Chrism Mass 2016

Rest in peace, Fr Ivor

Father Ivor Morris died in the early hours of March 1st, in the presence of his sister Norma.  After being taken ill in October of last year Fr Morris has remained in hospital, most recently in London where Mgr. Newton was able to visit and pray with him.

Fr Morris served the Anglican church of the Ascension, Chelmsford for twenty years before accepting the Holy Father's invitation and joining the Ordinariate in the first round of ordinations.  He served the Diocese of Brentwood as Priest-in-Charge of the Blessed Sacrament, Chelmsford and as chaplain to Broomfield hospital.

Long time friend and colleague Fr Ed Tomlinson has posted an obituary.

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Fr Morris, for his family and for his people in the parish and the Chelmsford Ordinariate group.

Fr Ian

Fr James' great photos of the first Ordinariate Cathedral

Fr James Bradley (English Ordinariate priest studying in the US) has visited Houston where Bishop Lopes, recently consecrated, houses his 'cathedra'. This Church is now the first Ordinariate cathedral. Follow this link to his photos:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesbradley/sets/72157663540953570

Excellent remarks by Bishop Lopes after ordination

We offer our prayers to Bishop Lopes as he begins his episcopal ministry in the Ordinariate of the US and Canada, the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St Peter.

Here are his 'remarks' given after his ordination:

Bishop Lopes of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St Peter

Necessity of silence during Mass

The very impressive Cardinal Sarah, prefect for the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments, is explaining the importance of silence during Mass in weekend articles in the L'Osservetore Romano.

The article in Italian can be found here.

Christine Niles' short article about it begins :

Cardinal Robert Sarah is stressing the necessity of silence during Mass. In a weekend column in L'Osservatore Romano, the Vatican's newspaper, the head of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments explains the role and importance of silence in the sacred liturgy.

Cardinal Sarah contrasts between virtuous, "mystical" silence as opposed to "reprehensible" silence, the silence of omission owing to "cowardice, selfishness or hardness heart."

Mystical silence should prevail at Mass as "an expression of awe of God." The soul that practices silence in the liturgy, he says, is the humble soul, one who "desires to leave room for others, and especially for the wholly Other, God."

On the other hand, the soul that cannot remain silent indicates a self-important soul, one who "wants to show off" or needs "to fill his inner emptiness" with noise. God, Cdl. Sarah notes, operates in silence, and comes to the soul in silence.

He counters the argument that silence is an act of passivity or idleness. On the contrary, it is work and involves active purification of the mind of all that distracts from God. ....

...more here.

Blocking Evangelisation through hardness of heart

This coming Sunday the Ordinariate's Calendar moves into liturgical purple for a pre-Lent season beginning with Septuagesima. For some Catholics, who have only experienced the purple season beginning on Ash Wednesday, it can seem as a little pre-emptive. "Surely Lent has not begun yet?" Well indeed Lent has not begun, but Lent is so important for us perhaps we need preparation before it begins with earnest on Ash Wednesday? The three purple Sundays before Lent give us valuable preparation time.

In my mind Lent is all about conversion - the conversion of life. It is about honestly saying my life does not conform to our Saviour's Gospel and it needs to! I need to repent, to turn myself around and believe in the Gospel - not least by living it out!

In this article I have found some really helpful reminders and new thoughts about this, and not least how the hardness of our hearts is the real problem in Evangelisation. Mgr Pope is very good and I recommend this to you:


Scripture’s Sober Assessment of the Hardness of Many Human Hearts and What It Means for Evangelization

by Mgr Charles Pope

It is rather a typical assumption of the modern Western mind that differences and hostilities are due mainly to misunderstandings or a lack of proper information; that if we would discuss (“dialogue”), share information, respect pluralism (diversity), and overcome misunderstandings, all would be well and there would be peace.

Missing in this approach is the more sober notion of the hardness of human hearts. Information alone does not usually bring peace and an end to trouble. Rather, transformation effected by repentance and conversion is the truer and more biblical answer. But repentance and conversion usually require a lot more than dialogue or the sharing of information.

Biblically, repentance is usually effected by a combination of instruction and admonition. Teaching and the setting forth of doctrine are essential, but warning about the consequences of disregarding the truth must also take place. As He taught, Jesus consistently warned that in the end there will be sheep and goats, those to the right and those to the left, the wise and foolish virgins, those who will hear “Come blessed of my Father ..” and those who will hear, “Depart from me you evil doers.” Yes, His parables are filled with warnings as are his more discursive teachings, in which He warns that no one will come to the Father except through Him and that Unless you come to believe that I AM, you will die in your sins (Jn 8:24).

/continue here