Martin Luther - a priest "in good standing"

Blessed Martin Luther

News from Rome that Martin Luther has been restored "to his rightful position in the Church" and has had his faculties restored posthumously,  has been greeted with lots of hugs and squeals of delight from the members of the group known as HERETIC.

A spokesperson for HERETIC stated that:

"It is only right that, in our inclusive non judgemental Church,  we right the errors committed by less enlightened Catholics in the past."

Rumours abound that Archbishop Cranmer, Richard Topcliffe and Oliver Cromwell are to have their causes for beatification put forward this year and that some miracles have been attributed to Vlad the Impaler and Pol Pot who may also be put forward for sainthood at a later date.

 

A novel use for rural churches

The Daily Telegraph has become rather limp wristed of late and the letters page today, typifies just how politically correct this once great newspaper has become.

There is some correspondence on the possible uses that 'redundant' Protestant churches could bring to utilise in making them meaningful and useful places in the community.

They could, the paper warbles, become the centre point of the country living English, Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish men and women's social and cultural life.
Lord Kenyon advocates them becoming the focal point for those who wish to show their holiday snaps to the community. Zzzz!

Well that calls for a dance around the room punching the air and high fiving all in sight!

And to think that senile old me was under the illusion that the role of any Christian church was to be at the heart of the community providing worship, pastoral care and succour to all of us folk who have straw in our hair and rather smelly stuff on our boots!

Perhaps the Oratorians could make good use of York Minster?

Well, I have a suggestion to make (I have two, in fact, but only one is fit for purpose).

Why not hand them back over to the Catholic Church so that we may restore them to their intended use?

Whoa! You say. We have no need of these old buildings that are so cold and drafty that our priests from darkest Africa and all points further East, would find most inhospitable.

Quite. I have to concede that point.

But they could be given (entrusted, even) to some of our traditional orders such as the FSSP, the ICKSP and even, (whisper it softly) the SSPX. 

What! The SSPX? Well, why not?

The SSPX is in need of putting down some pastoral roots and I'm sure there are many additional orders such as the FFI and others who would put them to good use.

It could be the first step to returning England (and all others) to Mary's Dowry.

Another singing priest......

....this time .... from the 1950s!

I am ashamed to say that I remember this little, inoffensive French priest from his appearance on the BBC TV pop show, The Six Five Special.

Then he sang in English: "Day by day, in the market place I play my flute all day but nobody dances ..."

His name is Father Duval and on this clip he sings the same song,

“J’ai joue de la flute" but in his native French.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RugXby2efE0

Of course, it sounds kitsch but it also sounded kitsch back in 1959 or whenever (I was a very small child, then) ahem.

But one thing I do know and that is, it is a much better song and he is a much better singer than Father Ray Kelly and his Hallelujah.

Father Duval died suffering from alcoholism on 30th April 1984. RIP.

Santo Subito!

Another humble Pope, Pius XII

What will they think....in 2114?

How will Catholic history judge us?

"You mean that they ignored the Latin Mass?"

Always assuming, of course, that in one hundred years from now there are a few scattered outposts of the Faithful remaining living in caves as far from bigotry and persecution as possible.

Here are a few pointers as to how they might regard us Catholics of 2014:

1. Bemused that the Novus Ordo was so widely accepted and the old Mass discarded by those who should have known better.

2. Highly entertained by the banal hymns incorporated into the liturgy since 1969.

3. Bewilderment that Bishops and Priests and other religious failed to observe the doctrinal teachings of HMC and embraced secularism.

4. Angered that so many souls were lost in the period of liberal madness.

5. Outraged at the lack of respect and reverence for the Son of God, his blessed mother and all things sacred.

6. Puzzled at the lack of leadership demonstrated by the bishops.

7. Concerned that so many Catholics disregarded the teachings of the Church and made their own rules as they went along.

8. Dumbfounded that most priests were allowed to dress as they pleased and become worldly.

9. Confused as to why the directives emanating from the Second Vatican Council were routinely ignored.

10. Disturbed by the lack of attention and reverence given to the National Shrine of Wales, Our Lady of Cardigan, supposedly equal to Walsingham in importance.

"A phone call..... for you".......

"Who is it?"

"The Holy Father"

"Tell him I'm busy"

"Oh that Holy Father...put him through"

Time for a peek at London Catholic Worker

That's about all I can manage on an annual basis, their website always seems so skewed away from current affairs and matters topical (such as the 40 Days for Life Vigil that has just ended).

It's rather like entering a 1960s time warp  but, instead of CND protestors we now have Catholic priests committing acts of vandalism on public buildings....they obviously have no concept of 'Thou shalt not steal' as, of course, it is our money that has to be brought to bear in cleaning up graffiti (what they quaintly call 'marking').

Fr Martin Newell (centre) Does his Superior know?

They are protesting about Afghanistan and Iraq and Trident and, I guess, any defence mechanism designed to protect us and to (hopefully) liberate those who have to endure the caring embrace of the Taliban or Ba'athists.

A Father Martin Newell, a Passionist, has just been released from a 28 day sojourn courtesy of Her Majesty's Prison, Wandsworth.

He was committed to jail for non payment of fines imposed for criminal acts of 'marking' government buildings.

Now I suppose he is back on his pastoral duties, aerosol spray in hand, looking for a tax office or job centre to vandalise, ah me.

The LCW website is also fighting the cause of Bradley Manning (whom they call 'Chelsea'). Apparently the notion that sex changes do not feature in Catholic teachings has escaped them.

 And the consequences of his treachery are not, of course, mentioned.

But search for a mention of anything Catholic and you will be hard pressed to find one single item; nothing concerning the Holy Father, nothing regarding Cardinal Nichols and, shock, horror, no Latin Mass schedule for the Archdioceses of Westminster and Southwark.

Now that is a surprise!

If you have masochistic tendencies you may like to take your own peek at London Catholic Worker's website HERE but don't say that I didn't warn you.

One day this man will be canonised

Abandon all preconceptions you may have regarding the SSPX or its founder, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, and watch this brief preview of a documentary on the life of this saintly man.

A priest who never ever celebrated the Novus Ordo Mass.

                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sp95rKOjIf4


The full documentary DVD is available from the Angelus Press.
Not sure if its in European format though.

ACTA announces new fundraising scheme

In a desperate bid to raise funds ACTA has announced plans to invest in the production of a range of bottled beers.

The first product in the range is featured below

 

The episcopal acid test

Bishop material on the right

We, in Wales and England have received a flurry of new bishops and archbishops in the past few months, with more yet to come.

Some of the new appointments are of men who appear to have some connection or even sympathy with offering the Tridentine Latin Mass, others.....well....the jury's out.

But, I'm afraid I cannot go down the 'ecstatic' route with most of those appointments.

Being a good and holy priest is not enough to produce a good and holy bishop.

We need more, much more.

The Catholic world is full of good men in the form of priests but, not many of them qualify for the title alter Christus - other Christs.

Quite a few of them ignore Canon Law and do their own thing when it comes to celebrating Mass.

And quite a few of those also ignore doctrinal matters and pick and mix the Sacraments and the basic tenets of the Faith; selecting and de-selecting as they see fit.

So what is the ph test that determines whether a priest is going to make a good bishop?

It's simple.

Does he celebrate Mass in the Extraordinary Form on a regular basis?

And I don't mean offering the Mass of all Time once a year on a Wednesday afternoon.

I mean weekly. And on a Sunday.

That sorts out the wheat from the chaff.

Not too much wheat, I suspect.

Japanese knotweed, coming to a parish near you!

Few who live in Britain will be ignorant regarding the highly invasive and damaging Japanese knotweed.

A destructive force - Japanese Knotweed

But, for the sake of those fortunate enough to live in countries where this weed has not spread its roots, let me give an account of its emergence as Britain's number one horticultural enemy.

It was brought to Britain probably on the return journey made by the same woolly minded souls that took wild rabbits to Australia and released them into an environment so bountiful that their already advanced reproductive mechanisms went into overdrive.

For a while the 'weed' was admired in the gardens of the great and good until it showed its true nature by smothering all other flora and fauna by its leafy greediness and by moving out of the gardens of the stately homes and into the highways and byways of the country.

Its root system is so strong and pernicious that a mere fragment left in the ground will thrust through any concrete base laid over it.

Impervious to weedkillers and professional herbicides it advances unseen at the rate of knots (sorry) until is too late.

It attacks from all angles and causes millions of pounds worth of damage to building foundations; indeed, it is capable of reducing a house to rubble.

So it is with the group calling themselves 'ACTA' - A Call to Action'.

From their website it almost appears as if they are a quite attractive positive force aiming to enhance the development of the Faith by harnessing laity and clergy in a drive to support change.

But, in fact, the roots of ACTA are seemingly busy worming away into the hearts of parishes before revealing their true aims, women priests, married clergy, homosexual marriage, concurrence with contraception and, who knows....abortion?

In short, from a seemingly harmless group, a network of dissent and disaffection emerges and all regard for doctrinal truth goes out the window.

If left to their own devices they are capable of smothering all in their path unless, of course, the Bishops of England and Wales act to halt their advance.

But then, most of those appear to support ACTA's agenda.

We live in interesting times.

 

To let.......one tomb....

....vacant possession

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKSe9PE002o

De Profundis Clamavi
 

Have pity, my one love and sole delight!
Down to a dark abyss my heart has sounded,

 A mournful world, by grey horizons bounded,
Where blasphemy and horror swim by night.

For half the year a heatless sun gives light,
The other half the night obscures the earth.
The arctic regions never knew such dearth.
No woods, nor streams, nor creatures meet the sight.

No horror in the world could match in dread
The cruelty of that dire sun of frost,
And that huge night like primal chaos spread.

I envy creatures of the vilest kind
That they in stupid slumber can be lost —
So slowly does the skein of time unwind!

 

 

In memory of Catholic poet, Roy Campbell who was tragically killed in a car accident  Easter 1957

 

The greatest Catholic poet of the latter half of the 20th century

 

May he find peace with Christ and His Angels - RIP



Wa Habibi.....

....My Beloved


Pray for all Christians persecuted for their Faith, especially those in Syria and all parts of the Middle East

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOGUVmgLX1M

Withdrawing for Holy Week

I shall not be blogging now until after Easter Sunday.

I wish you all a holy and joyful Easter.

Christ in the tomb - Church of The Sacred Heart, Morriston, Swansea


Mass on Easter Sunday at 3pm at The Sacred Heart

What's a church for?

There is only one presentation that should take place here

Photo: Fr Julian Large


Silly question. Or, is it?

The Anglican Church has long been active in arranging all sorts of activities in their churches.

Flower Shows, Painting Exhibitions, Festivals of every shape and size and.....choral or musical recitals.

I hold hard to the view that churches, at least, Catholic ones, should be used for the worship of Almighty God.

Laughable isn't it?  Fancy going to church to go down on your knees and pray for forgiveness....we all know that no one actually sins any more. Hmm.

I recall the late Stella Hook telling me of her experience in Westminster Cathedral back in the 1980s.
She had called in precisely to go down on her knees and spend a few minutes with the Lord but, lo, she arrived to find the main aisle covered in flower petals.

The Cathedral was having a Flower Festival!

Stella was never one to mince words and so, when she found the late Cardinal Basil Hume standing at her elbow she turned to him and said: "You have turned God's house into a florist's shop"

The Cardinal's response is not on record.

But, it seems, that the concept of having a show of some kind is catching on more and more in Catholic parishes.

Arundel Cathedral has a famous flower festival and LMS Chairman reports on a recent recital of Ian Wilson's 'Stations' that took place in St George's Catholic Cathedral in Southwark.

It matters not to me that the aim or content of a performance is religious in context, I just dislike the thought of an audience sitting down to watch and listen when the prime purpose of the building is for the celebration of Holy Mass, the EF Mass, that is.

When the audience members wander in to take their pew seats do they bow to the tabernacle (assuming that they can see it)? This is, of course, presuming that the Blessed Sacrament was not present.

I suspect not.

Do they then speak in hushed tones both before and after the performance? Again, I think it highly unlikely.

Now I do appreciate that this cements the fact that I am a curmudgeon of the lowest order, but, so be it.

In fact, I have taken to wearing a 'curmudgeon' sign around my neck.
 All I need now is a bell to ring as I make my way through the townships.

If the Holy Father wishes to demonstrate humility on Maundy Thursday.....

....he could wash the feet of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate.



Ready and waiting....but not holding their breath

Photo: Air Maria

 

Palm Sunday - a Mass for you!

Irish pilgrims en route to Chartres (Photo: Irish Pilgrimage Blog)

In Menevia we have a group of people who have come together, under the guidance of the priest whom Bishop Burns has appointed as Co-ordinator for the EF Mass, to aid the development of the Latin Mass in the Diocese.

The group is known as The Confraternity of the Holy Cross and, some months ago, the members of this group set about raising funds to support our young people so that they could join the Chartres 2014 Pilgrimage.

We raised money, thanks to many of you, and we also sold many Latin Mass mugs for the cause.

And, if you were not one of the donors, then, I am sure that you will have remembered our cause in your prayers and for that we are profoundly grateful.

So, this Sunday's Latin Mass in Menevia will be offered up in thanksgiving for your generosity and for your personal intentions.

It will take place at The Church of the Sacred Heart, Morriston, Near Swansea at 3pm and The Newcastle Emlyn Schola will be there in full voice.

You may be pleased to learn that you raised a sum sufficient to send two of the Confraternity members to Chartres this year and you will be remembered in their prayers as they make their way from Notre Dame in Paris to Chartres Cathedral.

Thank you.

 

Dylan Thomas and the Catholic shed

The shed where Dylan Thomas found inspiration

The link between Dylan Thomas, whose centenary year this is, and the Catholic Faith is a tenuous one.

Dylan was the antithesis of all things Catholic.

 A drunkard, a man given to excesses and a man, if I remember correctly, with non conformist roots.

But, his poetry and writings displayed a fine understanding of his fellow Welshmen and women and his style must surely have been inspired by the poetry of Fr Gerard Manley Hopkins SJ.

Dylan did much of his writing in a shed. A shed that has been preserved today, on its original site, close to his boathouse home in Laugharne, West Wales.

And, because it is his centenary, some genius has come up with the idea of replicating the shed and putting it on a trailer and touring the country with it so that something of the character of the man may be seen and more people come to understand the inspiration that spawned such works as 'Fernhill' and 'Under Milkwood'.

A mobile shed.....or chapel?

The travelling shed is truly an inspired concept that will introduce the poet not just to his Welsh countrymen but also to the Sais (English) who are, I suspect, pretty much in ignorance regarding the man.

It occurred to me that if some enterprising Bishop (is that an oxymoron?) were to commission a small replica chapel to be constructed on the back of a trailer, and take it to the town squares and village greens, it would give many a chance to grasp something of the reverence and beauty that exists in the houses of God.

It might cause people who have never entered a church to experience something of the peace and awe that such places inspire.

It might, even, cause one or two to delve deeper into the original Faith of Wales and England and, possibly, to convert.

Can you imagine the scene?

A car towing a 'shed' pulls into a parking bay off the main town square and the rear doors are opened to reveal and altar decked out with a tabernacle, flowers and candles and a sanctuary lamp (although the Blessed Sacrament would not be present).

That's all it would take.
A simple, plain unvarnished cameo of what lies behind what, to some, are forbidding church doors.

Just one thing; it would have to be an altar a la Forme Extraordinaire.

A Novus Ordo table would not inspire anyone.

Identify this building....

.....I mean, do you think it is a water tower?

Or, maybe the entrance to a retro seventies style art gallery?

Or, is it some biological research station?

Of course, it is none of those things, the clue lies in the cross on the cream wall; it is, in fact, a church.

But, not only is this building a church, it is the National Shrine of Wales - Our Lady of Cardigan, also known as Our Lady of the Taper.

Unbelievable!

How does this compare with, say, Walsingham?

That looks more...er, traditional (and Catholic)

Or, even, Holywell, in mid Wales.

The 'Lourdes' of Wales

No one, least of all the Bishops of Wales, seems to care one iota for their national shrine.

Of course, the cry will go up that the diocese is strapped for cash. 

OK bishop, that's the problem, now think of a solution.

Start a fighting fund to re-build a proper shrine on the banks of the River Teifi (where it historically belongs).

And find a Catholic architect who has an awareness of how early churches (tabernacles) were built in biblical times and, no, that does not mean we want a badger skin edifice in Cardigan, just one that is pleasing to the eye (and Our Lady).

Finally, spend some money, quite a bit, in fact, on commissioning Catholic artists such as James Gillick and his twin sculptor brother, Theodore.

Ten points that a Bishop should be focusing on

We need more croziers and fewer crooks

I cannot think of any organisation or industry where the shareholders or members would put up with 50 years of sloppy management, lack of leadership, wrong directives and generally off beam initiatives.

Yet, we in the Catholic Church are as silent as.... as.....lambs.

Because we try to hold hard to aspects of Christ's teachings we turn the other cheek.

But, Our Lord did not say: "Look the other way".

He, I trust, would not wish us to sit on our hands while babies are aborted, our children fed the poison of the homosexual, politically correct lobby and His authority ignored or distorted.

So here, is my contribution to the basic requirements that a Bishop should demonstrate in carrying out his role:-

1. Spread the Gospel and teachings of Jesus Christ to all in his diocese - not just Catholics.

2. Recognise the authority of the Vicar of Christ and abide by his guidance and commands - that means not only the current Holy Father but his predecessors also.

3. Manage the affairs of his diocese efficiently and direct and paternally guide his priests.

4. Ensure that Catholic Schools are of a high standard and that the RE programmes are rigorous and inspiring.

5. Oppose all political or social moves that go against the Catholic understanding of Faith or Morals - that means not allowing Catholic children to be adopted or fostered by homosexuals.

6. Lead the main prayer and vigil groups opposing abortion on every possible occasion.

7. Fight to make certain that the country's seminaries are free of homosexual influence and the modernism is not allowed to dictate the admissions procedure or syllabus.

8. Visit all parishes in his diocese regularly and administer the Sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Orders.

9. Encourage pilgrimages and the development of any shrines in his diocese.

10. Spend a number of weeks each year acting as a parish priest in various of his parishes.

"I met the Queen of England and all I got was......

....a bottle of 12 year old malt whisky, a haunch of venison, a jar of quince jelly, some chutney, a bottle of beer, a tin of shortbread biscuits and a jar of honey"

Any suggestions for a caption?

Poor Pope Francis. Here he is trying to be humble and unworldly and, bingo, in pops the Queen accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh who immediately goes into his Greek salesman pitch appearing to ask the Holy Father how much he is prepared to pay for a bottle of the 'O be joyful'.

I can think of more appropriate gifts for the Vicar of Christ than a Co-op hamper.

Westminster Abbey would have been nice. No need to gift wrap it Your Majesty.

And,  reports indicate that Pope Francis will give the hamper to the poor of Rome. 

Enjoy! As they say rather annoyingly.

Are you armed?

I mean with a rosary?

And not just one rosary. It is a good practice to have several on hand to give away to those who are in need, Catholic or non Catholic, Christian or non Christian.

The effect of a gift of a rosary on, say, a dying person can be dramatic.

I have known of people who, with little or no faith, have been drawn closer to God as a result of receiving the gift of a rosary.

It is a symbol of mystery, it is something to wonder at.

Above all else it may be the key to Heaven's gates for them.

A group of traditional Catholics (I think, parishioners of St Bede's, Clapham Park) in their spare time stand outside London Underground stations giving away rosaries to those who, perhaps, have no faith.

They would appreciate cash or rosaries to support them in their mission.

One of them, Graham Moorhouse, publishes an online magazine called Le Tocsin.

You may subscribe (free) to the magazine HERE or, forward cash or rosaries (or just offer up a rosary or two on their behalf).

Brave souls. We need more like them.

Ode to Spring

ACTA conference ahead

Oh, to be in Southwark

Now that ACTA’s there,

And if anyone’s awake in Southwark

Do they know, and do they care?

That the framework of the Church

Is in danger, in the lurch?

 And after April when May begins,

Will we lose sight of all our sins?

Will women priests and inclusivity

Drive us down towards iniquity?

Hark where the Bishops meet and gather

Do you hear the endless blather?

 In Bulinga Fen and Eccleston Square

Where magic circles have their lair

 All will be rapture in the spring

And crows warble and magpies sing

The sunlight shines and boldly glimmers
Upon the serried ranks of zimmers

The endless chattering sound of dentures
  ACTA types on their adventures.

Apologies to Robert Browning

Always be kind to your estate workers

St David's Cathedral in the far flung corner of west Pembrokeshire, used to be a Catholic church.

No longer.

But, among the remnants of the sarcophagi desecrated by Henry VIII's men, there have sprung up some relatively new Protestant counterparts.

The most notable of these is to be found in the south east end (top right hand) corner of the cathedral.

Here is the chapel of St Edward the Confessor, dedicated to the memory of the Countess of Maidstone, daughter of one Bishop Jenkinson who died in the early 20th century.

She was, according to the present Bishop, J.Wyn-Evans, something of a harridan.

So much so that she led her estate workers a merry dance.

She was not pleasant. She was positively spiteful.

And the workers, being Welsh, took it in their stride but logged her nastiness at the back of their minds.

When the time came for the Countess to shuffle off her Protestant mortal coil, she was, according to the custom of the day, (and a bit of folding money) allocated the tiny chapel of St Edward to rest her mortal remains.

It was decked out in a white marble flecked with, how can I phrase this so as not to offend any maiden aunts looking in? - a sort of doggy brown.

There, does that conjure up the right image?

It is not to my taste, much as I like dogs.

It does not do to stand too near to it; it's rather like finding oneself standing rather too close to a Van Gogh (or, 'Van Go' as they say in the Colonies). Cough, cough (or, should that be 'co,co')? One feels a little bilious. A bit 'Uncle' as they would say in the East End of London.

So, after the dear woman's death, her estate workers, the stone masons among them, were commissioned to chisel out her effigy in brown flecked marble, for the sarcophagus. 

And, as was customary, the image of the dog belonging to the dead person was also carved at their feet.

 No one, it should be noted, ever had an effigy of a cat reproduced at their feet.

Let's leave it there.

So, the good old solid and patient Welsh masons went to their task stolidly and carved, out of the aforesaid, dog brown flecked marble, an image of their dear mistress, but....and it's a massive great but.....in the place of her dog's visage, they carved her face.

Bow, wow!

Revenge is a dish best eaten cold.

And there it remains to this day.

At death's door

Abandon all hope ye who enter here

Last week we joined the 40 Days for Life Cardiff group praying outside the BPAS abortuary in St Mary's Street.

We could not stay long, just one hour.

But we met a great team of people including AS from Splott, who was confined to a wheelchair yet still braved what seemed like sub zero temperatures in order to pray for abortion to end.
Thanks also to Clare who is the main organiser of the Cardiff Vigil.

By my reckoning there are still some 13 more days left to this vigil period so, if you haven't yet signed up for a session, please do so. I am sure that Almighty God grants special graces to those who pray.

The Cardiff site is HERE and the London one HERE