A resource for the renewal

I would like to recommend a Liturgical resource which we use in our College Masses at Campion. By flowing waters: Chant for the Liturgy (Collegeville Liturgical Press, Minnesota, 1999), seeks to re-establish Chant in the Mass. This resource has greatly developed the way that we sing the Mass at Campion, for it offers a real way of reclaiming aspects of Liturgical tradition in the reformed Rite. The Council asked that Gregorian chant for the Latin liturgies be augmented. What has been achieved by the authors of this resource is “not some radical innovation but the sound recovery of a sound tradition: song integrated into the Liturgy, song not beyond the capacity of an ordinary gathering of Catholic Christians, song following both the Hebrew and the Christian legacy of the psalms of David.” The history of chant reveals that “the original Greek and Latin words themselves created the music that was meant to convey them to the heart and then to express the heart’s fullness.” This resource intends “to allow the music which expressed the meaning of the original words … to convey the same meaning to those who speak English … and to let these ancient tones become the tunes to carry [the new English translations].” We are very grateful to both our Choir Master and the Campion Schola for their part in leading us in music in the celebration of the Mass.

Thanks to donors this pilgimage took place

A few days after having arrived back in the UK for Christmas, Fr Julian and myself, together with three other priests led twenty two young men on pilgimage to Ars and Paray-le-Monial in France. We even had a fellow Sydneysider with us on this occasion!

We are very grateful to those of you who supported this pilgimage finantially. We received donations totalling approximately £1000. These gifts enabled us to subsidise some of the lads and also to hire a coach when we arrived in France.

When priests and young people get-together or take part in a pilgrimage, it is such a fruitful moment for the Church. Each one of us, whether still discerning our vocation, or endeavouring to live it more fully, received so much, especially from the powerful company of St John Vianney.

Our pilgrimage enabled us to spend so much time together and to have time for prayer. As we usually do, we spent a day in Paray and visited again the Chapel of St John for a holy hour.

Returning from France on 23rd December as the snow began to fall over Europe we encountered not unexpected delays. Nonetheless, we were able to provide some respite to fellow travellers at Lyon Airport with Carols, and then by joining together to celebrate Vespers.

All being well, we will repeat the pilgrimage this coming December.

40 Days for Life

Just before Christmas a group of young people in Sydney were inspired to initiate plans for a Vigil for Life, this coming Lent, outside the down-town abortuary in Sydney. The Vigil begins on Ash Wednesday and concludes on Palm Sunday. During the day the Vigil will be held outside the Abortuary, and during the night the Vigil will be held, before the Blessed Sacrament, in a newly dedicated chapel just by the Abortuary. I will be taking part in this grace-led initiative. Please visit a new blog-site for more information: http://www.40dayssydney.blogspot.com/

The photo below shows some of the organisers together with the Vigil's patron, Bishop Porteous, one of Cardinal Pell's auxiliaries.

In the deep midwinter

Sorry to be so long getting back, but I am back in Sydney after over-wintering in England; a little jet-lug, but otherwise well-fettled.

This photo of me was taken in mid January in Birmingham University Campus. The snow we had was magnificent, covering the whole country and lasting for about three weeks. I don't remember snow like this since I was a child. Now that I'm back I'll try to do some ordered and pertinent posts.

The wrong venue

Should the Holy Father beatify Cardinal Newman at Wembley Stadium? No, of course not. Remember what John Henry Newman gave up in life and what he embraced; the challenges he faced, the greatest thinker which England has produced in centuries and the learning he gave to the Church. His beatification is not a stadium event, but is an event of great dignity. What about Westminster Cathedral, or St Chad's or the Oratory in Birmingham, or Oscott College?

There is a major blog-gap coming up now as I take a break over Christmas. I'll be back later in January.

Spirit of the age

Recently, I have been in conversations with a number of young people on the subject of Richard Dawkins, whose secular brief is puzzling many. The comment which I made in these conversations was that Dawkins is a product of this age and, as such, we shouldn't be at all surprised by his approach.

In the contemporary age we have become estranged from the Great Mystery - that God wants us to share His life. In the new, abberative, vision of life, our spirits have been relegated to the domaign of psychology and our bodies have been likened not with God, but with animals. Dawkins proposal is entirely in keeping with this age - that our bodies do not receive life from the Spirit, and that man ceases to live as a person but is engaged in a battle for existence, the desperate search for gain.

With modern rationalism being so opposed to the mystery of man as the image and likeness of God, it is only fitting that this human project should throw up its public advocate. However, Dawkins will not be able to prevent the Wedding from taking place, for our Redeemer is the Bridgroom - the primordial and unique source of human life and love.

Up close

Recently in the skies above Sydney a small plane was writing in smoke. I captured a part of its progress on camera. Eventually the words read "Jesus is Life", then it went on to write "Jesus is Lord", before beginning a third phrase which I didn't have time to see. A good sign.

Another day, on the outskirts of Sydney, while out walking, I came upon a herd of wild Kangaroos - my first encounter. They let me approach to within 30 ft of the female with the joey in her pouch. The presence of two huge males in the centre of the herd convinced me to come no closer.

Community and reality

Everyday we are subjected to oppressive demands from the artificiality which characterises our societies. Today, climate change and its corresponding taxation are leading us to focus our lives upon an idea of human community as a basis for living, traditionally advocated by socialists, and further away from the essential basis of human community.

Any idea of human community, when placed next to the actual reality of human community, will always be somewhat unreal. Human community does not lie 'out there', but has its origin and its essence in the family. Nor is there a tax owed to governments for this essential human endeavour. Our contemporary societies are misplacing their focus.

The Gospel, on the other hand, invites us to consider all our relationships as agencies of Christ - how can we be brothers, sisters, fathers and mothers to each other. Such a call applies to the whole social community, but most of all it applies to the family. Here, and not in the Committees of the State, do we find the whole focus of human community.
Aidan Nichols in his book "Christendom Awake" has a superb chapter entitled "A society of households", in which he presents the foundational truth about all political and social life. How, for instance, this first community can live in such a way that it respects the order and providence of creation, living frugally and always seeking God's light. In Australia for instance, a third of women have had an abortion. How unreal is that!

The advocates of the global community and governments who apply more and more tax are not the leaders we need in the world right now. We should not allow our focus to be diverted by political trends or neuroses. We need leaders who will lead us to rediscover our identity as human beings, created and redeemed, and to grow in our family relationships first. Christian spouses - may God bless and lead you all!

Following up

Fr Percy and myself invited the iwitness leadership team round to the seminary last night for a little reunion in the wake of the iwitness congress. Not all the team were available, but seven of the team were able to come. Thanks are due to them for making the iwitness initiative a reality in the lives of so many young people.

A Congress of the young Church

iwitness 2009 - a congress for young Catholics was a very impressive event. Held at Collaroy, overlooking one of Sydney's northern beaches, it drew 250 young people from around Sydney as well as a small number from other states. It reminded me of the many Youth 2000 festivals which I have been a part of in the UK in the past. The Liturgy however, at iwitness was a few steps up from that of Y2K.

iwitness (2008) was created last year by a group of young people as a spontaneous response to World Youth Day in Sydney; young people stepping forward as a new generation of leaders and enabling others to become leaders too. School-leavers, uni students, graduates and those newly employed took part, all seeking a richer life of faith in the Catholic Church for themselves and their peers. iwitness is just one way in which young people in Sydney have responded to Yorld Youth Day and which has been embraced by the Church. The Cardinal was interviewed, on the last evening of the Congress, by the youngest participant, Tom. Bishop Porteous came on the last day to celebrate Mass for the delegates. A range of speakers came and delivered some very impressive and well received talks. The days were punctuated by prayer. A very fitting adoration chapel was established, with the Blessed Sacrament exposed from late evening till early morning each night.

On the Saturday afternoon we all took part in the iwitness pilgrimage. Teams of young people pitting themselves against one another in a range of outdoor challenges. It fell to me to administrate the hilarious Thunder Volleyball challenge - using water-filled balloons. Behind me was the Water Slide and, to the front, a panoramic view over the Pacific.

We are all extremely grateful to the iwitness organising team for what you have given to the Church in Australia. You have begun something very powerful here which God is using to build up His Church. What a tremendous place for young people to come together to encounter Christ and His Church, to spend time with one another. This is one of the finest Catholic events for young people that I have taken part in. Thank you!

Pressing on

The academic year might have finished but it's full steam ahead for the young Church. Last week I took part in a week-long parish mission - the Parish of Christ the King, Sydney - which lead me into schools, to house visiting, to street evangelisation and to address the parish on the subject of the Church's call to mission.
Also, a month-long residential formation course has begun on the outskirts of the city, the third time this course has been held. The course looks to form young people for the life of the Church in Sydney. The other day I gave some teaching to the young people on the subject of the New Evangelisation.

Last night, I took part in a end of term thanksgiving event for the "Theology on Tap" group. This group, which is inspired lead by young people, has created a new context for the formation of young Catholics in the Sydney area. There was much to celebrate as a lot of hard work goes into holding the monthly TOT sessions. Here I am below pictured with Fr Percy and some of the Nashville Dominican Sisters. We were joined by many of the Capuchin Novices from Sydney.

This coming weekend I shall be taking part in the iWitness Conference, also in Sydney. Again, this is organised by young Catholics and will be the second such conference to be held in the wake of WYDSYD.

New season

On a separate, but not unimportant, note Australia produces a very fine apricot harvest; it is just in season and I have made a magnificent batch (18 jars) of apricot and blanched almond jam. It is exquisite. (The bottle at the end got in the pic by mistake. It was a superb Cabernet Sauvignon from Coonawarra - "Craftsman".)

A year ends

Yesterday saw the final day of the Academic Year at Campion College. The celebrations began with many from the College community, together with family members and friends, taking part in a Sung Mass on the campus. After the Mass, and after drinks and canapes on the lawn, we took part in a formal dinner under canvass. During the meal, which was puntuated by a number of speeches and tributes, someone commented: "What could be better than eating outdoors in summer, in Sydney, in the evening sunshine!" The celebrations were a very fitting culmination to the fourth year of the life of Australia's first Catholic Liberal Arts College. May the College go from strength to strength. But for now - the holidays beckon!

The Manhattan Declaration

I recommend that you take a look at the the site and sign this magnificent declaration:

http://manhattandeclaration.org/

The number of signaturies was 157251 when I signed.

Can Christians be pagans?

Practically speaking, yes. Paganism is essentially about me; old-fashioned selfishness, me first. Christianity on the other hand, is about God and what He is doing. Being a man or being a woman is a part of what God has done and is doing. There is no difference between the dignity of man and of woman, but both express, and are called to express, the way in which we relate with one another and with God. Men, by being masculine, express the way in which God relates with man; women, by being feminine, express the way in which man relates with God. Which is it better to be: man or woman? This question is, of course, absurd. The one doesn't have a dignity greater than the other, but both are called to submit themselves to the order which the Creator has established. According to Brant Pitre, the most masculine words ever spoken were: "This is my body, given for you", and the most feminine words ever spoken were: "Be it done unto me according to your word". Christ, in these words, reveals what it is to be a man. Mary, in her words, reveals what it is to be a woman. The love God has for us He has inscribed in our very nature. Women seeking the priesthood is like Eve reaching out to take the Divine Life for herself rather than waiting to receive it. Taking it for herself, rather than receiving it. The contemporary confusion over what it means to be a man or a woman, especially with regard to the question of women priests and civil unions, is a form of paganism, for it is a rejection of the prerogative of God and of His plan of love for us. The mission that men have to image God, and the mission that women have to image humanity, goes right to the heart of human life before God. To do away with these missions is to set ourselves up in defiance of God and to live in way which does not image God's plan for us, but our own plan, which of old set us against Him.

Down in the flood

"Now when the king heard these words, he was astonished and sore moved: whereupon he laid him down upon his bed, and fell sick for grief, because it had not befallen him as he looked for. And there he continued many days: for his grief was ever more and more, and he made account that he should die. Wherefore he called for all his friends, and said unto them, The sleep is gone from mine eyes, and my heart faileth for very care. And I thought with myself, Into what tribulation am I come, and how great a flood of misery is it, wherein now I am! for I was bountiful and beloved in my power. But now I remember the evils that I did at Jerusalem, and that I took all the vessels of gold and silver that were therein, and sent to destroy the inhabitants of Judea without a cause. I perceive therefore that for this cause these troubles are come upon me, and, behold, I perish through great grief in a strange land." 1 Maccabees 6: 8-13.

England, cherish the baby in the womb. It is already late in the day!

Questions again

The lecture delivered, by Archbishop Williams, at the Gregorian University in Rome two days ago reveals the myth under which much of England has lived for almost half a millenium. Telling the Catholic Church that its refusal to ordain women is an abstacle to Christian unity, is a living sign of just how far gone is the English myth. A myth created by Elizabeth and her father, and embraced by the whole establishment: that the English way, which we have devised for ourselves, is right and proper, just about the best the world can offer, and that everyone should think of giving it a go.

I wonder how God will get through to England again!

2012

What a spectacular movie! I went to see the new 'end of the world' film yesterday and was thoroughly entertained. It contains possibly the best special effects that I have yet seen from Hollywood, although it is very low on acting. Youtube videos of volcanos and tsunamis are paltry in comparison with the way the earth is devastated in '2012'.
However, as a portrayal of the end of the world/age, the makers of this film have got things the wrong way round. In the film, the end of this age ushers in the Kingdom of Man without God, a new world order in which man, liberated from any residual reference to God, can make a fresh start. It is noteworthy that any characters in the film who are still 'tied' to God, in prayer for instance, are all swept away in one of many enormous tsunamis. Only those who 'wisely' rely on themselves survive. It is a film made for a world that is expecting its own judgement.

The truth about the end of the world is quite the opposite of this; God will establish His Kingdom through a total renewal of Creation. For those who rely on Him there will be nothing to fear, for God, and not man nor any other power, will be victorious.

The Great Tribulation, the AntiChrist and the appearing of the Restrainer, are certainly a part of the age in which we are living, but this period of Tribulation cannot prevail against God and the establishment of His Kingdom - which will occur at the end of time. In fact, Satan is already defeated, so what we experience in this age is a Spiritual warfare - that there are forces which are trying to hold out against God, in the face of defeat. The Resurrection of Christ from the dead is the central event of human history, and Christ is offered to us, by God, as the way in which to live during these times. Christ died and rose that God may be all in all. At the end of this age, Christ will destroy all fallen powers, sin and death, and will inaugurate the Kingdom of God: the world made new. Those who have lived in Christ will be raised from the dead, in glory. Their resurrected bodies, and souls, will be subject to God and not to sin. There will be no dishonour, decay, disease or death. We will be free to live complete communion with God and with one another. This age in which we are living is then an age of the testing of human beings - to be for God or against Him, and for our proving in grace.

But it is not at all surprising then, that we should see cultural forms which express a lie about the present age and the age to come, placing human self-affirmation as the essential ingredient of human history, and expressing the spirit of the anti-Christ. Who are these film-makers and Hollywood subject to? To which authority do they submit? God or the anti-Christ.

By the way, our planet is amongst the most stable planets in the known Universe.

Campion on the road

Here at Campion we have a new College mini-bus, appropriately decorated with images of our first Graduating Year together with the central, leafy, College entrance. If you see us out and about on the road, give us a supporting salute!

New England all the way

The final segment of my trip to Brisbane was the return drive down the New England Highway. I set out to drive the 1000 kms between Brisbane and Sydney over two days. Having driven on both the Pacific and New England Highways during this trip, my clear preference now is for the New England. It has much less traffic and takes you through, arguably, finer scenery, climbing up to the tablelands of south Queeensland and into the pastures of New England around Armidale, which reminded me of the rugged terrain of Avila Province in Spain. The road takes you through a number of small country towns, such as Uralla (pictured)- my first real sight of the rural interior of this vast land and its open Bushland.

I stopped overnight in Tamworth, from there the New England drops down into the glorious wine region of the Hunter Valley, and so onto Sydney.

I also saw my first wild Kangaroos, big greys - some of them very big - and lots of them. I was amazed to see how many kangaroo carcasses lay by the side of the road, presumably having been hit by passing vehicles. Some of them were enormous; I wonder what damage they did to the cars that hit them! There was probably a carcass for every kilometre I drove, and yet I imagine that this doesn't make the slightest dint in their population.