Scotney Castle Trip Date. As I prefer weekdays I fix on Wednesday 26th August which I think fits in for the 3 people who indicated a desire to come. I will fix final details later and note travel arrangements with you. The trip IS OPEN to anyone else who wants to come if you kindly let me know by August 5th
This post does not mean I am going back on fully just yet. I am in Lourdes next week (Anyone like a petition sent over or would like any small souvenir then let me know directly on my E mail address michaelclifton@btinternet.com and I will do my best)
I have been looking at a few old blogs of others. I like the new layout for Damian Thompson. Ray Blake had a good post on the problems facing the Church recently. Particularly what the Holy Father intends to do about the interpretation of Vat 2. Incidentally, a point I made ages ago, the Pro Life movement in this country fails because it is broken up into too many organisations which sometimes seem to fight each other as much as the pro abortion lot.
I just may have time to get something on for July 11th but I go on retreat at Douai with Fr de Malleray from 13th July.
Wednesday, 1 July 2009
Friday, 19 June 2009
Scotney Castle Trip plus Bugnini plus Regret
Scotney Castle Trip. I can now suggest specific dates but I need to know exactly which dates are preferred. Delia wishes for Saturday, but it would be crowded and I dont care for motoring down there as there is always a big jam near Tonbridge which is unavoidable. However if most want a Saturday, then it will be so. Now the dates I propose are Saturday 22nd August (if it is to be a Saturday) or either Wednesdy 19th or 26th August. Please let me know soon if possible your preference as I have to make arrangements to get in to see the actual hiding hole.
Bugnini affair The comments are most interesting. I do not know whom Bugnini chose to help him but his personal claim was to have created a revolution in Liturgy. I think the specific thing which led to his resignation may have been that document I referred to in dealing with Lofty last week, Eucharistiae Sacramentum which in effect changed the rules for candles, genuflections and wording of Benediction ..all to the effect of weakening devotion. It is also possible that he could legitimately claim not to have been a freemason as the P2 lodge to which he is alleged to have belonged was not formally associated with the ordinary lodges with their weird introductory rituals. However it gave them secret influence in many spheres. Continue the argument. I like it.
Regrets I will be away for 3 of the next 5 weeks and I want a rest again from blogging so I will not issue posts but continue to deal with any comment even on new issues, and of course on Scotney Castle dates. So no posts as such until 21st July. Then I will decide if I can continue. It is getting difficult for me.
Bugnini affair The comments are most interesting. I do not know whom Bugnini chose to help him but his personal claim was to have created a revolution in Liturgy. I think the specific thing which led to his resignation may have been that document I referred to in dealing with Lofty last week, Eucharistiae Sacramentum which in effect changed the rules for candles, genuflections and wording of Benediction ..all to the effect of weakening devotion. It is also possible that he could legitimately claim not to have been a freemason as the P2 lodge to which he is alleged to have belonged was not formally associated with the ordinary lodges with their weird introductory rituals. However it gave them secret influence in many spheres. Continue the argument. I like it.
Regrets I will be away for 3 of the next 5 weeks and I want a rest again from blogging so I will not issue posts but continue to deal with any comment even on new issues, and of course on Scotney Castle dates. So no posts as such until 21st July. Then I will decide if I can continue. It is getting difficult for me.
Wednesday, 17 June 2009
Bugnini and Queen Mary Tudor
Archbishop Bugnini. In response to a comment by Big Benny I checked up several references to the Archbishop via Google including Wikipedia. Yes I read that Cardinal Oddi believe that the Archb. was not a freemason and later on the Vatican also denied he was a member. But the Vatican never gave a reason for his sudden dramatic transfer to Iran. His earlier History finds him assisting Pope Pius XII in the reform of the Holy Week Liturgy and the production of the 1962 Missal,(Last edition of the Old Rite). Getting appointed after the Council to be in charge of producing the new rite of Mass he is reported as saying on its production that This was a revolution.Indeed it was ! Of course the new rite can be said with great devotion and is naturally a valid form, but under his direction it led to a number of places where there were alternative possibilities in what the Priest says for instance. All the ceremonial regarding the care of the Sacred Vessells and cloths was removed and the way was clear through the introduction later of extra Eucharistic Prayers and the possiblity of further variations for Masses with children and youth etc, for the whole aspect and culture of the Mass to be destroyed by priests of a liberal bent. He was certainly listed as a member of P2 by Piers Compton as was his side kick Archbishop Vigilioe Noe who as the Cardinal in charge of St Peters was known to spy on priests saying Mass and even remove them during the Mass for daring to use the Old Rite ! Was Bugnini perhaps the cause of Pope Paul VI later saying The smoke of Satan has entered the Church. The reforms he introduced went far further than what Vat 2 really intended. I think he was certainly a Mason and his actions were quite deliberate..to destroy the liturgy. Was he even under Communist influence? Did you know that during the preparations for VAt 2 Cardinal Montini as he then was , was informed by Moscow that the only way in which Cardinals and Bishops from the occupied countries of Eastern Europe could attend the Council was if there was no reference whatever to Communism in the documents.
Mary Tudor. has gone down in history with a very bad name for burning Protestants. Eamonn Duffy has written a new Biograpy which sheds more light on the poor woman. She was nothing like the tyrant of history. Christopher Howse has written an article in last Saturday's Torygraph about Mary Tudor and this biography. Duffy does not try and play down the horror of burning but reminds us that burning Heretics was the law of the land (rather than hanging) from a 14th century ruling De Comburendo Haereticorum..and also that Henry VIII also burnt protestant heretics. Mary was deeply religious and thought she was doing the right thing by eliminating those people who defied the Church's doctrine. We dont accept that today of course but we can remember that it was Mary who enlarage the tomb of St EDward the Confessor in Westminster Abbey to the extent we see it today. Cardinal Pole, the last genuine Archbishop of Canterbury, is sometimes portrayed as being against burnings, but Prof Duffy points out that in fact he always tried to argue and persuade those accused before proceding to burnings.
Nor is it true that CARdinal Pole did little to encourage preaching the Gospel. Indeed he did the very opposite. The book is Fires of Faith, Yale, £19.99 and should be readily available from Catholic booksellers.
No post on Thursday. Hopefully Friday.
Mary Tudor. has gone down in history with a very bad name for burning Protestants. Eamonn Duffy has written a new Biograpy which sheds more light on the poor woman. She was nothing like the tyrant of history. Christopher Howse has written an article in last Saturday's Torygraph about Mary Tudor and this biography. Duffy does not try and play down the horror of burning but reminds us that burning Heretics was the law of the land (rather than hanging) from a 14th century ruling De Comburendo Haereticorum..and also that Henry VIII also burnt protestant heretics. Mary was deeply religious and thought she was doing the right thing by eliminating those people who defied the Church's doctrine. We dont accept that today of course but we can remember that it was Mary who enlarage the tomb of St EDward the Confessor in Westminster Abbey to the extent we see it today. Cardinal Pole, the last genuine Archbishop of Canterbury, is sometimes portrayed as being against burnings, but Prof Duffy points out that in fact he always tried to argue and persuade those accused before proceding to burnings.
Nor is it true that CARdinal Pole did little to encourage preaching the Gospel. Indeed he did the very opposite. The book is Fires of Faith, Yale, £19.99 and should be readily available from Catholic booksellers.
No post on Thursday. Hopefully Friday.
Tuesday, 16 June 2009
Calvin and Catholicism and West Country Faith
These titles refer to articles in the PILL.
Calvin and the Faith. This is a book review of a work entitled John Calvin and Catholicism;critique and engagement then and now. Randall Zachman Ed. Baker Academic 224p £14.99 a collection of 8 essays on the relationship. There is no attempt to portray Calvin himself as anything but inimical to the Faith. We know that in Geneva his HQ various edicts were imposed forbidding travellers from importing Catholic ideas and forbidding citizens from travelling to Catholic Areas. But Catholics eventually turned the pressure on the town. Although St Francis of Sales was unable to reside in Geneva because of the regulations (he lived at Annecy) he did visit the town and some Capuchin Friars led by one Cherubin de Maurienne went in for flamboyant disputations with Calvinists there whllst Catholic ideas were still found outside the main city and in the parts of the Dutch Republic controlled by Calvinists. One writer points out that as time went on Calvin himself revised slightly his original hostility to Catholic Sacramental #Theology and accepted the laying on hands for ministers. The authors would suggest that St Peter Canisius words might be in need of revision Luther I do not know, Calvin I spit out. I say anathema to all heretics. Mind you even today I cannot stand Geneva as a town nor the equally Calvinistic town of Lausanne.
The only thing good about them is the lake they stand on !
West Country Ango Catholicism. The writer Andrew Collier contributes an article on the remnants of Catholicism found in the West Country forms of anglo Catholicism. In the reign of Edward VI there was the great WEstern Rising against the imposition of the Cranmer Prayer Book, but being so far from London meant that old habits died hard. In particular in Cornwall the practice of praying to Saints and making offerings to them can still be noted. There are many dedications to strange Cornish Saints. St Nonna, St Enodoc, St Winnow, St Endelienta etc. One WEst Country Saint, St Wite (also known as St Candida) gives her name to the village of Whitchurch Canonicorum on the Dorset Devon border. The interior is fine and the glass the colour of Lapis Lazuli. Inside there are tombs of Robin Day and the murdered Bulgarian Dissident, Georgi Markov (who got a dose of Ricin from an umbrella whilst walking over Waterloo Bridge years ago in the Cold War). It also contains a shrine to St Vite with a shrine shaped like an altar with three oval holes originally designed for pilgrims to insert their limbs in the hope of a cure and today will often be filled with votive offerings. A devotee of Cornwall was of course John Betjeman who penned these lines about pre reformation liturgy.
Under the Travers Baroque in a limewashed whiteness
The fiddle back vestments a glitter with morning rays
Our Ladys image in multiple brightness
The bells and banners - those were waking days
When Faith was taught and fanned a golden blaze.
Collier points out that the rise of Methodism nearly killed off Anglo Catholicism though it has partially arisen again with devotion to St Piran and holy wells.
However ~Rev Davage preaching a sermon on Betjeman lamented a decline in faith with the rise of women priests and now Bishops, etc. He claims that even where the Anglo Catholics have a "high mass" it may not always be spiritual but rather theatrics above theology, salvation by haberdashery.
Note The document about laicisation is a lengthy one incapable of easy digestion by the non canonist and still being reviewed for correct transmission outside the uncritical and incorrect eyes of the Catholic Media. It does make some difference especially with regard to priests in concubinage but matters still rest with Rome in the long run and priests always the right of appeal.
On Schools, In general governing bodies have control over what is taught in religion classes but regrettably the State insists that sex education should start in primary schools. A clash seems inevitable (or a capitulation ??)
Calvin and the Faith. This is a book review of a work entitled John Calvin and Catholicism;critique and engagement then and now. Randall Zachman Ed. Baker Academic 224p £14.99 a collection of 8 essays on the relationship. There is no attempt to portray Calvin himself as anything but inimical to the Faith. We know that in Geneva his HQ various edicts were imposed forbidding travellers from importing Catholic ideas and forbidding citizens from travelling to Catholic Areas. But Catholics eventually turned the pressure on the town. Although St Francis of Sales was unable to reside in Geneva because of the regulations (he lived at Annecy) he did visit the town and some Capuchin Friars led by one Cherubin de Maurienne went in for flamboyant disputations with Calvinists there whllst Catholic ideas were still found outside the main city and in the parts of the Dutch Republic controlled by Calvinists. One writer points out that as time went on Calvin himself revised slightly his original hostility to Catholic Sacramental #Theology and accepted the laying on hands for ministers. The authors would suggest that St Peter Canisius words might be in need of revision Luther I do not know, Calvin I spit out. I say anathema to all heretics. Mind you even today I cannot stand Geneva as a town nor the equally Calvinistic town of Lausanne.
The only thing good about them is the lake they stand on !
West Country Ango Catholicism. The writer Andrew Collier contributes an article on the remnants of Catholicism found in the West Country forms of anglo Catholicism. In the reign of Edward VI there was the great WEstern Rising against the imposition of the Cranmer Prayer Book, but being so far from London meant that old habits died hard. In particular in Cornwall the practice of praying to Saints and making offerings to them can still be noted. There are many dedications to strange Cornish Saints. St Nonna, St Enodoc, St Winnow, St Endelienta etc. One WEst Country Saint, St Wite (also known as St Candida) gives her name to the village of Whitchurch Canonicorum on the Dorset Devon border. The interior is fine and the glass the colour of Lapis Lazuli. Inside there are tombs of Robin Day and the murdered Bulgarian Dissident, Georgi Markov (who got a dose of Ricin from an umbrella whilst walking over Waterloo Bridge years ago in the Cold War). It also contains a shrine to St Vite with a shrine shaped like an altar with three oval holes originally designed for pilgrims to insert their limbs in the hope of a cure and today will often be filled with votive offerings. A devotee of Cornwall was of course John Betjeman who penned these lines about pre reformation liturgy.
Under the Travers Baroque in a limewashed whiteness
The fiddle back vestments a glitter with morning rays
Our Ladys image in multiple brightness
The bells and banners - those were waking days
When Faith was taught and fanned a golden blaze.
Collier points out that the rise of Methodism nearly killed off Anglo Catholicism though it has partially arisen again with devotion to St Piran and holy wells.
However ~Rev Davage preaching a sermon on Betjeman lamented a decline in faith with the rise of women priests and now Bishops, etc. He claims that even where the Anglo Catholics have a "high mass" it may not always be spiritual but rather theatrics above theology, salvation by haberdashery.
Note The document about laicisation is a lengthy one incapable of easy digestion by the non canonist and still being reviewed for correct transmission outside the uncritical and incorrect eyes of the Catholic Media. It does make some difference especially with regard to priests in concubinage but matters still rest with Rome in the long run and priests always the right of appeal.
On Schools, In general governing bodies have control over what is taught in religion classes but regrettably the State insists that sex education should start in primary schools. A clash seems inevitable (or a capitulation ??)
Monday, 15 June 2009
Varia
LAICISATION POWERS. Fr Steven Fisher who is a canonist tells me that I am mistaken in my report about Bishops being given more powers. I shall ask him to explain exactly what the changes mean as I have no access to the document he quotes. supplementary note Modified at 11.00am Please see Fr Fisher's Comment to my post yesterday. I will add to this tomorrow. He is right.
Visit to Scotney Castle. I am proposing a visit with picnic to Scotney Castle in Kent about which I blogged last year. In order to accomodate teachers this will be in August, probably the latter half. The Castle is open from Wednesday until Sunday each week and I should like to know if weekdays (not Suns) or Saturdays would be best for readers. Access without car is by rail to Tunbridge Wells and direct bus to the Castle grounds. It is also possible for me to pick up some of you either at Richmond and or Surbiton Stations or at Wadhurst station which is close to Scotney. I dont know if there are taxes at Wadhurst and T.Wells is likely to be too expensive for a taxi ride. I would like a good group.
Talk by Fr. de Malleray on Saturday at the V and A on Medieval Chalices and Silverware was very good. I learnt a lot. I did not realise that today chalices no longer have to be consecrated by a Bishop. They are just merely blessed like any other object could be (except it is a special blessing) This seems a pity as our guide told us because it showed the extreme importance of the Chalice as being the object containing the wine which would be consecrated at Mass. He deplored the modern usage of chalices of less precious metals. (Glass chalices are still forbidden). With regard to the Ciborium he showed that many early examples were in the shape of an apple to indicate the link with creation and the fall. The apple that caused the trouble is now transformed into the golden apple which contains the Sacred Host, now the food of divine life instead of ordinary food.
He showed a Monstrance which was supported in design by a Pelican reminding us of St.Thomas Aquinas words. The Pelican was a symbol of the Eucharist because not only does the bird feed its young directly from its bill but it was often thought that the young would actually eat a little of the flesh thus symbolising directly feeding of ourselves from the source of life. He showed us reliquaries that regrettably were still containing relics and pointed out that it was a disgrace that such objects were on public display. He also reminded us that to sell objects used in Divine Worship was also wrong particularly chalices which lose their consecration if put to secular usuage. I told our group that Fr Dickie of Wesminster and myself had once joined forces to buy relics that were being offered for auction at Bonhams to save them falling into the wrong hands.
Spanish Church under more threat. Christopher Howse writing in the PILL told of the recent introduction of what they call "Lay Baptism" which had wide publicity owing to the celebrity status of the parents while the "officiator" was a colourful socialist Madrid Councillor, who had been the very one to mastermind their new law on same sex marriages. Some disgraceful cartoons were provided and in one the officiator pours a bottle of champagne over the babies head. whilst another paper laments that perhaps the state now wants to be called the "Daddy God" state.
Visit to Scotney Castle. I am proposing a visit with picnic to Scotney Castle in Kent about which I blogged last year. In order to accomodate teachers this will be in August, probably the latter half. The Castle is open from Wednesday until Sunday each week and I should like to know if weekdays (not Suns) or Saturdays would be best for readers. Access without car is by rail to Tunbridge Wells and direct bus to the Castle grounds. It is also possible for me to pick up some of you either at Richmond and or Surbiton Stations or at Wadhurst station which is close to Scotney. I dont know if there are taxes at Wadhurst and T.Wells is likely to be too expensive for a taxi ride. I would like a good group.
Talk by Fr. de Malleray on Saturday at the V and A on Medieval Chalices and Silverware was very good. I learnt a lot. I did not realise that today chalices no longer have to be consecrated by a Bishop. They are just merely blessed like any other object could be (except it is a special blessing) This seems a pity as our guide told us because it showed the extreme importance of the Chalice as being the object containing the wine which would be consecrated at Mass. He deplored the modern usage of chalices of less precious metals. (Glass chalices are still forbidden). With regard to the Ciborium he showed that many early examples were in the shape of an apple to indicate the link with creation and the fall. The apple that caused the trouble is now transformed into the golden apple which contains the Sacred Host, now the food of divine life instead of ordinary food.
He showed a Monstrance which was supported in design by a Pelican reminding us of St.Thomas Aquinas words. The Pelican was a symbol of the Eucharist because not only does the bird feed its young directly from its bill but it was often thought that the young would actually eat a little of the flesh thus symbolising directly feeding of ourselves from the source of life. He showed us reliquaries that regrettably were still containing relics and pointed out that it was a disgrace that such objects were on public display. He also reminded us that to sell objects used in Divine Worship was also wrong particularly chalices which lose their consecration if put to secular usuage. I told our group that Fr Dickie of Wesminster and myself had once joined forces to buy relics that were being offered for auction at Bonhams to save them falling into the wrong hands.
Spanish Church under more threat. Christopher Howse writing in the PILL told of the recent introduction of what they call "Lay Baptism" which had wide publicity owing to the celebrity status of the parents while the "officiator" was a colourful socialist Madrid Councillor, who had been the very one to mastermind their new law on same sex marriages. Some disgraceful cartoons were provided and in one the officiator pours a bottle of champagne over the babies head. whilst another paper laments that perhaps the state now wants to be called the "Daddy God" state.
Sunday, 14 June 2009
Some thoughts on Communion under both kinds pluse further Press notes
Communion under both kinds. These thoughts are prompted by the recent Lofty article plus some of the comments I have received in the last two days. Thank you for the comments even if I disagree as I do with Anonymous yesterday. First the absolute essential point to remember is that the Holy Mass is a Sacrifice and Religious Sacrifice always involves the death and consumption of the Victim. The Mass presents again the Sacrifice of Christ on the Cross and its prefigurement at the Last Supper. At Holy Mass as then Christ is both Priest and Victim. The Priest acting in the person of Christ has to complete the Sacrifice by Consuming the Host and taking the Precious Blood. That is essential at Mass. The distribution the Body and Blood of Christ to the faithful can in fact be done by either the Host or the Precious Blood to obtain the full grace as Christ is present under either Kind alone. To receive from the Chalice as well as the Host adds nothing at all in the way of Divine Grace but may be said to increase the symbolism. However it was rarely used until recently for the laity because of the real risks of abuse. Furthermore when Luther introduced the custom into his replacement for Mass, he was definitely showing that he regarded the service as only a Sacrificial Meal without Real Presence as we understand it and of course without the actual Sacrifice of Christ. Modern theologians of a liberal tendency are trying to promote the Mass again as merely a Sacrifical Meal and speak only of the "heavenly Banquet". Now there is nothing wrong with those words if properly understood, indeed you find them in St.Thomas Aquinas "O Sacrum Convivium in quo Christus Sumitur".
However this is at it were a kind of advanced allegorical form. Clearly it is not a banquet in the way we normally use the word. A Banquet for us is a form of food eating necessary for the body while a HeavenlyBanquet is a way of describing Holy Communion as the way we receive food for the soul. But as I said above we do not need to take the Precious Blood to complete the Banquet in the Spiritual sense. I happen to know that Lofty is going to enlarge on his false theology on this very point next Friday so I take this opportunity soon after the feast of Corpus Christi to answer him in advance. Personally I do not like the practice and anyway I cannot take the chalice round to people owing to a wobble I have. The big risk lies in the fact that most people still talk of taking the wine without any real understanding of the Precious Blood, that I consider It should never be administered to children and worst of all there is no real way of judging how much is needed for the congregation and this leaves the Priest and the extraordinary ministers with the problem of consuming quite large quantities which I find abhorrent.
Press notices.First to any PILL readers, you can ignore that piece on the back about the Archbishop of Southwark and the 2nd collections. This distorts what he said and I notified their Curia to try and obtaini a correction next week.
A further note however in the Herald was rather disturbing in that it seems we have introduced a text for sex instructions at primary schools which gives diagrams of sexual organs. I do not have any real details about the texts so I cannot make any comments. It sounds very unfortunate to me.
New rules for Laicisation. Laicisation is the process whereby a Priest is reduced to the lay state and dispensed from his vows. This is usually given by Rome in response to requests by Bishops. However new rules allow the Bishop himself to laicise a priest. First case is that of a Priest who has left the ministry and have married or wish to marry, second case is that of priest who is openly living with a woman. (This is excellent as it stresses the importance of celibacy) and thirdly scandalous behaviour of a priest . This does not mean in regard to clerical sex abuse which is dealt with under special legislation. It does however refer for instancce to criminal behaviour, including monetary scandals.
Corpus Christi name. I see that in Rome city they use the new name and keep the feast on Sunday (today) whilst in the Vatican the name is "Corpus Domini" and the feast is kept on the correct day. We should petition our Bishops for a return to the correct days for this feast, Epiphany and Ascension Days.
Stream running round a Catholic Church....Yes it is True ! A letter in the PILL accompanied by a picture shows the interior of St Peters Church in Crownhil District of Plymouth. This has a stream running round the worshipping area and behind the Altar which is covered by glass and is sourced by a pipe runing up the lecturn and coming up at the top and running down the face of the lectern to a small open pool and ending up in a full immersion pool nearer the Altar. The architect writes he was inspired by a visit to shrine in Ireland where the old monks had to get to their chapel by boat. I must say I rather feel like hoping the PP will fall in some day. More Tomorrow
The name for the feast of Corpus Christi.
However this is at it were a kind of advanced allegorical form. Clearly it is not a banquet in the way we normally use the word. A Banquet for us is a form of food eating necessary for the body while a HeavenlyBanquet is a way of describing Holy Communion as the way we receive food for the soul. But as I said above we do not need to take the Precious Blood to complete the Banquet in the Spiritual sense. I happen to know that Lofty is going to enlarge on his false theology on this very point next Friday so I take this opportunity soon after the feast of Corpus Christi to answer him in advance. Personally I do not like the practice and anyway I cannot take the chalice round to people owing to a wobble I have. The big risk lies in the fact that most people still talk of taking the wine without any real understanding of the Precious Blood, that I consider It should never be administered to children and worst of all there is no real way of judging how much is needed for the congregation and this leaves the Priest and the extraordinary ministers with the problem of consuming quite large quantities which I find abhorrent.
Press notices.First to any PILL readers, you can ignore that piece on the back about the Archbishop of Southwark and the 2nd collections. This distorts what he said and I notified their Curia to try and obtaini a correction next week.
A further note however in the Herald was rather disturbing in that it seems we have introduced a text for sex instructions at primary schools which gives diagrams of sexual organs. I do not have any real details about the texts so I cannot make any comments. It sounds very unfortunate to me.
New rules for Laicisation. Laicisation is the process whereby a Priest is reduced to the lay state and dispensed from his vows. This is usually given by Rome in response to requests by Bishops. However new rules allow the Bishop himself to laicise a priest. First case is that of a Priest who has left the ministry and have married or wish to marry, second case is that of priest who is openly living with a woman. (This is excellent as it stresses the importance of celibacy) and thirdly scandalous behaviour of a priest . This does not mean in regard to clerical sex abuse which is dealt with under special legislation. It does however refer for instancce to criminal behaviour, including monetary scandals.
Corpus Christi name. I see that in Rome city they use the new name and keep the feast on Sunday (today) whilst in the Vatican the name is "Corpus Domini" and the feast is kept on the correct day. We should petition our Bishops for a return to the correct days for this feast, Epiphany and Ascension Days.
Stream running round a Catholic Church....Yes it is True ! A letter in the PILL accompanied by a picture shows the interior of St Peters Church in Crownhil District of Plymouth. This has a stream running round the worshipping area and behind the Altar which is covered by glass and is sourced by a pipe runing up the lecturn and coming up at the top and running down the face of the lectern to a small open pool and ending up in a full immersion pool nearer the Altar. The architect writes he was inspired by a visit to shrine in Ireland where the old monks had to get to their chapel by boat. I must say I rather feel like hoping the PP will fall in some day. More Tomorrow
The name for the feast of Corpus Christi.
Friday, 12 June 2009
Lofty on Eucharistic devotion continued.Plus special prayer to encourage Perpetual Adoration in our churches.
Lofty continued on Eucharistic Devotion. Continuing where I left off yesterday our friend tells us that in 1973 as the Holy See "was still not content that sufficient precautions wer being taken to avoid any suggestion that exposition added something to the Mass rather than being derived from it and tubordinate to it" Rome decreed that the Double Genuflection before the monstrance was abolished whether in the Tabernacle or Exposed for public Adoration. (This from Eucharistiae Sacramentum no 84).I doubt if that was the reason but it was a strange decree and I follow a contrary custom on that one ! The decrees also said that there should only be 4 or 6 candles used, the same as at Mass. Even the 40 hours devotion did not escape the attention of the drafters of this dreadful decree. The rule whereby every Church had to have 40 hrs devotion every year was revoked and the decrees state that while it retains its value it needs to be updated in its form". Our liturgical pundit continues by saying "Clericalisation of the celebrtion of the Mass is insidious in the way it can cfreep in. Only when all the faithful feel their full and active participation is welcomed (it is after all their baptismal right) will they be able fully to appreciate the pre eminence of the dynamic Eucharist over the static Exposition. One wonders what sort of faith our pundit has ? He ends up by yet again encouraging Communion under both kinds and tells us that the new title for the Feast is not only a reminder of the pre eminence of the Mass but also a pointer to the subordination of the Eucharist to the Heavenly Banquet. Now to end up with I shall give you an excerpt from a wonderful prayer printed in this weeks Catholic Herald which is a complete antidote to this nonsense
Prayer to encourage Perpetual Adoration in our Churches.
Heavenly Father increase our faith in the Real Presence of your Son Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. We are obliged to adore Him, to give Him thanks and to make reparation for our sins. We need your peace in our hearts and among nations.We need conversion from our sins and the mercy of Your foregiveness. May we obtain this through prayer and our union with the Eucharistic Lord. Please send donw the Holy Spirit on all peoples to give the the love courage and straength to respond to the invitation to Eucharistic Adoration. We beseech you to spread Perpetual Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament in parishes around the world. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.Amen. Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament in parishes around the world to the glory of Your son through Perpetual Adoration.
Prayer to encourage Perpetual Adoration in our Churches.
Heavenly Father increase our faith in the Real Presence of your Son Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. We are obliged to adore Him, to give Him thanks and to make reparation for our sins. We need your peace in our hearts and among nations.We need conversion from our sins and the mercy of Your foregiveness. May we obtain this through prayer and our union with the Eucharistic Lord. Please send donw the Holy Spirit on all peoples to give the the love courage and straength to respond to the invitation to Eucharistic Adoration. We beseech you to spread Perpetual Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament in parishes around the world. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.Amen. Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament in parishes around the world to the glory of Your son through Perpetual Adoration.
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