Having just watched Fr Brown's blog (forest murmurs) showing today's EF Mass in St Peter's I was struck by the beauty & solemnity of this form of the Roman Rite. Whilst I accept wholeheartedly that 'the Mass is the Mass is the Mass' how can we not be moved to realise that this form of the sacrifice of the Mass is so much superior to the banality of so many celebrations of the Ordinary Form? Here we saw a large number of priests processing together with 2 bishops & 3 cardinals to the altar of sacrifice to give glory to Our Lord & God. None of that happy-clappy rubbish which is, frankly, more suited to an entertainment centre. Here we saw priests & people gathering to give glory & honour to God using Man's best, but less than perfect, offering in splendour of music & liturgy.
I trust that the bishops of England & Wales see this and realise that this is the form of Mass they should be encouraging among the Catholics of this land. Why? Ad Majorem Dei Gloria - To the greater Glory of God!
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Back to Abstinence on Fridays
From mid September, marking the anniversary of Pope Benedict's visit to Britain, the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales is reimposing the law requiring abstinence from meat and meat products on Fridays. For those who do not consume meat they will be required to give up some major part of their normal diet.
Whilst this is a man-made ruling it was always accepted that Catholics did this as a self mortification and as a penance for our sins and the evils of our world.
Perhaps we should all offer up this penance in reparation for the way in which God has been sidelined in our increasingly secular society.
Whilst this is a man-made ruling it was always accepted that Catholics did this as a self mortification and as a penance for our sins and the evils of our world.
Perhaps we should all offer up this penance in reparation for the way in which God has been sidelined in our increasingly secular society.
Universae Ecclesiae
We must all be delighted with the new instruction from Rome clarifying Pope Benedict's motu proprio.
It seems as if we are now in a position where we know that certain things are not permissible in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. For example:
1. Communion is to be received only under the host and only on the tongue & kneeling (if that is physically possible).
2. Female altar servers may not be imposed on celebrations of Mass under this form.
3. Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist are not acceptable.
I'm sure that for many of us it comes as a great relief that we will not have to see some communicants nonchalantly receive the Body of Christ in dirty hands nor will we see the disrespectful way in which an admittedly small number walk away carrying the host.
Thanks be to God
It seems as if we are now in a position where we know that certain things are not permissible in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. For example:
1. Communion is to be received only under the host and only on the tongue & kneeling (if that is physically possible).
2. Female altar servers may not be imposed on celebrations of Mass under this form.
3. Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist are not acceptable.
I'm sure that for many of us it comes as a great relief that we will not have to see some communicants nonchalantly receive the Body of Christ in dirty hands nor will we see the disrespectful way in which an admittedly small number walk away carrying the host.
Thanks be to God
Monday, May 9, 2011
The LMS's Seventh Training Conference for Priests & Servers successfuly concluded
Over 30 clerics & laymen attended the Latin Mass Society's seventh residential training conference for the training of priests in the Traditional or Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. This conference took place from Tuesday 3rd May to Friday 6th May at Buckfast Abbey in Devon, courtesy of Abbot David Charlesworth and the Benedictine community.
The programme, as in recent conferences, also provided training of altar servers. Fifteen servers were trained. This included a number of young men, three of whom are discerning vocations to the priesthood.
The twelve priests came from across the UK: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland were all represented. Two of the priests were Polish and one was an Army chaplains who has recently seen active service in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Training was given at various levels under the leadership of Fr Andrew Southwell, National Chaplain to the LMS. There was basic instruction (including Latin pronunciation where required), through to intermediate training culminating in instruction in the celebration of High Mass.
The servers followed a similar progression, learning to assist at celebrations up to High Mass.
Each day sung Mass was celebrated in the abbey church and the quality of the polyphonic singing and Latin plain chant was outstanding. The choir and schola were led by Michael Vian Clark. Abbot David Charlesworth presided in choir at the closing Votive Mass of the Holy Cross on the Friday and led to the veneration of the Relic of the True Cross.
As usual at LMS conferences, the food and accommodation were appreciated for their high quality throughout.
The LMS would like to express its profound gratitude for the welcome and ready assistance given by the monks of Buckfast Abbey.
Pictures of the Buckfast conference are available from the LMS website here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/55776120@N08/sets/72157626681449594/
The next training programme, the eighth, will be a one-day event on Tuesday 23rd August at Holy Cross Priory, Leicester. This will be for priests and servers wishing to study the rubrics of the Mass in its Solemn Form and who are already familiar with Low Mass. The day will start at 9.30am and finish around 5.00pm. The fee for attending will be £5.00. For further details or to register, contact the LMS office on 020 7404 7284 or email info@lms.org.uk
The programme, as in recent conferences, also provided training of altar servers. Fifteen servers were trained. This included a number of young men, three of whom are discerning vocations to the priesthood.
The twelve priests came from across the UK: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland were all represented. Two of the priests were Polish and one was an Army chaplains who has recently seen active service in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Training was given at various levels under the leadership of Fr Andrew Southwell, National Chaplain to the LMS. There was basic instruction (including Latin pronunciation where required), through to intermediate training culminating in instruction in the celebration of High Mass.
The servers followed a similar progression, learning to assist at celebrations up to High Mass.
Each day sung Mass was celebrated in the abbey church and the quality of the polyphonic singing and Latin plain chant was outstanding. The choir and schola were led by Michael Vian Clark. Abbot David Charlesworth presided in choir at the closing Votive Mass of the Holy Cross on the Friday and led to the veneration of the Relic of the True Cross.
As usual at LMS conferences, the food and accommodation were appreciated for their high quality throughout.
The LMS would like to express its profound gratitude for the welcome and ready assistance given by the monks of Buckfast Abbey.
Pictures of the Buckfast conference are available from the LMS website here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/55776120@N08/sets/72157626681449594/
The next training programme, the eighth, will be a one-day event on Tuesday 23rd August at Holy Cross Priory, Leicester. This will be for priests and servers wishing to study the rubrics of the Mass in its Solemn Form and who are already familiar with Low Mass. The day will start at 9.30am and finish around 5.00pm. The fee for attending will be £5.00. For further details or to register, contact the LMS office on 020 7404 7284 or email info@lms.org.uk
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Ushaw advert update
I am reliably informed that the advertisement I mentioned previously for Ushaw College as our Northern Seminary simply slipped through & there is not some information regarding its remaining open in the pipeline. Don't you find it strange that even at this late stage nothing concrete has been released following the last meeting of the trustees.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Masses off at SS Joseph, Patrick & Cuthbert, Coxhoe
I am advised that the following Thursday noon Masses are cancelled.
!2th May, 19th May, 26th May & 30th June 2011.
For more information please contact Fr Shaun Swales on 0191 377 0542
!2th May, 19th May, 26th May & 30th June 2011.
For more information please contact Fr Shaun Swales on 0191 377 0542
Latest on Ushaw????
It was quite surprising to see in the May issue of our diocesan monthly newspaper (Northern Cross)an advertisement which said under the general heading of "Vocations Announcements":
"Ushaw College & Seminary
Hexham and Newcastle Diocese is the home of Ushaw College, Durham - main seminary for the training of priests in the North of England.
You may contact:
President Fr John Marsland
President's secretary on 0191 373 8510
This announcement is donated by Northern Cross"
As a member of the News Panel I have contacted the Editor (Andrew Smith) to ask if he is privy to information not yet in the public domain.
Watch this space!!!
"Ushaw College & Seminary
Hexham and Newcastle Diocese is the home of Ushaw College, Durham - main seminary for the training of priests in the North of England.
You may contact:
President Fr John Marsland
President's secretary on 0191 373 8510
This announcement is donated by Northern Cross"
As a member of the News Panel I have contacted the Editor (Andrew Smith) to ask if he is privy to information not yet in the public domain.
Watch this space!!!
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