CANCELLATION OF THE CONCERT ON 26th FEBRUARY

It is with much regret that we must announce the cancellation of the concert by Schola Baptista "MUSIC FOR SAINT JOHN" which was planned for the Saturday 26th February.

This decision has been made at the instruction of Lord Guthrie, Chairman of the Hospital, to permit the completion of the current Hospice building works which are running well behind programme, and which have been rescheduled at times that is least disruptive to the Hospital and Hospice patients, working at evenings at weekends.

The Hospital has advised us that the completion works involve a large number of workmen, materials and significant noise on Saturday evening.  It is clearly imperative that the work remaining is completed within the revised times, to satisfy Department of Health grant requirements, and it has not now been possible to  accommodate the concert without putting this at risk.  In addition, the Hospital explains that it would not be in anybody’s interests to attend a concert that would be constantly interrupted by loud drilling noise.

We extend the sincere apologies of the Order of Malta to all our generous supporters of Saint John's Hospice, with our thanks for your support in the past, and should be very grateful if you would tell anyone whom you think might be coming of this cancellation.

We very much hope that the next concert, on 23rd March, will continue as normal.

'SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM' - INTERNATIONAL APPEAL

Your attention is drawn to the following urgent Petition for an Appeal to the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, Pertaining to the Instruction/Clarification of the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum. CLICK HERE

Click here and here for some background information.

REMINDER - SATURDAY 26TH FEBRUARY - NEXT CONCERT!

  THIS CONCERT IS NOW CANCELLED, 

  MORE IN A LATER POST.  

The next concert in the series "Saint John's Concerts", in aid of the Hospice, will be given by Schola Baptista, a group founded and run by a knight of Malta, on Saturday 26th February at 7.30 in the evening.

The concert's title is MUSIC FOR SAINT JOHN, and concentrates upon music written for the Order of Saint John during its life in Cyprus, Rhodes and Malta.  The programme will include:

EARLY CENTURIES OF THE KNIGHTS
INFLUENCE ON WESTERN MUSIC


Crusader Kyriale
Chant/Lassus – Ut Queant Laxis
Franco of Cologne or a Franconian Motet
Titelouse – Versets on Ut Queant Laxis (organ)


INSPIRATION OF KNIGHTS' PATRON
Palestrina – Fuit Homo
Ingegneri – Inter Natos
Gallus – Elizabeth Vero Impletum
Palestrina – Misso Herodes Spiculatore
Mozart – Inter Natos


Azzopardi – Pastorale (organ)


THE KNIGHTS ON MALTA
Falusi – Responsory
Isouard – Salve Regina
Grech Sonata (organ)


SUPREMACY OF THE KNIGHTS
Infantas – Cantate Domino (Canticle of Moses)


Anthem of the Order


Entry is by donation for a Programme on the door, suggested at £15.
Refreshments will be served in the interval, for which a modest contribution is also requested.

REPORT - VISIT OF BISHOP HOPES

Last Thursday we were delighted to welcome Bishop Alan Hopes, who came as a Conventual Chaplain of the Order to celebrate the Thursday evening Mass on the feast of Saint Blaise, which in Westminster is celebrated as the feast of Saints Laurence, Dunstan and Theodore, Archbishops of Canterbury.  Mass was celebrated in Latin with plainchant in the Ordinary Form.

The Bishop gave the customary Blessing of Throats of Saint Blaise's Day after the Mass.

To our regret there was no photographer on hand to take pictures.

Following Mass there was a reception in Fortescue House, and a dinner for the Bishop and regulars of the Conventual Church in the Chancellery.

Through the intercession of St. Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God deliver thee from all ailments of the throat and every other evil. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, + and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

REQUIEM MASS FOR FRA' RICHARD CHEFFINS

The Funeral of Frater Richard Hamilton Alexander Cheffins was held on Monday morning at the Church of Saint James, Spanish Place, in the presence of the Prince Grand Prior of Bohemia, Fra' Carl Paar; the Grand Prior of England; of Fra' Duncan Gallie, Legate of the Prince and Grand Master; and around 50 members of the Order including a total of 11 professed knights from the Grand Priories of Bohemia and England.

The celebrant was the Reverend Monsignor Antony Conlon, Chaplain of the Grand Priory and Fra' Richard's Spiritual Director.

The Mass was preceded, following the reception of the body, by Lauds of the Dead sung in choir, and the Mass was a plainsong Mass in the Traditional form, following the wishes of the deceased, whose magnificent Mass of profession is still recalled by many members the Order.

Fra' Richard was accorded the dignity of Grand Officer of the Order Pro Merito Melitense a short while before his death, and the insignia were placed upon his coffin by the Prince Grand Prior of Bohemia.

Monsignor Conlon preached a wonderful homily upon the importance of tradition in the life of the human soul, a quality evidenced by Fra' Richard in his many varied academic and cultural interests, and his own spiritual journey within the religious life of the Order. 

May he rest in peace.

At the Absolutions