Caviar And Snails?

According to a news source it seems Pope Francis has been annoyed by some of the celebrations following the canonisation of St John Paul II and St John XXIII, but it was not the celebrations of the pilgrims on the streets. It seems there was a rather exclusive buffet held on the terrace of the Prefecture for Economic Affairs of the Holy See which cost the Holy See €18,000. I presume the Holy Father found out about it after the fact and he has every right to be annoyed. Someone is going to get a grilling, and rightly so.

Now there is no reason why there should not have been some sort of a celebration, the pilgrims were having a whale of a time after the ceremony - feasting is a necessary part of our Christian faith and the two new Saint-Popes were no prudes when it came to feasting. John Paul had a very sweet tooth and John XXIII, well, as he admitted himself, was a martyr to the ice cream. But I think there has to be prudence. I think a nice buffet could have been organised without costing the earth. That said, I presume caviar was not on the menu....

And in the name of prudence I was not impressed by hearing that a prominent Irish politician who forced through the recent abortion law cracking the party whip and trying to force people to violate their consciences should have been a guest of honour at one of the Irish celebrations following the canonisations. Such invitations tend to give an impression of approval even if not intended, and may actually hamper conversion as the erring person is led to think that everything is alright now when in reality it isn't. Some might even say that such an invitation may well be classed as scandal. I would veer towards that opinion myself.

My own celebration following the canonisation was simple and great. Our pilgrim group split up and we went off to various restaurants. I went to one of my favourite places as a treat, Da Luigi's, with my mother and some friends. On our way the Queen of Spain passed us in the car and waved out - that was nice. We had a lovely meal and my mother enjoyed herself - with all the illness in the family over the past couple of years (and with the worst still to come in the following weeks), it was a little respite for her. We need to look after our parents, they have been good to us and life is short. 

Later in the afternoon our pilgrims gathered at the monastery of a friend of mine who is a cloistered nun, and I offered Sunday Mass in the monastery church, invoking the new Saints in our prayers, and celebrating the Divine Mercy. I think that beats caviar!

Bye, Bye, Meat

Shrove Tuesday in heaven: the Saints watch as Our Lady dishes out the Goulash and St Anne brings out her Tequila Pavlova

Today is Shrove Tuesday, or Carnevale!  Or here in the cold north of Europe, Pancake Tuesday.  I recently read an article somewhere that up here in the frozen lands of the north, we celebrate the day with unleavened bread and lemon juice, while in the balmy Catholic south of Europe and Latin countries, they do so with finer fare and more fun.  Well, you know, it is as much a Catholic thing to feast as to fast, so perhaps we might adopt a few ideas from our southern brothers and sisters.

Now lest anyone think I am promoting frenzied parades with women clothed only in feathers (and few feathers at that!) gyrating on milk floats, I'm not.  Leave the Samba records where they are! Nor am I suggesting that we all get blotto and start Lent with a headache to beat all hangovers.  No, no, no, something more moderate, something that will not lead into sin, not "eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we starve", no, no: but something which marks the transition into Lent.  Forget the diet, have the meat and the dessert, and then offer it all to the Lord in thanksgiving for all his goodness, with the resolution that from midnight, "Fat Tuesday is over", and the holy period of prayer, fasting and alms giving has begun.  With the feast over, and the house cleared of meat and sweeties, we take the ashes with humility and stick to our Lenten resolutions. 

You see, many people think we Catholics are boring and dreary, and they do so because many of us are actually boring and dreary.  We live our faith like martyrs, not joyful people offering all to the Lord, but with determined heavy hearts taking everything seriously.  We can be orthodox, true and virtuous, and we can be joyful, funny and enjoy the good things in life, after all they are gifts from God.  The important word is moderation.  We can eat, drink and have a good time, but always in the presence of the Lord, and we must remember that all these things come from His bounty - the first and last glass must be raised to His honour and glory (and two glasses are enough, by the way!).

So, in that spirit, some reading for Lent.  Father Director offers you some ideas for edification.  Scripture and Lives of the Saints, first of all.  Pope Benedict's life of Jesus; St Teresa of Avila, The Interior Castle, St Therese, Story of A Soul, and John Zmirak and Denise Matychowiak's The Bad Catholic's Guide to Good Living.  That should be a good mix and a balance. 

Fiction?  Michael O'Brien's Father Elijah or Robert Hugh Benson's Lord of the World  to remind us all that it all end in a moment, and perhaps some Flannery O'Connor, that unique Catholic twist in her stories is refreshing and spicy - good Cajun!

History?  Very important for us Catholics to know our Catholic history. You can't beat Warren Carroll's fine History of Christendom series. 

That should keep you going.  Enjoy the last feast!  And by the way, re tomorrow....chicken is meat!

And So This Is Christmas

People are starting to go back to work after the Christmas celebrations.  I believe in the US and other places the Christmas decorations came down on St Stephen's Day (Boxing Day) - what a shame.  Here in Ireland we leave the festive decorations up until the 6th January - traditionally we celebrate the twelve days of Christmas, and the Epiphany is an important feast within those twelve days.  In Ireland Epiphany was known as Oiche Nollaig na mBan (Women's Christmas).

As Catholics it is important for us to celebrate the entire feast of Christmas, from Midnight Mass to the feast of the Baptism of the Lord which brings the Christmas season to an end.  The secular world, devoid of faith and understanding, marks Christmas Day, and then New Year's day as a civil celebration, with the commercial build up and parties that is the sum total of its festivities.  We, however, are only getting into the swing of things when the seculars have dumped the trees into the trash.  Our festivities should be guided by our liturgical calendar, and let's face, the calendar is a real party animal when it comes to the great feasts - seasons and octaves - great stuff!!  These wonderful days of the Octave are the party days, and even after the Octave, we must still keep festivity.  At the end of the day our celebration should be longer and richer!

So now we have the Carol Services, the parties (I had mine on St John's Day) and the feasting.  It is still Christmas, as Stephen Greydanus reminded us a couple of days ago. We keep the crib in place, keep the trees up and the decorations, and, as far as we can, we keep a festive table - no fasting (but no greed either).   And yes, we continue to wish each other a "Happy Christmas" - I notice after Christmas Day people wish each other "Happy New Year" as if Christmas was over.  

Those who criticise our faith tend to regard us as a joyless lot - miserable Catholics.  To be honest, we can be miserable at times, but misery is not Catholic - festivity is - this is what Chesterton reminds us.  St Teresa of Avila tells us that there is a time for fasting and a time for partridge, by which she means feasting.  We must fast well, but also feast well.  So now, we feast. 

All Carmelite Saints

Another feast day for us in Carmel!  We love our feast days, that's why we have so many! Our Holy Mother Teresa who reformed Carmel and brought us back to the Primitive Rule of St Albert made sure the Order was penitential at heart, but she also said that there was a time for partridge - well, we need lots of partridges in Carmel because we have a fair few opportunities to nibble on them!

Today is the Order's feast of All Saints - a feast we celebrate in union with our Carmelite brothers and sisters of the Ancient Observance (O. Carms), and as with the Church's official celebration on the 1st November, we remember all the men and women of the two Carmelite Orders, the many congregations affiliated with both Orders and those laity connected to us in various ways, who now share in the beatific vision and are interceding for us who are still on our pilgrim way. 

Most of these Saints are unknown to us, being ordinary men and women, priests, consecrated and lay who now populate the Carmelite corner of heaven.  But we also celebrate the famous ones: SS Berthold and Brocard, our first Priors, and the holy men they governed - those St Teresa calls our holy fathers in the Order.  The holy bishop who gave us our Rule of Life, St Albert of Jerusalem, an eternal honorary Carmelite by virtue of the Rule.  The first Saints of the Order - St Albert of Trapani and St Angelus of Sicily the martyr.  Then the great ones who made an impact - St Simon Stock, the Prior General who helped the transition from the eremetical life to that of contemplative mendicants; Blessed John Soreth who brought women and consecrated laity into the Order to form the Second and Third Orders.  Then the great reformers: St Teresa and St John of the Cross and their companions who worked and suffered to spread the reform around the world - Blessed Anne of St Bartholomew and Blessed Mary of Jesus.

Then there are our mystics!  St Mary Magdalen dei Pazzi, Blessed Mary of Jesus Crucified, a whole host of them.  Our priests like St Raphael Kalinowski, Blessed Francis Palau and Blessed Angelo Paoli who lived the Rule with great fidelity and cared for souls.  Our heroic martyrs: St Edith Stein, Blessed Titus Brandsma, the Martyrs of the French Revoultion - our Blessed Sisters who were guillotined, our Blessed Priests who died on the prison ships.  The Martyrs of the Spanish Civil War from both Orders, among them one of my favourites, Blessed Hermilo of St Eliseo who was shot in Toledo.  The Martyrs under the Nazis, including Blessed Alphonsus Mazurek whom Blessed John Paul II knew and would later beatify.  The Scapular Martyr Blessed Isidore Bakanja, a young African who was beaten to death because he would not take off his Scapular. 

And then the holy sisters who lived prophetic lives - the biggie among them St Therese of the Child Jesus and Holy Face.  Coming up the rear is Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity who may well be canonised very soon - they seem to have a miracle for her (take careful note, Father, trip to Rome!).  Others: St Mary of the Angels, St Teresa of the Andes, Blessed Candida of the Eucharist and the millions of other nuns whose causes keep the Order poor!

Then the affiliates - founders and members of congregations formally affiliated and part of the Teresian family: Blessed Kuriakos Elias Chavara, founder of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate; St Henry de Osso  y Cervello founder of the Company of St Teresa, and one of his sisters, Blessed Maria Mercedes Prat, martyred during the Spanish Civil War. 

We must not forget the Saints of the Third Order - the consecrated laity who are as much part of the Order as the priests or nuns.  We have two Third Orders, the Discalced Secular Order (mine) and the Third Order of the Ancient Observance, both have produced Saints and Blesseds.  In our Secular Order we have Blessed Georg Hafner, a diocesan priest who was martyred in Dachau, Blessed Josefa Naval Girbes, a dedicated laywoman, and two famous Saints not widely known to have been Discalced Secular Order Carmelites: St Vincent Pallotti and Pope St Pius X.  It is also believed that Blessed Pope John Paul II was also a Secular Carmelite, though no concrete evidence can be found - he was certainly one in spirit.

The list goes on. If you are of another Order or congregation, forgive the trumpeting on but such reflections inspire us Carmelites to keep striving for holiness.   If you are not a member of an Order or congregation or Third Order, perhaps you might consider entering the ranks of the Carmelites?  If you are a lay person or a diocesan priest you might consider becoming a Secular Order Carmelite and become a son or daughter of St Teresa and St John, and a brother or sister of St Therese, living their way of life in the world.  A google search will tell you where the nearest Secular Order community is - failing that, drop me a line. 

Now, time for partridge, or in full St Therese mode - chocolate eclairs!  Therese loved her chocolate eclairs - there's sanctity for all!! Happy feast day!

One With Peter

Pope Benedict XVI sits on his cathedra in his Cathedral, the Basilica of St John Lateran

The Liturgy is always relevant and offers marvellous commentary on our lives and times at any given moment - hence the need to respect the integrity of the liturgy and to ensure that it is celebrated properly.   Today's feast is so timely for us in Ireland - the feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica - that feast which celebrates our unity in the Church and our union with the Pope.  As you know the Basilica is the Pope's cathedral, and it is the Mother and Head of all the churches in the city and the world. 

As our government is trying to dismantle our country's formal links with the Church, we Catholics in Ireland are reminded that, regardless of the nature of the relationship between the civil authorities here and the Holy See, we are still members of the Church, in union with our Holy Father, Pope Benedict, the Vicar of Christ on earth, and that that relationship remains unchanged and as close as ever. 

This may sound like treason, but it is not meant to be, but our first loyalty as Catholics is to Christ, and then to his Vicar on earth.  Earthly states will pass away - none of them can offer us life beyond the grave no matter how great or noble they are.  Earthly distinctions, loyalties and nationalities all pass away when we die - they are no more, and at the end of time nations will pass away. 

When we stand before God we will not be asked if we were good citizens, a good Irishman who obeyed the civil authorities all the time, or a good English woman who honoured the Queen, or a patriotic American who put his hand on his heart at the National Anthem and defended the President.  No, at the end God will examine us on our lives of faith, hope and love, on our allegiance to Christ and our love of neighbour.  As St Peter reminds us we must respect our native land, "honour the emperor", he said, the representative of civil authority, but as St Thomas More said, we may be the king's (the state's) good servants, but ultimately we are God's first.

If ever there should come a clash between the civil authorities and the Church, while we respect the civil authorities, our first loyalty is to the Church.  Now that doesn't mean that we ignore the sins committed by members of the Church, nor cover up as happened in Ireland with the abuse scandal - we take action and cooperate with the civil authorities to bring those who committed such crimes to civil justice, since such evils should have no place in the union of Christ's faithful.   There should be a relationship of cooperation and mutual respect between Church and state.  As citizens straddling both, we do our best to be faithful Catholics and good citizens, and in a real pluralistic democracy it is possible to live as such.  It is when the state tries to usurp the place of the Church that troubles emerge.  When the state wants to be the church, to undermine the loyalty of the faithful to their faith to have it for themselves.  

Personally, I think this is what the Irish government is trying to do now.  In this secularist age, the government is trying to redirect religious devotion and faith from the Church to the state, so that the teachings of the state have their first loyalty.  Breaking with Rome is the means to affecting this. Once the union has been broken, a state church can be established, and then the source of union will be the state, of which the government is the head. 

This is an old tactic which has been employed by civil authorities for centuries - in England twice - under Henry II and Henry VIII and his heirs; in Europe in the various kingdoms which became Protestant at the Reformation, and in Italy time and time again as petty lords sought to control the papacy and the bishops.  As we read Church history we may feel uncomfortable with the image of the Pope on horseback leading his troops into battle and playing the role of a king, but in reality at that time it was the only way of making sure the Church could not be dominated by secular rulers.  That the Papal States had to exist as an indication of how real was the danger of secular interests undermining the teaching of the Church.  The election of the warrior pope, Julius II, was not an accident of history.

And this is why the Church has its own country, the Vatican City State - the Pope is subject to no secular ruler, he is monarch of an independent, sovereign state so he may be free.  It is no wonder then that aggressive secular states do not like the Vatican, and do not like to be reminded that they have to deal with it according to certain established norms. That may sound unchristian and pedantic, but in reality, at the end of the day, it guarantees the freedom of the Church and her members.

Thomas Peters has an interesting post on this today.  He sees that the so-called liberals favour this development, choosing to follow the magisterium of the state in opposition to the Magisterium of the Church.  I am inclined to think he has a point there.  The liberals, you see, are left wing, Marxist, socialist, and the ideology of the left is all about more state control - investing everything in the state. The great Marxist experiment proves the truth of this - the Soviet Union.  While that civic entity has passed away, its supporters are still trying to realise the Marxist dream.  So I suppose their attempts to bring the Church into line under the state and to adopt the state's moral agenda is consistent with their ideology.  Of course the Church resists and takes a stand, and then the state throws a hissy fit, Premiers have tantrums in national parliaments and governments downgrade diplomatic relationships. 

Anyway, today let us remember our Holy Father and pray for each other, the members of the Church: united in Christ and in Peter.  

Now, as we raise a toast to the Holy Father and the Church, I think it is time for a little bit of MacMillan and his rousing antiphon Tu Es Petrus, performed during the Holy Father's visit to Britain.   Turn it up, sit back, knock off the shoes, take out the rosary and say a decade! 

Feast Day Greetings

On behalf of the Council of the Fraternity, and my own behalf, I would like to extend to all the members of our family of prayer, and to all our friends, most particularly those working in theatre, cinema and the arts, every blessing and grace on this feast of St Genesius.  May our Holy Martyr be ever with you, intercede for your needs and bring you to the Heart of Jesus Christ, our refuge and strength.

A Mass for the feast day will take place in St Mary's Church, Drogheda, Co. Louth, this evening at 7.30pm, with refreshments afterwards in the parish centre.  All are welcome to attend.  We wish every blessing on the celebrations our members around the world are planning.

If you are not a member of the Fraternity you might consider joining our family of prayer - it only takes a simple prayer each day to be a member and that prayer may just change a life and be of great assistance to the Church.  See grades of membership here.  See application form here. 

This evening's ceremony will include the blessing of the Oil of St Genesius.  For those who have sent in requests for Oil over the last while, these requests will be answered after the blessing of the new Oil.

This Joyful Feast

Today is the feast of St Philip Neri, the apostle of Rome and apostle of joy.  Founder of the Congregation of the Oratory, he was filled with an evangelical spirit which led him to assist the Church in the process of reform in the 16th century.  He recognised that true reform began in the individual soul, and so his life was dedicated to the renewal of men and women, bringing them back to Christ and enkindling a spirit of devotion, intellectual pursuits and Christian cultural activities. 

He reminded the people of his time of the importance of the sacraments, especially confession which had fallen into disuse following the Renaissance and the divinisation of man.  His celebration of the Mass was, literally, mystical, reminding those who participated in it, that it is no mere service, but the sacred sacrifice of Christ. 

We need St Philip back again, especially in Ireland, so my prayer today is that God may raise up for us in Ireland another Philip Neri to help us in the process of renewal.  Please join me in that prayer today.

As today is one of my favourite feasts in the whole year, I intend to celebrate big time, so as you join me in prayer, join me in the feast.  No fasting today, but raise a toast to the great apostle of joy, Good St Philip!

Buona festa a tutti!!

The Incorrupt Body of St Philip

Litany of St Philip Neri

(Composed by Blessed John Henry Newman)

Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of heaven,
Have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Have mercy on us.

God the Holy Ghost,
Have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, one God,
Have mercy on us.

Holy Mary,                                       pray for us
Holy Mother of God,                          
Holy Virgin of Virgins, 
                             

St. Philip,
Vessel of the Holy Ghost,
Child of Mary,
Apostle of Rome,
Counsellor of Popes,
Voice of Prophecy,
Man of primitive times,
Winning Saint,
Hidden hero,
Sweetest of Fathers,
Flower of purity,
Martyr of charity,
Heart of fire,
Discerner of spirits,
Choicest of priests,
Mirror of the divine life,
Pattern of humility,
Example of simplicity,
Light of holy joy,
Image of childhood,
Picture of old age,
Director of souls,
Gentle guide of youth,
Patron of thy own,

Who didst observe chastity in thy youth,
Who didst seek Rome by divine guidance,
Who didst hide so long in the Catacombs,
Who didst receive the Holy Ghost into thy heart,
Who didst experience such wonderful ecstasies,
Who didst so lovingly serve the little ones,
Who didst wash the feet of pilgrims,
Who didst ardently thirst after martyrdom,
Who didst distribute the daily word of God,
Who didst turn so many hearts to God,
Who didst converse so sweetly with Mary,
Who didst raise the dead,
Who didst set up thy houses in all lands,

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.

Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.

V. Remember thy Congregation.
R. Which thou hast possessed from the beginning.

Let us pray

O God, who hast exalted blessed Philip, Thy Confessor, in the glory of Thy saints, grant that, as we rejoice in his commemoration, so we may profit by the example of his virtues, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Movers and Shakers...

Anne Arco of the Catholic Herald online has a good article surveying the recent meeting of the Bishops of England and Wales, the meeting which saw them restore the traditional Friday penance of abstaining from meat.

She also points out that the Bishops are now looking again at the decision they made to move certain feast days to the nearest Sunday - Ascension Thursday and Corpus Christi in particular.  The Bishops of Ireland made a similar decision not long after their England and Welsh brothers.  Like Arco I am glad that they are looking again at the issue.  The issue centres around choosing between making it more convenient for people to get to Mass for the feast day versus the rhythm of the Church's life and liturgical year.

To be honest I do not think there is a contest here at all.  First of all when the Vigil Mass was introduced it was for those who, through work or other unavoidable commitments, could not make Mass on Sunday morning, and so they could fulfil their Sunday obligation on Saturday evening.  I underline unavoidable because, as with lots of things in the Church, the original purpose of the Vigil Mass has been lost and now it is just another Mass of convenience.    So really, taking the spirit of the Vigil Mass, that should allow people to fulfil the obligation of the Holy Day. 

Secondly, the movement of the feast days has broken the liturgical rhythm of the Church's life.  Now I know the liturgy allows for this - the Office, for example splits into two when it comes to Epiphany or Ascension Thursday.  But in reality our common celebration of the Lord's life is no longer universal.  Ascension Thursday, sorry Ascension Sunday, or...Ascension Thursday on Sunday (Ascension Day?), apart from being the day the Lord ascended, also begins the great novena in preparation for the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.  That novena was the original novena, the model of all others, nine days of prayer, and it has been lost because of the move.  Call me old fashioned, but I think such devotions are vital for the life of the Church.  What better way to remind the faithful of the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church that those nine liturgical days awaiting with Mary and the disciples the coming of the Advocate. 

Let's commend the Bishops to the help and influence of the Holy Spirit, and indeed pray the same issue may arise at a meeting of the Irish Bishops sometime very soon.

Arco also points out that the Ordinary of the new Personal Ordinariate, Mgr Keith Newton, also attended the meeting - his first.  He has a place on the Episcopal Conference.  I hope his presence and participation will help the Bishops.  I see the Ordinariate has no home as of yet, they are still looking for a church and HQ, so we should keep them in our prayers.  I pray they get one soon.  Next time I am in London I would be keen to attend Mass there to see how they offer it: I imagine it would be a liturgically rich celebration.  I might even pick up a few ideas - I think that's what Pope Benedict may have in mind - cross pollination.

New Feasts

My attention was drawn earlier today, to two new feast days in Ireland.  It seems, according to Liturgy Ireland, we finally have a feast for Our Lady of Knock - the 17th August (and not the 21st, the day of the apparition, since it is the feast of St Pius X).  Also, Blessed John Henry Newman's feast, it seems, has been extended to Ireland, which is wonderful (See National Calendar here).  So kudos to our bishops for these two wonderful additions to the calendar.  The texts for both feasts are proper, and a new collect for Blessed Columba Marmion has also been added  (memoria of Our Lady of Knock, optional memoria of Blessed John Henry Newman, collect for Blessed Columba Marmion).   From what I can gather, these feasts were approved on the 2nd April last (Prot. N. 454/10/L).  I must say, reading through the Mass of Our Lady of Knock, the texts are lovely.  I have to reproduce collect and prayer after communion: 

Collect
O God, who give hope to your people in a time of distress,
grant that we who keep the memorial
of the Blessed Virgin, Our Lady of Knock
may, through her intercession,
be steadfast in the faith during our earthly pilgrimage to heaven,
and so come to eternal glory with all the angels and the Saints.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

Prayer after Communion
Having been nourished at the banquet of the heavenly Lamb,
we humbly beseech you Lord,
that we, who have honoured in veneration
the memory of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God,
may live for you always in justice and holiness,  
and serve your majesty in sincerity of heart.
Through Christ our Lord.

I presume these new feasts and texts will be included in the new translation of the Missal.  All that said, I cannot find any announcement from the Episcopal Conference about this anywhere.  I rang the Communications Office - they seem not to know about it either.  So that's not good, how are our priests and people to find out about these new feasts?  I rang them when I found out, so they said they would look into it and get back to me.  So I am going to hold my breath now.  

UPDATE:  Just received a call from the Communications Office (fair dues to them returning the call so soon).  No announcement or Press Release has been made.  So I asked them to do so, to draw people's attention in the Church in Ireland to these new celebrations.   Let's hope they do so.  Minor matter, perhaps, but there are a lot of people out there who will be delighted to hear now have an official liturgical commemoration of Our Lady of Knock.

The Presentation of the Lord

The Church has many beautiful feasts, many of which have been lost.  Today is one of the richest and the liturgy provides us with a wonderful way of celebrating.   The feast of the Presentation of the Lord is also known as Candlemas and it is the day we traditionally bless candles at Mass, light them and have processions. We all love candlelight processions, there is something so simple and wondrous about them.  I hear time and time again from people who go to Lourdes, Fatima or Knock during the novena in August, that the candlelight procession touched them deeply. 

The candles, of course, reflect the words of Simeon in the Temple, hailing Jesus as the "Light to enlighten the Gentiles" - the Light who has come into the world, and so the liturgy bears witness to this Light with the blessing and lighting of candles. 

Today's feast reminds us that we do not have to add anything to the liturgy - everything is there, it is already meaningful: if our people do not see that meaning that is our fault, they have not been catechised properly.   I hope the new translation of the Missal will lead us to a rediscovery of the riches of the liturgy and gradually wean us off the questionable paraliturgies.

Today is also the day we pray in a special way for those consecrated in religious life through the profession of the evangelical counsels - it is the Church's official Day for Consecrated Life.  So pray for all our religious priests, nuns, sisters, monks and brothers, and also those lay people and diocesan clergy consecrated under promises and vows.  As an act of love today, if you see a nun, run over and give her a big kiss and wish her a happy feast day.  If you don't end up behind bars, the gesture might just be appreciated. So, if I may paraphrase Willie Nelson's wonderful song: "To all the nuns I've loved before...God bless you sister!"  Ditto to the brothers and priests, but no kisses!

Happy feast day sisters....always wanted an excuse to post this picture!

Martinmas

This week is great for feasts, and today we celebrate the feast of one of the Church's most popular saints - or was in the past.  St Martin of Tours was one of the Church heavyweights, a man who started his adult life as a Roman soldier and ended it as a great bishop, renowned for his holiness.   In his lifetime he was a staunch defender of the Incarnation of Christ, he established monasteries and was noted as a messenger of peace and mercy.

The most famous story from the life of St Martin is that of his charity to the beggar.  Still a soldier, and yet to be converted, Martin cut his cloak in two to give half to a beggar he met along the road.  According to the story, the beggar was Christ himself, and later that night, the Lord appeared to him in a dream and restored the cloak.  The cloak became a precious relic, and it is from this relic (cappa = cloak) and its minders (the cappellanu) that the word chapel and chaplain come. 

There was great devotion to St Martin in Ireland and bonfires were lit across the country to celebrate St Martin's Day.  In fact his feast day was a traditional day of feasting throughout Europe, particularly in the Middle Ages.  It is a pity that we no longer celebrate his feast, or indeed continue the Catholic festivities which are part of our tradition.  St Teresa of Avila says in her writings that there is time for fasting and a time for partridge: today is partridge day! 

Fr Vincent Twomey in his book The End of Irish Catholicism? laments the loss of the feast days, the days when we took great pride in our faith and our saints and made their commemorations days of feasting and festivity.  Ironically, secular Europe still holds onto some as many of the Church holidays are in fact state holidays too.  That is gone in Ireland, the reason being we tended to go a little overboard.  Ireland traditionally celebrated "pattern" days, feasts of the Irish saints where the locals gathered to drink, dance, gossip, gamble and "get intimate" in a manner not appreciated by the Church.  Things got so bad the bishops of Ireland had to ban the pattern days and so deprived the Irish of another opportunity to relive the pagan days of yore.  We have since found other ways to do it.

That said, we need to get back into our Catholic traditions, celebrating with festivities the great feasts of the year.  A good book to inspire such celebrations came out a few years ago.  The Bad Catholic's Guide to Good Living is a great read, funny and inspiring.  It goes through the year's feasts with suggestions as to how to celebrate them.  So I must dip into it today to see if I can get any ideas.  No bread and water today.