Great Sadness

It is with a sense of great sadness that the death on Monday/Tuesday of Moira Brown - mother of Fr Michael Brown - was made known. The exact cause is not yet known only that Mrs Brown died in her sleep. She had not been unwell & on Sunday Fr Brown had spent the day at the family home in Low Fell, returning to his church on Monday.

As you might expect Fr Brown is devastated as he & his mother were very close. She had been expected to accompany Father & parishioners & friends to Palazzola in July.

Moira was a lovely lady who was very proud of her priest son & who was liked & respected by all who met her.

Father Brown's 2 brothers were on their way north having heard the sad news.

Details of the funeral will be announced when known but, in the meanwhile, we will all wish to pray for the repose of Moira's soul & for a merciful judgement. Please also remember Fr Brown & his brothers in your prayers.

Requiescat in pace.

'Father Z' heads impressive line-up of speakers at LMS's first One-Day Conference on 9th June

Father John Zuhlsdorf, best known as the blogger 'Father Z', will be one of the speakers at the Latin Mass Society's Conference on Saturday 9th June in central London. This is the first time that the LMS has organised such an event and we are very excited to have such a strong line-up. In addition to Fr Zuhlsdorf, Fr Tim Finigan (parish priest, blogger and newspaper columnist), Dr John Rao (of 'The Roman Forum'), John Hunwicke (blogger and well-known member of the Ordinariate) and Stuart McCullough (of the Good Counsel Network) will address the audience on the conference theme 'The Traditional Mass and The Catholic Life'. We hope that our guests' talks will demonstrate that there's more to Traditional Catholics than simply attending the Traditional Mass. Following the end of the talks, there will be a panel discussion to round off the day. The conference is aimed principally at ordinary LMS members, although non-members are very welcome to join us.

The Conference venue is: Regent Hall, 275 Oxford Street, London W1C 2DJ (opposite BHS, less than 5 minutes' walk from Oxford Circus.)

Admission is by ticket only. Full price tickets are £20 each but there is a discounted price for paid-up LMS members of £15 each. In addition, we are supplying an optional buffet lunch for which there is a £9 supplement. So far, most people have booked in for the lunch (drinks are included). We are hoping that lunchtime will provide conference attendees with the chance to meet and chat with their fellow LMS members from up and down the country and to some of the speakers.

Tickets are available from the LMS office 0n 020 7404 7284 or online at:

www.lms.org.uk/news-and-events/lms-one-day-conference

There is Low Mass before the Conference begins at St James', Spanish Place at 9am, for those who can attend. Doors open at Regent Hall from 10am and there will be a number of stalls for you to browse round (during which refreshments will be available - there will also be afternoon tea) before the first speaker begins at 11am. The Conference will close at 6pm.

Here is the full timetable and a summary of booking information:

9am Low Mass at St James', Spanish Place
10am Doors open
10am-11am Registration, stalls in the Conference Hall to browse
11am - 11.50am 1st Talk: Dr John Rao (Roman Forum)
12noon - 12,50pm 2nd Talk: Stuart McCullough (Good Counsel Network)
Lunch
2pm - 2.50pm 3rd Talk: Fr John Zuhlsdorf (Fr Z)
3pm - 3.50pm 4th Talk: Fr Tim Finigan (columnist and blogger)
4pm - 4.50pm 5th Talk: John Hunwicke (of the Ordinariate)
5pm - 6pm Panel discussion
6pm Close

BOOKING INFORMATION

Admission by ticket only.

Ticket Prices:
LMS Members £15
Non-LMS Members £20
(includes morning and afternoon refreshments)
Optional: Buffet Lunch including drinks £9 supplement.

You can buy your ticket by phoning the LMS office on 020 7404 7284, sending a cheque (payable to 'LMS') to LMS, 11-13 Macklin Street, London WC2B 5NH or online here: www.lms.org.uk/news-and-events/lms-one-day-conference

Beware of Brazilian bishop

We, as traditionalist Catholics with a great love and respect for the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, must be on our guard against the teachings of Bishop Sergio Machado of the Diocese of Sao Carlos in Brazil. He denigrates this official form of the Roman Rite in direct conflict with our Holy Father, Pope Benedict, who has publicly ratified the celebrations of Mass in the form. Not only does Bishop Machado go against the words of papal authority but he classes those of us preferring this Mass as 'idiots'. He speaks against the Mass vestments. He even looks to science to discover "a device to open minds". I would have thought prayer to the Holy Ghost would have been more effective.

We see another concerning feature of our religious - whether secular or regular - when we hear of the appointment of Sister Nicoletta Victoria Spezzati being raised to Undersecretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. Sister NEVER wears a habit.

Sad to say we also see this throughout the Catholic world where priests and religious wear lay clothing. They postulate that this brings them closer to the people. RUBBISH! I, personally, wonder whether they are ashamed of their vocation. Surely those chosen by God to be he ministers and adorers should be proud to proclaim their position and, equally, let themselves be known by the laity who may need their assistance in spiritual matters.

Change to morning Masses at Forest Hall

It is announced with regret that until further notice the 7.30am Monday to Friday EF Masses at St Mary's, Great Lime Road, Forest Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne have been suspended. The reason is largely due to lack of attendance. As always we have to say that EF Masses are available only when wanted. The old adage of "use it or lose it applies".

Cardinal Ranjith lays down his rules

His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo has again restated the obvious wishes of Pope Benedict by insisting that all faithful in his diocese must receive Holy Communion on the tongue and kneeling. Our Holy Father has already made his position on this subject patently obvious as all communicants at papal Masses receive in this most reverent way. Even now within the Extraordinary Form we see visitors to our Masses holding out their hands to receive the Body of Christ. Rather than embarrass them perhaps it is time for The Bishops' Conference to put out a paper to all parishes pointing out that the liturgical norms of 1962 must be adhered to at celebrations of the traditional Mass. This instruction is from Rome!

Cardinal Ranjith has also instructed his priests that they must be properly vested for the celebration of Holy Mass. That is in alb (with or without amice), cincture, stole and chasuble. Sadly we do occasionally still see celebrants who do not wear the chasuble.

Come on Right Reverend Bishops lay down some rules remembering that Communion in the hand was a short term permission which has not been renewed.

Bishop Drainey's York Homily

When you are listening to a conversation, does it ever happen to you that you hear an expression or phrase as if for the first time? Perhaps the particular expression strikes you as amusing, bizarre or even shocking. Yet you have heard it over and over again and have used it so often in your own conversations. While reflecting about what to say today on this wonderful occasion of honouring St Margaret Clitherow, once a citizen of this great city of York, two such sayings come to mind. They are rather obvious, and are used quite frequently in peoples' conversation - 'Oh, I could die for it'- meaning this is something I really want, I really desire with every ounce of my being, without it I could not live; 'I would stake my life on it', meaning something which is fundamental, right, true necessary, something which cannot deceive or let you down. It is interesting that in an age almost defined by relativism, where it appears hard to proclaim anything as absolute, fundamental and common to all, that we use such graphic and shocking language.

This relativism seems to permeate our world today to such an extent that it is part or the cultural and societal air that we breathe. If we are not on our guard it will taint us and affect us. It is an evil about which our Holy Father, Pope Benedict, has spoken on many occasions. Just listen to a few of his words:

'There is (also) something sinister which stems from the fact that freedom and tolerance are so often separated from truth. This is fuelled by the notion, widely held today, that there are no absolute truths to guide our lives. Relativism, by indiscriminately giving value to practically everything, has made 'experience' all-important. Yet, experiences, detached from any consideration of what is good or true, can lead, not to genuine freedom, but to moral or intellectual confusion, to a lowering of standards, to a loss of self-respect, and even to despair.' (WYDSYD08 Thursday 17.07.08)

And we know this is not something new in our world. Recently I was re-reading the famous 'Biglietto Speech' of Blessed John Henry Newman on the occasion of his elevation to the Cardinalate on 12th May 1879. He says:

'Liberalism in religion is the doctrine that there is no positive truth in religion, but that one religion is as good as another, and this is the teaching which is gaining substance and force daily. It teaches that all (religions) are tolerated, for all are matters of opinion. Revealed religion is not truth, but sentiment and taste; not an objective fact, not miraculous; and it is the right of each individual to make it say just what strikes his fancy. Never was a device of the Enemy so cleverly framed and with such promise of success.'

Margaret Clitherow lived in a very different age, with very distinct values and ideas. We tend to think of this as a very stable, if not staid society. Things remained as they always had been, the 'status quo' was all important. While, in the main, this was true, religion and faith, local and international politics were very turbulent at that time and there was much confusion in peoples' minds and lives. Very much against the flow, Margaret Clitherow chose a path, a way of life which was going to bring her into collision with not only social mores, family and friends, but also with the highest authority in this land.

She felt with all her heart that what was happening around her was neither just, true nor good. On all these things she felt she had to stake her life, literally, for they were things she could die for! So deep was her conviction, her faith in this that nothing could turn her away from the course she had taken, neither death nor life, no angel, no prince, nothing that exists, nothing still to come, not any power, neither height nor depth, nor any created thing.

It perhaps seems strange to us today that someone should give their life for such theoretical, theological niceties. The arguments of our age turn around the fulcrum of whether or not anything can be of such value and certainty that we should give our lives for it. Yet again, while this argument rages, many of our young men and women are giving their lives as a result of armed conflict throughout the world!

St Margaret Clitherow was willing to die for the truths which she held as absolute and sacrosanct. For her they were 'to die for!' However not without fear, not without recognising her human frailty. On receiving the notice of her sentence she said: 'I am according to the Queens Majesty's law judged to die, and while my spirit is willing, my flesh repines. My cause is God's and it is a comfort to die in His quarrel; flesh is frail, but I trust in my Lord Jesus that He will give me the strength to bear all troubles and torments which will be laid upon me for His sake. I shall die on Friday next. I now feel the frailty on mine own flesh which trembleth at the news, although my spirit greatly rejoiceth.'

And it wasn't just she who would suffer as a result of the sentence. John, her husband, almost beside himself with grief cried out: 'Alas they will kill my wife. Let them take all I have to save her for she is the best wife in all England and the best Catholic also.'

Whu honour St Margaret Clitherow, wife and mother, kind neighbour and friend, sincere believer and authentic witness to her faith, even to the point of offering her life in a martyr's death? In a sceptical and suspicious age, the only argument that speaks convincingly is the force of personal witness. We need to know that there are truly things on which we can stake our lives. We need to understand that there are things to die for, even today. And it is us who are called to be witnesses of this; not just for the good of our particular denimination, our chosen creed, but so that all may see and understand that truth and freedom will lead us to genuine joy and hope.

Again, if I may, I would like to finish by quoting from Pope Benedict XVI: 'Empowered by the Spirit, and drawing upon faith's rich vision, a new generation of Christians is being called to help build a world in which God's gift of life is welcomed, respected and cherished - not rejected, feared as a threat and destroyed. A new age in which love is not greedy or self-seeking, but pure, faithful and genuinely free, open to others, respectful of their dignity, seeking their good, radiating joy and beauty. A new age in which hope liberates us from the shallowness, apathy and self-absorption which deadens our souls and poisons our relationships. (Dear young friends), the Lord is asking you to be prophets of this new age, messengers of His love, drawing people to the Father and building a future of hope for all humanity.' (Pope's homily at the Mass at Randswicj Racecourse - WYDSYDO* Sunday 20.7.08).

St Margaret Clitherow, pray for us.

Bishop Drainey of Middlesbrough presides at the faldstool at EF Missa Solemnis in honour of St Margaret Clitherow

The second annual pilgrimage in honour of St Margaret Clitherow was held today in St Wilfrid's Church in York.
Bishop Drainey presided from the faldstool & Missa Solemnis was celebrated by Fr Michael Brown, the Northern Chaplain of the LMS. The deacon was Fr John Cahill & sub deacon was Fr Michael Hall. Mgr David Smith was Asst Priest and Fr Stephen Brown was the deacon at the Throne.
The music was provided by The Rudgate Singers & included 'Ecce Sacerdos Magnus' by Victoria as Bishop Drainey arrived, Bruckner's 'Locus Iste' as he vested on the sanctuary and the Ordinary of the Mass was 'Missa Summi et Aeterni sacerdotis' by Ostrowski (b1981)
There were some 200 in the congregation many of whom also processed to English Martyrs Church in York praying at the Margaret Clitherow Shrine in The Shambles and at Ouseburn Bridge, the site of her martyrdom. The public were very respectful as the procession passed.
On arrival at English Martyrs Church the hand of St Margaret was venerated and this was followed by Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament by Bishop Drainey.
It was good that a diocesan bishop is prepared to celebrate the EF of the Roman Rite as requested by Pope Benedict. Also today Bishop Mark Davies of Shrewsbury re-opened SS Peter & Paul Church in New Brighton now in the care of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest.
With Bishop Malcolm McMahon OP of Nottingham also supporting the EF it seems as if more of our bishops are realising its worth.
AMDG