The annual meeting of The Guild of Blessed Titus Brandsma took place at Blackfen Blogfen last Saturday 30th November.
The day commenced with a Low Mass in the Old Rite, celebrated by the Guild's chaplain and host for the day, Fr Tim Finigan.
An exposition of the Blessed Sacrament followed and, for one hour, parishioners and Guild members were able to worship and meditate in silence.
After Mass and the Holy Hour, the group listened to Dr Adrian Treloar give a learned but fascinating account of some of the Lourdes miraculous cures from a medical perspective.
For my own part, I was under the impression that I had a pretty good grasp of the extent of the cures but, when you see an x-ray on-screen, showing the result of a cancerous tumour on a pelvis, where any evidence of bone has been reduced to a poisonous mass and then compare it with an x-ray post Lourdes, that clearly shows a healthy pelvis that had not existed before going on pilgrimage, you gain a very profound concept of the full meaning of the word 'cure'.
And then Adrian showed a slide of the incorrupt body of St Bernadette, emphasizing that the saint has not been subject to any form of embalming treatment as in the cases of Lenin and Mao.
Again, it hit home that there, in Nevers, is living evidence of the power of Almighty God, visible for all to see.
Finally, after a hearty lunch provided by Defende nos in Proelio together with her husband and beautifully behaved children, and a glass of the 'O be joyful' kindly bought for me by Mulier Fortis, the Guild meeting took place.
It was so good to meet eminent bloggers such as Zephyrinus and to catch up with Dylan Parry and the many commentators present, in particular, Pelerin, Dilly, Graham, Nicholas, and others.
However, the highlight, for me, was to sit in the company of two of our best loved priest bloggers,
Fr Tim Finigan and Fr Ray Blake.
And the venue for the next meeting?
Brighton in the Spring. Hotbed of hedonism and home to both Fr Ray and the new Guild Chairman, Laurence England (as well as a few more famous bloggers).
Something to look forward to.
The day commenced with a Low Mass in the Old Rite, celebrated by the Guild's chaplain and host for the day, Fr Tim Finigan.
An exposition of the Blessed Sacrament followed and, for one hour, parishioners and Guild members were able to worship and meditate in silence.
After Mass and the Holy Hour, the group listened to Dr Adrian Treloar give a learned but fascinating account of some of the Lourdes miraculous cures from a medical perspective.
For my own part, I was under the impression that I had a pretty good grasp of the extent of the cures but, when you see an x-ray on-screen, showing the result of a cancerous tumour on a pelvis, where any evidence of bone has been reduced to a poisonous mass and then compare it with an x-ray post Lourdes, that clearly shows a healthy pelvis that had not existed before going on pilgrimage, you gain a very profound concept of the full meaning of the word 'cure'.
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| St Bernadette at Nevers. Free from corruption and from artificial restoration processes |
Again, it hit home that there, in Nevers, is living evidence of the power of Almighty God, visible for all to see.
Finally, after a hearty lunch provided by Defende nos in Proelio together with her husband and beautifully behaved children, and a glass of the 'O be joyful' kindly bought for me by Mulier Fortis, the Guild meeting took place.
It was so good to meet eminent bloggers such as Zephyrinus and to catch up with Dylan Parry and the many commentators present, in particular, Pelerin, Dilly, Graham, Nicholas, and others.
However, the highlight, for me, was to sit in the company of two of our best loved priest bloggers,
Fr Tim Finigan and Fr Ray Blake.
And the venue for the next meeting?
Brighton in the Spring. Hotbed of hedonism and home to both Fr Ray and the new Guild Chairman, Laurence England (as well as a few more famous bloggers).
Something to look forward to.
Oooh,glad it went wel.Might be able to make Brighton,if that is ok.
ReplyDeleteOf course, Sandy, not that I am in any official position. But then, we only have a chairman. All are welcome who comment or use FB or whatever (and who are Catholic!) :)
ReplyDeleteIt was lovely to meet you once more, Richard. A pleasure to be in the company of such a gentleman. I shall blog shortly... in a day or so.
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