...in a Britain that is steadily feeling more and more alien to common sense. St Patrick's, Soho Square, had a Mass for the vigil of its patronal day. Packed, of course, but I managed to squeeze into a pew at the very back instead of sitting on the floor. As always at St P's, the Mass brought together people of every race and background - slightly surreal experience of singing "On Erin's green valleys look down in thy love" with a pewful of Chinese.
I never liked St Patrick's Day as a child because as an English Catholic I resented the enthusiasm of Irish nuns. Looking back, it was of course an important day for them and they had a right to sing and feel tribal. Today, that hymn about St Patrick had a solemn ring to it and was sung with fervour - that the Faith may not be lost in the land he evangelised.
Grim news re the Govt's ghastly plans for crushing marriage.These creepy politicians are now so frightened of the rest of us that they have announced that the pretence of a "consultation" won't make any difference - the cruel new law will be pushed through anyway.
Living as a Christian in Britain over the next years is going to be quite difficult - although awfully interesting - and watching bureacrats becoming increasing nasty to us all is going to be rather tiresome. How pointless their dreams are - to try to rewrite humanity's deepest realities. Like the gruesome Marxist experiment, theirs will fail. We will need courage and good humour as we live through what is to come: and when it all gets really ghastly, it will be Christians who will be around to pick up the mess and cope...
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12 comments:
Hello, Joanna
Surely, there must be a procedure within Parliament which would scrutinise Government's abuse of power?
God bless
Sonia
I don't envy the Christians living in Britain. God be with you all.
Your reservations about the possible introduction of "gay marriage" will be shared by many. But do you really need to make your points in such a polarising manner?
You impute to others malign motives without evidence. The government's proposals may well be misguided, but they are not "ghastly", and surely not intentionally designed for "crushing marriage". Give some at least on the other side the credit for worthy motives. Harsh language only plays to a negative stereotype of the Church and into the hands of those whose motives may be less than worthy.
Happy St.Patrick'S Day from New York City...where the faith is alive and well.....as can be glimpsed from the mass attendance and may as well be from the enthusiastic crowd wearing green in the streets of Manhattan!
I love your blog and it reminds me so much of my visit to London
@ Anonymous
Jesus used harsher words:“Brood of vipers”, "snakes", “hypocrites”, “whitened sepulchers". So, “ghastly” is actually quite mild in comparison. As to the rest of your statements, the worthiness of the government’s motives rests on whether one is an apologist for the government and the gay lobby or, for traditional marriage. For those of us who support the latter, the image of our Church is not our utmost concern (She will be mocked, as Jesus was mocked), the welfare of our children is of paramount importance. It is very much in keeping with: “And whosoever shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in me; it were better for him that a millstone were hanged around his neck, and he were cast into the sea.”
So, my question to you dear Anonymous, do you really want faithful Catholics to render to the State what is God's?
God bless
Sonia
Sonia,
You too seem to prefer polarising language. In these type of circumstances the best result is going to lie in trying to identify a win-win situation rather than insisting on dying in a ditch.
I am an apologist for neither side; I am none to keen on the proposals but I can see that their proponents may well be motivated by a desire to be "fair" as they see it to homosexuals.
Children here are beside the point as they do not feature in homosexual relationships. Peter Hitchens makes the point in the Spectator that the real scandal is the ease of divorce and that of those who bring up children into the world without even considering marriage. This is far more important than the tiny minority of "marriages" which might take place between two men or two women. Tackling the much bigger social problem of family breakdown and dysfunction would have a far greater impact to the common good.
Auspiciously enough the petition passed the quarter-million milestone today, the Solemnity of St Joseph (honoured in the Orthodox Church as Joseph the Bridegroom). England remains the marriage portion of the Mother of God and the bleaker the political picture looks the more optimistic I feel somehow. The Holy Spirit is at work and the victory, when it comes, will be his.
you have it right, Joanna. They won't win and Christianity will triumph - as ever! Watchwords: courage, faith, prayer.
Hi - we enjoy your show on EWTN - do you have a Twitter account as well? Would love to follow you.
All the best, John
john.berghout@gmail.com
According to my MP, we have all made a mistake in thinking the Government were holding a consultaton on whether or not to introduce same sex 'marriage'. They have, he said, already made up their minds to do this, and the consultation is on how would be the best way to go about it.
We must keep in mind that, whatever happens with a change in law, two people of the same sex can never actually have marriage; all they can achieve is the right to use the word. The reality is not possible for them. Marriage, as we know, is founded upon full sexual union and the conception of children (whether or not the latter actually happens.) As neither is possible for two people of the same sex, therefore they cannot bemarried, even though they may be legally allowed to use the term.
Dear Joanna,
I wonder if you would like to view my new UK Catholic website, which I have just newly set up. If you do have time, please feel free to look around and perhaps add a few comments.
I could do with a few good Catholic apologetics, but it is taking shape, with plenty of topics to dive into.
I feel it is so important dicussing and sharing our views on our faith touches and concerns the world and vice versa.
Her is my link
http://catholicpiazza.forumup.co.uk
With kind regards
Margaret.
.........................
Dear Joanna,
I wonder if you would like to view my new UK Catholic website, which I have just newly set up. If you do have time, please feel free to look around and perhaps add a few comments.
I could do with a few good Catholic apologetics, but it is taking shape, with plenty of topics to dive into.
I feel it is so important dicussing and sharing our views on our faith touches and concerns the world and vice versa.
Her is my link
http://catholicpiazza.forumup.co.uk
With kind regards
Margaret.
.........................
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