Saturday, July 30, 2016
Thursday, July 28, 2016
We have been...
... at Sonntagberg in Austria, with old friends, having a most beautiful and special time...a glorious Mass celebrated by the Bishop in the magnificent mountain-top basilica....sunny days talking over so many things in the world and the Church...
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
...and while all the summer things...
...are happening, there is a great awareness that this summer isn't an ordinary one, that deep and serious things are surging...Today the organising committee for a Catholic women's group gathered for its regular meeting in the comfortable crypt hall of a London church, with coffee brewed and plans and hopes and worries shared just as on so many previous occasions. We tackled an agenda with plans for projects for schools, an Autumn conference, a Spring a pilgrimage...you can't just spend time wringing hands and talking about martyrdom in Europe. But a priest has been martyred. And in France. This is our world, and we must take responsibility for coping with whatever new difficulties we all face year on year.
Like so many other Christians in Britain, I spent a lot of time in the 1970s and 80s trying to help Christians in lands where ghastly things were happening - random attacks on priests or groups of faithful were things we read about and remembered in our prayers. There was a feeling then that things in the West were bad because of family breakup, abortion, and also problems within the Church... but attacks from Islamic fanatics in European towns were not something that figured on our horizon...
Like so many other Christians in Britain, I spent a lot of time in the 1970s and 80s trying to help Christians in lands where ghastly things were happening - random attacks on priests or groups of faithful were things we read about and remembered in our prayers. There was a feeling then that things in the West were bad because of family breakup, abortion, and also problems within the Church... but attacks from Islamic fanatics in European towns were not something that figured on our horizon...
A young friend...
...is blogging from World Youth Day for the Catholic Herald. You can read her blog here...it's been a powerful experience for these young Catolics to be gathered together praying following the murder by an Islamicist of a priest in France...
Thursday, July 21, 2016
...and if you are interested....
...in Auntie's view on the current political scene in Britain, try here...
FIRST MASS....
...of Father Philip Andrews. at St Joseph's Church, New Malden...a glorious and joyous occasion. It is so moving to kneel to recieve a young priest's first blessing, and to kiss his hands. Philip has been living and helping in the parish during the holidays of his years at the Venerable English College in Rome, so he is a popular figure, and there was a great sense of celebration...the church was packed, and there was a great buffet supper in the parish centre, lots of cheery greetings, speeches, toasts, the cutting of a celebration cake...
There were other young men from the VEC joining in the celebrations, plus of course priests from across the diocese... all a sign of hope for the Church in the years ahead. Pics of Fr Phil's ordination (St George's Cathedral Southwark, Sat July 16th) here...
There were other young men from the VEC joining in the celebrations, plus of course priests from across the diocese... all a sign of hope for the Church in the years ahead. Pics of Fr Phil's ordination (St George's Cathedral Southwark, Sat July 16th) here...
Tuesday, July 19, 2016
Summer...
...and blackberries ripening, and I've made the first batch of jam. Want some? Then you must come to the 2016 Towards Advent Festival at Westminster Cathedral Hall on Saturday November 26th...book the date in your diary now.
And, while you are about it, book Saturday October 22nd, the Blessed Sacrament Procession through London. Starts at Westminster Cathedral, 1.30pm. This is the annual "Two cathedrals" Procession, which crosses he Thames at Lambeth Bridge and finishes with Benediction at St George's Cathedral, Southwark. A date not to be missed: it's a magnificent witness to the Faith in London. The Procession looks magnificent as it crosses the Thames with Parliament in the background...come and be part of it all!
And, while you are about it, book Saturday October 22nd, the Blessed Sacrament Procession through London. Starts at Westminster Cathedral, 1.30pm. This is the annual "Two cathedrals" Procession, which crosses he Thames at Lambeth Bridge and finishes with Benediction at St George's Cathedral, Southwark. A date not to be missed: it's a magnificent witness to the Faith in London. The Procession looks magnificent as it crosses the Thames with Parliament in the background...come and be part of it all!
London, in sizzling heat...
...but the river cool and surging and there was a blessed refreshing breeze as we walked across Tower Bridge and talked history...and pondered Arthur and the Grail, and Saxons and Vikings and Augustine coming to Kent,..
A wonderful day spent with Bishop Timothy Senior and Father Christopher Ward of Philadelphia. We met the Tower of London - for all sorts of obvious reasons a poignant place for Catholics to meet - and went to Tower Hill and knelt to pray at the site of More and Fisher's martyrdom...then on to All- Hallows-by-the-Tower which is rich in history and a place of serenity on that noisy corner where the traffic roars into the city...and then crossed the river and lunched at Hays Wharf. And then on to Parliament where they were to meet Sir Edward Leigh's team and be shown Westminster Hall and so on, and then to Westminster Cathedral to concelebrate Mass.
It was so good to hear about the Church in Philadelphia, and the seminary there, and the promise it all holds.
A wonderful day spent with Bishop Timothy Senior and Father Christopher Ward of Philadelphia. We met the Tower of London - for all sorts of obvious reasons a poignant place for Catholics to meet - and went to Tower Hill and knelt to pray at the site of More and Fisher's martyrdom...then on to All- Hallows-by-the-Tower which is rich in history and a place of serenity on that noisy corner where the traffic roars into the city...and then crossed the river and lunched at Hays Wharf. And then on to Parliament where they were to meet Sir Edward Leigh's team and be shown Westminster Hall and so on, and then to Westminster Cathedral to concelebrate Mass.
It was so good to hear about the Church in Philadelphia, and the seminary there, and the promise it all holds.
Friday, July 15, 2016
A wonderful...
...Catholic History Walk in Chelsea, in the footsteps of St Thomas More, beginning at the Church of Our Most Holy Redeemer, and going on to More's tatue by the Embankment, and Chelsea Old Church, and Roper's Garden, and More's re-erected London house...and finishing at Allen Hall...
One of the people on the Walk told us about how More's statue came to be placed there. It was the initiative of Sir George Catlin, husband of Vera Brittain, and father of (Baroness) Shrley Williams...
NEXT History Walks are:
WEDNESDAY Aug 10th, 2pm
WEDNESDAY Aug 17th 6.30pm
Both Walks start on the steps of Westminster Cathedral.
All welcome - no need to book, just turn up! More info here...
One of the people on the Walk told us about how More's statue came to be placed there. It was the initiative of Sir George Catlin, husband of Vera Brittain, and father of (Baroness) Shrley Williams...
NEXT History Walks are:
WEDNESDAY Aug 10th, 2pm
WEDNESDAY Aug 17th 6.30pm
Both Walks start on the steps of Westminster Cathedral.
All welcome - no need to book, just turn up! More info here...
Tuesday, July 12, 2016
Long discussion...
...with a journalist/politico friend of longstanding, about political events in Britain. Both of us have links w. some of the people involved in the recent dramas in the Tory party. Much to discuss and ponder...
One thing which is interesting is how the ferocious feminists can't cope with Theresa May, just as they couldn't cope with Margaret Thatcher. They can't get their ideology to fit into the facts. The first, and then next, female Prime Ministers of our country have come from families with strong fathers they loved dearly, and who helped to forge their ideas and inspire their lives. They both loved and married rock-solid, affectionate, dependable men who gave them support and help and encouragement and with whom they forged wonderfully loving and happy marriages.They have both been regular churchgoers of traditinal Christian beliefs, taught by their parents and honoured throughout their lives. Doesn't fit the fem-agenda. The fems just can't cope with it all. Faced the the great reality of Lady Thatcher, they tried to ignore her: you will find daft fem publications that sort of give her a tiny footnote, while trying to invent fem-folk heroines from little-known legendary figures or even sometimes pagan goddesses.
It would be amusing - except that some of the fem-lobbyists are embedded in the education system, and are feeding this unhistorical rubbish to children.
One thing which is interesting is how the ferocious feminists can't cope with Theresa May, just as they couldn't cope with Margaret Thatcher. They can't get their ideology to fit into the facts. The first, and then next, female Prime Ministers of our country have come from families with strong fathers they loved dearly, and who helped to forge their ideas and inspire their lives. They both loved and married rock-solid, affectionate, dependable men who gave them support and help and encouragement and with whom they forged wonderfully loving and happy marriages.They have both been regular churchgoers of traditinal Christian beliefs, taught by their parents and honoured throughout their lives. Doesn't fit the fem-agenda. The fems just can't cope with it all. Faced the the great reality of Lady Thatcher, they tried to ignore her: you will find daft fem publications that sort of give her a tiny footnote, while trying to invent fem-folk heroines from little-known legendary figures or even sometimes pagan goddesses.
It would be amusing - except that some of the fem-lobbyists are embedded in the education system, and are feeding this unhistorical rubbish to children.
Sunday, July 10, 2016
We began...
...in the Fitzalan-Howard family chapel at Arundel, where we held a Penitential Service. It is always a solemn feeling to kneel where people have been praying for hundreds and hundreds of years. You understand again what it is to ask for God's mercy and forgiveness, to join with all the other penitents down all the centuries, all so human, all so different and so smiliar...all of us sinners, all needing God's grace...
...and then in due course we processed across the road to the great Cathedral, where Mass was concelebrated....this was an Ordinariate Pilgrimage, marking the Year of Mercy, and we entered through the Cathedral's Mercy Door, which was all wreathed with flowers.
Too cold for a proper picnic: I had packed a big hamper but it was a bit bleak just sitting on a bench outside the Cathedral in a chilly wind putting bits of smoked salmon into rolls... But then there was Benediction, and the Divine Praises... "Blessed be God..." and lovely music...and then a pleasant walk through the town down to the river, and Tea... with toasted tea-cake...and a look at the old Dominican priory, and the Arun rushing by... so on to the train home...glorious views of the Sussex countryside in the evening light...
Late into the evening, I clicked around the internet to get the latest news, and was deeply deflated by reading about the CofE's Synod...there seems to be a complete abandonment of the notion of a revelation from God to the human race.
If the poor CofE decides to allow ceremonies for two (or three, or whatever number some feel is right) people of the same sex to go through a form of marriage, it somehow ceases to have a link with the idea that God has any direct interest in the human race at all. He has no plan, no message for us. Rather, the idea seems to be that the CofE should be an organisation that celebrates how people feel, and makes up ceremonies accordingly. God is just a word used from time to time to make the noise sound right. But no Word made flesh,no understanding of male and female, of God's union with the human race, of what Cana meant, or the Marriage Feast of the Lamb...so there's the end of it. No amount of noise can fill the gap.
I don't want to sound rude, but it would be nice if they would let the rest of us use some more of the glorious old buildings - which in a sense belong to the whole nation and not just to any one part of it - - so we can worship God in them as the builders intended...
...and then in due course we processed across the road to the great Cathedral, where Mass was concelebrated....this was an Ordinariate Pilgrimage, marking the Year of Mercy, and we entered through the Cathedral's Mercy Door, which was all wreathed with flowers.
Too cold for a proper picnic: I had packed a big hamper but it was a bit bleak just sitting on a bench outside the Cathedral in a chilly wind putting bits of smoked salmon into rolls... But then there was Benediction, and the Divine Praises... "Blessed be God..." and lovely music...and then a pleasant walk through the town down to the river, and Tea... with toasted tea-cake...and a look at the old Dominican priory, and the Arun rushing by... so on to the train home...glorious views of the Sussex countryside in the evening light...
Late into the evening, I clicked around the internet to get the latest news, and was deeply deflated by reading about the CofE's Synod...there seems to be a complete abandonment of the notion of a revelation from God to the human race.
If the poor CofE decides to allow ceremonies for two (or three, or whatever number some feel is right) people of the same sex to go through a form of marriage, it somehow ceases to have a link with the idea that God has any direct interest in the human race at all. He has no plan, no message for us. Rather, the idea seems to be that the CofE should be an organisation that celebrates how people feel, and makes up ceremonies accordingly. God is just a word used from time to time to make the noise sound right. But no Word made flesh,no understanding of male and female, of God's union with the human race, of what Cana meant, or the Marriage Feast of the Lamb...so there's the end of it. No amount of noise can fill the gap.
I don't want to sound rude, but it would be nice if they would let the rest of us use some more of the glorious old buildings - which in a sense belong to the whole nation and not just to any one part of it - - so we can worship God in them as the builders intended...
Friday, July 08, 2016
Bishop Philip Egan...
...has issued a good Pastoral Letter to celebrate Amoris Laetitia, Marriage is "a call from God, a blessed state of life" and there is a need to teach about in Catholic schools, and to prepare young people well, recognising the challenges of a society where lifelong commitment is "increasingly alien".
I am glad that the Church has started a tradition of inviting couples who are marking a significant wedding anniversary - ten, twenty, thirty, etc, years of marriage - to join in a special Mass together with the Bishop: an excellent initiative.
Each summer our mantlepiece has a fluttering of wedding invitations. There is a family wedding next weekend which will bring particular joy and it has been fun sharing in some of the preparations and discussions...
And we also have several invitations to ordinations this summer...and to some priests' Jubilees... JOY!!!
The summer also sees pilgrimages: as I write this, I have just finished last-minute preparations for an Ordinariate pilgrimage to Arundel tomorrow...
I am glad that the Church has started a tradition of inviting couples who are marking a significant wedding anniversary - ten, twenty, thirty, etc, years of marriage - to join in a special Mass together with the Bishop: an excellent initiative.
Each summer our mantlepiece has a fluttering of wedding invitations. There is a family wedding next weekend which will bring particular joy and it has been fun sharing in some of the preparations and discussions...
And we also have several invitations to ordinations this summer...and to some priests' Jubilees... JOY!!!
The summer also sees pilgrimages: as I write this, I have just finished last-minute preparations for an Ordinariate pilgrimage to Arundel tomorrow...
Thursday, July 07, 2016
Heroism...
...and its challenge.
Read here...
A saint reminds us each one of us will find in his or her life " ...Some duty, some obligation, from which [you] cannot escape, and from which it is impossible to desert. A certain order of truths and values you are obliged to maintain and defend…In such a moment (and there are many of them, for they are not something exceptional), remember: Christ is passing by you and saying ‘Follow me.’ Do not abandon him. Do not run away. Hear that call...”
Wednesday, July 06, 2016
If the cowardly...
...anonymous person who sent the inane Comment to this blog will write, apologising for his/her rudeness, and giving his/her name and an email or other form of address, I might reply to the rather silly point he/she raised.concerning the thanksgiving service for the Schools Bible Project.
It is possible that some readers are unaware of the rule that civilised people have about anonymous letters and what should be done with them. For the record, it's roughly this: except in very unusual circumstances, they should be thrown away immediately.
Anonymous comments are in general only published on this blog if accompanied by a separate message (which will not be published) offering identity and requesting anonymity. It's quite understood that people don't want their names spread over the internet. Standard procedure has been developed over many years of journalism: letter published with "Name and address supplied". Get used to it.
It is possible that some readers are unaware of the rule that civilised people have about anonymous letters and what should be done with them. For the record, it's roughly this: except in very unusual circumstances, they should be thrown away immediately.
Anonymous comments are in general only published on this blog if accompanied by a separate message (which will not be published) offering identity and requesting anonymity. It's quite understood that people don't want their names spread over the internet. Standard procedure has been developed over many years of journalism: letter published with "Name and address supplied". Get used to it.
A most useful...
...Editorial meeting for FAITH magazine (run by the FAITH Movement - the big Summer Session for the associated youth movement takes places in August). By kind invitation of Mgr Keith and Mrs Newton, we met at the Ordinariate HQ in London's Golden Square. I had brought chocolate buns (see below). It is a pleasure to work with people like Canon Luiz Ruscillo and Sr Andrea Fraile. Lots of good ideas, strategic thinking, good humour, concrete action.We got a lot done, and we stuck to time.
Interested in a sample copy of the magazine? Send a Comment to this Blog WITH A POSTAL ADDRESS IN IT, TO WHICH I CAN SEND THE MAGAZINE. I have a few spare copies specifically for this. Hurry.
Interested in a sample copy of the magazine? Send a Comment to this Blog WITH A POSTAL ADDRESS IN IT, TO WHICH I CAN SEND THE MAGAZINE. I have a few spare copies specifically for this. Hurry.
People are kind...
...often unexpectedly so.
On arrival at Waterloo station, I suddenly missed my bag, with its papers - and box of freshly baked chocolate buns - for a major Editorial Board meeting.Told myself the buns didn't matter. Knew the papers did. Had I left the bag on the train? Crossly returned to gate: train had left. In bad temper with myself, made enquiries re Lost Property, where to go, etc...on pondering, realised had left the bag at Wimbledon, when buying coffee.
Train back to Wimbledon too hot, and I was cross. Lurched across the carriage to open windows, slipped and slumped into seat. Instead of saying "Who is this ill-tempered woman crashing around?" people rushed to help. One man proffered a fresh bottle of water, insisted I take it. Everyone kind and helpful. On arrival at Wimbledon, cheery but overworked lady at coffee-shop immediately helpful and pleased to see me "Yes! The bag is safe! The railway staff took it!" (NOTE: WIMBLEDON. Yes, that's right. Tennis: thousands and thousands of people surging through the station. She could so easily just have decided not to bother). Railway chap at ticket-gate extremely helpful: finally tracked the bag down to a room where some sort of working-meeting was happening, lost property stored in a corner. Huge enthusiasm when I was reunited with my bag, round of applause. I ended up pumping hands and then hugging the ticket-gate man.
People are kind.
And, yes, in due course the buns were enjoyed at an Editorial Board - see next blog post.
On arrival at Waterloo station, I suddenly missed my bag, with its papers - and box of freshly baked chocolate buns - for a major Editorial Board meeting.Told myself the buns didn't matter. Knew the papers did. Had I left the bag on the train? Crossly returned to gate: train had left. In bad temper with myself, made enquiries re Lost Property, where to go, etc...on pondering, realised had left the bag at Wimbledon, when buying coffee.
Train back to Wimbledon too hot, and I was cross. Lurched across the carriage to open windows, slipped and slumped into seat. Instead of saying "Who is this ill-tempered woman crashing around?" people rushed to help. One man proffered a fresh bottle of water, insisted I take it. Everyone kind and helpful. On arrival at Wimbledon, cheery but overworked lady at coffee-shop immediately helpful and pleased to see me "Yes! The bag is safe! The railway staff took it!" (NOTE: WIMBLEDON. Yes, that's right. Tennis: thousands and thousands of people surging through the station. She could so easily just have decided not to bother). Railway chap at ticket-gate extremely helpful: finally tracked the bag down to a room where some sort of working-meeting was happening, lost property stored in a corner. Huge enthusiasm when I was reunited with my bag, round of applause. I ended up pumping hands and then hugging the ticket-gate man.
People are kind.
And, yes, in due course the buns were enjoyed at an Editorial Board - see next blog post.
Tuesday, July 05, 2016
The Ecumenical Society...
...of the Blessed Virgin Mary is meeting in Chichester on August 6th and they have kindly invited me to the the guest speaker.
Details: Saturday August 6th 2pm, Bishop's Palace, Canon Lane, Chichester. Topic: St John Paul, Mary, and the Church. The Church's Marian profile: a fresh approach. The talk will be followed by refreshments. All are welcome to attend - it's free. More info from stolavbooks@gmail.com or telephone 01243 782790.
Do come! Chichester is delightful - lots of lovely places to lunch, the Cathedral is well worth a visit...and it's all not far from the sea...
This week...
...a team of judges meets to read all the entries for the 2016 Schools Bible Project. The Project has been running for over 25 years: in 2014 we held a great Jubilee Thanksgiving Service at St Margaret's, Westminster.
Every secondary school in Britain is invited to take part. Pupils are invited to imagine themselves present at one of the great events in the life of Christ (the miracle at Cana, the Feeding of the Five Thoiusand, the healing of Jairus' daughter, the Last Supper...) and to write about it as if as an eye-witness. We get some superb essays. The main winners come to London to recieve their prizes from one of our Trustrees, Baroness Cox. Schools across Britain receive various runner-up prizes. It is all sponsored by an ecumenical group, bringing together representatives from mainstream Christian denominations in Britain.
The judging starts with a full day iu n which the team reads every essay. When the final group of possible main winners has been selected, a second round of judging takes place.By the end of the whole process, we have half a dozen main winners, and a great number of runners-up. A great team of volunteers meets at the end of August to pack and post prizes to schools, ready for presentation during the Autumn term.
Every secondary school in Britain is invited to take part. Pupils are invited to imagine themselves present at one of the great events in the life of Christ (the miracle at Cana, the Feeding of the Five Thoiusand, the healing of Jairus' daughter, the Last Supper...) and to write about it as if as an eye-witness. We get some superb essays. The main winners come to London to recieve their prizes from one of our Trustrees, Baroness Cox. Schools across Britain receive various runner-up prizes. It is all sponsored by an ecumenical group, bringing together representatives from mainstream Christian denominations in Britain.
The judging starts with a full day iu n which the team reads every essay. When the final group of possible main winners has been selected, a second round of judging takes place.By the end of the whole process, we have half a dozen main winners, and a great number of runners-up. A great team of volunteers meets at the end of August to pack and post prizes to schools, ready for presentation during the Autumn term.
Monday, July 04, 2016
I went to World Youth Day...
...as a journalist in 2011, in Madrid in the most horrible, torrid heat. The thunderstorm at night - with some one and a half million people on a massive airfield, and the beloved Holy Father Benedict XVI sitting out the clattering rain, the zigzag lightning and the great crashes of thunder along with the rest of us - was one of life's most tumultuous experiences. It was glorious, an answer to prayer: the burning sun had been horrible, and the Spanish Fire Brigade had been circling the airfield, hosing us down, and the Air Force bringing great stacks of bottled water...And then a tiny cloud was seen in the evening sky, getting gloriously bigger as the burning sun oh-soooo-slowly made its way down in the West. And then the storm. Magnificent. And the Holy Father was there with us all the time:" Well,we shared an adventire together!" he said mildly, as the storm passed...
Reading this made me want to go to Krakow 2016. But I'm older than ever, and have a Dissertation to write (more on that in due course) and lectures to give, and a family wedding coming up, and umpteen responsibilities that cannot and should not be shelved...
Pray for World Youth Day, a piece of good news in a complicated world. Thank God for St John paul the Great who initiated this wonderful project....
Reading this made me want to go to Krakow 2016. But I'm older than ever, and have a Dissertation to write (more on that in due course) and lectures to give, and a family wedding coming up, and umpteen responsibilities that cannot and should not be shelved...
Pray for World Youth Day, a piece of good news in a complicated world. Thank God for St John paul the Great who initiated this wonderful project....
Sunday, July 03, 2016
Pope Francis:
"only the exclusive and indissoluble union between a man and a woman has a plenary role to play in society as a stable commitment that bears fruit in new life."(Amoris Laetitia)
And that is what must be at the core of community life. When David Cameron made a dignified and manly speech on resigning as Prime Minister, the only bit that really made the whole thing suddenly flop was his bragging about having legalised same-sex "marriage".
All the excitement and politicking happening in Westminster at the moment is of much less importance than the great reality at the heart of the West: the collapse of an everyday, shared recognition about the nature of man and woman and marriage and family. The future of society is through families: to renew faith in that is to offer hope.
And that is what must be at the core of community life. When David Cameron made a dignified and manly speech on resigning as Prime Minister, the only bit that really made the whole thing suddenly flop was his bragging about having legalised same-sex "marriage".
All the excitement and politicking happening in Westminster at the moment is of much less importance than the great reality at the heart of the West: the collapse of an everyday, shared recognition about the nature of man and woman and marriage and family. The future of society is through families: to renew faith in that is to offer hope.
A great friend from Australia...
...Bishop Peter Elliott, was in London and celebrated a votive mass of the Most Precious Blood at the church of that name today. A most splendid Mass: the Children's Choir sang very delightfully, and Bishop Peter preached extremely well: I had no realised the significance of the word "precious", and its link to the notion of being "beyond price"...
Bishop Peter has been a friend of the Bogle family for over 30 years, and it was a real joy to be with him. There was a cheery parish lunch afterwards,a large gathering at a long table, and he spoke to us all about the Church in Australia, the Ordinariate there, etc...
Bishop Peter has been a friend of the Bogle family for over 30 years, and it was a real joy to be with him. There was a cheery parish lunch afterwards,a large gathering at a long table, and he spoke to us all about the Church in Australia, the Ordinariate there, etc...
Saturday, July 02, 2016
...and if you'd like to know more about St Thomas More...
...come to the next CATHOLIC HISTORY WALK on Wed July 13th. Meet 6.30pm on the steps of the Church of Our Most Holy Redeemer and St Thomas More, Cheyne Row, Chelsea, SW3. Nearest tube: Sloane Square, and then walk along the Kings Road, and follow the sign to CATHOLIC CHURCH...
No need to book - just turn up. The Walk will take about an hour. Afterwards, we sometimes go on to a pub...
No need to book - just turn up. The Walk will take about an hour. Afterwards, we sometimes go on to a pub...
On the feast of...
...Saints Peter and Paul, I was at Allen Hall, the seminary for the diocese of Westminster, where Fr Doug Grandon celebrated Mass for his pilgrim group from Denver, Colorado. Afterwards, the Rector spoke to the group about the seminary's magnificent tradition of heroic martyr priests. The names of the Douai Martyrs are on the honour boards in the refectory: at the start of each academic year they are read out by the men studying at the seminary, tomorrow's priests...
After the Rector's talk, I was invited to take the pilgrims to the famous miulberry tree in the garden: this was part of St Thomas More's land, and he planted several mulberry trees - the Latin word for mulberry is morus...
The group then went on to the Tower of London, and I travelled with them in the coach to give a potted history...we went from the Battle of Bosworth through to the execution of More and Fisher as the coach took us through rainy streets, and we reached 1535 as we approached the Tower...
A laptop enables one to work anywhere. After making my farewells to the Americans, I settled down with a mug of coffee and a belated breakfast, and opened up my emails. As rain splattered down I sat quietly and enjoyably working, a second mug of coffee by my side.
After the Rector's talk, I was invited to take the pilgrims to the famous miulberry tree in the garden: this was part of St Thomas More's land, and he planted several mulberry trees - the Latin word for mulberry is morus...
The group then went on to the Tower of London, and I travelled with them in the coach to give a potted history...we went from the Battle of Bosworth through to the execution of More and Fisher as the coach took us through rainy streets, and we reached 1535 as we approached the Tower...
A laptop enables one to work anywhere. After making my farewells to the Americans, I settled down with a mug of coffee and a belated breakfast, and opened up my emails. As rain splattered down I sat quietly and enjoyably working, a second mug of coffee by my side.
Friday, July 01, 2016
While political events...
...were happening with extraordinary speed in Westminster, further along the river we were having Evensong and Mass at the Church of the Most Precious Blood, followed by a parish barbeque. There is now a children's choir: beautiful singing, and the children behave with great reverence...rather a sweet sight to watch them walking solemnly up to receive H. Communion or a blessing...
Today in London there were commemorations marking the centenary of the Battle of the Somme, July 1st was the most tragic day in the history of the British Army, with thousands and thousands if young nmen killed or wounded. "We lost the flower of a generation" Prince William said today. There is a vigil tonight in Westminster Abbey. The Battle of the Somme began as dawn broke on July 1st, one hundred years ago.
Today in London there were commemorations marking the centenary of the Battle of the Somme, July 1st was the most tragic day in the history of the British Army, with thousands and thousands if young nmen killed or wounded. "We lost the flower of a generation" Prince William said today. There is a vigil tonight in Westminster Abbey. The Battle of the Somme began as dawn broke on July 1st, one hundred years ago.
If you want to know...
...why Auntie has been busy packing up parcels of books and illuminated cards for primary schools, you can find out here...
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