Douai Abbey . . .

It's not just buses that all seem to come along together after a long wait.

Now, I like a quiet life. Not for me the rushing around trying to squeeze 48 hours' worth of activity into a 24 hour day.

I've been looking forward to our annual retreat ever since it was booked a while ago. We're going with the rest of our Team to Douai Abbey for a weekend retreat.

However, this weekend also sees the return of Our Eldest from his pilgrimage to Oberammergau for the Passion Play; the return of the Pater Familias from a short business trip to India and the 'return to the nest' of Our Youngest after 8 years solid 'student-ing'.

Why could these things not be spread out over a few weekends, I ask myself, so that I can give each of them the attention they deserve?

Never mind. I know that despite all the rushing around on Friday evening getting ready for the returnees, as soon as we draw up in front of the Abbey on Saturday morning, all the cares of the world will slip from our shoulders.

That, for me, is what a retreat is all about. A time, even if only a brief one, to 'retreat' from the world and spend some concentrated 'quality time' with Our Lord in prayer and reflection.

We have been making an annual retreat like this as a couple for many years now and we always come away refreshed and renewed, ready to enter the real world with recharged batteries.

Definitely to be recommended.

I'll see you all next week.

October - the month of the Rosary . . .

October is almost upon us and with it an emphasis on the Holy Rosary. I was trying to think of something new to say about the Rosary but I soon gave that up! After all, why does it have to be something new?

I'm not really up to long theological explanations so I just thought I'd list some of the occasions and places that I find to pray the Rosary. Who knows, it might inspire someone to do likewise.

In church as part of my personal prayer (often said 'on my fingers' rather than on my rosary beads)

In church as part of a communal praying of the Rosary.

In bed before going to sleep.

In bed in the wee small hours of the morning when sleep escapes me.

Out walking.

On the train and on the bus.

Sitting at the computer.

Using the iRosary App on my phone.

So, you see, for me I can pray the Rosary anywhere . . and I do. It's the first prayer I think of when I want to pray for a particular intention.

There are a lot of beautiful videos that can be used for meditation whilst praying too. Here's an example.

Taking things for granted . . .

It's early Sunday evening and I've just been catching up on what's going on in the blogosphere which is one of my favourite ways of relaxing at the end of the weekend.

I try not to take anything for granted and I do appreciate how fortunate we are to have a comfortable home, loving children, employment etc. etc. but it has never really occurred to me quite how fortunate we are with our parish. There is a theme underlying some blogs of discontentment, of a yearning for certain things that are apparently not readily available to all.

I had not realised that it is fairly unusual to have regular Rosary and Benediction, for example, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament several days a week and frequent Confession. Is it really very unusual, I wonder, or are those blogs that I've been looking at describing some sort of minority ghetto where such devotions are not practised?

I thought everyone was encouraged to go to Confession regularly and have reverence for the Blessed Sacrament. Maybe I've just been taking things for granted after all. At Mass tomorrow, during the silence after Holy Communion (which I gather is not kept universally) I will try and remember to give thanks for the blessings we receive as members of our parish where everything possible is done to encourage us in our spiritual development. Thanks of course to our parish priest.

Comings and Goings at 'ours' . . .

Sometimes it does feel as if a stranger walking into our house might think they'd walked into Croydon Bus Station (for want of a better example!) by mistake.

The Pater Familias travels a lot on business, and friends, seeing me on my own, are in the habit of asking me, 'so where is he this time, then?'

This evening the PF is, as I type, on his way back from Heathrow, Our Eldest is busy packing for a pilgrimage leaving tomorrow and Our Youngest is due back at the end of the week. Sr Anastasia was with us last week and will be back to see us some time in the next 3 months, we hope.

Update: Since I began this little post, I have discovered that the PF has squeezed in another little trip in between his usual monthly disappearances - he coyly informed me as he put down his flight bag that he's off again on Monday until the end of the month.

Is it worth even laying the table for him, I wonder?

I'm not complaining, you understand. Our married life has been 'ever thus' and I don't know that I'd know quite how to deal with a stationary family!

Changing public opinion . . .

The Holy Father's recent visit has, amongst many other positive things, helped people to see Pope Benedict as he really is and not as he is often portrayed by the sometimes negative press.

Definitely more Andrex Puppy than Rottweiler . . .

Four Amazing Days . . .

Sorry, I've been very quiet this week. I'm sure there's no need to explain why!

I've been totally immersed in the Papal Visit. Having been involved at parish level for several weeks it seems to have loomed large for quite a while but nothing could have prepared me for the amazing scenes and emotions of the last four days.

I cannot find the words to express what an amazing, inspirational time it has been. Everything else has been shelved as I've been glued to the TV and computer, following every moment of the visit of the Holy Father. For the first time it's also been possible to follow people's personal reactions via Twitter as the events unfolded, and what a difference that has made. For me this added another dimension to the whole experience.

I didn't go to either Hyde Park or Birmingham myself though Our Eldest went to Cofton Park today and, of course, had a fantastic day. It was well worth leaving in the early hours of the morning (though I'm not sure many would have agreed before the coach left!)

I've put together a slide show of some of my favourite photos from the various news sites, focusing mainly on the pilgrims. I hope you recognise the sound track; Cor ad Cor Loquitor from the CD given to all pilgrims.

Passing on the faith . . .

Matthew Warner of Fallible Blogma has an excellent post on passing on the faith.

He discusses the question which is often debated, whether or not parents should pass on their faith to their children.

I know it's not much debated by those who practise their faith but I've heard arguments from non-practising friends and family members about the 'damage' done to children by parents 'indoctrinating' them from an early age.

As Matthew says, it seems obvious that if you believe something to be true and valuable then naturally you wish to share that with your children as parents obviously wish the best their sons and daughters.

He draws a comparison between teaching children road safety and providing them with healthy food etc. and passing on the faith.

I remember when our children were born, hearing some friends say, 'we're not going to have our child baptised, we want him/her to have the freedom to choose whether or not to be a Catholic (or anything else) and be baptised when they are older.

Call me dense, but I can't understand how anyone can make an informed decision about anything if they have no prior experience or knowledge about it.

I put these sort of remarks in the same category as, 'We don't believe in taking children to Mass until they're old enough to know how to behave in church.'

What amazing children they must be, I think, if they are suddenly able to understand what's happening in the liturgy and respond appropriately on their first visit to church when they're about five years old.

This week's 'must have' gift . . .

A well-known female blogger is in need of cheering up, I hear. Now, I think we females all realise that when we're feeling down there's nothing like a little bit of 'retail therapy' to lift our spirits. Even if it only involves window shopping.

Thanks to Fr Roderick for drawing attention to this little number . . .

If only . . .

From a wife's perspective . . .

I wanted to write a few words about the news buzzing around the blogosphere at the moment that not one, but two Anglican clergymen have recently decided that they are ready to 'come home' to the Catholic Church. What a courageous decision they've both made.

The inimitable Mac has beaten me to it but I too had noticed the existence of the marvellous blog I have a snail in my pocket by the already-Catholic wife of one the clergyman - Robin Farrow.

To give up so much for your faith is a very courageous thing indeed. We don't often hear much about the wives of the clergymen in these situations. It must be very difficult for them too and if their husbands eventually become Catholic priests, they are also among a very small minority. Catholic priests with wives and children are still something of a rarity whilst the role of 'Vicar's wife' is something we are all familiar with even though I'm sure there is no such thing as a typical Vicar's wife. As a former Anglican myself, I know that each of the wives of the vicars I have known have each interpreted their role differently as in any other walk of life.

I realise I've been rambling on a bit. The main thing I wanted to say was a very warm welcome to both Robin Farrow (read more here) and Giles Pinnock (more here) and be assured of prayerful support from all your Catholic friends.

Happy Feast Day! . . .

Happy Feast Day everyone!

I'm just off to Mass to celebrate Our Lady's Birthday. I hope to catch up with blogging later today as it's my day off.

Meanwhile, enjoy . . .

Friday funnies . . .

If you're getting a bit fed up with pondering on 'the meaning of life, the universe and everything' you might like to consider some of the following philosophical questions I've just received from Sr Anastasia.

I'm surprised to find she has time for such weighty matters as my sources tell me she's currently participating in a national convention on Liturgy and the Eucharist chaired by a certain well-known Archbishop somewhere in the Indian sub-continent - the only woman on the steering committee, no less! Well, I'm impressed anyway.

To more serious matters . . . .

1. Is it good if a vacuum cleaner really sucks?

2. Why is the third hand on the watch called the second hand?

3. If a word is misspelled in the dictionary, how would we ever know?

4. Why does "fat chance" and "slim chance" mean the same thing?

5. Why do "tug" boats push their barges?

6. Doesn't "expecting the unexpected" make the unexpected expected?

7. Why are a "wise man" and a "wise guy" opposites?

8. Why do "overlook" and "oversee" mean opposite things?

9. Why is "phonics" not spelled the way it sounds?

10. If all the world is a stage, where is the audience sitting?

11. If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?

12. How come abbreviated is such a long word?

13. Why do we wash bath towels? Aren't we clean when we use them?

14. Why doesn't glue stick to the inside of the bottle?

15. Why do they call it a TV set when you only have one?

16. Christmas - What other time of the year do you sit in front of a dead tree and eat chocolate out of your socks?

St Gregory the Great . . .

I'm going to get in early with tomorrow's feast day - St Gregory the Great.

Here's a potted biography for those of you who, like me, know very little about this great Apostle of the English . . .

No wonder he turned out so well. With both his mother, St Silvia, and two aunts St Tarsilla and St Æmiliana, being canonised he was obviously surrounded by excellent role models.

He was born in Rome, the son of Gordianus, a wealthy senator, who later became one of the seven deacons of Rome. He was well educated and was appointed magistrate.

After the death of his father, he built six monasteries in Sicily and established a seventh in his own house in Rome, which became the Benedictine Monastery of St. Andrew. He lived here as a monk from 575 when he was 35 years old.

St. Gregory was chosen Pope by the unanimous consent of priests and people. He is known above all for his great contributions to the Liturgy of the Mass and Office. (Hence Gregorian Chant, I imagine.) He is one of the four great Doctors of the Latin Church. He died in 604 and is the Patron Saint of teachers.

Thanks to New Advent and Catholic Online for the information. More information may be found on their web sites here and here.

What day is it? . . .

I know I'm not the only one who finds Bank Holidays quite disorientating. It usually takes me until the Friday of the week following a Bank Holiday Monday to realise which day it is. Add to that the change of month and the end of the Summer holidays for the schools and I'm fast approaching chaos.

It's amazing how just turning the calendar over a page can make such a difference. August has passed at a wonderfully leisurely pace on the whole but today was busy, busy, busy; beginning with the extra traffic on the roads this morning.

I had wanted to write a few lines about some of the recent feast days but I'm afraid I've missed the boat.

Mac over at Mulier Fortis has an interesting post on Saint Anne Line whom she has taken as her Patron Saint.

It always makes me smile when I read in the ordo ' Sts Margaret Clitherow and Anne Line, married women . . . . , Martyrs.' It's almost as if being a married woman is a cause for canonisation and even martyrdom. I know sometimes some of us married women might agree with the sentiment! (Just joking, Dearest).

Belated Bank Holiday post . . .

I've been really struggling with our Internet connection lately hence the tardiness of this post which I began on Monday!

I thought as I'd given myself such a tough time putting together the slide show, I was going to inflict it on you anyway even though it is old news.

It was a lovely day as it turned out although we had decided that we'd go and visit Nymans regardless of the weather. 'Have kagoule, will travel' is one of my many mottos.

I know the soundtrack is rather 'cheesy' but I was having such a struggle uploading the slide show for some reason, I gave up trawling through my music library for a better choice.

Hope you enjoy the 'bootiful' flowers anyway.