Brief thoughts.

Fr Ray Blake has a post up about maniples. Like birettas, mentioning them can appear quirky and rather irrelevent. We have earthquakes, tsunamis, starvation, disease, political unrest and upheavel, war and pestilence to worry about. Why give them the time and brain space? And I kind of appreciate that point of view, kind of.

I spent my formative years having to sing Colours of Day and anything else that was sublimely trite written by Miscellaneous Sisters Anonymous et al, all very well meaning I'm sure, but still enough to make me writhe with embarrassment even back then, at Masses celebrated by priests wearing easy care cream polyester.

I think even then I yearned for something I'd only seen in black and white movies and Nun's Story: dignity and reverence, and a lot, and I mean a lot, of special vestments. In effect, I was desperate for the return of what I now think is encapsulated in the maniple. And the biretta for that matter, and dare I bore you, for us ladies, the chapel veil (plug plug).



I've done the holding hands round the altar at the Ordinary Form during the Consecration (gentle Reader, I was very young and knew no better), and sat cross legged round coffee tables while Mass was said at house Masses (uber cringe then, absolute horror now), and I know from these experiences that that kind of trivialisation of the most important thing in the world, the Holy Mass, is just so wrong.

It's been said time and time again, but if something doesn't look special, it won't immediately be seen as special. If you truly believe the Mass is at the heart of all things, and has the power to change the world, then why not show the world, and dress the part?

Birettas, maniples, chapel veils, let's see them, not just at the EF where they've never gone away, but at every Mass.

P.S. I just saw this on Valle Adurni. I'll let it speak for itself.

Huge Success for the Latin Mass Society at York Minster

28 March 2011

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE LATIN MASS SOCIETY

Over 700 Catholics committed to the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite (Traditional Latin Mass) converged on York Minster on Saturday 26 March to attend the first celebration of a Catholic Mass in the Minster since the Reformation. Sung Mass in the ancient Latin Rite, complete with beautiful vestments, ceremonial and incense, was celebrated at the High Altar by Fr Stephen Maughan of the Catholic diocese of Middlesbrough. (The Mass was a Votive Mass of a Holy Woman Martyr Not a Virgin).

Afterwards, the huge congregation processed through the streets of York in public witness of the Catholic Faith to the Shrine of St Margaret Clitherow in York’s historic Shambles before completing a memorable day with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament at the Catholic Church of the English Martyrs.

The occasion was the Latin Mass Society’s first annual York pilgrimage in honour of St Margaret Clitherow, one of the LMS’s patron saints. The day was organised by Paul Waddington, National Treasurer and local Representative for the LMS who said: “I am overwhelmed by the response of so many hundreds of faithful Catholics. The number of young families with children in buggies was particularly encouraging”.


Permission for the Mass was given by the Dean, the Very Reverend Keith Jones, and Chapter of York Minster; the Dean and the Precentor, Canon Peter Moger, sat in choir during the Mass.


The Latin Mass Society had originally hoped to celebrate the Mass in the nearby Catholic parish Church of St Wilfrid’s, but unfortunately it was not available; however, the parish’s loss was York Minster’s gain.


The massive choir of York Minster was completely packed and over 150 people had to be accommodated in the nave with extra seating brought in. The music was provided by the Rudgate Singers, a local choir who specialise in the Latin Mass and who sang William Byrd’s polyphonic Mass for Five Voices.


Saint Margaret Clitherow, (1556-1586) who lived in York was an ordinary wife and mother who refused to renounce her Catholic faith and who was martyred by being pressed to death in the reign of Elizabeth I. She was executed on Good Friday 1586 and was canonised by Pope Paul VI in 1970 as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales.

Following the Mass, there was a procession from York Minster through the city streets to St Margaret Clitherow’s shrine in the Shambles, and then across Ouse Bridge, the place of her execution. The sight of so many Catholic pilgrims publicly processing and praying the Rosary drew the notice of Saturday afternoon shoppers, and a respectful silence fell as the procession passed.


The procession finished at the Catholic Church of the English Martyrs where a relic of St Margaret Clitherow, on loan for the occasion from York’s Bar Convent, was venerated and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament was conferred by Fr Michael Brown, the LMS’s Northern Chaplain.


The occasion was widely covered by TV, radio and local press.


Michael Lord, LMS General Manager, said: “Something special happened in York on Saturday. Hundreds of Catholics gathered in this historic centre of northern Christianity to honour one of England’s bravest women in a quite extraordinary way. Indeed, some people travelled from as far away as London, Oxford and Dublin.


“This Mass in the ancient Roman Rite demonstrates quite clearly the suppressed level of interest in the Latin Mass, particularly amongst the young. I’m afraid many English and Welsh bishops are still very grudging in helping to organise celebrations of the Latin Mass but our huge congregation today shows that hundreds of people want to stand alongside Pope Benedict in his efforts to restore beauty and dignity to Catholic worship and to restore Christianity in its ancient European heartland.


“The LMS is already making plans for an even bigger celebration in honour of St Margaret Clitherow next year”.


The LMS offers its grateful thanks to the Dean and Chapter of York Minster, the Bar Convent, the Church of the English Martyrs and all those volunteer members of the LMS who co-ordinated the day’s events, and without whom such a happy and successful occasion would not have been possible.


Photographs of the pilgrimage can be downloaded here:


http://www.flickr.com/photos/latinmasssociety/galleries/72157626246685473/

For further information, please contact John Medlin, Publicist, or Mike Lord, LMS General Manager, on (T) 020 7404 7284; (F) 020 7831 5585;  (E mail) info@lms.org.uk

LMS Seeks to Recruit New Editor for Mass of Ages Magazine

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE LATIN MASS SOCIETY


24 March 2011


We are currently seeking a new editor for Mass of Ages magazine, as our current editor, John Medlin, will be retiring from this position later this year.


'Mass of Ages' is the quarterly magazine of the Latin Mass Society and is, with our website, one of the two principal ‘shop windows’ for the Society’s work, as well as a vital means of communication with our members. It is therefore a high priority for the Society.


The magazine’s current look was developed several years ago and the time has come for a thorough revamp, both in appearance and content, to bring it into line with the Society’s developing and expanding activities and priorities. We are also proposing a number of technical changes in the way in which the magazine is produced. The new editor will be intimately involved in these changes at what is an exciting time for the Society.


As well as journalistic and relevant technical experience, the new editor will have a deep and sympathetic knowledge of the Traditional Catholic world.

If you would like more information, including salary details and job description, please contact LMS General Manager Mike Lord by email on michael@lms.org.uk or phone him on 020 7404 7284 for a confidential talk.

May I draw your attention...

...to a new blog to which my attention was drawn courtesy of Damian Thompson's blog.

As a lady to her mantilla, so a priest to his biretta. Yes, it's a blog devoted to birettas.

It only seemed fair to add it seeing as I have one on the side bar for mantillas.

Men - We Need You!

Seriously, we do. We need servers, lots and lots and lots of servers in this Diocese. We now have more churches willing to host the Extraordinary Form, more priests, but we are seriously lagging in the serving department in some areas.

In the past, small boys were able to serve Mass, and it really isn't as hard as it might seem I'm authoritatively told, being a chapette, I wouldn't know first hand.

Full training can be given in various locations throughout the Diocese by very helpful blokes who are more than happy to offer any help, support and advice.

Please chaps, have a go, try it out, or just inquire. There's a handy Sodality to join too.

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE LATIN MASS SOCIETY

22 March 2011

Latin Mass Society Announces a Day of Recollection with Fr Michael Cullinan

The Latin Mass Society's annual Day of Recollection is taking place as customary in St Edmund's College Ware, Herts. The College boasts one of the finest chapels of E.W. Pugin in the country, and the only one never to have been reordered.

The LMS always has distinguished priests preaching these days of recollection; this year they will have Fr Michael Cullinan, a long-term friend of the LMS and a scripture scholar. He is the BA Divinity course leader at Maryvale Institute in Birmingham.

The Day of Recollection will be held at St Edmund’s College, Ware on Saturday, 9th July 2011 at 11.00 am.

Father Cullinan will celebrate High Mass in the Traditional Rite at 12 noon. The day will conclude with Solemn Vespers and Benediction at 3.30 p.m.

The cost of the Retreat will be £5.00. Participants should bring their own lunch, although tea and coffee will be provided.

For those wishing to attend, more information is available from Eric Caudle (e mail: egthebm@btinternet.com) or Mike Mason on 01983 567996 or (M) 07810 778160.

For further information, please contact John Medlin, Publicist, or Michael Lord, General Manager, on (T) 020 7404 7284; (F) 020 7831 5585; (E mail) info@lms.org.uk

Mass at Bexhill next Sunday

On Sunday 27 March Mass will be said by Fr Bruno Witchalls at St Mary Magdalene, Bexhill at 8.00am,

(And because the clocks go forward, it'll feel just like 7.00am!)

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE LATIN MASS SOCIETY

21 March 2011

Latin Mass Society Celebrates St Joseph’s Day with an Overflowing Morning of Recollection Followed by a Successful Solemn Mass in Westminster Cathedral

The sun shone on the Latin Mass Society’s (LMS) Morning of Recollection on the theme of St Joseph and Lent and its afternoon Solemn High Mass in Westminster Cathedral on Saturday 19 March (St Joseph’s Day).


Fr Andrew Southwell, the LMS's National Chaplain, gave the Morning of Recollection at St Vincent's Convent, Carlisle Place, close to the cathedral. Nearly 60 people attended the event, exceeding the seating capacity of the meeting room so that extra chairs had to be brought in for those who arrived slightly late.

Many aspects of St Joseph and the Season of Lent were covered in the hour-and-a-half talk which concluded with the Litany of St Joseph in Latin and several people commented afterwards that they very much appreciated the insights given by Fr Southwell on Our Lady’s husband and foster-father to Our Lord.

Father Southwell was also the celebrant at the High Mass in Westminster Cathedral in the afternoon. Father Martin Edwards was deacon and Fr Patrick Hayward was sub-deacon; the Mass attracted a congregation of some 300 people.

Music was provided by members of the Cathedral Choir, which centred on Mozart's Coronation Mass. There were blue skies outside and the sunshine streamed in through the windows high in the Sanctuary sending beams of light through the clouds of incense rising from the altar. It was a wonderful way to celebrate the Feast of St Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church.

More pictures on the LMS Flickr page here.

For further information, please contact John Medlin, Publicist, or Michael lord, General Manager, on (T) 020 7404 7284; (F) 020 7831 5585; (E mail) info@lms.org.uk

Masses this weekend

Just a quick reminder, check the sidebar for regular Mass times and locations (Seaford this Sunday).

This Weekend's Special: Mass at St Richard's Chichester for the Feast of St Joseph 

Have a read of this.

Found on Vultus Christi , it's the best I've ever read on why VII should be left to quietly gather dust in a basement.

A plug for the LMS

As I'm sure most of you know, the LMS is funded from memberships and donations. That means it relies  heavily on members and their subscriptions to run, for example, the training courses for priests and servers, and to send a group of traddie youth off to Spain for World Youth Day . Could I encourage you, if you aren't already a member but are sympathetic to the cause and would like to see the Latin Mass return countrywide and its appeal broadened, to join the LMS.  It's good. You get a regular magazine too.

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE LATIN MASS SOCIETY

Latin Mass Society's Response to the Announcement of Negotiations Between Bishop Mark Davies of Shrewsbury and the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest

Bishop Mark Davies of Shrewsbury has announced that he is negotiating with the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, an international order of priests who solely celebrated the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, for them to take control of the landmark Church of SS Peter and Paul, New Brighton, on the Wirral. The church is commonly known as ‘the Dome of Home’ for its prominence and visibility, even from sea.

In response, the Latin Mass Society has announced that it warmly welcomes the news that Bishop Mark Davies is negotiating with the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest (ICKSP) to enable the ICKSP to assume responsibility for the much-loved Church of SS Peter and Paul on the Wirral and for it to become a centre for Eucharistic devotion. The local membership of the LMS has been campaigning for the church to be reopened and for the Traditional Latin Mass to be regularly celebrated there.

This initiative is sure to promote Church renewal in Shrewsbury diocese to the great benefit of all Catholics regardless of which Form of the Rite they are attached to. The LMS will offer every help and assistance to Bp Davies and the Institute to bring their plans to fruition and invites all those attached to the Extraordinary Form to pray for Bishop Davies’ intentions.

Doctor Joseph Shaw, LMS Chairman, said: ‘This initiative is a clear expression of the harmonious reintegration of the Extraordinary Form into the life of the Church which Pope Benedict XVI so patently desires. It is a wonderful idea to have a centre for Eucharistic devotion in Shrewsbury diocese and the ICKSP are second to none in their devotion to Our Blessed Lord in the Sacrament of the Altar’.

The LMS provides regular financial support both to the Institute of Christ the King (ICKSP) and the Fraternity of St Peter (FSSP) for their missions in England and Wales to reintroduce use of the Extraordinary Form; further financial support is given to English and Welsh seminarians at ICKSP and FSSP seminaries.”

http://www.lms.org.uk/news-and-events/news-blog#press-release-icksp-bp-davies

For further information, please contact John Medlin, Publicist, or Michael Lord, General Manager, on (T) 020 7404 7284; (F) 020 7831 5585; (E mail) info@lms.org.uk

As well as the Masses this weekend...



...Please don't forget the Mass at St Richard's, Chichester next Saturday, and the Spiritual Bouquet for the Holy Father!

This Sunday

There is a Mass at Our Lady of Sorrows, Bognor, at 12.30pm

 

and also  Mass at Our Lady of Consolation, West Grinstead at 3.00pm.

Please see the sidebar for addresses.

Ash Wednesday at St Mary Magdalen



Thanks to Clare for sending me the link to these wonderful photos.

And here is a link to the recordings of the propers. Wonderful.

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE LATIN MASS SOCIETY

Latin Mass Society to Sponsor Young Catholics Attending World Youth Day in Madrid,

16-21 August

Thousands of young Catholics will be travelling to take part in World Youth Day (WYD) 2011 in the presence of the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI.


Previous WYDs have been attended by Juventutem, the worldwide youth movement for young people (age 16 to 35) who are attached to the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. At WYD in Madrid, Juventutem will again be present and the Latin Mass Society (LMS) is subsidising the cost for young Catholics in England and Wales attending with them.


At WYD 2011, Juventutem will take part in all the official events, but will also have its own chapel and daily Mass in the Extraordinary Form plus its own catechesis classes.


There will also be an optional retreat in the week before WYD (9 to 15 August). This will take place at a former convent for Discalced Carmelites at Amorebieta-Etxano near Bilbao in northern Spain. There will be Traditional Mass, Lauds, Rosary and Compline, plus spiritual conferences as well as recreational activities, such as visits to the cities of Burgos and Bilbao, wine tasting in Rioja for older participants, one-day walking pilgrimages through the local countryside and more.


The Latin Mass Society will sponsor young Catholics from England and Wales who attend either WYD Madrid only with Juventutem or the Retreat and WYD with them. This is a limited offer on the basis of first come, first served, and it is not necessary to be a member of the LMS.


The LMS will cover half the cost of attending with Juventutem (which includes accommodation, food, and travel within Spain) plus half the cost of budget air travel to Spain to join the Juventutem group. Likely Juventutem cost for WYD only is €250.00 (airfare not included); for the Retreat and WYD €400.00 (airfare not included). The cost to applicants with the LMS subsidy will work out at £95.00 for WYD only and £170.00 for the Retreat and WYD combined.


This LMS sponsorship will make it affordable for many more young people to attend WYD with Juventutem. The LMS is providing this sponsorship as a service to the Church.


To apply for LMS subsidy, youngsters should first register with Juventutem and then register for sponsorship with the LMS by filling in an application form or by phoning the LMS office on 020 7404 7284.




Michael Lord, General Manager of the LMS said: “Throughout 2011, the LMS is rolling out new initiatives and activities aimed at making those attached to the Extraordinary Form into one of the most vibrant groupings in the Church in England and Wales. I am very excited by this sponsorship scheme, particularly the fact that it is available to young people throughout England and Wales, many of whom may only recently have discovered the Traditional Form of the Mass”.


NOTE:


Fuller information about Juventutem (including contact details), World Youth Day and the LMS can be found at this link:


http://www.lms.org.uk/news-and-events/juventutem-at-world-youth-day-2011

Follow this link to download an application form:
http://www.lms.org.uk/news-and-events/wyd-2011-application-form

For further information, please contact John Medlin, Publicist, or Michael Lord, General Manager, on (T) 020 7404 7284; (F) 020 7831 5585; (E mail) info@lms.org.uk

In case you missed the post...

...about Ash Wednesday at St Mary Magdalen, here is another reminder:

How a Blog Stat Counter Cheered Me Up

It sometimes feels to me quite a lonely thing to be doing, typing away at a desk without the faintest clue really of who, if anyone, is reading what you type.

So I occasionally look at my stat counter. Now I think stat counters are a two edged sword. They can enthuse you or make you droop, depending on what the numbers say.

So this morning, when I had a look, I was surprised to see one visitor from South America had come to me via Una Voce Malaga in Spain. Now I know we are members of the Universal Church, but somehow, being able to see that we are is the most encouraging thing. Una Voce Malaga has loads of photos from around the world of altars.

If you want to be inspired by what's going on world wide regarding the wondrous Extraordinary Form, please have a look HERE, you really don't need to be able to read Spanish to be delighted by the pictures. And if you look carefully, you might spot a few you recognise.

Easter Day Mass

There will be a Low Mass at 12.30 pm on Easter Sunday at St Pancras, Lewes.

Isn't this great? Many thanks to Fr Richard!

I'm now a very happy bunny

I had the (mis)fortune...

...to see the movie remake of Brideshead Revisited this weekend. I know it's not a new movie, but it was new to me and I'm ever so glad I didn't shell out at the cinema at the time as I was tempted to do. It made the old Beeb series seem totally splendiferous, and really deep (in spite of Jeremy Irons). In fact, I wondered if they had read the book at all, or just used the series to extrapolate from.

I would so like to see the book made into a film by Catholics, who actually understand what's going on.

Keep praying folks

I just read this on Rorate Caeli (my emphases):

Don Nicola Bux on the Instruction and the Reform of the Reform



'It is clear that the pastors of the Church, first the bishops and then the parish priests, although often saying that we must be able to grasp the signs of the times, an expression very much in use after Vatican II, often fail to understand that the signs of the times are not defined by them, but they happen and are regulated mainly by young people. I think this is the most interesting symptom, because, if [only] the elderly, the adults, went to the Traditional Mass, one might harbor a suspicion that it is nostalgia. The fact that it is mostly young people who seek and participate in the Latin Mass is completely unexpected and therefore deserves to be read, understood, and particularly accompanied by the bishops.



I think the Pope acknowledges this and that is why he intends to make a further contribution through an instruction on the application of the motu proprio, to help everyone understand that, in addition to the new form of the Roman Rite, there is the ancient or extraordinary form.'

I don't know about you, but I couldn't do without my Extraordinary fix; it's that addictive once you start.

This Sunday

Mass is at 12.30 pm at St Pancras, Lewes

This Saturday

Don't forget Mass in Horsham, St John the Evangelist at 6.00 pm. See side bar for address.


This month the celebrant will be Fr.Jonathan Martin the assistant priest at Our Lady of Sorrows, Bognor Regis.


Also any boys or men interested in learning to serve are welcome to train at Horsham. Training can be offered prior to the Masses and then in due course the trainee can “debut” at Horsham under supervision.

Please contact me via the combox and label the message 'not for publication' if you're interested, because we really do need more servers.

Date for the Diary

There will be a Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Consolation on Saturday 28th of May
in honour

 of Our Lady

Please put the date in your diary now and tell everyone!
More details later.

(And start praying for perfect weather)