explained in his talk today, I expect part of the reason Wilfrid is politely put aside is that aspects of his life are less than edifying in that he spent a lot of time going to Rome to ensure that he remained the only bishop in Northumbria against attempts to create other sees. A lot of it was about him standing on his dignity, defending his own rights and travelling around with a huge retinue including his own private army. While this certainly isn`t how a saint is expected to behave, it was due to Wilfrid`s drive and love of things Roman that the Synod of Whitby decided that the Church in Northumbria would follow Roman rather than the out-of-kilter Celtic ways. He also converted the kingdom of the South Saxons during one exile (and taught them how to fish!).

I suppose Wilfrid may not be to everyone`s taste but I don`t think he should be forgotten. Has anyone heard of anything going on for his 1300th anniversary?

Sursum Corda!

I was delighted to see that the new edition of our cathedral magazine, Sursum Corda, published the photo of the EF Mass that was celebrated there last year and gave a good write-up for it too. It wasn`t even relegated to the very back pages as happened in the Northern Cross.

Lent in St Mary`s, Forest Hall and SS Peter and Paul`s Longbenton

This week the parishes` Lenten activities start. Tomorrow there is an extra EF Mass at 7.30am which wll continue on all the Tuesdays of Lent. On Tuesday nights of Lent at SS Peter and Paul`s, Fr Milburn is giving a series of illustrated talks on the coming of Christianity to England with specific reference to the North East. Tomorrow night`s talk is at 7pm and is entitled `Augustine arrives`. Fr Milburn taught history for many years at Ushaw and is now 82. He will be well worth hearing. On Wednesday of Lent Mass at St Mary`s is at 12 noon and is folowed by a lenten soup lunch with soup made by parishioners and the parish priest. Proceeds go to help Aid to the Church in Need. On Thursday nights at 7.30pm at SS Peter and Paul`s, the group which looks at the Sunday Mass readings continues. Stations of the Cross take place at St Mary`s on a Sunday afternoon at 4 with Benediction and on Friday nights after the 7pm Mass at SS Peter and Paul`s.

In Holy Week we are hoping to have Tenebrae again.

Clergy Talk

Today I hosted lunch for a small group of priests from the diocese of diverse backgrounds. During the conversation the topic arose of our new bishop. "What could he really do to make a difference?" I was asked. I said that an invitation to the Fraternity of St Peter or the Institute of Christ the King to take over a parish wouldn`t go amiss. And while we`re at it why not the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate or the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal (maybe they could run the `youth village`)? A Benedictine foundation from Le Barroux or Fontgamboult would be a great idea. Also a Natural Family Planning instructor in every parish might help things too. My earlier thoughts can be found here.

Cardinal Merry del Val

A while ago I had a post about famous sons of Ushaw. The one who has achieved the highest office in the Church was Merry del Val who became Secretary of State at the Vatican under St Pius X.

I have received this item about a new collection of his spiritual writings. Here are the details.

Spiritual Writings

Cardinal Merry del Val

Edited and translated by Harriet Murphy

Raphael, Cardinal Merry del Val, Secretary of State to Pope St.Pius X from 1903 to 1914, was born in the Spanish Embassy in London in 1865, the son of a distinguished Spanish diplomat of Irish origin and English mother. Educated by the Jesuits, he was to become a priest after a brilliant period of study, first in England then in Rome. Jealousy long supposed he owed the prodigious rise of his career to a privilege of birth, the truth is very different - far from seeking honours he only ever wished to be an ordinary priest - however, from an aristocratic background and speaking many languages, the Vatican had great duties for him. He died in Rome in 1930 and is buried in St.Peter's Basilica. This collection of his work includes sermons, prayers, writings on the Saints, Sacraments and Mary, addresses to conferences and letters of spiritual direction.
978 085244 122 0 242 pages £9.99

The work of parish priests is essential

I will get back to proper posting soon but this caught my eye today. Nice to see something being said about parish priests!

Pope Benedict XVI: to follow Peter is a High Duty

I`ne been off-line since Saturday night but got sorted out today. Here`s something to be going on with.

Wise Words

Thanks to Fr Ray Blake, in the light of the hostility of a small group of Fr Tim Finigan`s parishioners to the EF, for reminding us of this saying which is generally true of parish priests of whatever stripe.

"10% love you, 10% hate you, and the other 80% don't care much, so long as you are there when they need you."

It certainly rings true in my experience.

Good news from The Universe!

It is many years since I read the Catholic weekly, The Universe. I got fed it up with its overall blandness amongst other things. Don`t tell the Tablet, but it appears that even the dear old Universe has caught up with the modern Church and I hear that soon they are going to have from early in Lent a weekly page devoted to Extraordinary Form affairs! Who knows it may encourage the formation of many more Blackfens throughout the country.

Good news from the Tablet!

Poor Fr Tim Finigan has been meted out the full treatment from the Tablet where this week there is an article attacking him for the temerity to follow Summorum Pontificum. Click here for the article and Father`s comments. In his parish, Our Lady of the Rosary, Blackfen, there are four Masses every week at which one can fulfil the Sunday obligation. A reasonable person would have thought that given that three of the Masses are in the OF that would provide sufficient choice for anyone who feels the need to avoid the EF Mass. But the enemies of tradition cannot rest until it is completely removed.

Why is Blackfen so newsworthy? Why did the Tablet not visit Hexham and Newcastle? Here we have four parishes which include the EF Mass as one of the regular Sunday Masses. One of these is said in my old parish, St Joseph`s, Gateshead by the diocesan liturgist, Fr Dixon. Another by the Dominicans in Newcastle. Are these parishes torn apart? There are at least another three parishes I can think of in Southwark that have the EF as one of the regular Sunday Masses

Why can people not be more tolerant? If they don`t have to go to the EF why not let those who want it and who don`t find `liturgical dance` or such like to their taste get on with their spiritual lives?

And what is the good news from the Tablet? It normally makes me moderately to very angry every week. However the article about Blackfen cheered me up as it concludes with the words: And there could be many more Blackfens in the future. I can hardly wait!

Comments on Brown

I seem to have done something to the HTML when including the Brown Youtube video that has made the comments disappear. Here they are again.

Brown meets Pope Benedict

No, not this Fr Brown but our Prime Minister, Gordon Brown. We are saying the FSSP Novena (mentioned below) for the Pope this week after Mass so he is in our thoughts. In fact the last words I ever said to bishop Kevin Dunn, the last time I saw him, was to say that every morning I wake up (I`m getting to an age when I am glad I do wake up) I thank God for Pope Benedict.


However the Vatican Information Service has this to say about today`s meeting:

"This morning His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI received in audience Gordon Brown, prime minister of the United Kingdom who, along with the other members of his entourage, then met with Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B., and Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for Relations with States.

"The cordial conversations dealt with the present global economic crisis and the duty to pursue initiatives benefiting the less-developed countries, and to foster co-operation on projects of human promotion, respect for the environment and sustainable development. Hope was expressed for a renewed commitment on the part of the international community in settling ongoing conflicts, particularly in the Middle East. Finally, several bilateral themes were brought up, of interest above all for the Catholic community in the United Kingdom".

It is the last bit that interests me. I wonder what the bilateral themes....of interest to the Catholics of the United Kingdom could be? Could the appointment of the new archbishop of Westminster have been a bilateral theme? According to The Times it was. I see Gordon Brown also invited the Pope to visit Britain. That could be interesting. It`s a different world to 1982.

Goodbye Valentine, hello Raphael?

I`m surprised that no-one seems to have picked up on the suggestion from the Catholic Enquiry Office that those looking for a patron saint of romance should forget St Valentine and instead invoke the angel, St Raphael. The story featured on the BBC news website yesterday. Certainly there is far more comic potential with Raphael.

For those who may have forgotten the story as it occurs in the book of Tobit, Tobias is led to Sarah by the archangel Raphael. Sarah has been married seven times before but all her previous husbands died on the wedding night, killed by the devil Asmodeus. Sarah makes her prayer to God and so God sends Raphael who brings Tobias along. They marry and Raphael deals with Asmodeus so the couple live happily ever after.

One website has this to say about the book of Tobit:

The message of the book is that God is both just and free. Suffering is not a punishment but a test. God in the long run does reward the just and punish the wicked. The believer is called upon to trust God and live his way. The book is rich in principle, and presents the value of prayer in our daily lives, angelic intercession, reward of good works, parental respect, and the importance of prayer, fasting, and especially almsgiving in expiation of sin (12:9).

I think the Catholic Enquiry office may have a point especially as Valentine has been removed from the calendar of the Ordinary Form and hangs on by the skin of his teeth as a commemoration in the Extraordinary Form in its 1962 incarnation.

However it does seem odd to me that in an age when the Church talks about inculturation that it has chosen to ignore Valentine`s Day, a major secular event, but based on a Christian saint and chooses instead to celebrate as a feast, in Europe at least, those two worthy gentleman Cyril and Methodius.

Novena in support of Pope Benedict from the Fraternity of St Peter

For immediate public release:

Reading, England, February 13th, 2009: Novena for Pope Benedict

Sub + Petro

Dear Friends,
You are all well aware of the opposition which the Holy Father has faced in his efforts to reconcile the Society of Pius X. The current pressure from the media and others seems to not only threaten Pope Benedict’s work with SSPX. It also seems as though some would like to see it work as a means to undermine his very teaching and governing authority for his pontificate.

Given these oppositions which the Holy Father faces; given the particular role of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter in encouraging the return of those who have distanced themselves from the hierarchy of the Church in the last forty years; finally, given that we hold St. Peter as our patron and have a particular attachment to his successor, as also requested by our Superior General Very Rev Fr John Berg, FSSP, I would like to invite you all to join the following NOVENA at the intention of our dear Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI.

The novena, which will be prayed as well by all our 350 seminarians and priests, will begin tomorrow on February 14th and conclude Sunday week, on the feast of the Chair of St. Peter, February 22nd.

Cordially yours in St Peter,

Fr. Armand de Malleray, FSSP

NOVENA FOR THE POPE:
Pater Noster, 3 Ave Maria, Gloria Patri

V. Orémus pro Pontífice nostro Benedícto.
R. Dóminus consérvet eum, et vivíficet eum, et beátum fáciat eum in terra, et non tradat eum in ánimam inimicórum eius..
V. Tu es Petrus.
R. Et super hanc petram ædificábo Ecclésiam meam.


Orémus.
Omnípotens sempitérne Deus, miserére fámulo tuo Pontífici nostro Benedícto : et dírige eum secúndum tuam cleméntiam in viam salútis ætérnæ : ut, te donánte, tibi plácita cúpiat, et tota virtúte perfíciat. Per Christum Dóminum nostrum. R. Amen.

Mater Ecclésiæ, ora pro nobis

Sancte Petre, ora pro nobis.

Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory be.

V: Let us pray for our Pope Benedict.

R: May the Lord preserve him, and give him life, and make him blessed upon the earth, and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies.

V. Thou art Peter,
R. And upon this Rock, I will build My Church.

Let us Pray,
Almighty and everlasting God, have mercy upon your servant, Benedict, our Sovereign Pontiff, and guide him in your goodness on the way of eternal salvation; so that, with the prompting of your grace, he may desire what pleases you and accomplish it with all his strength. ThroughChrist Our Lord.

V. Mother of the Church. R. Pray for us
V. St. Peter. R. Pray for us


Fr Armand de Malleray, FSSP
Priestly Fraternity of St Peter in England
179 Elgar Rd, RG2 0DH, Reading, Berkshire, UK

Petition to support Pope Benedict

In the light of the backlash against Pope Benedict for lifting the excommunications on the SSPX 4 there is an on-line petition to support the Holy Father. Normally I`m sceptical as to the value of these things but this one is signed by a few French bishops and two superior generals among others and so far has 38,000 signatures. You can find it here. Hat-tip to Valle Adurni and the NLM.

Bishop Williamson

Apparently it was all because he is cross at Marks and Spencer`s! If you haven`t seen The Daily Mail`s surprising take on the whole thing read it here.

On Call

One of the duties of being a parish priest in my present parish, and the last, was to take a turn with the hospital `bleep` for night calls to give the regular chaplain a break. Well that`s the simple explanation of what we do except that towards the end of my time in Gateshead the shortage of priests meant there was no longer a curate in the deanery who had the job of hospital chaplain and so a permanent deacon was employed which meant that when a priest`s turn for the bleep came he was on call 24 hours a day for that week. As things turned out we took turns every six or so weeks. This was sometimes difficult to combine with my work in Newcastle on the diocesan tribunal where I would sometimes sit down to interview a petitioner or possibly angry respondent only to get a call to go to the hospital. However I moved across the Tyne and into the larger set-up of Newcastle. While there are three major hospitals to cover we are fortunate in that there is a full-time priest chaplain and with there being more parishes, the turn only comes around every six months. We are only on duty from 8pm-8am although we also do all-day Tuesday and Wednesdays to give the hard-working chaplain a break.

This week I have the bleep. It has been a busy week so far. Last night it went off at 1.15 am (as it had two nights previously). I was so glad that we haven`t had the snow the other parts of the country have had as that would make things more difficult. Off I went to an intensive care ward not knowing what exactly I would find. There was a young man of about 20 years of age with his parents by the bed-side. He was dying of cancer and was not expected to survive until morning. The family are from about 30 miles from the hospital. So I gave absolution and the plenary indulgence for the moment of death and did the anointings of the sacrament of the sick. The whole thing was intensely moving.

I came back on duty at 8pm tonight and as the pips for the 8 o`clock news went on the radio, the bleep went off again. This time it was for the delivery unit of the maternity ward. When I got there I found a twenty-two week baby who had died in the womb. I once had been called out to baptise a baby of that age. He was taken out of the fridge in a little tray made to look like a bed, a tiny but perfectly-formed child. Again this was a very moving experience. The parents weren`t there but I said prayers and blessed him. I also said a prayer for those who think it is ok to tear apart such a child in the womb that their eyes may one day be opened.

So not long until Sunday before I hand over the bleep. While these last two experiences have been powerful, I`m hoping I get a full-night`s sleep tonight!

The North East of England: still here!

Readers of Mass of Ages, the Latin Mass Society`s quarterly magazine, might be forgiven for thinking that the North East of England, and more specifically the diocese of Hexham and Newcastle has fallen off the map. Once again we had no report on the activities of the Latin Mass Society in this diocese in the magazine which I received today. Rest assured we are still here. We had better be if the next LMS training course is going to take place at Ushaw. Not sure what the technical problem was but I hope we may have a report in the next issue.

P.S. Please ignore the Teeside bit on the map above: it`s not ours.

Bishop Lindsay and the snow

Yesterday I left the car behind and got the Metro into Newcastle for bishop Lindsay`s funeral. The snow had stopped quite a number of bishops from attending, including the cardinal, so the main celebrant was bishop Ambrose Griffiths. I won`t say anything about the music or anything like that but I enjoyed Fr Butters` sermon. Fr Butters had been with bishop Lindsay when he died. He painted a picture of a man who knew his weaknesses. One point stays with me. Once a bishop is retired he can speak but not vote at the meetings of the bishops` conference. Bishop Lindsay was said to have remarked that in his case he imagined the bishops wished it was the other way round!

The snow reminded me of the most significant day I had with bishop Lindsay, my ordination on November 19th 1988 when once again we had a day of snow. (The snow has vanished from Newcastle today, despite what the weather forecast had to say.) I must transfer the ordination video to DVD. I didn`t follow the sermon on the day and haven`t really digested it yet. All I remember was that it began with a story about a man in Jarrow who had a dog called Steve Cram.

May he rest in peace.

Weekend Break

It was hard to keep up with all the incredible developments last week. First there was the lifting of the excommunications of the SSPX bishops which was quite a surprise. Excommunication is a `medicinal` penalty designed to stop the offender doing whatever he was doing and come back to the straight and narrow. The SSPX bishops have carried on doing exactly what they intended to do in 1988 so why was the penalty revoked? Well the Pope is the Supreme Legislator and if he, in a particular case, decides that it is right to lift the penalty then that is perfectly in accord with the law. The result has been an increase of good will towards the Holy See by the SSPX so that we have news of bishop Fellay saying that he can accept Vatican II and the unexpected development of bishop Williamson apologising to the Holy See. Neither of these were things I ever expected to see. When I saw bishop Fellay in Gateshead last year, issuing his normal criticisms of the Vatican then I thought this was not a man who would ever submit to the Holy See. Bishop Williamson`s long-standing attacks on the `Romans` never led me to believe that he could apologise to the Holy Father for the embarrassment his stupid comments caused.

Then there was the story of the 400,000 ex-Anglicans who may be accepted into the Catholic Church in some corporate move, preserving their Anglican ethos as far as that is possible. This may have important ramifications for England. I have never found Christian Unity week to be so interesting. Normally it is a time for empty platitudes. After all it as the Church of England that put paid to any hopes of re-union by the unilateral decision to go ahead with the ordination of women. It was the Anglicans who thought that ecumenism was not that important. Ever since then the whole thing has been rather pointless but this initiative may lead the way for more Anglicans to seek re-union with the Holy See.

The appointment of a new Patriarch in Moscow brings with it the prospect of closer union and maybe even full communion.

I can hardly begin to wonder what this week will bring? After all some people are forecasting Tuesday as the day for a formal reconciliation of the SSPX with the Holy See. Maybe we will finally get a new archbishop of Westminster and he will be a surprise rather than being one of the usual suspects.