HINHAM! HINHAM! HINHAM!

HAPPY FEAST OF THE ASS!

And so begins the new Year after Christmastide!

To our our readers, and especially our Chaplains, we wish them a very Happy Feast of the Asses, the Festum Assinorum. (Google it.)

In fine Missae sacerdos, versus ad populum, vice ‘Ite, Missa est’, ter hinhannabit: populus vero, vice ‘Deo Gratias’, ter respondebit, ‘Hinham, hinham, hinham.’

"THIS CROSS IS WHITE, AS A SYMBOL OF PURITY. WEAR IT OVER YOUR HEART WITH COURAGE!"

This post refer to things a long way away. But we are all united in the Cross of Christ, which makes the world small.

The first and principal function of the Order of Malta is the defences of the Cross. Without this, all our good works fall, as they do for each of us in our individual lives.

READ ABOUT THE BLADENSBURG CROSS HERE

So it with no apology that we commend this petition in the United States of America to your attention, with a request that you follow your conscience, and take the time to respond should you feel this is the right thing to do.

We adore Thee O Christ and we bless Thee :

For by Thy Holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.

VOCATION - IS IT FOR YOU?

It is true to say that, in our modern world with its many diversions and demands, you cannot wait for the world to beat its way to your doorstep. You must go out into the world and show what you can offer others. This is even true of vocations to a religious life. Works, worship of God and public prayerfulness attract vocations which can be seen clearly in this article concerning vocations in the diocese of Shrewsbury.

How the Diocese of Shrewsbury is creating a springtime of vocations (Click here)

Father, we are your people, the work of your hands.
So precious are we in your sight that you sent your only Son, Jesus Christ.
Jesus calls us to heal the broken-hearted,
to dry the tears of those who mourn, to give hope to those who despair,
and to rejoice in your steadfast love.
We, the baptized, realise our call to serve.
Help us to know how to answer your call.
Call forth from among us priests,
Call forth from among us religious brothers and sisters;
Through their hearts you continue to show your love to your people.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God forever and ever.

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS AND APOLOGIES

On the last day of the Christmas Season, the Grand Priory of England, and this Blog in particular, extends to its estimable Readers all good wishes for Christmas, for the Epiphany, and for a New Year 2019.  Equally apologies for silence and lack of posts, for various reasons.

People repeatedly and tediously talk of New Year's resolutions. Silly egocentric ones in the newspapers, better ones from the pulpit. The Editors of this blog ask you for only one, and ask that, should you fail in all the others, this be the one you keep.  Please, in this critical year of 2019, pray  regularly for our Order of Saint John – for its charitable work among Our Lords the Poor and Sick, for its Religious Life, and for its future. None of these is certain.

The Grand Prior, Fra' Ian Scott, sends his good wishes from Rome, and extends greetings and prayers to you all.

OUR LADY OF PHILERMO, PRAY FOR US

SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST, PRAY FOR US

BLESSED GERARD, PRAY FOR US

(The painting shows the Nativity by Caravaggio, formerly in Palermo, possibly destroyed)