Wednesday, November 28, 2012

SPIRITUAL MOTHERHOOD IN THE ENGLISH ARCHDIOCESE OF BIRMINGHAM (CR news 24)

I recently received this report from my dear friend Mrs Pat Greene, a member of St John Fisher parish in Birmingham, England.

"Spiritual Mothers

During the 'Year of the Priest', a small group of mothers in Birmingham, formed themselves into a group of 'Spiritual Mothers of Priests'. Since then, inspired by that legacy, they continued to pray for Priests . On Saturday mornings they attend Holy Mass and pray the Rosary during Eucharistic Adoration. They focus on one Priest each week taking his name from the Diocesan Directory of Priests.

In a recent development the Spiritual Mothers have extended this initiative to include the children of the local primary school. The move was a cautious one, but the children have responded extremely receptively to the idea of becoming a 'Spiritual Friend' to a Priest of their choice. To support them, the children have been given a small  card bearing the words

I AM A SPIRITUAL FRIEND OF
FATHER (appropriate name filled in)
AND I PRAY FOR HIM EVERY DAY

Each Monday tow of the Spiritual Mothers visit the school fifteen minutes before the end of the children's lunch break. The children are invited to waive the their remaining break time in order to pray a decade of the Rosary for Priests.One Mystery of the Rosary is used each week as a focus for thinking about the role of the  Priest.

The response has been so  overwhelming that because of limited accommodation, it has become necessary to alternate Infants and Juniors each week. The enthusiasm of the children is mostly attributable to the excellent guidance and encouragement of the school's RE coordinator who makes all the internal arrangements and herself joins in the group

The Spiritual Mothers are quietly optimistic that the children will continue their enthusiasm and will perhaps encourage members of their families to become a 'spiritual friend of a Priest'.

The prayers of little children are heard loud and clear - they have a direct line to heaven.

Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for all children
Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for all priests.

P. Greene"

Oasis comment.

Thanks and congratulations to Pat and her group of Spiritual Mothers for the instigation of these initiatives.
It's a wonderful idea, not least because these 'Spiritual Mothers' are carrying out their motherhood in several ways, not the least because they are doing a naturally motherly thing, in helping children to care for their priests. In a parish one can see all sorts of advantages coming as a result of the children's involvement. I hope more schools will adopt the idea. God bless the children and  the adults involved in their support.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Tommaso D'Aquino, Inno ADORO TE DEVOTE, Schola Gregoriana Mediolanensis,...



Here is a Milanese version, the choir not overpowered by the acoustic.
The chant is a current favourite during Papal Masses and I believe was sung last Sunday.
The tune is simple with the occasional pitfalls in emphasis and timing. Learn it and.the meaning of its Latin words. It will reward your effort. If you don't have the appropriate liturgical book, the words can easily be found on the internet.

Another Favourite Chant to know and love 4 Adoro Te Devote - Catholic Hymns, Gregorian Chant



Too much echo on this version. Will find another after supper

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Sebastián de Vivanco "O Rex Gloriae"



For the Feast of Christ the King.

Tu Rex Gloriae.wmv

According to Sandro Magister, it's the entrenchment of Msgr Ganswein and partial downfall of Ingrid Stampa

For details see Magister's post today at 'Notzie Analisi. Link to his post at bottom of sidebar here.
Follow appropriate links for English version of the post, 'Fr Georg Secretary. Confirmed.'
Apart from the fact that Dr. Stampa has been denied access to the Papal apartment since the Gabriele scandal, it emerges that there is at least one serious error of translation in the Italian version of the Holy Father's latest book, over which she apparently had oversight. As always though, the proof of the pudding will be in the eating. The mistake is such that it is hardly credible as having been comitted by a person of her academic reputation and publishing experience. It almost looks like a deliberate 'plant'..

Two Hundred Million Christians Under Threat

ZENIT - Two Hundred Million Christians Under Threat

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Construction of Nativity Scene begins in St. Peter's Square

Construction of Nativity Scene begins in St. Peter's Square

Monsignor Marini: Taking street evangelization to Rome



Monsignor Guido Marini, who I believe regularly works with Youth from the Saint Lawrence Centre in Rome, is seen on this video saying Holy Mass for them, and preaching on the Holy Souls. In an interview afterwards he remembers with thanksgiving to God, his favourite moment of World Youth Day in Madrid..  And is obviously doing his bit to promote the next WYD in Rio.  The sound on the video is not good but its message comes across loud and clear in this example of an aspect of his priestly ministry, other than the one for which he is more famously known.  The prayers of the Oasis are with him. May God bless him and all his work.

Friday, November 16, 2012

Placido Domingo-The gold and silver waltz.mp4



Dancing with my Grandfather:

I need to cheer myself up today and so I share this happy memory, in my case much more memorable than Luther Vandross', 'Dancing with my Father'. The gold and Silver Waltz.....................

It takes me back to a Sunday morning in my early adolescence. My Grandfather lived with us at the time. My parents had gone out for a drink at the club. My mother would return first, to finish cooking Sunday lunch. and my father would stay on for a while to enjoy a game or two of snooker. Grandpa and I  were  left alone together. The unspoken assumption was that we would look after each other and keep each other occupied. The law against leaving minors unattended was thus observed. I don't know whose idea it was to put 'the Gold and Silver Waltz' on the record player. I think it was mine, but it was he who suggested we should dance,. with all the courtly gravity and grace of his generation. The record was a single made by the Halle Orchestra conducted by Sir John Barbirolli. I still have it and I only have to see it to be reminded of this incident with my 'Grandpa' whom I loved dearly..

Our sitting room was large, and there was plenty of room to dance. So there we were happily waltzing together and leaving unsaid any complaint about being left at home with each other. They were moments of  uncomplicated happiness, such that I have rarely known since.That music is so poignant to me. It was then, and is even more so now. If I close my eyes I am dancing with him still. When I open them, it is always to thank God for this happy memory, for the security of my childhood and to pray for the soul of my grandfather.  


Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Requiem Thomas Luis de Victoria



Sorry, have not yet been able to find the whole of the Tallis Scholarcs recording.

Monday, November 12, 2012

02 Introitus: Requiem aeternam



Durung the rest of November I hope to post the whole of this, my favourite Requiem Mass.

Pope is surprised by Polyphonic Choir at the Vatican

Pope is surprised by Polyphonic Choir at the Vatican

So beautiful and so comforting.

Husband falls again but unhurt

It was not a fainting fit as last time, but I had to get our English neighbour to lift him up again. No injuries save shock and fright. Please pray for us.

God bless all here.

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Worrying about Westminster

I usually agree with Dr Oddie in the Catholic Herald and respect his views even if I don't ALWAYS agree with them. This time, on the subject of what the CDF will do about ++Nichols and the Soho Masses, he seems to think that Prefect Muller is going to get tough on this issue and as a result, will let ++ Nichols 'off the hook'. If the CDF Prefect DOES  react like that, surely he will call down on himself and his dicastery,  the wrath of the 'gay lobby'. He will be the new 'rottweiler'. And then our Vin will be able to say, 'Well you see these Roman types. It is no fault of mine.' Why should Muller dig Archbishop Nichols out of this. For no good reason that I can see. It Nichols' problem and he must face it fair and square, and not hope to be let off the hook by anyone in Rome.. Many say that Nichols is a careerist.  That is corroborated by the fact that some of the bishops of England and Wales wrote to Rome to complain about his ambition just before he was chosen for our premier see. In any case we see now that careerism is not a holy characteristic and does not lead to, dare I say it, the 'common good'.

Of course I have to admit finally that Archbishop Nichols seems to me to be one of those who is 'sitting out the pontificate' , praying for the time when there will be another more 'liberal' Pope'. and then he will have his red hat.. Personally, I cannot believe that is the catholic thing to do and my heart bleeds at the thought of it..

Dr Oddie end his article by saying that he hopes ++Nichols will be elevated to the cardinalate within a couple of years. To that I say, Lord, give us all courage and strength..

Prayers for all concerned.

Friday, November 2, 2012

Five popes, past and future, crossed paths at Vatican 11

For what it's worth.

Compare and contrast.

Pope Benedict's eyes:. PLEASE OF YOUR CHARITY, PRAY THAT HIS EYESIGHT BE PRESERVED..

Some of us have been aware for a long time that the Pope's sight in his left eye has deteriorated consideraby. Today he suddenly confessed to the Angelus crowd that he couldn't see the papers he was reading to them. I don't think it was merely that he had 'lost his place' in the text.  In an interview some time ago Monsignor  Marini referred to the problem in typically quiet and undramatic manner.  Now is the time for our fervent prayers for our beloved Holy Father. Media tricks and deliberate mischief are one thing, but loss of sight is quite another.