Louis Update: The First Week

We are beginning to adapt to life with Louis! He has quite an easy-going personality, happy to be awake and alert at night, but also to calmly observe the hustle and bustle throughout the day. Maddy is starting to adjust to him, although I think we encountering the inevitable problem of the second child which is the first being a bit insecure and even jealous. Many people have advised us that no matter how many kids one has, the second is the hardest. Perhaps for that reason.

We are much calmer parents than before. Having a home birth helped the whole family adjust quickly to the new presence of Louis in our lives. We were blessed to have Wendy's mother staying the night of the labour, and managed to introduce Maddy to the situation downstairs just after Louis had been born. It was a truly magic moment when they came in to see us.

The day after Louis' birth was Maddy's third birthday, and this gave us some impetus to get dressed and face the outside world, to take her out for lunch with some friends. Maddy has been treated to lots of presents and outings over the last few days, as I have been on Paternity Leave and Wendy has needed rest from the relentless night time feeding regime. 

This time of year in the Church is the time after Epiphany, with the cycle of feasts relating to the Nativity almost coming to an end with Candlemas on Tuesday. What a special time of year for us to be drawing the inspiration of the Holy Family into our lives, and we feel very much like our incessant prayers have had a wonderful outcome. There is still some way to go before things reach an equilibrium, if they ever do: we started things with minus one nights sleep and we feel a constant debt with lack of energy and occasionally my own impatience coming forth. 

But as a parent, with such great responsibilities, it is always easy to strive on. Maddy brightens our lives with the beautiful remarks and clever wit she is beginning to show ("the caterpillar built a raccoon to live in!"), and Louis has re-introduced the tender sense of nurturing a small helpless life to achieve its potential, and meeting all his basic needs with a warmth of satisfaction it is often too easy to take for granted.

Happy birthday maddy- 25th January

A grand old 3 years!!


-- Posted From Wend's iPod Touch WiFi (4.5Mb/s)
Virgin Media Broadband

Divine mercy litany

Divine Mercy, gushing forth from the bosom of the Father, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, greatest attribute of God, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, incomprehensible mystery, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, fountain gushing forth from the mystery of the Most Blessed Trinity, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, unfathomed by any intellect, human or angelic, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, from which wells forth all life and happiness, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, better than the heavens, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, source of miracles and wonders, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, encompassing the whole universe, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, descending to earth in the Person of the Incarnate Word, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, which flowed out from the open wound of the Heart of Jesus, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, enclosed in the Heart of Jesus for us, and especially for sinners, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, unfathomed in the institution of the Sacred Host, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, in the founding of Holy Church, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, in the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, in our justification through Jesus Christ, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, accompanying us through our whole life, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, embracing us especially at the hour of death, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, endowing us with immortal life, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, accompanying us every moment of our life, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, shielding us from the fire of hell, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, in the conversion of hardened sinners, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, astonishment for Angels, incomprehensible to Saints, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, unfathomed in all the mysteries of God, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, lifting us out of every misery, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, source of our happiness and joy, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, in calling us forth from nothingness to existence, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, embracing all the works of His hands, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, crown of all of God's handiwork, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, in which we are all immersed, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, sweet relief for anguished hearts, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, only hope of despairing souls, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, repose of hearts, peace amidst fear, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, delight and ecstasy of holy souls, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, inspiring hope against all hope, I trust in You.
Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself. Amen.


-- Posted From Wend's iPod Touch WiFi (4.5Mb/s)
Virgin Media Broadband

Birmingham Oratory Young Adults Group

Here is the programme of talks/events for Spring 2010

Thursday talks at the Oratory House, 7.30pm

7 Jan - Understanding the Old Rite, Fr. Phillip
4 Feb - The Occult, Diocesan Exorcist
4 Mar - Experiences of Missionary Work in the Phillipines, Sr. Moira
8 Apr - What is Canon Law?, Fr. Gennaro, Canon Lawyer


Other Saturday Events, meet at the Oratory House

16 Jan - Tour of Cardinal Newman's Rooms, 12pm
13 Feb - Day at Rednal, 11am
27 Mar - Lenten Retreat, Time & venue TBC

Young Catholics Event

News from Richard Winstanley:

The Oratory Young Adults group 

will be meeting this Thursday 

(7th January 2010) 

to discuss:

"Understanding the Old Rite"

7:30pm in the Oratory House

This sounds like a fun opportunity, as this group is in no way aligned to any particular use of the Roman Rite, and I hope to be there. Perhaps if you are aged 18-30 you will consider coming along? The spiritual director is Rev Fr Anton Guziel. The picture above was taken at our BBQ in Rednal last August.