Tuesday 3 May 2016

Why is May Mary's Month?





 

 H/t for the photo to:- http://stjosephdetroit.blogspot.co.uk/
H/t to Fr. http://newtheologicalmovement.blogspot.co.uk. He states:-
The practice of dedicating the month of May to our Lady was popularized especially by the Rosary Encyclicals of Leo XIII – beginning in 1883 and concluding in 1889, the Pontiff wrote twelve encyclicals and five apostolic letters on the Rosary. The Catholic Encyclopedia discusses the rather recent origin of Mary Month:
“The May devotion [to our Lady] in its present form originated at Rome where Father Latomia of the Roman College of the Society of Jesus, to counteract infidelity and immorality among the students, made a vow at the end of the eighteenth century to devote the month of May to Mary. From Rome the practice spread to the other Jesuit colleges and thence to nearly every Catholic church of the Latin rite (Albers, "Bluethenkranze", IV, 531 sq.). This practice is the oldest instance of a devotion extending over an entire month.” (Catholic Encyclopedia, “Special Devotions for Months”)
Yet, although many Catholics know that May is dedicated to the Mother of God, it may be a bit of a puzzle as to why May was chosen for this special honor. What is it about May that makes it suited to be the Month of Mary?

Mary Month – Why May?
Some have pointed to the fact that, in classic western culture (both Greek and Roman), May was recognized as the season of the beginning of new life. In the Greek world, May was dedicated to the goddess Artemis and associated with fecundity. Roman culture linked the month of May to Flora, the goddess of bloom and blossoms – this led to the custom of ludi florales (or floral games) which took place at the very end of April as a preparation for entering into the month of May.
It seems that this ancient tradition of connecting May with new life and fecundity, led to a realization that May is very much the month of motherhood – this may be the reason why Mother’s Day is celebrated during May not only in the United States but in many countries and cultures of both the East and the West. In the month of May, the winter comes to an end and the spring season begins (this was the official beginning of spring in Roman culture). This new beginning and new birth is a testimony to the motherhood of Mother Earth.
The connection between motherhood and May led Christians eventually to adopt May as Mary Month. May is the Month of our Lady precisely as the Mother of God. So wrote the priest-poet Fr. Gerard Manley Hopkins, SJ in his marian classic “May Magnificat.”
May Magnificat
MAY is Mary’s month, and I  
Muse at that and wonder why:          
    Her feasts follow reason,    
    Dated due to season—         
Candlemas, Lady Day;                                                  
But the Lady Month, May,     
    Why fasten that upon her,  
    With a feasting in her honour?     
Is it only its being brighter     
Than the most are must delight her?                                 
    Is it opportunest       
    And flowers finds soonest?
Ask of her, the mighty mother:         
Her reply puts this other        
    Question: What is Spring?—                                              
    Growth in every thing—     
Flesh and fleece, fur and feather,      
Grass and greenworld all together;  
    Star-eyed strawberry-breasted      
    Throstle above her nested                                       
Cluster of bugle blue eggs thin          
Forms and warms the life within;    
    And bird and blossom swell           
    In sod or sheath or shell.    
All things rising, all things sizing                              
Mary sees, sympathising         
    With that world of good,     
    Nature’s motherhood.         
Their magnifying of each its kind     
With delight calls to mind                                          
    How she did in her stored  
    Magnify the Lord.     
Well but there was more than this: 
Spring’s universal bliss           
    Much, had much to say                                            
    To offering Mary May.         
When drop-of-blood-and-foam-dapple        
Bloom lights the orchard-apple         
    And thicket and thorp are merry  
    With silver-surfèd cherry                                        
And azuring-over greybell makes     
Wood banks and brakes wash wet like lakes          
    And magic cuckoocall          
    Caps, clears, and clinches all—       
This ecstasy all through mothering earth                
Tells Mary her mirth till Christ’s birth       
    To remember and exultation         
    In God who was her salvation.

The poem was written at Stonyhurst in May, 1878. Fr. Hopkins was 33 at the time, and eight months a priest.

Friday 29 April 2016

Father Jason Jones - "The Blessed Virgin Mary in the Teachings of St John Paul II"




Father Jason Jones was for eight years Rector of the Welsh National Shrine of Our Lady of the Taper at Cardigan, Wales. He is presently a parish priest in Swansea and the Spiritual Director for the Legion of Mary for Menevia Diocese. He will be speaking at the Chavagnes Summer Conference on "The Blessed Virgin Mary in the Teachings of St John Paul II". He is pictured here meeting St John Paul II. More details on our conference here: http://chavagnes.org/studium/

Tuesday 26 April 2016

Sung Requiem Mass at Prinknash Abbey 14th May 2016 at 11am

I’ve had a number of requests about the time, date and location of my Dad’s Prinknash Abbey  sung Requiem Mass, so I’ve decided to put the details in the public domain, please note that all are welcome.  See below:-



Lux aeterna luceat eis, Domine, cum sanctis tuis in aeternum, quia pius es. Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine; et lux perpetua luceat eis.

Sunday 24 April 2016

Benedictines to leave St Mary's at Brownedge


Just a couple of days after hearing about that a third of Catholic churches across north Wales are to close see here ; it turns out that the Ampleforth Benedictines are leaving Brownedge in Bamber Bridge (Lancashire).
 H/t to Fr. Simon Henry at:- http://offerimustibidomine.blogspot.co.uk/:-
"I've just read via Facebook that a neighbouring parish, St Mary's Brownedge, is heading for major changes. If true, how very sad for the people there and for the Benedictines of Ampleforth. Do pray for them.
Bishop John Arnold of Salford and Abbot Cuthbert Madden OSB of Ampleforth Abbey were unexpectedly present at Masses this weekend at St Mary's, Brownedge, Bamber Bridge. During each Mass it was announced that the Ampleforth Benedictines would be leaving the Parish by the end of this year and handing over responsibility for the Parish to the Diocese of Salford, breaking a link stretching back to 1780 in the parish itself and to the late 1600s in terms of a Benedictine presence in the area. Abbot Cuthbert stated that he had no choice and that the decision was made with regret. At present it is understood that the Benedictines will continue to serve their other parishes in the locality, i.e. Our Lady and St Gerard Majella, Lostock Hall (Diocese of Salford) and St Mary's, Leyland and and St Joseph's, Brindle (both Archdiocese of Liverpool). However an ageing community at Ampleforth and falling numbers means that eventually Ampleforth will also withdraw from these parishes as it has done so in its other parishes in recent years (e.g. St Mary's, Warrington). It is assumed that St Benedict's Monastery, Bamber Bridge will close. Whilst the parish had been forewarned last year by the Abbot that a withdrawal would inevitably happen at some point in the future, the sudden and, at this time, unexpected news has been met with shock and dismay. Please pray for the Parish, the Ampleforth Community, particularly those serving in the Parish, and the Diocese of Salford."
 However, not all religious orders are failing, the more orthodox and explicitly Catholic ones are doing well. See, for example, the Clear Creek Abbey - Glimpse into the Cloister - Old Rite Monastery that Has Too Many Vocations!

Saturday 23 April 2016

The new Eucharistic miracle in Poland reminds us of the REALITY OF THE REAL PRESENCE of our Lord


 
The chalice and paten of Bl. Charles de Foucauld 
(“Photo-Monique”, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

The new Eucharistic miracle in Poland reminds us of the REALITY OF THE REAL PRESENCE of our Lord BODY BLOOD SOUL AND DIVINITY. The short article below, advises us to renew our Eucharistic devotion, to not be complacent and to regain a sense of the real presence. It suggests we re-instate the paten at all Masses, not just in the Old Rite.

How many times have Eucharistic abuses been prevalent in our Churches, how many times do we talk in front of the Blessed Sacrament, how many times do we show our indifference by our lack of devotion in Church.

Please read this article at:- http://www.ncregister.com/blog/philip-kosloski/what-is-god-trying-to-tell-us-with-this-new-eucharistic-miracle-in-poland/#ixzz46gGJuT4j.



On April 17, Bishop Zbigniew Kiernikowski of Legnica, Poland announced the approval of a Eucharistic miracle in his Diocese. The miracle happened about two years ago when, “a consecrated Host fell to the floor [during the distribution of Communion and] was picked up and placed in a container with water. Soon after, red stains appeared on the host.”

The miracle was tested and the “Department of Forensic Medicine found: ‘In the histopathological image, the fragments were found containing the fragmented parts of the cross striated muscle. It is most similar to the heart muscle.’ Tests also determined the tissue to be of human origin and found that it bore signs of distress.”
What is interesting is how this Eucharistic miracle differs from other miracles, such as the miracle at Lanciano. Often the Eucharist is changed into blood after the words of consecration and at the altar in response to a lack of faith from the priest.

This time, the miracle occurred after a Precious Host was dropped during Holy Communion. The miracle itself would have happened in the sacristy when they put the host in the water (as is proper procedure), but it appears one cause of the miracle was a lack of care for the Blessed Sacrament.
Now, accidents do happen and I am not trying to single out the person or priest who dropped the host. However, it does bring up an interesting topic: the use of patens.

In the Catholic Church, the paten is typically a gold disk that is used by an altar server to hold under the mouth or hands of the person receiving Communion. It is meant to catch any hosts or particles from the host from falling to the ground.

The practice has been abandoned by most in the Church for the past few decades, but the document, Redemptionis Sacramentum, cites this instruction, “The Communion-plate for the Communion of the faithful should be retained, so as to avoid the danger of the sacred host or some fragment of it falling.”

What this miracle should do is make us reconsider how we approach the Holy Eucharist. Do we truly believe that Jesus is present in the bread and wine at Mass? Do we treat the hosts with all due respect, being extremely careful in distributing the Precious Body of our Lord?

We shouldn’t abandon the use of patens at Mass because it seems “outdated.” The reason why we use patens at Mass is because of our love of God! Why do we hold our children with utmost care, making sure we don’t drop them? Why shouldn’t we have the same care for the Eucharistic Host at Mass that is Christ the Lord! What we hold in our hands is not just bread!

Maybe this miracle came at the right time in our world, when many Catholics do not believe in the Real Presence of Christ and during an era in the Church where the Eucharist is not cared for properly. The heart tissue found “bore signs of distress” and maybe it was to show us Christ’s hurt when we do not take care of Him.

Recent Young Catholic Adults and WAF Day a Success.




The recent Cheltenham Young Catholic Adults and WAF Marian day  (that took place on Saturday 9th April at St. Gregory's Church) was a great success. The all age event, commenced with a Rosary followed by a procession around the Church, which was then followed by a presentation on the message of Fatima.

The second half of the day included a DVD and Powerpoint session. It focused on the importance of the Rosary and the First Five Saturday devotion and how this can revitalize our lives and the Church, generally. The presentation was given by Donel Foley, author of several Marian books and Secretary of the World Apostolate of Fatima in England and Wales.

To learn more about the message and devotions of Fatima please see:- http://www.worldfatima-englandwales.org.uk/about.html

Wednesday 20 April 2016

The Power of the Traditional Priestly Orders

 H/t to Fr. Ray Blake:- he writes:

"I am told by a priest of the diocese that in Westminster diocese there are no ordinations to the diocesan priesthood this year but apparently -according to the com-box there are seven however in Buenos Aires, this year has only three, my own diocese has only two seminarians spread over the whole six year course, some diocese have no seminarians, some diocese have far more bishops (active and retired) than seminarians.

But my own rather odd little parish, 'least of the cities of Judah', prays regularly for three men who came here to Mass and were very much part of our parish. One is at one of our English Oratories, another has joined one of the Traditional priestly societies and yet another has joined the most ascetic monasteries in Britain.


One of the things that attracted these young men here is Old Mass, all three came to it, all three had a great love for it. It does seem to be a source of vocations. As one teen age lad said, "I don't understand a word of it but at least it gives you a chance to pray". Prayer, communion with Christ is the source of vocation.


Personally I found it easier to speak to young men about priesthood when Pope Benedict so often spoke about the great value and the significance of the priesthood and the Sacred Liturgy. Now, there seems to so many warnings to young priests, so much criticism of young priests, even suggestion they might be mentally ill, it makes it far less attractive, perhaps there is sense that maybe young men considering the priesthood might be better off being tender hearted social workers, rather than servants of the altar.


One of the things that is at the back of mind is that young men are certainly not choosing the secular or diocesan priesthood though some religious orders aren't doing too badly, especially those with something of traditional about them. The traditional Mass priestly societies are flourishing, and some religious orders are making steady progress, this year the Irish Dominican province had more ordinations than all the Irish diocese put together. I think as we grow older, we secular clergy become increasingly unattractive to young men, there is something of the smell of the geriatric ward about us. Like attracts like. In fifteen years time half the present diocesan clergy of England and Wales will be incapable of saying Mass, most of us will dead or in a home! In France, for most people it will be easier in ten years time to get to the Traditional Mass than the Novus Ordo. I think many of us secular priests have a sense failure about them, whilst young religious communities have a sense of mission and growth, a hopefulness about them.

For all the rather sad holding on to the 1970s of some of the most senior clergy this is not where the Church will be in ten years time."

photographs from here

Secularism and Atheism Have in fact Become a New Ideology of the Western Europe - Metropolitan Hilarion

Moscow, April 19, Interfax - Head of the Synodal Department for External Church Relations Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk draws a parallel between the USSR and present-day Europe.
 
Metropolitan Hilarion states that: " faith and the Church are revived in Russia, new churches are being built, monasteries and theological schools are open, while “religiosity is decreasing in the West, churches are closed, some church buildings are just sold.”
“Secularism and atheism have in fact become a new ideology of the Western Europe....
He also believes that religious revival in Europe will go through “being drunk with freedom, with permissiveness and people will understand what it leads to and start coming back to their Christian roots.”

See more at http://www.pravmir.com/metropolitan-hilarion-compares-europe-with-the-atheistic-soviet-union/

Tuesday 19 April 2016

QUESTION: My Unconscious Aunt Died After Being Anointed: Was She Forgiven?


QUAERITUR to Fr. Z (H/t to WDTPRS):
last rites extreme unction anointing viaticum 02My aunt recently passed away two major strokes. After her second, my uncle, an openly declared agnostic, asked me if she should have a priest. I replied in the affirmative, and the hospital had a priest come. Since my aunt was heavily sedated and likely very impaired due to the stroke, she was unable to confess. I’ve read several blogs, but its unclear if forgiveness of sin occurred or if it is even possible in such as case. Can a person impaired in such a way that they are unable to confess receive absolution? Or is this one of those mysteries that we hold out hope for God’s mercy?
It is good that the priest came.  I am sure that he anointed your aunt before her death.  This can be a consolation to you as it was a great spiritual benefit for her.

The Sacrament of Anointing, also called Extreme Unction when administered close to death, has several effects. The effects are 1) to comfort us in the pains of sickness and to strengthen us against temptations, 2) to remit venial sins and to cleanse our soul from the remains of sin, and 3) to restore us to health, when God sees fit.  These are the effects when a person is still conscience and in the state of grace.  When you are compos sui this sacrament should be received only in the state of grace, which means that, when possible, it should be administered after sacramental confession and absolution.

However, not all people near death are conscious and able to make a confession of their sins.  In cases of necessity, the Sacrament of Anointing, Extreme Unction, will also take away mortal sin (not just venial) if the dying person is no longer able to confess, provided she has the sorrow for his sins that would be necessary for the worthy reception of the Sacrament of Penance.

And so, we can say that the Sacrament of Anointing straddles two categories in one instance: when the person cannot express sorrow for sins and receive absolution from the priest.  If a priest anoints a person who is incapable of response and in danger of death, the sacrament can not only possibly heal (according to God’s will), and strengthen the soul in the last moments of life, but also forgive mortal (not just venial) sins.

Dear readers, do you see how important it is to make a regular confession of your sins?  We do not know the day or hour when we will be called before God’s Judgement Seat.

That woman was given a great grace: the priest came before she died.

And, yes, there is such a thing as mortal sin and, yes, there is a particular judgment which each of us will undergo at death.

Some people might want to give the impression these days that the mercy of God is so great that mortal sin doesn’t mean anything.

Some people might want to give the impression today that it is nearly impossible to commit mortal sins and that we shouldn’t even talk about these outdated categories anymore. Mercy mercy mercy, they cry, while ignoring truth and justice and, frankly, common sense.

Well… THIS PRIEST is here to tell you that you CAN sin mortally and that you will be JUDGED.  THIS PRIEST is here to tell you that we all are going to get God’s JUSTICE whether we want it or not even though we can always BEG for His mercy.

We should daily reflect on the Four Last Things: Death, Judgment, Heaven and Hell.

We should daily, even several times a day, beg God to spare us from a sudden and unprovided death.  An “unprovided death” is a death when someone has not had the last sacraments.

Some will tell you that it is really really haaard to commit a mortal sin.  I’m not so sure about that.  Don’t bet your immortal souls on the devil-may-care pabulum spooned out by modernists and the foolish.
Don’t be distracted from what is important for salvation by those who are rattling that shiny thing over there in the wrong direction, on the road to perdition.

Examine your consciences, be brutally honest with yourselves, and GO TO CONFESSION!

Do you know fallen away Catholics?  Help them to GO TO CONFESSION!

 two roads

Saturday 16 April 2016

Breaking.... Pope Agrees that Amoris Laetitia has Brought New Openings

Pope Francis agrees that the Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia has brought, "new, concrete possibilities that didn’t exist before the publication of the exhortation." He directs people to Cardinal Schonborn's summary of the document on 8th April, which among other things, promotes the notion that Amoris Laetitia is a "development of doctrine," from the teachings of Pope John Paul II (Ed. in practical terms this means it's a contradiction not a development?).

 From Catholic World News:-

"Frank Rocca (Wall Street Journal): Thanks, Holy Father. I see that the questions on immigration that I had thought to ask you have been asked and answered by you very well. If you permit me, I’d like to ask you another question about an event of recent days, which was your apostolic exhortation. As you well know, there has been much discussion about on one of the many, I know that we’ve focused on this a lot…there has been much discussion after the publication. Some sustain that nothing has changed with respect to the discipline that regulates access to the sacraments for the divorced and remarried, that the Law, the pastoral praxis and obviously the doctrine remain the same. Others sustain that much has changed and that there are new openings and possibilities. For a Catholic who wants to know: are there new, concrete possibilities that didn’t exist before the publication of the exhortation or not?

Pope Francis: I can say yes, many. But it would be an answer that is too small. I recommend that you read the presentation of Cardinal Schonborn (Ed. this is a big deal), who is a great theologian. He was the secretary for the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, and he knows the doctrine of the faith well. In that presentation, your question will find an answer.

 Jean-Marie Guenois (Le Figaro): I had the same question, but it’s a complementary question because you wrote this famous ‘Amoris Laetitia’ on the problems of the divorced and remarried (footnote 351). Why put something so important in a little note? Did you foresee the opposition or did you mean to say that this point isn’t that important?

Pope Francis: One of the recent popes, speaking of the Council, said that there were two councils: the Second Vatican Council in the Basilica of St. Peter, and the other, the council of the media. (Ed. PF appears to be not answering this question) When I convoked the first synod, the great concern of the majority of the media was communion for the divorced and remarried, and, since I am not a saint, this bothered me, and then made me sad. Because, thinking of those media who said, this, this and that, do you not realize that that is not the important problem? Don’t you realize that instead the family throughout the world is in crisis? Don’t we realize that the falling birth rate in Europe is enough to make one cry? And the family is the basis of society. Do you not realize that the youth don’t want to marry? Don’t you realize that the fall of the birth rate in Europe is to cry about? Don’t you realize that the lack of work or the little work (available) means that a mother has to get two jobs and the children grow up alone? These are the big problems. I don’t remember the footnote ?, but for sure if it’s something general in a footnote it’s because I spoke about it, I think, in ‘Evangelii Gaudium.’"

16 April, is Pope Benedict XVI’s 89th birthday


16 April, is Pope Benedict XVI’s 89th birthday! Happy birthday Pope Emeritus!

Analysis of Amoris Laetitia Continues


H/t to Fr. Z for providing the following episode of EWTN's, "World Over Live" programme .

This document has caused chaos throughout the Catholic world, it's important that we pay attention to the respectful and restrained criticisms given below.

Fr. Z states:-

"Great commentary about Amoris laetitia from Robert Royal and Fr. Gerald Murray on EWTN.




At about 20:00 Fr. Murray has gives a fantastic response to Arroyo’s toungue-in-check challenge after reading out a portion of AL 304.

Arroyo from 304-305: “It is reductive simply to consider whether or not an individual’s actions correspond to a general law or rule, because that is not enough to discern and ensure full fidelity to God in the
concrete life of a human being….  For this reason, a pastor cannot feel that it is enough simply to apply moral laws to those living in “irregular” situations, as if they were stones to throw at people’s lives. This would bespeak the closed heart of one used to hiding behind the Church’s teachings…. [THEN]  Is that what you are doing Fr. Murray?  Are you hiding behind the Church’s teaching?”

Tune in for Father’s brilliant response."

Thursday 14 April 2016

Ephatta - an Online Christian Hospitality Network






Ephatta is an online Christian hospitality network. It connects people looking for a temporary place to stay with people willing to welcome them. With Ephatta, experience moments of hospitality and sharing during your future pilgrimage, gathering, professional trip or your holidays. The website is open to everyone sharing or discovering these values.

List a couch, a private room, an entire place or a green spot to plant a tent. Welcome and enrich yourself spending time with your guests. Travel with Ephatta and find a warm Christian welcome wherever you go.
See:- http://en.ephatta.com/ for more details.

Friday 8 April 2016

Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia - Meaning "The Joy of Love,"

The embargo on the forth coming Apostolic Exhortation is still emargoed, although if you look hard enough, it has now been leaked to a number of sites.  The picture above, perhaps, sums up the document very well.

Unfortunately,  the title can mean the " The Joy of Love," or "The Joy of Sex."????

Wednesday 6 April 2016

BREAKING NEWS ON APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION - Pope encourages not just a 'renewal' but even more, a real 'conversion' of language."

Taken from author:- http://www.ncronline.org/authors/joshua-j-mcelwee

VATICAN CITY - A Vatican reading guide sent to Catholic bishops globally ahead of the release of Pope Francis' widely anticipated document on family life says the pontiff wants the church to adopt a new stance of inclusion towards society and to ensure its doctrines are: "at the service of the pastoral mission." The Vatican reading guide came to bishops alongside a letter signed by Cardinal Lorenzo Baldiserri, the head of the Vatican Synod office. The cardinal’s letter tells bishops that the exhortation is:- "first and foremost a pastoral teaching." The reading guide says Francis "wants to express himself in language that truly reaches the audience -- and this implies discernment and dialogue." Discernment, it says, "avoids taking truths and choices for granted; it has us examine and consciously adopt our formulations of truths and the choices."

McElwee concludes by quoting the summary document:-

"The Pope's concern is therefore to re-contextualize doctrine at the service of the pastoral mission of the Church," it states. Using a Greek word for the proclamation of salvation through Jesus, it states: "Doctrine should be interpreted in relation to the heart of the Christian kerygma and in the light of the pastoral context in which it will be applied."

http://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican/vatican-guide-says-francis-family-document-puts-doctrine-service-pastoral-mission

Friday 1 April 2016

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI Asks To Be Reinstated As Pope




VATICAN–According to reports today, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is seeking the chair of his pontificate months after his resignation. The news has sent shock waves around the world.

Vatican spokesman Fr. Vitateli Devitiamani told EOTT that, “He came for a dinner as scheduled and then proceeded to return to his old living quarters. That wouldn’t be a problem, since His Holiness Pope Francis chose to live elsewhere, the room is open. However, once we asked him where he was going, he simply said, ‘I’m back,’ then proceeded to put his sunglasses on even though we were inside.”

Sources say that the next morning, he walked down the hall asking for his valet and his red....shoes, and was overheard asking an adviser to “get Burke on the line.”

H/t to Eye of the Tiber on 1st April 2016.

Wednesday 9 March 2016

Young Catholic Adults and WAF Marian Day - on 9th April between 11:30 - 2pm at St. Gregory's Cheltenham





The Parish of St. Gregory the Great (10 St James Square, Cheltenham, GL50 3PR) will be hosting a Marian event on April 9th 2016 11:30 - c.2pm. It will start with a Rosary at 11:30am followed a procession around the Church. 

There will be a presentation on Fatima by Donal Foley, the Secretary of the World Apostolate of Fatima, England and Wales, which will start at 12:15pm in the Old Priory and finish by c.2pm. It will include a DVD and a PowerPoint presentation, as well as time for refreshments and questions and answers. Books, booklets and DVDs will be available for sale. The focus of the presentation is the importance of the Rosary and the Five First Saturdays devotion, and how they can revitalise our own spiritual lives, the parish, and the Church generally. 

This event is organised by Cheltenham YCA and the World Apostolate of Fatima and is for ALL AGES. There is a suggested donation of  £5 – please bring a packed lunch.

Thursday 3 March 2016

The Devil Hates Latin!



I just attended a talk by the exorcist for diocese of San Jose, Fr Gary Thomas. He is the subject of a book and a film called The Rite, starring Anthony Hopkins. (The talk was organized by a group called Catholics at Work.)

First, he was a great speaker. He described how almost by accident, and after 20 years as a parish priest, he found himself sent to Rome to learn how to perform the Rite of Exorcism. He was very clear in saying that, in his opinion, the recent rise in interest in (the) New Age.... has opened the door to adherence to the occult for greater numbers of people than before, which in turn opens the way to diabolical possession. He has always been inundated with requests, even before the publicity. 
The fact that he described these things pretty much in the same straightforward, matter-of-fact way that one might describe what goes on in a marriage or baptism in a parish RCIA class only served to reinforce the truth of it all for me. And I would say that if anything is to increase your faith, it is listening to accounts of how the Church overcomes the effects of possession by the devil and demons, and the suffering of those poor people who are affected by them.
I wanted to pass on one little comment that he made almost in passing. I do not know where he stands liturgically in regard to the Mass - there was nothing in what he said that led me to believe that he celebrates the Latin Mass, for example. However, he did explain that the Rite of Exorcism is only said in Latin. One reason is practical - there is no approved translation in English as yet. He gave another reason why he was so strongly in favor of the use of Latin in the Rite of Exorcism: “The Devil hates Latin, it is the universal language of the Church.” I asked him about this afterwards, and he repeated it, saying that his personal experiences as an exorcist who has performed many, many exorcisms have convinced him of this. He told me he had heard from exorcists who did exorcisms in Italian, Spanish and Portuguese (the only approved vernaculars for this Rite) that Latin was the most effective language.
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