The picture shows my little statue of Pope Urban IV, kindly given to me over 30 years ago when I was at Corpus Christi College in Oxford. From early in the 13th century, Juliana of Liège received visions of Christ instructing her to petition for the feast. Fortunately, the Archdeacon of Liège, Jacques Pantaléon, became Pope Urban IV. Spurred on additionally by the miracle of Bolsena, he instituted the feast of Corpus Christi in 1264, the year he died. It is said that St Thomas Aquinas and St Bonaventure were both invited to compose an office for the feast. Pope Urban asked St Thomas to read his first; as he did so, St Bonaventure quietly tore his to shreds since he felt his effort was so inferior.I'm not sure we did as well as St Mary Magdalen's Brighton (High Mass) this evening but I think we ran them close with our Missa Cantata. You can see the splendid vestments that Fr Blake procured: but we also had some rather fine ones recently acquired on long term loan from another Southwark parish although the set is not complete. (We'll use them on Sunday and I'll make sure to get a good photo.) Brighton had the Byrd 4 part Mass. We can't manage that yet but I have some youngsters working on it. Nevertheless, Mass II (Fons bonitatis) was sublime; and I bet we had more servers (11) and candles (36) than Brighton :-)
Friendly rivalry aside, I'm sure Brighton had as enjoyable and uplifting an evening as we did. It was glorious to have a procession and Benediction after Mass as a fitting end to the celebration. Gaudia were certainly iuncta to the sacris solemniis. (relevant google search)
Tomorrow I'll be assisting Fr Charles Briggs at Chislehurst for High Mass which he is celebrating on the occasion of his 50th birthday.
11 comments:
Alright next year, we will have to do more, Forty Hours, maybe, to draw to a conclusion the Year for Priests.
Maybe Solemn Vespers too.
ps. I am not into competitions, but...
Both visually and aurally the Missa Cantata was sublime. Never have I seen so many candles on so small an altar! The vestments were magnificent too - but I couldn't make out the image on the rear of the chasuble. Too far away. What was it? Well, maybe you'll post a pic on Sunday.
If only Mass like that was the norm, everywhere. The UK would be converted in a jiffy! But I'm sure all that you and other avant-garde priests are doing will bear much fruit – eventually.
Fr Ray - we are already planning 40 hours at Blackfen as part of the Bexley Deanery Mission Year "Called to Service". But Solemn Vespers for Corpus Christi - that's an idea! Perhaps we should pool resources from time to time with a couple of "away matches" :-)
Many thanks Delia. I'll get some pictures of that chasuble online soon.
'Perhaps we should pool resources from time to time with a couple of "away matches" :-)'
LOL!!!!!
Taking things a stage further it could mean having coach loads of Latin Mass supporters following their 'team players' back and forth twixt Blackfen and Brighton?
T-shirts with 'EF logos', anthems, team mantillas, the mind truely boggles!
PS - I do hope this does not sound irreverent - no way is it meant to be.
Thank you Father for letting us experience something so sacred at yesterday's Corpus Christi celebrations. The candles certainly added to the beauty of the Altar.
The Mass and procession were 'out of this world', I mentioned to the children as we followed the procession with the 'Monstrance' that Jesus is passing by all these people (in the club and in their homes) and they are oblivious to it.
How blessed were those present and how quickly the time flew.
On the drive home everyone was spiritually lifted and a fresh cream chocolate eclairs to end the celebrations went down a treat.
What can we, the minions, do for the year of the Priest. A prayer suggestion for our priest would be a great help.
Pooled resources - good idea
Wasn't it Urban IV who banned smoking, too?
Good suggestion, Fr. Tim - perhaps a parish pilgrimage / outing from Blackfen to Brighton could be arranged?
I think the statue might be of St Urban of Langres (often shown in art with a bunch of grapes since he is the patron of vine-dressers) rather than Urban IV (not canonised). St Urban of Langres' feast is on 2 April and there is a saying: 'If there is sunshine on St. Urban's Day/ the wine thrives afterwards, they say.' He is sometimes confused with Pope St Urban I.
Hey, hang on a mo... what's with the Blackfen to Brighton stuff?
We have a car park. And a parish club which has real ale (among other things)
How about Brighton to Blackfen???
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