http://thefederalist.com/2018/06/01/selective-abortion-of-down-syndrome-babies-is-an-absolute-moral-depravity/
The Communion of Saints
I hope there's room for me.
Showing posts with label Anglo-Catholic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Anglo-Catholic. Show all posts
Friday, 1 June 2018
Wednesday, 8 November 2017
He raises his head above the parapet, and nobody notices.
Dear Reader,
I haven't posted in quite a while, despite the remarkable election results, lots of interesting political incidents, football and, well, football. So much going on in the religious arena too.
What can I say? I have been ludicrously busy but also distracted.
Well, I have done a review of the election results in the South West of England which I will, when I can find it, post on here.
I wish you all well.
Sunday, 16 February 2014
Not so much a hiatus, more of a complicated hernia.
I have been away from regular posting for sometime now; it isn't unusual for me to take a bit of a break, but a change of circumstances and suddenly finding myself extremely busy has prevented me from finding the time to sit down and share a few thoughts, opinions, reflections, etc.
I am now in a position to at least have a bit of a return to the fray and will be posting on a fairly regular basis again. Politics is very interesting at the moment, the religious world is forever full of fascination and it is only football that presently leaves me depressed.
I will doubtless be sharing some overviews and thoughts on the forthcoming local elections, which have been delayed by two weeks to coincide with the European Parliamentary elections. I will again be visiting the politics of Stockport, Portsmouth, Manchester and Rochdale, as well as my new home of Blackburn.
The Personal Ordinariates have continued to progress in the UK, Australia and North America and it will be interesting to see what, if any, effect that decisions in the Church of England will have on the growth of the Ordinariate the UK.
The Pope continues to confound people with his approach to his ministry and it is worth having a look at the following link for this perceptive article (don't be put off by the title): http://www.faithstreet.com/onfaith/2014/02/13/beware-of-pope-francis/30949
As for football, for the love of all the is holy - David Moyes, get a grip!!!!!!
I am now in a position to at least have a bit of a return to the fray and will be posting on a fairly regular basis again. Politics is very interesting at the moment, the religious world is forever full of fascination and it is only football that presently leaves me depressed.
I will doubtless be sharing some overviews and thoughts on the forthcoming local elections, which have been delayed by two weeks to coincide with the European Parliamentary elections. I will again be visiting the politics of Stockport, Portsmouth, Manchester and Rochdale, as well as my new home of Blackburn.
The Personal Ordinariates have continued to progress in the UK, Australia and North America and it will be interesting to see what, if any, effect that decisions in the Church of England will have on the growth of the Ordinariate the UK.
The Pope continues to confound people with his approach to his ministry and it is worth having a look at the following link for this perceptive article (don't be put off by the title): http://www.faithstreet.com/onfaith/2014/02/13/beware-of-pope-francis/30949
As for football, for the love of all the is holy - David Moyes, get a grip!!!!!!
Sunday, 15 September 2013
What now for Credo Cymru?
After the vote by General Synod of the Church in Wales to ordain women to the Episcopate, I have been left wondering what effect that might have upon some friends of mine who are members of (or sympathetic to) Credo Cymru (Forward in Faith in Wales) who have expressed dismay at this decision.
In July 2010, Forward in Faith in England had predicted that "thousands" of its members may join the Catholic Church through the provisions of the Ordinariate (http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2010/07/14/synod-vote-pushes-anglo-catholics-towards-ordinariate/) but that failed to happen.
Whilst I am not sure about the exact figures for those who, as clergy and laity, joined the Church, either by going directly to the local RC parish of via the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, it did not include many more than 100 clergy and, at most, a couple of thousand laity (I include those who did not join the Personal Ordinariate in this number).
Whilst I know there is still a hope to maintain a dignified position in the Church of England, I would be surprised if there was not soon a move by more clergy and laity, mostly in the direction of the RC Church.
Part of the problem, I surmise from my reading of what many have written and from conversations I have had, would be the deep emotional connection to the Church of England and its special place in the Establishment and close connection to a much loved monarch.
That is not the same in Wales. A long disestablished Church, it does not occupy the same position in society as the C of E. It has a heavily liberal House of Bishops, no 'flying bishops' (since the retirement of Bishop David Thomas in 2008) to provide for those who could not accept the ordination of women, and has not agonised over making provisions for those who struggle with the idea of women bishops in the manner of the C of E General Synod.
I do not doubt the deep emotional connection to the Anglican Church that so many have but I do wonder at what point their oft-stated intentions to become Roman Catholics will come to pass?
From a theological point of view, the pass on the Ordination of women to the Episcopate was sold when it was agreed to admit women to the Diaconate so I have always been a bit confused about the ongoing debate but have accepted that it was an issue for others and their sense of belonging within their own church community.
I will continue to pray for my friends as I know they are really struggling and I wish them the best. I wonder whether things are going to change soon though.
In July 2010, Forward in Faith in England had predicted that "thousands" of its members may join the Catholic Church through the provisions of the Ordinariate (http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2010/07/14/synod-vote-pushes-anglo-catholics-towards-ordinariate/) but that failed to happen.
Whilst I am not sure about the exact figures for those who, as clergy and laity, joined the Church, either by going directly to the local RC parish of via the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, it did not include many more than 100 clergy and, at most, a couple of thousand laity (I include those who did not join the Personal Ordinariate in this number).
Whilst I know there is still a hope to maintain a dignified position in the Church of England, I would be surprised if there was not soon a move by more clergy and laity, mostly in the direction of the RC Church.
Part of the problem, I surmise from my reading of what many have written and from conversations I have had, would be the deep emotional connection to the Church of England and its special place in the Establishment and close connection to a much loved monarch.
That is not the same in Wales. A long disestablished Church, it does not occupy the same position in society as the C of E. It has a heavily liberal House of Bishops, no 'flying bishops' (since the retirement of Bishop David Thomas in 2008) to provide for those who could not accept the ordination of women, and has not agonised over making provisions for those who struggle with the idea of women bishops in the manner of the C of E General Synod.
I do not doubt the deep emotional connection to the Anglican Church that so many have but I do wonder at what point their oft-stated intentions to become Roman Catholics will come to pass?
From a theological point of view, the pass on the Ordination of women to the Episcopate was sold when it was agreed to admit women to the Diaconate so I have always been a bit confused about the ongoing debate but have accepted that it was an issue for others and their sense of belonging within their own church community.
I will continue to pray for my friends as I know they are really struggling and I wish them the best. I wonder whether things are going to change soon though.
Monday, 9 September 2013
Ordinariate priests who began life as Roman Catholics.
I have been interested in the sometimes raised question about people returning to the Roman Catholic Church through the Personal Ordinariates. In the case of parishioners, they are mostly described as being 'reconciled' whilst other members of their parish/community who have joined are described as being 'received' . There are any number of people who left the Catholic Church and became Anglican/Espicopalian either due to 'marrying out', unhappiness with Church doctrine, divorce and remarriage, etc. In some cases, it is more that people left with their parents and did not make any conscious decision to change between one church and an other. Interestingly, Katherine Jefferts-Schori, the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopalian Church (TEC)in the USA, is one of the latter.
What I have found interesting is where this is the case for those who were formerly Anglican/Episcopalian priests and have now been ordained into the Catholic Church via the Ordinariate structure. The 'norm' has been that if a person leaves the Roman Catholic Church, joins another denomination and is then ordained within it, a return to the Catholic Church would be as a layman; this is certainly true in the case of those who were ordained within the Roman Catholic Church and then left to become ministers of another church.
The exceptions to this rule would be if a person was baptised within the Catholic Church but then not really raised within it who found their own path of faith within, say, the Church of England. They may fairly easily then be admitted as ordinands within the RC Church. On the whole, this seems to now extend to those who leave the RC Church as teenagers and then return, via the Ordinariate.
Among this group, one would number Monsignor John Broadhurst, former Bishop of Fulham (C of E), now an Assistant to the Ordinary in the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham. A founding Chairman of the mainly Anglo-Catholic Forward in Faith (FiF) group, Msgr Broadhurst began life as a Roman Catholic but then was raised as an Anglican whilst still quite young.
Another is Fr Andrew Starkie who leads the Manchester Ordinariate Group (OLW), who appears to have been raised and educated as a Roman Catholic but drifted away in early adulthood, became an C of E priest and is now back in the RC Church as an Ordinariate priest. In his case, from what one gathers, the rest of his family remained Roman Catholics. This suggests that leaving as as adult is not necessarily a bar to Ordination as a Roman Catholic priest as long as it was in early adulthood.
Also in England, we have Fr Ivan Aquilina, baptised a Catholic in Malta, but who appears to have been mainly raised as an Anglican by his mother. Again, now a priest of the OLW.
On the whole, this seems fairly clear, but there is a question when it comes to one or two other cases in the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St Peter (COSP) in the USA and Canada.
Recently, two former Anglican/Episcopalian priests were ordained for the Archdiocese for Military Services as members of COSP. One, Fr Richard Rojas, talks about how being ordained as a Catholic priest was a return to serve in "my Mother Church." I do not know at what age he left the Catholic Church but he appears to be one of several priests of COSP who had started life as Roman Catholics and, either through the decision of parents, later disillusionment or some such, were ordained into TEC or another Anglican jurisdiction. The other of the Military Chaplains ordained recently delights in the name of Fr Joseph Francis Viera which suggests some kind of RC background, but that might be a red herring.
The priests of COSP whom I know to have been, at some stage, members of the Roman Catholic Church, are Fr Patrick Allen, Fr Belen Gonzalez y Perez, Fr Chori Jonathin Seraiah, Fr Richard Rojas and Fr Edward Meeks. Obviously not an exhaustive list, but they have interesting stories.
Fr Allen's family left the Catholic Church to attend a Presbytarian Church when he was a 12 year old boy. Attracted by the Anglo-Catholic tradition, he became an Epicopalian priest in 2001, eventually rejoining the Catholic Church and being ordained as a COSP priest on July 7th, 2013.
Fr Belen Gonzalez y Perez became attracted to Pentecostal-style worship in his teens, was ordained as a Lutheran Pastor in 2002, going on to be licensed in TEC in 2008 and then ordained for COSP on 20th, November 2012.
Fr Seraiah has been baptised in the Catholic Church but his parents had left when he was a small child and he has seen the rest of his life as a journey back to the RC Church.
For me, the most fascinating story is that of Fr Edward Meeks who was a former Seminarian, leaving quite sometime before he would have been considered for ordination. Along with his wife and two children, he was active in the local Catholic parish and, through the Church agencies, adopted a child. At the same time, he and his wife were greatly involved in Charismatic Renewal and, for one reason or another, joined the Assemblies of God. Eventually ordained within the Charismatic Episcopal Church, he founded Christ the King parish, Towson, Maryland, in 1996. The whole story can be found in this account by his wife, Jan, entitled "You can go home again":
http://www.ctktowson.org/prayer-resources?category=Coming Home to the Church
I would never have imagined that Fr Meeks would be ordained, a fear shared by the Meeks, but he was and remains the pastor of Christ the King parish.
We could all probably relate accounts of former Catholics not receiving permission to be ordained through the Ordinariate process, including some remarkable cases of personal sacrifice, and will no doubt have some mixed feelings about the whole situation. Some may see a circumvention of the rules on celibacy, others might see a threat to the tradition of celibacy in the Catholic Church posed by married priests within the Church. I have shared some of the concerns about this and, as a celibate man striving to live by the direction of the church, I value the example of celibate priests and religious. What I cannot ignore is the remarkable example of grace that is being shown to those who are returning to the Church of their childhood, often bringing many others with them.
It may be that these examples will lead to a change in the Church's rule on the ordination of married men to the wider priesthood, some will welcome that, others may not. What is crucial is that the Church explains the reasoning behind the decisions as many people feel that the Church has lost many priests over the years due to the requirement of celibacy and then, as a priest recently said to me, "How is it that someone who went to the same school as me, received the same sacraments as I did and then left the Church, can now return as part of the provisions for Anglicans, even though he was not formed within that church?" He did not ask the question due to malice, just out of sense of what he saw as unfairness.
I am a great supporter of the Ordinariate process and believe it is a great blessing for the Church. I also delight in the return of those who, for whatever reason, left the Church, including those now priests. I do not try to divine the intentions of the Holy Spirit, just accepting them as God's will. I do offer a prayer that, just as the door has been opened generously for these priests, it might continue to do so in other cases of those who are in the Ordinariates, not least for Fr William Patrick Hannigan in Australia.
What I have found interesting is where this is the case for those who were formerly Anglican/Episcopalian priests and have now been ordained into the Catholic Church via the Ordinariate structure. The 'norm' has been that if a person leaves the Roman Catholic Church, joins another denomination and is then ordained within it, a return to the Catholic Church would be as a layman; this is certainly true in the case of those who were ordained within the Roman Catholic Church and then left to become ministers of another church.
The exceptions to this rule would be if a person was baptised within the Catholic Church but then not really raised within it who found their own path of faith within, say, the Church of England. They may fairly easily then be admitted as ordinands within the RC Church. On the whole, this seems to now extend to those who leave the RC Church as teenagers and then return, via the Ordinariate.
Among this group, one would number Monsignor John Broadhurst, former Bishop of Fulham (C of E), now an Assistant to the Ordinary in the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham. A founding Chairman of the mainly Anglo-Catholic Forward in Faith (FiF) group, Msgr Broadhurst began life as a Roman Catholic but then was raised as an Anglican whilst still quite young.
Another is Fr Andrew Starkie who leads the Manchester Ordinariate Group (OLW), who appears to have been raised and educated as a Roman Catholic but drifted away in early adulthood, became an C of E priest and is now back in the RC Church as an Ordinariate priest. In his case, from what one gathers, the rest of his family remained Roman Catholics. This suggests that leaving as as adult is not necessarily a bar to Ordination as a Roman Catholic priest as long as it was in early adulthood.
Also in England, we have Fr Ivan Aquilina, baptised a Catholic in Malta, but who appears to have been mainly raised as an Anglican by his mother. Again, now a priest of the OLW.
On the whole, this seems fairly clear, but there is a question when it comes to one or two other cases in the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St Peter (COSP) in the USA and Canada.
Recently, two former Anglican/Episcopalian priests were ordained for the Archdiocese for Military Services as members of COSP. One, Fr Richard Rojas, talks about how being ordained as a Catholic priest was a return to serve in "my Mother Church." I do not know at what age he left the Catholic Church but he appears to be one of several priests of COSP who had started life as Roman Catholics and, either through the decision of parents, later disillusionment or some such, were ordained into TEC or another Anglican jurisdiction. The other of the Military Chaplains ordained recently delights in the name of Fr Joseph Francis Viera which suggests some kind of RC background, but that might be a red herring.
The priests of COSP whom I know to have been, at some stage, members of the Roman Catholic Church, are Fr Patrick Allen, Fr Belen Gonzalez y Perez, Fr Chori Jonathin Seraiah, Fr Richard Rojas and Fr Edward Meeks. Obviously not an exhaustive list, but they have interesting stories.
Fr Allen's family left the Catholic Church to attend a Presbytarian Church when he was a 12 year old boy. Attracted by the Anglo-Catholic tradition, he became an Epicopalian priest in 2001, eventually rejoining the Catholic Church and being ordained as a COSP priest on July 7th, 2013.
Fr Belen Gonzalez y Perez became attracted to Pentecostal-style worship in his teens, was ordained as a Lutheran Pastor in 2002, going on to be licensed in TEC in 2008 and then ordained for COSP on 20th, November 2012.
Fr Seraiah has been baptised in the Catholic Church but his parents had left when he was a small child and he has seen the rest of his life as a journey back to the RC Church.
For me, the most fascinating story is that of Fr Edward Meeks who was a former Seminarian, leaving quite sometime before he would have been considered for ordination. Along with his wife and two children, he was active in the local Catholic parish and, through the Church agencies, adopted a child. At the same time, he and his wife were greatly involved in Charismatic Renewal and, for one reason or another, joined the Assemblies of God. Eventually ordained within the Charismatic Episcopal Church, he founded Christ the King parish, Towson, Maryland, in 1996. The whole story can be found in this account by his wife, Jan, entitled "You can go home again":
http://www.ctktowson.org/prayer-resources?category=Coming Home to the Church
I would never have imagined that Fr Meeks would be ordained, a fear shared by the Meeks, but he was and remains the pastor of Christ the King parish.
We could all probably relate accounts of former Catholics not receiving permission to be ordained through the Ordinariate process, including some remarkable cases of personal sacrifice, and will no doubt have some mixed feelings about the whole situation. Some may see a circumvention of the rules on celibacy, others might see a threat to the tradition of celibacy in the Catholic Church posed by married priests within the Church. I have shared some of the concerns about this and, as a celibate man striving to live by the direction of the church, I value the example of celibate priests and religious. What I cannot ignore is the remarkable example of grace that is being shown to those who are returning to the Church of their childhood, often bringing many others with them.
It may be that these examples will lead to a change in the Church's rule on the ordination of married men to the wider priesthood, some will welcome that, others may not. What is crucial is that the Church explains the reasoning behind the decisions as many people feel that the Church has lost many priests over the years due to the requirement of celibacy and then, as a priest recently said to me, "How is it that someone who went to the same school as me, received the same sacraments as I did and then left the Church, can now return as part of the provisions for Anglicans, even though he was not formed within that church?" He did not ask the question due to malice, just out of sense of what he saw as unfairness.
I am a great supporter of the Ordinariate process and believe it is a great blessing for the Church. I also delight in the return of those who, for whatever reason, left the Church, including those now priests. I do not try to divine the intentions of the Holy Spirit, just accepting them as God's will. I do offer a prayer that, just as the door has been opened generously for these priests, it might continue to do so in other cases of those who are in the Ordinariates, not least for Fr William Patrick Hannigan in Australia.
Sunday, 14 July 2013
The Orthodox confirm their Orthodox Worship - where now for the Western Rite of the Orthodox Church?
Over the past few years, whilst divisions have grown among members of the Anglican Communion, several parishes have looked to the Orthodox Church to find a home. Something I found unlikely given the difference in rites and there has been controversy among the Orthodox about this.
An answer seemed to be provided in the Orthodox Church providing an oversight which allowed a Western Rite, in this case an Anglican one. One tended to hear of the Anglican rituals being slowly eroded by local Orthodox bishops and now the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia have promulgated this decree:
http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=17793
I am not sure how this effects those of the Western Rite overseen by the Antiochean and Romanian Orthodox but it has effects for all those of the ROCOR, which include the three Western Rite parishes here in the UK.
I am guessing that the now deposed Bishop Jerome, who had oversight of this Vicariate since 18th May, 2011, has been seen to be making things to easy for former Anglican priests to become priests of the ROCOR and lax in the implementation of Eastern Divine Liturgy.
An answer seemed to be provided in the Orthodox Church providing an oversight which allowed a Western Rite, in this case an Anglican one. One tended to hear of the Anglican rituals being slowly eroded by local Orthodox bishops and now the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia have promulgated this decree:
http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=17793
I am not sure how this effects those of the Western Rite overseen by the Antiochean and Romanian Orthodox but it has effects for all those of the ROCOR, which include the three Western Rite parishes here in the UK.
I am guessing that the now deposed Bishop Jerome, who had oversight of this Vicariate since 18th May, 2011, has been seen to be making things to easy for former Anglican priests to become priests of the ROCOR and lax in the implementation of Eastern Divine Liturgy.
Thursday, 11 July 2013
Call me what you like, but never a liberal.
My byline of CatholicLeft continues to ruffle a few feathers of those across the North Atlantic, mostly I think, because of the state of political positions taken there. So, I feel a bit of clarification is needed.
Sadly, utilitarianism is now coming to be seen as synonymous with radicalism across the political spectrum.
I consider the issues of abortion, euthanasia, same-sex marriage and the like to be examples of the individual being placed above the community, where 'what I want' is more important than anything else and this is truly damaging. This infects the whole of the political spectrum, increasingly throughout Europe too.
I am a communitarian and hold views on issues of taxation, criminal justice, healthcare provision, welfare support, housing, defence, privitisation of industries, immigration, et al, that put me firmly on the traditional left of politics. All of these views are deeply fed by my religious beliefs as much as are my opposition to those matters already addressed.
It is healthy to have Christians in all parties to fight and strive to be heard for the needs of all. The Democratic Party in the USA has been hugely damaged by its sidelining of the traditional working class Christian (particularly Catholic) voice. It means that it can win Presidential elections (as the Republicans keep shooting themselves in the foot with the choice of candidates and extreme positions in election platforms) but not, outside of extraordinary years, the elections to the House of Representatives. It baffles many of us this side of the Pond, that coal miners vote for Republicans, but that is fault of the Democratic Party becoming more aligned to 'liberal' causes that the needs of the working man and woman.
For what it is worth, the worst thing you could call me is a liberal.
Sadly, utilitarianism is now coming to be seen as synonymous with radicalism across the political spectrum.
I consider the issues of abortion, euthanasia, same-sex marriage and the like to be examples of the individual being placed above the community, where 'what I want' is more important than anything else and this is truly damaging. This infects the whole of the political spectrum, increasingly throughout Europe too.
I am a communitarian and hold views on issues of taxation, criminal justice, healthcare provision, welfare support, housing, defence, privitisation of industries, immigration, et al, that put me firmly on the traditional left of politics. All of these views are deeply fed by my religious beliefs as much as are my opposition to those matters already addressed.
It is healthy to have Christians in all parties to fight and strive to be heard for the needs of all. The Democratic Party in the USA has been hugely damaged by its sidelining of the traditional working class Christian (particularly Catholic) voice. It means that it can win Presidential elections (as the Republicans keep shooting themselves in the foot with the choice of candidates and extreme positions in election platforms) but not, outside of extraordinary years, the elections to the House of Representatives. It baffles many of us this side of the Pond, that coal miners vote for Republicans, but that is fault of the Democratic Party becoming more aligned to 'liberal' causes that the needs of the working man and woman.
For what it is worth, the worst thing you could call me is a liberal.
Tuesday, 1 January 2013
Happy and Holy New Year...see you soon!
Dear All,
I wish you a Happy and Prosperous New Year. On this, the last day in the Christmas Octave and the Feast of Mary, Mother of God, may the blessing of the Christ child bring light hope and peace to you and all your loved ones.
After a self-imposed purdah, I will return to posting next week with a few reflections on the events that I have missed - the so-called hostage taking at my place of work (so much for the Levenson-era level of reportage by the 'Sun', 'Daily Mail', etc...), the absolute nightmare being visited upon those who are working full-time for low wages and trying to find a decent home on housing benefit, along with the continuing developments in the world of the Personal Ordinariates.
I might force myself to mention Manchester United's beginning the New Year at the top of the League (whatever the outcome of today's games).
I am also planning to concentrate on the County and Unitary Council Elections due in May of this year. Following the debacle for Labour in 2009, it is easy to predict big gains for them, so I will take a bit more of a risky strategy of making guesses (educated, I hope) about the outcome in the politically unusual unitary authority of Cornwall, the former Liberal redoubt of the Isle of Wight, my former home in Durham and the county of Suffolk.
For those in the know, the Cornish electoral world is a wonder to behold so wish me luck.
Anyway, take care and best wishes.
I wish you a Happy and Prosperous New Year. On this, the last day in the Christmas Octave and the Feast of Mary, Mother of God, may the blessing of the Christ child bring light hope and peace to you and all your loved ones.
After a self-imposed purdah, I will return to posting next week with a few reflections on the events that I have missed - the so-called hostage taking at my place of work (so much for the Levenson-era level of reportage by the 'Sun', 'Daily Mail', etc...), the absolute nightmare being visited upon those who are working full-time for low wages and trying to find a decent home on housing benefit, along with the continuing developments in the world of the Personal Ordinariates.
I might force myself to mention Manchester United's beginning the New Year at the top of the League (whatever the outcome of today's games).
I am also planning to concentrate on the County and Unitary Council Elections due in May of this year. Following the debacle for Labour in 2009, it is easy to predict big gains for them, so I will take a bit more of a risky strategy of making guesses (educated, I hope) about the outcome in the politically unusual unitary authority of Cornwall, the former Liberal redoubt of the Isle of Wight, my former home in Durham and the county of Suffolk.
For those in the know, the Cornish electoral world is a wonder to behold so wish me luck.
Anyway, take care and best wishes.
Tuesday, 16 October 2012
Gospel of Jesus's Wife shown to be a fake - why is anyone surprised?
The so-called Gospel of Jesus's Wife has never been something I toomk seriously, not least because of the question mark over it's authorship and dating. I am really chuffed to read the forgoing article though as it reminds us of the amazing tricks that forgers can now make with technology:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2012/oct/16/gospel-jesus-wife-modern-fake-typo
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2012/oct/16/gospel-jesus-wife-modern-fake-typo
Thursday, 27 September 2012
Which Traditional Anglican Communion parishes have joined the Personal Ordinariates?
There have been several questions asked about which former Traditional Anglican Communion Parishes, Missions and groups have joined the Catholic Church through the provisions of the Apostolic Constitution Apostolicorum Coetibus so I have endeavoured to list them in as up to date a fashion as I am able.
I am aware that some named (specifically in Canada) are not yet formal parishes or missions of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St Peter, but they are due to be. Please feel free to point out any mistakes and send any updates and omissions.
USA - formerly the Anglican Church in America (ACA-TAC)
Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St Peter
Church of the Incarnation, Orlando, Florida (formerly the Cathedral of the Incarnation for the Diocese of the Eastern United States of the Anglican Church in America (ACA-TAC) and then the Pro-Diocese of the Holy Family for those en-route for the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St Peter).
Mission of Holy Cross, Ocala, Florida (received with the Church of the Incarnation)
Parish of Christ the King, Towson, Maryland.
Mission Parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Mount Airy, Maryland, subsequently added as a mission attached to Christ the King, Towson.
St Augustine of Canterbury, Oceanside, California (formerly the Church of the Resurrection Mission Parish in Oceanside).
Blessed John Henry Newman Mission Parish, Orange County, California (made up of former members of the ACA-TAC, TEC and others. Their Priest-in-Charge, Father Bartus, was formerly a priest of the ACA-TAC)
St Joseph of Arimathea Anglican Use Society, Indiana, Indianapolis.
St Michael the Archangel Church, Philidelphia, Pennsylvania.
Former Pro-Diocese of the Holy Family..parishes/missions:
Notre Dame du Mt. Carmel..Margate, Florida
Rye de Gloria Mission..Pinecrest, Florida
Our Lady of the Angels..New Smyrna Beach, Florida
St. Luke's Mission...The Villages, Florida
Our Lady of Good Counsel...Jacksonville, North Carolina
St. Edmund of Canterbury...Fredricksburg, Virginia
Holy Trinity, Payson, Arizona.
Canada - Formerly of the Anglican Catholic Church of Canada (ACCC-TAC)
Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St Peter
Sodality of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Ottowa, Ontario.
Holy Nativity Sodality, Barrhaven, Ontario (a Mission of the Sodality of the Annunciation of the BVM )
St Barnabas Sodality, Spencerville, Ontario (a Mission of the Sodality of the Annunciation of the BVM)
Sodality of the Good Shepherd, Oshawa, Ontario.
Fellowship of Blessed John Henry Newman, Victoria, British Columbia.
Sodality of St Edmund, King and Martyr, Cambridge, Ontario.
The Apostolate of the Holy Cross, Sydney, Nova Scotia
Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory's Christ the King Parish, Ontario
St Michael's, Fredericton, New Brunswick.
I am aware other communities in Canada may have joined but can't get any details at the moment.
Australia - formerly Anglican Catholic Church in Australia (ACCA-TAC)
Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of the Southern Cross
St Ninian and St Chad, Maylands, West Australia
Melbourne Ordinariate Group, Victoria (some members formerly from St Mary the Virgin Parish (ACCA-TAC), South Caulfield)
Five ACCA-TAC priests are named as contacts on the website so I assume they will be coming with parish communities (though this could be wrong) but will wait for a formal announcement. Interestingly, Bishop Robarts, initially named as a contact for Tasmania, is no longer listed but it was probably considered 'bad politics' to be on the site whilst still in post in the ACCA.
United Kingdom - formerly The Traditional Anglican Church (TTAC-TAC)
Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham
St Agatha's Church, Landport, Portsmouth, Hampshire
Presteigne Ordinariate Group, Powys, Wales, formerly the TTAC parish community led by Fr Gill.
I am aware that some named (specifically in Canada) are not yet formal parishes or missions of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St Peter, but they are due to be. Please feel free to point out any mistakes and send any updates and omissions.
USA - formerly the Anglican Church in America (ACA-TAC)
Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St Peter
Church of the Incarnation, Orlando, Florida (formerly the Cathedral of the Incarnation for the Diocese of the Eastern United States of the Anglican Church in America (ACA-TAC) and then the Pro-Diocese of the Holy Family for those en-route for the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St Peter).
Mission of Holy Cross, Ocala, Florida (received with the Church of the Incarnation)
Parish of Christ the King, Towson, Maryland.
Mission Parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Mount Airy, Maryland, subsequently added as a mission attached to Christ the King, Towson.
St Augustine of Canterbury, Oceanside, California (formerly the Church of the Resurrection Mission Parish in Oceanside).
Blessed John Henry Newman Mission Parish, Orange County, California (made up of former members of the ACA-TAC, TEC and others. Their Priest-in-Charge, Father Bartus, was formerly a priest of the ACA-TAC)
St Joseph of Arimathea Anglican Use Society, Indiana, Indianapolis.
St Michael the Archangel Church, Philidelphia, Pennsylvania.
Former Pro-Diocese of the Holy Family..parishes/missions:
Notre Dame du Mt. Carmel..Margate, Florida
Rye de Gloria Mission..Pinecrest, Florida
Our Lady of the Angels..New Smyrna Beach, Florida
St. Luke's Mission...The Villages, Florida
Our Lady of Good Counsel...Jacksonville, North Carolina
St. Edmund of Canterbury...Fredricksburg, Virginia
Holy Trinity, Payson, Arizona.
Canada - Formerly of the Anglican Catholic Church of Canada (ACCC-TAC)
Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St Peter
Sodality of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Ottowa, Ontario.
Holy Nativity Sodality, Barrhaven, Ontario (a Mission of the Sodality of the Annunciation of the BVM )
St Barnabas Sodality, Spencerville, Ontario (a Mission of the Sodality of the Annunciation of the BVM)
Sodality of the Good Shepherd, Oshawa, Ontario.
Fellowship of Blessed John Henry Newman, Victoria, British Columbia.
Sodality of St Edmund, King and Martyr, Cambridge, Ontario.
The Apostolate of the Holy Cross, Sydney, Nova Scotia
Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory's Christ the King Parish, Ontario
St Michael's, Fredericton, New Brunswick.
I am aware other communities in Canada may have joined but can't get any details at the moment.
Australia - formerly Anglican Catholic Church in Australia (ACCA-TAC)
Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of the Southern Cross
St Ninian and St Chad, Maylands, West Australia
Melbourne Ordinariate Group, Victoria (some members formerly from St Mary the Virgin Parish (ACCA-TAC), South Caulfield)
Five ACCA-TAC priests are named as contacts on the website so I assume they will be coming with parish communities (though this could be wrong) but will wait for a formal announcement. Interestingly, Bishop Robarts, initially named as a contact for Tasmania, is no longer listed but it was probably considered 'bad politics' to be on the site whilst still in post in the ACCA.
United Kingdom - formerly The Traditional Anglican Church (TTAC-TAC)
Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham
St Agatha's Church, Landport, Portsmouth, Hampshire
Presteigne Ordinariate Group, Powys, Wales, formerly the TTAC parish community led by Fr Gill.
Wednesday, 26 September 2012
The best laid plans.....
I haven't blogged for a while, even though there have been quite a lot of things to comment on in the world of sport (especially the Olympics and Paralympics), Faith and Politics. Except for the odd comment here and there, I have stayed out of the blogosphere.
I wish I could say that it was due to a need to reassess the way I use my time and direct my energies anew but the truth is closer to the opposite. I have allowed myself to be run into the ground and, in the way of those who refuse to acknowledge such lack of commonsense in their own behaviour, have ploughed onwards in my work life with (I would guess) less success in each of my endeavours.
Knowing I was due a good break starting this week, I didn't use my days off to rest and ignored the aches and pains, broken sleep and less agility of mind that comes from being over-worked.
On Monday, 20 minutes before I was due to finish for my holiday, I was reminded that personal determination cannot defeat the body when it wants to slow down: whilst speaking with one of the prisoners I work with about the Liverpool-Man Utd game on Sunday, I suddenly felt my legs go from under me and struggled to keep my balance. The guy I was talking with laughed as he thought, as he later explained, that I was doing a 'bit of an Irish jig' because I was pleased with the result of the match - I wasn't that pleased! Luckily, the medical team were visiting the Segregation Unit next door and, having been helped to a chair by a couple of the prison officers, I was seen to immediately. The worst part was the double vision which is still not quite right now.
In the event, having been wheeled down to the healthcare centre and checked over again, an ambulance was called and I ended up in A&E to assure themselves that I hadn't had a transient ischaemic attack (TIA).
I was told they believe I am exhausted and need to be off work - fortunate that my holiday break started that evening - and I can't drive my car for a few days.
What is the point of this post? Well, if anybody reading this feels it speaks in some way to their own situation - stop, take a break, before your body forces you to shut down. Believe me, it is less unpleasant that way. Yesterday I felt like I had been hit by a truck and my holiday plans have been thrown into some disarray.
I am still hoping to get away at the weekend but if I don't, it will be my own silly fault. At least I can post a few thoughts, I mean to say - why should I suffer alone?
I wish I could say that it was due to a need to reassess the way I use my time and direct my energies anew but the truth is closer to the opposite. I have allowed myself to be run into the ground and, in the way of those who refuse to acknowledge such lack of commonsense in their own behaviour, have ploughed onwards in my work life with (I would guess) less success in each of my endeavours.
Knowing I was due a good break starting this week, I didn't use my days off to rest and ignored the aches and pains, broken sleep and less agility of mind that comes from being over-worked.
On Monday, 20 minutes before I was due to finish for my holiday, I was reminded that personal determination cannot defeat the body when it wants to slow down: whilst speaking with one of the prisoners I work with about the Liverpool-Man Utd game on Sunday, I suddenly felt my legs go from under me and struggled to keep my balance. The guy I was talking with laughed as he thought, as he later explained, that I was doing a 'bit of an Irish jig' because I was pleased with the result of the match - I wasn't that pleased! Luckily, the medical team were visiting the Segregation Unit next door and, having been helped to a chair by a couple of the prison officers, I was seen to immediately. The worst part was the double vision which is still not quite right now.
In the event, having been wheeled down to the healthcare centre and checked over again, an ambulance was called and I ended up in A&E to assure themselves that I hadn't had a transient ischaemic attack (TIA).
I was told they believe I am exhausted and need to be off work - fortunate that my holiday break started that evening - and I can't drive my car for a few days.
What is the point of this post? Well, if anybody reading this feels it speaks in some way to their own situation - stop, take a break, before your body forces you to shut down. Believe me, it is less unpleasant that way. Yesterday I felt like I had been hit by a truck and my holiday plans have been thrown into some disarray.
I am still hoping to get away at the weekend but if I don't, it will be my own silly fault. At least I can post a few thoughts, I mean to say - why should I suffer alone?
Tuesday, 10 July 2012
I want to be equal to you but not, God forbid, the same (my sister, 25 years ago).
Whatever you think about the ongoing debate in the Church of England about the proposed Ordination of women as Bishops, whatever side you take theologically, you have to agree that Melanie McDonagh has a point in this comment:
http://www.standard.co.uk/comment/thats-enough-flannel-about-women-bishops-7932087.html
I cannot really see what the argument is about: once you have ordained a woman to the diaconate the road to the episcopacy is open, at this point the theological argument is done.
As it happens, I remain unconvinced about the ordination of women, not least given the arguments are often made from a particular view of equality which seems to equate the word with 'sameness', which is a bizarrely lazy philosophical proposition. I know I could give a much better case for the Ordination of women than some I have heard, and in that sense I am open to being convinced. However, I back away whenever I hear the argument that suggests that Jesus did not choose women at the time due to the 'culture' - you see everybody, Jesus who sat at the well talking to the Samaritan woman, who spent time with Zacchaeus the tax-collector and saving a woman from being stoned. Jesus the one who was tortured and died for us was, apparently, scared of upsetting social norms.
Such tosh undermines our Saviour and leaves me cold and ever further from the 'greasy pole climbers pushing for episcopal ordination'. Not my words, but those of an Anglican priest friend of mine despairing of the present debate, and she is no knee-jerk Conservative.
http://www.standard.co.uk/comment/thats-enough-flannel-about-women-bishops-7932087.html
I cannot really see what the argument is about: once you have ordained a woman to the diaconate the road to the episcopacy is open, at this point the theological argument is done.
As it happens, I remain unconvinced about the ordination of women, not least given the arguments are often made from a particular view of equality which seems to equate the word with 'sameness', which is a bizarrely lazy philosophical proposition. I know I could give a much better case for the Ordination of women than some I have heard, and in that sense I am open to being convinced. However, I back away whenever I hear the argument that suggests that Jesus did not choose women at the time due to the 'culture' - you see everybody, Jesus who sat at the well talking to the Samaritan woman, who spent time with Zacchaeus the tax-collector and saving a woman from being stoned. Jesus the one who was tortured and died for us was, apparently, scared of upsetting social norms.
Such tosh undermines our Saviour and leaves me cold and ever further from the 'greasy pole climbers pushing for episcopal ordination'. Not my words, but those of an Anglican priest friend of mine despairing of the present debate, and she is no knee-jerk Conservative.
Tuesday, 19 June 2012
Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of the Southern Cross
The Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of the Southern Cross has been erected in Australia, under the newly ordained Fr Harry Entwistle, formerly a Bishop of the Traditional Anglican Communion.
I wish him and all those who will enter communion with the See of Rome by this route, all the very best and the promise of my prayers.
Read the details here:
http://www.catholic.org.au/
I wish him and all those who will enter communion with the See of Rome by this route, all the very best and the promise of my prayers.
Read the details here:
http://www.catholic.org.au/
Saturday, 2 June 2012
Fr John Hunwicke
For those interested in such things, I am delighted to read on the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham website that Rev John Hunwicke will be Ordained to the Priesthood at 7pm on Wednesday, 27th June. It will take place at the Oxford Oratory.
He has shown great patience in trying times and he is an example to us all. I wish him all the very best and Ad Multos Annos.
He has shown great patience in trying times and he is an example to us all. I wish him all the very best and Ad Multos Annos.
Tuesday, 29 May 2012
"Send three and fourpence, we're going to a dance."
One of the rather frustrating things about blogging and subsequent comments made to any posts is the not infrequent disagreements that blow up. I am no shrinking violet, but the ferocity of some of the commentary on a post is shocking and often quite personal.
I used to visit a site called The Continuum (a 'continuing Anglican' blog) to find out what was going on in their world and its comment section was so full of bile that I stupidly felt the need to suggest that what was being posted was unacceptable and, as the particular comment I was replying to made appalling suggestions about fatherless priests and their need for prayers, I suggested that as what was said was nasty and untrue then the commenter should keep their prayers for themselves. Amazingly, my comment was blocked by the 'moderator' as impolite whilst other appalling trash was allowed to be spewed. The interesting thing is that he commented on his forum that he had blocked me for bad manners but then allowed a mass of vitriol to be pored on my head because of my Blog title. The things I am apparently in favour of is not believable and, as anyone will have gathered from my posts, I am a traditionalist when it comes to the doctrine of the Church.
The terrier in me wanted to hit back, but I found ignoring the site easy and I have never been back since.
I suppose the anonymity that the internet affords a person can make one feel uninhibited but that cannot be an excuse for some of what is 'said' by those who post. I don't doubt that people have strong views about any issues and when a Post comes up that touched upon a person's deeply held convictions, a reaction can be expected; my own concern is that the response should be both proportional and reflects what has actually been posted, rather than be a repost to a perceived slight or opinion (actually, it would also delight me if accuracy was part of the response, but that's a personal preference).
I have been a victim of this myself (and even, accidentally, a perpetrator, hence my concern for care) where a person has attacked me for what I have said (when I haven't) and even constantly quoting back what was actually said makes no difference to the furore caused by the perceived offence caused. Also, just as misery likes a companion, others rush to express an opinion and things get wilder and less connected to the original point that the Blogger was trying to make.
Now, some people love this and find it entertaining and liberating - sadly, I am not one of these. Perhaps I am too uptight but my mother always encourages her children to be polite and correct. She also says we shouldn't butt into a conversation, but that is the point of the comment section in the blogosphere and, whilst my Mum is great at most things, she does like to butt in herself as my sisters will wearily testify.
It isn't that I believe that people shouldn't comment, they should as this is the way that conversations begin, opinions are shared and news passed. Also, it ensures that corrections to inaccuracies in the original post (or subsequent comments) can be made. Also, people do not have to agree but everything should be done with good heart and be a response to what has actually been said.
For the Blogger, there is a need to be careful in what is posted to be sure it is not gratuitously offensive and that it is not the dissemination of false information...not easy in the latter case so mistakes will be made. In the former, good manners are easy.
I hear tell of trolls (which still bring bridges and Billy Goats Gruff to my mind) and they are just sad people with nothing better to do than to post inflammatory and nasty things. They are what they are - for the rest of us, let us be better at how we respond to others and lets not play 'Chinese whispers' as we could end up in a storm not entirely of our own making.
I used to visit a site called The Continuum (a 'continuing Anglican' blog) to find out what was going on in their world and its comment section was so full of bile that I stupidly felt the need to suggest that what was being posted was unacceptable and, as the particular comment I was replying to made appalling suggestions about fatherless priests and their need for prayers, I suggested that as what was said was nasty and untrue then the commenter should keep their prayers for themselves. Amazingly, my comment was blocked by the 'moderator' as impolite whilst other appalling trash was allowed to be spewed. The interesting thing is that he commented on his forum that he had blocked me for bad manners but then allowed a mass of vitriol to be pored on my head because of my Blog title. The things I am apparently in favour of is not believable and, as anyone will have gathered from my posts, I am a traditionalist when it comes to the doctrine of the Church.
The terrier in me wanted to hit back, but I found ignoring the site easy and I have never been back since.
I suppose the anonymity that the internet affords a person can make one feel uninhibited but that cannot be an excuse for some of what is 'said' by those who post. I don't doubt that people have strong views about any issues and when a Post comes up that touched upon a person's deeply held convictions, a reaction can be expected; my own concern is that the response should be both proportional and reflects what has actually been posted, rather than be a repost to a perceived slight or opinion (actually, it would also delight me if accuracy was part of the response, but that's a personal preference).
I have been a victim of this myself (and even, accidentally, a perpetrator, hence my concern for care) where a person has attacked me for what I have said (when I haven't) and even constantly quoting back what was actually said makes no difference to the furore caused by the perceived offence caused. Also, just as misery likes a companion, others rush to express an opinion and things get wilder and less connected to the original point that the Blogger was trying to make.
Now, some people love this and find it entertaining and liberating - sadly, I am not one of these. Perhaps I am too uptight but my mother always encourages her children to be polite and correct. She also says we shouldn't butt into a conversation, but that is the point of the comment section in the blogosphere and, whilst my Mum is great at most things, she does like to butt in herself as my sisters will wearily testify.
It isn't that I believe that people shouldn't comment, they should as this is the way that conversations begin, opinions are shared and news passed. Also, it ensures that corrections to inaccuracies in the original post (or subsequent comments) can be made. Also, people do not have to agree but everything should be done with good heart and be a response to what has actually been said.
For the Blogger, there is a need to be careful in what is posted to be sure it is not gratuitously offensive and that it is not the dissemination of false information...not easy in the latter case so mistakes will be made. In the former, good manners are easy.
I hear tell of trolls (which still bring bridges and Billy Goats Gruff to my mind) and they are just sad people with nothing better to do than to post inflammatory and nasty things. They are what they are - for the rest of us, let us be better at how we respond to others and lets not play 'Chinese whispers' as we could end up in a storm not entirely of our own making.
Tuesday, 21 February 2012
"When you fast, do not put on a gloomy look.." I'll try Lord, I'll really try.
Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the Season of Lent; for those of us who take these Seasons seriously, it is a time to take a look at how we live our lives as Christians and how much we have allowed ourselves to become enslaved by our habits, our greed and our self-involvement. We are encouraged to give something up and pray more deeply.
The Gospel reading for Ash Wednesday always seems to stand in contradiction to what we, especially as Catholics, receive - the priest places ashes on our foreheads too remind us that we live a passing life in this world ("Remember man that thou are dust and to dust thou shall return") and to live it wisely ("Turn away from sin and believe in the Gospel") and encourages us not to wipe them off.
Now, as I have heard mentioned many times, surely Jesus urges us not to be like the hypocrites who stand on street corners, looking gloomy and pulling long faces so people know we are fasting. Indeed, He tells us:"...when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that no-one will know that you are fasting except your Father who sees all that is done in secret." So, why do we keep the ashes on our head?
The answer lies in the response of those who see us; in the time of Christ, the 'outwardly' religious would make a big show of their prayers and their fasting, knowing that it would invite compliments and sympathy. The word hypocrite here takes us back to its original meaning of 'actor': those acting in such a way were playing a role or a part and, like actors throughout time, seeking approbation and applause. It has now come to mean someone who is a liar
If we wear ashes on our heads in public, it draws comment of misunderstanding -"you've got something on your head, mate", "have you hurt yourself?" or abuse. Wearing ashes is a sign of contradiction to the world, as much a contradiction as in the times of Christ was that of praying and fasting privately.
More than that, it is an encouragement to others in their own faith - in a world where wearing a crucifix in a care home is considered a 'health and safety issue' or offering a prayer for someone is a reason for being disciplined, a quiet public witness is not a bad thing.
As for the fasting and (on Ash Wednesday and Fridays) abstaining from meat, that should be done in good humour and without drawing attention to ourselves - as far as possible, that is. I will be honest, I am a terrible faster: from the moment I wake up in the morning until I go to bed at night, I am starving - it is ridiculous I know. I can go all day without eating normally but once it is required, it really bothers me. Weird hey? Why do we fast? That brings me back to the beginning of this post: it is a time to take a look at how we live our lives as Christians and how much we have allowed ourselves to become enslaved by our habits, our greed and our self-involvement.
We follow the example of our Saviour who, before He began His mission, fasted for 40 days and nights to face all that the devil could throw at Him in His weakened state, and was thus strengthened. We fast and sacrifice so that we may be strengthened to face the trials and temptations of life.
However, we don't only 'give something up', we also use the time to strengthen our prayer lives and to, as Jesus reminds us in the Gospel, "go into your private room and, when you have shut the door, pray to your Father who is in that secret place..." We need a period of time to refuel, to spiritually reconnect with the deepest parts of our being where only we know ourselves and God knows who we truly are. This is what some call the 'inner tabernacle' which we need to spend time reflecting upon so we might assess our lives and turn to God for His Grace.
So - fasting and prayer are part of Lent. So is undertaking charitable acts - be it by donating what is saved by our fasting to a good cause or by giving of the time we have saved by not watching the telly as much or whatever. We do it quietly, as the gospel reminds us "when you give alms, your left hand must not know what your right is doing" - or, put as my grandma would have said, "giving has no bells."
Lent can seem very tough and without much light, but it needn't be...it has the joy of Spring flowers growing, one using time more creatively, losing weight (depending on what we may have given up) and, most wonderfully of all, the knowledge that if we do it well, "your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you."
Now, that's worth ash on the head.
The Gospel reading for Ash Wednesday always seems to stand in contradiction to what we, especially as Catholics, receive - the priest places ashes on our foreheads too remind us that we live a passing life in this world ("Remember man that thou are dust and to dust thou shall return") and to live it wisely ("Turn away from sin and believe in the Gospel") and encourages us not to wipe them off.
Now, as I have heard mentioned many times, surely Jesus urges us not to be like the hypocrites who stand on street corners, looking gloomy and pulling long faces so people know we are fasting. Indeed, He tells us:"...when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that no-one will know that you are fasting except your Father who sees all that is done in secret." So, why do we keep the ashes on our head?
The answer lies in the response of those who see us; in the time of Christ, the 'outwardly' religious would make a big show of their prayers and their fasting, knowing that it would invite compliments and sympathy. The word hypocrite here takes us back to its original meaning of 'actor': those acting in such a way were playing a role or a part and, like actors throughout time, seeking approbation and applause. It has now come to mean someone who is a liar
If we wear ashes on our heads in public, it draws comment of misunderstanding -"you've got something on your head, mate", "have you hurt yourself?" or abuse. Wearing ashes is a sign of contradiction to the world, as much a contradiction as in the times of Christ was that of praying and fasting privately.
More than that, it is an encouragement to others in their own faith - in a world where wearing a crucifix in a care home is considered a 'health and safety issue' or offering a prayer for someone is a reason for being disciplined, a quiet public witness is not a bad thing.
As for the fasting and (on Ash Wednesday and Fridays) abstaining from meat, that should be done in good humour and without drawing attention to ourselves - as far as possible, that is. I will be honest, I am a terrible faster: from the moment I wake up in the morning until I go to bed at night, I am starving - it is ridiculous I know. I can go all day without eating normally but once it is required, it really bothers me. Weird hey? Why do we fast? That brings me back to the beginning of this post: it is a time to take a look at how we live our lives as Christians and how much we have allowed ourselves to become enslaved by our habits, our greed and our self-involvement.
We follow the example of our Saviour who, before He began His mission, fasted for 40 days and nights to face all that the devil could throw at Him in His weakened state, and was thus strengthened. We fast and sacrifice so that we may be strengthened to face the trials and temptations of life.
However, we don't only 'give something up', we also use the time to strengthen our prayer lives and to, as Jesus reminds us in the Gospel, "go into your private room and, when you have shut the door, pray to your Father who is in that secret place..." We need a period of time to refuel, to spiritually reconnect with the deepest parts of our being where only we know ourselves and God knows who we truly are. This is what some call the 'inner tabernacle' which we need to spend time reflecting upon so we might assess our lives and turn to God for His Grace.
So - fasting and prayer are part of Lent. So is undertaking charitable acts - be it by donating what is saved by our fasting to a good cause or by giving of the time we have saved by not watching the telly as much or whatever. We do it quietly, as the gospel reminds us "when you give alms, your left hand must not know what your right is doing" - or, put as my grandma would have said, "giving has no bells."
Lent can seem very tough and without much light, but it needn't be...it has the joy of Spring flowers growing, one using time more creatively, losing weight (depending on what we may have given up) and, most wonderfully of all, the knowledge that if we do it well, "your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you."
Now, that's worth ash on the head.
Tuesday, 14 February 2012
Dawkins's Darwinistic dumb moment.
Amazing, I have just heard Richard Dawkins stumbling to answer Giles Fraser when he was asked for the full title of Charles Darwin's Origin of the Species. It wouldn't matter if Professor Dawkins hadn't just said "of course I do" to the question and, far more importantly, is claiming that the fact that a large number of self-identifying Christians in an Opinion Poll commissioned by the "Richard Dawkins Foundation" couldn't name the first book of the New Testament was one of the proofs they weren't really Christian. I suppose that means Professor Dawkins isn't really a Darwinist.
Such pompous nonsense.
Such pompous nonsense.
Wednesday, 8 February 2012
Second Wave.
I thought those who have been wondering what is happening with the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham might be interested in this blogpost:http://www.tunbridgewells-ordinariate.com/blog/?p=2195#comments
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