Pentecost

1 And when the days of the Pentecost were accomplished, they were all together in one place: 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a mighty wind coming, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared to them parted tongues as it were of fire, and it sat upon every one of them: 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they began to speak with divers tongues, according as the Holy Ghost gave them to speak. 5 Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem, Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

6 And at this sound, the multitude came together, and were confounded in mind, because that every man heard them speak in his own tongue. 7 And they were all amazed, and wondered, saying: Behold, are not all these, that speak, Galileans? 8 And how have we heard, every man our own tongue wherein we were born? 9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, Egypt, and the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome,

11 Jews also, and proselytes, Cretes, and Arabians: we have heard them speak in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.

Champion's League 09

It's the Champion's League final this Wednesday. Being totally neutral, I can sit back, relax, and enjoy a (hopefully) good final. As an appetiser, here's an ad, showing a bit of 'mind games' between Henry and Giggs:

Grazie, Capitano

Too often in sport, particularly football, words like legend are thrown around towards players who are little deserving. But every once in a while you get a player who deserves recognition for their contribution to the game.

Football generally, particularly the Italian game, specifically AC Milan is important to me. Keeping everything in the correct perspective, football gives occasion of high and low emotions, offers opportunity of fraternity with like minded people, and a certain type of tribal rivalry that, when kept within acceptable norms, is often humorous and enjoyable. It surely doesn't need to be said, I have no time for rivalries that descend into violence.

Today was the last game played in Serie A for Paolo Maldini at the home ground of Milan, the San Siro. You would expect, that after a 24 year career with the same team, making 901 appearances (his 902nd is next week, in the last game of the season against Fiorentina) that the fans would show their gratitude to a player of the quality of Maldini. And generally that was the case, starting off with the opposing players from today's game, Roma, wearing shirts thanking and praising Maldini, congratulating him personally. Before the match, the crowd showed their appreciation, the atmosphere came through well even on TV. Would have been great to be there. However, once the game kicked off, some banners were unfurled similar to that in the picture that criticised Maldini, for some alleged offense given to the fans during the time the current England manager, Fabio Capello, was manager of Milan. At some points Maldini was whistled by his own supporters, and the club's owner, Silvio Berlusconi, was also roundly criticised for perceived lack of ambition in the transfer market.

Whatever the points, today was not the day for protest, and re-opening old wounds. Instead, it was a day for remembering a true great of the modern football era, a player who has performed at the top of his game for almost 25 years. Maldini made his debut for Milan when he was just 16 years old, and soon became a regular figure in the team's line-up. The haul of trophies one during Maldini's career is impressive:

7 Serie A titles
5 Champions League titles
5 UEFA Super Cups
5 Supercoppa Italiana
2 Intercontinental Cups
1 FIFA World Club Cup
1 Coppa Italia

Maldini also played 126 times for Italy, 74 of those as captain. The one major honour missing from his impressive CV is a World Cup. He had retired from the Italian national team after the 2002 World Cup, so missed out on the triumph in 2006. Maldini, for all his triumphs and great matches, was rather unfortunate in the international game, being runner up in the 1994 World Cup Final to Brazil, a match that was lost on penalties, and also runner up to France in the Euro 2000 final, a game that Italy were winning until a couple of minutes before the end of the game, France scored to take the final into extra time. They subsequently one by scoring in extra time, taking the title on the then Golden Goal ruling.

Still, even taking those disappointments into account, Paolo Maldini has had an amazing career. He is a true great of the game, and fully deserving of all the praise he receives. In a modern game where greed drives players to show disloyalty at every moment, to have achieved 901 top level games with one club is a real achievement. Grazie, Capitano, per tutto.

Paolo's father, Cesare, was a great defender for the club. With sons of his own, maybe the Maldini name will continue to be part of AC Milan into the future. The oldest, Christian, is already part of the youth set up, and if this video clip is anything to go by, there is a future for Daniel Maldini. Only 5 years old in this clip, Daniel makes an excellent tackle on Clarence Seedorf, himself a Champions League winner with three different clubs:

Archbishop Nichols

I watched the service yesterday on TV, for the installation of the new Archbishop. It was great to see it on the BBC. A video is available, with highlights of the service, at this link

St Albans Cathedral

A few pictures I took the other day at St Albans Cathedral, with my Nokia N82.

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

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.

Tanti Auguri

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:

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.

The Harrowing of Hell

Holy Saturday

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!