Chesterton Knew The Importance of Ecumenical Dialogue

Chesterton Knew The Importance of Ecumenical Dialogue

Saturday 30 October 2010

Urgent, Pro-Death Rally Today


"There is going to be an anti-life rally against 40 Days for Life at the abortuary in Whitfield St, London, W1T 5BE today 2-4pm. We need as many Pro-Life people there as we can. Please come and pray! God bless! Please pass on this text."

There, I have passed it on. If you cannot be there please pray that the 40 Days for Life continues to go well, today is day 39.
Photo of a Deacon and a Pro-Lifer praying as part of the 40 Days. Thanks to Good Counsel for the photo.

Bishop To Say Old Rite Mass In Most Precious Blood Cathedral


On Saturday 6th November at 2.00 pm The Rt Rev. John Arnold, Auxiliary Bishop in Westminster, will celebrate Pontifical High Mass of Requiem, followed by Absolutions at the Catafalque.

WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL of THE MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, Victoria St, London SW1.

Friday 29 October 2010

Pro-Life Vigil Saturday 30th October


PROCESSIONAL PRAYER VIGIL LED BY THE FRANCISCAN FRIARS OF THE RENEWAL AND WITH FULL POLICE CO-OPERATION

The next vigil at MARIE STOPES ABORTION CENTRE, WHITFIELD STREET, W1T 5BE, will be held:

ON 30TH OCTOBER, 2010.

FROM ST. CHARLES BORROMEO, 8 OGLE STREET, W1W 6HS

TIMES (APPROX.) ARE AS FOLLOWS:

9.00AM HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS AT ST. CHARLES BORROMEO CHURCH
9.50AM PRAYERFUL AND PEACEFUL PROCESSION TO MARIE STOPES ABORTION CENTRE PROCESSING
WITH IMAGE OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE, HOLY ROSARY AND HYMNS
11.30AM RETURN PROCESSION WITH PRAYERS AND HYMNS
12.00PM BREAK FOR TEA AND GET TOGETHER. PLEASE BRING PACKED LUNCH

Directions: Tube – Goodge Street, Northern Line. From Stn. turn into Tottenham Street then right into Cleveland Street and cross over for Foley Street, then first on the right for Ogle Street.

PLEASE JOIN US – YOU REALLY DO MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE.
AND PLEASE TRY TO BRING SOMEONE WITH YOU.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE UNABLE TO JOIN THE PROCESSION VIGIL, PLEASE BE WITH US SPIRITUALLY.

THE HELPERS OF GOD’S PRECIOUS INFANTS is an international pro-life group founded by Msgr. Philip Reilly of New York. Our main apostolate is prayer vigils at abortion facilities.

Our trained pavement counsellors are available to speak with those
who are considering abortion or to offer redemptive post-abortion help.

Five Cardinals and over 100 Bishops participate including: Bishops
Thomas McMahon, Brentwood, John Hines, Southwark, and
Arthur Roche, Leeds.

The spirituality is one of solidarity with Jesus: “Whatever you do for the least of these My brethren, you do for Me.” Matt.25:40

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
THE HELPERS OF GOD’S PRECIOUS INFANTS
P.O. BOX 26601, LONDON, N14 7WH
Telephone: 020 8252 3109
E-mail: info@hgpi.co.uk
Web: http://www.hgpi.co.uk/

Wednesday 27 October 2010

Only 6,680 People Have Viewed This Video

I found this video on a blog by Claz, who says that it made her weep. It is very sad, but it is also very sad that only 6,680 people have seen it. I think that we need a lot more weeping now to avoid 'weeping and gnashing of teeth' later.
After you have seen it contact The Good Counsel Network and The Helpers of God's Precious Infants to see what you can do to help. Do let others know of this video.

43rd Year Of Shame


43 years ago today politicians in England passed the Abortion Act.

Please Pray & Fast for the end of abortion.

Please come and pray at an abortuary.

Monday 25 October 2010

Hacker Enters Ecumenical Diablog


I have hacked in to Ecumenical Diablogger's site to wish him a very happy birthday today! And to ask for some special birthday prayers from all his readers please. Many thanks!

Mrs Ecumenical Diablogger

Happy St Crispian's Day


Today is the 595th anniversary of the Battle of Agincourt. Immortalised by Henry V speech in Shakespeare's play;

WESTMORELAND. O that we now had here
But one ten thousand of those men in England
That do no work to-day!
KING. What's he that wishes so?
My cousin Westmoreland? No, my fair cousin;
If we are mark'd to die, we are enow
To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer men, the greater share of honour.
God's will! I pray thee, wish not one man more.
By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,
Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
Such outward things dwell not in my desires.
But if it be a sin to covet honour,
I am the most offending soul alive.
No, faith, my coz, wish not a man from England.
God's peace! I would not lose so great an honour
As one man more methinks would share from me
For the best hope I have. O, do not wish one more!
Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host,
That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart; his passport shall be made,
And crowns for convoy put into his purse;
We would not die in that man's company
That fears his fellowship to die with us.
This day is call'd the feast of Crispian.
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam'd,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian.'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispian's day.'
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember, with advantages,
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words-
Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester-
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.

(Sorry if that is a bit long for some of my younger readers, here is a video of it.)

I cannot help, but think of this speech when standing with the few, the happy few at a abortuary. So do not stay a-bed, but get ye to thy nearest abortuary and pray!

Friday 22 October 2010

Latin Mass Society Chaplain to Pray at Abortuary Today


Fr Andrew Southwell, Chaplain of the Latin Mass Society, will lead prayers today at marie stopes abortuary, 108 Whitfield St, London W1T 5BE . As part of the 40 Days for Life Prayer Vigil Father will lead the faithful in praying between 3 and 5pm . You are, of course, more than welcome to join him at that time, but if you are unable to do so you are welcome to come any day 8am to 8pm until the 31st October.

It is hoped that thie Vigil will continue on a regiular basis even after the 40 Days have ended, contact the Good Counsel Netowrk for details, info@goodcounselnetwork.freeserve.co.uk.

It can be said without a doubt that attending a Prayer Vigil at an abortuary will help save lives.

Thursday 21 October 2010

Old Rite Calendar


Tuesday 19 October 2010

St Raphael's (Pro-Life) Ball - At Credit Crunch Prices


The Good Counsel Network is organising a St Raphael's Credit Crunch Ball on Saturday 30th October 2010, with all the money raised going directly to saving more unborn lives. Please see the details at the bottom of this blog and why not join us in the pre-ball novena to St Raphael for happy meetings.

It's a credit crunch ball for the recession era, with great food - a two course meal - and live music. We've cut the price but not the quality of the food or entertainment.

Tickets: An amazing £40 per person, £70 for a couple, group of four £130, group of six £200.
Date: Saturday 30th October 2010
Time: Arrive at 7pm. Finish at 11pm
Location: St James' Spanish Place, Catholic Church Hall, 22 George St, London
Nearest tube: Baker St and Bond St stations.

Please let them know as soon as possible if you would like to come, and if anyone is coming with you, by email at info@goodcounselnetwork.freeserve.co.uk , by phone on 0207 723 1740, or by post to The Good Counsel Network, P.O. Box 46679, London, NW9 8ZT.
Please make cheques payable to 'Good Counsel Network'

They need to know by at least 27th October to book your ticket.

Monday 18 October 2010

Urgent; Please respond to UK government consultation seeking to promote abortion


I lifted this from John Smeaton's blog.

Paul Tully (pictured), SPUC's General Secretary, is appealing to pro-lifers in Britain and worldwide to participate on a UK government consultation - the clear aim of which is to promote abortion overseas. Paul writes:

The UK Department for International Development is promoting abortion in a new public consultation – please respond urgently, whether you're in the UK or abroad. The deadline for consultation responses is 20 October.

Please go to this page: http://consultation.dfid.gov.uk/maternalhealth2010/ then click the links in either or both of the boxes:
"People around the world: Take our survey" (This leads to a ‘surveymonkey’ online survey) and "Development partners: Have your say" (this will lead to a set of questions to which people can respond with comments – scroll to the bottom of the comments displayed to add your comment.)

If you can, please respond to both of these sets of questions.

As you will see, the issues of abortion and contraception dominate the approach to reproductive health in this consultation.

The consultation mentions some positive measures (like early breastfeeding) to reduce infant mortality, but does not mention measures that protect maternal health such as promoting marriage and stable families, continence and responsible sexual behaviour. Nor is there any effort to help people resist unsafe practices like pre-marital sex, promiscuity or prostitution. The survey also presumes that abortion can be “safe” for women – whereas it always carries risks.

Please respond to this consultation before Wednesday (20th October), and encourage others to do so too.

Further information that may be helpful in responding to the consultation:

A short briefing on maternal death and the Millennium Development Goals:
http://www.spuc.org.uk/campaigns/un/matmorbrief201008

A useful British Medical Journal article, pointing out that rising rates of maternal death in southern Africa are largely due to HIV: http://www.bmj.com/content/341/bmj.c5068.full (This article also cites Margaret Chan of WHO, saying that training midwives and improving healthcare facilities are the effective measures being taken to reduce maternal deaths.)

American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynaecologists letter about maternal mortality, Millennium Development Goal 5 and human rights: http://www.c-fam.org/docLib/20091217_AAPLOG.pdf

A WHO article which does not distinguish between spontaneous abortion (miscarriage) and induced abortion, but suggests that maternal deaths due to abortion are overestimated in surveys where the data is of poor quality: http://centre.icddrb.org/images/WHO_Analysis_of_Causes_of_Maternal_Death_-_Khan_&_co..pdf

Saturday 16 October 2010

"Yn Lle Allol, Trestyl Trist", St Richard Gwyn


St. Richard Gwyn, a Welsh teacher and father of six children who was executed in 1584 for recusancy [refusal to attend Protestant services], looked upon the desecrated sanctuaries of Wales and remarked with sadness: "Yn lle allol; trestyl trist" (In place of an altar, there is a miserable table.) Tomorrow the 17th October is his Feast Day, so let us say Introibo ad altare Dei, once again.

Friday 15 October 2010

Blood Money Film in London


The 27th October is the anniversary of the abortion act being passed in London in 1967, so please pray & fast that day for the end of abortion, come and pray at marie stopes abortuary and then go to the cinema.

40 Days For Life have acquired the right to screen the UK Premiere of the film documentary Blood Money. This exclusive event will be on Wednesday 27th October at 6.30pm. Tickets will sell very fast for this event. Each ticket costs £10 and includes £15 worth of free resources including a book, booklet and free magazine as well as other free pro life resources, given at the event itself.

To reserve a ticket for this event, please email 40daysforlifelondon@gmail.com stating how many tickets you would like to reserve, your name and phone number. This reservation will only be confirmed after purchase of the ticket.

You can watch the trailer of this stunning and utterly inspiring film here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYaTywSDmls

Blood Money

As part of the 40 Days for Life London campaign of prayer, fasting, witness and outreach to end abortion in the UK, we are showing the UK premiere of a stunning and inspirational new documentary. With personal testimonies of women who have had abortions and personal testimonies of abortion clinic staff, the film brings home the reality of abortion and its effects on real people. It ends on a note of hope. The film will be preceeded by a short presentation by Robert Colquhoun, Campaign Director, 40 Days for Life, London. There will be opportunity for discussion after the film.

Wednesday 27th October 6:30pm

Coronet Cinema, Notting Hill, W11 3LB

Nearest Tube: Notting Hill

Tickets £10. Price includes £15 worth of resources. For tickets, call 07832 113614 or email 40daysforlifelondon@gmail.com

Thursday 14 October 2010

Hobbit Takes On Sauron, Marie Stopes


Further to my post Frodo Baggins To End Abortion and Paul Smeaton's (MC) comment, "Hobbits give presents to other people on their birthdays. What a wonderful present that would be! a few prayers for the unborn", I am very please to say that my niece did go to marie stopes abortuary to pray on her Birthday. No one took a photo that day, but here she is a few days ago. The 40 Days for Life is going very well, but could always use more support.

Monday 11 October 2010

W.A.S. Alliance Attacks Holy Father


Putting aside the main stream media for today, What A Strange (W.A.S.) Alliance came out to attack the Pope. Firstly there was Peter Tatchell et al demanding "homosexual rights" and more opium! The police said there were 5,000 of them, while 200,000 came to see the Pope.
[I have removed part of this post after a number of anonymous comments which said I was being 'disingenuous' etc to the Society of St Pius X. The reason that I have done this is that I do not wish to be an obstacle to any supporters of the SSPX, or to the Holy Father's endeavours to resolve things. Let us all continue to pray for the day when Deanery meetings will be enlivened by the presence of SSPX Priests!]

There was a crowd of Ian Paisley type protestants, singing very well outside Westminster Abbey on Friday night, but their booing was totally off key and impolite to say the least!

The British Christian Crusade newspaper (printed in New Zealand) was handed out at most events. They are Seventh Day Adventists, protestants who were so dishonest as to make the front cover of they paper look Catholic, whilst attacking the Church inside.

I didn't see the muslim demo, but Fr Finigan did and in fact both of these photos are from his blog.

Sorry to any other group that I have missed out!

So there you have it, like the orcs of Mordor these groups would not normally give each other the time of day, but when faced with a common enemy they 'unite' and attack. Be you Hobbit, Elf or the Vicar of Christ on Earth the orcs will attack you because you hold to what is true and good.

Saturday 9 October 2010

Siege Of Jericho......In Birmingham


Under the banner of Our Lady of Guadalupe

ACCOMPANY THE BLESSED SACRAMENT IN DAILY PUBLIC ROSARY PROCESSIONS IN EDGBASTON BIRMINGHAM TO END ABORTION

Monday 11th October to Sunday 17th October 2010

Priests and people praying the rosary are to process the Blessed Sacrament round the abortion centre at Arthur Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham 15 following the route Arthur Road, Carpenter Road and Ampton Road.

On the weekdays from Monday 11th October to Saturday 16th October inclusive we will start with Mass at the Oratory Church, Hagley Road, Edgbaston at 3pm and after travelling to Arthur Road Priests (one carrying the Blessed Sacrament unseen) and people will process once around the route. It will take about 20 minutes.

On Sunday 17th October 2010 we will start at Arthur Road (no Mass) at 2pm and process around the route seven times

An image of Our Lady of Guadalupe dedicated at the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico will be present.

PRAYER SUPPORT

We invite all who cannot attend to join us in prayer from their churches and homes or elsewhere, especially the old and the sick.

THE INTENTIONS

1. For a conversion of heart among the organisers and staff of the abortion centre and centres generally so that they and others may join the present movement to stop abortions world wide. They will know at first hand the distressing effects abortion has on women and the cruel death visited on the babies aborted.

2. To reinstate the Priesthood in the eyes of the people, one of God’s purposes at the original Siege of Jericho on which we model this prayer crusade.

For further information contact us on 0121-705-9317 or 0121-706-1973

Please tell your Priest friends and encourage them to come on one or more days

Friday 8 October 2010

Rosary Crusade of Reparation


The Rosary Crusade of Reparation, which is in it's Jubilee Year, takes place this year on Saturday, 16th October.

The Abbot of Farnborough, the Rt Rev Dom Cuthbert Brogan OSB, will lead this year's event.

The Procession starts at 1:45 PM on Saturday, 16th October outside Westminster Cathedral in Central London (nearest underground station is Victoria). The procession makes its way through Westminster and Knightsbridge to South Kensington, ending at the the Brompton Oratory (nearest Underground Station: South Kensington).

At the Oratory, following prayers and hymns, there will be Solemn Pontifical Benediction and an opportunity to enroll in the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

Do support this wonderful event in honour of Our Lady!

The photo is of last year's event.

If you would like to help, the organisers can also use some Stewards, Servers (please bring own Cassock & Cotta) and Flower Girls! Please let us know(Francis Carey (01494) 729223 – Mathias Menezes (020) 8764 0262 or 07950 384515). Please also pass the word, through emails, word of mouth etc. Let's get a good crowd for Our Lady!

Thursday 7 October 2010

Happy Feast of The Most Holy Rosary

Lepanto, by GK Chesterton

White founts falling in the Courts of the sun,
And the Soldan of Byzantium is smiling as they run;
There is laughter like the fountains in that face of all men feared,
It stirs the forest darkness, the darkness of his beard;
It curls the blood-red crescent, the crescent of his lips;
For the inmost sea of all the earth is shaken with his ships.
They have dared the white republics up the capes of Italy,
They have dashed the Adriatic round the Lion of the Sea,
And the Pope has cast his arms abroad for agony and loss,
And called the kings of Christendom for swords about the Cross.
The cold queen of England is looking in the glass;
The shadow of the Valois is yawning at the Mass;
From evening isles fantastical rings faint the Spanish gun,
And the Lord upon the Golden Horn is laughing in the sun.

Dim drums throbbing, in the hills half heard,
Where only on a nameless throne a crownless prince has stirred,
Where, risen from a doubtful seat and half attainted stall,
The last knight of Europe takes weapons from the wall,
The last and lingering troubadour to whom the bird has sung,
That once went singing southward when all the world was young.
In that enormous silence, tiny and unafraid,
Comes up along a winding road the noise of the Crusade.
Strong gongs groaning as the guns boom far,
Don John of Austria is going to the war,
Stiff flags straining in the night-blasts cold
In the gloom black-purple, in the glint old-gold,
Torchlight crimson on the copper kettle-drums,
Then the tuckets, then the trumpets, then the cannon, and he comes.
Don John laughing in the brave beard curled,
Spurning of his stirrups like the thrones of all the world,
Holding his head up for a flag of all the free.
Love-light of Spain--hurrah!
Death-light of Africa!
Don John of Austria
Is riding to the sea.

Mahound is in his paradise above the evening star,
(Don John of Austria is going to the war.)
He moves a mighty turban on the timeless houri's knees,
His turban that is woven of the sunsets and the seas.
He shakes the peacock gardens as he rises from his ease,
And he strides among the tree-tops and is taller than the trees;
And his voice through all the garden is a thunder sent to bring
Black Azrael and Ariel and Ammon on the wing.
Giants and the Genii,
Multiplex of wing and eye,
Whose strong obedience broke the sky
When Solomon was king.

They rush in red and purple from the red clouds of the morn,
From the temples where the yellow gods shut up their eyes in scorn;
They rise in green robes roaring from the green hells of the sea
Where fallen skies and evil hues and eyeless creatures be,
On them the sea-valves cluster and the grey sea-forests curl,
Splashed with a splendid sickness, the sickness of the pearl;
They swell in sapphire smoke out of the blue cracks of the ground,--
They gather and they wonder and give worship to Mahound.
And he saith, "Break up the mountains where the hermit-folk can hide,
And sift the red and silver sands lest bone of saint abide,
And chase the Giaours flying night and day, not giving rest,
For that which was our trouble comes again out of the west.
We have set the seal of Solomon on all things under sun,
Of knowledge and of sorrow and endurance of things done.
But a noise is in the mountains, in the mountains, and I know
The voice that shook our palaces--four hundred years ago:
It is he that saith not 'Kismet'; it is he that knows not Fate;
It is Richard, it is Raymond, it is Godfrey at the gate!
It is he whose loss is laughter when he counts the wager worth,
Put down your feet upon him, that our peace be on the earth."
For he heard drums groaning and he heard guns jar,
(Don John of Austria is going to the war.)
Sudden and still--hurrah!
Bolt from Iberia!
Don John of Austria
Is gone by Alcalar.

St. Michaels on his Mountain in the sea-roads of the north
(Don John of Austria is girt and going forth.)
Where the grey seas glitter and the sharp tides shift
And the sea-folk labour and the red sails lift.
He shakes his lance of iron and he claps his wings of stone;
The noise is gone through Normandy; the noise is gone alone;
The North is full of tangled things and texts and aching eyes,
And dead is all the innocence of anger and surprise,
And Christian killeth Christian in a narrow dusty room,
And Christian dreadeth Christ that hath a newer face of doom,
And Christian hateth Mary that God kissed in Galilee,--
But Don John of Austria is riding to the sea.
Don John calling through the blast and the eclipse
Crying with the trumpet, with the trumpet of his lips,
Trumpet that sayeth ha!
Domino gloria!
Don John of Austria
Is shouting to the ships.

King Philip's in his closet with the Fleece about his neck
(Don John of Austria is armed upon the deck.)
The walls are hung with velvet that is black and soft as sin,
And little dwarfs creep out of it and little dwarfs creep in.
He holds a crystal phial that has colours like the moon,
He touches, and it tingles, and he trembles very soon,
And his face is as a fungus of a leprous white and grey
Like plants in the high houses that are shuttered from the day,
And death is in the phial and the end of noble work,
But Don John of Austria has fired upon the Turk.
Don John's hunting, and his hounds have bayed--
Booms away past Italy the rumour of his raid.
Gun upon gun, ha! ha!
Gun upon gun, hurrah!
Don John of Austria
Has loosed the cannonade.

The Pope was in his chapel before day or battle broke,
(Don John of Austria is hidden in the smoke.)
The hidden room in man's house where God sits all the year,
The secret window whence the world looks small and very dear.
He sees as in a mirror on the monstrous twilight sea
The crescent of his cruel ships whose name is mystery;
They fling great shadows foe-wards, making Cross and Castle dark,
They veil the plumèd lions on the galleys of St. Mark;
And above the ships are palaces of brown, black-bearded chiefs,
And below the ships are prisons, where with multitudinous griefs,
Christian captives sick and sunless, all a labouring race repines
Like a race in sunken cities, like a nation in the mines.
They are lost like slaves that sweat, and in the skies of morning hung
The stair-ways of the tallest gods when tyranny was young.
They are countless, voiceless, hopeless as those fallen or fleeing on
Before the high Kings' horses in the granite of Babylon.
And many a one grows witless in his quiet room in hell
Where a yellow face looks inward through the lattice of his cell,
And he finds his God forgotten, and he seeks no more a sign--
(But Don John of Austria has burst the battle-line!)
Don John pounding from the slaughter-painted poop,
Purpling all the ocean like a bloody pirate's sloop,
Scarlet running over on the silvers and the golds,
Breaking of the hatches up and bursting of the holds,
Thronging of the thousands up that labour under sea
White for bliss and blind for sun and stunned for liberty.

Vivat Hispania!
Domino Gloria!
Don John of Austria
Has set his people free!

Cervantes on his galley sets the sword back in the sheath
(Don John of Austria rides homeward with a wreath.)
And he sees across a weary land a straggling road in Spain,
Up which a lean and foolish knight for ever rides in vain,
And he smiles, but not as Sultans smile, and settles back the blade....
(But Don John of Austria rides home from the Crusade.)

Ignatius Press sell a great book with notes and commentary on this poem.

Wednesday 6 October 2010

Father Michael Dunne To Offer Old Rite Mass


There will be an Old Rite Mass organised by the Latin Mass Society, on Friday 8th October at 6.30pm at Corpus Christi Church, Maiden Lane, London. Father Michael Dunne, PP of Bow will offer the Mass as Father Hayward, who normaly says this Mass is away.

This Mass is offered for the work of the Good Counsel Network, a Catholic Pro-Life group with a great blog. Only a few of the faithful attend this monthly Mass, on each 2nd Friday of the month, so do come along.
Photo, Father Dunne is second from the right.

Monday 4 October 2010

Funeral Mass for Very Rev. James Canon Morrow


The eulogy delivered at Fr James Morrow's funeral Thursday 23rd September (Feast of St Padre Pio) by his Bishop, Rt Reverend Philip Tartaglia of Paisley. The photo is of Mass being offered for Father in the Good Counsel Network's Chapel in London, the at same time as his funeral was taking place in Scotland.
Fr Morrow Requiescat in Pace.

1. There were at least two great causes which characterised the priestly life of Father James Morrow, which I must acknowledge today at his Funeral Mass and for which we must thank God.

2. But before I do that, I want to acknowledge the simplicity and innocence of heart which characterised Father James. An anecdote will serve to illustrate what I mean. During his last few years, in the course of his pro-life work, Fr. James had established contact with a diocese in Uganda where he was helping to set up pro-life education. This initiative was much appreciated by the people and by the local clergy and bishop. He was so happy doing this because he felt that these people were very open to the pro-life message, and he would gladly have ended his life there.

3. Before one of his trips to Uganda, he came to discuss it with me. He was not in best of health and I enquired about what health provision there would be for him in Uganda, and what we should do for him if he fell ill, or, God forbid, died. Typically this was not a huge concern for him and he seemed surprised but pleased that I should take an interest in his personal welfare. What was important was the work he believed God had given him to do. He said if he died there, I should not go to any trouble to recover his body. He believed in the resurrection of the dead, he had put his faith in Jesus as the resurrection and the life, and that was all that mattered. He was completely at one with the faith of the Church articulated in today’s Gospel by Martha, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who was to come into this world.” And professing that same faith today, we pray for the repose of the soul of Father James Morrow and commend him to God’s compassion and love. When he came back from Uganda, I saw him again and gently suggested that that was enough of trying to save the whole world. He obediently and happily accepted my guidance.

4. The first of the two causes which characterised Fr James priestly ministry was his nineteen year service to priestly formation at St Vincent’s College, Langbank, and at St Mary’s College, Blairs. During that time, he had the dubious privilege of teaching me at Langbank. I was in his Maths class. Since Maths was not my strongest subject, I guess I did not make so great an impression on him at that time! However, along with countless young junior seminarians in these years, I can testify to Father James’ total integrity as a priest and as a man, which was as innocent as it was unfeigned; his boundless enthusiasm for all aspects of seminary formation, whether in the classroom teaching Latin or Maths or Religious Education, or whether in other pursuits such as chess, publishing magazines, or joining in with sports; and his determination to help these young seminarians aspire to the best standards of Catholic living and spirituality. On behalf of the Catholic Church in Scotland, I thank God for Father James’ contribution to priestly formation and join many of his past pupils in acknowledging his uprightness and his many gifts and talents which were for him always his means of pleasing God and of doing his work.

5. I have already alluded to the second cause in Father James’ priestly life, and that is his commitment to the pro-life cause, which could be said to have been his life’s passion. It is difficult to exaggerate the importance of the pro-life’s cause to Father James. To say he was totally single-minded about it hardly does his commitment justice. He was consumed by this work. His passion for it won him many friends and admirers but may also have disconcerted others who kept their distance from him. His passion for the moral rightness of the cause even caused him to be arrested and to see the inside of a prison cell door. The words of the first reading today could be applied to James: “God has put them to the test and proved them worthy to be with him; he has tested them like gold in a furnace, and accepted them as a holocaust.” There is no doubt that Father James gave total witness and obedience to the conviction of the Church that unborn human life is sacred from the moment of conception and cannot be suppressed by the will of others, and that any law which permits abortion is an offence against God and against the human rights of the unborn.

6. I feel sure that, when other things like personal eccentricities or petty foibles have been forgotten, what will stand out will be the fact that Father James was a priest who had an unswerving commitment to the pro-life cause, and we can be proud to say that this doughty campaigner for the protection of unborn human life was a priest of the Diocese of Paisley. It was in recognition of his service to the pro-life cause that I was happy to name Father Morrow an Honorary Canon of the Diocese of Paisley. And the presence at his Funeral Mass of four bishops, numerous priests and a substantial gathering of the faithful surely indicates that his witness is worthy of respect and admiration, and gives voice to an authentic and central part of the Church’s moral and social message.

7. A measure of Father James’ single-mindedness for the pro-life cause was his personal conviction that not just were all aborted babies in heaven (rather than in a state of limbo) but that the Pope should actually canonise them. I suggested to him that this may not be a viable proposition, but, undaunted, he sent his treatise on the subject to the Vatican, where I am sure it was received with interest. In my own heart, I am sure - and I suspect you agree - that babies whose lives were prematurely terminated in the womb are indeed in the loving embrace of the Father. They are the Holy Innocents of the technological age. I pray that this countless host of little angels will welcome into heaven a man who dedicated his life to their defence, Father James Morrow. May he rest in peace!

St. Mirin’s Cathedral, Paisley, 23rd September 2010

Saturday 2 October 2010

The Holy Father's Most Important Words On His Visit To Britain


After the unveiling and blessing of a mosaic of David, and after the greeting of the Bishop of Wrexham, SE Bishop Edwin Regan on behalf of the delegation of the faithful of Wales, the Holy Father spoke the following words.

Dear Bishop Regan,

Thank you for your very warm greeting on behalf of the faithful of Wales. I am happy to have this opportunity to honour the nation and its ancient Christian traditions by blessing a mosaic of Saint David, the Patron Saint of the Welsh people, and by lighting the candle of the statue of Our Lady of Cardigan.

Saint David was one of the great saints of the sixth century, that golden age of saints and missionaries in these isles, and he was thus a founder of the Christian culture which lies at the root of modern Europe. David’s preaching was simple yet profound: his dying words to his monks were, "Be joyful, keep the faith, and do the little things". It is the little things that reveal our love for the one who loved us first (cf. 1 Jn 4:19) and that bind people into a community of faith, love and service. May Saint David’s message, in all its simplicity and richness, continue to resound in Wales today, drawing the hearts of its people to renewed love for Christ and His Church.

Through the ages the Welsh people have been distinguished for their devotion to the Mother of God; this is evidenced by the innumerable places in Wales called "Llanfair" – Mary’s Church. As I prepare to light the candle held by Our Lady, I pray that she will continue to intercede with her Son for all the men and women of Wales. May the light of Christ continue to guide their steps and shape the life and culture of the nation.

Sadly, it was not possible for me to come to Wales during this visit. But I trust that this beautiful statue, which now returns to the National Shrine of Our Lady in Cardigan, will be a lasting reminder of the Pope’s deep love for the Welsh people, and of his constant closeness, both in prayer and in the communion of the Church.

Bendith Duw ar bobol Cymr! God bless the people of Wales!

Friday 1 October 2010

Old Rite Mass Live On Television


There will be an Old Rite Sung Mass live on EWTN on Saturday 2nd October, from 1pm-3pm. You can watch it on Sky 589 or on the internet at http://www.ewtn.co.uk/