Gobble-de-Gook

I was going to blog tonight properly, but alas I was snowed under with work and even took the opportunity to help fellow Medic Joee Blogs with a medicine essay on Hyponatraemia. Its all quite dull and boring, but very important for medics. So I've spent the last 2 hours doing that via an emailed copy and Word's excellent comments/markup! Still, at least it was also useful for me (I am very rusty on clinical chemistry). Here is an extract of said essay just to get your juices flowing!

In response to a decreased plasma volume, the juxtaglomerular cells of the kidney secrete Renin. Renin converts angiotensinogen which is secreted by the liver, to angiotensin I. Angiotensin Converting Enzyme then acts on angiotensin I to form angiotensin II, which in turn stimulates aldosterone synthesis [MD1]. Aldosterone acts mainly in the kidney [MD2]. In the renal tubule the membrane receptor Na+/K+-ATPase and Na+ channels work together to increase volume and pressure, and decrease K+. Aldosterone increases the number and activity of these transporters thus increasing the reabsorption of sodium and secretion of potassium. Water is reabsorbed with the sodium thus reversing the hypovolaemia.

[MD1] You've just said this above! Combine the two paragraphs me thinks...
[MD2] Actually I think it works mainly via vasoconstriction... you may need to check this

Oh look, its copied my comments too! Oh well, it makes for fun reading.

I think I may be going delirious through workload and lack of sleep... One more day of Obstetrics & Gynaecology and I'm onto Paediatrics. Its been a rollercoaster with lots of practice contrary to the Catholic Faith... but you probably won't ever hear me rant about that (I'm just praying about it and having masses offered).

I'm going to bed now. Good night blogosphere.

Are the Gears Finally Moving?

I keep Catholic News Agency as my homepage. Every now and again a news story really catches my eye. Here is such a news story. I have a very special place in my heart for the Year of the Eucharist (2004-2005) which Pope John Paul II initiated, and which saw my full return to the practice of the Faith, my wife's reception into the Church, and the ascension to the Chair of St. Peter by Cardinal Ratzinger, taking the noble title of Pope Benedict XVI. Some of the initiatives that year were really important for my faith in the real presence to grow (such as our Archdiocese's Eucharistic Congress, right).

Upon closure of this special year, there was an Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (no, not Anglican synod) which focussed on the things which we have learned from this year of special Graces and the message which needs to be implemented for the Universal Church. The Bishops came up with some excellent suggestions, as I can tell by reading what the Mass of Ages magazine selectively published. Such questions were raised as the reception of communion (the ordinary way of kneeling and on the tongue versus the extraordinary special indult way of standing and in the hand); the orientation of the priest (versus populum having become the norm in the last 40 years when compared with the traditional ad orientem, or facing east, where the priest faces the same direction as the people - towards God); liturgical music (banal 60s durges compared with the sacred polyphony and Gregorian Chant which used to be a basic feature of Catholic liturgy); the erroneous and abused use of extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion (who are lay parishioners who become the 'ordinary' means of distributing communion, generally and incorrectly referred to as 'Eucharistic Ministers'); the noble use of Latin in the Liturgy (encouraged by the II Vatican Council but suppressed by modernistic agendas and liberal priests); the wider celebration of the Tridentine Rite...

Well, I'm hoping and praying that whatever words and recommendations that are published in this Apostolic Exhortation Sacramentum Caritatis (even if not what I'd generally thirst for), can be assimilated widely and generously by the whole Church. If successful, then it will undoubtedly pave the way for the 'Reform of the Reform' which Catholics who lean towards a conservative approach to the Liturgy are generally calling for. This will result in Mass said more reverently, worthily, and with deeper devotion and understanding. That, of course, can only be a good thing. The Mass is not meant for the entertainment of the faithful, for comfort or community spirit, or even to foster a sense of "fellowship". The Mass is the re-presentation before us, each time, of the Holy Sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which took place nearly 2000 years ago in Jerusalem. As such, all our hearts and minds must be orientated towards God, and be meditating ever more deeply on the prayers offered to him, in union with Christ's sacrifice, to incorporate ourselves into this mystery.

My thoughts on the "Reform of the Reform"? Well, for me it is a start and a middle ground. I have no doubt it is the will of the Holy Father to bring about a return to a traditional and reverent approach to the Mass. However, in my opinion the Mass has been re-written and reformed to such an extent that it is deliberately aimed towards trying to rupture with a traditional understanding of the Eucharistic Sacrifice. As such, I think it will be very difficult to tweak things and make all the problems go away. I believe the modern Roman Missal was written to resemble more closely the Protestant services which are so dear to those members on the Liturgical committee back in the late 60s (Brother Rogér et al). I think the typical 60s folk Mass is really the epitomé of what the reform was moving towards. I think, most importantly, it is not a product of Vatican II. If one reads Sacrosanctum Concilium closely, it is clear that it was not the will of the council fathers for the Mass to be re-written and re-crafted in such a drastic way. In fact, I think if a typical modern Mass were performed in front of them, most would have been horrified.

But what has happened has happened. Right? What can we do? And why does it matter? I will leave that to another post, hopefully if the rumoured Motu Proprio comes any closer to fruition. I trust the Holy Father will know the right thing to do, and will pray carefully over the manner in which he will do it. Whatever his decisions, there will inevitably be opposition on all sides, such is the climate of the Church today.

Month of St. Joseph

Blessed be St. Joseph

most holy spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Patron of a Happy Death

Patron of the Universal Church

the Holy Worker
Friend of Poor Souls in Purgatory

and Personal Patron to my own Fatherhood

May he continue to bless us and pray for us at the Throne of his tender Son, who deigned to glorify him with the title of Foster Father of the Word Incarnate. Through his glorious intercession I have received the necessary graces to fulfill my role of loving father to my newborn daughter. I pray that devotion to him may lead to a greater awareness of the importance of fatherhood in our society. Amen.

Thank you to Catholic Church Conservation for providing us all with these wonderful artistic depictions of the role of my favourite Saint, Joseph - the husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The photo above is from the Birmingham Oratory's St. Joseph Altar, which features a mosaic above it depicting his betrothal to Mary.

For some wonderful information and material relating to this inspiring figure of Holiness and Devotion to our Lord, go here.

Vote Now!

I couldn't resist starting a new Poll. Why? Why not! It's a very boring poll which reflects my passion for liturgical matters...

Vote now on my sidebar, or go here for a direct link to the Poll.

Go here to view the results to date.

(the picture has very little to do with it - but shows Fr. Tim Finigan preaching at the Rosary Crusade 2006 in the magnificent London Oratory. If you like this sort of thing you are unlikely to vote for the first option)

Notre Dame des Victoires

Recently someone commented that I should seek out the original Our Lady of Victories, after which our Birmingham Oratory's Lady Altar statue is fashioned from, in Paris.

I certainly would love to, and was therefore overjoyed to read Fr. Nicholas' account of the beautiful little Parisian church, with links to St. Therese.

The church was completed in 1629 and financed by Louis XIII, who called it 'Our Lady of Victories' in gratitude for his recent victories on the battlefield. It was placed under the care of the Augustinians (or Petits Pères), who won themselves further favour with the King when one Br Fiacre obtained by his prayers to Our Lady, 'Refuge of Sinners' the birth of the long-awaited Dauphin, who would one day reign as Louis XIV. Br Fiacre had been visited by the Blessed Virgin on 3 November 1637 and undertook, on the royal couple's behalf, a pilgrimage to Our Lady of Grace at Cotignac, Provence. On his return, the Queen was discovered to be pregnant.

Exciting stuff! Thank you Father(s)!

Via Crucis Introduction

Journey with me to Calvary. Walk the Way of the Cross, and meditate upon the countless mysteries contained in Christ's sacrificial action.

In 1878 the composer Franz Liszt did just that; using his talent he set his meditations to organ and choir. The result is a beautiful piece of music, which I endeavour to present to you in its true context, using simple artistic representations as well as images from the Mel Gibson film The Passion. I originally compiled this in Microsoft Powerpoint, and have managed to convert it into Flash format (so you'll need a compatible browser to view it). This is only an abridged version due to the difficulty in porting over the complicated text animation in my original version, which displayed the Latin and German text when it was being sung, together with a translation.

I am starting with the first 4 slides, up to Station III. Over lent I will post 3 stations at a time, as a continuation of the Via Crucis, each Friday (leading up to Friday in Passiontide, or the last Friday before Holy Week). I will update you as and when this happens. Enjoy!

Enter >>

St Chad, Bishop and Confessor

St Chad (Latin: Ceadda), Bishop of the Mercians, fixed his Episcopal See at Lichfield. He was for some time a disciple of St Aidan at Lindesfarne, and afterwards joined to St Egbert in Ireland. Returning to England, he was made abbot of Lestingham, near Whitby. He travelled on foot about his diocese, seeking out and instructing the poorest of his flock. He died in 672.

The Catholic Cathedral in Birmingham is dedicated to St Chad, and contains his relics there for veneration, above the High Altar.

The beautiful medieval statue pictured is present in the cathedral against one of the nave pillars. It dates from the mid-16th century although it was modified in the 19th. He is shown with episcopal vestments with crozier, holding a model of Lichfield Cathedral (now in Protestant hands). The oak canopy was designed by Hardman's in 1902 and restored in 2005.

Almighty and everlasting God, who givest us joy by this day's solemnity of blessed Chad, Thy confessor and bishop: we humbly entreat of Thy mercy that we, who with devout celebration venerate his festival, may, by his loving help, obtain the remedies of eternal life. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Missa Cantata for Passion Sunday

Harvington Hall Missa Cantata
Sung Latin Mass at St. Mary's Church, Harvington Hall
(Shrine of St. John Wall and the English Martyrs)

25th March 2007 at 3pm

The Traditional Feast Day of
Passion Sunday

Hear the timeless words:

"Judica me, Deus, et discérne causam meam de gente non sancta"
(Judge me, O God, and distinguish my cause against an ungodly nation)
sung by the wonderful Neri Singers

Celebrant: Fr. David Higham
Choir: The Neri Singers
Courtesy of The Latin Mass Society

Nurse's Prayer

I saw this prayer on the noticeboard in the nurse's station on a pre-labour ward, and couldn't resist sharing this touching moment with you:

O my God, teach me to receive the sick in Thy Name.
Give to my efforts success for the glory of Thy Holy Name.
It is Thy work; without Thee I cannot succeed.
Grant that the sick Thou hast placed in my care
may be abundantly blessed,
and not one of them be lost
because of any neglect on my part.

Help me to overcome every temporal weakness,
and strengthen in me whatever may enable me to bring joy
to the lives of those I serve.
Give me grace, for the sake of Thy sick ones,
and of those lives that will be influenced by them.
Amen.

There are touching moments like this in many working days, and we must always be grateful for them.

It has been a pleasure to be able to attend a Mass at this Hospital every Monday lunchtime. Wendy has even managed to come and meet me with Maddy for this! What I don't understand is why the priest never wears a chasuble??

The Passion of the Christ DVD

Thank you to TCFA Blog for alerting me to this: At last - Mel Gibson's groundbreaking (and extremely 'Catholic') blockbuster will be released as a 2-disc DVD Definitive Edition. It has been a long time coming, and so I am still pleased that I bought the original release!

Release Date: 26th March 2007
(Feast of the Annunciation - the day after Passion Sunday aka Fifth Sunday of Lent)

RRP: £15.99

The Special Features
Available Subtitles: English, Spanish
Available Audio Tracks: (Dolby Digital 5.1)
DISC 1:
Menus - Drissi
Feature Film (126 minutes)
Filmmaker Commentary with Mel Gibson, Caleb Deschanel, and John Wright
Production Commentary with Stephen McEveety, Ted Rae and Keith Vanderlaan
Theologian Commentary with Mel Gibson, Father William J. Fulco, Gerry Matatics and Father John Bartunek
Passion Re-Cut (120 minutes)
Music Commentary with John Debney (Selected scenes)

DISC 2:
Menus - Drissi
Documentaries:
By His Wounds we are Healed: The Making of the Passion of the Christ
Intro & Script Evolution
Language Barriers
Finding Jerusalem
Artistic Inspiration
The Right Role
Evil Personified
Tailoring a perfect fit
The Director
Grace in Photography
Make up and Visual Effects
The Earthquake
The Crucifixion
Jim Surrerning
Breaking the Tension
Wrapping Production
The Cutting Room
The Score
Designing the Sound Effects
Guerilla Marketing
Spiritual Journey
"Below the Line" Panel
The Legacy
Paths of the Journey
On Language
Anno Domini
Crucifixion: Punishment in the Ancient World
Through the Ages
Deleted Scenes:
Pilate
Don't Cry
Galleries:
Production Art
Historical Texts
Art Images
Theatrical Trailer

I have pre-ordered my copy from Play.com for £11.99! I can't wait! There cannot be a better purchase to make for this year's Passiontide! This film played a huge part in my 'faith journey', and I vividly remember thinking I wanted to be a 'soldier of Christ' and to follow in his footsteps from then on. The glimpses which it gives of Jesus' ministry make one thirsty for more. His glowing eyes and stern compassion are enough to bring me to tears, and more so with the sight of that same figure of authority humbly suffering under the whip and cross.

This looks like a very interesting production. I hope the documentaries portray some of the spirituality which went into making this extraordinary movie. It is also worth remembering that Mel Gibson is a traditionalist Catholic, and had a Tridentine Mass said on-set daily. I'm sure this is no coincidence bearing in mind the quality of the film's sacramental language and emotional content. We must remember that every Mass we go to, we are present at the foot of the Cross in a very real way. So the Passion isn't just a historical film: it is a theological reality.