Pilgrim Plotting

The picture above plots out the location of the most recent American visitors to this blog. I have taken the liberty of dividing our visitors into 'regions' in hopes of encouraging the establishment of formal chapters under the banner of Juventutem USA - to come out to Australia next year, to build one another up in fraternal charity, and to burn with an ardent zeal and devotion for Holy Mother Church with an awesome reverence for her liturgical forms and for that civilisation founded upon Baptism.

Pilgrims, Chaplains, Friends, get in contact, and register your interest! Make use of the forum found on the J-USA site.

Now to match visitors with chaplains in the area! A good exercise, don't you think?

XXIII

Tu creasti me, Domine. Ego autem, hodie gratias ago tibi, quoniam tu es Rex meus, et Deus meus. Deo gratias.

Repleti sunt omnes Spiritu Sancto - The Eighth Week

We were very blessed to have Father Gregory Jordan SJ visiting today from Brisbane. Father preached beautifully and heard confessions.

A blessed Pentecost to all! Note to self: I must accurately learn all gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit!

Procedamus in Pace!

With fondest prayers for all pilgrims setting out to Chartres Cathedral! Christus vincit!

From His Excellency:

I am greatly honoured to have been asked to accept the position of lay patron of Juventutem as it participates in World Youth Day 2008. The more frequent celebration of the traditional Latin Mass will, I am sure, strike a chord in the hearts of the young and give joy to those who remember its reverence and serenity from their youth. 'Domine, dilexi decorem domus tuae'. May it enhance our delight in the beauty of the Lord's house.

His Excellency, the Honourable William Cox AC RFD ED, Governor of Tasmania, and Lay Patron of Juventutem Australia.

Pontifical for Juventutem

His Grace, Archbishop Denis Hart of Melbourne will celebrate a Solemn Pontifical Mass for Juventutem on 11th July 2008, at 7:30pm. Other details are to be confirmed, and more information will be found on the Juventutem Australia website.

Deo gratias!

Auxilium Christianorum - ora pro nobis!

O felix dies! The prayers at the foot of the Altar beautifully sum up the wonderful drama of the Feast. Introibo ad Altare Dei... 'Hosanna, Hosanna!' Quoniam adhuc confitebor illi; salutare vultis mei, et Deus meus! 'Hosanna, Hosanna!'

How perfect.

Baptizare

Today is the anniversary of my baptism. Deo gratias.

Last night I was particularly blessed to be in the midst of Successors of the Apostles, Archbishop Hart of Melbourne, and Archbishop Coleridge, of Canberra-Goulburn. Archbishop Coleridge gave a moving memorial oration in honour of a deceased Melbourne priest, a German who had been a U-boat captain, and returned to seminary studies after the War. The Archbishop mentioned an interesting point that I had never really thought about. A Polish Pope, and a German Cardinal (now the Holy Father), the very best of friends and collaborators. Albeit from different sides, both had seen the horrors of Godless ideologies, diabolical assaults on human dignity, and popular despair. In response, they rebelled against the first rebel, the father of lies, and with eyes fixed on the glorified Christ, they preached the Gospel of life, and love, and truth. Father had done a similar thing in answering the call to the Priesthood. It was really quite excellent.

Tomorrow is the Solemnity of Our Lady Help of Christians, Patroness of Australia - and Juventutem's anniversary. I was not in time to post the novena prayer, but I trust that you have seen it about the blogs. It is a most beautiful prayer at any time:

"Most loving Mother Mary, you have always been the Help of Christians. Help us with your powerful protection in life and especially at the hour of our death, so that, after having loved and venerated you on earth, we may come to proclaim your mercy in heaven."

Please pray for Juventutem. A special thank you to Mr Shawn Tribe at the New Liturgical Movement for his support. I strongly encourage local chapters to begin estimating numbers coming to Sydney - including chaplains.

If you are not yet in a chapter, do not be afraid to form one! Gather your friends, tell your pastors, ask the Lord! Please do leave a comment if you would like more assistance - and let us know what you are doing.

Official JA updates, soon. Keep praying for the Holy Father!

Rogare

Non rogo, ut tollas eos de mundo, sed ut serves eos a malo, alleluia, alleluia.

I am contentedly tired. It has been a rather busy weekend. I was blessed to be able to go on a 'country Victoria' expedition yesterday, to a beautiful church where Father was celebrating a votive Mass of the Blessed Mother for a Marian conference. He preached beautifully. Fitting for the day. I can now say that I have been blessed enough to have attended Classical liturgies in each of the four Victorian dioceses. I do hope that these day trips become a regular thing. It was a lovely day.

This morning's Mass was just beautiful. The schola was singing - particularly impressive was the Alleluia verse, and the Communion motet. The schola is growing, attracting many new young, and enthusiastic members.

Jude and I went off to the National Gallery this afternoon, and it was very impressive. It was interesting to note some elements of grace in the creations of pagan culture - that preparation for the Gospel, the light illuminating every man coming into the world. We saw a beautiful glass mosaic of the Last Supper, a very moving altar piece of the martyrdom of St Lawrence, and the original of this rather popular depiction of the Assumption of the Blessed Mother:

We also found a French plate painted in 1947 with a depiction of our Blessed Mother with Our Lord, which we thought summed up the more radical school of the first Liturgical Movement. Unfortunately, I can't find a picture. I was however, very taken by the picture below, and now have a postcard of the work on my fridge:

In other affairs, I'm trying to discern how the Lord intends to use the next six months, and whether I am being called to begin teaching, and that is, primary school teaching. Fiat voluntas tua.

This time between Ascension and Pentecost is incredibly wonderful. We are so incredibly close to the situation of the Apostles, and the figures of the Infant Church. Not that we are ever not, but this time, during our earthly sojourn, we are identifiable, even physically, temporally.

Finally, the latest edition of the journal of the Australian Confraternity of Catholic Clergy, The Priest, is now online. As always, it contains excellent material. I haven't finished reading it in it's entirety, but I especially commend to you the articles by Father Tattersall on Cardinal Ratzinger's liturgical theology, and by David Birch, on the place of Latin in the Church. I'm reading Dr Rowland's article next.

May we all be of one heart and constant in prayer.

Australia's oldest extant Catholic church, St John's Richmond, Tasmania (1835)

I am not particularly fond of taking photographs in churches, but I couldn't resist. Aren't the rails stunning?

Pontificals

There are beautiful photos from the Good Shepherd Sunday Pontifical Mass at St Aloysius, Caulfield, here. Please note the reproduction restrictions. Else, I would post my favourites here.

A Solemn Pontifical Mass at the throne in the Classical Roman Rite (with Confirmations) will be celebrated in St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne, on Saturday, 25th August 2007, at 10:30am. The Mass will be offered by His Grace, Archbishop Denis Hart. Contact the Fathers regarding sacramental preparation.

Pray for holy priests! Pray for your bishops!

Ascendit Deus in jubilatione, et Dominus in voce tubae!

Happiest Ascension to all! Elevatis manibus, benedixit eis, et ferebatur in caelum, alleluia! What a beautiful Feast it is. And now, here we are. Veni Sancte Spiritus!

There is much going to mention, but I only have a minute. From Rorate-Caeli, ex Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos:

[T]he Holy Father has the intention of extending to the entire Latin Church the possibility of celebrating Holy Mass and the Sacraments according to the liturgical books promulgated by Blessed John XXIII in 1962. Several communities spread throughout the world have been up to now under Ecclesia Dei. 300 priests, 79 religious men, 300 religious women, 200 seminarians, and several hundreds of thousands of faithful. The interest of the young curiously(?) increases in France, the United States, Brazil, Italy, Scandinavia, Australia, and China.

That's us!

4th April, 2007

"I am pleased to know of your initiatives for the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy according to the liturgical books of 1962 both for those young people who are already attracted to these celebrations and as a way of introducing other young people to the rich liturgical heritage of the Church.

May your efforts bring forth abundant fruits for the good of souls and for the building up of the Body of Christ."

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos

President Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei

RIP...

This was so amusing I had to post it.

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: Knowing when to come in out of the rain; Why the early bird gets the worm; Life isn't always fair; and Maybe it was my fault.Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6 -year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the jobthat they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun cream or a plaster to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and planned to have a medical procedure.

Common Sense lost the will to live as churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. He is survived by his 3 stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, Someone Else Is To Blame, and I'm A Victim.Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.

...

I don't have any photos and wouldn't know how to stick them on here if I did, but High Mass at St. John's Cambridge last night was beautiful. More details when I can give them and I have to be careful about what I say, but it was the Subdeacon's first attempt and he did admirably. In fact, I didn't notice him, which means he did incredibly well. Remind me to actually tell people about stuff before it happens.......

I'm assuming there will be a Mass on Thursday evening at Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane for those in England/London.

Floreat!

Juventutem is part of the Catholic revival launched by Pope John Paul II and so strongly encouraged by Pope Benedict XVI. This is a renewal that leads to recovery of the Tradition that makes God's Word contemporary, that encourages celebration of the liturgy in its integrity as sacrifice and communion, and that makes possible a reappropriation of the Catholic culture that incarnates the Church in the world.

Juventutem gives young Catholics an opportunity to do their part in fostering continuity of the truth and the gifts of Christ in his Mystical Body so that the beauty of the Church may irradiate the lives of Catholic believers.

Floreat !

The Most Revd Basil Meeking - Bishop Emeritus of Christchurch, New Zealand, and Ecclesiastical Patron of Juventutem Australia.

Oh, and on the note of randomness...

This morning (definitely this morning - alarrrrum had already gone off) I had a very weird dream. What was weird about it was that it featured Benedictine monks. I woke up rather bemused, and have been wondering what's going on all day.

I'm sure this has some terribly significant and deep spiritual meaning, but I'm blowed if I can work out what it is!

There is a May crowning procession today at St. Bede's, to match the one organised by the Traditional Catholic Family Alliance at Ware last Saturday. Various members of the two largest families in England (okay, a little hyperbole is permitted!) were making wreaths yesterday, and trying to figure out which of them were similar enough in height to carry Our Lady, while I was simultaneously trying to teach two of them their respective music lessons. Tonight, we all meet with various others from the 'infamous diocese' to rehearse as the schola cantorum. Even though I think it's a Spécial Sunday next week.

New blogsite...

I have, in my pointless ambling through the blogosphere, somehow found the blogsite of our dear ghostly father, Dom. Armand de Malleray. See here for the FIJ info site, as it appears to currently be.

Apparently, our own blog appears to count as a quasi-local chapter. Which is nothing odd, since I know that there was an online OP tertiary community in francophone Canada for a while. Sadly now abandoned...........

Laudate Dominum montes et omnes colles!

I had the most amazingly blessed time in Tasmania. It was a pilgrimage, really, and I have much to share. This photo was taken at the top of Mount Wellington. Please pray for the newest addition to the Tassie Traddie congregation, Henrietta Charlotte Arabella, and for her family. Deo gratias!

For now, I have put myself in competition with our dear Holy Father concerning a project that I must finish very soon!

Solemn High Mass at Everingham nr York

There is to be a Solemn High Mass at the Church of St Mary and St Everilda in Everingham at 11.30am on Sunday 13th May.

Fr William Hudson of the Institute of Christ the King will be the celebrant and the Rudgate Singers will be singing Palestrina's Missa Brevis and other polyphonic motets as well as the Gregorian Chant Propers.

This magnificent church was built as a private chapel by the Constable-Maxwell family in 1836 and stands alongside Everingham Hall. It is in the style of the Italian Renaissance and is regarded by many as the grandest Catholic private chapel to have been built in England since the Reformation. It served as a parish church until a few years ago when it was closed by the Diocese of Middlesbrough. Since then, it has been largely disused, although the Guest family, who are the current owners of the Hall, have done their best to keep it in a decent state of repair.

Since this will probably be the first time that a sung Tridentine Mass has been celebrated on a Sunday in the diocese for more than 30 years, we intend that it will be a memorable occasion. the church can seat about 200 and we would like it to be full; so please come along and bring your friends. As an added attraction, and because many will be travelling some distance, we will be serving some light refreshments after Mass.

Everingham is a very small village about 5 miles south of Pocklington; and is signposted from the main A1079 York to Beverley road. The church can be found by taking the road out of Everingham towards Harswell and Holme-on-Spalding-Moor. The entrance to the Hall and church is on the left as you leave the village. If you are uncertain of how to get there, or if you require a lift, do not hesitate to get in touch with us. We already know of several people in York who would like to attend but do not have a means of transport to get there. So please let us know via the website if you are able to offer a lift. It may be that there will be sufficient people to organise a minibus.

'Jesus von Nazareth: von der Taufe im Jordan bis zur Verklaerung'

The Holy Father's new book has arrived from amazon.de! And while I brush up my German, it is essential to bring to your collective notice that it's a beautifully produced edition which has.... ribbon markers in white and yellow!!!

(That's exciting, right?)

It says some good stuff too, though I'm only on page 17...

Happy Eastertide, everyone! I hope you're all well.

Episcopal Appointments for Melbourne!

Msgr Peter Elliott and Fr Timothy Costelloe sdb have been appointed by the Holy Father to receive the Episcopal consecration, the fullness of Holy Orders, for the Archdiocese of Melbourne. This is expected to occur at the Cathedral on the 15th June.

What can I possibly say about Msgr Elliott? Deo gratias! I have had the joyful privilege of studying under Father Costelloe, and I know that he is going to be an exceptional, and humble Shepherd for the Church of God. Father Costelloe's church was recently destroyed in an arson attack - and I thought of Bishop Polding, when his Cathedral burnt down on the anniversary of his Episcopal consecration. May Father Costelloe be consoled by his appointment, may he rejoice, and be conformed in the Holy Spirit. The Lord has blessed His Church in Melbourne.

More news here.