...in Durham, where I spoke to the Cathsoc at the University. Most enjoyable...a packed evening Mass in St Cuthbert's Church - which doubles as the University chaplaincy - and a convivial meeting over wine with a great group of students...my topic was "Celebrating traditional Feasts and Seasons", with talk of old customs and folklore, including pub signs (eg "The Crossed Keys", "The Salutation" - both of those have Catholic origins)...the Cathsoc is a v. friendly and lively group, with a good programme... recent speakers have included Sister Roseanne Reddy of the Sisters of the Gospel of Life...
I stayed at the hospitable home of Prof and Mrs Sheridan Gilley...books, talk, warm hospitality, more books, more talk...shelves of Robert Hugh Benson and Ronald Knox, books by and about John Henry Newman, books on thology, more books...a feast of reading and talking...
...and then on to Manchester where I was with the North West branch of the Catholic Writers Guild which meets at the Manchester University Catholic chaplaincy. The meeting was chaired by Eric Hester - whose book reviews in the Catholic Times, FAITH magazine, and elsewhere, are always a joy to read - and I went on to enjoy great hospitality at the Hesters' home, sitting late and agreeably, talking with Eric and Katherine...again a house with a feast of books...
...and finally, on to London and thence to Croydon, to Coloma School, ...a parents' meeting tackling issues concerning young people and the media...a friendly and positive evening...useful points were discussed and raised, such as how families should set guidelines about use of TV and the Internet...we looked a things like Tamezin magazine...books from Gracewing and from the CTS were on sale...This is a very popular school, and it was a huge pleasure to be there.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Saturday, January 26, 2008
The Christian Imagination and English Literature
...was the title of a talk at THE KEYS, London branch of the Catholic Writers Guild of England and Wales, this week. Speaker was Prof Michael Alexander, who was appointed Professor of English at St Andrews University in 1985. An excellent evening, which got us discussing all sorts of things from Caedmon to Chaucer and on to Walter Scott via George Herbert, Milton, and Dryden and more...he also circulated some things on which to ponder and we looked at "I sing of a maiden..." and "Love bade me welcome..." and "God doth not need/Either man's work or his own gifts..."
It was our AGM, and, following email contact from the catholicwritersguild.org - an American-based group which had contacted me via this Blog - I passed on greetings from them to our Guild and then it was formally resolved, and carried by acclamation, that we pass our greetings back to them...we hope to have a regular exchange of news, helpful ideas and information etc. Sean O'Connor formally retired as Master of THE KEYS and was presented with a bottle of champagne, amid very heartfelt applause as he really has been excellent, especially in seeing the Guild safely into our new home at St Mary Moorfields after many very happy years at St Etheldreda's, Ely Place (where a plaque in the crypt now marks our link there).
All this, and a good dinner with rare roast beef followed by a proper hot pudding with apples and spicy dried fruit and generous ice cream...oh, an excellent evening.
Papa Benedict has been speaking, with wisdom and largeness of mind, about the media, to mark the feast of St Francis de Sales...
It was our AGM, and, following email contact from the catholicwritersguild.org - an American-based group which had contacted me via this Blog - I passed on greetings from them to our Guild and then it was formally resolved, and carried by acclamation, that we pass our greetings back to them...we hope to have a regular exchange of news, helpful ideas and information etc. Sean O'Connor formally retired as Master of THE KEYS and was presented with a bottle of champagne, amid very heartfelt applause as he really has been excellent, especially in seeing the Guild safely into our new home at St Mary Moorfields after many very happy years at St Etheldreda's, Ely Place (where a plaque in the crypt now marks our link there).
All this, and a good dinner with rare roast beef followed by a proper hot pudding with apples and spicy dried fruit and generous ice cream...oh, an excellent evening.
Papa Benedict has been speaking, with wisdom and largeness of mind, about the media, to mark the feast of St Francis de Sales...
Friday, January 25, 2008
St John Fisher...
...a great hero of the Faith, is still inspiring new generations.
The chapel at the John Fisher School, Purley (where my brother went to school) with was consecrated on Thursday in a glorious ceremony - Archbishop McDonald of Southwark spreading sacred oil from a silver ewer on to the altar, priests anointing the walls with crosses, a great choir of boys singing magnificently....
A church is usually consecrated as soon as all its debts have been paid, but although the school chapel was paid for long ago, and has been in full use for many years, it had never been consecrated - so the school took the opportunity of the chapel's 50th anniversary to do it. A long line of priests, many of them former pupils of the school, filed in to the packed chapel, and the congregation was led by the Mayor and Mayoress of Croydon. Bishop Howard Tripp, a former John Fisher pupil, blessed a portrait of St John Fisher which hangs at the back of the chapel - it dates back to the mid-19th century and has just been restored, there's a whole story attached to it - and we sang the School Hymn which was written by the founding headmaster and has splendid lines about the saint "Loyal to England and Christ's earthly Vicar, death found thee fearless..."
Afterwards, a buffet lunch in the school hall, and lots and lots of old friends meeting and talking...I met Gwen, with whom I was in the Girl Guides, oh a lifetime ago (we both got our Queen's Guide badges within months of each other) and Mother was hugely enjoying meeting people and reminiscing...
Like many another school chapel across Britain, this one is packed with important memories for so many people.
The chapel at the John Fisher School, Purley (where my brother went to school) with was consecrated on Thursday in a glorious ceremony - Archbishop McDonald of Southwark spreading sacred oil from a silver ewer on to the altar, priests anointing the walls with crosses, a great choir of boys singing magnificently....
A church is usually consecrated as soon as all its debts have been paid, but although the school chapel was paid for long ago, and has been in full use for many years, it had never been consecrated - so the school took the opportunity of the chapel's 50th anniversary to do it. A long line of priests, many of them former pupils of the school, filed in to the packed chapel, and the congregation was led by the Mayor and Mayoress of Croydon. Bishop Howard Tripp, a former John Fisher pupil, blessed a portrait of St John Fisher which hangs at the back of the chapel - it dates back to the mid-19th century and has just been restored, there's a whole story attached to it - and we sang the School Hymn which was written by the founding headmaster and has splendid lines about the saint "Loyal to England and Christ's earthly Vicar, death found thee fearless..."
Afterwards, a buffet lunch in the school hall, and lots and lots of old friends meeting and talking...I met Gwen, with whom I was in the Girl Guides, oh a lifetime ago (we both got our Queen's Guide badges within months of each other) and Mother was hugely enjoying meeting people and reminiscing...
Like many another school chapel across Britain, this one is packed with important memories for so many people.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
I've got a cold...
...and am snuffly and keep stopping at coffee-shops to give myself consoling mugs of hot chocolate.
Hurried off to give a talk at a Methodist Church fellowship on the outskirts of Croydon - an agreeable ride in the tram, which swoops most satisfyingly through Wandle Park and glides round Reeves Corner - and then, via an exccellent hot choc at Wimbledon, up to London to a committee meeting of the The Keys, the Catholic Writers' Guild at St Mary Moorfields. Our splendid chaplain, Fr Peter, gave us all dinner. It was a most enjoyable evening. Melanie McDonagh is to be the new Master of the Guild, succeeding Sean O'Connor, who has done an excellent job. Sample of Melanie's writing here.
Jeremy de Satge, a committee member of The Keys, and a composer of some merit, has the premiere of his Penitential Mass for Eight Voices, at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Farm Street on Sunday Feb 17th, at the 11 am sung Latin Mass. All are welcome. I plan to be there. As its name suggests, this is a Mass suitable for Lent and Advent, and you can read more about it here.
Hurried off to give a talk at a Methodist Church fellowship on the outskirts of Croydon - an agreeable ride in the tram, which swoops most satisfyingly through Wandle Park and glides round Reeves Corner - and then, via an exccellent hot choc at Wimbledon, up to London to a committee meeting of the The Keys, the Catholic Writers' Guild at St Mary Moorfields. Our splendid chaplain, Fr Peter, gave us all dinner. It was a most enjoyable evening. Melanie McDonagh is to be the new Master of the Guild, succeeding Sean O'Connor, who has done an excellent job. Sample of Melanie's writing here.
Jeremy de Satge, a committee member of The Keys, and a composer of some merit, has the premiere of his Penitential Mass for Eight Voices, at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Farm Street on Sunday Feb 17th, at the 11 am sung Latin Mass. All are welcome. I plan to be there. As its name suggests, this is a Mass suitable for Lent and Advent, and you can read more about it here.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
I found some useful news videos...
The Jesuits...
...have been in the news because they've been electing a new Superior, so this morning I decided to go to Mass at the Jesuit Church in Wimbledon. Sung (Latin, ordinary form) Mass, glorious music, good-sized congregation, although probably not as large as that for the earlier "Family Mass" which was still spilling out as I arrived. (Actually, if I had children I would take them to the one I attended: much more impressive stuff to see and hear and smell - even the introductory rites, including the Confiteor, were chanted, strong participation, church filled with song, lots of incense, and Credo III, and the familiar Pater Noster, and a "Domine, salvam fac" for the Queen at the end - all much more exciting than just children's hymns).
We sat up late yesterday evening watching Casino Royale on DVD (James Bond) - interesting to see how they've developed the new plots as there is no Soviet Union to be the Enemy any more, so it has to be general International Terrorism and Evil Crooks. This will work for a while, but is a bit wobbly - as Western society increasingly ceases to believe in itself, the notion of having a Secret Service dedicated to its preservation will seem less and less defensible, so the old M15/headquarters in London/Bond reporting back/loyalty to Britain/etc idea won't work so well.
We sat up late yesterday evening watching Casino Royale on DVD (James Bond) - interesting to see how they've developed the new plots as there is no Soviet Union to be the Enemy any more, so it has to be general International Terrorism and Evil Crooks. This will work for a while, but is a bit wobbly - as Western society increasingly ceases to believe in itself, the notion of having a Secret Service dedicated to its preservation will seem less and less defensible, so the old M15/headquarters in London/Bond reporting back/loyalty to Britain/etc idea won't work so well.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
I was given...
...from New Zealand, at Christmas, a dear little patchwork bag to carry sewing, and a tapestry to do, and a needle-case. It is most satisfying using something pretty instead of a plastic bag, and gives a pleasing feeling when carrying it about...
If you didn't get the Daily Mail's Brideshead series on DVD - available with the newspaper all this past fornight - do, quickly, send off for a set. It is, of course, superb, as all who first saw it back in thre 1980s will recall - and there is an extra DVD at the end, in which various people discuss the book, the TV adaption, Evelyn Waugh's work, and more. The whole thing would be excellent for VI-formers to watch. The lavish Oxford scenes, the sense of 1920s decadence, then the unfolding drama, set in the the glorious sweep of heavely countryside and architecture (the Venice scenes! The hunt at Brideshead!)...then the hesitant but steady, paced move towards the central moment in Lord Marchmain's room...
If you didn't get the Daily Mail's Brideshead series on DVD - available with the newspaper all this past fornight - do, quickly, send off for a set. It is, of course, superb, as all who first saw it back in thre 1980s will recall - and there is an extra DVD at the end, in which various people discuss the book, the TV adaption, Evelyn Waugh's work, and more. The whole thing would be excellent for VI-formers to watch. The lavish Oxford scenes, the sense of 1920s decadence, then the unfolding drama, set in the the glorious sweep of heavely countryside and architecture (the Venice scenes! The hunt at Brideshead!)...then the hesitant but steady, paced move towards the central moment in Lord Marchmain's room...
This is most enjoyable reading...
...from a typical mainstream oh-isn't-the-Catholic-church-awful commentator in a Canadian paper, admitting : "what initially appeared as an unconditional Papal retreat has suddenly been transformed into a resounding Vatican victory". Do read it.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Enjoy this Blog?
...want to read more? Then you might enjoy this link. It's an on-line magazine for which I write., with comments on topical events etc....
at Mother's...
...this evening, we were just settling down with a DVD and some sewing, when the doorbell rang...it was the splendid Mr Dan Cooper of the FAITH Movement, with young Fr James Clark, who had just given a talk to the FAITH Group at the John Fisher School. It is so enjoyable and encouraging to talk to a young and enthusiastic priest - and a great joy for Mother, who ran the mailing-and-admin. of FAITH magazine for years and remembers so many of these excellent FAITH priests as schoolboys, helping with the mail-out....We had mugs of tea and chocolate biscuits and much talk...
Westminster Cathedral...
...is such a reassurring presence, and like lots of Londoners I drop in there when passing...which often means several times a week. Mass, especially the sung Mass at 5.30pm on weekdays, confession, a quiet place to pray - and, at present, until Feb 2nd, a lovely Crib to visit...
So it's with real concern that I see the headline in this week's Catholic Herald "Race to save Westminster Cathedral" - big problems with water leaking into the great domes on the roof, and with the antiuquated electricity and heating systems...which date back to the Cathedral's foundation in the 1900s.
They need a LOT of money for repair work. With several thousand people pouring in and out each week, packing it for Mass on Sundays, and attending the special Masses held there for all great occasions, it should be possible to get the cash...and this is a cause well worth supporting
So it's with real concern that I see the headline in this week's Catholic Herald "Race to save Westminster Cathedral" - big problems with water leaking into the great domes on the roof, and with the antiuquated electricity and heating systems...which date back to the Cathedral's foundation in the 1900s.
They need a LOT of money for repair work. With several thousand people pouring in and out each week, packing it for Mass on Sundays, and attending the special Masses held there for all great occasions, it should be possible to get the cash...and this is a cause well worth supporting
NOTE....
The email address I gave for the Pope was inaccurate, but I have now corrected it. Do send him an email of support!!
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Latest issue...
...of FAITH magazine arrives. It has a kind review of my Yearbook of Seasons and Celebrations, saying it is a "defiantly informative book" which is a most satisfying phrase. There's also a brilliant column by Dr William Oddie about the arrival of Polish Catholics in Britain, and an editorial "The Primacy of Christ and honouring the Islamic Invitation", which I'm currently reading...it's the first thing I've come across which has responded in any depth to the "open letter" sent by Moslem leaders to the Church.
You can find out more about the Faith Movement here.
You can find out more about the Faith Movement here.
Of course he had to...
...cancel his visit to the University. It was the only possible thing for Pope Benedict to do.
When students at La Sapienza University threatened to blare out loud rock music to drown the Pope's voice, and staff - albeit only a minority, but clearly an influential one - had signed a letter demanding that he not attend, and the whole thing looked as though it might turn into as shrieking mess, the only sane thing to do was withdraw. So it wasn't a "ban" that ensured that the Pope didn't speak at the University - it was the threat of mob behaviour. I am annoyed now that I referred to a "ban" in my letter, because the ban was created by the threat of mob violence rather than simply than by a letter of dis-invitation. But there we are.
Have you written to the University? The more letters they get, the easier it will be when they arrange for the Pope to come with proper dignity on a subsequent occasion, and the more strength it will give to the authorities to do and say the right things in the discussions which will continue over the next weeks. It is important - very important - that the University authorities know how offensive this has all been. And have you sent a message of support to the Pope? His email is benedictxvi@vatican.va
It's been great to see the surge of support for the Holy Father, especially from La Spaienza students with thjeir banners at the Wednesday Audience.
When students at La Sapienza University threatened to blare out loud rock music to drown the Pope's voice, and staff - albeit only a minority, but clearly an influential one - had signed a letter demanding that he not attend, and the whole thing looked as though it might turn into as shrieking mess, the only sane thing to do was withdraw. So it wasn't a "ban" that ensured that the Pope didn't speak at the University - it was the threat of mob behaviour. I am annoyed now that I referred to a "ban" in my letter, because the ban was created by the threat of mob violence rather than simply than by a letter of dis-invitation. But there we are.
Have you written to the University? The more letters they get, the easier it will be when they arrange for the Pope to come with proper dignity on a subsequent occasion, and the more strength it will give to the authorities to do and say the right things in the discussions which will continue over the next weeks. It is important - very important - that the University authorities know how offensive this has all been. And have you sent a message of support to the Pope? His email is benedictxvi@vatican.va
It's been great to see the surge of support for the Holy Father, especially from La Spaienza students with thjeir banners at the Wednesday Audience.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
This is the letter...
....I have sent to staff at La Sapienza University.
Please write too. You can email (see link given below) or send a letter by post: The Chancellor, La Sapienza University, Piazza Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Roma, Italy.
I write to express my concern and indignation at the banning of the visit of Pope Benedict to your University. This is an insult to the Holy Father, and makes La Sapienza University look extremely foolish as well as rather frightening.
A University should be a place where scholarship is honoured and respected, and where mob-rule is not seen as acceptable...
Please write too. You can email (see link given below) or send a letter by post: The Chancellor, La Sapienza University, Piazza Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Roma, Italy.
I write to express my concern and indignation at the banning of the visit of Pope Benedict to your University. This is an insult to the Holy Father, and makes La Sapienza University look extremely foolish as well as rather frightening.
A University should be a place where scholarship is honoured and respected, and where mob-rule is not seen as acceptable...
Action:
Following the crass ignorance of the people at La Sapienza University in Rome in preventing the Holy Father from coming to speak, I'm writing to the creeps there and suggest that other bloggers do the same. You could email them too. Info here.
Another thought too: how about Catholic students and pro-life groups at universities writing to invite the Holy Father to come to address them?
Another thought too: how about Catholic students and pro-life groups at universities writing to invite the Holy Father to come to address them?
Outside Parliament...
...we gathered yesterday with placards saying "Protect the family "Children need fathers" and "No animal/human hybrids". The House of Lords was debating the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill with its nasty schemes for unethical activities . We called out "Ditch the Bill now!" I do wish they would do just that.
Have you written to your Member of Parliament about it yet?
Have you written to your Member of Parliament about it yet?
Monday, January 14, 2008
One of the best things...
...that has come my way over the past week is a new booklet A Way of Life for Young Catholics, by Father Stephen Wang. At just £1.95p from the CTS, it's really excellent. It has prayers, information, sections on "How to live your Catholic Faith", "Five great saints of the 20th century" "Five saints for young people" "Five ways to find a good Catholic husband or wife", lists of useful books and DVDs and websites...and lots more! It's brand-new - I picked it up in the CTS bookshop in Westminster Cathedral Piazza (one day I really am going to try to go into that shop and come out without buying something!) and I'll be passing it on. When I look back on some of the poor stuff that was available to young Catholics in the 1970s I realise what good things are around today.
A new Blog...
...John Smeaton of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, is blogging!
It's a good read, and will be of enormous help over the next weeks as crucial legislation goes through Parliament, and new threats to families and children are exposed. Read his blog here.
It's a good read, and will be of enormous help over the next weeks as crucial legislation goes through Parliament, and new threats to families and children are exposed. Read his blog here.
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