Spy Wednesday

Ladies (and gentlemen)

Please have a look at this new blog, Catholic Women Rising, twitch of the mantilla to Fr Z for advertising it or I most definitely would have missed it. It's now on my blog roll on the sidebar for your edification and mine.

(I would have left a message in the combox registering my support, but for some reason I wasn't able to log in as myself!)



A response to the Liebster Award.

As I like to get ahead and strike while any iron is hot, I cracked on with the instructions which accompanied the reception of the award over a cup of tea, warming up after the dog walk. I thought they might be a bit arduous, but they weren't. So, as per Mac's instructions, here goes *ahem* :

I would like to thank Mulier Fortis for this award.




Eleven  *fun* facts about myself. The *fun* bit is debatable. But I can vouch for them as facts. In no particular order:
 
1. I really like gloves.
2. I will never go shopping unless it’s absolutely unavoidable. Shopping is not fun.
3. Won’t watch a chick flick or bromance movie unless guaranteed to be a laugh for all the wrong reasons.
4. Invariably come out as Spock when doing the ‘which Star Trek character are you’ quizzes. Make of that what you will.
5. I quilt. And embroider.
6. Mine’s a vodka and tonic.
7. Do not like board games.
8. Thanks God for the gift of the internet.
9. Is allergic to cats. No, really, I am, wheezing, rashes, everything.
10. I am not allergic to dogs.
11. Baking, I like baking.


Part Deux , the questions Mac asked:
 
1. What inspired the title of your blog?
No inspiration was thankfully required, it’s descriptive.

2.Why did you start to blog?

To spread the word about the wonder and beauty and timelessness of the Latin Mass, to which I am extraordinarily attached, and to show the work of the Latin Mass Society.

3.What is your personal favourite post on your blog?

I don’t really have one. I quite enjoy writing the rants though.

4.What has been the most popular (most viewed) post on your blog?

One about the appalling attitude in this country to anyone having children.

5.Which post on your blog has attracted most comments?

One about an EF in Bexhill. You'll have to trust me on that.

6.What other hobbies or interests (beyond blogging) are you prepared to admit to?

Ummm…

7.What has been your closest brush with death?

I have to choose just the one?

8.Where is your favourite place of pilgrimage, and why?

Walsingham, because it feels like home.

9.Who is your favourite spiritual author, and why?

You’ll have to have three. St Therese, because of her beautiful Little Way. Julian of Norwich, because she is a wonderful read, and Pope Benedict.

10.Have you ever experienced a miracle?

Yes.

11.Which of these questions did you find it most difficult to answer

All the personal ones!
 

Part Three...

...I have questions, and here are some bloggers I would like to Liebster Award:

The Beaker Folk of Husborne Crawley
Hilaire Belloc Blog

And here are your questions:

1.      Why did you start blogging?

2.      What maintains your blogging motivation?

3.      Are you easily inspired?

4.      Have you ever received a comment on the blog that made it all worthwhile?

5.      Name your favourite poem and give your reasons for choosing it.

6.      Have you ever engaged in talking like a pirate on Talk Like A Pirate Day?

7.      Where is you favourite place in the world?

8.      Who is your greatest spiritual influence?

9.      If you had to recommend one book, what would it be?

10.   Singing in the bath, yes or no?

11.   Kirk or Spock?

Holy Week

This is the best time of year without a doubt, and there is no better way to begin Holy Week than with Confession.

I'm not a great fan of the reconciliation service, which is de rigeuer in my neck of the woods. I know we're all supposed really enjoy the old gather and share, but I prefer something a bit less public. I can't see that being in a large crowd of people and having to wait rather a long time, listening to taize chants whether you want to or not, is really going to encourage anyone who hasn't been for a while to overcome their trepidation and sit on that chair in full view and audibility of everyone else. And of course the queues for the confessional (just the one now, you understand) are the longest. Call me old fashioned, but there's nothing nicer than a discreet confessional, and regular slots available for confession, and a proper absolution. So it was lucky that there was a Latin Mass in Lewes and the opportunity to do it the old fashioned way on Saturday. Now I can enjoy the rest of Holy Week and Easter, without having to worry!


 In other news, I have been awarded an award by Mulier Fortis herself. Yes, it's the Liebster Award. It involves answering a series of questions, and posing questions for the blogs you then tag. So, have a look at Mac's blog, and I'll get my lists done and post here when they're complete. Now who shall I tag...will there be anyone left by the time I get round to it??

Press Release From The Latin Mass Society

 

A Spiritual Bouquet for Pope Francis

The Latin Mass Society is gathering together a Spiritual Bouquet for our new Holy Father, Pope Francis I.

We are asking you, our members, supporters and friends, to help us with this.

We are encouraging everyone to ask priests that they know to celebrate Masses in the Extraordinary Form for the new Pope, that he may receive the graces necessary to fulfil the duties of his new office (you should pay the priest a stipend for this - suggested minimum offering £10). We are also asking you to offer up rosaries and other prayers and devotions for the Pope. In particular, offer up your Communion for the Pope.

The Pope has asked for our prayers to help him in his new office. Let us respond generously to his call. As Catholics, the Church has always asked us to pray, in charity, for others, living and dead, but one of the people She has always specifically requested the faithful to pray for is the Pope. This is a good and holy Catholic tradition. Let us live up to that tradition. Offer a priest that you know a stipend to celebrate a Traditional Mass for the Pope, or offer your daily rosary for Pope Francis, or add him to your intentions in your daily prayers, or offer a novena for him. The choice is up to you.

Once you have done this, or decided that you will do this, email or write to us at the LMS to tell us how many Masses, Communions, Rosaries or other prayers and devotions you have offered, or will offer, for Pope Francis. Please let us know as soon as possible. In fact, why not do it today?

These will then be gathered together and presented to the Holy Father on behalf of the Latin Mass Society and its supporters and friends. You don't have to be an LMS member to take part in this spiritual initiative.

Contact details

Email us at info@lms.org.uk

Write to us at: LMS, 11-13 Macklin Street, London WC2B 5NH

Stay at home mothers don't work

Cameron says so. The government's view of the importance of the family couldn't get any lower.

I can think of little else, except abortion, that demeans mothers and their vocation more than a Government telling them they don't want to 'work hard and get on' by bringing up their own children.

Women are damned if they do and damned if they don't.  If they do go out to work and they have children, they are often penalised in the workplace for not being focused enough on the job to do it properly. If they stay at home they are work shy potential scroungers who are after a free ride.

Having stayed at home, there's no denying it can be lonely, frustrating, and boring, especially when everyone else you know with children is out at work after putting their kids in day care. Financially it's not always great either. But there is nothing natural about separating small children/babies from their mothers and herding them together with a dozen or so other small children.

A nursery is not a home, a childminder, however kind, is not a parent.

Mothers who stay at home to look after their children want THEM to get on.

The Shroud of Turin

If you, like me, have a fascination and love of the Holy Shroud of Turin, can I point you in the direction of a TV programme authorised by our Pope Emeritus before his resignation.

On Holy Saturday, 30 March, the cameras will be permitted to film the Shroud, '[for] special prayer from the Cathedral of Turin, to give the whole world the opportunity to contemplate the Shroud.'

Details can be found by following the links above.

Habemus papam! And St Francis was no hippy

Yesterday, I was glued to EWTN. So much so that the roast kind of got forgotten and everything else got cold. But that's what the microwave's for isn't it, the reheated meal.

After we had toasted the new Pope, this time in left over Xmas vodka (well there was no wine in the house, it is Lent), it was time for the *other* news providers. I always say that I shall eschew and ignore the secular media, but I sometimes can't. Mea culpa. I do like to see what the enemy's up to. Sometimes.

It was as iffy as usual. They found the usual soundbite Catholics to extrapolate the secular party line of same sex marriage etc etc from, made the usual trite modernisation comments and of course, this new Pope is going to be a mover and a shaker, he's a Jesuit, he'll change things, he's from South America, he's taken the name Francis, Francis, friend of mother earth and all creatures, cool!

So...he'll have a special ministry to wine turbines? Have they ever read about St Francis? He wasn't exactly PC. Neither were any of the other saints named Francis. And neither, I suspect, will Pope Francis be.

I thought it really most amusing when they emphasised the fact that our new Holy Father took the bus to work and cooked his own meals.

Benedict XVI used to use a bike I believe before he was elected, but that didn't get any air time then or since.


I can't wait to see the headlines in the next few weeks though. Just as Pope Benedict XVI was a 'nazi' Pope, we'll probably see Pope Francis dubbed the 'junta' Pope. And don't mention the Falklands.

Plus ca change...

However, all that present and pending press silliness aside, I am so happy to have a new Holy Father!

God bless Pope Francis!

Low Sunday Mass in Lewes

There will be a Low Sunday Mass at St Pancras, Lewes, at 5.00 pm.

More details on the sidebar.

Mass time change in Seaford for one Sunday

Mass at St Thomas More, Seaford, will be at 1.30 pm next Sunday, 17th March, for one Sunday only, not at 3.00 pm as is usual.

Press Release from the Latin Mass Society

7 March 2013

 LMS Campaigning Results in Two New Sunday EF Masses in Westminster Archdiocese

 

 

 

We are delighted to announce that there will be weekly Sunday Masses in the Extraordinary Form at two new venues in the Archdiocese of Westminster in the near future.

The Masses will take place in St Albans in the parish of St Bartholomew’s, 47 Vesta Avenue, St Albans, AL1 2PE,

 














and in Willesden, north-west London, at the Shrine of Our Lady of Willesden, Nicoll Road, London NW10 9AX.















In both cases, the parish priests have been asked by the archdiocese to learn and celebrate Mass in the Extraordinary Form.

Neither Fr Tim Edgar of St Albans nor Fr Stephen Willis of Willesden has previously celebrated the Extraordinary Form, but both are approaching the opportunity of offering the ancient form of Mass with a very positive and pastoral attitude. It will obviously take some time for them to reach the necessary level of proficiency to start offering Masses publicly. Nevertheless, training has begun and regular weekly Masses on Sundays will start later this year on dates and at times yet to be announced. Their parishioners have already been consulted and informed about the introduction of the Extraordinary Form in their parishes and the reaction has been positive.

This very good news follows meetings between the LMS and the archdiocese over a period of a year or more, in which LMS Chairman Dr Joseph Shaw, Local Representative for Hertfordshire Mike Mason, and LMS General Manager Mike Lord met with Bishop Alan Hopes and Bishop John Sherrington a number of times to discuss wider provision of the Extraordinary Form.

The LMS would like to thank Bishop Hopes, Bishop Sherrington and Archbishop Vincent Nichols for their work in helping to make the Traditional Mass available in these areas of the Archdiocese of Westminster.

LMS General Manager Mike Lord commented: ‘We are very pleased at this positive response from the archdiocese to what has been something of a pastoral crisis in Hertfordshire and north-west London in recent years for Catholics attached to the Extraordinary Form of Mass.

'It is doubly pleasing that the parish priest in each case has been asked to be the principal celebrant. The Traditional Mass needs to become a full and accepted part of parish life in dioceses across the country with an important role to play in drawing the faithful closer to Christ, especially in this Year of Faith. In the cases of St Albans and Willesden, the Extraordinary Form is set to do just that.’

Pope Benedict

When Pope Benedict was elected, I remember sitting on the sofa in amazed disbelief, before leaping off it and whooping loudly with delight, and we cracked open a bottle there and then in celebration.

I could not have predicted then how much the Holy Father would do personally for me. It's not exagerrating to say that he transformed how I worship. What do I mean? Well, there's Summorum Pontificum for one, the Ordinariate the other. I am now free, theoretically at least given the lamentable provision for the Latin Mass in our Diocese, to assist every Sunday at a traditional Mass. I can worship with the Ordinariate, which is orthodox and Catholic in a real sense.

When the announcement of His Holiness came I won't deny it was horrible shock. But I trust the Holy Father. I don't have to like his decision, but I trust him, and that he was called to this by God.

We were given a tremendous Pope by the Holy Spirit last time. I believe we shall be blessed with another this time. But I'll really miss our wonderful Holy Father. I pray he has many years still to be with us, and that he enjoys some peace.

Thank you, Holy Father.

I've got me a Cardinal

Oh yes I have.

He was found for me on Adopt a Cardinal, a link I followed from A Reluctant Sinner on the sidebar.

My Cardinal is Odilo Pedro Scherer from Sao Paolo Brazil :

I think this is a great idea, everyone should adopt a Cardinal, and pray for them to be inspired by the Holy Spirit  at the Conclave.

Mass at Westminster Cathedral

There will be a votive High Mass (Votive Mass for the election of a Sovereign Pontiff) offered by Monsignor Gordon Read, at Westminster Cathedral on Saturday 2^nd March at 2.00pm.

If you can make it, it would be great!

Question :

Why is The Tablet still allowed to call itself  'Catholic'? Anyone else would surely be done under the Trades Descriptions Act.

It might have been utterly predictable...

...but it's no less galling for that.


Yes, the media and Pope Benedict. Where would we be without the intelligent, factual, balanced, reporting of the last eighteen or so hours?

 

The wilful ignorance displayed (I'm assuming the ignorance is wilful, reporters are supposed to be fairly intelligent, aren't they?), the choicest anti-catholic catholics cherry picked for interview, it's all too predictable. Disgruntled ex nuns, someone called Odone, Kung the Destroyer, they're lined up, yawn.

I watched one interview where, as usual, the interviewer asked questions, ignored the answers following the usual agenda, and bashed on regardless. It's pathetic. All we need now are the prophecies of St Malachy to be given a good Dan Brown-ing on prime time news and we're sorted.

So, I'm giving up all secular telly news for Lent (the Biased Broadcasting Corporation was jettisoned some time ago). I don't yell at the internet news in quite the same way as I do at the TV, so I think I'm on safer ground there.

Here is an interesting Vortex report on the media and His Holiness:

On a much happier note, I am very much looking forward to the pancake feast this evening, and I've said it before, Lent. I love Lent.

Prayers for His Holiness

For the text of His Holiness's address, please click here. God bless Pope Benedict.

Our Lady of Lourdes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have just read a beautiful reflection on Our Lady over at the Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary website. Go over and have a read!

Mass at OLOC, West Grinstead...

...is most definitely 12.30 pm, and NOT 3.00 pm. Please ignore the listings, and write it in your diary!

A Mass in Basingstoke

A little out of our patch I know, but please, if you know someone who might know someone in the area, who might be desperate for a Latin Mass or is curious to see what they are like, then please encourage them to support this Mass at St Joseph's, Basingstoke. Click HERE for a map.


From Adam Pettigrew:

 

 

Traditional Latin Mass

For the Second Sunday of Lent

 

We are pleased to welcome Fr Phillip Harris who

will celebrate the "Mass of Ages."

 

6pm on Sunday 24^th February at

St Joseph’s church

St Michael's Road

Basingstoke

RG22 6TY

 

Ample Parking Available

 

 

 

 

When we were married...

...the registrar skulked in the sacristy where she could hear and peep round the door, because I was adamant we weren't going to have a stranger with her officious little fold up table alongside the front pew at our Nuptial Mass.

We would have enjoyed pitching up at the Registry office for the legal bit with a witness or two, while keeping the real ceremony wholly religious.






Separating the religious from the secular would be absolutely fine by me.

All shall be well

I've been despondent about the potential loss of marriage as we know it in this country for a while now. Our Lady and St Michael have been appealed to rather more frequently than usual over the last weeks, and I was glad to see that E F Pastoremeritus posted the St Michael prayer. I can't recommend the St Michael prayer highly enough, it's one of my go-to prayers for most things.

Yesterday and this morning, though, I've been having a bit of a Julian of Norwich moment. All shall be well. We know what true marriage is, and we'll carry on regardless of what faddy popularity grabbing politicians tell us.

Thank you, Our Lady and St Michael.

'Tis he, then.

Richard of York may have given battle in vain, but there's no reason why he can't have a decent Catholic reburial.

There's a petition online, so fight the good fight, sign up and may he rest in peace. Thanks to Eve for the link.

Gotcha

From the Coalition for Marriage (C4M) archive, a nice little reminder of why it's wise not to put your faith in the powers of this world, especially when they're called Dave.

Pants on fire, as they say in the playground.

Please

Keep praying for marriage!

Something in the air.

 

No, not that awful pong we were greeted with from France the other morning.

 

I'm talking about a few of the news articles I've been reading only today. For example, this one , in which Joanna Lumley states the obvious, that women should stop aping the 'lads' by imbibing so much they throw up in the gutter, and that wearing 'a silly dress' is not sensible and might even cause the odd problem or two, especially if you're very drunk.

 

One journalist has even found her inner Mary Whitehouse suggesting our daughters are being abused by the pornification of society. After which in the news feed was an appallingly awful story about the rape of a six year old by an eleven year old.

 

Take sex out of marriage so it's nothing more than a hobby, give 6 year olds sex education, provide contraceptives and abortions for children as soon as they ask for them (and if they don't) in secondary school, and peddle the lie that nothing has any consequences while you watch everything unravel.

 

Is it so hard to join the dots?

A great new link!

 

I have updated the links on the sidebar, and hope you will have a look at this one in particular, it's the new and wonderful web site for the Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who recently took a big step into the unknown. You can read about them on their site here, and in the Catholic Herald.

It really is well worth a look, so go over, say a prayer for them, and prepare to be edified!

 

Also, have a read of LMS Chairman, and please consider making the Novena to Our Lady of Good Success starting on 24th January for the sacrament of marriage:

 

 

 

Novena to Our Lady of Good Success

 

Hail Mary, Most Holy, Beloved Daughter of God the Father,

through the intercession of Mother Mariana de Jesus Torres,

grant Thy good success to this request (name your request)

 

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

St Michael, pray for us

Hail Mary, Most Holy, Admirable Mother of God the Son,

through the intercession of Mother Mariana de Jesus Torres,

grant Thy good success to this request (name your request)

 

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

St Gabriel, pray for us

Hail Mary, Most Holy, Most Faithful Spouse of God the Holy Ghost,

through the intercession of Mother Mariana de Jesus Torres,

grant Thy good success to this request (name your request)

 

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

St Raphael, pray for us

Hail Mary, Most Holy Temple

and Sacrarium of the Most Holy Trinity,

St Michael, St Gabriel, St Raphael, pray for us

Our Lady of Good Success, Thou who art the all-powerful intercessor before the Most Holy Trinity, deign to hear and answer my request,

so long as it contributes to the salvation of my soul, and the glory and exaltation of our Holy Mother, the Church.

Salve Regina (Hail, Holy Queen)

Absolutely beautiful

From John of Hayling

'All welcome to cross the border into Portsmouth on the third Saturday of each month. Venue is St Agatha's Church at 11.00 - first EF is on Jan 19th.
St Agatha's is a part of the Ordinariate of OLW and normally uses the Book of Divine Worship. It has definitely not been vandalised, uses old style vestments and has rescued artefacts from across the nation.'

This is great news! 

As I mentioned before...

... and as advertised on the sidebar, the Latin Mass time at Our Lady of Consolation, West Grinstead, has been changed to 12.30 pm. So not 3.00pm, but is now 12.30pm.

Sodality of St Augustine of Hippo

 

 

Please follow this LINK to find details of the new Sodality for lapsed family and friends. We all have loved ones for whom we pray, and it is so good to pray with, and for, others in the same situation. I'm sure we will see many miracles!

The Sodality prayer, Pro devotis amicis, can be found on the sidebar in Latin and in English.

UPDATE: I even beat the press release to it, here it is:




PRESS RELEASE

LMS Launches Sodality of St Augustine of Hippo for the Conversion of Lapsed Catholics and Others

Introduction to the LMS Sodality of St Augustine of Hippo.

The purpose of the Sodality is to unite the prayers of members for the conversion of those dear to them. There can be few Catholics today who do not have family members or close friends who have either lapsed from the practice of the Faith, or never had it; it is a particular source of grief when parents see children and grandchildren living without the support of the Sacraments. We take heart from the example of St Augustine, converted at last by the prayers and tears of his mother St Monica, and wish to demonstrate our fellowship with others in the same position, by praying not only for our own dear ones, but for those of others who will do the same for ours.

Sodality members undertake to say every day the prayer Pro devotis amicis, taken from the Roman Missal, for the Sodality’s intention; members who are priests undertake to say one Mass a month for this intention. The intention is the conversion or return to the Faith of family and friends of Sodality members. The intended beneficiaries of our prayers are not listed, except in the hearts of Sodality members. The Latin Mass Society, to which the Sodality is affiliated, will arrange and announce in advance at least one public, Traditional Sung (or Solemn) Mass for the Sodality’s intentions a year.

Sodality members, both lay and clerical, may add other Masses, prayers, and devotions, for the Sodality’s intention, and are encouraged to do so. In particular, members will be asked annually if they wish to make a contribution to the costs of the Sodality’s public Mass or Masses, and whether they would like to make a Mass offering for an additional Mass or Masses to be said for the Sodality’s intention, which the Latin Mass Society will arrange, to be celebrated according to the Extraordinary Form. (The customary Mass Offering is £10.)

Membership of the Sodality is free and open to all; members sign up by email (info@lms.org.uk).

The Sodality Prayer:
 

Pro devotis amicis (which may be said in Latin or any other language):

Deus, qui caritátis dona per grátiam Sancti Spíritus tuórum fidélium córdibus infudísti : da fámulis et famulábus tuis, pro quibus tuam deprecámur cleméntiam, salútem mentis et córporis ; ut te tota virtúte díligent, et quæ tibi plácita sunt, tota dilectióne perfíciant. Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte eiúsdem Spíritus Sancti, Deus, per ómnia saecula sæculórum. Amen.

O God, who, by the grace of the Holy Ghost, hast poured the gifts of charity in the hearts of thy faithful, grant to thy servants and handmaids, for whom we entreat thy mercy, health of mind and body; that they may love thee with all their strength and, by perfect love, may do what is pleasing to thee. Through our Lord Jesus Christ thy Son, who liveth and reigneth in the unity of the same Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.

Masses for the intention of the Sodality should include, when possible, the Commemoration ‘Pro Devotis Amicis’ (Collect, Secret and Postcommunion) found in the Roman Missal. Adding such a Commemoration is possible in the 1962 Missal on Fourth Class Feasts at Low Mass, where no more than one Commemoration is demanded by the Ordo.

Why this should surprise me...

...I don't know, perhaps because I'm a closet optimist, but have a read of Damian Thompson. It makes you shake your head and sigh deeply while wringing your hands and wondering what some people's problem actually is, apart from being deliberately contrary.

 

I can't help but wonder what is so frightening about the Latin Mass. The beauty?  The reverence? The silence? The Sacrifice - being really and truly up close and personal with Our Lord at Calvary?