Arundel & Brighton Latin Mass Society

Thanks Philothea

2012-02-14T10:05:00.000Z

Every shade of red

2012-02-10T08:55:00.003Z

Over the last few weeks the same couple of topics have swum through the oceans of news to bite me.

The first is euthanasia. The second abortion. I know and you know that the practice of and attitudes to the two are inextricably linked, but obviously not in the secular world, because it's all 'choice, choice, choice'.

The first big issue, the disrespect heaped upon many of the elderly, makes me see every shade of red there is. This week I've heard of another elderly lady dehydrated to death in hospital because, well, she's old. I'm sure had she realised she was going to be dehydrated to death on admission to hospital, she might have declined, and said she could very well 'forget' to drink in her own home, thank you very much.

Anyone I speak to seems to have the same stories to tell, and have been more or less impotent to do anything about it in the face of the 'medical profession'. I make no apologies for the speech marks, there is nothing 'medical' about dehydrating someone to death. It's torture.

Now, again, we have more noise from government once more suggesting the elderly get jobs, and move out of their own homes. The arrogance is quite simply breathtaking.

Abortion is absolutely another thing that makes me see all shades of red. It's the hypocrisy associated with it that I find so utterly galling. The report here about Texas, and the ruling concerning the viewing of their unborn by any woman considering abortion, really does highlight the hypocrisy of the, again, 'medical' profession regarding the value of life. Nigella (she won't mind me repeating her)commented that:

Why is everyone so 'shocked and appalled'?

You are shown the xrays when you break your leg, if abortion's so easy, common place, risk and consequence free, and run of the mill, and you have free choice, why complain about being shown an ultrasound of your baby before the abortion?

It's like people getting het up about being shown photos of aborted babies. Why so squeamish, it's not illegal, is it?

Let's not be coy.

It's so not nice to talk about murdering the elderly and the unborn. Like everyone else, sometimes I'd actually rather put my head in the sand and pretend it doesn't happen, but like I said, these two things have a habit of swimming up to bite me. I'm off to say a rosary.

Missa Solemnis at 7pm on Monday 27 February, at St Mary Magdalen, Brighton.

2012-02-07T13:20:00.000Z

As I'm sure you all know, this year is the 150th anniversary of St Mary Magdalen.

It's going to be a year of celebrations, I believe, and to open the festivities, there will be, as the poster above says, Schubert's Mass in G, there will be chant, there will be polyphony, and a world premiere of 'Tu es Petrus', and His Hermaneuticalness, Fr Tim Finigan will be preaching.

Really, this is too good to miss.

Equally Important News from Brighton

2012-02-07T12:56:00.000Z

On Palm Sunday,

and Easter Day, there will also be EF Masses at 9.00 am.

Please do try and support these Masses, and if you haven't been to one before, you have no idea how much you are missing!

At St Mary Magdalen, there is also a regular weekly Sunday Mass at 9.00 am.

Details of this and other Masses in the Diocese can be found on the sidebar, just scroll down.

Important News from Lewes

2012-02-06T09:32:00.000Z

From the first Saturday in Lent (25 Feb), Fr Jonathan Martin will, AD EXPERIMENTUM, be celebrating the 10 o'clock Mass on Saturday mornings in the EF (it is currently Latin O.F.).

It would be great if you could spread the word, and if you are able, get along to these Masses to support the EF, and Fr Jonathan.

More good news, there will be a Low Mass on Palm Sunday, as it is the first Sunday of the month, usual time of 12.30.

Leaving the best til last, there will also be a Low Mass (12.30pm) on Easter Sunday.

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE LATIN MASS SOCIETY

2012-02-03T09:49:00.000Z

2 February 2012

LMS Announces Its 8^th Priest and Server Training Conference, Belmont Abbey, Hereford, 16-19th April 2012

To meet the continuing and growing demand for the Extraordinary Form, the Latin Mass Society will be organising another in its series of much-praised residential training conferences for priests and servers wishing to learn Mass in the usus antiquior. On this occasion, it will be held at Belmont Abbey, Hereford, HR2 9RZ. This will be the eighth such conference organised by the LMS since 2007, which has now trained well over 100 priests in the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. Bookings have already started to come in for the Belmont event.

Tuition, which will be given by experienced priests, will be tailored to suit the needs of each priest. The conference will also be open to servers who wish to learn or improve their skills with the older form of the Mass.

The fee for attending is £120,, inclusive of board and lodging at Hedley Lodge, which is adjacent to the Abbey. There is a concessionary rate available of £60.

How To Get There:

Hereford is close to the motorway network and is easy and quick to get to from most parts of England and Wales.

Rail: Hereford mainline station is two hours 50 minutes from London, around 90 minutes from Birmingham, two and half hours from Manchester, one hour from Cardiff and 90 minutes from Bristol.

Road: The M50 motorway (which connects from the M5) is about half an hour (or less) from Hereford. Belmont Abbey is about a mile and a half outside the city of Hereford.

How To Apply:

Please follow this link for more information, downloadable booking form, and online booking. Please fill in an application form and send with your cheque (payable to 'Latin Mass Society') to the address on the application form.

Photo credit: Belmont Abbey

Candlemas at St Mary Magdalen, Brighton

2012-01-26T08:23:00.000Z

Good News from Fr Ray:

There will be a Missa Cantata and procession for the Feast of Candlemas, at 7.30pm.

Our Lady of Consolation

2012-01-25T07:48:00.002Z

A reminder that there is a Mass at noon on 29th January at West Grinstead.

All things slippery

2012-01-24T12:03:00.001Z

It's very disturbing when I read articles written by people who seem to to abhor being human so much that they want to separate birth and death from life itself. Wouldn't they rather just upload consciousnesses to androids, and have done with it? Especially galling seems to be the pesky type of person who would rather conceive naturally, and die when supposed to, rather than when it's expedient for the medics and convenient for the family.

So when I read today of the artificial womb to which all women should be entitled, because pregnancy doesn't half get in the way of 'who you are', I felt slightly queasy. Actually, more than slightly.

Now, if the 'artificial womb' was some kind of incubator for the extremely premature, I'd have sympathy. I might be all for it. But not as a vanity project for people who believe that pregnancy is beneath them, some sort of disease they are better off without.

More Human Than Human

I've read Brave New World, seen Gattaca, and Logan's Run, think Bladerunner is absolutely one of the best movies ever made, and even marvelled at the geometric pregnancy (don't ask) in Farscape, but the thought of anyone being grown to order in a perspex box in faux amniotic fluid just turns me over. And that is the bottom line, artificial wombs make artificial people grown to order. They'll have 'best before' dates as well.

Perhaps there'll be a catalogue, "Yeah, no. 312, please, yeah, that's the caucasian male, green eyes, black hair, IQ 145, and make that to go."

The arguments are always made from the point of view that the foetus is parasitic aggressor, so I was relieved to find this article that challenges the popular view that, as a woman, you're really doing the cells a favour letting them gestate in you. The article concludes:

“Long post postpartum, we mothers continue to carry our children, at least in a sense. Our babies become part of us, just as we are a part of them. The barriers have broken down; the lines are no longer fixed.”

Now you won't get that from a menu baby.

Why...

2012-01-21T09:22:00.001Z

...am I not surprised? What are the incentives, I wonder? Buy one, get one free?

The final instalment...

2012-01-21T09:19:00.000Z

"Men and Women Are Different"

2012-01-20T08:19:00.000Z

"Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier" Discuss.
"Equality does not equal 'sameness'" Discuss.

In the past "men discovered their masculinity in the Church"

2012-01-19T08:19:00.000Z

OK, this will separate the...

2012-01-18T12:43:00.000Z

...men from the boys. Like him or loathe him, he's always thought provoking. Enjoy!

A couple of things

2012-01-17T09:59:00.002Z

I've been a tad busy recently, so haven't done much reading in the press or anywhere else for that matter, but at the weekend, and this morning, a couple of things caught my eye.

The first thing was a Facebook post about a blog promoting the restoration of Holy Communion on the tongue. Since I try to mainly assist at the usus antiquior whenever possible, it's hard not to be acutely aware of How Different Things Can Be in the ordinary form Mass. And not in a good way. I shall never forget the sight of the pudding basin on the flower stand, used for incinerating incense. As I sincerely believe kneeling and on the tongue is the way to receive Our Lord, have a look at the blog, and see what you think.

Euthanasia. Such a soft and sinuous word for murder/suicide.

Lots about that, negative and positive, in the press at the moment. And another interesting twist is a government proposal for all the irritating and useless old folk who have the audacity to live, to want to live, and worse, stay in their own homes. It would seem they might be, er, 'encouraged' to downsize. Downsize to where, exactly? Or is the underlying thought: displace, depress, die off?

I like to keep up with LifeSiteNews too, it's great to see what's going on in the pro-life movement in other places, notably the States. If you know me, you'll know I really don't like sport. Apart from Wimbledon, I think watching paint dry is preferable to pretty much any sport, so I shall be avoiding the telly like mad this Olympic year. So I surprised myself by reading an article called Hating Tim Tebow, oddly enough about an American footballer called Tim Tebow. American football, that's girly rugby, isn't it? Have a read and be inspired.

Following on from sport, here's an intro to a new week long Michael Voris/Vortex series of talks.

Don't we live in Interesting Times..?

Mass on January 29th

2012-01-16T09:37:00.002Z

A reminder of the Mass at Our Lady of Consolation at noon.

All regular Masses can be found on the sidebar.

January News

2012-01-03T09:24:00.000Z

In addition to the Epiphany Mass at Lewes and the regular Masses on the sidebar:

There will be a Mass at St Joseph's, Guildford, on 15th January at 3.00 pm.

There will also be a Mass on 29th January, at 12.00 noon at Our Lady of Consolation, West Grinstead.

Locations of Masses can be found on the sidebar.

Well you could knock me down with a...

2012-01-02T14:30:00.001Z

Francis Phillips in the Catholic Herald writes about an apparent turn around A Certain Supermarket seem to have taken regarding their charitable donations. I wonder how many of us evil people actually wrote to register concern?

In Lewes this week...

2011-12-30T21:41:00.000Z

...Mass at the usual time of 12.30 pm this Sunday, 1st January.

Also, Mass on the Feast of the Epiphany,

6th January, at 7.00pm.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T14:44:00.000Z

Fascinating, no?

2011-12-20T15:33:00.003Z

I know it's only one less drop in their considerable ocean...

2011-12-20T14:22:00.001Z

...but bye bye, Tesco...and farewell to their credit card.

Upcoming Christmas Mass news

2011-12-20T11:22:00.000Z

Masses for Christmas Day:

Sung Mass at Steyning at 9.00 am

Low Mass at Lewes at 12.30 pm

Please see the sidebar for locations.

Mass at St Mary Magdalene, Bexhill, THIS SUNDAY

2011-12-15T18:51:00.001Z

PLEASE try and support this Mass if you can, it's at St Mary Magdalene's, Sea Road, Bexhill-on-Sea East Sussex, TN40 1RH at 8.00 am, celebrant Fr Bruno Witchalls.

There is no Mass in Seaford this week.

The Feast of The Immaculate Conception

2011-12-07T09:16:00.000Z

At St Mary Magdalen's Brighton, on Thursday, 8th of December at 7.30 pm, there will be a missa cantata for the Feast of The Immaculate Conception.

Benediction at North Stoke, 18th December

2011-12-07T09:11:00.002Z

From Peter Cullinane:

"Deacon David will give Benediction at 3-30pm on Sunday December 18 in the delightful medieval church of St Mary's North Stoke. For various reasons, this will be the only Catholic service to be held in the church this year and it would be wonderful if as many as possible would come so that the link with our Catholic heritage is not lost.

Benediction will include a period of silent adoration and the total service will not last more than 30 minutes.

As the church has neither heating nor lighting, just like the medieval times, please wrap up well and it would also be advisable to bring a torch for the short walk back to your car. Ample parking is available just outside the churchyard.
The hamlet of North Stoke is signposted from Houghton bridge and is just over a mile down the narrow lane by the Bridge pub. "

The Feast of St Nicholas

2011-12-06T09:24:00.000Z

Here's a nice site all about St Nicholas. Have a browse!

And here's a picture from the site, of how he might have looked.

Advent

2011-11-28T10:15:00.001Z

I love Advent. I just love it. I love the waiting, the preparation, the anticipation, the excitement. And of course, the solemnity of purple. The crib is up and ready (it takes over the whole sideboard even though it's not particularly big, because the sheep have to spread out), and the star is hanging above it. The Advent wreath is gloriously upstanding in pride of place on the dining table, and the calendars are waiting to be opened. No, they aren't chocolate ones. Although one day, some enterprising calendar producer is going to twig that it might be nice to have the right number of days on one, and not always start on 1st December, but that's a minor quibble.

Have a happy and holy Advent everyone!

Saturday and Sunday

2011-11-21T10:56:00.000Z

I was up in the metropolis on Saturday for the reps meeting, and the Requiem in Westminster Cathedral. The Mass was as moving as ever. There's nothing quite like a Requiem to bring home to you how the living and the dead remain dependent upon one another. Trying to explain this feeling of interconnectedness in words is almost impossible, I find, but it is something you can't help but understand at a Requiem.

So spoilt entirely this weekend with two Masses in a row, Mass at St Thomas More, Seaford, was celebrated by Fr Bruno Witchalls. He preached on the three essentials for staying true to the Faith when all about you is confusion.

The first is devotion to Our Lady, our Mother in Heaven.

The second, love for and fidelity to the Pope, the successor of St Peter.

The third, devotion to the Eucharist.

All in all a very good weekend.

IMPORTANT NEWS, a post of two halves.

2011-11-17T09:46:00.000Z

Bad news first:

From St Thomas More, Seaford:

The Mass on 18th December at 3.00pm is cancelled, as the church is needed for the parish family reconciliation service.

But the good news:

Is from St Mary Magdalen, Brighton,

Where there will be weekly Low EF Mass on Sundays at 9am, beginning on 27th November.

This is ad experimentum, so please, if you are in the area, try and get along!

So, the EF on the third Sunday of the month, 20^th November at 6pm will be the last.

Masses at Our Lady of Ransom, Eastbourne this week

2011-11-15T09:06:00.000Z

There will be a Mass in the Extraordinary Form at OLR tomorrow, Wednesday 16th November, Feast of St Gertrude, and Thursday 17th November, St Gregory the Wonderworker.

Both Masses are at 10.30 am, the celebrant will be Fr Briggs.

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE LATIN MASS SOCIETY

2011-11-15T08:58:00.000Z

14 November 2011

Recently Ordained Bishop Steps in at Last Moment to Enable Latin Mass Society Confirmations to Go Ahead

Rt Rev John Sherrington, newly installed auxiliary bishop of Westminster conferred Confirmations in the Traditional Rite on 31 candidates at a ceremony organised by the Latin Mass Society (LMS) at St James’s, Spanish Place in central London on Saturday, 12 November.

Originally, Bishop Alan Hopes of Westminster was intending to confer the Sacrament but had to withdraw at the very last moment owing to ill health. Bishop Sherrington stepped into the breach at less than 24 hours’ notice to ensure a very successful and happy event went ahead as scheduled. He was assisted by Fr Andrew Southwell, the LMS National Chaplain, Fr Tim Finigan and the rector of St James’s, Fr Christopher Colven.

After celebrating Pontifical Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament the bishop joined candidates and their families and friends in the Parish Social Centre for a buffet lunch where he also cut one of two celebratory cakes.

LMS General Manager Mike Lord said: ‘We were delighted to have the chance to meet Bishop Sherrington for the first time since his installation and grateful that he was able to help us out at such short notice. It was a joyful occasion for all involved. I understand this was the first time that the bishop had administered Confirmations in the Traditional Rite, but it was a seamless performance, drawing complimentary remarks from the clergy who assisted him, all of whom are experienced hands in the Extraordinary Form. We were very happy that Bishop Sherrington spent time chatting to the candidates and their families afterwards, even delaying his departure for another appointment to ensure he had had the opportunity of speaking to everyone. Westminster archdiocese is fortunate to have acquired an auxiliary so pastorally attuned to the needs of ordinary Catholics, whatever form of the liturgy they are attached to.’

More photos can be seen by clicking HERE,

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

Calendars, calendars, who wants a calendar?

2011-11-07T11:13:00.000Z

Tired of boring calendars?

Need to know which Sunday you're on for the EF Mass because your local parish runs on a different set of Sunday readings?

Like to have feast days clearly visible AND have space to write the dentist appointment and reminder for the dog's flea treatment?

Then look no further.

The 2012 LMS Calendar is now available from the LMS website! Click HERE for details.

You can also obtain an Ordo for 2012, by clicking HERE for details.

The Holy Souls and the Cathedral

2011-11-07T11:00:00.000Z

It was a very atmospheric, murky, and cold day on Saturday when we drove to Arundel for the Requiem for the Holy Souls. Fr Sean Finnegan was the Celebrant, Fr Alexander Lucie-Smith, Deacon, and Deacon Seamus Mahon was Sub Deacon. Many thanks to them.

Fr Lucie-Smith preached on a topic that doesn't get much time from an ordinary parish pulpit, that grief is part of life, and the Church gives you the hope, and the tools in the form of prayers and Masses for dead loved ones, to enable you to cope with it and also help the dead. He also reminded us that prayers for the dead are as old as the Church, quoting one of my favourites from St Monica, about being buried anywhere, but begging to be remembered at the altar of God.

The choir of St Mary Magdalen, Brighton, led by Clare, came along too and sang beautifully, the Dies Irae always makes the hairs stand up on the back of my neck, and they really did on Saturday. Clare also took some photos, which you can find HERE. Andrew and his serving team, also from St Mary Magdalen, were as polished as ever.
Thank you, Team Brighton!

Thanks also to the sacristans at the Cathedral, who were very helpful in making sure we had everything we needed.

And of course, thank you also to everyone who came! I hope you found the Mass as beautiful as I did.

It is a real privilege and a real comfort to help our deceased family and friends by praying for them. It must be truly awful to believe that when you have lost someone, that's it, the end, gone forever. So I also love cemeteries. I visited ours last week, it was grey, murky and cold then too, but wandering about reading the headstones, I felt so peaceful.

Hope to see you...

2011-11-04T14:21:00.001Z

at Arundel Cathedral tomorrow.

The next Mass at Our Lady of Consolation, West Grinstead...

2011-11-01T15:08:00.000Z

...isn't.

It's at 3.00pm, second Sunday, as usual, but is returning to Henfield temporarily while the underfloor heating is completed at OLOC!

So please click HERE for location and link to a map.

All Saints

2011-11-01T10:55:00.000Z

Happy Feast Day Everyone!

Just in case you had forgotten...

2011-10-31T09:01:00.000Z

...There is a Requiem Mass this Saturday, 5th November at noon in the Cathedral in Arundel....Just thought I'd mention it...

Mass in Arundel Cathedral this Saturday

2011-10-31T08:58:00.000Z

Clare has asked for a couple of good singers to help out with the choir this Saturday, if you or anyone you know would like to participate, let me know.

MASSES FOR ALL SOULS

2011-10-31T08:49:00.000Z

There will be a Missa Cantata at St Mary Magdalen, Brighton, this Wednesday at 7.00 pm. SEE HERE for details.

There is also a Low Mass at St Pancras, Lewes, at 7.00 pm. SEE HERE for details.

Steyning Masses begin this coming weekend, 23rd October...

2011-10-17T09:27:00.000+01:00

...and every fourth Sunday of the month,

at Christ the King, Steyning, BN44 3PB at 9.00am.

Petitions

2011-10-13T16:10:00.003+01:00

Telly, love it or loathe it? I have a love/hate relationship with the telly. Mostly it's love, but then I'm very very picky picky about what I watch and think 75% of all programmes pander to the most basic levels of intellect, concentration, and worse, the lowest common denominator, Jeremy Kyle. His is a colosseum mentality, and it's one of the most appalling programmes on TV, it's like gladiatorial combat but nobody wins...except perhaps Jeremy.

So when I was reading the Catholic Herald, this totally splendiferous petition was mentioned by William Oddie. It's asking the Government to slap health warnings on TV programmes directed at children. And what a good idea. I'm supporting the great idea of health warnings.

In a similar vein, round about now, with all the (bleurchh) Xmas advertising cranking up, we're going to be innundated with even more faux sex on every channel with ads, from M&S selling its knickers to those really dodgy perfume ads. Joop anyone? No, I thought not. Even an advert for shopping at your local Co-Op suggested that doing so left you more time for umm, well, you know, on a Saturday morning. Puh-leese! This kind of thing's so, well, tacky and almost subliminal in that we're all so oblivious to it most of the time. We can tune it out, but kids can't and don't, being little sponges when it comes to picking up information and behaviour from whatever source. Even if a programme seems ok, it might be diced up by some seriously inappropriate advertising. A slight tangent, even the cinema isn't immune. Off I trot to watch Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and before we get to the opening credits, there's an ad (which seemed to go on forever) by a well known contraceptive manufacturer who seems to be expanding its range, and comprehensively told us about it, illustrated by a series of smiling bed-head couples. Now, ok, the film was a 15 (!) but this is just another example of how low things have got.

Remember, Remember

2011-10-12T08:21:00.000+01:00

SATURDAY, 5th NOVEMBER, SOLEMN HIGH MASS,

ARUNDEL CATHEDRAL,

AT NOON.

The old ones are always the best...

2011-10-12T08:17:00.002+01:00

2011-10-04T09:18:00.002+01:00

16 October, Mass at St Joseph's, Guildford

2011-10-04T09:14:00.002+01:00

There will be a Mass at St Joseph's, Guildford on Sunday, 16 October at 3.00pm. The celebrant will be Dom Andrew Southwell. Tea and coffee afterwards.

See here for details of the November Mass.

And don't forget the Requiem in Arundel on 5th November at noon

2011-10-03T09:07:00.002+01:00

Change of location this coming Sunday...

2011-10-03T08:55:00.001+01:00

...from Our Lady of Consolation, West Grinstead,

to Corpus Christi, Tanyard, Henfield, BN5 9PE.

Mass is still at 3.00pm.

(I have it on good authority that thermals will no longer be de rigueur at OLOC from October to April on completion of the work)

Michaelmas

2011-09-29T15:11:00.000+01:00

A Guildford Mass

2011-09-29T14:54:00.000+01:00

There will be an Extraordinary Form Mass at

St Joseph's, Eastgate Gardens on Sunday, 6th November at 3.00pm

Celebrant Fr De Malleray

Remember, Remember...

2011-09-23T15:00:00.000+01:00

...that noon on Saturday the 5th of November is the

REQUIEM AT ARUNDEL CATHEDRAL

Let's pray for the Holy Souls

and champion the cause of the beautiful Extraordinary Form!

I will be bothering you all silly about this, because I think it's a really important.

All Souls in Lewes

2011-09-20T09:35:00.000+01:00

Fr Jonathan Martin will say Mass at St Pancras at 7.00 pm on All Souls Day.

There will also be a Low Mass at 12.30 pm on Christmas Day.

Please see the sidebar for details of regular Masses.

One door closes...two open.

2011-09-18T19:20:00.002+01:00

Fr Tony Churchill has confirmed two more Masses at Our Lady of Sorrows, Bognor Regis:

All Souls Day, 2nd November at 7.00 am

and

Feast of the Immaculate Conception, 8th December at 7.00 pm

More to come!

And what is the second door, I hear you ask.

Well, following Fr Sean Finnegan's return home to Shoreham, there will be EF Masses:

Every fourth Sunday of the month at Christ the King, Steyning from 23rd October at 9.00am,

and every Wednesday morning at 9.30am at St Peter's Shoreham from now.

Marvellous news, isn't it! Many thanks to Fr Tony and to Fr Sean.

Not that it has to be fish, of course...

2011-09-16T09:42:00.000+01:00

The Seven Dolours of the Blessed Virgin Mary

2011-09-15T09:55:00.002+01:00

Have a look at ...

2011-09-15T09:51:00.002+01:00

...THIS if you haven't already. It's great.

There's been a bit of talk in the combox on Fr Ray's blog about the music that goes with it.
If you are of a genteel musical disposition, have the sound off.
If you aren't, like me most of the time, pump it up.

Mike sent me these thoughts on our greatest treasure

2011-09-13T12:21:00.001+01:00

"The Mass is the most perfect form of prayer!"
~Pope Paul VI~

For each Mass we hear with devotion, Our Lord sends a saint to comfort us at death.
~revelation of Christ to St. Gertrude the Great~

Once, St. Teresa was overwhelmed with God's Goodness and asked Our Lord "How can I thank you?" Our Lord replied, "ATTEND ONE MASS."

The Blessed Virgin Mary once told Her faithful servant Alain: "My Son so loves those who assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass that, if it were necessary He would die for them as many times as they've heard Masses."

"The Holy Mass would be of greater profit if people had it offered in their lifetime, rather than having it celebrated for the relief of their souls after death."
~Pope Benedict XV~

A great doctor of the Church, St. Anselm, declares that a single Mass offered for oneself during life may be worth more than a thousand celebrated for the same intention after death. St. Leonard of Port Maurice supports this statement by saying that one Mass before death may be more profitable than many after it.

"When we receive Holy Communion, we experience something extraordinary - a joy, a fragrance, a well being that thrills the whole body and causes it to exalt."
~ Saint Jean Vianney~

"The celebration of Holy Mass is as valuable as the death of Jesus on the cross."
~Saint Thomas Aquinas~

"If we really understood the Mass, we would die of joy."
~ Saint Jean Vianney~

"There is nothing so great as the Eucharist. If God had something more precious, He would have given it to us."
~ Saint Jean Vianney~

"It would be easier for the world to survive without the sun than to do without Holy Mass. "
~St. Pio of Pietrelcina~

"When we have been to Holy Communion, the balm of love envelops the soul as the flower envelops the bee."
~ Saint Jean Vianney~

"The heavens open and multitudes of angels come to assist in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. "
~Saint Gregory~

"The angels surround and help the priest when he is celebrating Mass."
~ St. Augustine ~

"When Mass is being celebrated, the sanctuary is filled with countless angels who adore the Divine Victim immolated on the altar."
~ St. John Chrysostom~

And two more from Mike:

"The Mass is the most beautiful thing this side of Heaven"
~Father Frederick Faber~

"I could attend Mass forever and never grow weary"
~John, Cardinal Newman~

The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

2011-09-08T09:25:00.000+01:00

The Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate at Lanherne

2011-09-05T20:08:00.000+01:00

When I read about the possible end of the convent, I had a sudden urge to rush out and buy a lottery ticket in the vain hope I could come up with a miraculous million or two. There's still time, so I might yet. In the mean time, if anyone has a million or so lying around, watch this. If you haven't, watch this. Their address is at the end. I found it on In Caritate Non Ficta. The sisters are so beautiful it brought tears to my eyes.

Masses in Bognor Regis

2011-09-05T16:38:00.001+01:00

Unfortunately due to busy parish schedules in Bognor Regis, Masses are CANCELLED at Our Lady of Sorrows for the time being, so there will be NOT be a Mass on Sunday, 25th of September.

But nil desperandum!

This isn't a sign that they are disappearing forever from Bognor, Fr Tony is trying to find a time to fit one in as the parish now has two priests instead of three (Fr Jonathan has moved to Lewes where, DG, EFs are continuing usual time usual Sunday of the month).

To recap, NO Masses in the Extraordinary Form at present in Bognor.

SO PLEASE

Guildford Masses

2011-09-05T13:52:00.001+01:00

There will be an Extraordinary Form Mass at

St Joseph's, Eastgate Gardens, Guildford on Sunday, 25th September at 3.00pm

Watch this space for notification of future Guildford Masses.

(Brick by brick, as Fr Z says...)

Response from the Biased British Corporation

2011-08-26T14:59:00.002+01:00

'Dear Audience Member

Reference CAS-952009-PF1XYL

Thanks for contacting the BBC.

I understand that you feel there was insufficient coverage of the Pope's visit to Spain and World Youth Day in comparison to the protests in Madrid against the visit.

Whilst I appreciate your concerns, choosing the stories to include in our bulletins and programmes; the order in which they appear and the length of time devoted to them is a subjective matter and one which we know not every viewer and listener will feel we get right every time. However we are confident that we also provided coverage across the BBC of the Pope's visit in a number of reports, including online reports such as those below:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14568707

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14606335

Nevertheless, we’re guided by the feedback we receive and I can assure you I've registered your complaint on our audience log. This is a daily report of audience feedback that's made available to all BBC staff, including members of the BBC Executive Board, channel controllers and other senior managers.

The audience logs are seen as important documents that can help shape decisions about future programming and content.

Thanks for taking the time to contact us.

Kind Regards

Mark Roberts
BBC Complaintswww.bbc.co.uk/complaints '

As I said, bleurchh.

Unfortunately, he didn't seem to register my contempt for the TV Tax...never mind...Still, they do log complaints, so complain away if you feel so moved!

A Poll From Fr Z - Vote!

2011-08-25T16:08:00.001+01:00

As you might have gathered from some comments I've made in the past, I'm not entirely comfortable with girl altar servers!

Fr Z is running a poll at the moment, asking for your opinion. Please go over and vote.

WYD, The Horrible BBC, Michael Voris, and How I Cheered Up

2011-08-23T11:33:00.006+01:00

I'm going to be complaining to the BBC about it's lamentable coverage of the events of WYD along with other people. I watch virtually no BBC programmes, but still, mea culpa, catch the news, even if it can make me froth at the mouth.
It is a bit much to expect balance from our supposedly impartial compulsorily funded (if you want to watch any TV at all) broadcasting corporation, but I had hoped for better, all the while knowing that good news, especially Catholic good news, is no news. Watching a load of angry old faces is much more telegenic than young peaceful and happy ones.

Given how taken the media were with youth rioting in the UK and how awful it was, it would have been nice to see some youth behaving beautifully in contrast, woudn't it? The Beeb do like youth after all (anyone else notice Dr Who is becoming progressively younger? If he regenerates another couple of times, he'll be an eight year old).

So I thank God for EWTN and Catholic media in general and was lucky to be able to catch most of the coverage of WYD on EWTN. Weren't those Stations of the Cross beautiful? It was brilliant to see so many young people so happy, to see the Holy Father so happy, even during the storm. Everything the Holy Father said was great. I especially loved his address to the disabled, all life has value and is of infinite worth. Again, not very newsworthy is it, to affirm all life as good?

Which brings me to Michael Voris, who is in the UK and speaking in London tomorrow. I'm really sorry I can't get to hear him, but I have the net to make up for it. I'll be frank: I like what he says. He can be a bit, er, confrontational, in style as well as in content (and what is it with that pencil?) but that's not always a bad thing. Sometimes it's quite nice to hear something less fleecy and cuddly.

And so to me, a viewer, participating remotely, miffed to the nth degree by the failures of the above mentioned, I decided the only way to cheer myself up, and in honour of Madrid, was to buy a Spanish mantilla. So I have. I've tracked it eagerly from Spain to Germany, and await its delivery some time today, and I only ordered it on Saturday. How's that for service?

Update: Mantilla arrived and is beautiful.
Update part deux: I have also had a really good rant on a BBC complaint form. I can recommend it as highly cathartic.

WYD

2011-08-22T21:52:00.000+01:00

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE LATIN MASS SOCIETY

WYD Success for Latin Mass Society

The Latin Mass Society (LMS) has welcomed back home a group of young Catholics that it sponsored to attend World Youth Day in Madrid.

The LMS teamed up with Juventutem, the international youth movement that supports the Traditional Latin Mass, and funded over twenty young people from England and Wales to attend two weeks of events in Spain culminating in Pope Benedict’s visit to Madrid.

Juventutem organised a week-long ‘pre-retreat’ event based at the Carmelite monastery of Amorebieta-Etxano near Bilbao in the Spanish Basque Country, that combined daily Traditional Mass and talks about the Catholic Faith from priests of the Fraternity of St Peter with fun social and recreational activities around the region.

The Juventutem group then went to Madrid to attend WYD, where the English and Welsh pilgrims mixed with many other Catholic youngsters and clergy, many of whom had not come across the Extraordinary Form Mass before. It was a wonderful experience for all those who were there.

Teresa Nevard, one of the English pilgrims, and WYD co-ordinator for Juventutem in England and Wales said:

‘We had a fantastic time in our pre-retreat in Bilbao and in Madrid itself for WYD. All 22 of us from the UK Group are really grateful to the Latin Mass Society for the sponsorship which enabled us to attend and show our support for the Extraordinary Form of the Mass and for the Pope, by joining in some WYD events as well as our daily Pontifical Masses. These Masses were all attended by close to 1000 people with standing room only and included those experiencing the beauty of the Traditional Latin Mass for the first time. The numbers of young people attending Juventutem Masses and events in the UK have risen a lot over the last year and we anticipate another increase following the great time had by all of us who attended WYD with Juventutem.’

http://www.lms.org.uk/news-and-events/news-blog/august-2011#wyd-success-for-LMS

The Assumption

2011-08-15T12:19:00.002+01:00

Happy Feast Day Everyone!

'The Mass'

2011-08-13T11:53:00.000+01:00

If you've seen the post below this one, you will know that this week the EF was said at Our Lady of Ransom. It was three mornings of absolute bliss; peaceful, prayerful, getting straight down to it, honest to goodness Mass. No fuss (apart from the inevitable dashing about for missing kit before hand, playing hunt-the-paten/cruets/communion wine), no frills, just Mass. Many thanks to the celebrant, Fr Charles Briggs, who was down for a few days R&R. The surprise EFs at Our Lady of Ransom drew a congregation of about 20, mid week in August. So that's mid week...hmmm...how many do you think would like to come on a Sunday?

One gentleman who came along had seen that it was an Extraordinary Form Mass on the parish newsletter, but hadn't twigged what it meant. "You can imagine my joy," he said "when I saw it was The Mass." The Mass he knew, loved, and very obviously missed for the last 40+ years. He can't get along to the EF Masses outside the parish, but would be over the moon if they were available in his home parish.

'Oh, but there isn't really enough demand!' we hear. Well, with all due respect to those spouting this and other (rather patronising to my mind) views, what of faithful Catholics like this gentleman, who have put up with -if not suffered- the NO for years? Not everyone who lived through the demise of the Old Rite was enthused to bash a tambourine and praise the New. Listening to people, they remained Catholics in spite of, not because of, the New Rite, and it has caused them a lot of pain to see the reverence, dignity and uniqueness of the Mass disappear.

It was also really great to meet up with Mulier Fortis and swap stories over copious pots of tea! We were watched over by images of Mr Pickwick, Little Nell, Oliver Twist and Pip.

(Apparently the chap on the right visited the town once, and so a tea shop was born. Lewis Caroll used to come to the town regularly, and I've always been amazed that there is no Wonderland or Cheshire Cat tea room).

Tomorrow there is Mass at Our Lady of Consolation, West Grinstead, have a look at the sidebar for details, and I hope to see you there!

Masses at Our Lady of Ransom, Eastbourne this week

2011-08-09T12:55:00.000+01:00

There will be EF Masses at 10.00am on Wednesday 10th, Thursday 11th, and Friday 12th August.

That's this week folks.

Hope to see you there.

The Feast of the Assumption, 15th August

2011-08-08T12:35:00.000+01:00

There will be a Low Mass at 7.00pm at St Pancras, Lewes.

2011-08-08T11:17:00.000+01:00

'Not even for ready money'

2011-08-08T11:10:00.000+01:00

There will be NO MASS at Seaford on Sunday 23rd August, Fr Bruno is at WYD in Spain.

The Feast of St Anne

2011-07-26T11:07:00.000+01:00

O Blessed St Anne, rescue society, which is perishing for want of virtues like thine.

Leicester Training Day

2011-07-26T10:57:00.000+01:00

I mentioned in a previous post the day course in the Midlands at Holy Cross Priory, Leicester on Tuesday 23rd August from 9.30am till 5pm and which is open to anyone, Priest or server, interested.

Click here for more details.

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE LATIN MASS SOCIETY

2011-07-26T10:50:00.000+01:00

LMS Appoints New Editor of Mass of Ages

The Latin Mass Society has appointed Gregory Murphy as its next editor of Mass of Ages, the LMS’s popular quarterly magazine.

Based in Liverpool, where he works as a freelance editor and PR professional, Gregory Murphy, 44, is a regular member of the congregation at the weekly Sunday Traditional Latin Mass celebrated at St Anthony’s Church, Scotland Road.

Gregory Murphy comes to his new role with over twenty years’ experience as a professional journalist, editor and PR consultant. He learned his trade on local newspapers and Catholic publications, such as the Catholic Pictorial, until, in the mid-1990s, he joined the staff of The Catholic Times where he was News Editor and subsequently Editor. He then spent five valuable years as Corporate Communications Publications and PR Manager for the Littlewoods Organisation, before deciding to go freelance. Gregory Murphy now provides journalistic and editorial services to a range of commercial, public and voluntary sector clients around the UK.

Michael Lord, LMS General Manager said: “We were fortunate to have several strong candidates at interview, but were particularly impressed by Gregory’s professional experience, his grasp of what is required in revamping the magazine and by his personal commitment to the Traditional Mass and Faith. We are delighted to have Gregory on board and look forward to seeing the first issue of Mass of Ages under his editorship in November.”

Gregory Murphy will take over from John Medlin, who steps down from the editor's post in August after nine years in the job. The August issue of the magazine will be John's last and his presence in the LMS office will be much missed.

The appointment of a new editor and the forthcoming redesign and relaunch of Mass of Ages is the last of a series of major changes that have taken place at the LMS over the past two years. The move to new offices, the appointment of a new General Manager, the launch of a new and much-praised website, the use of social media such as Facebook, the adoption of a new constitution and other changes are part of a longer term strategy to enable the LMS to promote the Traditional Mass and the orthodox Faith that it embodies more effectively following Pope Benedict’s liberation of the Traditional liturgy with the publication of Summorum Pontificum in 2007.

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

On the Feast of St Mary Magdalen...

2011-07-15T09:51:00.000+01:00

...there will be an EF Mass at 7.00 pm at St Mary Magdalen, Brighton on 22nd July, see Clare's blog for details.

A reminder...

2011-07-13T11:31:00.001+01:00

...that there is a Mass at St Joseph's, Guildford, this coming Sunday. Celebrant Fr de Malleray. See here for details.

Mass at St Mary Magdalene, Bexhill

2011-07-08T09:07:00.000+01:00

There will be a Mass at 8.00 am this Sunday, 10th July at St Mary Magdalene, Bexhill.

The celebrant will be Fr Bruno Witchalls.

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE LATIN MASS SOCIETY

2011-07-08T09:03:00.000+01:00

LMS AGM High Mass and AGM at St George’s Cathedral, Southwark, London Saturday 2 July 2011

The Latin Mass Society was warmly welcomed to St George’s Cathedral, Southwark, London on Saturday 2 July by the Cathedral Dean, Canon John O’Toole and the Administrator, Mr Alex Scott for its Annual General Meeting and AGM Mass. The LMS is grateful to all the cathedral staff for their help and encouragement in making our AGM arrangements.

The day commenced at 11.00am with High Mass of the Visitation of Our Lady celebrated by Fr Andrew Southwell, LMS National chaplain, assisted by Fr Michael Cullllinan as Deacon and Fr Gregory Kilaja as Sub-deacon.

The men of the Cathedral Choir sang Victoria’s Missa Quam Pulcri Sunt. The Gloria was taken from the Missa de Angelis, the Creed was Credo I and the Offertory motet was Victoria’s Ave Maris Stella.

After lunch, the LMS AGM convened in the cathedral’s Amigo Hall to hear reports from the Secretary, Mr David Forster, the Treasurer, Mr Paul Waddington and the Chairman, Dr the Hon. Joseph Shaw. The LMS’s National Chaplain, Fr Andrew Southwell, had opened the proceedings with a prayer and after the reports gave an address in which he discussed Pope Benedict’s XVI admirable work in the fields of doctrine and the liturgy. The meeting then sang ‘God Bless Our Pope’ to commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of Pope Benedict’s ordination to the Sacred Priesthood and closed with the singing of the Credo.

This year’s AGM was relatively low-key and in a new venue. However, Dr Shaw, in particular, was able to update those present on the increasing level of work being carried out throughout England and Wales by the LMS and its local representatives. The LMS is now more focussed on providing support to those many priests and faithful throughout the country who are gradually reintroducing the Extraordinary Form into their parish life. Its aim is to publicise the liturgical initiatives of Pope Benedict and to support and encourage the growing number of young people and young families who are discovering the Old Rite.

For photographs of the High Mass and the AGM go to our 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

Sometimes...

2011-07-07T08:46:00.000+01:00

...it's just so hard to be charitable.

Fr Z has commented on the latest load of *insert word of choice*from that allegedly Catholic waste of paper and ink.

If you have a strong stomach, have a look.

Training Day for Priests and Servers

2011-07-07T08:08:00.002+01:00

Holy Cross Priory, Leicester, Tuesday 23rd August 2011

The Latin Mass Society will be hosting a day of training for priests and servers wishing to improve their knowledge of the celebration of Mass in the usus antiquior. It will take place at the Holy Cross Priory in Leicester on Tuesday 23rd August from 9.30am till 5pm. A sung Mass will be included as part of the Programme.

The day will be suitable for priests with all levels of ability. Tuition will be tailored to suit the requirements of the priests attending with the possibility of studying Low Mass, Missa Cantata or Missa Solemnis. Similarly, servers will be tutored in the various forms of the Mass, according to their experience. They will also have the opportunity of enrolling in the Sodality of Saint Tarcisius.

The fee for attending is £5 which includes the provision of lunch. Application forms are available from the website, www.lms.org.uk

This Sunday at West Grinstead

2011-07-05T09:34:00.000+01:00

Mass is at 3.00pm, celebrant Fr Matthew Goddard FSSP.

Something Special on Saturday 9th July At St Mary Magdalen's Brighton

2011-07-04T16:46:00.001+01:00

There will be a Solemn High Mass at 11am in honour of St Thomas More and St John Fisher.
It will be the first Mass of Father Frederic Kernbach who was ordained a few days ago for the diocese of Paderborn in Germany. Father will give his first blessings after the Mass.

See Clare's blog for and Fr Ray's blog for more details.

Christians in Pakistan

2011-07-04T12:38:00.000+01:00

Please go here, to the ACN website.

Colour me fogey

2011-07-04T10:17:00.003+01:00

At the risk of sounding like an old fogey myself, I've had a fun time seeing how many slightly different definitions of fogey there are on the web, in honour of the spirited dialogue at the moment between our Chairman, Joe, and the Catholic Herald's Stuart Reid (Herald,1st July).

From being synonymous with dodos,

fossils,

and the sartorially challenged,

this one caught my eye: 'someone whose style is out of fashion.'

What has liturgy got to do with fashion, or whether you are perceived by anyone to be cool or not?

I'm sure most of us have had a look at one time or another at the horror Masses on the web.

So should Mass be of a time, fashion, prevailing cultural mood,

Or should it stand alone from fashion?

I believe without a shadow of a doubt that the Liturgy should never be considered 'fashionable', so colour me fogey.

As an aside, it's very difficult to get Masses scheduled for times that families can actually attend if you are anywhere other than in a major city with pro clergy. It's impossible to introduce the EF Mass to families if the only time is the bum end of a Sunday, and you have to travel an hour or more one way. It's no wonder a skew is seen in some places in terms of demographic. Where Masses are said at reasonable times, families attend. I personally can't stand mid afternoon Masses. Not only does it put a crimp in your lunch, if you have time to have it before 'the drive', it's damned anti-social for the wider family. I'd love to have a nine o'clock where I am, or even an eight!

Go to...

2011-07-01T22:05:00.003+01:00

... Fr Ray Blake and see him on Gloria TV !

2011-07-01T15:33:00.000+01:00

This Sunday

2011-07-01T09:34:00.000+01:00

Mass in Lewes at St Pancras at 12.30 pm. See the sidebar for details.

Holy Days of Obligation back in their rightful places?

Do I hear a stirring hoorah?

At yesterday's Pallium Mass at St Peter's...

2011-06-30T12:01:00.000+01:00

...His Holiness gave a homily that I think everyone ought to read.

Below is the beginning, which struck me particularly:

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

“Non iam dicam servos, sed amicos” - “I no longer call you servants, but friends” (cf. Jn 15:15).

Sixty years on from the day of my priestly ordination, I hear once again deep within me these words of Jesus that were addressed to us new priests at the end of the ordination ceremony by the Archbishop, Cardinal Faulhaber, in his slightly frail yet firm voice. According to the liturgical practice of that time, these words conferred on the newly-ordained priests the authority to forgive sins. “No longer servants, but friends”: at that moment I knew deep down that these words were no mere formality, nor were they simply a quotation from Scripture. I knew that, at that moment, the Lord himself was speaking to me in a very personal way. In baptism and confirmation he had already drawn us close to him, he had already received us into God’s family. But what was taking place now was something greater still. He calls me his friend. He welcomes me into the circle of those he had spoken to in the Upper Room, into the circle of those whom he knows in a very special way, and who thereby come to know him in a very special way. He grants me the almost frightening faculty to do what only he, the Son of God, can legitimately say and do: I forgive you your sins. He wants me – with his authority – to be able to speak, in his name (“I” forgive), words that are not merely words, but an action, changing something at the deepest level of being. I know that behind these words lies his suffering for us and on account of us. I know that forgiveness comes at a price: in his Passion he went deep down into the sordid darkness of our sins. He went down into the night of our guilt, for only thus can it be transformed. And by giving me authority to forgive sins, he lets me look down into the abyss of man, into the immensity of his suffering for us men, and this enables me to sense the immensity of his love. He confides in me: “No longer servants, but friends”. He entrusts to me the words of consecration in the Eucharist. He trusts me to proclaim his word, to explain it aright and to bring it to the people of today. He entrusts himself to me. “You are no longer servants, but friends”: these words bring great inner joy, but at the same time, they are so awe-inspiring that one can feel daunted as the decades go by amid so many experiences of one’s own frailty and his inexhaustible goodness."

We are very blessed to have this Pope.

The Feast of St Peter and St Paul and a Diamond Jubilee

2011-06-29T09:06:00.000+01:00

Happy Feast Day!

And of course, congratulations to His Holiness, celebrating the 60th Anniversary of his Ordination.

An occasion for more cake, I think.

Upcoming Mass at St Joseph's, Guildford

2011-06-25T10:01:00.001+01:00

Fr de Malleray FSSP will be saying Mass at St Joseph's, 12, Eastgate Gardens, Guildford, GU1 4AZ on Sunday, 17 July, at 3.00pm.

Before Mass, from 2.30 to 3.00pm, there will be half an hour's catechesis.

(This is great, I know when I went to my first EF, I was completely at sea, blown away by the amazingness of it, but completely at sea!)

Have a look...

2011-06-24T10:25:00.003+01:00

...at Joe Shaw's blog, leave a comment if moved to do so.

I shall have a restorative cup of tea and reflect, in spite of them not being worthy of it in the eyes of some, on all those holy women and saints, St Gertrude is a particular favourite of mine, who were *oppressed* by the Church, yet have had such a positive effect on me.

The Nativity of St John the Baptist

2011-06-24T10:02:00.000+01:00

Corpus Christi

2011-06-23T12:01:00.000+01:00

What a load of...

2011-06-21T09:35:00.001+01:00

...calculated misrepresentation.

There seems to be a lot of calculated misrepresentation going on all over the place at the moment.

From the quite frankly risible 'arguments' over girls serving the EF, which as we all know (yawn) the Vatican says AREN'T ALLOWED, to the one that really sticks in my throat: the 'misogyny' claim. This is absolutely hysterical (if you'll excuse the pun), women are 'unclean' and therefore can't 'do' on the altar.

So for the record, and very briefly as I could go on for hours about this, as a woman quite capable of shovelling away the BS chucked all over the Catholic media at the moment by people with ishoos:

1. I have never ever felt second class in the Catholic church because of a male priesthood.

In the eyes of some people this probably tars me as a no-brainer with an inability to see 'unfairness' when it's staring me in the face every time I'm at Mass. Er, no, actually it means I believe Priests should be male, and will always be male. Oddly, that's what the Church teaches.

2. Nor have I ever considered male servers an affront to the dignity of the unserving *sisterhood*.

Again, my bad, where is my solidarity with my poor oppressed sisters (or brothers) who feel they should be servers, or more? Well, if, as I believe, the Sanctuary is a place where vocations are made, damned right, no girls in the Sanctuary. See point 1.

3. I am not inferior because I am a woman.

I think this blindingly obvious fact has to be stated, because some people seem to be carrying Everest sized chips on their shoulders about the great gift God gave them of being women. Equal but different, right?

This peculiar attempt to secularise the church by imposing some kind of uniform job equality would be funny if it wasn't quite so tragic.

Didn't Our Lord say 'Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's and to God that which is God's'?

Missa Cantata and Procession for Corpus Christi

2011-06-20T17:11:00.002+01:00

at St Mary Magdalen, Brighton, 7.30 pm.

Pentecost

2011-06-12T09:42:00.000+01:00

There is a Missa Cantata today at Our Lady of Consolation, West Grinstead, at 3.00pm.

Have a lovely feast day!

Please say a prayer...

2011-06-09T09:27:00.000+01:00

...for Fr Hunwicke.

Just in case anyone was in any doubt...

2011-06-08T10:05:00.000+01:00

...about the culture of death in our country, the BBC do it again.

I feel a Logan's Run moment coming on.

Spiritual Bouquet for the Holy Father

2011-06-01T12:12:00.000+01:00

This year, on 29th June, His Holiness celebrates the 60th Anniversary of his Ordination to the Priesthood.

At this very special time, the LMS would like to send Pope Benedict a spiritual bouquet, and is asking for spiritual offerings. There are a number of things you can do:

Masses
Holy Communions
Rosaries (5 Decades)
Stations of the Cross
Divine Mercy Chaplets
Eucharistic Adorations

If you would like to undertake any of these for the Holy Father, please could you let me have your name in the combox, and what you are going to do, then I'll fill in the form and send it off to the office, from whence the bouquet will wing its way to His Holiness. Don't worry, no names will be published on the blog.

I'll also have a form or two with me wherever I go in the next few weeks, and will nobble anyone I see, so be warned!

I think this is a great way to show our love and support for our Pope.

Friday 3rd June

2011-05-30T22:49:00.000+01:00

There will be a Low Mass at 7pm on Friday 3rd June at the Church of the Sacred Heart, Petworth.
Fr Jonathan Martin will be the celebrant.