Ascension Mass – this Thursday!
Low Mass this Thursday, 25 May, at 7:30pm. Hope to see you there!
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March for Life – 20 May
It’s 50 years since the Abortion act and 100 years since the Fatima apparitions – “the greatest message of modern times,” according to St John Paul.
So if you’re going to pick one year to go to the March for Life, perhaps make it this year?
More details are here : www.marchforlife.co.uk including how to get there. If you’re struggling for transport please do get in touch with us, as we may be able to help
York Pilgrimage Saturday 29 April
This is a fantastic event to attend – this year’s will be my fourth – and it led me to my interest in and commitment to the Traditional Mass through a devotion to St Margaret Clitherow. There is a procession past the Shambles where she lived and to the spot where she was martyred, as well as a wonderful High Mass beforehand and Benediction afterwards. It is feasible to do the trip to York and back in a (longish) day from the Bedford area and we adjourn to one of the many nice eating places in York before making the return journey.
Barbara
Easter 2017
HAPPY EASTER! Some photos from Mass are below as well as a very thought provoking article (and book) about the need to set up our own communities. The Tipi Loschi are an inspiration – who knows, perhaps we can have something similar here in Bedford. We don’t have the Adriatic Coast, but we have beautiful countryside, a growing congregation in a welcoming parish and the Traditional Mass!
https://www.spectator.co.uk/2017/04/the-benedict-option/
Fatima 2017: Statue and Relics to visit Northampton Cathedral
Visitation of the Statue and Relics to the Diocese of Northampton from 30 Sept-1 Oct 2017.
The National Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, and Relics of Blessed Jacinta and Francisco will be travelling around the country, visiting various Cathedrals abbeys and churches this year, 2017, which is the Centenary year of the Fatima message, which was given by the Blessed Virgin between May and October 1917.
The Latin Mass Society are involved in the short visitation to the Dominican Priory, Haverstock Hill, London, on 8 July 2017
More details here:
http://www.worldfatima-englandwales.org.uk/visitation.html
(The World Apostolate of Fatima is an approved Public Association of the Faithful).
Change of plan for Tenebrae
Due to unforeseen circumstances, we have had to cancel Tenebrae in Latin on Maundy Thursday 13 April at 6 pm. There will be Tenebrae in English with readings and hymns at 6 pm led by Fr Patrick Hutton preceding the Maundy Thursday liturgy, also in English, at 7.30 pm. We apologise if you were planning to come to the Traditional Form.
The Good Friday Stations of the Cross in Latin at 12.00 noon is going ahead as scheduled and there will be Latin Mass on Easter Sunday at the usual time of 8.30 am. Fr Thomas Crean OP is the celebrant.
Easter 2017!
We are very fortunate to have Fr. Crean not just for Easter Sunday Mass but also for Tenebrae on Maundy Thursday and Stations of the Cross on Good Friday. Please spread the word and invite people to come along!
The Latin Easter Schedule at Christ the King is as follows:
Maundy Thursday: 6pm, Traditional Tenebrae, followed immediately by Mass in the Ordinary Form
Good Friday: Stations of the Cross at Midday. Liturgy of the Passion in the Ordinary form is at 3pm
Easter Sunday: Mass at 8:30am
‘A Catholic Replies to Professor Dawkins’.
Fr. Thomas Crean, a regular celebrant at Christ the King published a terrific book in 2007, titled ‘A Catholic Replies to Professor Dawkins’. Essentially, the book is a refutation of Dawkins’ best-seller, ‘The God Delusion’, where Dawkins claims that “belief in God is not only a delusion, but also that religion actually has a harmful influence on society.”
I will post a longer ‘review’ in the resources section shortly.
Suffice to say, this is an excellent read and well worth purchasing. Copies are rare, but used copies are available on Amazon, here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/cka/Catholic-Replies-Professor-Dawkins-Thomas-Crean/1871217709
Fr. Crean has published at least four books, available on Amazon including a specific refutation of ‘The God Delusion’ (God is No Delusion: A Refutation of Richard Dawkins).
‘A Catholic Replies to Professor Dawkins’ shouldn’t be seen as a book aimed at atheists. If anything, its style is one of conversation with a fellow Catholic. Like a truly good writer, Fr. Crean conveys complex arguments in a very readable way, with a dash of tongue-in-cheek humour woven into the very sound, sensible reproaches. The book focusses on two main philosophies; one held by the author, the order by Dawkins. That it manages to surmise Dawkins’ book, dispensing with unhelpful commentary, and getting down to the main points, is another quality of the book – keeping it succinct and readable.
Feast of Annunciation at Christ the King
St Thomas Aquinas summer school in Walsingham
Many people still associate study of the works of St Thomas Aquinas (1225-74) with the dark and dusty atmosphere of an old theological library. In attempt to introduce the study of the Angelic Doctor (so named, some say, because of his extensive writings on angels) a group of Dominican scholastics and lay theological scholars came together some years ago and organized a one week course on Aquinas in Ireland during the summer months. They set up the Aquinas Institute of Ireland, and their first summer school was held in 2014 at a Dominican facility overlooking the sea on the south coast. Some of the organizers teach at the International Theological Institute (ITI) near Vienna, and present and former students of that Institute also attend these summer schools.
The stated goal of this Aquinas Institute is “to introduce the thought of St. Thomas to a wider audience, and to lead students of both theology and philosophy towards a deeper and more comprehensive appreciation of his texts.” During the past four years, men, women, lay and ordained, and families too (activities and sports are organized for those who bring their children along), people of many ages and nationalities, have attended these schools. During the week all the participants read closely an extract of Aquinas writings in a prayerful environment, with discussion and reflection on the texts. Since the school also welcomes people who are not familiar with the writings of Aquinas, classes are organized in a manner which helps all grow in appreciation of the depth and wonder of his teaching, and its relevance for our faith today.
The first Aquinas Summer School was held in 2014, and this year, since suitable accommodation is not available in Ireland, the School will be take place at the Shrine of Our Lady in Walsingham. It will run from Sunday July 23rd to Saturday the 29th, and the cost of tuition, accommodation and food is £240. More details and the application procedure can be found at the website:
http://www.aquinasinstitute.ie
The Writings of Saint Thomas Aquinas
The Summa Theologica and the Summa Contra Gentiles are the best known of the writings of St Thomas Aquinas. These works are spread over many volumes, but toward the end of his life St Thomas produced a Compendium of Theology, a book of just over 400 pages, which contains a synopsis of the Summa Theologica.
St Thomas also wrote commentaries on the books of the New Testament, and one on the Book of Job. Many of these commentaries are now being published in English for the first time. The Aquinas Institute at Wyoming Catholic College in the USA is translating and publishing these Commentaries, along with his other works of theology and philosophy. Their website is: http://theaquinasinstitute.org/
Some years ago, Fr Paul Kimball SSPX published his own translation of the Commentary on the Gospel of Saint Matthew. A book of 1026 pages, this work provides many insights into the personal faith of Saint Thomas.
Then there is the four volume Catena Aurea, published by Baronius Press. This is a “golden chain” of commentaries by the Church Fathers on the four gospels, translated into English by Blessed John Henry Newman in 1841. St Thomas compiled the commentaries from the Fathers in a manner that allows them to be read as a single exposition of the meaning of each gospel.
Finally, for those who want a simple work of St Thomas on fundamental aspects of our faith, The Aquinas Catechism, contains his short and clear explanations of the meaning of the Lord’s Prayer, the Hail Mary, the Apostles’ Creed, and the Ten Commandments.
Fr Daniel Horgan
