Therese; The Movie On Television

Therese; The Movie, followed by a behind the scenes documentary will be on EWTN. (Sky 589 or www.ewtn.co.uk) Experience the life of St Therese of Lisieux, a young girl who fell in love with Jesus Christ and demonstrated a path of spirituality through her actions of unconditional love and human compassion. Starring Lindsay Younce, and directed by Leonardo Defilippis. 6am 2nd May and 3am and 3pm 6th May.

Divine Mercy Novena, Ninth Day

Ninth Day

"Today bring to Me the Souls who have become Lukewarm, and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. These souls wound My Heart most painfully. My soul suffered the most dreadful loathing in the Garden of Olives because of lukewarm souls. They were the reason I cried out: 'Father, take this cup away from Me, if it be Your will.' For them, the last hope of salvation is to run to My mercy."

Most compassionate Jesus, You are Compassion Itself. I bring lukewarm souls into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart. In this fire of Your pure love, let these tepid souls who, like corpses, filled You with such deep loathing, be once again set aflame. O Most Compassionate Jesus, exercise the omnipotence of Your mercy and draw them into the very ardor of Your love, and bestow upon them the gift of holy love, for nothing is beyond Your power.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon lukewarm souls who are nonetheless enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Father of Mercy, I beg You by the bitter Passion of Your Son and by His three-hour agony on the Cross: Let them, too, glorify the abyss of Your mercy. Amen.

From EWTN

Divive Mercy Novena, Eighth Day

Eighth Day

"Today bring to Me the Souls who are in the prison of Purgatory, and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. Let the torrents of My Blood cool down their scorching flames. All these souls are greatly loved by Me. They are making retribution to My justice. It is in your power to bring them relief. Draw all the indulgences from the treasury of My Church and offer them on their behalf. Oh, if you only knew the torments they suffer, you would continually offer for them the alms of the spirit and pay off their debt to My justice."

Most Merciful Jesus, You Yourself have said that You desire mercy; so I bring into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls in Purgatory, souls who are very dear to You, and yet, who must make retribution to Your justice. May the streams of Blood and Water which gushed forth from Your Heart put out the flames of Purgatory, that there, too, the power of Your mercy may be celebrated.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls suffering in Purgatory, who are enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. I beg You, by the sorrowful Passion of Jesus Your Son, and by all the bitterness with which His most sacred Soul was flooded: Manifest Your mercy to the souls who are under Your just scrutiny. Look upon them in no other way but only through the Wounds of Jesus, Your dearly beloved Son; for we firmly believe that there is no limit to Your goodness and compassion. Amen.

From EWTN

Bishop Stack For Cardiff

A long time ago I posted about Cardiff needing a new Archbishop. Bishop Stack of Westminster has got the job! I would not wish this job on anyone, I'm from Cardiff and go there at least three times a year. The Church there is depressing to say the least, we go to Mass in Welsh so as not to understand the sermon!

Please pray the Rosary for Bishop (soon to be Archbishop) Stack!

Divine Mercy Novena, Seventh Day

Seventh Day

Today bring to Me the Souls who especially venerate and glorify My Mercy*, and immerse them in My mercy. These souls sorrowed most over my Passion and entered most deeply into My spirit. They are living images of My Compassionate Heart. These souls will shine with a special brightness in the next life. Not one of them will go into the fire of hell. I shall particularly defend each one of them at the hour of death.

Most Merciful Jesus, whose Heart is Love Itself, receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who particularly extol and venerate the greatness of Your mercy. These souls are mighty with the very power of God Himself. In the midst of all afflictions and adversities they go forward, confident of Your mercy; and united to You, O Jesus, they carry all mankind on their shoulders. These souls will not be judged severely, but Your mercy will embrace them as they depart from this life.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls who glorify and venerate Your greatest attribute, that of Your fathomless mercy, and who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls are a living Gospel; their hands are full of deeds of mercy, and their hearts, overflowing with joy, sing a canticle of mercy to You, O Most High! I beg You O God: Show them Your mercy according to the hope and trust they have placed in You. Let there be accomplished in them the promise of Jesus, who said to them that during their life, but especially at the hour of death, the souls who will venerate this fathomless mercy of His, He, Himself, will defend as His glory. Amen.

*The text leads one to conclude that in the first prayer directed to Jesus, Who is the Redeemer, it is "victim" souls and contemplatives that are being prayed for; those persons, that is, that voluntarily offered themselves to God for the salvation of their neighbour (see Col 1:24; 2 Cor 4:12). This explains their close union with the Saviour and the extraordinary efficacy that their invisible activity has for others. In the second prayer, directed to the Father from whom comes "every worthwhile gift and every genuine benefit, "we recommend the "active" souls, who promote devotion to The Divine Mercy and exercise with it all the other works that lend themselves to the spiritual and material uplifting of their brethren.

From EWTN

Happy (First) Birthday Dear Blog, Happy Birthday To You!

I started this blog a year ago! And I would like to thank both of my readers for staying with me. (No Gareth, my Mum is not one of them, she doesn't deal with the internet). There are many dangers in setting out to have a blog, running out of things to say was not one of my worries, but all this typing will kill me yet. Remember that Blogland is a Graveyard.

A bigger worry is posting anything you like, and then someone says to you, "Hi, are you Ecumenical Diablogger?" (Hay, that has happened to me twice now!) And as you say,"Yes", you are just trying to remember who you have been attacking lately!

My favoured post this year was, Priest Vapourised At Papal Visit To Birmingham, England and last years was Cardinal Hume and Communion in the Hand.

What to give a blog on it's Birthday? Oh yes, a comment!

Divine Mercy Novena, Sixth Day

Sixth Day

Today bring to Me the Meek and Humble Souls and the Souls of Little Children, and immerse them in My mercy. These souls most closely resemble My Heart. They strengthened Me during My bitter agony. I saw them as earthly Angels, who will keep vigil at My altars. I pour out upon them whole torrents of grace. I favor humble souls with My confidence.

Most Merciful Jesus, You yourself have said, "Learn from Me for I am meek and humble of heart." Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart all meek and humble souls and the souls of little children. These souls send all heaven into ecstasy and they are the heavenly Father's favorites. They are a sweet-smelling bouquet before the throne of God; God Himself takes delight in their fragrance. These souls have a permanent abode in Your Most Compassionate Heart, O Jesus, and they unceasingly sing out a hymn of love and mercy.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon meek souls, upon humble souls, and upon little children who are enfolded in the abode which is the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls bear the closest resemblance to Your Son. Their fragrance rises from the earth and reaches Your very throne. Father of mercy and of all goodness, I beg You by the love You bear these souls and by the delight You take in them: Bless the whole world, that all souls together may sing out the praises of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.

From EWTN

Easter Photos And Altars

Paul Smeaton talked about going to visit seven Altars of Repose with the Juventutem group on Holy Thursday, they made it to five. My son who is not yet four made it to two!

Paul only managed to take one photo due to not charging his camera. I took the above photo just before Mass (Old Rite) on Holy Thursday at St Mary Moorfields, but could I turn the flash off? Not a chance! So although my phone was charged the next photo was taken at the end of Good Friday.

Divine Mercy Novena, Fifth Day

Fifth Day

"Today bring to Me the Souls of those who have separated themselves from My Church*, and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. During My bitter Passion they tore at My Body and Heart, that is, My Church. As they return to unity with the Church My wounds heal and in this way they alleviate My Passion."

Most Merciful Jesus, Goodness Itself, You do not refuse light to those who seek it of Thee. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who have separated themselves from Your Church. Draw them by Your light into the unity of the Church, and do not let them escape from the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart; but bring it about that they, too, come to glorify the generosity of Thy mercy.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who have separated themselves from Thy Son's Church, who have squandered Your blessings and misused Your graces by obstinately persisting in their errors. Do not look upon their errors, but upon the love of Your own Son and upon His bitter Passion, which He underwent for their sake, since they, too, are enclosed in His Most Compassionate Heart. Bring it about that they also may glorify Your great mercy for endless ages. Amen.

*Our Lord's original words here were "heretics and schismatics," since He spoke to Saint Faustina within the context of her times. As of the Second Vatican Council, Church authorities have seen fit not to use those designations in accordance with the explanation given in the Council's Decree on Ecumenism (n.3). Every pope since the Council has reaffirmed that usage. Saint Faustina herself, her heart always in harmony with the mind of the Church, most certainly would have agreed. When at one time, because of the decisions of her superiors and father confessor, she was not able to execute Our Lord's inspirations and orders, she declared: "I will follow Your will insofar as You will permit me to do so through Your representative. O my Jesus " I give priority to the voice of the Church over the voice with which You speak to me" (497). The Lord confirmed her action and praised her for it. (As a former schismatic I find this change offensive)

From EWTN

Happy Feast Of Our Lady Mother Of Good Counsel

Prayer to Our Lady, Mother of Good Counsel

O, Holy Virgin, to whose feet we are led by our anxious uncertainty in our search for and attainment of what is true and good, invoking thee by the sweet title of Mother of Good Counsel we beseech thee to come to our assistance, when along the road of this life, the darkness of error and of evil conspires towards our ruin by leading our minds and our hearts astray.
Do Thou, O Seat of Wisdom and Star of the Sea, Enlighten the doubtful and the erring, that they be not seduced by the false appearances of good, render them steadfast in the face of the hostile and corrupting influences of passion and of sin.
O Mother of Good Counsel, obtain for us from Thy Divine Son a great love of Virtue and, in the hour of uncertainty and trial, the strength to embrace the way that leads to our salvation. If Thy hand sustains us, we shall walk unmolested long the path indicated to us by the life and words of Jesus our Redeemer; and having followed freely and securely, even in the midst of this world's strife, the sun of truth and justice under Thy Maternal Star, we shall come to the enjoyment of full and eternal peace with Thee in the Haven of Salvation. Amen.

No Fasting on National Day Of Prayer And Fasting!

Every month The Good Counsel Network calls a National Day of Prayer and Fasting for Life. We are now into the third year of these days when we ask Catholics to;

Join us each month in Prayer and Fasting:
Fasting
Fast from all food except bread and water for the day
Or
Fast from a particular food or luxury, e.g. chocolate, alcohol, cigarettes, TV.
Fast from whatever you can given your state of health etc, but make sure it is something that involves a sacrifice to yourself.
Prayer
We are asking people to say a Rosary (or an extra Rosary if you say it daily already).
You could also offer an extra effort such as going to Mass (or an extra Mass) on the day, or going to Adoration. You can even pray before a closed tabernacle if Adoration is not available near you.

However as the next such Day is Wednesday 27th April, which as it is in Easter Week it would be wrong to ask for a full Fast, but as it is the 43rd anniversary of the Abortion Act coming into force in England and Wales, we felt that it would be wrong to move the Day. We are therefore asking people to Feast on this months Fast Day, but to say some extra prayers and give up television, music, moblie phone or something else on this Day.

Keep up-to-date with Good Counsel on our blog http://mariastopsabortion.blogspot.com/ and our website http://www.goodcounselnet.co.uk/default.html

Divine Mercy Novena, Forth Day

Fourth Day

"Today bring to Me those who do not believe in God and those who do not know Me, I was thinking also of them during My bitter Passion, and their future zeal comforted My Heart. Immerse them in the ocean of My mercy."

Most compassionate Jesus, You are the Light of the whole world. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who do not believe in God and of those who as yet do not know You. Let the rays of Your grace enlighten them that they, too, together with us, may extol Your wonderful mercy; and do not let them escape from the abode which is Your Most Compassionate Heart.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who do not believe in You, and of those who as yet do not know You, but who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Draw them to the light of the Gospel. These souls do not know what great happiness it is to love You. Grant that they, too, may extol the generosity of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.

*Our Lord's original words here were "the pagans." Since the pontificate of Pope John XXIII, the Church has seen fit to replace this term with clearer and more appropriate terminology. (As a former Pagan I find this change offensive and will thus use the words of Our Lord!)

From EWTN

Divine Mercy Novena, Third Day

Third Day

"Today bring to Me all Devout and Faithful Souls, and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. These souls brought me consolation on the Way of the Cross. They were a drop of consolation in the midst of an ocean of bitterness."

Most Merciful Jesus, from the treasury of Your mercy, You impart Your graces in great abundance to each and all. Receive us into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart and never let us escape from It. We beg this grace of You by that most wondrous love for the heavenly Father with which Your Heart burns so fiercely.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon faithful souls, as upon the inheritance of Your Son. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, grant them Your blessing and surround them with Your constant protection. Thus may they never fail in love or lose the treasure of the holy faith, but rather, with all the hosts of Angels and Saints, may they glorify Your boundless mercy for endless ages. Amen.

From EWTN

Divine Mercy Novena, Second Day

Second Day

"Today bring to Me the Souls of Priests and Religious, and immerse them in My unfathomable mercy. It was they who gave me strength to endure My bitter Passion. Through them as through channels My mercy flows out upon mankind."

Most Merciful Jesus, from whom comes all that is good, increase Your grace in men and women consecrated to Your service,* that they may perform worthy works of mercy; and that all who see them may glorify the Father of Mercy who is in heaven.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the company of chosen ones in Your vineyard -- upon the souls of priests and religious; and endow them with the strength of Your blessing. For the love of the Heart of Your Son in which they are enfolded, impart to them Your power and light, that they may be able to guide others in the way of salvation and with one voice sing praise to Your boundless mercy for ages without end. Amen.

* In the original text, Saint Faustina uses the pronoun "us" since she was offering this prayer as a consecrated religious sister. The wording adapted here is intended to make the prayer suitable for universal use.

From EWTN

Divine Mercy Novena, First Day

First Day

"Today bring to Me all mankind, especially all sinners, and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. In this way you will console Me in the bitter grief into which the loss of souls plunges Me."

Most Merciful Jesus, whose very nature it is to have compassion on us and to forgive us, do not look upon our sins but upon our trust which we place in Your infinite goodness. Receive us all into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart, and never let us escape from It. We beg this of You by Your love which unites You to the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon all mankind and especially upon poor sinners, all enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion show us Your mercy, that we may praise the omnipotence of Your mercy for ever and ever. Amen.

From EWTN

The Chaplet Of The Divine Mercy

1. Begin with the Sign of the Cross, 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary and The Apostles Creed.

2. Then on the Our Father Beads say the following: Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Thy dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world. Or in Latin; PATER aeterne, offero tibi Corpus et Sanguinem, animam et divinitatem dilectissimi Filii Tui, Domini nostri, Iesu Christi, in propitiatione pro peccatis nostris et totius mundi.

3. On the 10 Hail Mary Beads say the following: For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world. Or in Latin; PRO DOLOROSA Eius passione, miserere nobis et totius mundi. (Repeat step 2 and 3 for all five decades).

4. Conclude with (three times): Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world. Or in Latin; SANCTUS Deus, Sanctus Fortis, Sanctus Immortalis, miserere nobis et totius mundi

In 1933, God gave Sister Faustina a striking vision of His Mercy, Sister tells us: "I saw a great light, with God the Father in the midst of it. Between this light and the earth I saw Jesus nailed to the Cross and in such a way that God, wanting to look upon the earth, had to look through Our Lord's wounds and I understood that God blessed the earth for the sake of Jesus."

Of another vision on Sept. 13, 1935, she writes: "I saw an Angel, the executor of God's wrath... about to strike the earth...I began to beg God earnestly for the world with words which I heard interiorly. As I prayed in this way, I saw the Angel's helplessness, and he could not carry out the just punishment...." The following day an inner voice taught her to say this prayer on ordinary rosary beads: "First say one 'Our Father', 'Hail Mary', and 'I believe'. Then on the large beads say the following words: 'Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Thy dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.' On the smaller beads you are to say the following words: 'For the sake of His sorrowful Passion have mercy on us and on the whole world.' In conclusion you are to say these words three times: 'Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world'.

Jesus said later to Sister Faustina: "Say unceasingly this chaplet that I have taught you. Anyone who says it will receive great Mercy at the hour of death. Priests will recommend it to sinners as the last hope. Even the most hardened sinner, if he recites this Chaplet even once, will receive grace from My Infinite Mercy. I want the whole world to know My Infinite Mercy. I want to give unimaginable graces to those who trust in My Mercy...." "....When they say this Chaplet in the presence of the dying, I will stand between My Father and the dying person not as the just judge but as the Merciful Savior".

Taken from EWTN

Divine Mercy Novena Starts Good Friday

Jesus asked that the Feast of the Divine Mercy be preceded by a Novena to the Divine Mercy which would begin on Good Friday. He gave St. Faustina an intention to pray for on each day of the Novena (they will appear on this blog each day), saving for the last day the most difficult intention of all, the lukewarm and indifferent of whom He said:

"These souls cause Me more suffering than any others; it was from such souls that My soul felt the most revulsion in the Garden of Olives. It was on their account that I said: 'My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass Me by.' The last hope of salvation for them is to flee to My Mercy." In her diary, St. Faustina wrote that Jesus told her: "On each day of the novena you will bring to My heart a different group of souls and you will immerse them in this ocean of My mercy ... On each day you will beg My Father, on the strength of My passion, for the graces for these souls."

The above is taken from EWTN

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion

INSTRUCTION

ON CERTAIN QUESTIONS REGARDING THE COLLABORATION OF THE NON-ORDAINED FAITHFUL IN THE SACRED MINISTRY OF PRIEST

Article 8

The Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion The non-ordained faithful already collaborate with the sacred ministers in diverse pastoral situations since "This wonderful gift of the Eucharist, which is the greatest gift of all, demands that such an important mystery should be increasingly better known and its saving power more fully shared".(95) Such liturgical service is a response to the objective needs of the faithful especially those of the sick and to those liturgical assemblies in which there are particularly large numbers of the faithful who wish to receive Holy Communion. § 1. The canonical discipline concerning extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion must be correctly applied so as to avoid generating confusion. The same discipline establishes that the ordinary minister of Holy Communion is the Bishop, the Priest and the the Deacon.(96) Extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion are those instituted as acolytes and the faithful so deputed in accordance with Canon 230, § 3.(97) A non-ordained member of the faithful, in cases of true necessity, may be deputed by the diocesan bishop, using the appropriate form of blessing for these situation, to act as an extraordinary minister to distribute Holy Communion outside of liturgical celebrations ad actum vel ad tempus or for a more stable period. In exceptional cases or in un foreseen circumstances, the priest presiding at the liturgy may authorize such ad actum.(98) § 2. Extraordinary ministers may distribute Holy Communion at eucharistic celebrations only when there are no ordained ministers present or when those ordained ministers present at a liturgical celebration are truly unable to distribute Holy Communion.(99) They may also exercise this function at eucharistic celebrations where there are particularly large numbers of the faithful and which would be excessively prolonged because of an insufficient number of ordained ministers to distribute Holy Communion. (100) This function is supplementary and extraordinary (101) and must be exercised in accordance with the norm of law. It is thus useful for the diocesan bishop to issue particular norms concerning extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion which, in complete harmony with the universal law of the Church, should regulate the exercise of this function in his diocese. Such norms should provide, amongst other things, for matters such as the instruction in eucharistic doctrine of those chosen to be extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, the meaning of the service they provide, the rubrics to be observed, the reverence to be shown for such an august Sacrament and instruction concerning the discipline on admission to Holy Communion. To avoid creating confusion, certain practices are to be avoided and eliminated where such have emerged in particular Churches: — extraordinary ministers receiving Holy Communion apart from the other faithful as though concelebrants; — association with the renewal of promises made by priests at the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday, as well as other categories of faithful who renew religious vows or receive a mandate as extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion; — the habitual use of extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion at Mass thus arbitrarily extending the concept of "a great number of the faithful".

All particular laws, customs and faculties conceded by the Holy See ad experimentum or other ecclesiastical authorities which are contrary to the foregoing norms are hereby revoked. The Supreme Pontiff, in Audience of the 13th of August 1997 approved in forma specifica this present Instruction and ordered its promulgation. Vatican City 15 August 1997, the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Congregation for the Clergy Darío Castrillón Hoyos Pro-Prefect Crescenzio Sepe Secretary Pontifical Council for the Laity James Francis Stafford President Stanislaw Rylko Secretary Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith Joseph Card. Ratzinger Prefect Tarcisio Bertone SDB Secretary Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments Jorge Arturo Medina Estévez Pro-Prefect Geraldo Majella Agnelo Secretary Congregation for Bishops Bernardin Card. Gantin Prefect Jorge María Mejía Secretary Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples Jozef Card. Tomko Prefect Giuseppe Uhac Secretary Congregation for Institutes of Consecretated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life Eduardo Card. Martínez Somalo Prefect Piergiorgio Silvano Nesti CP Secretary Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legislative Texts Julián Herranz President Bruno Bertagna Secretary (Here are the notes for those that want them and the full document is here)

(95) Sacred Congregation for the Discipline of the Sacraments, Premiss of the Instruction Immensae caritatis (29 January 1973), AAS 65 (1973), p. 264. (96) Cf. C.I.C., can. 910, § 1; cf. John Paul II, Letter Dominicae coenae (24 February 1980), n. 11; AAS 72 (1980), p. 142. (97) Cf. C.I.C., can. 910, § 2. (98) Cf. Sacred Congregation for the Discipline of the Sacraments, Instruction Immensae caritatis (29 January 1973), AAS 65 (1973), p. 264, n. 1; Missale Romanum, Appendix: Ritus ad deputandum ministrum S. Communionis ad actum distribuendae; Pontificale Romanum, De institutione lectorum et acolythorum. (99) Pontifical Commission for the Authentic Interpretation of The Code of Canon Law, Response (1 June 1998), AAS 80 (1988), p. 1373. (100) Cf. Sacred Congregation for the Discipline of the Sacraments, Instruction Immensae caritatis (29 January 1973), n. 1; AAS 65 (1973), p. 264; Sacred Congregation for the Sacraments and Divine Worship, Instruction Inestimabile donum (3 April 1980), n. 10: AAS 72 (1980), p. 336. (101) Can. 230, § 2 and § 3 C.I.C., affirms that the liturgical services can be assigned to non-ordained faithful only "ex temporanea deputatione" or for supply.

Bishop Hopes Leads The Way To The Abortuary

Father Emmanuel gives the thumbs-up to Bishop Hopes plan to pray outside the Twickenham abortuary. (16th April)

Age is no obstacle, the lady in the wheel chair is in her eighties! And my son below, with a radio so we could hear the Bishop on both sides of the road, is 3 and there were younger children there!

One Family that I spoke to had travelled 20 miles to be there! Don't worry if you missed this vigil there are sadly many opportunities to pray at abortuarys! See here and here. And keep an eye on this blog as I will post details of the next English Bishop to pray at an abortuary, in July. This last photo shows the Bishop and the rest of the crowd. (for a close up of the Bishop click here)

So sign up to Pray a Rosary for Bishops Hopes.

My Wife Says, God Is A Cardiff City Supporter!

This story started last year when I won 2 tickets to watch manchester utd play Wigan Athletic Football Club, from Barclays Bank (boo!). My Nephew Declan was over the moon as he supports man utd, but don't ask me why? Then Michael, another Nephew phoned to ask if I would be his Confirmation Sponsor, "I would be honoured" said I. When I got off the phone I thought to myself, '20th of November(date of the Confirmation), why does that date ring in my head?' Yes it was the day of the match! So as none of the Family could go, God & Family are more important than football(well it wasn't a Cardiff game), I tried to give away the tickets. All to no avail, I telephoned Barclays Bank(boo!), "you cannot change them", in desperation I phoned man utd and asked them if there was a local children's home from which they could let a couple of kids have my seats, too late, no way! So there you have it, Michael has one of those unused tickets and Tom, Brother-in-law of Conor has the other one! But there's more, as some comedian used to say. I then won 2 tickets to see Aston Villa play Newcastle United, scheduled for Saturday 9th April. Nephew Conor supports Villa so off we go! Well not quite, as Madeleine, Conor's Wife was expecting their first baby on the 12th April. He said not to worry, but I told him the baby would be early and we would miss the game. I in fact told him that the Baptism would be on the day of the match as that would stop the whole Family going. He said, "Not so, as no matter what the Baptism will be on a Sunday afternoon!" Because of sky television the game was moved to Sunday! Felicity was born early and the Baptism, as I said took place at almost the same time as the match! (John Smeaton got a better photo) I tried to give away the tickets, all to no avail. I did not bother to telephone Barclays Bank(boo!). In desperation I phoned Aston Villa and asked them if there was a local children's home from which they could let a couple of kids have my seats, too late, no way! So my Wife said, "Twice now, it is clearly a sign from God about Football!" I'm sure she's right, God is clearly a Cardiff City supporter and does not want me to waste my time winning tickets to see other clubs! Go City, Go!

Bishop Slaps Priests & Faithful

On Saturday 16th April Bishop Alan Hopes of Westminster will pray outside the abortuary in Twickenham (Details). This will mean that 20% of the Bishops currently living in Westminster will have prayed at an abortuary this year.

We would need 145 Priests living in Westminster to pray at the abortuary to make 20%!

But before we all pat ourselves on the back and say, "Oh those Priests!", remember that we would need 30,334 of the Mass going Catholics in Westminster to pray at an abortuary to make 20%!

I know you are busy, I know you do lots of good works, but there are over 50,000 abortions in London each year, see you on Saturday. Do remember that when you die God will not ask you "Was your Bishop/Priest/neighbour there?" He will just ask, "Where you there?" The correct answer is "Yes" or "I was at another abortuary".

See you on Saturday.

Freedom From Pornography

As pornography is all over the place on the Internet, isn't it great to know that there is a Catholic group fighting back against it and thus trying to Free people from the evil of Pornography. I read with interest the interview in The Catholic Herald with Matthew Fradd, a 28-year-old who conquered his porn addiction and is helping others to do the same. At the moment they are trying to raise the money to put up the billboard below. To donate see the blog and also put the picture up anyway you can yourself, blogs, wed sites, etc.

You Are Invited To Join Bishop Hopes Praying At An Abortuary

Pro-Life Vigil at BPAS abortuary, 15 Rosslyn Road, Twickenham, Middlesex, TE1 2AR, will be held ON 16TH APRIL, 2011. FROM ST. MARGARET’S CHURCH, 130 ST. MARGARET’S ROAD, EAST TWICKENHAM, TW1 1RL

LED BY BISHOP ALAN HOPES, THE FRANCISCAN FRIARS OF THE RENEWAL AND WITH FULL POLICE CO-OPERATION (Do sign up to say a Rosary for Bishop Hopes and any other Bishops that you like, or even those that you don't like!)

TIMES (APPROX.) ARE AS FOLLOWS:

9.00AM HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS (NEW RITE) AT ST. MARGARET’S CHURCH

9.40AM EXPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT

9.50AM PRAYERFUL AND PEACEFUL PROCESSION TO BPAS ABORTUARY, PROCESSING WITH IMAGE OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE, HOLY ROSARY AND HYMNS

11.30AM RETURN PROCESSION WITH PRAYERS AND HYMNS

12.00PM BENEDICTION

12.15PM BREAK FOR TEA AND GET TOGETHER. PLEASE BRING PACKED LUNCH

Directions: St. Margaret’s Station, South-West Trains. St. Margaret’s Church is opposite the Station. By road – Close to Chertsey and Twickenham Roads (A316) and Richmond Road (A305). Ample car-parking.

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, PLEASE CONSIDER COMING TO ST MARGARET’S CHURCH FOR ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT DURING THE VIGIL, OR BE WITH US SPIRITUALLY.

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: www.hgpi.co.uk or for a poster click here.

For details of a Central London weekday vigil see Good Counsel.

Tolkien's The Lord of The Rings; A Catholic Worldview

Tolkien's The Lord of The Rings; A Catholic Worldview. 1 hour long programme, on sky 589 or www.ewtn.co.uk Wednesday 6th April 8am or Thursday 7th April 8pm.

Six Years Of 'Legalised' Euthanasia In Britain

Euthanasia by omission was legalised in Britain on 5th April 2005, when the House of Commons approved the Mental Capacity Act. John Smeaton, national director of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, said, "SPUC has said all along that this legislation is all about killing vulnerable people. Now every mentally incapacitated person is at risk from euthanasia by neglect. It is sickening that government minister Baroness Ashton should say that this Act 'celebrates life'."However her remarks are not surprising when we see how pro-death policies -whether related to euthanasia, abortion or IVF - are now routinely presented as if they were pro-life." (Taken from; Pro-Life Times: May 2005, by ANTHONY OZIMIC)

Now let us pray

Prayer for Wales (For Scotland or England) 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.

Arsenal Beat Liverpool At Posh Dinner

My Wife and myself were invited to a Charity Gala Dinner, at The Savoy. The friends who were kind enough to invite us have a teenage daughter who is quite ill, so please do say a prayer for her. The dinner was very nice, the seafood cocktail starter by Tom Kitchin and the classic lemon tart with sweet Perroche cheese by James Martin were my favourites. The whole evening was very well organised and raised lots of money.

Paul Smeaton will no doubt be pleased to hear that a signed Arsenal Football Shirt went for over £1000 in the silent auction, while a signed Liverpool Football was only going for £210 when we were leaving! All a bit out of my price range, even if I had wanted them!

I Am A Great Uncle!

Ten years ago when I married, I became an uncle at the same moment! Six of the little dears! One of my nieces (or was it the other one or was it both of them) was kind enough to buy me a pair of socks a few years ago which said Great Uncle. But now Conor (our eldest nephew), or should I say his Wife Madeleine has gone one better, as she gave birth to their daughter on Wednesday 30th March and thus made me feel old!

A photo from their wedding will be found on page two here.

Happy Birthday Wife

It is my Wife's Birthday today! She is on the right in the photo.

She is a wonderful Wife, a great Mother as well as Director of The Good Counsel Network!

There Are Fools And Then There Are Fools!

"A man who has faith must be prepared not only to be a martyr, but to be a fool." GK Chesterton (1874-1936)

No Father this is not what he meant!

Deerstalker tip to The Catholic Herald for this quote.

Happy Atheist Fools Day

FLORIDA COURT SETS ATHEIST HOLY DAY
In Florida, an atheist created a case against the upcoming Easter and Passover Holy days. He hired an attorney to bring a discrimination case against Christians and Jews and observances of their holy days... The argument was that it was unfair that atheists had no such recognized days.
The case was brought before a judge. After listening to the passionate presentation by the lawyer, the judge banged his gavel declaring, "Case dismissed!"

The lawyer immediately stood objecting to the ruling saying, "Your honor, How can you possibly dismiss this case? The Christians have Christmas, Easter and others. The Jews have Passover, Yom Kippur and Hanukkah, yet my client and all other atheists have no such holidays..".

The judge leaned forward in his chair saying, "But you do. Your client, counsel, is woefully ignorant."

The lawyer said, "Your Honor, we are unaware of any special observance or holiday for atheists."

The judge said, "The calendar says April 1st is April Fools Day. Psalm 14:1 states, 'The fool says in his heart, there is no God.' Thus, it is the opinion of this court, that, if your client says there is no God, then he is a fool. Therefore, April 1st is his day. Court is adjourned."
You gotta love a Judge that knows his scripture!