PLENARY INDULGENCE FOR CORONAVIRUS

The Holy Father has very graciously granted a Plenary Indulgence, under special conditions which include a Spiritual Communion instead of the usual Holy Communion (see our post HERE), to many categories of people, from those infected, to those self-isolating and medical and care workers. The decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary is given below. There is also an Indulgence for the rest of the Faithful, under similar conditions.

Many of us in the Order are simply waiting for something dreadful to happen to our friends and neighbours,  so we can start being useful. 

Well, you can start NOW! Many people are dying around the world, and need all the supernatural assistance they can get. The greatest act of Charity we can give in such circumstances is to gain as many plenary indulgences for their souls as we can. You can gain one each day. You don't even need to go to Church now, there really is no excuse!

"The Plenary Indulgence is granted to the faithful suffering from Coronavirus, who are subject to quarantine by order of the health authority in hospitals or in their own homes if, with a spirit detached from any sin, they unite spiritually through the media to the celebration of Holy Mass, the recitation of the Holy Rosary, to the pious practice of the Way of the Cross or other forms of devotion, or if at least they will recite the Creed, the Lord's Prayer and a pious invocation to the Blessed Virgin Mary, offering this trial in a spirit of faith in God and charity towards their brothers and sisters, with the will to fulfil the usual conditions (sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion and prayer according to the Holy Father's intentions), as soon as possible. 

"Health care workers, family members and all those who, following the example of the Good Samaritan, exposing themselves to the risk of contagion, care for the sick of Coronavirus according to the words of the divine Redeemer: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (Jn 15: 13), will obtain the same gift of the Plenary Indulgence under the same conditions."

For the rest of us, for all the Faithful, a plenary indulge is available through a visit to the Blessed Sacrament, or Stations of the Cross, or spiritual reading for half-an-hour.  For those in Central London, the Diocesan Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament, Corpus Christi Maiden Lane, will have Exposition every lunchtime, which the possibility of Confession daily. They are also streaming Holy Mass at 8am. Website click here to check details.

The Apostolic decree may be read in full by clicking below:

"Decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary on the granting of special Indulgences to the faithful in the current pandemic"

Finally, Cardinal Nichols offers many words of comfort in his Pastoral Letter HERE.  His Eminence says:

"I want to make it exceptionally clear that the teaching of the Church is that, in these circumstances, the obligation of attending Mass on Sundays and Holy Days no longer applies. Please have no doubt about this. 

"This does not mean that we lose our love of the Mass or our desire to take part in the celebration of the Mass. Mass will be celebrated, day by day, in your church. There are many ways of taking part in this prayer. Associate yourself with the celebration of the Mass spiritually. Read the Scriptures of the day. Use some of the materials that are available to be close in your heart. Learn again the practice of spiritual communion. If you are helped by a visual participation in the Mass, then go to one of the websites on which that celebration is being streamed. The list of those websites is available to you. 

"There are many ways in which we can deepen our participation in the Mass and our life of prayer in these strange and stressful days. Indeed, they are an opportunity for us to do so. 

Being unable to attend Mass is the experience of many, many Catholics around the world. They are deprived of the Mass through distance, or through violence, or through persecution. We can unite our experience with them and, like them, return to the Mass with fresh love and enthusiasm when, again, it is possible for us to do so, in bigger numbers than ever."

Mary, Mother of Jesus, pray for us 
Mary, Mother of Sorrows, pray for us 
Mary, Mother of Joys, pray for us. 

FEAST OF THE FIVE HOLY WOUNDS

In aliquibus locis, the Friday after the Third Sunday of Lent was celebrated as the feast of the Five Most Precious Wounds of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Tudor banner of the Five Holy Wounds which led the Pilgrimage of Grace

COLLECT

O God, who by the Passion of Thine Only Son, and by the pouring out of the Blood of His Five Wounds, hast restored human nature lost by sin, grant unto us, we beseech Thee, that by venerating the protective Wounds on earth, we may thereby merit the fruits of the same Precious Blood in Heaven. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, One God, world without end. Amen.

PRAY THE ROSARY WITH THE POPE TONIGHT AT 8PM

The Holy Father asks us to join him in reciting the Luminous Mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary simultaneously with him at 21.00 Rome time, 8pm Greenwich Mean Time. 

At the end of the General Audience on March 18, the Pope evoked the feast of St Joseph, this "just and wise man": "In his life, in his work, in his family, in joy and in suffering, he always sought and loved the Lord." 

Speaking principally to the people of Italy, but also to us all, His Holiness said: “Each family, each faithful, each religious community: all spiritually united tomorrow at (8pm GMT) to recite the Rosary, with the Luminous Mysteries." 

"Mary, Mother of God, salvation of the sick, leads us to the luminous and transfigured Face of Christ and to his Heart", underlined the Pope: "let us turn to her by the prayer of the Rosary, under the loving gaze of Saint Joseph, guardian of the Holy Family and of our families." 

"Let us ask," he then recommended, "that (Saint Joseph) protect our families in a special way, that he protect our sick and the people who take care of our sick: doctors, nurses, nurses, volunteers, who risk their life in this service."

1. The Baptism of the Lord by St John the Baptist in the Jordan.
2. Our Lord changes water into wine at the Wedding Feast at Cana, at the request of His most holy Mother.
3. Our Lord proclaims the Kingdom of Heaven and charges the Church with her Mission.
4. The Transfiguration of Our Lord, the "beloved Son of God", with Moses and Elijah before the Apostles.
5. The Institution of the Most Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper in the Upper Room.

Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us

Saint Joseph, pray for us

St John the Baptist, pray for us

PRAYER TO SAINT JOSEPH FOR THE DYING

At this time of plague, please place the souls who will die into the fatherly hands of Saint Joseph, patron of the dying. May they enjoy the death promised to those who die in Faith, shared with Saint Joseph, in the words of the Office Hymn for Lauds this morning :

O nimis felix, nimis o beátus,

Cuius extrémam vígiles ad horam

Christus et Virgo simul astitérunt

Ore seréno.

Blest beyond others, and exceeding blissful,

For when the moment of his death was nearing,

Jesus and Mary at his side were standing,

Soothing his spirit.

St Joseph, grant them a holy death.

HAPPY FEAST OF SAINT JOSEPH, PROTECTOR OF THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH

Happy and blessed art thou, O Joseph, to whom it was given not only to see and to hear that God whom many kings desired to see, and saw not, to hear, and heard not; but also to hold Him in thine arms, to embrace Him, to clothe Him, and to guard and defend Him. 

V. Pray for us, O blessed Joseph,

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. 

Let us pray.  

O GOD, who hast given unto us a royal priesthood, vouchsafe, we beseech Thee, that as Blessed Joseph was found worthy to touch with his hands, and bear within his arms, Thine Only-begotten Son, born of the Virgin Mary, so may we be made fit, by cleanness of heart and purity of work, to serve at Thy holy altars; that we may worthily receive the Most Sacred Body and Blood of Thy Son, now in this present world, and deserve to attain an everlasting reward in the world to come. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Great Saint Joseph, pray for us at the hour of our death.

HAPPY FEAST OF SAINT PATRICK

The Grand Priory extends greetings to all Members, Companions and friends of the Order on this joyous feast, bathed, at least in some parts, in glorious Spring weather.

May Saint Patrick, who banished the snakes of evil from the Emerald Isle, now likewise banish all disease and fear from our dear country, the land of his birth.

Holy Saint Patrick, pray for us.

The photos shows the statue at Corpus Christ Maiden Lane, the Diocesan Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament. (credit John Aron)

HOLY COMMUNION IN SELF-ISOLATION

What to do if you cannot go to Confession or receive Holy Communion because of the COVID-19 virus.

If you need to isolate or quarantine yourself because of the COVID-19 virus, you are unlikely to be able to receive the Sacraments normally. Self-isolation is also an act of charity, and under such circumstances your Sunday obligation is dispensed, even if you are not feeling truly ill. Please remember, through charity to the priest and other penitents, do not go to Confession through the grille if you believe you are ill, the risk of infecting him is very high. (Go to confession now before this happens!)

In these circumstances there are devotions that allow you to receive absolution for your sins (under certain conditions) and the consolation of Eucharistic grace.

These devotions are officially encouraged by Holy Mother Church and have been practised by saints.

HOW TO MAKE AN ACT OF PERFECT CONTRITION

Through an act of Perfect Contrition you can receive the forgiveness of your sins outside of confession, even mortal sins, provided that you determine yourself to correct your life and make a firm resolution to go to sacramental confession as soon as you can, when it becomes possible. Remember, these are extraordinary measures only, for times when a priest is truly not available to you.

Perfect Contrition is sorrow and detestation of sin arising out of the love of God. One way of exciting this contrition in our hearts is by considering the passion of Jesus Christ and making acts of love for Him. We can also think of the infinite love which God has for us, and express sorrow in our heart in the presence of this great love which we have offended.

Imperfect Contrition is sorrow and detestation for sin arising from a consideration of the ugliness of sin or out of the fear of hell. Disgust at the ugliness of sin is more common today than fear of hell. That is because priests do not preach enough, or with sufficient conviction about the four last things.

If a person commits an act of impurity, for example, the person may be disgusted afterwards by the ugliness of the sin. Such contrition is not perfect, but it is sufficient sorrow for that person to go to confession and receive God’s forgiveness. This is imperfect contrition; it is good, but it can certainly be improved on.

If the person is instead sorry because they think of the love of God whom they have offended, or the passion of Christ to which they have contributed, then they have made an act of Perfect Contrition.

Perfect Contrition is a grace of God, therefore sincerely ask that this gift be granted to you on the day preceding that in which you will make the act of contrition: "My God, grant me the Perfect Contrition for my sins".

1. In reality, or in your mind, kneel at the foot of a Crucifix and mentally repeat: 

"Jesus, my God and my Saviour, in the midst of Your agony you remembered me, You suffered for me, You wished to purify me from my sins".  

2. Contrition is ‘perfect’ if you repent of your sins because you love God and you sincerely regret having offended Him and having caused Christ's sufferings on the Cross. Before the Crucified Christ, remember your sins, ideally speaking them aloud, and repent that they caused the sufferings borne by Our Lord on the Cross. Promise Him that with His help you will sin no longer.  

3. Recite, slowly and sincerely, an Act of Contrition focusing on the goodness of God and your love for Jesus, for example (you would be well to recite the words you normally use in sacramental confession) :  

"O my God, since you are so good I am sincerely repentant for having sinned against you and with the help of your grace I will sin no more. Amen".

4. Make a firm resolution to go to sacramental confession as soon as you are again able to. (Note that when you make this confession, it is not necessary to remember in detail all the sins you have confessed secretly, they have already been wiped away by Our Blessed Lord; merely to recall to the priest the fact that you made an act of Perfect Contrition.)

 

HOW TO MAKE SPIRITUAL COMMUNION

The key to Spiritual Communion is to make a constant desire for the Blessed Sacrament grow in your heart. It brings you, under the conditions described here, all the graces of a Sacramental Communion. Remember, the Angels are never able to receive our Blessed Lord bodily, and yet are in a permanent state of perfect Communion.

(Please note that a Spiritual Communion can only be made in a state of grace. Outside of times of pestilence it is not something to do when one is prohibited by sin from receiving Our Blessed Lord sacramentally. While clearly, unlike receiving Our Lord physically under such circumstances, there is no sacrilege or mortal sin in making a Spiritual Act, nevertheless the graces and benefits would not be forthcoming, and this is not the purpose of this exercise. One cannot make an act of Communion when one is not in Communion, and the presumption, without real contrition, would therefore remain offensive to God.)

1. If you are aware that you have committed mortal sins, make an Act of Perfect Contrition.   

2. Imagine the sacred words and actions of the Mass, or watch them online or on television. (Remember that watching on television can never constitute assisting at Holy Mass, even if you are housebound, there is no supernatural benefit, it is no different from simply reading the texts at home, but may be an aid to devotion.)    

3. Recite all the acts of faith, humility, sorrow, adoration, charity and requests that you usually express before Holy Communion.  

4. Sincerely desire to receive Our Lord present - in Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity - in the Blessed Sacrament.  

5. Recite this prayer of Saint Alfonsus-Maria de Liguori :  

“My Jesus, I believe you are present in the Blessed Sacrament. I love you above all things and I desire to receive you in my soul. Since I cannot receive you in Holy Communion now, at least come spiritually into my heart. As if you have already come to me, I embrace you and join myself wholly to you; do not allow me to distance myself from you. Amen." 

You may also say, as at Benediction, which is a long-practised custom :

“Adoremus in aeternum, Sanctissimum Sacramentum”, then Our Father, Hail Mary x3, Glory be, and repeat the “Adoremus.” It is customary to do this three times. It has the benefit of providing a formal framework while our mind is free to adore. 

UPDATE: St Louis-Marie de Montfort counselled the Magnificat as an act of Spiritual Communion. The Virgin Mary was the first to receive Christ into her body as into a tabernacle, of which she is the prototype, so the song of thanksgiving she sang at that moment, meditating on the Lord she addresses as the Eucharistic body of her Son, is for us a very fitting and fruitful devotion. 

6. After a few moments of silent adoration recite those acts of faith, humility, charity, thanksgiving and offerings that you normally make in prayers after Holy Communion.

If through self-isolation you have not gone to Holy Mass but made an Act of Spiritual Communion on Sunday, it is sensible to mention this to the priest at your next confession, but there is of course no sin attached to missing Holy Mass under these circumstances. On the contrary, going to a public Mass when you believe yourself to be potentially contagious would be confessable.

H/T to Rorate Caeli and The Hermeneutic of Continuity. For more excellent advice on Contrition, read Father Tim Finigan HERE, to whom we are grateful for some quotations above.

REMEMBER TO WASH YOUR HANDS

ST GREGORY'S PRAYERS ON THE PASSION

I

I ADORE Thee, O Lord Jesu Christ, hanging upon the Cross, and wearing on Thy head the Crown of Thorns. I beseech Thee that Thy Cross may deliver me from the destroying angel. Amen.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.

II

I ADORE Thee, O Lord Jesu Christ, wounded on the Cross, and given gall and vinegar to drink. I beseech Thee that Thy Wounds may be the healing of my soul. Amen.

Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be.

III

I PRAY Thee, O Lord Jesu Christ, by that bitterness of Thy Passion, which Thou sufferest at the hour of Thy Death, and then above all when Thy Most Holy Soul passed forth from Thy blessed Body; pity my soul when it is departing out of my body, and bring it to everlasting life. Amen.

Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be.

IV

I ADORE Thee, O Lord Jesu Christ, laid in the Sepulchre, embalmed with myrrh and spices; I beseech Thee that Thy Death may be my life. Amen.

Our Father. Hail Mary, Glory be.

V

I ADORE Thee, O Lord Jesu Christ, descending into hell, and sending forth Thy prisoners. I beseech Thee, suffer me not to enter therein. Amen.

Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be.

VI

I ADORE Thee, O Lord Jesu Christ, rising again from the dead, and ascending into Heaven, and sitting at the right hand of the Father, I beseech Thee that I may be found worthy to follow Thee thither, and dwell in Thy Presence. Amen.

Our Father. Hail Mary, Glory be.

VII

O LORD Jesu Christ, the good Shepherd, preserve the righteous, justify sinners, have mercy upon all the faithful, and be gracious to me, a miserable and wretched sinner. Amen.

Our Father. Hail Mary, Glory be. 

PRAYER OF THE PASSION

I BESEECH Thee, O Lord Jesu Christ, that Thy Passion may be unto me virtue, whereby I may be fenced, protected and defended. Let Thy Wounds be to me meat and drink, by which I may be fed, refreshed and gladdened. Let the sprinkling of Thy Blood be to me the washing away of all my sins. Let Thy Death be my unfailing life, Thy Cross my everlasting glory. In these let me find the refreshment, exultation, health and desire of my heart: Who livest and reignest for ever and ever. Amen.

PRAYER AGAINST THE CORONAVIRUS

You may wish to say this prayer, to invoke Our Lady's prayers for Divine assistance against the physical and spiritual dangers of Pestilence, at home, or indeed to chant it 'en famille'. That would be laudable (see video below).

The Star of Heaven that nourished the Lord drove away the plague of death which the first parents of man brought into the world. May this bright Star now vouchsafe to extinguish that foul constellation whose battles have slain the people with the wound of death. O most pious Star of the Sea, preserve us from pestilence; hear us, O Lady, for Thy Son honours Thee by denying Thee nothing. Save us, O Jesus, for whom Thy Virgin Mother supplicates Thee. 

V. In all our trials and necessities.

R. Succour us, O most pious Virgin.

Let us pray : O God who wouldst not the death of a sinner, but rather than he should repent : look down in mercy upon Thy people who turns again to Thee; that as they stand before Thee with pure devotion, so Thou wouldst mercifully take from them the scourges of Thy wrath. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.

The origins of this prayer are, as some writings have detailed, from the Sisters of the Monastery of Santa Clara in Coimbra, Portugal, during the plague in 1317. It is fitting that we should sing this in England, our two countries united by the oldest political alliance in existence, signed in 1386, under King Richard II (he of the Dowry of Mary, see our post HERE) and King John I of Portugal, brokered by John of Gaunt, invoked again in the 1940s, and Coimbra is well-known to students of the Duke of Wellington's campaigns. God save the good people of Portugal.

For those who wish to learn the chant, here is a video of the plainsong.

For those who wish to listen to polyphony, here are two recordings, the second one English. Your full and active participation as you listen is then at a spiritual level.

H/T to Rorate Caeli. We see this has now been taken up by several blogs, but this organ was never one to be left behind!  Rotate Caeli also has an excellent Spiritual Communion for those who cannot or do not wish at this time to receive Our Blessed Lord in Holy Communion, HERE, for some reason it is only in Italian, but your machine will translate it.  We shall do a post on this later.

REMEMBER TO WASH YOUR HANDS

FEAST OF THE MOST HOLY SHROUD

In aliquibus locis, the Friday after the Second Sunday of Lent was celebrated as the feast of the Most Holy Shroud of Our Lord Jesus Christ, in which he was wound in the Holy Sepulchre, and upon which the image of His sacred and wounded Body may be seen.

COLLECT

O GOD, who hast left unto us a token of thy Passion in the holy Shroud, in which Thy most holy body was wrapped by Joseph when taken down from the Cross : mercifully grant, that by Thy death and burial, we may be led unto the glory of the Resurrection. Who livest and reignest with the God the Father in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen.

A LINGUISTIC "LOURDES PILGRIMAGE"

It is with a heavy heart that the Order has reported the cancellation of the British Lourdes Pilgrimage on grounds of the Coronavirus. To mitigate the sadness which many will feel, here is a hilarious little polyglot trip around the international Church courtesy of the truly brilliant Monseigneur Léonard, Archbishop Emeritus of Machelen-Brussels, Primate of Belgium, which will surely take pilgrims straight to the Pyrenees. Despite his many funny accents, the Latin is extremely easy to follow for those with the most modest grasp. Around 14.20 he begins the well-known stories of the mouse and the dropped Host, which could never, of course, ever, happen to a Dame in Lourdes uniform!

Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.

FEAST OF THE MOST HOLY LANCE AND NAILS

In aliquibus locis, the Friday after the First Sunday of Lent was celebrated as the feast of the Most Holy Lance and Nails of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Relic of the Most Holy Nails in Siena

COLLECT

O GOD, Who in assuming the weakness of flesh willed to be pierced by the Nails and wounded by the Lance for the salvation of the world, grant we beseech Thee, that as we venerate the same Nails and Lance here on earth, so may we rejoice in the triumphant glory of Thy victory in Heaven. Who livest and reignest with God the Father Almighty in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen.

The Most Holy Lance relic in the Hofburg Palace in Vienna

LENT WITH MARY

To those our our readers who, for reasons of legitimate business and the shortage of time which the winter months necessarily impose on us, have not yet looked at the programme of 33-day preparation for the Consecration of England to Our Lady, the Dowry of Mary (see our post HERE), we throughly recommend the series of meditations proposed by BEHOLD 2020 (HERE).

The first week was given to the writings of St Louis-Marie de Montfort on the graces and eternal benefits of total consecration to Mary, the present section deals with the writings of St Maximilian Kolbe, one of the greatest Mariologists of the 20th century, whose teachings have been much proposed by the recent Popes. We give below an excerpt of the Saint's writings, on which these meditations expound, to give a flavour of the riches of these texts.

The meditations are short, and can profitably be used on the journey to work as an additional element of our Lenten devotions. It is not a coincidence that this period chosen by our Bishops and the Shrine at Walsingham should coincide with Lent - a Lent without Mary is no Lent at all.

To inscribe yourself by email is easy and free, go to this LINK, all it needs is your name and email address. Do not waste these precious weeks.

O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee.

DOS TUA VIRGO PIA HÆC EST, QUARE REGE MARIA

"IMMACULATE CONCEPTION. These words fell from the lips of the lmmaculata herself. Hence they must tell us in the most precise and essential manner who she really is.... Who then are you. O lmmaculate Conception?...

"What type of union is this (between the Holy Spirit and Mary)? It is above all an interior union, a union of her essence with the "essence" of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit dwells in her, lives in her. This was true from the first instant of her existence. It was always true: it will always be true. 

"In what does this life of the Spirit in Mary consist? He himself is uncreated Love in her: the Love of the Father and of the Son, the Love by which God loves himself, the very love of the Most Holy Trinity. He is a fruitful Love, a "Conception." Among creatures made in God's image the union brought about by married love is the most intimate of all (see Mt 19:6). In a much more precise, more interior, more essential manner, the Holy Spirit lives in the soul of the lmmaculata, in the depths of her very being. He makes her fruitful, from the very first instant of her existence, all during her life, and for all eternity. 

"This eternal "Immaculate Conception" (which is the Holy Spirit) produces in an immaculate manner divine life itself in the womb (or depths) of Mary's soul, making her the Immaculate Conception, the human Immaculate Conception. And the virginal womb of Mary's body is kept sacred for him: there he conceives in time - because everything that is material occurs in time - the human life of the Man-God.

"... If among human beings the wife takes the name of her husband because she belongs to him, is one with him, becomes equal to him and is, with him, the source of new life, with how much greater reason should the name of the Holy Spirit, who is the divine Immaculate Conception, be used as the name of her in whom he lives as uncreated Love, the principle of life in the whole supernatural order of grace?" (St Maximilian Kolbe)

FEAST OF THE MOST HOLY CROWN OF THORNS

In aliquibus locis, the Friday after Ash Wednesday was celebrated as the feast of the Most Holy Crown of Thorns.

COLLECT

Grant, we beseech you, O God, that as we venerate the Crown of Thorns on earth as a memorial of the passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, so we may merit in heaven to be crowned with its glory and honour. Who live and reign in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God for ever and ever. Amen.

Pray this day especially for the people of Paris, where the relic is kept, now displaced from the Cathedral of Notre-Dame. 

LENTEN READING

The new book on the Priesthood by Benedict XVI and Cardinal Sarah, From the Depths of Our Hearts, has been published by Ignatius Press, HERE, or HERE, and arrived today.  It give a wonderful and reflective understanding of the Catholic priesthood, and serves as a helpful guide to a correct understanding of the Holy Father's Apostolic Exhortation "Querida Amazonia" HERE, written following the Amazon Synod last October in Rome, which caused much heated debate, as we have reported previously on these pages. Cardinal Sarah is Prefect of the Congregation of Divine Worship since 2014.

This short work, from two of our age's most tangible theological writers, would form a most excellent subject for Lenten reading, offering a clear and incisive glimpse of the centrality of a doctrine of our Faith - the nature of the priest at the altar.

As the authors write, "As bishops we are responsible for the care of all the Churches. In our great desire for peace and unity, we therefore offer to all our brother bishops, priests, and the lay faithful throughout the world the benefit of our exchanges. We do this in a spirit of love for the Church's unity. Although ideology divides, truth unites hearts. Scrutinising the doctrine of salvation can only unite the Church around her Divine Master. We do this in a spirit of charity. To us it appeared useful and necessary to publish this work at a time when minds seem to have calmed down." "Therefore we fraternally offer these reflections to the people of God, and, of course, in a spirit of filial obedience, to Pope Francis."

Holy Mother Church is very blessed to have the benefit of these two great teachers, few of us expected to read new teaching from the pen of Joseph Ratzinger. Use them wisely. As Nicholas Diat, the editor, writes, "Two bishops decide to reflect. Two bishops decide to make public the fruits of their eminent research. The text by Benedict XVI is of high theological order. The one by Cardinal Sarah has formidable catechetical strength. Their arguments intersect, their words complement each other, their intellects are mutually stimulating."

FINDING OF OUR PATRON'S HOLY HEAD

Today is the (uncelebrated) third feast of our Patron, of the finding in Jerusalem of the Head of Saint John the Baptist, Precursor of the Lord. As the Martyrology puts it, "the first finding".

Those who often think they are sophisticated and choose to mock the many pious traditions surrounding the Baptist, his double feasts in the Church's calendar, his three or four heads preserved around the world, may wish to pause and reflect how this is no more that a reflection of his great significance in the history of Salvation, and the large place he plays in the devotional life of the Church throughout the Ages. These very traditions are the testimony and guarantee of the efficacy of John's care and intercession for us.

May Saint John the Baptist, our daily companion in our spiritual warfare, accompany us all, Knights Dames and Companions of the Order, this holy season of Lent.

That Christ may increase, and we decrease.

St John the Baptist, pray for us.

DOWRY - RENEWAL OF KING RICHARD II's CONSECRATION BY OUR BISHOPS.

IT could fairly be said that the Consecration of England as the Dowry of Mary, by King Richard II in Westminster Abbey in 1381, was the greatest act of Tuitio Fidei in the history of our country. 

It is thus fitting that members of the Order of Malta should join enthusiastically with the Bishops of England and Wales in the renewal of this Consecration on March 29th, the Sunday following the feast of the Annunciation, Lady Day, this year. This devotion is of course being promoted by our confrere and chaplain, the Rector of Walsingham, Monsignor John Armitage.

The Dedication is to be preceded by 33 days of prayer and preparation, starting now.

After over 600 years, and nearly 500 years of Protestant Reformation, what an honour for us to see in our lifetime this glorious, powerful, and auspicious event. May it be a turning point in our country's history and spiritual life.

Members of the Order and Companions are encouraged to promote this devotion in their families and workplace.  

There is a website HERE, called BEHOLD-2020, with much excellent information and an online resource for the prayers of the 33-day Consecration, which follows the ancient formula codified by St Louis-Marie de Montfort, and which was, we are told by him, already old by the time of King Richard, and known in England in the centuries following the Reformation.

The Consecration will take place simultaneously in many places around the country on the 29th March, look out for details in your parishes, and we are encouraged to make the Consecration also within our own homes and families as a personal consecration. 

Our Lady of Walsingham, pray for us.

St John the Baptist, pray for us.

St Edward the Confessor, pray for us.

St Edmund King and Martyr, pray for us.

St George, pray for us.

All Holy Angels, guard us.

DOS TUA VIRGO PIA HÆC EST, QUARE REGE MARIA

FEAST OF THE DEDICATION OF OUR CHURCH(ES)!

The 20th February is the Feast of the Dedication of the Conventual Church of Saint John of Jerusalem in Valetta, dedicated to our holy Patron, and built as the principal church of the Order by Grand Master Jean de la Cassière, of which we were deprived by the actions of the tyrant Napoleon, and now known as St John's Co-Cathedral, the seat of the Archbishop of Malta. 

It is also kept here in London, by time-honoured custom in religious orders, as the feast of our own Conventual Church of Saint John of Jerusalem (above), which remains the seat of the Order in England, despite all the vicissitudes (which themselves form part of the Order's tradition, as these three churches shew!). 

It was also the kept as the feast of our former eponymous church in Clerkenwell, of which we were deprived by the actions of the tyrant King Henry VIII.  We include below Sir Ninian Comper's fanciful plans for its reconstruction after the Second World War.

"The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone!" Let us celebrate these three churches, and the memory of our glorious forebears who built them. It is celebrated as a Feast throughout the Order, and a Solemnity within the churches themselves. The prayers are given below.

(Click to enlarge)

Antiphon at I Vespers:
The Lord has sanctified his tabernacle; for this is the house of God wherein his name shall be invoked, of which it is written: "and my name shall be there," says the Lord. 

V. This is the house of the Lord, strongly built.
R. It is well founded upon firm rock. 

Collect
O GOD, who year by year renew for us the day when this your holy temple was consecrated, hear the prayers of your people and grant that in this place for you there may always be pure worship, and for us fullness of redemption. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Antiphon at Lauds
"Zaccaheus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay in your house." And he made haste and came down, and received him joyfully into his house. Today salvation has come to this house from God. 

Antiphon at II Vespers
O how awesome is this place. Truly this is none other than the house of God and the gate of Heaven.  

St John the Baptist, pray for us. 

FEAST OF SAINT PAUL'S SHIPWRECK

Today is celebrated the commemoration of the Holy Apostle Paul's shipwreck on Malta.

Gustave Doré's vision of the shipwreck,
every bit as horrify as the Holy Apostle's description.

"Thrice was I beaten with rods, once I was stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I was in the depth of the sea." 2 Corinthians 11:25

The Cave where the Holy Apostle sheltered, at the place now called St Paul's Bay.

"And when we were escaped, then we knew that the island was called Melita. And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and refreshed us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold." Acts 28:1,2

ANNIVERSARY OF FRA' ANDREW BERTIE

Tomorrow, Friday 7th February, is the 12th Anniversary of the death of Servant of God Fra' Andrew Bertie, 78th Prince and Grand Master.

MOST HOLY TRINITY,

we, Your humble children, thank You for having given us 

Your servant Fra' Andrew Bertie,

and for having made him, in the fulfilment of his lofty charge 

and his personal consecration to You,

an example of radiant faith,

shown by his love for the Holy Eucharist,

the intensity of his prayer,

his fidelity to the Divine Office,

his most edifying spirit of recollection,

and his assistance to the Poor and Suffering,

according to the ancient charism of the Order of Malta,

Tuitio Fidei et Obsequium Pauperum.

Gloria Patri...

LORD,

Your servant Fra' Andrew Bertie showed us, 

by his fidelity to Your example and teaching,

the path of holiness and the true measure of Christian life.

Through the mediation of the Blessed Virgin,

venerated under the title of Queen of Mount Phileremos,

whom he so deeply loved and confidently invoked,

grant, we pray, that he may be exalted on earth

for Your greater glory, and that we may obtain by his intercession

the grace we so ardently implore.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Pater, Ave, Gloria.

(Imprimatur, Vicariate of Rome, 16.X.2012)

Information HERE.

"HE MUST INCREASE AND I MUST DECREASE"

... thus spake our Holy Patron.

The Baptist, Geertgen van Haarlem

"Those who truly believe do not attribute too much importance to the struggle for reform of ecclesiastical structures. ... For the Church is most present, not where organising, reforming, and governing are going on, but in those who simply believe and receive from her the gift of faith that is life to them." (Joseph Ratzinger, Introduction to Christianity)

"Hence true "reform" does not mean to take great pains to erect new façades (contrary to what certain ecclesiologies think). Real "reform" is to strive to let what is ours disappear as much as possible so that what belongs to Christ may become more visible. It is a truth well known to the saints. Saints, in fact, reformed the Church in depth, not by working up plans for new structures, but by reforming themselves. What the Church needs in order to respond to the needs of man is every age is holiness, not management." (Joseph Ratzinger, The Ratzinger Report)

Every member of our ancient and noble Order is able to do this, however frustrated they may feel in the face of endless structural manoeuvrings.  Theirs will be the true reform.  And the true reward.

Blessed John the Baptist, pray for us.