A Mass for the New Year......and no less than 4 seminarians!

The EF Mass celebrated on New Year's Eve at the Church of the Sacred Heart, Morriston, near Swansea, was attended by a congregation of around 30 including four young men in the throes of their vocational training (not NVQs) for the priesthood.

An Apple at Benediction? So sensible!

And, what is more, they came from three continents!

During Benediction after Mass, another member of the congregation, a priest from Argentina, was seen busily consulting his mobile.

Tut! tut! one could not help but think (actually, I did not notice him, this information was passed to me afterwards, just in case any nasty comments were being pointed in my direction)..................
.......but, in fact, he was looking up the words to the hymns on his iPhone.

Great!
Much better than thumbing through massive hymn books full of  classics such as "I wish I was a wriggly worm" and, of course, the dreaded, "SJS"

What's an iPhone?

Old but good - my version of 'Shine Jesus, shine'

For some obscure reason I found myself singing this beautiful hymn this morning and, much to my surprise then found that the excellent blogger Laodicea had posted the words. It is a great hymn that encapsulates all that we believe regarding receiving the Body of Christ at Holy Communion or worshipping Him at Benediction.

See also, Fr Z's post on Cardinal Canizares Llovera's sermon on how we should receive the Sacrament - kneeling and on the tongue!

I could only find this sung version of the hymn on Youtube, it is a little lacking in oomph and numbers and, what is more, the antics of the altar servers are most off-putting as they prepare the altar for Benediction, strolling on and off, arms by their sides and only the occasional genuflection.

But, it's still a beautiful hymn! -

O Jesus Christ remember when Thou shalt come again.......

Needs to be sung sans piano and with a bit more verve and gusto!

Can a priest say: "I don't do Benediction?"

I know, of course, that many priests say: "I can't do a Latin Mass" which always strikes me as rather feeble; like a tennis player stating that he can't do drop shots or a golfer stating that he only plays on a nine hole course.

"I told you - I don't do drop shots"

But Benediction! Isn't that one of the most perfect ways in which we can adore our God? Why is it not made available more freely? Is it because there is an element of Latin to it? Is it a tad too triumphalist?.....too devote perhaps? or, is it that it recognises transubstantiation in a way that troubles some priests. I hope that I am wrong but it is puzzling that this most beautiful of services is rarely found.
A quick survey of Menevia Diocese shows that, out of 37* or so parish churches, only 7 offer Benediction (and then, in some instances it's only once a month). Pretty shocking by any standard.
*Based on parish website information.
Quite a few do feature Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament but for some obscure reason, that seems to take place at 9.30am on Wednesday mornings. I bet there's a full  house for that!

Procession and Benediction
- is it a bit too holy?

Benediction offers such great opportunities to involve the whole parish.

In May there's potential for the Processions in honour of Our Lady, where the Blessed Sacrament is taken on a tour of the surrounding streets preceeded by young girls with baskets of petals to strew in the path of Our Lord. What imagery it conjures up and what reverence and belief it instils.
All of the parish groups play a part, the KSC, SVP, Legion of Mary and so on; it offers them a chance to recruit new members also.
And then there is Corpus Christi - a chance to take Our Lord even further afield (if anyone has the courage these days).
Of course, the prime purpose is the adoration and worship of Almighty God but Benediction also has so many graces and benefits for those who attend.

I am sure it must appear as if this blog is all about complaints, and that is largely true. I wish it were not so, but the laity in England and Wales are really being given short shrift when it comes to receiving the richness and fullness of our Faith.
Of course, when a priest or Bishop says that there is no demand for it you know what to do don't you?