You may be forgiven what the title means or just what I am on about - let me explain.
The radio mike has an arial that is encased in plastic. Last week, the plastic coating somehow came off. Last night, before the Vigil Mass, I found the said plastic coating on the sanctuary floor. I will just add that the arial was nothing more than a thin piece of very sharp metal. Whilst replacing the plastic coating the metal arial came through the plastic and embedded itself in the second finger of my right hand - very painful and quite a bit of blood. Not the best thing to happen 7 mins before Mass began!
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Having my hair cut.
This morning I had my hair cut. As usual I told the person cutting my hair "My needs are simple - no2 clippers please"
I have to admit that it had been a few weeks since my last hair cut so it was getting somewhat unkempt. However, I do have deeper reason for getting my hair cut on a regular basis. I'm 52 and my hair is receding and I am somewhat thin on top. I have decided to accept this situation, there is nothing I can do about it, I have to live with it. What I don't want to happen is to be like some men of my age, who are in a similar situation to myself. who let their hair grow long and end up with pony tails. Frankly, they look ridiculous and should know better. They are a constant reminder to me of keeping my hair short.
I have to admit that it had been a few weeks since my last hair cut so it was getting somewhat unkempt. However, I do have deeper reason for getting my hair cut on a regular basis. I'm 52 and my hair is receding and I am somewhat thin on top. I have decided to accept this situation, there is nothing I can do about it, I have to live with it. What I don't want to happen is to be like some men of my age, who are in a similar situation to myself. who let their hair grow long and end up with pony tails. Frankly, they look ridiculous and should know better. They are a constant reminder to me of keeping my hair short.
Friday, July 03, 2009
The best walk on my holiday
I have been away for a couple of weeks in the lovely Lake District. I managed a few walks, the best one was the last. The weather was just about perfect, sunny and warm all day, with a cooling breeze on the mountain tops.
This walk, with my brother Edmund, was Red Screes from the town of Ambleside and a selection of tops. The pics area at
RedscreesandDoveCrag
hope you enjoy them.
This walk, with my brother Edmund, was Red Screes from the town of Ambleside and a selection of tops. The pics area at
RedscreesandDoveCrag
hope you enjoy them.
A plethora of saints today
My first post for ages!
Today I celebrated the Traditional Latin Mass. In the 1962 Missal today is the feast of St Ireneus. I duly learned the Mass the other day ( some long latin words in the proper proved "challenging")In the revised Calendar today is the feast of St Thomas the Apostle. However, I did notice that in the pre 1962 missal I have, today was the feast of St Leo. All a bit confusing. One day, I will try and work out the reasons for the change of date for all these feasts.
Today I celebrated the Traditional Latin Mass. In the 1962 Missal today is the feast of St Ireneus. I duly learned the Mass the other day ( some long latin words in the proper proved "challenging")In the revised Calendar today is the feast of St Thomas the Apostle. However, I did notice that in the pre 1962 missal I have, today was the feast of St Leo. All a bit confusing. One day, I will try and work out the reasons for the change of date for all these feasts.
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
A rather warm walk in the Lake District
Yesterday ( June 1st) I drove to Ambleside in the Lake District. I walked up Scandale Valley to High Sweden Bridge. This is a rather splendid old bridge. I then went up Low Pike, then on to High Pike and on to Dove Crag. By the time I reached Dove Crag I was hot and tired ( there was no cooling breeze on the summits) so I returned to Ambleside via Little Hart Crag and the Scandale Valley.
A couple of of the photos will show an amazing wall that is on the ridge to Dove Crag. It is very old, it has no plaster to keep it together. In fact, whoever built it used the rocks around them and shaped them so the wall would be very sturdy. The wall not only climbs over very steep ground but also goes over crags as well!. I noticed several other walls on the walk. They are a silent tribute to those who built them.
The pics are at Dove Crag
I'm afraid you will have to use copy and paste to see them as I still can't work out how to get the linnk option working properly
A couple of of the photos will show an amazing wall that is on the ridge to Dove Crag. It is very old, it has no plaster to keep it together. In fact, whoever built it used the rocks around them and shaped them so the wall would be very sturdy. The wall not only climbs over very steep ground but also goes over crags as well!. I noticed several other walls on the walk. They are a silent tribute to those who built them.
The pics are at Dove Crag
I'm afraid you will have to use copy and paste to see them as I still can't work out how to get the linnk option working properly
Did they have Celebraty culture problems in Old Testament times...
I rather like this quote from the end of Psalm 11 ( one of the psalms in todays Office of Readings).
"See how the wicked prowl on every side,
while the worthless are prized highly by the sons of men"
We are living in a society that appears to worship media celebs. Yet, one wonders, what have some of these people actually done to achieve to deserve such recognition?? very little in my opinion. Their reputation appears to based upon their alleged talents puffed up "the people around them" What is more, their life styles leave a lot to be desired. Yet, as I said, they have great status and occupy much space in the newspapers and magazines like Hello and OK.
It seems to me that the Psalmist was right!
"See how the wicked prowl on every side,
while the worthless are prized highly by the sons of men"
We are living in a society that appears to worship media celebs. Yet, one wonders, what have some of these people actually done to achieve to deserve such recognition?? very little in my opinion. Their reputation appears to based upon their alleged talents puffed up "the people around them" What is more, their life styles leave a lot to be desired. Yet, as I said, they have great status and occupy much space in the newspapers and magazines like Hello and OK.
It seems to me that the Psalmist was right!
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Pope Benedict keeps my blood pressure under control!
Well, its not what it seems...
Today I had an appointment with the practice nurse with regard to my cholesterol level - that was not too good. However, she also took my blood pressure which was 122/78, which is very good. Whilst waiting I was reading Pope Benedicts book Jesus of Nazareth. I wonder what it would have been if I had been reading The Tablet!...
Today I had an appointment with the practice nurse with regard to my cholesterol level - that was not too good. However, she also took my blood pressure which was 122/78, which is very good. Whilst waiting I was reading Pope Benedicts book Jesus of Nazareth. I wonder what it would have been if I had been reading The Tablet!...
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Michael our Bishop
Better late than never for this blog I supppose.
Last Friday ( May 1st) Bishop Michael Campbell OSA was formally installed as the 6th Bishop of Lancaster in a splendid and solemn Mass. At the the same Mass Bishop O'Donoghue retired. I thought the Mass was very well organised and very beautiful, a good mix of things old and new.
After the Mass there was a reception in the nearby Ashton Hall. During the reception Bishop O'Donoghue was presented with a cheque for £15000.
The only bad note was that during the presentation a quite a few people talked all the way through the speeches by both Bishops. The bad manners and disrespect to the Bishops was appalling in my opinion.
Last Friday ( May 1st) Bishop Michael Campbell OSA was formally installed as the 6th Bishop of Lancaster in a splendid and solemn Mass. At the the same Mass Bishop O'Donoghue retired. I thought the Mass was very well organised and very beautiful, a good mix of things old and new.
After the Mass there was a reception in the nearby Ashton Hall. During the reception Bishop O'Donoghue was presented with a cheque for £15000.
The only bad note was that during the presentation a quite a few people talked all the way through the speeches by both Bishops. The bad manners and disrespect to the Bishops was appalling in my opinion.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Baptism programmes - a cautionary tale from my family history!
Anyone researching their family history will come across mysteries and puzzles - here is one from mine...
Two of my paternal great grandparents were Evan and Mary Anne Holding nee Walmsley. The lived in a village called Wheelton near to Chorley. They were not Catholics. In 1880 they married in Heapy Parish Church, 5 children followed ( one of whom died), they were baptised in the same church. Sometime between 1887 and 1890 they moved to Preston ( God's own town) and lived close the Catholic Church of St Joseph. 0n May 5th 1891 their first 4 living children were baptised and received into the Catholic Church, they had 3 more children, all who were baptised at St Joseph's. As far as I am aware, Evan never became a Catholic - his wife, Mary Anne, only converted on her death bed. I find this not only a puzzle but quite extraordinary. Why did they let their children become Catholics and not change themselves. I have only 2 possible explanation ( or guesses more like!) I do know that Evans mother was a Catholic. Also could it have been proximity to a Catholic Church that influenced them. In the end I don't think I will ever know.
This has given me much food for thought. What would have happened today. Just imagine 2 non - catholic parents going to a priest saying "we want our children baptised -but we are not going to change our religion" Would many priest, catechist etc have welcomed them, or tried to put them off. In many places, they would have gone on a course. It seems to me that we always have to ask ourselves, if we kind of make it difficult for people to have their children baptised are we sometimes denying that the Holy Spirit can indeed work in ways that are way beyond our understanding! Whenever I do a Baptism I sometimes wonder how the same Spirit will work in the lives of all the families present.
Evan and Mary Annes youngest daughter, Elizabeth is my grandmother. I, as a priest, am here because her parents, not Catholics, had their children baptised into the Church. So, maybe that is a possible explanation as to why I find it very difficult to refuse to do a baptism!
Two of my paternal great grandparents were Evan and Mary Anne Holding nee Walmsley. The lived in a village called Wheelton near to Chorley. They were not Catholics. In 1880 they married in Heapy Parish Church, 5 children followed ( one of whom died), they were baptised in the same church. Sometime between 1887 and 1890 they moved to Preston ( God's own town) and lived close the Catholic Church of St Joseph. 0n May 5th 1891 their first 4 living children were baptised and received into the Catholic Church, they had 3 more children, all who were baptised at St Joseph's. As far as I am aware, Evan never became a Catholic - his wife, Mary Anne, only converted on her death bed. I find this not only a puzzle but quite extraordinary. Why did they let their children become Catholics and not change themselves. I have only 2 possible explanation ( or guesses more like!) I do know that Evans mother was a Catholic. Also could it have been proximity to a Catholic Church that influenced them. In the end I don't think I will ever know.
This has given me much food for thought. What would have happened today. Just imagine 2 non - catholic parents going to a priest saying "we want our children baptised -but we are not going to change our religion" Would many priest, catechist etc have welcomed them, or tried to put them off. In many places, they would have gone on a course. It seems to me that we always have to ask ourselves, if we kind of make it difficult for people to have their children baptised are we sometimes denying that the Holy Spirit can indeed work in ways that are way beyond our understanding! Whenever I do a Baptism I sometimes wonder how the same Spirit will work in the lives of all the families present.
Evan and Mary Annes youngest daughter, Elizabeth is my grandmother. I, as a priest, am here because her parents, not Catholics, had their children baptised into the Church. So, maybe that is a possible explanation as to why I find it very difficult to refuse to do a baptism!
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