Newman's Gravesite

Today we had the welcome visit of some friends met solely through blogging! The world renowned Joee Blogs (Catholic Londoner) came fresh from a Triduum retreat on an isolated monastic island, to be with us today for special prayers at the graveside of the Venerable John Henry Cardinal Newman.

With him he brought Fr. Richard Scott of Coventry, who provided spiritual direction to our complicated theological discussions.

After a nourishing garden lunch (courtesy of my wonderful wife), we all made our way to Oratory House in Rednal. It is the Birmingham Oratorian's retreat house, and site of their final resting place. Newman's funeral procession from the Oratory Church down to Rednal was lined with thousands of members of the public, all deeply moved by his great life. We pray constantly that Newman will soon be beatified, and so this site will have even more significance.

Today, as on many other occasions, we had Mass, Exposition, and even a Eucharistic procession around the grounds. The special intention was for protection from the plague of vandals which has previously left the Oratory House in a dilapidated state. Fortunately Fr. Guy Nichols is leading a project of restoration. The results are clearly evident from these wonderful photos.

Please pray for the continued heavenly protection of this important Catholic heritage.

Blessing of Husband & Wife

Yesterday we were privileged to be able to share the celebration of silver jubilee with a couple from Church. As they were very much attached to the traditional rites of the Church, they took advantage of a traditional Latin Mass with a special blessing at the end. After communion we were treated to a rendition of Panis Angelicus by the family, which was sung beautifully and quite unexpectedly as I welcomed my divine guest under the appearance of humble bread.

After the Last Gospel, the Priest lay his maniple aside, and faced the happy couple as they knelt before the sanctuary in St. Philips Chapel. He then recited over them certain prayers. These began with Psalm 127 (Here follows the English translations):

Blessed are all they that fear the Lord: * that walk in his ways.
For thou shalt eat the labours of thy hands: * blessed art thou, and it shall be well with thee.
Thy wife as a fruitful vine, * on the sides of thy house.
Thy children as olive plants, * round thy table.
Behold, thus shall the man be blessed * that feareth the Lord.
May the Lord bless thee out of Sion: * and mayest thou see the good things of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.
And mayest thou see thy children's children: * peace upon Israel.
Glory be etc.

The following prayer was beautiful:

O Lord, behold these Thy faithful ones and stretch out towards them the right hand of Thy heavenly help. So may they seek Thee with all heart, and, having prayed rightly, be found worthy to have their prayers granted.
Almighty and everlasting God, these Thy servants have come with gladness to Thy holy temple to render Thee thanks. In Thee is all their trust. Graciously look down upon them and hear our prayer. May they receive the gifts of Thy grace. May they hold fast to charity in unity. And when this life's journey is ended, may they, and their children with them, be found worthy to attain the joys of everlasting bliss. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

We then sang a Te Deum before a closing prayer and sprinkling with Holy Water. I hope, in 22 years time, to be following this same rite with a grateful heart.

Spring Bluebells

Cursed is the earth in thy work... Thorns and thistles shall it bring forth to Thee.

Genesis 3:17-18

Ego dedi tibi sceptrum regále: et tu dedísti cápiti meo spineam corónam.

I gave thee a royal sceptre: and thou hast given to My head a crown of thorns.

From The Reproaches - Good Friday Liturgy

Urbi et Orbi Blessing

Is Maddy too young to receive the indulgence? Well, since she's Baptised and incapable of actual sin, she is in no need of such treasures (although her parents are)!! But she did, of course, appreciate the sight and blessing of the Holy Father. She just loves Papa Benedetto!

Resurrexit Sicut Dixit!

Christ is risen! Alleluia!

I feel full of life and vitality after a solemn and gruelling passiontide. There has been many things I have been itching to write; this Blog actually replaces a personal diary I have written almost constantly since 1993. So it's been strange not to record my thoughts and musings over this crucial time in my spiritual year.

Also it has been such a good thing not to have blogged. I have desperately needed space and distance from obligations to anything outside of my family and vocation of father and husband. It has been wonderful to enjoy life without thinking "ooh, I must blog about this!". So I am resisting the temptation to write retrospectively about the last couple of weeks, but will simply pick up where I have left off.

Thank you, faithful readers, for all your support and comments which were gratefully received after my abrupt blogging hibernation. Having had a certain amount of success on the blogging circuit, I had begun to be arrogant and impulsive about the content of Lacrimarum Valle, without calling to mind the apostolate nature of this exercise. In a way I have a responsibility as Catholic father to present this vocation in its glory, as an inspiration to finding out more about the Faith. Little Madeleine is the true star of the show; she's the fulfillment of marital love and a symbol of the future of the Church. As a child dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, she has the tender prayers of the Mother of Humanity, and our responsibility is to help her realise this blessing.

This afternoon's Tridentine Mass in the Birmingham Oratory's Cloister Chapel

I look forward to sharing my spiritual reflections with you over this Eastertide.

Pour forth upon us, O Lord, the Spirit of Thy love, that by Thy loving kindness Thou mayest make to be of one mind, those whom Thou hast fed with these paschal sacraments. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Via Crucis Concluded

As Holy Week approaches, I have completed the Via Crucis meditation, which takes us through the Stations of the Cross with the music of Franz Liszt.

The Stations of the Cross is such a venerable custom that all churches will have their own representations around the walls of the nave. At the Oratory, we have stations recited publically by one of the Fathers on Fridays, which is a wonderful gift during Lent.

I hope that these stations I have compiled will help you appreciate Franz Liszt's work, and to derive the special graces which such a meditation entails.

To continue from Station XIII (taking down Jesus from the Cross) go here. To start the Stations from the beginning, go here, or to my Introduction.

The image of the Pieta, which features in my final credits slide (Michaelangelo) is a wonderful meditation in itself. The hymn usually sung during the Stations of the Cross, Stabat Mater, accompanies this slide in plainchant and is a beautiful Lenten hymn. Here follows the English translation suitable for singing:

At the cross her station keeping,
stood the mournful mother weeping,
close to Jesus to the last

Through her heart, his sorrow sharing,
all his bitter anguish bearing,
now at length the sword had passed.

Oh how sad and sore distressed
was that mother highly blessed,
of the sole-begotten One!

Christ above in torment hangs;
she beneath beholds the pangs
of her dying glorious Son.

Is there one who would not weep,
whelmed in miseries so deep
Christ's dear Mother to behold?

Can the human heart refrain
from partaking in her pain,
in that Mother's pain untold?

For the sins of His own nation
saw Him hang in desolation,
all with bloody scourges rent.

Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled,
she beheld her tender child,
till His Spirit forth he sent.

O, thou Mother, fount of love,
touch my spirit from above,
make my heart with thine accord.

Make me feel as thou has felt;
make my soul to glow and melt
with the love of Christ our Lord.

Holy Mother, pierce me through;
in my heart each wound renew
of my Saviour crucified.

Let met share with thee his pain,
who for all my sins was slain,
who for me in torments died.

Let me mingle tears with thee,
mourning Him Who mourned for me,
all the days that I may live.

By the cross with thee to stay,
there with thee to weep and pray,
this I ask of thee to give.

Virgin, of all virgins blest,
O refuse not my request:
let me in thy weeping share

Let me, to my latest breath,
in my body bear the death
of that dying Son of thine.

Wounded with his every wound,
steep my soul till it hath swooned
in His very blood away.

Be to me, O Virgin, nigh,
lest in flames I burn and die,
in that awful judgment day.

Christ, when thou shalt call me hence,
be Thy mother my defense,
be Thy cross my victory.

While my body here decays,
may my soul Thy goodness praise,
safe in Paradise with Thee. Amen.

Holy Week at the Oratory

The Oratory, Hagley Road (A456) accessible via Monument Rd / Plough & Harrow Rd
Birmingham B16 8UE

PALM SUNDAY - 1st April

Ride on, ride on in majesty!
In lowly pomp ride on to die;
O Christ, Thy triumphs now begin
O'er captive death and conquered sin.

(Henry Hart Milman)

Low Masses: 8.30am, 12 noon (families), 12.45pm (Tridentine, cloister chapel), 5.30pm (sung congregational)

Blessing and Procession of Palms: 10am in the former College Sports Hall
Procession to the Church for High Mass: 10.30am
Including the singing of the Passion of Our Lord according to Luke

Vespers and Benediction: 7.30pm

MONDAY, TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY OF HOLY WEEK: 2nd, 3rd, 4th April
Holy Mass: 7.30am, 12.45pm & 5.45pm
Rosary: 7.45pm
Stations of the Cross: 8pm

THE SACRED PASCHAL TRIDUUM

MAUNDY THURSDAY - 5th April

Where is love and loving-kindness, God is fain to dwell.
Therefore, when we meet, the flock of Christ, so loving,
Take we heed lest bitterness be there engendered;
All our spiteful thoughts and quarrels be surrendered,
Seeing Christ is there, divine among us moving.

(ancient hymn for the "Maundy"
translated by Mgr. Ronald Knox)

Solemn Mass of the Last Supper: 7pm
including the Maundy, the Procession to the Altar of Repose, and the stripping of the Altars.
Compline at 8.45pm at the Altar of Repose (Chapel of St. Philip Neri)
Watching before the Blessed Sacrament until midnight.

GOOD FRIDAY - 6th April
(Day of Fasting & Abstinence. n.b. Mass is not celebrated on this day)

In Thy most bitter Passion
my heart to share doth cry.
With Thee for my salvation
upon the cross to die.
Ah! Keep my heart thus movéd
to stand Thy cross beneath,
To mourn Thee, well-belovéd,
yet thank Thee for Thy death

(14th C, Salve caput cruentatum
translated by Robert Bridges)

Tenebrae (office of readings and morning prayer): 8.30am
(N.B. Abortion walk of witness to follow)

Children's Stations of the Cross: 11.30am

Solemn Liturgy: 3pm
Including the singing of St. John's Passion; the solemn intercessions; the Unveiling and Worship of the Cross; Holy Communion

Seven Last Words: 7pm
Preacher: Fr. Dermot Fenlon
Music: Motets and Organ music for the Passion of Our Lord
followed by Stations of the Cross

HOLY SATURDAY - 7th April
n.b. Mass is not celebrated today

His Cross stands empty in a world grown silent
Through hours of anguish and of dread;
In stillness, earth awaits the resurrection,
While Christ goes down to wake the dead
He summons Adam and his generations,
Brings light where darkness endless seemed;
He frees and claims His own, so long held captive,
Who, with the living, are redeemed

(Standbrook Abbey)

Tenebrae: 8.30am

Confessions will be heard from 10am throughout the day.

The Church waits in silence for the proclamation of the Resurrection at the Easter Vigil.

Easter Vigil: 9.00pm
(saturday evening 7th April)

including:
Service of light
(Blessing of the New Fire)
***
Proclamation of Easter ("Exsultet")
***
Liturgy of the Word;
***
Blessing of the Font and Confirmation
***
First Mass of Easter

EASTER DAY - 8th April
SOLEMNITY OF THE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD

Hail victor Christ! Hail, risen king
To Thee alone belongs the crown,
who hast the heavenly gates unbarred,
And cast the Prince of darkness down

(from the 7th C hymn "Ad regias Agni dapes"
translated by Fr Edward Caswell Cong Orat)

Low Masses: 8.30am, 12 noon (families), 12.45pm (Tridentine, Cloister Chapel), 5.30pm (congregational)

Solemn High Mass: 10.30am
Solemn Vespers & Benediction: 7.30pm

The Fathers and Brothers of the Oratory wish you a very Holy and Joyful Easter!
GAUDIA PASCHALIA!

Passiontide

Veiled in secrecy
Till their coming triumphant
Mourning their loss
But awaiting our reunion in joyful hope
O Cross! O Mother! O Saints!
How we long for your tender gaze!

More Via Crucis...

The next instalment of the Via Crucis meditation is ready, in advance for tomorrow. This Friday, it will show the final stages of Jesus' earthly life: being stripped of his bloody garments, nailed to the cross, and finally hung disgraced before dying an agonising death.

His death (Station XII) is the longest piece of music Franz Liszt wrote for Via Crucis, at 9:20 minutes. This is but a short time to contemplate the last words of Our Saviour, and his departure to complete the ultimate sacrifice in atonement for the sins of all mankind. What can we do but utter; "Dominus meus, et Deus meus!" those simple words of adoration received from St. Thomas the apostle: "My Lord and my God!" (See St. John's Gospel Chapter 20, verse 28)

Thus we do so at Mass. At the moment of consecration, the sacred host is elevated and we similarly adore Jesus. The chalice is then elevated likewise, to sacramentally show the separation of Jesus' body and blood. This sacrifice began the night he was betrayed by his disciple Judas. The Sacrament of the Eucharist, the Mass, was instituted by Jesus - not only at the Last Supper when he gave His New Priesthood the sacred words to imitate - but also with his subsequent suffering and death. It is all the Mass, one whole complete sacrificial action, made present for us here as a foretaste of His heavenly glory.

To continue from the 10th Station (Jesus is Stripped of His Garments) go here.
To begin the Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) from the beginning, go here.

My introduction to Via Crucis may also help you out...

Hibernation

I have decided that due to recent controversy and faults on my part, I will take an official retreat from Blogging till Easter (save for the continuation of Via Crucis on Fridays). This will give me an opportunity to concentrate on things unreservedly. After Easter I will decide whether I will continue blogging in the same way. I ask for your prayers during this Lenten time, and wish you all the best for a blessed paschaltide.

St. Joseph, protect our home. Pour forth from heaven blessings on our family. Remain in our midst. Help us to live in love and harmony, in peace and joy. May the wholesome fear of God strengthen us that virtue may adorn what we do and our way may lead to heaven.

To you this day I give the key to our dwelling place. Lock out all things that could do us harm. Lock my home and my loved ones with me in the hearts of Jesus and Mary. This I beg of you, that our days may be like your days in the holy home at Nazareth. Amen.