Although, naturally enough under the circumstances, we didn't have a lot of notice about the Holy Father's last public Mass in St Peter's Basilica yesterday (Ash Wednesday) I hope nonetheless that some of you were able to watch it on television or online; or at least some of it.
It was of course a beautiful Mass and very moving.
You might like to read the Holy Father's homily from the Mass so here is the text for you to read and meditate on in your own time.
As always, whenever Pope Benedict preaches, there is a great deal of spiritual nourishment for us to reflect on.
Let us all prayer for our Holy Father and for his successor.
We're trying to follow our Holy Father's advice here in Banstead and use all types of media to reach out to people and spread the Good News of the Gospel.
To this end, we've just created a parish Facebook page. We hope that if you have your own Facebook account, you will search for the page and 'like' it so that you'll receive status updates directly to your account.
These are just our first faltering steps into social media, but if Pope Benedict XVI can use an iPad, I think it must be acceptable for us to follow in his footsteps, albeit on an 'old-fashioned' computer.
Have you seen this excellent article with Mgr Guido Marini, the Papal Master of Ceremonies?
As Mgr Marini says, ' . . . the celebrations the Holy Father presides over are to be the points of reference for the whole Church. The Pope is the highest priest, the one who offers the sacrifice of the Church, the one who shows the liturgical teaching through celebrations – the point of reference for all.'
I wonder what you think?
Have you noticed any differences in the way that Pope Benedict presides over the liturgy?
How would you feel if, for example, Mass were sometimes celebrated ad orientem, in other words, facing East, in the same direction as the congregation?
Would this help you to focus on the sacrifice of the Mass rather than on the celebrant himself?
Pope Benedict XVI's latest Apostolic Exhortation, 'Verbum Domini' was published by the Vatican on Thursday, 11th November 2010. In this document, the Holy Father highlights the importance of the Word of God in living our personal vocations. Pope Benedict says that the word of God 'calls each one of us personally, revealing that life itself is a vocation from God.'
He also quotes from Saint Jerome when he says,
"We are reading the sacred Scriptures. Forme, the Gospel is the Body of Christ; for me, the holy Scriptures are his teaching. And when he says: whoever does not eat my flesh and drink my blood (Jn 6:53)even though these words can also be understood of the (Eucharistic) Mystery, Christ's body and blood are really the word of Scripture, God's teaching."
If you would like to study this latest Apostolic Exhortation in detail, you will find the full text here.
Many thanks to Chas for sharing with us these photos he took at Cofton Park yesterday of the Beatification Mass for Blessed John Henry Newman. If any other pilgrims from the parish have any photos, we'd love to see them. Just email them to the parish office please.
The Holy Father has been speaking about his forthcoming visit to the United Kingdom. He says that he is very much looking forward to the visit and thanks the British Government; the Scottish Bishops; those of England and Wales and all who are involved in organising the visit for the vast amount of work they have put in to make the visit possible.
Of course I can't claim to have influenced the Holy Father in what he would say in his second Angelus address on Sunday, but it seems as if we are thinking along the same lines on this.
19th July, 2010. In his second Angelus address from Castel Gandolfo, Pope Benedict addressed pilgrims on the importance of prayer during their vacations.
Benedict XVI referred to the summer as a time when most are on holiday, including himself. He has suspended his audiences for a period.
He said summer holiday is a “favourable moment” to put first what is most important in life: listening to the Word of God.
“In today’s Gospel we are reminded of the need to rest from our daily labours, so that we may give time to the one thing that is truly necessary in our lives – listening to the word of God in attentive stillness.” Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict explained that everything will pass but the Word of God is eternal and gives meaning to our daily activities.
He said humans must work in domestic and professional activities, but need God because without love activities lose their value and give no joy.
As I said in our newsletter this week and repeated after each Sunday Mass; when you're making your preparations for your summer holidays and writing your check list;
tickets, foreign currency, sunscreen,
hotel reservations, cancel milk and papers,
arrange for someone to look after the dog/cat/hamster, etc. etc. . . .
Don't forget the most important thing -
CHECK THE LOCATION OF THE NEAREST CATHOLIC CHURCH AND
THE TIMES OF SUNDAY MASSES!
I wish you all a very happy, restful and refreshing summer break and I look forward to seeing you all as usual on the Sundays when you're not actually out of the parish.
Some time ago I mentionedthat I had been asked to complete a questionnaire from Bishop Kieran to enable him to gather information about parishes in the diocese for his ad Limina visit to Rome. This visit has recently taken place. Fr Seán Finnegan has posted the text of the Holy Father's address to our bishops on his blog Valle Adurni. Rather than duplicate it, I recommend you follow the link here to read it for yourself.
What is the purpose of the ad Limina?
Listed below is an explanation taken from the web site of the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales:
There are three important parts to the ad Limina: 1. The pilgrimage to, and veneration of, the tombs of the Apostles Peter and Paul.
2. A personal meeting with the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI.
3. Meeting and conversations with the various departments of the Roman Curia (the administrative offices of the Holy See)
I am grateful to Family Publications for asking me to review this book, 'Behold the Lamb of God' by Pope Benedict XVI.
This latest book from Family Publications complements Pope Benedict XVI's previous book, 'Priests of Jesus Christ'.
'Behold the Lamb of God' is divided into two sections, the first section contains extracts from the Holy Father's homilies and the second section contains extracts from addresses made between May 2005 and August 2009.
Written with great pastoral sensitivity, this beautiful book is filled with deep spiritual and theological insight.
The texts here have been specially chosen by Fr Gerard Skinner of the Archdiocese of Westminster. This latest book by the Holy Father will help both priests and laity gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the Blessed Eucharist.
