...which I rather enjoyed. I took some printing to be done, and the rain was just too savage for an immediate journey back, so I enjoyed a mug of coffee and the newspaper while water hurtled down outside the coffee-shop.
St Patrick's, Soho Square, about which I've been writing a feature for a magazine is having a Procession of the Blessed Sacrament through Soho on May 25th - contact the link I've just given for more details. This is a great Catholic tradition and there will be a number of such processions in various parts of Britain in May, but having something in the centre of London seems especially valuable and important...
Tomorrow is ASCENSION DAY and it is absolutely infuriating of our Bishops to have diminished it by announcing that it must be observed on Sunday instead!!
Ascension Day has been observed in our country for over a thousand years. It is a something shared by all Christians - a glorious statement of unity in our common faith. Because it has such a long tradition as a holiday, Elections have traditionally been held on this day. This gave rise to the tradition of always holding elections on a Thursday.
Why chuck this rich tradition, a link with our heritage, an opportunity for united witness?
Of course, like many others, I will be at Mass tomorrow. PLease be there, too. And drop a note to your Bishop pointing out gently that trying to move special feasts to the nearest Sunday has been a flop: WE WANT OUR FEAST-DAYS BACK.
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6 comments:
Who cares? Holy Days of obligation have become anachronisms and in the north of England there are not enough Catholic priests to say triplicated Masses in different churches. This was one of the main reasons why the rules were changed. Fewer priests, fewer Masses.
It really is disappointing that the days have been moved to Sundays, especially for those of us who have to work all day and would love an evening Mass to go to on a Feast Day. That's why the Holy Days of Obligations during the week were so good - it meant extra chances for Mass too for those who work full time. (Emily)
Anonymous -
There are the same number of priests on the three remaining Holy Days of Obligation (SS Peter and Paul, the Assumption and All Saints) as on the three that have been transferred (Epiphany, the Ascension and Corpus Christi). Is it really unreasonable to ask them to prioritise the celebration of Holy Mass over meetings, paperwork and other duties on three days of the year? Difficulties there may be, but we aren't talking penal times, after all.
I still struggle to understand the logic of moving the Ascension away from the fortieth day after the Resurrectionn.
What a lovely Mass you will have enjoyed at St Joseph's, New Malden, today. St Joseph the Worker is one of the parish's feasts of title. I hope it was kept with due solemnity.
What a lovely Mass you will have enjoyed at St Joseph's, New Malden, today. St Joseph the Worker is one of the parish's feasts of title. I hope it was kept with due solemnity.
Pattif - I agree.
1st anonymous - I have always understood it to be the FIRST duty of a Priest to offer the Sacrifice of the Mass.
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