Twas the night before Benedict

Sunset at Blackfen

The smear campaign in preparation for the Papal Visit is now thankfully coming to a close as the last night draws on before the Holy Father arrives. For four days, at least some attention will have to be given to what he actually says. Among my parishioners, there is a great enthusiasm for the visit. While on my way to the shops this afternoon, a teacher in one of our local Catholic secondary schools stopped me to say how the students were becoming excited about it all, and a young boy who came with his dad to pick up the family's Pilgrim Packs for Hyde Park told me that at Our Lady of the Rosary school he had learnt that Benedict means "blessed". I know that the school has been working hard to prepare the children for the visit in many different ways.

Well never mind the schoolchildren, I'm getting quite excited about it all myself. I have managed to keep Thursday and Friday clear of appointments so that after Mass I am free to go up to central London. The media centre may be useful but I also want to walk around, pick up the atmosphere, see whether the shops are selling souvenirs, that kind of thing. It would be really good to get some photos of the popemobile (plus Pope) on Friday afternoon, with obvious London landmarks in the background.

I'll be staying up in town overnight on Friday as we have been asked to get to Westminster Cathedral early for the Papal Mass on Saturday morning. From a liturgical music point of view, that will be the highlight of the visit - more about that tomorrow, perhaps. After the Mass, I'll go over the Hyde Park and have a wander round to see people, marvel at the "liturgical entertainment", and then try to get a photo of the popemobile passing  Buckingham Palace.

On Sunday I'll be in the parish but we should be able to catch the tail end of the Beatification Mass on the big screen televisions in the Club. Don't forget - the most important thing will be the addresses. He is giving thirteen over the four days and I think some of them will be very significant for us. Pope Benedict speaking at Westminster Hall: imagine!

Popular posts from this blog

1962 Missal pdf online

The Church Music Association of America and Jeffrey Tucker of the New Liturgical Movement have made available the 1962 Missal online in pdf format (72Mb). The file is hosted at Musica Sacra , the website of the CMAA, thanks to a generous gift from Fr Robert Skeris While you are at it, take a look at the articles clarifying the rules for music at Low Mass and music at High Mass .
Read more

Plenary indulgences not impossible

Dilexit Prior in Letters from a Young Catholic asked some useful questions today about indulgences. I thought it would be best to do a post here especially to cover the controversial question of detachment from venial sin. But first the other questions: The conditions for gaining a plenary indulgence Pope Paul VI set down a number of norms relating to indulgences at the end of Indulgentiarum Doctrina . Norm 7 states: To acquire a plenary indulgence it is necessary to perform the work to which the indulgence is attached and to fulfil three conditions: sacramental confession, Eucharistic Communion and prayer for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff. It is further required that all attachment to sin, even to venial sin, be absent. If this disposition is in any way less than complete, or if the prescribed three conditions are not fulfilled, the indulgence will be only partial, except for the provisions contained in n.11 for those who are “impeded.” It is worth reading the other norms bec
Read more

Request for Novena to Blessed Pius IX

Image
A priest friend of mine is ill in hospital. He has a special devotion to Blessed Pius IX. Could I ask you, of your charity, to say a Novena for his speedy recovery. Novena In Honour of Blessed Pius IX Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, hear our prayers and glorify your servant Pius IX, who consecrated the Universal Church to you. (Our Father...) O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you, hear our prayer and glorify your servant Pius IX who declared you Immaculate. (Hail Mary...) Saint Joseph, spouse of the most pure Virgin Mary, hear our prayer and glorify your servant Pius IX who declared you the Patron of the Universal Church. (Glory be...) Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Immaculate Mary, our Hope, and Saint Joseph hear our prayers and glorify your servant Pius IX , granting to us through his merits and intercessions the graces which we ardently desire: that the glory of God be revealed through Father's illness. (Our Father..., Hail Mary..., Glory be
Read more

Saint Gabriel

Image
The angels call for our veneration and awe as part of God’s creation. Part of the destructive modernism of the 1970s included advice to Catholic school teachers that they should not talk to children about angels. This wrought lasting damage which continues to need rectifying. We should include in our prayers a heartfelt recourse to our own Guardian Angels. The Archangel Gabriel “God is my strength” would be terrifying were he to appear to any of us. Our Lady was “troubled” at the word of Saint Gabriel and wondered at the manner of the salutation. Immediately, according to his mission, the awesome messenger explained himself. Modern retelling of the event is often reduced to the jejune “Mary said Yes to God”. In fact, she said “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word”. This conveys more accurately the flawless faith and trust of the Immaculata. In the infinitely wise providence of the Father, we now know the structure of the event in even more detai
Read more

God bless America!

Image
I wish you all a very happy Fourth of July over there in the land of the free and the home of the brave. I thought I was a bit late but then realised that it is still early evening for you. I hope you had an enjoyable day. For the video this year, here is Kate Smith IN 1938 introducing the new composition "God Bless America."
Read more