Mass of Ages Winter 2021

Mass of Ages The quarterly magazine of the Latin Mass Society

Issue 210 – Winter 2021 – FREE

Chideock Pilgrimage The Latin Mass Society’s Pilgrimage to Our Lady Queen of Martyrs & St Ignatius Angels among us! The reality of the spirit world An update on the Marian Franciscans Plus: news, views, Mass listings and nationwide reports

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Contents

CONTENTS

4 Return to Romney Marsh The Latin Mass Society returned for the sixth time to the small medieval church of St Augustine on Romney Marsh in Kent 5 Chairman’s Message

Joseph Shaw on life under Traditionis Custodes 6 LMS Year Planner – Notable events 7 Liturgical calendar 8 The 1971 Petition Joseph Shaw on how the great and the good came together fifty years

ago to help save the Traditional Mass 11 Sole survivor Joseph Shaw on how Vladimir Ashkenazy, the last of Marnau's petitioners, has been honoured by the FIUV 12 Angels among us!

Father David Gornall on the reality and importance of the spirit world 14 St Mary’s, Husbands Bosworth

Fr Matthew Pittam on the return of the Latin Mass to one of the great

historic centres of the Catholic Faith 15 An altarpiece made now

Paul Robinson on commissioning a portrait of St Bede 16 Reports from around the country

What’s happening where you are 26 Ad Jesum per Mariam

An update on the Marian Franciscans 28 Family matters

James Preece on how traditional Catholic families can help each other 29 World News

Paul Waddington reports on the effect of Traditionis Custodes around the globe

30 Art and devotion

Caroline Farey on a 10th century Byzantine ivory icon held in the

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York 32 Architecture – The Cathedrals of Edward Welby Pugin Paul Waddington looks at some of the larger works of one of the most prolific architects of the Gothic revival 34 Mass listings 40 Catholic hero

Charles A. Coulombe remembers Edward Lisle Strutt 42 Philomena and the Curé of Ars

Mary O’Regan remembers her favourite saint 43 Wine

Sebastian Morello on the pleasures of Chianti 44 Chideock Pilgrimage Maurice Quinn reports on the Latin Mass Society’s Pilgrimage to Our Lady Queen of Martyrs & St Ignatius, Chideock, Dorset 46 Crossword 46 Classified advertisements 47 St Walburge’s Appeal

Help save one of our greatest Catholic churches Our Lady Queen of Martyrs & St Ignatius, Chideock, Dorset. © John Aron

The Latin Mass Society 11-13 Macklin Street, London WC2B 5NH Tel: 020 7404 7284 editor@lms.org.uk Mass of Ages No. 210 Due to the considerable volume of emails and letters received at Mass of Ages it is regrettably not always possible to reply to all correspondents.

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27 44 PATRONS: Sir Adrian Fitzgerald, Bt; Rt Hon. Lord Gill; Sir James Macmillan, CBE; Lord Moore of Etchingham; Prof. Thomas Pink.

COMMITTEE: Dr Joseph Shaw – Chairman; Kevin Jones – Secretary; David Forster – Treasurer; Roger Wemyss Brooks – Vice President; Paul Waddington – Vice President; Alisa Kunitz-Dick; Antonia Robinson; Nicholas Ross; Alastair Tocher; Neil Addison.

Registered UK Charity No. 248388

MASS OF AGES: Editor: Tom Quinn Design: GADS Ltd Printers: Cambrian DISCLAIMER: Please note that the views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Latin Mass Society or the Editorial Board. Great care is taken to credit photographs and seek permission before publishing, though this is not always possible. If you have a query regarding copyright, please contact the Editor. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without written permission.

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Return to Romney Marsh

T

he Latin Mass Society returned for the sixth time to the small medieval church of St Augustine on Romney Marsh in Kent. Built in the

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13th century, the church was probably established from St Augustine’s Abbey in Canterbury. It became redundant in 1883 and is now in the care of the Romney Marsh Historic Churches Trust, who very kindly allow us to use it each year. The Trust has care of 14 medieval churches and 4 ruins. For more details of the day, see Marygold Turner’s report on page 24.

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CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE

Cause for optimism Joseph Shaw on life under Traditionis Custodes

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he Foederatio Internationalis Una Voce (FIUV, or Una Voce International) held its two-yearly General Assembly, online, on Saturday 2 October. It was attended by twenty member associations from North and South America, Africa, Asia, and Europe. It was sobering to hear their experiences of life under Traditionis Custodes, but there was cause for optimism too. As Diane Montagne has observed, bishops demanding new controls over the Traditional Mass tend to be those, like many in Italy, who already had it so well under control that it was not being celebrated at all. Bishops where the Traditional Mass was relatively widespread generally have no wish to prune it back.

At this same meeting, a new Council and President was elected. I have been either Secretary or Treasurer of the Federation since 2013, and this time the lot fell to me to be President. I will continue to be Chairman of the Latin Mass Society; collaboration between the two organisations has always been close. I am very grateful to my predecessor as President, Felipe Alanís Suarez, of Una Voce Mexico, and to all my colleagues in the Federation’s Council, for their help. It is in the nature of the organisation that the Treasurer is based in Germany and the Secretary in South Africa, and other important roles are played by Councillors in Vancouver and Moscow.

Fortunately for me, the common language of the Federation is English.

Although the Federation taking the concerns of Traditional Catholics

worldwide to the Holy See, and advising local Latin Mass groups, is usually done without fanfare, it has in recent years developed its public face. It has a twiceyearly magazine, Gregorius Magnus, a twitter account, @unavoceofficial, a Facebook page, a YouTube channel, and a website (www.fiuv.org). I encourage readers to consider becoming a “Friend” of the Federation, making a small annual donation. Many member associations are very poor, and cannot make a financial contribution to the Federation’s work.

While talking to officials in Rome may be less useful than usual right now, the public-facing work of the Federation is especially important. It seems the justification for world-wide restrictions on the Traditional Mass, with the stated aim of its eventual banning, is based on perceptions of the situation in a very small number of countries, and it is through the Federation that the existence of the Traditional movement as a truly world-wide phenomenon can be made clear, in Rome, on English-language social media, and to everyone. senior official of the One Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith explained the necessity for Traditionis Custodes by reference to “the U.S., France and England” (Archbishop Di Noia, interview with the Catholic News Service, 20 July 2021.) Pope Francis, addressing an ad limina visit by French bishops on 10 September, cited problems in “the United States, Switzerland, and a little in France”.

What exactly is supposed to be going on in these places is not, alas, specified, but, in any case, why does this justify making life difficult for Catholics attached to the Traditional Mass in Nigeria, the Philippines, or Peru? I don’t think the people formulating and defending this policy have given those countries much thought, nor even places such as Poland, Germany, Scotland, and Canada, where there are a good number of Traditional Mass celebrations, apparently without difficulties.

It is clearly vital at this juncture to make the point that the Traditional Mass is not, and never has been, the preserve of the United States of America plus one or two Western European countries.

I illustrate this Chairman’s Message with a cartoon from Fr Hubert Van Zeller, perhaps inspired by the situation of the People’s Republic of China. Because of the persecution of the Church under Communism, the liturgical reform came to China twenty years late, and even then the old and the new Mass coexisted quite happily for some time. Today a vigorous movement for the preservation of the Traditional Mass in China exists, insisting on the continued relevance of the Mass which brought the Faith to China five centuries ago. Please spare a prayer for our persecuted brothers in Christ, that they may receive the consolation of the liturgy which has sustained so many martyrs.

'It has been confirmed that there is human life on the planet Saturn. . . where they are still saying the Tridentine Latin Mass.'

From Cracks in the Clouds by Dom Hubert Van Zeller (erstwhile Brother Choleric) 1976.

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YEAR PLANNER

LMS Year Planner – Notable Events At the time of going to press the following events are planned.

MASS OF REPARATION FOR ABORTIONS. Shrine of

Our Lady of Guadalupe in Holy Child and St Joseph’s, Brereton Road, Bedford MK40 1HU. Saturday, 13 November 12 noon.

GUILD OF ST CLARE: AUTUMN 2021 SEWING RETREAT AT DOUAI ABBEY, 12-14th November, with Fr Tim Finigan. Douai Abbey, Upper Woolhampton, Reading, RG7 5TQ. Booking open on the LMS website.

IOTA UNUM TALK. Friday, 19th November. A series of monthly talks in the basement of Our Lady of the Assumption & St Gregory’s Church, Warwick Street, London, which aim to be relevant to the everyday lives of traditionally-minded Catholics. The speaker this time will be Dominic O’Sullivan: ‘Spanish Integralism’. All welcome. Doors open 6.30pm, entrance via Golden Square, £5 on the door, which includes refreshments.

ST TARCISIUS SERVER TRAINING DAY. Saturday, 20 November from 10.30am in St James Spanish Place, 22 George Street, London, W1U 3QY. Men and boys will be able to learn all roles for Low Mass and Sung Mass, and High Mass if there is demand. Booking is required, see our website for details.

IOTA UNUM TALK. Friday, 10th December. A series of monthly talks in the basement of Our Lady of the Assumption & St Gregory’s Church, Warwick Street, London, which aim to be relevant to the everyday lives of traditionally-minded Catholics. The speaker this time will be Sebastian Morello: ‘de Maistre on Liturgy and Politics’.

IOTA UNUM TALK. Friday, 28th January 2022 in the basement of Our Lady of the Assumption & St Gregory’s Church, Warwick Street, London. The speaker this time will be Prof. Thomas Pink: 'The Papal Monarchy: the exercise of power in the Church, its theological and legal basis, and its limits'.

NEWS Write for us!

If you enjoy reading Mass of Ages and feel there is an article you would like to write for us do let us know.

In the first instance contact the Editor with an outline of your proposed article letting us know why you are the person to write it and with details of any photographs or illustrations you are able to supply.

Contact our Editor Tom Quinn at editor@lms.org.uk

FACTFILE Details of all our events can be found on our website, together with booking and payment facilities where applicable. Go to lms.org.uk

Please pray for the souls of all members who have died recently Requiescant in Pace John Boyle Robert Copsey (Priest) Andrew Domanski Bernard Eason Gair Greene David Irwin (Priest) Helen Jimack Mary Sewell Miroslaw Skorupka Every effort is made to ensure that this list is accurate and up-to-date. However, if you know of a recently deceased member whose name has not, so far, appeared on our prayer memorial, then please contact the LMS, see page 3 for contact details.

The LMS relies heavily on legacies to support its income. We are very grateful to the following who remembered the Society in their Will: David Ashley, Gair Greene.

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LITURGICAL CALENDAR

Liturgical calendar NOVEMBER SUN 14 VI SUNDAY REMAINING AFTER EPIPHANY II CL G MON 15 S ALBERT THE GREAT B C D III CL W TUE 16 S GERTRUDE V III CL W WED 17 S GREGORY THAUMATURGUS B C III CL W THU 18 DEDICATION OF THE BASILICAS OF

SS PETER & PAUL III CL W FRI 19 S ELIZABETH W III CL W SAT 20 S FELIX DE VALOIS C III CI W SUN 21 XXIV & LAST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST II

CL G MON 22 S CECILIA V M III CL R TUE 23 S CLEMENT I P M III CL R WED 24 S JOHN OF THE CROSS C D III CL W THU 25 S CATHERINE V M III CL R FRI 26 S SILVESTER AB III CL W SAT 27 OUR LADY’S SATURDAY IV CL W SUN 28 ADVENT SUNDAY I CL V MON 29 FERIA III CL V TUE 30 ST ANDREW AP II CL R DECEMBER WED 1 THU 2 FRI 3 SAT 4 SUN 5 MON 6 7 TUE WED 8

THU 9 FRI 10 SAT 11 SUN 12

MON 13 TUE 14 WED 15 THU 16 FRI 17 SAT 18 SUN 19 MON 20 TUE 21 WED 22 THU 23 FRI 24 SAT 25 SUN 26

MON 27 TUE 28 WED 29 THU 30

FRI 31

FERIA III CL V ST BIBIANA V M III CL R ST FRANCIS XAVIER C III CL (PRIV.) W ST PETER CHRYSOLOGUS B C D III CL W 2ND SUNDAY OF ADVENT I CL V ST NICOLAS B C III CL (PRIV.) W ST AMBROSE B C D III CL (PRIV.) W THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BVM I CL W FERIA III CL V FERIA III CL V ST DAMASUS I P C III CL (PRIV.) W 3RD SUNDAY OF ADVENT (GAUDETE

SUNDAY) I CL V/ROSE ST LUCY V M III CL (PRIV.) R FERIA III CL V EMBER WEDNESDAY OF ADVENT II CL V ST EUSEBIUS B M III CL W EMBER FRIDAY OF ADVENT II CL V EMBER SATURDAY OF ADVENT II CL V 4TH SUNDAY OF ADVENT I CL V FERIA II CL V ST THOMAS AP II CL R FERIA II CL V FERIA II CL V VIGIL OF THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD I CL V THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD I CL W SUNDAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF THE NATIVITY II CL W ST JOHN AP EVANGELIST II CL W THE HOLY INNOCENTS MM II CL R ST THOMAS OF CANTERBURY B M I CL R 6TH DAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF THE NATIVITY II CL W 7TH DAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF THE NATIVITY II CL W

JANUARY 2022 SAT 1

SUN 2 MON 3 TUE 4 WED 5 THU 6 FRI 7 SAT 8 SUN 9

MON 10 TUE 11 WED 12

THE OCTAVE DAY OF THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD I CL W THE MOST HOLY NAME OF JESUS II CL W FERIA IV CL W FERIA IV CL W FERIA IV CL W THE EPIPHANY I CL W FERIA IV CL W CELEBRATION OF THE BVM IV CL W THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH II CL W FERIA IV CL W FERIA IV CL W FERIA IV CL W

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THU FRI SAT SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN MON TUE

WED THU FRI SAT SUN MON

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

26 27 28 29 30 31

THE BAPTISM OF OUR LORD II CL W ST HILARY B C D III CL W ST PAUL THE FIRST HERMIT C III CL W 2ND SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY II CL G ST ANTHONY AB III CL (PRIV.) W FERIA IV CL G FERIA IV CL G SS FABIAN P & SEBASTIAN M III CL (PRIV.) R ST AGNES V M III CL (PRIV.) R SS VINCENT & ANASTASIUS MM III CL R 3RD SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY II CL G ST TIMOTHY B M III CL (PRIV.) R THE CONVERSION OF ST PAUL AP III CL (PRIV.) W ST POLYCARP B M III CL (PRIV.) R ST JOHN CHRYSOSTOM B C D III CL (PRIV.) W ST PETER NOLASCO C III CL W ST FRANCIS DE SALES B C D III CL (PRIV.) W 4TH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY II CL G ST JOHN BOSCO C III CL (PRIV.) W

FEBRUARY TUE 1 ST IGNATIUS B M III CL (PRIV.) R WED 2 THE PURIFICATION OF THE BVM II CL W THU 3 FERIA IV CL G FRI 4 ST ANDREW CORSINI B C III CL W SAT 5 ST AGATHA V M III CL (PRIV.) R SUN 6 5TH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY II CL G MON 7 ST ROMUALD AB III CL W TUE 8 ST JOHN OF MATHA C III CL W WED 9 ST CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA B C D III CL W THU 10 ST SCHOLASTICA V III CL W FRI 11 THE APPARITION OF THE BVM

IMMACULATE III CL W SAT 12 THE SEVEN HOLY FOUNDERS OF THE

ORDER OF THE SERVANTS OF THE BVM CC III CL W

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FEATURE

The 1971 Petition Joseph Shaw on how the great and the good came together fifty years ago to help save the Traditional Mass

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lfred Marnau’s account of the gathering of names for the 1971 Petition tells us that the signatures were collected in a mere three weeks. Despite the short time spent on it, the group of signatories in the final document is a carefullycrafted collection which reflects astute planning. This is slightly obscured by the presentation of the names in alphabetical order, but it would have been clear enough to those reading the list in The Times when it was published there, and equally no doubt to Cardinal Heenan.

The purpose of the petition was to present an argument for the preservation of the Traditional Mass which was not already ruled out by official enthusiasm for the liturgical reform. Pope Paul VI was hardly likely to agree that the former Mass should be permitted for pastoral or theological reasons: the whole point of the reform was the pastoral effectiveness, as yet of course untried, of the Novus Ordo Missae, and the theological insights of Vatican II. On the other hand, in his famous General Audience address of 26 November 1969, he had himself expressed regret about the passing of the older Mass on cultural, aesthetic, and even spiritual grounds: The introduction of the vernacular will certainly be a great sacrifice for those who know the beauty, the power and the expressive sacrality of Latin. We are parting with the speech of the Christian centuries; we are becoming like profane intruders in the literary preserve of sacred utterance. We will lose a great part of that stupendous and incomparable artistic and spiritual thing, the Gregorian chant.

We have reason indeed for regret, reason almost for bewilderment.

What can we put in the place of that language of the angels? We are giving up something of priceless worth. But why? What is more precious than these loftiest of our Church’s values?

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At that moment, therefore, this line of argument was uniquely favourable.

To make this argument with the greatest possible force, it needed to be made above all by figures of culture: artists, musicians, and thinkers. In Britain, a list of Catholic cultural figures who had attained national or international recognition would be a short one, but including non-Catholics had another advantage: it showed that the appeal of the Mass was not exclusive to those already within the Church.

Annibale Bugnini later remarked that Catholics in majority-Protestant countries had a special attachment to the ancient Mass because it was a “distinction between Catholics and Protestants and a sign of their attachment to Rome in the face of Protestantism”.1 It is true that the traditional Catholic liturgy looked very different from the usual Protestant services, and served as a marker of Catholic identity, but what Marnau was able to demonstrate was that it was not divisive, in the sense of putting off or excluding non-Catholics. NonCatholics were able to appreciate it. This appreciation was not, indeed, exactly the same as what Catholics derived from their participation in the liturgy, but they were nevertheless able to see its grandeur and importance. Marnau turned Bugnini’s argument for a Mass acceptable to Protestants2 on its head, by showing that many Protestants and nonbelievers were appalled by the attempt to destroy a Mass which had not been designed with them in mind, but which nevertheless they saw as a monument of the spiritual history of mankind.

Who were the petitioners?

Among the petitioners was the most senior lay Catholic of the realm: Miles Fitzalan-Howard, 17th Duke of Norfolk (1915-2002). The Dukes of Norfolk, who are also Earls of Arundel, are the Premier Duke and Premier Earl of the peerage, and hereditary Earl Marshall, with a special role in the coronation of each British monarch. The 17th Duke had a long list of additional honours:

Order of Pius IX, KG, GCVO, CB, CBE, MC, DL, GCPO. Another very prominent Catholic aristocrat who signed was Julian Asquith, Earl of Oxford and Asquith, KCMG (1916-2011).

The list included two Anglican Bishops: “+Robert Exeter”, Robert Mortimer (1902-76), Bishop of Exeter, and “+John Ripon”, John Moorman (190589), Bishop of Ripon. They were joined by a distinguished Anglican theologian, John Murray (1898-1975).

It included Members of Parliament from each of the three major political parties, and a senior judge. The widely respected Joseph Grimond MP, later Lord Grimond, CH, CBE, TD, PC (191393), had been the leader of the smaller Liberal Party from 1965 to 1967. Hugh Delargy (1908-76), a Catholic, was a Labour Party Member of Parliament, and Major Sir Patrick Wall, KBE, MC, VRD (also awarded the Legion of Merit by the USA) (1916-98), another Catholic, was a Conservative. Charles Russell, later Lord Russell of Killowen (1908-86), a Catholic, was Lord Justice of Appeal, and later Lord of Appeal in Ordinary.

The list also included several very senior figures from the British cultural establishment. Sir Maurice Bowra (18981971), a non-Catholic, was President of British Academy; Sir William Frederick Glock, CBE (1908-2000), a non-Catholic, was BBC Controller of Music. Harman Grisewood, CBE, (1908-97), a Catholic, was the Controller of the BBC’s cultural flagship, the “Third Programme”: he was also a Papal Chamberlain. Major Ian Greenlees (1913-88), a Catholic, was Director of the British Institute in Florence. Kenneth Clark, later Lord Clark, OM, CH, KCB, FBA (1903-83), was the most famous art historian of his day, having presented the enormously popular “Civilisation” series for the BBC in 1969. He became a Catholic on his death-bed. Cecil Day-Lewis CBE 1. Bugnini, The Reform of the Liturgy, p. 280 2. “And yet it is the love of souls and the desire to help in any way the road to union of the separated brethren, by removing every stone that could even remotely constitute an obstacle or difficulty, that has driven the Church to make even these painful sacrifices.”

Annibale Bugnini, L’Osservatore Romano 19th March 1965.

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FEATURE (1904-72), a non-Catholic, was the Poet Laureate: the official poet to the Royal Family. George Malcolm, KSG, CBE (191797), a Catholic, had been Master of Music in England’s premier Catholic Cathedral, Westminster 1947-1959.

(Malcolm’s successor from 1961, Colin Mawby, was later a Patron of the Latin Mass Society.)

The petition was signed by the editors of two major newspapers, one of the right, and one of the left. William Rees-Mogg, later Lord Rees-Mogg (19282012), a Catholic, was the Editor of The Times; Raymond Mortimer (1895-1980), a lapsed Catholic convert, was the Editor of the major intellectual weekly of the left, the New Statesman.

Several senior academics signed.

Sir Max Mallowan CBE (1908-78), a nonCatholic, was Professor of Archaeology and a Fellow of All Souls, Oxford—he was also the husband of Agatha Christie; the non-Catholic Classicist, Colin Hardie (1906-98), was a Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford. Dame Iris Murdoch (1919-99), a non-Catholic, was a wellknown philosopher and novelist. Sir Harold Acton KBE (1904-94), a Catholic historian, was also a writer and poet.

The list included many other writers, in addition to Acton and Murdoch, who were household names. These included the lapsed Catholic Graham Greene OM, CH (1904-91), and the Catholic converts Malcolm Muggeridge (1903-90) and Sir Compton Mackenzie, OBE (1883-1972).

They were joined by non-Catholics Robert Graves (1895-1985), Kathleen Raine, CBE (1908-2003), the distinguished poet; Nancy Mitford, CBE (1904-73), Sir Osbert Lancaster (1908-86), a famous cartoonist, and most memorably Dame Agatha Christie DBE (1890-1976), the crime-writer who invented the detective Hercule Poirot.

Also instantly recognisable were the names of many musicians and artists. These included the Catholic composer Sir Lennox Berkeley (190389), and the non-Catholic conductors Sir Colin Rex Davis, CH, CBE (1927-2013), Yehudi Menuhin OM, KBE (1916-99), and Vladimir Ashkenazy (1937-). The non-Catholic sculptor Dame Barbara Hepworth (1903-75), the non-Catholic soprano Dame Joan Sutherland, OM, DC, OBE (1925-2010), and the Catholic actor, Sir Ralph Richardson (1902-83).

The presence of Agatha Christie’s name has inspired its share of jokes and the story, no doubt apocryphal, of Pope Paul’s enthusiastic recognition. It is a pity to identify the petition with her,

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however: she is overshadowed in literary importance by Iris Murdoch, one of the great philosophers of her generation who also established a reputation as a novelist; Compton MacKenzie, the important Scottish Catholic novelist and poet; and Robert Graves, one of the few poets of the First World War to survive the conflict, who went on to flourish as a classicist and novelist; to say nothing of the many artists, scholars, and dignitaries who signed.

Naturally, Marnau sought out men and women at the pinnacle of their professions, and many signatories were near the end of their lives. Recent years have seen the deaths of William, Lord Rees-Mogg (2012), the Editor of The Times who was instrumental in publicising the petition, and Sir Colin Rex Davis (2013), the conductor. The only petitioner still alive today is Vladimir Ashkenazy: thirty-four when he signed, he is now eighty-four.

How did Marnau do it?

The weight of this list of names is simply staggering. Clearly, if Marnau had spent three months on the project, rather than three weeks, he could have gained many more. However, he was correct in thinking that this was unnecessary. It would have made the list difficult to read or indeed to print. The point of the list was not to record an opinion-poll, but to show a representative sample. It demonstrated that an overwhelming proportion of men and women at the pinnacles of Britain’s cultural elite, both inside the Church and outside it, were appalled at the self-mutilation being contemplated by the Catholic Church: the banning of her ancient form of worship.

With the help of Marnau’s cultural contacts, it was possible to gather such a list of names in 1971 because even nonCatholics understood what was at stake.

Although Catholics were a small minority of the British population—less than 10%— practically every adult with an active social life would have experienced the ancient Mass at least a few times, in the context of weddings and funerals.

The more cultured would also have seen many depictions of it in art, and would have been familiar with the great works of music composed to accompany it.

The non-Catholic First World War poet Wilfrid Owen wrote a poem about the Good Friday liturgy he experienced in France in 1915; the convert poet David Jones, a signatory of the petition, quotes

from the liturgical text in his own, 1937 poetic war-memoir In Parenthesis.

Snatches of the Mass were included in popular films, from the American, 1946 favourite “It’s a Wonderful Life”, to the opening sequence of the 1964 James Bond film “Thunderball”.

Clearly, when non-Catholics had these liturgical experiences they did not think of the Catholic Mass as meaningless obscurantism, a slog to be got through, or indeed as an embarrassing emotional effusion. They recognised its solemnity, its profundity, and its significance in world culture and history. Many British intellectuals, and ordinary people too, were brought to the Church in the preConciliar era, in part by the liturgy.

Despite the small size of the Catholic community in Britain, the ancient Mass had a deep effect on British society: on Catholics, as a marker of their identity, and on non-Catholics, as something they recognised instantly, and respected for its antiquity and beauty. The same, sadly, cannot be said for the liturgy which replaced it.

Cardinal Heenan and the results of the Petition The original petition was left on a table in the Vatican where “private petitions” could be deposited. It seems likely that, if this had been the only means of communicating it to the Holy See, it would never have been heard of again, sharing the fate of a petition organised by the LMS and Una Voce International in 1997, which simply disappeared into the Papal Household never to be heard of again.

Providentially, it was also handdelivered to Pope Paul VI by John, Cardinal Heenan.

Heenan was sympathetic to the cause. He wrote to Evelyn Waugh in 1964: “The Mass is no longer the Holy Sacrifice but the Meal at which the priest is the waiter. The bishop, I suppose, is the head waiter and the Pope the Patron.” In a 1966 Pastoral Letter, he acknowledged, referring to wider issues of doctrine as well as to the liturgy: “Converts complain, not without bitterness, that what attracted them to the Church is now being taken away.”3 For a time he insisted that every parish in his diocese have at least one Mass in Latin on a Sunday.

Waugh and others came to feel betrayed by the reassurances which Heenan had given them about how far 3. All the quotations in this paragraph are from A Bitter Trial edited

by Scott Reid.

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FEATURE the reform would go, which turned out to be unfounded. Nevertheless, he took upon himself the task of drawing the petition to the attention of Pope Paul VI, who instantly responded favourably, though with a somewhat limited permission. Annibale Bugnini, who was Secretary to the Sacred Congregation for Rites at the time, later explained this favourable response in terms of “a subjective relationship between the Pope and Cardinal Heenan, rather than … any rational causes of the matter”.4 In his letter conveying the Indult Bugnini is insistent that the Mass be celebrated with the rules introduced in 1967. This would have meant many painful changes to the ancient liturgy and was the last thing the petitioners had in mind. However, like other bishops, Heenan had already been allowing older priests to celebrate according to the 1962 Missal, and this provision of the Indult was simply ignored. It was overturned, in any case, in Pope John Paul II’s Indult of 1984, which specified the books of 1962.

Heenan established that two High Masses a year would be celebrated at the High Altar in Westminster Cathedral for the Latin Mass Society, and a monthly Mass in the Cathedral Crypt. The High Masses continue to this day, as the Latin Mass Society’s Annual Requiem, and the Mass which accompanies the Society’s Annual General Meeting. The monthly Masses have moved into the upper church, where they are today celebrated on First Saturdays, in the lovely Blessed Sacrament Chapel. Heenan must also have been instrumental in getting the agreement of the Bishops’ Conference in 1974 for Traditional Funeral Masses when requested.

Sadly, the Indult was limited to England and Wales. In the context of the very international collection of petitioners who signed the earlier, 1966 petition, and the 47 international names added to the 1971 petition in a version published in an Italian newspaper, this seems unjustified. However, Pope Paul appears to have taken the view that it was special circumstances pertaining in England and Wales that justified the permission: the large number of converts in the Catholic community, for example, and the association of the Mass with the English Martyrs, forty of whom he had canonised just a few days before his meeting with Heenan, on 25 October.

This event, indeed, was presumably the occasion of Heenan’s visit to Rome, and

10

Cardinal Heenan: we owe a great debt to him

was referred to in Bugnini’s letter to him. The rest of the world had to wait until 1984 for a similar permission.

For all Cardinal Heenan’s imperfections, we owe a great debt to him, as we do to Alfred Marnau and the petitioners. Heenan opened a door which, for all the difficulties which the movement has experienced since 1971, has not again been closed, which ensured that there was never a time that public celebrations of the ancient Latin Mass were banned all over the world. The experience of a controlled permission for England and Wales must have reassured Pope John Paul II in signing Quattuor Abhinc Annos in 1984: it was clear that the ancient Mass could be permitted without things getting out of hand.

In recognition of Heenan’s contribution to the restoration of the Traditional Mass, before each celebration of the Latin Mass Society’s Annual Requiem the Chairman places a wreath on his tomb, before the XIIth Station of the Cross in Westminster Cathedral, and a priest leads the recitation of the De Profundis. Heenan is the last of the Cardinal Archbishops whose scarlet galero overhangs his final resting place. A somewhat jocular tradition about these galeros holds that when it finally disintegrates, this is a sign that the Cardinal buried underneath has been released from purgatory. Heenan died in 1975, and his galero is still intact: but not for want of prayers offered up by the Traditional faithful.

4. Quoted in Chiron p151

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FEATURE

Sole survivor Joseph Shaw on how Vladimir Ashkenazy, the last of Marnau's petitioners, has been honoured by the FIUV

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ne of the youngest signatories of the Marnau petition was also one of only two non-Britons who signed: the brilliant Russian pianist and conductor, Vladimir Ashkenazy.

The other international signatory was another musician, the JewishAmerican violinist Yehudi Menuhin, who like Ashkenazy was resident in London at the time. Other international figures later signed an Italian version of the petition – see pages 8-9.

Mr Ashkenazy, 84 years old and living in retirement in Switzerland, is today the sole survivor of Marnau’s 57 petitioners.

Born in Russia and baptised into the Russian Orthodox Church, he has lived in many countries, including England, Greece, and Iceland, his wife’s native country. He is a fitting representative of the voice of the international cultural world which cried out in alarm at the danger to the incomparable monument to human spirituality, the ancient Latin Mass, which was clearly perceived even outside the Church.

The International Una Voce Federation (FIUV) decided to offer Mr Ashkenazy its rarely-bestowed honour, the De Saventhem Medal, to mark the anniversary and to honour in him all the petitioners.

Dr Erich de Saventhem was a man of culture, a convert, and an anti-Nazi German diplomat with connections with the plot to assassinate Hitler, who made a daring defection to the British from the German embassy in Istanbul in 1944. Later, he was the founding President of the Una Voce Federation and used his extensive connections and his own forceful character to press the case for the preservation of the Traditional Mass in the Holy See and elsewhere. The medal named in his honour is awarded to individuals who, like him, have made an outstanding contribution to the cause of the Traditional Mass.

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As Secretary of the FIUV, I wrote to Mr Ashkenazy: It seems appropriate that your good self should remain as the signatories’ representative fifty years later, to remind us of the perspective of someone from a distinct, though related, venerable liturgical tradition, who has lived in many countries, and contributed so much to our common cultural patrimony.

After a brief discussion with members of the Ashkenazy family about the nature of the award, Mr Ashkenazy accepted the medal with a very gracious letter, the substance of which is reproduced below.

In response to your letter, dated July 29th 2021, regarding your very kind offer to present me with the De Saventhem Medal, in order to mark the 50th Anniversary of the 1971 petition, I would be extremely grateful and pleased to accept the honour.

My personal view of the matter is, that it is of great spiritual value and importance that the more ancient Latin Catholic Liturgy, with its associated cultural and musical traditions, be preserved for all those who are concerned with strengthening, or at least maintaining, our connection with the Divine; the ancient liturgies, be they Catholic or Orthodox (I am baptized in the Russian Orthodox Church) are, by default, bound to represent a much purer spiritual relationship with Christ in particular, and with the world in general, than do, to quote Dr. Erich Vermehren De Saventhem: ‘the flat, prosaic, philistine or delirious liturgies which will soon overgrow and finally smother even the recently revised rites...’

Being a musician, I am fully in agreement with the idea that the ancient/traditional Roman Catholic

Vladimir Ashkenazy: I am fully in agreement with the idea that the ancient/ traditional Roman Catholic Mass will have inspired a plethora of invaluable artistic achievements

Mass will have inspired a plethora of invaluable artistic achievements over the ages: mystical works, poetry, philosophical treatises, musical works of genius, magnificent edifices, wonderful paintings, incredible sculptures, and even the construction of marvellous musical instruments like the organ and the piano!

Regarding the piano, the great composers who were inspired by the Christian faith include Bach, Beethoven, Liszt, Mozart, and Rachmaninoff, who were also wonderful pianists; the point being that our Faith has inspired countless true believers to achieve great artistic and spiritual heights, and the preservation of the Ancient, and more Authentic, Liturgies, which are immeasurably closer to the original spiritual source than the more banal ones of today, could go a long way towards continuing to inspire us all, both culturally and spiritually.”

The FIUV and the Latin Mass Society are delighted that, after half a century, Mr Ashkenazy is willing to renew his association with the cause of the Traditional Mass. We are organising a Mass for the good estate of the Ashkenazy family.

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© Metropolitan Museum of Art

FEATURE

Four angels: enamel, 16th century

Angels among us!

Father David Gornall on the reality and importance of the spirit world

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hristmas without angels is hard to imagine! But what about now – in our Christmas, and in our lives? Where are they? What are they?

And what do they do? Should we have a relationship to them? And is there one especially for me? Where do we learn about them? So many questions about these fascinating creatures!

Let’s begin: where do we find out about them? Most definitely in the Bible, both Old and New Testaments. The choir of angels heralding the birth of Christ is familiar to us (Lk 2:9-14), but we can start our investigation with the Old Testament: at the very beginning, in Gen 3:24, when Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden, God posted special angels, Cherubs, to guard the way to the Tree of Life. We begin to realise that angels are strong and powerful spiritual creatures, doing God’s will.

Also, in Genesis (18:1-15) we see the three visitors to Abraham – almost certainly angels – who foretell the birth of his son Isaac, despite his wife Sarah’s being barren and in old age. Similarly, an angel announces to the barren mother of Samson that she is to bear a son who will save Israel from the Philistines (Judg 13:3-5). The angels are God’s messengers, and appear often in bodily form in the Old Testament, which at times refers to them simply as ‘God’, for they bear God’s

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message. An interesting and amusing story is that of the pagan seer Balaam, who was on his way to curse Israel, and his donkey; they meet an angel with a drawn sword, and it ends with Balaam’s giving Israel a splendid blessing (Num 22:22-35).

Angels are also our helpers in times of need. Twice an angel comes to the help of Hagar, the Egyptian servant of Abraham’s wife, when she is in distress in the desert (Gen 16:7-12; 21:15-19).

God’s people were at times guided by an angel on their journeys. So, the people of Israel were guided by an angel on their journey through the wilderness to the Promised Land (Exod 14:19; 23:23).

But the most colourful story is that of Tobias: the angel Raphael became his companion, though he did not realise that he was an angel (Tob 5:4).

The Patriarch Jacob had an extraordinary dream where he saw a ladder between earth and heaven, and angels ascending and descending on it (Gen 28:10-17). Later, when alone in the wilderness, Jacob wrestled with a mysterious figure, who most take to be an angel, through the night until daybreak; there, he was given the name ‘Israel’ (Gen 32:24-30).

In the New Testament, too, angels abound. However, their relationship with us is somewhat different than in the

Old Testament, where they are definitely superior to us. In the New Testament they are more like our brothers, for God’s Son has become man for us, and they serve and glorify Christ as they do God in heaven.

At the Annunciation, the Archangel Gabriel comes to the Virgin Mary, and greets her with great respect, seeks her consent, and announces the forthcoming birth of the Saviour (Lk 1:26-33). St Joseph, too, receives a vison of an angel, to reassure him and explain the situation of Mary to him (Mt 1:18-21).

At the birth of Jesus, a great throng of angels sang praises to God: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and peace to men who enjoy his favour’ (Lk 1: 9-14). When Herod plotted to kill the infant Jesus, an angel warned Joseph to flee into Egypt with his wife and the child. After some time, an angel appeared to him again, to tell him it was safe to return to Palestine.

(Mt 2:13-21) At times, during his ministry, Jesus himself referred to the angels; especially speaking of the final judgement he says the angels will separate the evil from the good, casting the evil into hell’s flames (Mt 13:40-42). When Christ returns at the end of time, it will be in the company of the angels (Mk 8:38). And Jesus promised the apostle Nathanael he, ‘will see heaven opened, and the angels of

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God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man’ (Jn 1:51). Angels also came and ministered to Jesus, after his temptations in the desert (Mt 4:1).

An angel comforted Jesus in his Agony in the Garden (Lk 22:43). Before his Passion, too, Jesus told his disciples that he could call upon his Father to send more than twelve legions of angels to defend him (Mt 26:52-54). And angels were also there at the tomb to announce Christ’s Resurrection (Lk 24:4-5).

Angels also assisted the early Church.

An angel enabled Peter to escape from prison (Acts 12:7-11). And angels appear significantly in the book of Revelation of John. And the persecuted Christians would have remembered Jesus’ words, ‘if anyone openly declares himself for me in the presence of men, the Son of Man will declare himself for him in the presence of God’s angels’. (Lk 12:8) The angels worship with us, as well.

Just as the Old Testament worship was a shadow of the heavenly worship, so the Christian liturgy is an actual participation in the heavenly worship of the angels. At every Mass the angels are present and worship with us, as we express in the ‘I Confess’ prayer, the Gloria, and the Holy, Holy. It is a taste of heaven!

And of course, we have our Guardian Angels, with us always. Psalm 91 says, ‘He will give his angels charge of you, to guard you in all your ways.’ And Our Lord tells us, ‘do not despise any of these little ones, for I tell you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in Heaven’. (Mt 18:10) Our angels are there to guard us, to help and support us, so we should have a real relationship with them and often enlist their assistance. They are there to help us reach our heavenly goal. And in our dealings with others, it is good for us to beg the support of their angels, even those of folk we don’t get on with. The guardian angels always want the best for us, what is best in God’s eyes. And they are loving and powerful!

Especially powerful are the Archangels, and we have three whom Scripture introduces to us: St Michael, St Gabriel and St Raphael. These spiritual creatures took on bodily form to bring us special help, as the Bible tells us.

Michael’s name means ‘Who is like God?’, and he is the defender of God’s people and his Church, and he has fought and defeated Satan (Rev 12:7-8).

Pope Leo XIII penned the popular ‘Saint Michael the Archangel’ prayer, which is especially powerful.

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© Metropolitan Museum of Art

FEATURE

Nativity by Gerard David. Early 16th century

St Gabriel appears to the prophet Daniel (Dan 8:15-17) – his name means ‘God is my strength’ or ‘the strength of God’, and he is the special messenger of God, as we see in his appearance to Our Lady at the Annunciation (Lk 1:26-38); and before that, to foretell the birth of John the Baptist (Lk 1:19). St Raphael’s name means ‘God has healed’ or ‘Healer of God’; he is the companion of Tobias in the Old Testament, and brings healing and good fortune (Tob 5:4-12:21).

Our Guardian Angels are our companions on our journey through life, and our protectors, for we are in a spiritual warfare with the devil and his evil spirits – ‘fallen angels’ who have rebelled against God. So we should cultivate a close friendship with our Guardian Angels, and not be shy to ask

for their help at all times, especially in times of temptation, for our wellbeing and salvation is their great concern.

Angels have been somewhat controversial in recent times, as various people, some in positions of authority, influenced by the current Neo-Modernist ideas in the Church, have cast doubts on the reality of Angels. This, of course, casts doubt on the authority of Holy Scripture, and on the words of Our Lord himself. We might say that Angels are then a touchstone of Catholic Orthodoxy: for if they are doubted as being ‘spirits’, then what of our own immortal souls?

And what of the ‘afterlife’ (for we know what happens to our bodies)? And even more seriously – what about God, for he is the Supreme Spirit?! So may we cling to the Faith!

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FEATURE

St Mary’s, Husbands Bosworth Fr Matthew Pittam on the return of the Latin Mass to one of the great historic centres of the Catholic Faith

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usbands Bosworth in South Leicestershire has been an historic centre of the Catholic Faith since the reformation and was a recusant centre. Bosworth Old Hall is the historic seat of the FortescueTurville family and from the early days of the penal times Mass continued to be celebrated in secret in the drawing room - still known as the chapel room today.

There is a story that on one occasion an urgent message came to warn the priest that a raiding party of soldiers was on the way. In his haste to clear away the evidence of the service and escape, he upset the chalice containing the precious blood. This left a damp stain on the chapel room floor, which can be seen to this day. Furthermore, at about this time, in 1657, Anne Fortescue-Turville was enrolled on the Great Roll of recusants and indicted to appear before Leicester courts for 'Popish' practices. Perhaps fortunately for her, she died just five weeks before her trial, though a document dated 1658 cleared her name.

The Old Hall today contains a priest’s hiding place and remains the home of the descendants of the Fortescue-Turville family. In 1907 the house passed to Oswald Petre, a cousin of Francis Fortescue-Turville. He took on the name Turville to ensure the continuity of the Turville family at Bosworth, and thus became TurvillePetre. Oswald died in 1941, but his widow, Margaret (née Cave) continued to live at Bosworth.

The Old Hall was let to various families during the Second World War. An army camp had been established in the park, where, among others, many Americans were based prior to the battle of Arnhem. At the end of the war, Margaret decided to hand Bosworth on to the next generation.

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St Mary’s Husbands Bosworth interior

However, her eldest son, Francis, had already died (in Cairo in 1940) and her younger son, Gabriel, Professor of Icelandic at Oxford, had no wish to take on such a large house. Accordingly, her daughter, Alethea and her husband, David Constable-Maxwell, came to live at Bosworth in 1945, and added Turville to their name.

Within the grounds of Bosworth Hall, next to the village stands St Marys Church. It was built in 1873 by Sir Francis Fortescue-Turville, the then owner of Bosworth Old Hall. Designed

by Gilbert Blount, the church has particularly fine wall paintings by W.H. Romaine-Walker. It remains unaltered

since the Lady Chapel was added by A.E. Purdie in 1891 as a monument to Sir Francis. Many of the windows are by Hardman of Birmingham. The sanctuary is a particularly fine focus for the traditional liturgy.

The Church was served by the local diocese until 2019 when the decision was made to no longer celebrate Mass in the Church. This was a sad day and ended more than five hundred years of Catholic worship and witness in this place.

Early in 2021 the local Ordinariate Mission group became aware of the fate of St Mary’s. This group had been praying for some time for a place where the Ordinariate Use of the Mass could be celebrated and where the Ordinariate could have a missional presence in the county of Leicestershire. Following many discussions between the Ordinariate, the family at Bosworth Hall and the Trustees, an agreement was drawn up whereby St Mary’s can now be served by the Ordinariate. This has allowed this Catholic centre to continue to flourish and grow. Each Sunday at 11am there is now Mass according to the Ordinariate Use. Mass is celebrated ad orientum, the communion rails have been reinstated and there is now a growing congregation attracted to the beauty of worship in this special holy place. We have managed to bring back into use many of the historic vestments and church plate which had not been seen for many years.

Over the past few months there has also been the opportunity to celebrate Mass in the Extraordinary Form with visiting priests celebrating. The unaltered and beautiful Church interior is natural territory for the Mass of Ages and the Ordinariate Form. We hope over the longer term to develop as a strong centre of the faith again and become a place of pilgrimage and devotion.

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ROMAN REPORT

An altarpiece made now Paul Robinson on commissioning a portrait of St Bede

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the deaths of everyone at he US Conference that monastery due to some of Catholic Bishops’ kind of 'plague', leaving only influential 1977 himself and the Abbot (St book Environment and Ceolfrith). During the rest Art in Catholic Worship of his life, he accomplished calls for “fewer objects an enormous amount of on the walls and in the scholarship and spiritual corners” of our churches. writings and through his St Bede’s, Clapham Park, teaching, which he loved clearly wasn’t on message so much, passed on to so earlier this year when a many the invaluable riches highly embellished object of Christianity. And all this was installed in one of its in the challenging climate corners. The object is an of the north east of England altar, at the centre of which during the ebb and flow of a is an item that, in centuries battle between the growing past, wasn’t unusual: a Church of Christ and the specially commissioned powers of paganism. In my painting of the church’s painting, in the act of giving a patron saint. blessing, St Bede holds what The painting (and I hope would be assumed to its frame) is the work of be his ecclesiastical history, James Tyldesley, a longwhich to a large extent standing parishioner at St describes that battle, and the Bede’s. Parish Priest, Father cross, signifying the victor of Marcus Holden, offered that battle. His prayers and Tyldesley the commission intercession for our beloved of an altarpiece for a side James Tyldesley’s painting of St Bede: ‘We enjoy and protect a England have rarely been altar dedicated to St Bede phenomenal legacy of Catholic art stretching back centuries…’ more needed.” earlier this year (funded by Beyond these practical challenges, As part of the exploration process a legacy bequeathed to the LMS by the late Mr John Arnell), with an ultimate Tyldesley created a large number art commissioned by the Church completion date of 27 May, St Bede's of drawings and small paintings. also raises a broader consideration: feast day; Tyldesley had about three “A commission for an image of a shouldn’t there be more of it? We months to complete both the painting man who lived some 1400 years ago enjoy and protect a phenomenal obviously posed some basic questions. legacy of Catholic art stretching back and the frame.

Art commissioned for the Church What did he look like? Do we have any centuries, but just as the Old Guy raises several challenges, including information at all about his personal with a Beard was once a young man, considerable practical decisions for a characteristics? Of course, we know what is now ancient was once new. As painter. In Tyldesley’s words, “When equally little about many of the great Tyldesley puts it “the Church could you’re asked to do something like saints, though nevertheless the history have stopped producing any liturgical an image of St Bede you think, well of art is full of images depicting them. music 800 years ago; the 12th or where do I start, what right have I to St Bede died when he was about 65 13th Century had enough liturgical conjure up an image and say ‘Oh this years old and my first decision was to music even then to last for the rest of is St Bede’?…. If you look at the past present the image of a man in more or history; at any point the Church could images of St Bede most of them have less the prime years of his life. I also have said ‘we’ve got enough we don’t opted for an old guy with a long beard. felt that, given the petitionary nature of need any more’, but that would have I definitely wanted to keep away from the altarpiece, I should try to create an meant we didn’t have the great music the Old Guy With a Beard and the image which would engender contact of Byrd, Tallis, Fauré… We’ve got sense that he must have been a kindly with the saint… St Bede was taken masses of great music, architecture old chap just sitting there writing and as a child to the monastery at Jarrow and art but we should be itching to put and, barely in his youth, he witnessed our two penneth in as well”. reading books”.

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REPORTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY

DIOCESAN DIGEST Mass of Ages quarterly round-up Arundel & Brighton Huw Davies aandb@lms.org.uk 07954 253284 This summer saw the happy return of the LMS pilgrimage to Our Lady of Consolation and St Francis at West Grinstead, where around 60 people (of whom one-third were children) were pleased to join with Fr Thomas Kent for his first public Mass, a sung votive of Our Lady of Consolation. We were lucky with the weather to then share some refreshments outdoors, before the afternoon ended with the Rosary and Benediction.

Thanks must go especially to Thomas More Hagger for organising a choir in fine voice, as well as those who travelled from afar to serve, and the parishioners of West Grinstead for their warm welcome. It is expected that the pilgrimage will return in 2022, but before then there will be Sung Masses at West Grinstead on both Remembrance Sunday and Advent Sunday at 3pm.

At St Hugh of Lincoln in Knaphill, the co-op of St Joseph for seven home-school families commenced in the parish in September with an inaugural Low Mass, and there is now weekly Adoration and Benediction for the children. Please keep this important new initiative in your prayers.

In Eastbourne, at Our Lady of Ransom, there is still the welcome provision of two weekly Masses offered by Fr Bruno Witchalls and Fr Tristan Cranfield, with the Saturday morning Mass now having moved to Friday evening at 6.30pm, preceded

by Benediction. All other Masses in the diocese remain as per the usual schedule, but it is always advisable to check parish websites or social media in case of Masses on Holy Days.

Birmingham & Black Country Louis Maciel 0739 223 2225 birmingham@lms.org.uk birmingham-lms-rep.blogspot.co.uk/ This quarter’s highlight was probably the High Mass celebrated on 9 October for the Feast of St John Henry Newman at the Oratory he founded in Birmingham. Falling on a Saturday this year, it was celebrated at 11am, replacing the usual 9am Low Mass. This followed a High Mass on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, tinged with sadness this year given that it used to be celebrated in thanksgiving for the anniversary of the now abrogated Summorum Pontificum taking effect. At the time of writing, the Masses for All Saints and All Souls have not taken place, with the celebration of the former slightly complicated by the Feast being transferred to Sunday by the Bishops of England and Wales in the new calendar, coinciding with the Feast of Christ the King in the 1962 Missal, preventing the celebration of an external solemnity on Sunday.

The normal Mass schedule continues at the Oratory and at the other churches in the West Midlands area: 11.30am Sunday at St Mary-on-the-Hill in Wednesbury for the Walsall deanery, every Friday evening at Our Lady of Perpetual Succour in the Wolverhampton deanery, third Fridays at St Dunstan’s in the South Birmingham deanery, and first Friday at Acocks Green in the East Birmingham and Solihull deanery, although it was

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not possible to celebrate one in October. Please show your appreciation to the priests offering these Masses by attending them while you still can.

Birmingham (North Staffs) Alan Frost A special Mass was held on 15 August as it is the patronal Feast of Our Lady of the Assumption, to whom the parish Church in Swynnerton is dedicated. Approaching the village, one sees a bold sign proclaiming its Royal Charter granted

by Edward I, and Fr Chavasse informed us that the King authorised an annual fair as part of the Charter, to be held on this Feast, beginning 15 August 1307. The Catholic Church of the time still stands impressively in the village centre. Opposite is the delightful chapel of Our Lady built by the ancestors of the present titled Stafford Family: Maria Teresa Fitzherbert, in 1868, commissioned Gilbert Blount, a pupil of Pugin, to create the gothic style church near their seat of Swynnerton Hall in memory of her husband Francis. Her son Basil was very much involved in the planning. It was opened in 1869, and mercifully never reordered.

The weekend before, the first Saturday morning Mass (a fortnightly event now resumed) was celebrated since before the original lockdown. Elsewhere, after a short break in August, Fr Stefek resumed the weekly Wednesday Mass in Stoke-on-Trent at the beginning of September. The following week (on the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows) he celebrated the Mass as his first Missa Cantata, his second on the Feast of St Michael the Archangel, thanks to the help of the Scorey family and the singers.

A note about the Mass at Swynnerton on 14 November being Remembrance Sunday. It has special significance for parish priest Fr Paul Chavasse, Cong. Orat, as in the first World War the cousin of his grandfather, Noel Chavasse, was one of only three men ever, the only one in WWI, to be awarded the VC twice.

Birmingham (Oxford) Joseph Shaw oxford@lms.org.uk oxfordlmsrep.blogspot.com/ Regular Masses continue, with All Saints and All Souls being celebrated in the Oratory and in SS Gregory & Augustine's.

Of particular note is the Sung Votive Mass for the Unity of the Church at 6:30pm on Wednesday 3 November, over the diocesan boundary in English Martyrs, Didcot.

Birmingham (Worcestershire) Alastair J Tocher 01684 893332 malvern@lms.org.uk extraordinarymalvern.uk Facebook: Extraordinary Malvern This quarter has seen the return of more former Masses in Worcestershire: September saw the return of 1st Sunday Missae Cantatae at St Ambrose’s, Kidderminster celebrated

by Fr Douglas Lamb; and October saw the return of 1st Friday

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REPORTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY

First Friday Low Mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Redditch, celebrated by Fr Jason Mahoney

Low Masses at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Redditch celebrated

by Fr Jason Mahoney.

The south of Worcestershire is still effectively provided for from just across the diocesan border at Most Holy Trinity, Ledbury in the Archdiocese of Cardiff. The past quarter has seen continued slow growth of the congregation attending Sunday Missae Cantatae there with recent Masses, celebrated by parish priest Fr Adrian Wiltshire, attracting double the pre-

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covid congregation that previously attended Sung Masses at St Wulstan’s, Little Malvern.

We are most grateful to all our priests for the additional effort that they expend providing these Masses and for their care for all those who attend; also to Archbishop Longley and Archbishop Stack for their formal permissions in accordance with Traditionis custodes enabling these Masses to continue.

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REPORTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY Brentwood Mark Johnson Many members will know Father Jean-Claude Selvini who retired in September 2021. Father Selvini was parish priest at The Assumption, Hainault, and celebrated the Mass on Monday evenings and Holy Days of Obligation in that church for many years. Father Selvini was also always willing to travel to celebrate the Mass and has been a tremendous help in supporting the Mass at Canning Town and elsewhere, including celebrating our annual Requiem Mass at St Patrick's Cemetery Chapel. I was delighted to present Father Selvini with a set of altar cards as a small gesture of our gratitude and appreciation for his considerable efforts on our behalf. I have included a photograph of Father Selvini, servers and choir at St Margaret's Canning Town at his last Mass (for the moment at least) on 22 August.

With Father Selvini's retirement the Mass previously celebrated in Hainault on Monday evenings has moved to

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St John Vianney, Clayhall and is being celebrated by parish priest, Father Rob Page. Our thanks go to him for taking on that commitment.

Members may know that Father Neil Brett has been unwell but is on the mend and is now back celebrating the Sunday Mass at SS Mary & Ethelburga, Barking. Please pray for his full recovery.

There are some significant events coming up in the next quarter in addition to our regular Masses.

Following the success of last year, there will be Sung Mass on Friday 24 December at 5.30pm, i.e. Midnight Mass, at St Margaret’s Convent Chapel, Bethel Avenue, Canning Town, London E16 4JU. I should stress that there is plenty of parking near the chapel and both West Ham and Canning Town stations are nearby. I hope readers will make every effort to support these Masses.

Father Selvini, servers and choir at St Margaret's Canning Town

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REPORTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY Cardiff Andrew Butcher 07905 609770 cardiff@lms.org.uk www.lmscardiff.org.uk At the time of writing, Archbishop Stack has allowed the Sunday Mass at Most Holy Trinity, Ledbury and the daily Mass at the Cardiff Oratory in Formation to continue. There are currently no other parishes offering the Traditional Mass.

Earlier in the year, on Sunday 20 June, a Pontifical High Mass was offered by the Abbot of Farnborough at the Cardiff Oratory in Formation on the external solemnity of St Alban, the patronal feast of the parish. Relics of Saint Alban were presented to the parish by the Abbot in a reliquary and placed in a new side chapel that was converted from an old confessional. To my knowledge this was the first Pontifical High Mass to take place in the Traditional Rite in the Archdiocese since the liturgical changes of 1969.

Please continue to remember the archbishop and priests who offer the Traditional Mass in your prayers and be assured that I remember you in my prayers.

East Anglia (West) Alisa and Gregor Dick 01954 780912 cambridge@lms.org.uk Sunday Masses continue at Blackfriars in Cambridge.

We report this fact this quarter with particular gratitude to Bishop Hopes for his generous response to the responsibilities placed on him by Traditionis custodes.

We invite all readers to pray for the bishop and for the appointment in due course of his successor.

Hexham and Newcastle Keith McAllister 01325 308968 07966 235329 k_mcallister@ymail.com Diocesan provision of Ancient Rite liturgies has continued as before, plus some additional Masses being introduced. Firstly we now have 1st Saturday TLMs with Rosary and Fatima devotions at Coxhoe with Fr Shaun Swales. A mid-month Mass commenced in September at Cheeseburn Grange estate private chapel, north west of Newcastle, by kind permission of the Riddell Family, its Catholic owners.

The estate history is most interesting, it having been part of the Augustinian Priory of Hexham prior to the Tudor regime confiscations by the Crown authorities. It was restored to Catholic ownership in 1752 and the chapel, dedicated to St Francis Xavier, was then built in 1820. It is in fine order and features, overlooking the traditional altar, a large painting of the descent of our Saviour from the cross,

by Flemish artist J Verillin (a copy of the centre panel from the Rubens triptych in Antwerp Cathedral). The inaugural Mass (the first since 1969) was well attended, especially given the remote rural location, and we have a rota of priests able and willing to celebrate. We are very grateful to Bill McGawley, Sacristan and server at Cheeseburn, who invested much effort in enabling and organising this new venue.

The good news keeps coming - Bishop Robert Byrne is to offer a Missa Cantata at St Joseph’s Gateshead on the great Feast of OLJC the King on Sunday 31 October at noon.

Deo Gratias!

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Lancaster Bob & Jane Latin 01772 962387 lancaster@lms.org.uk latinmasslancaster.blogspot.com John Rogan 01524 858832 lancasterassistant@lms.org.uk The very good news this quarter is that Fr Michael Docherty has started offering Masses, on behalf of the Lancaster deanery, at St Mary's, Hornby, on Saturdays at 11.00 am. We encourage all those who are able to get there to take advantage of this opportunity and we thank Fr Docherty for his support. This means that 50% of the deaneries in the Lancaster Diocese have some Traditional Mass provision.

Despite concerns that the Covid situation might deter people from coming, the two fund-raising events – the Summer Fair and the Organ Recital - at St Walburge's were a great success with good numbers of attendees and a very satisfactory sum in excess of £4,000 going towards the renovation fund. Both the Mayor of Preston and Bishop Paul Swarbrick attended the organ recital and the bishop enjoyed chatting with people afterwards. We are delighted to announce that the renovation fund has received a fantastic boost of a grant of £257,000 so the re-roofing will begin shortly. We look forward to being able to remove the buckets!! But fund-raising continues and you are invited to visit the new website www.saintwalburges.church for lots of news about ongoing projects and events, including a Carol Service on Thursday 9 December and a return visit by our guest organist, Sean Maxwell, on 22 December. If you wish to help the re-roofing fund go to saintwalburges. church/sponsor-a-slate/ where you can do just that, sponsor a slate for £10.

It has been a time of change in Preston. Canon Tanner has been appointed as Rector of Holy Angels, Chelston, Torquay and will be much missed. In his place we have welcomed Canon Ducret, ordained in July, as second curate. Abbé Juan Camilo has been transferred to the Institute's house at Sacred Heart, Gibraltar and in his place we welcomed Abbé Duarte from Portugal. Canon Tanner returned for a flying visit at the beginning of October to celebrate a Solemn High Mass with Abbé Duarte as Deacon and Canon Ducret as Sub-Deacon, and ten altar servers! Canon Montjean and Canon Cristofoli were in choir. After the Mass there was a festive farewell lunch and the presentation of a gift of a set of green vestments for his new ministry.

After spending some time at Gricigliano, the Institute's seminary in Italy, as the next step in his probationary period, Fr John Millar has been appointed to Sacred Heart, Limerick.

Two new novices, Sister Venetia-Marie and Sister VictoireMarie have joined the Sisters Adorers' Preston house, bringing their number to five. During October we will again receive candidates at the House of Discernment; this year there will be six, from the Netherlands, Dublin, London, Norwich, York and Walsingham.

The Institute continues to promote programmes for the spiritual development of the laity: there have been two meetings of the Society of the Sacred Heart, and in September a new venture of fortnightly meetings of Guilds for adults, young people and children. These involve a mixture of catechesis and socialising and the first two were very well supported.

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REPORTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY Lancaster (North) Nicholas Steven 07715 539395 warwickbridge@lms.org.uk Here in Cumbria, we’ve rolled with the Traditionis custodes punch and are still standing our ground. As the old Winnebago Indian saying goes: "As you go on your way in life, the birds of the air will poop on your head. Don't even pause to brush it off."

Our regular Saturday 10 am Masses at St Margaret Mary's in Carlisle are well attended by a loyal and steadily growing band of mantilla-friendly prayer warriors, rosaries in hand.

The recent arrival of Fr Daniel Etienne means that we now have two Usus Antiquior enabled priests in the Parish. Hope that this might presage the establishment of a Sunday Mass has not yet been realised, though this will surely happen sooner or later, as not only is the Old Rite a living treasure of the Church that can never die but it is the blood transfusion our ailing, Covid-consumed religion most needs these days.

Masses in Workington at 7 pm on the second Friday of each month are also continuing. Two of us from Carlisle joined half a dozen regulars for the October Mass at Our Lady and St Michael's, which Canon Watson celebrated with great devotion, ably served by Paul Briers. The Lady Chapel is simply beautiful and the stillness of the autumn night lent a special grace to our gathering. Your attendance on 10 December, 14 January and 11 February is recommended.

The Cumbrian Purgatorial Society is now up and running.

Dedicated to Our Lady and the martyrs of Cumbria, more details can be found at www.prayforsouls.uk. Souls of the faithful departed can be enrolled here without charge but so can living souls - anyone who might benefit from the future Masses and prayers of the Society. Active participation through prayer or donation are also welcome. Masses for the intentions of the Society are being offered monthly, as shown on the website.

On Saturday 6 November, the Purgatorial Society will hold its first Sung Requiem Mass at St Margaret Mary's, 75 Scalegate Road, Carlisle at 10 am. Our Schola will chant the propers and the Brampton Chamber Consort will sing Victoria’s four part Missa Pro Defunctis plus Offertory and Communion motets

by Victoria and Byrd. Singers will combine to chant the Dies Irae. The catafalque will be furnished by Sean Crilley Funeral Directors. The Mass will be followed by a talk and lunch in St Margaret Mary’s Social Club. Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament will close the proceedings.

Please watch this space for future exciting developments and keep us in your prayers.

Liverpool Neil Addison liverpool@lms.org.uk The period since Traditionis custodes has been a sobering and saddening experience for Traditionalists in Liverpool Archdiocese. The Archbishop has granted faculties to two priests to say the Traditional Mass, Fr Simon Henry in Leyland and Fr Ian O’Shea in Wigan but has added that ‘No more requests for this faculty will be considered’ which is something he was certainly not required to do by TC. It means that there will be no other Diocesan Churches or Priests allowed to offer the Traditional Mass now or in the future. In addition the Archbishop has banned all Diocesan Clergy from using the Traditional Rite for a ‘private’ Mass. This ‘Gold plating’ of TC by adding extra restrictions has come as a nasty surprise and a disappointment coming from an Archbishop who was until now regarded as a friend of the Traditional Rite.

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In addition the Archbishop wrote an article for the September issue of the Diocesan Magazine Catholic Pictorial where he accused Latin Mass followers of ‘hijacking’ the title ‘Traditionalist’ and then stated that actually the 1970 Missal represented the real Catholic tradition and not the Latin Mass of 2000 years. It was frankly a peculiar argument to understand and I certainly have not met anyone whether New Mass or old who understood what point he was trying to make.

One thing seems certain TC is not going to be imposed in Liverpool in a light or sympathetic manner which is very saddening for all of us.

Liverpool (Warrington) Alan Frost At St Mary’s Shrine, things have steadily got back to normal. There are three Masses on a Sunday and Mass, with confessions available beforehand, is celebrated each mid-day after the Angelus. Each daily Mass is broadcast on-line, as is High Mass on Sunday. The great news is that in September, the Academy opened and children are being taught a curriculum that highlights the learning of the true teaching and practice of the Roman Catholic Church. The chaplain is the Rector, Fr de Malleray, and information about the professional staff is available online. Funding is eagerly welcome. Kindly donate to St Mary’s Warrington Educational Trust as several families are unable to meet the costs: email TheAcademyStMarys@gmail. com. The FSSP do much internationally to promote proper Catholic education, and there is a Continuous Rosary Project for the FSSP’s ministry and its members (www.fssp.de/rosarium).

While prayers are very much needed for the FSSP and every loyal Catholic attending the Traditional Latin Mass, no changes have occurred in Warrington. St Mary’s church, presbytery and Priory Court are legally owned by the FSSP and St Mary’s canonical status was changed six years ago from parish to shrine. The Archbishop of Liverpool publicly supported St Mary’s in the September issue of the archdiocesan magazine where he wrote: “In Warrington we are fortunate to have the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter which was founded by Pope St John Paul II. They conduct their liturgy according to the preconciliar rites and offer pastoral care to those who choose that way of worship.” Archbishop MacMahon knows well St Mary’s community whom he visits yearly.

Among the special events organised and contributed to by the clergy recently, Fr Stewart led a party of pilgrims to London to take part in the successful March for Life on 4 Sept. Fr de Malleray held a Juventutem meeting for young adults and presented a course at Stonyhurst. A Vocations Weekend is to be held in November for young men (18-29) possibly discerning a vocation, led by Fr de Malleray, assisted by Frs Ian Verrier and Alex Stewart, FSSP. Fr de Malleray’s latest book is now available: Near Missed Masses, a light-hearted account of places and events across the globe nearly causing Mass not to be offered (aroucapress. com/near-missed-masses). The latest and special 50th issue of ‘Dowry’ has also been published. It is a pamphlet titled ‘The Sacred Liturgy as a Secret Garden’ presenting the traditional liturgy with recourse to literature and architecture (fssp.org. uk/category/dowry/). Lastly, a young student who lived at St Mary’s these past six months has just been admitted to the Fraternity’s seminary in Bavaria starting this autumn (one out of fifty First Year seminarians admitted worldwide), while now Deacon Gwilym Evans, FSSP is preparing for priestly ordination next summer and Warrington seminarian David will receive First Tonsure on 23 October, together with another 32 FSSP Second Year seminarians. Fr de Malleray asks our prayers for them.

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REPORTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY The promulgation of Traditionis Custodes has made no difference to Latin Mass provision in the Diocese of Middlesbrough. Soon after its publication, Bishop Drainey contacted all the priests of the diocese that offer the Latin Mass, urging them to remain calm, and advising them to continue as before. We must be grateful to Bishop Drainey for adopting this policy.

Menevia Elaine Sharpling Meneviastabatmater.blogspot.com/ Thanks to His Grace, Archbishop George Stack, permission has been granted for Holy Mass to continue for the time being – although further clarification is being sought from Rome.

The typical pattern continues with Holy Mass at Sacred Heart, Morriston on the 1st, 3rd & 5th Sundays, St Therese Port Talbot on the 2nd Sunday and the 4th Sunday at St David and St Patrick in Haverfordwest We continue to post information on our blogspot so please check here for the latest information: meneviastabatmater.blogspot.com/ In other news, Canon Jason Jones celebrated a baptism in the Traditional Rite and we send our congratulations to Gavin and Paula and their family. Furthermore, in an effort to support our priests a little more, Tom attended the servers’ training recently held by the LMS in London and recommends it to all – a very fruitful day. We plan to host a servers’ day at Sacred Heart Morriston in the near future so that the knowledge and skills can be shared more widely.

Northampton North (Northamptonshire) Paul Beardsmore 01858 434037 northampton@lms.org.uk Sunday Mass attendance at St Brendan, Corby, has continued to improve. Masses also continue on Saturday mornings and first Fridays, and there have been several celebrations of Mass on feast days. The first sung Mass since last Christmas was celebrated on 29 September for the feast of St Michael, and a further sung Mass is planned for All Saints Day. The Forty Hours devotion was kept in September, with Mass in the Traditional Form said each morning.

Middlesbrough Paul Waddington 01757 638026 A Sung Mass continues to be offered every Sunday at 12 noon in the Oratory Church in York. There is also daily Low Mass at 8.15am Mondays to Fridays and at 9.15am on Saturdays. On Holidays of Obligation and major Feast Days, the Oratory provides additional Sung Masses at 6pm. Vespers and Benediction in the traditional form are also celebrated on Sundays at 4pm.

Fr Massie continues to offer a Low Mass at the Church of Our Lady and St Peter Chanel in Hull on Thursday evenings at 7.30pm. Also on Thursdays, Fr Smith offers a Low Mass at the Church of St Joan of Arc at Catterick Garrison at 12.30pm.

Northampton (South) Barbara Kay 01234 340759 mbky3@outlook.com We had a very happy day at Christ the King, Bedford, on 14 August for the marriage of Francis Wanjiru and Celia Mendes from our parish – Celia even had a Latin inscription on the bottom of her veil! Fr Phipps, FSSP, celebrated a beautiful Nuptial Mass.

We continue to have two hours of Confessions each Saturday afternoon from 3pm to 5 pm, which is well attended.

We also continue with our 8.30 am and 12.30 pm Masses with a total of 150 – 200 people each week. It has been good to be able to use the church hall again for refreshments after the 8.30 am Mass after some eighteen months of absence.

A very happy day at Christ the King, Bedford: the marriage of Francis Wanjiru and Celia Mendes

WINTER 2021

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REPORTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY We had a small schola pre-Covid which remained silent for a year and a half, but which was back in action for a Sung Mass on Sunday 3 October. On this occasion it was all ladies and it would be lovely to have some men! If anybody, male or female, is within reach of Bedford and can commit to a practice on the Saturday before the 1st Sunday of the month from 3pm – 5pm and Sunday Mass at 8.30 am, please contact our schola leader, Katherine Smith, on 07985 214854 or katie.peddie@gmail.com. We are a friendly and welcoming group and previous experience is not required.

Our All Saints Low Mass and trinated All Souls Masses are scheduled for 1 and 2 November respectively, as is our Mass of Reparation for Abortion at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Brereton Road, Bedford, on Saturday 13 November at 12 noon. Monsignor Gordon Read, National Chaplain to the LMS, is our celebrant, with Fr Michael Cullinan as Deacon and Fr Gabriel Diaz as Subdeacon. We are looking forward to welcoming Dominic Bevan and a group of professional singers for the first time at this event.

Bedford Masses on Christmas Day are at midnight and 8.30 am, and on Boxing Day at 12.30 pm. At Chesham Bois, Mass will be at 8 am on both Christmas Day and Boxing Day. We start 2022 with the usual 8.30 am and 12.30 pm Bedford Masses on 2 January and an evening Mass for the Feast of the Epiphany at 7.30 pm on Thursday 6 January. At Chesham the Masses will be at 8 am on 2 January and 11 am on 6 January.

As always, please see our Facebook page: ww.facebook. com/bedfordlatinmass/ or the FSSP fssp.org.uk/bedford/ for updates or contact me as above.

Nottingham South (Leicestershire and Rutland) Paul Beardsmore 01858 434037 northampton@lms.org.uk Happily there is now a public Sunday Mass again in Leicester at Blessed Sacrament Church, Braunstone, at 8.00 am. Grateful thanks are due to Canon Cahill for providing this Mass, and thus filling the gap left by the cessation of the Dominican Rite Mass at Holy Cross Priory.

Fr Gillham continues to offer a weekly Mass at Loughborough.

Plymouth (Cornwall) Stefano Mazzeo cornwall@lms.org.uk Masses at Lanherne continue on Sundays at 8.30am Low Mass and at 10am Sung Mass, throughout the week Mass is at 8am and on Thursdays at 8am and 6.15pm. Confession is at 9.45 Mass on Sunday, 3pm on Saturdays. The sisters of Lanherne need to find various ways of supporting themselves and to continue the renovation work, you can help them by contacting Canon Smith at canon.smith@institute-christ-king. org or phone the Chaplain's house 01637 861752 . Once again, this year the sisters are making cider and the harvest is good.

Cider is available and will make an excellent gift.

We have finally started filming the Message of Lourdes for EWTN, this had been much delayed due the Covid pandemic.

I am pleased that this again has many Traditionalists involved, including the Director of Photography, Co-Producer and other actors. We did have to look outside the Catholic world to find our Bernadette and some other actors, however all are completely enthralled by the story of Bernadette and the message of Lourdes. There are also some younger members of the crew and cast who are Traditional Catholics, so it is such a pleasure to bring them on and should bode well for the

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future of Catholic TV and films. We are to film the grotto in late November on Dartmoor and are looking for volunteers as extras, so if you'd like to take part please contact me at my email address. This would be particularly suitable for West Country congregations.

We hope to have another episode of Christendom Rising video magazine up on YouTube before Christmas, in which we will continue to report on the restoration work at Lanherne, and Traditional Catholic life. We will also look at the new Institute of Christ the King mission at Holy Angels Torquay (please see Maurice Quinn’s Devon and Dorset's reports). Also, the Mass at Chideock and Pilgrimage, where Bishop Mark was present in choir and preached.

Plymouth (Devon) Maurice Quinn 07555 536579 devon@lms.org.uk Once again excellent news from South Devon - the long-awaited arrival of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest to the English Riviera has happened, and they are now in charge of the newly designated shrine of Holy Angels, Chelston, Torquay. The Prior of the Shrine, Canon Scott Tanner, along with the seminarian, Abbé Tanner Carlile, have made an immediate impression on the spiritual life of the area. Although present circumstances prevent them from accessing the adjacent presbytery (for the time being they reside at St Mary’s Abbey, Buckfast), a skeleton schedule of daily Holy Mass, Vespers, Adoration, Benediction and regular Confession has been put in place. To have the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass offered every day at Holy Angels in the Traditional Rite is a great blessing, and we must thank Bishop Mark O’Toole for his pastoral concern by inviting the Institute to Torquay, and the Institute for taking up the offer.

Canon Tanner celebrated the opening Sung Mass on the morning of Sunday 19 September, assisted by Abbé Carlile as MC, with a newly-formed serving team comprising of brothers Thomas, Raphael, and Joseph Oliver (it is thanks to Patrick Oliver and two of his sons – Thomas and Raphael – that their work making a temporary Footpace and steps ensured that ad orientem worship was made possible at the shrine). Canon Montjean, the Institute’s Superior from New Brighton, sat in choir and gave the opening address and homily. We have to thank Andrew Proctor for giving up his time in order to supply the organ music and to lead the choir, and thanks too for the excellent choir members Mary Coghill, Patrick Oliver, Michael Crawford and Andrew Beards, all of whom sang the Mass Propers with professional ease. Also deserving of thanks are Collette and Monica Oliver for producing cakes and goodies for consumption after Mass, along with Kitty Straghan, Margaret Carson, Pat Easton, Maria Lunn, Helen Brown, Angie Baldwin, and Theresa Mortimer, all of whom helped to put smiles on faces with tea and coffee or assisted in setting up beforehand. Please also note that this opening Mass was filmed by Stefano Mazzeo, and will appear in the second episode of Christendom Rising , and, like episode one, will be well worth viewing.

More altar servers are required at Holy Angels, so if there are any men willing to help out, please attend Mass and speak to Canon Tanner, and, likewise, an organist and more singers for the 10.30am Sunday morning Sung Mass would be much appreciated. Do note that after the initial Sunday 8.30am Novus Ordo, all other Masses and services on Sundays and weekdays are in the Traditional Rite.

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REPORTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY At St Edward the Confessor in Plymouth, Sunday Masses are as normal with no interruption to the weekend schedule, as, on occasions when Canon Smith was away, Fr Diaz celebrated the 3pm Sunday afternoon Mass there, as did Fr Martin Budge, the latter being resident at the cathedral.

Elsewhere in Devon, however, our Mass schedule is on hold due to scaffolding in the chapel of St Cyprians, Ugbrooke House, Chudleigh (necessary remedial work), and the continuing strict virus regulations at Blessed Sacrament, Heavitree, Exeter, with which we are unable to comply at the present time. However, we hope to restart as soon as possible in the near future, but, as always, do contact me before travelling any distance to avoid disappointment.

Plymouth (Dorset) Maurice Quinn 07555 536579 devon@lms.org.uk Although I was not able to attend some of the Dorset Latin Masses this last while, it was with greater pleasure that I could be present at Our Lady of Lourdes & St Cecilia, Blandford Forum, on the 7 October, Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary. For this very special day, Mgr Francis Jamieson offered Holy Mass, then followed this with Rosary and Benediction. Please note that Mgr Francis celebrates a usus antiquior every Saturday morning at 9.30am, and will continue to celebrate an extra weekday Latin Mass once per month, and, after this latter, those present are welcome to join us for a free social lunch in the church amenity room or in the beautiful and extensive well-kept garden (and get some gardening tips from the excellent gardener). All the required information can be found in the Mass Listings, but if you have any relevant questions, I’ll be pleased to answer them.

Now that Our Lady’s at Marnhull is lost to us as a Latin Mass venue due to the retirement of Fr Martin Budge, I would urge you to support what Mgr Francis at Blandford offers every week/month. As the Chideock pilgrimage was a Dorset event deserving of separate treatment, be sure to read the two-page article on pages 44-45 of this issue.

Portsmouth Peter Cullinane. pmcullinane@hotmail.com Again we need more to attend the 8am Mass on Sundays at the Cathedral, served by the Marian Franciscan community.

I have not mentioned Holy Family parish in Southampton for some time but I am very pleased to report that the congregation is now some 60 or even more and is served by Fr Benjamin Theobald.

The Mass at 9am draws many families with children, together with members of the Polish and Malayalam community.

I am pleased to report that EF Masses are continuing as usual in the Portsmouth Diocese.

Portsmouth (Isle of Wight) Peter Clarke Latin (E.F.) Masses have been offered on the Isle of Wight for the past 33 years. I am pleased to say that they will be continuing, mainly at St Thomas's, Cowes. This beautiful church (built in 1797) is probably one of the oldest in England where the EF Mass is celebrated.

The Mass is celebrated by the parish priest, Fr Jonathan Redvers Harris.

It is usually every Thursday at 12 noon; with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Confessions from 11-15am.

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EF Masses in St Thomas of Canterbury Church, Cowes, Isle of Wight, offered by Fr Jonathan Redvers Harris

Reading Adrian Dulston Reading FSSP continue to provide Latin Masses at St William of York (St John Fisher Parish). The numbers have increased slightly and new faces, many young, provide some sense of a continuing community. Fr Goddard and Fr Phipps are called upon in different pastoral and geographical directions but still provide spiritual and moral support to a wide net of parishioners.

The men and women's groups thrive. Altar server training is regular.

There is an underlying optimism in the parish with vibrant activity, not least involvement in the 40 days for Life lead by one of the parishioners.

Salford Alison F. Kudlowski salford@lms.org.uk The Traditional Latin Mass at 4.45 on Sundays continues to be celebrated by the Oratorian Community at St Chad, Cheetham Hill Road, Manchester. This remains the sole parish in Salford diocese celebrating the TLM. For additional events please check the website of the Manchester Oratorian Community, www.manchesteroratory.org Shrewsbury (Wirral) Neil Addison liverpool@lms.org.uk The past few months have seen the repainting of the Dome proceeding apace and, as the scaffolding has been removed week by week, our Church is re-emerging like a butterfly emerging from a chrysalis. The colour scheme is a simple combination of lighter and darker duck egg blue which has been chosen to match the marble in our stunning baroque Sanctuary. The Church is lighter and brighter than it was before and we hope to have a Solemn High Mass once the remaining scaffolding has been removed from the nave.

We are also engaged in an appeal to install new lighting and chandeliers, which will make this iconic building one of the most beautiful Catholic Churches in the North West. We have been given a grant for this by the LMS and we are truly grateful for it; we see it as an act of faith that despite everything the Traditional Rite will continue here on the Wirral. We are also back to holding open days for visitors and are holding monthly organ playing performances of religious music, with singing provided by the Sisters Adorers based in Preston.

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REPORTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY We also have a new Abbé (Seminarian), Francois Jacquet, who is warmly welcomed. He will spend a year with us seeing how a Church is run on a day-to-day basis whilst continuing his Seminary studies. It is a pleasure for all of us as we meet the Seminarians in the Institute; they are our hope for the future both of the Traditional Rite and the Church as a whole.

Southwark (Kent) Marygold Turner We continue with our Masses, which are all centred at St Andrew’s, Tenterden at 12 noon. Father Gabriel Diaz is the main celebrant and we are having two Sung Masses a month (thanks to the generosity of Dr Andrew Czaykowsky) with the singers from Ben Bevan’s wonderful Victoria Consort. Fr Behruz, the Parish Priest, is most supportive: our numbers are growing and it is good to see families with children at our Masses.

We have also had one or two old friends celebrating here recently when Fr Diaz was away – very many thanks to them for the considerable trouble they take to minister to us.

The main excitement has been the annual Mass at St Augustine’s at Snave, one of the churches on the Marsh. It is only used once a year for Harvest and The Romney Marsh Historic Churches Trust very kindly allow us to celebrate a Sung Mass soon after. Last year we missed it due to the virus, and this year we were in fact the only celebration in the church.

It is a very fine but simple church, and not ruined in any way.

It was a wonderful event with Fr Diaz the celebrant and Ben Bevan supplying a magnificent choir – the largest we’ve ever had in Snave. The acoustics are excellent and they sang the Mass by Sebastian da Fabriano, written in the 16th century for the Escorial and never performed since then. Ben has recorded this music, which he first performed in St Mary’s, Rye, on the Friday before Snave. The concert was at 4.30pm and afterwards the choir and many people walked in pilgrimage to Winchelsea, where the Victoria Consort sang again in the beautiful church.

It was a particular delight to have Fr Behruz and the Rev. Graham Halsall, the local Anglican minister, with us, as well as Mrs Elizabeth Marshall, Secretary of the Romney Marsh Historic Churches Trust and some of the members of the Trust.

We hope to repeat the annual Mass at Snave as it is a very special event. There are many excellent photos taken by Clare Bowskill, some of which can be seen elsewhere in this magazine.

Looking towards the end of the year, we are very much looking forward to welcoming back Fr Richard Whinder for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

With the turmoil in the Church, the Pope’s Motu Proprio and the new Vatican clampdowns, we are more than grateful to the Archbishop of Southwark and Cardinal Nichols for the ready permission they have given to keep the status quo.

Editor’s note: The Society is very grateful to Marygold and her helpers for organising the Mass in Snave, their efforts are greatly appreciated.

Southwark (St Bede’s, Clapham Park) Thomas Windsor claphampark@lms.org.uk Not long after my last report was written we had the good news that our Archbishop, John Wilson, had given permission for our TLM schedule to continue. As a thank you we organised a spiritual bouquet that was presented to the Archbishop in August, I received a very nice letter in reply and I can report that he was 'extremely touched and grateful for our kindness;’ he wishes to pass on his ‘warm gratitude to all involved’. The

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archbishop was particularly moved by the separate bouquet from our altar servers.

I am also delighted to report we have had a series of weddings of members of our community, so congratulations to Tom and Eden, Ben and Annie, Charles and Jess and shortly we will have another wedding of two of our choir members Charles and Kitty.

Our daily Masses continue as normal with the new children’s choir singing Sunday Mass once a month. Our choir has continued to sing a mix of chant, polyphonic Masses and polyphonic Propers, and has gained several new members over the past few months.

The parish has also started various traditional catechetical programmes including special programmes for children and young adults. Our special Sundays and Friday evening talks, have also restarted with options to join some of these activities online. I would recommend those interested to check our parish website for further details, stbedesclaphampark. blogspot.com Southwark (St Mary’s Chislehurst) Christopher Richardson We continue our regular schedule with the Sunday Missa Cantata and two weekday Low Masses.

Now that Covid regulations have been relaxed our numbers are back up and it has been pleasing to note a number of new faces.

In August a Solemn Requiem Mass was held on the first anniversary of the death of Fr Charles Briggs, who was our parish priest.

Southwark (Thanet) Antonia Robinson 01843 845880 07961 153963 thanet@lms.org.uk The traditional Catholic community in East Kent is immensely grateful to our Archbishop, the Most Reverend John Wilson, for his swift, decisive and pastoral response to the Motu proprio Traditionis Custodes, allowing all of our Traditional Latin Masses to continue. In a parish like Ramsgate and Minster, where four different forms of the liturgy are celebrated (the Novus Ordo - in English and Polish -, the Traditional Latin Mass, the Syro-Malabar Rite and the Ordinariate Usage), we are acutely aware of the plurality of Catholic worship: virtually all parishioners will have attended each of these forms of the Mass at some point and it would have been a great wound to the unity of the parish were one form singled out for restriction with the others left alone. As an entire parish community we thank our Archbishop.

Traditional Masses have continued with strong congregations since the last report. We have a new server - young Douglas who has just made his First Holy Communion and who has shown impressive abilities from day one (although he’s not quite tall enough to move the Missal - yet!). Hugo, our traditional MC has (grudgingly) been allowed to return to university in Durham where he is reading Classics, but Levin and Wolfgang his young apprentices have stepped up ably and are serving and MC-ing our Sung Masses with great precision. Ben Scott, the Shrine Director of Music, has enhanced the sacred music provision with the creation of a ladies’ choir that provided angelic music for the Solemn Mass on the Feast of the Assumption. Sadly, because of restrictions imposed by Traditionis Custodes, newly ordained priest Fr David Hunter was not able to celebrate his first High Mass that day as planned, but he was able to preach an excellent sermon to a rapt congregation. We thank God for the bounty of such good and holy young priests, and encourage you all to keep dear, faithful Father Hunter in your prayers.

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REPORTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY Currently we have Sung Mass every Sunday at 12 noon at the Shrine Church of St Augustine, as well as a Low Mass on Wednesdays at 9.30am at St Ethelbert’s. On Holy Days of Obligation (as well as major feast days) we have Masses in the evening, usually at 7.30pm. These are usually Sung Masses, and are usually at St Augustine’s but occasionally at St Ethelbert’s. It is worth telephoning the parish in advance to confirm both the time and location.

It would be remiss not to thank our stalwart and hard-working priests: Father Christopher Basden, whose unfailing enthusiasm and love of the church has a contagious effect on his congregants; our valued and tenacious Shrine Rector the incomparable Father Simon Heans who celebrates three liturgical forms (the Novus Ordo in English, the Ordinariate Usage and the Traditional Latin Mass) and whose academic grounding as a historian gives a fascinating depth to his sermons; and longstanding friend of tradition Fr Bernard McNally who hears confessions and offers spiritual direction throughout the 12 noon Sunday Mass. Catholics attached to the Traditional Form of the Mass in East Kent are deeply indebted to these, our beloved clergy, for the contribution they make to our lives in Christ.

Southwark (Wandsworth) Julia Ashenden Canon Edwards is deeply grateful to his Grace, Archbishop John Wilson for his immediate response to our parish request to continue our schedule of Traditional Masses.

On Sundays at 11 am there is always a Missa Cantata. On three Sundays of the month this is sung by members of the congregation under the leadership of Benedict Jennings, while once a month it is sung by David Guest’s professional choir and is usually a Mass by Mozart. The Coronation Mass is a favourite.

After these Masses there are drinks in the Church Hall, which can then develop into a light lunch. Many friendships are made within the church community and support given and received.

The weekday Masses are proving ever more popular. The new First Saturday Sung Mass at 10.30 is attracting a sizeable congregation and the Friday evening Mass at 7 is popular with many young people. Then there is the Tuesday 10.30 Mass followed by Benediction, which those not having to go into work make a point of attending. Once a month there is now a Juventutem Mass said by Father de Malleray which has a growing and sizeable following.

Looking towards Christmas: on Remembrance Sunday (14 November) David Guest’s Choir is to sing the sublime Requiem Mass by Mozart, while at the midnight Mass they will be singing La Messe de Minuit pour Noël by Charpentier.

There will also be a Dawn Low Mass on Christmas Day at 8.30.

And for the Feast of The Epiphany there is scheduled a Missa Cantata at 7.30 pm.

There is a vibrant and faithful community at St Mary Magdalen’s which has attracted many new followers to add to those parishioners of many years, from all age groups and all walks of life. We are full of gratitude to the many who make this possible and especially to Canon Edwards, without whom it would not be possible.

Westminster Spanish Place Roger Wemyss Brooks Gradually things are returning to normal and numbers at Mass are steadily rising to former levels at Spanish Place. I hope we may soon return to the breakfast after Mass, which I am sure will be welcomed by many.

We have been short of servers recently but thanks to a well-attended training day at the end of September we may

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soon have some new men in the sanctuary. Please pray for them. There is another training day on 29 November which I encourage many more to attend. Last month we had a visit from Deacon Gwilym Evans FSSP who served the Sunday Mass. He is among others of the Fraternity who hope to be ordained priest next year - they also need the support of our prayers.

The annual Corpus Christi procession organised by the Order of Malta was deferred from June to September due to the pandemic. Despite the threat of rain, it was well attended, tracing a magnificent route from Warwick Street via Farm Street and the Ukranian Cathedral to a splendid musical welcome at St James'. I was honoured to be invited to carry the umbrellino over the Blessed Sacrament.

Just recently I have been visiting family in France. On Sunday I attended Mass at the church of St Claire in nearby Geneva which is served by the Fraternity of St Peter. I was delighted to find our beloved Old Rite with Fr Nicolas du Chaxel giving the homily and hearing confessions. Some of you may remember him saying Mass here and at the Cathedral some years ago.

Please keep all our priests faithful to the Old Rite in your prayers.

Westminster (Willesden) Anna Grayson-Morley willesden@lms.org.uk 07710 472295 In the wake of Traditionis Custodes , Vincent Cardinal Nichols has granted that Our Lady of Willesden retain the faculty of continuing the Traditional Latin Mass. As far as we are aware, this will be indefinite.

Furthermore, I am pleased to report that our Assistant Priest, Father Andrew Jaxa-Chamiec, has now completed his study of the TLM and is actively celebrating it much to our great joy and with gratitude. He has conveyed to me that it was a privilege to learn and celebrate the old Mass and has given him a greater and more informed understanding of the liturgy. Interestingly, he says this has also given him a deeper understanding of the Novus Ordo.

Our new organ continues to be installed as the internal workings of this mighty instrument are painstakingly assembled.

Wrexham Kevin Jones wrexham@lms.org.uk lmswrexham.weebly.com Masses have not resumed in the Diocese of Wrexham.

I wrote to the Bishop of Wrexham on the 20 July, shortly after the promulgation of the Moto Proprio Traditionis custodes. Acknowledging the critical shortage of clergy and drawing his attention to the small but stable pre-pandemic groups that had existed at Holywell and Llay together with our pilgrimages to Holywell and Wrexham, I sought to establish His Lordship’s position on provision of the Vetus Ordo in North Wales. As I compile this report, I have yet to receive a reply.

However, I am aware of a reply to an email sent to the Bishop by a fellow member. The initial communication had, so I understand, been a canvassing of the Bishop’s view of Traditionis Custodes . The reply was brief but said enough to subdue any notion that a resumption is imminent.

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FEATURE

Ad Jesum per Mariam An update on the Marian Franciscans

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n recent months, the Blessed Virgin has showered the Marian Franciscans in Portsmouth and Gosport with an abundance of graces. The attendance at Sunday Mass at St Joseph’s, Copnor, has been steadily on the rise, with young families travelling long distances to attend the Missa Cantata. Before Mass, boys as young as seven flock into the sacristy with an impressive zeal to serve at the altar, and the choir continues to grow, spurred on by a group of gifted young girls who now assist in the singing of some beautiful polyphonic chant.

Youth participation and witness is in fact a strong theme for the Marian Franciscans, who recently held a week-long Catholic Summer camp in Snowdonia for twenty-three boys and girls, filled with action-packed activities in addition to daily Mass, Rosary, and catechesis. The children seemed to enjoy their week’s freedom from their parents!

The month of September was particularly grace-filled for the Marian Franciscans, with various notable occasions taking place at St Mary’s Church in Gosport, where a community of four priests and three professed friars live. The first of these was the celebration of Fr Serafino Lanzetta’s 25th Anniversary of his religious profession. A Solemn Mass was celebrated on the Feast of Our Lady’s Nativity in thanksgiving for the gift of his religious vocation, after which Fr Serafino renewed his profession in the Old Rite.

The Marian Franciscan Sisters from Bridgemary sang the Mass angelically, lifting the souls of the many faithful in attendance. After Mass, the faithful gathered to celebrate Fr Serafino’s Silver Jubilee. “Getting old” were the words he used as he cut into the splendid cake presented to him by a generous benefactor.

Later that day, three sisters from Bridgemary made their perpetual profession, and the following Sunday, on the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary, five postulants were invested as novices.

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Fr Serafino Lanzetta’s religious profession in 1996

The liturgies were so pious and reverent that it seemed the clichéd phrase ‘heaven on earth’ was briefly realised. Credit is due to the heroic parishioners who attended all three of these events, some remaining at St Mary’s from 11am to 10pm on the 8 of September… what stamina!

The Marian Franciscans strive to follow in the footsteps of their Seraphic Father, St Francis, with no compromise.

This involves a life of poverty and a complete reliance on Divine Providence. They own nothing and buy no food of their own, depending entirely on the goodwill of generous benefactors who ensure they have the necessary means to carry out their life of prayer, work, and apostolate.

It is perhaps this uncompromising and authentic Franciscan spirit which attracts so many vocations to the Marian Franciscans. The friars are regularly contacted by young men from all over the world who desire to conform their lives to Christ in imitation of St Francis.

A vocation discernment retreat, held recently by the friars in Walsingham, gave thirteen young men the opportunity to experience a snapshot of their daily life and to attend conferences on their Marian spirituality.

Some of the retreatants have since expressed the desire to join the friars, and this, coupled with the many visit requests the friars receive each week, means there is now an urgent need for more space!

Please keep this intention in your prayers, that Our Lady might grant them the grace of a new Marian House.

Solemn High Mass at St Joseph’s, Copnor, on the Feast of Saint Maximilian Mary Kolbe

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© Jordan Pettitt/Solent News

FEATURE Please keep the Marian Franciscans in your prayers, and if you would like to find out more about them, visit their website at www.themarianfranciscans. org and check out their Radio Immaculata YouTube channel.

If you wish to grow in devotion to Our Lady, or are discerning a religious vocation, the friars would be very happy to welcome you for a visit.

In Corde Matris, Ave Maria!

The friars swap their sandals for football boots every week for recreation at their local park

What attracts souls to the Marian Franciscans above all else is their unlimited consecration to the Immaculate Virgin Mary, inspired by the spirituality of the great St Maximilian Kolbe. In these challenging times, where the doctrine of the faith is being clouded, and souls struggle to find parishes where Our Lord is treated with due reverence and respect, it is to the Blessed Virgin that we must turn. Her love for Christ is deeper than any other, and She is committed to preserving the Truth and bringing souls closer to Her Son. Our Lady is at the very heart of the Marian Franciscan life. This is manifested by their unlimited consecration to Her, to the point of becoming Her “possession and property”.

Every aspect of the friars’ life is marianised, including their apostolic activity. Inspired again by the example of St Maximilian, the friars use the mass media to reach souls all over the world.

This involves live-streaming Masses, running a 24-hour Catholic radio show, publishing daily homilies on YouTube, in addition to a weekly live show called Tea With Mary which is directed towards Marian catechesis. Weekly football games organised by the friars in their local park are also a means for giving witness to the joyfulness of our Faith. The friars play in their habits (no nutmegs possible) which attracts much interest from passers-by, many of whom join in to play. Photos of these footballing friars even appeared recently in The Telegraph and The Times!

The friars preparing for their weekly live show, ‘Tea with Mary’, at 5pm on Saturday

The Marian Franciscans attended the March for Life in London this September, praying the Rosary alongside a statue of Our Lady of Walsingham

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FAMILY MATTERS

Get together James Preece on how traditional Catholic families can help each other

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his year marks the 40th AnniversaryofFamiliarisConsortio, in which Pope Saint John Paul II sets out the Church’s great vision for marriage and the family. Families are a “sacramental sign, of the very relationship of Christ with the Church”, “a specific revelation and realization of ecclesial communion”, “the domestic Church”, “the first and vital cell of society”. In fact, “the future of the world and of the Church passes through the family”.

Pope John Paul II has been called The Pope of the Family because of his extensive writing on and support of the family. I’m no historian but I suspect his support of the family was a direct consequence of his experiences of the communist occupation of Poland.

Marx had called for the “abolition of the family” and although soviet attitudes had softened by the 1930s (turns out abolishing the family is harder than it sounds) policies on abortion, divorce, etc. were chipping away.

At a time when hundreds of priests were being arrested, when Catholic schools were closed and crosses removed from the walls of hospital wards - where else could the faith survive but in and through the family?

Families who prayed together, who quietly passed on the faith to their children. That is where the future could be found.

Let’s not be overly dramatic modern Britain has plenty of abortion and divorce, but we don’t have secret executions and labour camps. In that respect we have it easy, but we still live in an environment that is hostile to the faith. TV, movies and the internet all provide a constant stream of antiCatholic sentiment. Catholic teaching is an increasingly grey area in terms of what you can say if you want to keep your job. With a few exceptions, Catholic schools are now essentially secular schools and for Catholics of a more traditional persuasion the local parish is often far from friendly.

In any case, Familiaris Consortio did not describe the family as a backup

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plan for when things go bad, but as “the first and vital cell” of any society. Even in places where the Church structures are healthy, the family is essential. The family is where the next generation of Catholics are born and learn the faith.

The family is where the next generation of Priests come from.

We should be looking after the family anyway - but in the light of Traditionis Custodes, we should be stepping things up a little. If things get worse and the Latin Mass disappears for a time, where will Tradition thrive if not the family?

'The family is where the next generation of Catholics are born and learn the faith.

The family is where the next generation of Priests come from' Now seems a good moment to plug the One of Nine YouTube channel where the Jones family document “the glory of the life less seen” and “the drama of surviving the day”. If you have not subscribed, you should do so and check out the fantastic work they are doing to showcase the joys, sorrows, successes and tragedies of Catholic family life.

It is not always easy. So how can we support families?

Familiaris Consortio does not begin, as you might expect, with a list of “things for Priests to do” but in fact suggests that it is primarily families who are best placed to support other families. Priests can help by bringing families together socially for barbecues, picnics, ice creams at the beach and so on. Anything involving food basically… You don’t have to wait for a Priest to get involved; if you meet another family at a Traditional Latin Mass make sure you exchange details, invite them round for lunch or meet up somewhere child friendly. The Latin Mass Society family contact register is another great place to start.

Over the years we have learned a great deal from other families and built up valuable friendships, as have our children. We have been inspired when other families have been a witness to a life of faith, but also consoled when other families turn out to be just as human as we are.

Familiaris Consortio Next recommends that Priests “must unceasingly act towards families as fathers, brothers, pastors and teachers, assisting them with the means of grace and enlightening them with the light of truth”. That latter could mean talks, homilies and catechesis but it could also mean (perhaps more usefully) popping by for a cup of tea and a chat.

Just making sure everybody is okay. It means a lot to families to be visited, listened to, and supported in this way.

Clergy support for the family “extends not only to moral and liturgical matters but to personal and social matters as well”. They must “support the family in its difficulties and sufferings, caring for its members and helping them to see their lives in the light of the Gospel” and, when they do so, “the minister of the Church draws fresh encouragement and spiritual energy for his own vocation too”.

In short - identify families, get them together and spend time with them. It’s so simple and you’ll be glad you did.

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NEWS

World News Paul Waddington reports on the effect of Traditionis Custodes around the globe

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hree months after its promulgation, it seems that the impact of Traditionis Custodes, has not been as great as many had feared. An analysis of the responses of the bishops of 234 dioceses in 26 countries, has revealed that in 76% of the dioceses, the provision of Latin Masses is continuing unaffected. In a further 14% of the dioceses, Latin Masses continue with some restrictions; and only in 10% of dioceses has a complete ban been imposed. Although the survey is not based on a random sample, and is biased towards English speaking countries, it is sufficiently broad to draw conclusions for most of the countries where the Latin Mass has a significant following.

In most cases where bishops have allowed the Latin Mass to continue as before, the authorisation is qualified with a phrase such as “for the time being”, so the long term consequences are uncertain.

However, it seems that most of these bishops have no intention of applying any restrictions in the near future.

Where restrictions have been imposed, the bishops have mostly applied them to diocesan priests, leaving the priestly societies that only offer the traditional form of the Mass unaffected. However, there are exceptions, and there are at least two cases where these societies have been asked to leave the diocese.

Costa Rica An early and particularly harsh response came from Central America, where the Bishops’ Conference of Costa Rica issued a statement on 19 July, declaring that, “from now on the use of the Missale Romanum of 1962 or any other expression of the liturgy prior to 1962 is not authorised”. The statement continued: “no priest is authorised to continue celebrating according to the ancient liturgies.” This response is notable, not only for its uncompromising tone, but also because a single policy covers the whole of an Episcopal Conference.

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Mexico Also in Central America, the Archbishop of Guadalajara, one of the largest dioceses in Mexico has supressed the parish of St Peter in Chains. This personal parish had been run by the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter, and was the centre of their activities in the country.

The Order had established a house of formation there, which was successful in attracting vocations. The archbishop has also curtailed the number of Latin Masses elsewhere in the diocese.

South America Latin Mass provision on the continent of South America was not great before the motu proprio, and is set to diminish further. There are reports from Brazil, Ecuador and Chile that bishops have either suppressed all Latin Masses in their Diocese, or severely curtailed their provision.

In the Pope’s own country of Argentina, where the Latin Mass is only offered at four locations, the sitting bishops do not seem to have made any public statements on the matter. However, Archbishop Hector Rueben Aguer, the Bishop Emeritus of La Plata is reported to have said that the restrictions of the Traditional Latin Mass in Traditionis Custodes “involve a regrettable step backwards”.

USA and Canada Out of the 91 dioceses in the United States included in the survey, only in one case is there a total ban on Latin Masses continuing, although restrictions have been applied in a further seven dioceses. In 83 dioceses (91%), Latin Masses continue as before.

However, there are some disturbing reports. The rector of the North American College, a large and influential seminary in Rome serving the USA and Canada (usually referred to as the NAC) has announced that all Masses in the Extraordinary Form will be permanently suspended, and that the Extraordinary Form will no longer be taught to seminarians. The statement continues “the college will no longer supply liturgical items used in the older form of the Mass”.

Whilst it seems that in most Canadian dioceses Latin Masses will be allowed to continue, there are exceptions. In the francophone parish of Sacre Coeur in Winnipeg, it is reported that Latin Masses have been supressed and that the priest has been

placed on leave. A Saturday Mass in the Diocese of Hamilton has also been suppressed.

Europe In France, which is often the flashpoint for heated arguments about Latin Mass provision, the Episcopal Conference lost no time in issuing a statement that was clearly intended to calm the debate. It stated that the bishops had “esteem” for those who adhered to the traditional rites, and wished to “pursue dialogue” with them.

Indeed, it does seem that on the whole the French bishops have been restrained in their response to the motu proprio, with the vast majority of Latin Masses continuing as before. However, this is not so in Paris, where Archbishop Michel Aupetit has reduced the number of Latin Masses offered by diocesan priests from fifteen to five.

Reports from other European countries suggest that, at least for the time being, the vast majority of bishops are allowing Latin Masses to continue as before, although there are reports of some cancellations in Germany, Spain and the Czech Republic.

Africa Very little news has emerged from Africa, where the Latin Mass is not very widespread, although it is offered in several countries. Reports from Uganda and South Africa suggest that the few Latin Masses offered in those countries are continuing. In the absence of reports from elsewhere, it can be assumed that Traditionis Custodes has had little impact on the African continent.

Australia and New Zealand In the Archdiocese of Melbourne, there has been some confusion.

Early reports that all Latin Masses in the diocese had been cancelled were later rescinded. However, there is confirmation of fairly extensive Latin Mass cancellations elsewhere, including in the dioceses of Sale, Ballarat and Sandhurst. Overall, it seems that Latin Mass provision in Australia has been affected more severely than it has in Europe or North America. Latin Masses have also been cancelled in two New Zealand dioceses.

Philippines There are reports that the Latin Mass has been supressed in some dioceses, although the extent of the restrictions is not clear.

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FEATURE

Christ’s Victory over Death Caroline Farey on a 10th century Byzantine ivory icon held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

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his intricate little ivory plaque stands just under six inches high.

Made in the mid 10th century and being so small, it is most likely to have been part of a devotional object or a cover for a precious book.

You can see holes at the top and base which suggest that it was fixed to something from these points rather than at the sides. Because of this it probably wasn’t a more commonly found diptych (two panels joined together down one side) or a triptych, of three panels. (The Metropolitan Museum suggest that it is a panel from a triptych so they may have other reasons for saying this.)

Ivory has several valued characteristics that made it a very popular medium in the Byzantine culture of the first millennium. Ivory was not difficult to carve, could carry fine detail and warped very little in changing temperatures and humidity. Its soft creamy colour and texture were appreciated, and it could not be melted down like gold or silver, so many examples survive.

This piece probably comes from Constantinople in the East. In the West, English ivory carvings from the medieval period were also especially fine and intricate though largely destroyed at the Reformation.

Here you can see that the single piece of ivory (the width of a tusk, as here, or in panels) has been hollowed out leaving the figures and other details in strong relief, the ivory having been carved deeply away behind them. The figure of Christ may be an additional piece of ivory kept in place by pins, but mainly the details are part of the one original piece of ivory held firm at the back and carved in deep relief.

Stylized palmettes Christ’s victory over death as the key theme of this icon, is portrayed from the very top to the base in a dramatic set of contrasts. At the top, in the upper left and right corners, one can see ‘stylized palmettes’. The palm tree and its leaves are used in Christianity as a symbol of the tree of victory, the victory of Christ’s life over death and sin, the victory of

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the Cross. Also at the top, at the very centre, is a symbol of the Trinity, a small orb radiating three leaves for the three persons in one God. The most striking feature is perhaps the setting of the crucifixion under an elaborate and delicate canopy, a baldachin or baldacchino, with its similarly carved columns. Such canopies were placed over thrones and altars. Here it indicates both, since Christ’s cross is his altar and his throne. The technique used for the fine decoration, later known as a jour, letting the daylight through, is used to give a sense of richness, lightness, and a sense that Christ is the light of the world who passes from death to life.

Christ’s victory is perhaps indicated, above all, by the figure of Hades, the god of death who gives his name to the place of the dead, who is placed at the base of the cross. An inscription beside this figure makes it clear: “The Cross Implanted in the Stomach of Hades”.

Just as the tree of Jesus’ earthly life ancestry is often portrayed coming from the stomach of the Patriarch Jesse, so, here in contrast, the tree of Christ’s earthly death arises strikingly from the stomach of Hades. The victory comes, as St Paul tells us when the last enemy is conquered and, “The last enemy to be destroyed is death” (I Cor 15:26).

Notice that Hades takes hold of the conquering cross of the slumped figure of Christ as though he is in control. In the book of Revelation Christ calls out, “I was dead, and behold, now I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of Death and of Hades” (Rev 1:18). The ‘keys’ are understood by the Church to be the sacraments where the victorious power of the Cross can reach all generations, and to the ends of the world, to save them from sin and death.

The baldacchino also reminds us of the sanctuary of a Church where the victorious sacrifice of the Eucharist is made present on the altar beneath it.

This little object is, therefore, as much a devotional reminder of the great mysterium fidei of the Eucharist, as it is of the historical event of Christ’s crucifixion.

Finally, the baldacchino is an image of the bridal chamber of the church where the prophecy of Joel is fulfilled: “Gather the people, consecrate the congregation, assemble the elders; gather the children, even nursing infants. Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her bridal chamber” (Joel 2:16). On the Cross and at Holy Mass, the bridegroom (Jesus) gives himself to his bride (the Church) in everlasting love. “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb” (Rev 19:9).

The two gentle figures standing either side of the crucifix are clearly Mary, the Mother of the Lord, and John, the Apostle. Mary typically points to her Son while John gestures in distress as he lifts his right hand to his face and clutches tightly at his garment with his left hand, pondering the great mystery before him.

Jesus’ head is slumped and his eyes closed but his hands are spread open and point downwards over his beloved mother and disciple, as grace pours down from them with his blood to his bride, the Church.

John’s grip on his cloak links the viewer to the group of three figures sitting directly below the foot-support or suppedaneum (sub-ped-aneum, under the feet) of the crucified Christ, where the inscription ‘Division of the Cloak’ is carved in Greek behind them. These three, then, are Roman soldiers (John 19:23–24). One has a sword and he takes hold of the cloak of Christ draped over the knee of the middle figure, ready to divide up the booty as though they too are the victors.

Placing the scene under the footstool, under the feet of Our Lord, however, is highly symbolic. Jesus quotes the psalms about himself saying, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet” (Mt 22:24). As St Paul tell us, God, ‘has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over everything for the Church, which is his body’ (Eph 1:22). ‘…and of His kingdom there will be no end." (Lk 1:33).

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FEATURE

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ARCHITECTURE

The Cathedrals of Edward Welby Pugin

Cobh: the interior

Paul Waddington looks at some of the larger works of one of the most prolific architects of the Gothic revival

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uring the final illness of Augustus Welby Pugin, the great protagonist of the Gothic revival, the management of his architectural practice fell into the hands of his teenage son, Edward Welby Pugin. In overseeing the completion of several of his father’s works, it seems that he conducted the business with remarkable proficiency for someone so young. Edward was 17 when his father died in 1852 and found himself the bread-winner for a large family that included his stepmother and six siblings.

After exploring the possibility of

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joining the practice of Sir Charles Barry, Edward determined to set up as an architect on his own account, and to continue the work of his father, which mostly involved the design of Catholic Churches. In a career lasting only 23 years – he died at the age of 41 – Edward’s output was staggeringly prolific, amounting to some 220 new buildings, as well as modifications to many existing ones.

Although mostly parish churches, his works included presbyteries, convents, monasteries, schools and an orphanage.

This article focuses on the three cathedrals which were completed in his

lifetime, as well as mentioning a further three cathedrals that he designed, but were never built.

Shrewsbury Cathedral The site of the Cathedral of Our Lady Help of Christians and St Peter Alcantara in Shrewsbury had been donated by a Mr Perks, and Bertram Talbot, the 17th Earl of Shrewsbury, undertook to fund the project. Before his death in 1852, Edward’s father, Augustus, had done some work on the design, but the start of building was delayed due to Augustus’ illness. Thus it

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ARCHITECTURE became one of Edward’s first projects.

The site occupied a prominent position on sloping ground close to the city centre, but it was scarcely large enough for a cathedral. With this constraint, Edward designed a compact building accessed from the road by steep steps. In conformity with his father’s understanding of the needs of a cathedral, the chancel was relatively large which only left space for a short nave. A clerestory gave the building some height, and a detached tower with spire reaching a height of 227ft was proposed for the south-west corner.

Before construction began, it was discovered that the ground conditions were unstable, and Edward was forced to reduce the scale of the building. The tower and spire, which would have been a prominent feature of the Shropshire landscape, were replaced by a modest belfry at the apex of the western gable.

The height of the nave was also reduced.

Changes were made to comply with the liturgical thinking of the time, which favoured bringing the altar closer to the people. This resulted in a reduced chancel and a slightly expanded nave.

In common with most of Edward Pugin’s early works, the chancel is demarcated from the nave by having a lower roofline, and by a prominent chancel arch. Shrewsbury Cathedral suffered from some disastrous reordering in the 1980s, but happily, some of the worst damage is currently being reversed.

Northampton The cathedral of Our Lady and St Thomas in Northampton has a complicated history that has completely changed its character. Following the 1850 re-establishment of the hierarchy in England and Wales, a cathedral was required for the new Diocese of Northampton, but it seems nothing was done until 1859, when Edward Pugin produced plans for a cathedral on a site where his father had built a modest chapel dedicated to St Felix. A drawing survives that shows a large building with a tall tower with spire in the northwest corner and an apsidal chancel under a common roofline. This was never built, but if it had been built, it would have been among Edward Pugin’s finest works, incorporating many features found in his middle-period churches, such as gabled fenestration around the apsidal chancel and ironwork cresting to the chancel ridge.

Clearly funds were short, causing

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Cobh: arguably Edward Pugin’s finest work

the version that was opened in 1864 to be drastically cut down and devoid of decoration. The tower was omitted. The diminished chancel and nave were within a single square ended structure which, although retaining its clerestory and lean-to side aisles, lacked the grandeur of the original. The chapel of St Felix was retained, presumably as an economy measure, with part of it serving as an entrance and narthex at the west end of a rather functional cathedral. A smallish rose window at the west end, fitting above the roofline of the former chapel was one of the few decorative features.

In 1881, an improved High Altar was installed and a pulpit added, but the building was never considered satisfactory.

Radical changes were made in 1959, when, to increase its capacity, the orientation of the cathedral was reversed. The original A.W. Pugin chapel was demolished to make way for a new sanctuary, and a balcony was inserted into E. W. Pugin’s chancel to form a choir loft. A doorway inserted into the apsidal wall of the former chancel, allowed for a new entrance with a narthex beneath the choir loft.

Cobh Arguably Edward Pugin’s finest work is the Cathedral of St Colman for the Diocese of Cloyne in Ireland. Situated in a commanding position overlooking the harbour at Cobh in Co Cork, it retains every aspect of its splendour to this day.

Seemingly, it was considered too majestic for it to be given the usual post Vatican II treatment – that was until well into the 21st century, when it became a

battleground between conservationists and progressive liturgists. Fortunately, the conservationists eventually won the day.

Cobh Cathedral is attributed to Pugin & Ashlin, the partnership that Edward set up with George Coppinger Ashlin in 1860 to handle his activities in Ireland.

The foundation stone was laid in 1868, but the project was not completed until 1914, some 40 years after Pugin’s death, much of the work being supervised by the successor partnership of Ashlin & Coleman.

Like all E.W. Pugin’s larger churches, the Cobh cathedral is cruciform. It is also very large, having a six-bay nave, twobay transepts and a three-bay chancel terminating, unusually, in a rounded apse. It is also unusual for Edward Pugin in having a triforium beneath the clerestory making the structure very tall and thus necessitating flying buttresses.

It has a tower surmounted by a slender spire which is located at the south-west corner and attains a height of 300ft.

Unrealised Cathedrals In 1853, Edward Pugin produced plans for a large cathedral at Everton in Liverpool. Only the Lady Chapel and two smaller flanking chapels were built.

These eventually became the basis of the Church of Our Lady Immaculate when the project was abandoned. If the cathedral had been built as planned, it would have been Edward Pugin’s largest and grandest church. The design was inspired by the great medieval cathedrals of England and had a central spire mounted above the crossing.

Pugin also designed a cathedral for Birkenhead, which would have been just across the Mersey from Everton. It stems from a period when the Diocese of Shrewsbury was undecided where its cathedral should be located, Birkenhead, Shrewsbury and Macclesfield all being considered. Shrewsbury won out in the end and, in 1860, the Birkenhead site was used to build the Parish Church of the Immaculate Conception. Naturally, Edward Pugin was the architect.

In 1859, Edward Pugin was commissioned to design a cathedral at Nenagh in Co Tipperary for the Diocese of Killaloe. It was never built due to lack of funds. Instead, an existing church at Ennis became the cathedral. The Nenagh design was unusual in that, although essentially Gothic in its shape, all its detailing was in a Romanesque style.

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FEATURE

Catholic hero Charles A. Coulombe remembers Edward Lisle Strutt

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arlier in this space we were treated to an important figure of the Catholic Revival in England – Ambrose Phillipps de Lisle, Master of Grace-Dieu Manor, co-founder of the Cistercian Abbey of Mount St Bernard, and one of the leading lights of the early 19th century Cambridge converts, alongside his close friend Kenelm Digby (whom we have also met). In 1873, his daughter, Alice, married the Honourable Arthur Strutt, second son of Edward Strutt, the First Baron Belper, a cotton magnate and Liberal politician. A year later, their son, Edward Lisle Strutt – the subject of this article - was born. It must have been a love match, given that the two fathers-in-law were so completely different; de Lisle was one of the leading Catholics in the realm, while Lord Belper only consented to the match on the proviso that any issue be raised in the Church of England. So it was that young Edward was baptised Anglican.

But his father died in an accident at the family’s mill when Edward was three, and thenceforth his mother brought him up as a Catholic. Despite his paternal origins, he would remain a devout Catholic his entire life, and for that reason become a key player in the life of one of the 20th century’s most saintly Catholic figures.

At age 13 the young man was sent to the then socially prominent Jesuit establishment, Beaumont College.

During his time there the school hosted both British and European noble students, as well as exiled French and Spanish princes. Upon graduation at age 18 he was sent to the University of Innsbruck for a year, where he became fluent in French, German, and Italian; little did he know how well Providence was fitting him for his greatest hour!

He also acquired mountaineering and skiing while in Tyrol – two activities that would also shape the rest of his life.

In 1893, the young Strutt entered Christ Church, Oxford, but he soon became impatient with university life, and with an independent income, he was in no need of employment. He left without a degree after a year and looked

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Strutt: ‘decorated by the British, French, Belgian, Italian, and Romanian governments’

for something to engage his energy. In time he found it in the militia, joining in 1898 the Third Battalion (Militia) of the Royal Scots – “Pontius Pilate’s Bodyguard.” So called because it was the oldest regiment in the British army until its amalgamation in 2006; it had been founded in 1633 by Scots loyal to Charles I – and was the only regiment whose majority remained loyal to James II in 1688. This background tremendously appealed to the adventurous Strutt, in whom Romanticism, piety, and skill were already being seen in equal measure. Commissioned as a Lieutenant, in 1900 he was promoted to Captain when virtually the whole battalion volunteered to go to South Africa for the Boer War. For two long years, Strutt and his comrades fought a guerrilla campaign orchestrated by the wily Boer general de Wet. Strutt was mentioned in despatches; after their return to Great Britain in July of 1902, he led his regiment’s cricket team to the

Netherlands to compete a month later.

Winning one game and narrowly losing a second in the very pro-Boer nation, Strutt’s action was daring, but considered undiplomatic in the extreme.

Given the ample leisure time that his wealth and position gave him, after his return from South Africa he began spending his summers mountaineering and his winters skiing at St Moritz, Switzerland. It was there that he met the woman who would become his wife in 1905, Frances Hollond, daughter of a former MP for Brighton. It was also where he met members of the Austrian Imperial Family, including the ill-starred heir to the throne, Franz Ferdinand. Not too surprisingly, the pair, whose views in religion and politics were so similar, hit it off.

Two years after their last encounter in 1912, Franz Ferdinand was murdered, and Europe exploded. The Royal Scots were mobilized and sent to France. The now 40-year-old Captain was placed in temporary command of the 2nd Battalion, currently engaged around Neuve Chapelle. Making a routine report to his divisional commander, he was literally blown off his feet by a six round artillery barrage which threw him several yards, causing temporary paralysis. Six months later, he was back in the field. In October of 1916, however, he was sent to Salonika to act as liaison between the British and French commanders on the Southern Front, who were not getting on well. Strutt managed to bring them into a relatively close cooperation, which was in no small part responsible for the success of their final thrust to the borders of AustriaHungary in 1918. When the War was over, Strutt was decorated by the British, French, Belgian, Italian, and Romanian governments with various knighthoods and honours. Thinking he would relax, early 1919 found him in Venice, enjoying the hospitality of the Hotel Danieli.

But that victory brought with it the collapse of the Habsburg Empire and ensuing chaos. In the midst of the now fractured Central Europe, in January of 1919 Emperor Charles and his young

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FEATURE family were living in their remote chateau of Eckartsau, under threat from roving Red Guards, the Socialist Chancellor Karl Renner, and various other factions. Given that the victorious allies had small numbers of troops deployed around their defeated former enemies, the Emperor appealed directly to George V for assistance. Guilt-ridden by the fate of his own cousin, Nicholas II, the previous year, the King resolved that the same would not happen to Charles and his family.

The King sent a British officer to look after their immediate welfare – he arrived on 16 February. Eleven days later, Strutt replaced him, having received a cryptic telegram at his Venetian hotel. Becoming very fond of the Imperial family, he arranged for British army supplies to be brought up from Vienna to feed the more than 100 hundred people now encamped at Eckartsau. He also organised the defense of the locale, played bridge with Charles and Zita, and in general set things to rights. Among other things in the Castle, Strutt found a picture of himself and Franz Ferdinand taken years before at St Moritz.

Karl Renner, the Socialist Chancellor (who having betrayed his Emperor already, would live to collaborate first with Hitler, then with Stalin, and die as president) was determined to deal with the Habsburgs once and for all.

The following day, Strutt received a telegram from his government, declaring that it was “highly advisable to get the Emperor out of Austria and into Switzerland at once,” adding helpfully that “the British Government can in no way guarantee your journey.”

Strutt went to Vienna and found that Renner had given Charles three choices: if he abdicated all his family’s rights, they could live in Austria as private citizens; if he refused to abdicate, he must go into exile; if he refused to either to abdicate or leave, he would be imprisoned. Strutt then arranged for a special train to leave from the Westbahnhof at his signal and called the Swiss to get their approval (without British Foreign Office assistance). He then convinced Charles and Zita of the necessity for departure.

But it was Renner’s turn to be difficult. Strutt had visited him on 20 March; knowing Renner, Strutt knew he had to overawe him. When he stepped into the Chancellor’s office, Renner was sitting behind his desk. Strutt yelled at

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him “Please stand up in future when I enter your room!” Renner leapt to attention, exhibiting what Strutt called “nervous twitching” – more in anger than fear, Strutt believed.

On the 21st, Strutt ordered the Austrian railway authorities to reassemble the Imperial Train as it had been, and to bring it up to Kopfstetten, the nearest station to Eckartsau. He then arranged for a small seven-man British Military Police escort. He returned to Renner’s office, to find him already standing up. Renner had demands. He said that the Emperor and Empress would have to be searched before they could leave. Strutt said that would not do, swearing “in the name of the British Government” that they would take nothing that was not their own property. The Chancellor then declared that he would send a “High Commissioner” to oversee their departure. Strutt saw this as an attempt

by Renner to exert his authority over his erstwhile Sovereign. The Colonel calmly replied that he could send his representative if he like, but at the first sign of difficulty, he would personally shoot him! That was the end of that.

The next day, Strutt returned to make various final arrangements. He was called to see Renner once more.

But Strutt had taken Renner’s measure; composing a telegram to London, he put it in his pocket. When Strutt arrived, Renner declared that Charles must abdicate at once or be thrown into prison. Strutt said nothing but pulled out the draft and laid it in front of the Chancellor, who read: “Austrian Government refuses permission for departure of Emperor unless he abdicates. Consequently, give orders to re-establish blockade and stop all food trains entering Austria.” It was a complete bluff, of course; the British would never have done such a thing, and if they would have, Strutt was hardly in a position to order such a measure.

Renner shrieked “Grosser Gott!” Then the Chancellor said, “All right, he can go!” “Without any conditions?”

“Yes,” Renner said sulkily. Charles was leaving as Emperor. The last dinner the Imperial family enjoyed at Eckartsau – and indeed, in Austria – featured an official menu, as every dinner there had. Despite the elegance thereof, the listed main dish bore witness to the catch-as-catch can diet the family had lived on there: Filets de gibier variées – “filets of assorted game.” The train

started up, and as Strutt reported in his diary, “…as we steamed off a sort of low moan went up from the crowd.”

The three went to the middle saloon car, and Charles said sadly, “After 700 years,” followed by “Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in you!” Later, Zita said, “My family has been exiled from France, Italy, and Portugal. When I married, I became an Austrian subject, and am now an exile from Austria.

Colonel Strutt, tell me, to what country do I now belong?” To that the usually unflappable officer had no response, and the couple retired for the night.

The next morning, the Court chaplain offered Mass on the train.

At Innsbruck they stopped briefly. At Imst they stopped once more to get a mountain train attached, and a small squad of British soldiers (Honorable Artillery Company) presented arms on the platform. The Emperor changed into civilian clothes, they crossed the Rhine into Switzerland, and at 3:45 steamed into Buchs. Strutt bade the Imperial Family farewell at the Swiss border. But he was not yet finished with them.

After serving a few months as Allied High Commissioner for the Free City of Danzig in 1920, Strutt was summoned by the Emperor the following year to his Swiss exile to help plan Charles’ first solo attempt to retake the Hungarian.

Strutt scouted out various pathways, acquired forged documents, and accomplished various other tasks. After the Emperor’s abortive second attempt on restoration the following autumn with Zita, Strutt stayed with their children in Switzerland to ensure their safety, and kept parents and children informed of each other’s doings until the clan reunited in their Madeiran exile, where Bl Charles would die the following year.

Strutt’s exertions on their behalf led to his resigning his commission.

Despite his age, in 1922 he organised the second Mount Everest expedition, and spent the rest of his life devoted to his wife, the Church, and the Alpine Club, for whom he was a long-term president and editor, resigning in 1938. He would die a decade later in Edinburgh; his widow survived him. Years later, Charles’ eldest son, the Archduke Otto, was asked if he hated the British, given the role they had played in his father’s downfall.

Smiling, he responded, “Well, I could – but then, there was Strutt!”

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COMMENT

Philomena and the Curé of Ars Mary O’Regan remembers her favourite saint

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have a thorny question for the Curé of Ars, St Jean Marie Vianney, one of the most remarkable parish priests to have ever lived. I’d love to ask him if he had any regrets about how he tried to micromanage the marvels worked by his beloved St Philomena.

During the Curé’s 41 years of ministry in the remote hamlet of Ars in Eastern France, he became known as a grand miracle worker, but he refused credit and said the miracles seen in Ars were the work of the virgin-martyr Philomena, who was beheaded under Diocletian. But while he loved Philomena dearly, there was a time when he tried to dictate the kind of miracles she worked among the multitude who came as pilgrims to his church. He wanted her to prioritise the conversion of those sick in soul as opposed to those sick in body, and he was even known to say, ‘She must cure souls before all else’. Once the Curé even forbade Philomena outright from healing the physically ill while they were in Ars. Then a disabled child called on Philomena and got back the full use of her limbs. To the Curé’s consternation this was the talk of Ars and he griped: “St Philomena has broken her word, she should have cured the child elsewhere.”

The Curé also tried to keep Philomena to a timetable, asking that she cure people when they got home! When someone began a novena to Philomena, the Curé asked her to heal them during the last days of the novena, when it was Philomena’s

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way to answer them on the first day. The gaunt-faced Curé and Philomena were close friends, even familiars. Once a parishioner crept up behind the Curé and overheard him talking with Our Lady.

Afterwards the Curé said, “With the Holy Virgin and with St Philomena, we know each other pretty well.” Yet he disliked the fact that miraculous cures of the body took all the attention from souls being converted to Christ. I think, however, this was a better situation than the one that has held sway over the past six decades, during which people have utterly doubted Philomena is a saint and failed to ask her help. She is my favourite saint and I grieve for those who do not know her.

Alongside the Curé, other luminaries and great saints have highly esteemed Philomena. I interviewed a disciple of Padre Pio’s who quoted Pio as saying, “St Philomena is the Princess of Heaven”.

Pio also stated firmly that Philomena is a saint and that “the confusion is the work of the devil”. It is noteworthy that Pio was so declarative, honouring Philomena as being a royal in Heaven, because Philomena was the object of Diocletian’s obsession. The blood-thirsty emperor wanted Philomena for his bride, and had she accepted she would have been Empress of the Roman Empire. When she spurned Diocletian’s marriage proposals, he had her murdered.

Her relics remained hidden for many centuries, but in 1802 they were discovered in the Catacombs of Priscilla.

In the decades that followed, her cult attracted a dizzying variety of devotees.

Popes Gregory XVI, Leo XII, Leo XIII, Pius IX and Pius X were in awe of her. St Damien of Molokai was greatly devoted to Philomena, and the church where he had his ministry to lepers was named in her honour. Blessed Bartolo Longo enjoyed Philomena’s favour. Blessed Anna-Maria Taigi’s granddaughter, Peppina, suffered a terrible injury to her eye and the doctors despaired of her recovery. Anna Maria blessed Peppina with the oil of St Philomena and her eye was miraculously restored. St Peter Julian Eymard, St Peter Chanel, St Hannibal Mary, St John Nepomucene, Mother Cabrini, St Madeleine Sophie Barat and St Geltrude Comensoli were all amazed by how Philomena answered their prayers.

Of all her ardent followers, the one who owed most to Philomena was the Curé of Ars. He may have tried to stop her curing bodies, but even he must have been grateful when she cured him of an illness that would otherwise have been fatal. In 1843, 25 years into his time at Ars, the Curé fell ill and was diagnosed with pneumonia.

He was given the Last Rites. He asked that Mass be offered in St Philomena’s honour and at the exact moment Mass was being offered, the Curé was healed.

Catacombs where Philomena was found

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WINE

Enchanted Country Sebastian Morello on the pleasures of Chianti

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ver since members of the English aristocracy started travelling through the area in the 17th century, in their attempt to recapture the religious and cultural treasury they had lost at the Reformation, the Chianti Hills have captivated the Anglo-Saxon mind. Grand touring nobles found in that enchanting countryside a landscape sufficiently different from what they knew to enthral them, and sufficiently like what they knew to console them.

Those rolling hills covered with cypresses, vines, and olives trees, with ancient terracotta villas dotted about, warmed the hearts of English romantics, and have continued to do so ever since.

To this day, the speaking of beagle packs can be heard on the weekends, and gentlemen wear hunting pinks when riding to hounds. Most importantly, the wines of the region immediately agreed with the palate of the English, and among those today who split their time between there and their native Albion, it is known as ‘Chiantishire’.

The Chianti wine zone is now big, very big, but the original zone that was established in 1716, almost exactly halfway between Florence and Siena, remains well-defined and produces perhaps Italy’s finest wine: Chianti Classico. It is important to know and understand the distinction between Chianti and Chianti Classico, for there is a significant qualitative difference between them. The latter is made under much stricter conditions, and is generally a deeper, more complex, subtle, elegant, balanced, more teasingly tannic, less tart wine, with a longer finish. It often benefits, it should be noted, from a little aging. Chianti Classico is nearly always a blend dominated by top-quality Sangiovese (some are 100% Sangiovese), aged in oak, with a life-expectancy of ten to fifteen years. It is easy to spot a Chianti Classico, as it always has the famous Black Cockerel on the label of the bottle.

The (likely apocryphal) story of the Black Cockerel of Chianti is rather interesting. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Florence and Siena were

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at war, and both sought control of the Chianti Hills (frankly, I sympathise with them: if one is going to fight, let it at least be over vines). The constant battling, however, eventually grew tiresome. To bring the dispute to an end and finally settle the territories of the warring cities once and for all, it was decided that, on an appointed day, a Florentine knight and a Sienese knight would ride out from their respective cities at daybreak, fixing the boundary between the two cities wherever they happened to meet.

The rule for both knights was that they could not begin riding before the cockerel’s crow at sunrise. The people of Siena chose a white cockerel and the Florentines chose a black cockerel.

In the days preceding the race, the Sienese let their cockerel roam free and treated it with whatever it wanted until it became fat and greedy, whereas the Florentines kept their bird in a small,

dark cage and gave it no food. On the day of the race, the black cockerel was so hungry that it woke up early and made a terrible racket in the hope of obtaining something to eat, crowing well ahead of dawn. This allowed the Florentine knight, well within the rules of the race, to leave his city while - fifty miles away the Sienese knight slept soundly.

Thanks to his head start, the Florentine knight met his opponent in Fonterutoli, just seven miles away from Siena. For centuries thereafter, Florence controlled nearly all the Chianti territory, leaving the Republic of Siena to expand southwards (until Siena was captured by the Spanish in 1555 and immediately given to Florence by King Philip II to pay off his debts to the Medici).

The Chianti Hills have always - as one can well imagine from the story above been deeply connected with Florentine history, and consequently with the history of our whole Western civilisation.

In those hills, Dante wandered contemplating eternal punishment, temporary purgation, and infinite beatitude; St Catherine entered mystical matrimony with the Saviour; Pico della Mirandola considered the dignity of man while in excommunication, the Medici planned their financial takeover, Savonarola imagined a Florentine New Jerusalem, and Machiavelli played cards in the taverns and plotted the corruption of political science. This region is inseparably bound up with so much of what we identify as our civilisation and its history, and Chianti wine lets us visit those hills by travelling through the bottle, like meeting a friend via Zoom.

I recommend Marks & Spencer’s Poggio Tosco Chianti Classico Riserva. It is a jolly nice red at an affordable price (£12 a bottle). This Chianti Classico is a wellbalanced, well-oaked, full-bodied blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Canaiolo, and the dominant Sangiovese. Stuffed with cherry, blackberry, chocolate, vanilla, and spicey hints, this wine - as you might expect - goes very well with anything Italian, especially lasagne or a sourdough-based pepperoni pizza. Buon appetito!

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FEATURE

Chideock Pilgrimage Maurice Quinn reports on the Latin Mass Society’s Pilgrimage to Our Lady Queen of Martyrs & St Ignatius, Chideock, Dorset, in the Presence of the Rt Rev. Mark O’Toole, Bishop of Plymouth.

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eautiful sunshine greeted pilgrims on the morning of Saturday, 16 October as they gathered at the beautiful and historic Church of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs & St Ignatius at Chideock in Dorset. They had come to this gem of English Catholicism to gather with the Rt Rev. Mark O’Toole, Bishop of Plymouth, to attend a Traditional High Mass in honour of the seven Chideock men – three priests and four laymen who were cruelly put to death for their Catholic faith between 1587 and 1642, whereas an eighth, John Jessop, died in prison.

This was the first Traditional Latin High Mass to be celebrated in this church that anyone can remember and was certainly the first in the presence of a bishop of the diocese, being also the first time that Canons of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest had been invited to officiate.

At the request of the Latin Mass Society (Plymouth), the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was offered for the intention of vocations to the sacred ministry, and, for

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this purpose, every pilgrim entering the church was given a Chideock Martyrs prayer card.

On the sanctuary, clergy of the Institute were in abundance, where Canon Tanner (newly appointed Prior of the Shrine Church of Holy Angels in Torquay) was celebrant, assisted

by Canon Poucin (New Brighton) as Deacon, and Abbé Carlisle (Holy Angels’ Shrine) as Subdeacon - all three wearing beautiful red vestments loaned by the Carmelite nuns at Lanherne Covent in Cornwall.

On the Throne sat Bishop Mark O’Toole, with two Institute Assistants at his side, Canon Scott Smith and Abbé Patryk (Lanherne). Also sitting in choir was Mgr Keith Mitchell, PP of Bridport, and Fr Martin Budge, former PP of Our Lady’s, Marnhull. Overseeing the ceremony was MC Abbé Jacquet (New Brighton), with a serving team consisting of thurifer Matt Villa Real, acolytes Raphael Oliver and Joseph Miller, and torchbearers Alajandro and Oliver Proctor. Organist and choirmaster

Andrew Proctor was ably assisted by choir members Dr Mary Coghill, Suzette Glover, Dr Andrew Beards, John Tristram and Charles Bradshaw, all of whom sang the Propers of the Mass of Many Martyrs.

Before Bishop Mark gave the homily, he publicly and officially welcomed the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest into the diocese where they have been ministering at Lanherne for some time and have recently arrived in Torquay, where their presence is already

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FEATURE being felt. His Lordship then went on to speak about the bravery and fidelity to the Catholic Faith of the Chideock Martyrs, linking this to the increasing persecution of Christians, especially against Catholics, that we are witnessing throughout the world today.

Just a few feet away from where he stood, in what used to be the loft of an old barn now accessed via the sacristy, is where Holy Mass was offered in secret during penal times by priests and local Catholics in great fear of their lives, and where Bishop Mark prayed quietly before Holy Mass contemplating the sacrifices of those people ever faithful to Our Lord and His church.

His Lordship reminded us that even today, in the 21st century, many innocent people throughout the world - men, women and children - have suffered, and still suffer martyrdom for following Christ.

After the homily, the beauty of the ancient ceremony continued, being enhanced by the seamless and expert movement of celebrant, deacon and subdeacon around the altar under the ever-watchful eyes of the MC and the attentive servers. It was a moving experience to observe the procession of communicants kneel on the lower step of the sanctuary – still shrouded in incense - to receive Our Lord on the tongue in a reverent and dignified manner as the choir in the loft sang the beautiful strains of ‘Panis Angelicus’.

At the end of Mass and after the final blessing, Bishop Mark, clergy and servers left the sanctuary in procession

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as they had entered it, but this time with the congregation raising the roof by singing ‘Faith of our Fathers’.

During the course of the day, pilgrims had ample time to visit the secret Mass chamber in the loft with its wall paintings, and to admire the unusually decorated sacristy, where one can view a chair that once belonged to Chideock Martyr Fr Hugh Green. They could also quietly tour Our Lady Queen of Martyrs & St Ignatius church with its paintings and artwork.

There was time also to take in the museum with its fascinating array of artifacts, photographs, drawings and articles relating to the Chideock

Martyrs; see the once proud castle that overlooked the village, read of the Arundell and Weld families and their part in the history of the area, and, of course, to enjoy lunch with friends both old and new.

A long day for many pilgrims, closure could only come after Veneration of the Relics when, lunch over, with Canon Tanner officiating, people once again approached the sanctuary to kneel quietly and reverently on the lower step to kiss the reliquary, and, by this simple gesture, each person closed the day’s spiritual journey to Chideock, and headed for home.

Photos by John Aron

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CROSSWORD Clues Across 1 Soldiers along with the Swiss Guards in the 19thc. protecting the Papacy (7) 5 See 4 Down 8 With ‘Chi’ a symbol of Christ (3) 9 Decorated screens behind altars (9) 10 Reason for innocence in criminal inquiry (5) 11 Acknowledgement of transgressions in the Mass (9) 14 Cathedral undergoing restoration after terrible fire of 15 April 2019 (5-4) 18 See 4 Down 21 Clerical skullcap, colour denoting rank (9) 22 Open country of Linden in Vaughan Williams’ classic song (3) 23 Early Saint, Virgin Martyr named in the Canon of the Mass (5) 24 The Homer epic poem about Greek hero of Trojan War wandering home (7)

Alan Frost: October 2021

ANSWERS TO AUTUMN 2021 CROSSWORD

Across: 1 Dominic 5 Rufus 8 Mal 9 Wool Trade 10 Sicut 11 Ephesians 14 Speedwell 18 Viner 21 Astronaut 22 Ars 23 Sheba 24 Sorcery Down: 1 Damascus 2 Moloch 3 Newstead 4 Croagh 5 Rita 6 Flavia 7 Shem 12 Salvator 13 Sacristy 15 Eostre 16 Emmaus 17 Innate 19 Bass 20 Goya

Clues Down 1 Francisco de, 17th c. painter of religious works, known as ‘the Spanish Caravaggio’ (8) 2 The eponymous title of St Thomas More’s book about an idealistic island (6) 3 Short sung statement by celebrant with response from congregation (8) 4, 18 & 5 Across: Blessed are the crossword solvers, they shall find answers! [after Matt. 5ff] (6,2,3,5) 5 The Canal du ---- links Toulouse to the Mediterranean (4) 6 Relating to an animal of the coat of arms of Pope Benedict XVI (6) 7 Russian News Agency founded in St Petersburg over a century ago (4) 12 System and practice of political and socio-economic theory (8) 13 Herb that might evoke association with Our Lady (8) 15 Coming from or relating to region around Florence (6) 16 Early Pope met St Wilfred of York, countered major heresy, known as ‘Thaumaturgus’ (6) 17 Medieval writing tool going back to the Romans (6) 19 Scribe, priest and Book of the O.T. (4) 20 Sound nature of a sage’s questions! (4)

Entries for the winter 2021 competition should be sent to the Latin Mass Society, 11-13 Macklin Street, London WC2B 5NH or scanned and emailed to info@lms.org.uk, to arrive before Friday 10th December 2021.

The winner of the autumn 2021 competition is Mr Down of Lancashire, who wins a copy of Traditional Prayers for Christmastide.

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Sponsor a slate and help save St Walburge’ Shrine Church!

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t Walburge's Shrine Church in Preston has been awarded a £252,210 grant by Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales (from English Heritage) for urgent roof repairs to “ensure that the magnificent historic building lives on for centuries to come". This will pay for the first phase of repair work to the huge roof, coverings and gutter linings. The Canons and parishioners are deeply grateful.

St Walburge's is one of the most important mid-19th century churches in Britain.

Exceptionally rich in detail and massive in scale, it is an architectural gem with an early Grade I listing. The building, designed by Joseph Hansom is the largest non-cathedral Catholic church in the country and is famous for having the tallest spire (309 ft) of any parish church in England.

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The interior, which seats around 1,000, is 165ft long by 55ft. It boasts a spectacular hammerbeam roof supported by 14 hammerbeam trusses and wall brackets bearing life-size statues of saints.

Rainwater leakage is causing serious damp and rot, ruining the church’s fabric and contents, even threatening the magnificent roof structure. This rapid deterioration has been caused by severe weather, numerous slipped slates, poor condition of the nails, as well as lack of maintenance. There is extensive ‘nail fatigue’ where the ferrous nails have begun to corrode and fail. Slates are deteriorating through age.

The grant will enable the first phase of repair work to start this November. However, the Church needs to raise £75,000 match-funding. The Church is promoting a “sponsor a slate” campaign as well as many other fund-raising events, but outside help is urgently needed.

For more information please go to icksp.org.uk/preston/support-our-apostolate-in-lancashire/ Bank account: 52347733 Sort Code: 40-10-22

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