One million copies of Papal Liturgies published . . .

I'm sure you've all see the item on the Papal Visit web site about the publication of one million copies of the booklet for parishes containing the texts for the public liturgies during the Papal Visit. The booklet has been published by the Bishops' Conference in conjunction with Gabriel Communications and Magnificat.

What interested me particularly was this note at the end of the news item,

"With this special issue for the Papal Visit, and beginning on a monthly basis in November, it is available for the first time with readings, texts and calendar appropriate for the British Isles."

Hooray! I don't know about other bloggers in England and Wales, but one of my pet peeves (I must admit, I do have few . . . ) is that there are so many marvellous resources 'out there' but nearly always you find the texts are those used by the USCCB.

I really like the convenience of iBreviary, iMissal etc. on my iPhone but I do wish that the texts of the prayers, psalms and so forth were the same as the ones that I am familiar with and have grown to love. I know it's only minor differences but it really grates to be saying, for example,

'Lord, now you let your servant go in peace . . ' as the opening line of the Nunc Dimittis rather than the familiar, 'At last, all-powerful Master . . . '

I have used the Magnificat booklet when on holiday in France and found it very helpful. When the introduction of the English version was heralded a while ago, I eagerly looked at the first edition thinking how useful it would be for people who didn't have their own Missal or Breviary but was disappointed to find it wasn't using the texts for England and Wales so would be quite confusing for parishioners trying to use it to follow public prayer such as Morning Prayer which we say before Mass every weekday in our parish.

I look forward to seeing the new and revised edition in November.

Feast of the Annunciation . . .

Looking at the calendar, there is a surprising number of Feasts that fall during Lent so we have plenty of days of joy to provide a bit of respite and lighten the mood of Lent.

Today's Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord is one of the most beautiful. It is such a significant feast after all. Where would be without Mary's willing acceptance of the role entrusted to her as Mother of Our Lord, Mother of the Church, our Mother?

The story of the message brought by an angel is so familiar to us that we almost take it for granted but what an incredible story it is.

I find it very difficult to imagine what it must have been like for a young girl in Mary's situation to hear the familiar (to us) words spoken by the angel Gabriel,

'Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you . . . '

And yet, such is Mary's faith, that she humbly accepts this with her response,

'I am the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me as you have said.'

Trying to think of modern day comparable situations just doesn't work. There are no comparable situations!

We are lucky where we live in that we can hear the Angelus bell from our local Catholic church which is still rung (albeit automatically) at noon and 6pm. Quite often on my day off I'm outside at midday coming back from a short walk or doing a bit of gardening and it's lovely to hear the bell and be able to quietly pray the Angelus.

The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:

And she conceived by the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee;

blessed art thou among women

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Behold the handmaid of the Lord:

Be it done unto me according to Thy word.

Hail Mary . . .

And the Word was made Flesh:

And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary . . .

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God,

that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray:

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord,

Thy grace into our hearts;

that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son,

was made known by the message of an angel,

may by His Passion and Cross

be brought to the glory of His Resurrection,

through the same Christ Our Lord.
Amen.