Friday 20 February 2009

Support Fr. Tim Finigan Against the Bitter Taste of the Tablet


(Editorial Note) I've just read one of the nastiest articles for a long time। Click here for the full story.It seems to me that the only reason it (the Tablet) ran the article was that Fr. Tim Finigan, celebrates one extraordinary form Mass on a Sunday morning - goodness me what a terrible thing to do!(plus 3 other English Novus Ordo Masses over the weekend). But surely this is exactly what Pope Benedict wants in his reform of the liturgy। Fr. Tim Finigan is just being a faithful Catholic Priest - nothing more and nothing less.

Have the Tablet finally lost it I ask, well I think they have. It manages to find 9 people who don't like Father Finigan - is that all they could get!! In one Parish in the South West of England (which will remain nameless) the whole Church appeared to dislike a new incoming Priest (for no apparent reason - he seemed very pleasant to me).

I have only met Fr. Finigan a couple of times and had email contact a couple of times; however, it struck me (and this is confirmed from everyone else I come into contact with) that he is one of the best, hard working and most decent of Parish Priests that I have ever come across. The Tablet should be absolutely ashamed of themselves. If anyone reads this entry and subscribes to this periodical (unlikely I know) PLEASE CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION NOW.

As Fr. Z says,

"The progressivists are terrified.They are afraid that Fr. Finigan might succeed. They are attacking him in order to discourage other priests from doing what Fr. Finigan is accomplishing.They hate what he stands for and they earnestly will work for his failure. And not just failure. They want him to fail and suffer in his failure.They will do anything and to anyone to prevent the older form of Mass from resurging."

Please keep up the great work that you are doing Fr. Tim Finigan, we're all behind you.

Wednesday 18 February 2009

Fr Ray Blake - Some Good Points



I came across this today and thought it worth copying in full:-

The battle, or maybe it is a war, is ultimately about whether we can know God and trust what he has revealed. Most of the teaching of the Second Vatican Council was issued in the form of a Decree, solemn teaching meant to inform the Church and individuals. Four documents were issued as were issued as "Dogmatic Constitutions", these were intended not just to teach but to form Catholic theology, to identify what was de fide, of the faith.

It is widely known that the young Father Joseph Ratzinger was one of the major authors behind the Dogmatic Constitution on the Word of God, Dei Verbum. In it modern biblical science is examined such as text and form criticism, the examination whether a document is meant to be a story, a myth or an historic truth, it examines the authorship of scripture by God and man, and the relationship between Scripture and Tradition. It sought to answer Modernism and Literalist Fundamentalism.

Modernism: basically said that scripture was a purely human invention, which means it is powerless, and God does not touch humanity.

Literalist Fundamentalist: would have scripture dictated by God directly into the ear of its human author, which is simply nonsensical, it denies a Catholic understanding of Grace and human co-operation with it.

Practically every word the Pope has uttered or written since his election as Pope has been on God's revelation to Man. His emphasis on the Hermeneutic of Continuity says that God has been present in his Church for two thousand years and can be indeed be trusted, we have not been left orphans. His book Jesus of Nazareth is continually stressing that the Gospels can be trusted, which is so important when most theologians and most scripture scholars follow the Protestant line of the unreliability of scripture. His Wednesday catechesis on the Fathers and St Paul stress the continuity of the Church from Christ to the present day, and God's continued guidance. The Synod on the Word of God, which was a bit lack-lustre, but more importantly the eventual release of his response to it, is crucial to this Papacy and I am sure will emphasise God speaking to his people.

I really do believe that we are entering a period in the history of the Church which touches on issues as important as the Christological controversies of the first millenium. It is about the very nature of God himself. The Pope alone, and those who gather with him, stands for the continuation of the Catholic faith: God speaking directly through Tradition and Scripture, God touching directly the lives of the faithful through the sacraments, Man being saved by coming into contact with God in his Church.

The Pope's almost manic ecumenical work with the Orthodox, his inter-religious dialogue, his reconciliation of Traditionalist groups, of talks with groups of "Catholic" Anglicans are all about strengthening the position of those who believe God is "knowable". H/t to Fr. Ray Blake.

Benedict on Bede




Pope Benedict today on the venerable Bede:-

VENERABLE BEDE: SAINT AND SCHOLAR

VATICAN CITY, 18 FEB 2009 (VIS) - In the general audience, held this morning in St. Peter's Square in the presence of 15,000 people, Benedict XVI dedicated his catechesis to St. Bede the Venerable.

Bede was born around the year 672 in the English region of Northumbria . When he was seven years old his family entrusted his education to the abbot of a nearby Benedictine monastery and he became, the Holy Father explained, "one of the most outstanding scholars of the early Middle Ages. ... His teaching and the fame of his writings brought him many friends among the principal personages of his day, who encouraged him to continue his work, which brought benefits to so many people".

"Sacred Scripture was the constant source of Bede's theological reflections". He considered "the events of the Old and New Testaments jointly" as "a way towards Christ", a testament to the same faith, "though expressed using different signs and institutions".

As an example of this, Benedict XVI mentioned Bede's interpretation of the construction of the Temple of Jerusalem: "Just as pagans also helped to build the ancient Temple by supplying materials and the technical experience of their master builders, so the edification of the Church involved apostles and masters who came not just from the ancient Hebrew, Greek or Latin peoples, but also from the new peoples, among whom Bede mentions the Irish Celts and the Anglo-Saxons".

The Pope then dwelt upon some of the saint's written works, such as the "'Chronica Maiora' in which he establishes a chronology which would become the basis of the universal calendar 'ab incarnatione Domini', ... and his 'Ecclesiastical History of the English People', for which he is known as the father of English historiography.

"The characteristic traits of the Church which Bede sought to underline are: catholicity, seen as faithfulness to tradition while remaining open to historical developments, and as the search for 'unity in diversity', ... and apostolicity and 'Romanitas'. In this context Bede considered it vitally important to convince the Churches of the Celts and the Picts to celebrate Easter together, in accordance with the Roman calendar".

"Bede was also a great master of liturgical theology, ... educating the faithful to celebrate the mysteries of the faith with joy, and to reflect those mysteries coherently in their lives while awaiting their full manifestation in the return of Christ".

"Thanks to his approach to theology - which involved a combination of the Bible, liturgy and history - Bede has a modern message for the various 'states' of Christian life", said the Pope. "He reminds scholars of two essential tasks: scrutinising the marvels of the Word of God so as to present them in a manner attractive to the faithful, and explaining dogmatic truths while avoiding heretical complications and keeping to 'Catholic simplicity', with the attitude of the meek and humble to whom it pleases God to reveal the mysteries of the Kingdom".

For their part, pastors "must give priority to preaching, not only through sermons and hagiographies, but also by using icons, processions and pilgrimages". To consecrated people, "Bede recommends focus on the apostolate, both by collaborating with bishops in various kinds of pastoral activities in support of young Christian communities, and by offering themselves for evangelising missions".

The scholar saint also affirmed that Christ "wants an industrious Church, ... one intent on cultivating other fields and vineyards, .... in other words on introducing the Gospel into the social fabric and cultural institutions". He also "exhorted the lay faithful to be assiduous in their religious education, ... He taught them how to pray continuously, ... offering all their actions as a spiritual sacrifice in union with Christ".

The Venerable Bede died in May of the year 735. "It is a fact", Pope Benedict concluded, "that with his works he made an effective contribution to the construction of a Christian Europe".

AG/VENERABLE BEDE/... VIS 090218 (660)


V.I.S. -Vatican Information Service.
Copyright © Vatican Information Service 00120 Vatican City

Saturday 28th February 2009, 3pm-4pm: “Art for Souls” Tour guided by Fr Armand de Malleray



Saturday 28th February 2009, 3pm-4pm:

National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London:

“Art for Souls” Tour guided by Fr Armand de Malleray: a meditation on several Catholic paintings illustrating the theme

“Christ’s saving Passion”.

Meet inside the entrance hall of the Sainsbury Wing from 2.40pm until 2.55pm.

Informal coffee at the Gallery’s cafeteria after the tour.

Free entrance, all invited.

Saturday 14 February 2009

Fraternity of St. Peter - News from England



Lent 2009 with the Priestly Fraternity of Saint
2009

Wednesday 25 th February, 11:20am and 7pm: Ash Wednesday: St William of York’s, Upper Redlands RoadRG1 5JT, Reading: Holy Mass with imposition of Ashes, Confessions will be heard.

Saturday 28 th February, 3pm-4pm: National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London: “Art for Souls” Tour guided by Fr Armand de Malleray: a meditation on several Catholic paintings illustrating the theme “Christ’s saving Passion”. Meet inside the entrance hall of the Sainsbury Wing from 2.40pm until 2.55pm. Informal coffee at the Gallery’s cafeteria after the tour. Free entrance, all invited.

March 2 nd -6 th : Lenten Retreat, Douai Abbey Upper Woolhampton RG7 5TQ, Berkshire, United Kingdom (about1 hour west from London; nearest railway station: Midgham): Starts Monday 2009 March 2009 at 2pm – ends Friday ६th March 2009 at 11am. Cost: £169 - to cover: £155 for accommodation (discount granted on request by the Abbey) + £14 for Retreat Master’s expenses. Theme: "By his wounds we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5). Daily Mass. Possibility of individual meeting with Fr de Malleray for confession and spiritual advice.

Monday 9 th March, 7.30pm: Newman House, Gower Street, London: conference for students on: “Evil, phenomenon or a person?”

Saturday 14 th March, 11am: Day of recollection, Cathedral of St John the Evangelist, Edinburgh Road,Portsmouth, PO1 3HG: Talks, Mass (at 12.15pm), Stations of the Cross, time for confessions and benediction .Ends at ४.15pm. Confessions will be heard.

Saturday 21 st March: Lenten day of recollection at Our Lady of the Assumption and St Gregory parish Warwick Street in London: 10:45am: faithfuls arrival; 11am: Morning conference (in the church); 12 noon: Holy Mass; 1:30pm: bring and share picnic (in the basement room); 2:30pm: Afternoon conference (in the church);3:30pm: Benediction; 4pm. Confessions will be heard during the conferences.

Saturday 28 th March, 3pm : Our Lady of the Assumption and St Edward the Confessor, 14 Empress Road, Lyndhurst, Hants, SO43 7AE: Holy Mass followed with refreshments and Lenten conference, ending with Benediction. Confessions will be heard.

Sunday 5 th April, 11am: Palm Sunday: blessing of palms and procession followed with Holy Mass: St William of York’s, Upper Redlands Road RG1 5JT, Reading; confessions. And also at 5pm: Blessing, procession and

Holy Mass: Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Pope Close, Flitwick MK45 1JP. Confessions.
April 9 th - 12 th : Sacred Easter Triduum in Reading (St William of York’s, Upper Redlands Road RG1 5JT):

April 9 th - 12 th : Sacred Easter Triduum in Reading (St William of York’s, Upper Redlands Road RG1 5JT):

Also, Sunday 12 th April, 5pm: Also Easter Sunday Mass at Flitwick (cf address above)

Contact : www.fssp.co.uk - Tel: 0118 987 5819 - E-mail: malleray@fssp.org
Fr Armand de Malleray, FSSP, 179 Elgar Rd, Reading, RG2 0DH, Berkshire, England

Friday 6 February 2009

Calling all Priests and Laymen/Women - New Traditional Catholic Groups for Young Adults Wanted



Young Catholic Adults was founded in February 2004 at Oxford in the UK। YCA are loyal to the Magisterium and faithful to Pope Benedict XVI's teaching with regard to Summorum Pontificum (2007). It is now part of the International Juventutem Federation.YCA-Juventutem organise a selection of national, international events, why not get involved and become part of this exciting new movement?

We are looking to start more local YCA-Juventutem groups. They could be rosary groups, social activities, talks, meeting together after Mass, basically anything involving the Extraordinary form of Mass or traditional Catholic devotions/practices.

It's possible to affiliate your existing group to YCA-Juventutem (we already have a successful joint group running in a large Parish), - simply email Damian Barker at juventutemcatholicam@yahoo.co.uk.

With:-

-Your name
-Contact e-mail address and telephone number
-The Groups name

See http://www.youngcatholicadults.co.uk/news.htm for more details.

Programme of the 2nd Fœderatio Internationalis „Juventutem“ Gathering in Bern, Switzerland, on February 21st and 22nd 2009.

(Like last year, the Secretary to the Nunciature in Bern will attend our Mass)।

Saturday 21 February 2009:
· 3pm-4pm: Low Mass in chapel Pension Villa Maria, Kapellenstrasse 9, CH-3011, Bern; Tel. 031 381 33 42
· 4pm-6.30pm: Formal Juventutem meeting, with coffee (same address)
· 6.30pm-7.30pm: Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at the intentions of Juventutem (same address)
· 8pm: supper for Juventutem delegates (and guests) at restaurant « il Grissino »: Waisenhausplatz 28, CH-3011 Bern, Tel. 031 311 00 59

Sunday 22 February 2009:
8:00am: Preparation for Holy Mass in Holy Trinity Church Crypt, « Dreifaltigkeit Kirche », Taubenstrasse 6, CH-3011, Bern.
8.15am: Holy Mass
9.30am Thanksgiving and walk to Hôtel National (4 minute walk from church), Hirschengraben 24, CH-3011 Bern ; Tel. 031 381 19 88.
10am-11am: coffee followed with an official presentation of Juventutem to the faithful, other youths and benefactors.
11am-12noon: guided tour around historical center Bern
12:00noon (punctual please): lunch at “Il Grissino” (cf address below)
2pm about: end of official Juventutem gathering। Those who wish can of course stay longer.

Accommodation:
1) Jugenherberge (Youth hotel) in downtown Bern, 10 minutes walk from Holy Trinity Church:
http://www.youthhostel.ch/hosteldetails.html?&L=1&user_hostels_pi1%5blocation%5d=all&user_hostels_pi1%5bbez%5d=BRN&cHash=68e272af21
2) National Hotel Bern (5 minutes walk from Holy Trinity Church)
http://www.nationalbern.ch/hotel/inhalte/preise.html
3) Kreuz Hotel Bern (5 minutes walk from Holy Trinity Church)
http://www.hotelkreuz-bern.ch/E/html/rates.html

Transportation:
· Holy Trinity Church (and suggested hotels) is located in downtown Bern, 5 minutes walk from the main Bern train station.
· Directs trains run from both Geneva airport (about 90 minutes) and from Zurich airport (about 90 minutes), as well as from Basel Euroairport (50 minutes).
· Low cost airlines (e. g. Easyjet) fly to both Geneva and Zurich airports.
· Direct Flybee flights from Southampton and Birmingham (UK) to Bern airport.
· Ryanair flies to Basel Euroairport.
· Direct trains from Paris, Milan and other cities to Bern.
We are very much looking forward to meeting you here!
Please forward this message to any Juventutem supporters and kindly translate it whenever needed. You may also post it on your websites.

IMPORTANT: each group leader, please email now your proxy to the Juventutem Bureau at this address (http://us.mc265.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=federation@juventutem.org), stating the name of your proxy: Gregory Flash or David Oostveen or Cosimo Marti.
Also, please send you annual contribution of 10 Euros per person.

Infos - Adresse MARTI Cosimo Damiano Kirchbergerstrasse 42 CH-3008, Bern, Suisse
Tel/Fax +41 (0) 31 371 29 20 Courriel: http://us.mc265.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=codama@bluewin.ch
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