Retreat & Candlemas

 

Last week was mostly taken up by our annual clergy retreat at the Jesuitical Montserrat on Lake Dallas. I tell you, it was a veritable snow-bound Narnia of a place this year, beautiful, if cold. Many of our priests couldn't make it, for fear of ice, but a good crew turned up and all had a convivial time.

There's a powerful rhythm to the event, shaped by the Mass and, for us, three-fold Office of Morning and Evening Prayer followed by Compline and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. By the end of it you could feel the Spirit move, a well needed reset.

Then it was back to the country and an annual meeting at Mission #2. Again, most convivial and a great congregation to serve amongst. There being no rest for the wicked, today was all about driving to Fort Worth for the Society of the Holy Cross' local chapter meeting and Mass, Candlemas.

What a good body of faithful priests, and I felt privileged to address them on "Prayers For The Departed," which sounds like an epitaph for the Anglo-Catholic Movement but is, in fact, the eighth part of our Rule. It concludes thus:

O Saviour of the world who by thy Cross and precious blood hath redeemed us, save us and help us we humbly beseech thee, O Lord.

 

And the Collect for Candlemas:

Almighty and everliving God, clothed in majesty, whose beloved Son was this day presented in the Temple, in substance of our flesh: grant that we may be presented to thee with pure and clean hearts, by thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 

Bless you all,

LSP

Great Result

 

"So where've you been, so-called 'LSP'?" you mutter askance. That's a very good question and the answer's simple, in the UK. Object being to take two Sundays off and have some fun in the Sceptered Isle. So far so good with a week in London and attendant serious clubbing, let the reader understand, and now Edinburgh.

The high point? Going to mass on Sunday at St. Peter's London Docks (SPLD), one of the founders of the Anglo-Catholic Movement as we know it today. Tract into act sorta thing, and they did just that, ministering heroically to the cholera stricken poor in the 19th century.

That in mind, Sunday's Mass was outstanding. Hordes of kids, 13 Confirmations, a full church, great sounding choir and sparkling wine after Mass. Totally all good and uplifting in every respect. Well done, SPLD, you're bucking the trend and showing the world that real religion, as opposed to its ersatz rainbow simulacrum is the way forward.

And what good people! America take note, the UK is home to some pretty switched on punters, no kidding. Happy with that, I strolled through the streets of East London after Mass with an old friend, and today? 

Rode the rails to Edinburgh and the Royal Scots. More on this adventure as it unfolds.

God bless,

LSP