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| Mighty C 38 Class 4-6-2 backs down onto The Cessnock Flyer at Sydney's Central Station -1958? |
Wednesday, October 6, 2021
" PAST " A BOYHOOD DREAM COME TRUE FRIENDS IN LOW PLACE
Monday, October 4, 2021
" PAST " SAINT PAUL PART XII SAINT PAUL WRITES FROM ROME SEGMENT II
St Paul Writes from Rome II
Letter to the Ephesians
This letter is, in many ways, among St Paul’s finest. It has also been
the cause of some academic controversy in past years concerning its
direction and its authenticity. On both points there is now general
favourable agreement.
Direction
We know the letter as “Ephesians” because two of the manuscripts that
survive contain the words “en Epheso” in the first verse of their Greek
texts. But these words are not in the most ancient manuscripts and St.
Basil (AD 330 – 379) affirms that in his day they were not in the
manuscripts. They are not in two of our surviving manuscripts known as
Codex B and Codex Aleph.
The internal evidence from the letter itself also suggests that it was
not directed to the church at Ephesus. When St Paul wrote to a specific
church – especially one he was extremely familiar with – he constantly
makes reference to his relations with its members. There is nothing of
that here. His customary personal tone is entirely absent. It has been
convincingly argued that it was a letter intended for circulation among
the churches of the distant parts of Pontus, Galatia and the Kingdom of
Polemon all situated along the River Iris. But it seems that from very
early times it came to be believed that this major and quite important
letter must have been intended for the large church in Ephesus.
Authenticity
At various times in the past arguments have been raised claiming that
this is not the work of St Paul at all. Those doubts have been
conclusively disposed of during the last century. They were found to be
based on poor analysis of New Testament texts and inadequate reflection
on St Paul’s life and writings.
Among the objections raised was the fact that the letter used 75 words
that St Paul had never used before. But 9 of the words come in
quotations from the Old Testament, while others were particular to
matters St Paul had not previously dealt with and still others were in
common use at the time. Nothing in the sum of them could be used to
indicate a different person as author or the distinctive vocabulary of a
different author. In his earlier writings Paul had already dealt with a
large amount of doctrine – the theology of justification, of the Law
and what was necessary for salvation he had covered thoroughly,
especially in the Epistle to the Romans. Now in Rome himself, with the
“leisure “of a prisoner – no longer devoting his time and energy to traveling, preaching, teaching and controversy, he had the time to
further reflect on revelation and to pray, He came to see that it was
the very subject of Christ Himself and His relationship with His Church
that needed to be further examined and expounded. Once his powerful mind
and great heart warmed to this subject, the multiplicity of inspired
ideas and thoughts explode onto the page, sometimes overwhelming his
efforts to organize them. Free of the discipline of his customary
writings to known churches on specific events, Paul’s style of writing
suffers and loses its edge occasionally.
The authenticity of the letter is well – attested not only by the
research and technique of the present day, but also by its obvious
familiarity to St. Peter in his First Epistle, to St.Polycarp, to St.
Justin, to the authors of the Didache and in I Clement. Both Marcion and
St. Irenaeus attribute it to St Paul.
Structure
The letter differs from his normal practice. The address mentions Paul
alone. There is no Prologue. It is replaced by a dogmatic exposition of
the eternal plan of God for man’s redemption, a Divine gift to man,
sealed by the Holy Spirit. He then praises God in a solemn doxology and
moves on to the moral teaching of the letter.
Dogmatic
Paul tells his readers of his ceaseless prayer that they might be given
by the Father in the spirit of wisdom and revelation, deep knowledge of
Christ. He now reigns at the Father’s right hand and will do so for
eternity, with all things subject to Him. He is the Head of the Church,
which is His Body. Because of the Great mercy and love of God his
readers have become part of the Body and, in the ages to come, His
overflowing riches of Grace in kindness to us will come in Christ Jesus.
By grace they have been saved through faith. This faith is the absolute
gift of God, free and not earned in any way. In Christ both Jew and
Gentile become one. Circumcised or uncircumcised they are one in Christ
and heirs to the promise of the covenant. Both are now reconciled to God
in the one Body by the Cross. They are built together into a temple
holy in the Lord, upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets and
Christ Himself is the chief cornerstone (N.B. the “angularis fundamentum
lapis” of Foundation’s banner).Paul relates his appointment as the
Apostle to the Gentiles, and that the truth above is a revelation made
to him. This revelation had been hidden from mankind in past ages. And
not only from mankind, but from the “Principalities and Powers in the
heavens” (Eph. 3: 10) who will learn of it from Christ’s Church.
He asks his readers not to be disheartened by his tribulations. He prays
that God will grant them many graces through the Spirit to strengthen
them inwardly and that Christ may dwell in their hearts, and they may
know the fullness of his love.
Moral
Paul urges his readers to use all humility, meekness and patience in
bearing with one another in love, being always concerned to preserve the
unity of the Spirit. There is one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God
and Father of all.
He reminds them that God’s graces to each one vary, but all are intended
to work to build up the unity of the Church. “For from Him (Christ) the
whole body (being closely joined and knit together through every joint
of the system according to the functioning in due measure of each single
part) derives its increase to the building up of itself in love.”(Eph.
4: 16)
Paul exhorts them to recall that they are to put pagan ways of
sensuality and uncleanness behind them. They are to “put on the new man,
which has been created according to God in justice and holiness of
truth”. (Eph. 4:24) He urges them to have nothing to do with anger,
bitterness, wrath and indignation and malice. Rather, they should be
kind, merciful and generously forgiving, as God is to them. He urges
them to have nothing to do with uncleanness or covetousness or obscenity
or drunkenness which will alienate them from God. Rather, they should
be concerned with, talk about and sing about the things of God. He once
again elaborates on the duties of husbands, wives and children, of
slaves and masters.
Finally he urges his readers to put on the armour of God in order to
resist the wiles of the Devil “….. having girded your loins with truth,
and having put on the breastplate of justice, and having your feet shod
with the readiness of the Gospel of peace, in all things take up the
shield of faith, with which you may be able to quench the fiery darts of
the most wicked one. And take unto you the helmet of salvation and the
sword of the spirit that is the word of God”. (Eph. 6:14-17) He closes
calling himself an ambassador in chains “and asking for their prayers so
that he might write and speak as he ought. He informs them that
Tychicus who bears the letter will let them know all about his present
circumstances. He wishes them all the peace of God the Father and the
Lord Jesus Christ and grace to all whose love of Christ is unfailing.
To the Philippians
Written toward the end of St Paul’s imprisonment, this letter has a
special tone and warmth which sets it apart from all his other letters.
The special affection he feels for the Philippians and they feel for him
is clear. He had visited them three times and in fact had been
imprisoned there also. In Acts St. Luke relates a number of conversions
there and the cure of a girl possessed by a demon as a result of Paul’s
action, as well as his imprisonment. There is about this letter a sense
of comfort in unity of spirit and mutual sympathy.
Hearing of Paul’s imprisonment the Philippians had sent gifts to support
him, as they had done in the past when he was in Thessalonica and on
other occasions. Paul sends greetings to “all the saints in Christ Jesus
that are at Philippi, with the Bishops and Deacons: grace be to you and
peace from God Our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”
The words St Paul uses to begin his remarks to the Philippians are
enshrined in the rite of ordination “He who has begun a good work in you
will bring it to perfection…..”He assures them of his total concern for
them and their salvation “For God is my witness how I long for you all
in the Heart of Jesus Christ”.
St Paul tells them that even in his current imprisonment his missionary
work goes on and even prospers. He makes it clear that whether he lives
or dies matters not – only that God’s will be done: “For to me to live
is Christ and to die is gain”.(Phil. 1:21) He suggests some possibility
that he might yet visit them again.
He encourages them to continue in unity of mind and spirit in Christ,
each caring for the other in humility. At this point he delivers the
great injunction which has resounded down the millennia:
“Have this mind in you which was also in Christ Jesus, Who though He was
By nature God, did not consider being equal to God a thing to be clung to
But emptied Himself, taking the nature of a slave and being made like unto
Men. And appearing in the form of man, He humbled Himself, becoming
obedient unto death, even to death on a cross. Therefore God also has
exalted Him and has bestowed on Him the name that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven
on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that the Lord
Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 1: 5-11)
2,000 Years on, we stand in awe of the truth St Paul has so wonderfully expressed under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Paul expresses his loving concern for the perseverance of the
Philippians who he says “shine like stars in the world “in “the midst of
a depraved and perverse generation”. (Phil. 2:15) He announces his
intention to send Timothy to visit them. Of Timothy he says “I have
no-one so like-minded who is genuinely solicitous for you.” He has also
sent back Epaphroditus, who bore their gifts to Paul. He had been “sick,
almost to death”(Phil. 2:27) but Epaphroditus is now recovered and has
been sent more quickly because “he was longing for all of you and was
grieved because you had heard that he was sick”.(Phil. 2:26)
St Paul warns them against the Judaizers and to remain on guard. He goes
on to inspire them with his personal approach to his life in Christ :
“But one thing I do : forgetting what is behind, I strain forward to what is before, I press on towards the goal, to the prize of God’s heavenly call in Jesus Christ.”(Phil. 3: 13-14)
He urges them, “my joy
and my crown” (Phil. 4: 1) to stand fast in the Lord, not to follow
those enemies of the Cross whose god “is the belly, their glory is their
shame, they mind the things of the earth” (Phil. 3: 19)
Evodia and Syntyche are urged to be of one mind in the Lord. (How sad to
have one’s petty disagreement recognized through 2,000 years.)
He urges them to rejoice in the Lord always, not to be anxious at all
but to put all needs into their prayers with thanksgiving. Everything
that is true, holy and loveable should be their desire and concern and
practice. He thanks them for their unique assistance in his past
labours. And he prays that God will supply their every need.
He closes with greetings from all his companions especially those of
“Caesar’s household”- this would seem to allude to some converted
members of the Praetorian Guard which had custody of Paul and which
formed part of “Caesar’s household”. And he imparts the grace of Our
Lord Jesus Christ upon their spirit.
Epistle to Philemon
Here we have something unique in Sacred Scripture – a private letter. And it is unmistakably and irrefutably written by St Paul.
The addressee, Philemon, is a wealthy citizen of Colossae. He is a
Catholic and in fact the church meets in his home. The subject of the
letter is Philemon’s slave Onesimus. He has run away from his master and
has defrauded him. Coming to Rome he has made himself known to Paul. He
has been converted and has been an important assistant to Paul. Perhaps
he had known of Paul and heard him speak in Ephesus where Philemon had
been converted.
But Paul knows that he must do right by Philemon. Onesimus is Philemon’s
legal property and he owes Philemon the money he stole. It is evident
from the text that Philemon is a leader of the church in Colossae (V 2).
Mention is made of Appia and Archippus and historically she has been
regarded as Philemon’s wife and Archippus as their son. (We recall that
in Colossians, Archippus is admonished in a crisp note included in the
Epistle to “Look to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord,
that thou fulfil it”. Perhaps this son of a wealthy family was a Deacon –
responsible for ministering to the needy?
We do not know whether or not Philemon had received ordination, but St
Paul makes it plain that he was very dear to him (our beloved and
fellow-worker”) Paul’s letter is masterly. Though, as Lightfoot writing
in 1892 (Colossians and Philemon p 389) put it “the word emancipation
seems to be trembling on his lips”- Paul does not use it. After praising
Philemon in the Introduction, Paul recounts Onesimus’ coming to him,
his conversion and his valuable service to him. He acknowledges
Onesimus’ debt to Philemon and undertakes to pay it himself. He is
sending Onesimus back to Philomen as is right and “pleads” with Philemon
to receive him as a brother in the Faith, and indeed as if he were Paul
himself. He says he knows Philemon will even go beyond what he asks. He
closes asking Philemon to prepare to receive him as a visitor, for he
has hopes of regaining his freedom.
Lucky Onesimus – to have received the gift of Faith and to have such an
advocate, capable of such subtlety and delicacy in pleading that he be
made a free man – without needing to say as much, and willing to repay
Onesimus’ debt to Philemon. It is a gem of a letter which leaves one
hoping that Philemon proved as generous as Paul expected. We have
evidence through ancient tradition ( from the Menaia – a Byzantine daily
commentary on the lives of the saints used in the Liturgy of the Hours
of the Eastern Church) of the commemoration of the martyrdom of
Philemon, Appia, Archippus AND Onesimus at Colossae. The Apostolic
Constitutions – VII 46 – speak of Onesimus as Bishop of Beroea. It seems
Paul’s confidence was not misplaced.
Tony Dixon
COPYRIGHT. This article first appeared in the May 2009 issue of FOUNDATION
Friday, October 1, 2021
" PAST " SAINT PAUL PART XI SAINT PAUL WRITES FROM ROME Segment I
The chain that secured him to the wall and the constant attention of the Praetorian Guards reminded Paul that he was a prisoner of the Emperor Nero. But the wall was in a house he had rented at his own cost possibly near the Jewish quarter of the City, and the regular stream of visitors reminded him of the relative privilege his Roman Citizenship afforded him. Imprisoned by the authorities in Jerusalem and Caesarea at the behest of the Jews, Paul had used his Roman Citizen’s right to be tried by the Emperor himself to ensure the fulfillment of his long held desire to visit Rome. It seems he arrived there around March AD 61.
Being a prisoner of the increasingly demented Nero was a very insecure position. Nero had ordered the murder of his own mother in circumstances that degenerated into blackest “comedy “in AD 59 and would have his wife murdered in AD 62. What hope could a humble imprisoned preacher hold out for himself?
Only three days after arriving in the City and securing the house, Paul invites the leaders of the Jewish community to visit him, preaches to them and seeks to ensure that they will not persecute him as the Jews in Jerusalem and Caesarea did. They had heard nothing about him from Jerusalem and were not concerned about his work, saying that all they knew about the followers of Christ was that they were everywhere reviled.
Paul’s circumstances, as might be expected, affect the content of his letters. Unlike St. Peter, who as yet, remained free to move about the great City, Paul is not exposed to its glamour and cosmopolitan splendour. St Peter is, and he is greatly concerned, warning his flock to avoid conforming to the dress and manners of the pagans about them. St. Paul’s world is confined physically to his room. But his soaring spirit and classically Jewish trained and powerful mind cannot be so easily confined. His physical immobility gives him for the first time since his retreat in Arabia so many years ago, time to reflect on the totality of his teaching to date.
He perceives that there is room to develop more fully his teaching about the centrality of Christ and about His relationship to His Church, the relationship of Head to mystical body. Indeed St. Paul discloses that this teaching came to him by direct revelation. This intense mental and spiritual reflection during his two years captivity gives rise to a substantial written output. Thirty per cent of all of St Paul’s writings come from this relatively short period.
Three of these “captivity “letters, as they are known, form a group in time- all being delivered by Tychicus(Col. 4:7-9) and (Eph. 6::21) on the same journey. Internal evidence suggests that Colossians was written before Ephesians. Each of the letters is different in type – Colossians is pastoral and monitory, Ephesians is mainly a doctrinal reflection and Philemon is a private letter. The fourth, Philippians was written at a different time.
COLOSSIANS
St Paul refers to the founder of the church at Colossae, Epaphras, as his “fellow servant”(Col.1:7). In Monsignor Ronald Knox’s excellent translation this is rendered “bondsman”. However later, in Philemon V 23 Paul refers to him as “my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus”. So it appears that Epaphras came to Rome to see St Paul, or happened to be in Rome and called on Paul, and told him of his concerns for the church he led in Colossae. which Paul had not visited. It seems that he stayed in Rome too long and came to be imprisoned for his activities and perhaps for his association with Paul, but this is unlikely since Paul seems to have been allowed free visiting privileges. We cannot know precisely.
Heresy seems to have been the problem in Colossae. Specifically, the heresy that later came to be known as Gnosticism. It is referred to as “philosophy “in the Epistle, the very description of some Jewish teaching used by Josephus and Philo.
We are told in V 16:23 that these false teachers wished to introduce the observance of Sabbaths new moons and other such days, and forbad the eating, drinking, tasting, touching of certain things. Worse still they held angels to be equal to or superior to Christ and promoted worship of them. (There were at the time a variety of Jewish sects, including the Essenes, who held bizarre obsessions with “angels” of the stars, of the seasons, months, days of the year, heat, cold etc., etc.)
Remembering that Paul had not been to Colossae and that Epaphras had come from there and was asking Paul to help correct these false teachers and their errors, conjures up a scene of the anxious Epaphras hovering about as the great Apostle to the Gentiles seeks to devise his address to these strangers in a strange place, occasionally pausing to receive further input from Epaphras or to question him further. The letter as it evolved, falls into two parts, the first is doctrinal and polemical, and the second is moral and pastoral.
FIRST PART
Paul opens by thanking God for the faith of the Colossians made known to him by Epaphras. He prays that the Colossians may remain steadfast in belief and practice.
He opens his teaching at its very heart: the pre-eminence of Christ - God become Man. He is the Creator of all things and creatures in the natural order and in the supernatural order: angels, Thrones, Dominations and Powers. He is the Head of His Church which is His Body. (Here we see Paul clearly enunciating the existence of the one Universal Church of which individual local churches are parts. Christ did not found Churches but only one Church.) And he identifies the role of Christ as reconciler of man to God “through the Blood of His Cross” (1:20).
Paul knows that the majority of Colossians is Gentile - converts of Greek and Phrygian origin (1:26, 27 & 2: 13). There may have been a small number of Jewish converts also, because Josephus (Ant.XII, iii and 4) refers to a scattered Jewish population in the Colossae area. He reminds them that before their conversion they were estranged from God by their evil works. But now, through Christ’s saving Death and Resurrection they are reconciled to God. He affirms his role as Apostle to the Gentiles and his great concern for them and also for the Laodecians because he has been unable to visit them.
Paul urges them to build their faith on Christ as they have been taught and to beware of false teachers whose human traditions are based on the “elements of the world” (see above). He emphasises how they have been brought alive by Baptism and spiritually “circumcised”. He warns against those who preach dietary taboos and new moon festivals, sabbaths and the false practice of worshiping angels (as opposed to legitimate veneration of them and their true role). Disregard mere human teachings, seek and follow what comes from above, he urges them.
“For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, your life shall appear, then you too will appear with him in glory”.(Col.3 3-4)
SECOND PART
Paul urges the Colossians to avoid immorality, uncleanness, lust, evil desire and covetousness which the unbelievers practice, and to avoid “anger, wrath, malice, abusive language and foul-mouthed utterances. Do not lie to one another”. (Col. 3:8-9) They are all one in Christ with no racial or status distinctions. Physical circumcision has no privileged position or value among them.
He urges on them all the practical virtues and they should show forth: mercy, love and forbearance and forgiveness and do and say everything in the Name of the Lord Jesus whilst thanking God the Father through Him.
He counsels these virtues in specific terms within the families of the faithful, with detailed attention to the roles of husbands, wives and children and their relations with one another. He cautions convert slaves to work diligently for the sake of their fidelity to God. As we saw in Foundation for March, Paul had urged Timothy to preach along the same lines. Few things could more certainly bring down the wrath of the Roman state on the infant Church than to be seen by Romans as fomenting rebellion among the slaves.
Paul urges upon the Colossians regularity and consistency in prayer and asks them to pray for him. He exhorts them to consider carefully how they spend their time with, or enter into discussion with unbelievers, so that all will work toward their conversion. He explains that Tychicus is carrying the letter and will tell them more about Paul and how he is faring. He is also to be accompanied by Onesimus, himself a Colossian, who has been working with Paul and is now returning to them.
He sends greetings from his “fellow prisoner” Aristarchus (we recall that whilst in Ephesus with Paul, Aristarchus had been set upon by a mob in the theatre) who had sailed from Caesarea with Paul being one of his close co-workers. Greetings also come from Mark, Barnabas’ cousin and of course from Epaphras whom Paul assures the Colossians is ever solicitous for them in his prayers, as he is for Laodicea and Hierapolis.
Finally he sends greetings from “Luke, our most dear physician” (Col. 4:13) and from Demas. He sends his personal greetings to the church in Laodicea and to the church in the house of Nymphas and sends a brief message to Archippus – “Look to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfill it.)
He finishes “in my own hand”: “Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen”.
Tony Dixon
Copyright. This article first appeared in the April, 2009 issue of FOUNDATION.
Thursday, September 30, 2021
" PAST " DID NOT HEED MY OWN WARNING WHAT A BLAST THE 9TH APRIL, 2011 WAS!
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| Soon-to-arrive i PAD 2 |
What a blast! My 71st Birthday on the 9th has taken some recovering from
. All it lacked was the presence of the Southern Dixons, but they were
pretty swiftly on the phone, and a very generous Brother-in -Law Tony
Hannon has already sent various appurtenances of an i PAD 2, with the
iPAD itself to follow when the Apple dream factory thinks the appetite
has been sufficiently excited! Add to that a super new Nikon camera from
my dear wife . My head has been reeling for two days!So clutching my
Kindle 3G for security I have my eyes set firmly on the future - or I
will have, once I have mastered all the new electronic wizardry!
In the meantime , it is back to earth with a thud ! The rain has been
giving us a brief respite over the last day, and the morning is fine -
so its out with auto mow grass and 71 or not, the 4 section lawn must be
mowed before its length becomes unmanageable.
So, my very deepest thanks to all who helped me celebrate and did so, so very generously!
" PAST " YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED TOMORROW IS THE DAY!
We will pick up the story in 1886
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| This little girl Louisa Wilson was born in Sydney on 5th September,1886, she married Edward Beckmann , German by birth but a proud Australian since 1904 the year they were married......on 1st March,1904. On 28th May 1905 she gave birth to her first child: |
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| Elsie Georgina Beckmann. On 22nd March,1927 she married John Joseph Dixon at St. Joachim's Catholic Church Lidcombe . Her conversion to Catholicism repaired the damage done to the Beckmann and Dixon families by the apostate Father Martin Luther and King Henry VIII some 400 years earlier, and on 9 th April, 1940 she gave birth to her second child : |
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Anthony John Dixon your scribe! Here I am seen in later months Alert but not Alarmed - you
try looking alarmed after being woken up from a nice nap on the way to
the doctor's for a check up ! But DEFINITELY interested in all that's
going on! That's still the case!! And yes I'm looking forward to a Happy
71st Birthday tomorrow, including a family celebration with our son
Matthew and his wife Cathryn and their dear children : Stephen,
Josephine, Gabriel and Anastasia and phone lines running hot from the
South. I was delighted this morning to receive in the mail a Birthday
Card from Marist Brother Peter Salta ( Brother Albanus in better times) a
great teacher and devout Religious.
So, there you are - so many significant events recalled on the one day! So many people for me to remember and be thankful for.
Monday, September 27, 2021
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| H.M.A.S. CANBERRA passing under the incomplete Sydney Harbour Bridge - 1930. |
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| In happy times - H.M.A.S. CANBERRA "Dressed Overall"to mark some State occasion apparently firing a Saluting Gun. |
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| U.S.S. CANBERRA A
picture is said to be "worth a thousand words". The top picture showing
H.M.A.S. CANBERRA (I) passing under the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the course
of its construction, could easily provoke a thousand words to deal with
the various streams of thought it calls forth. Thoughts of Progress and
Disaster. The
completion of the Sydney Harbour Bridge some two years later , was to
transform the life of the City of Sydney which lies behind H.M.A.S.
CANBERRA in the picture which is looking South from Dawes Point on the
North Shore of the Harbour. No more would train,trams,buses and cars
transfer their passengers to ferries into the City and return to collect
them in the evening, no more would the car ferry ( later to cruise the
Harbour as the Showboat "Kalang"), ply its trade taking cars and trucks
to and fro.The old Sydney would receive a second jolt, which, together
with the first, the Underground Railway, would transform its life
entirely.There was a strong sense that the Bridge had demonstrated the
great achievements Australia was capable of once we shook off the gloom
of the Great Depression. H.M.A.S.
CANBERRA was one of two Kent Class Heavy Cruisers in the Royal
Australian Navy, the other being H.M.A.S. AUSTRALIA.The two 10,000 ton
vessels were built by John Brown & Sons on Clydebank and CANBERRA
was only two years old when the photo was taken .The ships had been
built under the restrictions of the Washington Naval Treaty which
limited their armament and armour. H.M.A.S. AUSTRALIA was refitted as the coming of war threatened and her armour at the waterline was increased. She survived the war. H.M.A.S. CANBERRA was not refitted due to budgetary restraints in the wake of the Great Depression.She did not survive even the early years of the war. On the night of 8/9 August, 1942 CANBERRA formed part of the Cruiser Screen protecting the Allied Amphibious Force supporting the landing on Guadalcanal. Ships of the Cruiser Screen had been continuously at Action Stations for nearly two days and fatigue resulting from this factor is thought to have played a part in what happened. A superior Japanese Heavy Cruiser force with Destroyer Screen attacked during the night and, using the very advanced and fast steam powered heavy "Long Tom"torpedoes and maximum heavy armament fire, they quickly knocked CANBERRA out of action, and sank U.S.S.s Quincy, Astoria and Vincennes . CANBERRA remained afloat but could not be saved.She became a hazard to navigation and had to be sunk. Ironically this took two hours to achieve. The Allied forces were forced to withdraw leaving the seaway to the Japanese, and abandoning the United States Marines on Guadalcanal. The Marines heroic fighting on the Island has become legendary. Some months later the Allies returned for good and the Marines were relieved. In an extraordinary gesture which seems to have no parallel in world naval annals, the United States Navy, apparently at the decision of President Franklin D.Roosevelt, named one of its Baltimore Class Heavy Cruisers, U.S.S. CANBERRA. This must have been a decision encountering very strong opposition among traditionalists ( and most Navy folk ARE traditionalists around the world) - imagine the furore if it was decided to name a major ( or any) Australian warship H.M.A.S. WASHINGTON! It was a grand tribute to the heroism and support of the men of the R.A.N. and the people of Australia. U.S.S. CANBERRA was one of the first ships converted to a Guided Missile Cruiser in the post war period. She gave long service and was frequently used on representative visits around the world. When she came to the end of her life , a second U.S.S. CANBERRA, a frigate, was commissioned. The loss of the CANBERRA left a gap in the Australian Fleet and this was filled by the gift of H.M.S. SHROPSHIRE a London Class Heavy Cruiser, which like the Kent Class, belonged to the County Class design family. King George VI had announced the gift saying that SHROPSHIRE would become the new H.M.A.S. CANBERRA. But then the exceptional tribute by the UNITED STATES was announced and it was thought best to retain the name she had.As H.M.A.S. SHROPSHIRE she served with distinction through the remainder of the Pacific War and proved to be a "lucky"ship - only five of her crew died during the war - one drowning and four accidents - none to enemy action. SHROPSHIRE was scrapped in 1949. I have clear personal memories of seeing her on Sydney Harbour on several occasions as a young boy. I wonder how many other tranquil pictures can so readily conjure up so many memories? |
" PAST " SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
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| POPE BENEDICT XVI |
070707 The memorable date - in more ways than one - on which our beloved Holy Father signed the Motu Proprio "SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM " freeing the celebration of the Mass according to the 1962 Missal of Pope John XXIII, that is the traditional Latin Mass.
The Holy Father's intentions were several:
-to aid in the reintegration of Lefebvrists into the life of the Church
-to offer comfort to those already devoted to the Latin Mass, and
-to institute a gradual process whereby greater exposure to the ancient ritual would inspire greater reverence in the celebration of the Novus Ordo.
Three years on, progress has been solid on all fronts. Though some Episcopal Conferences have, to put it mildly, dragged their feet, the progress has grown up around them. Perhaps the most unco-operative have been the French Bishops. Yet their own Mass attendance figures suggest that the number of people attending Sunday Masses in France is almost identical with the known numbers of people attending the Latin Mass. There are none so blind.....
Here in Australia, progress has been slow due to our preponderance of "liberal "Bishops. However, even in their leading liberal See of Brisbane the one suburban church made available to the Latin Mass community, is jam - packed every Sunday whereas three years ago it was only two thirds full. In the orthodox Archdioceses of Sydney and Melbourne and Canberra-Goulburn the churches dedicated to the Latin Mass are very well attended.
An interesting characteristic of each of these congregations is the majority of young people regularly attending. The future looks brighter and brighter, and should only be enhanced by the retirement of several Bishops in the next twelve months. Interestingly, a majority of young priests ordained in Australia this year, celebrate Holy Mass according to both the older Extraordinary Form and the vernacular Novus Ordo.
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