Mass of Ages Issue 182 Winter 2014

Mass of Ages The quarterly magazine of the Latin Mass Society

PRICE £2.50

ISSUE 182 – Winter 2014

New Start for the Old Rite?

An Open Letter to the Bishops of England and Wales

Plus: WHY DOES THIS HAT UPSET SO MANY PEOPLE?

AND DESTRUCTION OF THE PENTECOST PEOPLE: End of the beginnings of Christian history?

NEW COLUMNS FROM ROME AND HOME NEWS, FEATURES, COLUMNS AND COMPREHENSIVE TRADITIONAL MASS LISTINGS JOIN THE LMS NOW – APPLICATION FORM, BACK PAGE

CONTENTS

ISSUE 182 - WINTER 2014

COMMENT 2 3 21 44 45 46 47

Intro Chairman’s Message, Dr Joseph Shaw Letters Family Notebook, Gwen Richards The Path Less Taken, Mary O’Regan Rome Report, Alberto Caroso Macklin Street, Mike Lord

CRITICAL MASS 4-5 5 6 7 24-25

Refugees at the Syriac-Catholic Mrtshmony Shrine in Erbil.

A critical time for the Old Rite Archbishop George Stack message I’d rather join the C of E – one reaction to Latin Mass Stats don’t lie An Open Letter to the Bishops, Dr Joseph Shaw

NEWS AND FEATURES 8 9 10 11 12 13 14-15 16 17 18-19 20 22-23

At Mass With – Philip Dillon Newcastle news Catholic schools can work, Helen Grimer Parish Profile – Holy Cross, Leicester In Memoriam, Fr Jean-Marie Charles-Roux Do we still believe in relics? Fr Bede Rowe Christians in the Middle East LMS Year Planner My Walsingham walk, Maria Corazon Barrientos The FSSP, Harriet Tait In Illo Tempore + crossword Art & Devotion, Caroline Shaw

DIOCESAN REPORTS 26-36

MASS LISTINGS 37-43

The Latin Mass Society 11-13 Macklin Street, London, WC2B 5NH Tel: 020-7404 7284

editor@lms.org.uk

Mass of Ages The quarterly magazine of the Latin Mass Society

PRICE £2.50

ISSUE 182 – Winter 2014

New Start for the Old Rite?

An Open Letter to the Bishops of England and Wales

Plus: WHY DOES THIS HAT UPSET SO MANY PEOPLE?

AND DESTRUCTION OF THE PENTECOST PEOPLE: End of the beginnings of Christian history?

NEW COLUMNS FROM ROME AND HOME NEWS, FEATURES, COLUMNS AND COMPREHENSIVE TRADITIONAL MASS LISTINGS JOIN THE LMS NOW – APPLICATION FORM, BACK PAGE

Many thanks for the cover photograph to John Aron Photographs, Lincolnshire.

01507 523241

Mass of Ages No.182 Of your charity, we ask your understanding of the reality that, due to the considerable volume of e-mail received at Mass of Ages, it is regrettably not always possible to provide a reply.

Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Latin Mass Society.

A

warm invitation to the Bishops of England & Wales is issued today by Joseph Shaw, the Latin Mass Society’s chairman. In an open letter, Dr Shaw calls on the bishops actively to promote the Old Rite. And he urges them to visit an Old Rite Mass in their diocese, so they can see the supportive and dedicated Catholics who attend Mass in the Extraordinary Form.

Mass of Ages also today reveals research showing that more than 50 per cent of the bishops in England & Wales have publicly supported the Traditional Mass – either by celebrating, presiding at or attending an Old Rite service.

And, we learn that another diocese has plans to extend provision. But our statistics show, which members will know already, that provision is still patchy with some areas poorly served, reflecting a widespread belief that there is no call for the Old Rite.

In the interests of understanding opposition, and perhaps learning something, Mass of Ages also takes a look at the commonly-held misconceptions about the Traditional Mass. Those of a nervous disposition should look away now because some views may shock. But, comprehending the critics, especially those inside the Church, is important, if opposition is to be overcome.

A better advertisement for the EF Mass than the three new LMS reps on Tyneside, could hardly exist. We hear in this issue from these young people, who make a strong case for the evangelising properties of the Old Rite. And we hear from a parish in central Leicester which has seen the benefits for the whole parish of having a daily Traditional Mass.

Among other items in this issue, we have our regular columns and reports from around the country. Fr Bede Rowe contemplates a thigh bone and we hear from Fr Alexander Lucie-Smith about the life of the late Fr JeanMarie Charles-Roux – bearer of the Legion d’Honnuer and Old Rite Mass advocate.

We also take a look at the Christian communities in the Middle East - the heirs to the Apostles, currently being driven from their historic homelands.

For one reason or other, this edition of Mass of Ages has had a very difficult birth. We pray for all those affected.

But, in particular, we pray for Joan and Denis Lord, the parents of the LMS general manager, Mike Lord, who both sadly died this year.

THE LATIN MASS SOCIETY PATRONS: Sir Adrian Fitzgerald Bt, Lord (Brian) Gill, Dr James MacMillan CBE, Colin Mawby, Charles Moore COMMITTEE: Dr Joseph Shaw – Chairman; Paul Waddington – Treasurer; David Forster – Secretary; David Lloyd – Vice President; Paul Beardsmore – Vice President; James Bogle; Kevin Jones; Stefano Mazzeo; Roger Wemyss Brooks, Dylan Parry

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COMMENT

Chairman’s message Dr Joseph Shaw

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write as the Extraordinary Synod in Rome has just concluded, so readers have the advantage of me: you have already seen more reactions and consequences than I have. It is nevertheless opportune to say something about the issues it is addressing, which will be the subject of another meeting in Rome next year.

I made a brief appearance on a Radio 4 programme in advance of the Synod, which featured a wide spectrum of Catholic opinion. Despite this, they had found no one who seriously thought that the Synod would change doctrine. Our Lord taught that marriage is indissoluble; the Church teaches that marriage is indissoluble; that is the end of the matter. It isn’t doctrinal change as such which is the hope, or the danger, of the Synod process. It is something else: something Catholics attached to the Church’s ancient liturgy are very familiar with.

I shall try to articulate what that is.

Readers may know the document which made possible Communion in the Hand (in the Ordinary Form), the 1969 Instruction Memoriale Domini. It tells us that Communion on the Tongue is a binding custom and should be retained, that the traditional practice in no way implies a lack of Christian adulthood, and that any special, regional indult for Communion in the Hand, for special, local, reasons, must be implemented only after a careful catechesis which removes the danger of the new practice undermining faith in the Real Presence. Similarly, the documents (from the Congregation for Divine Worship, in 1994 and 2001) permitting Altar Girls, tell us that the practice of using only men and boys is a ‘noble tradition’, keeping it needs no justification, and that diocese-by-diocese and parish-byparish permission for Altar Girls, for special local reasons, must be sensitive to the possibility of misunderstandings and the loss of vocations to the priesthood. The wider context of these documents was the infallible affirmation of the impossibility of ordaining women.

The pattern has been oft repeated. An exception is made to a practice or discipline which is associated with a particular doctrine, while reaffirming the doctrine. The exception quickly becomes the rule, because the old practice was in some way inconvenient (that was why people wanted an exception, of course); and the doctrine is undermined.

The problem arises because particular practices or disciplines defend, manifest, or teach, particular doctrines. A good expression is Cardinal Schönborn’s, when he said that worship ad orientem ‘incarnates’ the Church’s attitude, in the liturgy, of facing towards Christ, and expecting His return. As a matter of strict logic, you can change the practice, in each case, and keep the doctrine, but if we no longer incarnate the belief in action, or in fewer actions, or in actions which are less important, visible, or costly, it becomes harder to sustain the doctrine. It is no longer taught, manifested, made real, by the things which we do, or see done. Could the slack be taken up

by better catechesis? No, because it is not only children who are in danger of misunderstanding; adults, beyond the reach of the parish catechist, are catechised by the liturgical practices and the disciplines which they see and hear about.

A recent survey in the United States found that half of selfidentified Catholics did not know that the Real Presence is taught by the Church. It isn’t manifested in their experience as Catholics.

It is with this lesson in mind that we look, not just at the Synod, but at processes which have been long underway in the Church in relation to marriage. There are places where annulments seem terribly easy to get, and there are priests who will give Holy Communion to those whose marital arrangements are not in accord with the Church’s teaching. In these places the teaching of the indissolubility of marriage is no longer being manifested. Were this situation to spread to the whole Church, with some kind of (however qualified) official endorsement, then the problem would be infinitely worse. Without its annoying, awkward, costly, incarnation in the everyday life of the Church, it will cease to be part of what many Catholics believe. No amount of official protests to the contrary will change this: it is a result of simple human psychology, a fact of psychology well understood by our predecessors in the Faith.

This is one way of expressing the concerns of the Synod Fathers who so firmly rejected the mid-Synod ‘relatio’, which seemed to be opening the door to some kind of pastoral compromise.

The doctrine of the indissolubility of marriage is a beautiful and inspiring teaching, which underpins the stability and happiness of Catholic family life; its loss would degrade every Catholic marriage in the world. The impossibility of losing the doctrine in theory should not make us blasé about losing it in practice.

September 25 of this year was the 10th anniversary of the death of Michael Davies. A conference and High Mass of Requiem were held in his honour on 4 October. Please spare a prayer for him. Requiem aeternam dona ei Domine, et lux perpetua luceat ei.

---------------------Readers who have not yet done so, please consider becoming Anniversary Supporters of the Latin Mass Society.

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CRITICAL MASS

ISSUE 182 - WINTER 2014

Love Us, As We Love You To some, the biretta is a signal that the wearer has unpalatable views.

Only last month, a priest wrote to the Catholic Herald unflatteringly about ‘the biretta brigade’.What is it about the Traditional Mass, and its enthusiasts, that arouses such ire?

The biretta brigade? Photo John Aron.

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ome say there is a plot, that something is afoot. They read news of unhappy events at home and abroad – of cancelled Extraordinary Form Masses and clerical transfers and rumours of demotions at the highest level. And they fear a new bleak climate for the more conservative Catholic.

But today, Dr Joseph Shaw maintains in an open letter to the Bishops of England & Wales that genuine hostility towards the EF has all but disappeared. And the Latin Mass Society chairman and Oxford academic acknowledges the backing given by the bishops to the Old Rite. But Dr Shaw calls on the bishops now to go beyond toleration and begin promotion of the Traditional Mass. We also disclose today, the results of a survey, which show that more than 50 per cent of our bishops have now shown public support for the EF and there are regular Sunday Masses in the vast majority of dioceses. Nevertheless, provision is irregular, despite the growing enthusiasm for the Old Rite, particularly among the young. And suspicions and concerns persist among some in the Catholic community.

That there are those who would oppose such a move is clear. But what is the problem for the anti-biretta brigade?

Various theories and ideas have been put forward for this, some theological, some sociological, some just illogical.

The most-telling theological explanation, for clerical hostility to the Old Rite, came from the Pope Emeritus, in 2001, when he was still Cardinal Ratzinger. He maintained that loss of faith in the Mass as a sacrifice, which is so evident in the Traditional Mass, has caused antipathy among some clergy. He said: ‘A sizeable party of Catholic liturgists seems to have practically arrived at the conclusion that Luther, rather than Trent, was substantially right in the 16th century debate; one can detect much the same

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position in the post conciliar discussions on the Priesthood...

It is only against this background of the effective denial of the authority of Trent, that the bitterness of the struggle against allowing the celebration of Mass according to the 1962 Missal, after the liturgical reform, can be understood. The possibility of so celebrating constitutes the strongest, and thus (for them) the most intolerable contradiction of the opinion of those who believe that the faith in the Eucharist formulated by Trent has lost its value.’

This was a long time ago, though, and much has since changed.

There are, however, less elevated but more ‘practical’ and reasons for concern among clergy and churchgoers about the Traditional Mass – and its supporters.

Talk to most bishops, even those who celebrate Mass in the Extraordinary Form, and they will probably tell you that providing the Old Rite can be a problem in parishes and is, anyway, very much a ‘minority sport’. There are numerous pictures on the internet of Archbishop Malcolm McMahon, resplendent in traditional vestments, sporting an enormous jewelled mitre. But, in the last edition of this magazine, he articulated the view, widely held among bishops and priests, that the Extraordinary Form can be divisive and, he suggested, that there are anyway very few people who want it.

Concerns are frequently voiced by clergy about the issue of having different forms of the Rite. They look at the Anglican church of two decades ago, with its 1662 and ASB services, and fear the consequences for the Catholic community. And, it is true that some advocates of the EF Mass are not involved in their local parish – or in any parish. Neither priests nor bishops like this situation but neither, of course, do the Old Rite ‘travellers’ who would very much like to be part of a local parish but, instead, spend hours on a Sunday trekking to the nearest church that offers an EF Mass to the cry of: ‘It’s third Sunday, it must be Glastonbury.’

An obvious solution would be to provide more, local Old Rite Masses, but the issue of division then arises again. If there were more EF Masses, if they even replaced some Ordinary Rite services, would that create more problems?

On page 11, Prior David Rocks, of the Holy Cross Dominican priory, maintains that they had to work hard in Leicester to ensure there was no division when they introduced daily Old Rite Masses – and it has worked, to the benefit of all. As was anticipated by Pope Benedict, the two Forms have informed each other. Fr Rocks said: ‘There is a growing and deepening devotion to the Eucharist in the parish. That is not just because of the Old Rite but it has had a huge influence.’

However, some critics fear that, the Old Rite travellers may appear to be implicitly rejecting the Ordinary Form Mass and the mainstream Catholic community. Concern has even been voiced

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that some Old Rite supporters may have been radicalised – potentially in a way that has put them outside the Church’s teaching and the wider Catholic community. But, in his letter, Dr Shaw maintains: ‘Sociologists tell us that marginalised groups typically become radicalised, and attract new members who are already marginal, perhaps for unrelated reasons. I believe that we have resisted these tendencies very successfully for the fifty years of the Latin Mass Society’s existence. Those who have any worries in this regard, however, will be able to see the remedy. Problems created by marginalisation will be cured by ending the marginalisation.’

However, the principal charge and the most frequent reason given for limited provision of the Extraordinary Form is that there is no call for it. Critics have long argued that there simply are not that many people interested in attending Old Rite Masses for any regular provision to be made. But, in recent years, there has been a steady increase in ‘ordinary’ churchgoers discovering and attending Extraordinary Form Masses. Prior David Rocks asserted that the EF Mass in Leicester is simply one of the Masses and that it is not full of ‘LMS types’, who actually form a minority of his congregation. And this experience has been replicated around the country. On pages 7 and 8 we hear about the evangelising properties of the Old Rite on three young people in Newcastle, who have embraced the EF and come back to the Church.

Dr Shaw points out: ‘The good effects Pope Benedict expected to see depend upon the EF being widely available and known. We often hear that there is ‘no demand’ for the ancient Mass, but in truth there can be no ‘demand’ for a ‘product’ which is completely unknown. What we do know is that many priests have, over a few years, seen congregations appear from nowhere for something which few of their parishioners previously knew existed. In such places the EF has drawn back the lapsed, stimulated conversions, and enriched the spiritual lives of many.

This, surely, is a sufficient reason to make it available.’

Assuring the bishops of the Society’s dedication and that of the many others who attend Mass in the Extraordinary Form, the LMS chairman concludes: ‘These Catholics do not want to cause division or to be exclusive. They want nothing more than to be regarded, not as orphans or houseguests, but as your spiritual children.’

CRITICAL MASS

Archbishop George Stack ‘When I use a word,’ Humpty Dumpty said in a rather scornful tone.

‘It means what I choose it to mean, neither more or less.’

‘The question is,’ said Alice. ‘Whether you can make words mean so many different things.’

(Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carrol)

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t often seems to me that much of the social,economic and educational discourse of our age is confused because the same word means different things to different people. ‘When I use a word it means just what I want I choose it to mean, neither more nor less’. This can often be true in the life of the Church also. The same words may be used in ecclesiology, theology,and liturgy and mean different things to different people. Council documents, Encyclicals and other Church documents can easily lend themselves to being interpreted in a variety of ways, depending on differing circumstances. Perhaps this is not surprising given the many different circumstances in which they have to be applied. The development of the Church in the so-called Third World during the 20th century has given an enormous push to the enculturisation necessary in order to allow Church teaching to speak in meaningful ways to people of widely differing cultures.

However hard we try, no matter what words we use, human language can never completely capture or exhaust the Mystery of Faith we celebrate and receive at Mass.

The truths of our Faith go beyond words, go deeper than words. ‘The mystery of Christ is so unfathomably rich that it cannot be exhausted by its expression in any single liturgical tradition’. (Catechism of the Catholic Church No.1201).That is one reason we are blessed with the language of signs, symbols and Sacraments which speak to us not in merely human ways, but in and through the Word of God. The Incarnation of God’s Word, and the Paschal Mystery which remembers His saving Life, Death and Resurrection is represented as we share in the Holy Communion which we receive at Mass.

If human language cannot plumb the depths of our life of worship, it is not surprising that in the life of the Church a proliferation of Rites have been developed to act as a prism for the authentic celebration of the Eucharist. But it is the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite and its Extraordinary Form which are the object of so much attention in the liturgical renewal, not least here in the West.

Benedict XV1 spoke of the two forms of the Roman Missal as: ‘the twofold use of one and the same Rite’: the Ordinary Form – the Missal of Paul V1 is the normal expression of the Lex Orandi of the Catholic Church of the Latin Rite, and the Extraordinary Form – the missal of John XX111, the 1962 edition of the Roman Missal, issued following the Council of Trent.

‘There is no contradiction between the two editions of the Roman Missal. In the history of the liturgy there is growth and progress, but no rupture. What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too.’ (Benedict XVI Motu Proprio 7 July 2007) The theological ‘balance’ between the Ordinary and Extraordinary Form of the Mass seem to me to be the crux of the debate as to the legitimacy of practice of the two Forms of the same Rite. By whom, when and where are they to be celebrated?

Does Ordinary mean regular, everyday mundane and ‘Extraordinary’ mean more rarified, traditional, mysterious? Do the two forms celebrate the same truths from differing perspectives and produce the same fruits – union with God and with each other in the Holy Communion with the life giving sacrifice offered by Jesus Christ?

To use provocative language, is there the necessary ‘meeting of minds’ on the theology, pastoral reality and mutual recognition of the validity, efficacy and interchangeability of the celebration of the two Forms of the Roman Rite if they are to harmonised in the minds and the hearts of theologians, pastors and the faithful?

Until there is, the inscription on the single tomb of Queen Mary Tudor and Elizabeth I at Westminster Abbey will remain pertinent: Partners both in throne and grave; Here we reset, two sisters, Elizabeth and Mary In the hope of one resurrection.

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CRITICAL MASS

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CRITICAL MASS? A t least half the diocesan bishops of England and Wales celebrate, have attended or plan to attend Mass in the Extraordinary Form – far higher than the percentage of ordinary clergy who are thought to say the Traditional Mass.

Research by the Mass of Ages shows that three out of five Archbishops, five diocesan bishops and three auxiliaries have all celebrated Mass in the Old Rite. A further four diocesan bishops have either presided at or attended an EF Mass or have told Mass of Ages that they plan to do so.

By contrast, observers believe that the number of priests in England and Wales, who are willing and able to say Mass in the Extraordinary Form, is lower than 10 per cent – although the Latin Mass Society’s training courses are ever popular. And in some areas, lack of available priests is holding back opportunities to provide services for those who like to attend the EF Mass.

Such statistics would appear to confound the widely held belief that the

hierarchy is in some way ‘hostile’ to the Traditional Mass. However, there are no readily available records or information in respect of a number of bishops. Mass of Ages conducted a brief survey and two of the bishops who responded said emphatically that they have not and do not plan to attend any Old Rite Masses.

But another diocesan bishop sent a more positive message, saying that he will soon be presiding at an EF Mass. The bishop, whose diocese currently has quite poor provision, said: ‘I would be open to a Church being made available in the Diocese, if there were priests to ‘man’ it.

It would ensure a fuller pastoral care of people and provide a focus in the Diocese for those who would like to attend Mass in the Extraordinary Form.‘ Our research also indicates that the appointment of bishops who say the Traditional Mass shows no sign of slowing – despite claims that there is a new mood of hostility in Rome to all things traditional.

Of the recent episcopal appointments, many have been of known regular

celebrants of the EF Mass, including Archbishop McMahon at Liverpool, Bishop Robert Byrne of Birmingham and Bishop Alan Hopes at East Anglia.

Interestingly, though, according to the research, the presence of a bishop who says the Traditional Mass does not always translate into markedly better provision of the EF Mass in the diocese – although it usually means that the Old Rite is available. And in some dioceses, a bishop may be sympathetic, although he does not personally celebrate in the EF – in the face of resistance from his clergy.

But the real ‘black spots’ for the EF tend to be in dioceses where there is little sympathy at the top for the Traditional Mass and its enthusiasts.

The diocese of Arundel & Brighton, for instance, where the previous incumbent was known not to be an EF enthusiast, has one of the worst provisions in England & Wales. There is just one regular Sunday Mass in the two counties that make up the diocese. And there has been no Traditional Sunday Mass at all

Latin? I’d rather join the C of E Why some people will never be reconciled to the Extraordinary Form.

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t is not just hostility to the idea of taking part in an Old Rite Mass, which exercises some critics. They object to it taking place at all.

Why there should be outrage, stems from a cocktail of reasons from home-grown theology and personal circumstances to the lionisation of ‘the spirit of Vatican II’ – with a generous dash of ecumenical fervour thrown in.

Six years ago, the Catholic Herald ran a story in which it was described how a small group of people pleaded with their bishop that Latin should not be allowed to return. The story was told to make clear: ordinary people did not want a return to the Old Rite.

Mass of Ages met two of this small group to discover what their objection was (and still is) to the EF Mass. They are good people, pleasant company and very elderly and they have kindly agreed

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to share their views. One was particularly forthright and spoke for both but, out of courtesy, we will not use their names.

Their views are held by many who oppose the ‘return’ of the EF Mass and see it as a return to exclusivity and a type of Catholicism they believed was dead.

M, a cradle Catholic and mother of six, prefixed her remarks by saying that she wanted to say something upfront: ‘I feel very strongly about women’s ordination and I’m a member of the group, Catholic Women’s Ordination.’

This was a marker, but why does M have such an objection to the Traditional Mass?

She had thought about it, and her reply was instant: ‘Having been brought up with it, the moment it changed I felt as though I had been waiting for this all my life…I was delighted.’

M insisted: ‘I need to understand what the priest is saying and know what I am saying. We always used to have a Missal but that is not the same thing…it is not the same as coming from the heart.’

All right, they do not want to go Mass in the Extraordinary Form, but does it matter if other people want do, if there were one in the local parish?

M said she does not object to others attending, although she finds it peculiar.

But what worries her, is what it means for the Church. M is clear what it would mean for her: ‘I would like to know where this is coming from. It’s taking things back years. If such a dreadful thing happened, that we returned to Latin everywhere, we would give up and go to the C of E.’ Thinking about it further, M said: ‘I don’t mind if people feel the Latin Mass is something they really want. But…they’ll be bringing back old-style Catholicism

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CRITICAL MASS

in Surrey. Figures show that the ratio of regular Sunday Masses to Mass goers in A&B is currently 1:174,000.

Meanwhile, the best provision of regular Sunday Masses, per head of population, is in the Portsmouth diocese, where Bishop Philip Egan has presided at EF Mass in the Cathedral. He told the MoA in April about his wish to see the EF as part of regular life in Catholic Portsmouth. In Bishop Egan’s diocese, which takes in the Isle of Wight and stretches as far north as Oxfordshire, there is a ratio of one regular Sunday EF Mass for every 42,000 Mass goers.

In the Archdiocese of Birmingham, where there is strong episcopal interest in the Old Rite – three out of four bishops personally celebrate in the EF – there are five regular Sunday Masses for a Catholic population of 280,000.

However, the picture across the country is very mixed. The great urban diocese of Salford, which includes Manchester, has just one Sunday Traditional Mass for its 283,000 Mass goers.

There is no typical level of provision, most dioceses are clustered between 90,000 and 50,000 church goers for every regular Sunday Mass. In and around London, the picture is very diverse. In Brentwood, in the east, there is very poor

provision with just one regular Sunday Mass for 246,000 people.

Westminster, meanwhile, which has the highest population of Catholics (624,000) also boasts five. This works out at 124,000 churchgoers for each Mass. South of the river, though, there are fewer Masses, despite a Catholic population of 385,000.

with it and that’s too bound up with rules and regulations and not enough with love… Priests coming all dressed up…what would Jesus say?’

She added: ‘In the old days we were not even allowed to go to a non-Catholic church, what rubbish. It worries me if the tide turns. If it does, we couldn’t carry on.’

According to a priest, who celebrates the EF Mass, there is a genuine idea among many in the Church that beliefs all changed in the 1960s – in the ‘spirit of Vatican II’. He maintained: ‘This is a widely held view. The nicest people say it and really think it.’

But, he continued: ‘Where in Vatican II did it say that we had to remove all the altar rails or that we didn’t believe in going to Confession anymore?

‘People really think the Church changed with Vatican II that we don’t believe in

hell or purgatory or relics or anything anymore…But the Church does.’

Many practising Catholics fear that the values and ideas they have been following will be challenged. M said: ‘Old time Catholics cared more about rules and regulations…You’ll go to hell forever if you don’t go to Mass one Sunday! What sort of God would do that?’

And she maintained: ‘Our youngest son, who does not have any time for religion, but who has a lot of Muslim friends, said Christianity is all about love.’

M and H attend Mass each weekand they are closely involved in parish life, although they do not attend their local church. M said: ‘People are entitled to their own point of view, even other religions. But I do feel concerned that the Latin could be divisive.’

Of course, M is not alone in such concerns. But why does saying the

Diocese of Bishops who celebrate Old Rite Mass Diocese of Bishops who attend

DIOCESE Weekly CATHOLIC

Sunday Mass CHURCHGOERS TO

WEEKLY SUNDAY

MASS RATIO

Portsmouth 3 1:42,000 Hexham & Newcastle 4 1:45,000 Birmingham 5 1:56,000 Middlesbrough 2 1:46,000 Plymouth 1 1:68,000 Cardiff 1 1:76,000 Nottingham +Leeds 2 1:78,000 Clifton 2 1:81,000 Northampton 2 1:85,000 Liverpool 4 1:90,000 Shrewsbury 2 1:94,000 Lancaster 1 1:105,000 East Anglia 1 1:107,800 Westminster 5 1:114,000 Southwark 3 1:130,000 Arundel & Brighton 1 1:174,000 Brentwood 1 1:246,000 Salford 1 1:283,000 Wrexham, 0 NO weekly Menevia, Sunday Masses in Hallam the Extraordinary

Form in these diocese These figures represent only a guide to provision of the Traditional Mass. They do not take account of physical size of diocese. For instance, Plymouth has a high ratio of Masses to Mass goers, because there are relatively few Catholic, but the diocese encompasses Dorset, Devon and Cornwall. While there is no weekly Sunday Mass in Wales at all. The Cardiff Mass is in Hereford.

Plus there is some uncertainty at present over provision in Southwark.

Mass ad oritentem cause such ire?

According to M: ‘If the priest has got his back to the people then he’s not including the people. The priest facing the people makes us all one prayerful group.’

One of their biggest concerns, though, is what increased use of Latin means for ecumenical relations. M said: ‘We have a very good relationship with the Anglicans… What’s the difference after all?’

M maintained: ‘We have been Catholics all our lives and we’re clinging to the side of the boat. But it seems to me that people who want to go back to the Latin Mass want to go back to the old form of Catholicism.’

She laughed: ‘How many Catholics would it take to change a light-bulb?’

‘Change?’ roared H and they both collapsed in laughter.

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AT MASS WITH

ISSUE 182 - WINTER 2014

At Mass with...

Philip Dillon

First reactions to Old Rites

I

t may sound dramatic, but attending an Extraordinary Form Mass really did change everything for Philip Dillon. And the born and bred Geordie could not be more sincere in his belief that stumbling across the Old Rite at the age of 21, brought him back to the Church.

Philip is now on a mission to introduce young people to the EF, absolutely convinced that it should be a key part of the New Evangelisation, certain that he would never have left the Church had it been part of his life.

It was thanks to new technology that Philip came to know about the Old Rite. And that has changed everything. He was brought up in a non-religious household, although both his grandfathers were Catholic, and he attended a Catholic primary school in Newcastle with his cousins. When they were preparing for First Holy Communion, the young Philip wanted to take part as well. So, at the age of nine, he asked his mother if he could be baptised and make his First Communion.

She agreed and so began Philip’s journey. But, later, as with so many teenagers, Philip drifted away. He might never have come back at all, had it not been for the late American Bishop Fulton Sheen.

Philip had been searching and researching. He discovered EWTN television and radio and that led him to look on the internet. While browsing, Philip came across one particular video that attracted his attention: Bishop Fulton Sheen explaining Mass in the Extraordinary Form.

‘As soon as I watched it, I knew I wanted to go to one,’ said Philip. ‘I went on the internet again and found there was an Old Rite Mass at St Dominic’s in Newcastle.

‘I went along. It was a Missa Cantata, a sung Mass. All I had known was folk Masses, people singing ‘Kumbaya’, and the first thing that struck me was the seriousness of it.’

Philip admitted: ‘I didn’t have a clue what was going on. I just sat and watched it. I was just amazed at the solemnity of the people and the priest. They made it all real – the catechism I had been reading, Transubstantiation, everything.’

The fact that it was a beautiful church added to Philip’s deeply emotional reaction. Although most of the other people in the congregation were in their 70s and 80s, he felt at home. One gentleman gave him a Missal, so he could follow.

‘I had no Latin but that wasn’t important,’ he said. ‘I got a lot out of it, the silence, it gave me a chance to think. I felt really focused for the first time in a Mass.’

Philip maintained: ‘Had it been available when I was a teenager, I never would have left the Church. It was authentic and real whereas, I had always thought, attempts to make the Mass more appealing to younger people were just cringe-worthy.’

He said: ‘I didn’t grasp what it was all about, until I saw the devotion at an Extraordinary Form Mass.’

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Three’s company: Philip Dillon (left) with Jayne and Andrew Armstrong

Philip was concerned that, in talking to the Mass of Ages, he might not give a good account of his reaction to the Extraordinary Form, worried that he may not do justice to it. But his evident awe-struck devotion would be impossible to fake.

Philip said: ‘The main thing I like is the silence. I can sit there and think about my relationship with God. It is an opportunity to meditate and contemplate. I like to think of myself at the foot of the Cross.’

According to Philip, he had been searching for something.

He had been looking at websites, reading books, trying to find his way. He found it. After that first time at St Dominic’s, he began going each week to an Old Rite Mass and then he ‘stumbled across the LMS’.

Now, along with Andrew and Jayne Armstrong, Philip is part of the Hexham and Newcastle rep team. He is learning Latin, although he learned the responses in a couple of months, he is trying to go beyond that basic knowledge. He is also learning to serve at Mass. And he is positively evangelical about the Extraordinary Form.

‘We’re trying to get other young people involved,’ he said.

‘I’ve invited a few friends to come along. They do seem to enjoy it, although none has started going regularly.’

Recently, though, Philip took his 12-year old nephew to an Old Rite Mass and he was captivated.

‘He’d like to start serving,’ said Philip, clearly delighted to have been able to introduce someone else to the Extraordinary Form.

If you would like to nominate someone for the ‘At Mass With’ column please contact the editor.

ISSUE 182 - WINTER 2014

NEWCASTLE NEWS

David and Theresa O’Neill

W

hen I became the local representative, I had been an LMS member for many years and had worked with previous reps, mainly in taking responsibility for servers. At that time, I was the local MC and served the Saturday and Sunday Low Masses at St Mary’s in Forest Hall and at St Joseph’s in Gateshead.

Theresa and I married in 2006, at St Joseph’s in Gateshead, with a Solemn High Mass celebrated by two of the priests who said the Extraordinary Form Mass.

We decided to split the responsibilities as reps, with Theresa looking after the finances while I looked after the serving. The remaining duties we divided between us.

Theresa took on the sacristan role, while I wrote the twomonthly newsletter.

Initially, we had a weekly Sunday Mass at St Joseph’s using peripatetic priests on a rota but the then parish priest, Fr Adrian Dixon, decided he too wanted to celebrate the EF Mass. Between Leo Darroch, myself and the LMS video, he was soon celebrating on a weekly basis.

Additionally, we had a Sunday Mass, also at St Mary’s in Barnard Castle, in the very south of the diocese celebrated by parish priest Fr Wilfrid Elkin. He had been one of our first celebrants on the rota at St Dominic’s Priory in Newcastle and said a monthly EF Mass at his own church in Ryhope near Sunderland.

We also had Fr David Phillips who celebrated a monthly Mass at his church – SS Mary & Thomas Aquinas – at Stella near Blaydon (he is now at Berwick). Fr Gary Dickson introduced a Sunday Mass at his church, Sacred Heart & English Martyrs, in Thornley and Fr Shaun Swales introduced a weekly Thursday Mass when he moved to SS Joseph, Patrick & Cuthbert in Coxhoe, Co Durham.

Our monthly Masses are celebrated at Ryhope and more recently at Darlington. Outside of our regular Masses, we have had Masses at St Mary’s in Hexham, St Mary’s Cathedral as well as an annual Mass at Brinkburn Priory. We were involved in the LMS pilgrimage to Lourdes and took responsibility for taking the vestments and arranging the servers.

Our connection with Bishop Seamus Cunningham is not regular but we hope that we have maintained a friendly and open dialogue with him. Our monthly diocesan newspaper, Northern Cross, is kept fully informed about the activities of the LMS locally and regularly publishes our letters and articles with photographs.

Prior to our taking over, there were only two Sunday Masses in the diocese. We now have three along with three weekday Masses and two monthly Masses. The number of celebrating priests has increased to seven, including Fr Paul Tully, a hospital chaplain, who taught himself to celebrate.

Thankfully, he is also available to cover when our usual priests are not available.

We have also seen a great increase in the numbers of servers – especially at St Joseph’s in Gateshead – where Theresa acts as ‘spotter’ and I approach and train the young men. Due to advancing years, it is good to sit back and watch the fruits of your labours take the strain.

In some ways, it will be sad giving up the role but as we get older we realise how much the Church and the LMS needs more vigorous younger people to come forward. Our ideas have borne some fruit, but new ideas are always to be welcomed.

We have had a great deal of support from our priests and from the laity of the LMS and have made many enduring friendships.

To our young successors we promise our backing and prayers and wish them many happy years in their new roles.

Jayne and Andrew Armstrong

J

ayne and I first became interested in the Traditional Mass when we returned to the Church a little over a year ago. St Joseph’s in Gateshead was the church of my childhood, so it felt only natural for us to attend Mass there.

We were surprised to discover that St Joseph’s offered an Old Rite Mass. We had never seen or even knew that Mass was still celebrated in the Extraordinary Form so we decided to attend, even though we did not know what to expect.

We were fortunate in that our first Traditional Mass was a sung Mass. We were unable to follow along but sat, watched and were amazed by what we saw. It was clear to us that this was a Mass for the worship of God, there was none of the cringe-worthy moments we remembered from school.

I can easily say that the Traditional Mass is the reason that Jayne and I are a part of the Church today.

We met David and Theresa O’Neill during our first visit to St Joseph’s. David (who was serving the Mass with Fr Dixon) approached us both, made us feel welcome and informed us of the traditional way to receive Holy Communion. It made us feel really welcome and already part of the community.

Soon after, David also began to train me to serve the Traditional Mass. When they announced their retirement as LMS reps, Jayne and I at first did not consider taking on the role as we thought it ought to be someone more experienced.

But, once we met Philip Dillon, it soon became apparent and felt right that the three of us should share the role between us because our goals for the future were identical.

We hope that as the new LMS representatives for Hexham and Newcastle we can encourage more young people to attend Mass in the Extraordinary Form, to show that it is not just for the older generation, but a Mass for all ages. We are concerned that some people still believe that those who attend the Traditional Mass are backwards-looking eccentrics, who live in the past and refuse to ‘get with the times’.

This sort of opinion can be damaging to the image of the Traditional Mass and could turn people away from the beauty and solemnity of the Extraordinary Form, before they even experience it! We hope to start to change this opinion. We are no different from those who attend the Novus Ordo. We are one congregation and one people in One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.

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EDUCATION, EDUCATION, EDUCATION

ISSUE 182 - WINTER 2014

Catholic Schools can work – they do for us

Helen Grimer

I

was interested to read about Catholic home schooling in the last edition of Mass of Ages. Kathryn Hennessy, questioned whether her children would still all be practising if she had sent them to school. This prompted me to write about our experience, as a Catholic parent whose children go to Catholic schools.

When our eldest was about four, I attended an Association of Catholic Women meeting at which a former Catholic headmistress said that she recommended to parents that they try home education first, and if that was not satisfactory, to then send their children to school.

I pointed out, if you did not apply at the outset, you were likely to find that all the good schools were full. So my husband and I decided that the opposite approach was better for us.

We had a further choice, to send our son to my former Catholic primary school, or a local non-Catholic school. It seemed an easy choice. At the time, the non-Catholic school was seen as academically better. We could walk our son there and we would not have to face all the problems of post-conciliar Catholicism in Catholic Schools. School would be strictly for education. We would take care of the religious teaching ourselves. However, we had made the wrong choice, as we were soon to discover.

After our son had just turned five, at the beginning of year one, he came home from school with a question: ‘Who is Allah?’

We had never mentioned Allah, so I asked my son to tell me who he was, and he replied: ‘Allah is God.’ I discovered that all 90 children in his year were preparing for an assembly to mark the Islamic festival of Eid. A friend obtained the words of the ‘songs/hymns’ that they would sing. We were shocked. The first was ‘Sing Children of the World’. Look it up. It is a call to unite all the children of the world under the banner of Islam. The chorus is: ‘Sing children of the world, join together and hear the call, sing children of the world, Islam will unite us all.’

The second song said: ‘When the Prophet Mahomet came he made religion perfect.’

Finally, our son was required to sing: ‘I obey my mother AFTER Allah’ (the emphasis is mine). Needless to say, our son was off school for this assembly and did not take any further part in rehearsals.

My husband and I appealed to the school governors, but our appeal was rejected. We asked when were the Christian assemblies and were told that the local vicar came to the school. I knew the local vicar was High Anglican and telephoned him. He said he had not been to the school since the new headmistress had arrived a couple of years before. He shared our reservations and recommended that we contact SACRE, the body which oversees multicultural education in Catholic Schools. SACRE said it had informed the school that it was sending a liaison officer to resolve matters. SACRE had clear rules about children who did not share the beliefs being put forward at an assembly, ‘observing’ rather than being made to take part in the assembly. However, by that time we felt we had been labelled as bigots and the vicar advised

10

us to try my former Catholic school, where his children went.

One factor that made it easier to send our children to a Catholic school was the fact that First Holy Communion is not now arranged through the school. This enabled us to arrange our children’s First Communion at Old Rite Masses and at the traditional age of seven.

Catholic education at school is not adequate, and we take care of it ourselves (our children have attended fortnightly catechism classes, taught by my sister for the past six years). However, there IS a Catholic culture at the school to the extent that huge emphasis is placed on Easter, Lent, Advent and Christmas. The Catholic teaching is better than when I attended this same school in the 1970s. The children have come home talking about the Trinity. And the Rosary is said throughout the school during May and October.

The Franciscan Friars of the Renewal were recently invited to talk to the children when they were giving a mission in a local parish. I was personally very impressed with them when I went to a talk and they led an examination of conscience which listed using artificial contraception as a sin... so I trust they would only have had a good influence on my children.

Kathryn Hennessy mentioned the lapsation rate from Catholic schools. (And Mass of Ages has a letter today arguing that Catholic schools do little to prevent the rate of lapsing). I would suggest that this is mainly because the families that go there are not practising to begin with. The headmaster himself told me that 80 per cent of parents are lapsed.

For the first four years of our children’s attendance at primary school, I still considered home education. I made contact with the local groups and met the families. They were an eclectic group, with not one Catholic among them. I know there is a thriving home educating community at Reading, but that is too far away.

And I realised that my children had a much better choice of friends by staying at school.

I cannot deny that there have been incidents over the years that have annoyed us... and we have had several battles (all but one of which we have won). We are respected by the Headmaster, as a genuinely practising Catholic family, and we have been able to make quite an impact at the school. But, in a similar vein to Kathryn Hennessy, I would say that the school route is not right for everyone.

There is no doubt that school does pose problems, but there are also good things about school and, if my children enjoy going to school, it is for a reason. I have every confidence that the decision to send our children to school will not cause them to lapse. We have always said the family Rosary and I have great confidence in Our Lady’s protection. Eight of my nine siblings are not only practising but are keen active Catholics (and we all went to mediocre Catholic schools).

If children see that the Catholic Faith is by far the most important thing in their parents’ lives, their childhood is happy and secure, there is every chance they will retain their Catholic Faith.

ISSUE 182 - WINTER 2014

PARISH PROFILE

Mission Impossible: Holy Cross Priory, Leicester Fr David Rocks, Prior of Holy Cross: a ‘convert’ to the Traditional Mass

I

t is not possible. Everyone says not. You can’t have a Traditional Mass as a parish Sunday Mass. People in the pews would not stand for it.

But they have. At the Holy Cross Priory in Leicester, Mass goers can choose between Ordinary and Extraordinary Forms seven days a week – and they do just that. The Dominican Friars in Leicester celebrate a daily Dominican Rite Mass alongside the Ordinary Form and, on a Sunday, this Traditional Mass also slots in next to the regular services.

Although there is a dedicated congregation for the Old Rite, it is not unusual for regular parishioners to attend as well. According to the Prior, Fr David Rocks: ‘Some people come several miles but some people just come because it’s a Mass.’

Fr Rocks maintained: ‘It’s one of the options for Mass… It’s not something out of the ordinary, it is just a different way of celebrating Mass.’

Holy Cross is an unusual parish and not just because it has a daily Old Rite Mass. It is in the heart of Leicester and, as with many other city centre churches, its natural constituency is no longer bound to its location. So people come from far and wide to Holy Cross for all the Masses and for all sorts of reasons. More than 700 people make their way for Sunday Mass to the substantial Priory. It was the first Catholic church built in Leicester after the reformation and it ‘gave birth to Catholic life’ in the city, according to Fr Rocks.

It is a busy place, open all day and people are using it all day. They come partly because it is a Dominican parish, partly because it’s a university chaplaincy, partly for the Ordinary Mass (which, for some Masses, is celebrated in Latin) and partly for the Extraordinary Form. So, in this bustling parish, devotees of the Old Rite are not accused of being outsiders or intruders. They are an integral part of the Holy Cross parish community. In any event, they make up only part of the congregation attending Dominican Rite services. A very mixed group make their way to the Traditional Masses, including older people and young families alongside recent arrivals to the city.

LMS members make up only a small part of this community, according to Fr Rocks.

‘It is not just people who are Old Rite enthusiasts,’ he said.

‘The Traditional Mass is very much alive here and fits in very well in a pastoral context.’

Fr Rocks insisted: ‘It is not a museum piece here.’

The Irish-born Prior is himself a ‘convert’ to traditional services.

Before he came to Leicester, it was not really within his experience.

Fr Rocks said: ‘I have been converted to it through saying it...

It sounded daunting, it was not the way I was used to, the precision of the rubrics. Now, I can celebrate fluidly. I know what I am doing.’

The young Prior, who is chaplain to the universities in Leicester, said, that it has now become ‘part of what I do, part of my ministry’.

He added: ‘It has deepened my appreciation of the Mass…And there is a growing and deepening devotion to the Eucharist in the parish. That is not just because of the Old Rite but it has had a huge influence.’

Daily Dominican Rite Masses have been said for some years now and, initially, there was some consternation among parishioners, although that now seems to have settled down.

‘There are a significant number of people for whom it is not on the radar,’ Fr Rocks said. But the friars have made sure there is no division between different groups of parishioners. Fr Rocks said: ‘We have worked very hard not to have a divide.’

Different groups are attracted by the different Masses at Holy Cross. There is also a folk Mass and a regular Mass, both of which have their own particular devotees.

‘The Old Rite is very much part of the parish, although many of the people who attend come from outside the parish…but you could say that about many of our parishioners,’ said Fr Rocks.

The Dominican Rite was kept and celebrated by the order, in the same way as other orders maintained their own Rites, after the Council of Trent.

About once a month, at Holy Cross, they celebrate a High Mass in the Dominican Rite, which is very beautiful and very complex.

According to Fr Rocks: ‘It is a very rich expression of the theology of the Mass...At the High Mass people can see what’s happening more and every single action is significant.’

Fr Rocks believes the Dominican Rite Masses have made a difference: ‘It has deepened our devotion to the Mass and there is a deep appreciation of the Eucharist in the life of our parish.’

Paul Beardsmore, the LMS’s local rep, and a regular at Holy Cross said there is a sizeable number of people attending the Old Masses in Leicester who are just local people. He estimated that around 50 people came to the Dominican Rite on a Sunday, some who ‘switch between Rites’.

‘They come because it’s convenient,’ said Mr Beardsmore.

‘It’s very much part of the parish.’

Mr Beardsmore said that the regulars are a very broad mixture including people of all ages and from all sorts of different ethnic backgrounds. And they get involved in parish life… as do any parishioners.

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FR JEAN-MARIE CHARLES-ROUX, RIP

ISSUE 182 - WINTER 2014

IN MEMORIAM:

Fr Jean-Marie Charles-Roux 1914-2014 Fr Alexander Lucie-Smith

F

r Charles-Roux, and this may come as a surprise to you, considering he was one of London’s best known priests, Fr Charles-Roux did not like being the centre of attention. I think if he had known that I was to preach at his requiem in the Rite he loved so much, and which he celebrated so faithfully for so many years, he would have told me not to bother. He would have hated the idea of fuss.

You may remember that he had a scarlet edging to one of his button holes – that was a sign that he was a member of the Legion of Honour. Odd that he should wear a republican decoration, but there you are. Few realised what it was, so it was not showy. I once asked about it, after some French friends spotted it, and he told me that he got if for something he did in the war, but, he added at once: ‘My sister Edmonde has it too, and hers in much more important than mine. She got it for being wounded.’

He never talked of his war record.

Indeed, Fr Charles-Roux rarely talked about himself. He did not want to bore people. He prized humility. It was the characteristic he most admired, believe it or not, in Mrs Thatcher. Perhaps being truly humble, he could spot it in others.

Who am I to judge?

Although he was a famous and admired preacher, though perhaps not one to be imitated by younger priests, much of Fr Charles-Roux’s best work was done in private. He was very much valued as a confessor, or so I am told. I think that this is where a priest often shows his best qualities and does his best work.

When approached for advice, he gave it, and good advice it was.

When he left for Rome, he announced that he was going there to die. In a world where death is never mentioned, indeed where death is more or less obscene,

12

“Death was the great fact of life for him”.

to be kept off stage, he was quite keen to bring it to centre stage. Because death was the great fact of life for him.

I remember one sermon at Christmas in which he spoke of the child Jesus, born to die on Calvary, and how the joy of Christmas was tinged with the future suffering of Calvary. Quite so.

People nowadays are very keen on the nice side of Christ, the fluffy side of Christ, if you like, but his death on the Cross embarrasses them. I remember in the wake of Mel Gibson’s film there was a studio discussion on the BBC in which some people, with impeccable liberal credentials, vented their rage at the unspoken suggestion that Christ had suffered and died on the Cross,

and that they were somehow involved.

For liberals, the Cross of Christ is some terrible misunderstanding, and something that has nothing to do with them. For Catholics such as Fr CharlesRoux, the Cross, rather, is the central truth of existence, and it has everything to do with us. For it was our sins – above all our hardness of heart - which both caused the Cross and were cured by the Cross. So, what is life but an endless contemplation of the Cross, and a sharing in the Cross? The Cross is life.

That is what he said to me on several occasions, and trust me – I am a doctor of theology – he was absolutely right about this.

Liberals love to say that emphasis on the Cross is somehow Jansenistic, a sign of a gloom and doom obsession, but there was no one less obsessed with gloom and doom that Fr Charles-Roux.

He was a merry soul. He was realistic about humanity, and he was optimistic about God, for the Cross shows us how wicked and miserable human life can be and at the very same time it shows us better than anything just how allpowerful is the love of God. Salve, o Crux, spes unica. Our only hope, but what a great hope. What a mighty hope.

St Thomas More wrote a book of meditations on the Passion, and he also shared in the Passion of our Lord by going to his death on Tower Hill, not as mighty a mountain as Mount Calvary, but still a place of martyrdom. And yet he was famous for his playful sense of humour. So let us follow that example: fix our minds on the Cross, and keep a sense of merriment. As St Thomas’s parting words have it: ‘Farewell my dear child and pray for me, and I shall for you and all your friends, that we may merrily meet in heaven.’

That is a sentiment that Fr Jean would want to echo.

ISSUE 182 - WINTER 2014

DO WE STILL BELIEVE IN?

Do we still believe in...

Relics?

Fr Bede Rowe

T

he other day I read the strangest thing.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York was refusing to dig up a dead man, chop him into pieces and divide the corpse among anyone who asked for it. Now, why would you refuse to do that?

With such a bare few lines, most people would actually ask: ‘How could anyone think for one minute that such a mutilation of human remains would be acceptable?’

But, then again, most people, sadly, are not Catholic.

We in the Church do not bat an eyelid at the thought of a finger or piece of clothing, a skull or foot being on display, touched and even kissed. Indeed, as I write this I am in the presence of the thigh bone of St Felicissimus, a 1,600 year old martyr from central Italy. For us, it is perfectly normal to be surrounded by relics of the saints, often blood and bones.

Every time a priest comes to the altar and kisses it, he is kissing the altar stone which contains the remains, no matter how small, of some saints.

In my last parish, I offered relics to be venerated after Mass one day on their feast day. A parishioner stormed off in high dudgeon and later I received an email accusing me of ‘the worst excesses of the medieval Church’.

I took this as a compliment.

But this practice of relics is not strange in the slightest. It fits into our normal habits as human beings. We often have photographs of dead relatives around the house, or a keepsake of a favourite granny. And, as we remember the First World War, we remember all those women who carried around lockets of hair of their dead husbands or sweethearts. We are surrounded by mementos of the dead. In life we have constant reminders of those who have gone before us. Perhaps we keep these things for sentimental reasons but, as we do so, we go beyond the object itself. We would think it strange for a young man to wear a battered pair of cufflinks on his wedding day, so much at odds with his smart suit and impeccable tie.

But we would have to choke back the tears when we found out that they were the ones his father wore at his wedding many years ago. A father who had recently died.

A relic is an object of the dead. Or even the person themselves. This can of course be taken to extremes. As well as carrying cremated remains around your neck in a ‘stylish and elegant pendant’, you can now turn your beloved’s ashes into a crystal or photo frame. How ironic if you turned them into an ashtray!* But I digress.

The point of a relic is to remind us of the person. Part of its ancient meaning for us is being connected with the life and witness of the person whose relic it is. After I have gone up to the altar at the beginning of Mass, I say in Latin: ‘We beseech Thee, O Lord, by the merits of those of Thy saints whose relics are here, and of all the saints, that Thou wouldst vouchsafe to pardon me all my sins. Amen.’

I am one with the saints, those members of the Church who are now in Heaven, interceding for us, supporting us. And, the truth is that we bring those people to mind when we are confronted with physical reminders of them.

I have a deep regard for St Felicissimus of course (who doesn’t?) but I ask his prayers every time I come into this room because there is a huge bone of his just over there. I remember to pray for my grandfather when I wear his watch. Without St Felicissumus’ thigh or my grandfather’s watch, I would bring them to mind less often.

We are weak human beings and we need these things. Denying relics or denigrating them denies and denigrates something fundamental in the human soul. We cut ourselves off from the messiness of death and in the process we cut ourselves off from the wonderful messiness of life.

This is an ancient practice and must continue.

I would love it if some day some middle aged priest looked up from his desk and saw again a weathered leg bone in a glass case and said ‘Ahhh yes, St Bede, the Chaplain Abroad, pray for us!’

How very human, how very Catholic and how very right. * For Catholics who have been cremated their ashes have to be buried in the ground (not scattered). They should not become table decorations.

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THE PENTECOST PEOPLES

ISSUE 182 - WINTER 2014

THE PENTECOST PEOPLES

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ome are the descendants of those who gathered on that first Pentecost in Jerusalem. Others are heirs of those who heard the Good News from St Peter himself.

It is impossible to underestimate the importance and central role in the story of the Church that was (and is) played by these Middle Eastern communities. Theologians say, it is radical thought, but it was not in Rome but in Antioch, where followers of Our Lord were first called Christians. And the world’s oldest house church is in Syria, with wall paintings dating back to 235AD. According to experts, the modern day diversity of these communities gives a real sense of the energy and vitality of the early Church. It is no exaggeration to talk of this being the cradle of Christianity.

When we hear today about the Christians of the Middle East, it is inevitably about the terrible ordeals they are suffering in their homelands. The region is emptying of living communities which have a direct link to the ancient past of the Church – our Church. Persecution is nothing new. Down the millennia, these peoples have suffered.

Four years ago, it was estimated that there were around four million ‘local’ Catholics in the region. Go back 30 years and there were more than 1.3 million in Iraq alone – seven per cent of the population. But these Pentecost people have been forced out of their homelands. The Iraq war had an enormous impact and, since 2003, two thirds of all Catholics from the various communities have left the country.

According to Anthony O’Mahoney, a theologian at London University’s Heythrop College: ‘We are seeing the destruction of one of the most ancient churches…

The Chaldeans emerged outside of the Roman domain. It is the loss of a whole Christian expression.’

Because of the chaos, no one knows how many have left the region or how many still remain. These Christian communities from Syria, Lebanon, Iran and Iraq have preserved and actively live the Rites that were passed on from the Apostles through all these many generations. Today, the Church is in danger of losing that vital, physical connection with the foundations of our culture. Although communities will re-emerge in the west, Syriac will not be their own language and, according to Anthony O’Mahoney: ‘It can never be the same.’

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Far-flung diasporas have already developed and created a real issue for these churches, for whom four fifths of their flock are outside their traditional area of jurisdiction. The Patriarchs have considerable problems connecting with their dispersed peoples. It is a real pastoral issue.

These Catholics have much in common with their Catholic cousins in the west – especially with advocates of the Old Rite.

Among the groups, many still cherish, honour and speak the language Jesus spoke, and use it in their liturgy. Many have married clergy, but usually the priest faces the altar, rather than the people. Holy Communion is not taken in the hand and extraordinary ministers are unheard of.

Their rich Rites have prayers straight from the saints – sung in the way that was done nearly two millennia ago. There are echoes of Old Testament worship from the Apostles.

But it is a mistake to see this as history or a museum piece, according to Anthony O’Mahoney.

Although many Christians in the Middle East are linked to the Oriental Orthodox, the Copts, the Armenians and the Syriacs, others are in full communion with Rome. Their distinctive Rites, though often very different from the Latin Rite, are fully recognised by the Catholic Church and their Patriarchs are members of the Church’s hierarchy.

There are also many Latin Catholics in the Middle East, migrants from around the world and they come under the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, currently, Patriarch Fouad Twal.

But the largest community of Christians in the Middle East are actually the Orthodox Copts, of whom there are about eight million in Egypt.

Most indigenous Catholic communities were estranged from Rome hundreds of years before the Great Schism separated East and West in the 11th century. The rifts of the fifth century followed the Councils of Ephesus and Chalcedon. These concerned various teachings about the person of Christ and led to serious division in the early Church.

At the Council of Ephesus in 431, the teachings of Nestorius, the Patriarch of Constantinople, were declared heresy.

Nestorius held that Our Lady should be known as the Mother of Christ (Christotokos) rather than the Mother of God (Theotokos) because the latter title did not give sufficient weight to Our Lord’s human nature, which was separate from his divine nature.

Theologians argued that the idea of two distinct, and only loosely connected natures, would create the idea that Christ was two separate persons – rather than one, who was fully divine and fully human.

Twenty years later, at the Council of Chalcedon, the other extreme – monophysitism – was also declared heresy. This held that Our Lord had only one nature. The Chalcedonian Definition, produced by the Council, rejected this idea and maintained the official doctrine of two complete natures.

These two Councils resulted in considerable division and had a particular

Good Friday procession with Archbishop Jean-Clement Jeanbart in Aleppo, 18.04.2014.

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impact in the lands of the early Church where the non-Chalcedonians, as they were called, broke the link with Rome. It took more than 1,000 years before relations were restarted and, during that time, they maintained and developed their own Rites.

In the East, the Mass tends to be known as the ‘Divine Liturgy’. Rather than genuflecting, these Eastern communities tend to bow. Some use leavened rather than unleavened bread. Eastern churches generally have seven sacraments, but these are usually known as ‘Holy Mysteries’. Since Vatican II, these Eastern Catholic churches have been called ‘sur iuris’ In 1964, in Orientalium Ecclesiarum Pope Paul VI declared: ‘These individual Churches, whether of the East or the West, although they differ somewhat among themselves in rite (to use the current phrase), that is, in liturgy, ecclesiastical discipline, and spiritual heritage, are, nevertheless, each as much as the others, entrusted to the pastoral government of the Roman Pontiff, the divinely appointed successor of St. Peter in primacy over the universal Church. They are consequently of equal dignity, so that none of them is superior to the others as regards rite and they enjoy the same rights.’

MARONITES Arguably the first Christian community evangelised by the Apostles, the Maronites have their roots in Antioch, where St Peter was bishop, before he went to Rome. And

THE PENTECOST PEOPLES

today’s Maronites, based in Lebanon and Syria, boast direct descent from those people.

There were more than 1.6 million Maronites in the region, although many have now fled so that it has become a global community.

Five million Maronites are scattered around the world, with many living in South America. In Buenos Aires alone there are 700,000 Maronites, with half a million living in Brazil.

Established in the 5th century, in the monasteries of Lebanon, the Maronites were founded by St Maron, a friend of St John Chrysostom. Maronites use the West Syriac Rite - the Liturgy of St James of Jerusalem. They maintain they were always in communion with Rome, although not always in contact. Contact resumed in the 12th century, when they were rediscovered during the Crusades.

The Maronite liturgy, which has been influenced by ‘Latinisation’, is mainly celebrated in Arabic, although the words of the consecration are still celebrated in Syriac.

Strongly Trinitarian, it bears some traits of Old Testament worship.

According to the Maronites, the first thing you notice about their churches is the layout.

There is a platform extending from the altar known as a bema. Since early churches were synagogues, this was the place where the elders would read the scripture. The priests’ vestments are very rich and the priest and deacon sit on the bema facing the altar.

The liturgy is a continuous dialogue between priest and people. The priest

Massive destruction in the Old City of Homs, April 2014. Images courtesy ‘Aid to the Church in Need’.

leads the people in prayer as Moses led the Israelites. The congregation stands or sits, kneeling is only on Pentecost, and they chant the liturgy. The Eucharistic service of the Maronite Divine Liturgy is known by several names, including Qurbono (Syriac), It begins by calling for God’s mercy. Then, while facing East, the entrance prayer or Triasagion is sung three times in Syriac, in honour of the Trinity.

The kiss of peace involves the chalice being passed from priest to deacon to acolyte to people. Repeated use of incense conveys a sense of mystery and awe.

There is no Communion in the hand and no lay ministers of Communion. The words are spoken: ‘The servant of God… receives the Body and Blood of Christ for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life.’

There are more than 80 anaphorae (Eucharistic prayers), most were composed by saints, including St James, St Peter, other Apostles and St Basil, preserving the way of worship of the Apostles and the earliest Christians.

Prayers are full of biblical references and the story of salvation is told again and again, with each Liturgy said to be a course in theology with spiritual poetry.

Maronites allow married priests but bishops and those who were single at ordination remain celibate. Their head is the Patriarch of Antioch and all the East and assumes the name Peter on accession.

Currently, Moran Mor Bechara Boutros alRai is the 77th patriarch of Antioch. He was elected by the bishops of the Maronites.

SYRIAN CATHOLICS A much smaller group, but central to the story of the region are the Syrian Catholics.

These were the first people to be called Christians. And they are the only Middle Eastern community to boast a doctor of the Church: St Ephrem, a fourth century deacon who wrote his theology in the form of poetry and was honoured in 1920 by Benedict XV. There are 267,000 Syrian Catholics, around 90,000 have fled to Lebanon in the last decade, while others have gone to Venzuela and around 20,000 are now in New Jersey.

Syrian Catholics are rooted in traditions from the Old Testament. They represent only a small percentage of the Christians in Syria and use the ancient West Syrian Rite. Their liturgy is in Syriac, although the readings are in Arabic.

‘CONTD ON PAGE 36

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LMS YEAR PLANNER

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LMS NOTABLE EVENTS 2014 ROLLING YEAR PLANNER Saturday, 8 November 2014 Annual Requiem Mass Bishop John Arnold, auxiliary of Westminster, and bishopelect of Salford, will celebrate a Pontifical High Requiem Mass in Westminster Cathedral at 2.00pm, for the repose of the souls of all our deceased members.

Saturday, 15 November 2014 Confirmations in the Traditional Rite Our annual Confirmations in the Extraordinary Form will take place at St James’s, Spanish Place, London at 11.30am. The Sacrament will be conferred by Bishop John Arnold, auxiliary of Westminster and bishop-elect of Salford, and will be followed by Benediction. Members of the public are welcome to attend the ceremony.

Tuesday 14 April to Friday 17 April 2015 (Low Week) Priests, Deacons’ and Servers’ Training Conference Our annual and much-praised residential training conference for clergy and servers wishing to learn the Extraordinary Form will this time take place at Prior Park College, Bath.

Training will commence on the afternoon of the Tuesday and finish at lunchtime on the Friday. The cost of these training conferences is heavily subsidised by the Latin Mass Society.

The fees will be as follows: Full price £100, concessionary rate for full-time students £50. Senior seminarians go FREE. More information will be available in due course. Please refer to the LMS website lms.org.uk.

Saturday, 9 May 2015 York Pilgrimage 2015 The LMS pilgrimage to York in honour of St Margaret Clitherow and the York Martyrs has been organised for 9 May 2015. We are delighted that the Guild of Our Lady of Ransom will also be in York that weekend and we warmly invite them to join us on the pilgrimage.

As previously, Mass will take place at St Wilfrid’s Church, Duncombe Place, York YO1 7EF and will be followed by a procession through the streets and Benediction back at St Wilfrid’s. Many thanks to the Oratorian Fathers for their hospitality.

The timetable is as follows: 1.30pm Solemn Mass, 3.00pm Procession, 3.45pm Benediction Top to bottom: The Annual Requiem Mass, The Training Course, The York Pilgrimage. Photos by Joseph Shaw.

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ISSUE 182 - WINTER 2014

THE VERY LONG PILGRIMAGE: FROM LA TO WALSINGHAM

My Walsingham Walk Maria Corazon Barrientos

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here is your husband? Why I wanted what you would like to don’t you have a husband?’ become, but I was always rejected.

These were the questions Allow Jesus to lead you and pray always: that my new-found little friend, Agnes Your will be done. Being with Jesus is Shaw, gracefully asked me on the unexplainable peace and joy. second night, while I was preparing to tuck myself inside my sleeping bag.

GYWN – My aunt asked me and my I try to respond to children’s questions, two older siblings if we would like to because I believe that they still carry participate in this Walsingham pilgrimage. the truth in their hearts, undiluted by At first all I knew about it was that any bias. This is also the reason I like we were going to walk 50 miles in three to teach children. So I would like to days. So I researched the LMS and dedicate this to Agnes Shaw, as she read about the 2013 pilgrimage. I was deserves a proper answer, and to my immediately interested. nieces who wanted me to write.

The very first day I was struggling and My Walsingham pilgrimage, when tired, but my aunt was there to encourage I was to meet Agnes, actually started me all the way by telling me to think about more than two and a half years earlier Jesus on the Cross. But during those three – on 24 January 2012. This day I had a days a kind environment surrounded us. very strong feeling that I needed to go All the staff and people were very nice. to Blessed Sacrament for adoration. I Gwin, Venize and Jovine: Homeward bound but happy.

This is the longest distance I have ever have gone to daily Mass since I was in walked and this experience has helped junior high. But all the Holy Masses I attended were Novus Ordo. me to a better relationship with God. I did not know about Old Rite Mass and I did not even know that the Mass I was attending was Novus Ordo.

VENIZE – The Latin Mass Society walking pilgrimage to I do not know what happened to me after a week of adoration.

Walsingham was the first pilgrimage I have participated in.

It seemed to me that the church opened up. I honestly did I also attended my first Traditional Latin Mass during the not know who I was as a Catholic, except that I liked going pilgrimage. The aura of this Mass felt more spiritual and to daily Mass and praying my Rosary. I ran to my altar and I could focus more; which made it easier for me to reflect kneeled. Sobbing terribly, I asked God: ‘Why are there and pray. Even though the walk was very challenging, I managed to mean Catholics? If they do not like the Mass, they should complete it due to perseverance. Additionally, my relationship with just go away and make their own church and not call God has strengthened as an outcome of this pilgrimage. Overall, I themselves Catholic?’ think this pilgrimage was one of the greatest and most challenging I paused from complaining and for the first time, the picture of experiences in my life and I would be more than happy to do it again. the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus seemed different to me. I asked: ‘Why does your heart have thorns? Why is your heart bleeding?

JOVINE – I was immediately intrigued by the idea of the pilgrimage Lord, what is the sorrow of your heart?’ and wanted to know more. So I visited the LMS website and watched It seemed to me that I heard ‘unity’. Since I did not know the the promotion video. I saw that this was a good opportunity for me Old Rite Mass and our Blessed Lord wanted unity, I promised and my brother and sister to experience something new, to experience to learn it. At my 3rd such Mass, as soon as I knelt, I just said something with great importance, as I believe that we had to do this crying inside: So this is where You want me to be, I thought. for God and we had to be dutiful.

This is what You want.

I met and got know some very devout Catholics during the walk.

Since then a lot of things have happened that I could not explain.

The atmosphere was always warm and hospitable. As well as praying Then, I saw the video advertising the Walsingham Pilgrimage on to Our Lady of Walsingham, I got to reflect and offer God my other the Rorate Caeli blog, I think. I had an impression that this would intentions and the things I learned from the pilgrims, seminarians be an easy way to introduce the Old Rite Mass and tradition to my and priests deepened my faith. nieces and nephew. This pilgrimage gave a sense of belonging, Lastly, the most interesting experience for me was the Traditional wonder and the courage to face the world as a Catholics. As I Latin Mass. It was the first time I had attended one. I feel that this said to my niece, Jovine: ‘We are Catholics. We do the right thing way of celebrating Mass is more reverent. even if the world is against us.’

Overall, I am grateful to have taken part in this pilgrimage So, Agnes, in answer to your question, I do not have a husband and I would like to thank my aunt for introducing us and because I have always prayed that God should put me in the place taking us to this pilgrimage. I can assure you that it is promising where I am happiest. and worthwhile.

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THE PRIESTLY FRATERNITY OF ST PETER

ISSUE 182 - WINTER 2014

The Priestly Fraternity of St Peter Harriet Tait

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run by Fr. de Malleray. The mong possible format for groups is similar: patrons for a Mass, followed by a meal, priestly fraternity, then a lecture followed by St Peter is a fitting choice: the Rosary, Confession, for the FSSP, (Fraternitas meditation and spiritual Sacerdotalis Sancti Petri, direction, for those who or Priestly Fraternity of St. request it. There is also Peter). The first Vicar of a monthly altar servers’ Christ is the bedrock of group and Eucharistic their charism, mission and Adoration. apostolates. And since its The FSSP’s quarterly foundation, the Fraternity magazine is published has displayed unceasing quarterly and its 1,200 loyalty to the supreme readers (including pontiff.

300 clergy) are spread In 1988, 12 priests, throughout the country. members of the SSPX, In addition, there d i s a p p r o v e d o f t h e i r Bishop Philip Egan of Portsmouth with the FSSP and parishioners at Reading are inspiring Advent superior’s decision to and Lenten retreats, often held at Douai Abbey in consecrate bishops without a papal mandate. Before this Berkshire. There’s an annual clergy retreat in Bavaria, as happened, they chose to leave their community rather the support of, and involvement with, the clergy as part than depart from full communion with the Holy See. The then Cardinal Ratzinger and Pope (now) Saint John of their mission comes even before parish duties.

Paul II established them as a new Fraternity to foster ‘the Then, once or twice a year, a vocation weekend is held in Reading for young men discerning the priesthood. About 10 sanctification of priests through the exercise of the pastoral Englishmen are currently in formation with the FSSP in Germany ministry, particularly in conforming their lives to the Most and the US. Regular art tours, open to all, in various London Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and by observing the liturgical and galleries are led by Fr de Malleray, whose aim is to spread disciplinary traditions invoked by the Roman Pontiff in the the faith through teaching and analysis of these great works.

Apostolic Letter Ecclesia Dei of 2 July 1988’.

Annual Fraternity pilgrimages are other popular events, and New communities are normally given the status of ‘diocesan there is a strong attendance by FSSP members and clergy at other right’, putting them under the supervision of the local bishop. pilgrimages, such as at Chartres or Walsingham.

Only after many years, often centuries, may communities be Following the Petrine call to be ‘fishers of men’, the FSSP goes granted the status of ‘pontifical right’, putting them directly far beyond mere support for the clergy. Part of their threefold under the care of the Holy See. In the case of the FSSP, however, mission is: ‘Sanctification of the Clergy, through solid seminary St John Paul II recognised the importance of its charism and formation of our priests.’ within three months of its establishment, on 18 July 1988, the And their vocations statistics are startling. In England alone, Fraternity was established as of pontifical right, ensuring the their ratio is five seminarians to one (young) priest. According to community would have a firm and stable footing.

Fr de Malleray, local superior of the FSSP: ‘We are 438 members What is so significant about the Fraternity that it merited in the FSSP worldwide, including 256 priests.’ this urgent and rapid validation from the Holy See? The The other 182 are seminarians and the average age ‘across the answer lies in their work and growing apostolates, or new board’ stands at 37 years old. ‘ parishes of priests, both in England and abroad. From their ‘We serve in 122 dioceses on four continents. This includes vibrant community in Reading the two priests, Fr. Armand de 215 Mass centres, where Mass is said at least every Sunday. The Malleray and Fr. Matthew Goddard undertake an apparently priest in charge is normally appointed by the Bishop as Chaplain impossible variety of activities. It is not that the Fraternity or, for 29 of them, actual Parish Priest.’ does not have enough priests and vocations, it is simply that In fact, their status in parishes is a clear sign of local bishops’ local communities respond so well to FSSP apostolates that trust in the FSSP’s stability, since a Fraternity presence is only their endeavours multiply. established with on the invitation of a bishop. Then there is the The Fraternity’s primary activity is, of course, to offer public Confraternity of St Peter, which stands at 4,641 lay members – Mass daily at the church of St William of York in Reading, and more than 200 of whom are in this country. They have a daily every Sunday at Our Lady of Perpetual Succour church, Chesham prayer commitment for new vocations and the work of the Bois. These are in the Old Rite Mass, in accordance with their Fraternity. mission to make that liturgy available - in full communion with So what sets the FSSP apart? The circumstances of their founding the Church. But there are many other monthly well-attended means that they are meant to form priests and they have done monthly activities including a youth group and a men’s group just that: the FSSP accounts for about 60 per cent of all the led by Fr Goddard and the St Margaret Clitherow Ladies’ Group

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THE PRIESTLY FRATERNITY OF ST PETER in vast dioceses such as Munich, Los Angeles and Mexico City.

This further seal of approval from archbishops is surely a sign of things yet to come.

Details of news and events can be found on the FSSP’s Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/fssp.england. The usual webpage is under construction at the moment but will be available soon on: www.fssp.or.uk. Current and back issues of the FSSP’s magazine ‘Dowry’ can be viewed in PDF format at: www.lms.org.uk/news-and-events/fssp-magazine.

Saint Anthony Communications

The FSSP runs groups for men, women and young people

Extraordinary Form priestly institutions in full communion with the Church. Although English priests are still few comparatively, the FSSP has had a welcome international and collective ‘flavour’ since its very beginning, when it was formed by 12 men from different countries. The fact that such a solid community, free from extremism, is rapidly but steadily growing throughout the world makes them different. On their Silver Jubilee last year, Pope Francis exhorted them: ‘according to their own charism, to take an active part in the mission of the Church in the world of today, through the testimony of a holy life, a firm faith and an inventive and generous charity.’

What of the future? A devout Catholic lady, contemplating the Extraordinary Form, once told me there is ‘no point living in the past’. Far from it, I thought at the time. After witnessing the work of the FSSP, nothing could be further from this statement. The Fraternity is living in the future, as evinced by their growing numbers at a time when, sadly, many UK dioceses are dwindling in numbers, both in terms of new priests and Mass attendance.

English FSSP seminarians can be sent back to the UK once ordained. But more apostolates are needed in Britain to cope with the number of new priests; quite a reverse trend from the usual situation. Unless more apostolates are established, their outreach in the UK will be limited. Yet, though there is scope for more growth in the UK, the FSSP is massive in other countries.

Last summer, for example, they were invited to start apostolates

Lead Kindly Light

The Life and Message of John Henry Newman An influential teacher, a distinguished theologian, a man who endured many trials, a father of souls - Blessed John Henry Newman (1801 - 1890) remains as fresh and relevant today as he was during his lifetime.

In this engaging film, Fr Nicholas Schofield and Fr Marcus Holden present the story of Newman’s life and visit the places where he lived and worked. From London to Oxford, from Littlemore to Birmingham, each revealing an important stage of his life. Along the way they explore his writings and teachings, his pastoral zeal for his students and parishioners, his journey of conversion to the Catholic faith, and his enduring message for Christians of today.

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(68 minutes)

£12.95 Postage and packing - add £1.50

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 

  

                                      

   19

COMMENT

In Illo Tempore News Bulletin No.62 November 1984: From the Chairman

I

am sure you will all know that we have at last had some good news from Rome in the form of the new world-wide Indult for the use of the Old Mass. Deo Gratias!

It is too early to say how well this will work, or how generously it will be applied; but we are hoping and praying that now in England and Wales at last our Bishops will fall in behind the clear wish of the Holy Father that those who want the Mass for the right reasons should have it.

In the world-wide context, the good news is that it need not be necessary for specific permission to be sought, and that the terms would allow that some places might have regular and exclusively Tridentine Masses – Sundays and Holy days included.

Newsletter 102 November 1994

W

hat is now becoming more clear by the day is the fact that the Old Mass, against all the odds, has survived. Despite the wholesale ‘reordering’ of beloved sanctuaries, despite the virtual abolition of Latin (by default, if not be decree), and despite the imposition of an ill-

ISSUE 182 - WINTER 2014 manufactured liturgy, the Mass of Ages has refused to be cast aside. The green shoots of a traditionalist revival are clearly sprouting after a particularly dark winter…Not only are the American bishops allowing the Old Mass…they are actively encouraging the establishment of the Fraternity of St Peter in their diocese…

Perhaps it is only the natural reserve of the English hierarchy that holds our bishops back from once again celebrating the Old Rite for faithful English (and Welsh and Scottish) Catholics.

Newsletter No 122 November 1999: The Walt Disney Mass!

I

t is not the usual policy of the Latin Mass Society to comment on the new rite of Mass, as such, which we recognise as being the normative Mass of the Church, but we feel this report in a diocesan newspaper deserves wide coverage. …The diocesan newspaper for the diocese Newcastle and Hexham carried a full page report of the diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes…the main headline was More Go to Lourdes – and with a Tramp! …It is too much to ask what kind of pilgrimage it was….when the top feature for the pilgrimage director was the appearance of someone disguised as a tramp???

By far the most distressing event, however, was described thus: It was face painting and dressing up time when Mass was celebrated in Lourdes for disabled children…Fr Ronnie Rowbotham… said: ‘We decided to base the Mass on Disney’s The Lion King. We all dressed up and put on face paint.

It was wonderful.’

Mass of Ages Crossword (AF3) November 2014

Answers to Issue 181 Across: 1 Chamber 5 Micah 8 Arc 9 Habemus Ad 10 Dream 11 Orthodoxy 14 Southwell 18 Amice 21 Pergolesi 22 Ski 23 Siena 24 Tonsure Down: 1 Claudius 2 Aachen 3 Behemoth 4 Robert 5 Memo 6 Castro 7 Hide 12 Oblation 13 Yuletide 15 Umbrae 16 Egbert 17 Bissau 19 Opus 20 Rope

The winner last time was Mrs B Wakley of Plymouth.

She won a copy of Bishop Schneider’s latest book: Corpus Christi: Holy Communion and the Renewal of the Church.

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ISSUE 182 - WINTER 2014

COMMENT

Dear Editor...

I

t is generally agreed that what caused people to be attracted from the Novus Ordo to the Traditional Mass is the latter’s perfect liturgical form. This is certainly a major factor but, in my opinion, there is a greater and more fundamental reason for it.

As an adult convert and altar server before Vatican II…I was given the grace to sense God’s sweet powerful presence in the Blessed Sacrament, particularly at a High Mass. This is what drew me into the Church… as with many other converts. Then, after the Council, everything was gradually watered down, including the liturgy, and the Mass became almost identical to the protestant ‘Lord’s Supper’. Still valid of course…A year ago, after decades of attending the Novus Ordo, I happened to enter a church where the Traditional Mass was being said and it all came back to me from 50 years ago; the presence that ‘makes all Catholic churches different from any other,’ (Newman). ….While at a Traditional Mass these days, I sense that the mainly liturgically unsophisticated congregation are not so much appreciative of the superior liturgy but of what is going to happen on the altar. God is going to…be amongst us…and that is what they have really come for…

Parishes that have gone completely ‘traditional’ in America and in some places here have experienced a wonderful renewal and the re-appearance of the dear devotions of happier times: congregations, particularly of the young, increased, conversions, vocations and regular confessions back to their pre-conciliar numbers. In marked contrast, Novus Ordo parishes continue to see a depressing shrinkage… …it must inescapably follow that, the Mass being the source of all graces, the Traditional Mass gives out more spiritual power…However this is only the conjecture of one layman; only the hierarchy…can finally sort this one out.

As to education, the theme of your last edition, I am reliably informed that 96 per cent of pupils leaving ‘Catholic’ schools lapse on leaving.

This terrible statistic was nowhere to be found on your pages; instead we got a photo of a smiling apparently contented bishop assuring us that ‘Catholic schools are safe’…it should not have been displayed as it gives a false sense of security.

Yours sincerely, J Allen

Thank you for your letter and for sharing your thoughts on the renewal that can result from the Traditional Mass. We understand your frustration at the level of lapsing among the young. There are many factors sadly involved and schools do not have all the answers.

Archbishop McMahon, the smiling bishop in the photo, did point out in the article: ‘Schools are there to supplement families not to replace them.’

Interestingly, research has shown lapsing is nothing new. According to one senior cleric, the first thing many refugees from the Irish famine did when they arrived here was to lapse. On page 10 you can see one family’s experience of Catholic schooling, which may explain much.

I

was very disappointed with the last issue of Mass of Ages.

I have thought for some time that the magazine is becoming more like a colour supplement than the serious Traditional Catholic journal which I found on a table in a church and which led me to join the Latin Mass Society. In fact in the last issue, there was no calendar of feasts from the Roman Missal. Worse, there were no readers’ letters…

Furthermore, if there had not been a picture on almost every page, perhaps the very important article by Bishop Schneider could have been printed in full…Being told the entire interview can be read on the LMS website is unhelpful and annoying to those who do NOT have internet access…

Yours faithfully, Mrs N L Windsor Thank you so much for your letter. We are sorry, of course, to hear that you are not happy with the magazine. We have received only very positive comments, thus far, so it was interesting to receive your feedback. We do hope you will find something to read in this issue.

In terms of a letters page, we try to print any proper letters we receive but this relies on people writing to us. As for directing people to the internet, I am sorry you were not able to read the full text of the interview. It was a very long article and many people had already read it. Although not everyone has internet at home, many people use local libraries or ask friends. We will, however, send you the text by post.

Across 1 Coastal town where Fr. Tim Finigan now parish priest (St. Austin & St. Gregory’s) (7) 5 Candle carried by server standing beside Bishop in Pontifical masses (5) 8 Chi-…, monogram made up of the first letters of ‘Christ’ in Greek (3) 9 Worker at horse base and at the site of the Nativity? (9) 10 Native of the Arabian Gulf (5) 11 See 1 Down 14 I’m in veritas anagram for what achieves quicker resolution (4-5) 18 Small liquid container such as that holding the Precious Blood at the basilica in Bruges (5) 21 Bishop of East Anglia who celebrated a Pontifical High Mass in Norwich St. John’s Cathedral on 1 Nov. (4,5) 22 ‘O clemens, O …, O dulcis’, Salve Regina (3) 23 Single piece of statistical information (5) 24 Cult or people associated with the Dead Sea Scrolls. (7) Down 1 & 11 Acr: Martyr and LMS Patron commemorated in annual York Pilgrimage (8,9) 2 Island visited by Paul en route to Jerusalem (Acts 21) (6) 3 Encouraging signs (8) 4 ‘O bone Jesu …… me’, Anima Christi (6) 5 Papal edict such as Pope Pius V’s Quo Primum of 1570 (4) 6 Msgr Klaus, author of important early book (1972) on liturgical abuse, ‘The Modern Rite’ (6) 7 Saint and grandmother of Jesus (4) 12 Musicians particularly appreciated by angels? (8) 13 Bishop in whose diocese is the Norbertine Priory of Chelmsford (8) 15 Composer of the Ave Verum Corpus motet written in the year he died 1791 (6) 16 Silk scarves worn by mitre-bearers in Pontifical masses (6) 17 Type of apple (6) 19 New Dawn magic stick! (4) 20 In the OT son of Noah, brother of Ham (4)

A copy of the new book by Tony Reynolds, about St Nicholas Owen, will be awarded to the winning entry in this issue’s competition.

All entries must be submitted by 1 December to: The Mass of Ages Crossword Competition, Latin Mass Society, 11-13 Macklin St, London WC2 5NH.

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ART AND DEVOTION

ISSUE 182 - WINTER 2014

ART & DEVOTION Caroline Shaw

I

n this vast altarpiece, which stands more than13ft high, Our Lord is very much the central figure. He emerges from dark storm clouds, His head surrounded by a fierce light, His red robes billowing like flames of fire, His expression is a potent mixture of anger and sorrow. Like a second Zeus, the Saviour holds three thunderbolts high above His head, ready to strike the Earth and its sinful inhabitants with His divine wrath.

Our Lady reaches over towards her Son, touching His arm gently with her right hand. Her eyes are filled with tears and her face is pale. She indicates her bared breast, reminding the King of the Universe that it was she who nursed Him as a vulnerable infant, and that now she wishes him to have mercy. Jesus looks down towards the Earth, encircled by sin. He sees St Francis leaning over the world, protecting it with his stigmatized hands. St Francis gazes at Our Lord with holy fear and heartfelt, silent entreaty. Seeing his beloved saint, and hearing the prayers of His mother, Our Lord’s anger is stilled. The thunderbolts remain motionless, and His left hand hovers over the Earth in a gesture of blessing. In the top right is a rainbow, darkened and partly obscured by clouds. It serves a double purpose, reminding us that Our Lord has come from the throne of Heaven – which, according to the Apocalypse, is surrounded by a rainbow – and reassuring us of God’s forgiveness. For now, at least, the world is safe.

When we look at this image today, with the terrible history of the 20th century not far behind us, and with unknown terrors ahead,

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the subject seems particularly pertinent. When Rubens painted it in the 1630s, it would have seemed more potent still, for Europe was in turmoil. Less than half a century earlier, Germany and the Low Countries had witnessed the violence and destruction of Calvinist iconoclasts, who vandalised churches, monasteries and cathedrals and drove Catholics out of their homes and cities. Rubens himself was born in a small town in Germany, to which his parents had fled following the riots that raged through their native city of Antwerp.

And now the whole of Europe was engulfed in one of the most prolonged and destructive conflicts in history: the Thirty Years’ War. From 1618-48, famine and disease raged through Europe, entire regions were destroyed in the fighting. Lawlessness abounded.

Mercenaries looted towns and villages, setting fire to everything they could not steal.

In the bottom left hand corner of the painting we have a sense of the chaos and terror of war that Rubens witnessed at first-hand. A soldier drags a dead body along the ground. Another soldier roughly grabs the hair of a fleeing woman, her arms held high in terror and panic, while an anguished mother attempts to shield her baby from the violence. Behind them rise the flames of a burning town; the church spire is lit up by the conflagration and the castle is being consumed. The message of the painting – that only Our Lady and the Franciscans can avert God’s wrath – would have been compelling to the worshippers at the Franciscan church in Ghent, where this altarpiece originally hung.

Neither Rubens nor his patrons invented the idea of St Francis protecting the world. The image derives, in fact, from an episode in the life of St Dominic. During a visit to Rome, St Dominic is said to have received a vision of an angry Christ about to hurl three thunderbolts on to a world that had fallen into sin. The thunderbolts were aimed in particular at three sins – superbia, or pride; avaritia, avarice; and concupiscentia, lust. At the same time, St Dominic saw Our Lady interceding with her Son, reminding Him of the missionary work of St Dominic and St Francis; work that would lead to the conversion of mankind. In 1618, Rubens painted a large altarpiece for the Dominican church in Antwerp showing both St Dominic and St Francis protecting the world from divine wrath, and 15 years later the Franciscans of Ghent requested the same subject – except that they wanted St Francis to be portrayed alone.

At the time, the Franciscans were once again in the ascendant, having suffered particularly bitter persecution during the Reformation.

When the Catholic revival began in the late 16th century, they played an important role in strengthening and propagating the Faith, and placed a particular emphasis on the power of images to catechise and inspire devotion. As the pre-eminent painter in the Low Countries, Rubens provided a number of devotional works for the Franciscans of the Spanish Netherlands, replacing pre-Reformation images that had been destroyed. This image places the poverello at the heart of the Counter Reformation emphasis on the intercession of the Mother of God and the communion of saints. We learn from this painting that St Francis, through his suffering, his fidelity to the perennial truths of the Catholic Faith, and above all, by his intimate and all-consuming love for Our Lord, can lead us all along the path of salvation.

ISSUE 182 - WINTER 2014

ART AND DEVOTION

Peter Paul Rubens ‘The Intercession of the Virgin and St Francis Averting Divine Wrath’, Royal Museums of Fine Arts, Brussels, 1630s.

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AN OPEN LETTER

NOVEMBER 2014

ISSUE 182 - WINTER 2014

THE LATIN MASS SOCIETY

From Dr Joseph Shaw, the chairman of the Latin Mass Society

Dear Bishops of England and Wales Looking back at the Latin Mass Society’s fifty years, we must acknowledge our gratitude for the almost complete disappearance of the hostility towards the Extraordinary Form (EF) which, though never universal, was widespread enough to be both a cross for our supporters and a serious impediment to our activities.

In this positive development you, our Bishops in England and Wales, have played a crucial role. The question arises: Is there any reason for those with the care of souls to go beyond toleration, and actually to facilitate or promote this form of the Mass?

Pope Benedict gave us a number of reasons why the EF should be more widely celebrated, in the ‘Letter to Bishops’ accompanying his 2007 motu proprio Summorum Pontificum. One is the spiritual needs of those who have been asking for it for many years. He refuses to categorise these Catholics as unreasonable, or theologically misguided; he tells that in his own experience they have been ‘individuals totally rooted in the faith of the Church’.

Related to this is the attraction felt by new generations of Catholics. ‘[I]t has clearly been demonstrated that young persons too have discovered this liturgical form, felt its attraction and found in it a form of encounter with the Mystery of the Most Holy Eucharist, particularly suited to them.’

This phenomenon has been seen in England and Wales also, notably with active ‘Juventutem’ groups in London and several other cities, the participation of young people from England and Wales in the annual Chartres Pilgrimage and our own walking pilgrimage to Walsingham, and many vocations to the traditional priestly orders. There are currently a dozen young men from England and Wales in training with the FSSP, the ICKSP, and the F.SS.R. Another reason Pope Benedict gave is the matter of healing a rift in the Church’s own historical selfunderstanding.

‘What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too, and it cannot be all of a sudden entirely forbidden or even considered harmful. It behoves all of us to preserve the riches which have developed in the Church’s faith and prayer, and to give them their proper place.’

To repudiate such an essential part of the Church’s past, is, as Cardinal Ratzinger had written earlier in The Spirit of the Liturgy, ‘calls her very being in question’.

The good effects Pope Benedict expected to see depend upon the EF being widely available and known.

We often hear that there is ‘no demand’ for the ancient Mass, but in truth there can be no ‘demand’ for a ‘product’ which is completely unknown. What we do know is that many priests have, over a few years, seen congregations appear from nowhere for something which few of their parishioners previously knew existed.

In such places the EF has drawn back the lapsed, stimulated conversions, and enriched the spiritual lives of many. This, surely, is a sufficient reason to make it available.

There is a worry, however, mentioned by Pope Benedict, which has also been referred to by Pope Francis: Pope Francis’ calls it the danger of the ‘ideologisation’ of the Vetus Ordo. The worry is that this Form of the Mass becomes associated with certain unfortunate ideas and attitudes, and becomes a source of division in

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ISSUE 182 - WINTER 2014

AN OPEN LETTER

THE LATIN MASS SOCIETY

the Church. Looking at things, as Popes do, from an international perspective, it isn’t hard to imagine where this worry might have its geographical origins, for complex and deep-rooted social and historical reasons. But this is not England and Wales.

Nevertheless, it is well to consider the relationship between a perceived ‘ideologisation’ and effective marginalisation. As Cardinal Ratzinger so memorably expressed it at the end of the last century: Anyone who nowadays advocates the continuing existence of this liturgy or takes part in it is treated like a leper; all tolerance ends here.

Sociologists tell us that marginalised groups typically become radicalised, and attract new members who are already marginal, perhaps for unrelated reasons. I believe that we have resisted these tendencies very successfully for the fifty years of the Latin Mass Society’s existence. Those who have any worries in this regard, however, will be able to see the remedy. Problems created by marginalisation will be cured by ending the marginalisation.

Next, let us consider the relationship between ideologisation and liturgy itself. There are, sadly, many attempts to use the liturgy for ideological purposes today: that is, to advance an agenda at odds with the teaching of the Church. The clearest examples are liturgical abuses aiming to undermine reverence for the Blessed Sacrament, or a proper understanding of the ordained priesthood. The Extraordinary Form is protected from this kind of liturgical ‘deformation’ by the liturgical discipline it demands, and, almost always, receives.

Finally, let us consider the social aspect of the liturgy: the community which forms around particular celebrations. It is a fact that there exists an unfortunate tendency for different Sunday Masses within a parish, and between neighbouring parishes, to attract distinct social or educational groups. The phenomenon, wellintentioned as it is, of ‘family Masses’, ‘student Masses’, and Masses for specific language groups, exacerbates this. The possibility of ‘divisiveness’ in this context is very real.

The Extraordinary Form, by contrast, has a very clear record of attracting a diverse range of people. The young, the old, the highly educated, and the less highly educated, single people and families, people from all walks of life, and from all social and ethnic backgrounds, happily find a place in well-established EF congregations.

I would like to invite each of you, our Bishops in England and Wales, to visit the largest such congregations in your dioceses and see for yourselves. You will see, I hope, that this is not a source of division, but a demonstration of a truly Catholic unity in diversity.

You will, I believe, find Catholics dedicated to their priests, to their parishes, and to their dioceses; Catholics docile to the teaching of the Church; Catholics eager to benefit from the riches of our intellectual and artistic patrimony; Catholics ready to evangelise by word and example, and involved in all sorts of charitable and educational work; Catholics ready to support you, their bishops, in the challenges you face from an increasingly unfriendly secular society.

These Catholics do not want to cause division or to be exclusive. They want nothing more than to be regarded, not as orphans or houseguests, but as your spiritual children.

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REPS’ REPORTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY

ISSUE 182 - WINTER 2014

DIOCESAN DIGEST Mass of Ages quarterly round-up, Winter 2014

Taking a rest on the road to Walsingham 2014/photo by John Aron

Arundel and Brighton Anne-Marie Mackie-Savage After the high of the visit of Bishop Athanasius Schneider to Our Lady of Consolation for the West Grinstead pilgrimage, it has been a slow Summer.

Shoreham said farewell to Fr Sean Finnegan, and Caterham welcomes him. He will be missed on the south coast.

Regular Masses continue in West Grinstead, Lewes, Brighton, and Seaford for the present time, for which we are very grateful.

It cannot be stressed enough that there is no room for complacency with regard to the provision of Mass. If you would like to see the Traditional Mass in your neck of the woods, don’t expect it to arrive magically one day and remain forever. There is actually very little long term stability. As

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priests are moved around the diocese, a relatively longstanding Mass in one area can disappear entirely. Dispiriting though it is, unless you continue to work in your own parishes to find like-minded people, and lobby, persistently lobby for it in your areas, it won’t happen at all. And pray!

Please do contact me if you need any help, encouragement, or ideas, it’s what I am here for, and I am more than happy to assist in any way I can. Thank you for your continuing support, and I look forward very much to hearing from you.

Tel: 01323 411 370 Email: amacsav@sky.com www.arundelbrightonlatinmasssociety.blogspot.com

ISSUE 182 - WINTER 2014

REPS’ REPORTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY

Cardiff

Clifton

Andrew Butcher

Ken and Carol Reis

Traditional Masses are continuing to be celebrated every week at various locations around the Archdiocese. Some Masses have been intermittent, for pastoral reasons, more information will follow.

As many will be aware, Dom Richard Simons OSB, currently the parish priest of Abergavenny, will shortly take up new responsibilities at the Priory in Whitehaven.

The name of the new priest has not yet been made public. If you have questions about the future of the Mass at Abergavenny, please contact me. Although I do not have inside information, I will do my best to keep you informed.

Because of technical difficulties, I are unable to send out our newsletter. I am working on this issue with the service provider.

Please continue to support any Masses you can, which take place weekly around the Archdiocese. Without your support, they cannot continue. A full listing of can be found at the back of this edition or for a weekly up-to-date listing please check our website.

Finally, please continue to pray for our priests, and vocations to the priesthood...we need our priests and also please remember in your prayers, Dom Antony Tumelty OSB at this time, who is not very well. God bless.

T: 07905 609770 Email: andrew.butcher@lmscardiff.org.uk Web: http://birmingham-lms-rep.blogspot.co.uk/

Please pray for the souls of all members who have died recently

Requiescant in Pace Mrs Jacqueline Bates Cmdr Philip Cookson Dr O Husain Mrs Lucy Jebb Mr Graham Lee Mrs Ruth Lenthall Mr Patrick Melling Miss Beryl Peeke Mr Rivers Scott Mrs Mary Stuart Miss Angela Udall Every effort is made to ensure that this list is accurate and up-to-date. However, if you know of a recently deceased member whose name has not so far appeared on our prayer memorial, then please contact the LMS, see page 2 for details.

Fr Bede Rowe takes his leave of Clifton

It is with much sadness we have to report that Fr Bede Rowe has celebrated his last Mass in the Clifton Diocese for the foreseeable future.

As many of you will know, Fr Rowe has been on secondment for the past three years at Chavagnes International College in France. He returned in July, but at the moment there is no role for him within the Diocese.

A High Mass was held at St Dominic’s, Dursley on Sunday 7 September in which Fr Rowe was the celebrant, Fr Alex Redman deacon and Fr Andrew Goodman sub-deacon.

A 40-strong congregation came to wish him a fond farewell.

It was a lovely Mass with St Dominic’s Schola providing spiritually uplifting music. After Mass, there was a farewell party in the church hall, where a delicious array of food was laid on along with a special ‘farewell cake’, made by Sara Harvey-Craig. Fr Bede proceeded to bless the cake with a large sharp knife. Sara also presented Fr Rowe with a card signed by all who attended Mass.

The LMS Pilgrimage to Glastonbury was held the following day and this Mass was also celebrated by Fr Rowe.

Unfortunately, it could not be held in the Lady Chapel in the Abbey grounds, due to renovation works. We are grateful to Fr Finan, for allowing the Mass to take place in his parish church, Our Lady of Glastonbury.

Fr Rowe gave a thought provoking homily about Our Lady’s birthday and how, by celebrating it, we as humans can identify with the human aspect of Jesus through his relationship with His Mother and also through our own maternal relationships.

Fr Rowe is a great exponent of Mass in the Extraordinary Form and, during his time at St George’s in Warminster, he was at the heart of priests within the diocese who celebrated the Traditional Mass. He is now a private chaplain in Great Swinburne, Northumberland, and will be going to Durham University to take a PhD. He will be sorely missed. Please pray for him and for all our priests who courageously bring us the Old Rite Mass.

Tel: 07896 879 116 Email: felisbenglaensis@gmail.com Web: www.lmsclifton.blogspot.com

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REPS’ REPORTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY

Birmingham & Black Country

ISSUE 182 - WINTER 2014 Fr Paul Lester takes his leave of Maryvale

Louis Maciel There was a good turnout at the Oratory High Mass for the Feast of the Assumption. A Russian Orthodox priest was in attendance, invited by the Oratory Fathers. With the Assumption falling on a Friday, there was a relatively rare opportunity for the parishioners at West Heath to fulfil their obligation at the regular Friday Mass. Enough parishioners and visitors turned up, that Mass to be moved from the Sacred Heart altar to the main altar.

Unfortunately, the (seemingly early!) retirement and departure of Fr George at the beginning of October means that the Mass at West Heath has been suspended indefinitely. I would like to thank Fr George for his efforts at introducing Mass in the Extraordinary Form at West Heath over the last five years.

Hopefully, we will see him involved in LMS events in the future.

There is, however, good news. Despite the departure of Fr Paul Lester to Hethe in Oxfordshire, the second Wednesday Maryvale Mass will continue since Fr Eamonn Corduff agreed to learn and take over the Mass, which he creditably first celebrated in September. There will also be a new Mass on the last Friday of the month at St Augustine’s in the centre of Solihull, which will be celebrated by Fr Daniel Horgan and will be the first regular EF Mass in the East Birmingham Deanery for a while. I would like to thank Kevin O’Connor for his vital contributions to these two Masses.

Tel: 07855 723 445 Email: louis.maciel@gmail.com Web: http://birmingham-lms-rep.blogspot.co.uk

North Staffordshire Alan Frost Fr Chavasse, Cong. Orat. and parish priest at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Swynnerton, continues to require hospital treatment, though he has been celebrating Low Mass on Sundays (and Saturdays) since late August and into early October.

By early November, after further convalescence, it is hoped Father will be completely recovered. Mrs Anne Roebuck has been a great help ferrying him regularly to and from hospital.

The 6pm Mass on Sunday at Swynnerton will continue, hopefully sung, with replacement priests. Fr Stephen Goodman from Wolverhampton kindly stepped in as celebrant twice in August.

It will have happened before this magazine appears, but the feast of All Saints (Saturday 1 Nov) may prove problematic.

The feast of All Souls, the following Monday (3rd Nov this year), may also have been difficult, though it is most unlikely that a formal procession through Swynnerton to the Catholic cemetery will take place. This was revived by Fr Chavasse last year.

It is also a difficult time for the monthly Sunday Masses at Oulton Abbey. The usual celebrant Fr Howell is not in good health at present and he is being transferred from his chaplaincy in Stafford. We hope, though, to have a Low Mass at the Abbey in late November. Fr Dykes continues to celebrate the Traditional Mass in Wolstanton on First Fridays and occasional feast days, notably that of St Thomas of Canterbury on 29 December.

Tel: 01983 566740 Email: Alan.jfrost@btopenworld.com

Worcester Margaret Parffrey Because of the loss of our last report, I would like to confirm Corpus Christi Mass and procession celebrant was Fr Anthony Talbot.

This was a Missa Cantata and well attended. To have our Sunday obligation fulfilled in the Old Rite is certainly a triumph. We hope, with support from the parish around us, to increase our numbers. We are indebted to Fr Talbot and Stephen Quick for their faithful service to the church as priest and server. Mass for the departed souls of two

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World Wars will be said at the usual time of 10.45 am on 9 November. Please note, a change for St Ambrose Kidderminster, this will now be 7.30pm every Friday instead of Saturday morning.

Mass was offered at Harvington by Fr Lamb, in honour of St John Wall, on Sunday 5 October.

Mass continues unchanged at Evesham and Redditch with our grateful thanks to the priests who supply our Masses.

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Oxford Area Joseph Shaw

REPS’ REPORTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY

Westminster Roger Wemyss Brooks A season of setbacks. In quick succession we were refused two Extraordinary Form Masses. One was a Requiem for a muchloved priest who offered this Rite all his life. This was refused by the church where he ministered – a great pity. A beautiful Solemn Requiem was offered for him instead at Spanish Place, graced by the presence of royalty.

The other disappointment was the cornerstone Mass we had been promised at the Tyburn Shrine. It was abruptly refused shortly before the walk we were undertaking, as a Society, for the first time. Another shame. A substitute Mass was offered in the splendid restored sanctuary of St Patrick’s, Soho.

It was heartening, therefore, to see the first anniversary of Sunday EF Masses at St Bartholomew’s, St Albans. I look forward for the same anniversary in Advent at Willesden where the restoration of the Shrine Chapel is looking very promising.

Tel: 0207 224 5323

Hertfordshire (Westminster) Nicandro Porcelli The Old Rite returns to Hethe/photo by Joseph Shaw

Our regular events occur as usual; please see the Mass listings. These include Sung Masses for many feast days in SS Gregory & Augustine’s in North Oxford, and special events in the Oxford Oratory, including their annual High Mass of Requiem (7 Nov); the annual Requiem in St Benet’s Hall takes place on 29 November.

A most important development is the start of weekly Sunday Masses in Holy Trinity, Hethe, on the initiative of the new parish priest, Fr Paul Lester. These take place at 12 noon. We plan to have Sung Mass once a month, with the rest being Low. Hethe is a short distance north of Bicester, and Holy Trinity is a very finely decorated historic church, whose sanctuary has never been re-ordered.

Tel: 01993 812 874 Email: joseph.shaw@philosphy.ox.ac.uk www.oxfordlmsrep.blogspot.com

Eric Friar and I are getting over the disturbance the summer break has on regular Masses. Replacements for priests are hard to find, and there were regrettable disappointments.

Sung Low Masses by Peter Johnson and the choir continue this season and the added reverence is roundly appreciated.

Ivan Grimer and Nicholas Dyson continue choral support. We hope this continues into the New Year.

St Edmund of Canterbury Chapel at Old Hall Green is now organised on month to month basis with priests unavailable. We are praying and working for a solution. We would appreciate any support. We thank and pray for our priests, bishops and all those who have, do and will support and promote Old Rite Masses here and everywhere.

Email: nicandroporcelli@hotmail.co.uk

Devon Seventy good souls attended a Missa Cantata celebrated in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel of Buckfast Abbey in Devon, to mark the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows on 15 September The celebrant was Fr Thomas Regan OSB, with Master of Ceremonies Andrew Butcher, the LMS Rep in Cardiff archdiocese. The plainchant Propers were chanted by Philip Arkwright, who is Director of Music at the Abbey, and Michael Vian Clarke.

The congregation sang their hearts out with Ordinary VIII, ‘Missa de Angelis’, as well as alternating the verses

of the Stabat Mater with the Cantors. After Mass, the Salve Regina was sung before the processional statue of Our Lady of Buckfast.

When the Benedictines began to rebuild the destroyed medieval Abbey in 1882, they were presented with pieces of stone which had formed the medieval shrine of Our Lady at Buckfast until its destruction in 1539. The monks reconstructed and repaired the statue. Our Lady of Buckfast is loved and honoured here once more. Pilgrims are welcome!

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REPS’ REPORTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY

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Lancaster Bob and Jane Latin An historic inaugural Mass at St Walburge’s in Preston was celebrated on 27 September. A huge congregation of some 600 was there to celebrate the iconic church’s new life as a shrine, dedicated to the celebration of the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite and Adoration of the Holy Eucharist.

The great church was filled for this occasion and the Rt Rev Michael Campbell OSA, Bishop of Lancaster, attended the Mass and preached the homily. Bishop Campbell’s generous invitation to the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest to take over St Walburge’s has given a new lease of traditional Catholic life to the area. The celebrant was Monsignor Gilles Wach, Prior General of the Institute, with Scott Tanner as deacon and Guillaume Fenoll as sub-deacon. Seminarians of the Institute sang the Proper of the Votive Mass of St Walburge, in beautiful Gregorian plainchant. As is traditional, when the diocesan bishop is not the celebrant of a High Mass, Bishop Campbell gave the blessings that would usually be given by the celebrant.

The Mass was preceded by an address of welcome in French

by Monsignor Wach and translated by the first rector of the new shrine, Philadelphia-born – and newly-ordained – Canon Francis Altiere. Monsignor Wach quoted his mentor Giuseppe Cardinal Siri who said, echoing St Ignatius of Antioch: “Where the bishop is, there is the Church”.

Those attending the Mass travelled from as far as Scotland, together with Catholics from all parts of the Lancaster Diocese.

Coach parties came from Bolton, Carnforth and the Wirral.

Afterwards a huge spread in the parish centre was awaiting the hundreds of Mass goers.

Unfortunately, due to a long-standing holiday booking, we were unable to attend this momentous occasion, so we are very grateful to Ruth and Stephen Smith for supplying the

Kent Marygold Turner We in Kent continue as before, thanks to the many priest friends who celebrate Mass for us each Sunday. May I urge everyone, who can, to support these Masses, which I arrange at great trouble and expense for us all. Our priests more or less give up a day, as they mostly travel a long way. Now that the new priest at Blackfen has completely undone all the work of Fr Finigan, I hope those ‘orphans’ will be able to benefit from our weekly Sunday Masses.

Everyone is, of course, most welcome.

On a more cheerful note, we are having one of our rare sung Masses on the feast of the Immaculate Conception at Headcorn at 12 noon. John Simmons, Andrew Bosi and Andrew Cesana will do the honours. We also have Masses on the feasts of All Saints’ and All Souls’ – noon at Headcorn as well. And on Christmas

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The Traditional Mass returns to St Walburge’s, now in the care of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, thanks to Bishop Michael Campbell, in attendance.

information for this report. St Walburge’s now offers the Traditional Mass and devotions every day. See Mass Listings for details.

Two days later, we are pleased to report, Fr Paul Harrison resumed saying the EF Mass at Our Lady Star of the Sea and St Michael, Workington. This Mass was offered on the feast of St Michael Archangel and it was attended by a small group of 15 people. We hope this will be the first of many. At present, Fr Harrision is restricted to offering Masses requiring white or green vestments, as he does not yet have complete sets of the others; if anyone can help please contact us.

Please note, there will no longer be a Traditional Mass at Christ the King, Harraby, Carlisle on the first Sunday of the month. All Sunday EF Masses will now be at Our Lady and St Joseph, Warwick Square, Carlisle, at the request of the congregation. These are planned to take place once a fortnight; see Mass Listings for dates. There will also be occasional Masses at Our Lady and St Wilfrid, Warwick Bridge; check the blogspot for up to date information.

Tel: 01524 412 987 Email: lancasterlms@gmail.com Web: latinmasslancaster.blogspot.com

day, there will be Mass at 8.30am and on the Epiphany at noon.

I was very lucky to be able to go to Preston for the first Mass at St Walburge’s – a magnificent and fascinating church, full of wonderful statues and with a very rare spire. The Institute of Christ the King, Sovereign Priest has taken it over, under Bishop Michael Campbell of Lancaster. He gave an excellent sermon, praising this initiative and the Institute – particularly Canon Montjean – for his tact (and efficiency) with the local clergy. The Institute is brave and generous and with the Dome at New Brighton and St Walburge’s, they have a wonderful apostolate in the region.

Monsignor Wach celebrated the High Mass and, as always with the Institute, it was beautiful and dignified.

Canon William Hudson came especially from Brussels for the occasion. He is a good friend of ours and is also to be congratulated on his superb over-subscribed school in the Belgian capital, which has 450 pupils. He was a great influence in the North of England and his work has borne fruit.

Tel: 01580 291 372

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Southwark North Matthew Schellhorn Owing to the indisposition of the Assistant Reps, I called off my sabbatical in order to ensure that the Aylesford Pilgrimage went ahead as planned. I am grateful for Fr Marcus Holden for leading the event this year.

I am naturally greatly saddened to hear of developments in Blackfen, which has seen the Masses, to which we were accustomed, terminated.

In better news, local provision has been increased with a Mass on 1st Sundays (in addition to 3rd Sundays) at St Mary’s, Chislehurst, and we thanks Fr Briggs, Parish Priest, for this kind gesture.

Once again, I request any local members with enthusiasm and administrative skills to come forward and assist the work of the Latin Mass Society in our diocese.

Nottingham South (Leicestershire and Rutland) Paul Beardsmore Apart from the scheduled weekday and Sunday Masses, we had a number of special events over the last quarter.

Solemn Mass was celebrated at Holy Cross Priory, Leicester, on the feast of St Dominic (4 August). Fr Neil Ferguson, OP, celebrated, with Fr Thomas Crean, OP as deacon and Fr John Cahill as sub-deacon. Fr Cahill welcomed us to his own church of St Peter, at the end of the following week, for a sung Mass for the feast of the Assumption. A week later, we were back at Holy Cross for the wedding of Calum Meredith and Melony Kong – a Solemn nuptial Mass celebrated in the Dominican Rite by the Prior, Fr David Rocks, assisted by Fr Ferguson and Fr Thomas Skeats, OP. Both students in Leicester, they had served and sung (respectively) at Dominican rite Masses over the last couple of years. Finally on 7 October a sung Mass was celebrated at Holy Cross for the Holy Rosary, a first class feast day in the Dominican calendar.

The wedding of Calum Meredith and Melony Kong – a Solemn nuptial Mass celebrated in the Dominican Rite by the Prior, Fr David Rocks, assisted by Fr Ferguson and Fr Thomas Skeats, OP.

Nottingham North (Northamptonshire) Our thanks go to Fr Byrne for maintaining the schedule of weekly Saturday Masses at Corby. An additional Mass was offered on the feast of the Assumption.

REPS’ REPORTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY

Nottingham Central Jeremy Boot This diocese remains still without a bishop.

As I mentioned before, we have lost our Mass at Corpus Christi, Nottingham (1st Sundays) but ALL other Masses remain in place: The Good Shepherd (Sat before 2nd Sunday, 4.45pm); Our Lady and St Patrick’s, The Meadows, Nottingham (3rd Sun, 2pm) and the Cathedral 3rd Wed 6.15pm in the Blessed Sacrament chapel. I hope this clarifies matters. There seems to be some confusion. Those who attended the old Corpus Christi Mass should please do their best to attend another of our Masses.

It has become evident that the pattern of Mass at different churches weekly, which was intended to encourage parishioners to attend, has not been a success. Either parishioners are not being encouraged to attend – or just not told about it – or members and others are not prepared to attend different places and times each week. Accordingly, we are seeking to have one venue in Nottingham as soon as possible. Although this would have an advantage, the traditional liturgy is not to be put in a ‘box’ separate from parish life and the eventual venue will be within a parish. We hope this will boost attendances and awareness of the Old Rite. It may also help with the shortage of servers.

Members are asked to remember our intentions in their prayers for a happy outcome to these problems and personally to make the effort to attend Masses even though they may not be at convenient times and places. Please do not leave it to others.

Tel: 0115 913 1592

BEDS. and BUCKS. (South Northants) Eric Friar The weekly Sunday Mass (5pm) and monthly last Thursday Mass (7.30pm) at Sacred Heart, Flitwick continue, thanks to the generosity of Canon Dennis McSweeney. The congregation at Sacred Heart has grown in the past year, with on average 30 people participating in the Mass, up from around 20 a year ago.

At Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Chesham Bois, weekly Sunday Mass (8am), and Masses on Holy Days of Obligation continue under the care of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter. Our Lady of Perpetual Succour has a new parish priest, Fr Andrew Ollard, who has been a friendly presence in the Parish Hall after our Sunday Masses. Many thanks to Fr Graham Platt, who organised a Parish Council at Chesham Bois, with representation from the Traditional Catholic community, while he was parish priest. The monthly 3rd Friday Mass at St Francis of Assisi, Shefford (7.30pm), continues thanks to the enthusiasm of Canon Bennie Noonan and the commitment of Fr Gerard Byrne.

In this second quarter as representative, the focus has been on studying the rubrics for Altar servers, both at Low and High Mass, and beginning to develop training resources for servers.

Many thanks to Paul Rowntree, Eric Caudle, and the Di Falco, Windsor, and Grimer families for all their support in serving and singing at our Masses. We wish the Windsor family all the best with their move back to St Bede’s. They will be missed at Chesham Bois.

Tel: 01858 434 037

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REPS’ REPORTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY

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Lincolnshire (Notts diocese) Mike Carroll Lincolnshire continues to have one Sunday Traditional Mass at St Mary, Brigg with Benediction at 4.15pm, and Low Mass at 5pm. There will be Benediction and a Votive Low Mass at Holyrood, Market Rasen, on Friday 24 October at 7pm.

It has been announced that Holyrood Catholic Church in Market Rasen will be celebrating four Extraordinary Form Masses throughout the course of the next year. The first Mass will be a votive Low Mass of the Holy Cross. This Mass has been specifically chosen to highlight the patronal name of the parish. There will also be an opportunity, on this Friday evening, to put to good use the Sixhill’s Monastery chasuble, with its medieval panels, and hopefully the chalice. There should also be a small schola present for the Benediction.

Liverpool Jim Pennington The established Sunday and Holyday Extraordinary Form Masses continue in four parishes, as do the regular weekday EF Masses at St Catherine Laboure, Holy Spirit, Ford and St. Joseph’s, Anderton.

Masses have taken place at St Anthony’s, Scotland Road on all the weekday Holydays so far this year. And, thanks to our singing friends from the Wirral, we have had two Missa Cantatas this year, on Laetare Sunday and in August.

We hope to have another to begin Advent on 30 November.

One of our regular celebrants at St Anthony’s, Fr Mark Drew, will be leaving the Liverpool Archdiocese in November for St Wilfrid’s, York. But Fr Ian O’Shea has expressed a wish to join the rota, and will begin offering Mass at St Anthony’s in October.

Without Fr Drew, though, we face not having Christmas Day Mass at St Anthony’s. For the last few years there has been another Christmas Day EF Mass in the city, at Our Lady, Star of the Sea. But recent developments there mean that this will probably now not be possible. In fact, the regular Sunday Masses at Star of the Sea are likely cease.

Because of the sudden death of Fr John Smith in Lydiate, Fr Thomas Wood, of Star of the Sea, has been assigned to the Lydiate parishes from November. As yet, we do not yet know who will succeed him at Star of the Sea. So the future of the Old Rite Masses there is at least very doubtful. The early November Masses will take place as planned, but we cannot depend upon them continuing.

At the moment, I cannot see how to make provision for a Christmas Day Mass in a city centre church. But I will continue to try to find a celebrant and a time slot, and will keep our local members updated.

Our annual Mass for deceased members will be at Star of the Sea on Saturday 8 November at 12 noon. It will be Solemn Requiem Mass offered jointly for the repose of the souls of deceased members, friends and benefactors of the Latin Mass Society and the Military and Hospitaller Order of St Lazarus of Jerusalem. Byrd’s Mass for Five Voices will be sung by the Octavius Chamber Choir, under the leadership of David Scott-Thomas.

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Preparations have now begun for a Solemn Mass for St Eustace White and the Lincolnshire Martyrs next year. It is slow going in Lincolnshire, but the Market Rasen Masses are a significant step forward, as this is the first time that the Old Rite Mass has literally set foot outside the farthest parts of North of Lincolnshire. Needless to say, the large number of Summorum Pontificum signatures from Holyrood has been a surprise to many.

If any local members can acquire even a few signatures for the return of the Traditional Mass at your local parish, then I would like to hear from you. Do not worry about very small numbers. Just by having the information means that we can look at the wider local situation and plan ahead.

Email: lmslincolnshire@gmail.com lmslincolnshire. blogspot.com lincolnshiremartyrs.blogspot.co.uk/

The Isle of Wight (Portsmouth Diocese) Peter Clarke

The two weekday Traditional Masses continue on a Tuesday and Thursday at St Mary’s, Ryde.The Sunday Latin Mass at 7.45am has now been regularised. It is an Extraordinary Form Mass on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Sunday; and an Ordinary Form Mass on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of every monthThe parish priest, Fr Anthony Glaysher, continues to support the LMS by travelling to Bournemouth once a month on a Sunday afternoon to offer the EF Mass in Westbourne. Father also welcomes visiting priests who offer the EF Mass to the Island. In the Summer, he was pleased to have the assistance of Fr Richard Duncan from the Birmingham Oratory for a short period.Why not combine a day visit on a Tuesday and include a Latin Mass at 12.30pm with a guided tour of our beautiful Victorian church in Ryde?

Tel: 01983 566740

Reading (Portsmouth) Adrian Dulston Relatively quiet in the Reading area. You may have noticed the FSSP website is down. If you are not on Fr de Malleray’s email shot, on the timings of Holy Mass as well as other news, please contact him via email: malleray@fssp.org.

On that note, the FSSP run both women’s and men’s groups which run separately but both involve a talk, Confession and Holy Mass. The men’s group meeting is variable but usually Friday evening. The women’s group is usually on Saturday mornings. The groups’ venue is normally at St John Fisher House, as opposed to St. William of York Church. God Bless all.

Just a reminder that you can catch up on news for your area on: http://lmsreading.wordpress.com/ Email: adrian.dulston@btinternet.com

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Middlesbrough Paul Waddington There is to be a change in the regular Sunday Mass time at St Wilfrid’s Church in York. The Extraordinary Form Mass, currently at 5pm, will transfer to 1.30pm or noon, depending on a consultation currently taking place about the time of the Ordinary Form Masses in the parish.

The EF Mass will become the principal Mass of the day, with an appropriate standard of music for an Oratorian church.

It is proposed that the Sunday evening slot, will be replaced by Vespers in the traditional form, followed by Benediction. The change will take effect from the first Sunday of Advent, and details will be given on the LMS website. The Sunday Masses at Redcar will continue as before. I am pleased to see there are several new members in the Middlesbrough Diocese, with most of the increase being in or near Hull. I shall be meeting some of the Hull members shortly to investigate the possibility of establishing regular Masses there. As always, it will depend on the availability of a priest. I am working on some possibilities at the moment.

In other news, a group from York travelled to Preston on 27 September for the first Mass of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest at their newly adopted shrine at the Church of St Walburge’s. We were all highly impressed, especially by the buffet that was laid on after Mass.

Tel: 01757 638027 Email: paul@gooleboathouse.co.uk Web: latinmassmiddlesbrough.blogspot.co

REPS’ REPORTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY

Wrexham Kevin Jones A very welcome return was made by the St Catherine’s Trust Summer School to the Franciscan Retreat Centre, at Pantasaph, during the final week of July.

Running in parallel with the LMS Latin course (on which yours truly was a willing student!), the Summer School was another success and cannot be commended enough for the work undertaken.

The Mass of Ages was offered twice daily, with Low Mass at 8am and High Mass just before Lunch.

Compline was sung each evening at 9pm.

Fr John Hunwicke (Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham) and Fr Richard Bailey (Congregation of Oratorians) assisted by Br Stephen Morrison (Premonstratensians) provided the sacred ministries. Meanwhile, elsewhere in the diocese, as a small token of our appreciation, the LMS provided a new biretta to Canon Bernard Lordan, who celebrates the regular 2nd Sunday Low Mass at Llay. Regular Masses also took place at Holywell (4th Sunday) and Buckley (2nd Saturday) and I wish to record my thanks to the small, but keen schola at both venues for their commitment to Masses in Wrexham Diocese.

Tel: 01244 674011 Email: lms.wrexham@outlook.com Web: http://lmswrexham.weebly.com

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REPS’ REPORTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY

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East Anglia Kevin Marshall It is a great pleasure to be able to announce that the Old Rite Mass is now present at our cathedral in Norwich. First Friday Masses have already commenced and the Bishop of East Anglia, Rt Rev Alan Hopes, will lead a Pontifical High Mass on 1 November, All Saints. We are most grateful to the bishop for his generosity and he can be sure of our continued prayers for his work in the diocese.

I am also able to announce the appointment of Emma Ingram as assistant rep for the LMS in the diocese. She lives in Norwich and is well placed to support the Old Rite in Norfolk, which, until recently, has had a poor provision for the Traditional Mass.

Please note that the fortnightly Masses at St Thomas of Canterbury Church, Woodbridge, Suffolk, have been temporarily suspended. Hopefully, the suspension will not last too long. Old Rite Masses continue in Cambridge, Peterborough, and Ipswich. During term-time only, Old Rite Masses are now being celebrated at Fisher House, Cambridge at 8.30 am.

Mass according to the Dominican Rite continues on Sundays at 9.15 am at Blackfriars, Cambridge. We are most grateful to the friars for their continued support. I would urge all local members to continue in their support for these Masses.

Tel: 01440 708 416 Email: fammarshall@aim.com Web: lmseastanglia.blogspot.co.uk

Together on the long and winding road: the 2014 LMS Pilgrimage to Walsingham/Photos by John Aron

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REPS’ REPORTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY

Excerpts from Fr Nicholas Schofield’s Tyburn Martyrs’ Walk sermon 31 August 2014 It is a great privilege to take part in this Martyrs’ Walk, starting near the site of Newgate (where many of the martyrs were confined), stopping here midway to offer the Sacrifice of the Mass for which the martyrs died, and then onwards to Tyburn.

Canon Edwin Burton, President of St Edmund’s College, Ware, a century ago and a noted historian, referred to the route we are taking as London’s Via Sacra.

‘Every inch,’ he wrote. ‘Of that journey through Holborn, High Holborn, Bloomsbury High Street, and Oxford Street is holy in our eyes.’

Newgate prison, where many of the martyrs were placed before execution, was connected to the gallows of Tyburn by means of what was then a country road, ‘passing down Snow Hill to cross the Fleet River, and then ascending Holborn Hill, which in after days was to be called the heavy hill to Tyburn’.

On an execution day, though, the crowds would have been similar to the ones that we will no doubt experience. The atmosphere would have been that of a fair.

The temptation is only to think of our martyrs’ last heroic moments, thanks to God’s grace, so that we forget the witness of the rest of their lives. For the martyrs’ crown was only the climax to a life spent in the pursuit of holiness; the final sacrifice made possible by many daily ones. Their life should be seen as a whole, not simply defined by the final chapter, no matter how glorious.

As we make our journey to Tyburn today, along a street full of Sunday shoppers, let us unite any inconveniences we face with the much greater sufferings of the martyrs. In our minds and hearts, let us transport ourselves to London 400 years ago, imagining that through the crowds we can glimpse

LMS pilgrimage at the site of Tyburn/Joseph Shaw

sight of these martyrs as they were taken along the Via Sacra.

Let us strive to imitate the heroic virtue of a St Oliver Plunkett or a Blessed Richard Leigh, who died for the fullness of Faith and the power and beauty of the Mass that we are offering here at this altar.

And, let us not forget, there are places at this very moment where Christians are put to death without a fair trial, who are beheaded or crucified or shot, whose deaths are witnessed not so much by the noisy crowds at Tyburn but by thousands of YouTube users around the world. As we venerate our martyrs, we commend to the Almighty our brothers and sisters in Iraq, Syria and elsewhere. Surely we can say a Rosary for them and pray that our own Faith may never waver?

  



   

 

      

         

    35

THE PENTECOST PEOPLES

ISSUE 182 - WINTER 2014

‘CONTD FROM PAGE 15

As with the Maronites, their liturgy is attributed to St James and is originally derived from the Greek Antiochene Rite. It is distinct from the Byzantine Rite of the Melkites but similar to that of the Syrian Orthodox.

Syrians also vary their Divine Liturgy by use of anaphorae. They have seven, attributed to: St. John the Evangelist, St. James, St. Peter, St. John Chrysostom, St. Xystus, St. Matthew, and St. Basil.

Many Syrian bishops broke away after the council of Chalcedon. And it was hundreds of years later, in the 15th century, before missionaries from the Carmelites and the Jesuits worked with the Syrians to bring them back into full communion with Rome.

It was the Syrian Catholic, St Ignatius of Antioch, who established the order of bishop, priests, deacons and their leader, the Patriarch of Antioch of the Syrians, always takes the name of Ignatius in honour of him.

They have been devastated by the current violence. The village of Qara Qosh in northern Iraq, west of Mosul, was considered as the heart and soul of the Syrian Catholics. Ninety per cent of the population were Syrian Catholic. Along with Mosul and Baghdad, it was a main centre of Syrian Catholicism. The Syrian cathedral in Mosul was burned down by the so-called Islamic State forces in July this year.

The current Patriarch of Antioch of the Syrians. Patriarch Ignace Youssif III Younan.

They have three Archbishops of Bagdad, Damascus and Homs.

CHALDEANS Based in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Iran, the Chaldeans around the world number more than half a million, although 50 per cent now live outside the Middle East – in the US, Canada and Australia. As a contrast, in 1990, just 50,000 Chaldeans lived beyond their homelands.

These are descendants of the ancient peoples of Mesopotamia. They became Christians in the first century of the Church and were only separated from Rome following the Nestorian heresy. Reunion with Rome was in 1552.

During their period of separation, the Chaldeans were a great missionary community and took the Word Eastwards into Afghanistan, Monogolia, China, Japan and to India – where Christians today, in places such as Kerala, still follow the Chaldean Rite, which is derived from the East Syrian Rite. The Chaldean Mass, the Eucharistic Liturgy – is very different from

36

the Roman Rite. They have four readings – two from the Old Testament, two from the New. All prayers are sung and the Rite is very solemn. And, before reading, the lector asks for the blessing of the priest.

The celebrant faces away from the people, so that ‘all devotion is given to Christ’. The priest becomes ‘the truest intermediary’ between Our Lord and the people. The servers have specific responses to say as well as the people.

When reading the Gospel, or addressing the people, the priest will face the people.

The exclamation before the Gospel is ‘Wisdom, be attentive.’ But all prayers are directed to God and the priest will face the cross while praying.

The Creed is the Apostles’ rather than the Nicene Creed. At the sign of peace, the deacon tells everyone to make the sign of peace but he tells them also to be attentive to what is going on at the altar.

Two large curtains, the veil, are in place in the church, so that there can be a sacred area – a Holy of Holies. The veil plays an important part, at different points in the liturgy. After the consecration, the people ask four times: ‘Lord, forgive our sins’.

The Chaldeans’ foundation is credited to St Thaddeus of Edessa, one of the 72 disciples of Our Lord. They use unleavened bread in their liturgy and their leader is the Patriarch of the Chaldees, who lived at Mosul in Iraq.

Tens of thousands of Christians have fled Mosul in recent years. Altogether, around half a million Chaldeans have escaped Iraq in the last decade. But it is thought some 200,000 remain in the country – despite the desperate circumstances and persecution.

There are 18 bishops and archbishops, led by the current and 113th Chaldean Catholic patriarch of Babylon, Louis Raphael I Sako, who is based in Baghdad. There are 175 Chaldean priests in more than 30 countries.

MELKITES Based in Syria and Lebanon, there are more than 1.6 million Melkites around the world. And they claim their heritage back to Pentecost itself.

Their liturgy comes from the Byzantine Rite and is conducted mainly in Arabic, with some Greek. In 1709, the Patriarch acknowledged the supremacy of the Pope.

Three of their Holy Mysteries are jointly known as Christian Illumination (Baptism, Chrismation and Holy Eucharist). These initiate a person into the Christian community and make them full members of the Catholic Church. Chrismation is

where the person receives the gift of the Holy Spirit in a ‘personal Pentecost’. At the end of the Christian Illumination, strands of the person’s hair are cut, as a sign of them offering all of their self to God. This ‘tonsure’ is the child’s first offering to God. The other Holy Mysteries are Holy Oil, where healing is received. Repentance, where forgiveness is received and Holy Crowning where a man and a woman become ‘priests of the domestic church’ ‘kings and queens of home’. Finally, there is Holy Ordination, where a man becomes a priest.

There are four principal parts to the Divine Liturgy: Preparation of the Gifts, which is done privately by the priest and deacon before the Divine Liturgy begins.

In the Office of the Antiphons, prayers and hymns are sung glorifying Holy God and asking for mercy. This begins with the priest singing: ‘Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever.’

The Service of the Word – comes next, followed by the Eucharistic service – the gifts are brought to the altar, consecrated and distributed.

The Melkites also have a Patriarch of Antioch, currently Gregory III Laham, and they have three sees – the see of Antioch, the See of Alexandria and the See of Jerusalem. According to tradition, the Patriarch is the successor to St Peter, although they recognise the supremacy of the Pope as ‘first among equals’. Melkite communities also exist in Israel, Palestine and Jordan and huge numbers have fled the region for South America, where more than 300,000 live in Argentina while more than 430,000 are based in Brazil. Numbers in Lebanon have also greatly increased.

In the next issue, we will hear about the Catholic Copts and the Armenian Catholics.

The charity, Aid to the Church in Need, is working with the local churches on the ground to help those who have fled the violence. Relief efforts are being led by the Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Louis Raphael Sako.

The Church is helping around 70,000 Christians in Erbil, in the Kurdish area of Iraq, but ISIS forces are only an hour away.

Altogether some 100,000 such refugees are in need of assistance. Aid to the Church in Need can be contacted via its website www. acn.org . The charity’s headquarters are at 12-14 Benhill Avenue, Sutton, Surrey, SM1 4DA.

ISSUE 182 - WINTER 2014

MASS LISTINGS

The Latin Mass Society

Mass Listings

Supplement to Mass of Ages 182 Winter 2014 While the Latin Mass Society makes every effort to ensure that these listings are accurate, we cannot guarantee that they are free of errors or omissions and acknowledge that some Masses can be cancelled at very short notice.

WESTMINSTER Westminster Cathedral, Victoria Street, VICTORIA, London SW1P 1QW

2nd Saturdays (Lady Chapel)

The Oratory, Brompton Road, LONDON SW7 2RP Sundays

Mon to Sat (St Joseph’s Altar) Saturdays

(usually in St Wilfrid’s Chapel)[1]

4.30pm

Low Mass

9.00am 8.00am

Low Mass Low Mass

12.15pm

Low Mass

St. James’s, Spanish Place, LONDON W1U 3QY

Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane, COVENT GARDEN, London WC2E 7NA

St Etheldreda, Ely Place, LONDON EC1N 6RY

Sundays Holy Days of Obligation Thu 1 Jan (Circumcision) Tue 6 Jan (Epiphany)

9.30am 11.00am 12.30pm 11.00am

Low Mass Low Mass High Mass Low Mass

Mondays 2nd Fridays Tue 6 Jan (Epiphany)

6.30pm 6.30pm 6.30pm

Sung Mass Low Mass Sung Mass

1st Fridays

6.00pm

Low Mass

St. John the Baptist, 3 King Edward’s Road, HACKNEY, London E9 7SF

1st Fridays

6.00pm

Low Mass

St Mary Moorfields, Eldon Street, LONDON EC2M 7LS

Fridays Last Fridays Wed 24 Dec (Christmas Eve)

7.45am 7.30pm 6.30pm

Low Mass High Mass Sung Mass

Holy Trinity and St Augustine, London Road, BALDOCK, Herts SG7 6LQ

1st Sundays

3.00pm

Low Mass

St. Edmund of Canterbury & English Martyrs, Farm Lane, Old Hall Green, 2nd, 3rd, 4th Sundays Nr. WARE, Hertfordshire SG11 1DT

3.00pm

Low Mass

Our Lady of Lourdes & St Michael, Osborn Rd, UXBRIDGE, UB8 1UE

1st Fridays

7.00pm

Sung Mass

St Bartholomew’s, 47 Vesta Avenue, ST ALBANS AL1 2PE

Sundays Thu 25 Dec (Christmas Day) Thu 6 Jan (Epiphany) Mon 2 Feb (Purification)

5.30pm 10.00am TBC TBC

Low Low Low Low

Our Lady of Willesden, Acton Lane, WILLESDEN, London NW10 9AX

Sundays Mon 3 Nov (All Souls)

5.30pm 12.45pm

Low Mass Low Requiem

Immaculate Conception and St Joseph, 23 St John’s Street, HERTFORD SG14 1RX

Sat 15 Nov Sat 10 Jan

11.00am 11.00am

Low Mass Low Mass

[2]

St Bonaventure, 81 Parkway, WELWYN GARDEN CITY, AL8 6JF Sunday 5.00pm

Sun 9 Nov 5.00pm

Sun 21 Dec (4 Advent) 5.00pm

[1] Phone 020 7808 0900 to check before travelling. [2] Also 5th Sundays, but check before travelling – 07810 778160 or 07920

Mass Mass Mass Mass

Low Mass Sung Requiem Sung Mass 122014.

ARUNDEL AND BRIGHTON St Pancras, Ireland’s Lane, LEWES, Sussex BN7 1QX

1st Sundays Saturdays

12.30pm 10.00am

Low Mass Low Mass

St Mary Magdalene, Upper North Street, BRIGHTON BN1 3FH

Sundays Fridays Thu 25 Dec (Christmas Day)

6.30pm 7.00pm 9.00am

Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass

St Mary, Surrenden Road, BRIGHTON BN1 6PA

Thursdays

7.00pm

Low Mass

St Thomas More, Sutton Road, SEAFORD Sussex BN25 1SS

3rd Sundays

3.00pm

Low/Sung

Our Lady of Consolation, Park Lane, WEST GRINSTEAD RH13 8LT

2nd Sundays

3.00pm

Low Mass

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MASS LISTINGS

ISSUE 182 - WINTER 2014

BIRMINGHAM The Oratory, Hagley Road, BIRMINGHAM B16 8UE

10.30am

High Mass

Fridays

Saturdays

Holy Days of Obligation

Thu 25 Dec (Christmas Day)

Thu 1 Jan (Circumcision)

Tue 6 Jan (Epiphany)

Sundays

6.00pm 9.30am 6.00pm or 7.00pm 10.30am 12pm 7.00pm

Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass High Mass High Mass High Mass High Mass

St Augustine’s Catholic Church, Herbert Road, SOLIHULL, B91 3QE

Last Friday

6.30pm

Low Mass

Maryvale Institute Chapel, Old Oscott Hill, BIRMINGHAM B44 9AG

2nd Wednesdays

7.00pm

Low Mass

Our Lady & St Kenelm Cobham Road, HALESOWEN B63 3JZ

Wednesdays[1]

12.00pm

Low Mass

Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Cannock Road, Fridays 6.30pm WOLVERHAMPTON WV10 8PG

Low Mass

The Oratory, Woodstock Road, OXFORD OX2 6HA

Sundays Sat 20 Dec (Rorate Mass) Thu 25 Dec (Christmas Day) Tue 6 Jan (Epiphany) Mon 2 Feb (Purification)

8.00am 7.00am 8.00am 12.15pm 12.15pm

Low Mass Sung Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass

SS Gregory & Augustine, 322 Woodstock Road, OXFORD OX2 7NS

3rd Sundays Wednesdays Fridays 1st Thursdays Mon 8 Dec (Immaculate Conception) Fri 12 Dec (Rorate) Tue 6 Jan (Epiphany) Mon 2 Feb (Purification)

12.00pm 6.00pm 6.00pm 12.00pm 6.00pm 6.00pm 6.00pm 6.00pm

Sung Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Sung Mass Sung Mass Sung/High Sung/High

St Birinus, DORCHESTER-ON-THAMES, Oxfordshire OX10 7JR

Wednesdays Saturdays Fri 5 Dec (St Birinus)

8.00am 9.30am 7.30pm

Low Mass Low Mass High Mass

Holy Trinity, Hardwick Road, HETHE, nr Bicester, Oxfordshire OX27 8AW Sundays

12.00pm

Low/Sung

St Benet’s Hall Chapel, 38 St Giles, OXFORD OX1 3LN

11:30am

High Mass

St Wulstan, Wolstanton, NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME, Staffordshire ST5 0EF 1st Fridays

7.00pm

Low Mass

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, REDDITCH B98 8LT

Mondays

6.30pm

Low Mass

St Mary & Egwin, High Street, EVESHAM Worcestershire WR11 4EJ

Tuesdays

7.00pm

Low Mass

St Ambrose, Birmingham Road, KIDDERMINSTER DY10 2BY

1st Sundays Fridays

3.00pm 7.30pm

Low/Sung Low Mass

St John Baptist, Spetchley Park, WORCESTER WR5 1RS

Sundays

10.45pm

Low Mass

Our Lady of the Assumption, 8 Weaver’s Walk, Swynnerton, nr STONE, ST15 0QZ

Sundays Saturdays Fortnightly[2]

6.00pm 10.00am

Sung Mass Low Mass

Oulton Abbey, Kibblestone Road, Oulton, Nr STONE ST15 8UP

3rd Sundays[3]

3.00pm Sung/Low

Sat 29 Nov (Annual Requiem)

[1]No Mass on 24th December. Please phone 0121 6021972 prior to travelling. [2] Phone Local Rep on 01270 768144 to confirm dates.

[3] Monthly Masses – check for future dates on http://north-staffs-lms.blogspot.co.uk or call Local LMS Representative, Alan Frost, on 01270 768144.

Subject to cancellation, so check blog above before travelling.

BRENTWOOD Our Lady of Lourdes & St Joseph, Leigh Rd, LEIGH-ON-SEA, SS9 1LN

1st Sundays

4.00pm

Sung Mass

Our Lady Immaculate, New London Road, CHELMSFORD CM2 0AR

1st Fridays

7.30pm

Low Mass

Church of the Assumption, 98 Manford Way, HAINAULT IG7 4DF

Most Mondays[1]

6.30pm

Low Mass

St. Mary Immaculate and the Holy Archangels, KELVEDON CO5 9AH

1st Saturdays

12.15pm

Low Mass

St Margaret’s Convent Chapel, Bethell Avenue, CANNING TOWN, London E16 4JU

Sundays

6.00pm

Sung Mass

St Patrick’s Cemetery Chapel, Langthorne Road, Leytonstone, London E11 4HL

Sat 22 Nov (Annual Requiem)

10.30am

Sung Mass

[1] Please telephone 020 8500 3953 to confirm before travelling or email nda.hainault@btinternet.com

38

ISSUE 182 - WINTER 2014

MASS LISTINGS

CARDIFF Poor Clare Convent, Much Birch, HEREFORD HR2 8PS

Sundays

6.30pm

Low Mass

Most Holy Trinity, New Street, Ledbury, HEREFORD, HR8 2EE

2nd Sundays

5.00pm

Low Mass

St Francis Xavier, Broad Street, HEREFORD HR4 9AP

Last Sundays

12.15am

Low/Sung

Fridays

6.30pm

Low Mass

Our Lady & St Michael, Pen-y-Pound, ABERGAVENNY NP7 5UD

Fridays[1]

7.00pm

Low Mass

University Chaplaincy, 62 Park Place, CARDIFF, CF10 3AS

1st Thursdays[1]

7.00pm

Low Mass

3rd Thursdays

7.00pm

Low Mass

Thu 20 Nov (Requiem)

7.00pm

Low Requiem

[1]

[1] Until further notice please contact Andrew Butcher (Local Representative) before travelling on 07905 609770 or andrew.butcher@lmscardiff.org.uk or visit the website www.lmscardiff.org.uk for more information and full listings.

For the Herefordshire area contact Marion Luscombe (01432 760896) or Shaun Bennett (07917 577127).

CLIFTON Holy Cross Church, Dean Lane, Bedminster, BRISTOL BS3 1DB

Sundays 1st Wednesdays Thu 25 Dec (Christmas Day)

12.30pm 6.30pm 9.00am

Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass

St Dominic’s, Jubilee Road, DURSLEY, Gloucestershire GL11 4ES

Sundays[1]

5.30pm

Low Mass

Mondays & Tuesdays

9.00am

Low Mass

Wed - Sat (inclusive)

8.00am

Low Mass

St George’s, Boreham Road, WARMINSTER, Wiltshire BA12 9JP

One Saturday per month

9.30am

Low Mass

SS Joseph & Teresa, 16 Chamberlain Street, WELLS, Somerset BA5 2PF

Tuesdays

6.00pm

Low Mass

Our Lady & St Kenelm, STOW-ON-THE-WOLD, Gloucestershire GL54 1DR

Saturdays[4] Thu 25 Dec (Christmas Day)

10.00am 11.30am

Low Mass Low Mass

Our Lady Help of Christians, Station Road, BOURTON-ON-THE-WATER, Gloucestershire GL54 2ER

Tue 6 Jan (Epiphany)

10.00am

Low Mass

Prinknash Abbey, CRANHAM, Gloucestershire GL4 8EX

1st Sundays

3.00pm

Low Mass

[2]

[3]

Saturdays

11.00am

Low Mass

Our Lady of Lourdes, 28 Baytree Road, WESTON-SUPER-MARE BS22 8HQ

4th and 5th Sundays 1st Thursdays Wed 24 Dec (Christmas Eve)

11.30am 9.30am Midnight

Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass

St Benedict’s, Stratton-on-the-Fosse, RADSTOCK, nr. Bath, Somerset BA3 4RH

1st Sundays

11.15am

Low Mass

Our Lady of Glastonbury, Magdalene Street, GLASTONBURY, Somerset BA6 9EJ

3rd Sundays

12.30pm

Low Mass

St Gregory’s, 10 Saint James’ Square, CHELTENHAM GL50 3PR

1st Wednesdays

7.00pm

Low Mass

The Holy Ghost, 73 Higher Kingston, YEOVIL, Somerset BA21 4AR

Fridays

6.00pm

Low Mass

All Saints, WARDOUR CASTLE, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP3 6RR

Quarterly 3rd Saturdays[6]

11.00am

Low Mass

Holy Redeemer, Fotherby Crescent, SALISBURY, Wiltshire SP1 3EG

Quarterly 3rd Saturdays[7]

11.30am

Low Mass

[5]

[1] Missa Cantata first Sunday of each month. [2] Please check with Parish Office on 01985 212329. [3] Phone 01749 673183 to confirm before travelling. [4] Phone 01451 830431 to confirm before travelling. [5] Phone Fr Damian on 07742 659106 to confirm before travelling.

[6] These Masses will continue quarterly (February, May, August, November) until further notice. Please call 01373 301691 before travelling.

[7] Quarterly (March, June, September, December). Please call 01373 301691 before travelling.

EAST ANGLIA Cathedral of St John the Baptist, Unthank Rd, NORWICH NR2 2PA

First Fridays

6.00pm

Low Mass

Blackfriars, Buckingham Road, CAMBRIDGE CB3 0DD

Sundays 1st Fridays

9.15am 6.00pm

Low Mass Low Mass

University Chaplaincy, Fisher House, Guildhall St, CAMBRIDGE CB2 3NH

Sundays (during term time) Mon 17 Nov

8.30am 6.30pm

Low Mass High Mass

St Peter & All Souls, Park Road, PETERBOROUGH, Cambs PE1 2RS

1st Fridays

7.00pm

Low Mass

St Mary Magdalene, 468 Norwich Rd, IPSWICH IP1 6JS

Wednesdays

12.00pm

Low Mass

St Pancras, Orwell Place, IPSWICH, Suffolk IP4 1BD

2nd Sundays 2nd Thursdays

5.30pm 10.30am

Low Mass Low Mass

[1]

[1] Please phone 01473 741975 for more information

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MASS LISTINGS

ISSUE 182 - WINTER 2014

HALLAM St Marie’s Cathedral, Norfolk Row, SHEFFIELD S1 2JB

2nd Saturdays[1]

10.00am

St Teresa’s Church, Prince of Wales Road, SHEFFIELD S2 1EY

Last Sundays[1]

4.00pm Sung/High

Sung Mass

Sat 15 Nov

11.00am

Sung Requiem

Thu 25 Dec (Christmas Day)

7.30pm

High Mass

[1] Please phone 0114 2332801 for more information or visit our Facebook page (Hallam lms) for updated events.

HEXHAM AND NEWCASTLE St Joseph’s, High West Street, GATESHEAD NE8 1LX

Sundays[1] Saturdays Tue 6 Jan (Epiphany)

12.00pm 11.00am 11.00am

Low/Sung Low Mass Low Mass

St Joseph’s Catholic Church, High West Street, GATESHEAD NE8 1LX

Wed 24 Dec (Christmas Eve)

11.30pm

Sung Mass

St. Mary’s, Barrasford, Swinburne, HEXHAM NE48 4DQ

Sundays

12.00pm

Low Mass

St. Mary’s Church, Birch Road, BARNARD CASTLE, Co. Durham DL12 8NR

Sundays[2] Tuesdays[2] Holy Days of Obligation[2]

9.00am Low Mass 7.30pm Low/Sung 7.30pm Low Mass

Sacred Heart & English Martyrs, THORNLEY, Co. Durham DH6 3HA

Sundays Thu 25 Dec (Christmas Day)

9.30am 9.30am

Low Mass Low Mass

St Patrick, Smith Street, Ryhope, SUNDERLAND SR2 0RG

3rd Wednesdays

7.30pm

Sung Mass

SS Joseph, Patrick & Cuthbert, Church Street, COXHOE, Co Durham DH6 4DA

Thursdays Tue 6 Jan (Epiphany)

12.00pm 12.00pm

Low Mass Low Mass

St Augustine’s, 30 Coniscliffe Road, DARLINGTON DL3 7RG

2nd Wednesdays

7.15pm

Low Mass

[1] Sung Mass on 1st & 3rd Sundays. [2] Owing to the ill health of the Priest, please confirm with Rep before travelling (0191 264 5771).

LANCASTER St Peter’s Cathedral, Balmoral Road, LANCASTER LA1 3BT

Sun Sun Sun Sun

16 21 18 22

Nov Dec Jan Feb

3.00pm 3.00pm 3.00pm 3.00pm

Low Low Low Low

Mass Mass Mass Mass

Our Lady & St Joseph, Warwick Square, CARLISLE CA1 1LB

Sun Sun Sun Sun Sun Sun Sun

9 Nov 16 Nov 30 Nov 14 Dec 28 Dec 11 Jan 1 Feb

6.00pm 6.00pm 6.00pm 6.00pm 6.00pm 6.00pm 6.00pm

Sung Sung Sung Sung Sung Sung Sung

Requiem Mass Mass Mass Mass Mass Mass

Our Lady & St Wilfrid, WARWICK BRIDGE, near Carlisle CA4 8RL

TBA[1]

TBA

TBA

St Walburge’s Church, Weston Street, PRESTON PR2 2QE

Sundays Mon-Fri Saturdays Wed 24 Dec (Christmas Eve) Thu 25 Dec (Christmas Day)

10.30am 12.00pm 10.30am TBA 10.30am

Sung Mass Low Mass Low Mass TBA Low/Sung

Leeds University RC Chaplaincy, 5–7 St Mark’s Avenue, LEEDS LS2 9BN

5th Saturdays Wed 24 Dec (Christmas Eve)

4.00pm 7.00pm

Low Mass Low Mass

Immaculate Heart of Mary, Harrogate Road, LEEDS LS17 6LE

1st Fridays

7.30pm

Low Mass

St Mary’s, Gibbet Street, HALIFAX, Yorkshire HX1 5DH

Saturdays

6.00pm

Low Mass

St Joseph’s, Pontefract Road, CASTLEFORD, Yorkshire WF10 4JB

Sundays

3.00pm

Low Mass

The Sacred Heart, Broughton Hall, SKIPTON, Yorkshire BD23 3AE

Sundays Monday-Saturday inclusive[1] Wed 24 Dec (Christmas Eve) Thu 25 Dec (Christmas Day) Thu 1 Jan (Circumcision)

11.00am 9.30am 11.30pm 11.00am 11.00am

Sung Mass Low Mass Sung Mass Low Mass Low Mass

St Peter’s, Leeds Road, Laisterdyke, BRADFORD, Yorkshire BD3 8EL

2nd Sundays

3.00pm

Sung Mass

[1] Please contact Canon Watson or Fr Millar on 01228 521509.

LEEDS

40

[1]

ISSUE 182 - WINTER 2014

MASS LISTINGS

Holy Spirit, Bath Road, HECKMONDWIKE, Yorkshire WF16 9EA

1st & 3rd Sundays

4.00pm

Low Mass

St Ignatius, Storrs Hill Road, OSSETT WF5 0DQ

Last Mondays

7.30pm

Low Mass

[1] Anybody wishing to attend these Masses is advised to ring 01756 793794 or visit www.lmsleeds.blogspot.com.

LIVERPOOL St Anthony’s, Scotland Road, LIVERPOOL L5 5BD

Sundays[1] Holy Days of Obligation Thu 1 Jan (Circumcision) Tue 6 Jan (Epiphany)

3.00pm 12.00pm 12.00pm 12.00pm

Low Low Low Low

Our Lady Star of the Sea, 1 Crescent Road, Seaforth, LIVERPOOL L21 4LJ

Sundays[2] Holy Days of Obligation[2]

TBC TBC

Low Mass Low Mass

St Joseph, Bolton Road, ANDERTON PR6 9NA

Saturdays[3]

9.10am

Low Mass

Holy Spirit, 66/68 Poulsom Drive, BOOTLE L30 2NR

Tuesdays

7.00pm

Low Mass

St Mary Magdalene, Leyland Road, PENWORTHAM PR1 9NE

Sundays Thu 25 Dec (Christmas Day)[5]

8.30am 8.30am

Low Mass Low Mass

St Catherine Labouré, Stanifield Lane, Farington, LEYLAND, PR25 4QG

Sundays[6] Tuesdays Saturdays Holydays of Obligation[6] Thu 25 Dec (Christmas Day)[6] Tue 6 Jan (Epiphany)[6]

11.30am 12.00pm 12.00pm 7.00pm 10.00am 7.00pm

Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Sung Mass Sung Mass

[4]

[5]

Mass Mass Mass Mass

[1] For all Masses, please phone 0151 426 0361 before travelling. [2] As Father Wood is being transferred to another parish in November, the future of the Old Rite at Star of the Sea is uncertain. Please phone Jim Pennington 0151 426 0361 before travelling. [3] Please phone Fr. Ian O’Shea 01257 480237 before travelling. [4] Please check with Fr John Harris 0151 928 0040 before travelling. [5] Please phone Jim Aherne 01772 378488 before travelling. [6] Additional Masses may be posted on Fr Henry’s blog (offerimustibidomine.blogspot.com).

Please phone Fr Henry 01772 421174 before travelling.

MENEVIA St Joseph’s Cathedral, Greenhill, SWANSEA SA1 2BX

4th Sundays

12.00pm

Low Mass

Sacred Heart, School Road, Morriston, SWANSEA, SA6 6HZ

Saturday before 1st Sundays[1] 3rd & 5th Sundays[1]

5.00pm 3.00pm

Low Mass Low Mass

[1] Please check with Local Rep, as there may be cancellations – 07810 778160.

MIDDLESBROUGH St Wilfrid’s, Duncombe Place, YORK YO1 7EF

Sundays[1]

5.00pm

Sung Mass

Sacred Heart Church, Lobster Road, REDCAR TS10 1SH

Sundays

6.00pm

Low Mass

[2]

[1] From the First Sunday of Advent, the time of Mass will be changing to 12.00pm. An announcement will be made on the LMS website.

[2] Please check before travelling (01642 484 047).

NORTHAMPTON St Brendan, Beanfield Avenue, CORBY NN18 0AZ

Saturdays

9.30am

Low Mass

Sacred Heart, Pope Close, FLITWICK, Bedfordshire MK45 1JP

Sundays Last Thursdays

5.00pm 7.30pm

Low Mass Low Mass

Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Amersham Road, CHESHAM BOIS HP6 5PE

Sundays[1]

8.00am

Low Mass

St. Francis of Assisi, 25 High Street, SHEFFORD, Bedfordshire SG17 5DD

3rd Fridays

7.30pm

Low Mass

St Barnabas Cathedral, Derby Road, NOTTINGHAM NG1 5AE

3rd Wednesdays[1]

6.15pm

Low Mass

The Good Shepherd, 3 Thackeray’s Lane, Woodthorpe, NOTTINGHAM NG5 4HT

Saturday before 2nd Sundays 4.45pm (anticipated Mass of Sunday)

Low Mass

Our Lady and St Patrick, Launder St, Meadows, NOTTINGHAM NG2 1JQ

3rd Sundays

2.00pm

Low Mass

Holy Cross Priory, 45 Wellington Street, LEICESTER LE1 6HW

Sundays Mon - Sat inclusive Mon 8 Dec

12.30pm 8.00am 7.15pm

Low Mass Low Mass Sung Mass

[1] Phone 01494 727469 before travelling. Sung Mass on 1st Sundays.

NOTTINGHAM

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MASS LISTINGS

ISSUE 182 - WINTER 2014

St Peter’s Church, Hinckley Road, LEICESTER LE3 0TA

1St Fridays

6.00pm

Low Mass

Saturdays

11.00am

Low Mass

Fri 14 Nov

7.00pm

Sung Requiem

St Joseph, Station Road, OAKHAM, Rutland LE15 6QU

Fridays

7.00pm

Low Mass

St Mary’s, 12 Barnard Avenue, BRIGG DN20 8AS

Sundays[3]

5.00pm

Low Mass

Holy Rood, King Street, MARKET RASEN, Lincolnshire LN8 3BB

TBA[4]

TBA Low/Sung

[2]

[1] Cathedral Mass is followed by a social for young Catholic adults (18-35), organised by Juventutem Nottingham. For more details contact Corinna on 07791 041442. [2] Check newsletter at www.stjosephs-oakham.org. [3] Check newsletter at St. Mary’s Brigg, or ring 01652 652221. [4] Please contact the LMS Rep – Mike Carroll for more details on 07883 564408.

PLYMOUTH Church of Christ the King, Armada Way, PLYMOUTH PL1 2EN

1st Sundays

3.00pm

Sung Mass

Blessed Sacrament Church, Fore Street, Heavitree, EXETER EX1 2QJ

3rd Sundays[1]

3.00pm

Sung Mass

Exeter University Catholic Chaplaincy, Boniface House, Glenthorne Road, Fridays EXETER EX4 4QU Sun 21 Dec

7.30pm 3.00pm

Low Mass Sung Mass

St Cyprian’s Chapel, Ugbrooke House, nr CHUDLEIGH, Devon TQ13 0AD

4th Sundays

3.00pm

Sung Mass

Lanherne Convent, St Mawgan, Nr NEWQUAY, Cornwall TR8 4ER

Sundays & Holydays of Obligation 10.00am Mondays to Saturdays inclusive 7.30am

St Mary’s, Old Mill Lane, MARNHULL, Dorset DT10 1JX

Thu 11 Dec

12.00pm

Low Mass

Buckfast Abbey (St Michael’s Chapel), BUCKFASTLEIGH, TQ11 0EE

Mon 10 Nov[2] Tue 9 Dec (Votive BVM)[3]

12.00pm 12.00pm

Requiem Low Mass

Sung Mass Sung Mass

[1] No Mass in December. [2] Mass preceded by Rosary or Devotions at 11.30am. [3] Bishop Mark O’Toole will lead the Rosary before Mass at 11.15am and will sit in choir for the Mass.

PORTSMOUTH St John’s Catholic Cathedral, Edinburgh Road, PORTSMOUTH PO1 3HG

Sundays

8.00am

Low Mass

Thu 25 Dec (Christmas Day)

8.00am

Low Mass

St William of York, Upper Redlands Road, READING RG1 5JT

Sundays Mondays Tuesdays to Thursdays[1] Fridays Saturdays Holy Days of Obligation[1] Wed 24 Dec (Christmas Eve) Thu 25 Dec (Christmas Day)

11.00am Sung Mass 12.00pm Low Mass 7.00am Low Mass 7.30pm Low Mass 8.00am Low Mass 7.30pm Sung/Low 11.30pm Sung Mass 11.00am Sung/Low

St Joseph’s Church, St Michael’s Road, BASINGSTOKE, RG22 6TY

Sun 14 Dec

6.00pm

Sung Mass

Our Lady Immaculate, Westbourne, BOURNEMOUTH BH4 9AE

3rd Sundays

6.00pm

Low Mass

St Peter, Jewry Street, WINCHESTER, Hampshire SO23 8RY St Mary’s, High Street, RYDE, Isle of Wight PO33 2RG

2nd Sundays 1st Sundays 3rd Sundays Tuesdays Thursdays Wed 24 Dec (Christmas Eve)

12.15pm 6.00pm 7.45am 12.30pm 7.00pm 8.30pm

Low/Sung Low/Sung Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass

St Michael’s Church, Walls Road, BEMBRIDGE, Isle of Wight PO35 5RA

1st Fridays

9.15am

Low Mass

[1] Please check before travelling – 0118 966 5284 or visit www.fssp.co.uk/england for details.

SALFORD Oratory Church of St. Chad, Cheetham Hill Road, MANCHESTER M8 8GG

Sundays

4.45pm

Low Mass

English Martyrs, Alexandra Road South, Whalley Range, MANCHESTER M16 8QT

Saturdays

10.00am

Low Mass

St Osmund’s, Long Lane, Breightmet, BOLTON BL2 6EB

1st Thursdays Mon 8 Dec (Immaculate Conception) Wed 24 Dec (Christmas Eve)

7.30pm 7.30pm

Low Mass Sung Mass

11.30pm

Low/Sung

St Marie’s, Manchester Road, BURY BL9 0DR

Fridays

7.30pm

Low Mass

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ISSUE 182 - WINTER 2014

MASS LISTINGS

SHREWSBURY St Winefride’s, Crowmere Road, Monkmoor, SHREWSBURY SY2 5RA

Sundays

St Vincent de Paul’s, 2 Bentinck Road, ALTRINCHAM WA14 2BP

2nd Sundays

12.15pm

Low Mass

3.00pm

Low Mass

SS Peter & Paul and Philomena, Atherton Street, NEW BRIGHTON, Sundays[1]

Wallasey CH45 9LT Mondays-Thursdays[2] Fridays[2]

Saturdays and Bank Holidays[2]

Holy Days of Obligation[3]

8.00am Low Mass 10.30am Sung Mass 9.00am Low Mass 7.00pm Low Mass 10.00am Low Mass 7.00pm Sung/Low

St Thomas Becket, Nantwich Road, TARPORLEY CW6 9UN

12.30pm

3rd Sundays

Low Mass

[1] Preceded by Confession and Rosary. Sunday Vespers & Benediction at 5.00pm. [2] Confessions are heard and the Rosary is recited half an hour before Mass. In the evening Vespers is said at 5.30pm followed by Adoration. [3] In accordance with the Calendar of the 1962 Missal.

SOUTHWARK (NORTH) St Bede’s, 58 Thornton Road, CLAPHAM PARK, London SW12 0LF

Sundays Mondays – Fridays (inclusive) Thursdays Saturdays

10.45am 7.00am 12.30pm 9.00am

Sung Mass Low Mass Low Mass Low Mass

St. Mary Magdalen (East Hill), 96 North Side, WANDSWORTH COMMON, Sundays London SW18 2QU

11.00am

Low/Sung

St Mary, 28 Crown Lane, CHISLEHURST, Kent BR7 5PL

1st & 3rd Sundays Fridays

11.00am 7.30pm

Sung Mass Low Mass

St Mary Magdalen, 61 North Worple Wy, MORTLAKE, London SW14 8PR

1st Fridays

7.00pm

Low Mass

Sacred Heart, Essendene Road, CATERHAM, Surrey CR3 5PA

Wednesdays

10.00am

Low Mass

12.00pm 9.30am

Sung Mass Low Mass

SOUTHWARK (KENT) St Augustine’s Church, St Augustine’s Road, RAMSGATE, Kent CT11 9PA Sundays Fridays[1] St Ethelbert, 72 Hereson Road, RAMSGATE, Kent CT11 7DS

Wednesdays[2]

9.30am

Low Mass

St Thomas of Canterbury, Station Road, HEADCORN, Kent

4th Sundays Most Fridays Mon 8 Dec (Immaculate Conception) Thu 25 Dec (Christmas Day) Tue 6 Jan (Epiphany) Mon 2 Feb (Purification)

12.00pm 9.30am 12.00pm

Low Mass Low Mass Sung Mass

8.30am 12.00pm TBC

Low Mass Low Mass TBC

St Augustine’s, Crescent Road, TUNBRIDGE WELLS, Kent TN1 2LY

First Wednesdays[3]

7.30pm

Low Mass

St Francis, Week Street, MAIDSTONE, Kent ME14 1RL

1st Sundays

12.30pm

Low Mass

St Simon Stock, Brookfield Road, ASHFORD SOUTH, Kent TN23 4EU

2nd & 5th Sundays

12.15pm

Low Mass

St Andrew, Ashford Road, TENTERDEN, Kent TN30 6LL

3rd Sundays

12.30pm

Low Mass

[1] Then Exposition, Confession & Benediction at 10.00am. [2] Preceded at 8.30am by Exposition & Benediction. [3] Check on 01892 522525.

WREXHAM St Francis of Assisi, Llay Chain, Llay, nr. WREXHAM LL12 0NT

2nd Sundays

12.30pm

Low Mass

Our Lady of the Rosary, Jubilee Road, BUCKLEY CH7 2AF

2nd Saturdays

12.30pm

Low/Sung[1]

St Winefride’s Catholic Church, Well Street, HOLYWELL CH8 7PL

4th Sundays

11.30am

Low/Sung[1]

[1] Dependent on availability of cantor.

43

FAMILY NOTEBOOK

ISSUE 182 - WINTER 2014

If Catholic children spontaneously engage in liturgical play, it must be because they find the liturgy fascinating and, in a strange way, ‘fun’.’ Photo Joseph Shaw

Family Notebook Gwen Richards

S

ome issues ago, I lamented the way younger children are herded out of many Ordinary Form Masses for a ‘children’s liturgy’ during the first part of the Mass. Having being asked by the editor to write on the subject again, I found my mind wandering to an altogether different kind of children’s liturgy, one we should treasure though the rubrics may be just as flexible.

What is more cute than the sight of toddlers incensing the sideboard and genuflecting to the mantelpiece? I have to confess that I used to watch my infant sons playing ‘Mass’, proudly, wondering if I were to be the mother of a band of priests. I now watch the same boys running around the house gunning down everything in sight and, funnily enough, assure myself I am not the mother of a band of future desperados.

I know some mothers actively encourage this kind of game (Mass that is, not mass murder), believing it will foster vocations. Sadly, what looks adorable and saintly may in fact disguise perfectly normal mischief. In ‘The Keys of the Kingdom’

by AJ Cronin, the naughty cousins Francis and Nora encourage pious young Anselm Mealey (“He always wants to play at being holy”) to lead a procession around the garden to the ‘shrine’ they have prepared in the laurel bushes. Singing the Tantum Ergo, hands raised to heaven, Anselm walks straight into a booby trap. So funny and so true to life. Was it inspired by the author’s own childhood games?

However, the fact that our little ones play ‘Mass’ does point to something very interesting about the Mass and the way children react to it. Surely, this is clear evidence that anyone who thinks that Latin and the traditional liturgy alienate children is absolutely wrong. Children play at things they find fascinating, exciting and fun…. Star Wars, Batman and Spiderman, building castles and digging tunnels…If Catholic children spontaneously engage in liturgical play, it must be because they find the liturgy fascinating and, in a strange

44

way, ‘fun’. Why else would they make it the subject of their imaginative play? We should treasure this children’s liturgy because it proves our very young children are inspired by the Mass. (To be fair, my observations are based on traditionally minded families, whose children are most familiar with the EF Mass. It would be interesting to know if the New Rite is the source of so many hours of serious play. Answers on the back of a Holy Card please.)

There comes a time when, just as spontaneously, children stop playing Mass, though other make-believe games may continue far longer. I do not think this means they have lost interest in what goes on at church. Perhaps it is because they start to understand that Mass is just too special to be part of a game. Just as a child’s innocent inhibition about his body correctly and naturally develops into modesty, a child’s sweet familiarity with all things sacred needs to mature into proper respect for the Divine.

‘Family Liturgies’ or special school celebrations of Mass are composed with a view to helping children play an active role in the liturgy. If children have reached that stage of spiritual awareness where they recognise, even subconsciously, they can no longer ‘play Mass’, the result will be acute embarrassment. Only the spiritually immature will feel comfortable.

However, lest we ‘traddies’ start to feel smug, I do believe there is a danger that we may find we too are sometimes ‘playing Mass’. If our interest in the unusual rubrics of an obscure Episcopal ritual or the rare music performed by the schola is eclipsing our awe before the mystery of the Holy Sacrifice, we need to take a moment to think why.

The Mass is far too important to be a hobby, even a serious one. It behoves us all, whatever our liturgical preferences, to ensure we know the difference between praying and playing.

COMMENT

The Path Less Taken Mary O’Regan

T

he availability of the Traditional Mass across London was the tipping point for me.

Some five years ago, I had been making up my mind as to whether to start a new life in Britain or America. I could have left my hometown of Cork for New York. But coming to the UK was made enticing because of the 8am Mass at the London Oratory. It got me thinking that I could always make Mass before work.

My nerves were soothed by the realisation that I could offer my prayer intentions at a daily Old Rite Mass. The grace obtained from beseeching Our Lord would help me overcome the usual headaches that hinder a newcomer. In my case, it was a question of how to get established as a writer and make new friends. With the grace of Mass in the Extraordinary Form, I can lick any problem was the thought running through my brain.

Many Traditional Mass luvvies cite reasons such as the solemnity, the reverence or the aesthetics as reasons for adhering to the Mass of Ages. For me, the Old Rite Mass edifies my Faith to the point where I feel confident asking for prayer intentions.

Padre Pio assured people that ‘the Blessed Mother and the entire celestial court are present at Mass’, and safe in this knowledge, I ask them for graces.

It is still the case, half a decade later, that when I arrive at a Traditional Mass in London, I first thank God for the privilege of being able to attend it.

Name dropping as a way of challenging the critics of the Latin Mass Would the critics of Catholic tradition be better disposed to the Old Rite Mass – if they were shown the right ambassador?

By ‘ambassador’, I mean someone they admire who goes to the Traditional Mass.

I know my fair share of lapsed Irish Catholics/aspiring writers. Recently, on a night out in London, I bumped into a contemporary in one of the ‘hip’ quarters frequented by young people. As a young Irishwoman, I’m an outsider because of my devotion to the Old Rite. My buddy thinks I am contrarian, a stick in the mud. But she mentions that she ‘really likes’ Charles Moore’s Spectator column.

‘I’d love to be able to write like him,’ she says.

I tell her that Moore goes to the Traditional Mass. She is dumbfounded. Best of all, she stops making derogatory remarks. Now that her fave columnist is one of those Mass

goers, she seems less likely to bash the Mass. This is not the first time this that Mr Moore has entered the conversation.

At least two other Irish writers, who say, ‘want to write like Moore’, have been less prejudiced after I tell them he is a patron of the Latin Mass Society.

I’ve also told a Poirot fan that Agatha Christie was an advocate of the Latin Mass. And I’ve mentioned to Brideshead aficionados that Evelyn Waugh was a fan.

But name dropping has its drawbacks. Not only does one become known as a name-dropper, it feels spiritually impure to wield people who attend the Mass, as opposed to the Mass itself, as a means of winning people. But, bear in mind, I’ve put up with snarky comments for years. And Mr Moore’s name worked.

Traditionalist friends may help you get into Heaven After attending the Michael Davies Conference on 4 October, my heart has softened towards other traditional Catholics.

You see, dear reader, I’ve indulged in my fair share of ‘Trad-bashing’. I’ve haughtily criticised other traditionalists for not doing enough to bring other people to the Mass or for talking too much about purgatory or the dangers of Hell.

At the conference, however, I came to appreciate that traditionalists can make very loyal friends. There was a joyous atmosphere, as though it were a big reunion. Everyone spoke warmly about the late Mr Davies.

But bravo to Jamie Bogle who exhorted us to pray for Mr Davies’s soul, saying: ‘I hope he’s in Heaven.’

Mr Bogle did not assume that his great friend, is in Heaven.

He reminded us that the most generous thing we can do for him, would be to pray. We poured into the Requiem Mass and prayed for the repose of Michael Davies’s soul. It was an act of heroic friendship. Heroic, because we live in a time when we feel coerced into saying that ‘everyone goes to Heaven’.

Traditional Catholics may talk a bit of doom and gloom. But what better friends could one have, than ones who pray for one, ten years after death?

Remember November can be an important time to free souls from Purgatory A startling account from the sainted life of Padre Pio can be used to edify as to the sublime power that one Traditional Mass may have in liberating a soul from purgatory.

A soul from purgatory visited Padre Pio, and told him that his name was Pietro Di Mauro and that he had died in a fire on 18 September 1908. Pietro had a very specific request: ‘The Lord let me come from purgatory. If you say the Mass for me tomorrow, I will go to Paradise.’

Padre Pio offered the Mass, and the soul of Pietro flew to Heaven.

45

FROM OUR ROME CORRESPONDENT

ISSUE 182 - WINTER 2014

ROMAN REPORT Alberto Carosa

T

September Ecclesia Dei Secretary he recent, appointment of Guido Pozzo was received by the Cardinal Antonio Cañizares Pope, as disclosed by the Bollettino Llovera as new Archbishop issued by the Vatican Sala Stampa of Valencia, Spain, after almost six (press office). He was quoted as years as prefect of the Congregation saying that it would be an informal for Divine Worship, has predictably meeting: ‘With the intent to take caught by surprise the Catholic stock of the relations between the establishment in Rome and beyond.

Fraternity and Rome, interrupted This was particularly so in certain since the departure of Cardinal conservative circles, which saw William Joseph Levada, Cardinal the move as a sort of demotion Müller’s predecessor, and since the of a senior cardinal, favourable to resignation of Benedict XVI.’ (cf. also the Old Rite.

Rorate blog).

He celebrated the Old Rite on The fact that Archbishop Pozzo a number of occasions, most is Secretary of the Pontifical notably two years ago in a Solemn Commission ‘Ecclesia Dei’, in Pontifical in St Peter’s basilica, charge of relations between Rome during the second traditionalist and the traditionalist milieu, might pilgrimage organized by the CISP, suggest that the Pope might have Coetus Internationalis Summorum decided to resume talks with the Pontificum). Although these rumours SSPX. After all, in a post on 10 May, echoed on news wires, they were Rorate confirmed that Msgr Fellay soon put to rest by the senior prelate. ‘was received by Pope Francis He made clear: ‘It was my desire to in the Domus Sanctae Marthae’ return to a diocese.’ in a ‘short and cordial meeting’.

‘For a shepherd,’ he said. ‘There Archbishop Guido Pozzo, in charge of relations with And that was not the first contact is nothing better than being among traditionalists/photo Joseph Shaw the Pope had with the SSPX and his flock.’ his representatives. As noted in The cardinal’s words were also Vatican Insider, the new District Superior of France, Fr Christian an indirect denial of another mantra spread in ‘traditional’, or Bouchacourt had the opportunity to meet the then Archbishop perhaps self-styled traditional, circles, namely the presumed of Buenos Aires, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, when he was hostility of Pope Francis to the Old Rite. In fact, events which superior of the District of South America. And since then they point in the opposite direction are occurring time and again. have had contact on purely administrative matters concerning For instance, Cardinal George Pell is to celebrate a Solemn the District of South America.

Pontifical Mass in the Extraordinary Form to usher in this year’s We should not forget what Cardinal Müller said about the SSPX, CISP pilgrimage ‘ad sedem Petri’. Some vaticanisti (journalists as reported in the Corriere della Sera last December: despite the specialising in Vatican affairs) say the Cardinal is the highestlifting of the canonical excommunication of their four bishops, ranking prelate in the Vatican. In February 2014, he was made a de facto sacramental excommunication remains. the first Cardinal-Prefect of the newly created Secretariat for the ‘We are not closing the door and never will, but we are inviting Economy to oversee the Vatican finances. them to be reconciled,’ Cardinal Müller went on. ‘But they too Is it possible to imagine that he would do such a thing without must change their attitude, accept the conditions of the Catholic the endorsement (and therefore the blessing) of Pope Francis?

Church, and the Supreme Pontiff as the definitive criterion In fact, this Mass would seem to give a sort of official Church ‘imprimatur’ on the pilgrimage as a whole. for membership.’

CISP is the worldwide network of lay and ecclesiastical But we ought also to remember that a year ago the former associations that are trying to implement the motu proprio prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy and the Ecclesia Dei Summorum Pontificum.

Commission, Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, told members But there is more evidence: a meeting between the Prefect of of Una Voce International Federation, that Pope Francis has no the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Gerhard intention of restricting access to the Extraordinary Form.

Ludwig Müller, and the superior-general of the Society of Saint ‘I met Pope Francis very recently and he told me that he has no Pius X (FSSPX/SSPX), Msgr. Bernard Fellay. It will probably problem with the Old Rite, and neither does he have any problem have already taken place before this is published and is the first with lay groups and associations like yours that promote it.’ such meeting. But, crucially, it was requested by the Vatican.

No source needs to be quoted, since the author of this piece It should be seen against the backdrop of the fact that on 18 heard the words with his own ears.

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ISSUE 182 - WINTER 2014

COMMENT

Be Kind, Be Catholic E

Michael Lord, LMS General Manager

lsewhere in this edition we focus on opposition to the Extraordinary Form from laity and clergy. We do this in order to bring into the light some of the unexamined and unchallenged myths and assumptions made too often by clergy and laity about the Traditional Mass itself -and the people who attend it. We wish to challenge that prejudice, some of it institutionalised, with which many readers of this publication will be familiar.

If traditional Catholics are to be welcomed back into parishes as regular members, not just theoretically but pastorally and socially, then such prejudice must be exposed, challenged and banished.

However, the fear and distrust exhibited by liberals is also sometimes visible amongst traditionalists. I received a complaint from one of our members recently about an article in Mass of Ages that illustrated such fears rather well.

“At Mass with…” is our regular column that interviews Catholics who have recently started to attend the Extraordinary Form, or who have gone to a Traditional Mass for the first time.

The interviewee in the last edition was a recent convert from Anglicanism who in recent weeks had attended a few Old Rite Masses. She concluded her interview with the words: ‘I wouldn’t necessarily want only to experience the EF Mass… but the full meaning of the Ordinary Form Mass becomes clearer to me each time I attend an EF Mass.’ Our member mentioned above, however, objected. Here is what he wrote: ‘Why do you have people writing who see that the two rites are equivalent and that we can have both? … If I want to read this kind of thing I can easily do it in the Catholic Herald, but not in a Traditional Catholic magazine. Is the Latin Mass Society going soft?’

‘At Mass with…’ is meant to show that Catholics, both practising and lapsed, that you would never have thought of as being ‘Extraordinary Form types’, do in fact see great riches in the ancient form of Mass, once they’ve actually been to one.

They may never have attended before, or not since they were children, and have the sort of prejudices about the Old Rite I described at the beginning of this article. Nevertheless, they are won over by it and think of attending other ones in the future.

Perhaps not all the time, but a window into another world, a sacred space if you will, has been opened to them. This is something that grows and develops in time. One Traditional Mass does not a traditional Catholic make, but maybe it will be a start.

This raises a wider question about how we respond to our fellow Catholics who may ask us questions about the Old Rite, and how we treat them when they, possibly out of pure curiosity, but more likely because they are searching for something that will answer a profound need, come along to an Extraordinary Form Mass for the first time. The stereotype is of the unfriendly ‘trad’ congregation who are suspicious of the newcomer and who give every impression that they would

rather there weren’t any newcomers at all! This may be a stereotype, but stereotypes often have a grain of truth in them.

That suspicion and defensiveness is born of years of discrimination and injustice at the hands of hostile clergy and laity. So it is understandable, but the times they are a-changing.

As the Old Rite slowly becomes more widely available, there will be more such newcomers. We should not fear our fellow Catholics who attend the Novus Ordo. Many have simply never been taught about either the Old Rite or even the basic theology of the Mass, and what they have heard will have been fed them by our opponents. That’s not necessarily their fault.

I’m speaking here not of the hard-core liberals who oppose the Extraordinary Form out of ideology, but of regular Catholics.

All evangelisation involves coming into direct contact with people who do not share our beliefs. Some of those souls may, however, be open to the truth of a fully orthodox Catholicism and a form of the Mass that unambiguously witnesses to that truth. Always remember St Francis de Sales’ wise words about attracting more people with a spoonful of honey than with dose of vinegar.

  -         

-

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