Where to start. Readers of a delicate disposition might like to skip this one.

It's been a bit quiet on here because I haven't, as the header says, known quite where to start.

I know I'm far from alone in being absolutely horrified that the Government sponsored sexualisation of infant and junior school children is about to become law. This isn't about 'education', it's about power and control, like rape. I don't think the analogy is too extreme. The thought of six year olds being forced by government policy to acknowledge any kind of sexuality is nauseating. I thought grooming was illegal, yet what is the Government in their right on wisdom proposing to do in the confines of the classroom?

Equally nauseating is the idea that Catholic schools are to be forced into telling children where to obtain abortions. This one actually made me laugh.
From my experience, as soon as anyone becomes pregnant and has contact with the medical profession, whatever their age or state in life, they are offered an abortion. It's kind of de rigueur, I mean if you're a professional woman, 'it' might interfere with skiing this year; if you're a student 'it' will ruin your career.
So what is all this total rubbish about young girls being 'deprived access' to 'reproductive services'?

Abortion, like infant/junior/preteen sex ed is all about control, and giving one side of the argument. The Catholic schools I've known have always had the Balls, if you'll excuse the pun, to very much show the workable and always preferable alternative.

What always boggles my mind being, I hope, a fairly logical kind of person, is that there is so little consistency among the liberal intelligensia and their lobby groups, with whom this social experiment developed.

Just look at Facebook as an example. On Facebook, it's permissable for a girl/woman of any age to post photos of herself in a string bikini, as long as you don't bare your nipple. You can see it through fabric, wear as wet a t-shirt as you like, but you can't bare it. Yet if you post a photo of yourself breastfeeding your newborn, in which all you can see is far less boob than in a bikini, you can have your account deleted as being pornographic. It's ok for boobs to be an object, it's not ok to use them for their natural function (As with Facebook, so with my current bete noire, the BBC. But I'll save trashing that for another time when I'm feeling less, er, angry).

Likewise, it's essential to promote abortions, but it's never ok to show pictures of what having an abortion actually does to a baby. Good God in heaven, it might actually put people off, and then where would the abortion industry be?

Nice dual standards. What a messed up society.


Where to start? With my trusty Rosary, and St Michael I think.

Sancte Michael Archangele, defende nos in praelio. Contra nequitiam et insidias diaboli esto praesidium. Imperet illi Deus, supplices deprecamur. Tuque princeps militiae caelestis, Satanam aliosque spiritus malignos, qui ad perditionem animarum pervagantur in mundo divina virtute in infernum detrude. Amen


Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in the day of battle, be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray, and do thou, Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all wicked spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.

On a lighter note, if you're on Facebook and feel so moved, join this group!

This just in

LATIN MASS SOCIETY PRESS RELEASE. 15 FEBRUARY 2010


LAUNCH OF THE GREGORIAN CHANT NETWORK

A new organisation – The Gregorian Chant Network - has been launched to organise training in Gregorian Chant and to link singers and choirs singing Gregorian Chant for the Catholic liturgy, with the support of the Latin Mass Society, Una Voce Scotland, the Association for Latin Liturgy, and the Schola Gregoriana of Cambridge.

On Saturday 30th January, at a meeting at the London Oratory, 35 Chant directors, Gregorian Chant experts, and interested parties, including representatives from more than twenty Gregorian Chant scholas from all parts of England, Wales, and Scotland, and the Schola Gregoriana of Cambridge, met to launch a new association to coordinate and promote Gregorian Chant training initiatives, and to facilitate mutual support, both moral and practical, among chant scholas. They were addressed by Dr Joseph Shaw, Chairman of the Latin Mass Society, which sponsored the meeting, and Colin Mawby, the composer and former Director of Music at Westminster Cathedral. The meeting ended with Vespers in the Little Oratory, led by Fr Anthony Alexander.

Dr Shaw introduced the Gregorian Chant Network and outlined its practical work, which was further discussed in an open forum. Mr Mawby gave a paper on the importance of Chant, and led a practical session on conducting a chant schola.

The Gregorian Chant Network (GCN) is supported by the Latin Mass Society of England and Wales (LMS), and its Scottish equivalent, Una Voce Scotland, the Association for Latin Liturgy (ALL), and the Schola Gregoriana of Cambridge. The LMS and UV Scotland promote the use of the usus antiquior of the Roman Rite (the Traditional Latin Mass). The ALL promotes the use of Latin in the liturgy in both forms of the Roman Rite. The Schola Gregoriana, which was founded by the late Dr Mary Berry CBE, provides training in the Chant, sings at events (including Mass in both forms of the Roman Rite) across the country, and has a programme of recording CDs.

The GCN’s first training event will be a three-day course at the Oratory School, Reading, 9-11th April, directed by Nick Gale, the Director of Music at Southwark Cathedral. The course will cater for beginners and more advanced singers alike.

More details can be found on the GCN website:

http://www.gregorianchantnetwork.org

Email: chantnetwork@googlemail.com


Background

The Gregorian Chant Network is unique in the UK as a collaboration between groups which promote the Traditional Latin Mass (the LMS and UV Scotland), a group primarily associated with the New Mass (the ALL), and a group of professional singers (the Schola Gregoriana).

Gregorian Chant is called for in both the ‘old’ and the ‘new’ forms of the Mass, with Vatican II calling for it to have ‘pride of place in liturgical services’. In the fifty years leading up to the Council the Chant underwent a widespread renaissance in the Church, with the help of scholarly work of the monastery of Solesmes in France. Following the Council, however, Chant fell out of widespread use in the Catholic liturgy. In the context of the renewed interest in the liturgy stimulated by Pope Benedict XVI, interest in the Chant is growing once more. The spread of the Traditional Mass, allowed greater freedom under Pope Benedict’s Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum, is creating a greater demand for the Chant, which is required for its sung forms. The ‘Reform of the Reform’ movement, which seeks to improve the Mass promulgated in 1969, has also led to the restoration of Chant in many churches.

The repertoire of Gregorian Chant includes much music composed for the Mass between the 4th and the 8th Centuries, and chants for the Office which go back to the time of Christ and earlier. It is written in square notes on a four-line stave, from which modern musical notation developed, and requires special skills for its interpretation and performance. It was described by Vatican II and Pope Pius X as specially suited to the Roman liturgy.

For further information contact John Medlin at the LMS: 020 7404 7284
(info@latin-mass-society.org)

Happy feast of Our Lady of Lourdes

I am very fond of the Song of Bernadette, and here's one of the best bits.

The Rosary

As the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes is fast approaching, I thought I’d write about one of my favourite things.





It’s the rosary. I’ve got a thing about the rosary.





I know that for some it’s not their devotion of choice, and they might find it a bit quaint, so I thought I’d very briefly tell you why it’s very much mine.





I started saying the rosary a long while ago and was at the time, how can I put this delicately? *Ahem*, at the time I was Unschooled in the Old Ways of Tradition.


Nonetheless, I'd been drawn instinctively to this prayer, and begun saying it, (although I didn't find it at all easy and often wondered if I was even doing it right, but anyway). From there, I started to wonder what else had been missing from my Catholic life, and after a bit found out. But that's another can of worms entirely.

For me, there is no other prayer that offers such freedom within its seemingly rigid structure of repetitions.
The meditations on each mystery are only limited by my imagination. Sometimes I might not be able, for whatever reason, to meditate on anything at all, then I simply try to concentrate on the words. When prayer is difficult, the rosary is the best way of getting me back on track. Now I’m not saying I’m very good at saying the rosary. I can have a fearful time keeping focused, but whatever my mood, I always know it’s done me good.

In a nutshell, it’s the only prayer for me (outside of the Mass) that’s got it all.

Good News

I've heard from Fr Goddard at OLOC that Mrs Goddard is improving, so keep the prayers coming please.





There will be a Mass this coming Sunday 14th February at OLOC, and the celebrant will be Fr Agley (let's hope the weather forecast is totally wrong and there is no snow and ice coming our way again).


Also, on the side bar is a new venture, Rosary for the Bishop. Thanks to Elizabeth from Sussex on the Prayers for the Bishop and Jane at Spiritual Mothers for the tip off. Please do join, just click, and away you go.

In support of the Pope

As you've probably noticed, there's a lot of rubbish surrounding the papal visit in the press at the moment, most of it skewed and anti Catholic.

Cathcon is redressing the balance, and has a petition up in support of the Holy Father so please sign here.

His Holiness's visit to the UK

The Pope's address to the English and Welsh Bishops can be found here, but here's a part of it:

"Even amid the pressures of a secular age, there are many signs of living faith and devotion among the Catholics of England and Wales. I am thinking, for example, of the enthusiasm generated by the visit of the relics of Saint Thérèse, the interest aroused by the prospect of Cardinal Newman’s beatification, and the eagerness of young people to take part in pilgrimages and World Youth Days. On the occasion of my forthcoming Apostolic Visit to Great Britain, I shall be able to witness that faith for myself and, as Successor of Peter, to strengthen and confirm it. During the months of preparation that lie ahead, be sure to encourage the Catholics of England and Wales in their devotion, and assure them that the Pope constantly remembers them in his prayers and holds them in his heart."

God bless our Pope.

Just take a look at this

SACRED, BEAUTIFUL, & UNIVERSAL: Colloquium XIX from Corpus Christi Watershed on Vimeo.

Road works at OLOC

The Partridge Green/Steyning road is open again, hoorah.




Work is now being done in the car park at OLOC, so proceed with caution, because there are skips and presumably, holes. The top car park is now larger and usuable, the lower not so usable. Folk are requested not to park in the lane, or in front of the house.

Prayers please...

...for Mrs Susan Goddard, who suffered a heart attack last weekend, and is now recovering at home at Our Lady of Consolation, West Grinstead, and for Father and Kate Goddard. All best wishes for the speediest recovery.

I'm having me one of these...

...when the time comes.

Yesterday, I was present at my very first EF Requiem Mass. It was for a lady called Nancy, and was celebrated by Fr Bruno Witchalls. I was totally blown away by how consoling, hopeful, and beautiful it was. I have the LMS little red card in my purse and never thought about what it actually meant until yesterday, and experienced a proper Requiem. In death we are utterly reliant on the mercy of God, and we need prayers just as much as we ever did when we were alive, so please say a prayer for Nancy, and all the Holy Souls.

Sunday

Yesterday Fr Bruno Witchalls said Mass at Our Lady of Consolation West Grinstead. I still find the silences amazing at EF Low Masses, there really is nothing like it. Many thanks to Fr Bruno.

Tea and conversation followed, the ad limina being one topic. I'm watching the space with interest.

Our Lady of Consolation

There will be a Mass at West Grinstead this coming Sunday, but the interesting pipe work going on in the road outside OLOC still remains, so click here for alternative routes.

Long time no blog

I don't do new year resolutions, but in the grey dull bits of January I do like a bit of inspiration. I always find Archbishop Fulton Sheen has something worth hearing and he's never dull. So here is one of his talks which I think is pretty appropriate for the start of a new year. Enjoy!

Epiphany

Our crib will be remaining with us until the start of February, which can cause some raised eyebrows, but I don't care. The cake is baked, the charm is inside, and I hope you all have a very Happy Epiphany!

Mass cancellation

Well, the white stuff might be pretty, but I'm pretty fed up with it already.

Especially as it means that the EF at Our Lady of Consolation, West Grinstead this coming Sunday is CANCELLED DUE TO APPALLING WEATHER.

Let's hope it starts to warm up sooner than the forecasters have forecasted, because we're stuck on a hill.

Road Closures and Diversions at West Grinstead

Apparently, urgent sewage work is being undertaken over the next four weeks on the B2135 which runs past Our Lady of Consolation, West Grinstead , so if you are aiming to get to OLOC, you may have to follow a diversion:

Anyone en route from Partridge Green/Steyning will have to make a detour via Littleworth and the A272.

From the Henfield direction, don't turn left at Shermanbury but continue to Cowfold and then pick up the A272, turning left into Park Lane by the Orchard restaurant.

Any further info can be obtained by phoning the Priest's House on 01403 710273.

Shoreham

There will be no extraordinary form Mass at St Peter's Shoreham on Saturday 9th January, as Fr Finnegan is away.

Happy New Year

Well what d'you know. Ten years since the millenium (or mi-nelly-um as it was known in our house) and the earth still revolves. I'm quite looking forward to 2013 when we'll all know for sure that the earth's core is still functioning, our magnetic field is still in its current orientation, we've yet to be hit by a comet/meteorite/asteroid/spaceship full of drunk stag night aliens, and all those film makers will have moved onto the Next Big Thing, what ever they choose it to be.

Not that I don't like a rollicking disaster movie in the sci-fi genre. It's just that what with the hoo ha about some folks interpretation of the Mayan calendar, and people getting their panties in a bunch about the core freezing (over which they have no control even were they true), sometimes 'celebrating' the New Year can appear like a really bad idea, which is why I would prefer to celebrate the Church's New Year rather than the secular one.

I don't like resolutions, but I do hope that this year sees more Old Rite Masses than ever before, those who are yet to be convinced that the Extraordinary Form is an enriching and fabulous thing become convinced, and that our wonderful, wise Holy Father continues in the best of health.



Cheers everyone, and here's to a peaceful and holy year!

Epiphany Missa Cantata...

...at St Mary Magdalen, Brighton on 6th January at 7.30pm.
Hope lots of people can get to it!

Also, fret not, the 3rd Sunday Mass at St MMs is running as normal for January.

Our Lady of Consolation

Yesterday afternoon Fr Alexander Lucie-Smith celebrated Mass at OLOC, and we listened to a pastoral letter from His Lordship the Bishop. I wished I'd taken my camera, because the crib was just beautiful.

I hadn't thought there would be many people at Mass, given the weather and seasonal family committments, but I was wrong! Following Mass we all enjoyed some very welcome and warming mulled wine and mince pies - and tea, of course, and lively conversation. It's very good to see Fr Goddard out and about again.

Happy Christmas

It's here at last, and what a speedy Advent
this has been, I don't know where the time's gone since we lit the first candle on the wreath.


A long while ago I was lucky enough to visit the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, right at the beginning of Advent. It was one of the most memorable and fabulous things I've ever done (even if I found the soldiers patrolling with their -to me- ginormous rifles a tad disconcerting, at least it made me think of the Roman occupation). I don't know what I was expecting, but I was a bit surprised by it. So here's a picture, so I can re-live my surprise.




Wishing you a happy and holy Christmas!






PS: There is a Mass at Our Lady of Consolation on 27th December at 3.00pm (weather permitting??)

Gaudete

For Gaudete Sunday, a missa cantata was celebrated at Our Lady of Consolation by Fr Hurley. Fr Hurley's sermon focused on St John the Baptist, and the importance of not forgetting to keep Christ in Christmas. The Seaford Schola, though down in numbers (everyone I know seems to have one type of lurgy or other at the moment), sang out loud and clear, and there was plenty of lovely incense to make it a real celebration. And of course there were some lovely rose vestments, not entirely unlike those in the photo below pinched from the NLM site.

Ushaw College Training Conference, 2010

LMS Residential Training Conference for Priests Wishing to Learn the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite (Traditional Latin Mass) at Ushaw College, Durham.

The Latin Mass Society of England and Wales (LMS) is organising a residential training conference for priests wishing to learn the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite (Traditional Latin Mass) at Ushaw College, Durham, one of England’s most prestigious seminaries.

The conference will run from Monday 12 April to Friday 16 April 2010 (i.e. Low Week) and will feature Traditional liturgies in Ushaw’s magnificent neo-Gothic St Cuthbert’s Chapel together with a Gregorian Chant schola and polyphonic choir.

Expert tuition in the celebration of Mass in the Usus Antiquior will be provided on a small group basis. There will be tuition in Low Mass, Missa Cantata and Missa Solemnis and there will be streams for beginners and more advanced students. There will be a keynote lecture and 1962 Missals and altar cards will be available.

There will be opening and closing High Masses, daily Mass and Devotions, and Rosary. There will also be a closing Conference dinner with guest speaker.

The subsidised fee to participants is only £115.00 which includes all accommodation, meals and training materials. There are limited places and priests are asked to register as soon as possible.

Further details and registration forms can be obtained from the LMS office (Tel: 020 7404 7284, e mail: info@latin-mass-society.org) or from the conference organiser, Mr Paul Waddington (Tel: 01757 638027, e mail: paul@gooleboathouse.co.uk).

Paul Waddington said, “This is the second time the LMS has organised such a training conference at Ushaw College and we are delighted to be going back. I hope the laity will tell their priests about this wonderful opportunity to learn the Usus Antiquior in the setting of one of England’s finest Catholic seminaries.”

Latin Mass Society, 11-13 Macklin Street, London WC2B 5NH
Tel: 020 7404 7284
E mail: info@latin-mass-society.org
Website: latin-mass-society.org



For further information, please contact John Medlin, General Manager, or James Murphy, LMS Office Manager, on (T) 020 7404 7284;
(F) 020 7831 5585; (E mail) info@latin-mass-society.org

The Immaculate Conception

Prayer for Priests

Michael pointed me towards the FSSP website on which there is this prayer for priests:

“O Lord Jesus, born to give testimony to the Truth, Thou who lovest unto the end those whom Thou hadst chosen, kindly hear our prayers for our pastors.
Thou who knowest all things, knowest that they love Thee and can do all things in Thee who strengthen them.
Sanctify them in Truth. Pour into them, we beseech Thee, the Spirit whom Thou didst give to Thy apostles, who would make them, in all things, like unto Thee.
Receive the homage of love which they offer up to Thee, who hast graciously received the threefold confession of Peter.
And so that a pure oblation may everywhere be offered without ceasing unto the Most Holy Trinity, graciously enrich their number and keep them in Thy love, who art one with the Father and the Holy Ghost, to whom be glory and honour forever. Amen.”

Please do follow the link (there are partial indulgences ).

Missa Cantata...

...this Sunday at OLOC, West Grinstead at 3.00pm. I don't know about you, but I'm very much looking forward to it.

Ushaw

Due to technical difficulties, I wasn't able to open the LMS communique regarding the next EF conference, so here's a link to Fr Blake who could.

Advent

We've just finished putting out the crib and setting up the wreath. The calendar is up and waiting for the first, and here's my favourite Advent hymn.

On Fr Z's blog...

...I found this, Saint Antoine Daniel Gregorian Chant Ordinaries. It's a simply brilliant site. Click on the 'Ordinaries' header and it takes you to a list of Masses, with a list of options, here's what you get if you click on YouTube, for the Mass I Gloria:



Guess what I'll be doing this evening?

Oh, double click on the video to bring it up in a full sized window :)

Benedictine nuns of Our Lady of the Annunciation at Le Barroux

A lovely YouTube video, enjoy.

Anti-Life Sex Education

John Smeaton has posted details of Spuc's campaign highlighting the government's desire to make anti-life sex ed compulsory. Details are on the blog roll, but to save you time, click here.

Oh I say...

...how could I have been so slow in seeing this?

If you know me a bit, you'll know I have a thing about polyester and nylon vestments, you know, the crackly kind that would probably give you a shock after you take them out of the tumble drier even if you have used industrial quantities of fabric softener? Well here is my kind of blog. Think Trinny and Susannah in What Not to Wear but with a liturgical vibe.

It's so groovy, you'll need shades, so rad, you'll need to join a protest group, so right on, you'll wonder how you ever managed without it. And, glory, it's ecumenical.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you, Bad Vestments.

Here's a sneak peek:





Really, I cannot encourage you enough to have a look at the entire blog.

I cried, honestly...

Everyone's talking about...

...the MANHATTAN DECLARATION. Find all about it here, and here and here and sign here.

Traditional Rite Confirmations and Annual Requiem 2009

Traditional confirmations took place on 12 November, and you can read all about them and see the pics here. Congratulations to everyone there.

On 23 November, the annual Requiem was celebrated at Westminster Cathedral, you can read about that and view the photos here.

Here's a lovely resource

As we all know, the propaganda/spin industry surrounding the 'pro-choice' - no, let's call a spade a spade - the baby killing industry, is a juggernaut.

So here's a lovely resource on the side of the foetus and mother, a no frills, does-what-it-says-on-the-tin website.

Please do have a look at Just the Facts. It's a very clear and easy to navigate website about life before birth, with lots of pictures, info, and it's beautifully presented.

Along with the work done by Jorge Lopes (below) they should be obligatory reading and viewing for every man, woman, and young person in the country.





Mantilla twitch to Mike for sending me the link.

Last Sunday after Pentecost

At Our Lady of Consolation this afternoon Mass was said by Fr Alexander Lucie-Smith. Father preached a sermon on the end times, highlighting Our Lord's words from the Gospel that we should be on our guard against following false prophets and false signs. He then went on to link an erroneous belief in the imminent end to a tendency to not be mindful of our stewardship of the planet; that the world will end is no excuse for squandering our God-given resources.


Thanks to Father for braving the awful weather. In fact, considering how atrocious the weather is (one might even say a bit 'end-time-ish'!), OLOC was pretty full, and lots of folk stayed behind after Mass to catch up and chat, which was great.
Of course, chatting wouldn't be half as much fun without the tea and coffee, and I haven't mentioned them before, so a big thank you to the ladies who make the tea and coffee, you know who you are..!

St Peter's Shoreham

There won't be an EF mass this coming Saturday, 21st November, as Fr.Sean will be at Worth Abbey with confirmation candidates for their retreat, I hope they have a memorable time!

Our Lady of Consolation

For Remembrance Sunday, a Requiem was said by Fr Agley, who also preached on the value of sacrifice. Thanks to Fr Agley.

I think The Dies Irae is just amazing, which is why you'll find it below!





There was tea and talk afterwards, which is always great, and I must say thanks to all who bought calendars

Check this out!

All Souls Day at St Mary Magdalen, Brighton:



Fabulous or what?

Remembrance Day

De profundis clamavi ad te, Domine:
Domine, exaudi vocem meam:
Fiant aures tuae intendentes,
in vocem deprecationis meae.
Si iniquitates observaveris, Domine:
Domine, quis sustinebit?
Quia apud te propitiatio est:
et propter legem tuam sustinui te, Domine.
Sustinuit anima mea in verbo eius:
speravit anima mea in Domino.
A custodia matutina usque ad noctem:
speret Israel in Domino.
Quia apud Dominum misericordia:
et copiosa apud eum redemptio.
Et ipse redimet Israel,
ex omnibus iniquitatibus eius.
Gloria Patri, et Filio,
et Spiritui Sancto.
Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper,
et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

Out of the depths I have cried to Thee, O Lord
Lord, hear my voice.
Let Thy ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.
If Thou, O Lord, wilt mark iniquities,
Lord, who shall stand it?
For with Thee there is merciful forgiveness
and by reason of thy law, I have waited for Thee, O Lord.
My soul hath relied on His word, my soul hath hoped in the Lord.
From the morning watch even until night, let Israel hope in the Lord.
Because with the Lord there is mercy and with him plentiful redemption.
And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Rant time...

...ok folks, so when did it become de rigueur to talk before Mass? Anyone else sometimes get the incredible urge to stand up and yell at people to shut the -I mean, ask them to be quiet please? I'm not talking about please-excuse-me-do-you-mind-if-I-sit-here, or keeping the babies appropriately entertained, I'm talking about full on conversations between adults that last til the bell rings. Even an EF isn't always immune.

So, an interesting anthropological question: at what point did reverence become optional?

Parkminster

For All Saints, we decided we'd do something a little different this year, and went to St Hugh's Charterhouse.

St Hugh's is a Carthusian monastery near Partridge Green in West Sussex, and as Parkminster had been recommended by several people we know as being a Mass to get to if you can, when we could, we went.

The chapel for the public is to the left of the main gate, and a wall sized grille separates the people from the sanctuary. The Mass is in Latin, it isn't overly long and gets to the point (if you get my drift) yet in no way does it feel rushed. Communion can be received kneeling (yay!) as there's a handy step by the part of the separating grille which opens and through which you receive. And I didn't feel the slightest bit uncomfortable that I had a scarf wrapped round my head (unfortunately, that's not how it feels at a *normal* parish church).

If you're ever in West Sussex on a Sunday in need of Mass, it's a lovely, quiet, prayerful experience. Wear warm clothes though, it's a bit nippy in the chapel!

La Grande Chartreuse in the French Alps is the most famous Carthusian monastery, and was the subject of the DVD Into Great Silence a couple of years ago (highly recommend seeing it if you haven't already).
I'm not a tremendous fan of Chartreuse liqueur, I think it's like drinking a soggy medicinal hay field, but the DH likes it very much, so it's all the more for him. We both agree though that Into Great Silence is one of the best adverts for monastic life we've ever seen. So here's a clip, because I like it:

All Souls

Just a reminder that this evening at 7.30 there is Mass at St Mary Magdalen's Brighton, details of which can be found here.