Bedford
December 5, 2017
It is with regret that we announce that the Mass planned at Christ the King, Bedford, on Friday 8th December at 7.30 pm, for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, has had to be cancelled. This is due to there being no celebrant available, despite every effort on our part. This is the first time that this has happened since the Latin Mass came to Bedford in August 2015.
There will be an Novus Ordo Mass to mark the Immaculate Conception which Parish Priest Fr Patrick Hutton has kindly offered to say at 7.30 pm.
Please pray for more vocations to the sacred priesthood and for more priests to learn to say the Traditional Mass.
by fsspuk
December 3, 2017
Fr O’Donohue was with us this morning and continued his series of homilies on the Seven Deadly Sins. Having spoken about Pride, the deadliest of all the sins, a few weeks ago, today he turned to Envy, which he described as a capital sin and the daughter of Pride, since both are sins of self-centredness. Envy is the state of wishing for something that someone else has which we would like. We think we deserve it and they do not, we resent the fact that they have it, and this leads to backbiting against that person and worse. Examples from the Bible such as Cain and Abel, Joseph and his brothers were cited, as were examples from literature such as Othello and Macbeth.
The remedies against Envy are to immediately squash any thoughts of it, as one would swat an annoying insect, and to emulate the saints and others who give a good example of charity.
We look forward to Fr O’Donohue’s next visit on 17 December to talk about another of the Deadly Sins.
by fsspuk
November 27, 2017
Due to popular demand, we plan to have a sung Latin Mass at Bedford once a month. Can you sing Gregorian Chant? Would you like to? If so, please get in touch: bedfordlatinmass@gmail.com. We’d love to hear from you!
The Church acknowledges Gregorian chant as specially suited to the Roman liturgy: therefore, other things being equal, it should be given pride of place in liturgical services -The Second Vatican Council, Sacrosanctum Concilium #116, December 4th, 1963
by fsspuk
November 23, 2017
Further to the talk to the Latin Mass Men’s Group given by Guardian Andrew Hinde at the Shrine recently, Guardian Barbara Kay will give a talk to the Ladies’ Group which has arisen from the Latin Mass at Christ the King about the Miraculous Relic Image, on the Feast Day of Our Lady, Tuesday 12 December. This meeting is open to all ladies and will take place at the group’s usual venue in Ampthill at 10.30 am. Tea and coffee will be available before the talk. Please contact the host, Grace Bozzino, on grace.escargot@gmail.com or Barbara Kay on mbky3@outlook.com for directions.
by fsspuk
November 20, 2017
Mustard was an essential accompaniment to beef. It became associated with vigour and enthusiasm because it added zest and flavour. By the early 20th century, the association was so strong that the word was used like this: 1925 E. Wallace, in King by Night: “That fellow is mustard.”
Fr Ian Verrier was at Christ the King yesterday and took as the theme for his homily the Gospel passage of the day, St Matthew 13: 31-35 about the grain of mustard seed, and the leaven in the dough. We are called upon to be as keen as mustard in our faith, in contrast to the lukewarmness of those people spoken of in the Apocalypse who are indifferent to the things of God.
Fr Verrier suggested that daily Examination of Conscience will help to sharpen our faith and how to go about this – certainly a challenge for myself and I am sure for others.
We are grateful to Fr Verrier and the other FSSP priests for giving us so much teaching to put vigour and enthusiasm, zest and flavour into our faith.
by fsspuk
November 14, 2017
Tomorrow, the monthly Men’s evening will be at 7:30 at the church of the Holy Child and St Joseph, Bedford MK40 1HU. We’ll hear a talk on the miraculous relic of our Lady of Guadeloupe which is kept there.
More details about the relic are here: http://www.relicourladyofguadalupe.co.uk/
There’ll be refreshments afterwards. All welcome!
by fsspuk
November 13, 2017
The homily on Pride in the previous article was given during the Requiem Mass for Remembrance Sunday. It was offered for the souls of the fallen in the First and Second World Wars. Most families will know of someone in this category and indeed my husband and I remembered his uncle, who died in France right at the end of World War 2 aged only 22. As at the Mass for All Souls, a cataflaque had once again been set up in the aisle and we heard the Sequence. The black chasuble was worn by Fr O’Donohue and removed for the sprinkling and incensing of the cataflaque.
May all who gave their lives for their country rest in peace.
by fsspuk
St Thomas Aquinas wrote: “inordinate self-love is the cause of every sin … the root of pride is found to consist in man not being, in some way, subject to God and His rule.”
Taking up these words was Fr Patrick O’Donohue, our Mass celebrant yesterday. He is currently a postulant with the FSSP in Reading and was visiting Bedford for the second time. He gave an inspiring homily on the sin of Pride, saying that pride in our gifts and achievements, and acknowledgement of them in others, was necessary for our own self-respect and good relationships. However, when we take credit for these gifts ourselves and do not recognise them as coming entirely from God, this can cross the boundary into pride. Indeed the Fall arose from Pride, and thus it may be considered the most deadly of the Seven Deadly Sins as it gives rise to the others. To counteract Pride, we should strive to cultivate the corresponding virtue, Humility.
We look forward to six more homilies on the other Deadly Sins from Fr O’Donohue in the coming months!
by fsspuk
November 10, 2017
This looks a wonderful event. More details below and here
Preached by Fr Armand de Malleray, FSSP on the theme:
THE GLORIOUS SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY
Regardless of your marital status, come to learn about this beautiful sacrament, so misunderstood in modern society. Even though you may have been married for decades, or may not wish to get married, this retreat could help you deepen your appreciation of matrimony and support through your advice and prayer families, couples in difficulty or simply engaged.
Almost all rooms are single: book early if you wish a double room.
Arrival : Friday 8th December 2017 from 4pm.
Holy Mass of the Immaculate Conception (Extraordinary Form): 5pm.
Supper 6:30pm
End: Sunday 10th December at 3pm (Sunday lunch included).
Provided: all accommodation, towels, food (full-board), teas and coffees.
Bring alarm clock, good spirituality books, rosary beads, EF Missal if you own one, warm clothes, pad and pen.
COST: £95.00 per person, full board.
Please note: to keep costs as low as possible, our Fraternity manages the bookings on behalf of Pantasaph. We charge nothing for this work, neither for the advertising costs and the actual giving of the retreat. A voluntary collection will be organised during the retreat for those who can help cover our expenses.
BOOKINGS: Please send your full contact details with your £30 deposit per person to ‘Advent Retreat 2017, St Mary’s Priory, Smith Street, Warrington WA1 2NS, Cheshire, England’.
Cheques to be made payable to ‘FSSP’.
Booking Form here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/65y0azbqbn3as9m/Booking%20Form%20Advent%20Retreat%208-10%202017%20Pantasaph.pdf?dl=0
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by fsspuk
November 3, 2017
We celebrated Mass in the Extraordinary Form on the evening of All Saints with a congregation of some 60 people. In his homily Fr Goddard said that the Saints listened to God and obeyed Him, and we must do the same, even though it may bring trials to us as it did to them. The Gospel was part of the Beatitudes in St Matthew’s Gospel and we were told that Jesus Himself perfectly fulfilled the ‘Blessed’ statements that He made about being humble, pure in heart and so on. The atmosphere was one of celebrating the lives and examples of those who have gone before us – both known and unknown – and now pray for us in Heaven.
By contrast, the atmosphere on the morning of All Souls was sombre as we remembered the Holy Souls in Purgatory. About 50 people attended the Mass. A cataflaque surrounded by candles had been set up in the aisle. Fr Goddard wore a black chasuble and the joyful parts of the Mass, such as the Gloria, were missing. The sequence reminding us of death and judgment was read out. There was no homily and no Salve Regina at the end; the cataflaque was sprinkled with holy water and incensed.
Let us not forget to pray for those whose place in Heaven is assured, but have not reached it yet.
by fsspuk
