Bloggers Rendezvous

At 3pm this afternoon Mrs Jackie Parkes MJ (Catholic Mom of 10) staged a well calculated meeting between the 3 pillars of the Catholic Blogging World, nay the whole internet.

The Occasion: A visit by the Reverend Timothy Finigan (of Hermeneutic of Continuity fame) to the Birmingham Oratory for the Feast of St. Philip Neri

The Plan: An abundance of Graces from a union of these three great blogs for an afternoon of good company, chat, child-minding and most importantly food. Jackie Parkes headed up this great initiative with the daring proposition that we use her fortress whilst the kids were at school.

The Result: Full stomachs all round, and an inspiration to blog just a little bit more! Little Madeleine benefited a great deal from being blessed by super-blogger Fr. Tim himself (who, might I add, is a very pleasant and interesting priest even more in the flesh than on the 'net). We touched on some interesting technical aspects of blogging, as well as practicalities like confidentiality, and even some moral questions like blogging coming between spouses (I wouldn't know anything about that. Just don't tell Wendy I'm on the Blog).

I look forward to hearing Fr. Tim preach at tomorrow's High Mass for the Feast of St. Philip Neri (the Oratorians must have run out of things to say about him, I think).

Update: Fr Seán Coyle was also there as a guest of Jackie, who runs the website Misyon. He may be a blogger yet!

Prayer of St. Isidore of Seville (Patron Saint of the Internet)

Here we are in front of You, Holy Spirit.
We feel the burden of our infirmities,
but we are united all together in Your name:
come to us, help us, enter into our hearts:
teach us what we should do,
the path to follow,
do for us what You ask us to do.
Be the only one to propose and guide our decisions,
because only You, with the Father and the Son,
have a name that is glorious and holy.
Do not allow us to offend justice,
You, who love order and peace,
Don’t let ignorance lead us astray,
Don’t let human sympathy bias us,
Don’t let people or office influence us.
Keep us intimately close to You
with the gift of Your Grace,
so that we may be only one thing with You,
and nothing may separate us from the truth.
Gathered in Your Holy Name,
may we be good and firm,
so that all we do may be in harmony with You,
awaiting that the faithful fulfillment of our duty
may lead us to the eternal good. Amen.