Old Rite Confirmations Versus New Rite Confirmations

From time to time I put up posts asking people to test their memory by telling me where they were 21 years ago today for example. It amazes me the number of people who cannot answer the question. I of course would reply the I was in Anerley with my then fiancée Clare, my Confirmation Sponsor Dougie and Archbishop Michael Bowen.

The previous year I’d stopped attending Masses organised by the SSPX, but as I wished to be Confirmed before getting Married I contacted an English Bishop who had said Mass in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite and asked him if he would Confirm me in the Old Rite. I’m sad to say that the Bishop replied that the New Rite was extremely beautiful and that I should just get in step with the modern Church. Tempting though it was to wander off to one of the four SSPX Bishops to receive Confirmation, I in fact went to Anerley and was Confirmed by Archbishop Michael Bowen. I had been Baptised in the Old Rite by Fr Crowdy a few years earlier, an Oratorian Priest described by The Tablet as being in an irregular situation!

I have a preference for the Old Rite and because of this some people I will say that I am rigid and yet I was Confirmed in the New Rite. And in the year before covid struck I made a note of the Masses that I attended and found that approximately 80% were in the New Rite while most of the others where Old Rite. Sometime after my Confirmation a number of Bishops in England and Wales, showing pastoral concern for the faithful allowed Confirmations in the older form and for this I am grateful. It is sad to see that this choice will no longer be available, as in the interests of diversity and charity we will now rigidly use only the New Rite.

Please say the Litany for Bishops, 

"Genuflect, Genuflect, No, No, Not You My Lord!"

Having spent part of the morning before the Confirmations explaining to Nathanael, my three and a half year old son, how to greet a Bishop, I thought all would go well.

We waited for the last Candidates to have their photo taken with the Bishop, and then I asked, "My Lord, although he was not Confirmed today my son would like to have his photo taken if it is not too much trouble".

"Of course, of course" came the reply from Bishop Stack and then before you could say Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, Bishop Stack was down on one knee to have his photo taken with Nathanael!

(Note for members of my Family and any other pagans; When one meets a Catholic Bishop, one genuflects [goes down on one knee] and kisses the ring on his right hand.)

Old Rite Confirmations

Bishop Stack, very kindly Confirmed 39 Catholics today in the Old Rite, at St James, Spanish Place. One of whom was my nephew, Michael, son of Moira. I was privileged to be his Sponsor.

This is the third year that Bishop Stack has carried out these Confirmations, organised by The Latin Mass Society. God bless him, I say. Do drop him a line (lindamurphy@rcdow.org.uk) of thanks along with one to Vincent Archbishop Nichols (archbishop@rcdow.org.uk) for continuing this annual event.

Everyone was there, but it was nice to see the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer, aka Translapine Redemptorists as I read their blog from time to time.