Auntie is busy...

...working on a new TV series for EWTN, due to be filmed in January. It involved quite a lot of research, many emails back and forth about subjects as diverse as ground oatmeal and the purchase of a haggis, and filming in a country town in Sussex, a meadow near Wimbledon, and - we hope - a house with priest-holes and an ancient Dole tradition.

And if you don't know what a Dole tradition is, you'll have to watch the series to find out, won't you?

Meantime, do read the chatty and descriptive blog from EWTN's Joan Lewis, who brilliantly caught the mood of Papa B's visit to Britain, and is also able to interpret various things for an American audience.(She's able to convey just why that reference to "beans on toast" was one of the biggest compliments that could be paid to a much-loved Papa...)

Do read...

Auntie's account, written for the Association of Catholic Women, of the great Vigil of Prayer in Hyde Park with the Holy Father...

The committee of the ACW meets tomorrow (Friday) to plan follow-up activities from the H. Father's visit...

Meanwhile, over in America...

...they seem to have heard very little about the extraordinary success and significance of the H.Father's visit to Britain...read here for an anaylsis of this.

Want to know more about Cardinal Newman?

Come along to St Joseph's Church, New Malden, on Sunday October 17th, at 6.30pm (ie after the evening Mass) to hear an illustrated talk by Newman scholar Dr Andrew Nash. Come and discover about the life and work of Newman: his childhood, his days at Oxford, the dramatic events of 1845, the foundation of the Oratory in Birmingham...

Everyone is welcome. This is a follow-up to the Papal Visit and Newman's Beatification. Come and join in the celebrations! There will be coffee and marmalade cake (among John Henry Newman's correspondence is a letter thanking some kind ladies for a gift of jars of marmalade for his small community - so we felt that this would be a suitable way to celebrate his beatification!). Donations invited for Maryvale.

St Joseph's church is easily reached by rail (New Malden station is 20 minutes from London Waterloo) and by road (follow the A3 and look for the New Malden exit). Bus 131 from Wimbledon stops outside St Joseph's church on Kingston Road.

To Oxford...

...for a wonderful celebration at Blackfriars marking the Silver Jubilee of two priests, Fr Richard Conrad, OP, and Fr Robert Letellier. Both are lecturers at Maryvale. There was a glorious concelebrated Mass, lots of Latin chant, large congregation in the Blackfriars chapel. Then a delicious buffet lunch in the Refectory, much talk and generous quantities of food and wine. Joyful atmosphere, old friends meeting and much lively talk. Most Catholic conversations over these past days have tended to open with "Wasn't it all marvellous?" as people swap stories about the Papal Visit... everyone has an anecdote, a special memory, something moving or enjoyable or hilarious or just awe-inspiring that they want to share and enjoy with others...

Yesterday, a family trip with friends to Arundel. We were planning the next Catholic History Walk, which takes place on Oct 10th - come and join us! Arundel was enchanting in Autumn sunshine - and even better, somehow, in soft misty rain as we walked by the river before a delicious Cream Tea...

What are YOU doing...

...to follow up the Papal visit and the opportunities it has opened up for bringing the Good News of Christ to Britain?

Any and every Catholic event ought to benefit. This year's TOWARDS ADVENT Festival has includes a reprise of the Visit, with Mgr Vincent Brady from the Nunciature telling us all about it and giving us an opportunity to swap joyful reflections and memories.

And come to the big event organised by Aid to the Church in Need "HOPE WITHOUT FEAR" at Westminster Cathedral on October 16th. Details here...

You might like to obtain the official souvenir of the Papal Visit, with text of all the speeches etc: available here.

And enjoy various commentaries on the visit such as this one and lengthier reflections such as those to be found here...

It is not given to everyone...

...to cycle through the London suburbs with an apple crumble wrapped in a Papal Visit commemorative knapsack in the bicycle-basket.

The apples have been so good this year, and I thought the E. Family would enjoy the crumble...and they did, which was jolly.

Life is gradually coming back to normal after the Papal Visit, but it's a slow and enjoyable process.

Much work at home on the computer: book making slow progress. Lunch at the Inner Temple, v. agreeable. The Chambers in which Jamie was in pupillage have since become famous as the chambers of Rumpole, and carries the fictional names of all conerned.

And relish this...with glorious singing from the Westminster Cathedral choir:

And this,..

And you might enjoy...

this analysis of Papa B's visit, too....

Just to enjoy again...

There are lots and lots...

...of websites with lovely pictures showing aspects of the Holy Father's visit that you may have missed.

Look at this one, for example, with a lovely pic. of the Holy Father and the Chief Rabbi, just before the start of Yom Kippur. Pope Benedict gave special greetings to the Jewish community for this holy celebration, and his words about mutual support and help and co-operation are worth repeating...

NEXT CATHOLIC HISTORY WALK....

...is on Sunday October 10th, and is at ARUNDEL in Sussex. A lovely country walk in this most beautiful part of England. Castle, Cathedral, river, Autumn, good companionship...what more could anyone want? Only some nice teashops and pubs, and you'll find those in Arundel, too...

Meet at 9.45 am on the steps of Westminster Cathedral,

OR

be on the 10.17am train from Victoria Station to Arundel

OR

join us at Arundel Cathedral at approx 12.30pm.

BRING A PACKED LUNCH!

No need to book - just turn up! Wear comfortable shoes and suitable clothing - we'll be walking whatever the weather.

Note: the Walk does not specifically include Mass, so it's best to go to Mass beforehand. There is an 8 am Mass at Westminster Cathedral.

MOre information about the Catholic History Walks: click here.

Getting back to work...

...and, specifically, for my next series on EWTN, due to be filmed in January. I'm research the historical background to various Autumnal/Christmas/Epiphany/Candlemas/etc etc etc traditions, and also working in recipes. It is fun and there is a lot to do...

Some lovely books for children, about saints, have just been produced by St Paul's. There's a delightful one on Blessed (!) John Henry Newman and there are also lovely books on St Therese of Lisieux and St John Vianney. The books are charmingly illustrated, hardback, lovely to use and handle, and are just £5.95p each. Warmly recommended.

Latest issue of VOICES, magazine of Women for Faith and Family in the USA, arrives. Auntie has a feature in it...

Latest FAITH magazine...

arrives. Auntie has a book review in it, of Amy Wellborn's delightful children's book Friendship with Jesus.

want still more...

...from Auntie about the Papal visit? Read my EWTN blog here...

And to get a flavour of how the tabloids are now viewing Papa B., read here...

Cofton Park, near Birmingham ...

..and a damp hillside in the darkness, and groups hurrying forward to claim places for the great Mass that was a few hours ahead. People made encampments and unpacked flasks of coffee and packets of sandwiches. It was all very British - people had brought rainwear and for those who hadn't, there were plastic macs in our Pilgrim Packs, and the latter could also double as waterproof mats on which to sit. As the dawn came up, the hillsides and valley were filled with people, and the altar at the heart of this natural amphitheatre was being made ready for Mass.

Few present had slept. Like many others, I'd travelled from London with a parish group. After the Vigil of Prayer (see below) I went to the house of friends and we swapped stories over hot soup and a lot of wine, and there was a lot of laughter and chatter and it was all hugely agreeable, and no one wanted to waste time sleeping. Straight on to the parish bus that was to drive through the night to Birmingham. People talked a bit at first but gradually succumbed to slumber - I recall a muddled dream about Cardinal Newman going ice-skating, and then woke as the rhythm of the bus changed after we left the motorway and trundled down side roads towards Cofton.

The Mass was glorious. Music surged,and Papa Benedict's voice - which had seemed hoarse at some earlier events but was now strong and confident, though still with that gentle tone - led us in the prayers. When he preached, he began with a touching reference to the Battle of Britain, and paid tribute to the heroes who had defended the country from the Nazis...and then in this most English of settings, in the heart of England, he pronounced a great Englishman on his way to sainthood...

At Holy Communion, priests stood with ciboria beneath large umbrellas in papal colours, held aloft, and people came forward reverently and silently, stepping over sleeping children or stacked backpacks...

We sang Newman's hymns, and Keble's "Love Divine, all loves excelling...and at the very end, standing with friends, filling the whole hillside with music as we poured our hearts into "For all the saints...", I felt that surely Heaven might be something a bit like this.

Extraordinary...

...glorious and moving Vigil of Prayer in Hyde Park. It was great fun to be in the parade of Catholic groups and organisations - along with Patti Fordyce, I was representing the Association of Catholic Women, and we carried our brand-new banner, specially made for the occasion, with great pride. As we made our way through the crowd, there were excited shouts of "Auntie Joanna!" and young relatives hurried through for a joyful greeting. Then off we went, up on to the stage, where we were greeted by all the Bishops...and then we were given seats, and had a superb view of all that followed.

Far and away the most moving and inspiring speakers were the Mizen parents, whose son Jimmy was murdered in a random act of violence and whose prayerful and courageous response to this tragedy has touched everyone. They spoke about faith, and what Christ means when you suffer sorrow, and the need to teach peace and forgiveness. "Be proud of your faith" Mrs Mizen told the young people "Be proud and glad of your Catholic faith."

Earlier, through the afternoon, there had been Irish dancing, and Polish dancing, and African singing, all shown across the Park to the crowds via giant screens. As we waited for the Holy Father, we nopw moved on to various talks and messages - some very good, some less so - and then finally to prayer.

When the Holy Father arrived, there was a terrific outburst of cheering, and an overwhelming surge of joy and enthusiasm...and magnificent music, and a wonderful sense of unity and shared faith...

...and so to the beautiful vigil of prayer, and a deep and reverent silence as the Holy Father lifted high the monstrance and blessed us with the Blessed Sacrament. Young faces glowed in the candlelight, and here in the heart of London 80,000 souls were joining together in prayer...

When things finished, we gathered again with young family members, and walked off through a gloriously quiet London - how enchanting it is when streets are sealed from traffic! Jamie telephoned to say that the BBC wanted me for a discussion with Peter Tatchell and did I want to do that? Certainly not, and there was the joyful recognition that poor Tatchell was becoming less and less relevant in the nation's mind as the joy and true signifoicance of the Papal visit intensified.

At Victoria station, young people with their golden "PIlgrim pack" backpacks were everywhere, and on the packed train to the southern suburbs other passengers caught the mood and all was cheery and talkative and joyful...

Listening...

...via the internet, to the exchange of greetings and the talks given by the Pope and the Archbishop of Canterbury. A good and friendly gathering, and good things said.

This is a time for rejoicing: in Westminster today, history was made.

And great goodwill...

...at Westminster Abbey. I was outside, and hearing the glorious bells ring out, and with people milling about, with goodwill and joy everywhere, it made the heart rejoice.

The BBC wanted to talk to me about women priests, and kept saying "But aren't the Anglican and Catholic churches further apart than ever?" I said NO, emphatically not. There is greater goodwill now than ever before: it is a tragedy that the C. of E. opted for women priests, but it doesn't mean that any doors are closed, and the goodwill continues. Don't know how all that will sound on TV...

I have found a good report on the service in the Abbey here. And you can read the POpe's speech here.

A gathering of history...

...in the magnificent setting of Westminster Hall,at the very heart of Parliament, with centuries of tradition echoing beneath its great hammer-beam roof and its Norman arches. Here, with the Archbishop of Canterbury by his side, a great array of Members of Parliament, several former Prime Ministers, and representatives of every aspect of public life in Britain, Pope Benedict XVI gave an address, touching on the moral realities that lie beneath the great issues of our day.

It was an unforgettable priviledge to be there. Beautiful gilt chairs had been set in rows, the Band of the Coldstream Guards played, and there was a sense of great and almost reverent expectancy. In the last moments before the Pope arrived, there was an absolute and extraordinary silence - it was as if we were in church.

The Pope spoke quietly, and has a gentle, academic style. He was vigorous in his warmth and praise for Britain's tradition of Parliamentary democracy, seeing this as a great achievement and a gift to the wider world. He emphasised that this was grounded in a culture of faith, and that faith and reason work together and complement one another. Attempts to marginalise faith, and in particular Christianity, will do grave harm to the common good, and to the liberty achieved through the great Westminster tradition.

It was a wonderful occasion - something glorious and magnificent in our history. A great sense of joy and goodwill.

I will remember this day as long as I live.

Hurrah for Papa B!

...and this is what he said as he arrived in Scotland, and was greeted by HM the Queen. I've highlighted bits that are of especial interest, and which rouse us today:


"The name of Holyroodhouse, Your Majesty’s official residence in Scotland, recalls the "Holy Cross" and points to the deep Christian roots that are still present in every layer of British life. The monarchs of England and Scotland have been Christians from very early times and include outstanding saints like Edward the Confessor and Margaret of Scotland. As you know, many of them consciously exercised their sovereign duty in the light of the Gospel, and in this way shaped the nation for good at the deepest level. As a result, the Christian message has been an integral part of the language, thought and culture of the peoples of these islands for more than a thousand years. Your forefathers’ respect for truth and justice, for mercy and charity come to you from a faith that remains a mighty force for good in your kingdom, to the great benefit of Christians and non-Christians alike.

We find many examples of this force for good throughout Britain’s long history. Even in comparatively recent times, due to figures like William Wilberforce and David Livingstone, Britain intervened directly to stop the international slave trade. Inspired by faith, women like Florence Nightingale served the poor and the sick and set new standards in healthcare that were subsequently copied everywhere. John Henry Newman, whose beatification I will celebrate shortly, was one of many British Christians of his age whose goodness, eloquence and action were a credit to their countrymen and women. These, and many people like them, were inspired by a deep faith born and nurtured in these islands.

Even in our own lifetime, we can recall how Britain and her leaders stood against a Nazi tyranny that wished to eradicate God from society and denied our common humanity to many, especially the Jews, who were thought unfit to live. I also recall the regime’s attitude to Christian pastors and religious who spoke the truth in love, opposed the Nazis and paid for that opposition with their lives. As we reflect on the sobering lessons of the atheist extremism of the twentieth century, let us never forget how the exclusion of God, religion and virtue from public life leads ultimately to a truncated vision of man and of society and thus to a "reductive vision of the person and his destiny" (Caritas in Veritate, 29)."

Last night, I joined a great throng of people from across London who came to welcome the H. Father as he arrived at Wimbledon. The crowd was much, much larger than we had expected - there were lots of families, teams of young people with banners saying "WELCOME HOLY FATHER", young men from the seminary, parish groups. Some people had brought candles and lanterns. I met several old friends, had some wonderful conversations - there was an atmosphere of great goodwill and happiness - and we cheered various policemen who came by, and various vans and cars and then ...here he came!! Flashing blue lights, lots of police outriders - then a car and a small figure, a white-clad arm waving, a great surge of cheers from the crowd, followed by persistent shouting and chanting. People suddenly went Italian and shouted "Viva il Papa!", some broke into song, others raised a hip-hip-hurrah! We went on cheering as he went inside - and then finally some windows opened and he came out and greeted us...

The crowd took a good while to disperse - we'd all been enjoying ourselves. Children were excited by being out of doors in the night on the edge of the Common, all wild and dark behind them. Friends lingered to talk. People enjoyed swapping inconsequential news "They gave him haggis for lunch!" "I hope he's able to get a good rest - he's had an amazing day" "He deserves a good whisky-and-soda". And overall "The crowds in Scotland were great - it's all right. It's going to be all right!"

HE'S HERE! And as Papa B. arrived in Scotland...

... I was rushed to the BBC this morning, in between complicated family commitments, for a discussion on the Jeremy Vine Show with an atheist profesor who said how dreadful the Pope was, how dreadful the Church was,how much harm Mother Teresa had done in Calcutta, how it was all wrong to focus on the Church's charitable work, etc etc. She had signed the letter to the Guardian protesting about the H. Father's visit, but her real quarrel seemed to be with God, His very existence,the possibility that it might all be true...

Hurried home, via local parish, where there is Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament all day on Thursdays. Prayed for the H. Father's visit, and also for a private matter (a young woman who is going into hospital for a major operation today: why not add your prayers to mine on this?).

Home. Domestic matters, then letters, emails, phone calls. The poor anonymous person who has sent me a Comment with filthy things about the Holy Father and the Church need not have bothered: the Comment has been deleted.

A French magazine, La Vie, arrives in the post.It has a big feature on the Papal Visit to Britain, John Henry Newmnan, etc. Has features about, among others, Fr Alexander Sherbrook of St Patrick's, Soho Square. There is also a quote from Auntie, described as "blogeuse reputee et pleine d'humour", which is kind...

BE THERE!!!!

The map showing the H. Father's route through London on Saturday evening has been published. Best place to see him and cheer him is THE MALL - you get there by going to St James' Park or Victoria tube station. Early evening. Bring a flag: you can make a simple Papal flag by simply sticking one white sheet and one yellow sheet of paper together. Bring a friend. Bring the children. BE THERE!!!

Here's the link again:
http://www.rcsouthwark.co.uk/papal_visit_10_popemobile.html

Off to Wimbledon...

...by bike tomorrow evening to greet the H. Father at the Nunciature. Today, a wonderful visit to the Community of Our Lady of Walsingham at the Abbotswick House of Prayer in Brentwood. An excellent place at which to pray and prepare for the Papal Visit. The Sisters wear lovely blue-and-white habits, with hoods...they are sort of goody-hoodies, a new Community and one full of hope and promise. Around the wide lawns and paths there are small shrines and a Way of the Cross. A glorious breezy sunny day with a hint of Autumn, the last blackberries ripening on the hedges. The community began a Novena to Our Lady of Walsingham today as the feast is in nine days' time, and of course were praying for the H. Father and the great events that start tomorrow.

Nasty media stuff, but some good material in the Daily Telegraph

Be on the streets of London to greet the Holy Father!!! DON'T MISS OUT! Click here to get the route:

http://www.rcsouthwark.co.uk/papal_visit_10_popemobile.html

EXCELLENT...

...lecture given by author Brian Gail at Westminster Cathedral Hall, sponsored by the Archdiocese of Westminster in the John Paul II Theology of the Body series, run by Edmund Adamus.

The lecture was challenging, thought-provoking, inspiring. Brian Gail pointed to the grim reality of what has occurred with the destruction of our understanding of the covenant bond of marriage and the awesome sharing in God's gift of new life. He called for a fresh and invigorating look at this whole subject, a wholescale turning to God. It was gripping stuff, and it brought prolonged applause, followed by people milling about to talk, to look at his book (it's a terrific read!)and the discuss what he had said...

Edmund Adamus is doing a superb job in the diocese, and gives practical support, encouragement, information, and help to all who are working for Christian family life. This lecture series is just one of the projects he has launched, and this evening really was splendid.

And these are momentous days as we await the arrival of the successor of St Peter to Britain...

This has been an extraordinary week so far...yesterday I had the experience of walking into Westminster Hall in the Houses of Parliament with a couple of friends and being able to say that here, in the place where St Thomas More was condemned to death for refusing to support King Henry VIII in breaking the unity of the Church with Rome, a Pope would be addressing the British nation.

Today, I cycled up to Wimbledon to check out the roadside opposite the Apostolic Nunciature, where crowds of us will gather on Thursday night to greet Pope Benedict as he arrives. We'll have candles and lanterns and posters of welcome, and we'll be singing and praying...

It is great to be in...

...a wonderful parish!

Our parish priest at St Joseph's New Malden, responded with enthusiasm to the idea of having a showing of the excellent film about the Holy Father: it was at short notice, but announcements were made at all the Masses this weekend, and placed in the parish newsletter, and we got a full hall, and a memorable evening. The film is powerful and moving: you could have heard a pin drop during the showing.

We invited donations for the work of the Maryvale Institute: the parish is already linked to Maryvale and has catechists who were trained there, and people were generous and enthusiastic with donations.

All this at a busy weekend: many of the young people were hurrying off after evening Mass to a meeting about World Youth Day. It really is just wonderful parish!

BTW, if you want a poster to place in your window to show your support for the Holy Father, there are some at St Joseph's - just drop into the church and you will find some in the entrance area. DO COME AND GET ONE and put it up! (Bus 131 from Wimbledon stops right by the church, just ask for "St Joseph's").

A happy day...

....at St Philomena's School, where I joined lots of others for an Old Girls' Reunion. Several of our year group - we left school 40 years ago this year! - met for lunch beforehand. It was a wonderful, talkative, affectionate gathering, full of laughter and lots and lots of "do-you-remember?" and "what about that time when..."

We were happy at St Phillies. It was (and is) a good school, and we knew it when we were there. A strong message about service and putting other people's needs first, and all that sort of thing...perhaps a rather sheltered environment, but it formed a framework for life, and gave you confidence...a sense that things could be achieved, that wrongs could and should be righted.

A lot of our laughter over lunch concerned school food: easy to gloat over its nastiness when we were enjoying a delicious Italian meal, but the school lunches (provided by the local authority, not the school) really did contain some horrors: "flat meat", of indeterminate grey, revolting liver with elastic tubes in the middle, slimy tapioca pudding with sinister lumps.

Oh, I did enjoy reminiscing...there were some things I remembered quite well, like Bernie eating that daffodil bulb for a dare, and having to be rushed to hospital...but there were others I'd forgotten, like Mary D. breaking her teeth running into one of those great pots of flowers that stood in the Quad. And some things I hadn't known at all: Lizzy D. showed me where she and Monica B. had discovered how to work the laundry shaft and had glorious rides, and I'm rather sorry to have missed out on that.

Only a Philomenian will understand when I add that Spartans and Athenians united for the lunch. Oh, and that Margaret Clitheroe has gone, and there's a v. grand impressive new Hall there now, where we had tea.

Sometimes, one doesn't know whether to be angry, or to weep...

..at the ineptitude of things.

A booklet has been produced for people attending the Papal events, purporting to be for people of non-Christian faiths, so help explain various terms. It is a crass and ghastly example of an attempt to use what the authors think is street-language for sacred things.

In trying to find a suitable term for "Liturgy, Celebration, Mass, Benediction" the authors come up with "Event, show, Gig". For "spiritual, uplifting" they offer "enjoyable, fun, exciting".

AAAAARGH!!!

Do these people honestly believe that non-Christians don't understand what "spiritual" and "uplifting" mean? Do they honestly think that non-Christians don't have any understanding of spiritual things, are never uplifted?

And don't they see that to attempt to use words like "gig" and "show" in describing the Mass is just...well...indescribably gross and wrong?

And don't let's even try to explain just how horribly wrong they are in saying that a similar term for "Blessed Sacramernt" is "Bread and wine".

The booklet opens with a fairly useful section on the Mass, and has a similarly adequate section on Benediction, both written with reverence and understanding. There are helpful guidelines about suitable dress and behaviour (appropriate attire, no shorts, switch off mobile phones, noise and movement to be minimised during Mass, complete silence at the Consecration, etc).

So why the gross and daft attempt at street-speak for the glossary? It's pathetic desire to feel up-to-date and streetwise, and it's cringe-making.

A party...

...given by the Catholic Herald to celebrate the Papal Visit. Great fun, lots of talks with a great many friends, delicious drinks and trays of tasty nibbles, all in the rather impressive surroundings of The Friary in Francis St, round at the back of Westminster Cathedral. This was for many years the Catholic Central Library, but before that,it was connected not with the Church but with the British Army, and was built as a home for orphans of soldiers who served in the Crimean War...

Among the people at the party, I chatted to Canon Christopher Tuckwell of Westminster Cathedral, to Stratford and Leonie Caldecott, who are involved with the excellent Magnificat publication, to Fr Tim Finigan (this month marks 30 years since he served our Wedding Mass at St Elphege's, Wallington), to Neville Kyrke-Smith and the team from Aid to the Church in Need, to Christina of the Cathedral Friends, to Fergal Martin and the team from the CTS , and to a great many more friends. Princess Michael of Kent was among the guests, and very charming and friendly. Herald editor Luke Coppen was a cheery and welcoming host, and I had my photograph taken with him and will put it on this blog as soon as I have worked out how to do so. (Fr Tim took the pic, and has emailed it to me, and will be watching gleefully to see if I manage it...)

After the party, an interview with Jeremy de Satge of The Music Makers for the Heart gives unto Heart radio station.

At the weekend...

...I went to the annual commemoration of St Edith at her Well in Kent.

St Edith was the daughter of King Edgar, one of our last Saxon kings. She was illegitimate, and was born at Kemsing and brought up in a convent. After his wife died, Edgar sought to legitimate Edith, and in due course she was offered the crown of England, but she declined it, preferring to remain in the convent and take her vows as a nun. She ministered to the poor and sick, especially little leper children, and legend says that one day the Christ-child joined them as they gathered round her for their daily meal.

St Edith is honoured at Kemsing, and we gathered at St Edith's well - where she drew water as a child - and prayed the Rosary there, then went on to the lovely home of the Tyler family nearby, for Benediction in the garden, and a delicious tea. A great gathering of local people, Catholics and Anglicans joining together.

Kent was glorious on this September day, and there was a treasure-hunt with Bible quotes to be found in the orchard and meadow, a delicious array of sandwiches and cakes in the cool shady patio (especially welcome for those of us who had walked as pilgrims from nearby Otford), and much talk...the forthcoming Papal visit very much in people's minds, hopes and anxieties being expressed...a happy day.

I will certainly be attending...

this meeting which will feature the work of heroic priests including an American in Siberia. He is bringing new hope to a place marked by hideous suffering, a corner of the former USSR's gulag archipelago.

Join me at this event, organised by Aid to the Church in Need.

A film about the Holy Father...

...produced a hall packed to capacity when it was shown at the Sacred Heart parish, Wimbledon, this week. I hugely recommend this film, which is produced by Rome Reports. It's called A Love Affair with the Truth and you can get it by clicking on to that link.

A friend, who lives in the parish, and is a fellow-enthusiast for Maryvale, had the idea of obtaining the film and having a showing in the hall. We offered fresh coffee and Bavarian chocolate cake, suggested a £3.00 donation (proceeds to Maryvale) and advertised the event in the parish newsletter and in neighbouring parishes. We expected a reasonable turnout - the parish is a big one with good numbers for Sunday Masses. We got a magnificent crowd - extra chairs brought in, standing room only at the back, people sitting on the floor. The parish priest gave a wonderful welcome, and as people left they were given copies of the special edition of Magnificat booklet, with all the liturgies for the Papal visit. It was a simply wonderful evening.

On the Theology of the Body...

..there is good reading here, from a London voice looking forward to the visit of the Holy Father...

And I shall certainly be attending this event at Westminster on the eve of the Papal visit.

Under brilliant, glittering stars...

...we pitched our tent in a Somerset meadow, and relished a family holiday: I gathered sea-spinach and blackberries and there was cooking and jam-making, we watched barn-owls fly, wandered over ancient abbey ruins, ate pub lunches, walked across the moors and into deliciously cool woodlands, squeezed into a crowded church with a Sunday Mass congregation swollen with other holidaymakers, had long talkative family meals, and drove home late and slowly savouring the last bits of holiday by having a cheerful wayside supper while telling a detective story.

Didn't want to come home, really, but there is a great deal going on now and being plunged in to it has left small time for blogging. At Mass in the West Country we were all given copies of the special Magnificat produced for the Papal visit with the various liturgies in it. On Monday (Sept 6th) at 7.30pm in the Parish Room at the Sacred Heart Church, Edge Hill, London SW19 we're showing a new 60-minute DVD about the Pope - come and join us! Admission £3.00, proceeds to Maryvale. There'll be coffee and Bavarian chocolate cake (some of us spending much of this weekend baking, nice recipes involved melting coc. oranges, cream...)

We can expect a media onslaught on the Church, the H. Father, etc over the next days. Meanwhile, for thopse who want to use their brains intelligently, there is a fine article by George Weigel about the H. Father in Standpoint magazine, excellent feature about John Henry Newman by Conrad Black here.

Auntie has a feature in the current issue of AD2000 in Australia, and in Oremus, the magazine of Westminster Cathedral.