Thursday 11 December 2008

Cardinal Antonio CaƱizares Llovera (Little Ratzinger), Archbishop of Toledo and Primate of Spain is New Prefect of Congregation for Divine Worship.


H/t to Fr. Z and Fr. T Finigan, Fr. Z writes:- "the nickname "little Ratzinger" was born in the Roman Curia. From 1985 to 1992 Canizares played the same role in the Spanish bishops conference that Ratzinger played in the Vatican: he took care of the "doctrine of the faith" sector for the bishops conference. It was this role, together with the special friendship he had with Ratzinger, that prompted the men of the former Holy Office good-naturely to start nicknaming him that way.

tThree pilgrimages to honour the Holy Year of Saint Paul.


We have received confirmation of three pilgrimages to honour the Holy Year of Saint Paul.

The first pilgrimage
will be to Dublin on Saturday, 24th January, 2009, where Mass will be celebrated in the Gregorian Rite at 11 a.m. in St. Paul's Church on Arran Quay on the banks of the River Liffey. Blessed Columba Marmion was baptised in this Church, which was home for many years to the Latin Mass in the Archdiocese of Dublin.The second pilgrimage will be to Kilcock, Co. Kildare, on Saturday, 21st March, 2009, where Mass will be celebrated in the Gregorian Rite in St. Coca's Church. Kilcock, on the bank of the Royal Canal, stands upon the site of the foundation of St. Coca, another ourstanding lady Saint of Kildare, of whom more in June about the time of her feastday.The third confirmed pilgrimage is to the village of Vicarstown, Co. Laois, on Saturday, 25th April, 2009, where Mass will be celebrated in the Gregorian Rite at 11 a.m. in the Church of the Assumption. Vicarstown lies on the banks of the Grand Canal, near the ancient monastic settlement of Clonenagh, home of St. Fintan, known as the Father of Irish Monks, and St. Aengus the Culdee, author of the Felire and co-author with Maelruain of the Martyrology of Tallaght.For forthcoming details, please see:- http://catholicheritage.blogspot.com/2008/11/holy-year-of-saint-paul.html

Sunday 7 December 2008

Some Good News Stories from the Fraternity of St. Peter in England


Given on Friday 5th December 2008, Reading.

Portsmouth Diocese:
Bishop Crispian Hollis of Portsmouth has kindly allowed for a second FSSP priest to come and live with Fr de Malleray in Reading. Fr Simon Leworthy, an Australian priest holding a British passport, has studied in Rome and served in Germany and in Australia. He is due to arrive in January.

Northampton Diocese:
Statement from Bishop’s House, Northampton, on Saturday 29 November 2008:
“Having in view the spiritual good of the faithful attached to the Extraordinary Form of the Roman rite, Bishop Peter Doyle has approved of the relocating of the Sunday Mass offered by priests from the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP) from Bedford to Flitwick where better facilities are available (e.g. car park, parish hall). Bishop Doyle thanks the priests from the FSSP for their ministry in that part of the Northampton diocese over the recent years, as well as the parish priests in Bedford and Flitwick who have welcomed this worshipping community. Lastly, Bishop Doyle assures all the faithful attending the EF Mass in Flitwick (starting on the first Sunday of Advent 2008) of his pastoral solicitude and of his prayer.”

Parish website: http://www.sacredheartflitwick.co.uk/
Postal address: Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Pope Close, Flitwick MK45 1JP, England
Mass time: every Sunday 5pm (exceptionally 4pm on December 14th due to previous parochial commitment)

Westminster Archdiocese:
By kind permission of the Parish Priest, Rev Mr Matthew Goddard, FSSP, to be ordained a priest on May 30th, 2009, will offer his First Solemn High Mass in St James’ church Spanish Place, London, on Whit Saturday 6th June 2009 at 11am. All are welcome to attend and give thanks to God and support this newly ordained British FSSP priest.

And also:

Christmas:
Sung Traditional Midnight Mass at midnight at St William of York church, Upper Redland Road, Reading, RG1 5JT, preceded with carols from 11.15pm onwards and followed with coffee and cakes in the hall.Rev Mr Matthew Goddard, FSSP will give the homily. You are most welcome to attend and meet with our soon to be ordained future priest on this his last stay at home until he comes back for his First Mass in June 2009.

Retreats:

Advent Retreat by Fr de Malleray, FSSP at Douai Abbey, Berks, 8-11 December: all the 15 places being now booked, please possibly apply for the next two retreats:

Vocation Retreat, 7-9 January 2009, same Retreat Master, same location: some places left;

Lent Retreat, 2-6 March 2009, same Retreat Master, same location: some places left.
All details on http://www.fssp.co.uk/. Booking with Fr de Malleray.

Wishing you a happy Feast of the Immaculate Conception,
Fr de Malleray

Fr Armand de Malleray, FSSP
Priestly Fraternity of St Peter in England
E-mail: malleray@fssp.org - http://www.fssp.org.uk/

Tuesday 2 December 2008

News from Juventutem


Please see the following information from Juventutem France:-


Juventutem newsletter is back. WYD 2005 and 2008 are now completed and back, but new events are planned for next few years :

For Europe :

Next August, 18-23, 2009 : a new gathering, similar to first week in Bavaria 2005, will handle in one of the most beautiful and oldest sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, that is Le Puy en Velay, in France, on the path to Santiago de Compostella. To discover this magnificent place, click here. A new English website on http://www.juventutem.com/ will be set up by the end of December. Youth for 16 – 25 years old are invited to come.

Worldwide :

Of course, answering to the invitation of Pope Benedikt XVI in Sydney, we will join WYD 2011 in Madrid.

Two major projects where all are warmly invited to come and have great time, spiritually, with a great friendship for the next coming years so as to be witnesses of the extraordinary form of the mass and the love of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Have a great time of Advent
In Domino

Juventutem team
French team will organize Juventutem Youth Meeting of Le Puy en Velay, France and invite you to come.


Juventutem France is the French Society of Foederatio Internationalis Juventutem.
http://www.juventutem.com/http://www.juventutem.org/

Thursday 27 November 2008

New Traditional Catholic Online Store


I received this very interesting email from the US in my inbox, I had a look and it seems like a very good initiative:-





`I am the 17 year old owner of a Traditional Catholic internet store accessible at latinmassliturgicals.com. We began in the hopes of serving as a one stop resource for altar boys, priests, and laity interested in the Traditional Mass.

After looking at your website, and reading a little bit about your organization, I have been very impressed with your dedication to, and love of, our traditional faith.

As we are still a small, growing company, we would appreciate it if you would post a link to our company (latinmassliturgicals.com) on your website. Our prices are quite competitive, and we strive to provide prompt shipping and excellent customer service.

We would like to offer your members a 5% discount on any order placed before January 1st, 2009. To redeem this offer simply type “traditional catholic” in the coupon/promo code box located on the check out page of the website.'

Friday 21 November 2008

RE: FSSP-served Sunday Mass in Northampton diocese moving from Bedford 4pm to Flitwick 5pm as of 1st Advent Sunday 2008.


Please see the following announcement from the Fraternity of St. Peter in England and Wales:-

Dear Friends,

The FSSP-served Sunday Mass in the Northampton diocese will move from Bedford 4pm to Flitwick 5pm as of 1st Advent Sunday 2008. The new parish church is 5mn from the M1 motorway, junction 12.

Motive: Unlike our previous location in Bedford, Sacred Heart church Flitwick has a hall with kitchen and a car park, which will enable us to meet after Mass (and possibly before) for social gathering and catechism according to the needs. We are also very glad that Parish Priest Canon Denis McSweeney is supportive of the traditional Mass and will kindly provide matching vestments, vessels and liturgical items for a dignified offering of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

Acknowledgments: I would like to express our gratitude to Rt Rev Peter Doyle, Bishop of Northampton, who has kindly approved of the FSSP’s request to relocate in Flitwick its regular ministry in his diocese, as well as to Canon Denis McSweeney and his parishioners for their friendly welcome into the parish. We will not forget in our prayer the clergy and parishioners at the Polish parish in Bedford who had kindly welcomed us in our previous location.

Your support: Please kindly forward this information to whoever might be interested. All are welcome to come and attend, and offer their services for singing, serving, setting up the parish hall etc. I am looking forward to meeting you in Flitwick for the beginning of the liturgical year on Sunday 30th November at 5pm. We will begin Advent with a Sung Mass. Please bring cakes, tea and coffee.

Flitwick Mass announcements:
· due to previously scheduled parish event, the Mass on Sunday 14th December 2008 will exceptionally start at 4pm instead of 5pm
· please email me back if you would wish to attend Mass in Flitwick on Christmas day (Thursday 25th December 2008) at 5pm, as this Mass might be added only if there is sufficient interest.

Details:
· Parish website: http://www.sacredheartflitwick.co.uk/
· Postal address: Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Pope Close, Flitwick MK45 1JP, England
· Location: The Sacred Heart Catholic church is located on the southern outskirts of the Bedfordshire town of Flitwick on the A5120 trunk road that leads to the M1 motorway.
· Directions from the M1 motorway: Exit the motorway at junction 12 and follow the signs to Flitwick, you will now be on the A5120 trunk road. Continue on through the village of Westoning, at the Bell public house carry on over the mini roundabout. Continue on for one mile and turn right into Vicarage Hill. Pope Close is immediately on the right. There is ample parking in the church car park.

Wishing you a good preparation for Advent,
Cordially yours in Our Lady,
Fr Armand de Malleray, FSSP

P.S. 1. Reminder: a few places are still available for the Advent retreat I will preach at Douai Abbey, Berkshire, 8-11 December 2008, on “Our Lady and the Incarnation” (global price all included full board single room : £137) – contact me soon for booking.
P.S.2. December 25th in Reading: Christmas Sung Midnight Mass at MIDNIGHT, and at 11am.

Friday 14 November 2008

Fraternity of St. Peter Retreats at Douai Abbey in England

Forthcoming FSSP retreats in England


"Please support me with your prayer, and I will be happy to do the same in the recollection of the retreat, invoking divine power on each one of you, on your families and your communities."-- Pope Benedict XVI, 25 Feb. 2007

3 retreats preached at Douai Abbey (Berks., UK)
by Fr Armand de Malleray, of the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter


1. Advent Retreat (3 nights) 8-11 December 2008

Starts Monday 8th December 2008 at 2pm –ends Thursday 11th December 2008 at 11amTheme: "Our Lady and the Incarnation"Retreat open to allCost: £137 - to cover Accommodation: single room with en-suite bathroom, full board. The Guest Master suggests a donation of £125 per person (individual discount granted on request

2. Vocation Retreat (2 nights) 7-9 January 2009

Starts Wednesday 7th January 2009 at 2pm –ends Friday 9th January 2009 at 11amTheme: "Ask the master of the harvest to send out labourers for his harvest." (Mt 9,38)Retreat for celibate men, age 16-40 Cost: £70 - to cover:1-Accommodation: single room with en-suite bathroom, full board.N.B. special reduction for students: £45 everything included.

3. Lenten Retreat (4 nights) 2-6 March 2009

Starts Monday 2nd March 2009 at 2pm –ends Friday 6th March 2009 at 11amTheme: "By his wounds we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5)Retreat open to allCost: £169 - to cover:1-Accommodation: single room with en-suite bathroom, full board. The Guest Master suggests a donation of £155 per person.

Further Info: Silent retreat (inside the premises); meals with table reading on the theme of the retreat or music; includes a one-hour conference in the morning and in the afternoon; coffee-break; walks around the Abbey; possibility of private meeting with the Retreat Master and of confession; daily Mass in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman rite; other devotions possible (Rosary, meditation).Possibility of attending some of the monks prayers (Douai Abbey is a community of monks of the English Benedictine Congregation).

Location: Douai Abbey, Upper Woolhampton RG7 5TQ, Berkshire, United Kingdom (about 1 hour west from London). Website: www.douaiabbey.org.By car: Douai Abbey is situated 1 mile north of the A4 about half way between Reading and Newbury in Berkshire. The turn off the A4 is about 6 miles from M4 Junction 12.By rail: the nearest station is called MIDGHAM, but it is actually in Woolhampton village: trains from London Paddington, Reading & Newbury. A lift from and to the railway station can be arranged directly with the Guest Master (tel.: 0118 971 5399).

The building is equipped for wheel chairs.

Booking and contact: Fr Armand de Malleray, FSSP, 179 Elgar Rd, Reading RG2 0DH, Berks – Tel.: 0118 987 5819 – E-mail: malleray[at]fssp.org. Website: http://www.fssp.org.uk/

N.B. Your payment will take place at the Abbey during the retreat. Deposit has already been paid. No other payment required.To make a donation to help others – especially students to attend the retreat: please use contact above (£ cheques made payable to "FSSP England" – please mention then "Retreat Sponsoring". Thank you very much).

Are you called to be a Priest?

Vocation Retreat (2 nights) 7-9 January 2009 at Douai Abbey in Berkshire

Starts Wednesday 7th January 2009 at 2pm –ends Friday 9th January 2009 at 11amTheme: "Ask the master of the harvest to send out labourers for his harvest." (Mt 9,38)Retreat for celibate men, age 16-40 [Vocations video]

Cost: £70 - to cover:1-Accommodation: single room with en-suite bathroom, full board.

N.B. special reduction for students: £45 everything included.

New Blog - http://juventutemscotland.blogspot.com/

There is very informative new blog at http://juventutemscotland.blogspot.com/
Please see the information below:-

Juventutem Scotland is the local Chapter of the Juventutem International Federation, an international Catholic network fostering the sanctification of the youths worldwide according to the Roman traditions of the Church. We wish to contribute to the sanctification of the members of Juventutem and of any youths our contemporaries.

The common aspiration as Juventutem members is to draw our sanctification from the traditional liturgy and spirituality of Holy Mother Church. To which end we require the support of prayer, friendship and learning. This is borne out in three spiritual commitments that anchor each member's day and week:1. recite daily for the sanctification of youths the extract from Psalm 42 «Judica Me », (“Judge me O Lord” - full text under Spirituality) or say a prayer of your choosing (Hail Mary or Our Father for instance);2. enter into a church or oratory once a week to adore Our Lord really present in the tabernacle;3. once a year or more: attend Holy Mass in the 1962 Roman rite; go to Confession; on behalf of Juventutem, partake in some faith activity (Holy Hour, doctrinal talk, pro-life initiative, charitable action, excursion, etc).On a practical level Juventutem members meet regularly either for informal activities, or for attending Holy Mass, group prayer (for example Rosary vigils), Gregorian Chant, pilgrimages, retreats, etc. A number of these are list in the sidebar to the right. We plan to have regular meetings including an informal meal, a talk by a local Priest, Holy Mass or Holy Hour, with the immediate aim being to organise a group to participate in the Chartres pilgrimage in May 2009 (for more information, see here).


Juventutem International Federation was founded in 2006 with Juventutem Scotland founded in 2008. An independent non-political youth structure loyal to Roman Catholic authorities, the Juventutem International Federation draws inspiration from the International Una Voce Federation, as well as from various other Catholic institutions.Joining Juventutem costs nothing; all you need to do is forward this form (PDF) to the local Chapter leader (contact details coming soon).Please note that whilst members of Juventutem are normally aged 16 to 36 years, those older than 36, married, or in consecrated life, are invited to join as associate members.

Thursday 16 October 2008

Mass Times at St. Gregory's Cheltenham




Fr. Tom Smith asked me to advertise the following information re: Masses at St. Gregory's in Cheltenham:-


Low Mass in the Extraordinary form will be celebrated on Thursday October 23rd 2008 at 6pm


On 30th October 2008 there will be no 6pm Extraordinary Mass due to a prior engagement


Low Masses (Extraordinary form) should continue to be celebrated after the 30th October until Christmas 2008.


Please tell anyone who might be interested in coming along - everyone is welcome

Aid to the Church in Need - Sung Latin Mass (1962 Missal) on the evening of Thursday 20th November.


Please note the following on:-

6:30pm Thursday, 20th November
The Little Oratory
Brompton Road
London
SW7 2RP

Aid to the Church in Need will remember all our departed benefactors with a Sung Latin Mass (1962 Missal) on the evening of Thursday 20th November.

The Mass will be celebrated by Father Martin Edwards, ACN UK ’s Ecclesiastical Assistant, at The Little Oratory on Brompton Road .


All are welcome to join us at this Memorial Mass.
For details of our forthcoming events, please visit http://www.acnuk.org/

Saturday 4 October 2008

http://www.youngcatholicadults.co.uk Returns


The main Young Catholic Adults website is back up and running!!

Wednesday 1 October 2008

www.youngcatholicadults.co.uk Website Down


The http://www.youngcatholicadults.co.uk/ website is currently down, hopefully it should be up and running in 48 hours or so - apologies everyone!

Saturday 27 September 2008

Some of the Forgotten Catholic Martyrs of Britain

Some more forgotten Blessed Martyrs of England, Scotland, and Wales between 1584 and 1679

There are English, Scottish, Welsh, and Irishmen and women here:-

-- [Religious order priests:]
----- Bl. Arthur Bell of Temple Broughton (English, Franciscan, died at age 53 in 1643)
----- Bl. Thomas Bullaker of Chichester (English, Franciscan, died at about age 40 in 1642)
----- Bl. Roger Filcock of Sandwich (English, Jesuit, died at about age 30 in 1600)
----- Bl. Henry Heath of Peterborough (English, Franciscan,died at about age 44 in 1643)
----- Bl. Charles Meehan (Irish, Franciscan shipwrecked on Welsh coast, died at about age 39 in 1679)
----- Bl. Robert Middleton of Yorkshire (English, Jesuit, died at about age 31 in 1601)
----- Bl. Robert Nutter of Burnley Lanes (English, Dominican, d.1600)
----- Bl. John Woodcock of Leyland (English, Franciscan, died at age
43 in 1646)

-- [Diocesan priests:]
----- Bl. John Adams of Martinstavn(English, died at about age 43 in 1586)
----- Bl. Thomas Atkinson of East Riding (English, d. 1616)
----- Bl. Edward Bamber of The Moor (English,died at age 46 in 1646)
----- Bl. George Beesley of Goosnarck Hill(English, died at about age 28 in 1591)
----- Bl. Edward Burden of Durham(English, died at about age 48 in 1588)
----- Bl. Roger Cadwallador of Stretton Sugwas[alias Rogers] (English, died at about age 44 in 1610)
----- Bl. Alexander Crow of South Douffield (English, died at age 36)
----- Bl. William Davies of Caernavonshire (Welsh, d. 1593)
----- Bl. Robert Dibdale of Worcestershire (English, died at about age 28 in 1586)
----- Bl. George Douglas (Scottish, d. 1587)
----- Bl. Robert Drury of Egerley (English,died at about age 39 in 1607)
----- Bl. Edmund Duke of Kent (English, d. 1590)
----- Bl. John Fingley of Barnley [also known as Finglow] (English,d. 1586)
----- Bl. Matthew Flathers of Weston (English, died at about age 48 in 1608)
----- Bl. Nicolas Garlick (English, died at about age 33 in 1588)
----- Bl. John Hambley of Oxford (English, died at about age 27 in 1587)
----- Bl. George Haydock of Cottam Hall (English, died at about age 27 in 1584)
----- Bl. Richard Hill of Yorkshire (English, d. 1590)
----- Bl. John Hogg of Ugthorphe (English, d. 1590)
----- Bl. Richard Holiday of Yorkshire (English, d. 1590)
----- Bl. Thomas Hunt of Norfolk [alias Benstead] (English, died at about age 26 in 1600)
----- Bl. Thurstan Hunt of Carlton Hall (English, died at about age 46 in 1601)
----- Bl. Francis Ingleby (English, d. 1586)
----- Bl. Joseph Lambton of Yorkshire (English,died at about age 24 in 1592)
----- Bl. John Lowe of London (English, died at about age 33 in 1586)
----- Bl. Robert Ludlam of Radborne (English, died at about age 37 in 1588)
----- Bl. George Nichols of Oxford (English, died at about age 39 in 1589)
----- Bl. Edward Osbaldeston of Lancashire(English, d. 1594)
----- Bl. Anthony Page of Harrow (English, died at about age 28 in 1593)
----- Bl. Thomas Palaser of Elerton [also known as Palasor and Pallicer] (English, died at about age 30 in 1600)
----- Bl. Thomas Pilcher of Battle [also known as Pilchard] (English, died at about age 30 in 1587) ----- Bl. Thomas Pormont (English, died at about age 22 [seminarian?]in 1592)
----- Bl. Nicolas Postgate of Kirkdale (English, died at about age 79 in 1679)
----- Bl. Christopher Robinson of Woodside (English, d.1598)
----- Bl. Stephen Rowsham of Oxfordshire (English, died at about age 35 in 1587)
----- Bl. John Sandys of Chester (English, d. 1586)
----- Bl. Montford Scott of Suffolk (English, died at about age 41 in 1591)
----- Bl. Richard Sergeant of Gloucester [alias Lee or Long] (English, d.1586)
----- Bl. Richard Simpson of Wells (English, died at about age 35 in 1588)
----- Bl. Peter Snow of Ripon (English, d. 1598)
----- Bl. William Southerne of Ketton (English, died at about age 39 in 1618)
----- Bl. William Spenser of Gisburn (English, died at about age 34 in 1589)
----- Bl. Thomas Sprott of Skelsmergh (English, died at about age 29 in 1600)
----- Bl. John Sugar of Wambourne (English, died at about age 46 in 1604)
----- Bl. Robert Sutton of Burton (English, died at about age 43 in 1588)
----- Bl. Edmund Sykes of Leeds (English, d. 1587)
----- Bl. Hugh Taylor of Durham (English, died at about age 25 in 1585)
----- Bl. William Thomson of Blackburn (English, died at about age 26 in 1586)
----- Bl. Robert Thorpe of Yorkshire (English, d. 1591)
----- Bl. John Thules of Upholland (English, died at about age 48 in 1616)
----- Bl. Edward Thwing of Hurst (English, died at about age 35 in 1600)
----- Bl. Christopher Wharton of Middleton (English, died at age 60 in 1600)
----- Bl. Nicholas Wheeler of Leominster [alias Woodfen] (English, died at about age 36 in 1586)
----- Bl. Thomas Whitaker of Burnley (English, died at about age 35 in 1646)
----- Bl. Richard Yaxley of Boston (English, died at about age 19[seminarian?] in 1589)

-- [Laymen:]----- Bl. Thomas Belson of Oxfordshire (English, died at about age 24)
----- Bl. Robert Bickerdike of Lowhale (English, d. 1586)
----- Bl. Alexander Blake (English, d.1590)
----- Bl. Marmaduke Bowes of Angram (English, d. 1585)
----- Bl. John Bretton of Bretton (English, died at about age 69 in 1598)
----- Bl. William Carter (English, d. 1584)
----- Bl. George Errington of Herst(English, died at about age 42)
----- Bl. Richard Flower of Anglesey(Welsh, d. 1588)
----- Bl. William Gibson of Ripon (English, d.1596)
----- Bl. Ralph Grimston of Yorkshire (English, d. 1598)
----- Bl. Robert Grissold of Rowington (English, d. 1604)
----- Bl. Robert Hardesty (English, d. 1589)
----- Bl. Nicolas Horner of Grantley (English, d.1590)
----- Bl. William Knight of South Douffield (English, died at about age 24 in 1596)
----- Bl. William Lampley (English, d. 1588)
----- Bl. John Norton of Yorkshire (English, d. 1600)
----- Bl. William Pike of Dorsetshire (English, d. 1591)
----- Bl. Humphrey Pritchard of Galles [also known as H. Richard] (Welsh, d. 1589)
----- Bl. John Talbot of Thornton-le-Street (English, d. 1600)
----- Bl. Thomas Watkinson of Yorkshire (English, d. 1591)
----- Bl. Henry Webley of Gloucester (English,died at about age 30 in 1588)
----- Bl. Roger Wrenno of Chorley [also known as Roger Warren] (English, died at about age 40 in 1616)

Blessed John Sugar and Blessed Robert Grissold - Forgotten Heroes


If we think that things are bad in the Church at the moment, with Priests (and even Bishops) openly disobeying the will of the Holy Father etc. then just spare a thought for our spiritual forefathers. Their problems were nigh on insurmountable, but they displayed a courage and strength of faith that would put us to shame. Two such forgotten heros are Blessed John Sugar and Blessed Robert Grissold.

Blessed Robert Grissold (or Greswold) came from a village called Rowington, which is approximately 2 miles from Baddesley Clinton, which is a small village in Warwickshire.

The Grissold’s were devout Catholics in a troubled time, because in the early 1600’s in England, it was against the law for anyone to attend Mass. Instead they were forced to attend vernacular communion services, introduced by Archbishop Cramner (a few years earlier), which were very different to the Traditional Latin Masses that Catholics were used to. For a start the service was entirely in English, the pastor faced the congregation, any references the Mass as a sacrifice had been banished and there were vernacular hymns sung throughout the ceremony to emphasise the communal sense of the service. Stained glass windows and images had either been destroyed or whitewashed over; and Communion was offered under both kinds, inline with the Hussite and Protestant belief , which maintained that Communion under both kinds was necessary for salvation.

In 1603 the authorities were searching for Priests, who because of the impossible legal situation, led double lives, often taking on alias names and hiding for hours in secret hiding places (constructed in houses) called Priest holes.

On Sunday, 8th July, Robert Grissold was found on a road near Baddesley Clinton House, a place notorious for ‘popery’, with Father John Sugar – it is quite possible that Fr. Sugar had just come back from celebrating Mass. Both Fr. Sugar and Robert Grissold were arrested and then imprisoned in Warwick Gaol for one a year.

On 13th July 1604 John Sugar was convicted of being a Catholic Priest and was condemned to be hung drawn and quartered, which was the punishment for being a Priest in England at that time. Robert Grissold was told that he would be freed if he would recant and attend the communion services of the Established Church , at one point an exasperated Justice shouted at him ‘Grissold, Grissold, go to Church or else thou shalt be hanged’. He refused to accept this and was found guilty of being in the company of and of assisting a Catholic Priest. Being a layman he was sentenced to be hung.

On 16th July 1604 both men were taken to a place called Gallows Hill - to their execution. Both prayed in Latin before courageously meeting their death in the most horrific manner . Blessed John Sugar was hung first and then Blessed John Grissold who told the multitude (who had come to watch the execution) ‘Bear witness, good people, that I die here not for theft, nor for felony, but for my conscience.’ Fr. Sugar’s head and quarters were hung on the gates of Warwick, while Blessed Robert Grissold was buried beneath the gallows.

Blessed John Sugar was 42 years old and Robert Grissold was just 29 years of age. They were beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1987.

Thursday 25 September 2008

It's a Small World - New Consultors of the Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff

I noticed the following headline yesterday in the Vatican Bollettino:- The Holy Father has nominated as consultors of the Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff: Msgr. Nicola Bux, professor at the Theological Faculty of Puglia, Italy; Fr. Mauro Gagliardi, professor at the Pontifical Athenaeum "Regina Apostolorum", Rome; Fr. Juan Jose Silvestre Valor, professor at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, Rome. Fr. Uwe Michael Lang C.O., official of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, and Fr. Paul C. F. Gunter O.S.B., professor at the St. Anselm Pontifical Athenaeum, Rome.

I have come across two of the above Priests before. Fr. Lang intervened and stopped me from getting into hot water with a German security guard at World Youth Day in Cologne Germany (I was a completely innocent bystander by the way); and I used to be one of Fr. Gunter’s Altar Servers at St. Gregory’s in Cheltenham – in fact I spoke to him a few months ago when I was in Rome. Fr. Gunter is, in fact, a Priest of Douai Abbey in Berkshire and has been in Rome for many years, I am very pleased for him as he has deserved it for all his hard work!

Douai Abbey have an Abbot in Rome too, Fr. Edmund Power is the Abbot of St. Paul’s Outside the Walls, he’s also 33-1 to be the next Archbishop of Westminster.

Friday 5 September 2008

YCA Local Group(s)

Cheltenham (Gloucestershire)
New Joint Local YCA Meeting


YCA are sponsoring the catechetical materials of Cheltenham Catholic Adults. The meeting takes place on the 2nd Tuesday of the month on the 1st floor of the Old Priory at St. Gregory's Church Cheltenham. The next meeting will be on Tuesday 9th September 2008 at 8.15pm on the 1st floor (upstairs) of the Old Priory. Please ring 07908 105787 for more details.
A new group will start at St. Peter's Gloucester in the next few weeks.

Extraordinary Mass

As per the last blog entry a traditional Low Mass is being celebrated at St. Gregory's every 2 weeks, the next Mass being Saturday 6th September.

Saturday 23 August 2008

The Traditional Mass Returns to Cheltenham


For the first time since the since the liturgical changes the Traditional Mass has returned to Cheltenham Spa a leafy regency town in the centre of England. On 9th August 2008 Fr. Smith celebrated his first public Traditional Mass with 100 people present, which was a very large congregation for a Low Mass at 11.30 on a Saturday! This was followed up with another Low Mass on August 23rd. It is hoped that these Extraordinary Masses can continue to be celebrated every 2nd Saturday.

Monday 18 August 2008

Bishop Peter Elliot of Australia Warns against Personal Interpretation of Scripture at International Juventutem Gathering

This is an interesting quote from the recent Juventutem activities at World Youth Day in Australia.

On Thursday 10th July, Bishop Peter Elliot, Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne, offered a pontifical high Mass in Melbourne and again one week later in Sydney where he also gave a catechesis. Answering a question on Sacred Sriptures, Bishop Elliot suggested an interesting parable. He said the Holy Bible is like a family album, each of its books describing members of the same family. He went on saying that if a boy from the house next door were to creep in the house, steal the album and open it at home; he and his relatives would not be able to identify the pictures and the relationships between the persons in the book, simply because they are not from the family. Bishop Elliot said that, as evident from the Acts of Apostles, the Church already existed and functioned institutionally before the canon of Scriptures would be defined. He concluded by saying that only the (Roman Catholic) Church therefore is endowed with indefectible assistance from the Holy Spirit so as to interpret infallibly the Holy Scriptures, because the persons and events described in these books simply are “her family”. Bishop Elliot is a convert from Anglicanism and has studied in England. He has worked many years at the pontifical Council of the Family and has written books on the liturgy.(Courtesy of http://www.juventutem.org/ )


Saturday 16 August 2008

An Extraordinary Weekend at Douai Abbey


Douai Abbey Retreat 2008

The Young Catholic Adults (YCA) retreat at Douai was fully booked this year and proved to be the most successful to date. It was led by Br. Christopher Greener the Guestmaster of the Abbey. The accommodation in the Bl Hugh Faringdon and St Alban Roe buildings was excellent, and much improved from previous years.

Fifty People Join in the First Marian Procession in Recent Memory


On the afternoon of Saturday 5th July at 2.30pm, YCA organised a Marian Procession in the grounds of the Abbey. This was the first such event in recent years at Douai, and was made possible with the help of the organisation Our Lady Help of Christians. Fr. Abbot gave a blessing and joined in with approximately fifty other people, including many clergy and religious. Everyone loved the event, including one of the resident monks who said that this was his first Catholic Procession ever.


The rest of the weekend involved saying the Rosary, attending Vespers (in Latin), a talk on St. Benedict given by Br. Greener and having social time in the evenings. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with other guests commenting about how nice it was to hear younger people praying the Rosary.


Monsignor Conlon Celebrated Mass

On Sunday 6th July, almost one year on from the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum, the Traditional Mass returned to Douai Abbey for only the second time since the liturgical changes. Monsignor Conlon (despite and incredibly busy weekend) celebrated Low Mass (the Eighth Sunday after Pentecost) in the Parish Church of Our Lady – which is adjacent to the Abbey. Some on this retreat had never been to a Traditional Mass, (there were also two Anglicans in the group) and so Monsignor very kindly an excellent and informative talk about the positive benefits of the extraordinary form of Mass and how the Pope wants the Old Rite to flourish once again in every Parish in the West. Again the comments afterwards were all positive – someone suggested that they would now like to start attending Latin Masses. The Mass was open to the public (not just retreatants) so afterwards some of the congregation thanked Monsignor Conlon for celebrating a Mass, which they had not seen for almost forty years.

The Abbey are keen to keep the event an annual one and have already invited YCA back for next year. Young Catholic Adults would like to wholeheartedly thank Fr. Abbot, Br. Greener and Monsignor Conlon for making this event a truly extraordinary success.

Wednesday 13 August 2008

Young Catholic Adults get into the Catholic Herald



For the first time ever YCA (Young Catholic Adults) have managed to get a write up in the August 1st edition, in the Catholic Life section on page 6.
There was a good selection of photos of the Marian Procession on July 5th 2008!

Saturday 2 August 2008

More World Youth Day Juventutem Photos










H/T to Rorate Coeli and the English speaking Juventutem WYD Blog

Juventutem Photos from World Youth Day






H/T to Rorate Coeli and the Englsih speaking Juventutem WYD Blog

Wednesday 2 July 2008

Douai Abbey Retreat (Update Wednesday 2nd July 2008)

This retreat almost fully booked - there has been one cancellation ( so there is still 1 residential place left),plus if are in the 18-35ish age range and want to come for the day, please goto reception at the Abbey and ring 07908 105787, our events will start at 9.30am (Suggested donation 5 pounds - extra for meals)

Tuesday 1 July 2008

Events at Douai Continued....

Events at Douai Abbey 5th-6th July 2008
Run by Young Catholic Adults – affiliated to Juventutem


Retreat at Douai Abbey

This retreat is now fully booked, but if are in the 18-35ish age range and want to come for the day, please goto reception at the Abbey and ring 07908 105787, our events will start at 9.30am (Suggested donation 5 pounds - extra for meals)

There are two events open to the general public:-

Saturday 5th July 2008 (2.30pm) – Marian Procession

A Marian Procession will take place on Saturday 5th July in the Abbey grounds starting at 2.30pm – outside the main Abbey Church

Sunday 6th July 2008 (11am) Traditional Mass (Low)

Traditional Latin (Extraordinary) Low Mass will be celebrated on Sunday 6th July by Msr. Anthony Conlon Chaplain to the Latin Mass Society at St. Mary’s Church (adjacent to the main Abbey Church) at 11am. The Mass will be the Eighth Sunday of Pentecost.

Monday 30 June 2008

Douai Retreat 2008

Timetable of events for the Douai Retreat

Friday
1pm - onwards arrival of Friday guests
5.00-6.00 – Video the FSSP’s Pilgrimage to Rome
6.00-6.30pm – Vespers
8.00- Social
*It is possible to arrive earlier, but the rooms will not be ready

Saturday
9.00-9.30am Rosary
9.30-11.30am Spiritual reading/reflection
11.30–12.30am – Talk on St. Benedict by Dom. Christopher Greener
2.30-3.30pm Marian Procession in the grounds of the Abbey*
3.30-6.00pm - Spiritual reading/reflection
6.00-6.30pm – Vespers
6.30-8.00pm – Free time8pm – Social
*Held jointly with the group Our Lady Help of Christians

Sunday
9.00–9.30am – Rosary
9.30am-11.00am – Free time
11.00 – 12.00pm – Mass (Eighth Sunday after Pentecost) celebrated by Monsignor Conlon
2.30pm – Lunch at the `Ro Barge’ pub in the village of Woolhampton

Daily Schedule of Meal Times at the Abbey Refectory

8.00-9.00am Breakfast
1.00-2.00pm Lunch in the Refectory
7.00-7.30pm - Supper
*Please note the Sunday lunch will be at Ro Barge’ pub in the village the rest of the retreat is full board.

DIRECTIONShttp://www.douaiabbey.org.uk/map.htm


DOUAI WEBSITEhttp://www.douaiabbey.org.uk/index0.htm

Thursday 26 June 2008

Evangelium Conference

This summer there is an Evangelium Conference for young adults (18-35), sponsored by the CTS, at Fawley Court, Henley-on-Thames from 8-10 August. Speakers include Fr John Saward, Fr Thomas Crean OP, Fr Jerome Bertram of the Oxford Oratory, and the British Catholic blogosphere's very own Auntie Joanna. Cost is £85 for the weekend but places are limited to 100 so you need to book early if you want to go.H/T to Rationabile Obsequium and H/T to Fr. Tim Finnegan http://the-hermeneutic-of-continuity.blogspot.com/

Monday 16 June 2008

Cardinal Hoyos: - The Pope Wants Traditional Mass in All Catholic Parishes - Only 3 People Required to Request Traditional Mass (in the meantime)



It was an early start, I got on the 7.43 train from Gloucester, but nevertheless I was looking forward to the day ahead. What was I going to ? The Pontifical Mass at Westminster Cathedral celebrated by one of the Pope’s closest advisers His Eminence Cardinal Castrillion Hoyos. The train arrived in Paddington Station on time – unusually; and then I ambled to Westminster Cathedral. I had been to this Mother Church of all the Catholics in England and Wales many times before, and never before had I seen it to be full.

With about 45 minutes to go, I decided to take my seat; however, a momentous site beheld my eyes, it was difficult to find a place. This was indeed an extraordinary phenomenon, people were standing at the side and the back and there was a palpable feeling of awe and excitement in the congregation. Just before the Mass Cardinal Hoyos had address the LMS AGM and what he said there was just too amazing to believe, it was really rather difficult to take it all in.
At the Press Conference beforehand the Cardinal said :-

The Catholic Herald: So would the Pope like to see many ordinary parishes making provision for the Gregorian Rite?

Cardinal Hoyos: All the parishes. Not many – all the parishes, because this is a gift of God. He offers these riches, and it is very important for new generations to know the past of the Church. This kind of worship is so noble, so beautiful – the deepest theologians’ way to express our faith. The worship, the music, the architecture, the painting, makes a whole that is a treasure. The Holy Father is willing to offer to all the people this possibility, not only for the few groups who demand it but so that everybody knows this way of celebrating the Eucharist in the Catholic Church.

The Catholic Herald: On that note, would you like to see all the seminaries in England and Wales teach the seminarians how to celebrate in the Extraordinary Form?

Cardinal Hoyos: I would like it, and it will be necessary. We are writing to the seminaries, we are in accord that we have to make deep preparation not only for the Rite, but for [teaching] the theology, the philosophy, the Latin language …

The Catholic Hearald: What would be the practical steps for ordinary parishes [to prepare for the Gregorian Rite]?

Cardinal Hoyos: If the parish priest selects an hour, on Sundays, to celebrate the Mass, and prepare with catechesis the community to understand it, to appreciate the power of the silence, the power of the sacred way in front of God, the deep theology, to discover how and why the priests represents the person of Christ and to pray with the priest.

The Tablet: I think many Catholics are rather confused by this new emphasis on the Tridentine Rite, mainly because we were taught that the new Rite represented real progress, and many of us who have grown up with it see it as real progress, that there are Eucharistic ministers, women on the sanctuary, that we are all priests, prophets and kings. This new emphasis to many of us seems to deny that.

Cardinal Hoyos: What is progress? "Progredire", means [offering] the best to God… I am surprised, because many young people are enthusiastic with the celebration of the Gregorian Rite …

The Tablet: In the Motu Proprio, the Pope's emphasis is on one Rite and two forms, and he describes the Tridentine Rite as "extraordinary". Extraordinary therefore means exceptional, not something that we celebrate every Sunday.

Cardinal Hoyos: Not "exceptional". Extraordinary means "not ordinary", not "exceptional."

The Tablet: Should it therefore supersede the new Rite? Should we go back?

Cardinal Hoyos: It is not going back: it is taking a treasure which is present, but was not provided. … But it takes time. The application of the reforms of the Second Vatican Council took years. It takes time to understand the deep profundity of the old Rite. The Holy Father is not returning to the past; he is taking a treasure from the past to offer it alongside the rich celebration of the new Rite. The second Eucharistic prayer of the new Rite is actually the oldest one [in the Church’s entire liturgy]. It’s not a matter of confrontation but of fraternal dialogue.

The Catholic Hearald: What about the "stable group"?

Cardinal Hoyos: It's a matter of common sense … In every bishop's household there are maybe three or four persons. This is a stable group … It is not possible to give two persons a Mass, but two here, two there, two elsewhere – they can have it. They are a stable group.

The Catholic Hearald: From different parishes?

Cardinal Hoyos: No problem! This is our world. Managers of enterprises don’t live in one place, but they are a stable group.
(H/T Damian Thompson from the Blog Holy Smoke)

Thursday 29 May 2008

World Youth Day and Juventutem Australia


PRESS RELEASE FROM YOUNG CATHOLIC ADULTS
http://www.youngcatholicadults.co.uk/
(ON BEHALF OF JUVENTUTEM AUSTRALIA)

For Immediate Release

29th May 2008



If anyone from the UK is going to World Youth Day in Australia this year, Juventutem Australia are putting on an impressive programme of events - Juventutem is an international delegation of Catholic youth attached to the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite (Traditional Latin Mass) attending WYD 2008 in Sydney. Everyone is welcome to attend any Juventutem events! Please come and lend your support this wonderful initiative

Please see the provisional liturgical programme see http://juventutem-australia.com/index.php for any latest developments. (Updated May 10)

Catechetical Bishops for Juventutem Australia in Sydney

Wed, July 16 - Bishop Geoffrey H Jarrett (Bishop of Lismore, New South Wales)
Thursday, July 17 - Bishop Peter J Elliott (Titular Bishop of Manaccenser and Auxiliary Bishop in the Southern Region of the Archdiocese of Melbourne, Victoria)
Friday, July 18 - Bishop Basil Meeking (Bishop Emeritus of Christchurch, New Zealand and Ecclesiastical Patron of Juventutem Australia)

How to get involved

The closing date for Juventutem registrations and payments has been extended to May 31.Please ensure you have registered and made all payments by this date. However, after June 1st, simple accommodation cannot be absolutely guaranteed by the WYD committee in Sydney, but if Juventutem Australia get a hall in Sydney (or Melbourne), then people should have no problem obtaining some sort of accomodation.

More on registrations/payments with Juventutem
Click here to register with Juventutem for WYD 2008!

Download Registration Form and Program Guide Here
Click here to register for the Gregorian chant workshops

Two official WYD events in our Juventutem program

Date: Wednesday, July 16

Time: 2.00pm
Location: St. Augustine's Church, Balmain
"A Chant Event" - a Gregorian chant masterclass directed by internationally acclaimed chant expert, Scott Turkington.

Time: 4.00pm
Solemn Pontifical Vespers and Benediction, celebrated by His Eminence, George Cardinal Pell.

Support from Cardinal Hoyos



"I am pleased to know of your initiatives for the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy according to the liturgical books of 1962 both for those young people who are already attracted to these celebrations and as a way of introducing other young people to the rich liturgical heritage of the Church.May your efforts bring forth abundant fruits for the good of souls and for the building up of the Body of Christ."
Sincerely yours in Christ,

Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos
President Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei

Quick Links

Music
Week 1 Week 2
Latest News Media Information
Sponsors Affiliates
Volunteers! Donations How to help
Juventutem Australia Mission Statement Photos Documents Links Mailing List
Juventutem 2005
Australia International Mailing List

For any enquiries regarding registration or transport, please e-mail: registrations@juventutem-australia.com

TRAVEL

Travel to Australia

It is important that pilgrims from overseas plan to fly into Melbourne on July 8 to give them time to recover from jetlag and settle in, before the Days in the Dioceses commences on July 10. It is therefore advisable for pilgrims to book flights as early as is possible to help ensure arrival on July 8.

All pilgrims are strongly advised to take out travel insurance before they leave.

Travel between Melbourne and Sydney

Travel will be available from Melbourne to Sydney by coach, rail, and air. However there are some restrictions on rail travel. WIth over 30,000 pilgrims expected in Melbourne, the only feasible travel is by either air or coach. At this stage we plan to transport pilgrims to Sydney by coach on Monday, July 14.

Travel from Australia

Most pilgrims will leave Australia from Sydney, so need to book their outgoing flights from there.

ACCOMMODATION

Accommodation in Melbourne

The Archdiocese of Melbourne is intending to billet pilgrims with local families. We however are also pursuing the possibility of housing all Juventutem pilgrims in a school hall or community centre, and in relatively close proximity to the main church.

Accommodation in Sydney.

The WYD 2008 Organizing Committee will be arranging basic accommodation for Juventutem pilgrims in either schools, community halls or gymnasiums. Pilgrims should bring sleeping bags and ground mats with them. Further details are available on the official WYD 2008 site:
http://www.wyd2008.org/

CHURCHES

Church in Melbourne (Week 1)

The church in Melbourne is planned to be St. Aloysius', home of the Latin Mass community in Melbourne.

Church in Sydney (Week 2)

The church in Sydney will be St. Augustine's, Balmain.
St Augustine's is well-located near Sydney city and harbour and will provide an excellent venue for the Juventutem liturgical program and music workshops



Please forward this message on and kindly translate it whenever needed.


Sunday 25 May 2008

More Marian Devotions - the Brown Scapular

The Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel has been in existence for approximately 700 years. It is said that , Saint Simon Stock, General of the Carmelite Order in the thirteenth century, saw Our Lady in a vision in 1251 and presented him with the well-known brown scapular, a garment, reaching from the shoulders to the knees. It was given as a guarantee, for all who died wearing it, of Her heavenly protection from eternal damnation.

Devotion to the Scapular spread post haste throughout the Christendom. Pope after successive Pope enriched it with various indulgences, and there were many miracles associated with it .

In 1858 at Lourdes, Bernadette said that the Virgin appeared on July 16th, the feast day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (which was the very day the Church commemorates Her appearance to Saint Simon Stock). On October 13, 1917, at Fatima the three Shepard children – Lucia, Jacinta and Francisco stated that Mary appeared to them as Our Lady of Mount Carmel. In a general sense, wearing the Scapular is a sign of someone’s commitment and devotion to Our Lady.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel – pray for us.

PRESS RELEASE FROM YOUNG CATHOLIC ADULTS

PRESS RELEASE FROM YOUNG CATHOLIC ADULTS
(NOW AFFILIATED TO THE
INTERNATIONAL
JUVENTUTEM FEDERATION)
For Immediate Release

25th May 2008

Traditional Young Catholic Adult Groups Obtain the Backing of the Vatican as they merge in wake of Pope Benedict’s Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum

Benedict XVI wrote on 7th July 2007: “Immediately after the Second Vatican Council, it might have been imagined that the demand for the use of the 1962 Missal would have been limited to the older generation, which had grown up with it, but it has since become clear that young people were also discovering this liturgical form, feeling attracted to it and finding in it a type of contact with the Most Holy Eucharist which suited them particularly well” (Letter to the Bishops, accompanying the Motu Proprio “Summorum Pontificum“.

Since this groundbreaking document the various groups of younger Catholics attached to the Traditional form of Mass have merged. Young Catholic Adults is one such organisation. It was founded in February 2004 at Oxford in the UK it uses the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite and the traditional devotions of the Church. Juventutem, which was also founded in 2004, is an international lay movement, which also uses the Extraordinary form of Mass and the traditional practices of the Church as a means of bringing people to Christ .

The Support of the Vatican

In January 2008 the International Juventutem Federation obtained the backing of no other than Cardinal Castrillion Hoyos a close friend and confidant of Pope Benedict himself. In a frank letter he wrote:-

`You are young Catholics, loyal to the hierarchy of the Church and attracted by the “forma extraordinaria” of the Roman liturgy, in particular by the Missal of the Blessed John XXIII. I encourage you in your aim, that is to say your sanctification through the Roman traditions of the Church…..The presence of your little groups in Asia, Europe, Africa, the Americas and Oceania demonstrates the universal attraction of the most ancient forms of the Roman liturgy, whose particular transcendence serves to connect the most diverse cultures. From this liturgy, you will receive special help in coming better to know and love Our Lord Jesus Christ and His Church….I therefore wish to renew my encouragement of your progress in Christian piety and friendship via the Roman traditions of the Church. May you continue to obtain ever deeper sanctification, which will make you warm witnesses of the love of Christ in communion with His Church.’

As from 2008 Young Catholic Adults (or YCA) affiliated itself to the international Juventutem Federation (Fœderatio Internationalis Juventutem); which in effect means that for the first time Juventutem has a local presence in the UK. Conversely it means that Young Catholic Adults were able to send a delegate to the first International Gathering in Berne (Switzerland) in February 2008.

A Range of Events all over the World

YCA and Juventutem are organising a range of events this Spring and Summer. At Pentecost this year there will be a Juventutem group marching with the British Chapter of the Chartres Pilgrimage. This event is the largest of its kind in the world, which attracts anything upto 6,000-10,000 people from all over the world – almost all of them young Catholics. In June Juventutem will be sending a delegation to the International Eucharistic Congress in Canada. As members of the “Summorum Pontificum generation”, Juventutem members will travel to QuĆ©bec and take part in Eucharistic events (liturgical and doctrinal) as encouraged by Pope Benedict XVI:

Young Catholic Adult Retreat at Douai Abbey in Berkshire - England 4th-6th July

During the weekend of the 4th- 6th July 2008 Young Catholic Adults will be running a Traditional Retreat at Douai Abbey, the retreat will be led by Br. Christopher Greener who will give a series of talks on St. Benedict. Among a number of activities there will be a Marian procession on Saturday 5th July and a Traditional Latin Mass celebrated by Monsignor Conlon who is Chaplain to the Latin Mass Society of England and Wales and to the Oratory School in Reading. For more details please see http://www.youngcatholicadults.co.uk/

Young Catholic Adult Events Open to the Public

Both the Marian procession (which commences from outside the main Abbey Church at 2.30pm) and the Traditional Mass Celebrated at 11am at St. Mary’s Church (adjacent to the main Abbey Church) will be open to everyone. This will be only the second public Traditional Mass celebrated at Douai since 1970.

The most surprising aspect is that three of four years ago there were no organisations for youths/young adults using the Traditional Mass of the Catholic Church – in fact, the growth of these groups has surprised many. There are now international events, highly successful online discussion forums, prayernetworks and websites, pilgrimages and retreats, local groups and national meetings. In short it proves that the gates of hell shall never prevail against the Church and that even when almost all younger Catholics have lapsed and forgotten about Our Lord and His Church, small but convinced communities have appeared, proving that the Church is forever young and that God is still present in the lives of the younger people. As Psalm 42 says, Deum Qui lƦtificat juventutem meam’ or in English, it is God who gives joy to my youth.

Please forward this message on and kindly translate it whenever needed.

For further information, please contact Damian Barker Co-ordinator for Young Catholic Adults on 07908 105787.

Email: damianbarker@hotmail.com

Saturday 24 May 2008

Pope wants Traditional Mass in the Parishes even if not requested

On 9th May the Catholic Herald reported that The pope wants the Latin Mass to be available in parishes "even if it is not specifically asked for, or requested", and that Pope Benedict XVI wants to eventually make the Mass more widely available.


In the meantime, Cardinal Hoyos said that`If in a diocese priests are lacking and only three or four faithful request the extraordinary rite, it’s a matter of common sense to think that it is difficult to satisfy this request. However, since it is the Pope’s intention, his mens, to grant this treasure for the good of the Church, in a place where there are no priests the best option would be to offer acelebration according to the extraordinary rite in one of the parish Sunday
Masses. It would be a Mass for everyone, and everyone, including younger generations, would benefit from the riches of the extraordinary rite, for example, those moments of contemplation that have disappeared in the Novus Ordo.' ( From the Italian publication , Jesus)

This is very heartening news from Cardinal Hoyos!! I wonder what Cardinal Hoyos will say in his sermon when he celebrates Mass in Westminster Cathedral on June 14th.



May the Month of Our Lady and of the Rosary

Photos © Vernon Quaintance, with originals on his web site.


Catholics, for at least the past 700 years, have used the string of beads called a rosary, literally a "string of roses," for counting prayers and for prayerful meditation. A special devotion to Mary, the Mother of Jesus, rosary recitations are a cornerstone of spiritual practice for Catholics around the world.

The rosary is made of a circlet of fifty-four beads: five groups of ten (called "decades") separated by a space containing a single bead which is sometimes larger than the others. Attached to this circlet is a string containing five more beads and ending with a crucifix, or cross, representing the death of Jesus Christ. Each bead calls for a particular prayer recitation.
These prayers are not only a meditative devotion, but an affirmation of the faith.

Fifteen different Mysteries of Faith are rotated according to the day of the week or the time of the year, or one is chosen to suit a particular occasion such as a funeral, baptism, or wedding. These fifteen mysteries fall into three larger categories, (Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorios) with five in each.

The Joyful Mysteries are

-The Announcement to Mary that she will be the virgin mother of the Son of God;
-The Visitation of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth, who immediately recognizes that Mary is carrying "blessed fruit,";
-The birth of Jesus;
-The Presentation of infant Jesus in the temple;
-Finding the young Jesus teaching in the temple.

The Sorrowful Mysteries


-The Agony in the Garden;
-The Scourging at the Pillar;
-The Crowning with Thorns;
-Jesus carrying the Cross;
-Jesus' Crucifixion and Death.

The Glorious Mysteries are:


-The Resurrection of Jesus;
-The Ascencion of Jesus into Heaven;
-The Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles;
-The Assumption of Mary into Heaven;
-The Crowning of Mary as Queen of Heaven

How to Pray it?

To pray the rosary, Catholics begin with the Sign of the Cross. "In the name of the Father" they touch their forehead; "and the Son" moving hand to solar plexus; "and the Holy Spirit" moving hand first to the left shoulder and then the right.

Holding the Crucifix, or cross, at the end of the single string of beads, they recite the Apostles' Creed, as follows:
The Apostles Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen


The first bead, the one next to the crucifix, is for the Our Father as found in the Bible and is commonly prayed in all Christian faiths.

The Pater Noster

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen


There is a space, then three beads close together, each for a recitation of the Hail Mary, which is as follows:

The Ave Maria

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of the womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen

There is another space, then a single bead for the Gloria prayer:
The Gloria

Glory be to the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost.

Next comes a connector. This is the link between the circlet and the attached string, and is frequently decorated with carving or made of a bead in the shape of a spiritual icon.

At this point, the prayor acknowledges which series of mysteries will be the focus, and names the first of those mysteries. Moving his fingers to the first bead of the first decade, he begins the Hail Mary prayers, said once for each of the ten beads in the group. When he comes to the bead held in the larger space, he recites the Glory prayer, the Our Father, names the next mystery, and again says ten Hail Marys.

This is repeated until the circle is complete. The following prayer is said at the close of the circle:

The Salve Regina

HAIL, HOLY QUEEN, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

A sign of the cross closes the rosary meditation.

Saturday 3 May 2008

Traditional Latin Masses in Plymouth and Exeter


Plymouth
- Traditional Latin Mass will be celebrated at Christ The King Plymouth on 1st Sunday of the month at 3pm, starting May 4th.

Exeter - At the Church of the "Blessed Sacrament," Mass will be celebrated on the 3rd Sunday of the month at 3pm,

-next Latin Mass May 18th.

Friday 2 May 2008

Douai Abbey Retreat - Mgr Anthony Conlon will Celebrate the Traditional Mass on Sunday 5th July

I have just recieved confirmation that Mgr Anthony Conlon will celebrate the Traditional Mass for Young Catholic Adults at Douai Abbey on Sunday 5th July - I'm awaiting for details of which Chapel the Abbey will be making available.

Mgr Anthony Conlon is Chaplain to the Latin Mass Society of England and Wales and the Chaplain to the Oratory School in Reading. Young Catholic Adults are profoundly grateful to Mgr Conlon for agreeing to celebrate this Mass especially as he has to say Mass at Abingdon later on. More details will follow shortly....
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