Friday, February 26, 2010
Catholic women...
...meeting to plan various activities. Lots of talk, lots to do.
Day of Recollection for LENT, March 13th, includes Mass, Rosary, inspirational talks...all welcome.
Teachers, parish catechists, anyone involved with youth work - come to the Day of Art and Music in Religious Education, March 25th, at Chelsea. It's FREE and includes lunch, and a workshop on singing Gregorian chant. But you do need to book.
Info on both these events here.
MUCH discussion about the Govt's ghastly new law on compulsory sex education...and the role played by the Catholic Education Service.
The Catholic Education Service has lost the confidence of the Catholic community. Time for a complete rethink.
Day of Recollection for LENT, March 13th, includes Mass, Rosary, inspirational talks...all welcome.
Teachers, parish catechists, anyone involved with youth work - come to the Day of Art and Music in Religious Education, March 25th, at Chelsea. It's FREE and includes lunch, and a workshop on singing Gregorian chant. But you do need to book.
Info on both these events here.
MUCH discussion about the Govt's ghastly new law on compulsory sex education...and the role played by the Catholic Education Service.
The Catholic Education Service has lost the confidence of the Catholic community. Time for a complete rethink.
London drenching...
...in pouring rain, rather dramatic in its ferocity and remorselessness. A sturdy group with umbrellas and waterproofs of every sort, plus a portable microphone, set off from St Mary Moorfields on the latest in our series of Catholic History Walks. Stations of the Cross at Moorfields - a good-sized congregation at this beautiful and popular church - and then the walkers gathered for a short history walk ... centuries ago this really was a moor on the edge of London, a wild and rough district along the outer edge of the city's Wall, which gave acess to the city through Moorgate. Our walk - no one seemed defeated by the incessant rain - took us to several City churches and to the magnificent Guildhall and site of a Roman amphitheatre ( a couple of decades ago, when it was first excavated, I did a radio broadcast from there for a BBC history feature, standing at the entrance where once wild animals were let into the arena...). We finished on the steps of St Paul's Cathedral - the great clock dramatically chiming the hour as we looked out over London and prayed for our city, our country, our Sovreign, and our Church.
Next Walk: March 10th, 6.30pm, steps of Westminster Cathedral. It will include a look at Parliament. No need to book, just turn up as the 5.30pm Mass ends and join us on the Cathedral steps...We walk whatever the weather, stopping for talks at all interesting historical points along the way. These Walks are a form of pilgrimage, to pray for a revival of the Faith in Britain.So be prepared to appear slightly daft, standing in the rain saying prayers aloud in some prominent place in the middle of London.
Next Walk: March 10th, 6.30pm, steps of Westminster Cathedral. It will include a look at Parliament. No need to book, just turn up as the 5.30pm Mass ends and join us on the Cathedral steps...We walk whatever the weather, stopping for talks at all interesting historical points along the way. These Walks are a form of pilgrimage, to pray for a revival of the Faith in Britain.So be prepared to appear slightly daft, standing in the rain saying prayers aloud in some prominent place in the middle of London.
For more...
...on the question of Catholic schools and the new Govt scheme for compulsory sex education, read here...Auntie's analysis for EWTN.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Watched...
The Jon Voight film Pope John Paul II late last night...I've seen it before, but then lent the DVD to a friend and have only just had the chance to view it again. Woke this morning still thinking about it. In an uncomfortable sense - which was not the case when the film first appeared in 2006 - the scenes of Church life in 1970s Communist-dominated Poland present tensions and difficulties which are faintly echoed now in modern Britain...we need strong Bishops like Poland had. Where is our Wyszynski? Where is our Woytila?
MUCH...
...discussion today, at a pro-life working group which tackles such matters, about latest developments on the Govt's sex education scheme.
The Catholic Education Service has completely messed up on this one, and heads will have to roll.Not much can be salvaged, and it's time for an admission of mistakes and a chance for a fresh start at the CES.
They were given an excellent opportunity - invited in right at the start of the Govt's discussions, given a place on the planning committee etc. They should have made the Catholic position clear, offered statistics and information showing - which is now readily acknowledged - that current fashionable forms of sex-ed, used for the past two decades, have resulted in steadily rising rates of teenage pregnancy, abortion, and STDs, discussed some radically alternative ideas complete with plenty of back-up material (lots available both here and in the USA, Australia),etc. If then they were outnumbered and the same old ghastly rubbish-ideas were adopted, they should have produced a minority report and resigned - killing two birds with one stone by producing some sound ideas for the future while possibly helping to squelch the Govt scheme. But no. They just sat and nodded the whole project through on the Govt's terms and are now revealed as essentially part of the Govt bureaucracy and unconnected with the reality of the Church and the Christian vision of life and love.
A clause for "faith schools" has been added to the legislation which seems to allow such schools to put some statement of beliefs on sexual ethics to the pupils, but that's all: it seems that Catholic schools will still be mandated to have abortion-providers and promoters of various sexual lifestyles pushing their message to pupils on school territory, with a head-teacher given no right to block them.
Verdict from Catholic laity and clergy: NO CONFIDENCE in the CES in its present form. Time for a complete overhaul. Over to you, dear Bishops - and with the words of the Holy Father ringing in your ears, please take courage and take the action needed.
The Catholic Education Service has completely messed up on this one, and heads will have to roll.Not much can be salvaged, and it's time for an admission of mistakes and a chance for a fresh start at the CES.
They were given an excellent opportunity - invited in right at the start of the Govt's discussions, given a place on the planning committee etc. They should have made the Catholic position clear, offered statistics and information showing - which is now readily acknowledged - that current fashionable forms of sex-ed, used for the past two decades, have resulted in steadily rising rates of teenage pregnancy, abortion, and STDs, discussed some radically alternative ideas complete with plenty of back-up material (lots available both here and in the USA, Australia),etc. If then they were outnumbered and the same old ghastly rubbish-ideas were adopted, they should have produced a minority report and resigned - killing two birds with one stone by producing some sound ideas for the future while possibly helping to squelch the Govt scheme. But no. They just sat and nodded the whole project through on the Govt's terms and are now revealed as essentially part of the Govt bureaucracy and unconnected with the reality of the Church and the Christian vision of life and love.
A clause for "faith schools" has been added to the legislation which seems to allow such schools to put some statement of beliefs on sexual ethics to the pupils, but that's all: it seems that Catholic schools will still be mandated to have abortion-providers and promoters of various sexual lifestyles pushing their message to pupils on school territory, with a head-teacher given no right to block them.
Verdict from Catholic laity and clergy: NO CONFIDENCE in the CES in its present form. Time for a complete overhaul. Over to you, dear Bishops - and with the words of the Holy Father ringing in your ears, please take courage and take the action needed.
Monday, February 22, 2010
And meanwhile...
......the excellent Cardinal Vaughan School has been told to make last-minute changes to its admissions procedures, despite assurances from the relevant authorities that this would not be neccessary. Families are being put under huge pressure and hard-working pupils are being caused considerable distress.
The big question here of course concerns the Diocese of Westminster. Why, instead of supporting and encouraging this excellent school, did the diocesan authorities choose to join forces with those who were attacking and undermining it?
Surely the only sane attitude of Bishops and their officials, when seeing a massively popular and successful Catholic school, is to seek ways of ensuring that other schools follow its example and come up to scratch too?
At the moment, ordinary RCs in Britain could be forgiven for thinking that the general episcopal attitude towards anything useful and successful and creative in Catholic life is irritation and dismay rather than gratitude and support...
The big question here of course concerns the Diocese of Westminster. Why, instead of supporting and encouraging this excellent school, did the diocesan authorities choose to join forces with those who were attacking and undermining it?
Surely the only sane attitude of Bishops and their officials, when seeing a massively popular and successful Catholic school, is to seek ways of ensuring that other schools follow its example and come up to scratch too?
At the moment, ordinary RCs in Britain could be forgiven for thinking that the general episcopal attitude towards anything useful and successful and creative in Catholic life is irritation and dismay rather than gratitude and support...
Today...
...Anglicans interested in the Anglican Ordinariate were spending time in prayer, to ask for wisdom as they seek the way ahead. Today is the feast of the Chair of St Peter.
There are all sorts of obvious pressures and obstacles and difficulties for this Anglican Ordinariate as it struggles to be born ...and all sorts of glorious, large, far-reaching and important things that could be accomplished, in the will of God, if the birth can be safely achieved. Before you do anything else, stop for a moment and add your prayers. Do it now.
There are all sorts of obvious pressures and obstacles and difficulties for this Anglican Ordinariate as it struggles to be born ...and all sorts of glorious, large, far-reaching and important things that could be accomplished, in the will of God, if the birth can be safely achieved. Before you do anything else, stop for a moment and add your prayers. Do it now.
Spent today...
...at a school as one of a team of speakers giving a presentation on chastity.
The problem when doing this is not that the young people reject the message, or even challenge it to any very great degree - rather, it is simply the human reality with which they have to live. They do not see marriage presented as an attractive - or even a realistic - option in the world in which they are growing up: not on the TV soaps, not in the lives of the soi-disant "celebs" whose activities are chronicled in the junk-magazines haunting all the supermarkets, and not, alas, in many of the homes and families of their own everyday experience. Sometimes school is the only place where it will even be presented for discussion in any significant way.
The Church has so much to offer here that is healing, inspiring, and life-changing. Unfortunately too often, the young have the idea that the Church simply presents a set of negative rules which are essentially for her own members, who then apply them rather smugly. Breaking through the barrier of ignorance and prejudice which surrounds the image of the Church is itself something that takes time and good humour and prayer and patience. But it can be done...
The problem when doing this is not that the young people reject the message, or even challenge it to any very great degree - rather, it is simply the human reality with which they have to live. They do not see marriage presented as an attractive - or even a realistic - option in the world in which they are growing up: not on the TV soaps, not in the lives of the soi-disant "celebs" whose activities are chronicled in the junk-magazines haunting all the supermarkets, and not, alas, in many of the homes and families of their own everyday experience. Sometimes school is the only place where it will even be presented for discussion in any significant way.
The Church has so much to offer here that is healing, inspiring, and life-changing. Unfortunately too often, the young have the idea that the Church simply presents a set of negative rules which are essentially for her own members, who then apply them rather smugly. Breaking through the barrier of ignorance and prejudice which surrounds the image of the Church is itself something that takes time and good humour and prayer and patience. But it can be done...
A weekend...
...visit to friends, a houseful of delightful children and young people,talkative meals with much laughter and fun,a glorious Saturday walk with the sun setting in a wintry sky, a great family hike across snowy fields to Mass on Sunday morning(impossible to get anywhere by car), more friends arriving for Sunday lunch, enchanting toddlers to be enjoyed and cuddled. All this plus various Catholic projects discussed and planned, news swapped, ideas and dreams and hopes and more...
Home late, snow disappearing as we headed south. A late-night enjoyable film on DVD, mugs of tea.
Home late, snow disappearing as we headed south. A late-night enjoyable film on DVD, mugs of tea.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Sunday, February 14, 2010
A cold, rainy...
Sunday, and it's weather I rather enjoy. Mass, with lots of music, including Credo III (Missa de Angelis) which is the easiest to sing, and among the hymns, The king of love my shepherd is which was one of my father's favourites. On Friday I gave a talk to a Confirmation group at our parish - there are almost 40 of them, and they are having a full Confirmation course led by our energetic young curate with a team which includes a couple of volunteers from the local seminary. Last year's batch was also some 40-strong. En route to the church centre where they were gathered, I dropped into the church where people were kneeling in prayer - Adoration of the Bl. Sacrament. Next time some one tells you all is hopeless in the Catholic Church, don't believe them - come to this parish and see things to lift your heart...
J. away this w/e so I took myself to lunch in a local cafe and over cottage-pie and salad and some good coffee, read an excellent biography Ettie, a life of Lady Desborough...mother of Julian and Billy Grenfelll...WWI, heartbreaking... was taken beyond the cafe and the talk and the rain-soaked pavements of a 2010 South London suburb and the traffic and noise to a vanished England...
Cycled off through the rain. Walk with mother. Tea. Home to various tasks, resisting the lure of the book until these are done...
J. away this w/e so I took myself to lunch in a local cafe and over cottage-pie and salad and some good coffee, read an excellent biography Ettie, a life of Lady Desborough...mother of Julian and Billy Grenfelll...WWI, heartbreaking... was taken beyond the cafe and the talk and the rain-soaked pavements of a 2010 South London suburb and the traffic and noise to a vanished England...
Cycled off through the rain. Walk with mother. Tea. Home to various tasks, resisting the lure of the book until these are done...
TWO MORE....
....CATHOLIC HISTORY WALKS. No need to book. Just turn up. Wear comfortable shoes, and suitable clothes - we'll be walking whatever the weather.
ASH WEDNESDAY Feb 17th, 6.30pm (after the 5.30pm Mass) steps of Westminster Cathedral.
THURSDAY Feb 25th, 6.30pm outside the church of St Mary Moorfields, London EC2. Nearest tube(MOORGATE or LIVERPOOOL STREET).
ASH WEDNESDAY Feb 17th, 6.30pm (after the 5.30pm Mass) steps of Westminster Cathedral.
THURSDAY Feb 25th, 6.30pm outside the church of St Mary Moorfields, London EC2. Nearest tube(MOORGATE or LIVERPOOOL STREET).
Friday, February 12, 2010
This weekend...
...marks an important anniversary for a group of women I have come to like and admire very much. It is the 80th anniversary of the women's section of Opus Dei.
I'm not a member, and nor is any member of my family. But over the years I have seen the work of Opus Dei members , especially with young people. I have seen them organising young people from all sorts of backgrounds to come together to do all sorts of creative, interesting and enjoyable activities, enormously enriching their lives. I've seen volunteers from Opus Dei plunging with enthusiasm into projects getting young people to sing, write, act, create plays and books and magazines, and even run fashion shows...and all this at a time when many people have thought that the only thing you could get young people to do is hang about and do nothing in particular with the vague hope that they might at least refrain from taking drugs.
I have seen Opus Dei women who have not even realised the profound and good influence they have been on the lives of others - cheerful, prayerful, with a zest for life. I've worked with them and shared extremely enjoyable and sometimes hilarious times - and prayed with them and talked with them and found common sense and true faith. This weekend I'll be lighting a candle to give thanks for the work that has been achieved these 80 years, and praying that the work may flourish and prosper.
I'm not a member, and nor is any member of my family. But over the years I have seen the work of Opus Dei members , especially with young people. I have seen them organising young people from all sorts of backgrounds to come together to do all sorts of creative, interesting and enjoyable activities, enormously enriching their lives. I've seen volunteers from Opus Dei plunging with enthusiasm into projects getting young people to sing, write, act, create plays and books and magazines, and even run fashion shows...and all this at a time when many people have thought that the only thing you could get young people to do is hang about and do nothing in particular with the vague hope that they might at least refrain from taking drugs.
I have seen Opus Dei women who have not even realised the profound and good influence they have been on the lives of others - cheerful, prayerful, with a zest for life. I've worked with them and shared extremely enjoyable and sometimes hilarious times - and prayed with them and talked with them and found common sense and true faith. This weekend I'll be lighting a candle to give thanks for the work that has been achieved these 80 years, and praying that the work may flourish and prosper.
Today...
...a new survey shows that children in Britain are deeply unhappy. A third of young people say they do not feel happy with life - up two percentage points from last year. One in 20 secondary school pupils admits to being drunk "three or more times" in the past month.
And the Govt spokesman announced confidence in the measures to combat all this: information about healthy foods, "happiness" lessons in schools, and compulsory personal, social, health and ecooimic education.
You couldn't make it up, could you?
And the Govt spokesman announced confidence in the measures to combat all this: information about healthy foods, "happiness" lessons in schools, and compulsory personal, social, health and ecooimic education.
You couldn't make it up, could you?
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
For years...
...I've supported Family and Youth Concern, and indeed have contributed to its publications. The latest Family Bulletin has just arrived and is an important read. This is an organisation worthy of your support. There are some ghastly things going on, and we see the results all around us in the destruction of childhood innocence and the increasing attacks on marriage...but it's infuriating when Christians make smug isn't-it-all-dreadful comments and fail to act, or support those who are taking action...so do help this excellent organisation if you can.
How are you marking Ash Wednesday?
If you are in London and planning to be at the 5.30pm sung Mass, why not come on the CATHOLIC HISTORY WALK which follows? We meet on the steps of the Cathedral at 6.30pm (or when Mass finishes). Wear warm clothes, comfortable shoes, and be prepared for a good walk. It will have a Lenten flavour - we'll be taking in some sites associated with martyrdom - and will begin and end with prayers.
Yesterday evening, we had a meeting of the History Walk Team to plan ahead for the spring and summer. A bitterly cold night, but we warmed up over a good meal and mapped out plans which will include a river trip, a visit to a seminary on the site of Thomas More's garden,a look at various City churches, and more...
The success of the Walks so far has been a great boost - large numbers, much enthusiasm. The Walks always include prayers for our country - badly needed at this time. A collapsing culture, daily abortion of infants in hospitals across the nation,drunken youth fighting and shrieking in the streets on Saturday nights as a matter of routine, plans for legalising "assisted suicide", schemes to block Catholic schools from teaching the fullness of Catholic doctrine and morals, a nationwide system of sex education centred on a contraceptive-culture...come and join us in prayer as Lent 2010 begins...
Yesterday evening, we had a meeting of the History Walk Team to plan ahead for the spring and summer. A bitterly cold night, but we warmed up over a good meal and mapped out plans which will include a river trip, a visit to a seminary on the site of Thomas More's garden,a look at various City churches, and more...
The success of the Walks so far has been a great boost - large numbers, much enthusiasm. The Walks always include prayers for our country - badly needed at this time. A collapsing culture, daily abortion of infants in hospitals across the nation,drunken youth fighting and shrieking in the streets on Saturday nights as a matter of routine, plans for legalising "assisted suicide", schemes to block Catholic schools from teaching the fullness of Catholic doctrine and morals, a nationwide system of sex education centred on a contraceptive-culture...come and join us in prayer as Lent 2010 begins...
Monday, February 08, 2010
And further...
...to my post below, this contribution from Bishop Peter Elliott in Australia is useful....
I have just had...
...the most extraordinary experience!
I went along to a local church hall where I was due to give a talk. The group that had invited me to speak as a local author was unconnected with the church and simply hired the hall for meetings. I arrived too early and while waiting was delighted to discover a rather good church library - several shelves of books. One was Charpentier's "How to Read the New Testament" which is on our reading-list for Maryvale. I settled down to read it, and in due course was interrupted by the arrival of a group of people including the vicar. I scrambled to my feet and introduced myself...and it turned out that he had seen a review of English Catholic Heroines in New Directions magazine, and was a member of Forward in Faith (I had noticed that this was a FiF parish...) We ended up having a fascinating conversation including chat about the Pope's new invitation to Anglicans...
And he's let me borrow the Charpentier book, which I've promised to return safely, and just today I got my latest copy of New Directions, which has lots about Anglicanorum Coelibus in it...
I went along to a local church hall where I was due to give a talk. The group that had invited me to speak as a local author was unconnected with the church and simply hired the hall for meetings. I arrived too early and while waiting was delighted to discover a rather good church library - several shelves of books. One was Charpentier's "How to Read the New Testament" which is on our reading-list for Maryvale. I settled down to read it, and in due course was interrupted by the arrival of a group of people including the vicar. I scrambled to my feet and introduced myself...and it turned out that he had seen a review of English Catholic Heroines in New Directions magazine, and was a member of Forward in Faith (I had noticed that this was a FiF parish...) We ended up having a fascinating conversation including chat about the Pope's new invitation to Anglicans...
And he's let me borrow the Charpentier book, which I've promised to return safely, and just today I got my latest copy of New Directions, which has lots about Anglicanorum Coelibus in it...
The warmth...
...of welcome at Maryvale, hugs from the Bridgettine sisters, supper waiting, lots of cheery talk as students gather and news is swapped...I was so glad to be there that I found myself beaming at everyone and everything in what I am certain was an extremely tiresome way...
Excellent lectures from Fr Robert Letellier who was simply wonderful in opening up the New Testament in ways I had never thought about before and with an ease of style that made it all understandable and rather thrilling, and the Dominican Fr Richard Conrad . The latter is an old friend - famous in our family circle for his excellent cakes - but I had never heard him lecture before, and it was terrific. He has good throwaway lines ("East Anglia has lots of good things - Colman's Mustard, Julian of Norwich...")and a casual way of doing enjoyable things: the lecture was "De Deo Uno at Trino" and he began cheerily in Latin before smoothly switching to English...
On Saturday night I sat long and late in the library relishing the access to a wonderful range of books. No one else was there so I kicked off my shoes and nibbled chocolate while tackling much necessary reading for the next essays. Overslept on Sunday morning and was woken by the sound of the Sisters singing their office in the chapel. Our Mass followed and I was just in time. Hurrying up and down the main staircases at Maryvale is an odd sensation because they are slanted with venerability in a rather pleasing but mildly disconcerting way...
Memorabilia from Cardinal Newman in a display case in the hall, a hearty Sunday lunch, huge regrets at leaving when the weekend finished...as a group of us chattered in a taxi to the station we swept past a great Mosque, new and gleaming, occupying a massive presence alongside the busy main road. A reminder that this 21st century presents us with challenges and needs that Newman's era could not have imagined...
Excellent lectures from Fr Robert Letellier who was simply wonderful in opening up the New Testament in ways I had never thought about before and with an ease of style that made it all understandable and rather thrilling, and the Dominican Fr Richard Conrad . The latter is an old friend - famous in our family circle for his excellent cakes - but I had never heard him lecture before, and it was terrific. He has good throwaway lines ("East Anglia has lots of good things - Colman's Mustard, Julian of Norwich...")and a casual way of doing enjoyable things: the lecture was "De Deo Uno at Trino" and he began cheerily in Latin before smoothly switching to English...
On Saturday night I sat long and late in the library relishing the access to a wonderful range of books. No one else was there so I kicked off my shoes and nibbled chocolate while tackling much necessary reading for the next essays. Overslept on Sunday morning and was woken by the sound of the Sisters singing their office in the chapel. Our Mass followed and I was just in time. Hurrying up and down the main staircases at Maryvale is an odd sensation because they are slanted with venerability in a rather pleasing but mildly disconcerting way...
Memorabilia from Cardinal Newman in a display case in the hall, a hearty Sunday lunch, huge regrets at leaving when the weekend finished...as a group of us chattered in a taxi to the station we swept past a great Mosque, new and gleaming, occupying a massive presence alongside the busy main road. A reminder that this 21st century presents us with challenges and needs that Newman's era could not have imagined...
Friday, February 05, 2010
You simply MUST get...
...the new booklet Heroic Priests produced by Aid to the Church in Need. It tells the stories of heroic priests working in different parts of the world TODAY - real-life stories, with some incredibly powerful stuff that will make you wonder what you are doing with your own life...
Thursday, February 04, 2010
CATHOLIC TRADITION...
... and all the things we do for Lent and Easter. Just out from the CTS: Lent and Easter - Catholic Customs and Traditions. If you cherish CATHOLIC TRADITION (I've put that in caps because I do!) then you'll enjoy this. Might be useful for schools, and for First Communion and Confirmation groups too. Why is Shrove Tuesday so named? How are the ashes used on Ash Wednesday obtained? What is the Chrism Mass? What is the Easter Vigil? Answers to these and many other questions, plus lots of other information, all in a pocket-sized booklet
We are being softened up...
...persistently, nastily, to accept the notion that very ill people should be "helped to die".
A recent tragic case involved a young woman struck down with a disease for which there seemed to be no known cure.Her life was indeed a tragic one - she lay in bed day after day and there seemed to be no hope.She said that she would like to die.At one point she wrote a thoughtful and touching essay. It made me think that she should be encouraged and helped to write more. Lying ill in bed is restrictive of so much - but it need not preclude writing, especially with the use of a computer, and especially where there is a real talent and gift of expression, as in this case. But we will never know what she might have produced. Her mother took her words about wishing for death seriously, and gave her a mix of drugs so that she died.
There has been an enormous amount of media coverage, all of which expresses sympathy for the mother - and indeed it is clear that she acted because she was torn by her daughter's dreadful suffering, and had lovingly nursed her for years with great devotion. But, but...what about the possibility that a cure, even a partial one, might have been obtained over the next years? What about the possibility that the young woman's gifts - for example, in writing - might have been developed and given her joy and peace of mind even in a life so terribly blighted? History offers examples of gravely disabled and bedridden people who exerted influence, gave inspiration, wrote, fostered ideas, achieved things even from a sickbed. It is not impossible.
If Britain legalises "assisted suicide" we face dark times. In the name of a misguided compassion, we will be allowing something terrible.
A recent tragic case involved a young woman struck down with a disease for which there seemed to be no known cure.Her life was indeed a tragic one - she lay in bed day after day and there seemed to be no hope.She said that she would like to die.At one point she wrote a thoughtful and touching essay. It made me think that she should be encouraged and helped to write more. Lying ill in bed is restrictive of so much - but it need not preclude writing, especially with the use of a computer, and especially where there is a real talent and gift of expression, as in this case. But we will never know what she might have produced. Her mother took her words about wishing for death seriously, and gave her a mix of drugs so that she died.
There has been an enormous amount of media coverage, all of which expresses sympathy for the mother - and indeed it is clear that she acted because she was torn by her daughter's dreadful suffering, and had lovingly nursed her for years with great devotion. But, but...what about the possibility that a cure, even a partial one, might have been obtained over the next years? What about the possibility that the young woman's gifts - for example, in writing - might have been developed and given her joy and peace of mind even in a life so terribly blighted? History offers examples of gravely disabled and bedridden people who exerted influence, gave inspiration, wrote, fostered ideas, achieved things even from a sickbed. It is not impossible.
If Britain legalises "assisted suicide" we face dark times. In the name of a misguided compassion, we will be allowing something terrible.
I mentioned...
...about a new Children's Choir to be organised from Westminster Cathedral. Open to any child who enjoys singing! I've now got full details, and you can read about them here. Do get in touch and help make this venture a great success!
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
Candlemas...
...at Westminster Cathedral, with a long column of choristers filling that great aisle, carrying lighted tapers and singing gloriously, followed by a concourse of people in candlelit glow...
I needed this: a hectic day with a radio interview about the Pope, plus a lot of hurrying about to deal with domestic and other paperwork...
At the weekend I am off to Maryvale. Bliss.
Meanwhile: it suddenly occurred to me today that it is 5 years since I did my London-Brighton cycle ride, raising funds to help local young people to get to World Youth Day. The new Pope had then just been elected and there was much discussion about whether WYD would "work" and gain enough interest and support. Well it did, of course and was a huge success, to be followed by the even greater event in Sydney in 2008 which an even huger success. And the next is in Madrid in 2011. Young people from our local parish are already making plans to go...
Which makes Auntie think of fund-raising...for WYD but, before that, for projects associated with the Pope's visit to Britain this Sept...
I needed this: a hectic day with a radio interview about the Pope, plus a lot of hurrying about to deal with domestic and other paperwork...
At the weekend I am off to Maryvale. Bliss.
Meanwhile: it suddenly occurred to me today that it is 5 years since I did my London-Brighton cycle ride, raising funds to help local young people to get to World Youth Day. The new Pope had then just been elected and there was much discussion about whether WYD would "work" and gain enough interest and support. Well it did, of course and was a huge success, to be followed by the even greater event in Sydney in 2008 which an even huger success. And the next is in Madrid in 2011. Young people from our local parish are already making plans to go...
Which makes Auntie think of fund-raising...for WYD but, before that, for projects associated with the Pope's visit to Britain this Sept...
Monday, February 01, 2010
And be ready...
...for some nasty attacks as lobbyists start to mobilise against the Pope's visit. A lot of Catholics, including perhaps some who enjoy the Internet, don't really know what it's like out in the vicious bearpit where real engagement with those who loathe Christianity takes place. Until you've actually recieved death-threats (yes, since you ask) and anonymous letters full of filth (ditto) and promises to harm your family (yes, that too) you can't actually quite imagine how unpleasant it can be. Defending the Church isn't a matter of expressing delight at birettas...
Please join me, Catholic and non-Catholic alike, in prayers, starting today, that Christians will continue to have the right, in Britain, to affirm the moral teachings of thei Christian faith, to promote them in Church schools and in Church organisations, to publish them and to pass them on to their children.Info here.
Please join me, Catholic and non-Catholic alike, in prayers, starting today, that Christians will continue to have the right, in Britain, to affirm the moral teachings of thei Christian faith, to promote them in Church schools and in Church organisations, to publish them and to pass them on to their children.Info here.
The Pope speaks out about Britain
...just look at this report!
He calls for "long standing British traditions of freedom of expression and honest exchange of opinion" to be respected under the law.
HEAR HEAR!!!
Throughout the first half of my adult life I heard about the plight of Christians in Eastern Europe who suffered from unjust laws which denied them freedom to express and share their faith openly. Now we face the same situation emerging in Britain, the country whose very name represented the word "freedom" in dark days in the 20th century...
Pray for our country. Pray that the visit of St Peter's successor this year will put fresh courage and hope into the hearts of all members of the Church here. Pray that our right to teach the Faith may be honoured and cherished, and the great tradition of freedom in our country be upheld.
He calls for "long standing British traditions of freedom of expression and honest exchange of opinion" to be respected under the law.
HEAR HEAR!!!
Throughout the first half of my adult life I heard about the plight of Christians in Eastern Europe who suffered from unjust laws which denied them freedom to express and share their faith openly. Now we face the same situation emerging in Britain, the country whose very name represented the word "freedom" in dark days in the 20th century...
Pray for our country. Pray that the visit of St Peter's successor this year will put fresh courage and hope into the hearts of all members of the Church here. Pray that our right to teach the Faith may be honoured and cherished, and the great tradition of freedom in our country be upheld.
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