Vocations video...

...like most students I can trawl the internet for hours, looking at all sorts of nonsensical rubbish, however, recently I came across quite a good video. It’s a vocations video for the Archdiocese of New York, with extracts from a homily of the new Archbishop of New York, Most Rev. Timothy Dolan.

I realise that the US Dioceses have a lot more money than our Diocese but seriously, where are our truly inspirational/mind blowing vocations videos?! On second thought, where are our truly inspirational/mind blowing bishops?

Walls...

Readers! Your help is required; my walls are plain and boring, what I need is something for the walls. If you know of any websites where one can buy appropriate images please comment! (by 'appropriate' I mean religious prints)

I hope you are all well, stay tuned for regular postings!

In Domino

It's official...

the Holy See has announced the new Archbishop of Birmingham (England and Wales' second see)

"Il Santo Padre ha nominato Arcivescovo Metropolita di Birmingham (Inghilterra) S.E. Mons. Bernard Longley, finora Vescovo titolare di Zarna ed Ausiliare di Westminster."

Huzzah! The Holy Father had nominated the Rt. Rev Bernard Longley for the See of Birmingham! A self professed 'conservative' I get the impression from a few blogs I've read that he is the favourite of those who are orthodox.

"What are the seven things that we, as Catholics, want or would like to see happen?"

I was "memed" in a blog post recently (well in the last few months) as a result of that I shall try and do as requested by the blogger.

So here goes;

1. Male Altar Servers - You may say this is sexist of me, but I genuinely believe that the 'corps' of altar servers should be all male. It is a fact that the role of altar server leads many young men to discern the possibility of a vocation to the Priesthood; woman can never be ordained priests.

2. A sensible distance between the hands of the celebrant during the opening prayer, Eucharistic prayer, Pater Noster and post-Communion prayer. None of this "I believe I can fly" rubbish [picture to follow].

3. Every parish church (in England and Wales... actually universally) offering both 'forms' of the Mass.

4. A return to beautiful vestments and the abolition of 'over-lay' stoles.

5. Priests wearing cassocks (even if it's just worn during the Mass, or when they're in a church) and religious wearing their habits.

[A note on habits especially women’s Religious Orders; a return to the habit of the founder, not the post-Vatican II dress]

6. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in EVERY parish.

7. Priests not just saying the Mass but praying it! Taking the time to prayerfully recite the Order of the Mass, and not doing a rushed job!

Most of these seem to be liturgical, but as an Altar Server you do notice liturgical abuses more than most other things.[exactly what i'm on about! "I believe I can fly"]

UN and the special status of the Tango...

Wow. It's nice to know that the UN can use it's time and resources well by deciding that the Tango is deserving of a 'special status'.

It's just a pity there haven't been any world disasters recently!

[note the sarcasm]

Politics and University

An important decision is to be made next year by each and every Briton eligible to vote. We are now well and truly in the conference ‘season’ with it being half way through the Labour Party conference, on the whole, it does seem quite dull; the same old rhetoric being trawled out. I firmly believe that the most exciting conference will come next week, is it too early to call Mr. Cameron the Prime Minister-elect?!

It appears that so far one party is coming out above the rest, for the Tories to win it’d take a massive swing, I believe it’s going to be a very interesting few months!

Moving on...

I am now a student of Cardiff University, my goodness how different it is! It can be argued that the university itself fails by the fact it is not a “campus” university, but what it lacks in that department it makes up for in the courses it offers and the quality of the lecturers!

This semester I am studying; Greek, Beliefs in the Crucible (from what I can gather it’s about the development of some Christian doctrines) and Monotheism: from Moses to Freud. It looks like it’s going to be an interesting semester!

St Therese of Lisieux and much more!

Well, where to begin?! What a week...

Firstly, I am now connected with the world via the internet, yes that's right! Finally! I am back and will hopefully be blogging regularly!

The visit of the relics of St Therese of the Child Jesus has taken UK Catholics by storm! The churches where she has visited have been filled with joyful Catholics (and some non-Catholics) seeking inspiration from the Little Flower!

I was blessed, in so much as; I was serving on the sanctuary of St David's Cathedral, Cardiff. 4,000 people are believed to have passed through the Cathedral over the 24 hours that the relics were held at the cathedral. Not only was I fortunate to be present during the masses and benedictions but I also held a private vigil.

How truly fortunate and blessed I felt during those two hours that I prayed in the presence of the relics and of course Our Lord present in the Blessed Sacrament in the Tabernacle. Initially I couldn't think of what to do, this was my first time of keeping a vigil of any sort, I clutched my Rosary beads in one hand and prayed the Glorious Mysteries. After I had finished that I fell to my knees and talked to the Little Flower.

Know that all my readers have been in my prayers whilst I have been away and I prayed for you in particular during my private vigil.

In Domino