30 April 2009

Installation of Archbishop Vincent Nichols

The special Mass for the installation of Archbishop Vincent Nichols as Archbishop of Westminster is on the 21st May. It is reckoned around 4,000 people will be there, including Diocesan priests and religious, priests from the Archdiocese of Birmingham, as well as representatives from every parish and school throughout the Diocese. A number of high profile guests are also expected to attend, including all of the Bishops of England and Wales, Catholic Peers and MP's, and Cardinal Mahoney, Archbishop of Los Angeles. In our parish, our representatives are being chosen by draw.

If you are unable to go, but will be by a TV, the Mass will be aired on BBC2 from 11.45am

More info here

Abortion & Contraception is Killing our Culture



H/T Patrick Madrid

18 April 2009

The Christians in the World

"Christians are indistinguishable from other men either by nationality, language or customs. They do not inhabit separate cities of their own, or speak a strange dialect, or follow some outlandish way of life. Their teaching is not based upon reveries inspired by the curiosity of men. Unlike some other people, they champion no purely human doctrine. With regard to dress, food and manner of life in general, they follow the customs of whatever city they happen to be living in, whether it is Greek or foreign.

And yet there is something extraordinary about their lives. They live in their own countries as though they were only passing through. They play their full role as citizens, but labor under all the disabilities of aliens. Any country can be their homeland, but for them their homeland, wherever it may be, is a foreign country. Like others, they marry and have children, but they do not expose them. They share their meals, but not their wives.

They live in the flesh, but they are not governed by the desires of the flesh. They pass their days upon earth, but they are citizens of heaven. Obedient to the laws, they yet live on a level that transcends the law. Christians love all men, but all men persecute them. Condemned because they are not understood, they are put to death, but raised to life again. They live in poverty, but enrich many; they are totally destitute, but possess an abundance of everything. They suffer dishonor, but that is their glory. They are defamed, but vindicated. A blessing is their answer to abuse, deference their response to insult. For the good they do they receive the punishment of malefactors, but even then they, rejoice, as though receiving the gift of life. They are attacked by the Jews as aliens, they are persecuted by the Greeks, yet no one can explain the reason for this hatred.

To speak in general terms, we may say that the Christian is to the world what the soul is to the body. As the soul is present in every part of the body, while remaining distinct from it, so Christians are found in all the cities of the world, but cannot be identified with the world. As the visible body contains the invisible soul, so Christians are seen living in the world, but their religious life remains unseen. The body hates the soul and wars against it, not because of any injury the soul has done it, but because of the restriction the soul places on its pleasures. Similarly, the world hates the Christians, not because they have done it any wrong, but because they are opposed to its enjoyments.

Christians love those who hate them just as the soul loves the body and all its members despite the body's hatred. It is by the soul, enclosed within the body, that the body is held together, and similarly, it is by the Christians, detained in the world as in a prison, that the world is held together. The soul, though immortal, has a mortal dwelling place; and Christians also live for a time amidst perishable things, while awaiting the freedom from change and decay that will be theirs in heaven. As the soul benefits from the deprivation of food and drink, so Christians flourish under persecution. Such is the Christian’s lofty and divinely appointed function, from which he is not permitted to excuse himself."

From a letter to Diognetus (Nn. 5-6; Funk, 397-401)



Prayer

Father of all holiness,
guide our hearts to you.
Keep in the light of your truth
all those you have freed from the darkness of unbelief.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

13 April 2009

A Bit of Fun

A while ago I posted the T-Mobile advert, recorded at Liverpool St rail station. Well, browsing around the web, I found this, which is in a similar vein. Recorded at Centraal Station, Antwerp. If you like the Sound of Music, you'll like this:

12 April 2009

Ubi et Orbi

He Is Risen!







1 And on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalen cometh early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre; and she saw the stone taken away from the sepulchre. 2 She ran, therefore, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and saith to them: They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. 3 Peter therefore went out, and that other disciple, and they came to the sepulchre. 4 And they both ran together, and that other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. 5 And when he stooped down, he saw the linen cloths lying; but yet he went not in.

6 Then cometh Simon Peter, following him, and went into the sepulchre, and saw the linen cloths lying, 7 And the napkin that had been about his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but apart, wrapped up into one place. 8 Then that other disciple also went in, who came first to the sepulchre: and he saw, and believed. 9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. 10 The disciples therefore departed again to their home.

11 But Mary stood at the sepulchre without, weeping. Now as she was weeping, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been laid. 13 They say to her: Woman, why weepest thou? She saith to them: Because they have taken away my Lord; and I know not where they have laid him. 14 When she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing; and she knew not that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus saith to her: Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, thinking it was the gardener, saith to him: Sir, if thou hast taken him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

16 Jesus saith to her: Mary. She turning, saith to him: Rabboni (which is to say, Master). 17 Jesus saith to her: Do not touch me, for I am not yet ascended to my Father. But go to my brethren, and say to them: I ascend to my Father and to your Father, to my God and your God. 18 Mary Magdalen cometh, and telleth the disciples: I have seen the Lord, and these things he said to me.

10 April 2009

Buried



43 Joseph of Arimathea, a noble counsellor, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, came and went in boldly to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. 44 But Pilate wondered that he should be already dead. And sending for the centurion, he asked him if he were already dead. 45 And when he had understood it by the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.

46 And Joseph buying fine linen, and taking him down, wrapped him up in the fine linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewed out of a rock. And he rolled a stone to the door of the sepulchre. 47 And Mary Magdalen, and Mary the mother of Joseph, beheld where he was laid.

Empty

Lamentation

La Pieta



Descent From the Cross



Litany of the Passion

Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us.

Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of Heaven,

Have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the world,

Have mercy on us.

God the Holy Spirit,

Have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One, God,

Have mercy on us.

Jesus, the Eternal Wisdom, have mercy on us.

Jesus, sold for thirty pieces of silver, have mercy on us.

Jesus, prostrate on the ground in prayer, have mercy on us.

Jesus, strengthened by an angel, have mercy on us.

Jesus, in Thine agony bathed in a blood sweat, have mercy on us.

Jesus, betrayed by Judas with a kiss, have mercy on us.

Jesus, bound by the soldiers in heavy restrictive chains, have mercy on us.

Jesus forsaken by Thy disciples, have mercy on us.

Jesus, brought before Annas and Caiphas, have mercy on us.

Jesus, struck many times in the face by evil men, have mercy on us.

Jesus, accused by false witnesses, have mercy on us.

Jesus, declared guilty of death, have mercy on us.

Jesus, spat upon hundreds of times, have mercy on us.

Jesus, blindfolded, have mercy on us.

Jesus, smitten on the cheek, hundreds of times, have mercy on us.

Jesus, thrice denied by Peter, have mercy on us.

Jesus, despised and mocked by Herod, have mercy on us.

Jesus, clothed in a filthy garment, have mercy on us.

Jesus, rejected for Barabbas, have mercy on us.

Jesus, whose flesh was torn to the bone with hideous scourges,
by demonically possessed men, have mercy on us.

Jesus, bruised for sins, have mercy on us.

Jesus, esteemed a leper, have mercy on us.

Jesus, mocked and covered with a purple robe, have mercy on us.

Jesus, crowned with long, deadly thorns, have mercy on us.

Jesus, repeatedly struck by blows and kicks over Thy entire Body, have mercy on us.

Jesus, demanded for crucifixion by the Jews, have mercy on us.

Jesus, condemned to an ignominious death, have mercy on us.

Jesus, given up to the will of Thine enemies, have mercy on us.

Jesus, loaded with the heavy weight of the Cross, have mercy on us.

Jesus, falling many times while carrying the cross, have mercy on us.

Jesus, spat upon hundreds of times while carrying the cross, have mercy on us.

Jesus, led like a sheep to the slaughter, have mercy on us.

Jesus, barbarously stripped of Thy clothes causing Thy wounds to reopen, have mercy on us.

Jesus, fastened by long blunt nails to the cross, have mercy on us.

Jesus, reviled by the malefactors, have mercy on us.

Jesus, promising Paradise to the penitent thief, have mercy on us.

Jesus, commending St. John to Thy Mother as her son, have mercy on us.

Jesus, declaring Thyself forsaken by Thy Father, have mercy on us.

Jesus, struggling for every breath on the cross, have mercy on us.

Jesus, in Thy thirst given gall and vinegar to drink, have mercy on us.

Jesus, testifying that all things written concerning Thee were accomplished, have mercy on us.

Jesus, the God Man, dying to save the whole world, have mercy on us.

Jesus, commending Thy spirit into the hands of Thy Father, have mercy on us.

Jesus, obedient even to the death of the cross, have mercy on us.

Jesus, pierced with a lance, have mercy on us.

Jesus, made a propitiation for us, have mercy on us.

Jesus, taken down from the cross, have mercy on us.

Jesus, laid in the sepulcher, have mercy on us.

Jesus, rising gloriously from the dead, have mercy on us.

Jesus, ascending into Heaven, have mercy on us.

Jesus, our Advocate with the Father, have mercy on us.

Jesus, sending down on Thy disciples the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, have mercy on us.

Jesus, exalting Thy Mother above the choirs of angels, have mercy on us.

Jesus, Who shall come to judge the living and the dead, have mercy on us.

Be merciful, spare us, O Lord.

Be merciful, graciously hear us, O Lord.



From all evil, Lord Jesus, deliver us.

From all sin, Lord Jesus, deliver us.

From anger, hatred, and every evil will, Lord Jesus, deliver us.

From war, famine, and pestilence, Lord Jesus, deliver us.

From all dangers of mind and body, Lord Jesus, deliver us.

From everlasting death, Lord Jesus, deliver us.

Through Thy most pure Conception, Lord Jesus, deliver us.

Through Thy miraculous Nativity, Lord Jesus, deliver us.

Through Thy humble Circumcision, Lord Jesus, deliver us.

Through Thy baptism and holy fasting, Lord Jesus, deliver us.

Through Thy labors and watchings, Lord Jesus, deliver us.

Through Thy cruel scourging and crowning, Lord Jesus, deliver us.

Through Thy thirst, and tears, and nakedness, Lord Jesus, deliver us.

Through Thy precious death and Cross, Lord Jesus, deliver us.

Through Thy glorious Resurrection and Ascension, Lord Jesus, deliver us.

Through Thy sending forth the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, Lord Jesus, deliver us.

In the Day of Judgment, Lord Jesus, deliver us.



We sinners beseech Thee, hear us.

That Thou wilt spare us, we beseech Thee, hear us.

That Thou wilt pardon us, we beseech Thee, hear us.

That Thou wilt bring us to true penance, we beseech Thee, hear us.

That Thou wilt mercifully pour into our hearts,

the grace of the Holy Spirit, we beseech Thee, hear us.

That Thou wilt defend and propagate Thy holy Church, we beseech Thee, hear us.

That Thou wilt preserve and increase,

all societies assembled in Thy Holy Name, we beseech Thee, hear us.

That Thou wilt bestow upon us true peace, we beseech Thee, hear us.

That Thou wilt give us perseverance

in grace and in Thy holy service, we beseech Thee, hear us.

That Thou wilt deliver us from unclean thoughts,

from the temptations of the devil,

and from everlasting damnation, we beseech Thee, hear us.

That Thou wilt unite us to the company of Thy saints, we beseech Thee, hear us.

That Thou wilt graciously hear us, we beseech Thee, hear us.



Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,

Spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,

Graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,

Have mercy on us.



V. Christ, hear us.

R. Christ, graciously hear us.

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee,

R. Because by Thy Holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.

Let Us Pray

Almighty and eternal God, Who didst appoint Thine only-begotten Son the Saviour of the world and willed to be appeased by His blood, grant that we may so venerate this Price of our Salvation, and by its might be so defended upon earth from the evils of this present life, that in Heaven we may rejoice in its everlasting fruit. Through Christ Our Lord Who lives and reigns with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, world without end. R. Amen!

The Crucifixion



24 And crucifying him, they divided his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take. 25 And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.

26 And the inscription of his cause was written over: THE KING OF THE JEWS. 27 And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left. 28 And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith: And with the wicked he was reputed. 29 And they that passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads, and saying: Vah, thou that destroyest the temple of God, and in three days buildest it up again; 30 Save thyself, coming down from the cross.

31 In like manner also the chief priests mocking, said with the scribes one to another: He saved others; himself he cannot save. 32 Let Christ the king of Israel come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.

Christ Carries the Cross



21 And they forced one Simon a Cyrenian who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and of Rufus, to take up his cross. 22 And they bring him into the place called Golgotha, which being interpreted is, The place of Calvary. 23 And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh; but he took it not.

The Crowning With Thorns





16 And the soldiers led him away into the court of the palace, and they called together the whole band: 17 And they clothe him with purple, and platting a crown of thorns, they put it upon him. 18 And they began to salute him: Hail, king of the Jews. 19 And they struck his head with a reed: and they did spit on him. And bowing their knees, they adored him. 20 And after they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own garments on him, and they led him out to crucify him.

The Scourging



15 And so Pilate being willing to satisfy the people, released to them Barabbas, and delivered up Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.

Christ Before Pilate





1 And straightway in the morning, the chief priests holding a consultation with the ancients and the scribes and the whole council, binding Jesus, led him away, and delivered him to Pilate. 2 And Pilate asked him: Art thou the king of the Jews? But he answering, saith to him: Thou sayest it. 3 And the chief priests accused him in many things. 4 And Pilate again asked him, saying: Answerest thou nothing? behold in how many things they accuse thee. 5 But Jesus still answered nothing; so that Pilate wondered.

6 Now on the festival day he was wont to release unto them one of the prisoners, whomsoever they demanded. 7 And there was one called Barabbas, who was put in prison with some seditious men, who in the sedition had committed murder. 8 And when the multitude was come up, they began to desire that he would do, as he had ever done unto them. 9 And Pilate answered them, and said: Will you that I release to you the king of the Jews? 10 For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him up out of envy.

11 But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas to them. 12 And Pilate again answering, saith to them: What will you then that I do to the king of the Jews? 13 But they again cried out: Crucify him. 14 And Pilate saith to them: Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more: Crucify him.

Peter Denies Christ



66 Now when Peter was in the court below, there cometh one of the maidservants of the high priest. 67 And when she had seen Peter warming himself, looking on him she saith: Thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth. 68 But he denied, saying: I neither know nor understand what thou sayest. And he went forth before the court; and the cock crew. 69 And again a maidservant seeing him, began to say to the standers by: This is one of them. 70 But he denied again. And after a while they that stood by said again to Peter: Surely thou art one of them; for thou art also a Galilean.

71 But he began to curse and to swear, saying; I know not this man of whom you speak. 72 And immediately the cock crew again. And Peter remembered the word that Jesus had said unto him: Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt thrice deny me. And he began to weep.

Christ Before the High Priest





53 And they brought Jesus to the high priest; and all the priests and the scribes and the ancients assembled together. 54 And Peter followed him from afar off, even into the court of the high priest; and he sat with the servants at the fire, and warmed himself. 55 And the chief priests and all the council sought for evidence against Jesus, that they might put him to death, and found none.

56 For many bore false witness against him, and their evidences were not agreeing. 57 And some rising up, bore false witness against him, saying: 58 We heard him say, I will destroy this temple made with hands, and within three days I will build another not made with hands. 59 And their witness did not agree. 60 And the high priest rising up in the midst, asked Jesus, saying: Answerest thou nothing to the things that are laid to thy charge by these men?

61 But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said to him: Art thou the Christ the Son of the blessed God? 62 And Jesus said to him: I am. And you shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of the power of God, and coming with the clouds of heaven. 63 Then the high priest rending his garments, saith: What need we any further witnesses? 64 You have heard the blasphemy. What think you? Who all condemned him to be guilty of death. 65 And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him: Prophesy: and the servants struck him with the palms of their hands.

The Betrayal



43 And while he was yet speaking, cometh Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve: and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the ancients. 44 And he that betrayed him, had given them a sign, saying: Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is he; lay hold on him, and lead him away carefully. 45 And when he was come, immediately going up to him, he saith: Hail, Rabbi; and he kissed him.

09 April 2009

The Agony in the Garden





32 And they came to a farm called Gethsemani. And he saith to his disciples: Sit you here, while I pray. 33 And he taketh Peter and James and John with him; and he began to fear and to be heavy. 34 And he saith to them: My soul is sorrowful even unto death; stay you here, and watch. 35 And when he was gone forward a little, he fell flat on the ground; and he prayed, that if it might be, the hour might pass from him.

36 And he saith: Abba, Father, all things are possible to thee: remove this chalice from me; but not what I will, but what thou wilt. 37 And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping. And he saith to Peter: Simon, sleepest thou? couldst thou not watch one hour? 38 Watch ye, and pray that you enter not into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. 39 And going away again, he prayed, saying the same words. 40 And when he returned, he found them again asleep, (for their eyes were heavy,) and they knew not what to answer him.

41 And he cometh the third time, and saith to them: Sleep ye now, and take your rest. It is enough: the hour is come: behold the Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise up, let us go. Behold, he that will betray me is at hand.

The Washing of the Feet



1 Before the festival day of the pasch, Jesus knowing that his hour was come, that he should pass out of this world to the Father: having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them unto the end. 2 And when supper was done, (the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray him,) 3 Knowing that the Father had given him all things into his hands, and that he came from God, and goeth to God; 4 He riseth from supper, and layeth aside his garments, and having taken a towel, girded himself. 5 After that, he putteth water into a basin, and began to wash the feet of the disciples, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

6 He cometh therefore to Simon Peter. And Peter saith to him: Lord, dost thou wash my feet? 7 Jesus answered, and said to him: What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. 8 Peter saith to him: Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him: If I wash thee not, thou shalt have no part with me. 9 Simon Peter saith to him: Lord, not only my feet, but also my hands and my head. 10 Jesus saith to him: He that is washed, needeth not but to wash his feet, but is clean wholly. And you are clean, but not all.

The Last Supper



12 Now on the first day of the unleavened bread, when they sacrificed the pasch, the disciples say to him: Whither wilt thou that we go, and prepare for thee to eat the pasch? 13 And he sendeth two of his disciples, and saith to them: Go ye into the city; and there shall meet you a man carrying a pitcher of water, follow him; 14 And whithersoever he shall go in, say to the master of the house, The master saith, Where is my refectory, where I may eat the pasch with my disciples? 15 And he will shew you a large dining room furnished; and there prepare ye for us.

16 And his disciples went their way, and came into the city; and they found as he had told them, and they prepared the pasch. 17 And when evening was come, he cometh with the twelve. 18 And when they were at table and eating, Jesus saith: Amen I say to you, one of you that eateth with me shall betray me. 19 But they began to be sorrowful, and to say to him one by one: Is it I? 20 Who saith to them: One of the twelve, who dippeth with me his hand in the dish.

21 And the Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man shall be betrayed. It were better for him, if that man had not been born. 22 And whilst they were eating, Jesus took bread; and blessing, broke, and gave to them, and said: Take ye. This is my body. 23 And having taken the chalice, giving thanks, he gave it to them. And they all drank of it. 24 And he said to them: This is my blood of the new testament, which shall be shed for many. 25 Amen I say to you, that I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day when I shall drink it new in the kingdom of God.

26 And when they had said an hymn, they went forth to the mount of Olives.

08 April 2009

Wonderful Cross

This video is different to the one posted yesterday, using mainly stills at the start, and has a different soundtrack.

07 April 2009

06 April 2009

Offline Time - Holy Week

The post yesterday, this, and all posts til Easter Sunday are scheduled. I am offline for Holy Week, as I attempt to remove myself from the things that matter not, and immerse myself into that which is most important. I wish all who come by this blog between now and Sunday, a very peaceful Easter.

05 April 2009

Palm Sunday

1 And when they were drawing near to Jerusalem and to Bethania at the mount of Olives, he sendeth two of his disciples, 2 And saith to them: Go into the village that is over against you, and immediately at your coming in thither, you shall find a colt tied, upon which no man yet hath sat: loose him, and bring him. 3 And if any man shall say to you, What are you doing? say ye that the Lord hath need of him: and immediately he will let him come hither. 4 And going their way, they found the colt tied before the gate without, in the meeting of two ways: and they loose him. 5 And some of them that stood there, said to them: What do you loosing the colt?

6 Who said to them as Jesus had commanded them; and they let him go with them. 7 And they brought the colt to Jesus; and they lay their garments on him, and he sat upon him. 8 And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down boughs from the trees, and strewed them in the way. 9 And they that went before and they that followed, cried, saying: Hosanna, blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. 10 Blessed be the kingdom of our father David that cometh: Hosanna in the highest.