The House of Bishops of the Church of England today concluded its consideration of the draft legislation to enable women to be consecrated as bishops. It agreed that the legislation should be returned to the General Synod for final approval.
Carl Reid after hanging a framed photograph of Pope Benedict XVI
The Sodality of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary now has a photograph of the Holy Father hanging in our parish hall. We had hoped to get one up before Archbishop Prendergast visited us on Ascension Thursday but our parish administrator and former bishop Carl Reid was not able to get it in time. Not that the archbishop was complaining. I wonder if he even noticed we lacked a picture of the Pope!
The first person to notice the oversight was a former parishioner of ours who went on to become a Catholic several years ago. She had a way of annoying me — inadvertently on her part I am sure — by always reminding me of how much peace she had found in crossing the Tiber, as if to say I did not have peace and would find it if I followed in her footsteps. Grrrrrr.
She attended the first Catholic Mass in our building and that's when she pointed out the oversight — we had a picture of Queen Elizabeth (who, after all, is Queen of Canada, which is why she is there, not because she is head of the Church of England of which were were not a part).
So, the pope's picture is up. And our sign out front has been changed to reflect that we are now a Catholic church — Anglican Use.
In other news, Fr. Francis Donnelly delivered a wonderful homily on Sunday. He has such confidence he gives these extraordinary messages without notes. I wish I had recorded it for YouTube!
In mentioning the Novena to the Holy Spirit, he suggested we ask for a huge outpouring of the Holy Spirit — tongues of fire, a mighty rushing wind — and not just make small, or timid requests — that because of Christ's Ascension into heaven, the glorification of his Humanity, we have access to all the gifts of the Holy Spirit the first disciples received while praying in the Upper Room.
Time to sign off and pray the Novena — for signs and wonders and supernatural gifts and all the fruits of the Spirit to build up the Kingdom of Heaven on earth.
Msgr Keith Newton from the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham will be speaking at St. Mary Magdalen, Brighton, on Thursday, 24 May at 7:30 p.m. His topic will be on the "Future of Ecumenism," and is part of the series of talks commemorating the 150th anniversary of the parish.
It is unclear if there will be a video or recording of Msgr Newton's talk, but the best source of information about that will be at the 150th Anniversary site.
In the Nervous Disorder, depending on where you live, today could have varied just a wee bit from the General Roman Kalendar.
Loading ...Prominently featured in the article is The Anglo-Catholic's own Fr. Christopher Phillips. An excerpt:
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The Catholic Identity Assessment, originally developed for Catholic high schools, is now available for elementary schools.
The process starts with a questionnaire. “It’s designed as a self-assessment instrument, so that every member of the staff, from the principal to the custodial staff, participates in this survey,” said Father Stravinskas. The questions deal with such issues as how frequently the sacrament of reconciliation is offered, whether there are theology classes and the qualifications of those who teach these classes. There are also questions about how justice and charity are promoted.
There are three tiers: self-assessment, collated by the Catholic Education Foundation; self-assessment plus an on-site visit by a CEF team; and a second visit by the team.
One satisfied customer is Father Christopher Phillips, pastor of Our Lady of the Atonement Catholic Church in San Antonio. Father Phillips helped establish The Atonement Academy in 1994. The academy offers classes from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade and promotes, according to its website, “spiritual virtues through a challenging course of classical and Catholic education.”
“As a Catholic school, those of us in the administration found this project to be intriguing,” said Father Phillips. “The idea of describing our program, and then letting it be assessed for its catholicity and effectiveness by a neutral third party — experts in the field — was a challenge we were eager to accept.”
Father Phillips said he would recommend the program.
“There were things we were doing very well, and the assessment helped us see how we could strengthen what we do,” said Father Phillips. “When it comes to assessing a Catholic school, it’s always a good thing to look at every aspect of it, and that’s what the Catholic Identity Assessment did. Our original vision was affirmed, and we received suggestions which have given us guidance in making aspects of our program even better.”
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Archbishop Terrence Prendergast came to our little Sodality of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary today to celebrate Mass for Ascension Day.
It was such a joyous occasion for us and such a gesture of kindness and generosity from him. How welcome he makes us feel and goes out of his way to make us feel.
If we are Catholic now, it is because of his fatherly graciousness towards us, his solidarity with us when we were suffering and uncertain, his gift to us of Fr. Francis Donnelly to accompany us on our catechesis and look after us now as we wait in hope that our own former clergy will be accepted for ordination. Archbishop Prendergast showed us a face of a true shepherd and spiritual father in the Catholic Church that made it easier to trust that She is the Church of Christ.
While we have been staying to positive stories here on The Anglo-Catholic in hopes that we don't do anything to undermine the Ordinariates, I know there are people out there who are still suffering in uncertainty or facing impediments to their dreams for unity or who have abandoned hope altogether because the price seemed unreasonably high or it seems the one exacting the price perhaps did so in a heavy-handed way that discouraged rather than encouraged.
The first novena was prayed by the Apostles, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the small company of those who had been with the Lord Jesus. After His ascension, they "devoted themselves to prayer," until the coming of the Holy Ghost. This year the Novena should begin on Friday, May 18th. The prayers of the Novena may be abbreviated by using only the Proper Prayer each day, and the concluding Collect.
NOVENA TO THE HOLY GHOST
In the Name of the Father, + and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Each day, the Novena begins with this prayer:
O HOLY SPIRIT, our Lord and our God, we adore thee and humbly acknowledge here in thy sacred presence that we are nothing, and can do nothing, without thy operation within us. Come, great Paraclete, thou Father of the poor, thou Comforter of the blest, fulfill the promise of our Saviour, who would not leave us orphans, and enter our minds and hearts as thou didst descend on the day of Pentecost upon the Holy Mother of Jesus and upon His first disciples. Grant that we may have a part in those gifts which thou didst so graciously bestow upon them.
Take from our hearts all that is not pleasing to thee and make of them a worthy dwelling-place for Jesus. Illumine our minds, that we may see and understand the things that are for our eternal welfare. Inflame our hearts with the pure love of the Father, that, cleansed from attachments to all unworthy objects, our lives may be hidden with Jesus in God. Strengthen our wills, that they may be conformed to the will of our Creator and guided by thy holy inspirations. Aid us to practice the heavenly virtues of humility, poverty, and obedience which are taught to us in the earthly life of Jesus.
Descend upon us, O mighty Spirit, that, inspired and encouraged by thee, we may faithfully fulfill the duties of our various states in life, carry our particular crosses with patience and courage, and accomplish the Father's will for us more perfectly. Make us, day by day, more holy and give to us that heavenly peace which the world cannot give.
O Holy Spirit, thou Giver of every good and perfect gift, grant to us our special intentions of this novena of prayer. May the Father's will be done in us and through us; and mayest thou, O mighty Spirit of the living God, be praised and glorified for ever and ever. Amen.
Here is said or sung the Veni Creator Spiritus:
Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire,
and lighten with celestial fire,
thou the anointing Spirit art,
who dost thy sevenfold gifts impart.
Thy blesséd unction from above,
is comfort, life, and fire of love,
enable with perpetual light
the dullness of our blinded sight.
Anoint and cheer our soiled face
with the abundance of thy grace.
Keep far our foes, give peace at home;
where thou art Guide, no ill can come.
Teach us to know the Father, Son,
and thee, of both, to be but One;
that through the ages all along,
this may be our endless song:
Praise to thy eternal merit,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
OUR FATHER, who art in heaven; hallowed be thy Name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Here is said the Proper Prayer for the Day:
FIRST DAY
Come, O Holy Ghost, the Lord and Lifegiver; take up thy dwelling within our souls, and make of them thy sacred home. Make us live by grace as adopted children of God. Pervade all the energies of our souls, and create in us fountains of living water, springing up unto eternal life.
SECOND DAY
Come, O Spirit of Wisdom, and reveal to our souls the mysteries of heavenly things, their exceeding greatness, and power, and beauty. Teach us to love them above and beyond all the passing joys and satisfactions of earth. Show us the way by which we may be able to attain to them, and possess them, and hold them hereafter, our own forever.
THIRD DAY
Come, O Spirit of Understanding, and enlighten our minds, that we may know and believe all the mysteries of salvation, and may merit at last to see the eternal light in thy light; and in the light of glory to have the clear vision of thee and the Father and the Son.
FOURTH DAY
Come, O Spirit of Counsel, help and guide us in all our ways, that we may always do thy holy will. Incline our hearts to that which is good, turn them away from all that is evil, and direct us by the path of thy commandments to the goal of eternal life.
FIFTH DAY
Come, O Spirit of Fortitude, and give courage to our souls. Make our hearts strong in all trials and in all distress, pouring forth abundantly into them the gifts of strength, that we may be able to resist the attacks of the devil.
SIXTH DAY
Come, O Spirit of Knowledge, and make us to understand and despise the emptiness and nothingness of the world. Give us grace to use the world only for thy glory and the salvation of thy creatures. May we always be faithful in putting thy rewards before every earthly gift.
SEVENTH DAY
Come, O Spirit of Piety, possess our hearts, and incline them to a true faith in thee, to a holy love of thee, our God. Give us thy grace, that we may seek thee and find thee, our best and our truest joy.
EIGHTH DAY
Come, O Spirit of holy Fear, penetrate our inmost hearts, that we may set thee, our Lord and God, before our faces forever; and shun all things that can offend thee, so that we may be made worthy to appear before the pure eyes of thy divine Majesty in the heaven of heavens.
NINTH DAY
Come, O Holy Comforter, and grant us a desire for holy things. Produce in our souls the fruits of virtue, so that, being filled with all sweetness and joy in the pursuit of good, we may attain unto eternal blessedness.
The following prayer concludes the Novena each day:
O GOD, who as at this time didst teach the hearts of thy faithful people by sending to them the light of thy Holy Spirit: grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgement in all things, and evermore to rejoice in His holy comfort; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth with thee in the unity of the same Holy Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen.
Bright lights don’t have to be big lights. Have a look at the Blessed John Henry Newman Fellowship in Victoria, BC. The Fellowship describes itself as “an Anglican Use Group within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Victoria, BC seeking to move to the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter under Anglicanorum Coetibus.” It was created in December 2011 and its members were received into the Roman Catholic Church at St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Victoria on Sunday, April 15th 2012.
On the home page of their website, there is a simple note which says, “Lay Administrator: Peter Wilkinson.” Unless one already knows, there is no hint that this refers to the venerable former metropolitan of the Anglican Catholic Church of Canada, Bishop Peter Wilkinson – truly, one of the godliest men I have met. He is one of the TAC bishops who followed through on his word by bringing as many of his people as possible into full communion with the Holy See, and he now awaits the decision which will determine if he will be able to carry on a priestly ministry in the Catholic Church.
The membership of the Blessed John Henry Newman Fellowship is not large, but a quick look around their website shows their commitment to the fullness of the Catholic Faith, including taking an active part in pro-life activities and having a zeal for the cause of Christian Unity as it is envisioned by the Holy Father.
The members of the Fellowship are able to carry on a Catholic sacramental life through the generosity of Bishop Richard Gagnon of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Victoria, who has assigned Father John Laszczyk to see to their pastoral care for the time being. Fr. Laszczyk celebrates a Sung Anglican Use Mass on Sundays at 12:30 PM at St. Jean Baptiste Roman Catholic Church, 311 Richmond Ave., Victoria, BC V8S 3Y2.
The website of the Fellowship is here. Their Facebook page is here. Take a look, and keep them in your prayers.
Via Fr. Stephen Smuts, who gave a hat tip to Steve Cavanaugh's Anglican Use of The Roman Rite blog, we find that Rocco Palmo has written a detailed piece about the Ordinariates at Whispers in the Loggia:
Here is an excerpt.
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Four months since its establishment by Rome, the Stateside Ordinariate for Anglican groups entering Catholic communion is coming off a banner week, the first of many soon to come.
On Saturday, two top-tier American prelates each ordained a former Episcopal priest to the transitional diaconate, bringing the Chair of St Peter's officially on-deck group of priests-in-waiting to three. The once-and-future Fathers Jason Catania and David Ousley respectively lead the freshly received communities in Baltimore and Philadelphia, the latter of which completed its journey during Holy Week.
Another onetime Anglican priest, now Deacon Jon David Chalmers became the Ordinariate's first cleric during the Easter Octave in South Carolina, and will be ordained a Catholic priest on June 3rd. Last Tuesday, meanwhile, the circumscription that covers all entering Anglican groups in North America likewise incardinated its first priest – Fr Eric Bergman, a married father of seven ordained for the diocese of Scranton in 2007 — as well as completing the purchase of a church for his community, which had been sharing space with a local parish.
Beyond the trickle of founding clerics, some 60 candidates for orders have been cleared for the pipeline over the last several months, half of them said to be preparing for imminent ordination to diaconate and priesthood. Among them, late this month brings what'll likely be the largest single ordination rite as — in the region long known as the cradle of American Anglo-Catholicism — Bishop Kevin Vann of Fort Worth makes Catholic deacons of six former Anglican clerics.
Including the unprecedented priesting of a father and son together, the sextet will be ordained on June 30th, and one of the men has already been named the next pastor of the Ordinariate's "principal church" (effectively its cathedral), Houston's Our Lady of Walsingham parish, effective July 1.
Upon their approval for orders by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, all the candidates have taken part in a rapid-formation course, mostly conducted online from Houston's St Mary's Seminary and University of St Thomas.
Reflecting the rise of the Southern church and Texas' longtime status as the dominant venue of the Anglican communities which have journeyed to Rome on these shores, the Ordinariate is American Catholicism's first national entity to be based outside the traditional centers of ecclesial influence in the Northeast and upper Midwest.
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St. Isidore the Farmer, born into a poor but devotedly Catholic family, wouldn’t have appeared to be destined for much in life. His parents had high hopes for him, so it would seem. They named him after the great bishop of Seville, St. Isidore, but that was about all they could give him. As soon as he was old enough to labour in the fields, he was sent off to work. And there he stayed. The boy became a young man who fell in love with an equally devout young woman, Maria. They married, they had a child. They knew immense sorrow when their child died, but they never waivered in their faith.
Isidore attended Mass daily, always before he went to the fields to work. His devotion sometimes caused him to arrive late for his duties, but he always accomplished as much or more than the other workers. Out of jealousy the others reported his daily lateness to the employer, who decided to keep an eye on Isidore. It became evident that Isidore was toiling faithfully and steadily, and as a sign from God of the goodness and honesty of Isidore, the employer saw the image of an angel working beside him.
I love this saint. As little as he had, he was always generous towards others, always willing to share his meager meal with anyone who had less. His love for God formed the foundation of his work. The manual labor which occupied all his years was dignified by his devotion.
All the saints are interesting, although some of them probably would have been difficult to have been around. But this one… this is a saint I would have liked to have known. Maybe it’s because I grew up working on the family farm, and I know the satisfaction that comes from honest labor on the soil. Maybe it’s my own childhood memories of having a team of oxen as St. Isidore did. Maybe it’s my recollection of feeling an especially close bond to the Divine when working the land. But whatever the cause, I love this saint.