Latin Mass tonight at Morriston!

5pm at The Church of the Sacred Heart - and afterwards?

A few tidbits of food and some beverages or other - a good way to prepare for 2012!


                              A PRAYER FOR THE NEW YEAR

 O sacred and adorable Trinity, hear our prayers on behalf of our holy Father the Pope, our Bishops, our clergy, and for all that are in authority over us.


Bless, we beseech Thee, during the coming year, the whole Catholic Church; convert heretics and unbelievers; soften the hearts of sinners so that they may return to Thy friendship; give prosperity to our country and peace among the nations of the world; pour down Thy blessings upon our friends, relatives, and acquaintances, and upon our enemies, if we have any; assist the poor and the sick; have pity on the souls of those whom this year has taken from us; and do Thou be merciful to those who during the coming year will be summoned before Thy judgment seat.


May all our actions be preceded by Thy inspirations and carried on by Thy assistance, so that all our prayers and works, having been begun in Thee, may likewise be ended through Thee.

Amen.

Reflections on the Feast of The Holy Innocents

More from A Reluctant Sinner aka Dylan Parry....

Feast of the Holy Innocents - How the Church could benefit from a reintroduction of the Boy Bishop traditions

Westminster Cathedral's 2007 Boy Bishop
(source: Solomon, I have surpassed thee)

Today is the Feast of the Holy Innocents, when the whole Church commemorates those children who were killed by King Herod for the sake of the gospel. It is also one of the days that used to be connected to the Boy Bishop tradition - the others being St Nicholas' Day and certain local saints' days. The custom itself, which saw a boy (usually a cathedral chorister) replacing the local bishop for a day or a few weeks, was very popular in the Middle Ages. Sadly, it was suppressed in England during the Protestant Reformation, though continued in some parts of Europe well into the 20th century. In recent years, though, there have been a few attempts to revive this joyful and playful tradition throughout the universal Church.

Although each cathedral community had its own dates, liturgies and customs surrounding the election and installation of its Boy Bishop, most places shared certain things in common. Almost everywhere a chorister or schoolboy connected to a particular cathedral was either nominated by his masters or eleceted by his peers to become that year's temporary replacement to the local ordinary - during which he wore the mitre, pectoral cross, ring and also carried the crozier. Sometimes, a writing or translating competition was used to choose which boy was worthy enough to become that year's mock bishop.

Also common amongst the Boy Bishop traditions was the beautiful ceremony that saw the actual bishop giving up his throne and the boy's subsequent enthronement. During Vespers on the day upon which the Boy Bishop was installed - usually St Nicholas' Day (in England) or the Feast of the Holy Innocents (in most other places) - the local ordinary would step down from his seat during the Magnificat, at the words "deposuit potentes de sede" ("He casts down the mighty from their thrones"), whilst the child who had been elected would then immediately replace him whilst "et exaltavit humiles" ("and He raises the lowly") was sung.

This beautiful semi-official liturgy acted as a sort of memento mori for the bishop and was also a means of encouraging children to strive towards their best potential - for nothing is impossible for God, and any boy could potentially become a bishop. The Boy Bishop tradition reminded prelates that God would permanently remove them from their thrones one day and that there were countless other generations waiting to serve Him. The custom, then, was not just a childish bit of fun for Christmas, but was also a powerful reminder to individualistic or power-hungry ecclesiastics that their offices and honours were not theirs to keep. Not only would they have to answer to future generations for the way they had led their dioceses, but they would also have to answer directly to the One who exalted them in the first place. The Boy Bishop customs also helped prelates to reflect on the fact that no-one in the Church is indispensable - not even a bishop. As Our Lord said: "Out of these stones, God can raise children for Abraham" (Mt 3:9).

Soon after his investiture, the Boy Bishop would be dressed in a mitre and cope and choose a curia or chapter for himself from amongst his friends and classmates. He would afterwards lead most of his particular cathedral's services either for the whole of Advent (if he was elected on the Feast of St Nicholas) or Christmastide (if he was appointed on the Feast of the Holy Innocents). In York, the Boy Bishop was invested with great solemnity and even went on a visitation of his diocese, whilst the one at Gloucester Cathedral was often lavished with gifts of money by members of the local aristocracy! In some places, the boy would only exercise his "office" for a day or two or just during Vespers on his particular cathedral's own saint's day - during which very popular sermons were preached (often better than the ones given by the real bishop!). Of course, a Boy Bishop could not celebrate the sacraments, so Masses and confessions continued to be celebrated and heard by priests belonging to the (real and adult) cathedral chapter.

Protestants viewed such joyful traditions with deep suspicion - especially puritans, who were never really known for their sense of joy or sense of humour! Also, both Henry VIII and Elizabeth I were deeply suspicious of these subversive customs, even if the Church had had no problem with them for centuries. As the Boy Bishop tradition sees an ecclesiastical potentate replaced by a spotty teenager or child, many early Anglicans thought that if it continued this custom could destabilise (through mockery) their new or "reformed" episcopacy. So, although Mary Tudor revived the Boy Bishop custom in the mid-16th century, it all but disappeared by during the reign of her Protestant half-sister, Elizabeth I.

In recent years, the Boy Bishop tradition has made a bit of a comeback. Several English cathedrals, such as Salisbury and Hereford, now keep this custom once more. Even Westminster Cathedral attempted to revive the Boy Bishop tradition a few years ago - though as far as I am aware this annual event has now stopped (publicly, at least). The photos in this post show ceremonies surrounding the installation of Westminster Cathedral's 2007 Boy Bishop. That year's Boy Bishop was elected after winning a writing competition at the Cathedral's Choir School. He then delivered a homily on St Gregory's Day - the Choir School's feast day. A blog post written in 2007 by Mgr Mark Langham, who was Administrator of Westminster Cathedral at the time, contains more images, as well as the prayers and rites that were used during the installation of that year's Boy Bishop.

There is something to be said for the Boy Bishop tradition. It reminds us all that being light-hearted can be immensely beneficial, especially as religion is prone to be taken far too seriously. It is also a wonderful way of reminding bishops that God will, one day, cast them from their thrones. Those bishops who spent the past few decades implementing their own version of Catholicism could therefore have done with a Boy Bishop - they might have realised then in a profound way that bishops are custodians of truth, which must be passed on from generation to generation, as opposed to being religious innovators. Those who think they have modernised their dioceses forever would know, if they had been replaced by a Boy Bishop, that the Church is bigger than they are, that God will probably undo all their work with the next generation, and that out of the mouths of babes shall pour forth wisdom (cf Mt 21:16).

Update: Fr Bede Rowe has left a comment, reminding us that Chavagnes International College (an acclaimed English language Catholic school based in France) maintains the Boy Bishop tradition. To read more about it, and to view photos of the 2011 Boy Bishop and the ceremonies surrounding his installation, please click here, here, here, here and here. Fr Bede Rowe has also found an old photo of a Boy Bishop here, who looks more like a Boy Pope!

[Images: Westminster Cathedral's 2007 Boy Bishop; source: Solomon, I have surpassed thee

A Happy and Spiritual New Year begins......

....at 5pm on 31st December when Fr Jones will offer Mass at the Church of The Sacred Heart, Morriston, near Swansea.

Photo: Glorificamus

And afterwards.......?

If you would care to bring a small amount of party fare we will pool resources and have a modest bunfight!

Courtesy of Fr Jason Jones, Extraordinary Form of Mass Co-ordinator, Menevia Diocese.

A Christmas message to the Confraternity - the sound of silence!

Silent night, Silent Mass, Silence at the foot of the cross

There has been much discussion recently on the Pastoral letter of the Bishop of Aberdeen on the need to Create Silence. In the beautiful letter the Bishop stresses the importance of Silence in Church. This silence is of course an active silence.

 

 The popular Christmas carols which touch the heart are either sung with gentleness or allude to the importance of Silence. Silent Night Holy Night, Away in a Manger and How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given.

 

In the Stillness of the midnight hour we gather for the celebration of the incarnation , in silence Mary gives birth to Christ in silence ,St Joseph contemplates the great mystery.

 

In Silence we too look up and silently say 'My Lord and my God' when the miracle of Christmas , the descent of the Son of God into the hands of the priest takes place.

 

 So sacred a moment so great an accomplishment that the words which draw our Lord down are uttered in silence.

 

When all was silent the Lord leapt down from his throne.

 

In the silence of the manger, the silence of the tabernacle, we adore and kneel before Our Lord and our God.

May our adoration this Christmas fill us with the choicest blessings that the Christ Child bestows.

 

Wishing you all a very Happy and Blessed Christmas

 

Fr Jason Jones

Merry Christmas Menevia!

The House of Christmas

There fared a mother driven forth
Out of an inn to roam;
In the place where she was homeless
All men are at home.
The crazy stable close at hand,
With shaking timber and shifting sand,
Grew a stronger thing to abide and stand
Than the square stones of Rome.

For men are homesick in their homes,
And strangers under the sun,
And they lay on their heads in a foreign land
Whenever the day is done.
Here we have battle and blazing eyes,
And chance and honour and high surprise,
But our homes are under miraculous skies
Where the yule tale was begun.

A Child in a foul stable,
Where the beasts feed and foam;
Only where He was homeless
Are you and I at home;
We have hands that fashion and heads that know,
But our hearts we lost - how long ago!
In a place no chart nor ship can show
Under the sky's dome.

This world is wild as an old wives' tale,
And strange the plain things are,
The earth is enough and the air is enough
For our wonder and our war;
But our rest is as far as the fire-drake swings
And our peace is put in impossible things
Where clashed and thundered unthinkable wings
Round an incredible star.

To an open house in the evening
Home shall men come,
To an older place than Eden
And a taller town than Rome.
To the end of the way of the wandering star,
To the things that cannot be and that are,
To the place where God was homeless
And all men are at home.

G K Chesterton

Before the birth, news of the Mass of the Epiphany!

The Adoration of the Magi

As a generous gesture, Monsignor Johnson has offered to celebrate Mass in the Extraordinary Form on this great feast.

It will be at 11am Friday 6th January at The Church of the Holy Name, Fishguard.

I am sure that a local inn will be found for those wishing to enjoy meat on this Friday as, of course, it is a feastday and abstinence is exempt.

The Bishop's Rosaries

Last week, Fr Jason Jones presented Bishop Thomas Burns with the spiritual bouquet of 315 Rosaries offered up on the his behalf by Catholics from around the world.

The Bishop was most touched and moved by this act and asked for his gratitude to be expressed to all who had contributed.

315 offered for the Bishop's intentions



Next EF Mass is on Sunday!

Sunday 18th December at the Church of St Therese of Lisieux, Sandfields, Port Talbot at 5pm.

St Therese of Lisieux, Sandfields, Port Talbot

A Martyr for Christ, and for Wales!

Defending Catholicism without compromise and facing martyrdom with a sense of humour - The life of St John Roberts

St John Roberts - Benedictine martyr

Today (10th December) is the feast of St John Roberts OSB, who was martyred at Tyburn on this day in 1610. I have a particular devotion to this brave man, whose life is one I can relate to in many ways. I also know a few friends who are as equally devoted to St John Roberts - including the hermit-priest, Fr David Jones, who has composed hymns and a Mass setting for the Saint's feast. This blog post is therefore dedicated to John Roberts, asking him to intercede for those who pass by this way and for his prayers for the conversion of England and Wales. May the Lord's grace and peace be with all those who have recourse to this holy martyr.

Amongst the many things that attract me to St John Roberts is the fact that we both seem to have trod similar paths - although I am definitely no saint. John Roberts was born in North-West Wales in 1575, whilst I also entered the world in Gwynedd - albeit 400 years later, in 1975. We both converted to Catholicism at a young age. He eventually went to Valladolid to test a vocation to the priesthood, whilst I found myself in the same seminary a few centuries later. Both of us left that seminary for similar a reason – a desire to test the monastic vocation. St John Roberts, though, actually entered the monastic life, whilst I have managed to avoid that so far! Bizarrely, John Roberts also spent the latter part of his life in Westminster, the area of London where I now live. His place of imprisonment is just round the corner from me, whilst the site of his martyrdom is now a convent where I attend Mass every now and again.

Childhood and conversion

John Roberts was born into a Welsh family in Trawsfynydd in 1575. His parents were called John and Anna, and they seemed to have been the local landowners of the substantial Rhiw Goch farm. In fact, it is possible that John was descended from Welsh nobility, and it is certain that he receiveded a good preliminary education - a rare privilege at that time. Indeed, it is thought that one of his early teachers was a former monk of the nearby dissolved abbey of Cymer, and that this man instilled in him a sense of Catholic identity. After his initial schooling, John Roberts continued his studies at the relatively Catholic St John's College, Oxford. Whilst not graduating with a degree, his time at Oxford was followed by a spell at one of the Inns of Court in London - where he intended to become a lawyer.

During a holiday to celebrate the end of his studies, spent with a friend in Paris, something quite extraordinary and life-changing happened to John Roberts. Whilst in France, he decided to be reconciled to the old Faith - an act he might have been contemplating for some time. As a result of this decision, he was received into the Catholic Church at Notre Dame de Paris and abandoned any notion of being called to the bar. Soon after his conversion, John Roberts went even further - risking all in order to study for the priesthood with the intention of working as a missionary in his now Protestant homeland.

From seminary to cloister

John Roberts entered the newly erected Royal English College at Valladolid in 1598, but didn't stay long in this Jesuit run seminary, which had been founded by King Philip II of Spain soon after the Spanish Armada. In fact, he had abandoned his studies before the academic year was out. An anecdote from the time relates that John had left the College because he felt that the food on offer there wasn't wholesome enough. Somehow, though, I doubt this was the real reason for John Roberts' departure. It seems that what actually led him to abandon his studies for the secular priesthood was his fractious relationship with the then Rector, Father Robert Persons SJ. In all, five men left the English seminary at Valladolid to enter the local Benedictine monastery at the same time (early 1599), which suggests that the seminary was going through some sort of crisis. Whatever the immediate reasons for John's decision to test his monastic vocation, it is true to say that he had actually been feeling a genuine calling to the religious life for some time.

The old Abbey of San Benito in Valladolid  

The concepts of simplicity, silence, penance, and the holiness of the cloister have always been popular ones in the Welsh imagination, and might also have been the real inspiration behind John Roberts' move to the local Benedictine abbey at Valladolid. This monastery was relatively close to the College – one can still walk there quite easily in less than half an hour (though it now belongs to the Augustinians). Having made up his mind, John entered the monastic life in 1599, at which time he became known as Fray Juan de Mervinia (Brother John of Merionnydd). He soon left the city of Valladolid altogether, though - being sent to complete his novitiate at the Benedictine abbey in Santiago de Compostela. Living so close to his former College might have proved difficult both for John and his former Rector - especially seeing that there might also have been some tensions at the time between the Spanish monks and the English Jesuits.

Missionary priest and prisoner of Jesus Christ

Soon after his ordination to the sacred priesthood on St Stephen’s Day 1602, John Roberts was sent to England to work as a missionary monk. At the time, many professed Benedictines left the cloister in order to enter the English mission - following the example of the old British saints of the 5th and 6th centuries, most of whom were also missionary monks. At times of crisis, it seems that this form of monastic life - a dedicated and contemplative priesthood - becomes both necessary and beneficial to the Church's survival.

Before re-entering the British Isles, John Roberts would have been aware that the punishment for preaching the Catholic faith in England as a priest was a most horrific form of execution. Whilst ministering to the Catholics of England, then, not only would the newly ordained Father John have had to contend with plague and poverty, but he would also have had to evade the tyrannical machinations of the state and its network of spies. On several occasions he was arrested and exiled – yet back he came to minister to the poor and persecuted Catholic population of London. He was also imprisoned on several occasions, and would therefore have faced deprivations of all kinds for the sake of his faith. Yet, he remained steadfast - refusing to bow to fear, unwilling to compromise the truth and determined not to capitulate for the sake of an easier life. During one of his banishments, John Roberts actually became the first prior of the new English Benedictine foundation at Douai – this monastic community was later re-founded as the great Abbey of St Gregory at Downside (a well-known English monastery and school to this day).

Like so many other missionary priests of the time, St John Roberts constantly returned from exile to serve the people of his country – even in the face of imprisonment, torture and execution. In fact, it seemed that the prospect of martyrdom might have been a motivation for his persistent returns to England. Like so many other priests working in post-Reformation England and Wales, such as St John Southworth (whose remains are to be found in Westminster Cathedral), John Roberts was kept for long periods as a prisoner at the Gatehouse in Westminster. This was the old prison attached to Westminster Abbey, and served as a semi-open prison where inmates could sometimes come and go. In 1609, though, John Roberts was arrested after having escaped from the Gatehouse to minister to local Catholics. As punishment, he was placed in the hellish Newgate Prison. Aware of his plight, the French ambassador, Antonie de la Broderie, appealed to King James I on his behalf, and John Roberts narrowly escaped execution. Instead, he was exiled to France, where he returned to his beloved monastery at Douai. Needless to say, though, John Roberts was back in London before too long - determined to preach the gospel and reconcile Protestant England to Rome.

After being arrested seven times, escaping from prison twice and being banished three times, the Welsh Benedictine priest was apprehended for the last time on 2 December 1610 - whilst celebrating Mass in secret for his persecuted flock. He was immediately dragged through the streets back to Newgate Prison, whilst still dressed in his vestments. His trial was unjustly held only three days after his arrest and during it John Roberts was quickly found guilty of being a Catholic priest and therefore of high treason against the Crown. He was executed only five days later, on 10 December 1610.

An arrow points to St John Roberts as he stands with the other Forty Martyrs of England and Wales 

The Martyrs' Crown, well deserved

John Roberts suffered the horrendous execution reserved for traitors - being hanged, drawn and quartered. But he refused to be overcome at the thought of the horror that was about to befall him. Known for his keen sense of humour, and like many a martyr before him, St John Roberts joked right to the end. Whilst being led to the scaffold, someone in the crowd suggested that he should wear his cap. "Why?" he asked, "are you afraid that I might catch a cold?" Also, when John Roberts saw the flames in which his bowels were to be burned, he is said to have exclaimed, "I see you have prepared a hot breakfast for us!"

Due to the affection of the crowd who knew all about the way he had cared for the poor and dispossessed of Westminster, John Roberts was actually spared the more gruesome horrors of his sentence. The people who had gathered at Tyburn that day also remained silent and horrified throughout the Saint's execution - many could not believe that the Crown would do such a thing to an obviously holy man. There was no rejoicing amongst the usually exuberant execution-watchers that day. Not even the most Protestant of Englishmen could find much to celebrate over the death of this Welsh Catholic priest on that cold December morning.

After his painful martyrdom, St John Roberts' body was taken back to his monastic community, St Gregory’s in Douai. As happened to St John Southworth's body, John Roberts' remains were lost during the French Revolution. Whereas, though, John Southworth’s body was rediscovered in the 1920s, and returned to Westminster Cathedral, all we have of St John Roberts are a few relics, which are mainly to be found at Downside Abbey, the Catholic church at Gellilydan (Trawsfynydd), and Tyburn Convent - near the site where he offered his life to God for the sake of Christ's true Church and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

Pope Leo XIII approved the opening of John Roberts' Cause on 4 December 1886. He was subsequently beatified by Pope Pius XI in 1929 and was canonised by Pope Paul VI on 25 October 1970, along with the other representative Forty Martyrs of England and Wales.

Sant John Roberts, gweddia drosom ni
Saint John Roberts, pray for us

Thanks go to Dylan Parry for this post.

Archbishop Fulton Sheen who died on 9th December 1979

At one time his television audience in the USA ran into 9 million viewers each and every week.

We remember his cause for the sainthood today, the anniversary of his death. If you have not heard this man speak, watch the clip below or, buy a set of his CDs from St Anthony Communications in Pembrokeshire, http://www.saintant.com/

             Prayer for the Canonisation of Archbishop Fulton Sheen

Heavenly Father, source of all holiness, You raise up within the Church in every age men and women who serve with heroic love and dedication.
You have blessed Your Church through the life and ministry of Your faithful servant, Archbishop Fulton J Sheen.

He has written and spoken well of Your Divine Son, Jesus Christ, and was a true instrument of the Holy Spirit in touching the hearts of countless people.
If it be according to Your Will, for the honour and glory of the Most Holy Trinity and for the salvation of souls, we ask You to move the Church to proclaim him a saint.

We ask this prayer through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Advent thoughts from A Reluctant Sinner

The Successor to St Peter



Pope Benedict XVI celebrating First Vespers
on the First Sunday of Advent 2007
from the Throne of Pope Leo XIII

Here is a quotation from a book written by the then Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI. It comes from his reflection on Advent as contained in the book Seek That Which Is Above, which was first published in 1986. I happen to think these words are beautifully profound and enlightening: -

"Advent is concerned with that very connection between memory and hope which is so necessary to man. Advent’s intention is to awaken the most profound and basic emotional memory within us, namely, the memory of the God who became a child. This is a healing memory; it brings hope. The purpose of the Church’s year is continually to rehearse her great history of memories, to awaken the heart’s memory so that it can discern the star of hope.… It is the beautiful task of Advent to awaken in all of us memories of goodness and thus to open doors of hope."

Let's thank God for all the beautiful memories we might have, especially ones from our childhood, as well as for that joyful gift: Hope.

 

 Let us also thank Him for our compassionate and wonderful Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI.

 

A Prayer for the Pope
(composed by Pope Leo XIII)

O Lord, we are the millions of believers, humbly kneeling at Thy feet and begging Thee to preserve, defend and save the Sovereign Pontiff for many years. He is the Father of the great fellowship of souls and our Father as well. On this day, as on every other day, he is praying for us also, and is offering unto Thee with holy fervour the sacred Victim of love and peace.

Wherefore, O Lord, turn Thyself toward us with eyes of pity; for we are now, as it were, forgetful of ourselves, and are praying above all for him. Do Thou unite our prayers with his and receive them into the bosom of Thine infinite mercy, as a sweet savour of active and fruitful charity, whereby the children are united in the Church to their Father. All that he asks of Thee this day, we too ask it of Thee in unison with him.

Whether he weeps or rejoices, whether he hopes or offers himself as a victim of charity for his people, we desire to be united with him; nay more, we desire that the cry of our hearts should be made one with his. Of Thy great mercy grant, O Lord, that not one of us may be far from his mind and his heart in the hour that he prays and offers unto Thee the Sacrifice of Thy blessed Son. At the moment when our venerable High Priest, holding in His hands the very Body of Jesus Christ, shall say to the people over the Chalice of benediction these words: "The peace of the Lord be with you always," grant, O Lord, that Thy sweet peace may come down upon our hearts and upon all the nations with new and manifest power. Amen.

Posted by Dylan Parry http://areluctantsinner.blogspot.com/

A bouquet of 315 Rosaries for Bishop Burns

A congregation of 22 attended the Sung Mass at 3pm at Our Lady of the Taper, Cardigan, on Sunday to mark Monsignor Johnson's last official Latin Mass prior to his retirement next year.

After Mass the Monsignor blessed a spiritual bouquet of 315 Rosaries offered to celebrate the Bishop's 40th Anniversary of ordination on 18th December.

The faithful present then sang the Salve Regina around the shrine statue of Our Lady.

Catholics from around the world contributed to this bouquet which will be presented to him by Menevia's Co-ordinator for the Extraordinary Form of Mass, Fr Jason Jones.

Afterwards, Elaine Sharpling made a presentation to Monsignor Johnson to thank him for his dedication in celebrating the EF Mass in West Wales over so many years. He was presented with a gift as a token of thanks and a pledge of a Latin Mass to be celebrated on his behalf at the Birmingham Oratory.

Masses for December

Thanks to Father Jason Jones for producing this listing and to Fathers Williams and Brophy for their unstinting support to the Confraternity and others who wish to attend the Latin Mass.

Please note that, due to the many duties that Advent brings for our priests, the programme is not as usual:

1st Sunday- Our Lady of the Taper, Cardigan 3pm

 

2nd Sunday -The Sacred Heart, Morriston 3pm

 

3rd Sunday- St Therese of Lisieux, Sandfields, Port Talbot  5pm

 

 

Some housekeeping notes:

 

1. Please inform me if, at any time you wish to unsubscribe to this blog

 

2. If you would like to make a contribution (in the form of a written post for publication) please send it to me in Word format. All of our posts remain charitable and within the teachings of Holy Mother Church but, if there is ever any doubt about views expressed, Fr Jones will be the final arbiter as to whether publication can take place. We reserve the right not to publish without reservation.

 

3. My email address is: r.collinsassoc@btinternet.com

 

4. Please pray for those members of the Confraternity who are sick or in need of our prayers.

 

"We adore Thee O Christ and we praise Thee. Because by Thy Holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world"

Cardinal Piacenza - a note for priests but of interest to laity

H/T (Hat tip) to Fr Simon Henry of Offerimus Tibi Domine for this message from His Eminence....

"Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy, has issued a message to clergy for the beginning of Advent".

"In this special time of Grace the Most Holy Virgin Mary, Icon and Model of the Church, wants us to be introduced to that vigilance which is the constant attitude of Her Immaculate heart.

In fact, the Virgin lived constantly in prayerful vigilance.

In vigilance, She received the announcement that changed the history of humanity. In vigilance, She kept and contemplated, more than any other, the Almighty who became her Son. In vigilance, filled with loving and grateful wonder, She gave birth to the Light Himself and, together with St Joseph, became a disciple of He to whom She had given birth.

He was adored by the shepherds and the kings, welcomed in jubilation by Simeon and the prophetess Anna, feared by the doctors in the temple, loved and followed by the disciples and opposed and condemned by His people.

In the vigilance of her maternal heart, Mary followed Christ right up to the foot of the cross where, in the immense sorrow of a pierced heart, She accepted us as her new sons.

In vigilance, She waited with certainty for the Resurrection and was Assumed into Heaven.

Dearest friends, Christ constantly watches over His Church and over every one of us! We are all called to enter into that vigilance, that passionate observation of reality that moves us between two fundamental directions: the recollection of meeting Christ in our lives and the great mystery of being His priests and the openness to the 'category of possibility'.

The Virgin Mary, was in fact 'recollected', which means that in her heart She constantly relived what God had done for Her and, in the certainty of this reality, She lived the duty of being the Mother of the Almighty.

The Immaculate Heart of the Virgin Mary, was then constantly willing and open to the 'possible', to that materialisation of God's Will in daily circumstances and also in those that are most unexpected.

Also today, from heaven, the Virgin keeps us in Christ's living memory and continually opens the possibility of Divine Mercy to us.

Dearest Brothers and Friends, let us ask Her for a heart that is able to relive Christ's coming in our lives, a heart able to contemplate the way in which the Son of God, on the day of our Ordination, radically and definitely marked our entire existence immerging us in His priestly heart.

He renews us daily in the Eucharistic Celebration so that our own lives become transfigured into Christ's coming for humanity.

Finally, let us ask for an attentive heart able to recognise the signs of Jesus' coming in the lives of every man, especially to the young who are entrusted to us, so that we are able to recognise the sign of that special coming which is the vocation to the Priesthood.

The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Priests and Queen of the Apostles, always grants those humble requests for that priestly paternity which is the only thing able to "accompany" the youth on the joyful and enthusiastic journey to follow Christ.

In the “Yes” of the Annunciation, we are also encouraged to be coherent to the “Yes” of our ordination.

In the Visitation to Saint Elisabeth, we are encouraged to live that divine intimacy in order to bring Christ's presence to the others and to translate it into joyful service without the limits of time and space. In the Holy Mother's act of wrapping the Baby Jesus in swaddling clothes and adoring Him, we learn to treat the Most Holy Eucharist with an ineffable love.

By conserving every event within our own hearts, we learn from Mary how to gather around the Only Necessity.

With these sentiments I assure all the dear Priests around the world of a special remembrance in the Celebration of the Holy Mysteries. I ask everyone for the prayerful support for the ministry that was entrusted to me and, before the crib, let us implore the ability to become that what we are every day".

Start now! Novena for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Fr Jason Jones has asked me to feature this novena to Our Lady in readiness for the great Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8th

 "Que soy era Immaculada Concepciou"

Say this novena every day up to the Feastday on December 8th -

                                Novena to the Immaculate Conception

 

Immaculate Virgin! Mary, conceived without sin!
Remember, you were miraculously preserved from even the shadow of sin, because you were destined to become not only the Mother of God, but also the mother, the refuge, and the advocate of man; penetrated therefore, with the most lively confidence in your never-failing intercession, we most humbly implore you to look with favour upon the intentions of this novena, and to obtain for us the graces and the favours we request.
 
You know, O Mary, how often our hearts are the sanctuaries of God, Who abhors iniquity. Obtain for us, then, that angelic purity which was your favourite virtue, that purity of heart which will attach us to God alone, and that purity of intention which will consecrate every thought, word, and action to His greater glory.
Obtain also for us a constant spirit of prayer and self-denial, that we may recover by penance that innocence which we have lost by sin, and at length attain safety to that blessed abode of the saints, where nothing defiled can enter.
 
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you.
V. You are all fair, O Mary.
R. You are all fair, O Mary.
V. And the original stain is not in you.
 R. And the original stain is not in you.
V. You are the glory of Jerusalem.
R. You are the joy of Israel.
V. You are the honour of our people.
R. You are the advocate of sinners.
V. O Mary, Virgin, most prudent
R. O Mary, Mother, most tender.
V. Pray for us.
 R. Intercede for us with Jesus our Lord.
V. In your conception, Holy Virgin, you were immaculate.
R. Pray for us to the Father Whose Son you didst bring forth.
 V. O Lady! aid my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto thee.
 
Let us pray, Holy Mary, Queen of Heaven, Mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and mistress of the world, who forsakest no one, and despisest no one, look upon me, O Lady! with an eye of pity, and entreat for me of your beloved Son the forgiveness of all my sins; that, as I now celebrate, with devout affection, your holy and immaculate conception, so, hereafter I may receive the prize of eternal blessedness, by the grace of Him whom you, in virginity, didst bring forth, Jesus Christ Our Lord: Who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, lives and reigns, in perfect Trinity, God, world without end.
Amen.

Bye bye Latin Mass!

Just a reminder that our last EF Mass in the West of Menevia Diocese will be next Sunday 4th December at Our Lady of the Taper, Cardigan at 3pm.

It will be a Missa Cantata and Monsignor Johnson's last EF Mass prior to retirement.
There will be a second collection for the Monsignor.

An Advent hymn

CONDITOR ALME SIDERUM

Creator of the stars of night,
Thy people’s everlasting light,
Jesu, Redeemer, save us all,
And hear Thy servants when they call.

Thou, grieving that the ancient curse
Should doom to death a universe,
Hast found the medicine, full of grace,
To save and heal a ruined race.

Thou cam’st, the Bridegroom of the bride,
As drew the world to evening-tide;
Proceeding from a virgin shrine,
The spotless Victim all divine.

At Whose dread Name, majestic now,
All knees must bend, all hearts must bow;
And things celestial Thee shall own,
And things terrestrial, Lord alone.

O Thou Whose coming is with dread
To judge and doom the quick and dead,
Preserve us, while we dwell below,
From every insult of the foe.

Thanks to Dylan Parry for this post

Advent: Preparing for Our Lord's Nativity and for his coming as Judge of the living and the dead

Posted by A Reluctant Sinner

A voice crying out in the wilderness, make straight the
way of the Lord 

Throughout the year, the Church seeks to aid her children by offering them seasons and times that concentrate on some aspect of Our Lord's life. By meditating on the various mysteries of Christ's life and ministry, we who do so grow in our love for him, become more attached to him and enjoy the benefits of the salvation that he has gained for us. Each year we are given the grace to delve deeper and deeper into the mystery of Jesus Christ as we follow the liturgical seasons and feasts that he himself has given us through his Church.

Advent is a special season in that it helps Christians to prepare for the coming of Christ - his advent. At Christmas, which is what Advent prepares us for, Jesus will be born once more in our hearts. But Advent also prepares us for that other coming of Christ, his Second Coming, when he will come again to "judge the living an the dead." He who comes to set captives free and who comes as the Daystar of our lives is also the judge who is already standing at the door (cf James 5:9). He will grant to our souls at Christmas the same graces which he gave the Shepherds and the Magi at that first Christmas. When he comes again in glory at the end of time, he will judge us on how we used these graces - these free gifts of salvation. Advent is therefore a time of preparation both for the many graces already won for us and still being offered to us through the Incarnation as well as for the day on which we will stand before Jesus Christ face to face. If we love him, we will rejoice in calling out during Advent, "Come Lord Jesus, do not delay!"

In former times, on this First Sunday of Advent, the people of Rome would join their Bishop, the Pope, for a celebration of Solemn Mass at Santa Maria Maggiore (a basilica I mentioned a few days ago on my own blog). This particular church was chosen because it is the Blessed Virgin Mary who gave us Jesus at Christmas and because the relics of the crib in which she placed him are preserved at Santa Maria Maggiore. Of course, Our Lady prepared for Christ's coming more than anyone else - her pregnancy was a precursor to our Advent and along with her fellow Jews she was full of expectation for the promised Messiah, the Saviour. Let us therefore ask Mary, our Mother, to guide us throughout this Advent season - so that, both at Christmas and at the end of time itself, she may show unto us the blessed fruit of her womb, Jesus.

℣ Rorate coeli desuper et nubes pluant justum
(Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the just)
℟ Aperiatur terra et germinet salvatorem
(Let the earth be opened and send forth a Saviour)

Mary With Child

Alma Redemptoris Mater

Alma Redemptoris Mater, quae pervia caeli
Porta manes, et stella maris, sucurre cadenti,
Surgere qui curat populo: tu quae genuisti,
Natura mirante, tuum sanctum Genitorem,
Virgo prius ac posterius, Gabrielis ab ore
Sumens illud Ave, peccatorum miserere.

Usque ad diem 23 decembris:

℣ Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae.
℟ Et concepit de Spiritu Sancto.

Oremus. Gratiam tuam, quaesumus, Domine, mentibus nostris infunde; ut, qui, angelo nuntiante, Christi Filii tui incarnationem cognovimus, per passionem ejus et crucem, ad resurrectionis gloriam perducamur. Per eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

A die 24 decembris:

℣ Post partum, Virgo, inviolata permansisti.
℟ Dei Genitrix, intercede pro nobis.

Oremus. Deus, qui salutis aeternae, beatae Mariae virginitate fecudna, humano generi praemia praestitisti: tribue, quaesumus, ut ipsam pro nobis intercedere sentiamus, per quam meruimus auctorem vitae suscipere, Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum, Filium tuum. Amen.

O Loving Mother of our Redeemer

O loving Mother of our Redeemer, gate of heaven, star of the sea,
Hasten to aid thy fallen people who strive to rise once more.
Thou who brought forth thy holy Creator, all creation wond'ring,
Yet remainest ever Virgin, taking from Gabriel's lips
that joyful "Hail!": be merciful to us sinners.

Up until the day before Christmas Eve:

℣ The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
℟ And she conceived by the Holy Spirit.

Let us pray. Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His passion and cross be brought to the glory of His resurrection, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

From Christmas Eve onwards:

℣ Thou gavest birth without loss of thy virginity:
℟ Intercede for us, O holy Mother of God.

Let us pray. O God, Who by the fruitful virginity of blessed Mary hast offered unto the human race the rewards of eternal salvation, grant, we beseech thee, that we may know the effects of her intercession, through whom we have deserved to receive the author of life, our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son. Amen.

Posted by Dylan Parry A Reluctant Sinner
Image attribution for this post can be found on my blog

Latin Mass next Sunday 27th November

 The first Sunday of Advent.......

3pm at the Church of the Sacred Heart, Morriston

The Rosary Petition grows.......

As at 17.22 hours today we have 293 pledges to say the Rosary for the Mass to return to West Wales and on behalf of the intentions of Bishop Burns....

....Do you have a Rosary or two to add to the 'bouquet?'

Please email me on r.collinsassoc@btinternet.com or leave a pledge in the comment box.......1 Rosary is good......10 makes us very happy

NB 1 Rosary equals 5 decades

Thank you.

Missa Cantata at Cardigan - the last in West Wales

Join us at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Taper at 3pm on Sunday 4th December for the last EF Mass to be celebrated by Mgr Johnson before his retirement that month. It will also be the last Latin Mass to be celebrated in West Wales.

And please.................................join in pledging a rosary or ten so that we may leave our petition for Latin Masses to return to the west of the Diocese  and present the Bishop with a spiritual bouquet.

Just email r.collinsassoc@btinternet.com and state a number, no need to write at length.
We shall collect all the rosary promises and send them to our Bishop.

Thank you

OTHER NOTICES

There will be a second collection at Mass on 4th December so that the Confraternity may thank Mgr Johnson by providing a special Mass to be said for his intentions.

PLUS......

The next Latin Mass will be on Sunday 27th November at 3pm at the Church of the Sacred Heart, Morriston - celebrant: Fr Jason Jones

Notes from A Reluctant Sinner

A Reluctant Sinner is arguably, the UK's leading lay blogger and is from Anglesey.
He now lives in London and acts as a volunteer at Westminster Cathedral.
He has kindly given SM permission to reproduce some of his posts.

Here is the first to be featured...you may wish to visit his blog at http://areluctantsinner.blogspot.com/

The Pope's visit to Benin - The event's logo reminds us that Christians should pray facing the East, ad orientem

Today, Pope Benedict XVI will visit Benin, a small West African country bordered by Togo, Nigeria, Burkina Faso and Niger. During his visit, the Pope is expected to reflect on economic justice, the need for peace as well as the important role Africa has to play in securing Christianity's global future. He will also sign an Apostolic Exhortation on Africa in the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Ouidah. This important document is the culmination of the 2009 African Synod, which was held in Rome.

The logo created for the Pope's visit to Benin is highly symbolic, and is therefore well worth dwelling upon. For those who can read French, there is an informative explanation of the logo in the missal provided for the visit. What I have written below is my interpretation of the logo's meaning, based upon the official literature.

For me, one of the most interesting things about the image used for the Apostolic Visit to Benin is the fact that the blue dove, which is also an illustration of the continent of Africa, is heading towards the East. According the official handbook for the journey (pp 13 - 14) , this dove, which is primarily a symbol of peace, "is the perfect illustration of the central theme of the Pope's visit in Benin." The fact that the dove is seen soaring towards the East is of primary importance, for "[t]he East in the Holy Scriptures symbolizes the place of God's presence." The handbook goes on to say that following the ancient customs and traditions of our faith, "Christian[s] ... turn to the East to pray," and by doing so they choose to face "Jesus Christ, source of all light."

By now we are all aware of the fact that Pope Benedict XVI wishes Christians to (re)direct their worship ad orientem, towards the East. Sadly, the Church seems to have forgotten why we should all face eastwards, towards the Risen Christ, during our common worship - especially so during the celebration of Mass. Writing in his excellent book The Spirit of the Liturgy (Ignatius 2000), the future Pope Benedict XVI reminds us why celebrating the Mass ad orientem is so important: -

"Despite all the variations in practice that have taken place far into the second millennium, one thing has remained clear for the whole of Christendom: praying towards the East is a tradition that goes back to the beginning. Moreover, it is a fundamental expression of the Christian synthesis of cosmos and history, of being rooted in the once-for-all events of salvation history while going out to meet the Lord who is to come again. Here both the fidelity to the gift already bestowed and the dynamism of going forward are given equal expression..."

"...[A] common turning to the East during the Eucharistic Prayer remains essential. This is not a case of something accidental, but of what is essential. Looking at the priest has no importance. What matters is looking together at the Lord. It is not now a question of dialogue, but of common worship, of setting off towards the One who is to come. What corresponds with the reality of what is happening is not the closed circle, but the common movement forward expressed in a common direction for prayer." (emphases mine)

Bearing this in mind, and aware that the liturgical literature surrounding the Papal visit to Benin refers explicitly to the ancient custom of praying towards the East, one wonders whether the Pope might be subtly using his visit to invite all African Catholics to start worshipping ad orientem once more?

The dove in the logo creates a trail of colours: green, yellow and red. These represent both the flag of Benin, as well as Africa as a whole - for green, yellow and red appear in the flags of most African countries. The cross that forms the heart of the continent of Africa in the Papal visit's logo is coloured gold and white, to symbolise the papacy and the Holy See. Gold is also symbolic of the Resurrection, and points to the Christian hope that one day the whole of Africa, which is a continent well accustomed to suffering, will be filled with that true joy and salvation which the Risen Prince of Peace brings.

Benin itself is also coloured white in the logo, which represents the Pope's presence amongst that nation's people. It also symbolises purity, which it is hoped will spread throughout the whole of Africa both during and after the Apostolic Visit. The West African country is also depicted in white to remind us that Christ is the light, the new dawn, who has overcome darkness, death and sin. In the words of the official missal, it is hoped that "[t]he Pope's visit will rise over Africa from Benin," and will prove to be "the dawn of a new world of reconciliation, justice and peace."

The three arches that flow from the dove represent a rainbow, reminding us of God's covenant with Noah (cf Genesis 9). The rainbow in the logo is comprised of three colours, which speak of reconciliation, justice and peace - all of which will be important themes during the Papal visit. The logo's predominant colour, though, is blue - which is the colour chosen to represent both the dove and the African continent. Blue, of course, reminds us of Our Lady, whose prayers and motherly protection are constantly invoked by her African children, whom she loves dearly.

One has to concede that the logo for Pope Benedict XVI's Apostolic Visit to Benin is most instructive, and those who designed it are to be congratulated for their efforts. In fact, meditating on this logo seems to have given me more insight into the nature and purpose of the Papal visit.

Releasing the Holy Souls - a target for the next 12 days

This month provides a great opportunity to pray especially for the Holy Souls in Purgatory; those who have died in God's grace but who still have to repay the debt "of sin committed here".

And by undertaking to release those in Purgatory we contribute to our own future; even to the extent of possibly avoiding Purgatory altogether and going straight to Heaven.

What must we do?

1. Pray for the Holy Souls and say the prayers that carry an indulgence -

               "O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in Thee"

It takes but a few seconds but it could free a soul; pray it a hundred or a thousand times a day.

2. Undertake acts of penance or charity on behalf of the Holy Souls

3. Go to Confession, Holy Communion and Mass for them.

4. Visit the Blessed Sacrament, even for a few minutes

5. Say the Rosary

6. Recite the prayer of St Gertrude:

    "Eternal Father, I offer Thee the most Precious Blood of Jesus,  
    with all the Masses being said all over the world this day, for the
    Souls in Purgatory"

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.

May they rest in peace. Amen

PLEASE NOTE:

THE NEXT EF MASS WILL BE ON SUNDAY 20TH NOVEMBER AT 2PM

AT ST BENEDICT'S CHURCH, CLYDACH - CELEBRANT FR JASON JONES

Remembrance Sunday in Port Talbot

A goodly sized congregation came to hear a Sung Requiem Mass celebrated by Fr Paul Brophy who was in excellent voice despite having a bad cough.

The choir of just five sang as though they were 55 (in numbers, that is, they are all much younger than that!)

Sadly, I forgot to take my camera along so the very moving Mass went unrecorded, (on earth, at any rate).

Thanks go to Fr Paul and to his parishioners who made us all very welcome and who provided a very lavish after Mass spread.

And thanks also to the Choir and a warm welcome to Luke whose support is greatly appreciated. I wish I could find another way to say that they sang like angels but I can't!

Seamus, Corey and Owain served beautifully.

Mass next Sunday is very definitely at 2pm and not 2.30pm. It is at St Benedict's Clydach, Nr Swansea.

If you wish to read regular posts (articles) about the Faith

Visit the blogsite of The Guild of Blessed Titus Brandsma (click HERE to go straight there).



Blessed Titus Brandsma, the journalist
priest who was unafraid of writing the
truth. As he was about to be murdered by the Nazis,
he made a gift of his Rosary
to his executioner -
Blessed Titus -  Ora pro nobis!



The Guild is a group of bloggers who write specifically in line with the teachings of the Church and in accord with the Magisterium - the Holy Father and the Cardinals of the Church.

Remember Remembrance Sunday!

A Sung Requiem High Mass to commemorate the dead of both World Wars will be celebrated by Fr Paul Brophy at St Therese of Lisieux Church, Sandfields, Port Talbot, next Sunday (13th November) at 5pm - thank you Fr Paul - and advance thanks to the choir also.

OTHER MASSES FOR NOVEMBER......

Sunday 20th November - please note new Winter time - 2pm at St Benedict's Clydach

Sunday 27th November (First Sunday of Advent) TBA

Remember! remember! The 6th of November.....

Mass in the Extraordinary Form at Our Lady Queen of Peace, Newcastle Emlyn at 3pm.

Sunday 6th November - The twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost

Special thanks to Monsignor Johnson for all the Masses he has offered this year at Cardigan and Newcastle Emlyn.

The Confraternity wishes him a very happy retirement.

                                        Ave Maria gratia plena....

Do you know this man?

From the Guild of Blessed Titus Brandsma blog

 

                                

                                                      One Solitary Life 

 

Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman.  He grew up in another obscure village. 

 He worked in a carpenter’s shop until He was 30 years old and then for 3 years He was a travelling preacher. 

He never wrote a book, He never held an office, He never owned a house, He never had a family, He never went to college. 

He never put his foot inside a big city except one.  He never went 200 miles from the place where He was born.

 

He never did one of the things which usually accompanies greatness. 

 He had no credentials but himself.  Whilst still a young man the tide of popular opinion turned against Him.

  His friends ran away, some of them denied Him, He was turned over to His enemies, He went through the mockery of a trial.  He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. 

 His executioners gambled for the only piece of property he had upon earth while he was dying; and that was his garment.  When He was dead He was taken down and laid in a borrowed grave, through the kindness of a friend. 

20 centuries have come and gone.  He is the cornerstone of the human race and the keystone of the Kingdom of God. 

When I say that all the armies that ever marched and all the navies that were ever built and all the parliaments that have ever sat and all the kings that have ever reigned have not affected the life of man as powerfully as that one solitary life, none will ever be found to disagree.

Unknown