Listen To The Pope's Thought For The Day

Just in case you did not get up in time or were at work or something click here to listen to the Holy Father on the BBC.

Pope Benedict XVI Will Be On The BBC

The Holy Father will give the Thought For The Day, on BBC Radio 4 on Christmas Eve at 7.45am English time. If you want to listen on the Internet click here and then click on Radio 4 and listen now. Do let others know, as here is a 3 minute message from the Pope for all the peoples of these isles.

Westminster Priest On Television & A Chesterton Play

Fr Gerard Skinner, Parish Priest of South Harrow, will be on EWTN for half an hour at 6.30am on Tuesday 21st December. You can watch it on Sky 589 or online at www.ewtn.co.uk.

There will also be another chance to see the GK Chesterton play, The Surprise, on EWTN on Monday 20th at 3pm or Thursday 24th at 10am, it lasts 2 hours. The GK Chesterton play is about a travelling playwright who has created a set of puppets to perform his play that are life-like in every aspect but one.

Ember Days To Save The World

'At the beginning of the four seasons of the Ecclesiastical Year, the Ember Days have been instituted by the Church to thank God for blessings obtained during the past year and to implore further graces for the new season. Their importance in the Church was formerly very great. They are fixed on the Wednesday, Friday and Saturday: after First Sunday of Lent for Spring, after Whit-Sunday for Summer, after the Feast of the Elevation of the Cross (14th September) for Autumn, and after the Third Sunday of Advent for Winter. They are intended also to consecrate to God the various seasons in nature, and to prepare by penance those who are about to be ordained. Ordinations generally take place on the Ember Days. The faithful ought to pray on these days for good Priests. The Ember Days were once fast days of obligation.'

I found this in my Baronius Press 1962 Missal and it made me think. Imagine the Graces that God would bestow upon the World if the whole Church still fasted on these twelve days a year, imagine the great Graces if our Priests and Bishops declared these Fast Days again. Oh forget all that, imagine the Graces we could gain for our Priests & Bishops by fasting on these days! So that is today, Friday & Saturday this week to start with.

And Ends With Mass

Great poster which should be in your front window by now. You can also print it off and make a card/leaflet for local distribution. Inside it could say;

And ends with Mass, come and celebrate His Birthday in His Church. Your local Catholic Church is ......... and Mass will be at Midnight(or whenever). (If you are not a Catholic or if you are, but are not in a state of Grace please do not receive Holy Communion. Instead speak to the Priest about joining, or about going to Confession)
http://ecumenicaldiablog.blogspot.com

I'm off to post a copy to the Prods down the road! And the local Meptist church as they always put their Christmas service card through our door.

Image of the pregnant Mother of God will be displayed this weekend at Westminster Cathedral

Catholics in London and the Home Counties should be interested to know that "a unique relic image of Our Lady of Guadalupe will be on display in Westminster Cathedral from 12 noon on Saturday 11th December to 11:30am on Monday 13th December", according to Catherine MacGillivray, of the pastoral affairs department of the archdiocese of Westminster. There will be an Old Rite Mass in a side Chapel at 4.30pm on Saturday 11th December.

In a message to priests she writes:

Our Lady of Guadalupe is especially invoked in prayer for the sanctity of life as she is depicted as pregnant, and the image has been touring England and Wales over the past 9 months as a focus for pro-life events, Masses and vigils, as well as for general intercession. A summary of the places visited and further information about our relic image, the history of the apparition and its significance can be found at http://www.rcdow.org.uk/pastoralaffairs/dignityoftheperson/
I will be praying for a big turn-out at Westminter Cathedral and hope to pay a visit during the weekend. Supernatural help in combatting the evils we are fighting is urgently needed for our pro-life work to be successful, in my opinion.

From my experience of the Cathedral, it's open till about 7 p.m. on Saturday; from 7.00 a.m. till 7 p.m. on Sunday; and from 7 a.m. on Monday; but ... to be sure: contact edmundadamus@rcdow.org.uk or telephone 020 7798 9363

Deerstalker Tip to John Smeaton for this one.

Protestant Vicar Goes To Mass For Feast Of The Immaculate Conception

My post How Old Is Your Church? got quite a lot of interest back in August. Some readers sent it on to other Christians, as requested. I was overjoyed to hear that one C of Henry VIII (aka C of E) Vicar who was sent a link to that post was seen at Mass in his local Catholic Church yesterday!

Let us all continue to pray for conversions;

Prayer for Wales

O Almighty God,
Who in Thine infinite goodness
has sent Thine only-begotten Son into this world
to open once more the gates of heaven,
and to teach us how to know, love and serve Thee,
have mercy on Thy people Who dwell in Wales.
Grant to them the precious gift of faith,
and unite them in the one true Church
founded by Thy Divine Son; that,
acknowledging her authority and obeying her voice,
they may serve Thee, love Thee, and worship Thee
as Thou desirest in this world,
and obtain for themselves everlasting happiness
in the world to come.
Through the same Christ our Lord.

R. Amen.

Our Lady, Help of Christians,
pray for Wales.

Saint David,
pray for Wales.

Saint Winefride,
pray for Wales.

Prayers for Scotland & England

Happy CHRISTMAS Mr Cameron

Last Christmas David Cameron became the first Tory leader (now Prime Minister) to send non-Christmas-Christmas cards. Even Jewish leaders of the Tories have in the past sent Christmas-Christmas Cards.

So today I have sent David, Samantha and Family a Christmas Card, wishing them a 'Happy CHRISTMAS, not a happy solstice, not season's greeting, but just a straightforward prayer that Jesus Christ, Our Lord & Saviour will bless your Family on His Birthday.'

Please feel free to do the same; Mr & Mrs David Cameron, 10 Downing Street, London, SW1A 2AA, England.

'Strippers' Come Dancing, Replaces 'Strictly' Come Dancing

Now that Ann Widdecombe has been voted off Strictly Come Dancing, that just leaves the BBC with a load of strippers! She has done a great job for the Church on this show, do see what my Wife says about this.

What was great for me, was to hear two of the children brought on to be judges of the dancing, on the follow up show, Strictly-It Takes Two (Sorry you will need to fast forward to 20 minutes as I have no idea how to edit a clip) on BBC2 on Monday. The young girl complained about a male contestant taking his shirt off, and that all the children at home did not want to be watching that. It was all out of order to be honest as his partner who removed his shirt was herself only wearing a bikini! One of the young boys gave Gavin Henson, 10, but only because you kept your shirt on.

It Snowed On Me, Because I'm Pro-Life

As I looked out yesterday morning the world was covered in snow, but it did not seem to be snowing. A while later when I left home, heading to the abortuary (108 Whitfield St, London,W1T 5EA) to pray and offer help to the Mums going in, it was snowing. Thank You God.

The rain it raineth on the just
And also on the unjust fella;
But chiefly on the just, because
The unjust steals the just's umbrella.

And so the abortionist is inside, while we get snowed upon. The Catholic Pro-Life Movement is just! Come and join us while this weather lasts! Next week, 9am until 1.30pm, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.

Pro-Life Priest Needed

Since Good Counsel started having a 4 days a week vigil at marie stopes abortuary, 108 Whitfield Street, London, England, on Monday 29th November, it has only had Religious Sisters and lay Faithful in attendance so far. Who will be the first Priest to attend to lead the prayers? Telephone 02077231740 or info@goodcounselnetwork.freeserve.co.uk

The vigils are 9am-1.30pm Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Don't worry if you are not a Priest come along. (The photo is of Father Dunne leading the prayers as part of the 40 Days for Life in October)

Pro Life Vigil In The Snow

I woke up yesterday to find snow falling all around, and Good Counsel (James from Good Counsel actually, Conor was there on Monday) were off to pray at marie stopes abortuary in Whitfield Street London. It was time to offer it up to God, for those praying in the snow and for the Mums and Babies. So I dropped my Wife to the dentist and told her to offer up any pain, sent out a text telling everyone else to pray and sacrifice and then went to the cafe for breakfast!

It all went well from what I have been told and will be on again today and Friday this week, for details see my last post. I'm only laughing about not going myself yesterday as I know I will do there very soon..... and you?

(It was snowing when the photo was taken, but sadly that is not clear)