Oremus December 2018

December 2018 | Edition Number 242 | FREE

Westminster Cathedral Magazine

The great God of heaven is come down to earth, His mother a Virgin, and sinless his birth; The Father eternal his Father alone: He sleeps in the manger; he reigns on the throne.

EDITORIAL

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Oremus

November 2018

CONTENTS

Inside Oremus

Oremus Cathedral Clergy House 42 Francis Street London SW1P 1QW T 020 7798 9055 E oremus@westminstercathedral.org.uk W www.westminstercathedral.org.uk

Oremus, the magazine of Westminster Cathedral, reflects the life of the Cathedral and the lives of those who make it a place of faith in central London. If you think that you would like to contribute an article or an item of news, please contact one of the editorial team.

Patron The Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster Chairman Canon Christopher Tuckwell Editor Fr John Scott Oremus Team Tony Banks – Distribution Zoe Goodway – Marketing Manel Silva – Subscriptions Berenice Roetheli – Proofreading Eucharia Sule – Office Assistant Design and Art Direction Julian Game Registered Charity Number 233699 ISSN 1366-7203 Opinions expressed by contributors do not necessarily represent the views of the Editor or the Oremus Team. Neither are they the official views of Westminster Cathedral. The Editor reserves the right to edit all contributions.

Publication of advertisements does not imply any form of recommendation or endorsement.

Unless otherwise stated, photographs are published under a creative commons or similar licence. Every effort is made to credit all images. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission.

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Cathedral Life: Past & Present 4

Editorial by Fr John Scott The Angelus

by Anne Marie Micallef

10 & 11

Christmas Card Designers at Work in the Choir School

14 & 19

Cathedral History: The Menagerie

by Patrick Rogers

16 & 17

Pilgrims in Puglia

by Margaret Tobin

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Christmas Celebration

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Cathedral History in Pictures: Fourteen Deacons Ordained for Missionary Orders

by Paul Tobin

26

Life on a Gap Year

by Angus Elliot and Adrian Porter

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Features

SPICMA – The Growth of a Charity

6

A Vision of Life by Fr John O’Brien

7&8

A French Legacy from the Courtauld

by Anne Dunhill

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A Pilgrimage to the Grenfell Tower

by Tony Galcius 12 & 13

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The Advent Wreath

by Fr Francis X Weiser SJ

15

St Edmund, a Martyr born on Christmas Day

by Dr Michael Straiton KCSG

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Our Lady of Kibeho, A Rwandan Shrine

23

Book Notice: Suicide

by Dr Adrian Treloar

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Regulars

Printed by Premier Print Group 020 7987 0604

December 2018

Oremus

Monthly Album

20 & 21 22

Friends of the Cathedral Cathedral Diary

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From the Chairman The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem is situated just over six miles south of Jerusalem on the site identified by Christian tradition as the birthplace of Jesus since the 2nd century. A church was first completed there in AD 339 and the edifice that replaced it after a fire in the 6th century retains elaborate floor mosaics from the original building.

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24 & 25

Crossword and Poem of the Month

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In Retrospect

29

St Vincent de Paul Primary School

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EDITORIAL

From the Office The challenge of the December edition of Oremus is to acknowledge the season of Advent and the proximity of Christmas, whilst maintaining the range of interest in other articles. The inside back cover features an ending: the Australian gap year students who assist with the care of the Choristers leave at Christmas and we look forward to meeting their replacements. Theirs may not be a highly visible role in the life of the Cathedral, but an important one within the Choir School. Some Christmas colour comes from the cards which the children there have been designing for sale in aid of the Cardinal Hume Centre.

A revived feature of Cathedral life is the recitation of the Angelus at noon. Those outside the building hear Big Edward, the tower bell, ringing out daily, although it cannot be heard inside. However, the prayer is important, with its emphasis on the reality of the Incarnation, and an article describes its origins and also gives the text of the prayer as a reminder for us all.

Pilgrimages are a regular feature of Cathedral and diocesan life and we have two contrasting reports; one

from Puglia, a perennially attractive area to the sun-starved British, and one from Ladbroke Grove, where the Grenfell Tower provoked reflection and prayer in the context of a community scarred by anger and grief. One of our regular advertisers, the charity SPICMA, has contributed a piece about its origins and focus of work. It is remarkable that what started as a parochial charity has achieved so much on a purely voluntary basis and its advert this month deserves your attention. The autumn, meanwhile, sees a positive rash of exhibitions in London’s galleries; this month we highlight a secular show of French impressionists, but there are several more lined up to publicise to you in January and February.

Nor is this Oremus without challenge. A Spiritan Missionary has written a spirited piece about what it truly means to be pro-Life in a culture where so much that mitigates against the fullness of life which Christ offers has become the norm. And there is a reminder that Christmas is not a time of happiness for all; Dr Treloar has written a very helpful and short book on suicide which can be of help to all who have experienced the death of a loved one or fear the possibility.

Join the Companions ... and help us to keep publishing Oremus free of charge Although Oremus earns income from the advertising it carries, we rely on donations to cover our production costs.

The Companions of Oremus was established to recognise those who give generously to support us. Open exclusively to individuals, Companions’ names are published each month (see page 7). All members are invited to at least one social event during the year and Mass is offered for their intentions from time to time.

If you are able to support us by joining the Companions of Oremus please write to Oremus, c/o Clergy House, 42 Francis Street, London SW1P 1QW or email oremuscomps@rcdow.org.uk. Members are asked to give a minimum of £100 annually. Please mention in your email or letter how you would like your name to appear in the listing. If you are eligible for Gift Aid, please provide your name and address, including postcode.

Thank you for your support.

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Oremus

December 2018

FROM THE CHAIRMAN

The Administrator writes Life for many of us seems to consist of a number of new beginnings; some, like New Year resolutions, come every year and others appear occasionally, or maybe, only once in a lifetime. As a small boy at boarding school, I used to enjoy the excitement of a new term with the prospect of a new class, a new desk, a new dormitory and all those other things that seemed so important to a nine year-old.

In adult life, we experience the mixed emotions of a new home, a new job, a new baby, a new parish and a million and one other experiences. As time goes by, what seemed new and exciting can sometimes become accepted as normal, even rather routine.

In the liturgical life of the Church and in our devotions we experience a whole range of new beginnings often associated with the Sacraments, Baptism, First Holy Communion, Confirmation, Reconciliation and maybe Marriage or Ordination. One Sacrament which is always new and always fresh, but which can, if we allow it to, become similarly routine is the Holy Eucharist.

On 2 December, Advent Sunday, we begin a new liturgical year and although this comes year by year we must never allow it to be simply a formality. Advent is a truly exciting time of year, a season of grace, of expectation and of wonder and we should do our utmost to enter into it as fully as we can, enjoying the many moments when Christ comes to us in our daily life, preparing to celebrate once more his coming to us as the Holy Child of Bethlehem and looking forward in faith to the day when he will come again.

Westminster Cathedral Cathedral Clergy House 42 Francis Street London SW1P 1QW Telephone 020 7798 9055 Service times 020 7798 9097 Email chreception@rcdow.org.uk www.westminstercathedral.org.uk Cathedral Chaplains Canon Christopher Tuckwell, Administrator Fr Daniel Humphreys, Sub-Administrator Fr Julio Albornoz Fr Michael Donaghy Fr Andrew Gallagher, Precentor Fr Rajiv Michael Fr Michael Quaicoe Fr John Scott, Registrar Sub-Administrator’s Intern Oliver Delargy Also in residence Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Victories Music Department Martin Baker, Master of Music Peter Stevens Obl. OSB, Assistant Master of Music Jonathan Allsopp, Organ Scholar Cathedral Manager Peter McNulty Estates Manager Neil Fairbairn Chapel of Ease Sacred Heart Church Horseferry Road SW1P 2EF

Wishing you all a prayerful and joyful Advent.

With every blessing

December 2018

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SPICMA AT WORK

From Stroud Green to the Solomon Islands St Peter in Chains in Stroud Green is not among the largest of Westminster diocese’s 214 parishes. But somewhat Name in hereit is the birthplace of one of Britain’s most surprisingly, successful Catholic charities, SPICMA (Special Projects in Christian Missionary Areas, formerly St Peter in Chains Missionary Association). Its origins go back to July 1967, when a young priest, Bernard Phelan, was ordained at St Peter’s as a Mill Hill Missionary and was sent to Tororo, a parish in rural Uganda. Family and friends back home, led by his brother Paddy, started a support group to buy ploughs for the Tororo community and money was raised through fund-raising dances and jumble sales.

It didn’t take long before the group broadened its focus.

The arrival of Idi Amin in the 1970s triggered violence and a catastrophic collapse across many sectors of Uganda and parish helpers began organising and loading tonnes of medical supplies, first by air then, as amounts increased, in container ships. Paddy, now 76, is still honorary director.

When reflecting on those days, he muses that right from the beginning God seemed to smile on SPICMA. ‘One interesting fact,’ he says, ‘is that it never rained when we were packing containers in the early days. Sometimes it stopped just before, sometimes it started when we had finished. Sometimes it was raining nearby but not on us. Just as well, since we were loading very heavy weights, and medical supplies which would have suffered if they had got wet’.

These small projects form the heart of the charity which has built up a network of knowledgeable and trusted people on the ground in remote communities around the world. However, it also reacts to emergencies and has helped victims of bombings, countless floods, famines, earthquakes, typhoons and even the Boxing Day tsunami of 2004. Perhaps the most surprising aspect of the charity is that it is entirely voluntary; none of its staff is paid. Given that it provides approximately 50 grants totalling around £300,000 annually, it is a surprisingly large charity to still be operated by volunteers and something of which the founders are proud and the donors clearly appreciate.

Furthermore, with everyone working out of their own homes, overheads are negligible when compared to other charities operating in the sector.

With more than 50 years of helping poor and diverse communities, you would think that SPICMA’s volunteers had seen it all. Yet there can still be the odd surprise in the post.

A couple of years ago a handwritten letter was received from Fr Albert Kalu, a priest in the Solomon Islands, seeking help to build a permanent church to replace the timber and thatch hut the parish was using. The charity had no idea who he was or how he got SPICMA’s details and address, but responded nevertheless to his appeal. Recently it had another letter from him saying the church was complete and would officially open in December 2018. It also explained how he first got in contact. His predecessor in the parish had been appointed bishop of Honiara, the capital, and threw away a lot of old magazines when he moved and in one of them was an article about SPICMA. ‘It was not only by accident I picked it up,’ said Fr Kalu, ‘but by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit’. It appears that God is still smiling on SPICMA.

SPICMA supports a feeding programme in Uganda

Over time, the band of volunteers began to ask where else were people falling through the cracks of society, out of the sight and reach of charities. It decided to open its ears to the priests, nuns and religious living amongst the world’s poor to provide the answer. This is still where all of SPICMA’s projects originate. A priest walking down a road in Pakistan who comes across a band of people living on the verge, having lost everything in a flood, or a nun running a nursing home in Zimbabwe without enough food to feed those in her care. These come to SPICMA with an idea of what is needed and are prepared to work to correct it, if they can be given the resources.

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Fr Kalu’s new church of St Mark, Fote in the Solomon Islands has been built over and around its smaller dilapidated predecessor.

Oremus

December 2018

A VISION OF LIFE

Straight Thinking Fr John O'Brien Many of those who believe in the right to life of all human beings, including the right to life of the unborn, are reeling from the results of the recent referendum In Ireland. Their dismay is not lessened by the cheers of the crowd in Dublin Castle, celebrating that the state will soon arrogate to itself the power to end the life of the unborn on demand, and how that is being trumpeted in a public discourse increasingly indifferent, if not hostile, to the Christian vision of the sacredness of the life of every human being.

‘Our defence of the innocent unborn needs to be clear, firm and passionate, for at stake is the dignity of a human life, which is always sacred and demands love for each person, regardless of his or her stage of development. Equally sacred, however, are the lives of the poor, those already born, the destitute, the abandoned and the underprivileged, the vulnerable infirm and elderly exposed to covert euthanasia, the victims of human trafficking, new forms of slavery, and every form of rejection.’ [Pope Francis, 'On the Call to Holiness in Today's World', 19 March, 2018, 101].

To be pro-life is more than being merely pro-birth. At its heart, repudiation of the naturalization of a pro-abortion narrative in a pro-abortion politics, is an assertion of and a commitment to a non-violent lifestyle and a non-violent society. There are two aspects to this. One is the 'clear, firm and passionate' commitment to the rights of the unborn child. The second is an equally 'clear, firm and passionate' commitment to the right to life of all whose lives are deemed dispensable in the neo-liberal, throwaway society for which huge swathes of the information industry are so busily and profitably generating consensus. These include the homeless, trafficked women and children, refugees facing starvation, civilian victims of mass-murder in what the militaryindustrial complex euphemizes as 'collateral damage' just as the abortion lobby euphemizes the killing of healthy unborn children as 'terminations.' The first is courageously evident in the pro-life movement. The second, arguably less so.

To be pro-life is to be pro-life across the board. The late Cardinal Bernardin of Chicago spoke of the defence of life as a 'seamless garment'; to oppose abortion, demands opposing the death penalty, opposing the use of weapons of mass destruction [and opposing the use of our airports for those employing them], and opposing the possession and Continued overleaf December 2018

Oremus

Companions of Oremus

We are very grateful for the support of the following: Mrs Mary Barsh Mrs Else Benson Dr Stuart Blackie Mr Denis Board Anne Veronica Bond Richard Bremer Francis George Clark Daniel Crowley Ms Georgina Enang Alfredo Fernandez Fred Gardiner Connie Gibbes Zoe & Nick Goodway Mrs Valerie Hamblen Bernadette Hau Mrs Henry Hely-Hutchinson Mrs Cliona Howell Alice M Jones & Jacob F Jones Poppy K Mary Thérèse Kelly Florence M G Koroma Raymund Livesey Barry Lock Alan Lloyd in memoriam Clare and John Lusby James Maple Dionne Marchetti Mary Maxwell Pamela McGrath Linda McHugh Peter McNelly in memoriam Mrs C Mitchell-Gotell Abundia Toledo Munar Chris Stewart Munro Mrs Brigid Murphy Kate Nealon Raymond O’Sullivan Emel Rochat Berenice Roetheli Patrick Rogers RIP John Scanlan Mr Luke Simpson Sonja Soper Tessa and Ben Strickland Eileen Terry Robin Michael Tinsley Mr Alex Walker Christiana Thérèse Macarthy-Woods Jacqueline Worth Patricia M Wright and of our anonymous Companions

If you would like to become a Companion of Oremus, see page 4

New in Cathedral Gift Shop We are pleased to announce an exquisite addition to the range of gifts available in Westminster Cathedral Gift Shop.

Cross pens are renowned worldwide for their design and quality and we now have for sale a luxury ball-point pen which comes with the Cathedral logo and in its own box.

This will make an excellent gift for a loved one on that special occasion.

Retail Price: £35.00

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Š James McNellis

A VISION OF LIFE

Who are the protestors now?

proliferation of nuclear weapons. It is disconcerting to find right-wing ideologues dismissing such profoundly spiritual, gospel-based projects as 'ideological counterfeits that replace the church's wise guidance with the shrill pursuit of utopia... an unachievable, incoherent leftist wish-list'. Such reactionary polemic does, however, point us towards an important consideration.

It is this: pro-life campaigners are perceived as right-wing, pro-establishment, conservative law-and-order types. This may be partly true, partly a result of how society operated in a previous age, and partly as a result of the manner in which the information industry has chosen to present them. It may also be partly false. But it is the way in which a compliant media has chosen to construct them and thereby facilely to dismiss them. There is now however, a new establishment and abortion fits its agenda. Pro-life advocates must revision themselves not as defenders of a previous establishment but as the defenders of the weak and voiceless in a throwaway consumerist society and its advocates in the new establishment.

So: 'What is to be done'? A great deal! There are three important considerations. Firstly pro-life people must build bridges to work to decrease the number of abortions. If, as some studies indicate, lack of affordable support structures in the rearing of children is, especially for low income families, a factor in poor women considering abortion, then we must work for adequately funded support systems. Social welfare recipients should not be considered a burden, rather their children should be considered a treasure deserving of support.

Bridge-building is difficult but not impossible. Not all prochoice people are pro-unrestricted abortion. Some, if not all, genuinely wish that abortion would be rare.

Secondly, the pro-life movement will be more credible if it locates itself at the heart of a comprehensive movement for the right to life and the right to a dignified life for all people.

After his election, the present Irish Taoiseach declared that 8

this was a republic without prejudice; but there is massive prejudice against Travellers, the homeless, the unemployed, social welfare recipients who have little to get up early for, as there is against elderly nuns and unborn children. The pro-life movement which has campaigned so courageously for the right to life of the unborn child, must be seen just as unswervingly on the side of all those whose lives are under threat.

Thirdly, we live in a world where 1% of the population owns 66% of the world's wealth. By and large, governments, financial institutions and the media operate in the interests of this 1% whose financial clout would control much of our lives and dictate our thinking. This 1% values only what produces and consumes more wealth and ensures more power for itself. It does so by promoting an economic model which impoverishes the majority of humanity, degrades the environment to the extent of casting doubt as to its sustainability and legitimates itself by depoliticizing populations. Far from liberating many women, it further degrades them.

Everything else including the weak, the dependent, the unborn and increasingly, the aged and infirm are considered burdensome, expendable: to be ignored, discarded, even terminated. In this world, greed is good and philosophy is bunkum. Ethics is reduced to what can be established by legal precedent argued by expensive lawyers.

Far from being a right-wing conservative movement, pro-life campaigners will be a left-wing, counter-cultural, dynamic minority in such a society, offering a more human vision of a just and sustainable future. To remain consistent, faithful and effective in such an enterprise, demands rooting ourselves ever more solidly in the sacred and subversive memory of Jesus whose life was violently terminated, and who was resurrected so that all might have life and have it in abundance.

Fr John O'Brien is an Irish Spiritan missionary Oremus

December 2018

MODERN FRENCH ART

Impressionists from the Strand Anne Dunhill

The Courtauld Institute of Art was founded in 1932 through the philanthropy of the industrialist and art collector Samuel Courtauld (1876- 1947), who in the same year presented it with an extensive number of paintings from his own collection, mainly French Impressionist and PostImpressionist works acquired in the 1920s. Since 1989, the Institute, together with the Courtauld Gallery, has been housed in the Strand block of Somerset House, which will be closing in Autumn 2018 for at least two years of major redevelopment.

The exhibition Courtauld Impressionists: from Manet to Cézanne is centred round the loan of 26 masterpieces from the Courtauld Gallery which will be shown alongside paintings from the National Gallery's own collection which he financed and helped to acquire. It contains the largest number of works from Courtauld's own collection ever to be seen at the National Gallery and traces the development of modern French painting from the 1860s to the turn of the 20th century.

Arranged chronologically in 12 sections - each devoted to a different artist - the exhibition includes the work of such key figures as Manet, Renoir, Cézanne, Seurat and Bonnard.

December 2018

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It’s particularly interesting to contrast old favourites like Manet’s La Loge, (from the Courtauld) which depicts a wellknown courtesan holding court in her box at the theatre while her bored escort scans the audience looking for action, with the less flamboyant La Première Sortie, (from the National), showing a young girl, modestly dressed and keeping her eyes firmly on the stage.

Another enjoyable study in contrast is provided by Dégas’ early painting of androgynous young girls and boys preparing to wrestle in Young Spartans Exercising (from the National) hung next to the same artist's infinitely better-known study of voluptuous ballet girls in Two Dancers on a Stage (from the Courtauld). Other old friends from the Courtauld include Manet's Déjeuner sur l'Herbe, banned by the Paris Salon in 1863, but still causing a sensation among the rejects and the splendid Bar at the Folies-Bergère, where the spectator has to pause and engage in mental gymnastics to work out the reflections.

Courtauld Impressionists from Manet to Cézanne will be at the National Gallery until 20 January 2019.

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THE ANGELUS

© Yelkrokoyade

Praise at Dawn, Noon and Night

L’angélus, by Jean Laronze in the Musée des Ursulines de Mâcon, depicts a country family pausing to pray the Angelus whilst fishing

Anne Marie Micallef As of mid-November the Cathedral has revived the tradition of saying the Angelus at 12 noon. The name Angelus comes from the opening words Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariæ, The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary. This wonderful prayer evolved from a recitation of three Hail Mary’s following an evening bell around the 12th century. The first written reference comes from the monk Sinigardi di Arezzo in 1263, when he states that Franciscan monasteries in Italy were saying the Angelus. In 1269 St Bonaventure then urged the faithful to adopt the Franciscan custom of saying three Hail Marys as the Compline bell was rung.

The institution of the Angelus as we know it is credited by some to Pope Urban II and by others to Pope John XXII. Yet more sources refer to King Louis XI of France, who in 1472 ordered the Angelus to be recited three times daily. In its current form the Angelus is included in a Venetian Catechism from 1560 and was standardised by the 17th century. In more modern times in his Apostolic letter Marialis Cultus, Pope St Paul VI encouraged us all to say the Angelus as a reminder of the Paschal Mystery.

In England, when the Normans invaded in the 11th century, they rang a curfew bell at the end of each day in order better to control the people. This became known in some areas as the Ave or Gabriel bell. In about 1323, Bishop John de Stratford of Winchester encouraged those in his diocese to pray the Hail Mary in the evening whilst in 1399 Archbishop Thomas Arundel ordered the church bells to be rung at sunrise throughout the country when the laity should recite five Our Fathers and seven Hail Marys. The noontime 10

custom of saying prayers arose from the commemoration of the Our Lord’s Passion on Fridays. In 1456, Pope Calixtus III directed the ringing of church bells every day at noon and the praying of three Hail Marys for peace in the face of the 15th century invasion of Europe by the Turks. Thus for some time the bell rung at noontime became known as the Peace bell or Turkish bell.

By the end of the 16th century, the Angelus had become the prayer that we know today: three scriptural verses, each followed by a Hail Mary, a verse and response and the concluding prayer. The Angelus reminds us of the Annunciation when the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary (Luke 1:26-38) telling her that God wanted her to be the Mother of His Son. When Mary calls herself the handmaid of the Lord, she does so with humility, praying: ‘be it done unto me according to thy word’ (Lk 1:38). The third scriptural verse summarises the Incarnation in words from St John’s Gospel: ‘And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us’ (John 1:14). It is common practice that during these words those present bow the head or genuflect. The Angelus is usually accompanied by the ringing of a bell, although Big Edward, the bell in the Cathedral tower, cannot be heard in the Cathedral itself.

The Angelus is currently broadcast every day on national TV in Mexico and the Philippines and anyone of Irish or Maltese will remember it well from it being broadcast on RTE and National Radio. In Rome the Pope’s Sunday address at 12 noon is known as the Angelus address.

Oremus

December 2018

THE ANGELUS

The Angelus (outside of Eastertide) In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.

And she conceived by the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Behold the handmaid of the Lord.

Be it done unto me according to thy word.

Hail Mary ...

And the Word was made flesh. Genuflect or bow And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary ...

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

Let us pray. Pour forth, we beseech thee, O Lord, thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ, thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by his passion and cross be brought to the glory of his resurrection. Through the same Christ our Lord.

Amen.

May the divine assistance remain always with us.

And may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

December 2018

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Š ChiralJon

AN UNUSUAL DESTINATION

The Tower after the Fire

A Pilgrimage to Grenfell Tower Tony Galcius I began writing this on 14 June, a day which marked the first anniversary of the fire that devastated the Grenfell Tower, killing 72 people, young and old, men, women and children, and leaving hundreds of others without a home, possessions or hope. Ever since this tragedy took place and having listened more and more to survivors' statements, relatives' tales of loss and grief, and reports from the ongoing enquiry into the causes, I have had this yearning to go and see the charred remains of this block of flats. The unending repetition of TV images, or newspaper photographs is not quite the same as being there, on the spot, looking at the concrete. Mind you, the concrete structure of Grenfell Tower had been covered by inflammable pieces of cladding which caused unimaginable death by burning and smoke inhalation.

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Was I being ghoulish? If by ghoulish is meant a morbid interest in death, and especially the death of others, then my answer is in the negative. My uppermost motive was prayer - to pray for those who lost their lives and to pray for those left behind. But as I sat and looked up at the Tower, now clad in white sheeting, crowned with a huge green heart, the Grenfell symbol, I felt closer to its victims.

My journey had become more of pilgrimage; and a swift glance at the Oxford Dictionary to read that: 'a pilgrim was a person who journeys to a sacred place for religious reasons' confirmed me in such a role, at least as far as my motivation was concerned.

As I sat and contemplated the sorrowful mysteries of the Rosary and the Grenfell tragedy, I engaged in conversation with a lady called Lil, who turned out to be Oremus

December 2018

AN UNUSUAL DESTINATION an immigrant from Afghanistan. When I expressed my sadness, she immediately said: ‘Four hundred people lost their lives here, and everyday somewhere in the world hundreds die killed by disaster’. Her number does not tally with the official death toll of 72, but it does reflect a local belief that far more than the 72 died, many perhaps being illegal immigrants who would not have been registered at the Council offices.

The Parish Priest, Fr Gerard Skinner, explaining the significance of this statue dedicated to those who lost their lives in the fire, said: ‘There's a gentle presence, a gentle smile, a gentle affirmation, a welcome. I'd like to hope that when those who have lost loved ones look at this statue, they'll think of Jesus welcoming their loved ones and how he welcomes them too, with Mary his Mother, bringing all of us to Jesus’.

My response was that God moves in mysterious ways.

Lil agreed with me and added: ‘Sometimes I think He can't be bothered about us’, which immediately reminded me of my atheistic friends who base their disbelief on such human tragedies. I always think it is somewhat illogical to blame tragedies on something or someone you do not believe exists. How can nothing cause anything? And yes, death of the innocent is inexplicable. But I hastened to add: ‘Remember, Lil, God still loves each one of us’, to which she replied: ‘Yes, I know - He has to, after all, He made us’.

Appearing often on the posters in the tower's vicinity was the beautiful play on words 'Come-unity'. You could sense this after-effect of the tragedy amongst the people using the coffee bar in the Sports Centre adjacent to the tower. I did not know how they had been affected on that awful night, but they were going about their daily business of picking their children up from school. There were mums sitting at the tables, talking animatedly to each other, whilst their toddlers played with the toys on a carpet in the corner. An air of total normality reigned. And yet, who knows what grief lay beneath.

Walking down Lancaster Road on my way from Ladbroke Station to Grenfell Tower I popped into the Methodist Church building, which, like its Christian counterparts - the Anglo-Catholic Church of St Clement’s and the Catholic Church of St Francis of Assisi, featured prominently during the aftermath of the fire in helping give temporary accommodation and food to survivors. Among the refurbishment work which was going on, they had decorated the foyer with flowers, toys, teddy bears and beautiful messages, written by young children on heartshaped cards. One very poignantly stated: ‘I like Mary (not her name) because she helped to rescue me from the fire".

She was nine years old. I could not help but be moved by such words from the mouths of innocents.

And beneath a Statue of the Madonna and Child outside the Catholic Church is a plaque bearing the names of the 15 parishioners who were victims of the tragic inferno. The text reads as follows: ‘Of your charity, pray for the repose of the souls of the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire, 14 June 2017. The statue above this courtyard has been erected in memory of those of this parish who died during the fire. Logan Gomes, Isaac Paulos, Jessica Urbano Ramirez, Gloria Trevisan & Marco Gottardi, Mary Mendy & Khadija Saye, Denis Murphy, Gary Maunders, Vincent Uzoh Chiejina, Ligaya Moore, Berkti & Biruk Haftom, Tony Disson, Raymond ‘Moses’ Bernard.

‘And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.’

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To reach Grenfell Tower I had alighted from the tube station at Ladbroke Grove and walked down Lancaster Road with its large three- or four-storey houses, now selling for millions of pounds. They formed a stark contrast to the triangle of tower blocks reaching into the sunny blue sky that day. And although it is well-known that there is a vast financial dichotomy between their inhabitants and those of the mansions I saw en route, yet the area around the tower blocks was not unpleasant. After all, was not that area originally and officially called Notting Dale? I viewed Grenfell tower from a very spacious piazza flanked on one side by a newly-built Academy school and on the other a large Sports Centre. I came to realise that in addition to the pain of bereavement experienced by the survivors, their having to be rehoused elsewhere in hotels or distant accommodation must have understandably fuelled their anger as well.

Although Grenfell Tower is not strictly speaking a sacred place of pilgrimage, it nevertheless became for me a place which forced me to think beyond myself, to attempt to understand what enormous suffering entails, and to ponder on my common humanity with those who no longer inhabit it. Self gives way to other, and that in itself is something sacred.

The following quotation sums up brilliantly what I had experienced on my two visits to Grenfell Tower. It comes from Sr Macrina Wiederkehr OSB, an author and spiritual guide based in the Benedictine monastery of St Scholastica in Fort Smith, Arkansas. She writes: ‘A pilgrimage is a ritual journey with a hallowed purpose.

Every step along the way has meaning. The pilgrim knows that life-giving challenges will emerge. A pilgrimage is not a vacation; it is a transformational journey during which significant change takes place. New insights are given.

Deeper understanding is attained. New and old places in the heart are visited. Blessings are received and healing takes place. On return from the pilgrimage, life is seen with different eyes. Nothing will ever be quite the same again.’

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CHRISTMAS GREETINGS

Choir School Children design their Cards Years 3 – 8 from the Choir School have designed Christmas cards in aid of the Cardinal Hume Centre. The theme this year was stained glass windows. That in itself presents challenges, as the Cathedral does not provide immediate inspiration, since its windows rely on geometric patterns rather than recognisable imagery. These designs show us something of what was in the children’s minds as they thought both about glass and what story it might tell.

Jaime from Year 8 has focused on Advent; Christ is the light of the world and the preceding Sundays with the lighting of the candles of the Advent wreath, point to him.

Henry from Year 7 has kept the members of the Holy Family together, and emphasised the nature of stained glass by broadening the joints between all the various pieces.

By contrast, Luke in Year 3 has given us a bright background, with three camels in the foreground which seem to be pressing on with stolid determination, not to be distracted from their goal.

Edgar-Loup from Year 6 has chosen to contrast the Wise Men walking on in darkness towards the brightness of the place where the Infant Christ is, a good way away in perspective and a long walk with not a camel in sight.

Continued on page 19

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December 2018

THE ADVENT WREATH

A Homely Devotion Fr Francis X. Weiser, SJ

The Advent wreath is exactly what the word implies, a wreath of evergreens (yew or fir or laurel), made in various sizes. It is either suspended from the ceiling or placed on a table, usually in front of the family shrine. Fastened to the wreath are four candles standing upright, at equal distances.

These candles represent the four weeks of Advent. Daily at a certain time (usually in the evening), the family gathers for a short religious exercise. Every Sunday of Advent one more candle is lit, until all four candles shed their cheerful light to announce the approaching birthday of the Lord. All other lights are extinguished in the room, and only the gentle glow of the live candles illuminates the darkness. After some prayers, which are recited for the grace of a good and holy preparation for Christmas, the family sings one of the traditional Advent hymns or a song in honour of Mary.

© Dezidor

The Advent wreath originated a few hundred years ago among the Lutherans of eastern Germany. It probably was suggested by one of the many light symbols which were used in folklore at the end of November and beginning of December. The Christians in medieval times kept many of these lights and fire symbols alive as popular traditions and ancient folklore.

In the 16th century the custom started of using such lights as a religious symbol of Advent in the houses of the faithful.

This practice quickly spread among the Protestants of eastern Germany and was soon accepted by Protestants and Catholics in other parts of the country. Recently it has not only found its way to America, but has been spreading so rapidly that it is already a cherished custom in many homes.

The Advent Wreath over the Singertor of St Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna

The traditional symbolism of the Advent wreath reminds the faithful of the Old Testament, when humanity was ‘sitting in the darkness and in the shadow of death’ (Luke 2:79); when the prophets, illumined by God, announced the Redeemer; and when the hearts of men glowed with the desire for the Messiah. The wreath - an ancient symbol of victory and glory -symbolizes the ‘fulfilment of time’ in the coming of Christ and the glory of his birth.

In some sections of Europe it is customary for persons with the name of John or Joan to have the first right to light the candles on the Advent wreath and Christmas tree, because John the Evangelist starts his Gospel by calling Christ the ‘Light of the World’ and John the Baptist was the first one to see the light of divinity shining about the Lord at his baptism in the Jordan. There are a number of variations on the Advent wreath.

In North America it is popular to use three violet and one rose candle, symbolizing the respective liturgical colours of the four Sundays of Advent. In Germany, red candles are used instead.

This is taken from Fr Weiser’s The Handbook of Christian Feasts and Customs, first published in 1958. We have the Advent wreath in the Cathedral, but as Fr Weiser suggests, it is good to have a wreath as a focus of devotion in our homes.

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CATHEDRAL HISTORY

The Cathedral Menagerie Patrick Rogers ‘For I own all the beasts of the forest, beasts in their thousands on my hills.’ [Psalm 49] Westminster Cathedral may not be able to claim all the beasts of the forest and none of the building’s animals move, yet the church gives shelter to many and varied species. The lion is the king of beasts and a winged lion is the emblem of the evangelist St Mark. This appears at the top of the crucifix which hangs in the sanctuary arch, on the left of the blue mosaic above the high altar and at the foot of the figure of St Mark on the side of the pulpit.

Another lion, wingless and looking decidedly irritable, is on the inner wall of St Paul’s Chapel, but this one relates to the riddle of Samson (‘out of the strong came something sweet’ [Judges 14: 14]) and refers to the conversion of St Paul. Finally, in St Peter’s crypt the heads of four more lions crown one of the great red granite columns.

One of the roe deer that flank St Andrew in his chapel

Moving to St Andrew’s Chapel, roe deer are to be found either side of the saint here, with sheep above the altar opposite. I think these are the only sheep in the Cathedral not associated with sacrifice. I should really say ‘whole sheep’, for there are also twelve marble rams’ heads below the cornice in the Lady Chapel and 28 more above the little columns in St Patrick’s Chapel. The old Irish regimental badges in this chapel also often bear animals, including a tiger and an elephant, but, of course, these do not relate directly to the Cathedral.

Rams' heads above a column in St Patrick's Chapel

St Luke, another of the evangelists, has a winged ox as his emblem; this also appears on the great crucifix, in the blue mosaic and on the pulpit. It is St Luke’s gospel that tells us most about Our Lady and so at the end of the line of little mosaic pictures that tell her life in the Lady Chapel, there is the saint busily writing away with a little ox above him. On the other side and a bit further up is another ox (without St Luke this time) peering in at the Nativity scene [cf. Isaiah 1: 3]. This includes shepherds and three Wise Men who have clearly just arrived by camel, two of which are behind them – maybe they took turns to ride? Looking in with the ox is, of course, an equally entranced donkey (ass) and it, or possibly a relation, is shown a little further on, carrying Jesus and Mary away on their flight into Egypt. A reliable donkey, this, sturdy and determined and totally unperturbed by the pagan idols collapsing as the Holy Family passes by.

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The lamb in the floor of St Joseph's Chapel

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December 2018

CATHEDRAL HISTORY Perhaps the nicest animal symbol to be found is the marble lamb on the front of the pulpit, representing Christ, the Lamb of God. The same symbol appears of the floor of St Joseph’s Chapel and in the centre of the vault in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. Passing under the entrance arch, guarded by two archangels, you will find Noah to the right, about to offer up a lamb after the flood, Abel preparing to do the same on the left and, a little further on, the ram caught in a thicket which Abraham will also subsequently sacrifice in place of his son Isaac.

In a visit to the Lady Chapel, if you look high up to the right as you enter, you will find a rabbit standing upright and clutching a fir cone. Almost directly opposite on the left-hand side is a red squirrel, with another amongst the foliage in a window arch half way along on the right.

Perhaps you will find the two more squirrels which are in St Joseph’s Chapel? And finally, there is the missing monkey of St George’s Chapel. When Eric Gill carved the altarpiece for this chapel in the late 1930s, he included a monkey in the bottom left-hand corner, reaching up to hold St Thomas More’s hand. The saint had a number of animals at his house in Chelsea, with the monkey as a special pet. In carving the animal, Gill was trying to show the deeply human nature of the saint. He died in 1940 before the altarpiece was finished and, because of the War, it was not erected until 1947.

Meanwhile, Cardinal Griffin had become Archbishop of Westminster. He decided that the monkey was too frivolous and ordered it ground out, a decision which caused a good deal of criticism at the time and led to the re-establishment of the Art and Architecture Committee. In any event, if you look about six inches below St Thomas’ lower hand, you may see a little white paw, and gradually you will be able to follow the monkey’s arm downwards until more and more of the animal emerges.

A dragon is put in its place by Cardinal Wiseman on his tomb in the crypt chapel of St Edmund

A more recent addition to the menagerie: a bear on the shield of a knight martyring St Thomas Becket December 2018

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THE LURE OF THE SOUTH

Pilgrims in Puglia Margaret Tobin

Holy Cross which houses a beautifully displayed Relic of the True Cross. Lecce has many Roman remains, especially the Roman amphitheatre, excavated in 1938, only half of which is now visible, since the remaining part is thought to be beneath several buildings in the centre of the town. © Viana Lopez

The next day brought us to Ostuni, built on a hill and important strategically, as the town has views to both coasts of the ‘heel’ of Italy. The old town dwellings are whitewashed and are divided by steep alleyways with stone paths. We had a guided tour of the Cathedral of St Francis of Assisi before our Mass. Our route back to Lecce took us to the coast where we saw some fishermen catching and cleaning octopi.

The Pilgrimage Group outside San Nicola in Bari

Another beautiful church crypt was our destination the next morning for Mass. The Basilica of San Nicola (St Nicholas of Myra) was consecrated in 1197, being dedicated to the wonderworking saint who is the origin of the modern Father Christmas as well as being the patron of a miscellany of clients: children, sailors, merchants, pawn brokers and brides!

This part of Southern Italy has been invaded and ruled by many foreign countries which lie to the east, including Greece and the Ottoman Empire. Consequently, there is much evidence of Orthodox faith and practice, particularly in the crypt, with icons and sanctuary lamps adorning the tomb of San Nicola. After our Mass there, where the altar is placed above the tomb of the saint, an Orthodox

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prayer service took place, with two priests intoning prayers before an iconostasis (icon screen) to one side of the crypt, with their congregation standing throughout the service.

En route from Bari to Lecce the next day the group visited the small town of Alberobello which features whitewashed dwellings with conical roofs known as trulli. Mass was celebrated in the church of San Antonio, after which we had a guided tour of the town and an explanation of the dry-stone construction of the trulli houses. No mortar is used and the buildings naturally remain at a constant internal temperature of 16 degrees, throughout winter and summer.

Our final excursion took us to the charming coastal town of Otranto, which had been the last Byzantine stronghold in the 15th century, and had been besieged by Muhammad II, the Turkish ruler. The inhabitants of the town took refuge in the Cathedral where many were massacred. Survivors were taken to the top of a nearby hill and were killed because they would not renounce their Christian faith. A sanctuary was built to their memory on the hill, Colle Minerva, and there is a memorial chapel in the Cathedral where the skulls and bones of the martyrs are displayed behind glass.

Canon Christopher offered Mass in this chapel and we found this location very prayerful and moving.

Our next destination was Lecce, the home town of our Italian guide, and she was especially pleased to be able to show us something of her city the following day. Canon Tuckwell celebrated Mass in the Basilica of the

© florin glontaru

An early morning flight from Gatwick brought 13 pilgrims and Canon Tuckwell to Bari Airport in Puglia, Southern Italy, on a Sunday in midOctober. Our delightful and very knowledgeable Italian guide, Anita, was there to meet us and to tell us something of the area, and of our itinerary for the next few days, as we travelled to Hotel Palace in Bari. Later Canon Christopher celebrated our first Mass together, in the Crypt of the Duomo of San Sabino, the saint who is thought to protect Bari from natural disasters.

Trulli in Alberobello

There has been much to reflect on since our return: the remoteness of Puglia, the beautiful cities, the complex history of the area and the many miles of olive groves; all of these were impressions framed in a spiritual and companionable context.

The Pilgrimage was planned with the help of the late Phillip Dean of Pax Travel whose company organised the trip.

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CHRISTMAS GREETINGS Choir School Children design their Cards continued from page 14

Alexis of Year 8 has chosen a central star for his design, with a bright heaven above, a riot of colour below and in between the birth of Jesus taking place with the image of the city beneath the crib and a watchful shepherd.

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Thomas in Year 7 has focused on the Holy Family, leaving them to stand alone against a white background, picking up on the haloes to give a certain circularity with an overall heart shape.

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MONTHLY ALBUM

From the Four Corners of the Earth

The banner bearers, with Bishop Paul The Ad Limina visit of the Bishops of England and Wales to Rome meant that the Annual Ethnic Chaplaincies Mass had to be pushed back into October, when Bishop Paul McAleenan (can you spot him in the crowd?) celebrated in the presence of a packed Cathedral. As tradition dictates, banners, flags and national symbols were paraded, before the bearers all squeezed into the Lady Chapel for a picture which illustrates something of the wide range of communities that make up the Catholic presence and witness in London and Hertfordshire.

Santa’s Elves in Conclave

Ladies at Lunch

Plotting the Choreography When you come to Mass at the Cathedral and everything seems to run smoothly, even beautifully, do not think that it happens by chance. Especially is this true for the major feasts of the Church’s year and other events that take place here. So the Cathedral Master of Ceremonies and his assistants were snapped in Clergy House library working on the arrangements for the various Advent Carol Services and Christmas liturgies. From left to right: Rebecca, Paul M (MC), Richard, Paul T, Patrick, Anthony and Tim. 20

Cathedral Congratulations Each year nominations are invited for Catholic Women of the Year, with four being chosen to be honoured at a Lunch attended by nominees, their families and friends, with the Nuncio, Archbishop Adams, also present. This year Mary Maxwell, the Co-ordinator of Volunteers for the Cathedral (seen left) was one of them and we offer appropriate congratulations. A great deal is done behind the scenes to ensure that both the regular life of the Cathedral and special events are properly organised and much of the work passes through Mary’s office.

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December 2018

MONTHLY ALBUM

Farewell and Hail We recently bade farewell to Reuben Thomas, who has been one of the Cathedral’s Lay Clerks for ten years. Alongside his singing he is involved in computer technology way beyond the capacity of Oremus to understand, and is also moving to Hertfordshire. However, our corporate farewell to him after Sunday Vespers was made in the knowledge that he has moved to the Deputies’ list for singing and would be back in place the next week; and so we look forward to his continuing presence, at least on occasions.

Fr Michael Fava preaching at the Armistice Day Solemn Requiem Mass for the Fallen

The Culmination of the Great War Commemorations

Reuben, not quite on the way out

Deceased Police Remembered

A Celebration of the Irish Contribution One of November’s annual events is the wreath-laying for the former soldiers of the Irish Regiments. As the 1.05pm Mass drew to its close, the sound of bagpipes could be heard just outside the West doors, as people came in to gather around St Patrick’s Chapel. The image shows the bright light that streams into the chapel in the afternoon, but a glance up at the dark vault reminds us that it still awaits its mosaics. The lighting in the chapels on the south side of the Cathedral shows us what can be done, so it is good to know that the mosaics for St Patrick’s Chapel are actively being considered and fundraising pursued.

© Diocese of Westminster

The Catholic Police Guild met for its Annual Requiem, when Bishop Tom Burns of the Welsh diocese of Menevia presided at the Mass. An honour guard of Police Cadets was drawn up in front of the Cathedral, where the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Cressida Dick CBE QPM, was met by Canon Christopher. Here she is seen speaking to Bishop Tom after Mass, who then took his place for the customary group photographs.

Over the last four years there have been solemn commemorations in all the cathedrals of England and Wales to mark various notable points and events during World War I. The climax of this was, of course, the Centenary of Armistice Day falling on Sunday 11 November. The customary ceremonies were observed in the Cathedral, but with a particularly noteworthy aspect, since the preacher at the Solemn Requiem was Fr Michael Fava, recently appointed to the post of Deputy Chaplain General. He is the first Catholic priest to be appointed to this office and we offer him our congratulations at this distinction.

Bishop Tom Burns SM with the Metropolitan Police Commissioner December 2018

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THE FRIENDS OF WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL

Warmed by the European Sun as Turner, fell in love with the rays of the continental sun. Pastoral English landscapes acquired a new meaning with depictions of classical tales of love and war. These tourists of antiquity felt themselves a mere hair’s breadth from the Greek and Roman philosophers that they sought to emulate. The tales of Ovid and the Iliad were familiar to all well-educated scions and they lapped up the classical references.

The National Gallery, in winter darkness

Christina White The Friends gathered at the National Gallery last month for a wonderful Grand Tour with Paul Pickering. We were blessed with a beautiful clear, crisp afternoon and divested ourselves of coats and unwanted brollies. Maybe it was the subject matter, the glories of the Alps and the wonders of Rome – everything imbued with the light and warmth of the continent – but it dispelled the chill in the air. Paul explained the context for the Tour; a personal exploration of the culture and society of Europe. It brought the young gentlemen of England in contact with glorious art and radical ideas which found their way back to Blighty.

Art became a fashion statement – an indicator of wealth and learning.

The much-copied Belvedere was a commonplace addition to portraits of the travellers who also commissioned painting of themselves on horseback – the horse’s raised hoof as a homage to the statue of Marcus Aurelius in Rome on his steed, ready for action.

Even the most English of artists, such 22

Venice had particular appeal not least because of its encouragement to be other, to be hidden – the masked balls and carnivals enhancing the sense of wonder and intrigue. Paul explained how a collection of Canaletto paintings, acquired over many years by a minor English public official in Venice, came into the Royal collection. There were other artists too - Tiepolo, Ricci and Longhi – all selling their wares, giving the tourists a memento of a time away from home and responsibility.

Our final painting on the tour was a rather flamboyant work by Frederick, Lord Leighton depicting Cimabue’s celebrated Madonna being carried through the streets of Florence. It was Leighton’s first major work, shown at the Royal Academy in 1855 and snapped up by no less a patron than Queen Victoria who later recalled: ‘There was a very big picture by a man called Leighton. It is a beautiful painting… so bright and full of light. Albert was enchanted with it, so much so that he made me buy it’. Paul has suggested a visit to Lord Leighton’s house in London, famous for its fabulous tiled Arab hall.

We will set this up for the New Year.

Our tour concluded with tea and cake and some animated discussion about the art we had seen.

The start of December is dominated by our Big Give online fundraising campaign for the Hall renovation project (27 November to 4 December) and preparations for the Christmas Fair on Sunday 9 December. Please do

support both campaigns. Donations for the Fair should be delivered to Clergy House reception, clearly marked Christmas Fair. Donations for Big Give are made online with details in the weekly newsletter. Please call the office if you would like further information.

As the year draws to a close, thank you all for your support of the Friends and everything that we hope to achieve for the Cathedral. Merry Christmas.

Forthcoming Events Sunday 9 December: 9am 2.30pm Cathedral Christmas Fair Donations for the Fair may be brought to Clergy House Reception, clearly marked ‘Christmas Fair’. We can accept cake donations on the Saturday and Sunday.

We urgently need able-bodied helpers to set-up on the Saturday.

If you want to get involved, please ring the office on 0207 798 9059 Thursday 10 January 2019: Westminster Abbey with the Dean, the Very Rev Dr John Hall. Please meet at the front entrance to the Abbey at 4.30pm as we have to be seated by 4.45pm for Evensong at 5pm. We have a tour of the Abbey with the Dean, including a visit to the new Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries. A drinks reception in the Jerusalem Chamber will follow.

Tickets £50

Contact us • Write to: Friends’ Office, 42 Francis Street, London SW1P 1QW • Call: 020 7798 9059 • Email: friends@ westminstercathedral.org.uk Registered Charity number 272899

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OUR FIRST PATRON SAINT/ AN AFRICAN SHRINE

A Martyr Born on Christmas Day Dr Michael Straiton KCSG

© National Gallery

a stone Abbey on the site in 1020 to house it. On St Edmund’s Day in 1214 rebel English barons held a secret meeting at the Abbey before going to confront King John with their Charter of Liberties, the forerunner of Magna Carta which he signed a year later. During the Third Crusade in 1199 King Richard I visited the tomb of St George at Lydda on the eve of the battle, winning a great victory the next day. In 1348 King Edward III founded a new order of chivalry, known as the Knights of the Garter. By then the fame of King Edmund the Martyr had faded somewhat, and Edward proclaimed St Edmund the Martyr is depicted St George to be patron of the Order and as the left hand figure on the left also declared him Patron Saint of England. leaf of the Wilton diptych During the Dissolution of the Monasteries In 902 his remains were moved to what under Henry VIII in 1537, St Edmund’s is now Bury St Edmunds, where King Athelstan founded remains were removed to France where they stayed until a religious community to care for Edmund’s shrine which 1911, when they were returned to England. They are now in a chapel in Arundel Castle. became a place of national pilgrimage. King Canute built We celebrate St George’s Day on 23 April, acclaiming him as the Patron Saint of England today. Yet the original patron saint was St Edmund or Edmund the Martyr, King of East Anglia in the 9th century. Born on Christmas Day AD 841, Edmund succeeded to the throne of East Anglia in 856. A Christian from birth, he fought alongside his grandfather, King Alfred the Great, against the pagan Vikings and Norse until 870 when his forces were defeated and he was captured by the Vikings. He was ordered to renounce his faith and share power with them, but he refused. Edmund was then bound to a tree, shot through with arrows and finally beheaded.

Our Lady of Kibeho On Saturday 28 November 1981, the students of a boarding school in Kibeho, Rwanda, recited their midday prayers and sat down for lunch. Before they began to eat, Alphonsine Mumureke ‘saw’ the most beautiful Lady, dressed in white. ‘Who are you, Lady?’, Alphonsine asked. ‘I am the Mother of the WORD’ replied the Lady, ‘in your Christian life, what is the most important thing for you?’ ‘To love God and the Mother of God, who bore us a Saviour’ replied Alphonsine. Our Lady appeared also to Nathalie Mukamazimpaka and Marie Claire Mukangango.

The essence of her message is that the world is falling into ruin, that we need to repent, pray and carry our cross and follow Jesus. She wept for Rwanda and for the whole world, because we do not convert easily to the love of God. Our Lady said: ‘If you recite the Rosary of the Seven Sorrows, you will get the strength you need to repent’. Kibeho is thus a memorial of the love and mercy of God, who sent the Mother of the Word to remind us of the reason for the Incarnation and Passion of Christ. The sanctuary’s website is at www.kibeho-sanctuary.com

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St Lucy’s martyrdom is dated to the early 4th century at Syracuse in Sicily, but very little can be said of her beyond the legends that grew up about her bravery. These cluster around the familiar theme of a young Christian girl refusing pagan suitors, who are thereby enraged and arrange for various trials or tortures to force her to change her mind. In the case of St Lucy, soldiers are sent to take her away to a brothel, but find that she cannot be moved physically. Eventually the saint is stabbed and her eyes gouged out, making her a patron of the blind; and images of St Lucy will often feature eyes.

St Lucy is stabbed in the throat

The Month of

Thursday 6 December

Monday 10 December

St Nicholas, Bishop 7.30pm London Fire Brigade Carol Service

Advent feria 2.30pm Woldingham School Service

Holy Father’s Prayer Intention:

Friday 7 December

Advent feria (St Damasus I, Pope) 7.30pm HCPT Carol Service

December Evangelisation: In the Service of the Transmission of Faith That people, who are involved in the service and transmission of faith, may find, in their dialogue with culture, a language suited to the present time.

Friday Abstinence St Ambrose, Bishop & Doctor 5.30pm Said Vigil Mass of the Immaculate Conception (Cathedral Hall) 7pm Sankta Lucia Service

1st SUNDAY OF ADVENT 9.30am – 1.30pm SVP Book Sale (Cathedral Hall) 10.30am Solemn Mass (Full Choir) Vaughan Williams – Mass in G minor Palestrina – Ad te levavi Esquivel – Veni, Domine Organ: Dupré – Le monde dans l’attente du Sauveur (Symphonie-Passion) 3.30pm Solemn Vespers and Benediction Andreas – Magnificat octavi toni Byrd – Vigilate Organ: Demessieux – Rorate caeli 4.30pm Deaf Service mass (Cathedral Hall) 4.45pm Organ Recital: Jonathan Allsopp (Westminster Cathedral)

Monday 3 December

St Francis Xavier, Priest

Tuesday 4 December

St John Damascene, Priest & Doctor All day NHS Blood Transfusion Service (Cathedral Hall) 5.30pm Chapter Mass

Wednesday 5 December

Advent feria 11am Catholic Children’s Society Advent Service 12.30, 1.05pm Masses in Cathedral Hall 2pm Catholic Children’s Society Advent Service 24

© Ailura

Ps Week 2 Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturday Ps Week 1

Wednesday 12 December

Our Lady of Guadalupe 2.15pm SVP Primary School Nativity Play

Thursday 13 December

Saturday 1 December Sunday 2 December

Tuesday 11 December

Our Lady of the Angels in Sineu, Mallorca

Saturday 8 December THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, Patron of the Diocese 10.30am Solemn Mass (Men’s Voices) Palestrina – Missa Alma Redemptoris Mater Victoria – Vidi speciosam Victoria – Quae est ista Organ: Tournemire – Postlude (L’Orgue mystique II) 4pm Extraordinary Form Mass (Lady Chapel) 6pm Victoria Choir sings at Mass

Sunday 9 December

Ps Week 2 2nd SUNDAY OF ADVENT 9.30am Family Mass 9.30am – 2.30pm Cathedral Christmas Fair (Cathedral Hall) 10.30am Solemn Mass (Men’s Voices) Palestrina – Missa Ave Maria Palestrina – Tu convertens Organ: Widor – Moderato (Symphonie gothique) 3.30pm Solemn Vespers and Benediction Bevan – Magnificat quinti toni Gibbons – This is the record of John Organ: Mendelssohn, arr. Best – Overture to ‘St Paul’ 4.45pm Organ Recital: Simon Russell (Nantwich Parish Church)

St Lucy, Virgin and Martyr 5.30pm Said Mass (Cathedral Hall) 7pm Land Securities Christmas Concert

Friday 14 December Friday Abstinence St John of the Cross, Priest & Doctor 2pm WCCS Christmas Service Saturday 15 December Advent feria

Sunday 16 December Ps Week 3 3rd SUNDAY OF ADVENT (Gaudete Sunday) 10.30am Solemn Mass (Full Choir) Rheinberger – Missa Misericordias Domini Palestrina – Benedixisti, Domine Esquivel – Vox clamantis in deserto Organ: J S Bach – Prelude & Fugue in C major (BWV 545) 3.30pm Solemn Vespers and Benediction Palestrina – Magnificat quarti toni Sweelinck – Gaude et laetare Organ: Bruhns – Praeludium in G major 4.45pm Organ Recital: Michael Butterfield (King’s College, London; Royal Hospital, Chelsea etc.)

Monday 17 December Advent feria

Tuesday 18 December

Advent feria 5.30pm Mass attended by Diocesan Staff (Cardinal Nichols)

Wednesday 19 December Advent feria and

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© Andrewworkman

DIARY

DIARY AND NOTICES Thursday 20 December

Friday 21 December Friday abstinence Advent feria (St Peter Canisius, Priest & Doctor)

Organ: Widor – Finale (Symphonie II) 12noon Mass (with Carols) 3.30pm Solemn Pontifical Second Vespers and Benediction (Cardinal Nichols) Bevan – Magnificat primi toni Poulenc – O magnum mysterium Whitehead – Joys seven Organ: Balbastre – Quand Jésus naquit à Noël No confessions and no evening Masses 4.30pm The Cathedral closes

Saturday 22 December

Wednesday 26 December

Advent feria Morning Masses in the Lady Chapel Lunchtime and Evening Masses in Cathedral Hall 10.30am – 4pm Confessions 5pm Cathedral closes 7.30pm Christmas Celebration

Advent feria 2pm onwards Filipino Club’s Simbang Gabi (Cathedral Hall)

Sunday 23 December Ps Week 4 4th SUNDAY OF ADVENT 10.30am Solemn Mass (Full Choir) Victoria – Missa Ave maris stella Bruckner – Ave Maria Organ: Escaich – Evocation II 3.30pm Parish Carol Service Organ: J S Bach – In dulci jubilo (BWV 729) 4.45pm Organ Recital: Ben Bloor (London Oratory) Monday 24 December (Christmas Eve) Advent feria 10am Morning Prayer 10.30am, 12.30pm Mass 10.30am – 3pm Confessions 4pm Pontifical Solemn First Vespers of Christmas (Cardinal Nichols) Buxtehude – Magnificat in D Victoria – O magnum mysterium Organ: Messiaen – Dieu parmi nous (La Nativité du Seigneur) 6pm Vigil Mass of Christmas 7.30pm Cathedral closes; reopens at 10pm 11.15pm Vigil and Solemn Pontifical Mass During the Night (Cardinal Nichols) Haydn – Mariazellermesse J S Bach – Ehre sei dir Gott Adam, arr. Rutter – O holy night Organ: Cochereau, tr. Filsell - Toccata (Symphonie improvisée) Tuesday 25 December

THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD 8, 9am Mass 10am Solemn Lauds (Cardinal Nichols) 10.30am Solemn Pontifical Mass of the Day (Cardinal Nichols) Mozart – Missa brevis in F major (K 192) Sweelinck – Hodie Christus natus est December 2018

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ST STEPHEN, the First Martyr and

Thursday 27 December

ST JOHN, Apostle & Evangelist and

Friday 28 December

THE HOLY INNOCENTS, Martyrs No Friday abstinence 8am – 6pm Cathedral open 10am Morning Prayer 10.30am, 12.30pm, 5pm Mass 11am – 12.30pm Confessions

Saturday 29 December

ST THOMAS BECKET, Bishop & Martyr No 8, 9am Mass; otherwise usual timetable

Sunday 30 December

THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH 10.30am Solemn Mass 3.30pm Solemn English Vespers and Benediction

Monday 31 December

7th DAY IN THE OCTAVE OF CHRISTMAS 8am – 6pm Cathedral open 10am Morning Prayer 10.30am, 12.30, 5pm Mass 11am – 12.30pm Confessions 10pm Cathedral reopens 11.15pm Mass for the New Year Tuesday 1 January has the Bank Holiday timetable, as above; normal timetable resumes on Wednesday 2 January; and choral services resume on Sunday 6 January (the Epiphany of the Lord).

Key to the Diary: Saints’ days and holy days written in BOLD CAPITAL LETTERS denote Sundays and Solemnities, CAPITAL LETTERS denote Feasts, and those not in capitals denote Memorials, whether optional or otherwise. Memorials in brackets are not celebrated liturgically.

What Happens and When

Public Services: The Cathedral opens shortly before the first Mass of the day; doors close at 7.00pm, Monday to Saturday, with occasional exceptions.

On Sunday evenings the Cathedral closes after the 7.00pm Mass. On Public and Bank Holidays the Cathedral closes at 5.30pm in the afternoon.

Monday to Friday: Masses: 7.00am; 8.00am; 10.30am (Latin, said); 12.30pm; 1.05pm and 5.30pm (Solemn, sung by the Choir). Morning Prayer (Lady Chapel): 7.40am. Evening Prayer (Latin Vespers* sung by the Lay Clerks in the Lady Chapel): 5.00pm (*except Tuesday when it is sung in English). Rosary is prayed after the 5.30pm Mass.

Saturday: Masses: 8.00am; 9.00am; 10.30am (Solemn Latin, sung by the Choir); and 12.30pm.

Morning Prayer (Lady Chapel): 10.00am. First Evening Prayer of Sunday (Lady Chapel): 5.30pm.

First Mass of Sunday: 6.00pm.

Sunday: Masses: 8.00am; 9.00am; 10.30am (Solemn, sung by the Choir); 12 noon; 5.30pm; and 7.00pm. Morning Prayer (Lady Chapel) 10.00am.

Solemn Vespers and Benediction: 3.30pm. Organ Recital (when scheduled): 4.45pm.

Holy Days of Obligation: As Monday-Friday, Vigil Mass (evening of the previous day) at 5.30pm.

Public Holidays: Masses: 10.30am, 12.30pm, 5.00pm.

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament: This takes place in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel every Monday to Friday following the 1.05pm Mass, until 4.45pm.

Confessions are heard at the following times: Saturday: 10.30am-6.30pm. Sunday: 11.00am1.00pm; and 4.30-7.00pm. Monday-Friday: 11.30am-6.00pm. Public Holidays: 11.00am1.00pm.

Sacred Heart Church, Horseferry Road SW1P 2EF: Sunday Mass 11.00am, Weekday Mass Thursday 12.30pm Funerals: Enquiries about arranging a funeral at the Cathedral or Sacred Heart Church, Horseferry Road, should be made to a priest at Cathedral Clergy House in the first instance.

Throughout the Year Mondays: 11.30am: Prayer Group in the Hinsley Room. 6.30pm: Guild of the Blessed Sacrament in the Cathedral Tuesdays: Walsingham Prayer Group in St George’s Chapel 2.30pm on first Tuesday of the month; 6.30pm: The Guild of St Anthony in the Cathedral.

Wednesdays: 12.00pm: First Wednesday Quiet Days on the first Wednesday of every month in the Hinsley Room.

Thursdays: 1.15pm: Padre Pio Prayer Group at Sacred Heart Church. 6.30pm: The Legion of Mary in Clergy House.

Fridays: 5.00pm: Charismatic Prayer Group in the Cathedral Hall – please check in advance for confirmation.

Saturdays: 10.00am: Centering Prayer Group in the Hinsley Room. 2.00pm: Justice and Peace Group in the Hinsley Room on the last of the month.

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CATHEDRAL HISTORY

Cathedral History: A Pictorial Record Cardinal Basil Hume Ordains 14 Transitional Deacons – Saturday 14 February 1998 Paul Tobin In a ceremony unlikely to be seen in the Cathedral again in the foreseeable future, Cardinal Basil Hume ordained 14 Transitional Deacons (those taking the final step before ordination to the priesthood). The seminarians, from 10 different countries, were from five different missionary orders: Comboni Missionaries, the Consolata Fathers, the Holy Ghost Fathers (now known as the Spiritans), Mill Hill Missionaries and the White Fathers). After ordination to the priesthood later that year they were all destined to work abroad in the missions.

Josephine Siedlecka*, in her account of the ceremony in Oremus described how: ‘in his homily, His Eminence the Cardinal described how the diocese of Westminster had a long tradition of supporting the Church overseas. The Cathedral has often been a gathering point for those training to go out and proclaim the Gospel throughout the world.

The international theme of the event was reflected in the liturgy and music performed by the Cathedral choir. The Gloria was sung in Spanish and the Gospel Acclamation was sung in the Lingala language. The Offertory, accompanied by drumming, was sung in Swahili. One of the Communion songs was an Italian composition, originating with the Focolare Movement, Una Notta Di Sudore and the Mass ended with a Swahili hymn from Tanzania’. * ‘Fourteen new Deacons’, Josephine Siedlecka, Oremus April 1998, page 6 (misprinted as March 1998 on the foot of the page)

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Oremus

December 2018

BOOK NOTICE

Suicide: an understanding and compassionate approach by Dr Adrian Treloar 55 pp, Pastoral Outreach Series, Redemptorist Publications, Chawton, Hants 2018, ISBN 978-0-85231-487-6 Suicide has not always attracted understanding or compassion.

Burial without funeral rites on the north side of churchyards or even outside consecrated ground may not now be the automatic response of the community, yet the death of anyone who dies by their own hand still arouses strong emotional response in confusion – Why? - and guilt – What could I have done to help? Dr Treloar writes as a Catholic who works as a Consultant in Old Age Psychiatry and has previously written on the demands made by dealing with those who have dementia.

In seven brief chapters he covers the patterns of behaviour that lead to suicide, the challenge which it offers to faith and the support which is needed by those left bereaved. The practical reality of his writing is shown in a number of case studies and quotations from family members as they struggle to come to terms with what has happened. Typical among them is this, noting a particularly modern form of dilemma: ‘My brother texted me to say he was suicidal. But I did not pick

up the text until it was too late. I so often think I could have saved him if I had picked up that text in time’. Underlying the whole book is the insistence that the great majority of those who commit suicide are suffering from some form of mental illness and that their death must be seen in that context. After suicide there is also the possibility that those affected may themselves also develop some form of depressive illness. Care and prevention therefore have to go together and are possible.

We can be rightly concerned about the level of Mental Health provision in society, but Dr Treloar notes how a number of policy and population-based measures have also contributed to reductions in suicide rates.

The task of the Church and all her members is, therefore, the constant assertion of the absolute value of every human life, in whatever circumstances. Whilst slightly beyond the bounds of this book, a final chapter refers to assisted suicide and euthanasia, noting again the utter importance of personal support by the Christian community. In the face of death, we have always to affirm life.

December 2018

Oremus

27

CROSSWORD AND POEM

The Nativity Edmund Matyjaszek

Cradling and enclosing arms Rock the child. Voices Pass by outside. It’s quiet, The sounds of day dying in the night.

Inside, nothing but simplicity A mother, child.

No wild prophesyings, No outflung arm declares Here! The Messiah!

Hush; it’s only a world that has not woken; Stars at their stations, shepherds yet to come Alan Frost: November 2018

This is one of the poems from Edmund’s book The Rosary: England’s Prayer, published by St Pauls, ISBN 978-1-910365-41-0

Clues Down 1 Vestment worn by priest assisting at High Mass (8) 2 German composer whose 2nd Symphony is known as ‘The Resurrection’ (6) 3 Bird as a gift on the seventh day of Christmas in the carol (4) 4 Sound of an emergency service on the road (5) 5 Letter read to the congregation in place of the homily (8) 6 Country yearly sending Christmas tree for Trafalgar Square (6) 7 Christian, founder of one of the world’s most famous fashion houses (4) 12 Recipient of angelic vision, 23 Across tells us! (8) 14 Hair type or a cardinal in his zucchetto? (8) 16 Type of royal residence, e.g., near Westminster Cathedral (6) 18 Small yellow or gold bird first recorded by St Albert the Great OP (6) 19 The -----, long mountain range stretching through western Russia (5) 20 Historic old bit of London that once protected the city (4) 22 & 17 Across: Saint, one of the Forty Martyrs, killed at Tyburn in 1612 (4,6)

ANSWERS Across: 1 Damasus 6 Nod 8 Idaho 9 Melanie 10 Tower 11 Thrush 13 Prayer 15 Capped 17 Almond 20 Welsh 21 Rejoice 23 Carol 24 Lee 25 Singers Down: 1 Dalmatic 2 Mahler 3 Swan 4 Siren 5 Pastoral 6 Norway 7 Dior 12 Shepherd 14 Redheads 16 Palace 18 Oriole 19 Urals 20 Wall 22 John

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© Jastrow

Clues Across 1 Pope and Saint who commissioned St Jerome to translate the Bible into Latin (7) 6 Indicate agreement in old Biblical Land? (3) 8 One of the States of the USA (5) 9 Girl’s name and that of a famous 70’s pop singer (7) 10 Structure characterising London, Paris and Blackpool (5) 11 Mistle-……, a bird that is fond of mistletoe (6) 13 The raising up of the mind and heart to God (6) 15 Footballer picked for England keeping his head warm! (6) 17 See 22 Down 20 Nationality of Tyburn martyr of 1610, St John Roberts, a Benedictine priest (5) 21 “-------, Emmanuel’, O Come O Come Emmanuel carol (7) 23 & 25 Seasonal choristers (5,7) 24 Sixties’ vocalist Brenda who had a big hit with Rocking Around the

Christmas Tree (3) 25 See 23 Across

Virgin and Child, with three cherubim, att. Andrea Della Robbia

To submit a poem whether by yourself or another for consideration, please contact the Editor – details on page 3.

Oremus

December 2018

FIFTY AND ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO

In retrospect: from the Cathedral Chronicle Festival of Carols It is to be hoped that the Cathedral will be filled to capacity for the Festival of Carols which is being held here on 14 December at 6.30pm under the auspices of the Salvation Army. It is in support of the Combined Choirs Appeal, otherwise known as the Church Music Trust, which was founded to relieve the financial burdens carried by St Paul’s, Westminster Abbey and our own Cathedral in preserving a high standard of liturgical music. The response so far to this appeal has been singularly disappointing, as Monsignor Bartlett pointed out when he preached on the subject some weeks ago. The Salvation Army is displaying its customary generosity in staging this Festival.

Altar Society The Fair this year was held on 23 November and raised £311. We are very grateful to all those who gave their time and energy to its organisation and to everyone who came to support it.

Christmas is Coming We look forward to the liturgical celebrations in the Cathedral, which are always well attended. This year the Midnight Mass will be a concelebration with Bishop Casey.

The Canon of the Mass will be sung by the priests taking part. We have not undertaken this before, and are preparing to practise for it. If you have attended High Mass at Quarr Abbey during the past few years you will have heard it done to perfection. We cannot promise such a high standard, of course. The monks there concelebrate every day, and always sing the Canon. We believe, however, that it is well worth doing. And with the approach of Christmas let us express a few words of gratitude to all our lay workers and helpers in the Cathedral. The Sacristy staff under Mr Sam Verrall, Mr Jackson and his team of collectors, Mr Mawby and the Music Staff, Mrs Hart and her good ladies in the Bookstall (which is a veritable information centre), the accountant Mr Snell, the architect Mr Shattock, our indefatigable secretary Miss Quinn, our two men who attend to the telephone and the door at Clergy House (what a harassing job this can be at times). The work, thank God is done with devotion and we should be in no doubt of the value of this to the life of the Cathedral. from Chronicle in the December 1968 Westminster Cathedral News Sheet December 2018

Oremus

If in doubt about renewing your annual subscription to the CHRONICLE, refer to the foot of page ii. We may add that even in the last week we have been advised of yet another big rise in the cost of producing this Magazine! Our only consolation is that it is also steadily rising in public estimation.

Apropos of the increasing attractive power of the Cathedral, we feel we should record the attendance on one of the Sunday evenings in November of an unusual visitor. During the singing of Compline the congregation’s rapture was somewhat disturbed by the late arrival of a well groomed, stylishly-bebowed Welsh terrier which calmly trotted down the nave, with head well poised and tail expressing unqualified appreciation of the company and the singing. Arrived near the balustrade of the sanctuary and finding his view obstructed thereby, he made for the more advantageous position of the pulpit, but his progress was suddenly and deftly arrested by one of the sacristans, who took him to the Sacristy, all the while expecting the owner of the dog to follow on his heels with explanations. But nobody turned up. On examining the terrier’s collar, it was found to have an address at Mayfair.

He was accordingly taken to the address given, and his delighted owners explained that he had been missed since tea time, and had never been taken to this neighbourhood.

We wonder if his owners have been led to follow his example and visit the Cathedral (but in good time) for Compline!

‘Arriving early at the Cathedral [on 25 September for the Italian celebration], I could only get a low seat in a side chapel next to an old gentleman, with whom I got into conversation while we waited. He was 85 years old, he told me, and had known London well for 70 years. “What a wonder is this Cathedral,” he said, “I never thought to see such a place in my lifetime. When I was young there was no big Catholic church this side of the Thames. The largest was Moorfields, now pulled down. The Oratory had not been built; I remember the old place in King William Street where Fr Newman preached, and the iron shed afterwards erected in the Brompton Road. No one in those days dreamt of a Cathedral like this.”’ from Varia in the December 1968 Westminster Cathedral Chronicle 29

ST VINCENT DE PAUL PRIMARY SCHOOL

Saints in Mosaic – St Stephen Mathilda (Year 6)

When I walk into Westminster Cathedral, I always feel speechless, because it is an amazing space and gives you lots of things to think about at once. The altar, the mosaics, the great cross and the flickering candles all make me feel very calm, comfortable and safe. Last year I read a poem I wrote called ‘Christmas in Victoria’ at a service in the Cathedral.

I felt proud because you don’t get to read in such a setting every day. My family sat in the front row and some TV personalities who were there said I read amazingly. As we left the Cathedral, I saw the Christmas tree on the piazza which added to the magic.

But the real magic of the Cathedral is inside and there is one mosaic that really marks Christmas. St Stephen is hiding by the high altar, but once you notice him, you see the shimmering crown of his halo. He was the first Christian martyr and became the most famous of the seven deacons of the early church who were chosen by the apostles. His enemies were the leaders of the Jewish people at that time.

They were furious with Stephen because his preaching was so successful and they got some men to say that Stephen talked sinfully about God, but this was not true. His biggest enemy was the future St Paul, then called Saul, who was capturing Christians to take to the Jewish leaders. Stephen scolded his enemies for not believing in Jesus as the Son of God. The Jewish leaders became very angry and shouted at Stephen.

He then criticised them and that made him very unpopular.

Christopher Hobbs designed the mosaic and Tessa Hunkin made it. Tessa is an expert at making mosaics. She made it at her studio and then brought it over to the Cathedral to complete it. She made the halo with gold tesserae. This method really makes the halo glitter!

St Stephen is now the patron saint of Altar Servers. You can belong to a special group for servers called the Confraternity of St Stephen. This group encourages them to serve at Mass the best they possibly can. When you start serving, you have to make a special promise to God and St Stephen. It goes like this: ‘I offer myself to God almighty, to blessed Mary, our mother and our holy patron, St Stephen’.

The Confraternity gives out medals, which you can wear while serving. After you have served for one year, you will receive a bronze medal. After you have served for 20 years, you will receive a silver medal. Finally, after 50 years you will receive a gold medal, which will remind you of St Stephen’s glowing halo in the mosaic.

I noticed that the altar servers are seated under the mosaic of St Stephen. It makes me think that he is always watching over them during Mass and especially at Christmas time and on Boxing or St Stephen’s Day, which is his Feast.

St Stephen’s death was very sudden and dramatic. He looked up and said that he saw the heavens open and Jesus sitting at the right hand of God. The leaders refused to listen to him, so they dragged him out of the city of Jerusalem, where they stoned him to death. The people throwing stones placed their cloaks by the feet of the future St Paul. So he was present at the death of the first Christian martyr! As St Stephen died, he was heard to forgive his enemies. His last words were: ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit’. He was martyred on 26 December, which today we call Boxing Day. In the Cathedral mosaic he is shown with a hail of stones, which is true to his story. He is also normally shown clean-shaven and very young, but here he is shown more Byzantine in style. That is most probably what he really looked like. He is holding a Gospel book because only the priest and deacon can read from it at Mass. He is also holding a palm branch, which is a symbol of martyrdom, and is wearing a dalmatic which is the vestment worn by a deacon during Mass. I think that the mosaic looks very true to St Stephen’s story. It gives you a very clear idea of what he must have looked like in his time.

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Oremus

December 2018

AN AUSSIE FAREWELL

The Gappies Report Angus Elliot and Aidan Porter

Hi! We (Aidan and Angus) are the Australian Gap Students at the Cathedral Choir School. We’ve been here since the start of the year doing various jobs around the school and the Cathedral. We’re both from New South Wales, Angus from Sydney and Aidan from an inland country town called Dubbo. We both attended St Joseph’s College, a boarding school in Sydney that caters to a large country/farmer population. Needless to say, coming to London has been a shift in pace but we’ve had a great time (and to be honest gotten quite comfortable here).

We’re both quite involved in sport back home, with Aidan participating in the Joeys 2nd XV rugby team and Angus in the 1st 4 rowing squad. For both this was our first time in Europe so everything has been quite new to us; and the first time we walked into the Cathedral we were astounded (and a bit overwhelmed) at the size of the place. But we’ve gotten used to the surroundings and all the lovely people we work with and we’ll both be sad to leave. Our work consists of various odd jobs around the school and Cathedral, but our primary role is to care for the choristers in Angus Elliot the boarding house. It’s a rewarding experience and ranges from vesting for Mass to ice skating on the weekend to chilling out in the common room. And while they can act up at times, the boys are a great bunch of young men and we’ve loved spending our time with them. They work very hard for their singing and are a passionate bunch Aidan Porter who provide a great service to the Cathedral. Although boarding life can be hard we make the best attempt to make it a bit more fun with evening football matches, movie time and weekend activities. We like to hope they’ve enjoyed having us here as much as we’ve loved working with them and we will be sad when we depart at Christmas.

December 2018

Oremus

It hasn’t been all work this year and in the holidays we got the chance to travel around Europe for the school holidays, visiting all sorts of new places and interesting people. Our first venture saw us (along with the English gappie and ex-Head Chorister, Thomas Auger) arriving in a quaint little snowcapped Austrian village nestled in the Alps. It was wonderful place, but unfortunately lacking in both cell phone signal and English speakers. Deficient in any German beyond Guten Tag, we were forced to mime ’schnitzel’ for our dinner. Next year we’ll be returning to Sydney to start university: Aidan will be attending Macquarie University to complete a Bachelor of Business Administration and Angus will attend UNSW to complete a Bachelor of Computer Science and Arts. We’ve done a lot this year, which has been both great fun and incredibly rewarding: an amazing experience for us both and we can’t express how grateful we are to everyone whom we have met through it.

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Oremus

February 2017