* PAST * SERVING WITH THE ANGELS

  SERVING WITH THE ANGELS

 

SERVING WITH THE ANGELS




“Familiarity breeds contempt”. The maxim brings out a truth at the extreme end of an arc of human experience, relating most often to inordinate familiarity with figures of authority. Moving back along that arc into more moderate territory, we come upon the phrase “taken for granted”. In this case the contributions, co-operation and even the very presence of a person are so much assumed that their merit and value seem forgotten.



Somewhere between the two is a position in which our experience of the Faith can sometimes be found. It can come to be one part of our very busy life - sure, a very important part - but kept in the allotted place and not allowed to disturb the other parts as we hurry along from one preoccupation to another. Set in its place, its “fire” can be dimmed, even reduced to mere” embers”.



In this situation, there is little chance that we will deepen our realisation of the wonderful fact that God loves us so much that He burst into Time from Eternity to bring us His Only Begotten Son at the Annunciation. That Divine Son - the Word made Flesh - came to Earth to save us from our sins by His death on the Cross. Then, by His Resurrection, He led the way for us to follow Him. He left us the means to do so by founding His Church and endowing her with the seven Sacraments sharing with us His Life of Grace.



It seems incredible that we could sometimes become so familiar with these extraordinary realities, that in our human weakness, and distracted by our worldly concerns, we could even come to “take them for granted”. This could create a dangerous state of affairs when, ever so subtly as is his wont, the Devil comes a’ knocking.



We are better prepared to counter any such tendency when we follow a regular and systematic course of reading and reflection. The daily readings from the Liturgy of the Hours, the systematic reading of Sacred Scripture especially the New Testament or some major spiritual work are useful examples. The reader finds inevitably that they are major channels of God’s Grace and of special insight. Acolyte well remembers re-reading some years ago “The Public Life of Our Lord Jesus Christ” by Archbishop Alban Goodier S.J. The words “Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me for I Am meek and humble of heart” which were all too familiar to me, struck me heavily, and it was as if I had been looking Him straight in the eyes - yes he meant this message for me and for each one of us. God directly communicating to you and me a fundamental truth about Himself and bidding us to learn from Him.” Awesome! “as the youth of to-day too frequently say. All of His original listeners were familiar with the procedure of yoking the more experienced and reliable ox to the younger less experienced to train it. From that experience, I have acquired a heightened attention to any similar direct addresses from Our Lord in Sacred Scripture.



We need to open ourselves such possibilities, regularly refreshing our appreciation of our part in “God’s project for the salvation of mankind”. God made Man - Jesus Christ - is talking to us in Sacred Scripture, and His attention is never distracted from any one of us. He cares enough to have suffered and died for our salvation. Do we really give Him our best in attention, reflection, prayer and practice?


" Learn from Me, for I am meek and humble of heart."




ACOLYTE

This item first appeared in FOUNDATION in the MAY 2009 issue.

* PAST " A GOOD LAUGH MATTERS LITURGICAL

 

Father Adrian Fortescue's "CEREMONIES OF THE ROMAN RITE DESCRIBED" dates back to the happy days before coffee table Masses, clown costume Celebrants and guitars over chasubles. The rubrical rigour of the work has become the stuff of legend in these demented, de-constructed times. 

Enjoying the possibilities that can be conjured up, the good young folk over at THE SHRINE OF THE HOLY WHAPPING Blog put up a brilliant post on 25th January 2010 - more than worth a read!

It is essential to have a sense of humour before reading:

"Monday, January 25

Everything I Needed to Know I Learned from Adrian Fortescue

An old hand at serving once told me that in the bad old days before the Council, they were always told, when they didn’t know what to do next, go to the center of the altar, genuflect, and go back to your place, and by the time you got back, the problem would in all likelihood have fixed itself already. This seems a good bit of advice for life, at least of the Blackadderish, “When the going gets tough, the tough hide under the table” variety. In that spirit, I have combed Adrian Fortescue’s* monumentally nerdy (this is a good thing) but extremely useful compendium Ceremonies of the Roman Rite Described for similarly useful bits of life lessons—especially if you find some way to willfully misinterpret them.

*(Adrian Fortescue, the most reluctant of liturgical wonks--he wrote the original because he needed the cash-- should not be confused with the martyr of the same name--a beatified knight of Malta martyr, which is about as awesome as a pirate robot ninja--nor “Dangerscue” as Bubbs would put it.)

Fortescue on Modesty and Dating:
“Two points occur on which one might hope the authorities would simplify. One is the constant kissing.” --Introduction, xix (1920 edition, very much out of context)

Fortescue on Dieting:
“No blessing is given, no indulgence announced.” -- Solemn Mass in the Presence of a Greater Prelate, p. 196 (this and all below from the 2009 edition)

Fortescue on Talk Radio:
“Ditto.” --Pontifical Solemn Mass at the Throne, p. 213, fn 57.

Fortescue on Avoiding Sitcom Plots Involving the Loss of Wedding Rings Down the Kitchen Sink:
“No rubric prescribes the removal of the ring for this washing.” --Pontifical Solemn Mass at the Throne, p. 219, fn. 81

Fortescue on Using Adult Beverages on the Job:
“The deacon pours a little of the wine and water into the vessel prepared and gives it to the sacristan to drink.” --p. 218

Fortescue on Mom Checking Up on the Mess in Your Bedroom:
“The Ordinary may, however, visit more often and at any time that he sees fit.” --Canonical Visitation and Confirmation, p. 403

Fortescue on Hawaiian Luaus:
“Torches, at least four, and not more than eight, are ready.” --Pontifical Solemn Mass at the Throne, p. 200

Fortescue on Anger Management:
“At solemn Mass (of the living) and Vespers distinguished laymen are incensed.” --The Faithful at Mass, p. 247

Fortescue on Forcing Timmy to Sit in Time Out:
“…and then conducts him to his special place.” --ibid., p. 246

Fortescue on the Spanish Inquisition and its Comfy Chair:
“…the prie-dieu is to be undraped, but may have cushions (not silk.)” --p. 247

Fortescue on sports color commentators:
“The commentary should be prepared in writing, be brief, and temperate, and spoken in a moderate voice at appropriate moments.” --p. 245

Fortescue on Swine Flu:
“For a good reason—for cleanliness’s sake, or if there is a danger of contracting or spreading disease—this use of saliva is omitted.” --Baptism, p. 425 fn. 11

Fortescue on Not giving Aunt Marge a Heart Attack:
“It is advisable to warn the godmother or nurse about this before the ceremony begins.” --Baptism, p. 424 fn. 12

Fortescue on In-Flight Meal Service, or possibly MacGyver’s Methodology:
“…with the addition of the bread, lemon, and a fresh hand-towel…” --Confirmation, p. 427, fn. 21

Fortescue on the board game Clue:
“Or preferably, in the mortuary chapel.” --Funerals, p. 478, fn. 79

Fortescue on the Coriolis Effect*:
“With the exceptions noted, the celebrant at Mass always turns clockwise from the altar and anticlockwise back to it.” --Low Mass Said by a Priest, p. 66, fn. 23

*Do Australian priests turn round the other way?

Fortescue on Things Thomas Aquinas Thought About When Really, Really Bored:
“The position of the stole at the back is a disputed question.” --Low Mass Said by a Priest, p. 65

Fortescue on the Amazing X-Men:
“…applying mutatis mutandis to non-pontifical Mass…” --The Choir and Assistants at Ceremonies, p. 59

Fortescue on Barbecues:
“…should be put on well lit charcoal to make smoke that will last for some time. It is absurd to see a person swinging a thurible from which no fumes are issuing.” -- Common Ceremonial Actions, p. 49

Fortescue on Getting Rid of Bad Variety Show Performers, the beginning of J. Arthur Rank films, or Possibly Inculturation:
“The use of an Indian (hanging) gong is not permitted.” --Liturgical Vessels, Instruments and Books, p. 40

Fortescue on Semiotics:
“In English, the meaning of violet as a color is not clear.” --The Vestments of the Roman Rite, p. 37

Fortescue on High Explosive Bomb Disposal:
“It is better not to rush.” --Common Ceremonial Actions, p. 46

Posted by: Matthew / 10:42 PM"
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* PAST * THE TIMES THEY ARE A'CHANGEIN' "

                                         AMAZON'S KINDLE AND APPLE'S I PHONE
 

 (N.B. This Post has become almost quaint in the short span of ten years!)

 A recent visit to our original hometown Sydney, to celebrate my dear wife's 70th Birthday, gave rise to this post.


We had the privilege of staying in my Brother-in-Law's Unit overlooking Centennial Park and of enjoying his very generous hospitality over a number of days. He is not daunted by technology ( I am, late in life, trying to hone my powers of understatement).
As a consequence we had the chance to check out and use the latest "stuff". He is an Apple Afficionado so the I Phone was there - but he has demonstrated its wonders on previous occasions. He also has the I Pad ( a gift from a class of grateful students!) and the Amazon 3G Kindle.As it happens, I have had some previous introduction to E Readers at Maz and Nathan's place at Christmas , when Nathan's Mum showed us her Sony Reader. Now I had an opportunity to try I Pad and Kindle at my leisure. The I Pad shines for its design, capacities and functionality - it is remarkably intuitive to use . But, the fact that it is also very pricey ( as is the I Phone) means that for me it is beyond even hope - so away with Apple dreams. But the Kindle , at $189 , is well within planning possibility.It is a remarkable unit-well-designed, handy in size, huge in capacity(thousands of books), search capability and note taking capability plus a memory for which page you have reached in each book. With downloads quite cheap and a huge range of new and classic titles available - many at token prices, it is an ideal tool , especially for research. It will be invaluable when I am researching FOUNDATION and doing webposts on the Blogs. I have made a start by downloading Kindle for PC on my trusty Notebook - so I can begin building my E Library here - it can then be easily and freely transferred to up to 5 devices including the Kindle proper or a suitable phone (hmmmmm........ Rob's "Wildfire" ? .....No, she wouldn't let me near it!!) In time, I can build up a solid  Religious and History Classics Library at very little cost and have it at hand when I am preparing posts. Fabulous for travel reading and research if I ever get the chance again - surely the weekly "investment Certificates" will ultimately come good!


Just as I Pods and their imitators have destroyed the CD industry and Music Shops are collapsing into memory -  incredible as it might seem -  that institution of the last four centuries at least, the Bookshop, let alone the books they sell, seems to be becoming an "endangered species"( Ugh! I hate that phrase and all the phoney "last remaining whatevers" that usually attend it). I know, I know, like me, many will say : "Nothing will replace the feel of a book" or "no-one wants to curl up with an E Reader"etc. Don't bet on it ! Remember that these changes are being driven by the responses of a generation or three far more adept than people of my own vintage and already making their weight felt in the collapse of newspaper readership. Hang on tight - we are on a very bumpy ride on runaway technology. The best we can do, is to make use of it for our own purposes and pray that neither we nor ours, or our interests get in its way! It does not take prisoners!


Anyway, my interest has really been Kindled !!

* PAST * STOLEN FOR GENERATIONS

 

 

Stolen for Generations

The Story of St Margaret’s Chapel, Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh is a tough, beautiful and ancient city dominated by its Castle. And the Castle, the City and their Country are dominated by the English Crown (Devolution notwithstanding). But it wasn’t always so.



Yes Edinburgh Castle is ancient, and in the heart of the Castle is a stolen Catholic Church – St. Margaret’s Chapel – the oldest building in Edinburgh.

In the early days of its independent life, King David I (A.D. 1084 – 1153) ruled Scotland. He is regarded by scholars both ancient and modern, as a truly pious King, so devoted to the Faith and to good works, that in his time he brought into being more than a dozen new monasteries. One of the greatest of these is the Cistercian Abbey of Melrose founded in A.D. 1137. Its noble ruins still inspire to Faith almost 900 years later.

The great St. Aelred of Rievaulx, in his eulogy for King David praised his justice and piety, and stated “the whole barbarity of that nation was softened…………as if, forgetting their natural fierceness, they submitted their necks to the laws which the royal gentleness dictated.”

King David’s piety no doubt flowed from the influence of his mother, the holy Queen Margaret (1045 – 16/11/1093). She was born in Hungary and was the niece of St. Edward the Confessor. She married King Malcolm III of Scotland, a widower, when in her early twenties and they had six sons and two daughters. She was canonized by Pope Innocent IV having regard for her personal sanctity, her fidelity to the Church, her religious reform efforts and her remarkable works of charity. A small example of the latter was her custom of serving the poor and orphans before she would take her own meals. Her Feast is celebrated on 16th November.

In honour of his saintly mother, in A.D. 1130, King David built on a small eminence in the heart of Edinburgh Castle, high above the capital, a beautifully simple Chapel. It is now, as we have said, the oldest building in Edinburgh. It is most moving to reflect that Holy Mass was offered in this Royal Chapel for approx 400 years until the Protestant Deformation of the Church led to the Chapel’s desecration and use as a gunpowder store (!) for about 200 years. It is now available as a wedding chapel on a commercial basis!

Our December Issue spoke of the divine power of each Mass for good and the sad evil influence of each abuse to do evil. We know that the evil done by those who stole St. Margaret’s Chapel and desecrated it still goes on, but it is incomparably overmatched by the glorious good done by any ONE of the thousands of Holy Masses celebrated at that altar.

Nevertheless it is painful to see such a beautiful, hallowed and noble place and such a gesture of fidelity, desecrated, and its altar covered by an alien cloth at the hands of the Deformers of the Church. St Margaret’s Chapel has been stolen for generations.

Ironically, those who stole our churches in Scotland had their entire Country, and Throne stolen from them by the English. But their loss of the Faith was far greater and more significant than the loss of their Country and self respect

TONY DIXON

 

* PAST * NEW BISHOP FOR PARRAMATTA - "INFORMED" PREDICTIONS CONFOUNDED

 

 NEW BISHOP FOR PARRAMATTA -  "INFORMED" PREDICTIONS CONFOUNDED

 

                                                     BISHOP ANTHONY FISHER O.P.

 

On Friday 8th January, 2010 the Holy See announced that the Holy Father has appointed as Bishop of Parramatta, Bishop Anthony Fisher O.P. until now Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney. So much for recent Blog predictions he was bound for Canberra-Goulburn , supposedly to replace Archbishop Mark Coleridge when he would,so the story went, replace Cardinal Pell in Sydney and the good Cardinal would have been off to the Curia in Rome!So the venerable bloggers in the Cloisters must return to the drawing boards.

The appointment is a great blessing for the Diocese of Parramatta, but perhaps a mixed blessing, certainly a challenge, for Bishop Fisher. Who would envy him the problem of the hideous new cathedral and the history of the Diocese' Catholic Education Office in recent years?  Parramatta Diocese is the centre of the population growth in the Sydney region, and has a diverse population and an equally diverse clergy. There are many opportunities and many burdens. Bishop Fisher and his Diocese deserve our prayers.

 

* PAST " 1943 - 1945 GOING TO THE "PICTURES"(Later "The Movies" - NEVER "The Cinema")

 

The ARCADIA "Picture Show" at Lidcombe N.S.W.

The nearest "Picture Show"to our home in Berala was the Arcadia Theatre in Lidcombe - a slow thirty, or brisk twenty minutes walk away. There was a regular bus service stopping at the corner of our street, running between Lidcombe and Regents Park. The trains of course went from Berala(on the Main Southern Line) just one stop to Lidcombe - but we did not use them for going to "the pictures". After the show, the bus waited across the way outside the paper shop ( newsagent) next to the Post Office and always left packed full.

Mum and Dad always dressed up to go to "the pictures"and, since it would be past my bedtime, I was in my pyjamas and dressing gown - quite snug in the winter! At Interval after the Newsreel , a cartoon or two, and either a documentary (Lowell Thomas'Travelogues were regulars ( "And so we say FAREWELL to......") or a C Grade movie , Dad(sometimes with me ) would go out to one of the three "Milk Bars"one on either side of the "Picture Show"  and another across the road - his favourite "The Black Cat". We would have a milk shake and /or an ice cream and take something nice back to Mum in the "Picture Show" . The Milk Bars were very heavily crush-packed at interval, and were no place for a lady!.On odd occasions my older brother Pat would accompany us. He was thirteen years older than me, and not much interested in this little kid. The age difference was so great that I looked up to him at all, though I know I would have welcomed some greater recognition from him. 

The show always commenced with the National Anthem( this was of course War time but I believe it had always been so.) That was of course, "God Save the King"( George VI - Father of the present Queen) the film backing it presented the rolling sea - everyone knew that Britannia ruled the waves - or as some wag later said, waived the rules- then the Naval Ensign was superimposed on the waves and the King's profile brought the whole to a resounding conclusion. EVERYONE stood! I felt proud and justified -we were going to beat those baddies!

We usually sat in the left hand front section toward the back ( come to think of it we still do that to-day).The  second rear section sloped gently back to the entrance doors from the Foyer. Years later when I went to "the pictures"on Saturday Afternoons with my mate Brien Dryden ( who lived opposite us) we usually sat in this area on the right hand side facing the screen.Some kids took advantage of the slope to release an occasional bounty of "JAFFAS"(Chocolate Balls coated with lurid Orange coloured glaze) toward the occupants on the flat area below. Most of the films we saw when the War was on were what we would now so loftily and superiorly call wartime propaganda. Of course our blokes, or the Poms or even the Yanks had a tough time , but they ALWAYS came out on top of those nasty, but slightly ridiculous, Nazies and evil little guys from up North. What else were you going to show people at risk of invasion? The rush to the EXIT was bad enough to catch the Bus - Heaven knows what it might become if people were shown how real the threat was!

My memories of those evenings at "the pictures"with my dear Mum and Dad are all fond, safe and happy - the simple joy of the childhood of those days.

It was in this same "Picture Show"that young , diminutive and beautiful Elsie Georgina Beckmann had met smart, good-looking John (Jack) Joseph Dixon , and had been attracted to him because he had, as she said later, "kind eyes".

* PAST * GREAT TREASURES OF THE CHURCH

 "

GREAT TREASURES OF THE CHURCH

VENERABLE POPE PIUS XII and
BLESSED MARY OF THE CROSS MACKILLOP

VENERABLE FATHER JERZY POPIELUSZKO MARTYR

Of the 21 Decrees of the Sacred Congregation for the Causes of Saints published on the 19th December, 2009, four give us particular reason for celebration.Firstly, the great and beloved Pope Pius XII,so renowned for his holiness, his love of the Church and especially of the Sacred Liturgy (who could forget "Mediator Dei"?) and so cruelly maligned by some bitter Jewish groups,is now declared "Venerable". Venerable Pope Pius XII pray to God that he will deliver His holy Church from all evil.

Secondly, the second miracle attributed to Blessed Mary of the Cross Mackillop, has now been recognised. Her Cause will now be considered by a Consistory of the Sacred Congregation which could reasonably be expected to recommend to the Holy Father her Canonisation. This is a particular joy for us as Australians and for all who love the authentic religious life. May the intercession of Blessed Mary of the Cross Mackillop work to lead all Australian female religious back to authentic fidelity to their vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience and lead them to adopt the mind of the Church in all humility and abandoning the poisonous radical feminism.

Thirdly our beloved Pope John Paul II (THE GREAT) has been declared "Venerable"a cause of the greatest joy for all of us who received so gladly his faithful teaching, his powerful evangelisation,  who knew his great devotion to Jesus Christ and to the Mother of God and his love of the Mass, the Sacraments and the holy Rosary.Venerable John Paul II pray for us,and continue to pray that the authentic teaching of Vatican II may be faithfully followed and not any false "spirit of the Council".

Fourthly we rejoice that the holy Martyr Father Jerzy Popieluszko, who after heroic witness to the Faith was foully and secretly murdered by the Polish Communist authorities in  1984 at age 37, in the declining months of Communist rule, is declared "Venerable". Venerable Father Jerzy Popieluszko pray for us, that we might have the courage to profess our Faith more vigorously, inspired by you example.

Lastly, let us give thanks for the holy and faith - filled Pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI - whose approval has brought us these joyful tidings. What magnificent gifts at Christmas time!

 

 

                                                  Blessed Pope John Paul II