Modern technology.

Modern technology. This “phrase” conjures up so many thoughts and so much feeling. Mobile phones, computers, television, the internet etc... they all fall into the collect idea of “modern technology.” You are reading this blog because of two of the “modern technologies” mentioned by me namely; computers and the internet.

My question is; do we rely too much on it? Have we forgotten what *real* silence is?

I was listening to a homily today; the homilist was a Franciscan Friar of the Immaculate. He spoke briefly about today’s Saint; St. Teresa of Avila. He spoke of her vocation, what she was eventually called to do. But he spoke about what lead to this, a life of prayer. A life of silent prayer.

It is hard for many of us to pray during the day, harder still if the television/radio/computer is on; if we have an e-mail we have to send to someone or a phone call which has to be made by the end of the day. “I can always pray later” I often tell myself, I usually forget, but when i do eventually pray he who is always ready to listen is attentive, He never goes away, I praise him for staying close!

Too often our lives are filled with ‘hustle’ and ‘bustle’ how are we supposed to hear the Lord if we don’t take a few minutes out of our day to sit in silence, before a lit candle, crucifix or even the Blessed Sacrament, if you’re fortunate enough to live close enough to a church with regular adoration? The answer for many of us is we don’t or we can’t.

I beg, beseech and implore you to take the time, as the friar said in his homily, set aside a few minutes of your day, every day, for prayerful reflection.

St Teresa of Ávila
pray for us

Flat blessing!

The flat blessing took place on Sunday 11th October. Canon Peter presided over a short ceremony in which he blessed all 4 'rooms' including the hall. He then stayed for a cup of tea and some cake.

I plan to take a photo of the focal point of the flat, It will be posted sometime soon.

In Domino

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]