REPORT - DAY OF RECOLLECTION

The monthly day of Recollection was led by Father Martin Edwards, Parish Priest of St Mary Magdalene, Wandsworth, who gave two most inspiring conferences on St Francis de Sales in the light of the spirituality of Pope Benedict, with an exposition of the teaching of the recent Papal visit.

A sung Requiem Mass was celebrated at midday for the repose of the soul of Fra' Richard Cheffins, with Absolutions at the tumulum, and in the afternoon Solemn Vespers of the Dead were followed by Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament in the Crib, as this is the last weekend of Christmastide.

REPORT - MUSICA CONTEXTA CONCERT - 'GLORIES OF THE ETON CHOIRBOOK'

Our most generous benefactors the schola MUSICA CONTEXTA, again delighted a large audience of some 70 strong with a concert of English Renaissance music from the Eton Choirbook, with a truly inspired performance.  

We are immensely grateful to the singers for the contribution of their skills to the work of Saint John's Hospice, and also to our audience who are so generous with their donations.

The programme was as follows:

John Browne - O Maria Salvatoris Mater a 8

Chant - Hymn: Hostis Herodes impie

William Cornysh - Gaude virgo Mater Christi a 4

Chant - Antiphon: Baptizat miles regem

John Nesbett - Magnificat a 5

John Browne - Salve Regina a 5

Chant - Hymn: Deus creator omnium

William Cornysh - Ave Maria a 4

Chant - Antiphon: Peccata mea Domine

Robert Fayrfax - Magnificat ‘Regale’ a 5

The Director, Simon Ravens, writes:

When we consider its context and history, one question the Eton Choirbook inadvertently asks of us is whether we tend to see our glass as being half empty or half full. In its own time choirbooks such as this must have been relatively common in England. But, with the religious revolution of the Reformation, such books became redundant, either destroyed or sold to book binders for their valuable parchment.  Only two other choirbooks, both much smaller than Eton, survive today. Nor was the Eton book exempt from neglect: to judge from the index, nearly half of the items in the original choirbook were lost by the 1560s, when the remaining folios were rebound. Amongst the lost items are a number of works by John Browne, a truly great composer whose music survives in no other source. In its incomplete state, until the early music revival of the 20th century, for nearly 400 years the book lay virtually undisturbed on the shelves of the college library. In the light of this, are we inclined to lament what is missing from the Eton Choirbook? And widening our vision, do we lament that the surviving items can only represent a tiny fraction of the music composed by what was very evidently a golden age of English composition? Or do we give thanks that such a treasury survived at all?

Whatever conflicting emotions the history of the Eton Choirbook might arouse in us, the overwhelmingly effervescent and extrovert nature of the actual music firmly encourages us to see our glass as half full. 

FRA' RICHARD CHEFFINS RIP

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please pray for the Repose of the Soul of

FRA' RICHARD CHEFFINS

KNIGHT OF JUSTICE IN SOLEMN VOWS

one of the most long-standing members of the Grand Priory of England, 

and also a member of the Grand Priory of Bohemia

who died earlier today

fortified by the Rites of Holy Mother Church.

Requiescat in Pace.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SATURDAY 29th JANUARY - MONTHLY RECOLLECTION

As part of the monthly Grand Priory Day of Recollection, a Sung Mass of Saint Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor of the Church, will be celebrated in the Church at 12 noon.  The celebrant will be Fr Martin Edwards, parish priest of Saint Mary Magdalene, Wansdworth, who will also give the Conferences.

The office of Lauds of the Little Office of Our Lady will be sung at 10am; and Vespers and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at around 3.45pm, to which all are most welcome.

This is the last Recollection of Christmastide, which ends on 2nd February, so this is a good opportunity give thanks again for Our Lord's Nativity.

The two Spiritual Conferences will be held at 10.30 and 3pm in Fortescue House.

On Sunday, Lauds will be sung at 10.15 am before Mass.  There will be Sung Vespers at 4 pm.

NEW ORDO AVAILABLE

The new liturgical Ordo for the Grand Priory of England is now available HERE, and in the "Downloads" box in the sidebar. This includes all the Feasts of the Order and celebration particular to England for the Extraordinary Form. This new edition also contains notes on the necessary variations in the Celebration of the Divine Office. Comments and further suggestions may be made by post to the Chancellery of the Grand Priory at Fortescue House in London.

The Ordinary Form calendar is available, courtesy of the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, HERE. The dates of Feasts of the Order are the same in both Forms of the Roman Rite.

Our Lady of Philermo, pray for us.

Saint John the Baptist, pray for us.

Blessed Adrian Fortescue, pray for us.

PERSONAL ORDINARIATE OF OUR LADY OF WALSINGHAM

Yesterday morning, Saturday 16th January, the first day of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, several members of BASMOM and of the Grand Priory, including the Chancellor, Fra' Duncan Gallie, attended the priestly ordination in Westminster Cathedral of the three former Anglican bishops, the Reverends Andrew Burnham, John Broadhurst and Keith Newton, and the establishment of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, which, at the order of the Sovereign Pontiff, is dedicated to the patronage of Blessed John Henry Newman.

Father Newton is appointed as the first Ordinary; we offer our congratulations him and to Fathers Burnham and Broadhurst, as also the assurance of our prayers, both for themselves at this historic time and for work of the Ordinariate and its eventual members.

Our Lady of Walsingham, pray for us.

Our Lady of Philermo, pray for us.

Blessed John-Henry, pray for us.

FISH FIGHT CAMPAIGN

It is neither the purpose of this blog to enter into political dispute, nor to promote causes which do not directly impinge upon the life of the Order of Malta in Britain.

Nevertheless occasionally we raise ethical questions, and we have a joint concern within the life of the Order, as part of Tuitio Fidei, for the promotion of the teachings of Holy Mother Church, and to caution against behaviour which may depart from the precepts of the Gospel. Among such is Respect for the integrity of Creation (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2415-8), which requires of us worthy stewardship of the blessings we have received for our benefit, support and pleasure.

"It is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer or die needlessly." (CCC 2418)

Many will be aware of the current European legislation (the Common Fisheries System) which requires the 'discarding' of fish caught in European waters which exceed the Quota system, but are nevertheless still caught by our fishermen. Half of all fish caught is discarded in this way. Dead. Despite its Divine purpose, it is destined never to provide food for humanity, and serves only to pollute the breeding-grounds for other fish.  Most children would regard this as sinful.

A campaign has been promoted to stop this practice, and its website is HERE. You are encouraged to support it.  It is promoted by Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall, a television chef, and supported by many other personalities and organisations, including the Marine Conservation Society under the patronage of the Prince of Wales, and the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) [click for link] whose longstanding founding Patron is the Duke of Edinburgh, and who are also running a Petition on this page.  It is important that Catholics do not stand idly by.

Specifically you are encouraged to sign the Fish Fight PETITION on the homepage of their website, and to lobby your Member of Parliament, either at: House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA, or get the address here: Directory of MPs.

This video provides some chilling information:

CONCERT - NEXT WEDNESDAY 26th JAN - 'GLORIES OF THE ETON CHOIRBOOK'

'Musica Contexta' will perform

GLORIES OF THE ETON CHOIRBOOK

One of the greatest flowerings of late medieval art

Magnificats, motets and Marian antiphons by Browne, Fayrfax, Cornysh, Nesbett, and others; 

all taken from the most important contemporary collection of late 15th century English choral music.

Wednesday 26 January 2011 AT 7:30pm
Suggested donation: £15

Saint John’s Concerts in aid of 

SAINT JOHN’S HOSPICE

Refreshments available in the interval

REPORT - FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY

The Conventual Church celebrated the Feast of the coming of the Magi with a Solemn Mass in the Extraordinary Form, celebrated by our Chaplain, Fr David Irwin.  After the Gospel the Solemn proclamation of the moveable feasts for 2011 was sung, to the traditional 'Exultet' tone.

Noveritis, fratres carissimi, quod annuente Dei misericordia, sicut de Nativitate Domini nostri Jesu Christi gavisi sumus, ita et de Resurrectione ejusdem Salvatoris nostri gaudium vobis annuntiamus. Die vigesima Februarii erit Dominica in Septuagesima. Nona Martii dies Cinerum, et initium jejunii sacratissimae Quadragesimae. Vigesima quarta Aprilis sanctum Pascha Domini nostri Jesu Christi cum gaudio celebrabitis. Secunda Junii erit Ascensio Domini nostri Jesu Christi. Duodecima ejusdem Festum Pentecostes. Vigesima tertia ejusdem Festum sacratissimi Corporis Christi. Vigesima septima Novembris Dominica prima Adventus Domini nostri Jesu Christi, cui est honor et gloria, in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

After the Mass, Fortescue House was blessed with the Epiphany Blessing, and the traditional inscription in chalk marked on the doorpost, 20+C+M+B+11, in honour of the visit of the The Kings to Our Lord's home.

MAGNIFICAT ANTIPHON FOR THE HOUSE BLESSING
Ant.: Magi from the East came to Bethlehem to adore the Lord; and opening their treasure chests they presented Him with precious gifts: gold for the great King, incense for the true God, and myrrh in symbol of His burial. Alleluia.

THE BLESSING OF CHALK

V. Adiutorium nostrum in nomine Domini.

R. Qui fecit caelum et terram.

V. Dominus vobiscum.

R. Et cum spiritu tuo.

Bene+dic, Domine Deus, creaturam istam cretae: ut sit salutaris humano generi; et praesta per invocationem nominis tui sanctissimi, ut, quicumque ex ea sumpserint, vel ea in domus suae portis scripserint nomina sanctorum tuorum Gasparis, Melchioris et Baltassar, per eorum intercessionem et merita, corporis sanitatem, et animae tutelam, percipiant. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. R. Amen

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS

We have, in the last post, already conveyed the Christmas greetings of the Grand Prior, who is recovering well from his illness in Edinburgh, and who holds all those who participate in the life of the Conventual Church, and the readers of this blog, especially in his prayers at this Holy Season.

We could not now do better than to pass on (in common, it seems, with most traditional English language blogs, but it is possible some of our international readership may not have seen it elsewhere) the Holy Father's Christmas broadcast to the people of these islands, given in the BBC's Radio 4 "Thought for the Day."  This is a development which would have been unthinkable only a short while ago, and an extraordinary testimony to the humility and faithfulness with which Pope Benedict exercises his sacred office.

In it he presents the Christmas message in all its theological clarity and joy, and ends, as we must too, with a prayer for the sick and those who suffer, the elderly and the dying - Our Lords the Poor and the Sick. May God grant them the joys of his eternal Salvation, brought by the Child in the manger.

Click the link here to hear the Pope's message on the BBC or here to watch the video on the Vatican YouTube channel.

Hodie scietis, quia veniet Dominus,
et salvabit nos: et mane videbitis gloriam eius.

CHRISTMAS MASS TIMES

THURSDAY 23rd DECEMBER

Thursday evening Mass at 6.30pm will exceptionally be cancelled.

+

CHRISTMAS EVE

Sung ‘Midnight’ Mass (Missa in Nocte) at 9.00pm,

preceded by Carols and Readings at 8.30pm

+

CHRISTMAS DAY

Sung Mass with Carols at 11 am.

+

SUNDAY 26th (THE HOLY FAMILY)

Mass at 11 am.

+

TUESDAY 28th DECEMBER

Tuesday morning Mass at 11 am is cancelled.

+

Thereafter Mass times return to normal.

The Grand Prior and the Chaplain of the Hospital wish you all, and all your families, a very happy and blessed Christmas.

REPORT - ARNOLD HOUSE SCHOOL CONCERT AND CAROL SERVICE

A rather belated report on the wonderful concert given in November given by the boys of Arnold House School. To a full church the the boys performed a mix of modern and traditional choral music. We are very grateful to them indeed for their skills and efforts, and to the audience who were so generous. The concert raised over £600 for St John's Hospice.  It is very good to be able to renew the historic links between Arnold House and the Hospital.

This month the Annual Order of Malta Carol Service was a great success, with splendid music provided by Cantores Missae under the Direction of Mr Charles Finch, and the congregation of nearly 90 people again provided a very generous collection for the aid of the Hospice.

Please support the future concerts, which offer many musical delights and the opportunity to support the Hospice, programmes of which are provided here.  The next concert is given by Hexachord - "Glories of the Eton Choirbook"on 26th January.

ADVENT RECOLLECTION ON OUR LADY

On the Feast of Our Lady of Liesse, Thursday 2nd December, Father John Hemer, a Mill Hill Missionary who is Scripture Professor at Allen Hall, delivered the following very inspiring mediation on the role of Our Lady in Salvation.  We are deeply grateful to Father Hemer, and commend this text to all readers of this site as part of their Advent Preparation. It merits frequent revisiting. (Click on the "Read More" link at the end for the full text.)

MARY IN ADVENT

Mary in the New Testament

In addition to Mary, St Matthew includes four women in his Gospel narrative. This is most unusual, indeed unique in a Biblical genealogy.  Each of them has these two things in common with Mary: a) that there is something strange or irregular about their union with their partners, which may have been scandalous to outsiders and b) they showed initiative and thus played an important role in God's plan.

Tamar was the daughter-in-law of Judah; she obtained children from him by deception, pretending to be a harlot. Rahab had been a harlot, but it was her initiative that enabled Israel to enter the Promised and. Ruth was a pagan, a Moabitess and she brought about her union with Boaz by her own initiative which was scandalous in itself (although she displayed rare love and devotion to her mother-in-law Naomi).  Without her, the Davidic line might never have come into being. Uriah's wife, (Bathsheba) had an adulterous union with David, but through her intervention, Solomon, their son, succeeded David. All this shows how God uses the most unusual, indeed scandalous circumstances and intervenes on behalf of the Messiah to bring about his plan. Each one of these women has had the courage to step outside of the accepted ways and standards of her own society in order to continue God’s line – (although they were not always conscious that this is what they were doing). Here is a hint of what we will meet later in the Gospel. If people are to do God’s will, if people are really going to live out their following of Christ, they will have to do similar unexpected or unusual things.

BBC PROGRAMMES ON CATHOLIC WOMEN TODAY

The British Broadcasting Corporation, about the impartiality of whose views on the Catholic Church we are all free to hold our own opinion, is preparing three one-hour-long television programmes on "the experience of being a Roman Catholic woman in Britain today."

The Corporation is seeking women of all stations in life to volunteer to have 'off the record' conversations with an interviewer about their lives as Catholics.

The invitation continues: "Guilt, sex, male priesthood, moral teaching: do you recognise these media preoccupations as forces in your lives?"  You get the idea...  It is important that loyal and active Catholics get involved to give a balanced perspective to this research.

Female readers of this blog, and particularly dames of the Order and Companions, who may be regarded as sound and committed, are warmly encouraged to get involved – Catholic apologetics are an important part of our lives in the public realm, as the Holy Father keeps reminding us.  For us in the Order they are part of the duty of Tuitio Fidei, to complement our hospitaller work of Obsequium Pauperum.

The link is HERE.  It looks quite easy to sign up.

Dos Tua, Virgo pia, haec est.

REMINDER - CAROL SERVICE - 15th DECEMBER

The Annual Advent Carol Service in aid of Saint John's Hospice, takes place this Wednesday, 15th December at 6.30pm.

It will be followed by mulled wine and mince pies in Fortescue House, to which all are welcome.

SOLEMNITY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

Today is the Immaculate Conception of Our Blessed Lady.

A Mass will be sung in the Conventual Church at 6.30 pm.

O MARIA sine labe concepta, ora pro nobis, qui confugimus ad te!

REPORT - ANNUAL REQUIEM OF THE ORDER OF MALTA

Last Thursday the Requiem for deceased members of the Grand Priory and British Association took place in the Conventual Church.  A High Mass of Requiem in the Extraordinary Form, celebrated by the Chaplain of the Grand Priory, Monsignor Antony Conlon, assisted by Fr Creighton-Jobe of the London Oratory and Fr David Irwin, was well attended by Members of the Order, Companions, and aspirants who had attended the Formation day.

Requiem aeternam dona eis Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis.

COLONEL PACE FUNERAL

The Funeral Mass for Colonel Pace will be held at Saint James's Spanish Place, George Street, London W1U 3QY, at 10 am on Friday 3rd December. See map here. It will be followed by a Reception, and private cremation at Golders Green.

The body will be received into St James's at 5 pm on Thursday, followed by sung Vespers of the Dead.

A Mass, for the Feast of Our Lady of Liesse which occurs this day, will be sung in the Conventual Church for the Colonel's intention at 6.30pm, by Father John Hemer MHM.  This forms part of the Advent Recollection previously announced.  This Marian devotion, whose shrine is in Grand Harbour in Valetta, was always very close to the Colonel's heart from his youth.  See further information here.

COLONEL THOMAS PACE RIP

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please pray for the repose of the Soul of

Colonel THOMAS ANASTASI PACE 

OBE MD RAMC

Knight of Magistral Grace

onetime Sacristan of the Conventual Church

who died on 22nd November 2010

aged 96 years

REQUIESCAT IN PACE

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Colonel 'Tommy' Pace was immensely proud to have been invested a Knight of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta in June 2009 and described himself as the newest, oldest member. Born in Malta, where he studied medicine before the War, he was commissioned in the Royal Army Medical Corps, and served with distinction during the War in India and in Burma where he won a military OBE. After the war, he served in Singapore, Kenya and Cyprus before going to Paris as Chief of NATO Medical Services. His last posting was to Brussels where he served at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) as chairman of the NATO Emergency War Surgery Handbook Revision Committee.  

After retirement he moved to St John's Wood, to be close to Lord's Cricket Ground, and was a life-long member of the MCC. He was also a keen follower of rugby. He had been Sacristan of the Conventual Church for thirty years and continued regularly to attend Mass there until a few weeks before his death. The last few months of his life were a valiant struggle with advancing cancer, during which time he was an example to all his friends of patient forbearance and piety.  His wife predeceased him by about fifteen years.  He is survived by his four nieces.

The funeral arrangements will be announced in due course.

TUITIO FIDEI

Tuitio Fidei, one of the historical charisms of the Order of Malta, is a duty which is frequently misunderstood. People often say "but how can I teach the Faith, I don't know enough?" Notwithstanding our duty as Catholics to inform ourselves about the Faith so that we can offer arguments when challenged (apologetics), Tuitio Fidei does not, necessarily or even primarily, mean active proselytizing (though sometimes it can), but for most of us may be done daily in living our lives as God would wish.  We are watched by others all the time, whatever we do, and simply doing it well is a powerful tool for evangelisation.

In this short film of prisoners in Dachau we see the most moving example of Tuitio Fidei in the piety and silent devotion of these men, in the very jaws of death.  

We are told simply that these men are all priests, survivors in the Dachau camp. It is not known what exactly is happening, seemingly some form of devotion after Mass, but this lack of detail adds to its mystical quality. The sight of these men, intent upon their devotions, making the sign of the Cross in unison and with great care, is incredibly beautiful. This is how to pray.  The film was made days after the liberation of Germany.

Let us pray that we too may learn to offer our own prayer with this attention: this is Tuitio Fidei.

All holy priests, pray for us.
All holy men and women, pray for us.

Film courtesy of Gloria TV (and hat-tip to Fr Blake of Brighton).

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 19TH - FEAST ALL SAINTS OF THE ORDER OF MALTA

TODAY is the Feast of All Saints of the Order, the celebration of those countless unnamed men and women through 900 years, the predecessors of present-day Knights and Dames, who have lived heroic christian lives as soldiers, hospitallers and religious, yet whose virtues are known to God alone.

Members of the Order are bound to honour them and to invoke their intercession, which is a powerful aid for the work of the Order today. For Companions and friends too, many graces may be brought by their intercession as we honour them in our prayers and in our service of the Order.

We pray that we too might one day be numbered among them - the true goal of our Christian soul.

A Mass will be celebrated (in the New Rite of Mass) at 6.30pm, by our Chaplain, Fr David Irwin at the Conventual Church of St John of Jerusalem.

The Collect of the Mass

O God, the source of all holiness

and of varying forms of it that endow your Church

and build up the Body of Christ,

give us the grace to follow the saints of our Order

in living for you alone,

by meditating on your law and by perfect self-denial

so that we may come with them to the bliss of eternal life. Amen.

REMINDER - WEDNESDAY 24th NOVEMBER - NEXT CONCERT!

The next concert in the Saint John's Concerts series, to be sung by the boys of Arnold House School Chapel Choir, under the direction of their Choirmaster Paul Swinden, will take place on Wednesday next, 24th November, at 7.30pm in the Conventual Church.

We are very please to renew our relationship with this local prep school, with which the Hospital has had very long association over many decades.

The programme will be as follows:

Richard Dering  -  O Bone Jesu

George Dyson  -  I Will Worship

Geoffrey Burgon  -  Nunc Dimittis

Ralph Vaughan-Williams  -  Antiphon from 5 Mystical Songs

Gabriel Faure  -  In Paradisum from Requiem

William S. Harris -  Behold, now, praise the Lord

Cecil Armstrong Gibbs  -  Beggar’s Song

Ronald Corp  -  God be in my Head

The choral works will be interspersed with two J S Bach organ solos played by Paul Swinden and Colin Stuart.

As with the other concerts, a donation will be requested at the door for the support of Saint John's Hospice.  We do encourage all our friends to support this most worthy cause.  Refreshments of wine, soft drink and snacks will be served in the interval.

Information on the Concert series may be found here, or in the link in the sidebar.

POPE'S VIGIL OF PRAYER FOR NASCENT HUMAN LIFE

Benedict XVI is calling on all Catholics to join in a Vigil for All Nascent Human Life, to be celebrated in local parishes and dioceses November 27th 2010.

After praying the midday Angelus together with those gathered in St. Peter's Square, the Pope recalled that the event is "a joint initiative with the local Churches throughout the world and I have recommended it to be observed in parishes, religious communities, associations and movements too."

"The time of preparation for Holy Christmas is a propitious moment to invoke divine protection for every human being called into existence, and also for a thanksgiving to God for the gift of life received from our parent," he added.

The Hoy Father will celebrate the vigil in St. Peter's Basilica on the eve of the First Sunday of Advent. The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments and the Pontifical Council for the Family collaborated in creating an outline for the vigil, and the U.S. bishops' conference is developing resources for the parishes.  (source: ZENIT)

VIGIL IN THE CONVENTUAL CHURCH
SATURDAY 27th NOVEMBER AT 3.45pm

The Grand Prior of England is organising a Vigil in the Conventual Church at 3.45pm on Saturday 27th.  Following the format for the Vigil as laid down by the Congregation for Divine Worship, the Vigil will take the form of Sung Vespers of Our Lady, followed by prayer before the Blessed Sacrament exposed, readings, meditation and recitation of the Holy Rosary, special prayers and Benediction.

For those members on the Order, and Companions and friends not able to be present, and who wish to observe this vigil of prayer, the Grand Prior has proposed three alternative ways to participate with the Order in this event:

OPTION 2: FIVE DECADES OF THE ROSARY

At a convenient time as close to 3.45pm on Saturday afternoon, recite the five Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary. The Gospel Meditations are given in the document available here, as are the special prayers

issued at the Pope’s request by the Congregation for Divine Worship, which you should also say.

OPTION 3: FOLLOW THE POPE'S VIGIL ON VATICAN RADIO

Pray the Vigil with the Holy Father at Vespers and Exposition. The details we have are: Satellite transmits at: EUTELSAT HOT BIRD II-

13° East - DIGITAL DVB/Frequency 12.380 MHz - Vertical Position - FEC 3/4 -

Symbol rate 27.500 MSYMBOL. Transmission starts about 5.50pm, the Vigil starts at

6.00pm.

OPTION 4: TAKE PART IN YOUR DIOCESAN OR PARISH VIGIL

The Pope has asked all Bishops to arrange Vigils in their Cathedrals on this day. The only one we have been able to find is for Westminster Cathedral, where Archbishop Nichols is to preside; the time is yet to be announced. You should check with your own Diocese.

If you take any of these three options please let the Grand Prior know by e-mail to: churchcommissionerATyahoo.com (sorry about this, it is to avoid spam, you have to type this out substituting the @ symbol). The Grand Prior proposes to offer all our prayers of the Vigil to the Holy Father in the form of a Spiritual Bouquet. You may also send a postcard to: Grand Prior, SMOM, 58 Grove End Road, London NW8 9NH

The Mediation of the Rosary and special Vigil Supplications may be downloaded here. It is also available in the sidebar "downloads" box.


Further official information is available here, courtesy of the US Bishops Conference which has been tasked with coordinating the English language resources for this day.

TUESDAY 16th NOVEMBER - ANNUAL FOUNDATION MASS FOR THE HOSPITAL

On Tuesday 16th November, the Hospital's Patronal Feast of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, which falls on Wednesday, will be anticipated at the 11am Mass, in a Mass for the Hospital's patients, staff and volunteers and day patients of the Hospice, celebrated by the Hospital Chaplain.

During Mass the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick will be celebrated. The Sisters of Mercy will be present, as one of their number, Sister Mairead (Sister Mary Oliver) is critically ill. Please pray especially for her. Sister Mellitus, the last Sister of Mercy to hold the post of Matron, will hopefully be present.  It is a great joy as ever to have the Sisters back on this day in the Hospital which they nursed from its foundation.

All are welcome at this Mass, especially those who are involved in any way in the life of the Hospital.

Please support this Feast in your prayers, and particularly pray for those who are dying in the Hospice.

Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, pray for us.

LIBEL LAW REFORM

As this is a subject which has a very direct bearing upon the correct promotion of the teachings of the Magisterium of the Church, one of the historical roles of the Order of Malta, and upon bioethical issues pertinent to the life and work of a Catholic hospital, it seems appropriate to bring to your attention this petition calling for a reform of Britain's libel laws.

As we have read recently, in relation to subjects as varied as abortion, homosexual marriage, Catholic education and climate change, writers, both religious commentators and scientists, may be successfully threatened with libel claims by those who disagree with them, and who promote contrary arguments, if they are even mildy critical in their reviews and commentaries.  Often this discourages those who seek to uphold the truth, as they are forced to be silent to avoid the risk of hugely expensive legal battles.

'Freedom to criticise and question, in strong terms and without malice, is the cornerstone of argument and debate, whether in scholarly journals, on websites, in newspapers or elsewhere.' Recently a faithful priest was forced to close his blog through threats of legal action, for commenting critically upon the published writings of another priest. Specialist doctors are also particularly vulnerable from those with vested interest in the medical industry.

A petition for Libel Law Reform has been begun here, which readers may wish to consider signing. You will see that those behind this report are a very mixed bag, with many of whom we would have little else in common. This is an indication of the serious concern which many in our society now feel for the maintenance of free speech.

Various commentaries may be read in the following places. You are encouraged to inform yourself before signing.  Fr Tim Finigan, James Preece, Dolphinarium, Libel Reform Campaign.

THOMAS O'SULLIVAN RIP

Please pray for the soul of Thomas O'Sullivan, who died last week in St John's Hospice, fortified by the Rites of Holy Mother Church, and whose funeral took place in the Conventual Church today.

Pray also for his family, with whom he was reunited at his funeral after a separation of twenty years.

Requiescat in pace.

November 2nd - Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed

On this day, as yesterday on All Saints we celebrated the virtues of all those unnamed saints, our mothers fathers, brothers, sisters, friends who have entered Paradise, and invoked their prayers for us, so today we join our prayers with theirs for the countless other souls who still undergo purification in Purgatory.

Grant they they too may soon come to the fullness of the Eternal Banquet.

NOTICE OF PLENARY INDULGENCE

On any day this week, in a visit to a cemetery or Church, with prayers for the Dead and for the Holy Father's intention, and under the usual conditions of Confession and Holy Communion, a Plenary Indulgence applicable to the departed souls may be gained.  This indulgence may be gained every day from the 1st to the 8th November, one Confession sufficing for the week.  This means that if you are in a state of grace you could release eight souls from Purgatory, a most laudable act of Charity.  Pray that one day someone will do this for you.

MEDITATION: DIES IRAE, DIES ILLA

This day, this day of wrath

shall consume the world in ashes,

as foretold by David and the Sibyl.

What trembling there will be

When the judge shall come

to weigh everything strictly!

The trumpet, scattering its awful sound

Across the graves of all lands

Summons all before the throne.

Death and nature shall be stunned


When mankind arises


To render account before the judge.

The written book shall be brought


In which all is contained


Whereby the world shall be judged

When the judge takes his seat


all that is hidden shall appear


Nothing will remain unavenged.

What shall I, a wretch, say then?


To which protector shall I appeal


When even the just man is barely safe?

King of awful majesty


You freely save those worthy of salvation


Save me, found of pity.

Remember, gentle Jesus

that I am the reason for your time on earth,

do not cast me out on that day

Seeking me, you sank down wearily,

you saved me by enduring the cross,


such travail must not be in vain.


Righteous judge of vengeance,


award the gift of forgiveness

before the day of reckoning.

I groan as one guilty,


my face blushes with guilt;

spare the suppliant, O God.


Thou who did'st absolve Mary [Magdalen]

and hear the prayer of the thief

hast given me hope, too.


My prayers are not worthy,


but Thou, O good one, show mercy,


lest I burn in everlasting fire,


Give me a place among the sheep,


and separate me from the goats,


placing me on Thy right hand.

When the damned are confounded


and consigned to keen flames,

call me with the blessed.


I pray, suppliant and kneeling,


a heart as contrite as ashes;


take Thou my ending into Thy care.

That day is one of weeping,


on which shall rise again from the ashes


the guilty man, to be judged.


Therefore spare this one, O God,

merciful Lord Jesus:


Give them rest. Amen.

LECTURE ON RELIGION AND DIPLOMACY

In the light of its considerable relevance to the life and work of the Order, which shares with the Holy See its diplomatic character, and its mission of the promotion of religious values and of humanitarian concerns, it seems that it may be of interest to reproduce the lecture given on the 14th October in St Mary's Cathedral in Newcastle-upon-Tyne by the United Kingdom's Ambassador to the Holy See, His Excellency Mr Francis Campbell.

The talk covers not only consideration of the diplomatic processes, but also the role of religion in modern diplomacy, international cooperation on health, development, climate change and disarmament.  Many of these are areas in which members of the Order of Malta work on a daily basis.

UK - HOLY SEE RELATIONS

"The Crown's Oldest Diplomatic Relationship Is With the Papacy"

The UK, the Holy See, and Diplomacy

It is a real honour to be here tonight to deliver the Annual Cardinal Hume Memorial Lecture. It is an honour in so many ways because I know how special the memory of Cardinal Hume is held in this his home city of Newcastle where he was born in 1923. But it is also personally special because the Cardinal is buried in what is now my home parish of Westminster Cathedral. I am grateful to the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle, St. Mary's Cathedral, the organisers of tonight's lecture - Fr Peter, and Fr. Marc, and Bishop Seamus for the kind invitation to speak to you this evening.

It is also apt that we are speaking tonight to the theme of the UK, the Holy See and diplomacy because we are doing so less than one month after Pope Benedict XVI's historic visit to the United Kingdom. It was the second visit of a Pope to the UK - the first being the visit of Pope John Paul II in 1982 - when Cardinal Hume was serving as the Archbishop of Westminster. But this most recent visit was the first official visit of a Pope to the country. The tenure of Cardinal Hume's leadership of the Catholic Church in England and Wales did so much to prepare the way for the first official visit of a Pope to these shores. It is fitting tonight that we can look afresh on the country's oldest diplomatic relationship - that between the Crown and the Holy See - and to do so from here in Newcastle - the birth place of one who did so much to enhance that relationship in the 20th century.

Tonight's theme speaks to a relationship that has over the centuries seen many significant events - some with a shared perspective and others with a marked degree of difference. But our focus tonight is the diplomatic relationship - in particular the diplomatic relationship between the UK and the Holy See. Tonight I would like to do three things. First, I would like to say something about diplomacy - an art that is often misunderstood. Second, I would like to say something about how foreign policy deals with religion. Finally, we will explore the diplomatic relationship between the UK and the Holy See - the Crown's oldest diplomatic relationship in the world.

Diplomacy

Diplomacy is often a word that is much misunderstood. When one mentions diplomacy many negative images can spring to mind. Perhaps none more so than Sir Henry Wotton's description of an ambassador as "a man of virtue sent abroad to lie for his country." Satow's guide to Diplomatic practice captures diplomacy as "the application of intelligence and tact to the conduct of official relations between the governments of independent states, and between governments and international institutions; or, more briefly, the conduct of business between states by peaceful means." [1]

REPORT - MUSICA CONTEXTA CONCERT - 'O INVIOLATA'

Last Wednesday the second Saint John's Concert 2010/11 was given by the choir Musica Contexta.

The concert concentrated on Marian anthems from the Golden Age of the Sistine Chapel, the musical crucible of Renaissance Europe.  The choir sang from one large copy of the score. To a modern man these manuscripts look unusual; instead of having the parts vertically aligned, so singers can see their position in the score, the parts are arranged one after the other. Experimenting with this format this evening the choir might seem to be guilty not just of reinventing the wheel, but of retrialing a square one. Yet every early musician knows that 'progress' is merely a chimera: that things in the past were done differently for good reason, and this will only become apparent when they try to recreate the conditions in which the music was first performed.  This was the spirit of this performance.

The programme was as follows:

Salve regina (chant)

Ave maris Stella, Ave Regina (Guillaune du Fay, 1397-1474)

Alma Redemptoris Mater (chant)

Alma Redemptoris Master, Ave regina Caelorum ( Josquin des Prez, c.1450-15221)

Benedicta es (Josquin des Prez)

Virgo Prudentissima (Elzear Carpentras, 1470-1548)

Regina Caeli (Andreas de Silva, c.1475-c.1530)

Inviolata (Costanzo Festa, c.1495-1545)

Regina Caeli (Jacques Arcadelt, 1507-1568)

Sancta Maria (Cristobal de Morales, c.1500-1553)

Virgo Prudentissima (Giovanni de Palestrina, c.1525-1594)

The video below gives some glorious highlights from the concert.



Music Contexta's next CD for Chandos, "Roma Sancta" featuring music by Arcadelt, de Silva and Palestrina, is due for release in February 2011.

The next Musica Contexta concert is on 27th January 2011.

Next month's concert is by the boys' choir of Arnold House School.  See link in the sidebar for details.