Thanks to Fr John Boyle of Caritas in Veritate or find it here! Thank God that there are some good bishops and priests in our land- I mean really good ones!
I've been away this week and largely out of touch with the news. When I went away there were attempts to smear Pope Benedict over abuse cases in Germany. I return to hear attempts to blacken him over a priest in America. I read Archbishop Nichols's piece in The Times which is a decent and vigorous defence of the holy father but was subsequently shocked at hearing Bishop Conry of Arundel and Brighton describe the Vatican as "paranoid" in an interview on the 6pm news on Radio 4. It appears that criticisms about this bishop are not unfounded. On a previous occasion I interpreted a statement of his as an example of foot in mouth syndrome- we can all make mistakes and utter the wrong words when under pressure. Now, however, it really does appear that he is either bad or barmy. I am appalled that a bishop should show such open disloyalty to the holy father and I feel sorry for the Catholics of Arundel and Brighton. In the context of the abuse of young people the text about it being better that he scandalising "little ones" be cast into the depths with a millstone about his neck is frequently aired. It seems as if this bishop is no less a cause of scandal. With such friends what need the Pope or the Church of enemies?
I recall, from the days of my youth, the hymn "Hail Glorious Saint Patrick" sung to the tune "Clonmacnoise" arranged by RR Terry. It was number 136 in the old Westminster Hymnal and a thing of rare beauty. Alas - in my opinion - the organist was prevailed upon to substitute the more frequently heard alternative tune "because" the parish priest said, "it is the one all the Irish know". Am I the only one, I wonder, who finds the favoured tune with its repetitions of "Erin's green valleys" somewhat mawkish? I have tried to find a recording of the Terry tune but without success. Perhaps someone in the blogosphere can help?
The other day I was approached by a young man outside Westminster Cathedral. He was carrying "The Big Issue" magazine and had he not called out to me I'd have been off like a shot. He asked if I could spare some change so he could get something to eat. I was so relieved at not being asked to buy the wretched magazine that I dug deep into my pocket and found some money for him. I have to admit that although I have never read that magazine it always gives me the creeps when I see people selling it. I wonder why?
I was rather pleased at hearing that there would be a programme about the sacred music of Anton Bruckner on BBC 4 this evening. I had no idea who the presenter, Simon Russell Beale, was and I was not particularly interested in the other composer being covered, namely Johannes Brahms, but one can't expect everything. Indeed, with that presenter, I found there is not much point in expecting anything. We heard repeatedly that Brahms's "Requiem" was "very personal" and that Bruckner's music was inspired by his Catholic faith- again repeatedly. What those assertions actually meant in practice we were left guessing. In fact I got the distinct impression that Mr Beale knew next to nothing about music or, indeed , about religion. Why the BBc doesn't have someone half decent fronting these programmes I cannot imagine.
To anyone unfamiliar with Bruckner I say get a load of this!
(Click to enlarge) Details of piers and vaulting of nave and crossing. Here Gaudi appears to have followed through the Romantic notion of Gothic architecture as embodying tree-like forms.
We learn from The New Liturgical Movement that Pope Benedict is to consecrate the Sagrada Familia Church in Barcelona on 7th November. While there, last September, I was able to enjoy the view seen here from my hotel window. It is an extraordinary building- unique and original. Antoni Gaudi, the architect, spent the last years of his life entirely devoted to the project. He lived on site, dying in 1926 after having been knocked down in a street accident on his way, as was his custom, to daily mass. In spite of interuptions, the church has been under construction since 1882 and now appears largely complete- although there was still lots of scaffolding to be seen when I was there. There was much that I found attractive about the building. Gaudi's is a far from facile modernist style being rooted in a peculiar appreciation of medieval architecture. An interesting feature of the crypt was the presence of many of the architect's experimental models (see below). A word of advice to the holy father: watch your wallet in Barcelona!
Hearts and Flowers
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What is all the fuss about having "booked a table" for this evening? How
do you know that she even likes snooker? And why send flowers to women who
were s...
Notes about different kinds of Holy Water
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Recently there was an incident in St. Peter’s Basilica. A man (allegedly
with mental problems) profaned the main altar over the tomb of the
Apostle. In ...
Portraits of the Duc and Duchesse de Berry
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Charles-Ferdinand d'Artois, Duc de Berry, was the nephew of Louis XVI and
the youngest son of the Comte d'Artois, who became Charles X. This portrait
wa...
Magna Carta 1225
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Yesterday was the eighth centenary of the reissue of Magna Carta and its
accompanying text the Charter of the Forest in 1225 by King Henry III. It
was th...
Book Review: Belloc on Cranmer
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Please note that I received a copy of this book, *Cranmer *by Hilaire
Belloc from Mysterium Press, the publisher, in exchange for my review and
comments. ...
The true enemies of the Church are bad Catholics
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On the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, the anniversary of her first
apparition to Saint Bernadette, I offer this reprise from our kind
benefactor NC:It is a ...
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Live Adoration from Tyburn Convent, London
Week 5 of Ordinary Time
Calendar of Saints
9.2.25 St. Apollonia of Alexandria
10.2.25 St. Scholastica
11.2.25 ...
Fifth Sunday of the Year
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*"When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees."*
*THE PARISH OF ST MARY **& ST CATHERINE*
*Fifth Sunday of the Year.*
*9th February.*
This ...
The Hawk of May
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“Greatest was Gawain, whose glory waxedas times darkened, true and
dauntless,among knights peerless ever anew proven,defence and fortress of a
falling worl...
Calvin Robinson Loses his License in the USA
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In this conversation, Katherine Bennett, Mark Lambert, and Gavin Ashenden
discuss the recent cancellation of Anglican clergyman Calvin Robinson
following...
West Germany, late '70s
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Usual finish of handpainted craftstore acrylics and dry pastels. Moss
groundcover from the roof gutter. I bought these kits about 50 years ago,
took me ...
Battery trains fool’s gold
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A piece by the railway news video Green Signals recently reported the fast
charging trials for battery operated electric trains on the West Ealing to
Green...
40 Days to Give So Others Might Live This Lent
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We are called Pray, Fast and Give Alms in Lent. This year, the money you
save in Lent could help us to offer women the help they need to keep their
babie...
Pre-1910 Calendar for Week Beginning 24 December
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*Announcement of the Indulgence, the Holyday and the Feast of Devotion*
+24 *Sunday* Fourth Sunday of Advent, second class. Vigil of the Nativity.
Mass o...
Spanish Q&A Session – Oct. 24
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Join the CMAA… …for a question and answer session completely in Spanish on
October 24. This is open to all with free admission – not members only, so
pleas...
CORONATION PRAYER
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In celebration of the Coronation of King Charles III, copies of these
leaflets were recently distributed in our churches. As well as a message
from Card...
Saint Gabriel
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The angels call for our veneration and awe as part of God’s creation. Part
of the destructive modernism of the 1970s included advice to Catholic
school t...
Last Post
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*Sorry for my long absence, I am writing to say that this will be my last
post. Google have forced my hand. They have been asking for my date of
birth...
Septuagesima
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I was explaining to a Protestant friend the other day why the concept of
the 'January blues' didn't exist while England was Catholic. Having fasted
and abs...
Pachamama and the Pieta
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Those who are following the Amazonian Synod in Rome will have heard about
the furore over the feminine image first used in a tree planting ritual
when the ...
Young Catholic Adults' Weekend, 25-27 Oct 2019
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I am happy to pass on this message from Young Catholic Adults:
*Young Catholic Adult Weekend @ Douai Abbey 25th - 27th Oct 2019 (18-40
yrs)*
Are you 18-4...
Prayer and Reality
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[image: Image result for kneeling "low Mass"]
"It is not the healthy who need a physician but the sick"
Jesus is supposed to be our Saviour but most of us...
Our Lady Who Turns Her Face to the Wall
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Some years ago, my late mother gave me a small statue of Our Lady of
Torreciudad. She sits on top of the chest of drawers by my bed, in the
corner of the ...
Patron Saints for Struggling Souls
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If you doubt the work of God in your life, seek a Patron Saint whose life’s
struggles resonate with your own. Look for perseverance over piety, and
then st...
Pilgrimage to Borris, County Carlow
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Members and friends of the Catholic Heritage Association joined together
this afternoon for a Pilgrimage to Borris, County Carlow, and a Traditional
Latin ...
The Remnant
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The Remnant from Laurence England on Vimeo.
This was fun to make but its low on humorous content.
For four minutes and and thirty four seconds I got to ...
Rosary On The Coast At Margate...
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Following the witness shown in Poland and Ireland recently, a group of lay
people in the UK decided to try and organise a similar day of pilgrimage
and p...
Three years
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I made a ten-day retreat at Our Lady of Clear Creak Abbey in Oklahoma in
Advent. My first visit there was for a week retreat last Lent. In many
senses I...
Sophronius of Jerusalem: A Baptism of Salvation
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Today the grace of the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, came upon the
waters. Today the unwaning sun has dawned, and the world is lit up with the
light ...
Sarah Says Turn and Face Your God
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I am reading Zola’s work on Lourdes. It focuses on that most
extreme contradiction between our Faith and modernism, when the doctors
have given up on certa...
Ad Orientem... Please?
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Last night we went to Mass in the Extraordinary Form at St Charles in Hull.
I am very grateful to Bishop Drainey for allowing this once monthly Mass to
con...
Reconciliation rumours
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I haven't posted for almost a year, but there has been some speculation
that the Society of Such Pious Gents will reconcile with Rome. I therefore
thought ...
Three thoughts
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First thought: whatever this Friday brings, don't lose your peace of soul.
Personally, I suspect we can expect the worst. But so what if that happens?
The ...
The Miracle of the Sacred Thorn
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I have not heard of this before but it is very interesting. The other
connection of Good Friday and the Annunciation is the martyrdom of St.
Margaret Clith...
Palm Sunday
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Here are recordings of some of the chants you may be singing on Sunday:
>
> Hosanna filio David
> http://gregorian-chant-hymns.com/hymns-2/hosanna-filio.ht...
Saying goodbye ...
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Immediately after Easter I will be leaving the Potteries after 23 years.
[image: CarolService2015]
We all moved here in the Summer of 1992 when I became...
Holy Week/Triduum 2015 Debrief
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So this year between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday we sang: 4 hymns in
Latin 5 hymns in English 11 pieces of chant in English 16 motets (one in 8
parts) 27...
That Letter - Update
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We now have hundreds of signatures on the letter in support of our priests,
thanks to the many bloggers who carried the letter (see here for a list),
and m...
The Dominican Way 2015 - book your place now!
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*To find out more or book your place:*
*www.facebook.com/TheDominicanWay*
*thedominicanway@english.op.org*
*To read about last year's pilgrimage, click here...
REQUIEM MASS FOR RICHARD COLLINS
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A Requiem Mass for Richard Collins will be held on Tuesday 21st October at
12 noon at St David's and St Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, Dew Street, 9
...
El Camino con Padre Joe y SeƱor McSorley
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My dear friend Fr Joseph Lappin and a colleague of his, Mr McSorley a
teacher at St Thomas Aquinas High School in Jordanhill, are walking the 500
miles of ...
Words of Wisdom for Lent
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This is from my FSSP Latin Church Bulletin, and is so incredibly
insightful, I'm sharing it here. It is written by the pastor, an FSSP
priest whose line u...
Weekend Roundup
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Sunday, 31st of March. 2013.
At the Birmingham Oratory (EF 1100) the* Mass in E* of Leonce de
Saint-Martin. At Brentwood Cathedral (OF 1100) Vierne's *Mess...
Dom Prosper Gueranger on Our Lady's Expectation:
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This feast, which is now kept not only throughout the whole of Spain but in
many other parts of the Catholic world, owes its origin to the bishops of
the t...