REPORT ON DAY OF RECOLLECTION AT WARDOUR CASTLE

HE The Chancellor at the Wardour organ keyboard

Last Saturday some two dozen members of the Order, Companions and guests gather at All Saints Chapel, Wardour Castle, where we were made very welcome by Lord and Lady Talbot of Malahide.

The day begin with Rosary, followed by Fr Gerard Deighan's first conference, on the subject of Temptation, based upon the text of Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac. Sung Mass of the feast of the day, St Joseph Calasanctius, and Sext followed, and then everyone repaired to the delightful setting of Pythouse Kitchen Garden for lunch, accompanied by the Order's wines from Magione.

The second conference was on the Sacrifice of the Mass, and based upon the same text as the morning conference, Fr Deighan developed the connection bewteen these two seemingly separate aspects of our Faith. Afterwards Lord Talbot gave a talk on the history of his Chapel.

Exposition and Benediction concluded the day, before we were invited to afternoon tea in her garden by Lady Talbot.

We are extremely grateful to our hosts, to Fr Deighan for coming from Dublin for our edification, and to those who organised this most fruitful day.

Some excellent photographs may be seen by clicking this link, or the picture above.

MONDAY 29th AUGUST - BEHEADING OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST

Beheading of St John by Sano di Pietro

Today is the feast of the Decollation of our Blessed Patron.

"Since the memory of blessed John the Baptist is not to be passed over cursorily, it is important that we should note who he was, and by whom, and for what cause, and how, and when he was slain. A just man is slain by adulterers, and the guilty passed sentence of death upon the judge. Further, the death of the Prophet was the reward of a dancing-girl. Lastly (which all the barbarians even would be likely to shudder at) the order to consummate the cruelty went forth amid feasting and conviviality; and from the banquet to the Prison, from the prison to the banquet, the obedient agents of this death-dealing and disgraceful act went to and fro. How great are the crimes confined in this single infamy!" (Homily of St Ambrose, Lesson iii from Matins.)

O God, of those that fought Thy fight,
Portion, and prize, and crown of light,
Break every bond of sin and shame
As now we praise Thy Martyr's name.

He recked not of the world's allure,
But sin and pomp of sin forswore:
Knew all their gall, and passed them by,
And reached the throne prepared on high.

Bravely the course of pain he ran,
And bare his torments as a man;
For love of Thee his blood outpoured,
And thus obtained the great reward.

With humble voice and suppliant word
We pray Thee therefore, holy Lord,
While we Thy Martyr's feast-day keep,
Forgive Thy loved and erring sheep.

Glory and praise for aye be done
To God the Father, and the Son,
And Holy Ghost, Who reign on high,
One God, to all eternity. Amen.
(Hymn for Vespers, St Peter of Verona 6th century, trans A McDougall)

BECAUSE IT'S AUGUST - II - CHAPEL ROYAL AT VERSAILLES

To continue the pleasures of the holiday season, and remembering fondly our friends in the French Association of the Order who celebrate Saint John's Day in the Chapelle du Roi in the Palace of Versailles, we would encourage you to look at this splendid new 'virtual tour' of the Chapel, which merits several long minutes of your time.

The presentation, including panoramas and detailed photographs of the building, its collection and plate, among them items loaned by the Custodians of the Holy Land, having been donated to the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem by King Louis XIV in 1664, has been prepared by the Administrators of the Chateau de Versailles to celebrate the Tercentenary of the Royal Chapel of the Roi-Soleil.

Do not miss looking at the wonderful ceiling, painted by Antoine Coypel and Charles de la Fosse, and especially the vault over the Royal pew, painted with the Descent of the Holy Spirit.

The 'virtual tour' concludes with a short concert of sacred music composed for the Chapel, from Charpentier's Te Deum. Click on the photograph to begin.

Tomorrow is, of course, the Feast of Saint Louis IX, King of France.

O Saint Louis, priez pour nous.

THE REVEREND JAMES BRADLEY

It is with great pleasure that we learn that our friend James Bradley, who is now a deacon in the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, was privileged to be chosen by the Holy Father to function as deacon of the Gospel for the opening Mass of World Youth Day in Madrid last week. This is a great honour for England, and a great encouragement for our friends in the Ordinariate.

Photo courtesy Diocese of Arundel and Brighton

Readers of this blog will recall that the Reverend Mr Bradley was the photographer for the Meeting of the Professed of the Order in Merton College (click here) last year.

We wish him well in his continuing studies and forthcoming ordination to the Sacred Priesthood in the Ordinariate.

O Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for him.

Our Lady of Walsingham, pray for him.

BECAUSE IT'S AUGUST

We encourage our readers to look at this charming video of the Holy Father, in Madrid for World Youth Day.  Sadly the BBC does not permit the embedding of its clips. CLICK ON THE PICTURE.

NOTICE - AUGUST GRAND PRIORY DAY OF RECOLLECTION

The August day of Recollection will be given by The Very Reverend Gerard Deighan, of St. Kevin's Church, Dublin, on Saturday 27th August, at All Saints Chapel at Wardour Castle, through the kindness of the Lord Talbot of Malahide.

Many will recall that Fr Deighan was subdeacon at the Funeral Mass of the late Grand Prior in Edinburgh.

The programme for the day is as follows:

10.30am - Lauds

11am -  First Conference, followed by opportunity for Confession/recitation of the Rosary

12 noon - Missa Cantata (Feast of S Joseph Calasanctius.)

Lunch

2.30pm - Second Conference

3.15pm - Vespers, Exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament

There will be a brief talk about the church given by our host during the day.

Lunch is arranged at Pythouse Kitchen Garden, a local restaurant, (postcode SP3 6PA), at the cost of approximately £15 per head. It is absolutely imperative that anyone wishing to attend should email his intention to avoid complications and embarrassment. Please email: basmom@btconnect.com

The postcode for Wardour Castle is SP3 6RH. The 08.20am train from Waterloo will be met at Tisbury if you indicate by email that you so wish.

A additional levy of £10 per head will be taken to cover the costs of the day.

As ever, everyone is welcome, all members of BASMOM, other members of the Order, Companions and guests.

ARCHIVE - RESTORATION MASS OF PLUSCARDEN ABBEY

At this joyful time when the monks of Pluscarden Abbey celebrate the election of their new Abbot, Father Alselm Atkinson, to whom we extend out most sincere good wishes and prayers, and as the Church in Scotland celebrates the consecration and installation on the Feast of the Assumption of Abbot Hugh Gilbert, O.S.B., until now Abbot of Pluscarden, as the fifty-first and eleventh bishop of Aberdeen on 15th August 2011, it seems a good moment to air a short piece of historical footage, the consecration of Pluscarden Abbey on the 8th September, the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, (Victory Day to the Order) in 1958.

The abbey, a ruin for 500 years, had been bought and given to the Benedictine Order by Lord Colum Crichton-Stuart, a noted Scottish Catholic layman, son of the 3rd Marquess of Bute, and therefore a cousin of our beloved and late Grand Prior, Fra' Fredrik Crichton-Stuart. The community was founded by Benedictine monks from Prinknash Abbey.

Fra' Freddy had a great and long-standing love of Pluscarden (he joined the Order of Malta when the restored Abbey was only five years old!) and made the great majority of his retreats there. Abbot Gilbert attended his funeral in Edinburgh.

Lovers of the Sacred Liturgy will be entranced by the simple beauty of the monastic vestments, and the grace and ease which attend these complex ceremonies, despite the fact that they were being undertaken in the setting of a ruin, and by people who had come together for the first time form many disparate places. Therein lies both the wonder and the benefit of our Catholic tradition. What we see here represents, in a way, Fra' Freddy's liturgical ideal, an unmannered and masculine religion; it shows the tradition from which he came, and the direction in which he had wished to lead the spiritual life of his Grand Priory.

We are indebted to Mr Martin Gardner, of A Wandering Oblate blog, for uploading this footage, and to the Abbot and community of Pluscarden for permitting it to be copied from their archive.

NOTICE - THURSDAY MASSES IN AUGUST

Due to the large number of people who are away on holiday, it has been decided that the Thursday evening Mass at Spanish Place will be cancelled for the next two weeks in August.  The 6pm Parish Mass is available to those members of the Order and Companions who might wish to attend.

The Masses will resume on Thursday 1st September.

Please note however, that the following week, 8th September, is the Nativity of Our Lady, the Victory Mass in the Order, and will be celebrated at the Conventual Church at 6.30.  There will consequently be no evening Mass at Spanish Place on that day.

Thereafter Masses will continue as normal at 6.45pm every week in the Lady Chapel at Spanish Place, followed by a reception in the Presbytery dining room.

15th AUGUST - SOLEMNITY OF THE ASSUMPTION OF OUR LADY

"This day the spotless Virgin, who was defiled with no earthly sensuality, but trained to thoughts of heaven, returned not to dust, but, being herself a living heaven, took her place in the heavenly mansions. For from her the true life had flowed for all men, and how should she taste of death?" - from the Sermon of St John Damascene, taken from Matins of the feast.


Masses at St James's Spanish Place are celebrated at 7.15am, 11am (Tridentine), 12.30 and 6pm.

Our Lady Assumed into Heaven, pray for us.

FRIDAY ABSTINENCE - 16th SEPTEMBER

The late Grand Prior was insistent that full catechesis be given to the impending Friday abstinence in preparation for the date upon which it becomes an obligation, 16th September 2011; it is thus a great pleasure to be able to reprint below the excellent exposition upon this discipline given on the Oxford Oratory website earlier this month.

FRIDAY ABSTINENCE - WHY?

As from the 16th September this year, which will be the anniversary of the Papal Visit, the bishops of England and Wales have decided to restore the practice of Friday abstinence from meat as binding on all Catholics in this country.

Why?

Because it was the day on which Our Lord rose from the dead the first Christians celebrated Sunday, the first day of the week, as the principal Christian day of worship rather than the Jewish Sabbath (Acts 20:7). From that time each Sunday has always been viewed as a mini Easter Sunday. Correspondingly, each Friday has been viewed as a mini Good Friday on which we observe the Passion and death of Our Lord on the Cross. From the earliest days of the Church, Catholics have abstained from flesh meat as part of this observance for two reasons: first, to do homage to Christ who died in the flesh on Good Friday and, second, as an act of penance for our sins.

Although many thought this practice had been abolished in recent years, in fact it has continued to be the norm in the Catholic Church throughout the 20th century and down to the present day. However, in some places, including in England and Wales, the bishops were given authority by the Pope to allow people to substitute some other act of penance instead.

The bishops of England and Wales have decided that abstaining from meat on Fridays should become the norm once again for both of the reasons given above but also for a third reason. When he visited Britain, Pope Benedict called for all Catholics to have the courage and the confidence to take their Faith into the public square. Abstaining from flesh meat on Fridays is a way of marking our Catholic identity and proclaiming, in just one small but distinctive way, that the death of Christ on the Cross is the most important event in human history along with His resurrection on Easter Sunday. We already mark His resurrection by going to Mass on Sunday. Now, once more, we can share a common practice as we mark His Passion and death.

This practice does not mean that we have to eat fish; there are many alternatives to non-meat dishes these days. And if we are already vegetarian we can offer our existing practice up as a penance or undertake some other form of penance instead.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes penance as a repentance and a conversion of the heart, an "interior conversion, [which] urges expression in visible signs, gestures and works of penance" (CCC 1430). It is not that we are parading our good works before men; rather, we are worshipping the living and true God with our whole being, body as well as soul, just as the prophet Joel urges us to do in the readings on Ash Wednesday (Joel 2:12-18), and as Our Lord himself teaches us to do, whilst not showing off, in Matthew's Gospel (Mt 6:1-6).

Let us respond generously, then, to this call from our holy Mother, the Church, to give witness to the Passion and death of our Saviour who died for us that we might live with Him.

SECOND CONFERENCE - DORCHESTER DAY OF RECOLLECTION

ON THE MEANING OF OBEDIENCE

Most of us present here are familiar with the Triduum Office of Tenebrae. One of the most poignant and instructive moments comes towards the end of Lauds when the whole congregation kneels and sings the chant “Christus factus est pro nobis obediens usque ad mortem”. Christ became for us obedient, even unto death. These words, first written by St Paul to the Phillipians (2:8), summarises two absolutely primary truths of revelation, that obedience was what rendered Christ’s death the most perfect sacrifice and that it reversed humanity’s previous disastrous original refusal to obey recorded in the Book of Genesis(3:1-19). The death of Jesus, as explained by St Paul teaches us that the virtue of obedience, supremely demonstrated in the willingness to submit to death on the Cross, was in itself an essential solution that removed the stain and shame of mankind’s first turning away from God. Likewise it restored the broken links of direct communication with God that had resulted from man’s first disobedience. Just as we can be assured of that, we should also be in no doubt that the disobedience evident in man’s first experiment with freedom to do as he pleased was the main cause of the fall from grace. The theme of obedience and its opposite is examined and exhibited right through the Bible story of salvation. Beyond Adam and Eve, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, King David, the Prophets, the story of Jonah, all are asked by God to undertake specific tasks and prove their willingness by their fulfilment. In the initial chapters of the New Testament, Zecahriah, John the Baptist and pre-eminently the Blessed Virgin Mary are all asked to co-operate with God’s plan of Redemption. None of us should be in any doubt that the virtue of obedience is what decides who is acting in God’s name. Correspondingly it is clear from Biblical revelation that disobedience is the hallmark of satanic influence and is alien to faith and charity.

FIRST CONFERENCE - DORCHESTER DAY OF RECOLLECTION

ON THE TRUE DUTIES OF THE CHRISTIAN AND OF THE KNIGHT

Every Christian who takes his or her religion seriously should seek to live in the shadow of the Cross and to embrace the vicissitudes of life implied by that metaphor with equanimity and even abandonment. This acceptance of the reality of human weakness and capacity for error is not just blind faith. It is grounded in our complete confidence that a benevolent power immensely greater than our own guides our destinies. It also derives fundamentally from the knowledge through God’s own revelation that the evils and adversities that assail us are not positive energies but are the negative consequences of original sin. This means that we have a divinely-sanctioned explanation for all that is arbitrary and discordant in human nature. At the same time, the biblical wisdom which helps us to understand the source of human folly and its effects also reveals its remedy. Secular wisdom does not understand either the poisonous consequences of sin and the pain it causes or their antidote. As a consequence, humanists offer seductive and at times very convincing therapies and treatments for the alleviation of suffering and the anxiety resulting from it. None of us is immune from the temptation to credit such worldly solutions to the problems which beset us and we delude ourselves greatly if we think that we are. In our age, global misfortune combines with global communication to produce a consensus among many of the developed nations of the world contradicting the wisdom of faith in favour of expediency and utility. We stand against this trend. As members of a Catholic religious Order, we must be clear that our tradition and raison d’etre is always to place the supremacy of God at the heart of every strategy for the alleviation of human suffering.

ELECTION OF NEW GRAND PRIOR OF ENGLAND

At the Grand Priory Day of Recollection which was held to day at Saint Birinus Dorchester-on-Thames courtesy of our chaplain Fr John Osman, the Chapter elected Ian Scott of Ardross as the 57th Grand Prior of England. His election will now be submitted to Sovereign Council for confirmation.

The Recollection was attended by some 20 members of the Order and Companions (who provide sterling domestic service at lunch far beyond the call of duty), and was preached by Monsignor Antony Conlon, Chaplain to the Grand Priory.  Mass of Saint Appolinaris was sung in the morning, and the day concluded after Vespers with a 'Te Deum' coram sanctissimo for the election of the new Grand Prior, and Benediction. Monsignor Conlon's two most inspiring talks will be given in the immediately following posts.

This was the third annual visit to Dorchester and we are immensely grateful to Fr Osman for his hospitality,  unmeasured hospitality and kindness.

Please pray for Ian Scott as he begins his service as Grand Prior.

Beata Maria de Phileremo, ora pro eo,

Beate Joanne Baptista, ora pro eo.

Beate Hadriane Fortescue, ora pro eo.

This post will be updated with photographs when they are received.

FUNERAL OF ARCHDUKE OTTO VON HABSBURG

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The funeral took place today in St Stephen's Cathedral Vienna of  HIS IMPERIAL AND ROYAL HIGHNESS ARCHDUKE FRANZ JOSEPH OTTO ROBERT MARIA ANTON KARL MAX HEINRICH SIXTUS XAVIER FELIX RENATUS LUDWIG GAETAN PIUS IGNATIUS by the Grace of God and hereditary right Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary.

The funeral, presided over by His Eminence Christoph Cardinal Count von Schönborn, was attended by His Most Eminent Highness the Prince and Grand Master Fra' Matthew Festing, and many members of the order in Austria and throughout the world. The Chancellor of the Grand Priory of England, His Excellency Fra' Duncan Gallie, was in attendance upon the Grand Master.

The funeral Mass was followed by a procession through the Innere Stadt of Vienna and the entombment of Archduke Otto and his late wife, Archduchess Regina who died last year, in the Habsburg Imperial Crypt of the Imperial Capuchin Church of Vienna. Archduke Otto's heart will be interred in Pannonhalma Archabbey.

Our condolences are extended to all the Imperial Family, especially to those who are members of the British Association of the Order of Malta.

Knights of Malta stand guard around the coffin during the Requiem Mass (photo Reuters, courtesy BBC)

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

Requiescant in pace.

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TUESDAY 12th JULY - BLESSED DAVID GUNSTON

The Order in England is blessed with many English saints, who act both as intercessors and examples to people living and working in our own troubled age. Blessed David is one of them.

Icon by Sacred Mural Studios, St Petersburg

Sir David Gunston was a member of an English naval family who was received into the Order at the Auberge of England in Valetta on 20 October 1533.

He served on the ships of the Order in the Mediterranean until 1540 when he returned to England, by which time Henry VIII had suppressed the Order in his kingdom by an Act of Parliament of 10 May 1540. David Gunston was imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1540 and was condemned to death by an Act of Parliament in 1541 for denying the authority of the King in spiritual matters.

He was hanged, drawn and quartered at St. Thomas' Waterings, Southwark on 12 July 1541. Pius XI declared him Blessed on 15 December 1929. 

Blessed Fra' David, pray for the unity of the Church, for religious freedom

 for all persons, and for our Order and its members.

Collect of the Mass.

O God, who made of blessed David a notable champion of the Catholic faith whose martyrdom shed glory on our Order, grant that he may stimulate us to defend the unity of your holy Church. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

NOTICE - CHANGE OF TIME - AND CONCERT - THURSDAY 14th JULY

This coming Thursday, 14th July, is the Feast of Saint Toscana, Virgin of our Order.

The normal 6.45 Mass will exceptionally (this week only) be cancelled, and we shall join the Parish Mass at 6pm.  Please let people you think might come know about this change.

At 7.30 pm, there will be a concert of sacred music in the church, performed by the St James's Choir, under the direction of Terry Worroll.  Members of the Order and Companions are encouraged to come along and support our very generous hosts at Spanish Place.  Here is an except from the Parish Newsletter:

This Thursday (14th July) the Choir of Saint James will be giving a concert of some of the best Renaissance polyphony to have come from Spain at the hands of Victoria and his contemporaries. The concert begins at 7.30pm and tickets will be available on the door at £12 (£10 concessions). Here is an opportunity to hear some excellent music and to bring others along with you to introduce them to Saint James’s.

REQUIEM MASS FOR THE GRAND PRIOR

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Our chaplain, Fr David Irwin, celebrated a Requiem Mass for the month's mind of the late Grand Prior on Thursday evening in the Lady Chapel at Spanish Place, attended by members of the Order and Companions, especially those who had been unable to attend the funeral.  The Chancellor, H E Fra' Duncan Gallie, was in attendance.  The music of the Mass was sung by a schola of Companions of the Order (to one of whom we are indebted for the photograph above) which was led by Count de Evora, the former honorary Master of the Music to the Grand Priory.

Following the Mass there was an opportunity to venerate the relic of Blessed Adrian Fortescue, whose feast fell the next day; a tertiary relic from the Book of Hours of our Patron currently in the care of the Grand Master.  As with so many Reformation martyrs, there are no primary relics of Blessed Adrian.

A reception was then held in the Rectory dining-room, by kind permission of the Rector, Fr Christopher Colven.

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

Requiescat in pace.

Beate Hadriane Fortescue, ora pro eo.

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FEAST OF BLESSED ADRIAN FORTESCUE MARTYR ON. PATRON OF THE GRAND PRIORY OF ENGLAND

Painting of Blessed Adrian Fortescue by Andrew Festing, brother of the Grand Master,
in the possession of the Order in London, and based upon the portrait in Rabat, Malta

Adrian Fortescue was born around 1480, the son of Sir John Fortescue of Punsborne, Hertfordshire. He was made a Knight of the Bath in 1503 and was high in the favour of King Henry VIII, taking part in the Wars of England against France in 1513 and 1523. His personal piety is attested by his Book of Hours which survives with devotional maxims in his own hand. As a cousin of Anne Boleyn, he was present when she was crowned as Queen in 1533. Sir Adrian was twice married and had seven children. He became a confrater of the Dominicans of Oxford in 1533. In 1539 he was attainted of High Treason without trial, by an Act of Parliament which condemned fifty persons opposed to Henry VIII's ecclesiastical policies. Adrian Fortescue was beheaded on Tower Hill, London on Wednesday 9 July 1539, together with the Venerable Sir Thomas Dingley, a Knight of the Order. The Order of St. John of Jerusalem has considered Sir Adrian as a martyr and has promoted devotion to him at least since the early seventeenth century as a member of the Order. Leo XIII declared him Blessed on 13 May 1895.

For more information click here, including a translation of Mgr Ducaud-Bourget's biography of Bl. Adrain.

COLLECT OF THE MASS

O God, since all things are within your power, grant through the prayers of blessed Adrian, your martyr, that we who keep his feast today may become stronger in the love of your name and hold to your holy Church even at the cost of our lives. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

VIDEO OF GRAND PRIOR'S REQUIEM

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The following short video of the funeral of the late Grand Prior shows the recessional procession, during the singing of the In Paradisum.  The full videos, posted by Mr Martin Gardner, of A Wandering Oblate blog, may be seen here.

In paradisum deducant te Angeli; 
in tuo adventu suscipiant te martyres, et perducant te in civitatem sanctam Ierusalem. 
Chorus angelorum te suscipiat, et cum Lazaro quondam paupere æternam habeas requiem.


May angels lead you into paradise; 
upon your arrival, may the martyrs receive you and lead you to the holy city of Jerusalem. 
May the ranks of angels receive you, and with Lazarus, the poor man, may you have eternal rest.


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CARDINAL PELL'S HOMILY TO THE ORDER FOR CORPUS CHRISTI

It is a privilege to be able to offer here, for the spiritual advancement of our readers, the Homily delivered to members of the Order of Malta by Cardinal Pell in Saint Mary's Cathedral Sydney, upon the feast of Corpus Christi.

Homily by George Cardinal Pell

Archbishop of Sydney

Bailiff Grand Cross of Honor and Devotion

and Conventual Chaplain ad honorem

Sovereign Military Order of Malta

ON THIS FEAST OF CORPUS CHRISTI it is appropriate that we welcome here the Knights and Dames of the Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem gathered from across Australia for their biennial meeting. Both the feast and the Order come from the Middle Ages. We know them as the Knights of Malta, but at an earlier stage for two hundred years they were known as the Knights of Rhodes, until their honourable defeat there by Sultan Suleiman II in 1522.

We know that Christ celebrated the first Eucharist on Holy Thursday the night before he died and that many of his followers had left him earlier when he promised to give them his flesh to eat. We have clear evidence from the Scriptures and the Church writings of the Fathers of the first Christians' belief that Christ was truly present in the Eucharist.

But this feast on the earliest free Thursday after Easter to celebrate the institution of the Eucharist only developed around 1230 in Liége under the influence of Blessed Juliana a devout nun. In other words this feast is a medieval development used to oppose those, like the eleventh century Berengar of Tours, who denied Jesus was really present in the Eucharist.

The Order of Malta will celebrate the 900th anniversary of its approval as a religious order by Pope Paschal II in 1113. It was then a low point in papal history with a number of anti-popes, a weak papacy in confrontation with the Holy Roman Emperor and one of the few bright spots had been the recapture of Jerusalem by the First Crusade in 1099 after Muslim rule since 638.

NOTICE OF REQUIEM MASS

Fra' Fredrik at his installation as Grand Prior on 21st April 2008

The weekly Thursday Mass this week, on 7th July at 6.45pm in the Lady Chapel of Saint James's Spanish Place, will be celebrated as a Requiem for the repose of the soul of Fra' Fredrik Crichton-Stuart, late Grand Prior of England. It will be observed as the month's mind, which occurs a few days later.

The Mass will be followed by the veneration of the relic of Blessed Adrian Fortescue, Martyr and Patron of the Grand Priory, whose feast falls the following day.  It is a happy coincidence that this should be the case, as the Grand Priory's relic has been recently furnished in May this year at Fra' Freddy's behest. It is a tertiary relic from the only extant relic of Blessed Adrian, his Book of Hours, currently in the care of the Grand Master.

Requiescat in pace.

Beate Hadriane Fortescue, ora pro illo.

REPORT ON THE FUNERAL OF THE GRAND PRIOR

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The Funeral Rites of FRATER FREDRIK JOHN PATRICK CRICHTON-STUART, 56th GRAND PRIOR OF ENGLAND, the first Grand Prior to die since the Tudors occupied the throne of England, and the first Scotsman in this Office, were held in Edinburgh on the 27th and 28th June. The irony of this would not be lost upon Fra' Freddy, himself descended in the direct line from Robert the Bruce, and the Stuart Kings of Scotland. How fitting therefore that for the first time in over 850 years of the history of the Order in Britain the funeral of a Grand Prior of England should be held in Scotland.

The body was received solemnly into St Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral, the coffin preceded by the Sword of the Grand Priory, at 5 o'clock on Monday evening, and Vespers of the Dead were sung by visiting members of the Sovereign Council of the Order, and members of the British Association in choir, in the presence of Fra' Freddy's family. The Office was followed by the Absolutions over the body, given by Monsignor Michael Regan, Magistral Chaplain, Provost of the Cathedral. The Grand Master's legate, His Excellency Fra' Gherardo Hercolani, Grand Commander of the Order, presided in choir.

By ancient tradition of the Order of Malta, dating from crusader times, the coffin of a knight of Malta lies on the floor, surrounded by fallen candlesticks. The coffin is surmounted by the 'stola' of solemn profession, or perpetual religious vows, decorated with the symbols of Our Lord's Passion.

On Tuesday morning the immediate family and members of the Order, together with visiting Knights of St Gregory and members of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, sang the Office of Lauds of the Dead around the body, again presided over by Fra' Gherardo Hercolani.

At 11.15am the High Mass of Requiem was sung in the presence of His Eminence Keith Patrick Cardinal O'Brien, Archbishop of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh, Bailiff Grand Cross of Honour and Devotion, who presided from the throne, and similarly of the Grand Master's legate. Also present were members of Sovereign Council, Their Excellencies Fra' Carlo d'Ippolito and Fra' Duncan Gallie, who is also Chancellor of the Grand Priory of England; His Excellency Fra' Carl Paar, Prince Grand Prior of Bohemia; His Grace Archbishop Mario Conti of Glasgow, Grand Cross Conventual Chaplain 'ad honorem', Principal Chaplain of the British Association; and Father Hugh Gilbert, Bishop-elect of Aberdeen, former Abbot of Pluscarden. A large number of members of the Order were present including the Lieutenant of the Grand Priory, Ian Scott of Ardross, and His Excellency the President of the British Association, Charles Weld, and the Lady Talbot of Malahide, Vice-President. The Papal Knights, the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Venerable Order of Saint John (of which the late Grand Prior was a member) were also represented. Fra' Freddy's widow Jane, and children Rhidian, Edward, Amanda, and Ione-Jane, brother Niall and sister Margot were all present.

Among the mourners were Lord Gill, Lord Justice Clerk of Scotland, and Lady Gill; Ninian Crichton-Stuart, Hereditary Keeper of Falkland Palace; Miss Elizabeth Roads, Lyon Clerk, Court of the Lord Lyon; Richard Waller, of the Venerable Order of St John in Scoltand, and other representatives; Captain Jim Reid 52nd Lowland, 6th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland; and Frederick Stone, Chairman, with other representatives of Una Voce Scotland.  Members of the family were assisted by the knights and some of the Companions (who of course were founded in Scotland) as ushers.

The Mass was celebrated by Father John Emerson FSSP, Fra' Freddy's spiritual director, whose daily Mass he had attended for several years until his death; and assisted by Father Gerard Deighan, chaplain of the Irish Association of the Order, and Father Brendan Gerard, both of whom had regularly said Holy Mass in Edinburgh attended by Fra' Freddy in recent years. The Mass was sung to gregorian chant by the schola of St Andrew's Ravelston, and served by Scottish friends of Fra' Freddy, with whom he had frequently served at the altar until very recently.

The Homily was preached most movingly by Cardinal O'Brien, a very close friend of the Grand Prior, who stressed the total unity in Christ between Fra' Freddy's life with his family, his religious and charitable work within the Order, the strength he derived from the liturgy of the Church, and his interior life of prayer. He ended with words of the psalm, which though so familiar, sounded as for the first time with this holy man, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Requiescat in pace."

The state anthem of the Order, "Ave Crux Alba" was played after the Absolutions. In the procession leaving the church, Fra' Freddy's banner, stola and decorations were carried behind the coffin by his two sons and brother. The sword again preceded the coffin, carried inverted by one of the novice knights of Justice.

Following the Mass, guests gathered for a brief reception, and then proceeded to Mount Vernon Catholic Cemetery, where Fra' Freddy was interred among the Religious of the Diocese. Echoing the strain of the Salve Regina sung at the graveside, Pipe-Major David Waterton-Anderson KSG, also a friend of many years of Fra' Freddy, played his own tune, "The Little Flower", which had been dedicated to Fra' Freddy in 2009 on the occasion of the visit of the relics of St Therese of Lisieux to the Conventual Church in London.

A large set of photographs of the funeral may be seen HERE, courtesy of Mr Martin Gardner, to whom we are very grateful.

At the Family's request, donations in memory of Fra' Fredrik may be made to Order of Malta Dial-a-Journey, 3 Cunningham Road, Springkerse Industrial Estate, Stirling FK7 7SW. Charity No. SC 018831. Tel: 01786 46535

Other Masses offered for Fra' Freddy on Tuesday morning.

We have been notified that Holy Mass has been offered simultaneously with the Funeral Mass, for the repose of the Grand Prior's soul, as follows:

in the Conventual Church, London, by the Hospital Chaplain, Fr Richard Sloan,
at the London Oratory by Fr Ronald Creighton-Jobe, Conventual Chaplain 'ad honorem',
at St James's Spanish Place by Fr David Irwin, Magistral Chaplain,
in Burgundy by Fr Anthony Robbie, Magistral Chaplain,
at Gricigliano, five Masses stipended by a member of the Grand Priory,
in the Oxford Oratory, stipended by a member of the Grand Priory,
in Malta, two Masses stipended by the nieces of the late Colonel Tommy Pac.


UPDATE

We have been informed that 5 five Masses have been stipended at the London Oratory.

Please notify additional Masses which were offered at this time, of which we are unaware, in the comments box below.

Exceptionally, we shall leave the comments open for this post, for tributes and notifications of prayers offered. Requiescat in pace.

Our Lady of Philermo, pray for him

Saint John the Baptist, pray for him
Saint Andrew, pray for him

Saint Therese of Lisieux, pray for him

Blessed Gerard, pray for him

Blessed Adrian Fortescue, pray for him

All holy Saints and Virgins of the Order, pray for him
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CHARTRES PILGRIMAGE 2011

Every year a small group of members of the Order join in the Pentecost Chartres pilgrimage, mostly from the French Association, supported by rather more young people from the Oeuvres Hospitallieres, who also provide all the first aid and medical back-up for the 15,000 pilgrims in a seriously impressive operation.  Under the banner of Notre-Dame de Philerme, they walk from the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris to that of Notre-Dame de Chartres.

For many years a group from the Grand Priory of England and BASMOM have also joined, initially organised by Dudley Heathcote, and, following some years' absence, this year a very small group, including Companions, joined the Chapitre de Notre-Dame de Philerme for the last day of the walk.

For many years our beloved and late Grand Prior, when Chancellor, accompanied the present Grand Master amongst the Order pilgrims, and provided essential support of transport for the halt and lame, and sustenance for the tired.  The photograph above shows Fra' Freddy arriving at the lunchtime camp in 2001 with essential supplies.  It was indeed on the road to Chartres that the editor of this blog first met him.

This year the weather was ideal for the walk, dry and neither too hot nor too cold, as can be seen from this photograph below of a few members of the Chapitre Notre-Dame de Philerme with the banner on the last day. The spires of Chartres Cathedral may just be made out in the haze on the horizon. Singing is a large feature of the pilgrimage, as it takes ones mind off the passing miles and tired feet. Also important is prayer; all pilgrims are are expected to say a full Rosary together on the walk, and the devotions of the Chapitre were led by Fra' Emmanuel Rousseau, with the recitation of Lauds and Vespers on foot every day (in Latin, new Office) and Compline in the camp, at which all the volunteers and helpers of the First Aid post joined in.

As in every year, the closing Mass in the Cathedral was celebrated as a pontifical High Mass, this year by His Excellency Monseigneur Nicholas Brouwet, auxiliary bishop of Nanterre, in the presence of His Excellency Monseigneur Michel Pansard, Bishop of Chartres, who presided in cope from the throne.

For those who wish, the homily given by Mgr Brouwet (French only) may be read by clicking here. This official site also gives more information about the pilgrimage.

The many banners of the various Chapitres are carried into the Cathedral for the Mass, and this year there is an excellent video of the procession leaving the Cathedral at the end of Mass, to the strains of "Chez nous, soyez Reine" (courtesy of New Liturgical Movement and Gloria TV). The banner of Notre-Dame de Philerme may be clearly seen from 5:41 to 5:52.

It is hoped that in future years more members of the Order in Britain will accept the invitation of our French hosts to join them.

Notre-Dame de Philerme, priez pour nous.

FRA' FREDRIK CRICHTON-STUART RIP

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REQUIEM AETERNAM DONA EI DOMINE, 

ET LUX PERPETUA LUCEAT EI.

Frater Fredrik

John Patrick

Crichton-Stuart

KNIGHT GRAND CROSS OF JUSTICE IN SOLEMN VOWS

OF THE SOVEREIGN MILITARY ORDER OF MALTA

GRAND CROSS ‘PRO MERITO MELITENSE’

GRAND PRIOR OF ENGLAND

BORN 6th SEPTEMBER 1940  DIED 14th  JUNE 2011

REQUIESCAT IN PACE

Beate Ioanne Baptista, ora pro eo.

Beata Maria de Philereme, ora pro eo.

Beate Hadriane Fortescue, ora pro eo.

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VISIT OF THE GRAND MASTER TO THE SOVEREIGN PONTIFF

It is a pleasure to be able to share a video of the recent official visit of His Most Eminent Highness the Grand Master to Pope Benedict in the Apostolic Palace on 25th June 2011, in connexion with the feast of our Blessed Patron Saint John the Baptist.  The Grand Master makes regular less formal visits to His Holiness regularly throughout the year.

Fra' Matthew presented the Pope with, among other gifts, a finely bound copy of the new Regulations and Commentary on the Code and Constitution of the Order.

Ad multos annos!

THURSDAY 23rd JUNE - ST JOHN'S EVE - FEAST OF CORPUS CHRISTI

On the Vigil of Saint John the Baptist, which falls this year on Thursday which is also the Feast of Corpus Christi, the will be a Sung Mass of Corpus Christi in the Conventual Church at 6.30pm, which will replace the customary First Vespers of our Patronal Feast.  The celebrant will the Chaplain of the Grand Priory, Mgr Antony Conlon. The Mass will be followed by a short reception in Fortescue House

All members of the Order, Companions and their friends are warmly encouraged to attend this first celebration of St John's Day.

Please note that exceptionally the Thursday evening Mass at St James's Spanish Place will not be said this week.  It will resume as normal next week.

Saint John the Baptist, pray for us.

DEATH OF THE GRAND PRIOR

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It is with the greatest sadness that we announce the death of

H. E. FRA’ FREDRIK CRICHTON-STUART
Grand Prior of England
Knight Grand Cross of Justice in Solemn Vows

from a heart attack earlier this morning, Tuesday 14th June, 2011.

Please pray for the repose of his soul.

Details for the Funeral, which will be held in Edinburgh, will be issued when available.

Click here for BASMOM obituary.

Requiescat in Pace.

______________________________________________________________________________

REPORT - ASCENSION THURSDAY

Our Chaplain, Father David Irwin, celebarted a Missa Cantata of the Feast of the Ascension in the Lady Chapel of Saint James's Spanish Place yesterday evening, with music sung to chant by members of Schola Baptista, attended by professed of the Grand Priory, knights and companions, as well as some parishioners.

The extinguishing of the Paschal candle "et ascendit in caelis"

With the feast of the Ascension we begin the closing days of Eastertide, in preparation for the great Feast of Pentecost, the sealing of the new Covenant of our Redemption by the Holy Spirit. Today marks the beginning of the Novena of Pentecost, which the Church encourages us all to observe.

The Pentecost mosaic in the Sanctuary at St James's

 Prayers to the Holy Spirit

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Thy love.
V. Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created.
R. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
Let us pray. O God, Who didst instruct the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant us in the same Spirit to be truly wise, and ever to rejoice in His consolation. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Veni, Sancte Spiritus, reple tuorum corda fidelium: et tui amoris in eis ignem accende.
V. Emitte Spiritum tuum, et creabuntur.
R. Et renovabis faciem terrae.
Oremus. Deus, qui corda fidelium Sancti Spiritus illustratione docuisti: da nobis in eodem Spiritu recta sapere; et de eius semper consolatione gaudere. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

Long prayers of the Novena may by found by clicking here.

REPORT - LADY JAFFRAY'S MUSICAL EVENING LAST WEEK

HMEH the Grand Master with Lady Jaffray

It is a renewed pleasure to be able to report upon Anne Lady Jaffray's wonderful concert and dinner which was held last Tuesday, 24th May, in the gracious setting of the Principal's House of Imperial College London, in aid of Saint John's Hospice. The guest of honour was His Most Eminent Highness the Grand Master, Fra' Matthew Festing.

Lady Jaffray embodies all that is good about the Order of Malta; with her customary and consummate ease she manages to bring together people from every walk of life of the Order to produce the most delightful and entertaining evening, which was truly a family event, with the collaboration of the Companions and the fundraising team of the Hospice, whose enthusiasm and cheerfulness our hostess was very quick to honour with well-merited praise.

This evening, sadly the last of Lady Jaffray's many annual fundraising events for St John's Hospice, among the many varied guests who included relatives and former patients of the Hospital and members of the Order and Companions, were the Chancellor of the Grand Priory, as well as the President, Vice-President and Chancellor of the British Association.  The Director of the Hospice, the Matron and the Director of Fundraising were also present, a testimony to Lady Jaffray's long-standing contribution.

Lady Jaffray, following the concert, most especially extended her gratitude to Schola Baptista, the choir of the Conventual Church, for their wonderful interpretation of the early music of the Order of Malta, (rightly praised also by Lord Guthrie in his speech, who echoed the view of many present that it was a once-in-a-lifetime pleasure to hear such rare music) for their generous contribution of their talents without remuneration.  It was a particular joy that they were able to offer to us, for benefit of the Hospice, several of the pieces which the circumstances of the building works had prevented them singing for their concert in our Church in the Hospital a couple of months ago.

Lord Guthrie, as Chairman of the Hospital, offered fulsome thanks to Lady Jaffray after dinner, which was graciously replied to on her behalf by the Grand Master with his customary brevity and humour, which many of us in England have come to miss. On behalf of us all, we should also like to add our gratitude to our hostess for her many years of contribution to the Hospice, both as a visitor and a tireless fundraiser, and most especially in the last few years as a very active member of the Order of Malta, and also as a friend of so many.  We wish her well in her new literary endeavours, which we are sure she will pursue as tirelessly and successfully.

For those of our readers who were unable to attend, and who might still wish to contribute to the Hospice funds, please visit the link HERE for the Hospice secure donations page. A Gift Aid declaration is included for UK taxpayers.  You contributions are of inestimable value to the work the Hospice is able to do, both for the resident patients, and for the many dozens of people who are cared for in their homes.

Schola Baptista

REPORT - GRAND PRIORY DAY OF RECOLLECTION AT BLESSED JOHN HENRY NEWMAN'S SHRINE IN BIRMINGHAM

The shrine altar in the Little Oratory

The Feast of our virgin Saint Ubaldeseca saw members of the Grand Priory, joined by other members of the Order and Companions from the Midlands, together in Birmingham for this month's Day of Recollection at the shrine of Blessed John Henry Newman.

After Lauds in the Newman shrine chapel, members of the Order sat in choir in the stunningly beautiful Oratory church for the weekly Pilgrim Mass celebrated by the Provost, Father Richard Duffield, and then joined the other pilgrims and the local community at the Shine for the prayers of thanksgiving for favours granted, for intercessions, and veneration of the relic. The work of the Order worldwide, and the members of the Grand Priory of England and British Association were prayed for, as was Saint John's Hospice.

Father Paul Chavasse preached the conferences, on Newman's journey of Faith, and his attraction to the tradition of the life of the Oratory and to Philippine spirituality, and its applicability to the spiritual life of the religious in the Order of Malta. In the afternoon we were privileged to be led by the Provost in pilgrimage to Blessed John Henry's library and room, where we could venerate the private altar, dedicated to Saint Francis de Sales, where the Beatus said Mass daily as a Cardinal. Both the library and room are exactly as they were in the Cardinal's lifetime and may thus truly be venerated as secondary relics, as they were by the Holy Father last September in the afternoon after the Mass of Beatification.

The day concluded with Vespers and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament at the shrine altar.

Blessed John Henry, Pray for us,

Saint Philip Neri, Pray for us,
Saint Francis de Sales, pray for us.