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Wednesday, 21 May 2008

An afternoon at Parkminster

Once a fortnight, I drive over to St Hugh's Charterhouse, Parkminster, to lecture to the novices and simply professed. We are currently on the De Deo Uno part of the tract De Deo Uno et Trino. Having considered the various ways in which the human person can be said to know God, it was time to consider how this operates in practice. With the help of Garrigou Lagrange, Tanquerey and St Thomas, we looked at the nature of contemplation and its precursors. I referred to Tanquerey as the manual everyone loves to hate which raised a smile. People sometimes say that it is too systematic but I think that it is a wonderful book and must be taken for what it is: an attempt to pass on the wisdom of the saints.

Sadly, I heard today of the death of dear Fr Aloysius whom I had the privilege of chatting to last St Stephen's day. He died on Trinity Sunday and was buried yesterday after lying in the Charterhouse chapel on Monday. Fr Aloysius joined the Carthusians during the war - originally at Switzerland. He was moved to Parkminster in 1962 and has been there since. He was a great man, a poet, a good friend to his brothers, and a much-loved member of the community. Do pray for the repose of his soul. I know that we suspect that he may not need many prayers but you can always ask Our Lady to apply any surplus to whichever soul she knows most needs help.

Before Vespers, I took a photograph of Fr Aloysius' grave in the simple Churchyard:

7 comments:

bernadette said...

Fr Tim. The MP who is vice-chair of the All Party Parliamentarey pro-life groups has issued an extraordinary statement. Clare Curtis-Thomas,(Lab) Crosby says " for the record, and contrary to many of the statements that I have read this week which pupport to know my views, I am not opposed to abortion. I believe that women should have the right to choose; I just hope they do not choose to have an abortion."

?

(srry to go off topic)

Philip said...

My fist thought, when you mentioned "Tanquerey", was of good quality gin. I am so ashamed!

May Fr Aloysius be received into the love and glory of the Most Holy Trinity.

PeterHWright said...

May Fr Aloysius through the mercy of God and the intercession of Our Lady come to his eternal reward.

Requiescat in pace.

GOR said...

I agree Father, on Tanquerey being a wonderful source of knowledge and insight. It may not be something one reads cover to cover, but taken in small doses, it is very enlightening and comprehensive. If you like St. Thomas, you’ll love Tanquerey!

In these days of woolly thinking and shifting views one needs solid, orthodox reference guides. Given past decades of works of dubious orthodoxy, there is a need to return to the classics. Nihil Obstats and Imprimaturs, unfortunately, have not always guaranteed solid doctrine. Which is why I also refer to Fr. Heribert Jone’s Moral Theology when I need a clear uncompromising answer.

Aric said...

There is certainly a place for books like Heribert Jone's. (Such as functioning as a minor character in Greene's Monsignor Quixote.) My favorite part of Jone is the supplement that allows one to identify true midnight on a particular latitude point, for fasting / abstinence purposes.

But whatever place there is for books like Jone's, the world is better for having 20th (now 21st century) thinkers like Pinckaers and Cessario.

Fr Tim Finigan said...

Yes, it is always fun to find odd snippets in the old manuals. But many years ago I rather tired of the shallow denigration of the work of the old manualists. Few theologians today could produce works with the attention to detail that they showed - nor indeed their familiarity with the sources.

Catholic Books said...

Hello Father,

I love the Carthusians and wished to be a carthusian nun

I left you a link here

http://catholic-books.blogspot.com/

Many catholic books of interest, might be good for spiritual reading. and the best, they're free

God bless

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