Consolations

This morning at mass for the feast of Christ the King in our little church we had two hymns, "Christ is King of Earth and Heaven", at the entry, and "Hail Redeemer King Divine", after Communion. Apart from a very simple Responsorial Psalm and plainsong "Alleluia"  it was all chants from the Missal- Kyrie XVI in Greek, Gloria XV, Sanctus XVIII , Pater Noster and Agnus Dei XVIII- all in English. Our priest sang the Collect, Preface and entire Eucharistic Prayer 1 (the Roman Canon) and Post Communion Prayer. He was, in my estimation, absolutely first class. We joined in singing the responses as well as the Memorial Acclamation. Everyone seemed to be joining in the singing.This was Mass of the Roman Rite in the vernacular and in the Ordinary Form and was very reverent. (There was no Organist- just a chap who plays through the first line, when necessary, with one hand.) It is possible! Yes, perhaps it would have been even more wonderful had it been in Latin... but we have come a long way since the introduction of the new Missal in 2011.  
Deo Gratias, say I.

Three Pics for St Cecilia's Day!

St Anthony of Padua in Chester!

Yesterday it was my great privilege to venerate the relic of St Anthony of Padua in the Church of St Francis in Chester- the latest saint whose relics I have encountered this year. These have included St Thomas Becket, in Canterbury, St John Southworth in Westminster, St Therese in Lisieux- as well as those of her parents the Blesseds Louis and Zelie Martin and St Peter in Rome. The older I get, the more important I feel it is to make the right kind of friends!