The other day I began again at Wonersh with the first lecture of my course on Sacramental Theology. There was quite a buzz at the seminary after the visit of the Holy Father. Several students had been helping at Eccleston Square with reinforcements being drafted in during the immediate run-up to the visit. The highlight for them was the gathering of all the seminarians at Oscott to meet the Holy Father.
The video above shows them gathering for the photo. Mgr Mark Crisp, the Rector of Oscott, was a year above me at the English College in Rome. It was great to see him sitting next to the Holy Father. I also picked out in the video students that I have taught in the past, some of whom are to be ordained to the Diaconate in December, as well those who are currently enduring my explanation of the phrase ex opere operato.
It was a good idea for the seminarians to start up the Ad multos annos for the Holy Father. That is sung at many seminaries on the occasion of an ordination, an anniversary, or the visit of a distinguished guest.
Talking to the spiritual director at Wonersh yesterday, I said that in England and Wales over recent years, there seems to have grown up a healthy cameraderie among students training for the priesthood at the various colleges. They often refer to themselves with a proper sense of corps d'esprit as "The Seminarians." This culture has been helped by a close co-operation between vocations directors, including our own tireless labourer in the vineyard Fr Stephen Langridge, director of vocations for Southwark. I have also noticed the same at the conferences of the Faith Movement. At the Summer Session for some time now, we have welcomed a significant proportion of The Seminarians each year.
You can see in the video the warm enthusiastic and loyal welcome that they gave to the Holy Father which is a significant focus of unity among those training for the priesthood. You will be greatly blessed to have these men serve you in the Church in England and Wales. Please remember them all in your prayers as they prepare for ordination.
Thanks to Fr Ray Blake for posting the photo. (I would be grateful for advice of where a larger resolution jpeg could be obtained.)
11 comments:
There's another video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3knS0f0li0
It shows more of the seminarians as the holy Father forst meets with them and where they applaud him.
Thanks, Michael, but that link doesn't work.
Shadowlands - thanks
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thepapalvisit/5006617622/sizes/o/in/faves-54250672@N08/
Hope this link works.
Only a couple of weeks ago I was chatting to one of our local Seminarians. It may surprise you to know that he is actually a German national and he went home just last Christmas for the holiday. I asked him what his parents think about him coming all the way from Germany to Western Australia as a Seminarian. He replied that his parents were puzzled but supportive. I still do not know why he came but....!
I then went on to the question of dress. He knows that I was once a Seminarian at The English College, Lisbon. I remarked that we never, ever, went around the Seminary...and I do mean outside in the streets, wearing anything other than a Cassock and Roman Collar. I then remarked that he was wearing a Tee shirt, an Anorak and Jeans. We would never have been seen anywhere in such clothing.
How things have changed!
This is not meant to be academic pedantry, but I am intrigued by your inversion "corps d'esprit". Is it deliberate, and am I being ignorant? I think it's got potential, perhaps in connection with the theology of the body.
Wonderful! It brought a tear to my eye. Hope for the Church and cassocks, perhaps Wonersh will return to this sign for others. The seminarians, I am sure want it, The faithful want it and the church needs this visible sign.
Ben - it was a mistake: but as you say, it has potential!
Michael - many thanks for the link. It is good to see all the seminarians.
Unfortunately, the photos at the Papal Visit flickr page are "copyright all rights reserved" which makes them useless for bloggers. Bah!
I watched Question Time last night and the Papal Visit was given the 3 minute 'funny' slot at the end of the show. All the usual stuff of course with only Vince Cable expressing anything approaching graciousness. They all looked confused but relief came when one of the panel pronounced the 'boo' word of abuse and the performing seals in the audience broke the stony silence with their applause. One more week and normal service should be resumed or at least Richard Dawkins' publishers are hoping so.
As for us, what next? Is their a road from Birmingham? It's not clear that the Bishops want the Church to attract converts. On their faces during TV interviews on the final day there was still that, "Benedict just doesn't get it" look. One such ordinary (with an 'oirish' name), stated that the Pope's performance wasn't bad "for a German".
I therefore remain pessimistic even if on QT not all the Liverpudlian audience applauded the 'boo' word. Seeing the events unfold last weekend, it stuck me that the mystery of the cross is looking less and less a mystery. That Our Lord's passion, death and resurrection are frighteningly logical. That the dilemma he confronted two thousand years ago is very much our dilemma and that what we experienced last weekend was nothing more than Psalm Sunday.
That's a great picture of the Pope with seminarians. What a remembrance!
What happened to the traditional courtesy of genuflecting to the Holy Father and kissing his fisherman's ring? Have the bishops of England & Wales banned that too?!
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