FEAST OF OUR PRINCIPAL CHURCH

As Cardinal Mercier said : "When prudence is everywhere, courage is nowhere." From Cardinal Sarah : "In order to avoid hearing God's music, we have chosen to use all the devices of this world. But heaven's instruments will not stop playing just because some people are deaf." Saint John-Paul II wrote: "The fact that one can die for the faith shows that other demands of the faith can also be met." Cardinal Müller says, “For the real danger to today’s humanity is the greenhouse gases of sin and the global warming of unbelief and the decay of morality when no one knows and teaches the difference between good and evil.” St Catherine of Siena said, “We've had enough exhortations to be silent. Cry out with a thousand tongues - I see the world is rotten because of silence.” Chesterton said, “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.” Brethren, Wake up!

FEAST OF OUR PRINCIPAL CHURCH

How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!

Saturday 20th is the Feast of the Dedication of the Conventual Church of Saint John of Jerusalem in Valetta, the principal church of our Order, now the co-cathedral. It is also celebrated around the world as the feast of all those churches the date of the dedication of which is unknown, including our own lovely eponymous church in Saint John's Wood. Thus a little celebration before Lent gets going in earnest on Sunday is recommended.

Pray for the religious life of the Order as we enter this holy season, for the numerous benefactors of our churches, whose great generosity is everywhere self-evident, and for those buried in them; including of course our own founder, Sir George Bowyer, whose heart lies beneath the pavement before the high altar. Good men all, who served God first.

May their souls, and the souls of all the faithful departed, rest in peace.

PRAYER OF THE ORDER OF MALTA

Lord Jesus, Thou hast seen fit to enlist me for Thy service among the Knights of St John of Jerusalem. I humbly entreat Thee through the intercession of the most holy Virgin of Philermo, of St John the Baptist, Blessed Gerard and all the Saints, to keep me faithful to the traditions of our Order. Be it mine to practise and defend the Catholic, the Apostolic, the Roman faith against the enemies of religion: be it mine to practise charity towards my neighbours, especially the poor and the sick; Give me the strength I need to carry out this my resolve, forgetful of myself, learning ever from Thy holy Gospel a spirit of deep and generous Christian devotion, striving ever to promote God’s glory, the world’s peace, and all that may benefit the Order of St John of Jerusalem. AMEN