The Saint Barnabas’ Blog

A few garbled thoughts on this feast of S. Michael and all angels. Firstly to say how I am always surprised that this great Feast, popularly called Michaelmas, is not a Solemnity. It seems to me that it should be, but then who am I to argue against the teaching of Mother Church! But regardless of its lesser ranking in the Kalendar it nevertheless remains a wonderful feast to remind us that God has created a vast spiritual realm of which we are but a tiny part. Furthermore this realm often breaks, or irrupts, into this world to the glory of God and for the benefit of mankind.

Scripture teaches that angels exist but, in all honesty, it tells us little about them. Whilst the Arch-angel Gabriel, for example, plays a major role in the incarnation we are not specifically given anything informative about his nature or appearence. Elsewhere Jesus speaks of them as rejoicing over penitent sinners and he warns against hurting children because their angels behold the face of God. Note then that angels are plentiful in scripture but that we nevertheless learn little about them!

So if we know so little about these mysterious beings what interest are they to us today? What is the value of keeping this feast of the Holy Angels? Well firstly angels keep us in check! When we consider how the angels are ranked above us in created order we are made humble and learn to appreciate our limitations. It is a good thing for us humans to know our place.

Secondly, since it is the common belief that demons are angels who have fallen from grace and abandoned God, they remind us that the higher we are the lower we can fall. This is worth pondering. The greater our natural gifts and talents, the greater the damage if we turn them to bad ends. The more we have been given, the more will be expected of us. And yet no matter how powerful or special we think we are, God will only work in us and for us if we are connected to him in prayer.

Finally don’t forget that angels can be seperated into various categories each with different callings and abilities. According to tradition there are nine orders (or choirs) of angels. The lowest order, called simply angels, are God’s messengers and envoys to (and guardians of) the human race. The highest order, the seraphim, devote themselves to contemplating God, beholding Him face to face, and loving and praising Him. Each order helps to reveal and declare God’s glory to the order below. There have been disputes in history as to the exact ranking of the order of angelic host but they might be listed: Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones, Dominions, Principalities, Powers, virtues, arch-angels, angels.

Today is the feast of Alphonsus Ligouri, one of my personal favourites! Born in Naples in 1696, he was the first-born of seven belonging to Neapolitan nobility. Two days after he was born he was baptised with the most wonderful name of Alphonsus Mary Antony John Cosmas Damian Michael Gaspard de’ Liguori. I trust his birth certificate had large boxes!!

Alphonsus Liguori went to law school at sixteen and became a well-known lawyer. He was thinking of leaving the profession, and wrote to someone: “My friend, our profession is too full of difficulties and dangers; we lead an unhappy life and run risk of dying an unhappy death. For myself, I will quit this career, which does not suit me; for I wish to secure the salvation of my soul.” It might also have something to do with an almighty blunder he made in mistranslating an article of defence, which when translated correctly aided the prosecution!!! Thus at the age of twenty-seven, having lost this important case, he made a firm resolution to take on a new vocation.

In 1723 he began his seminary studies in the Oratory of St. Philip Neri before being ordained priest on December 21, 1726. His first years as priest were spent with the homeless and marginalised of Naples, work which inspired him to found a missionary society, the ‘Evening Chapels. Run by the young people themselves, these chapels were centers of prayer, community, the Word of God, social activities, and education. At the time of his death, there were 72 in existence with over 10,000 active participants. His sermons were very effective at converting those who were alienated from faith and he took pride in ensuring his words and meaning could be understood by even the most simple of souls. (Oh that some of our preachers today might learn from this!)

In 1729 Alphonsus extended his missionary experience to the rural regions of the Kingdom of Naples where he found people much poorer and more abandoned than any of the street children in Naples itself. He was once again stirred to action and founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, who later became the ‘redemptorists’. This order’s goal was to teach and preach in the slums of cities and other poor places. Soon a companion order of nuns was founded by Sister Maria Celeste.

Alphonsus was consecrated Bishop of Sant’Agata dei Goti in 1762. He tried to refuse the appointment because he felt too old and sick to properly care for the diocese. During this time he wrote many sermons, books, and articles to encourage devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed Virgin Mary. In my opinion they remain amongst the most beautiful writings in the Church’s treasury.

In 1775 Alphonsus retired from office and went to live in the Redemptorist community in Pagani, Italy where he died on this day in 1787. He was canonized on May 26, 1839, by Pope Gregory XVI, and later proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in 1871 by Pope Pius IX. He was named “Patron of Confessors and Moralists” by Pope Pius XII in 1950. A offer a few quotes from his writing for your inspiration:

‘Your God is ever beside you – indeed, He is even within you.’

‘He who prays is certain to be saved; while he who prays not is certain to be damned. All the saints were saved, and came to be saints by praying; all the accursed souls in hell were lost through neglect of prayer; if they had prayed, it is certain that they would not have been lost. And this will be one of the greatest occasions of their anguish in hell, the thought that they might have saved themselves so easily’

“I Love Jesus Christ and that is why I am on fire with the desire to give Him souls, first of all my own, and then an incalculable number of others.” Sage advice, look after your own soul before you set out to save the world!

Above is a picture of Antonio Canova’s incredible sculpture of the penitent Mary Magdalene, whose feast falls this day. S. Mary Magdalene is one of the most dramatic figures in the Gospel due to mystery surrounding her history, which suggests something both seductive and scandalous! Was she a woman of the night before meeting Christ? Ultimately we have no idea, but we do know that this life was transformed by grace in Christ Jesus, allowing for new life in him. Thus S. Mary Magdalene speaks of the forgiveness that any sinner can find. It is for this witness that the Christian gives thanks.

But whilst God may have forgotten Mary’s sins the world never has! Her saucy image has made her a favourite of artists who, in stricter days than these, used her biblical stature to their advantage. For Mary’s pious identity, coupled with that naughty past, allowed them to use subtle poses and flashes of flesh which in any other circumstance would be condemned as lewd and unwarranted! Mary Magdalene thus became a loophole allowing for saucy titillation. What that says about man is certainly pathetic, but it has ensured she is now celebrated in museums and galleries around the world! we see an example of this in this work by Lefebvre in 1876

Without doubt Magdalene’s finest hour arrived on the most glorious morning in history. For it was she whom Jesus chose to appear, charging her with the awesome responsibility of spreading the news concerning his resurrection. John’s account of this encounter is amongst the most moving passages in scripture and regularly brings a tear to my eye. It is infused with love, sensitivity and hope, the first ray of light to dispel the darkness of our human condition. Perhaps it is no co-incidence that Jesus chose to appear to the disciple who had, formerly, been the greatest sinner?

The current Bishop of Durham, +Tom Wright, recently drew attention to this passage.In his opinion, Jesus choice in appearing to Magdalene is clear evidence that women are important in the ministry of the church. Equal to men in their calling to Christian service. I would agree wholeheartedly, Magdalene is indeed proof that Christ takes women’s ministry seriously and called, (and still calls), women to work for his kingdom. Who could deny this glorious truth?

But sadly the Bishop of Durham then uses this truth, rather bizarrely, to justify the Anglican innovation of ordaining women as priests and bishops. He argues that this encounter proves women were called to the apostolic ministry, equal to the 12 apostles in the work which was to follow. Hmmm!? Only an Evangelical, with a rather weak understanding of priesthood, could make the mistake that he does.

For if we look more closely at the scriptural passage we see that Christ calls Mary to be an Evangelist, not an Apostle. The distinction here is crucial. Her duty is to spread the good news, to tell others of Jesus love and resurrection. She is called into wonderful and profoundly important service but that service is, in no way, sacramental. Thus it does not, as the Bishop suggests, make her an apostle in the conventional sense. I would argue that instead of backing the argument for women’s ordination, it does the opposite, adding credence instead to the Catholic belief that God treats man and woman as equals but with different roles and functions in the service of his kingdom.

But let us not focus on the priesthood today but the ministry of all believers. It is my sincere prayer that Forward in Faith will take seriously the ideas recently mooted at the Bishop of Fulham’s meeting. Ideas which demonstrate a universal desire amongst his clergy to focus more on women’s ministry and create a new visible role and function for the women of our movement. A role which highlights their equality, worth and dignity by rejoicing in their difference. May S. Mary Magdalene inspire us to do just that as we seek to do his will on earth, as it is in heaven.

Last night was a great success as various priests and people came together to celebrate the Patronal Festival of S. Augustine of Canterbury, Belvedere. Stupidly I forgot my camera….so no pretty photographs! Instead you can enjoy this old photograph of Fr. Clive the parish priest who, as I explained in my sermon last night, is a direct successor to S. Augustine himself! I offer the homily for those who might be interested as it seemed to be well recieved:

Today we thank God for Saint Augustine of Canterbury, patron of this parish. We gather to seek his prayers and to learn from his life. Not as history lesson, not because tradition demands it, but because S. Augustine has something to teach us.

My brothers and sisters, be proud of S. Augustine of Canterbury your patron, be proud of what he achieved and celebrate that with passion. But do not stop there. See in him an example for yourselves. And then with passion be proud of your church, be proud of your priest, be proud of what you are all achieving here. Do that with joy and faithfulness and you will find it becomes infectious.

St. Cyril of Jerusalem was born arouind the time Emperor Constantine legalised Christianity in the Roman Empire (313 AD) and became bishop of Jerusalem in 349AD. Virtually nothing is known about his life prior to ordination. What we do know is that St. Cyril was caught up in the Arian controversy which was raging throughout his life time. (The Arians taught that Christ was not of the same substance as the father, and that there was a time when he did not exist. This diminishing of his divinity was later judged to be false/heretical and banished by the Church- but not before it gained favour amongst many in high office). Cyril defied the Arians and unashamedly taught that Jesus was fully divine. This willingness to stand up for the faith led to him being banished from Jerusalem a total of three times.

Saint Cyril provides us with one of the best sources we have for understanding how the church celebrated liturgy and sacraments during the first few decades after the legalisation of Christianity. In his famous 24 lectures (commonly known as the Jerusalem Catechese), S. Cyril insists on the value of baptism and speaks of the real presence of Christ’s body and blood in the sacrament of the Eucharist. St. Cyril of Jerusalem is considered one of the Early Church Fathers and is reckoned among the number of the Doctors of the Catholic Church.

St. Cyril of Jerusalem died about 386AD, shortly after the First Council of Constantinople which completed the Nicene Creed, which is used to this day as a definitive guide to Christian belief and is sung at ever High Mass. (I believe in one God, the father almighty etc..) He is best remembered as a brave soul who stood up for the Gospel against false teaching within the church and without. On this his feast day let us pray that God might raise up new ‘Cyrils of Alexandrias’ to lead us to the truth of the faith once delivered by the Apostles. For surely heresy is as grave a dnager in our day as it was in that of S. Cyril.

Born at Penyafort near Barcelona in 1175, Saint Raymond lived into his hundredth year, quite astonishing given the era. As a member of the Spanish nobility, he had the resources and the education to get a good start in life and would go on to offer the gifts of his impressive intellect to the Church of God.

By the time he was 20, Raymond was teaching philosophy and proving an outstanding scholar. In his early 30s he earned a doctorate in both canon and civil law. At 41 he was admitted into the Dominican Order, which would nurture him spiritually for the rest of his life on earth.

The learned theologian soon came to the attention of the Church hierarchy and was duly called to Rome by Pope Gregory IX to be his confessor. One of the things the pope asked him to do was gather all the decrees of popes and councils into one place, for ease of access. Raymond dutifully compiled five books called the Decretals. They were looked upon as one of the best organised collections of Church law until the 1917 codification of canon law surpassed them.

Raymond wrote many other worthy documents, including an outstanding book for confessors called Summa de casibus poenitentiae. This document was more than just a list of sins and penances, it discussed pertinent doctrines and laws of the Church that pertained to the problem or case brought to the confessor. Raymond was noted for having great compassion in dealing with penitents, an attribute recalled in the collect offered at Mass on his Feast day.

At the age of 60, Raymond was appointed archbishop of Tarragona, the capital of Aragon. He was most uncomfortable being granted this honour. Indeed it led to a period of sickness and malaise and Raymond ended up resigning within two years. He didn’t retire to a life of ease mind you! For at the age of 63 he was elected head of the whole Dominican Order by the other monks. This post was as successor to St. Dominic himself.

Raymond worked hard, visited all the Dominicans on foot, reorganised their constitutions and managed to put through a provision that a master general be allowed to resign. When the new constitutions were accepted, Raymond, then 65, resigned. He still had 35 years to oppose heresy and work for the conversion of the Moors in Spain. He convinced St. Thomas Aquinas to write his work Against the Gentiles. In his100th year the Lord took Raymond home to heaven after a long, hard working ministry within the Church.

There will be few who celebrate the feast of S. Raymond with as much gusto as I. For his feast co-incides with my Birthday! And so this morning, as an ‘Epiphany babe’, I was served a most delicious and unhealthy birthday breakfast by my wonderful wife.

After opening my gifts, with much help from Jemima (unlike me she was more impressed with chocolates than whiskey), it was then off to church for Mass and into school for our first Act of Worship of the term. Each class was visited beforehand and each sang me happy birthday. Many thanks to Oak Class who even rustled me up a ballon and pencil! I am especially looking forward to this evening when Hayley and I will enjoy the rare treat of a meal out. Here is to S. Raymond- whose feast I eagerly anticipate each year!

Oh and do visit the blog of Kevin Lynes, who is standing as our local County Councillor, who has written an excellent article on the toilet block and graffiti! He has pledged to help move things forward. I really do hope he is elected as he is proving a very good friend to both church and community and is a man who certainly seems to ‘gets things done’. Something very much needed in this locality.

Today begins my post Christmass break and I look forward to spending quality time with my family. We are not going away but will arrange several days out- as we are yet to fully explore the locality since moving here three years ago. And top of the list of places yet to be visited is Canterbury. That I have never been illicited shock from one member of the congregation yesterday, ‘An Anglican priest and never been to Canterbury!’, they exclaimed. ‘Oh, but I have been to Rome!’, I replied! Yet regardless of where I view the heart and home of Christendom, Canterbury really is somewhere I should go.

The reason for this has little to do with Anglicanism and all to do with ++Thomas. For S. Thomas of Canterbury, or Thomas a Becket, as he is also known, is a Saint who has followed me throughout my priestly ministry. Firstly as Patron of the parish (pictured above) where I spent a very happy curacy in Brentwood. (See the website here) Secondly as one of the four martyrs who stare down at me from S. Stephen’s Chapel, here in S. Barnabas’ Church. Thus for fairly obvious reasons S. Thomas has become a Saint who is very close to my heart.

And so today we are off on pilgrimage, on none other than S. Thomas’ Feast day, to enter the Mother Cathedral of the Church of England for the very first time. On the steps where S. Thomas lost his head, I shall pause to pray for my previous parish. For they too have lost their head in recent time, following the retirement of my friend and training incumbant Father Bob White SSC! (who looks eerily similar to the depiction of S. Thomas above!)

Lord Jesus, watch over the parish of S. Thomas of Canterbury, Brentwood, as they seek a new priest to serve them there. We pray that those who apply may be true to the faith of the Apostles, firm in their desire to stand up for the Gospel and rooted in the Sacraments of your church. That the parish may continue to move forward in hope, forward in love and forward in faith. We pray too for Fr. Matthew Bemand as he continues to watch over the parish during this time of interegnum Amen.

Mass was offered at 10.30am at the High Altar. A group of 30 parishioners gathered to honour Mary, Queen of Heaven and recite the Angelus. After our devotions we bid an emotional farewell to Ruth Pearce, who is moving to the West Country after many years faithful service at S. Barnabas’. At 2pm – we are offering a service of thanksgiving following the civil marriage of David and Jenny. Then at 8pm we have our Solemn Mass and Benediction to end the day in fitting style.

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy,
our Life, our Sweetness, and our Hope.
To Thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve.
To Thee do we send up our sighs mourning
and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn then, most gracious Advocate,
Thine Eyes of Mercy toward us,
and after this our exile show us the
Blessed Fruit of thy Womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
Pray for us O Holy Mother of God
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Today is the feast day of Ss. Joachim and Anne. They were the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the biological grandparents of Jesus our Lord. At 9am we shall offer Mass (in Latin this being the fourth Saturday of the month) and we shall pray for all those who are grandparents themselves. It is so very important that we do pray for families- for we live in a selfish world where the philosophy of the individual is triumphing over that of the family. As Christians the world of ‘rights’ and ‘me, me, me’ are simply not an option. We are called to live out our lives as the family of God- each sacrificing self for the other. We are to be a community of generosity and love. The holy family into which we entered at baptism.

Holy Tradition teaches that Ss. Joachim and Anne, had prayed fervently for a child. In their devotion they promised to dedicate their child to the service of God. Little did they realise what the repercussions of their actions would be!

Thus as a tiny child Mary was taken to the temple. Tradition says she was brought before the fifteen steps which led to the sanctuary. Our Lady, strengthened by the Holy Spirit, ascended them all- coming to the Holy of Holies where only the High Priest was allowed to enter. The Holy of Holies was the very place where God himself resided. Suddenly, moved by the Holy Spirit, the High Priest broke every rule in the book and led this tiny girl into the Holy of Holies, astonishing everyone present. And thus Mary, whose own womb would become the Holy of Holies (the place where God resides), herself entered the presence of God.

Ss. Joachim and Anne returned to their home (which I have visited in Israel) whilst Mary remained in the Temple and was prepared for a life of holiness. The rest I think we all know!

Heavenly Father we thankyou for the example of Ss. Joachim and Anne. May we like them offer all that we have to you, and may we raise our family, at home and in the church, to love you above all things and to make you the main priority in life. We pray for all those who are grandparents, and ask that you bless them on this most holy day.
Amen