Today's Spiritual Exercise

Today's spiritual exercise - Make a list of all the things to be happy/grateful for . . .

A very good exercise for me as I know I am blessed in many ways but you'd never think so to hear me moaning on about nothing at every opportunity!

So-o-o-o- On my walk today, I gave it some serious thought.

There are so many things that make me happy, especially when I'm out walking.

Such as the fact that this view is just five minutes from our house and I pass it daily. I'm so very grateful that I can see nature and I'm not living in a 'concrete jungle'.

I love to see the first signs of Spring, like these snowdrops I passed on a bit of rough land.

And these crocuses in our own garden . . .

I am very grateful that I am well enough to be able to walk outside whenever I like, that my eyesight is good enough to let me see God's beautiful creation, my hearing is also good and allows me to hear the birds singing in the morning.

I am very fortunate in that I am free to roam and have a loving family who are happy to indulge me.

On a more mundane level, I am also grateful that I am able to own a phone with a camera that enables me to take photos when I'm out to post on my little blog.

As it says in a certain famous  song, 'these are a few of my favourite things' . . .

The list is endless and I am resolved to remind myself to 'count my blessings' next time I feel like having a moan!

Corpus Christi Processions . . .

I was fortunate enough to be able to participate in two Corpus Christi processions this year, one in my own home parish and also in the 'slightly' larger procession in central London from Farm Street Church to Spanish Place.

I don't know if it is just my imagination but there seems to have been an increase in the number of these processions lately; a re-awaking of popular piety perhaps?  I have absolutely no evidence for this, it is just a feeling based on the frequency of references on social media  to various processions taking place this year.

Lying in bed on Sunday evening, unable to sleep, despite being worn out from a long day in London, I had the possibly daft idea of trying to list these references just to get a feel for the number of processions that actually took place.

This will just be a fraction of the total number in England and Wales, and beyond, and naturally dependent on the people and places I follow on Twitter, Facebook etc.

If anyone feels aggrieved that their parish has been omitted, do please add a comment, and a link if possible and I will update the list in  a few days' time. Thank you.

I will try and add a link to a photo or  a website where possible rather than try and include lots of photos in this actual post.

Please note some processions took place on Thursday 4th June (no comment! :-)) and others on Sunday 7th June.

In no particular order . . . 

The Church of the Immaculate Conception, Farm Street to St James's Spanish Place via the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral

Brompton Oratory

The Church of the Most Precious Blood, Borough

Arundel Cathedral

Buckfast Abbey

St John the Baptist Church, Westerham

St Patrick's Church, Soho

The Dome of Home

Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Leigh-on-Sea

Chelmsford Catholic Community

St Ann's Church, Banstead

St Edmund's Church, Bury

Cardiff Cathedral

The Shrine of St Augustine, Ramsgate

Our Lady of the Rosary, Sidley

I know there are many, many more but this is just  a list of some that I've noticed.

Update on the letter posted here just before Easter.

Having resurrected my blog (sorry, maybe not a particularly apt term given the Liturgical season in which we find ourselves!) to post what I felt was an important letter, I feel I ought to just give a brief update for the sake of my reader and anyone else who might have been on a desert island or in some other way out of touch with things recently.

The letter was published in the Catholic Herald online and you can read it and the full list of names here.  You can also read an update of the situation on Ben Trovato's blog here and here and here.

Both these sites are of course well worth checking regularly anyway for their excellent articles. Plus naturally all the other blogs listed who published the letter and joined the appeal for signatures.

Now, I have been moved to remember how on earth this blog works (it took me a little while to remember how to access certain settings etc.) who knows, maybe I might feel tempted to post the odd item on here in the future . . . ?

In support of our priests, our families and our Church . . .

I haven't posted anything on this blog for 18 months but here is something that I feel can't be ignored  . . . 

Today, this blog and others are taking part in a somewhat unprecedented event. This post is going to appear on a good number of lay blogs in the UK, in an attempt to demonstrate the depth of support among the laity, for authentic Catholic teaching as expressed in the Magisterial teachings of the Catholic Church.

You may have seen the recent letter from more than 450 priests in support of the Church’s teaching on marriage.

We would like to invite you to sign the letter below, to be sent to the press in support of them, and to encourage others to sign it.

To sign, please leave your name and your diocese in the comments box below, or if you prefer email them to me or to one of the coordinators:
Mark Lambert (mark@landbtechnical.com) or Andrew Plasom-Scott (andrewplasom_scott@me.com)

We hope to demonstrate a groundswell of support for the priests who have stood firmly by us and Christ, a love of the Church, and a desire for sound doctrine and catechesis.

The Letter:


Dear Sir,

We, the undersigned, wish to endorse and support the letter signed by over 450 priests in the recent edition of the Catholic Herald.

As laity, we all know from our own family experiences, or those of our friends and neighbours, the harrowing trauma of divorce and separation, and we sympathise with all those in such situations.

It is precisely for that reason that we believe that the Church must continue to proclaim the truth about marriage, given us by Christ in the Gospels, with clarity and charity in a world that struggles to understand it.

For the sake of those in irregular unions, for the sake of those abandoned and living in accordance with the teachings of the Church, and above all for the sake of the next generation, it is essential that the Church continues to make it quite clear that sacramental marriage is indissoluble until death.

We pray, and expect, that our hierarchy will represent us, and the Church’s unwavering teaching, at the Synod this autumn.

Yours faithfully, 

A Day Out In London Town . . .

I haven't managed to get up to London for quite a while but today I put that right and had a lovely relaxing few hours in town.

I had two main things I wanted to do and I achieve them both easily. Firstly  I wanted to attend Mass at Westminster Cathedral and then to have a potter in the Catholic bookshops nearby.

I have so many photos of the Cathedral I didn't bother taking one today but I wish I had done so as it was such a glorious day.  As the saying goes, 'here's one I took earlier'. A very grey day, what a shame.

On previous trips I've usually managed to reach the cathedral just in time to see the 'Hawk Man' walking away with his charge but today not only was he in  full view but they were both very happy to pose for a photo or two.

And what a splendid hawk he is too . . .

I managed a good 'haul' in the CTS Bookshop plus a few bits and pieces in St Paul's so made my way home fairly early to enjoy some of the sunshine at home.

Some of the very useful booklets I bought for the parish:

We pass this iconic building every trip but I still think it is majestic.

Not bad taken from a moving train and through a far-from-clean window.  I love travelling on the train by myself, especially in the middle of the day when  it's quiet and I can sit and day dream.  I especially enjoy the transition from city grime to the green belt of the Surrey suburbs.

Nearly home here . . .

As I exit the station at my home stop the first thing that greets me is the bell tower of the local church.

They still ring the Angelus bell here and it's lovely to hear it at home on a quiet day, especially in the warm weather when the windows are open - it's as clear as a bell! (sorry, I couldn't resist that!)

New guidelines for the Celebration of the Sacred Liturgy in the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham . . .

It's my day off today and I just checked my Facebook news feed (as you do :-)) and what jumped out at me was the link to the new Guidelines for the Celebration of the Sacred Liturgy in the Ordinariate.

I'm off out to meet a friend for coffee and a catch-up session (again, the way you do!) but I had to just quickly skim the text of the guidelines as I had a feeling it would be good news.

Very briefly, a few points that stood out for me;

• The celebration of the Mass Ad Orientem is commended where the dynamic of the building allows for it.

• The Roman Canon is highly commended for use, not just on Sundays or solemnities.

This one, is a particular bug bear of mine so three cheers for the Ordinariate;

• "Preserving silence and due reverence before the tabernacle, and in the Church before and after liturgical worship is the duty of both the clergy and the faithful."

• The public, sung celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours before Mass and other times.

• Confession available before Mass.

• The Lectionary to be used is the RSV (Catholic, Second Edition) unless the congregation is predominantly a diocesan one.

And so much more . . .  You can read it all here.

I'll digest it all later but my first impressions are that the Ordinariate 'really get it!

A day off and a day out . . .

Today was my day off and as  I hadn't been up to London for ages I decided I'd have a day out and go to Mass at Westminster Cathedral and a mooch around the Catholic bookshops nearby.

In the cathedral I bumped into one of the Friars of the Renewal that I know from his visits to the parish.  Then after the beautiful Mass when I was browsing in the bookshops I bumped into one of the priests from a neighbouring parish at home.  The Catholic world is a small one!

As well as attending Mass, I love to spend some time with Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel.  It's amazing how close to the Lord one feels and how easily one forgets that the busy, bustling world is carrying on as usual just yards away.  Fantastic!

As I was on the train home, the sun suddenly burst through the clouds and I arrived home to see the garden bathed in sunshine.  I wanted to post a photo on Twitter of our camellia which has burst into bloom recently but for some reason Twitter wasn't cooperating so I thought I'd post a few snaps here . . .

One good thing about this long cold spell and the delay of the onset of Spring is that all the spring bulbs have lasted for ages.  These little tête-à-tête daffodils have been in bloom for weeks.

He is Risen, Alleluia!

Happy Easter everyone!

After a tiring but always uplifting Holy Week, we finally arrive at Easter, a fantastic celebration of Christ's power over death, and hope for us all.

Our Holy Week followed much the same pattern as it has always done for the past thirty years or so. That's not to say it's been 'boring' though I really don't like using that word in any context, and especially not in terms of Church or liturgy.

I love the way the week unfolds with a gradual building of expectation until we reach the climax of the Triduum at the Easter Vigil.

On Wednesday I was able to attend the Chrism Mass at Arundel Cathedral with our older son. That really is a marker for me; it really feels as if we are getting close by then . . .  It's very moving to see the long line of priests processing into the Cathedral at the beginning of Mass.  It really makes an impression seeing how many men have answered God's call to the sacred priesthood and is a reminder of how much we, the laity, owe to our priests. 

Maundy Thurday back in the parish, a hectic day in the office making sure all is ready; readers and EMOHC allocated, twelve people allocated for the Washing of the Feet etc.   Finally the beautiful Mass of the Lord's Supper itself.  There was a wonderful atmosphere in church, a deep reverent silence permeated the Mass.  The sight of our parish priest on his knees washing the feet of parishioners never fails to impress.

I love to join others watching at the Altar of Repose after Mass.  It's such a special time and a great privilege to be there with Our Lord.

Good Friday morning saw us once  again joining members of other churches locally to walk through the High Street in the Procession  of Witness.  We (I use the term loosely) carry a large wooden cross and pause at 'Stations' along the High Street for a brief mediation. We sing appropriate hymns between Stations.  It always makes me smile to see the description of the 'Stations' in the booklet.  Alongside the description of religious significance, you see things like ' Third Station, outside Marks and Spencer's'.  Try as I might I have never been able to find a booklet giving a meditation for the time Our Lord stopped outside Marks and Spencer's!

A brief break and then we return to church for the Liturgy of the Passion and Veneration of the Cross.  This is always the best attended of the liturgies of the Triduum and it's a great witness to see the seemingly endless procession of parishioners waiting to venerate the Cross.  The Church is far from dead!

We did manage to light the Paschal candle outside at the Easter Vigil despite the bitterly cold weather and the light dusting of snow on top of the cars.  Numbers seem to be reducing each year for the Vigil which is such a shame as it is such a magnificent liturgy and of course the highlight of our Easter celebrations and the Church's year.  I think many of our older parishioners don't like coming out in the evening and perhaps many of our younger ones have other things to do.

After Mass we joined others in the parish hall for the now-traditional glass of wine and simnel cake.  

Finally, I went back to the main morning Mass this morning with our son who was serving.  This Mass, as always, was absolutely packed with the gallery full and people standing at the back of the church - fantastic!

There was the usual scramble after Mass as the little ones rushed to claim their creme egg.  I managed to escape the scrum by doing a bit of tidying up in the church.

So, all in all, a wonderful Holy Week and Easter; beautiful liturgies and a truly joyful celebration.

He is truly Risen, Alleluia!

Ordinariate Chrism Mass . . .

I'm a great fan of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, probably something to do with the fact that I am a convert from the Anglican Church myself, and when I attend an Ordinariate liturgy it resonates with me and takes me back to my childhood.  Our older son also has great admiration for the Ordinariate and we both follow their news with interest.

Yesterdary, our son was fortunate enough to have some leave to use up and chose to take the day off and go up to Warwick Street for the Chrism Mass of the Ordinariate.  As usual, he came back full of enthusiasm and gave me a detailed account of his impressions.  I said to him, 'you should write that down, it's fascinating.'  So he did and here are his impressions of the day, written yesterday evening . . . 

This beautiful photo is 'borrowed' from the Ordinariate Flickr stream. There are lots more here.

"Earlier today, I attended the Chrism Mass of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham at the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption and St Gregory, Warwick Street, London.  I arrived at 10.55, knowing the Mass would start at 11.30, and the church was already almost full.  At least, the downstairs part of it was, excluding the pews at the sides reserved for priests.  Warwick Street has a gallery on three sides: the choir were in the gallery but there were others there too.  I found a place downstairs, on the right-hand side, in the third pew from the back, next to the central aisle.  It is a magnificent church, with a large mosaic of Our Lord crowning Our Lady, flanked by two angels and with a row of saints underneath.  I was pleased to see six large candlesticks on the remains of the high altar.  There were also six smaller candlesticks on the new altar.

I was surprised when a bell was rung at 11.15.  Priests started processing in, venerating the altar, and then filing into the pews that had been left empty for them.  The procession was headed by a cross, covered in a white veil tied with a violet ribbon.  The cross on the altar was likewise covered in a white veil tied with a violet ribbon.  Presumably white for the Chrism Mass but violet to remind us that we are still in Lent.  Then everyone sat down and the procession of the servers, deacons, Ordinary and Apostolic Nuncio began at 11.30.  The Apostolic Nuncio was the principal celebrant.  The Ordinary and the Nuncio were both wearing mitres.  The Nuncio alone carried a pastoral staff.  The Ordinary's mitre was plain white but big enough to reflect the dignity of his office.  It was thus a genuine example of noble simplicity (a phrase sometimes misused to justify opposition to beautiful vestments and liturgical furnishings).  The MC was Father James Bradley.

There were three hymns for the congregation: we began with Praise to the Holiest in the heightand ended with Lift high the cross.  During the distribution of Holy Communion, we sang Just as I am, without one plea.

We had an excellent choir singing Schubert's Mass in G.  We stood for the beginning of the Gloria but, after the first few words, the Nuncio sat down and so did everyone else.  (This is also a common practice at High or Sung Masses in the Extraordinary Form.)

The Ordinary began his homily with a quotation from the Ordinariate's patron, Blessed John Henry Newman, who had said, "... were St Athanasius or St Ambrose in London now, they would go to worship, not at St Paul's Cathedral, but to Warwick Street and Moor Fields."  The congregation enjoyed that, as Warwick Street church has been dedicated to the Ordinariate.  I enjoyed it for that reason and another: St Mary Moorfields is used by, amongst others, the Latin Mass Society, including for the Easter Triduum.

We had Eucharistic Prayer I, mostly read by the Nuncio alone but with some parts spoken by other individual priests and the words of consecration spoken by all the priests.  The blessing of the oil of the sick took place within this prayer, towards the end.

Deacons carried hosts to the concelebrant priests so they could all receive Communion at the same time.  The deacons then carried chalices from pew to pew of the priests' sections of the church.  For the laity, Holy Communion was under one kind only, received kneeling at the rails.  I received from the Nuncio and, as far as I could see, so did all the lay people receiving Communion at the rail on the right.  As far as I could see, all those receiving Communion at the rail on the left did so from the Ordinary.

After the prayer after Communion, we had the blessing of the oil of catechumens and the consecration of the chrism.  After the Nuncio had poured balsam into the oil that was to become the chrism, it appeared to me that the Nuncio was about to pour some into the oil of catechumens (which would have been a mistake) but was stopped by Fr James Bradley.

The Nuncio said how pleased he was to be there and how much he had enjoyed the singing.  He also said he hoped to be there again next year and that, having already hosted one fundraising event at the Nunciature for the Ordinariate, he hoped to do so again.  He also assured people that both Benedict XVI and Pope Francis were supportive of the Ordinariate.

There was only one procession at the end of Mass.  The Nuncio blessed people both during the entrance procession and again on his way out.  Many people genuflected to him.

I had been surprised that the consecration of the chrism and blessing of the other oils had not taken place at the end of the Liturgy of the Word, as that is what I remembered happening at the Chrism Masses of our own diocese that I had attended in previous years at Arundel Cathedral.  When I got home, I checked The CTS New Daily Missal and read, "In accord with traditional practice, the blessing of the Oil of the Sick takes place before the end of the Eucharistic Prayer, but the blessing of the Oil of Catechumens and the consecration of the Chrism take place after Communion.  Nevertheless, for pastoral reasons, it is permitted for the entire rite of blessing to take place after the Liturgy of the Word."  So, the Ordinariate is simply following the traditional practice, which is still permitted and actually mentioned in the Missal before the alternative.  (I wonder what the pastoral reasons are for the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton not following the traditional practice.)

The one disappointment was that, although there was perfect silence before Mass, some people started talking as soon as Mass was over.

In general, I was very impressed with the high standard of the liturgy.  Everything was done with very great care and reverence, exactly as it should be, but in a way that seemed entirely natural.  The rubrics were followed, not for their own sake but for the sake of acting according to the mind of the Church.  I believe the Ordinariate has the potential to be a very positive influence on the Catholic Church in England and Wales if only enough cradle Catholics become aware of how they do things!"

Bye - been nice knowing you . . . And thanks for everything . .

I've been toying the with the idea of closing this blog for ages. I hardly every write anything on it nowadays. It seems a bit pointless to just add some inane post once in a blue moon merely to keep the illusion of being an active blogger.

I really enjoyed it when I began but really feel I have nothing useful to add at the moment.

If I feel moved to ever start blogging again, I think I would rather start afresh with a completely new blog, probably with different content.

I have really appreciated the support from other bloggers. I know one or two have even kindly added my blog to their blog rolls so obviously now is the time to remove the link. Thanks.

I'll still be around on Twitter @idlerambler and promise to keep checking on all the blogs of those I have always followed.

After the Derby . . .

I expect most people have seen shots of the Epsom Derby on the news recently. You don't have to be a racing enthusiast to know about the Derby, especially as this year it marked the beginning of the Celebrations for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

Living fairly close to Epsom, we take these scenes for granted . . .

I always find it interesting to walk down to the racecourse a day or so after the race meeting to see how the area is being tidied up and getting back to normal.

I had a lovely walk today and took a few photos. It's not quite the tranquil scene of rolling downland that I usually see on my drive home but it's getting there . . .

Interesting too that it seems to be the porta-loos that seem to be amongst the last of the temporary buildings to be removed.

A rather forlorn-looking Tote booth and starting stalls that don't look anywhere near as impressive as when they were in use on Saturday.

By this time, the sun had come out and I began to wander home, walking along the road that runs alongside the downs and enjoying the beautiful views.

What a shame we didn't have this sort of weather for the River Pageant yesterday . . .

I was mistaken for a nun today . . . !

I often stop for a coffee in our local shopping centre after work as a way of re-charging my batteries before tackling the shopping and other chores. Being a 'regular' obviously the staff have got to know me a little.

The majority of the staff are Portuguese and are delightful; always ready to help carry someone's tray if they're elderly or disabled or are struggling with babies and toddlers. They always have a kind word and a smile for the disadvantaged folk one often finds sipping a cup of tea in these sorts of places; those from the local care-in-the-community homes etc. and . . . poor old dears like me, of course!

Coming straight from work, I'm usually dressed in what I think of as typical office wear; smart-ish (I hope) work dress or skirt and blouse and sensible court shoes.

Paying for my coffee we exchanged a few words, as usual. I was asked if I worked in the church. Some of the staff know that I do. I replied that I did. 'Are you a nun?' came the response. Resisting the urge to laugh out loud, I replied that no, I was not a nun but worked in the office.

Of course if nuns dressed like this . . .

or this . . .

or, again like this . . .

then we'd all know where we were, wouldn't we? Just a thought . . .

Excuse for a few piccies . . . !

Here's one of those brief random posts I was talking about . . .

Today is my day off and I paid a long-overdue visit to the garden centre to get some bedding plants and other bits and pieces.

Our local garden centre, like many others nowadays, is a day out in itself. It boasts 3 coffee shops, outdoor areas for garden ornaments, gardening accessories, compost etc.; a designated area for barbecues, garden furniture, hot-tubs etc.; a plethora of candles, smelly things, outdoor clothing, china and kitchen accessories; and . . . oh, yes, if you look hard enough you can also find plants!

I looked at my watch whilst having my coffee and found it was approaching midday and time for the Regina Caeli. Here's where I prayed today.

A few friends looked on with curiosity . . .

And I couldn't resist this shot. Wheelbarrows for the girlies . . .

So all I have to do now is get cracking and pot up the bedding and do a massive tidy up in the garden. I'll let you know how I get on . . .

Back again - maybe . . .

It's almost 5 months since I posted anything on this blog, and I'd more or less decided that my blogging days were over, at least for a long while but it seems that there have been several occasions recently when I've been thinking, 'Oh, I could have blogged about that'.

So, I thought I'd just make contact again with the blogosphere and see if anyone out there still remembers me . . .

I have always said that this is not a Catholic blog but rather a blog written by someone who happens to be a Catholic.

I started this blog originally as way of communicating and sharing news with friends and family, especially as we have a lot of family in far-flung parts and don't see much of them.

Looking back, I noticed that I was blogging more and more about my faith and religion-related items. I think this is probably related to the way I'm becoming increasingly 'engaged' with my faith and what is happening locally and universally in the Catholic Church.

Recently, I've joined a group of people praying the Angelus (or Regina Caeli) on Twitter. No, I haven't lost my marbles. It really does happen and is very prayerful and supportive to know that others are praying with you.

Interestingly, I looked back at some of my old posts and found that I have posted about the Angelus at least once a year for the past few years. If you click on the Angelus label underneath this post you'll see the posts in question. No great theological insights just my thoughts at that particular time.

I think I will try and post a bit more often again. This is not going to suddenly turn into a 'Catholic blog' after all but I reserve the right to post now and again on a 'Catholic' or 'Religious topic'

There will still, I hope, be room for quite random posts and of course for garden-related ones too, although the garden has been sadly neglected of late.

I think that's enough for now and I must go and get ready for the Regina Caeli . . .

In deepest Winter - signs of Spring . . .

We're hearing a lot at the moment about how mild this Winter has been so far (careful, we've a way to go yet . . . ) and I can certainly say that according to our garden, Spring is already trying to put in an appearance.

I took these few shots on a lovely sunny day - Bank Holiday Monday (2nd January). Our camellia is a mass of buds, many ready to burst as the one above which has already opened.

It looks as if these daffs by the front door will be open well in time for St David's Day . . .

I know Browning is not to everybody's taste and can be a bit sentimental but when I come home after a hard day and I see these flowers shooting ahead, it really makes me think, 'God's in His heaven - All's right with the world!'

The year's at the spring

And day's at the morn;

Morning's at seven;

The hillside's dew-pearled;

The lark's on the wing;

The snail's on the thorn;

God's in His heaven -

All's right with the world!

~Robert Browning

A different perspective . . .

Well, we've been and 'gorn' and done it, as the saying goes. For years I've been threatening to drag the family away for a few days at Christmas and after 30 years of hosting the family Christmas, we took the plunge and decided to spend Christmas away from home.

Not sun-soaked beaches for us, or alpine resorts but a lovely, comfortable, peaceful cottage a few miles from Salisbury and within driving distance of the New Forest for our Boxing Day walk.

Overall I think it was very much a success. Of course we missed being in the parish for Midnight Mass and exchanging Christmas greetings with all our friends there but we went to a lovely Midnight Mass in Salisbury and it was quite nice for a change to be the 'visitors' in the parish rather than the 'welcomers'.

We had booked the cottage on the internet but it was even better in reality than in the photos and description on the web site. We had lots of space for just the four of us and everything was provided - just down to us to provide and cook the Christmas lunch. Luckily all my 'menfolk' are always very willing and helpful in the kitchen so it worked very well.

I don't know that I would like to do this every year but it was the most relaxing Christmas for quite a while.

On the way home we stopped for a good look around Salisbury Cathedral and I couldn't help smiling to myself when the Cathedral guide took us to the tomb of St Osmond and explained what an important part he had to play in the building of the original Cathedral at Old Sarum and in the formation of the Sarum use and rite.

I say I smiled to myself, as the previous evening we had been to Midnight Mass in the Catholic church opposite the Cathedral which is dedicated to St Osmond. I wonder what the saint in question would have thought of the strange situation where his remains are laid to rest in the Anglican cathedral on one side of the road whilst Mass is being celebrated in the Roman Rite on the other side of the road in a church dedicated to his memory.

Rose vestments? . . . You bet!

Gaudete in Domino semper. (Rejoice in the Lord always)

I really enjoy Gaudete Sunday, as indeed we are supposed to. What's not to like about rejoicing?!

It does make a difference having the 'proper' rose-coloured vestments. We will have beautiful flowers in church again tomorrow after a bare-looking sanctuary for the past couple of Sundays, and I'm sure we shall have some lovely joyful hymns too.

It does us all good to have this Sunday of joyful encouragement to persevere with our spiritual preparations for the arrival of Our Saviour at Christmas

It's very tempting to get out the decorations and the lights etc. etc. and get into the full swing of Christmas as many of our neighbours here seem to be doing already but we still have two more full weeks to wait. I am happy to focus on Advent for a while longer. We have our Advent wreath at home and shall light the rose-coloured candle tomorrow.

I do like the quote from Pope Benedict in the CTS Sunday Missal that introduces tomorrow's Mass (at least it does in my version of the Missal. I assume it is the same for all editions).

"What does 'the Lord is at hand' mean? In what sense must we understand this 'closeness' of God? The Church, illumined by the Holy Spirit, already at that time understood increasingly better that God's 'closeness' is not a question of space and time but rather of love: love brings people together! This coming Christmas will remind us of this fundamental truth of our faith and in front of the manger we shall be able to savour Christian joy contemplating in the newborn Jesus the Face of God who made himself close to us out of love."

NB. Photo above is of last year's wreath as we shan't light our 'rose' candle until tomorrow, although as it's past time for Vespers I suppose we could light it now.

Updating my blog list . . .

I have just discovered that this little blog appears on the blog list of two other Catholic bloggers.

I naturally wish to repay the compliment and have thus now added two more excellent blogs to my own list. Do please pop over to Porta Caeli and Linen on the Hedgerow and see what they have to say.

The Angelus . . .

I always consider myself very fortunate in that we can hear the Angelus bell of our local church from inside our house.

This evening ours was a very quiet household, not that we're particularly noisy at the best of times. I was sitting at the computer, the Pater Familias was similarly quiet and Our Eldest was not yet home from work.

6pm and the bell rang out clearly three times. Occasionally I also hear it at midday on my day off if I'm at home or in the garden or walking around locally.

I love this sound. It sums up so much for me in just the three rings of the bell.

I love that it reminds me of the continuity of our faith. I always picture the famous Millet painting of the workers in the field pausing in their work to pray this simple prayer.

I too, can easily pause in whatever I am doing to spend the few minutes it takes to pray the Angelus prayer.

I was prompted to do a little research as I know very little about the origins of the Angelus.

The prayer in the form we know it today dates from the first half of the Sixteenth Century but the practice of reciting the Hail Mary three times in a row daily dates from at least the Twelfth Century. St Anthony of Padua strongly recommended it, and St Bonaventure, amongst others.

The ringing of a bell was introduced at this time so that all the faithful would know that after Compline it was time to recite the Hail Mary.

Pope Sixtus IV in 1475 endowed the recitation of the Angelus at noon with an indulgence, and this was extended by Pope Leo X to those who recited it in the morning, at noon and in the evening.

It is of course particularly relevant during Advent as we prepare for Our Lord's coming at Christmas as it is a devotion based on the Annunciation, the message of the Incarnation delivered by the Angel to Mary.

Woohoo, it's arrived . . . !

I had a lovely surprise when I got home from work on Saturday - a parcel from CTS containing . . . . yes, you guessed it, my new Sunday Missal!

I had put this on my birthday list a few weeks ago although I knew it would not be available until now. I had my fingers crossed that it might have been ordered by someone and true enough the Pater Familias has come up trumps again.

I can't wait to have a really good look at it. It is a beautiful book and I shall treat it with great care whilst making sure I use it. I do believe books are for reading no matter how beautiful they might be.