The Hermeneutic of Continuity

The All-Ireland Rally for Life which was held a week ago in Belfast, was a great success with large crowds, a youthful upbeat feel, and powerful speeches in defence of human life. Organised by a coalition of pro-life groups including Precious Life , Youth Defence and the Life Institute, the rally attracted about 4000 people. Speaker Niamh Uí Bhriain of the Life Institute told the rally that the most immediate threat to life in Ireland was the proposal to allow experimentation on human embryos which is being proposed by Health Minister Mary Harney. Other speakers at the rally were Fr Sylvester Mann from Priests for Life Ireland and the Reverend George Hargreaves of the UK Christian Party. The Rally also received support from several Bishops. Bishop Boyce of Raphoe said, "Life is our most precious gift. The ‘All-Ireland Rally for Life’ is a celebration of life. To attend or take part in it in any way is a worthwhile endeavour to pursue as Catholics. We stand up for God's ...

The fourth annual All-Ireland Rally for Life takes place in Belfast tomorrow, starting at the Custom House Square, starting at 2pm. Ireland - both north and south, is one of the last remaining places in Europe where the right of the unborn child to life is still protected by law. Pro-abortion campaigners not only in Ireland itself, but in the UK, the European Union and the United Nations, want to see abortion made legal in Ireland so the pro-life rally is an important opportunity to witness to the right to life of the unborn child. Rally for Life website Facebook page javascript:void(0)

I wrote this in my parish newsletter this weekend (I have put in hyperlinks for your convenience): Pope’s letter to Irish Catholics There will be much comment in the media this weekend concerning the Pastoral Letter of the Holy Father Pope Benedict to the Catholics of Ireland . The Holy Father apologises to victims of abuse who have suffered the “grave betrayal” of these “egregious crimes”. Pope Benedict also refers to “grave errors of judgement and failure of leadership” on the part of some Bishops. May I encourage you to read the letter itself: the text is available at the Vatican website. If you have difficulty finding it, there is a direct link in the “Rosary News” blog which can be found at the parish website . There is also a shorter official summary of the letter . Please remember in your prayers all those who have been victims of abuse. The Holy Father encourages the Irish Catholics to offer up their Friday penances for the coming year to Easter 2011 to beg for God’s me...

The Irish Bishops have issued a very good statement for teachers to inform them of the way in which children who attend the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite will be accustomed to receiving Holy Communion. The title may be misleading - this is not an enactment about how Holy Communion is to be received but a guide for teachers so that the needs of children who regularly attend the usus antiqior are not simply ignored or contradicted through a lack of knowledge. A pdf of the document can be obtained from the Irish Bishops' Conference website . I have reproduced it below to offer some comments in red . (The emphases in bold are in the original document.) My comments are not intended to be negative since I consider this to be a generous-hearted document - there are just a few observations on my part which I hope will be helpful. GUIDELINES FOR THE RECEPTION OF COMMUNION DURING THE EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS Children who attend the extraordinary form of the Mass will receive C...

Eamonn Manning has sent me these photos from the Requiem Mass which was celebrated in the usus antiquior at St Paul's Church in the Falls Road last Saturday: The congregation of about 100 was a good mix of ages (mostly at the back, as is the Irish custom!) The choir sang the propers from the Graduale and Victoria's Requiem for six voices, as well as the motet Versa Est in Luctum (Lobo), Gregorian Chant and Organ. As of January, the monthly Saturday afternoon usus antiquior Mass at St Paul's will move to Sunday - a great blessing for those who attend.

I just received news that on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, the Irish Dominicans celebrated the reception of thirteen new novices at Saint Mary's in Popes Quay, Cork. This is excellent news - congratulations to the Irish Dominicans. See the post at the Irish Dominican Vocations blog: Reception of Novices. Saint Mary's Priory, Cork . There was also a solemn profession in Dublin the day before, and two simple professions in Limerick the day after.

This is not really a sports blog, you understand, but in deference to one of my most consistent informants, himself hailing from the Kingdom of Kerry, I must allow Sr Dan of the Nesbitry an short notice about the victory of Kerry over Cork in the All Ireland final. We are talking Irish football and I haven't a clue about the rules but Kerry won their fifth All-Ireland this decade after beating Cork 0-16 to 1-9 yesterday at Croke Park. There is a full match report in the Irish Times. Colm Cooper, a close relative of Sir Dan, played a fine game and the team were welcomed back in what is said to be one of the biggest ever crowds to welcome home an All-Ireland team. The crowds gathered last night in the village of Rathmore, yards inside the Kerry border with Cork and the first train station in the county. My own family came over from Cork in the 19th century so I also commiserate loyally with the gallant team that came second.

The feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was celebrated at St Patrick’s Church, Donegall Street, Belfast with a programme including solemn Vespers and High Mass according to the usus antiquior . the Mass setting was Victoria's Missa O Quam Gloriosum, sung by the Schola Gregoriana of Belfast. The congregation of about 450 included many young people, some of whom had come from as far afield as Dublin. NLM has some photos of last year's Missa Cantata : Feast of the Assumption in Belfast, Northern Ireland For the feast of the Assumption, there were five extraordinary form Masses across Ireland - it is most encouraging to hear of this growth of interest in the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy in the classical form.

Five years ago, four volunteer helpers at the Lettterkenny centre of CURA , the Irish counselling service, were dismissed for "breach of confidentiality." What they did was to write a letter to which was published in the 'Irish Catholic' newspaper, protesting against Cura's policy of making available to women with crisis pregnancies a "Positive Options" leaflet which contained phone contacts of services providing abortions. The other day, the Irish Independent reported that three volunteers have been reinstated with an apology. The article says that [...] the Irish Independent learned the reinstatement of the women followed the intervention of the Vatican which ruled that in canon law they had a moral duty to point out the immorality of abortion. In May 2006, the Independent reported that Bishop Philip Boyce of Raphoe had "brokered a deal" to end the suspension of the women and that CURA had offered to reinstate them (an offer which, accordin...

Fr Flanagan of Boys Town: Speaking to a large audience at a public lecture in Cork’s Savoy Cinema he said, "You are the people who permit your children and the children of your communities to go into these institutions of punishment. You can do something about it." He called Ireland’s penal institutions "a disgrace to the nation," and later said "I do not believe that a child can be reformed by lock and key and bars, or that fear can ever develop a child’s character." However, his words fell on stony ground. He wasn't simply ignored. He was taken to pieces by the Irish establishment. The then-Minister for Justice Gerald Boland said in the Dáil that he was “not disposed to take any notice of what ........... said while he was in this country, because his statements were so exaggerated that I did not think people would attach any importance to them.” (H/T Fr Ray Blake ) In relation to the Christian Brothers, this is relevant: Indeed no one mentions, as D...

The report of the Irish Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse has dominated religious reporting in England over the past few days. Here are the key documents: Executive Summary Full Report They make sickening and heartbreaking reading. I don't intend to try and say anything clever or original in the face of this evil. Have a look at the above pious representation of Our Lord's love for children. Or this one: Our Lord said what needs to be said in the case of one who commits scandal against children, let alone sodomy: It were better for him that a millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be drowned in the depth of the sea. (Matt 18.6) I am reminded of the heartfelt words of Pope Benedict at his Homily at the Mass for bishops, Seminarians and Novices during his visit to Australia last year: Here I would like to pause to acknowledge the shame which we have all felt as a result of the sexual abuse of minors by some clergy and religious in this country. Indee...

Yesterday we celebrated the feast of St Patrick with two Masses in the parish. My sacristan, Hilda, arranged a devotional display of our statue of St Patrick with some shamrock, candles and harps, together with a nice green cloth. After both Masses, we sang the hymn Hail Glorious St Patrick. Fr Guy Selvester posted the Wolfe Tones version which gives one interpretation. Another is that given by Frank Patterson which I have embedded below: Neither version includes all the verses that we sang so here are the words. 43 years ago, Mrs Strawson taught us this hymn in infant school. She said that after each verse you had to reprise the last line, not "On Erin's green valleys" for each verse. So kudos to Frank Patterson for following this tradition. Hail, glorious Saint Patrick, dear Saint of our isle! On us thy poor children, bestow a sweet smile; And now thou art high in the mansions above, On Erin's green valleys look down in thy love. Hail, glorious Saint Patrick, thy ...

This evening was one of those "busy parish priest" evenings. After the evening Mass, I met with a mother to arrange the baptism of her children, a couple who wanted to get married, and an elderly lady who needed a visit. Back then to the ranch, I called into the parish Social Club which had an anticipated celebration for the feast of St Patrick. (We'll also be celebrating on Tuesday with Mass and the hymn "Hail glorious St Patrick" - the Club will be open afterwards.) We have an Irish Dancing Class in the parish and this evening they showed off their various dancing steps to great appreciation. The band was called "Celtic Craic" and they kept everyone entertained until late in the evening. I took St Patrick as my Confirmation patron after reading a good CTS pamphlet on his life. The celebation of his feast day is always a source of joy for me.

The Irish St Conleth's Catholic Heritage Association reports on three pilgrimages to honour the Year of St Paul, in Arran Quay, Dublin ( see picture ); Kildock, Co. Kildare; and Vicarstown, Co. Laois. (See Holy Year of St Paul ). They each include Mass celebrated in the "Gregorian Rite" Keep an eye on the St Conleth's blog for further information.

Abortion plans for Northern Ireland abandoned due to peace process . Pro-abortion MPs had been planning to table amendments to the HFE bill that would legalise abortion in Northern Ireland. They have been tipped off by ministers that this could upset the peace process. Unfortunately, there are still plans to try to make abortion easier in the rest of the UK. Mark Pritchard MP said: "The decision appears to be more about extending the political life of the Prime Minister - rather than the Government extending the lives of the unborn. It appears ministers are still determined to introduce 'drive-thru' abortions where mothers can bypass the advice of their local GP, drive straight to their local clinic and place an order for an abortion." As the Telegraph reports, opposition to abortion is one area in which the Nationalists and Unionists in Northern Ireland agree. Of course, the Family Planning Association is still campaigning for abortion in Northern Ireland against the...

The website of the Irish Bishops' Conference has recently had a major makeover and is worth looking at. It is interesting to see that this coming Sunday is "Priesthood Sunday".

It has often struck me that places such as Bluewater shopping centre and Gym-spa-health clubs are rather like modern pagan temples. Sad then, to see plans for a real Church to become a temple to the new religion. The Irish Times reports on the sale of the Sacred Heart Church, Limerick, to developer John O'Dolan for 4 million euros. ( Roman baths: new plan for former Jesuit church ). An application for purchase was also lodged by a tradionalist group who wished to use the Church as a centre for the Traditional Latin Mass. The article outlines Architect John Kennedy's plans for the Church. They will involve "very little alteration to the church" and "virtually all of the fabric of the existing structure" will be retained, including all five altars. The nave of the Church will become a swimming pool surrounded by a glass wall so that people can still see the High Altar. also at ground level will be a restaurant and juice bar. The gym itself will be on a ne...

A commenter passes on this interesting snippet from the Latin Mass Society of Ireland. Bishop O'Reilly of Ardagh & Clonmacnois will the Latin Mass (Extraordinary Form) on Sunday, 23 September 2007 at St Mary's Church, Edgeworthstown, Co. Longford as part of a commemoration of the Bicentenary of the death of Monsignor Henry Essex Edgeworth de Firmont. Bishop O'Reilly of Ardagh & Clonmacnois to offer Latin Mass at Monsignor Edgeworth commemoration Although born in Co. Longford, Mgr Edgeworth was the confessor of Louis XVI and Vicar General of Paris at the height of the French Revolution. There is an article summarising his extraordinarily eventful life in the Catholic Encyclopaedia: Henry Essex Edgeworth .