Monday 23 March 2020

Lent ~ A Perfect Time for the Spiritual Acts of Mercy

We know that Lent is a time for fasting, deepening our prayer life and giving alms.We think of giving alms as giving money to the poor, and rightfully so, but there are other ways we can give. We can donate food, clothing or time. The word alms comes from the Greek word eleemosyne, which means "compassion or pity," and is itself from the word eleos, which means "mercy." (Vocabulary.com). Reflecting on its original meaning, we can look to the Spiritual and Corporal Acts of Mercy as guides for our almsgiving during Lent and hopefully, take these Acts of Mercy into our everyday life.

The Corporal Acts of Mercy are: feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, shelter the homeless, cloth the naked, visit the sick and imprisoned and bury the dead.The Spiritual Acts of Mercy are: instruct the ignorant, counsel the doubtful, admonish sinners, comfort the suffering, bear wrongs patiently, forgive offenses willingly, and pray for the living and the dead.

Applying the Works of Mercy to Our Lent

Knowing what the Acts of Mercy are, we can reflect upon them and ask God to tell us which may be our calling. We cannot, of course, do everyone but God will give us one or two to perform as our Lenten act of Mercy. 

We do not, necessarily, have to take these lists literally. They can become our guide. Examples are: Feed the hungry ~ give canned goods to a food pantry or volunteer at a soup kitchen, Cloth the Naked ~Most of us have more clothing than we need. Choose a warm sweater or jacket and donate it to a shelter or make a survival bag (socks, gloves, a scarf, etc.) and donate it to a homeless shelter. Visit the sick and imprisoned ~ Because of the Coronavirus, hospitals, and nursing homes are not allowing visitors and many of us are homebound. We can phone someone who lives alone just to say hello and ask if they are OK.

Your family is a good place to begin. Check on a grandparent or elderly relative. Bury the dead ~ Consider someone you have loved and lost and pray for their souls. Comfort the suffering ~ Call someone who is going through a difficult time and offer support and prayer. So, you see that there are many ways to translate these works into acts you can easily perform and once you begin, you will feel God’s Grace in unimaginable ways and probably want to continue them throughout the year.

Lent can be Our Guideline

The acts we are asked to do during Lent could and should be a guide for how we live throughout the year. Increasing our prayer life may mean adding devotions we do not usually pray during other times and we may not choose to continue them after Lent but praying the Stations of the Cross, for example, can bring us to a deeper understanding of the sufferings of Our Lord and in this, we may come to a place where we pray more deeply, no matter what the prayer. Fasting is cleansing for the body as well as the soul and fasting one day each month may become a part of your spirituality. Fasting does not necessarily have to be not eating at all or living on bread and water for a day or longer. You may consider skipping a meal and offering that fast as a prayer for those who have no food. There are many ways in which Lent can offer inspiration to increase our prayer life and work to become closer to Jesus. 

Give Thanks

As Catholics, God offers us many ways to receive His Grace. We are blessed to have Seven Sacraments, Mary as Our Mother, saints who intercede for us and, most importantly, the Eucharist. Let us always offer thanks to God for His many blessings and live always in an attitude of gratitude.

Marilyn Nash for holyart.co.uk .





Prayer

Sunday 22 March 2020

Live Streamed EF Masses


With all public Masses Suspended in the UK and in many other parts of the world here is a selection of live streamed Masses, in the Old Rite.


EF Masses in England and Wales that live stream Mass:-

https://lms.org.uk/list-of-churches-with-streaming

For live streamed EF Masses all over the world see:-

https://onepeterfive.com/live-streamed-mass-information-for-catholics/

Wednesday 18 March 2020

All Masses Suspended in England and Wales

Statement from the Bishops Conference of England and Wales

In response to the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic we are no longer able to gather for public acts of worship in our Catholic churches in England and Wales. This will begin from Friday evening, 20 March 2020, until further notice.

Sunday 19 January 2020

Forgotten Hero - Blessed Nicholas Woodfen, priest, 21 January 1586.

His true name was Nicolas Wheeler. He was born at Leominster, Herefordshire, and in the school of that town he was esteemed highly for his abilities. He performed his priest’s studies at Douay and Rheims, and was ordained at the latter town, 25 March 1581. He was sent on the English Mission the following June, and arrived in London in a state of great necessity, having, as he said, no money to buy food and scarce clothes for his back. A fellow-priest, Father Davis, whose address he found, supplied his immediate needs and introduced him to Catholics, and by the help of Mr. Francis Brown, Lord Montague’s brother, a lodging was found for him at a haberdasher’s in Fleet Street. There,disguised as a lawyer,he laboured with great profit among the members of the Inns of Court, for he had a handsome presence, affable and courteous manners, and great power of attraction. But Morris, the pursuivant, found him out and forced him to flee. He was again nearly caught with Father Davis in his next hiding-place at Sir T. Tresham’s house at Hoxton, but his hour was not yet come. The third time, however, he fell into the pursuivant’s hands he was tried, sentenced, and suffered with great constancy at Tyburn, 21 January 1586.



From: Father Henry Sebastian Bowden. “Venerable Nicolas Woodfen, Priest, 1586”. Mementoes of the English Martyrs and Confessors, 1910. 

Tuesday 31 December 2019

Recite “Te Deum” On The Last Day Of The Year For A Plenary Indulgence


A partial indulgence is granted to those who recite the Te Deum in thanksgiving and a plenary indulgence is granted if the hymn is recited publicly on the last day of the year.

Te Deum laudámus: te Dominum confitémur.
Te ætérnum Patrem omnis terra venerátur.
Tibi omnes Angeli; tibi cæli et univérsae potestátes.
Tibi Chérubim et Séraphim incessábili voce proclámant:
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dóminus Deus Sábaoth.
Pleni sunt cæli et terra majestátis glóriæ tuæ.
Te gloriósus Apostolórum chorus;
Te Prophetárum laudábilis númerus;
Te Mártyrum candidátus laudat exércitus.
Te per orbem terrárum sancta confitétur Ecclésia:
Patrem imménsæ majestátis;
Venerándum tuum verum et únicum Fílium;
Sanctum quoque Paráclitum Spíritum.
Tu Rex glóriæ, Christe.
Tu Patris sempitérnus es Fílius.
Tu ad liberándum susceptúrus hóminem, non horruísti Vírginis úterum.
Tu, devícto mortis acúleo,
    aperuísti credéntibus regna cælórum.
Tu ad déxteram Dei sedes, in glória Patris.
Judex créderis esse ventúrus.
Te ergo quǽsumus, tuis fámulis súbveni,
    quos pretióso sánguine redemísti.
Ætérna fac cum sanctis tuis in glória numerári.

[added later, mainly from Psalm verses:]
Salvum fac pópulum tuum, Dómine, et bénedic hæreditáti tuæ.
Et rege eos, et extólle illos usque in ætérnum.
Per síngulos dies benedícimus te.
Et laudámus nomen tuum in sǽculum, et in sǽculum sǽculi.
Dignáre, Dómine, die isto sine peccáto nos custodíre.
Miserére nostri, Dómine, miserére nostri.
Fiat misericórdia tua, Dómine, super nos, quemádmodum sperávimus in te.
In te, Dómine, sperávi: non confúndar in ætérnum.


Tuesday 24 December 2019

Happy Christmas to all



IN NATIVITATE DOMINI Factus est Deus homo, ut homo fieret Deus! 

Friday 6 December 2019

The Papa Stronsay Calendar for 2020, Produced by the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer, Can Now be Purchased from their Website


The Papa Stronsay Calendar for 2020, produced by the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer, can now be purchased from their website.HERE.

"From their website:
As always, our Calendar is jam-packed full of all kinds of Liturgical, religious and secular information, that will leave you wondering how you ever managed without it! There is really no other Extraordinary Form liturgical wall-calendar like it.
It features a photo from the life of the Congregation for each month.
Each month the calendar gives you the Liturgical feast and color, the four major phases of the moon, the liturgical zodiac, the traditional days of abstinence, the major astronomical occurrences, national public holidays for eight English-speaking countries, as well as many other interesting treats that help you live your day-to-day life as a Catholic, and participate in the life of our Religious Congregation.

Money from Peter’s Pence was used to Finance the Elton John biopic Rocketman





An Italian newspaper has reported the following information:-

"Finance moves in mysterious ways, and one of them links the Vatican to the island of Malta. It has emerged that in February, through a fund based in Valletta, the Secretariat of State became a partner in Lapo Elkann’s eyewear and “lifestyle products” company, Italia Independent. Another €10 million deal went through on 30 September with Enrico Preziosi, games industrialist and chairman of Genoa. And over €4 million went to finance the production of films such as the latest “Men in Black” and the biography of Elton John, “Rocketman”. These are just some of the many investments made using the offerings of the faithful to Peter’s Pence, but there are others, and the situation is now being examined by the Papal judiciary."

The whole story can be found at:-  https://www.corriere.it/english/19_dicembre_04/vatican-invested-lapo-elkann-and-elton-john-film-72e070b0-16c0-11ea-b17e-02f19725a806.shtml.

Sunday 1 December 2019

Akita and the Fatima Secret



Please note that the issues in this video are somewhat controversial; however, it raises important points and has the backing of Sister Agnes Sasagawa.

Friday 22 November 2019

Missa Cantata for Blessed Richard Whiting

From Glastonbury:-

"On 19th September 1539, Richard Layton, Thomas Moyle, and Richard Pollard arrived at the abbey without warning. They were not convinced about Whiting's answers and he was sent to the Tower of London.

They discovered a book condemning Henry VIII's divorce from Catherine of Aragon. They also discovered evidence that Whiting hid a number of precious objects from Cromwell's agents. The commissioners wrote to Thomas Cromwell claiming that they had now come to the knowledge of "divers (many) and sundry treasons committed by the Abbot of Glastonbury". Whiting was sent back to Somerset in the care of Richard Pollard and reached Wells on 14 November. "Here some sort of trial apparently took place, and next day, Saturday, 15th November, he was taken to Glastonbury with two of his monks, Dom John Thorne and Dom Roger James, where all three were fastened upon hurdles and dragged by horses to the top of Toe Hill which overlooks the town. Here they were hanged, drawn and quartered, Abbot Whiting's head being fastened over the gate of the now deserted abbey and his limbs exposed at Wells, Bath, Ilchester and Bridgewater."

Come to the Mass in his honour and to beg for his prayers on Saturday December 7th at 11.00am in the Shrine of Our Lady, sung by the Community of Our Lady of Glastonbury." H/t to http://frbederowe.blogspot.com/2019/11/missa-cantata-for-blessed-richard.html?m=1

Sunday 10 November 2019

NEW Message from Akita Reported - Please Pray the Penitential Rosary every Day





An affiliate of EWTN has broken this story about a new Akita message

"You may have already read the news which WQPH broke, and has traveled fast. Please find the story here, which we have updated with a new translation from the original Japanese of the message.

Since then, we have been overwhelmed by the responses and inquiries and now feel it is incumbent upon us to to issue a statement to address some of the responses we have received both directly and indirectly:

11/8: Two edits were made to the original statement. The text “Penitent Rosary” was changed to “Penitential Rosary,” which may refer to refer to a form of the Rosary given to Maria Concepcion Zuniga Lopez, founder of the order of the Nativity and the Perpetual Help of Mary. And the statement that the WQPH being 10 years old was corrected to 8 years old, with the station going on air November 1st, 2011.
WQPH stands by our sources for the story “A new message from Sister Agnes of Our Lady of Akita“, and asks for your prayers for their well-being.

Throughout history, the messengers of private revelation have suffered greatly from resistance both without the Church and within. We have seen that there is no message concerning the salvation of mankind that the devil will not suppress by any means permitted him.

Particularly, we know that Sister Agnes has suffered greatly since the last message of Akita, and we are concerned that this new message, this very simple call to repentance, which we obtained through sources close to her, has begun new tribulations for her and her confidants.

WQPH is a small, 8-year-old, prayer-based apostolate, serving the North Worcester county of Massachusetts as an affiliate of EWTN Radio. We don’t enjoy the financial security of better known stations, and like all Catholic organizations, we have felt the reduction in charitable giving caused by demoralizing scandals and confusion of the present, which seem to be without end.

In short, we have no reason to take on the risks associated with publishing a sensational story such as this new message from Sister Agnes Sasagawa, other than on behalf of sources, who are both reliable and courageous, and who have asked us directly to spread her message.

To the many individuals who have contacted us, we have received your concerns with humility, and we recognize that an update is important to our credibility. But we prioritize foremost the safety of our sources.

So we appeal again to you for your prayers; to pray for all the messengers of the Truth today in the Church, in particular, for Sister Agnes and her confidants.
The new message asks each of us to pray a Penitential Rosary daily, and to cover ourselves in ashes as the residents of Nineveh did upon hearing the prophecy of Jonah.
Until we can obtain more information from our source, we ask you, our brothers and sisters in Christ, to discern with faith and reason the veracity of the story, and we thank you for your prudence and devout concern for the integrity of the legacy of Our Lady of Akita and the reputation of her messengers.
Sincerely,
The members of WQPH."

Absolve Domine - Catholic Requiem Mass Tractus


Wednesday 16 October 2019

Draft Timetable for Young Catholic Adults Weekend 25th-27th Oct 2019


Theme: Being a Catholic in the Modern World.

Timetable for Young Catholic Adults
Douai Weekend 2019


Friday 
2pm Extra Schola Chant Workshop

5-6pm General Arrival
7pm Supper
8pm-8.30pm Rosary (church) or Chant Workshop (conference room)
8:40 Sung Compline after workshop (Roman Rite)
9pm: Social

Saturday
8:30-9am Breakfast
9:15-9:55am - Chant Workshop (conference room) followed by Schola rehearsal (church)
11am:  High Mass - Roman Rite in the Parish Church- Our Lady’s Saturday ( EF Gregorian Chant ) preceded by confessions
12.00pm: Marian Procession in honour of Our Lady of Fatima around the extensive grounds of Douai Abbey, followed by enrolment into the Brown Scapular
1-2pm: Lunch
2-2.55pm: 1st Talk – The Importance of Tradition” Canon Poucin ICKSPCanon Poucin from The Institute of Christ the King 3-4pm: Chant workshop
[4-4.30pm: Chant rehearsal for Schola Gregoriana]
4.30-6pm: Free time/spiritual reading
6-6.30pm: Vespers (Roman Rite)
7pm-7:40pm Supper
7.45-8:30pm: Rosary, Adoration and Confessions
8.30pm: Social

Sunday
8-9am Breakfast
9am-9:45am: Schola Gregoriana workshop (conference room)
10:30am: Sung Mass – Christ the King - Roman Rite in the Parish Church ( EF Gregorian Chant)
11:30pm: Rosary
12-12:45-   Talk – Fr. Stewart Foster. “
Marian Devotion for Today.”
1pm: Lunch


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