Mass at Much Birch

Mass celebrated in an "architecturally challenged" chapel
(Fr Antony Tumelty OSB)

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception was celebrated with a Missa Cantata at the Poor Clares Monastery Chapel at Much Birch, near Hereford.

But, before Mass we were privileged to witness the reception into the Church of a young man.

This was not just any old reception; this was a reception according to the traditional rites of the Church and carried out by Fr Antony Tumelty OSB, Chaplain to the Poor Clares community.

Of course, the young convert received the full array of the Sacraments involved in the reception of an adult but, it was most impressive to hear him make his affirmation - strong, clear and confident.

We were witnessing an immensely profound moment, one that uniquely affected all present - we were witnessing the birth of a new member of the family and, within a framework of 30 or so minutes, were we intrinsically bound to the young man and he to us.

The words of affirmation in the old rite are not for the faint hearted, they embrace the key elements of the Catholic Faith including a sentence that accepts fully the doctrine of Purgatory and the redemption of souls......you won't hear Purgatory mentioned by the liberals. They don't like to talk about that any more, and for the life of me I cannot think why, it is such a magnificent evocation of God's love for us.

The choir (Newcastle Emlyn Schola) travelled some considerable distance from West Wales and sang beautifully as the sanctuary was engulfed in clouds of incense.

And, after Mass, we all crowded into an ante room for a more secular celebration involving cake and wine.

It was good to see so many familiar faces and to meet new ones including Marion Luscombe, a friend from Facebook and, of course, the celebrant, Fr Antony who had given a very witty but spiritually inspirational homily.

How providentially fortunate we are in having priests who celebrate the Latin Mass.
What they lack in numbers they make up for in their spiritual character; they are the sort of men who epitomise the Faith through the ages, a point made so poignantly by the fact that Fr Antony was wearing a chasuble that still had original stitching from the year in which it was made, 1480.

Let me give that date again, 1480 - Edward IV was king, and it would be another twelve years before Christopher Columbus would discover the New World. And nearly 40 years before Martin Luther would nail his 95 theses to the church door in Wittenburg.

And here were the vestments still in use 533 year after they were made, - what better evidence of the hermeneutic of continuity could you wish for?

Sadly, there were not many Poor Clares in evidence, I recall Sisters, I believe from this community, calling at offices asking for alms when I worked in Cheltenham in the 1980s.

Back then it was an entry requirement for the order that no nun should exceed four feet in height.
The three Poor Clares attending Mass were somewhat taller than this, doubtless due to a diet of the fruits of Vatican 2.

As we left we felt that we had been present at a number of great events, the feast of Our Lady, the sung Mass, the reception of new member to the Faith, meeting new friends and experiencing the wise words of Fr Tumelty and a gathering of members of the family of Christ.

Thanks to all not forgetting LMS Cardiff.

What has Wales done to deserve such treatment?

Oh, woe, woe and thrice woe, pity the poor afflicted Catholics of Wales.

Here we are, hungry for the Latin Mass and for the clear doctrinal teachings of Christ and what do we get?

A trinity of Bishops for the three dioceses of Wales who are most accomplished, it appears, in the episcopal art of sitting on one's hands.

At least Nero produced a good tune while Rome incinerated.

The lead Diocese (Archdiocese of Cardiff) embraces our capital city and a fair old slice of English borderlands.
But does it provide in accord with Summorum Pontificum?

Hardly at all. One or two doughty priests offer the Mass of all Time in far flung corners of the Archdiocese but that's it.

In fact, by my very rough reckoning, less than five per cent of diocesan priests are able to offer the Latin Mass.

Menevia is much the same.
Home to the National Shrine of Wales, Our Lady of Cardigan, (not that you would know it) it again offers lip service to those who follow the old rite.

Not that the work undertaken by those committed priests who minister to the traditional community is not appreciated. It is just that we should have more.

And, finally, the Diocese of Wrexham, under new management since last year when Bishop Peter Brignall was installed.

This Bishop is certainly following in his predecessor's footsteps (ahem).

The Diocese appears to have been either overtaken by Martians or the victim of a selective nuclear strike, judging by the resounding silence emanating from North Wales.

Just how, I wonder, has Bishop Brignall fulfilled his installation pledge of resolving to build up God's Church?

There's not much in evidence on the Diocesan website.
 The Bishop's diary lists the usual vitally important series of diocesan meetings and then, for Holy Week we have Maundy Thursday replaced with 'The Lord's Supper' and Good Friday has disappeared to be replaced with a 'Celebration of The Lord's Passion.'

Nitpicking, I may be but I dislike the most serious and grave days in the liturgical year being subject to euphemisms.

To be a traditional Catholic in Wales in these troubled times you definitely need brains, or, rather, Brains.

No, this is not a call to the intellect (on this blog, you cannot be serious?) but it is a call to Brains bitter.
To be more specific, the Reverend James bitter from Brains Brewery in Cardiff.

I find the occasional pint, or two, of "the Rev" as it is colloquially known, goes a long way to reducing my blood pressure that is so subject to episcopal inadequacies.

But, I would forgo that pleasure if their Lordships stepped up to the mark and provided us with an EF Mass in every parish on every Sunday and Holyday.

That would certainly build up God's Church, if that is what the Bishops want.


 

Latin Mass in Herefordshire

"O Mary conceived without sin,
pray for us who have recourse to thee"

On Sunday 8th December, Feast of The Immaculate Conception, there will be a sung Latin Mass at the monastery of the Poor Clares at Much Birch, Herefordshire at 6pm.

The Newcastle Emlyn Schola will be in attendance and thanks should go to the LMS Cardiff crew who are introducing some excellent communication initiatives proving that, even in a Diocese where the Latin Mass is, how shall I phrase it? About as popular as the Black Death, it is possible to break down barriers by means of good and positive actions.

At any rate, what better way to celebrate this great, great feast of our Mother?

Here is the address:

The Poor Clare Monastery
Much Birch
Hereford
HR2 8PS
 

The Latin Mass....in Cardiff

Good news! Father Antony Tumelty OSB will be celebrating a Low Mass this coming Thursday 25th July at 7pm at Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff.

Just ask for the Catholic Chaplaincy....(students don't bite), and you will be directed to the Latin Mass.

The Latin Mass at Cardiff University needs more support so please attend if you are able.....there may even be a post Mass coffee or something stronger at a local hostelry if there is a critical mass for the Latin Mass.

Picture: LMS Cardiff

Latin Masses banned here

Are we talking of totalitarian Russia, some distant gulag where the sun never shines?

Or, maybe it's Kim Jong-un's North Korea where to even mention the word 'Latin' would result in several life sentences doing hard labour two miles down a mineshaft?

But no, it is neither of those, it is our own dear capital city of Wales, centre of couth and culture.....'cept that you can't have any Latin Masses see?

"Else we'll send Bob the Basher round to sort you nasty little Tridentine swine out..."

Nicandro Porcelli has a report on how a small (but stable group) asked for their rights (Mass in Latin).

Read Nicandro's far too charitable report on being 'Welsh, warm and fuzzy) HERE

Put Much Birch in your Latin Mass satnav

A good priest of the Benedictine order, has contacted me with a reminder that, in the Archdiocese of Cardiff aka 'Stackshire,' the old rite Latin Mass is regularly celebrated at the convent of the Poor Clares at Much Birch.

Confusingly, for me at least, the PCs address speaks of 'Monastery' rather than 'Convent', doubtless some erudite good souls will comment to enlighten me.

But, if you find yourself in the beautiful county of Herefordshire, and it happens to be a Sunday, please attend Holy Mass at the following address where Fr Antony Tumelty OSB is the celebrant.

Here is the address:

The Poor Clare Monastery
Much Birch
Hereford
HR2 8PS

Mass times are: 6.30pm every Sunday




An ability to smile permanently is another requirement of the order
  

The Poor Clares is a favourite order of mine, I well remember them when they used to come begging for alms, door to door when I was a child.

And, many years later, when I worked in Cheltenham, they did the rounds of the offices, pleading for money.
It must be a most unpleasant and humbling task, to beg for your daily crust; but the PCs managed to undertake it with smiles and prayers for benefactors.

Nowadays, it probably not PC to be a PC, disturbing people's consciences with a begging bowl.

The entry requirements for this Franciscan order are remarkably simple.

Firstly, you must be able to prove at least two martyrs in your Catholic aristocratic family history and, secondly, you must be under four feet six inches in height.

Simple.

And also, for those unfamiliar with the Welsh English border country, the Archdiocese of Cardiff (in Wales) extends over the Dyke (please, what minds you have) into England's green and pleasant land.

The plundering Welshmen have, for centuries raided the fields of good and humble English folk (?) giving rise to the Song of the Border Raiders which I quote from memory:

"O the valleys sheep are sweet

but the border sheep are fatter;

We therefore deem it meet

to carry off the latter".

Picture: The Poor Clares

Archbishop makes earth shattering address to Welsh Assembly

Wales has 30,000 Mass goers and 30,000 Catholic schoolchildren.
Erm.....something does not quite add up Your Grace

Archbishop George Stack of Cardiff Archdiocese has been in post now for....what can it be?....seems like centuries, but, in fact, this dynamic prelate has only been in the hot seat for a mere two years.

And, in that time, has the Archdiocese surged ahead and made inroads as far as the implementation of Summorum Pontificum?

Developed a doctrinally accurate religious instruction programme with integrity for Catholic Schools within its remit?

Made a stand against the secular powers of abortion, euthanasia, same sex you know what and so on?

Inspired his 47 or so priests to take up cudgels against the state and to launch a programme designed to bring back to the Faith those who have....drifted?

Hmm......not sure; don't think so, can't see any evidence to the contrary.

But...but....dear reader. Do not despair.

His Grace this very month has attended the seat of governance in Wales, the Welsh Assembly no less and addressed them.

Now, if you have suffered from ennui which is a clever word for boredom, you may have take up watching rocks to see whether or not they move.

Some, indeed, find that pastime rather too labour intensive and watch, instead, proceedings of The Welsh Assembly.......(stretch, yawn).

This forum is the one where they address each other by their Christian fore names, which makes it exceedingly banal as they are all called Dai.

Confusion is the end result.

Enough of this rambling, pull up an old chair and prepare for some really hot stuff, the address made by His Grace, George Stack to the Assembly on 7th May.

But, before you do, don't forget to take your heart pills or Prozac or whatever it is that soothes the savage beast; this is heady stuff....

Here it is...Catholic rhetoric at its very best.....

Archbishop Stack's address

Another response on the question of exorcists!

Many thanks to the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cardiff who is, I believe, Monsignor Robert Reardon.

The crest of the Archdiocese of Cardiff
- devil rampant?

He kindly gave me a one word reply (it could have been worse, it could have been two words) to my question: "How many exorcists are there in the Archdiocese?"

His response.......... "NONE"

That was all that I asked for so I am not complaining but, spare a thought for those poor South Walians and Herefordians who have no recourse to an exorcist priest at times of demonic interference.

Satan is free to roar and roam around the shires of Glamorgan, Monmouth, Gwent and Hereford, totally unimpeded.
 Perhaps Archbishop Stack will get things sorted.

ARCHBISHOP STACK - DO YOU BELIEVE IN OUR LADY'S INTERCESSIONARY POWERS?

"Not an English and Welsh Bishop again"

                                                     

The new Archbishop Designate of Cardiff, His Grace, George Stack gave an address to the General Synod of the Church of England in which he, apparently, denied the role of Mary, Mother of God with regards to her intercession.

Now the important word is "apparently" because, as William Oddie of The Catholic Herald points out, the Archbishop's phraseology is open to some interpretation - but it damn well shouldn't be! Surely that's why our priests rise up the hierarchical ranks, because of their ability (among many other things) to pronounce clearly and without error on the teachings of Holy Mother Church.

It is not good enough to make a statement that leaves a number of speculative options open as to the meaning behind the words.

I am not one of ++ Stack's biggest fans, I disliked the way he handled the Vaughan School debacle and how he responded to letters with a letter of his own (standard response) plus a computerised signature......very low grade in my books.

However, I would like to think that, on this occasion, the Archbishop has been misunderstood and I would also hope that he will issue a corrective statement in which he clearly lays out the role of Our Lady as part of Church teaching.

BUT..........more than that I would hope (and strongly recommend to his Grace) that he leads a pilgrimage to the National Shrine of Wales, Our Lady of the Taper, in Cardigan.

Our Lady of the Taper - what is the
relevance of Lourdes if we do not
believe in Our Lady's intercession?

 In fact, it would be a very good thing for Welsh Catholics if the new Archbishop were to lead the Latin Mass Society Pilgrimage to the shrine this year - and even celebrate a Latin Mass (EF, that is).

You see......it's not just the people of Cardiff who want to know, it's not even the Catholics of the rest of Wales, it's all Catholics from all over the world who want to be reassured of the Archbishop Designate's belief in Our Holy Mother.

Does anyone know?

What has happened to the post of British Ambassador to Vatican City?

Why does the Archdiocese of Cardiff still await a new Archbishop?

When will Bishop Regan of Wrexham Diocese retire gracefully (or ungracefully just as long as he retires)?

Which Bishop has authority over the Redemptorists who continue to produce c**p publications?

Who will call a halt to the Warwick Street Mass for homosexuals?

How much is a Papal Knighthood?

Answers on a postcard please or, if you have questions you would like to add....make a comment..a polite one please.

A little known Welsh Marian shrine

The Shrine of Our Lady of Penhrys is located in The Valleys, which, as the name suggests are a series of valley villages that begin just 20 minutes or so by road from the capital city of Wales, Cardiff. Each valley has its own character and ambience and the people are tough, resilient and used to life's hard knocks (there has not been much employment in the region since the coal industry went into decline).
The history of the Shrine is taken from the website but I cannot find the link. Sorry.

Statue of Our Lady of Penrhys in Cardiff's St David's Cathedral

The beginning of devotion to Mary at Penrhys is shrouded in legend but it is certain that from Medieval times there was a Shrine to Our Lady of Penrhys that flourished for many years.
In 1179 the Cistercian monks founded an Abbey at Llantarnam, and in 1205, Llantarnam Abbey and Margam Abbey agreed on a boundary between the two monasteries, which meant that Penrhys was within the boundary of Llantarnam, some 25 miles away.  The monks built a grange there, enabling them to care for their land and sheep in the outer regions of their property.  The original complex of buildings also included a hostelry maintained by the monks for the pilgrims, and possibly a grange farm house.
Tradition has it that an image of Mary was discovered in an oak tree and, as news spread, crowds of ordinary men and women flocked from far and wide.  The statue was thought to have been immovable from the oak tree until a Shrine chapel had been erected on top of Penrhys Mountain, just above the Holy Well.  Over the well stands a small stone hut-like structure.  ‘White wine runs in the rill,’ said one poet,‘ that can kill pain and fatigue.’
During the time of the Reformation in 1538, the shrine was destroyed and the image seized under cover of darkness.  Thomas Cromwell instructed his emissaries to act ‘with quietness and secret manner as might be’ but were confronted by an ‘audience’ who we can assume had to be overawed before the image could be taken away to Chelsea and burned in the same fire as the images of Our Lady of Walsingham and Our Lady of Ipswich.  (and possibly, Our Lady of the Taper) ‘It will not be all day in burning,’ said Latimer in a letter to Cromwell.
Although the Shrine was destroyed, it is recorded by William Llewellyn, writing in 1862, that in the previous twenty years, there were accounts of people making pilgrimages to the top of Penrhys Mountain.  The Roman Catholic Archbishop Michael McGrath (1940-1961) furthered the modern popularity of the Shrine.  He was anxious to purchase the land on the top of Penrhys Mountain for the Roman Catholic Church in Wales. A statue of Our Lady of Penrhys was erected in 1953 which stands on the foundations of the former chapel. 
 

Prayer of Reparation to Our Lady of Penrhys

          O Most Holy Virgin and our Mother who appeared at Penrhys,

we listen with grief to the complaints of your Immaculate Heart

surrounded with a crown of thorns placed therein at every moment

by the blasphemies and ingratitude shown to you in the Middle Ages

and every year since.

We are moved to beseech you dear Queen of Penrhys because it is

our urgent desire to love you as our Mother and of promoting your devotion

restoring the special place you made here so many years ago.

We kneel to manifest the sorrow we feel for all the grievances that people

have caused you in the Middle Ages up to now.  We are willing

to atone now by our prayers and sacrifices for the offences with

which they return your love.  Obtain for them and for us the pardon

of so many sins.

Hasten the conversion of sinners that they may love Jesus and cease to

offend the Lord, already so much offended.  Turn your eyes of mercy

toward us, that we may love God with all our heart on earth

and enjoy Him forever in heaven.

Our Lady of Penrhys, Pray for us!

Our Lady of Reconciliation, Pray for us!

How lovely is Thy dwelling place?

Many years ago when no Latin Masses were celebrated within a radius of 150 miles of us, we created a chapel in a wing of our house and visiting priests celebrated Mass there and during the week the family retreated to it in order to pray and meditate.
We did all that we could to make it a fitting place for Catholic worship, statues, flowers, sanctuary light, candles and altar linens - we tended it lovingly. Simple as it was it became a fitting place for the offering of the Mass.

Cardiff Metropolitan Cathedral -
has a touch of Gotham City about it!

Now during the week I visited the main Catholic church in Wales, St David's Cathedral, Cardiff. From the outside it is a shade grim and more than a bit overpowering with its slightly sooty stonework. But, it's what's on the inside that matters.

Except that, I have visited this church before so I knew what to expect on the inside, it is a touch of Freemason's Lodge meets Presbyterian Kirk. It is cold, and I do not mean in terms of temperature; it is austere and reflects well its exterior.

Presidential chair centre, tabernacle far right

The sanctuary is odd. Large purple (Lenten?) banners are dotted around  and the altar is the usual table covered in a purple cloth plonked in the centre of the sanctuary and behind it stands a massive Presidential chair.....centre stage (someone important sits here!). No tabernacle of course, we have to search a bit for that...Oh there you are Lord, right of centre (much like my position) but out of the mainstream. Shame.

An air of emptiness about it'

The Cathedral has an air of emptiness and abandon about it. I have experienced the same feeling in Protestant churches; it's namesake, St David's Cathedral in Pembrokeshire (Church of Wales Anglican) has the same feel, as if the owner had left the place some time ago.

It is, perhaps, understandable in a non Catholic church but for a
Catholic Cathedral to  have that atmosphere is, frankly, depressing.

I try to pray but am distracted by uncharitable thoughts about A) the architect and B) those who are supposed to cherish this place. I plough on with my prayers but I cannot stay long. That is, I could stay long but really I cannot wait to get out into the fresh air.

The Sacred Heart Chapel,
a little bleak?

I appreciate that it is Lent and churches are supposed to look spartan at this time but this place feels positively neglected. Side chapels are bare except for one with a single statue...the Sacred Heart stands alone and isolated; there are few candle racks and the ones that are there are the dreaded night light variety, you know, twenty pence for twenty minutes?

Is this really the best we can do for the Lord? I am ashamed by this Cathedral and only hope that it is awaiting the appointment of a new Archbishop to this important Archdiocese that has been without a leader for so long. Whoever it is, I hope they have an eye for  how a Cathedral should look.

HAPPY FEASTDAY TO ALL WELSH CATHOLICS!

                                                               

Yes, today is St David's Day, Patron Saint of Wales and native of Pembrokeshire.
His Cathedral (as posted on a few weeks ago) is a gem of a place nestling in a valley out of sight of any early Scandinavians who might be out to plunder, rape and pillage (still uncertain as to what pillage is).
It is to be found in Britain's smallest city, named after the saint and well worth a visit if you wish to take a holiday in one of the country's most beautiful regions.

DOES CARDIFF ARCHDIOCESE REQUIRE A WELSH SPEAKING ARCHBISHOP?

I thought that, whilst on the subject of Bishops, Wales and so on, it might be interesting to lob a hand grenade into the room and open up, what, for Welsh Catholics, is a very sensitive subject. Do we need a Welshman and/or a Welsh speaker at the helm of this important Archdiocese which only rivals Wrexham in its air of abandonment and despair?


Now, I value my Welsh blogging friends and do not wish to bring their ire down on my head but, having spent some 23 years in Education and the NHS in Wales, I have some strong views on the subject. I hope they still speak to me after this post.
My view is that, whilst it would be desirable, it should really rest on the best man for the post. St Patrick, was by all accounts, not an Irishman, St George came from rather further East than Wapping and St Andrew of Scotland would have probably run in the opposite direction if confronted with a man in a kilt! So Wales is fortunate to have a Welshman as a Patron but to actually put race and the Welsh language as pre-requisites for the Cardiff post would be to do those who live in the Archdiocese a grave disservice.


There have been several major boobs committed by the public sector in Wales in their desire to only appoint Welsh speakers for their professional posts. I recall the Bangor Health Service running into the buffers because, in their hunt for occupational therapists they ignored academic and medical qualifications in favour of fluency in Welsh. The result was that the standards of OT in the region went into rapid freefall.
An FE College sought to fill the vacant post of Principal insisting on having a Welsh speaker. Seven applied for the post and it was re-advertised without the language stipulation  and fifty six then applied.


The truth is, we have long had Irish priests and Bishops in this country and never batted an eyelid, we have a German Pope, an Italian Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Nichols is from Liverpool and is now in charge of Westminster - how parochial do we wish to be?
In the USA you have Bishops of every possible lineage, they don't expect a Welshman in Philadelphia (although their heritage is Welsh). We are the Universal Church and nationality should not enter into it.
As for speaking the Welsh language. Well, Bishop Mullins did it and credit to him for that. But he  was also responsible for publishing a Welsh Missal. I wonder what the print run was on that? What was the real cost per copy?
Some 15-20% of the population of Wales speak Welsh, fewer read it and there is a North South divide as to differences in the language which make for a trying conversation betwen a Swansea resident and a Llandrillo one. The population of Wales stands at a little over 3 million. Within that figure 5%, that is, 150,000, are Catholics.
Being ultra generous and using the 20% calculation that gives us 30,000 Welsh speaking Catholics. Not exactly an overriding majority. Not one which can in all reality command the high ground.


The attendances at Mass in the Welsh language are abysmal (so I am told by a priest who celebrates the Welsh language Mass). I am all for maintaining and developing the language (which desperately needs effective development) but not at the cost of losing sight of what is required.
The solution is, of course, to have the Tridentine Latin Mass!
We are blessed with three great bloggers in Wales, Catholic & Welsh,
 Bara Brith, A Reluctant Sinner and Last Welsh Martyr - I hope they will forgive me my words and not set their corgis on me!
Today I shall drink a pint of Reverend James in their, and St David's honour - Iechyd da!

                             COLLECT FOR THE MASS OF ST DAVID

Grant we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that the loving intercession of blessed David, Thy confessor and bishop, may protect us, and that, while we may celebrate his festival we may also imitate his steadfastness in the defence of the Catholic faith. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ who livest and reignest with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God for ever and ever. Amen.