Who Are The Poor?

I was rebuked on Twitter last night for congratulating James MacMillan on his knighthood. An anonymous tweeter called me a celebrity priest who, it seems, has no regard for preaching the Gospel among the poor. I would have been better, it seems, to abandon the celebrities and reach out to the poor and despairing. When I challenged the Tweeter on who were the poor, he responded "I am the poor". After that messianic remark what else could I say?

Now I don't mix with celebrities at all, in fact I haven't met too many of them. But our ministry in the Fraternity of St Genesius includes praying for those who inhabit that particular category of persons. I always advise our members not to seek out those they pray for, we are not a fan club nor spiritual groupies, we simply assist the Church by our prayer in her mission to all men and women, particularly those in the arts.

In that context it is fitting to ask: who are the poor? Blessed Teresa of Calcutta offers an interesting answer to that question when she reminds us that among the poorest in the world today are those whom the world considers great, rich and famous. Their spiritual poverty can be even greater than the material poverty of others. Many celebrities inhabit a fantasy world, and for many in their spiritual poverty that fantasy world is all they have. Their wealth and fame allows them to maintain this fantasy and even influence the real world.  That is one of the reasons the world is fast becoming a wasteland - because many are abandoning faith and true values for the chimera the spiritually poor have invented to feed themselves. 

The Church must feed the poor, the materially poor and the spiritually poor. She must preach the Gospel, offer the hope of salvation and present the vision of reality - the teaching of Jesus Christ and the destiny he has for those who are faithful. If the Church has managed to feed and save the materially poor but has ignored with scorn the celebrities and left them to wallow in a fantasy that devours them, then the Church has failed in  her mission. We do not need to check into the Hotel La La Land to reach out to them, nor worship at the frayed edge of the red carpet, but we do need to see souls and minster to them. They too are children of God.

For more information on our Fraternity, see our website www.stgenesius.com.

Foundation Day

Today in the Fraternity we celebrate "Foundation Day", transferred from yesterday.  The Fraternity of St Genesius was founded on the 19th January 2007 in Drogheda.  To mark the day we will have a Mass of celebration in St Mary's Church, Drogheda, at 7.30pm.  All are welcome to attend.

For those of you not completely familiar with us, you can log on to our website www.stgenesius.com.  We are always looking for new members to join us in our prayer, so if you are not a member, you might consider becoming one.

Extraordinary Gift For The Fraternity

Yesterday, the feast of St Therese, the Fraternity received a most extraordinary gift: His Eminence, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz of Krakow, sent us a first class relic of our co-patron, Blessed John Paul II, ex sanguine, from his blood.    The Cardinal, as you know, was Blessed John Paul's personal secretary and friend, and he looked after the Pontiff in his final illness.  To say that we are thrilled is an understatement!  The relic will be available for our ministry in the Fraternity and for the veneration of our members, those we work with and the faithful in general.  This wonderful gift comes after the Congregation for Divine Worship and Sacraments granted us the Indult to celebrate Blessed John Paul's feast.  A sincere thanks to His Eminence for his kindness and generosity.

Since we are on the topic, I want to remind you of our celebration of the feast day.  The Fraternity will host a Feast Day Mass in St Mary's Church, Drogheda, on the 22nd October at 7.30pm.   The new first class relic will be there and those who attend will be able to venerate it.   Everyone is welcome to come and celebrate the feast with the Fraternity, and you can pass on the word to your friends, particularly those who were devoted to the Blessed Pontiff.

Also for those who might be interested - Fraternity members and others, we are planning a pilgrimage to Poland next year in honour of Blessed John Paul.  The tentative dates are the 21st to the 29th May 2013.  We are working on the details and accommodation at the moment, but we will let you know as soon as things have been finalised.  We will probably stay in Krakow, but take tours to the various places associated with John Paul - Wadowice, Czestochowa, Kalvaria, as well as visiting other places of note, among them Auschwitz.  So if you are interested make a note of the dates.

In terms of what has been happening - well, what a week!  Former President of Ireland, Mary McAleese certainly made the headlines with her attack on the Catholic Church in a radio interview last Friday.  Giving us the benefit of her wisdom she said that the Church needs to become more like the Anglican communion and use the synod system to decide, it seems, our beliefs and practices.  She seems to resent the role of the Pope as the universal pastor and Vicar of Christ, or at least that role in real terms, she would prefer if the Pope permitted democracy.  I wonder if Mrs McAleese is actually up to date with what is happening in the Anglican communion - it is falling apart as the synod system has led to the abandonment of Christian doctrine in favour of relativism.  Surely if Mrs McAleese wants us to adopt that system, does she mean she wants the Catholic Church to fall apart and become as irrelevant? 

I think this idea shows extraordinary naivety and blindness on McAleese's part.  However she had even more objectionable things to say.  As I saw it, she implied that the Church imposes obedience because it has lost the argument on various issues, most notably for McAleese, contraception.  Ironic this: as she sees Humanae Vitae as a lost argument every day its prophetic nature is being underlined as modern men and women dig even deeper holes for themselves, sexually, and continue to undermine the stability of relationships and family life. 

The former President also believes the Church has it wrong on homosexuality.  In fact, and here is the most offensive thing she said, she blames the Church for the mass suicide of young men in recent years because of its teaching on homosexuality.   This is despicable and deeply insulting: there is no evidence to back up McAleese's claim and her comments are unacceptable and deserve, I think, a formal rebuke from her bishop.  Now the former President has her own agenda on this issue - homosexuality is a personal issue for her family, but making such groundless and dangerous allegations against the Church is disengenuous.

There were many things I found offensive with the interview, but over all I resent McAleese's using her position as a former President of Ireland to give her a platform to attack the Church and to prevent anyone from taking her on: after all if any one of us should publicly rebuke her many will defend her because of her record as President and she knows this.  I greatly admired her as President, but I'm afraid my admiration has diminished.  

One question I would like to ask her though: if the Anglican Communion is the best model for Catholicism, then why stay in the Catholic Church?  At this stage she knows the Catholic Church will not change to suit her opinions, so why not go over to the greener fields on other side of the river?  She can use the bridge she constructed during her presidency.   

I was sent a rather interesting link yesterday regarding The Irish Times and its objectivity.  It seems the paper of record may not be as trustworthy as it would have us believe.  Apparently when it reported on the small turn out for a pro-choice rally recently, it was rebuked by pro-abortion advocates, and so the paper revised its figures upwards.   So much for journalistic standards.  When it comes to pro-life events they are usually ignored by the paper, but if covered the figures are drastically reduced.  I see "MediaWatch" in the Alive! newspaper also takes the Times to task, this time over its reporting on Archbishop Diarmuid Martin's speech at the MacGill summer school.  The paper tried to give the impression that the Archbishop and Cardinal Brady were at variance over the issue of abortion.  The Archbishop wrote a strongly worded letter of complaint and accused the paper of "mischevious misrepresentation", and it seems the Archbishop is quite correct in his assessment. 

And as we're talking about Archbishop Martin, I see he is trying to get a new system of sacramental preparation going in his diocese - a welcome development, I think.  For too long the sacraments were given just because you were in a certain class in school regardless of faith or practice.  To refuse First Communion or Confirmation to children of unbelievers brings the wrath of parents and media on your head.  I know of one case where parents refused to have their child baptised, but still wanted her to receive First Communion: they did not want her to be a member of such an abusive Church, but still wanted her to "have her day out with her friends", and they had plenty of support for their position.  Madness!  As priests we can do very little since the programmes and the actual system is set in place by the bishops: we can only supplement it with sound material and do the best we can to try and get people to Mass and to practice the faith.  However a new approach is needed and hopefully Archbishop Martin's initial steps will help usher out the old and bring in a new, more evangelical and responsible system. 

Walsingham 2012

Today our Fraternity members in England gather at the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham: please remember them in your prayers.  

The Shrine, known as England's Nazareth, was founded in the 11th century following a revelation from Our Lady to Richeldis de Faverches who was told to build a replica of the Holy House of Nazareth.  A large shrine which grew up around the Holy House and became one of the most important in medieval Europe.  Find out more here.

I am leading the pilgrimage, so it will be a joy to visit this beautiful shrine.  All our members will be remembered in the prayers and Masses offered.  While the Shrine was destroyed by Henry VIII following his revolt against the Church, one of the country chapels which lined the route to the sanctuary, the Slipper Chapel, which is a mile from Walsingham, remained intact, and here at the end of the 19th century, Catholics restored a shrine in honour of Our Lady: we will have our Pilgrim Mass in that tiny medieval chapel tomorrow morning at 9am (GMT). Send your Guardian Angels with your intentions.

A New Friend For Our Fraternity

We got back from our pilgrimage yesterday evening, tired but happy with the days spent in Italy.  As promised, you were all remembered in prayer, and I received some messages from members around the world indicating that they were with us in spirit.

I know a lot has happened in Ireland since we left, mostly concerning abortion and the vilification of a fine senator, Sen. Ronan Mullen - a gentleman who listens and respects even the most vociferous of his opponents.  I think the attack on him, unwarranted, unjust and hateful as it is, is part of the anti-life campaign to silence the argument against the introduction of abortion into Ireland.  The annihilation of a good Christian man comes easy to ideologues who want to enshrine in law the annihilation of innocent children.

They have made their plans, they have their politicians in place and I think it is a foregone conclusion that the Minister for Health, Dr James Reilly, will legislate for abortion.  The time has come to make our voices heard, and time for Church leaders to stand up and meet the challenge.  Time too to remind Catholic politicians that to legislate for abortion carries with it automatic excommunication from the Church.  And that includes exclusion from the Eucharist and other sacraments.  The Church will be attacked and vilified by the media, but it is time to bite the bullet.  Perhaps Church leaders should pop over to Rome and confer with CDF on how to respond should Enda Kenny, James Reilly and co legalise the killing of unborn babies.

We must pray and fast - as Jesus said, only prayer and fasting can exorcise such demons, and believe me, those who are working hard to bring abortion into Ireland are working for the demons.

Speaking of demons and the fight against their influence, we had a wonderful surprise in store for us on the last day of our pilgrimage: one of the Church's great Saints had a treat in store for us.  As we were winging our way from Loreto to Bologna airport, we had scheduled a stop at the Basilica of St Dominic, where the great man is entombed.  We had a slot booked for Mass.  However, our plans did not work out, and when we arrived at the Basilica, they were closing the doors for the siesta.  Everyone was disappointed, but despite that, there was no persuading.  One of our priests managed to slip in as the door was closing, so he got to the tomb and offered prayer for us all.

When he got out, we all began the lonely track back to the bus.  I was aware St Catherine of Bologna was somewhere in the city, but not sure where.  As we made our way through the streets, one of our pilgrims, Mary, was shouting at us from a side street: "St Catherine is in here!"  We jumped with joy and ran to the church for fear they would close it.  Our group got in, honoured the Lord and found St Catherine's body, sitting up in her chair, spied through a little window over an altar dedicated to her.

Then a gentleman in the church told us that the sisters might open up the door to the inner chapel to allow us see the Saints up close.  Our guide, Mario, rang the bell and, God bless those holy Poor Clare nuns, they opened the door and allowed us into the chapel, even though they were in siesta time.  We spent some wonderful moments venerating the Saint's incorrupt body.  She is perfect, apart from the colour.  I noticed her hands and feet, perfectly preserved, looking fresh as if blood was flowing through them.  Dainty hands, yet hands that worked hard for Christ.  One of the sisters opened the shop, so our pilgrims bought little biographies, medals, rosaries and prayer cards.  They were delighted, and the visit has left its impression on them.

Reflecting on it, I think Dominic and Catherine were in cahoots. St Dominic was a man who did not draw attention to himself - it was the Word which was important: and we heard the Word that day.  St Catherine was calling us to visit her, to be made aware of her life, her struggle with temptation (of which she is patron), and her trust in God: something we need to hear in Ireland today.  She was also an artist, musician and writer - how appropriate - I must sign her up as a member of the Fraternity!  May she intercede for us all.

So, if you happen to be in Bologna, go and visit St Catherine in the Church of Corpus Domini: it is a grace-filled place.  Today, I place Ireland and the unborn of Ireland in her hands, may she intercede that those who seek to destroy those innocent lives will be confounded.

Bags Packed

It has been a very busy week, occupied with preparations for the pilgrimage.  We leave tomorrow morning at 7am.  Today the painting we are giving the Pope arrived from the framer's - the artist brought it directly.  It is a lovely piece - a basic portrait of St Genesius with the cross and masks from the Fraternity seal.  I do not have a picture of yet - one has been taken, but I do not have a copy yet.  I do, however, have a copy of the rough sketch, so I am posting it here to give you an idea of what the painting looks like.

Preliminary sketch of the Papal portrait of St Genesius:

Richard Moore, watercolour

Our itinerary is up on my blog, here, so to all of you who want to do the pilgrimage with us in spirit you can do so.  I will be remembering all the Fraternity members in our Masses; the Solemn Mass at the tomb of St Genesius on Tuesday afternoon - the heart of our pilgrimage, will be offered for all our members' intentions.  It takes place at 4pm Roman Time (3pm GMT; 10am US/Canadian Eastern; 9am Central; 8am Pacific).  

The blog will not be live, but I will schedule the daily events of the pilgrimage (if the scheduling facility works - sometimes it goes on strike here on blogger). 

London Prayer Group Mass Tonight

If you are in or near London tonight, come along to our Prayer Group at 7pm in Corpus Christi Church, Maiden Lane, Covent Garden.  Tonight we celebrate a Mass to mark the foundation of the Prayer Group and the Fraternity's fifth anniversary.  The church is an important one for us since it was there that the inspiration for the family of prayer was born: we say that the Fraternity was born in that church.  Hope you'll come.  If you cannot make it, come another time: the group meets on the second Thursday of every month at 7pm: all welcome.

Mother Dolores Hits Tinsel Town

As you all know, no doubt, Mother Dolores Hart, once an actress who worked with some of Hollywood's leading men, Montgomery Clift, Stephen Boyd, Robert Wagner and Elvis among them, and now a Benedictine nun, was at the Oscars last night.  A documentary dealing with her life was nominated for a gong, and so Mother Dolores got permission to attend the ceremony in LA. 

What a wonderful example!  A Benedictine nun in full habit walking down the red carpet - there's witness for you!  She was radiant - the most beautiful woman there I think, as her life of prayer and dedication to Christ shine through her eyes and her whole demeanour. 

As members of the Fraternity we should be delighted with this: a most obvious witness to the Christian faith in the midst of the glitz and glamour.  I hope her presence touched some of those in the business, not only as a challenge, but as a reminder that Christ is everywhere, seeking to reach out to everyone, even those dolled up for the gongs.

Foundation Day: Fifth Anniversary

Today the Fraternity celebrates the fifth anniversary of its foundation.  Holy Mass will be offered for all our members and their intentions.  Thanks to all of you for your prayers and dedication.  May St Genesius with whom you intercede for the needs of the men and women of the theatrical and cinematic arts, watch over you, bless you and intercede for your needs and intentions.

In the five years we have spread throughout the world to fifteen countries - just a couple of week ago we got our first member from Korea.     There is more work to do, and at this stage we are struggling to keep up!  I suppose that can only be a good thing.

Among the celebrations for our fifth year will be a pilgrimage to Rome to the tomb of St Genesius (see link above); a Mass in Corpus Christi Church in London on the 8th March - it was in that church that the Fraternity was "born" - where the inspiration came; and of course the big event of the year, the feast of St Genesius on the 25th August - it is a Saturday this year, so that should make it easier for people around the country to come: put the date in your diary!  Members, friends, or those who just pop over to look at this blog - you are all welcome to the feast day Mass and reception afterwards.  More about that anon.   In the meantime................

A happy anniversary to you all!

Happy New Year

To all the members of the Fraternity, and to all who read my blog - the extended family, I wish you all every blessing and grace for this New Year.  May Mary, the Holy Mother of God, whose solemnity is the first we celebrate this year, watch over you, protect you and obtain from her Divine Son, all the graces you need for the weeks and months to come.

This year is already sizing up to be a busy one.  In terms of the Fraternity it is our fifth year - so to celebrate we will have various events - a Mass in Drogheda on the foundation day (19th January); a Mass in the church where the Fraternity was born - Corpus Christi in London, on the 8th March; a pilgrimage to Rome (see link above); and of course St Genesius's feast day on the 25th August.  If you want to join our family of prayer go to http://www.stgenesius.com/.  If you want to start a prayer group in your area, let us know.

Now, time to pick your Saint for the year: go to this website here.

Into Your Hands, O Lord, We Commend Our Sister, Eucharia

At long last the line has been restored to Rathkenny - a week without internet - call it a retreat, call it frustrating, call it a relief - anyway, I'm back online.    The last week has been very eventful in Ireland and abroad - I am not going to do a broad sweep of what has happened - I don't have the energy, but for us in the Fraternity it has been a sad few days - one of our founding Councillors passed away on Friday:  Sr Eucharia Kenny, RSM.

Sr Eucharia was there on the first night when a group of people gathered to help a mad priest decipher the ideas which had been coming to him for three years.  She was a bastion of common sense and prayer. 

Sr Eucharia was born Bea Kenny in Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, on the 19th January 1927 - we have only found out that she shares the same birthday as the Fraternity which was founded on that day 80 years after her coming into the world!   She never sought to draw attention to herself, so she kept her birthday to herself.  She discerned a vocation to nursing, and so trained as a General Nurse.  It was during this time that she heard the Lord call her, and so she entered the Sisters of Mercy to offer her life to God in the service of the sick in imitation of the Venerable Catherine McAuley.

After spending a number of years in a hospital, her superiors decided to send her to the US, to a new foundation in New Jersey.  She was sent with no money in her pocket. She often told us of how she got from Ireland to the US by air with not even a few dollars for tea and a sandwich!  When she arrived she discovered that the community did not need a nurse but a teacher.  So, as enthusiastic as ever, she launched into a training course to prepare her to teach, and so began a new "career" within the congregation.  She was well loved by her students and she enjoyed her time in the States.

With much good work done, she was reappointed to Ireland, and she was sent to the community in Drogheda where she embarked on a ministry among the sick and elderly as a pastoral sister.  She spent a great deal of time in the Cottage Hospital, helping the staff there to look after the patients and those who came for day care.  She was always at the centre of things, and I remember many great Christmas parties with her in the Day Care Centre.

With her work in the service of the sick, Sr Eucharia heard a call to another area of service: that of artistic endeavour.  She was gifted with artistic ability, which led her to the art of the Icon.  Learning from a master, she wrote a number of beautiful Icons, entering into the spirituality of the sacred art, praying and fasting as she worked.   As a woman of deep prayer, she brought her spirituality into the writing of these "windows of the light of heaven".   When we were looking for an Icon of St Genesius I had asked her to write it, but in her humility she felt that it was a task which was beyond her, and so asked her master to do it.  She did, however, paint a painting of the martyr.

Sr Eucharia was, as her name suggests, a woman of the Eucharist. She spent a great deal of time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament each day, never missed Holy Mass, and was devoted to the Rosary.  We often spoke about the Scriptures, and she shared her insights: she led a Lectio Divina group in Drogheda for many years.  Sr Eucharia was a faithful religious, though many in her congregation, sadly, abandoned the habit and veil, she continued to wear them as the outward symbol of her interior consecration to Christ.  She was sister of simple life, embracing poverty and cherishing obedience.  

She has been a great blessing to the Fraternity: she was in charge of the apostolate for epilepsy, and she was forever using her skills and contacts to reach out to those with epilepsy to make them aware of their patron St Genesius.  Frequently she was on the phone looking for more Blessed Oil of St Genesius or prayer cards for the sick or Blessed Linen.  She brought sick people for a blessing with the Relics of St Genesius, and noticed that our saint was working hard among those who suffered from the condition.  Her advice, support and prayer were invaluable to the Fraternity.  She was forever coming up with new ideas.

Despite the strength of her spirit, Sr Eucharia's body was in decline, and her health was failing. Just over a year ago she had to leave her community to enter a nursing home, there her health declined even more.   In the last few months she was in and out of hospital: her death on Friday last was a shock, but not totally unexpected.  Her last moments confirmed her life lived in the mystery of the Eucharist.  She received the Last Rites, and then Viaticum.  A few moments later, with the Lord still sacramentally present within her, she died peacefully. 

May the Lord grant this faithful servant everlasting sight of his Face, and reward her for labours.  As we thank her for her generous service to the Fraternity, we pray that the Immaculate Heart of Mary and St Genesius may receive her.  May she intercede for our family of prayer, and guide us, and watch over all our members and those we serve, especially her beloved sick. 

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord,

and may perpetual light shine upon her,

may she rest in peace.  Amen.

Thank you, dear Sr Eucharia, for all you have done for us.  May God grant us the joy of seeing you again in his eternal kingdom.

Calling All Londoners!

News for all our members, and others, in the London area.  The Fraternity has finally completed arrangements for starting a St Genesius Prayer Group in London. 

The Prayer Group, open to everyone regardless of whether they are members or not, will consist of a Eucharistic Holy Hour, with prayer and song before the Blessed Sacrament, followed by Benediction.  It's a simple format, but it works.  During the Holy Hour we will remember those who work in theatre, cinema and the arts, but also the sick, those in need of healing, and for the Church and her renewal.

So, dates, times!  The first Eucharistic Holy Hour will take place in Corpus Christi Church, Maiden Lane (Covent Garden) on Thursday 13th October at 8pm.  It is hoped that the Holy Hour will then take place on the second Thursday of every month.  So calling all Londoners!  Come and join us in prayer, bring your musical instruments if you have any, and join us in song.

I will like to extend a special invitation to those who work in the theatres and the arts in London to join us, regardless of religious affliation. Prayer will be offered on their behalf, for their needs and intentions, and so we offer an oasis of prayer and retreat on that Thursday evening.

Thursday is, of course, the perfect night for such prayer as it was the day on which the first Holy Hour took place - that of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.  His disciples fell asleep on that occasion, but we hope to stay awake and watch one hour (or a little more) with him, offering to him in prayer, those who are in need.  Corpus Christi Church is also the perfect place to have the Holy Hour - not only because it is dedicated to the Blessed Sacrament, but it is the actor's church in London, and it was there that the Fraternity was "born". 

I would like to thank in a special way the Parish Priest of Corpus Christi, Fr Alan Robinson, who has graciously allowed us to use the church for our devotions.  We will also remember him and his parish in our prayers.

So spread the word!   And yes, there will be a first class relic of St Genesius present at the Holy Hour - so if there is anyone who wants a blessing with the sacred bones of the great Roman actor and martyr, come along.

That's a bit of good news in the midst of all the misery!  Thank God. Please keep it in your prayers. 

News on pilgrimage to Rome coming soon.

An Invitation To All Fraternity Members (And Friends Too!)

It is with bleary eyes I write this post - we had the St Genesius feast day celebrations last night - not that they were wild - oh no - we're very sedate and civilised when it comes to Fraternity celebrations.  Plenty of food of course - our caterers, the ordinary people of the Frat are the best when it comes to sarnies, cakes and lashings and lashings of ginger beer, well no, tea and coffee.

The Mass went well last night - we had a nice congregation, all who joined in the singing which is a plus in Ireland when most congregations tend to leave it to the choir.  During the Mass we had the blessing of the Oil of St Genesius and the Blessed Linen which had been touched to relics of the martyr.  These are made available to the faithful.  So one day next week will be a bottling day - the Councillors of the Frat love that! And then there will be cutting day - dividing the Blessed Linen.  All for Genesius - he had better appreciate it! 

As we noted last night, there is a busy year ahead: on the 19th January we mark our fifth anniversary, so we will be planning something to celebrate it.  We aim to go on pilgrimage to the tomb of St Genesius and the Holy Apostles in Rome, and I would like that to be a gathering of as many members of the Fraternity as possible.  So, to all you members around the world: will you come to Rome for these celebrations?  I am issuing an official invitation.

We have not decided dates yet, but it will probably be just after Easter.  The Council will be discussing such matters at their next meeting, so we will announce details as they become available.  But you might think about it.  We aim to have organised events/Masses at the tomb and various basilicas, and the General Audience with the Holy Father,  and these would be within the space of a few days, so groups coming from the various countries could visit other places besides the Fraternity gathering.  So if you were planning to come to Italy/Europe, this could be an opportunity.

And for your information, here are the countries in which we have members (in no particular order): Ireland, the US, the UK, Canada, India, Australia, Peru, Nigeria, Cameroon, Greece, Mexico, The Philippines, Portugal, South Africa, Malta and Israel.  If you are a member and your country is not listed here, let us know.  It would be great if we could get a representation from as many of these countries as possible. 

For those in the US, we have members in the following States, so pilgrimages could be organised among members in each State: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Ilinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusettes, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City and State, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermot, Washington State, West Virginia and Wisconsin.  Phew!  The family of prayer is growing - so if you are not a member and you do not see your country/US State mentioned here - pop over to the Fraternity website and join the mission. 

Don't Forget!!

The annual novena to St Genesius begins tomorrow.  It will lead to his feastday on the 25th August.  We will have a big Mass in Drogheda for the feast.   Here is a link to the novena prayers.  If you are granted any favours please let us know.  You will all be remembered in the Fraternity prayers.

The Heart Of The Mother

Lots of wonderful feasts this weather, and today's is truly fine, and indeed most important for the Fraternity of St Genesius.  Today we celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  In the Fraternity the memoria of the Immaculate Heart was raised by our Protector Bishop to the dignity of a Feast: the Immaculate Heart is the patroness of our family of prayer.  So, to all our members, a very happy feast day!

Our Fraternity is at the service of the Immaculate Heart, we see our mission to be part of her mission of bringing her children to her Son.  Our aim is to pray for souls and to work towards the triumph of the Immaculate Heart - hence the importance of Fatima in the spirituality of the Fraternity.  It was there in June 2006 that the idea was consecrated to her. 

As her children, it is only right to seek to assist her in her mission.  Jesus tells us to love God and love our neighbour, the psalms speak of how good it is for brothers to live in unity - in helping Mary win souls for Christ we fulfil both of these teachings - loving our neighbour by seeking to bring them to God and seeking unity with them in faith and love.  

One of our members in the US, Kevin O'Brien, has come up with an interesting idea - a period of prayer and penance for those we pray for and the mission of the Fraternity in the days which link the two feasts of the Fraternity - the Immaculate Heart and St Genesius on the 25th August.  That's an idea - a spiritual rope linking our two celebrations. 

Some prayers for our celebration today:

Fraternity Consecration

to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

O you, Immaculate Heart of Mary

we consecrate ourselves,

our hearts, minds, wills and lives

and all those works we undertake,

so they may be for the glory of God,

the sake of the Gospel and the salvation of souls.

Holy Mother, our Queen and our Joy

give to our hearts the dimensions of yours

and form us in the image of your Beloved Son

Litany of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

composed by Blessed John Henry Newman

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, 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 Spirit,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God,
Have mercy on us.

Heart of Mary, Pray for us.
Heart of Mary, after God’s own Heart, 
Heart of Mary, in union with the Heart of Jesus, 
Heart of Mary, the vessel of the Holy Spirit, .
Heart of Mary, shrine of the Trinity, 
Heart of Mary, home of the Word, 
Heart of Mary, immaculate in your creation, 
Heart of Mary, flooded with grace, 
Heart of Mary, blessed of all hearts, 
Heart of Mary, Throne of glory,
Heart of Mary, Abyss of humbleness,
Heart of Mary, Victim of love, 
Heart of Mary, nailed to the cross,
Heart of Mary, comfort of the sad, 
Heart of Mary, refuge of the sinner,
Heart of Mary, hope of the dying,
Heart of Mary, seat of mercy, 

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.

Christ, hear us.

Christ, graciously hear us.

Lord, have mercy.  
Christ, have mercy. 
Lord, have mercy.

Immaculate Mary, meek and humble of heart.
Conform our hearts to the heart of Jesus.

Let us pray:

O most Merciful God, Who for the Salvation of Sinners and the Refuge of the Wretched, has made the Immaculate Heart of Mary most like in Tenderness and Pity to the Heart of Jesus, grant that we, who now commemorate her most Sweet and Loving Heart, may by her Merits and Intercession, ever live in the Fellowship of the Hearts of both Mother and Son, through the same Christ Our Lord.
Amen

Pilgrimage

I am away tomorrow morning leading the Fraternity pilgrimage to Fatima.  I may not get the chance to blog at all - the schedule is pretty busy, so the blog may go silent for a week ("Thank God!" I hear you say!).  But be assured I will remember the intentions of all my readers during the pilgrimage, and I will light a candle at the capelinha for you.  If you have a special intention, as St Pio used to advise, send your guardian angel over to Fatima with it, so it can be included in the Masses and prayers.

For your information, our schedule includes:

Visit to the capelinha, site of the apparitions; the old village of Fatima where the visionaries lived, and the places where the angel appeared to the children in 1916.  We will be staying in a hotel beside the Sanctuary, so we will be taking part in the daily ceremonies, including the celebrations for Pentecost and the 13th day.

Pilgrimage to Coimbra, to the monastery where the visionary and Servant of God, Sr Lucia, lived most of her life.  There we will also visit the tomb of St Elizabeth of Portugal, and the church where St Anthony of Padua was received into the Franciscan Order.

Pilgrimage to Santarem to venerate the Eucharistic Miracle.

Pilgrimage to Lisbon to visit the birthplace of St Anthony of Padua, the convent where Blessed Jacinta Marto died and to sample the beauties of the capital.

If we have enough interested, we may even get up to Balasar to make a pilgrimage to the tomb and house of Blessed Alexandrina da Costa, the great saint of the Eucharist.

And of course a visit to the Dominican Sisters of Perpetual Rosary, a number of whom are Irish, and one of whom, Sr Angela, is a spiritual companion of the Fraternity (the spiritual companions were a group of holy people who accompanied us through prayer and sacrifice in the process of discernment).  I normally stay with the sisters when in Fatima, but with leading a group I will be in a hotel, so I will miss the silence, serenity (and, let's face it) the wonderful food of the nuns - ahhhhh, not even Fr Z (peace be upon him) in his most inspired culinary moments can cook like these angels of St Dominic!  And their mashed potatoes - like an angel crying on your tongue!  Ok, not very penitential, but I'll make up for it in other ways!

Adeus, queridos leitores, até
breve!

Evangelising Imagination

This is what the Fraternity is all about.  RomeReports has a good report on a recent symposium in which participants reflected on art, Christianity and secular culture.  I love Joseph Pearce's idea of evangelising imaginations.

How Hard Could It Be?

I came across this short this weekend - a wonderful film on the difficulties of being an actor and those endless, excruciating auditions.  Called Resting (the euphemism used for 'out of work') it follows Jamie who wants to realise his dream to become an actor.  Fobbing off his mother, pretending he is more demand than he is, doing the "darling" thing and plodding from one disaster to another, he keeps his heart up.  And then, the end.......  Well worth watching, so put your feet up and when finished, say a prayer for all those trying to realise their hope of following their call to theatre.  I love the "Funnyfaces" audition - surreal and so real!

Prayer Needed

There are incidents when we in the Fraternity of St Genesius realise what we are all about and what we need to be doing.  They also remind us of the grave responsibility we have - our association is not about hob nobbing with stars (we have not done any of that since foundation), but rather it is about prayer and spiritual accompaniment of those in theatre, cinema and the arts who sometimes have more than the usual spate of troubles.

Well, one such incident occurred last night - Charlie Sheen's video, made following his sacking.  He needs prayer, as do many in his business, and we will be praying for him in a special way.  So now, as Lent is coming I am asking my readers who are not members of our Fraternity to join us, to pray for Charlie and many other unknowns who are in difficulty.  Check out our website for details of membership and please sign up. Spread the news among your friends, get them to join us: prayer is powerful, it can change lives, it bears incredible fruit for others when offered with sacrifice.  Join our family of prayer, even if only as a Cooperator, where a few moments of prayer is all that is required.  Those few moments united with the entire Genesian family's prayer and sacrifice may indeed save someone.  

These Look Good

Two good news stories from the showbiz arena.  The first is the highly publicised plans by Eduardo Verastegui to open a pro-life crisis pregnancy centre to support women.  Well done, Eduardo.   He is committed to the pro-life cause as is obvious in his movie Bella which our film club watched just last Tuesday night.  We will keep his efforts in our prayers.

The CNA has a report on the Holy Wood Acting Studio founded to help train actors and help them in the formation of good character and spirituality.  Sounds good.  They are even incorporating Pope John Paul II's theology of the body.  Eduardo Verastegui is involved in this project too.  God bless him.  We must pray for him, if he is doing so much good he bound to be under attack.   (Holy Wood Acting Studio website)

So now, dear readers, those of you who are not members of our Fraternity, would any of you like to join us and offer your prayers for Eduardo and his great work?    Pop over to our website, fill out the form and tell us in the comments box that you will adopt Eduardo and his projects as your prayer intention.