...for the Religious Education Project run by the Association of Catholic Women. We had a committee meeting today, and made plans for the judging etc. We have been running this Project for some years but this year we've expanded it hugely and are running it jointly with the Catholic Truth Society. The children study some of the miracles of Christ in the New Testament, and write about them...check out the ACW website if you are a teacher and interested in getting your pupils involved...
Our committee meetings are held at St James Church, Spanish Place and are lively and enjoyable. But the agenda includes serious matters for discussion and action : Govt bullying Church schools, horrible legislation on human embryos...
This weekend I'm off to Walsingham for work on another venture. It's one of my favourite places - I like the wideness of the Norfolk landscape contrasting with the cosy feeling in the village, the teashops, the creamy white blossom on the hedgerows.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
The April commemoration
...of the coming into law of the infamous Abortion Act (which became law in April 1968) takes place at a number of London churches in the run-up to April 26th. Participating churches will have a candle, and special prayer-cards. Do join in. Check out this website for further information.
My bike and I...
...feature on a website which also includes a number of other features you might enjoy reading. Connect here.
Yesterday I cycled into Kingston to give a talk to a group at County Hall. A lovely bright day, and two barristers in wigs and gowns were standing talking in the gardens in front of the Court. I enjoyed a cup of freshly-made coffee before being taken to deliver the lecture: it all felt very civilised. On the surface of things, life in Britain on an April morning is a delight.
Email from a friend whose child is about to go to a big Catholic comprehensive school - the school feels obliged to be part of a ghastly official scheme called "Connexions" which offers (no, I'm not inventing this) "free condoms" and "advice for lesbian, gay and bisexual young people". Parents can sign an opt-out form - but surely no Catholic school should have anything to do with this horrible scheme in the first place? (Yes, she has taken it up with the school governors. But this also calls for action from our Bishops to make a clear and strong policy decision uniting all Catholic schools).
Yesterday I cycled into Kingston to give a talk to a group at County Hall. A lovely bright day, and two barristers in wigs and gowns were standing talking in the gardens in front of the Court. I enjoyed a cup of freshly-made coffee before being taken to deliver the lecture: it all felt very civilised. On the surface of things, life in Britain on an April morning is a delight.
Email from a friend whose child is about to go to a big Catholic comprehensive school - the school feels obliged to be part of a ghastly official scheme called "Connexions" which offers (no, I'm not inventing this) "free condoms" and "advice for lesbian, gay and bisexual young people". Parents can sign an opt-out form - but surely no Catholic school should have anything to do with this horrible scheme in the first place? (Yes, she has taken it up with the school governors. But this also calls for action from our Bishops to make a clear and strong policy decision uniting all Catholic schools).
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
PS to my post about the Isle of Wight...
...Fr Dwight Longenecker has some absolutely enchanting pictures of Isle of Wight churches on his blog. Look here.
In London...
...yesterday for a meeting of some of the team involved with Tamezin magazine. This is a magazine for teenage girls, full of some great features, produced by a talented young team with great artwork, layout, design. My involvement lies in recruting new young contributors by going to schools and doing journalism workshops...the whole venture is fun and it's enjoyable seeing the whole thing grow and give so much fun and pleasure to so many...
In the post...
...comes the magazine of St Cecilia's Abbey, Ryde, Isle of Wight. I have a wonderful friend who is among the nuns at St C's, and her accompanying letter is so full of encouragement, quietly wise comments, and joy.
The magazine is joyful, too - there's a splendid account of the life of one of the oldest nuns, Sister M. Rose:"She never thought of herself as old. Still attending Christmas Midnight Mass in her eighties, she was asked if she would like to have her post-Mass hot chocolate in the infirmary, rather than the refectory, as it was nearer to her cell. 'It's very kind of you, but let's wait until I am old.' She had a common-sense approach to life, spiced with humour. After a refectory book had been full of some martyr's persecution and torture she commented 'And we grumble if we get a pimple.' "
The convent is on the hill on the outskirts of Ryde, overlooking the Solent with its white-whipped waves, and beyond is all the glorious island, with the lovely beaches at Ventnor and Sandown, and the castle at Carisbrick, and enchanting lanes and fields and tea-shops with cream teas and its own little railway.
I had written to Sister E. to beg for prayers for a priest I have mentioned previously in this Blog, who is in prison. He has now been granted an appeal. Please, please join your prayers to those of the sisters and others who are praying for him.
The magazine is joyful, too - there's a splendid account of the life of one of the oldest nuns, Sister M. Rose:"She never thought of herself as old. Still attending Christmas Midnight Mass in her eighties, she was asked if she would like to have her post-Mass hot chocolate in the infirmary, rather than the refectory, as it was nearer to her cell. 'It's very kind of you, but let's wait until I am old.' She had a common-sense approach to life, spiced with humour. After a refectory book had been full of some martyr's persecution and torture she commented 'And we grumble if we get a pimple.' "
The convent is on the hill on the outskirts of Ryde, overlooking the Solent with its white-whipped waves, and beyond is all the glorious island, with the lovely beaches at Ventnor and Sandown, and the castle at Carisbrick, and enchanting lanes and fields and tea-shops with cream teas and its own little railway.
I had written to Sister E. to beg for prayers for a priest I have mentioned previously in this Blog, who is in prison. He has now been granted an appeal. Please, please join your prayers to those of the sisters and others who are praying for him.
Monday, April 07, 2008
I've been asked...
...for the source of the quote from the Holy Father that I gave a couple opf days ago. I got it from a speech made by Cardinal Bertone which you can read here. In it, he quotes the Pope, from what he states is an interview given shortly after his election.
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Sunday:
Snow. Walked to Mass through whirling whiteness. Jamie has a bad cough and cold. V. interesting sermon about the encounter with Christ on the road to Emmaus - had never really thought about this incident before and it suddenly came alive and assumed its true significance - as I write this I find myself thinking of that Caravaggio (sp?) painting...
To Mother's: I had got a video of some vintage Dad's Army episodes and it was 50p well spent. Watched and laughed and drank tea while addressing envelopes for the big mailing to all clergy in 4 dioceses for the Festival of Catholic Culture (one quarter of one diocese done - so am on track to get all completed by September!)
Talk this evening to local World Youth Day group. They start their meetings with prayer before the Bl. Sacrament, and Benediction. It was touching to see all these young people kneeling in silence in church when I slipped in at the back, rather rushed and breathless. Leading the group is Fr Dominic Allain of St Pius X church, next parish along from ours.
I had been invited to speak about the Holy Father (ref. my book on him). Extraordinarily, I just this week acquired an excellent book about his theology: Ratzinger's Faith, by Tracey Rowland. I'll be writing a lot more about this later. Tracey R. is a crunchy writer and thinker, Dean and Associate Professor of Political Philosophy at the JPII Institute in Melbourne. She's also a great friend and I'm thrilled to have got her book, fresh off the press from OUP.
To Mother's: I had got a video of some vintage Dad's Army episodes and it was 50p well spent. Watched and laughed and drank tea while addressing envelopes for the big mailing to all clergy in 4 dioceses for the Festival of Catholic Culture (one quarter of one diocese done - so am on track to get all completed by September!)
Talk this evening to local World Youth Day group. They start their meetings with prayer before the Bl. Sacrament, and Benediction. It was touching to see all these young people kneeling in silence in church when I slipped in at the back, rather rushed and breathless. Leading the group is Fr Dominic Allain of St Pius X church, next parish along from ours.
I had been invited to speak about the Holy Father (ref. my book on him). Extraordinarily, I just this week acquired an excellent book about his theology: Ratzinger's Faith, by Tracey Rowland. I'll be writing a lot more about this later. Tracey R. is a crunchy writer and thinker, Dean and Associate Professor of Political Philosophy at the JPII Institute in Melbourne. She's also a great friend and I'm thrilled to have got her book, fresh off the press from OUP.
Saturday, April 05, 2008
I came across this quote...
...from the Holy Father and I love it.
"The generally prevailing idea is that Christians have to observe an immense number of commandments, prohibitions, precepts, and other such restrictions, so that Christianity is a heavy and oppressive way of living, and it would therefore be more liberating to live without all these burdens. But I would like to make it clear that to be sustained by this great Love and God’s sublime revelation is not a burden, but rather a set of wings – that it is truly beautiful to be a Christian. It is an experience that gives us room to breathe and move, but most of all, it places us within a community since, as Christians, we are never alone: first of all, there is God, who is always with us; secondly, we are always forming a great community among ourselves: a community of people together on a journey, a community with a project for the future. All of this means that we are empowered to live a life worth living. This is the joy of being a Christian; that it is beautiful and right to believe!”
"The generally prevailing idea is that Christians have to observe an immense number of commandments, prohibitions, precepts, and other such restrictions, so that Christianity is a heavy and oppressive way of living, and it would therefore be more liberating to live without all these burdens. But I would like to make it clear that to be sustained by this great Love and God’s sublime revelation is not a burden, but rather a set of wings – that it is truly beautiful to be a Christian. It is an experience that gives us room to breathe and move, but most of all, it places us within a community since, as Christians, we are never alone: first of all, there is God, who is always with us; secondly, we are always forming a great community among ourselves: a community of people together on a journey, a community with a project for the future. All of this means that we are empowered to live a life worth living. This is the joy of being a Christian; that it is beautiful and right to believe!”
The Holy Father...
...is visiting the USA shortly. You can read a most useful and well-informed commentary on the subject by George Weigel here.
Family time...
...with a dear niece L., arriving in London for a job interview. Jamie wanted us all to have dinner somewhere special, and after some wandering we settled on a French restaurant near the Strand - delicious mussels in cream sauce, lots of talk, a happy evening. We walked back across the Thames to catch the train home in a warm London teeming with people and with almost the feel of a summer night about it...this morning we drove out into Surrey and had a pub lunch, home via Epsom market where L. bought flowers, and then to the station for her to catch the train to have tea with Granny. Back at home I got on with domestic things, letters, work, and the rain suddenly pelted down and it's back to winter again.
Thursday, April 03, 2008
Government attacks Jewish schools...
...as part of a general attempt to undermine all "Faith schools". Look at this report on the front page of today's Independent. Under the guise of a survey of religious-based schools in three local authorities, a Govt-sponsored body says it found six that invited parents to make a voluntary contribution towards books and equipment. Five of these were Jewish schools, and one was Church of England. Apparently, we are all meant to be indignant that schools might invite parents to make a contribution. Why? The schools made it clear that the funds were specifically for religious books. And for years the cry against religious schools has precisely been that taxpayers' money was going towards religious materials! Now, when some schools opt to invite parents to pay instead, we are being told it's somehow unethical.
This is all part of a concerted attack on the voluntarily-aided schools, and frankly I find it sinister. Combined with the outrageous interrogation of Bishop Patrick O'Donohue by a Parliamentary committee because of his robust defence of Catholic schooling, it's a sign of a trend that spells considerable danger to freedom of education in our country.
Watch out for further attacks: at a guess, there will be attempts to find parents who are angry/upset/'feel excluded'/etc because their children at a Church school have been told that they should attend Mass regularly, or that marriage is the foundation of family life, or that the Ten Commandments matter.
This is all part of a concerted attack on the voluntarily-aided schools, and frankly I find it sinister. Combined with the outrageous interrogation of Bishop Patrick O'Donohue by a Parliamentary committee because of his robust defence of Catholic schooling, it's a sign of a trend that spells considerable danger to freedom of education in our country.
Watch out for further attacks: at a guess, there will be attempts to find parents who are angry/upset/'feel excluded'/etc because their children at a Church school have been told that they should attend Mass regularly, or that marriage is the foundation of family life, or that the Ten Commandments matter.
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
If you are a parent...
...of a child at a Catholic primary school in Britain, or a teacher at such a school, you'll be interested in the ACW Schools RE Project, which is offering attractive prizes in its 2008 event. Hurry, because the deadline is drawing near. Information here.
The Association of Catholic Women marks its 20th anniversary this year, and is thriving. It's one of the groups with which I most enjoy working: our committee meetings are talkative and fun, we get a lot done, there's a good blend of practical action and shared faith, and our activities are a good range of organising conferences, making sandwiches, raising funds at coffee-mornings, studying, reading, brainwork, brewing tea and slicing cakes for hundreds at a major Festival, brewing tea for just a few at a work-session, laughing, praying together, and getting into deep theology.
The Association of Catholic Women marks its 20th anniversary this year, and is thriving. It's one of the groups with which I most enjoy working: our committee meetings are talkative and fun, we get a lot done, there's a good blend of practical action and shared faith, and our activities are a good range of organising conferences, making sandwiches, raising funds at coffee-mornings, studying, reading, brainwork, brewing tea and slicing cakes for hundreds at a major Festival, brewing tea for just a few at a work-session, laughing, praying together, and getting into deep theology.
The origins of Doh, Re, Mi...
...are fascinating. Read about it all here. I came across this quite by accident, when I was trawling the Westminster Cathedral blog for something quite different. Because I recently watched The Sound of Music (see this Blog of a few days back when I was ill...) this story leapt at me...go on, find out for yourself.
It is forty years...
...since the Abortion Act came into force in Britain. It took effect in April 1968. Since then, so many unborn children have been deliberately killed. It's as if the nation had a sort of death-wish: the future, with all its bright promise, destroyed in clinics and hospitals. And human relationships, love, marriage, family life, are all horribly damaged and wounded and messed up in today's Britain, with consequences that are already ghastly and will get much worse.
On April 26th, at 12 noon, there will be a short ceremony at the West Door of Westminster Abbey, organised by Choose Life, bringing together representatives of a number of groups, at which a wreath will be laid and prayers said to markj this tragic anniversary. YOUR PRESENCE will help to make this significant event something which will linger in the memory and perhaps help to bring about change in this tragic situation. Do come.
On April 26th, at 12 noon, there will be a short ceremony at the West Door of Westminster Abbey, organised by Choose Life, bringing together representatives of a number of groups, at which a wreath will be laid and prayers said to markj this tragic anniversary. YOUR PRESENCE will help to make this significant event something which will linger in the memory and perhaps help to bring about change in this tragic situation. Do come.
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
While waiting...
...at the doctor's this morning, I read My Memories of Six Reigns by Princess Marie-Louise., which I recently borrowed from a friend. It's very poorly written ("There is one item of interest I should like to record with regard to a Scandinavian journey..." "There is so much more I could tell you of these dear musical friends..." etc etc) but it's deliciously scented with the whole sense and feel of some one born into British royalty in the 1870s, with memories of dear Grandmama at Windsor and Osborne, contrasting with the ghastly stuffiness of Prussian royal etiquette in Berlin...it took me miles and epochs away from an NHS waiting room in South London in the 21st century. Full of extraordinary bits of information, such as the Kaiser sending warm greetings to a Silver Wedding celebration of the author's parents at Windsor during World War I, while the slaughter was going on between the two nations...and of the author visiting General Jan Smuts in South Africa, bitter about the death of his child in British captivity in the Boer War, and having a deep conversation with him as she had lost a brother in that war...
Jamie Bogle...
...was the speaker at the Catholic Cultural Group last night. This is an informal group which I run - meets about once a month, drinks, snacks, guest speaker, occasional visits to places of interest. Anyone is welcome who genuinely enjoys a good discussion of topics linked to a general Christian theme. Not all members are Catholics - anyway, we don't ask. No membership fee, but we pass a hat round to cover expenses. We meet in people's flats in central London. We have two Mastermind finalists among our members!
Jamie spoke about James II, our last Catholic king, and William of Orange.( Book on the subject recently re-published by Fisher Press. You can read about it here.)
Jamie spoke about James II, our last Catholic king, and William of Orange.( Book on the subject recently re-published by Fisher Press. You can read about it here.)
Sunday, March 30, 2008
HOME...
...after an Easter that included a magnificent Easter Vigil at the Oxford Oratory, a lot of family talk and fun with four generations of one side of the family and three of another, a trip on the West Somerset Railway (recommended), a good deal of chocolate, and the joy of wobbly-legged lambs in the wet fields, and primroses in lanes, and church bells and pub lunches and the sea and time to read.
We tried to watch the Pope's Urbi et Orbi message on TV (BBC) on Easter Sunday but it suddenly went off the air and we got Songs of Praise instead. Did anyone else have this problem? A phone call to the Beeb produced an assurance that I'd get an email about the matter within ten working days.
The current Catholic Herald has a feature by me about a painting of St John Fisher in the chapel of the school dedicated to him in Purley, Surrey. The feature, very nicely, concludes with a reference to this Blog and an invitation to people to read it...so here's a cheery welcome to anyone who has taken the CH's advice and is thus reading this...
We tried to watch the Pope's Urbi et Orbi message on TV (BBC) on Easter Sunday but it suddenly went off the air and we got Songs of Praise instead. Did anyone else have this problem? A phone call to the Beeb produced an assurance that I'd get an email about the matter within ten working days.
The current Catholic Herald has a feature by me about a painting of St John Fisher in the chapel of the school dedicated to him in Purley, Surrey. The feature, very nicely, concludes with a reference to this Blog and an invitation to people to read it...so here's a cheery welcome to anyone who has taken the CH's advice and is thus reading this...
Friday, March 21, 2008
After a beautiful Holy Week...
...in the local parish, I'm off with Jamie for a round of family visits for Easter. Not back at blogging till Low Sunday.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
"THANK YOU TO OUR PRIESTS"...
...said our big placard, and with a cheery crowd of young people from St Patrick's, Soho Square, and a great team from the Association of Catholic Women, we greeted priests of the Westminster diocese as they arrived for the Chrism Mass this morning at the Cathedral. It was glorious: a chance to greet so many priests personally and exchange news and greetings, a joy to see the genuine pleasure given by our small holy cards - bearing a verse from Scripture and the thanks of women in the diocese for the service given by priests - and all in the wonderful setting of the great Cathedral at the start of Holy Week.
And...the ladies campaigning for the ordination of women, who used to hold a campaign at this event, calling for the Church to create priestesses, weren't there. That chapter is over.
And...the ladies campaigning for the ordination of women, who used to hold a campaign at this event, calling for the Church to create priestesses, weren't there. That chapter is over.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Information...
...of various sorts:
A date for your diary: Sat Nov 8th, Festival of Catholic Culture at Westminster Cathedral Hall. Yes, yes of course I know it's months ahead. That's the whole point. Put it in your diary now and then it's fixed and you won't plan other things on the same day. We had our first planning meeting a few days' back, lots of good ideas some fine speakers, choir etc lining up. The Festival is now in its 8th year, and I remember a gleeful report announcing, when the first was under way, that surely it would all be a terrible flop...(this was wishful thinking, from the don't-let's-ever-have-any-good-news-about-the-Church school of thought). Each year, attendance always tops the 1,000 mark...
If you are interested to hear Fr Aidan Nichols - author of, among many other books, The Realm, an unfashionable essay on the Conversion of England - consider getting a ticket for the 2008 Catholic Women of the Year Luncheon, at which he is guest speaker, this Autumn. The date is Oct 10th, venue the Thistle Hotel, at London's Marble Arch. Details: send SAE to the Chairman, CWYL, 22 Milton Rd, WARE. Herts. Funds raised this year go to Youth 2000.
Domestic notes: an enquirer to this Blog asks how I manage to watch videos without owning a TV. You may be interested to know that you can get, v. cheaply, a flat screen, unconnected to any TV, enabling you to watch videos and DVDs. No TV licence required, of course. And the thing folds away under a desk so itsn't a dreary grey permanent presence. Try it.
A date for your diary: Sat Nov 8th, Festival of Catholic Culture at Westminster Cathedral Hall. Yes, yes of course I know it's months ahead. That's the whole point. Put it in your diary now and then it's fixed and you won't plan other things on the same day. We had our first planning meeting a few days' back, lots of good ideas some fine speakers, choir etc lining up. The Festival is now in its 8th year, and I remember a gleeful report announcing, when the first was under way, that surely it would all be a terrible flop...(this was wishful thinking, from the don't-let's-ever-have-any-good-news-about-the-Church school of thought). Each year, attendance always tops the 1,000 mark...
If you are interested to hear Fr Aidan Nichols - author of, among many other books, The Realm, an unfashionable essay on the Conversion of England - consider getting a ticket for the 2008 Catholic Women of the Year Luncheon, at which he is guest speaker, this Autumn. The date is Oct 10th, venue the Thistle Hotel, at London's Marble Arch. Details: send SAE to the Chairman, CWYL, 22 Milton Rd, WARE. Herts. Funds raised this year go to Youth 2000.
Domestic notes: an enquirer to this Blog asks how I manage to watch videos without owning a TV. You may be interested to know that you can get, v. cheaply, a flat screen, unconnected to any TV, enabling you to watch videos and DVDs. No TV licence required, of course. And the thing folds away under a desk so itsn't a dreary grey permanent presence. Try it.
This week...
...I walked in procession in our local parish to mark Palm Sunday (albeit only under cover from the hall to the church - it was raining hard) , and will tomorrow (Tuesday) attend the Chrism Mass at Westminster Cathedral where along with other members of the Association of Catholic Women I'll be handing out small thank-you cards to priests as they arrive for the annual blessing of the sacred oils.
Yes, I'm more or less recovered from flu - thank you for the kind enquiries.
I think one probably doesn't Blog on Good Friday, and after that Jamie and I will be at various family gatherings celebrating Easter, first in Oxfordshire and then in Somerset. Which brings me to a nice story about apples...
Last September in Somerset the trees were just laden with the most wonderful fruit, and at the Sacred Heart Church in Minehead, the nice parish priest urged anyone who wanted any apples simply to go into the presbytery garden and gather as much as they needed. I carried away a great bagful, and in due course chopped and bottled some in syrup. Last Thursday and Friday nights, when I coughed and coughed and couldn't sleep, I found that just a few spoonfuls of this lovely soft sweet fruit was the most delicious and soothing thing for a troubled throat. Seemed to carry a blessing from a Somerset garden. Thank you, Father.
Yes, I'm more or less recovered from flu - thank you for the kind enquiries.
I think one probably doesn't Blog on Good Friday, and after that Jamie and I will be at various family gatherings celebrating Easter, first in Oxfordshire and then in Somerset. Which brings me to a nice story about apples...
Last September in Somerset the trees were just laden with the most wonderful fruit, and at the Sacred Heart Church in Minehead, the nice parish priest urged anyone who wanted any apples simply to go into the presbytery garden and gather as much as they needed. I carried away a great bagful, and in due course chopped and bottled some in syrup. Last Thursday and Friday nights, when I coughed and coughed and couldn't sleep, I found that just a few spoonfuls of this lovely soft sweet fruit was the most delicious and soothing thing for a troubled throat. Seemed to carry a blessing from a Somerset garden. Thank you, Father.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Saturday...
...was lost in a blur. You have amazing dreams when you have a high temperature. At one point, I wrapped myself in a duvet on the sofa and watched a video of The Sound of Music. Most cheering. But then when I went back to bed, I found myself responding to endless requests from editors wanting me to work faster and faster, while the von Trapp children danced endlessly round Mother's new vacuum cleaner...
Friday, March 14, 2008
Auntie not very well....
...I've got 'flu, or something like it. High temperature, shivering, a bubbly sound in my chest.
I did manage to get out this morning to Our Lady Immaculate School in Tolworth, where I was due to speak to the children at morning Assembly about the ACW Schools RE Project. Absolutely sweet sight as the little ones came in - they'd been told to be quiet and put their fingers on their lips. A glowing candle beside a crucifix, and an open Bible. Pictures of Our Lord's miracles flashed up on to a screen most efficiently by a child organising the power-point as I spoke about Our Lord quelling the storm at sea and healing the paralytic man. The children's voices chorusing their prayers, asking for help in the day ahead: "...Father, I want to please you today in all I do and say".
Tolworth is not far away and and I had set out along the A3 quite cheerily - haven't cycled that route since my marathon ride to Brighton last year to raise funds for World Youth Day . But I was feeling wobbly and getting along seemed a great effort. I was glad when I arrived at the school and was sipping tea, along with a couple of aspirin.
Jamie worked for a while at Tolworth some years ago. It is frankly not a beautiful place - all traffic and motorway junction, dominated by that gross square office slab of Tolworth Tower. Our Lady Immaculate Church, a large welcoming building, is the great redeeming feature of the place and I remember dropping in there when meeting J. from work...it was lovely to spend a few quiet moments there this morning. There were a good number of people for morning Mass. Statues etc draped in purple cloth for Passiontide. A big formal banner outside proclaiming that the church is celebrating its Golden Jubilee.
I wobbled home and J. tucked me up in bed and made me a mug of tea.
I did manage to get out this morning to Our Lady Immaculate School in Tolworth, where I was due to speak to the children at morning Assembly about the ACW Schools RE Project. Absolutely sweet sight as the little ones came in - they'd been told to be quiet and put their fingers on their lips. A glowing candle beside a crucifix, and an open Bible. Pictures of Our Lord's miracles flashed up on to a screen most efficiently by a child organising the power-point as I spoke about Our Lord quelling the storm at sea and healing the paralytic man. The children's voices chorusing their prayers, asking for help in the day ahead: "...Father, I want to please you today in all I do and say".
Tolworth is not far away and and I had set out along the A3 quite cheerily - haven't cycled that route since my marathon ride to Brighton last year to raise funds for World Youth Day . But I was feeling wobbly and getting along seemed a great effort. I was glad when I arrived at the school and was sipping tea, along with a couple of aspirin.
Jamie worked for a while at Tolworth some years ago. It is frankly not a beautiful place - all traffic and motorway junction, dominated by that gross square office slab of Tolworth Tower. Our Lady Immaculate Church, a large welcoming building, is the great redeeming feature of the place and I remember dropping in there when meeting J. from work...it was lovely to spend a few quiet moments there this morning. There were a good number of people for morning Mass. Statues etc draped in purple cloth for Passiontide. A big formal banner outside proclaiming that the church is celebrating its Golden Jubilee.
I wobbled home and J. tucked me up in bed and made me a mug of tea.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
A happy day...
...in Birmingham, where I was most warmly welcomed by the excellent Jackie Parkes and family, at a gathering of her Catholic women's Book Club. It was all huge fun - a buffet lunch on a table, people comfortably settled on chairs around the room, children milling about a bit, and general air of great friendliness. A joy to greet Father Guy Nicholls of the Birmingam Oratory, a friend of many years' standing.
I had been invited to talk about my Yearbook of Seasons and Celebrations and it was a very happy day in excellent company. I talked too much - am apt to chatter when suddenly relaxing in good company after a tiring time. Fell asleep on the train home.
I had been invited to talk about my Yearbook of Seasons and Celebrations and it was a very happy day in excellent company. I talked too much - am apt to chatter when suddenly relaxing in good company after a tiring time. Fell asleep on the train home.
The Cardinal Archbishop of Vienna...
Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn, spoke at a dinner at on Monday evening, to introduce the work of the International Theological Institute, based at Gaming in Austria. It was a wonderful evening, beautiful candlelit tables, white damask, etc, and it was hugely enjoyable to meet lots and lots of people involved with so many different aspects of the Church in Britain... I know the work of the ITI well, having spoken at one of their conferences, held at Sonntagberg. More on all this later...Monday, March 10, 2008
Ooops...
...first it was the Hoover. At Mother's. It seemed to be making a nasty crackling noise, and anyway it needed a new bag, so I went to some trouble to get one (v. tiresome - you have to get the right-shaped bag for the right sort of vacuum cleaner. Traipsed round shops and supermarkets....) Today, brandishing the new bag in triumph, I arrivd at M's...got the Hoover going, and the nasty crackling got suddenly more exciting, and a spark or two flew from the rear of the thing, and the smoke alarm suddenly shrieked PHEEP PHEEP PHEEP! and there was a whiff of smoke and things got slightly scary...
We're getting a new vacuum cleaner.
Then it was the mobile phone. Westminster Cathedral. The queue for confession. There we all were, silent, prayerful, Lenten, in front of the Lady Chapel. Statues draped in purple for forthcoming Passiontide. People silently coming and going. A touching scene in one of the world's great churches. Suddenly the air was pierced by a HORRIBLY LOUD chirping, the sound jangling in the silent air, shrieking, throbbing, from my handbag . Hurried scramble to find it. Hoarse whispered conversation. (It was Mother, saying I'd left my keys at her house).
I am not very good at machines. I phoned M. back a bit later and we both enjoyed a laugh over all this.
I still don't know how to turn off my mobile, and last time I tried it turned on a video camera and I got lots and lots of film of the inside of my handbag.
We're getting a new vacuum cleaner.
Then it was the mobile phone. Westminster Cathedral. The queue for confession. There we all were, silent, prayerful, Lenten, in front of the Lady Chapel. Statues draped in purple for forthcoming Passiontide. People silently coming and going. A touching scene in one of the world's great churches. Suddenly the air was pierced by a HORRIBLY LOUD chirping, the sound jangling in the silent air, shrieking, throbbing, from my handbag . Hurried scramble to find it. Hoarse whispered conversation. (It was Mother, saying I'd left my keys at her house).
I am not very good at machines. I phoned M. back a bit later and we both enjoyed a laugh over all this.
I still don't know how to turn off my mobile, and last time I tried it turned on a video camera and I got lots and lots of film of the inside of my handbag.
Friday, March 07, 2008
Be there!
Come and join us at our annual THANK YOU TO OUR PRIESTS at the Chrism Masses at
Westminster Cathedral (Tuesday of Holy Week, March 18th, 12 noon)
Arundel Cathedral (Wednesday of Holy Week, March 19th, 6pm) - first time we've done it there
St George's Cathedral, Southwark (Holy Thursday, March 20th, 10.30 am)
We have placards saying "Thank you to our priests" and we hand out holy cards with a suitable Scriptural quote and a message of thanks. It's all sponsored by Catholic women. Come and join us! The Chrism Mass includes some glorious prayers as the oil is blessed that will be used in baptisms and anointing of the sick in the coming year...
The significance of this was brought home to me today when the parish priest brought my mother Holy Communion at home, and gave her the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. It was a very beautiful thing to be there as the wonderful prayers were said.
Incidentally, I will take this opportunity to thank people who have sent good wishes during this time that my mother has been unwell. She's now getting much better. She hopes to be able to get along to the local church for Mass fairly soon...
Westminster Cathedral (Tuesday of Holy Week, March 18th, 12 noon)
Arundel Cathedral (Wednesday of Holy Week, March 19th, 6pm) - first time we've done it there
St George's Cathedral, Southwark (Holy Thursday, March 20th, 10.30 am)
We have placards saying "Thank you to our priests" and we hand out holy cards with a suitable Scriptural quote and a message of thanks. It's all sponsored by Catholic women. Come and join us! The Chrism Mass includes some glorious prayers as the oil is blessed that will be used in baptisms and anointing of the sick in the coming year...
The significance of this was brought home to me today when the parish priest brought my mother Holy Communion at home, and gave her the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. It was a very beautiful thing to be there as the wonderful prayers were said.
Incidentally, I will take this opportunity to thank people who have sent good wishes during this time that my mother has been unwell. She's now getting much better. She hopes to be able to get along to the local church for Mass fairly soon...
When the Lord returns...
... "Why do we tell him he must come by car?" This was the urgent question put by a puzzled four-year-old to his Granny recently.
"Why do you think he might come by car?"
"Well, because that's what we sing in church. Come by car, O Lord, come by car...."
"Why do you think he might come by car?"
"Well, because that's what we sing in church. Come by car, O Lord, come by car...."
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Auntie on the edge...
...of England. Yesterday I went to Dover, to speak to pupils at St Edmund's Catholic school, and later to address an evening gathering of local Catholics from neighbouring parishes in the school's new Carmel centre.
Topic for each meeting was "Celebrating feasts and seasons of the Church's calendar". The evening gathering was great fun, everyone v. friendly, hugely enjoyable. I had been more worried about the afternoon one - talking to an RE class of teenagers is always a challenge, because the faces say "Aaaargh...just know that this is going to be booooorrriiiiing..." But after a while most sets of eyes indicated "lights now on inside this head" and a connection was made. Of course in question-time there had to be "Yeah, but, like, all those miracles of Jesus....like, well, I mean, like, we've done science and philosophy and that [???] so I know that, like, well, miracles aren't, like, miracles really, are they?" but I don't mind that sort of question because it does get a discussion going. It all takes me back: we too were cynical, assumed the Church was slightly out-of-date, were certain we were knowledgeable. But they are more assertive, if less articulate, in their ignorance and assumptions than we were in the 1960s/70s, more moulded by TV/media-driven jargon, more certain that the Church is likely to be wrong...
I was glad to see some good CTS booklets and materials on a display stand in the room...hope they get picked up and read...
The school has had massive funding and has a Media section, studios for recording music, a top-class Business Centre. I was made v. welcome, everyone was most hospitable - tour of the whole place, delicious tray of snacks and sandwiches etc...I also went into the town and pottered about...seagulls calling, and a whiff of the sea. France is only 22 miles away. Exploring, I walked up the hill beyond the school, with a view of the town and castle in the setting sun...there is a huge cemetery there, with many military graves, soldiers of the Great War, brought back here from France, wounded, to die in the military hospital- just a few months older than the teenagers in the school below: "aged 18" "aged 19". White gravestones against the fresh green grass of early spring, and evening falling.
Topic for each meeting was "Celebrating feasts and seasons of the Church's calendar". The evening gathering was great fun, everyone v. friendly, hugely enjoyable. I had been more worried about the afternoon one - talking to an RE class of teenagers is always a challenge, because the faces say "Aaaargh...just know that this is going to be booooorrriiiiing..." But after a while most sets of eyes indicated "lights now on inside this head" and a connection was made. Of course in question-time there had to be "Yeah, but, like, all those miracles of Jesus....like, well, I mean, like, we've done science and philosophy and that [???] so I know that, like, well, miracles aren't, like, miracles really, are they?" but I don't mind that sort of question because it does get a discussion going. It all takes me back: we too were cynical, assumed the Church was slightly out-of-date, were certain we were knowledgeable. But they are more assertive, if less articulate, in their ignorance and assumptions than we were in the 1960s/70s, more moulded by TV/media-driven jargon, more certain that the Church is likely to be wrong...
I was glad to see some good CTS booklets and materials on a display stand in the room...hope they get picked up and read...
The school has had massive funding and has a Media section, studios for recording music, a top-class Business Centre. I was made v. welcome, everyone was most hospitable - tour of the whole place, delicious tray of snacks and sandwiches etc...I also went into the town and pottered about...seagulls calling, and a whiff of the sea. France is only 22 miles away. Exploring, I walked up the hill beyond the school, with a view of the town and castle in the setting sun...there is a huge cemetery there, with many military graves, soldiers of the Great War, brought back here from France, wounded, to die in the military hospital- just a few months older than the teenagers in the school below: "aged 18" "aged 19". White gravestones against the fresh green grass of early spring, and evening falling.
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
A traditional Catholic parish network ...
...can be a great support, I have discovered. During a recent hospital stay, my mother was visited over various days by the Legion of Mary from her local parish, and by the hospital chaplain - who is priest of the parish in which the hospital is situated - and by a kindly nun. In addition, she had visits from friends from her parish Bible Study group (which meets at her home, Mother usually presiding with tea and buns etc). It has all been a great support and help and contributed very substantially to her good morale.
Making a list of things for which one is deeply, heartily, utterly, grateful, I would currently include the following: family, a free Health Service, international phone calls, pain relief, mobile phones, good coffee, a free Health Service, friends, large-print books, a free Health Service, email, washing machines, taxis, bicycles, a free Health Service.
I know - the Health Service isn't free, we all pay for it through our taxes. Well, given the daft things for which we are also obliged to pay (European Union corruption and bureaucracy, grants of cash to ghastly lobby groups...) the Health Service is in a different league.
Making a list of things for which one is deeply, heartily, utterly, grateful, I would currently include the following: family, a free Health Service, international phone calls, pain relief, mobile phones, good coffee, a free Health Service, friends, large-print books, a free Health Service, email, washing machines, taxis, bicycles, a free Health Service.
I know - the Health Service isn't free, we all pay for it through our taxes. Well, given the daft things for which we are also obliged to pay (European Union corruption and bureaucracy, grants of cash to ghastly lobby groups...) the Health Service is in a different league.
Saturday, March 01, 2008
A Confirmation class...
...at my local parish last night, and then another one in a nearby parish this morning. It's good to see teenagers coming in good numbers. Last night's group was very lively - much end-of-week exuberance - and I was impressed by the energy and commitment of our young curate, and two seminarian volunteers who were in charge. Fr Richard spoke about the Church: One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic, using a flip chart to help focus on the various points. There were talks about young saints, with thoughts being directed to choosing a Confirmation name. All the young people were going to go to confession the following week as part of their preparation for Confirmation. A lot of thought and care goes into the whole of the Confirmation programme. My contribution, both at last night's session and this morning's, was to talk about how we got the annual calendar and the round of the Church's seasons, with linked information which always leads on to all sorts of things ranging from names of flowers and origins of old customs to pub signs and place-names and more...along with the bigger information about things like the foundation of Oxford and Cambridge universities and the great London hospitals...being a Catholic isn't a private sort of "add-on" to life, something stitched on at the edges. It means being part of the Church that has shaped our country and our world, and we need to know how much, and on what a deep scale, our country owes to its Christian roots...
This afternoon, a very different audience, a conference organised by the Union of Catholic Mothers. This was in Billingshurst in Sussex, a charming town in one of my favourite parts of England. Sussex was enchanting in spring sunshine. Again, we looked at feasts and seasons, old traditions and customs, and the value of the "domestic church"...
It's exhiliarating to speak to such different groups in one day. Home to mugs of tea and the ironing, phone calls, arrangements for next week. Oh, and sound common sense from Rome on feminist language and baptisms.
This afternoon, a very different audience, a conference organised by the Union of Catholic Mothers. This was in Billingshurst in Sussex, a charming town in one of my favourite parts of England. Sussex was enchanting in spring sunshine. Again, we looked at feasts and seasons, old traditions and customs, and the value of the "domestic church"...
It's exhiliarating to speak to such different groups in one day. Home to mugs of tea and the ironing, phone calls, arrangements for next week. Oh, and sound common sense from Rome on feminist language and baptisms.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Catholic education...
has been in the news. Domestic responsibilities this week have made blogging a bit optional. But I've managed to keep up with other writing work, and if you want a taste of what I think about current controversies in Catholic education, you can read about it here.
And Oremus the magazine of Westminster Cathedral, has my feature about Australian pioneer heroine Caroline Chisholm, which I've linked to World Youth Day, coming up in Australia this July...there is renewed interest in her story, because of the Papal visit and WYD, and I've been asked to give some talks about her. She was virtually forgotten - and certainly so here in England when I wrote my book about her in 1995 (it's currently enjoying a new boost of sales).
Life this week has centred around hospital visits and family phone discussions, planning domestic arrangements. It all makes one so grateful for family and friends.
And Oremus the magazine of Westminster Cathedral, has my feature about Australian pioneer heroine Caroline Chisholm, which I've linked to World Youth Day, coming up in Australia this July...there is renewed interest in her story, because of the Papal visit and WYD, and I've been asked to give some talks about her. She was virtually forgotten - and certainly so here in England when I wrote my book about her in 1995 (it's currently enjoying a new boost of sales).
Life this week has centred around hospital visits and family phone discussions, planning domestic arrangements. It all makes one so grateful for family and friends.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
I've been asked...
to help publicise a series of talks on Love and Responsibility, taking place in Central London over the next few weeks, and I'm very happy to do so. These are the issues that get people thinking, talking, arguing, wanting to know more...and often surprised and challenged by the discovery of what the Church gives and teaches. Topics include "Building the civilisation of love in a media-driven world", "The Gift of Life and Christian Discipleship". Find out more here.
Newspapers full of debate about what to do about "binge drinking" and the evident sense of a flat empty pointlessness in life that gives rise to it. Daft to pretend that making wine and beer more expensive will do anything to change that. Charles Moore in today's Telegraph makes some good points on this.
Young people want - need - to know they are loved and lovable, necessary, valued, and capable of great things. They need to know that life can be full of huge challenges and tasks, and adventures in doing them, and they need the structures that come with all that. How horrible that in modern Britain all this is being denied to so many.
Today in the High Street, a team of Christian singers were braving the cold and the weary who-cares-anyway of shoppers, and singing cheerily about the love of Christ. Their joy was suddenly contagious, and I felt warmed by it. It also made God seem real: he came here, lived among us all, joined in. Cares hugely about every single individual one of us. Easy to forget that.
Newspapers full of debate about what to do about "binge drinking" and the evident sense of a flat empty pointlessness in life that gives rise to it. Daft to pretend that making wine and beer more expensive will do anything to change that. Charles Moore in today's Telegraph makes some good points on this.
Young people want - need - to know they are loved and lovable, necessary, valued, and capable of great things. They need to know that life can be full of huge challenges and tasks, and adventures in doing them, and they need the structures that come with all that. How horrible that in modern Britain all this is being denied to so many.
Today in the High Street, a team of Christian singers were braving the cold and the weary who-cares-anyway of shoppers, and singing cheerily about the love of Christ. Their joy was suddenly contagious, and I felt warmed by it. It also made God seem real: he came here, lived among us all, joined in. Cares hugely about every single individual one of us. Easy to forget that.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
An American magazine...
...called VOICES, which is produced by Women for Faith and Family has published a feature by me about Bishop von Galen, whose beatification ceremony I attended in Rome a while back.
Today I worked on a couple of features on different topics for the National Catholic Register, also in the USA. I've been working at Mother's, as she isn't feeling too well. The skills and kindness of an affectionate grandson have ensured that she has an up-to-date computer with Internet access, and so I'm able to continue my work while doing various things that are needed. M. and I have been enjoying a book about Queen Victoria. However did people cope with illness and all its attendant difficulties 150 years ago...it is such a blessing to have modern medicines and things like a telephone, Internet, access to automatic banking machines for cash, taxis, trains, even my faithful bicycle...
Today I worked on a couple of features on different topics for the National Catholic Register, also in the USA. I've been working at Mother's, as she isn't feeling too well. The skills and kindness of an affectionate grandson have ensured that she has an up-to-date computer with Internet access, and so I'm able to continue my work while doing various things that are needed. M. and I have been enjoying a book about Queen Victoria. However did people cope with illness and all its attendant difficulties 150 years ago...it is such a blessing to have modern medicines and things like a telephone, Internet, access to automatic banking machines for cash, taxis, trains, even my faithful bicycle...
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
The East Riding...
...of Yorkshire was dramatic in hard white frost and freezing fog, with the sun a dull red glow as the train from Doncaster pulled along into Hull by the wide Humber river on Monday evening.
In due course I was in the cheerful kitchen at the presbytery of West Hull with Fr William Massie, enjoying shepherd's pie and breshly brewed coffee, and then off to speak at the Hull Faith Forum, which is linked to the Faith Movement. A full room, with a good many young people squashed together on the seats in good spirits: I spoke on "Feasting and Fasting", talking about the calendar of the Church's year, and the wonderful traditions, especially those associated with Lent and Holy Week and Easter...and in the wide-ranging discussion which followed, the younger element got especially interested in the references I had made to Shakespeare's Catholicism, (because of doing Shakepseare at school) and we got quite deeply into this, and found we were exploring A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Hamlet, and asking questions about The Tempest. Of course, Clare Asquith's book Shadowplay, has lots on this and is opening up a new debate...
Hull was badly hit by the floods last year, and some families are still not back in their homes. I heard first-hand stories of adventures, and felt a bit mean at how quickly the rest of us had forgotten all about it after a few days of headlines.
I stayed overnight - talkative and enjoyable gathering in the pub after the meeting. Next morning, a beautiful Mass at Corpus Christi Church, a small and snug building with a good-sized congregation for a weekday, and a welcoming feel. As we left, a passer-by stopped to talk to Fr W. and said "this church has been a beacon for me" - is interested in the Faith.
As the fog and mist lifted, there were the most glorious views of frosted fields and white-rimed trees stark against the wintry sky.
In due course I was in the cheerful kitchen at the presbytery of West Hull with Fr William Massie, enjoying shepherd's pie and breshly brewed coffee, and then off to speak at the Hull Faith Forum, which is linked to the Faith Movement. A full room, with a good many young people squashed together on the seats in good spirits: I spoke on "Feasting and Fasting", talking about the calendar of the Church's year, and the wonderful traditions, especially those associated with Lent and Holy Week and Easter...and in the wide-ranging discussion which followed, the younger element got especially interested in the references I had made to Shakespeare's Catholicism, (because of doing Shakepseare at school) and we got quite deeply into this, and found we were exploring A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Hamlet, and asking questions about The Tempest. Of course, Clare Asquith's book Shadowplay, has lots on this and is opening up a new debate...
Hull was badly hit by the floods last year, and some families are still not back in their homes. I heard first-hand stories of adventures, and felt a bit mean at how quickly the rest of us had forgotten all about it after a few days of headlines.
I stayed overnight - talkative and enjoyable gathering in the pub after the meeting. Next morning, a beautiful Mass at Corpus Christi Church, a small and snug building with a good-sized congregation for a weekday, and a welcoming feel. As we left, a passer-by stopped to talk to Fr W. and said "this church has been a beacon for me" - is interested in the Faith.
As the fog and mist lifted, there were the most glorious views of frosted fields and white-rimed trees stark against the wintry sky.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
You have got to see this...
....at Goring-by-sea in Sussex there is a complete, hand-painted, magnificent Sistine Chapel ceiling.It is in a completely ordinary Catholic church in this unremarkable small seaside community on the coast, between the South Downs and the English Channel.
It is awesome! Read about it here.
I met the artist, Gary Bevan, who took five years to paint the ceiling, having put up scaffolding in the church, obtained the paints, and gone into dedicated detail to ensure that what he was painting was exactly, in every tiny way, the same as on the ceiling of the chapel in Rome. As he finished the work, he realised that the dimensions of the ceiling here in Sussex were exactly those of the famous Roman one. You walk into the church, which adjoins an old Sussex barn which is now used as the church hall, and you gasp. There it is. In brilliant colours, just as Michaelangelo painted it, the magnificent piece of art that has drawn people to God for centuries.
It's about four minutes' walk from Goring-by-sea station, on the Worthing line.
I was in Goring to give a talk to the parish on "Celebrating traditional feasts and seasons". It was a happy gathering in the little warm oak-beamed Sussex flint barn, with a good crowd, and tea and lovely cakes to finish things...and then afterwards the Bevan girls took me to the sea...all in the wide breezy evening, with the waves crashing on to the shore, and the breakwaters, and the memories of happy childhood on just this very stretch of Sussex coast, and the Downs behind us, and those seaside-houses with green tiled roofs, and the sun setting.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
If you haven't yet read...
Fr Aidan Nichols' new paperback Realm,you are warmly recommended to do so. It's "An unfashionable essay on the conversion of England" and is written with warmth, and a light touch, and is difficult to put down. The chapter on the Coronation ceremony is especially goofd. It's published by Family Publications, which you can reach here.
A busy week...
...ended comfortably at Mother's yesterday evening with a glass of sherry, and supper, and an evening of sewing and chat and relaxation. We watched a video of the classic TV series All Gas and Gaiters. Remember it? You won't if you're under 40. It's set in an Anglican cathedral close, with Derek Nimmo as the Bishop's chaplain, and everything chintzy in a drawing-room-comedy sort of way, with the Dean as a humourless figure with a scary wife...all gently amusing. Golly, what an utterly different Britain it was in 1971. In retrospect it looks like an era of vanishing innocence. The collosal social changes of the late 60s - pop, pot, and the Pill - were just beginning to be fully assimilated in our culture. I remember older people disliking our denim jeans and pop music. But there was still a sense of people sharing a common set of assumptions and memories, a view of themselves and of one another, which made it possible to laugh at national institutions and human relationships in a way that would be impossible today.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Hurtling about...
...on trains en route to various speaking engagements, waiting on cold platforms, life has been hugely, gloriously, enlivened by Frank Muir's splendid autobiography A Kentish Lad. Chortling in a crowded railway carriage, I had to explain myself to other passengers ("I'm so sorry - it's just that this is one of the funniest books I've ever read"). It was published about ten years ago, and I just grabbed it from the local library when I rushed in for emergency reading material...
A C. of E. ladies' group in South London last night, a Women's Institute in Surrey today, and this weekend I'm off to Sussex. I sometimes take sewing to do on trains, but it's difficult in the rush-hour.
A C. of E. ladies' group in South London last night, a Women's Institute in Surrey today, and this weekend I'm off to Sussex. I sometimes take sewing to do on trains, but it's difficult in the rush-hour.
Oooops...
There's a giant new red poster on a hoarding along the main road near here which says "SOME PEOPLE ARE GAY - GET OVER IT". Well, yes, I found myself thinking - there are people who announce that they are gay, and then get over it. In the past couple of years I have read two features in (non-religious) newspapers by people who, having previously announced themselves as lesbians, later came to a different conclusion and subsequently married very happily and had children.
The poster is produced by Stonewall, a homosexualist lobby group. They've made a big mistake on this one. An absolutely key part of successful advertising is to remember that people don't read subtle details - they just respond to what seems to be the basic message. And the basic message of this poster is that people who are gay will get over it. I don't think that's what Stonewall wanted to convey at all.
The poster is produced by Stonewall, a homosexualist lobby group. They've made a big mistake on this one. An absolutely key part of successful advertising is to remember that people don't read subtle details - they just respond to what seems to be the basic message. And the basic message of this poster is that people who are gay will get over it. I don't think that's what Stonewall wanted to convey at all.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
A Catholic Religious Education Project...
...for primary schools, run by the Association of Catholic Women, has now been flourishing for several years. This year, we've teamed up with the CTS to make the whole venture even bigger. There are two trophies to be won, for different age groups, and some lovely prizes, and Catholic primary schools across Britain are invited to join in...one invited us to address the children, so this morning I went to St Vincent's primary school in Acton, to speak at Morning Assembly.
It's a joy to come in from litter-strewn streets and graffitti and the general cheerlessness of much of today's London, and find a school buzzing with a sense of purpose and small children. They walked into Assembly in neat lines, looking very nice in their school uniforms, sat cross-legged on the floor in rows looking bright-eyed, and led by a teacher put their hands together and closed their eyes for prayers. The chorus of children's voices in prayer was moving - I suppose teachers get used to it, but to this jaded journalist it was so sweet. Then I was introduced and told them about the RE project, and how we were doing it to help children all over Britain learn about our Catholic Faith...I mentioned the Pope and asked if anyone knew his name, and a lot of hands went up and I chose one at random and he was spot-on with the name of BXVI...
It's fun doing something like this, but facing a whole school assembly is surprisingly scary - all those faces. Much more challenging than last night's marriage preparation group, but more enchanting too. A joyful start to the day.
Afterwards I got the Tube to Victoria and relaxed for ten minutes with a cup of coffee and a roll and the Daily Telegraph - excellent commentary today by Simon Heffer about the Govt's Stalinist imposition of its own horrible version of "culture" on schools.
It's a joy to come in from litter-strewn streets and graffitti and the general cheerlessness of much of today's London, and find a school buzzing with a sense of purpose and small children. They walked into Assembly in neat lines, looking very nice in their school uniforms, sat cross-legged on the floor in rows looking bright-eyed, and led by a teacher put their hands together and closed their eyes for prayers. The chorus of children's voices in prayer was moving - I suppose teachers get used to it, but to this jaded journalist it was so sweet. Then I was introduced and told them about the RE project, and how we were doing it to help children all over Britain learn about our Catholic Faith...I mentioned the Pope and asked if anyone knew his name, and a lot of hands went up and I chose one at random and he was spot-on with the name of BXVI...
It's fun doing something like this, but facing a whole school assembly is surprisingly scary - all those faces. Much more challenging than last night's marriage preparation group, but more enchanting too. A joyful start to the day.
Afterwards I got the Tube to Victoria and relaxed for ten minutes with a cup of coffee and a roll and the Daily Telegraph - excellent commentary today by Simon Heffer about the Govt's Stalinist imposition of its own horrible version of "culture" on schools.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Young love in Chelsea...
Crowded room, filled with young engaged couples. They all look rather sweet, though when one gets talking to them of course they all turn out to be terrifyingly high-powered people in money and fashion journalism and things like that. And they've come for a Marriage Preparation Course and are all consciously being Deeply Serious about it. But once the talks start, the slightly artificial feel gives way to something more genuine - the discovery that this isn't a lot of woffle about relationships and caringandsharing but the real thing, which can be slightly startling: God and the reality of marriage as a sacrament, and what this means, and the practicalities of a lifelong commitment in a society that isn't going to do much to sustain you in that.
We were at St Mary's, Cadogan Street, Chelsea, where this Marriage Course has now been running for several years. If you are reading this as a much older person, and concerned for today's young people, and the general mess that Britain seems to be in at the moment in its family life, why not pray for the young couples I met tonight?
We were at St Mary's, Cadogan Street, Chelsea, where this Marriage Course has now been running for several years. If you are reading this as a much older person, and concerned for today's young people, and the general mess that Britain seems to be in at the moment in its family life, why not pray for the young couples I met tonight?
Dates to note...
...in your diary. Yesterday I met with the young team from Miles Jesu/Continuity, who organised last year's excellent Martyrs Walk in London. We're going to do it again this year, so mark the date now: Saturday June 21st. We'll start at Tower Hill, where Sts John Fisher and Thomas More met their deaths, and we'll walk through London to Tyburn, stopping on the way at St Patrick's, Soho Square, for Benediction and Tea.
Appropriately, we met yesterday at Tyburn to have our planning-session: we prayed in the convent chapel, and then went for a cup of coffee nearby. Tyburn Convent has adoration of the Blessed Sacrament all day, and there is always one of the Sisters praying...
While I'm about it, I'll mention another date - way ahead, but worth booking into your diary now so that nothing clashes: Sat. Nov 8th will be the 2008 Towards Advent Festival of Catholic Culture at Westminster Cathedral Hall...it sounds daft, but we'll be holding our first working meeting to make preliminary arrangements in March...
Appropriately, we met yesterday at Tyburn to have our planning-session: we prayed in the convent chapel, and then went for a cup of coffee nearby. Tyburn Convent has adoration of the Blessed Sacrament all day, and there is always one of the Sisters praying...
While I'm about it, I'll mention another date - way ahead, but worth booking into your diary now so that nothing clashes: Sat. Nov 8th will be the 2008 Towards Advent Festival of Catholic Culture at Westminster Cathedral Hall...it sounds daft, but we'll be holding our first working meeting to make preliminary arrangements in March...
Monday, February 11, 2008
A vignette...
...of life in suburbia: in a Britain of ugly crimes, violent groups gathering to shriek and hit one another in the streets, and a general sense of unease, there is another life plodding along, slightly beleagured, conscious of an air of menace, but getting on with things valued and enjoyed for a long time and not to be given up lightly....
There are groups in the suburbs that still thrive with a faintly pre-TV, pre-fast-foods, pre- WWII sort of feel to them: clubs and societies catering for different hobbies, little groups with Minutes and Chairmen and Annual General Meetings. They invite people like me to speak to them. Tonight, I was speaking to a local Wine Making Circle. They - well - make wine, and take it along and taste it and win prizes and certificates. They have a Guest Speaker and nibble snacks and wait to be entertained. I was invited to speak on "Celebrating Feasts and Seasons".
The meeting was in a church hall, and while they set up the tables and talked about blackberry wine, I looked into the church. High Anglican. Two people, one a robed clergyman, saying the Stations of the Cross. They were just approaching number 12. "We adore Thee O Christ and we praise Thee". "Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world." It was suddenly good to be there and just quietly to join in: they swivelled round when they heard a third voice but then just nodded and carried on. Later I read the parish newsletter and there it was, "Stations of the Cross every Monday evening during Lent". I hope they get more people next week.
A fine Edwardian church, beautiful stained glass with a Burne-Jones feel... I've passed it dozens of times and never dropped in.
Then the meeting: a cheery gathering. Gave my talk and, to my pleasure, sold a number of books. Good questions and chat afterwards. Home through the dark streets to a mug of tea, and plans for tomorrow, and writing this Blog.
There are groups in the suburbs that still thrive with a faintly pre-TV, pre-fast-foods, pre- WWII sort of feel to them: clubs and societies catering for different hobbies, little groups with Minutes and Chairmen and Annual General Meetings. They invite people like me to speak to them. Tonight, I was speaking to a local Wine Making Circle. They - well - make wine, and take it along and taste it and win prizes and certificates. They have a Guest Speaker and nibble snacks and wait to be entertained. I was invited to speak on "Celebrating Feasts and Seasons".
The meeting was in a church hall, and while they set up the tables and talked about blackberry wine, I looked into the church. High Anglican. Two people, one a robed clergyman, saying the Stations of the Cross. They were just approaching number 12. "We adore Thee O Christ and we praise Thee". "Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world." It was suddenly good to be there and just quietly to join in: they swivelled round when they heard a third voice but then just nodded and carried on. Later I read the parish newsletter and there it was, "Stations of the Cross every Monday evening during Lent". I hope they get more people next week.
A fine Edwardian church, beautiful stained glass with a Burne-Jones feel... I've passed it dozens of times and never dropped in.
Then the meeting: a cheery gathering. Gave my talk and, to my pleasure, sold a number of books. Good questions and chat afterwards. Home through the dark streets to a mug of tea, and plans for tomorrow, and writing this Blog.
YES!!!
"There are certain places and cultures where women are discriminated against and undervalued just for the fact that they are women, where recourse is even had to religious arguments and family, social and cultural pressures to support the disparity between the sexes, where there is consumption of acts of violence against women, making them into objects of abuse and exploitation in advertising and in the consumer and entertainment industries. In the face of such grave and persistent phenomena the commitment of Christians appears all the more urgent, so that they become everywhere the promoters of a culture that recognizes the dignity that belongs to women in law and in reality.
"God entrusts to women and to men, according to the characteristics that are proper to each, a specific vocation in the mission of the Church and in the world. I think here of the family, community of love, open to life, fundamental cell of society. In it, woman and man, thanks to the gift of maternity and paternity, together play an irreplaceable role in regard to life. From the moment of their conception, children have a right to count on a father and a mother who care for them and accompany them in their growth.
The state, for its part, must sustain with adequate social policies all that which promotes the stability of matrimony, the dignity and the responsibility of the husband and wife, their rights and irreplaceable duty to educate their children. Moreover, it is necessary that it be made possible for the woman to cooperate in the building-up of society, appreciating her typical 'feminine genius.' "
Pope Benedict, speaking to a conference of women in Rome this weekend.
"God entrusts to women and to men, according to the characteristics that are proper to each, a specific vocation in the mission of the Church and in the world. I think here of the family, community of love, open to life, fundamental cell of society. In it, woman and man, thanks to the gift of maternity and paternity, together play an irreplaceable role in regard to life. From the moment of their conception, children have a right to count on a father and a mother who care for them and accompany them in their growth.
The state, for its part, must sustain with adequate social policies all that which promotes the stability of matrimony, the dignity and the responsibility of the husband and wife, their rights and irreplaceable duty to educate their children. Moreover, it is necessary that it be made possible for the woman to cooperate in the building-up of society, appreciating her typical 'feminine genius.' "
Pope Benedict, speaking to a conference of women in Rome this weekend.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Daffodils...
...in the parks and gardens, and white blossom on the trees...suddenly Spring in suburbia today as I cycled to Mother's after Mass. On Sunday afternoons we often have a game of Scrabble and then tackle the Catholic Herald crossword. We are getting much better at the latter, but haven't yet managed to finish it and send it off in hopes of a prize. This week, we got the clue about the French Protestants of the Reformed Tradition, and the one about St Paul's Letter to the Galatians, but got hopelessly stuck on the clue that simply said "discombobulated". Is there another word for that? Can't think of one.
Masses in our parish are crowded, and it got rather warm in church. The weather seems crazy - today could have been April. But it's only the first Sunday of Lent...Fr P. suggested a booklet called A Rule of Life (CTS) and I picked one up...
Masses in our parish are crowded, and it got rather warm in church. The weather seems crazy - today could have been April. But it's only the first Sunday of Lent...Fr P. suggested a booklet called A Rule of Life (CTS) and I picked one up...
Friday, February 08, 2008
...and I've been asked
...by a (rather sulky-sounding!) anonymous correspondent to this blog, whether I "have any life outside narrow religious activities". Other readers may have noted that I promote this Blog as being a Catholic one, connected with my work as a Catholic journalist and broadcaster. So I don't write much about personal thing unconnected with that - with the quiet conviction that perhaps the details of my personal social life aren't, in any case, terribly interesting.
However, to satisfy Anonymous, I'll give a brief run-down on my other activities over the past couple of weeks or so. These have included (in no particular order of importance): an enjoyable lunch with a dear friend of my late father, girl-talk time over coffee with a niece and one of her friends discussing dresses they were to wear at a College Ball, an agreeable and rather giggly lunch with said niece, tea with a wonderful aunt (cream cakes), an evening watching a 1940s film (chocolate, hankies), a concert (Schubert, Brahms), a couple of extremely satisfying hours in a library (biographies, 19th century history), tea with a Marchioness (smoked salmon, scones), a drinks party with a great many journalists (champagne), a discussion about summer holiday plans with family, and an early morning bike ride with one of the most glorious sunrises I have ever seen.
Happy now?
However, to satisfy Anonymous, I'll give a brief run-down on my other activities over the past couple of weeks or so. These have included (in no particular order of importance): an enjoyable lunch with a dear friend of my late father, girl-talk time over coffee with a niece and one of her friends discussing dresses they were to wear at a College Ball, an agreeable and rather giggly lunch with said niece, tea with a wonderful aunt (cream cakes), an evening watching a 1940s film (chocolate, hankies), a concert (Schubert, Brahms), a couple of extremely satisfying hours in a library (biographies, 19th century history), tea with a Marchioness (smoked salmon, scones), a drinks party with a great many journalists (champagne), a discussion about summer holiday plans with family, and an early morning bike ride with one of the most glorious sunrises I have ever seen.
Happy now?
I had an email...
...about the Holy Father's amending of the "Prayer for the Jews" in the Extraordinary Form of the Good Friday prayers. The Holy Father is absolutely right to respond to Jewish concerns, and with his deep understanding of liturgy wants to ensure that the Church's prayer is at one with the heart of Christ. If we are to obey Christ's command to spread to Gospel to all people, nothing could be more daft than continuing to use a prayer that - even accidentally - caused offence, thus clearly putting people off, rather than attracting them! And all concerned could benefit by taking this in the spirit of the Golden Rule. The new version has clearly been produced with the intention of eliminating offence, so if offence is taken now, it will be unjust.
Meanwhile the Ordinary Form of the prayer, which like other middle-aged and young Catholics I have known for all my Good Fridays, is beautiful and impressive - and it is that version which will be used in the vast majority of Catholic churches across the world.
God bless our Papa Benedict!
Meanwhile the Ordinary Form of the prayer, which like other middle-aged and young Catholics I have known for all my Good Fridays, is beautiful and impressive - and it is that version which will be used in the vast majority of Catholic churches across the world.
God bless our Papa Benedict!
Thursday, February 07, 2008
An ecumenical venture...
...with which I have been involved for some years is Christian Projects/OCU - we run an annual Schools Bible Project, involving schools across Britain, offering young people an opportunity to study the New Testament and write essays which can win prizes... I spent today with two long-time supporters of this venture, going through old papers and sorting them...for some years our records have been kept in their house in the country, and now it was time to decide which to keep and which to throw out...a day of nostalgia as we talked of old times, remembering past achievements, crisies, hilarious moments, daft things, good things. As I was taken to the station at the end of the day, carrying a big plastic bin-bag filled with some empty files which I can put to good use here at home, and a head and heart full of memories, I was aware of a chapter closing.
The 2008 Schools Bible Project is set to be the biggest ever - do keep it in your prayers.
The 2008 Schools Bible Project is set to be the biggest ever - do keep it in your prayers.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
I've been at...
Fawley Court in Oxfordshire, at a conference organised by the British section of the international charity Aid to the Church in Need. It was for ACN's team of diocesan secretaries, who visit parishes to give appeals on behalf of ACN, explain its work, encourage support for its projects, and sell items such as the rosaries made by Christians in the Holy Land, devotional books, DVDs of sacred music, etc. Excellently organised, it included a talk on the current situation of the Church in China, with news on the relationship between the underground and the "official" Church there, and the general scene as the Olympics approach...
Fawley Court is a conference/retreat centre run by Polish Marian Fathers. This morning we all attended Mass and recieved ashes for Ash Wednesday - done in the Polish fashion by sprinkling them on our heads rather than the British style which is to mark a cross with ash on the forehead. Yesterday evening we had delightful pre-Lent drinks at the home of a generous benefactor to ACN, who welcomed us to a wonderful party in her beautiful home.
Our conference was mostly in a modern building in the grounds of Fawley Court, but we used the beautiful chapel for Mass - an icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa and other Polish items mingling with the Jacobean panelling of an old English country house.
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Oh dear...
... when I started this Blog, I decided I wouldn't, as a general rule, merely comment on things I had read in the press. But sometimes it's irresistible.
Two items:
- after praising the excellence and high standards of Britain's small village schools, the Government is going to close a large number of them - up to a third of the total - across the country. Such schools are the heart of village and rural life, they have consistently good records in teaching reading, numeracy, and the basic subjects of a primary curriculum, they teach a wide range of other things including community traditions and local history (at the fair in my in-laws' village last summer, little girls from the school led us all in country dancing - a joy) and they foster strong links across the generations...all absolutely crucial at the start of this new century. In a nation of increasing viciousness and crime, they are core centres of real values and achievement, of shared enterprise and useful activity. So our Labour masters plan to close as many of them as they can.
- local authorities are going to start charging fees for collecting rubbish. And they are claiming this will improve the environment! Are they completely daft? Quite obviously, if people have to pay for having rubbish removed, they'll simply dump it somewhere without paying.
A central responsibility of a local Council is ensure basic public services to prevent rats and filth from stacking up in streets and alleys and open spaces. It is what local authorities are for. It is why local taxes are taken from us. Making people pay for this basic service is a negation of what local government is all about. We may as well revert to the 18th-century system of having rich people pay to get things cleaned up in the areas around around their nice homes, while the main public streets are where the poor dump their rubbish.
No, I'm not just an armchair-grumbler. I go up and down our street and collect the rubbish that people drop as they return from the fast-food places nearby, and I have even bought paint-stripper and scrubbed graffitti off local walls. And I'm active with a number of schools, urban and rural. And yes, I do know something of the costs involved in running education and local authorities.
Two items:
- after praising the excellence and high standards of Britain's small village schools, the Government is going to close a large number of them - up to a third of the total - across the country. Such schools are the heart of village and rural life, they have consistently good records in teaching reading, numeracy, and the basic subjects of a primary curriculum, they teach a wide range of other things including community traditions and local history (at the fair in my in-laws' village last summer, little girls from the school led us all in country dancing - a joy) and they foster strong links across the generations...all absolutely crucial at the start of this new century. In a nation of increasing viciousness and crime, they are core centres of real values and achievement, of shared enterprise and useful activity. So our Labour masters plan to close as many of them as they can.
- local authorities are going to start charging fees for collecting rubbish. And they are claiming this will improve the environment! Are they completely daft? Quite obviously, if people have to pay for having rubbish removed, they'll simply dump it somewhere without paying.
A central responsibility of a local Council is ensure basic public services to prevent rats and filth from stacking up in streets and alleys and open spaces. It is what local authorities are for. It is why local taxes are taken from us. Making people pay for this basic service is a negation of what local government is all about. We may as well revert to the 18th-century system of having rich people pay to get things cleaned up in the areas around around their nice homes, while the main public streets are where the poor dump their rubbish.
No, I'm not just an armchair-grumbler. I go up and down our street and collect the rubbish that people drop as they return from the fast-food places nearby, and I have even bought paint-stripper and scrubbed graffitti off local walls. And I'm active with a number of schools, urban and rural. And yes, I do know something of the costs involved in running education and local authorities.
Friday, February 01, 2008
St Robert Southwell...
...heroic Jesuit martyr, who died with quite extraordinary courage after vicious torture, has his feast-day in February, so I was writing about him this morning for a feature in the Catholic Times. I hope that Jesuits today (yes, I am thinking of the pro-priestess ones!) learn from him.
The Jesuits...
...at London's famous Farm Street church sponsor an event called "Theology on tap", in which young people meet at a pub and discuss some aspect of the Catholic faith. Yesterday I was invited to be their speaker: "Women and the Church", at a pub in Grays Inn Road. A lively discussion, not without its amusing moments...at one point, a (male!) Jesuit was putting the case for priestesses, and was roundly opposed by the young women in the room, who said they supported the Church's traditional teaching!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Where have I been? Well...
...in Durham, where I spoke to the Cathsoc at the University. Most enjoyable...a packed evening Mass in St Cuthbert's Church - which doubles as the University chaplaincy - and a convivial meeting over wine with a great group of students...my topic was "Celebrating traditional Feasts and Seasons", with talk of old customs and folklore, including pub signs (eg "The Crossed Keys", "The Salutation" - both of those have Catholic origins)...the Cathsoc is a v. friendly and lively group, with a good programme... recent speakers have included Sister Roseanne Reddy of the Sisters of the Gospel of Life...
I stayed at the hospitable home of Prof and Mrs Sheridan Gilley...books, talk, warm hospitality, more books, more talk...shelves of Robert Hugh Benson and Ronald Knox, books by and about John Henry Newman, books on thology, more books...a feast of reading and talking...
...and then on to Manchester where I was with the North West branch of the Catholic Writers Guild which meets at the Manchester University Catholic chaplaincy. The meeting was chaired by Eric Hester - whose book reviews in the Catholic Times, FAITH magazine, and elsewhere, are always a joy to read - and I went on to enjoy great hospitality at the Hesters' home, sitting late and agreeably, talking with Eric and Katherine...again a house with a feast of books...
...and finally, on to London and thence to Croydon, to Coloma School, ...a parents' meeting tackling issues concerning young people and the media...a friendly and positive evening...useful points were discussed and raised, such as how families should set guidelines about use of TV and the Internet...we looked a things like Tamezin magazine...books from Gracewing and from the CTS were on sale...This is a very popular school, and it was a huge pleasure to be there.
I stayed at the hospitable home of Prof and Mrs Sheridan Gilley...books, talk, warm hospitality, more books, more talk...shelves of Robert Hugh Benson and Ronald Knox, books by and about John Henry Newman, books on thology, more books...a feast of reading and talking...
...and then on to Manchester where I was with the North West branch of the Catholic Writers Guild which meets at the Manchester University Catholic chaplaincy. The meeting was chaired by Eric Hester - whose book reviews in the Catholic Times, FAITH magazine, and elsewhere, are always a joy to read - and I went on to enjoy great hospitality at the Hesters' home, sitting late and agreeably, talking with Eric and Katherine...again a house with a feast of books...
...and finally, on to London and thence to Croydon, to Coloma School, ...a parents' meeting tackling issues concerning young people and the media...a friendly and positive evening...useful points were discussed and raised, such as how families should set guidelines about use of TV and the Internet...we looked a things like Tamezin magazine...books from Gracewing and from the CTS were on sale...This is a very popular school, and it was a huge pleasure to be there.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
The Christian Imagination and English Literature
...was the title of a talk at THE KEYS, London branch of the Catholic Writers Guild of England and Wales, this week. Speaker was Prof Michael Alexander, who was appointed Professor of English at St Andrews University in 1985. An excellent evening, which got us discussing all sorts of things from Caedmon to Chaucer and on to Walter Scott via George Herbert, Milton, and Dryden and more...he also circulated some things on which to ponder and we looked at "I sing of a maiden..." and "Love bade me welcome..." and "God doth not need/Either man's work or his own gifts..."
It was our AGM, and, following email contact from the catholicwritersguild.org - an American-based group which had contacted me via this Blog - I passed on greetings from them to our Guild and then it was formally resolved, and carried by acclamation, that we pass our greetings back to them...we hope to have a regular exchange of news, helpful ideas and information etc. Sean O'Connor formally retired as Master of THE KEYS and was presented with a bottle of champagne, amid very heartfelt applause as he really has been excellent, especially in seeing the Guild safely into our new home at St Mary Moorfields after many very happy years at St Etheldreda's, Ely Place (where a plaque in the crypt now marks our link there).
All this, and a good dinner with rare roast beef followed by a proper hot pudding with apples and spicy dried fruit and generous ice cream...oh, an excellent evening.
Papa Benedict has been speaking, with wisdom and largeness of mind, about the media, to mark the feast of St Francis de Sales...
It was our AGM, and, following email contact from the catholicwritersguild.org - an American-based group which had contacted me via this Blog - I passed on greetings from them to our Guild and then it was formally resolved, and carried by acclamation, that we pass our greetings back to them...we hope to have a regular exchange of news, helpful ideas and information etc. Sean O'Connor formally retired as Master of THE KEYS and was presented with a bottle of champagne, amid very heartfelt applause as he really has been excellent, especially in seeing the Guild safely into our new home at St Mary Moorfields after many very happy years at St Etheldreda's, Ely Place (where a plaque in the crypt now marks our link there).
All this, and a good dinner with rare roast beef followed by a proper hot pudding with apples and spicy dried fruit and generous ice cream...oh, an excellent evening.
Papa Benedict has been speaking, with wisdom and largeness of mind, about the media, to mark the feast of St Francis de Sales...
Friday, January 25, 2008
St John Fisher...
...a great hero of the Faith, is still inspiring new generations.
The chapel at the John Fisher School, Purley (where my brother went to school) with was consecrated on Thursday in a glorious ceremony - Archbishop McDonald of Southwark spreading sacred oil from a silver ewer on to the altar, priests anointing the walls with crosses, a great choir of boys singing magnificently....
A church is usually consecrated as soon as all its debts have been paid, but although the school chapel was paid for long ago, and has been in full use for many years, it had never been consecrated - so the school took the opportunity of the chapel's 50th anniversary to do it. A long line of priests, many of them former pupils of the school, filed in to the packed chapel, and the congregation was led by the Mayor and Mayoress of Croydon. Bishop Howard Tripp, a former John Fisher pupil, blessed a portrait of St John Fisher which hangs at the back of the chapel - it dates back to the mid-19th century and has just been restored, there's a whole story attached to it - and we sang the School Hymn which was written by the founding headmaster and has splendid lines about the saint "Loyal to England and Christ's earthly Vicar, death found thee fearless..."
Afterwards, a buffet lunch in the school hall, and lots and lots of old friends meeting and talking...I met Gwen, with whom I was in the Girl Guides, oh a lifetime ago (we both got our Queen's Guide badges within months of each other) and Mother was hugely enjoying meeting people and reminiscing...
Like many another school chapel across Britain, this one is packed with important memories for so many people.
The chapel at the John Fisher School, Purley (where my brother went to school) with was consecrated on Thursday in a glorious ceremony - Archbishop McDonald of Southwark spreading sacred oil from a silver ewer on to the altar, priests anointing the walls with crosses, a great choir of boys singing magnificently....
A church is usually consecrated as soon as all its debts have been paid, but although the school chapel was paid for long ago, and has been in full use for many years, it had never been consecrated - so the school took the opportunity of the chapel's 50th anniversary to do it. A long line of priests, many of them former pupils of the school, filed in to the packed chapel, and the congregation was led by the Mayor and Mayoress of Croydon. Bishop Howard Tripp, a former John Fisher pupil, blessed a portrait of St John Fisher which hangs at the back of the chapel - it dates back to the mid-19th century and has just been restored, there's a whole story attached to it - and we sang the School Hymn which was written by the founding headmaster and has splendid lines about the saint "Loyal to England and Christ's earthly Vicar, death found thee fearless..."
Afterwards, a buffet lunch in the school hall, and lots and lots of old friends meeting and talking...I met Gwen, with whom I was in the Girl Guides, oh a lifetime ago (we both got our Queen's Guide badges within months of each other) and Mother was hugely enjoying meeting people and reminiscing...
Like many another school chapel across Britain, this one is packed with important memories for so many people.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
I've got a cold...
...and am snuffly and keep stopping at coffee-shops to give myself consoling mugs of hot chocolate.
Hurried off to give a talk at a Methodist Church fellowship on the outskirts of Croydon - an agreeable ride in the tram, which swoops most satisfyingly through Wandle Park and glides round Reeves Corner - and then, via an exccellent hot choc at Wimbledon, up to London to a committee meeting of the The Keys, the Catholic Writers' Guild at St Mary Moorfields. Our splendid chaplain, Fr Peter, gave us all dinner. It was a most enjoyable evening. Melanie McDonagh is to be the new Master of the Guild, succeeding Sean O'Connor, who has done an excellent job. Sample of Melanie's writing here.
Jeremy de Satge, a committee member of The Keys, and a composer of some merit, has the premiere of his Penitential Mass for Eight Voices, at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Farm Street on Sunday Feb 17th, at the 11 am sung Latin Mass. All are welcome. I plan to be there. As its name suggests, this is a Mass suitable for Lent and Advent, and you can read more about it here.
Hurried off to give a talk at a Methodist Church fellowship on the outskirts of Croydon - an agreeable ride in the tram, which swoops most satisfyingly through Wandle Park and glides round Reeves Corner - and then, via an exccellent hot choc at Wimbledon, up to London to a committee meeting of the The Keys, the Catholic Writers' Guild at St Mary Moorfields. Our splendid chaplain, Fr Peter, gave us all dinner. It was a most enjoyable evening. Melanie McDonagh is to be the new Master of the Guild, succeeding Sean O'Connor, who has done an excellent job. Sample of Melanie's writing here.
Jeremy de Satge, a committee member of The Keys, and a composer of some merit, has the premiere of his Penitential Mass for Eight Voices, at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Farm Street on Sunday Feb 17th, at the 11 am sung Latin Mass. All are welcome. I plan to be there. As its name suggests, this is a Mass suitable for Lent and Advent, and you can read more about it here.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
I found some useful news videos...
The Jesuits...
...have been in the news because they've been electing a new Superior, so this morning I decided to go to Mass at the Jesuit Church in Wimbledon. Sung (Latin, ordinary form) Mass, glorious music, good-sized congregation, although probably not as large as that for the earlier "Family Mass" which was still spilling out as I arrived. (Actually, if I had children I would take them to the one I attended: much more impressive stuff to see and hear and smell - even the introductory rites, including the Confiteor, were chanted, strong participation, church filled with song, lots of incense, and Credo III, and the familiar Pater Noster, and a "Domine, salvam fac" for the Queen at the end - all much more exciting than just children's hymns).
We sat up late yesterday evening watching Casino Royale on DVD (James Bond) - interesting to see how they've developed the new plots as there is no Soviet Union to be the Enemy any more, so it has to be general International Terrorism and Evil Crooks. This will work for a while, but is a bit wobbly - as Western society increasingly ceases to believe in itself, the notion of having a Secret Service dedicated to its preservation will seem less and less defensible, so the old M15/headquarters in London/Bond reporting back/loyalty to Britain/etc idea won't work so well.
We sat up late yesterday evening watching Casino Royale on DVD (James Bond) - interesting to see how they've developed the new plots as there is no Soviet Union to be the Enemy any more, so it has to be general International Terrorism and Evil Crooks. This will work for a while, but is a bit wobbly - as Western society increasingly ceases to believe in itself, the notion of having a Secret Service dedicated to its preservation will seem less and less defensible, so the old M15/headquarters in London/Bond reporting back/loyalty to Britain/etc idea won't work so well.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
I was given...
...from New Zealand, at Christmas, a dear little patchwork bag to carry sewing, and a tapestry to do, and a needle-case. It is most satisfying using something pretty instead of a plastic bag, and gives a pleasing feeling when carrying it about...
If you didn't get the Daily Mail's Brideshead series on DVD - available with the newspaper all this past fornight - do, quickly, send off for a set. It is, of course, superb, as all who first saw it back in thre 1980s will recall - and there is an extra DVD at the end, in which various people discuss the book, the TV adaption, Evelyn Waugh's work, and more. The whole thing would be excellent for VI-formers to watch. The lavish Oxford scenes, the sense of 1920s decadence, then the unfolding drama, set in the the glorious sweep of heavely countryside and architecture (the Venice scenes! The hunt at Brideshead!)...then the hesitant but steady, paced move towards the central moment in Lord Marchmain's room...
If you didn't get the Daily Mail's Brideshead series on DVD - available with the newspaper all this past fornight - do, quickly, send off for a set. It is, of course, superb, as all who first saw it back in thre 1980s will recall - and there is an extra DVD at the end, in which various people discuss the book, the TV adaption, Evelyn Waugh's work, and more. The whole thing would be excellent for VI-formers to watch. The lavish Oxford scenes, the sense of 1920s decadence, then the unfolding drama, set in the the glorious sweep of heavely countryside and architecture (the Venice scenes! The hunt at Brideshead!)...then the hesitant but steady, paced move towards the central moment in Lord Marchmain's room...
This is most enjoyable reading...
...from a typical mainstream oh-isn't-the-Catholic-church-awful commentator in a Canadian paper, admitting : "what initially appeared as an unconditional Papal retreat has suddenly been transformed into a resounding Vatican victory". Do read it.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Enjoy this Blog?
...want to read more? Then you might enjoy this link. It's an on-line magazine for which I write., with comments on topical events etc....
at Mother's...
...this evening, we were just settling down with a DVD and some sewing, when the doorbell rang...it was the splendid Mr Dan Cooper of the FAITH Movement, with young Fr James Clark, who had just given a talk to the FAITH Group at the John Fisher School. It is so enjoyable and encouraging to talk to a young and enthusiastic priest - and a great joy for Mother, who ran the mailing-and-admin. of FAITH magazine for years and remembers so many of these excellent FAITH priests as schoolboys, helping with the mail-out....We had mugs of tea and chocolate biscuits and much talk...
Westminster Cathedral...
...is such a reassurring presence, and like lots of Londoners I drop in there when passing...which often means several times a week. Mass, especially the sung Mass at 5.30pm on weekdays, confession, a quiet place to pray - and, at present, until Feb 2nd, a lovely Crib to visit...
So it's with real concern that I see the headline in this week's Catholic Herald "Race to save Westminster Cathedral" - big problems with water leaking into the great domes on the roof, and with the antiuquated electricity and heating systems...which date back to the Cathedral's foundation in the 1900s.
They need a LOT of money for repair work. With several thousand people pouring in and out each week, packing it for Mass on Sundays, and attending the special Masses held there for all great occasions, it should be possible to get the cash...and this is a cause well worth supporting
So it's with real concern that I see the headline in this week's Catholic Herald "Race to save Westminster Cathedral" - big problems with water leaking into the great domes on the roof, and with the antiuquated electricity and heating systems...which date back to the Cathedral's foundation in the 1900s.
They need a LOT of money for repair work. With several thousand people pouring in and out each week, packing it for Mass on Sundays, and attending the special Masses held there for all great occasions, it should be possible to get the cash...and this is a cause well worth supporting
NOTE....
The email address I gave for the Pope was inaccurate, but I have now corrected it. Do send him an email of support!!
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Latest issue...
...of FAITH magazine arrives. It has a kind review of my Yearbook of Seasons and Celebrations, saying it is a "defiantly informative book" which is a most satisfying phrase. There's also a brilliant column by Dr William Oddie about the arrival of Polish Catholics in Britain, and an editorial "The Primacy of Christ and honouring the Islamic Invitation", which I'm currently reading...it's the first thing I've come across which has responded in any depth to the "open letter" sent by Moslem leaders to the Church.
You can find out more about the Faith Movement here.
You can find out more about the Faith Movement here.
Of course he had to...
...cancel his visit to the University. It was the only possible thing for Pope Benedict to do.
When students at La Sapienza University threatened to blare out loud rock music to drown the Pope's voice, and staff - albeit only a minority, but clearly an influential one - had signed a letter demanding that he not attend, and the whole thing looked as though it might turn into as shrieking mess, the only sane thing to do was withdraw. So it wasn't a "ban" that ensured that the Pope didn't speak at the University - it was the threat of mob behaviour. I am annoyed now that I referred to a "ban" in my letter, because the ban was created by the threat of mob violence rather than simply than by a letter of dis-invitation. But there we are.
Have you written to the University? The more letters they get, the easier it will be when they arrange for the Pope to come with proper dignity on a subsequent occasion, and the more strength it will give to the authorities to do and say the right things in the discussions which will continue over the next weeks. It is important - very important - that the University authorities know how offensive this has all been. And have you sent a message of support to the Pope? His email is benedictxvi@vatican.va
It's been great to see the surge of support for the Holy Father, especially from La Spaienza students with thjeir banners at the Wednesday Audience.
When students at La Sapienza University threatened to blare out loud rock music to drown the Pope's voice, and staff - albeit only a minority, but clearly an influential one - had signed a letter demanding that he not attend, and the whole thing looked as though it might turn into as shrieking mess, the only sane thing to do was withdraw. So it wasn't a "ban" that ensured that the Pope didn't speak at the University - it was the threat of mob behaviour. I am annoyed now that I referred to a "ban" in my letter, because the ban was created by the threat of mob violence rather than simply than by a letter of dis-invitation. But there we are.
Have you written to the University? The more letters they get, the easier it will be when they arrange for the Pope to come with proper dignity on a subsequent occasion, and the more strength it will give to the authorities to do and say the right things in the discussions which will continue over the next weeks. It is important - very important - that the University authorities know how offensive this has all been. And have you sent a message of support to the Pope? His email is benedictxvi@vatican.va
It's been great to see the surge of support for the Holy Father, especially from La Spaienza students with thjeir banners at the Wednesday Audience.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
This is the letter...
....I have sent to staff at La Sapienza University.
Please write too. You can email (see link given below) or send a letter by post: The Chancellor, La Sapienza University, Piazza Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Roma, Italy.
I write to express my concern and indignation at the banning of the visit of Pope Benedict to your University. This is an insult to the Holy Father, and makes La Sapienza University look extremely foolish as well as rather frightening.
A University should be a place where scholarship is honoured and respected, and where mob-rule is not seen as acceptable...
Please write too. You can email (see link given below) or send a letter by post: The Chancellor, La Sapienza University, Piazza Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Roma, Italy.
I write to express my concern and indignation at the banning of the visit of Pope Benedict to your University. This is an insult to the Holy Father, and makes La Sapienza University look extremely foolish as well as rather frightening.
A University should be a place where scholarship is honoured and respected, and where mob-rule is not seen as acceptable...
Action:
Following the crass ignorance of the people at La Sapienza University in Rome in preventing the Holy Father from coming to speak, I'm writing to the creeps there and suggest that other bloggers do the same. You could email them too. Info here.
Another thought too: how about Catholic students and pro-life groups at universities writing to invite the Holy Father to come to address them?
Another thought too: how about Catholic students and pro-life groups at universities writing to invite the Holy Father to come to address them?
Outside Parliament...
...we gathered yesterday with placards saying "Protect the family "Children need fathers" and "No animal/human hybrids". The House of Lords was debating the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill with its nasty schemes for unethical activities . We called out "Ditch the Bill now!" I do wish they would do just that.
Have you written to your Member of Parliament about it yet?
Have you written to your Member of Parliament about it yet?
Monday, January 14, 2008
One of the best things...
...that has come my way over the past week is a new booklet A Way of Life for Young Catholics, by Father Stephen Wang. At just £1.95p from the CTS, it's really excellent. It has prayers, information, sections on "How to live your Catholic Faith", "Five great saints of the 20th century" "Five saints for young people" "Five ways to find a good Catholic husband or wife", lists of useful books and DVDs and websites...and lots more! It's brand-new - I picked it up in the CTS bookshop in Westminster Cathedral Piazza (one day I really am going to try to go into that shop and come out without buying something!) and I'll be passing it on. When I look back on some of the poor stuff that was available to young Catholics in the 1970s I realise what good things are around today.
A new Blog...
...John Smeaton of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, is blogging!
It's a good read, and will be of enormous help over the next weeks as crucial legislation goes through Parliament, and new threats to families and children are exposed. Read his blog here.
It's a good read, and will be of enormous help over the next weeks as crucial legislation goes through Parliament, and new threats to families and children are exposed. Read his blog here.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
St Elphege
...was an Archbishop of Canterbury martyred by the Vikings, and I was baptised, confirmed and married in a church dedicated to him. I was at Mass there, too, this morning, as I was staying overnight with Mother in what is still her home parish. It's a frankly ugly church, though improved in recent years by the creation of a central aisle. And it has happy associations for me, and it's a large and busy parish, and it was good to reconnect with various friends. A speaker - Matthew Gorman, whom I know from the FAITH movement as well as pro-life campaigns - told us about the Govt's horrific plans for human-animal hybrid embryos and other gruesome schemes, in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill. Have you written yet to your Member of Parliament about this? Information here.
Increasingly, I get the calm and steady assumption, when talking to sane friends and colleagues, that the possibility exists of one of us ending up in prison simply for affirming the central importance, in our common life here in Britain, of traditional Christian teaching on marriage, love, and the transmission of human life. Already, I sense within myself a certain cautious concern as I write and debate on these issues - a concern that is probably useful in that it ensures clarity of thought and moderation in speech and manner. But, as with the Govt's increasingly open attacks on Church schools, one senses a biting nastiness that indicates no desire for any effective role for authentic Christianity in the public and community life of our country, and seeks to eliminate from public life any voice which seeks one.
Increasingly, I get the calm and steady assumption, when talking to sane friends and colleagues, that the possibility exists of one of us ending up in prison simply for affirming the central importance, in our common life here in Britain, of traditional Christian teaching on marriage, love, and the transmission of human life. Already, I sense within myself a certain cautious concern as I write and debate on these issues - a concern that is probably useful in that it ensures clarity of thought and moderation in speech and manner. But, as with the Govt's increasingly open attacks on Church schools, one senses a biting nastiness that indicates no desire for any effective role for authentic Christianity in the public and community life of our country, and seeks to eliminate from public life any voice which seeks one.
Friday, January 11, 2008
The Catholic Women of the Year...
....are celebrated at a great Luncheon with a guest speaker, etc, and 2008 sees the 40th anniversary of this venture. Who are the Catholic Women of the Year? Unsung heroines, mostly. They are women who are nominated by anyone and everyone across Britain: ordinary women, serving their local communities and families, women who care for the frail and elderly, who foster children with special needs, who clean and take care of community property, who help run First Communion groups, assist in pilgrimages to Lourdes, visit prisons, do dull but neccessary paperwork to help organisations run smoothly, speak out in defence of human and moral values, are good neighbours and colleagues and friends...you can nominate any Catholic woman who who feel deserves this honour (and, yes, most of those so honoured are very embarrassed). The idea was launched in 1968 - a difficult year for the Church and one in which a group of Catholic women felt it would be useful to bring together people in a spirit of loyalty and service. It's all still thriving. The women nominated get no cash prize or medal, just an invitation to lunch, and there's a guest speaker, and money is raised for charity.
We had the organising committee meeting yesterday - various Catholic groups are represented on the committee - and we have great plans for this 40th year.
How to nominate some one? Simply write a letter to the Chairman: 22 Milton Rd, Ware, Herts, giving the name of your nominee and stating the reasons for nomination....
We had the organising committee meeting yesterday - various Catholic groups are represented on the committee - and we have great plans for this 40th year.
How to nominate some one? Simply write a letter to the Chairman: 22 Milton Rd, Ware, Herts, giving the name of your nominee and stating the reasons for nomination....
Prison...
...is not an attractive thought.
Please pray for K, a man in prison, almost certainly unjustly, whose case was brought to our attention through Jamie's involvement with a legal group...and before you just dismiss him from your mind,just consider the possibility: how would it be be if you, or some one very close to you, was imprisoned for a crime he did not commit?
Please pray for K, a man in prison, almost certainly unjustly, whose case was brought to our attention through Jamie's involvement with a legal group...and before you just dismiss him from your mind,just consider the possibility: how would it be be if you, or some one very close to you, was imprisoned for a crime he did not commit?
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
A crowded hall...
...of parents of First Communion children, on a rain-splashed night in Banstead, Surrey. I had travelled from London, and how wonderful it was to arrive and discover St Anne's church glowing with light, a most glorious crib scene in the sanctuary, the Blessed Sacrament in a monstrance on the altar, and people praying. Outside the wind howled as we knelt there, and the church felt a real place of refuge. We said the Divine Praises. Then after Benediction, into the hall where there was a bustle of people coming and tea and coffee being poured, and then I was introduced and giving a talk to this large and lively group, parents of some 40 First Communicants. It was all very friendly and alive and enjoyable, and the joy stayed with me through the journey home on the bus with the rain still lashing down...and into the warm house with mugs of tea and Jamie there with the latest DVD from the Daily Mail with an instalment of the excellent BBC Brideshead.
Monday, January 07, 2008
Weekday Mass...
...in our local parish gets a good-sized congregation I dropped in this morning, in something of a rush, because my bike had a puncture. Kneeling at the back, watching a long line of communicants on this Monday January morning - all ages, both sexes, a great mix of people - I had a sudden wish to haul in some of the gleeful doomsayers who love telling us that Everything In the Church These Days is Awful and telling them to be quiet, kneel down, and join in...
Bike shops always seem to be friendly places. A small boy was being fitted out with a new bike as a Birthday present - a proud Daddy and a very happy boy. The assistant broke off to take charge of my machine, assurred me he could get it done by lunchtime. Talk became general. Apparently the bike trade generally didn't do so well this Christmas :"Lots of kids prefer to have computer games and that." Golly. How ghastly. It makes one droop.
Spent the afternoon bashing out features for various newspapers and magazines at the computer. Want samples of my efforts? Read the Catholic Times, or the USA's National Catholic Register, or This Rock magazine. Better still, do think about getting my latest book, or even ordering it at your local library...
Bike shops always seem to be friendly places. A small boy was being fitted out with a new bike as a Birthday present - a proud Daddy and a very happy boy. The assistant broke off to take charge of my machine, assurred me he could get it done by lunchtime. Talk became general. Apparently the bike trade generally didn't do so well this Christmas :"Lots of kids prefer to have computer games and that." Golly. How ghastly. It makes one droop.
Spent the afternoon bashing out features for various newspapers and magazines at the computer. Want samples of my efforts? Read the Catholic Times, or the USA's National Catholic Register, or This Rock magazine. Better still, do think about getting my latest book, or even ordering it at your local library...
It was in Austria...
...that we first learned of the tradition of having a house blessed for the year at Epiphany, and chalking up the initials of the Three Kings, thus
20 + C + M+ B + 08
...I have a lovely memory of being in the Oetztal, in a small snowy village, and suddenly being aware of the scent of incense - and there head of me, ploughing through the snow, was a small group of Star Singers, three Wise men in wonderful costumes, one bearing Gold, and Frankincense (hence the incense-smell, for he was carrying the thurible from church!), another a great box for Myrrh...and with them a leader bearing a Star on a stick. As it happens, they were headed for the very house where we were staying, and when I reached it, there they were...they visit each house in turn, rather like carol-singers. But there is more to it than that, because prayers are said, and a carol sung, as well as money collected for charity, and then the father of the house chalks up the new date above the door...
There is lots more that can be done, such as a blessing of the chalk, and indeed a blessing of fresh holy water for the ceremony. All very delightful, and so we now have the tradition at Bogle Towers. Jamie read the prayers yesterday - he adores all old ceremonial - and then we sped off to some friends. They were already celebrating Twelfth Night, with small girls dressed as St Lucias, and a Boy Bishops, and much merriment planned, so our house-blessing just fitted in delightfully, and we had a wonderful evening. I wish I could convey the brightness and wonder of the little girls' eyes when the boy dressed as St Nicholas arrived ( a magnificent mitre on his head, and an umbrella covered in silver paper as a splendid crozier)...and they answered up very well as he asked them questions, proving that they did indeed know the simple facts of their Faith. A happy evening...
20 + C + M+ B + 08
...I have a lovely memory of being in the Oetztal, in a small snowy village, and suddenly being aware of the scent of incense - and there head of me, ploughing through the snow, was a small group of Star Singers, three Wise men in wonderful costumes, one bearing Gold, and Frankincense (hence the incense-smell, for he was carrying the thurible from church!), another a great box for Myrrh...and with them a leader bearing a Star on a stick. As it happens, they were headed for the very house where we were staying, and when I reached it, there they were...they visit each house in turn, rather like carol-singers. But there is more to it than that, because prayers are said, and a carol sung, as well as money collected for charity, and then the father of the house chalks up the new date above the door...
There is lots more that can be done, such as a blessing of the chalk, and indeed a blessing of fresh holy water for the ceremony. All very delightful, and so we now have the tradition at Bogle Towers. Jamie read the prayers yesterday - he adores all old ceremonial - and then we sped off to some friends. They were already celebrating Twelfth Night, with small girls dressed as St Lucias, and a Boy Bishops, and much merriment planned, so our house-blessing just fitted in delightfully, and we had a wonderful evening. I wish I could convey the brightness and wonder of the little girls' eyes when the boy dressed as St Nicholas arrived ( a magnificent mitre on his head, and an umbrella covered in silver paper as a splendid crozier)...and they answered up very well as he asked them questions, proving that they did indeed know the simple facts of their Faith. A happy evening...
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Epiphany...
...is a glorious feast:"the wealth of nations will come to you; camels in throngs will cover you, and dromedaries of Midian and Ephah, everyone in Sheba will come"...and we had golden vestments and the Kings in the crib-scene in church moved in, edging out the shepherds adoring the Christ-child. An email from a friend in Ukraine reminded me that today is Christmas Day in the Julian calendar - he sent seasonal greetings from a sparkling snowbound land several degrees below zero...
Jamie and I dressed up in our best yesterday evening and went off to my cousin's for a party...only to find, on arrival, that the party had been on Friday! Ooops...however, we were warmly welcomed, and Angela poured drinks, lit candles on the dinner-table and we were given a delicious supper ("we've got stacks of food left over - come and help us eat it!") with a variety of wonderful puddings, and we talked and laughed and all enjoyed ourselves hugely!
On Friday I was actually at a party at Mothers - all the residents of the flats where she lives gather together each year for a congenial celebration, at which I traditionall provide a Quiz, and the son-in-law of another resident sings, and there is a lovely buffet...it all went extremely well, with the Quiz getting everyone talking, especially the bits about English history, kings and queens, who married who, Alfred burning the cakes and Queen Victoria's daughter marrying the Crown Prince of Prussia, and Bonnie Prince Charlie, and all those Hanoverian Georges, and so on.
Jamie and I dressed up in our best yesterday evening and went off to my cousin's for a party...only to find, on arrival, that the party had been on Friday! Ooops...however, we were warmly welcomed, and Angela poured drinks, lit candles on the dinner-table and we were given a delicious supper ("we've got stacks of food left over - come and help us eat it!") with a variety of wonderful puddings, and we talked and laughed and all enjoyed ourselves hugely!
On Friday I was actually at a party at Mothers - all the residents of the flats where she lives gather together each year for a congenial celebration, at which I traditionall provide a Quiz, and the son-in-law of another resident sings, and there is a lovely buffet...it all went extremely well, with the Quiz getting everyone talking, especially the bits about English history, kings and queens, who married who, Alfred burning the cakes and Queen Victoria's daughter marrying the Crown Prince of Prussia, and Bonnie Prince Charlie, and all those Hanoverian Georges, and so on.
A correspondent to this Blog asked about hymns for St Stephen's Day (Boxing Day, Dec 26th). I just happened to notice something useful in the hymn-book at Mass today: (Laudate hymnal, published by Decani music, 1999) - there is a hymn beginning "By all your saints still striving/for all your saints at rest..." which has a whole set of extra verses for various different saints, with the feast-days listed, and there is one for St Stephen: "All praise, O Lord, for Stephen/who, martyred, saw you stand/to help in time of torment/to plead at God's right hand..." The author is given as "Jerry D.Godwin, based on H. Nelson (1823-1913)". I don't know the tune, but the words to fit to a number of standard tunes including, for example "The Church's one foundation"...
And now this evening I shall take down the cards and decorations, and the wreath from the door, and start dealing with dull things.
Friday, January 04, 2008
URGENT...
...The House of Lords is soon to vote on a gross piece of legislation which treats children as possessions - among other things, it will allow a lesbian to have a child who will have no father. The law also allows for anumal/human hybrid embryos, and the creation of human babies for "spare parts" surgery.
Yes, really.
Have you written yet to a member of the House of Lords on this? Hurry, and do so now. The first vote looks set to be on January 15th. You can get more by contacting this website or this one.
Yes, really.
Have you written yet to a member of the House of Lords on this? Hurry, and do so now. The first vote looks set to be on January 15th. You can get more by contacting this website or this one.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Every Thursday...
...at St Joseph's, New Malden, there is adoration of the Blessed Sacrament until into the night, finishing with Benediction. It's sort of satisfying walking through the dark streets to the glowing church - which looks especially welcoming in this Christmas season with the greenery and the red candles in the window niches, and a side-chapel all transformed into Bethlehem for the crib. And then the silence, and Tantum Ergo, and the gentle drama of Benediction, and home to mugs of tea.
Watch out for renewed attacks on the Church's teachings on marriage and family, following the Pope's excellent New Year message. It's encouraging, though, to see that the Spanish rally seems to have been effective and inspiring. You can get all sorts of insights by trawling through the Internet. The Ratzinger Forum has lots of gosh-isn't-he-lovely fan-mail stuff about the Pope, but some interesting reports and comments, too, drawn from a number of sources.
Back into the routine of work today though there are still agreeable trails of Christmas all around - yesterday evening a most delightful drinks party with friends in London, a talkative gathering with journalists and vaguely political people, neighbours and friends-from-church, and delicious food, and children giggling about, and a most glorious Christmas Tree. Hostesses were the daughters of the Utley family - their father T.E. Utley was one of the wisest people I've ever met and if you haven't sampled his writing then you should be introduced to it: start here.
Watch out for renewed attacks on the Church's teachings on marriage and family, following the Pope's excellent New Year message. It's encouraging, though, to see that the Spanish rally seems to have been effective and inspiring. You can get all sorts of insights by trawling through the Internet. The Ratzinger Forum has lots of gosh-isn't-he-lovely fan-mail stuff about the Pope, but some interesting reports and comments, too, drawn from a number of sources.
Back into the routine of work today though there are still agreeable trails of Christmas all around - yesterday evening a most delightful drinks party with friends in London, a talkative gathering with journalists and vaguely political people, neighbours and friends-from-church, and delicious food, and children giggling about, and a most glorious Christmas Tree. Hostesses were the daughters of the Utley family - their father T.E. Utley was one of the wisest people I've ever met and if you haven't sampled his writing then you should be introduced to it: start here.
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Rally for the Family...
...Did you know that something over a million people gathered in Madrid the other day at a rally in defence of marriage and family life? No, I thought perhaps you didn't. Read about it here.
I bet that if there had been a million-strong rally in defence of, say, animal rights, in a major European city there would have been a number of reports about it in the British media.
Of course, it could be claimed that a million Catholics defending the Christian teaching on marriage and family ought not to be news. It ought to be routine. But, these days, it isn't. It's important, significant, and encouraging. Tell people about it.
I bet that if there had been a million-strong rally in defence of, say, animal rights, in a major European city there would have been a number of reports about it in the British media.
Of course, it could be claimed that a million Catholics defending the Christian teaching on marriage and family ought not to be news. It ought to be routine. But, these days, it isn't. It's important, significant, and encouraging. Tell people about it.
Real things...
...have occupied my time, and that of others, for the past days. Family, children, Midnight Mass, games, Grannies, traditions, jokes, a glittering Christmas tree, a Nativity scene, candlelight shining on familiar faces around the table. Christmas brings one to reality. It's been marvellous.
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