Sung Mass in Tyburn Convent’s Relic Chapel

from Mass of ages issue 196 summer 2018

A stitch in time…

Joseph Shaw reports

Readers of the last edition of Mass of Ages will have seen a notice about a youth conference being organised by the Catholic Medical Association in Tyburn Convent, on Saturday 12 March. This duly took place, and opened with a Traditional Sung Mass, sponsored by the Latin Mass Society.

Since time was short it was a Missa Cantata without incense. It was accompanied by a schola of two, led by the Latin Mass Society’s London Director of Music, Matthew Schellhorn. Fr Serafino Lanzetta from Gosport was the celebrant, and he preached about the subject of the conference, which was well illustrated by the readings for the Wednesday after the 4th Sunday of Lent: the story of Susanna and the Elders, and the story of the Woman taken in Adultery.

The story of Susanna and the Elders must be one of the longest lections in the Church’s year, apart from the Passion narratives, but it is a thrilling tale with more relevance than ever.

Susanna risked not a Hollywood career but her very life by refusing the amorous advances of the two Elders, senior judges who backed up each others’ stories of finding her in the arms of a young man. She was saved from stoning at the last moment by the youthful prophet Daniel, whose brilliant (and not very polite) cross-examination of the witnesses is one of the great court-room scenes of world literature. You won’t find Daniel 13 in the King James Bible, but I recommend it to readers with a good Catholic edition.

Susanna’s story of fidelity usque mortem was also an appropriate one for the setting: The Relic Chapel of Tyburn Convent. The walls are adorned with mementos of the English Martyrs, particularly those who died a short distance away on the Tyburn Tree, the special large-capacity gallows where no fewer than 105 men and women died for the Catholic Faith, echoing Susanna’s words: ‘It is better for me to fall into your power without guilt than to sin before the Lord.’

As well as relics, there is a set of very beautiful stained-glass windows illustrating the Seven Corporal Works of Mercy and the Seven Sacraments from episodes from the lives of the martyrs. These details of their lives are touching in their simplicity, for most of the martyrs were quite ordinary people in worldly terms. They deserve to be better known.

The Traditional Mass has been celebrated in the Relic Chapel a number of times in recent years, and, as one of the nuns remarked, it is appropriate because this is the Mass for which the martyrs died. On this occasion the chapel, which can accommodate about sixty people, was packed.

The conference itself was filled to capacity and the talks, including one I gave, were well received.

It is interesting to see the hunger of young Catholic medics for a proper discussion of the problems of working as a Catholic in today’s health sector. Equally pleasing was the thought of the organising committee, that it should be quite normal to have a Traditional Mass at such an event. It was an honour to be there.

A representative of the Catholic Medical Association who attended the conference said: ‘In the first talk of the conference, one of the Tyburn nuns reminded us of the historical precedents of conscientious objection in a fascinating and moving account of the lives of the Tyburn martyrs. Her talk was a reminder of three important facts: firstly, whilst we may feel challenged at times, our lives are not literally on the line; secondly, the battle has already been won, just as the blood of the martyrs is now glorified, so will our small battles give way to glory in the future; lastly, we have the prayers of so many religious (and lay) people around the world to support us in our endeavours to do what is right.

‘The ensuing discussion on conscience was thus set up in the context of eternity and placed us in a humbling lineage of figures now gone before us, who had remained true to their convictions to the last - the martyrs of course, but also more contemporary figures such as Dr Jerome Lejeune who fought so voraciously to defend the rights of people with Down’s Syndrome.

The Traditional Mass has been celebrated in the Relic Chapel a number of times in recent years, and, as one of the nuns remarked, it is appropriate because this is the Mass for which the martyrs died

‘The two talks on conscience, delivered by Dr Joseph Shaw and Mr John Smeaton (the latter from SPUC) provided us with a thorough philosophical and practical grounding in the nature of conscience within the healthcare setting, both what it is, and perhaps more importantly, what it isn’t. The day ended with a panel discussion enabling the attendees to enquire about some of the practicalities raised by the talks and so engage directly with the speakers. The Q&A session also provided the opportunity for various professionals from the floor to offer their insights, demonstrating the diverse range of knowledge and experience present at such a meeting.

‘Overall, the day was a great success and it was a real privilege to listen to such fantastic speakers in such a beautiful and apt venue. Many thanks to the Tyburn nuns for their hospitality and prayers, they are, of course, assured of ours. Many thanks also to the CMA for organising such a stimulating conference!’