Out with the Old and in with the New . . .

Ooh, I was so excited this morning. I was up at the crack of dawn to get to church for Mass this morning.

Our Parish Priest has decided to begin using the New Translation of the Missal at the weekday Masses this week to help ease the transition into using the new translation for everyone this coming Sunday.

Being a Bank Holiday, there were fewer than usual at Mass this morning, probably not many more than a dozen of us.

We were all clasping our new Order of Mass sheets, eager to join in with the new responses on cue.

Our PP has been gradually introducing some of the new texts over the past few weeks so the regular parishioners should already be familiar with some of them. I have been saying some of the basic new responses such as 'and with your spirit' and 'Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof but only say the word and my soul shall be healed' under my breath too to try and get them into my head so that they become automatic.

As several other people have commented, one of the positive side-effects of the new translation is that it makes one much more aware of the words being spoken, both by the celebrant and the congregation. It's interesting how much of the liturgy is so ingrained in our minds that just a few minor alterations, make one's ears prick up and many heads were lifted today when the old, familiar words were replaced with new, and usually, more fitting ones.

Today, our priest used the First Eucharist Prayer which I think is the most beautiful anyway, but it was so very meaningful because every word made a mark today, at least for me.

I must say, I think we acquitted ourselves very well for a first attempt. Hopefully by Friday, we'll all be beginning to feel a little more at home with the new translation and be able to give a bit of a lead to others on Sunday.

Perhaps the real challenge will be to see how we get on with the Gloria and the Creed which of course we don't say during the week.

The Devil's Punchbowl - revisited . . .

Sometimes on a Sunday we manage to drive a little further afield and enjoy a day's outing with a bit of a walk and a bite to eat.

We haven't been to The Devil's Punchbowl in Hindhead since the opening of the new A3 Hindhead by-pass with the amazing tunnel.

Being a typical female, I must admit I don't usually get terribly excited about new roads, tunnels etc. but I was curious to see how access to the National Trust car park at the Devil's Punchbowl might be affected. Also being married to a civil (most of the time) engineer - sorry, couldn't resist that old chestnut - who for at least some of his working life was involved in similar projects it seemed like a good idea.

The tunnel was very impressive actually; lighter and airier than most road tunnels I've been in before. The old A3 road which ran alongside the Devil's Punchbowl Café is being returned to nature so that Hindhead Common is reunited with the Devil's Punchbowl. The road now stops just after the entrance to the car park. It's very odd driving practically up to the end of a previously very busy road which now just ends abruptly with temporary barriers. It seems to work well enough though and the car park was full as usual so the disruption doesn't appear to have deterred people from visiting this beautiful spot which is a haven for wildlife and walkers.

I didn't think to take any photos inside the tunnel but I found this video on YouTube of a Ferrari going through the tunnel. I'm afraid the only way we're going to drive through in a Ferrari is in our imagination.

The heather was really beautiful, a sea of subtly different shades of lilac and purple. We obviously picked the optimum time to see it.

Our route also took us past some friendly-looking highland cattle.

The Café came up trumps with Bangers and Mash; we had an enjoyably tiring walk and managed to miss the showers. I think I can say, a jolly good time was had by all.

An Armchair Pilgrim . . .

Photo Credit: Madrid11_en

I've been so busy following World Youth Day on Social Media and the live streaming on the Internet, I haven't had time to blog about it at the same time.

As one who is well past 'Youth' I nevertheless found it an amazing experience. It was so uplifting, so encouraging and so energising to see so many young people from all around the world who are enthusiastic about their faith.

I found all the liturgies very moving in different ways; from the exuberance of the opening Mass to the amazing closing Mass and of course the Vigil and Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. To see over a million youngsters in the aerodrome at Cuatro Vientos and the transformation from a jubilant carnival-like atmosphere having welcomed Pope Benedict, to a sea of silently adoring youngsters on their knees as the Blessed Sacrament was exposed in the amazing monstrance was a truly incredible sight.

I could go on and on . . . The beautiful Stations of the Cross with the transportable Pasos; the Holy Father struggling against the buffeting winds of the storm at Cuatro Vientos (it looked as if all four winds were making their presence felt); the young people so happy to be there with Pope Benedict that they seemed quite oblivious of the downpour; the beautiful singing of the Gospel at the Welcoming Liturgy by Ordinariate Deacon James Bradley etc. etc.

There are many videos, photos and blogs of the whole World Youth Day event in Madrid but it's interesting to hear some of the statistics now in the calm which has descended.

2,000,000 participants . . . 14,000 priests . . . 800 bishops . . . 192 nations . . .

Feast of the Assumption . . .

Time for a video, I think. I hope you enjoy this as much as I do.

I saw this quote from Pope Benedict XVI on the website Women for Faith and Family.

"By contemplating Mary in heavenly glory, we understand that the earth is not the definitive homeland for us either, and that if we live with our gaze fixed on eternal goods we will one day share in this same glory and the earth will become more beautiful. Consequently, we must not lose our serenity and peace even amid the thousands of daily difficulties. The luminous sign of Our Lady taken up into Heaven shines out even more brightly when sad shadows of suffering and violence seem to loom on the horizon.

"We may be sure of it: from on high, Mary follows our footsteps with gentle concern, dispels the gloom in moments of darkness and distress, reassures us with her motherly hand. Supported by awareness of this, let us continue confidently on our path of Christian commitment wherever Providence may lead us. Let us forge ahead in our lives under Mary's guidance".

— Pope Benedict XVI, General Audience at Castel Gandolfo Aug. 16, 2006

I don't think I could improve on what Our Holy Father has to say so I'll leave it at that!

29 days and counting . . .

Well, I'm ready, are you?

One of the reasons I went up to the 'big bad city' on my day off the other week was to have a mooch around the CTS bookshop and St Paul's Bookshop by the cathedral.

Of course the main reason was to spend the day with Our Youngest and give his new abode the once-over, but the bookshop thing was also quite important.

As soon as I saw the Order of Mass book that Our Eldest had received through the post, I reverted to my childhood and almost stamped my foot and said, à la Violet Elizabeth Bott, I want one, I want it now and if I don't get one 'I'll sthcream and sthcream 'till I'm thick!'

No need for any screaming, you'll be pleased to know. I came home with several useful little booklets including those pictured above. Now I'm counting the days until the first Sunday in September when we begin using the New Translation of the Missal.

Lazy Summer's Afternoon . . .

I love my garden . . .

Sorry, I couldn't bear to leave any out . . .