Pushkin the Oratory Cat . . .

I've been asked to publicise this interview . It's not often that one is asked to promote a blog featuring an interview with a cat, albeit a very famous cat, at least in certain circles!

In any case, I'm happy to do so. Do please pop over to the Catholic Heritage blog and see for yourself.

Silent Sunday . . .

Alien invaders . . .

Standing chatting to my friend outside our house after our walk on Thursday, (the way only women can, even though they've been together chatting for the past few hours anyway!) my friend pointed to the top of a neighbour's beech tree and commented, 'Oh, no, look at that. Looks like we're being visited by green parakeets'

Straining my eyes I could make out what she was looking at perched at the top of the tree, and, as the bird flew away, I heard the squawking cry.

Over the last couple of days, as I've left or returned to the house, sure enough the new arrivals are definitely still around.

I had heard that these noisy invaders were not particularly welcome but wasn't sure why so I did a bit of 'googling' to find out.

Apart from the fact that they dominate the bird feeders in our gardens, I can imagine their squawking can soon become quiet annoying.

It's early days yet, so I'm reserving judgement until they chase away all the smaller birds from our garden.

They made a lovely splash of colour at any rate.

10 Reasons to go to Confession . . .

Thanks to the link from The Anchoress on Twitter for this blog post by Sr Mary Ann Walsh on Confession.

Amongst Sr Mary's ten reasons for going to Confession she includes; housekeeping for the soul, a balm for the desire for revenge, and free therapy!

Something that struck me as being particularly helpful was 'forced time to think'.

I find that making time for a good Examination of Conscience before I go to Confession is critical in making a good Confession and 'making the most of' the Sacrament. Not that I'm saying I always manage to achieve this but I try, and as in so many things, I find that the better the preparation, the better the result and when I've rushed the preparation, I'm not usually very satisfied with the end product.

There are innumerable resources 'out there' to help us with Confession but I think there's always room for another.

Surrey Villages . . .

Another super day off today. I went for walk with a friend around some really pretty villages in Surrey. So picturesque I couldn't resist taking a few photos.

How could anyone resist this idyllic scene at Shere?

The mill stream which runs under Gomshall Mill

And the entrance . . . They obviously don't take any prisoners!

Pretty houses and gardens everywhere . . .

And of course lovely old churches too . . . This one at Shere.

And back to Abinger Hammer where we started . . .

We stopped at one of my favourite haunts for re-fuelling of the edible kind - delicious toasted teacakes dripping with butter - definitely not a day for watching the calories!

Twitter - for the uninitiated . . .

Following a request for help on understanding Twitter from Clare over at Battlements of Rubies, I realise that explaining how Twitter works to the uninitiated is a bit like that old (but still very amusing) joke about explaining the rules of cricket to a foreigner.

When you first look into Twitter and what it's all about, if you're like me, you search for an account and look at their timeline (list of Tweets from the account holder in chronological order).

If you don't have an account yourself yet or have an account but are not 'following' many people then it looks like some sort of 'gobblydygook' as you will see a lot of disconnected statements some of which you can probably tell are replies to something or other.

To get the whole picture you need to be able to see the Tweets of the people the account holder is talking to.

Like many things, the best way to 'get it' is to set up an account and begin following people. As you become more familiar with how it works and more confident you'll find you naturally want to join in (at least, I think most people feel like that).

I would guess that most people have a spread of people they follow. A good starting point might be to add a few News sites like @BBCNews, @breakingnews and for Catholics how about @catholic herald, @lukecoppen @news_va_en? A lot of bloggers are also on Twitter; add some of your favourites to your 'following' list. You could add a few Twitter accounts of things you are particularly interested in; I follow a few sports sites; it might be politics (e.g. @number10gov), music, films, art galleries etc.

Twitter has jargon like any other social media. Here is a glossary of some of the more common terms. And here's the official Twitter version.

So, now you know your Tweeps from your twerps and your Followers from your stalkers, all you have to do is get Tweeting.

On the reception of Holy Communion . . .

I was very interested to see this item on the web site of the Diocese of Westminster on Friday. It is a note about a pastoral letter from Archbishop Nichols to be read/played at all the parishes in the Diocese this weekend.

In his pastoral letter, Archbishop Nichols talks about how we should receive Holy Communion. Obviously a particularly appropriate time for such a letter coming hot on the heels of First Holy Communions in many parishes, not just in Westminster but across England and Wales.

Above all Archbishop Nichols stresses the importance of reverence for the Blessed Sacrament.

He mentions that the liturgical norm is to receive Holy Communion in the hand and standing but also mentions that it is acceptable to receive on the tongue and kneeling

To me at least, the letter seems quite even-handed about this and if I were hearing the letter today, I would certainly not feel that I was being awkward or a nuisance if I wished to receive Holy Communion kneeling and on the tongue, even if in a minority in the parish. Not that anyone is made to feel this way in our parish, I hasten to add, but I gather that this does happen occasionally elsewhere.

I also like the fact that it is clearly stated that "Those who are not able to receive Holy Communion continue to share in that fruit, as expressed in the blessing they receive. They receive Christ in a spiritual communion."

You can read the complete letter here together with very helpful footnotes.

New kid on the block . . .

This is a bit of a name-check post!

Thanks to Elizabeth of Sussex for her comment on Mac's blog Mulier Fortis in which she recommends this blog by Charlie J.

It's called Chasubles and Chalices. Go and check it out.

It's the first blog of its kind that I've seen by anyone under 21. Great blog, Charlie!

That's all I wanted to say, really.

Hostia - A great video

I was lent a copy of the new video 'Hostia' from St Anthony Communications and, as I woke early this morning, I took advantage of the extra half an hour or so to watch it quietly before my day began.

Well, what a great start to the day. It really is an excellent video on the Eucharist.

Like the earlier videos from St Anthony Communications, it gives a very clear explanation of the Church's teaching on the subject. The commentary is accompanied by beautiful video clips of the the Mass very reverently celebrated by Fr Bruno Witchells.

I was particularly taken by the comments towards the end of the video, on adoration of the Blessed Sacrament during Adoration and Benediction.

It's odd how a remark made by someone about something you're already familiar with can make you see things from a different perspective, or at least emphasise something that you hadn't really thought about before.

I hadn't really looked at it like this before, but of course it's obvious when I think about it . . .

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the Monstrance during Benediction is an extension of the moment during the Mass when the priest elevates the Host.

During the Mass we only have a glimpse of Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament at this moment, whereas when the Blessed Sacrament is exposed in the Monstrance for a period of Adoration, we can really gaze at Jesus truly present in the Host in prayerful Adoration for an extended period of time. How fortunate we are!

If you have an opportunity to see this video, do take it. Perhaps you could put it on your wish list for a Birthday or Christmas.

Immaculate Heart of Mary . .

Today we celebrated the Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

There's something special about a weekday Mass. Whilst it's lovely to go to Mass on a Sunday with a full church in a very active parish - with all that entails; there's something about the silences of a Mass during the week that is very appealing.

Today's Mass was even more prayerful than usual. It's difficult to put one's finger on the reason for this. Sometimes I just feel that God is more tangibly present. I think it has something to do with the silences.

God is able to enter into our hearts much more easily in the silences than in the hustle and bustle. Or perhaps it's just me and that I find I'm more receptive and ready to listen and hear what God is saying to me in the silence.

Whatever the reason, I found myself so deep in prayer after Holy Communion this morning, I missed my cue to switch on the digital organ to play the pre-recorded final hymn. I just came back down to earth with a jolt when I noticed our parish priest about to leave the sanctuary to switch the machine on himself as the person he had designated to do so was lost in rapture!