...late last night, a phone call from the BBC, following reports of the H. Father's comments about the significance of being male and female, and why it is wrong to attempt to claim that these are merely artificial constructs...
...and so, v. early this morning, off to the Today Programme to discuss this, along with Cristian Odone. I felt we had a fair and useful discussion. Actually, this whole issue - why there are two sexes, and the human and spiritual meaning in this - is surely a most significant one for today and tomorrow. There are rich insights that have a message about God, and the Bride/Bridegroom relationship between Christ and the Church...
...and finding myself in London I went to Westminster Cathedral, and went to confession for Advent...there was a pleasing air of getting-ready-for-Christmas about the place, with the Crib awaiting the Christ-child in a side chapel, adorned with greenery...
...a quick pause with a newspaper and some coffee, and then shopping for final-groceries-for-Christmas and on home...where there was another phone call, this time for a TV news channel. Off again to another studio. This didn't go so well. I am sure I looked and sounded cross and disagreeable, and it is very difficult not to look a bit surprised when the interviewer says "but what has having children go to do with sexuality?" I gulped...er...surely there's a very intimate connection? I mean, that's how babies are created? I found myself saying "Didn't your mother explain things to you?" and then wished I hadn't said it, as she looked very steely indeed.
Home, and a rush of getting things done. We raised a good lot of money carol-singing again last night, this time at Victoria Station. It's going to worthwhile charities here that care especially for mothers facing problem pregnancies.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
To those who are intrigued by...
...the Calendar, and how we got it, the Pope's talk today (winter solstice), is of interest. Among other things, he noted that "The occurrence of the feast of the Nativity itself is linked to the winter solstice, when in the northern hemisphere, the days start to lengthen.
In this respect, perhaps not everyone knows that there is a great meridian on St. Peter's Square. In fact, the Obelisk casts its shadow along a line that follows the pavement towards the fountain beneath this window, and these days, is the longest that it casts during the year.
This reminds us of the function of astronomy in marking the times of prayer. For instance, the Angelus is recited in the morning, at midday and in the evening, and clocks and watches are timed to the meridian which in the past served precisely to determine the 'true midday'."
In this respect, perhaps not everyone knows that there is a great meridian on St. Peter's Square. In fact, the Obelisk casts its shadow along a line that follows the pavement towards the fountain beneath this window, and these days, is the longest that it casts during the year.
This reminds us of the function of astronomy in marking the times of prayer. For instance, the Angelus is recited in the morning, at midday and in the evening, and clocks and watches are timed to the meridian which in the past served precisely to determine the 'true midday'."
Friday, December 19, 2008
Carol singing...
...at Victoria Station. We were only a small group, mostly male, and rather elderly - but we had a lady with an accordion, and a good conductor, so we did rather well. Among the crowds surging past I suddenly spotted fellow-blogger Damian Thompson. I caught his eye and, grinning, he dutifully made a donation and gave us a cheery wave. I bet he doesn't mention us on his Blog...
We had lots of good reactions. One nice lady popped into Smiths and emerged with a box of chocolates for us! Some young girls, giggling, joined us for a few moments, grabbing hymn-books with enthusiasm...but only for long enough for a friend to take their pictures on her mobile phone, amid more giggles...almost everyone who had children with them stopped to let the children enjoy the carols and gave the children coins to drop into our bucket...another chap, with a fine singing voice, joined us for two or three carols and was a real asset, we were sorry when he had to go to get his train.
It was cold, and got a bit tiring after two hours' solid singing, but was most worthwhile, and I wouldn't have missed it for the world. When we had finished a last rendition of "Adeste Fideles", and "We wish you a merry Christmas", we passed round the chocs and hugely enjoyed them. Christine, the conductor, gave the rest of the box to me, so on the train going home, I announced in the carriage that I'd been with a group singing carols, and that we'd been given these sweets, and would anyone like one, and the box went round and people grinned and enjoyed them, and said nice things like "Merry Christmas"...now, why can't life be like that more often?
We had lots of good reactions. One nice lady popped into Smiths and emerged with a box of chocolates for us! Some young girls, giggling, joined us for a few moments, grabbing hymn-books with enthusiasm...but only for long enough for a friend to take their pictures on her mobile phone, amid more giggles...almost everyone who had children with them stopped to let the children enjoy the carols and gave the children coins to drop into our bucket...another chap, with a fine singing voice, joined us for two or three carols and was a real asset, we were sorry when he had to go to get his train.
It was cold, and got a bit tiring after two hours' solid singing, but was most worthwhile, and I wouldn't have missed it for the world. When we had finished a last rendition of "Adeste Fideles", and "We wish you a merry Christmas", we passed round the chocs and hugely enjoyed them. Christine, the conductor, gave the rest of the box to me, so on the train going home, I announced in the carriage that I'd been with a group singing carols, and that we'd been given these sweets, and would anyone like one, and the box went round and people grinned and enjoyed them, and said nice things like "Merry Christmas"...now, why can't life be like that more often?
Things to gladden the heart...
...at Christmas...a godchild sending by post in a jiffy-bag a carefully packed star and angel made from clay in a pottery project at school (star now hanging over our crib)...a small girl carefully hanging a tiny torch from the Christmas tree so that its beam lights up the Christ-child in the crib ...a primary school organising a tea party and carols for local elderly people (if they knew what great joy it gave their hearts would glow)...a Salvation Army band in traditinal uniform playing carols with gusto...
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Monday, December 15, 2008
Cold weather...
...Christmas cards, candles glowing on the Advent wreath as I scribble news and send love. Darkness by four o'clock, and hurrying to get shopping done. The local High Streets have a strange feel about them as Woolworths is closing. It's been such a part of British life for so long that it seems somehow shocking to see it stripped bare, with "BARGAINS!! 50 per cent off!!!" shrieking from posters, and everything in a mess.
There is a sense of rush as I have a lot of work to tackle before Christmas (new book out in 2009 - more on this later) and so does everyone else. And Christmas brings a sense of time passing - of goshcanitreallybeawholeyeargone...
Christmas feels more solemn as you get older.I still love it all, am going carol-singing again this Friday, have been spending happy times with tinsel and ribbon and wrapping-paper, deliberately play Advent and Christmas music as I work, have set up the Crib scene on the mantlepiece as I always do with the Christ-child waiting to be added at Christmastime. But the solemnity rings out from the beautiful Advent readings (yes, I'm using Magnificat, as mentioned in an earlier blog - do invest in it, a perfectly splendid way to have a daily and weekly prayer-book, all up to date with the readings for each day...)and the message of Christmas is glorious, but like the traditional spicy foods, is somehow bittersweet...
There is a sense of rush as I have a lot of work to tackle before Christmas (new book out in 2009 - more on this later) and so does everyone else. And Christmas brings a sense of time passing - of goshcanitreallybeawholeyeargone...
Christmas feels more solemn as you get older.I still love it all, am going carol-singing again this Friday, have been spending happy times with tinsel and ribbon and wrapping-paper, deliberately play Advent and Christmas music as I work, have set up the Crib scene on the mantlepiece as I always do with the Christ-child waiting to be added at Christmastime. But the solemnity rings out from the beautiful Advent readings (yes, I'm using Magnificat, as mentioned in an earlier blog - do invest in it, a perfectly splendid way to have a daily and weekly prayer-book, all up to date with the readings for each day...)and the message of Christmas is glorious, but like the traditional spicy foods, is somehow bittersweet...
Sunday, December 14, 2008
St Elphege...
...was an English Archbishop who lived over a thousand years ago, and was martyred by the Danes at Greenwich on the southern bank of the Thames.
One hundred years ago this week,the first Mass was said in a small Catholic church in Wallington, Surrey, then a quiet place surrounded by lavender fields. Today, in the modern church which has replaced the old one along what is now a busy main road teeming with traffic, we marked the 100th anniversary. The church, which is large (and frankly not beautiful), was full, and there were some nice touches to the celebration - Knights of St Columba wearing their formal ribbon sashes, Catenians with their banner, Union of Catholic Mothers ditto, Cub Scouts in uniform, some small Beavers in blue teeshirts...a group of children from the parish school sang, very charmingly, a special hymn in honour of St Elphege, written by the wife of a former headmaster. As Mass ended, we processed from the new church back into the old - which is now used as the parish hall - for final prayers and then sandwiches and mince pies and cake. So many old friends... I met Gwen Russell, who was a fellow patrol-leader in the Guides with me (8th Carshalton - any other members from that Company out there?) - we had a good chat, reminiscing...and I also discovered that it was she who found the words of that St Elphege hymn, and contacted Mrs Ryle to get the tune, the two of them humming away over the telephone.
Many Catholic churches in Britain have a dedication to a saint with no link to the local area. But, as parish priest Fr Paul Hough mentioned to the Bishop, St Elphege would have visited this area, doing confirmations at the old church of St Mary's (still there, at Beddington) and probably going on to All Saints at Carshalton (also still there, by the ponds). St E. was bishop of Winchester, and right up to 1907 St Mary's was part of the Winchester diocese.
Apparently there is also an older hymn to St Elphege, written by priest who served the parish, a copy of which was pasted into the back of parish editions of the old Westminster Hymnal.
I like the idea of continuity and tracing links down through the years...today's Wallington would seem unimaginable to the first parishioners of St Elphege's who gathered in the semi-rural Wallington of pre-WWI days...but something binds us to them, and to St Elphege, who came this way, celebrating Mass and confirming children, before the Norman Conquest...
One hundred years ago this week,the first Mass was said in a small Catholic church in Wallington, Surrey, then a quiet place surrounded by lavender fields. Today, in the modern church which has replaced the old one along what is now a busy main road teeming with traffic, we marked the 100th anniversary. The church, which is large (and frankly not beautiful), was full, and there were some nice touches to the celebration - Knights of St Columba wearing their formal ribbon sashes, Catenians with their banner, Union of Catholic Mothers ditto, Cub Scouts in uniform, some small Beavers in blue teeshirts...a group of children from the parish school sang, very charmingly, a special hymn in honour of St Elphege, written by the wife of a former headmaster. As Mass ended, we processed from the new church back into the old - which is now used as the parish hall - for final prayers and then sandwiches and mince pies and cake. So many old friends... I met Gwen Russell, who was a fellow patrol-leader in the Guides with me (8th Carshalton - any other members from that Company out there?) - we had a good chat, reminiscing...and I also discovered that it was she who found the words of that St Elphege hymn, and contacted Mrs Ryle to get the tune, the two of them humming away over the telephone.
Many Catholic churches in Britain have a dedication to a saint with no link to the local area. But, as parish priest Fr Paul Hough mentioned to the Bishop, St Elphege would have visited this area, doing confirmations at the old church of St Mary's (still there, at Beddington) and probably going on to All Saints at Carshalton (also still there, by the ponds). St E. was bishop of Winchester, and right up to 1907 St Mary's was part of the Winchester diocese.
Apparently there is also an older hymn to St Elphege, written by priest who served the parish, a copy of which was pasted into the back of parish editions of the old Westminster Hymnal.
I like the idea of continuity and tracing links down through the years...today's Wallington would seem unimaginable to the first parishioners of St Elphege's who gathered in the semi-rural Wallington of pre-WWI days...but something binds us to them, and to St Elphege, who came this way, celebrating Mass and confirming children, before the Norman Conquest...
Saturday, December 13, 2008
To Battersea...
...to the Salesian College, where two boys had gained special awards in the 2008 Schools Bible Project. These were presented at an Assembly in the school's beautiful small chapel, an enchanting building, with a vaguely Pugin feel. I hugely enjoyed my visit, was made most welcome.
In a sometimes vicious and ugly Britain, it is something to start the day with a group of school pupils gathered for prayer. The whole atmosphere of this big school is pleasant and friendly.It was a great start to the day.
Later, after a busy afternoon, a glorious gathering for carol singing at Victoria station. This is huge fun every year. We raise money for various children's charities. Bulk of the carollers come from St Joseph's parish, Roehampton, and they are terrific. We made a gladsome sound - a great railway statio actually has wonderful accoustics! Organiser is Yvonne Windsor, and she makes it all most enjoyable, with flasks of tea at half-time, and a sense of the fun of it all. I wore a Santa Claus hat and conducted...
In a sometimes vicious and ugly Britain, it is something to start the day with a group of school pupils gathered for prayer. The whole atmosphere of this big school is pleasant and friendly.It was a great start to the day.
Later, after a busy afternoon, a glorious gathering for carol singing at Victoria station. This is huge fun every year. We raise money for various children's charities. Bulk of the carollers come from St Joseph's parish, Roehampton, and they are terrific. We made a gladsome sound - a great railway statio actually has wonderful accoustics! Organiser is Yvonne Windsor, and she makes it all most enjoyable, with flasks of tea at half-time, and a sense of the fun of it all. I wore a Santa Claus hat and conducted...
Thursday, December 11, 2008
This week...
...has seen more than the usual juggling of domestic and journalistic obligations...it has included, in no particular order, a talk at the parish of English Martyrs, Goring-by-Sea, famous for the magnificent Sistine Chapel ceiling., the annual prizegiving of a major schools' project run by an ecumenical charity, and an evening event at one of the Inns of Court. In the intervals of doing verything else, I've been busy with reading for my Maryvale studies, and cannot adequately describe how deeply satisfying I am finding them: real nourishment for the mind, extraordinarily enriching...
Saturday, December 06, 2008
There hasn't been...
...much publicity about this in the British press, but here is a story about a man of honour. He has done the right thing. I expect people will sneer at him for it, but truth and the verdict of history will be on his side.
To Horsham...
...in Sussex, to the parish of St John, for an Advent talk on "Celebrating feasts and seasons". A wonderful welcome, with mulled wine and mince pies and a parish priest with his very friendly flock, a great atmosphere. A glowing candle, and prayers, and a sense of Advent expectation as we began the evening. I hugely enjoyed it. What a very delightful parish...
Friday, December 05, 2008
Excellent...
...celebration in London to mark the launch of an English edition of Magnificat by the Catholic Herald newspaper. Magnificat is a superbly-produced daily prayer book, with the readings for Mass, lives of the saints, and everything you need for daily/weekly devotions.
The launch was a delight - lots of people gathered in celebration and talk with wine and snacks...it was a pleasure to talk to Archbishop Mario Conti, to Scottish composer James MacMillan, to Father Dominic Allain who has edited the delightful Pastor Iuventus book, to Luke Coppen, editor of the Catholic Herald, to Jeremy de Satge of The Music Makers, and more...
The launch was a delight - lots of people gathered in celebration and talk with wine and snacks...it was a pleasure to talk to Archbishop Mario Conti, to Scottish composer James MacMillan, to Father Dominic Allain who has edited the delightful Pastor Iuventus book, to Luke Coppen, editor of the Catholic Herald, to Jeremy de Satge of The Music Makers, and more...
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Something to ponder...
Pope Benedict XVI, speaking to Catholic educators in the USA:
"In regard to faculty members at Catholic colleges and universities, I wish to affirm the great value of academic freedom. In virtue of this freedom you are called to search for the truth wherever careful analysis of evidence leads you. Yet it is also the case that any appeal to the principle of academic freedom in order to justify positions that contradict the faith and teaching of the Church would obstruct or even betray the university's identity and mission; a mission at the heart of the Church's munus docendi and not somehow autonomous or independent of it.
"Teachers and administrators, whether in universities or schools, have the duty and privilege to ensure that students receive instruction in Catholic doctrine and practice. This requires that public witness to the way of Christ, as found in the Gospel and upheld by the Church's Magisterium, shapes all aspects of an institution's life, both inside and outside the classroom. Divergence from this vision weakens Catholic identity, and, far from advancing freedom, inevitably leads to confusion, whether intellectual, moral, or spiritual."
"In regard to faculty members at Catholic colleges and universities, I wish to affirm the great value of academic freedom. In virtue of this freedom you are called to search for the truth wherever careful analysis of evidence leads you. Yet it is also the case that any appeal to the principle of academic freedom in order to justify positions that contradict the faith and teaching of the Church would obstruct or even betray the university's identity and mission; a mission at the heart of the Church's munus docendi and not somehow autonomous or independent of it.
"Teachers and administrators, whether in universities or schools, have the duty and privilege to ensure that students receive instruction in Catholic doctrine and practice. This requires that public witness to the way of Christ, as found in the Gospel and upheld by the Church's Magisterium, shapes all aspects of an institution's life, both inside and outside the classroom. Divergence from this vision weakens Catholic identity, and, far from advancing freedom, inevitably leads to confusion, whether intellectual, moral, or spiritual."
A prominent supporter of Planned Parenthood...
...has been invited to speak at a major Pontifical University in Rome. Read about it here.
Further information here, and also here.
It seems likely that the organisers of this event do not know about the speaker's strong association with Planned Parenthood. She is British and is simply well-known as a lawyer and the wife of a leading public figure. It is crucial, therefore, that the University is informed.
The speaker, Mrs Cherie Blair, hosted a major fund-raising event for Planned Parenthood at 10 Downing Street in 2003, promoting condoms for teenagers under the slogan "Lust for Life". She honoured the 75th anniversary celebrations of Britain's Family Planning Association - the leading campaigning movement for abortion in Britain - as the special celebrity guest, cutting the celebration cake and being photographed brandishing a condom. And no, it isn't the case that the FPA or Planned Parenthood do other things than abortion and contraception - so she wasn't helping them with other projects. They don't make quilts or serve tea to the poor, or teach mathematics or help Auntie with the housework...they promote abortion and contraception: that's what they were established to do, and that's what they do, and when Mrs Blair raises funds for them she knows that what the funds are for.
Mrs Blair is a leading supporter of organisations working at the United Nations to promote abortion worldwide. Read about this here.
There is no reason whatever why Mrs Blair should speak at a Pontifical University. The Church can draw on many excellent women speakers with superb credentials to tackle issues concerning women's rights and freedoms - it is absurd to invite instead some one who passionately supports organisations promoting abortion.
It might be useful to send a fax to the Congregation for Catholic Education about this. You can find out more about that here.
Further information here, and also here.
It seems likely that the organisers of this event do not know about the speaker's strong association with Planned Parenthood. She is British and is simply well-known as a lawyer and the wife of a leading public figure. It is crucial, therefore, that the University is informed.
The speaker, Mrs Cherie Blair, hosted a major fund-raising event for Planned Parenthood at 10 Downing Street in 2003, promoting condoms for teenagers under the slogan "Lust for Life". She honoured the 75th anniversary celebrations of Britain's Family Planning Association - the leading campaigning movement for abortion in Britain - as the special celebrity guest, cutting the celebration cake and being photographed brandishing a condom. And no, it isn't the case that the FPA or Planned Parenthood do other things than abortion and contraception - so she wasn't helping them with other projects. They don't make quilts or serve tea to the poor, or teach mathematics or help Auntie with the housework...they promote abortion and contraception: that's what they were established to do, and that's what they do, and when Mrs Blair raises funds for them she knows that what the funds are for.
Mrs Blair is a leading supporter of organisations working at the United Nations to promote abortion worldwide. Read about this here.
There is no reason whatever why Mrs Blair should speak at a Pontifical University. The Church can draw on many excellent women speakers with superb credentials to tackle issues concerning women's rights and freedoms - it is absurd to invite instead some one who passionately supports organisations promoting abortion.
It might be useful to send a fax to the Congregation for Catholic Education about this. You can find out more about that here.
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Something lovely for Christmas...
...is this beautiful colouring-book Meet the Angels. It has the most fabulous illustrations that a child will really enjoy colouring. Do get it! An ideal stocking-filler. Details here.
I also like the booklet The Mass Illustrated for Children which is in a similar style. Parish priests: it would be a great buy for a First Communion class (discounts for 25 copies or more).
I also like the booklet The Mass Illustrated for Children which is in a similar style. Parish priests: it would be a great buy for a First Communion class (discounts for 25 copies or more).
Martyrs...
...of the Venerable English College, St Ralph Sherwin and his companions, were honoured at a Mass held at St Joseph's, New Malden, yesterday, with wonderful music and a glory of golden vestments. It was in the Extraordinary Form - which does not seen so "Extraordinary" if you have a lot of Latin as a regular part of parish liturgy anyway - and, most touchingly, at the end a Te Deum was sung - as was sung in Rome in the 16th and 17th centuries when news of a martyr's death reached the College. A sermon about martryrdom, noting that it doesn't begin with the arrest or trial or imprisonment, but with the decision to live for God and truth and the rest might be a result of that, accepted as part of that decision. Implications for today...
In the evening, to St Anselm's, Tooting Bec, for a meeting of South London members of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children. This looks like a very ordinary London brick building from the outside, but once inside you suddenly have the feel of a basilica. Wonderful. Evening Mass was just finished, and people were still praying or generally about. In the adjoining hall, where we met, there is a fine picture of St Anselm, showing him in modern Tooting Bec with the children of the parish school in their maroon uniforms! I really like this idea, especially the Medieval saint alongside the Tube station...he realy did visit this area, and met the local tribe, the Totinge people...
I cycled back along the long straight road that runs through all this section of South London, following a very old route traceable back to Saxon times. What would St Anselm think of the mosques that are now part of the local scene? Probably he'd simply quietly continue with the plan of bringing Christ to everyone, whether Totinge's tribe or today's South Londoners...
In the evening, to St Anselm's, Tooting Bec, for a meeting of South London members of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children. This looks like a very ordinary London brick building from the outside, but once inside you suddenly have the feel of a basilica. Wonderful. Evening Mass was just finished, and people were still praying or generally about. In the adjoining hall, where we met, there is a fine picture of St Anselm, showing him in modern Tooting Bec with the children of the parish school in their maroon uniforms! I really like this idea, especially the Medieval saint alongside the Tube station...he realy did visit this area, and met the local tribe, the Totinge people...
I cycled back along the long straight road that runs through all this section of South London, following a very old route traceable back to Saxon times. What would St Anselm think of the mosques that are now part of the local scene? Probably he'd simply quietly continue with the plan of bringing Christ to everyone, whether Totinge's tribe or today's South Londoners...
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