The Visitation of the B.V.M.

“In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country…” (Lk 1:39a).
When Luke says hill country he really means hill country. The photos attached will give you an idea of what kind of hills Luke is talking about – very steep ones. The photograph above is an aerial view of the place where today’s feast really happened. Our Lady, carrying the child Jesus, visits Elizabeth; their joy is shared with John and Jesus, both still in the wombs. This joy is clearly expressed by Blessed Mary as she bursts forth in singing God’s praises and utters those sweet words that still echo every day all around the world: Magnificat!

Ain Karim is the village where this event took place. Elizabeth was still in her summer residence on the hill and that is where Mary went to meet her. As soon as you come to the village you start a very steep ascent to get to the Basilica of the Visitation. It is uphill and difficult, especially for those of us who experienced it in the heat of August. However, there is a spiritual reality hidden here which we must not loose sight of. Mary climbs the hill, climbing is a struggle and an ascent. Like Mary we need to climb and ascend towards God. This is difficult as it calls for renunciation of self and the mastering of passions. It gets hard and tiresome, however holiness is in the struggle.

When I climbed this hill last year, half way through, I was following someone who was getting very tired. Another pilgrim realised and turned to this person and said: “Don’t give up, you will forget this when you get there.” How true this was, this person looked so refreshed on arriving at the top. The ascent towards God is tiring but how worthwhile and how happy a climb it is when we purify ourselves in the struggle of ascent, when we leave behind our passions, self-centeredness and just let God fill us with his light and his peace. Then when we get there like Mary our souls too will sing: “My soul magnifies the Lord!" The Magnificat: what a fitting conclusion to the month of May.

I have just finished my morning devotions. The order of the day now is: breakfast, packing, last minute shopping and Noon Mass. After Mass straight in the car to return home. Please pray for someone advanced in age and whom I love dearly who is facing more amputation surgery today. Thank you.

+ My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden.

For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed;

for he who is mighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his name.

And his mercy is on those who fear him

from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with his arm,

he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts,

he has put down the mighty from their thrones,

and exalted those of low degree;

he has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent empty away.

He has helped his servant Israel,

in remembrance of his mercy,

as he spoke to our fathers,

to Abraham and to his posterity for ever."

The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

All good things come to an end and so has our week of rest in Walsingham. All four of us feel refreshed and ready to return to the place that God, in his mercy and generosity, has placed us in. Prayers have been offered in the Holy House for all those who read this blog.

Sung Mass was celebrated this morning at 11am. The celebrant was Br Paschal SSF and the preacher was Br Maximillian SSF, the newly arrived Franciscan Friars in Walsingham. I heard Br Paschal preach on Wednesday and Br Maximillian today, both have preached a very good sermon.

This afternoon pilgrims were leaving and others arriving, when one observes this change one must think about the hard working team of people, ably led by both Frs Philip, who make such a great transition work so smoothly.

It was great to celebrate the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus here in Walsingham. That Sacred Heart formed in the womb of Blessed Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit, that Sacred Heart in which God is made tangible and from which the Church flows out. It is in this absolute love that the transcendant becomes immanent, that the invisible becomes visible, that we find our gate to enter into the life of God.

This day is also the International Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests. It is only in this heart, the fount of all joy and holiness, that priests can be formed and shaped as on an anvil. Please keep us priests in your prayers, that we may become holy and that our lives are shaped on this Most Sacred Heart.

Jesus meek and humble of heart, make our hearts like unto thine.

This is a photograph taken today of what was the Vicarage of Fr Hope Patten here in Walsingham. Many of you might remember it as the Sue Ryder on the way to Great Walsingham towards the Russian Orthodox Church of the Transfiguration. Sadly, it has been sold to a developer and it is being divided into the customary luxury apartments with prices starting from a quarter of a million.
In this Vicarage Fr Hope Patten must have planned the re founding of the Shrine, but it was also this Vicarage which he opened up for the orphans from St Hilary in Cornwall when they were seeking a home.
In my last blog, I wondered when Fr Patten will be considered as one of the Anglican Beati (there is a collect approved for use in the diocese of Norwich some years back). Yesterday, by the grace of God, I came across a wonderful story regarding Hope Patten, a story which is breaking and am sure other people will write about better than me.
As my family and I were walking back from Great Walsingham we met Mr Syed the husband of the Walsingham hard working archivist. He said that he was on his way to the old vicarage to pave the way for his wife who was following with an important guest. Further down the road we met Mrs Syed who quickly introduced me to her guest. His name is Dick and he is from Cornwall. He was one of the boys to be taken in by Fr Patten. Dick served Fr Patten’s Mass and enjoyed his time in Walsingham. He left Walsingham 60 years ago and never returned. Some months ago his daughter was doing some research about this orphanage in Walsingham. She came in touch with Mrs Syed and arranged for this visit. Dick’s wife and family never heard of the Shrine but I could see how pleasantly surprised they were. I am sure this will not be their only visit. Dick was enjoying his visit to the place of his childhood and spoke so fondly of Fr Patten. At one stage Dick’s wife turned to me and said that her husband considers Fr Patten as though he was his father so good he was to him and the other orphans.I share this story because it is a wonderful one that shows an aspect of Fr Patten that not all may appreciate. This story speaks also to Anglo-Catholic priests and laity, showing us that the business of daily life does not forbid us to open up our homes and hearts to those who are looking for an inn, and walk with them the extra mile or so, that even 60 years on elicited a tear of joy from Dick and his family.

The National Pilgrimage - Walsingham 2008

What a truly successful National it was. Well done to those who organised it especially Frs North and Barnes. Although the forecast was miserable the day turned out overcast but fine with some fleeting moments of sunshine. A standing ovation was offered to Fr Philip North as this is his last National, so it is also for the Shrine Priest, Fr Philip Barnes. Both have contributed significantly to the life of the Shrine and to so many pilgrims. Today also saw the official start of the ministry of the Franciscan Friars in Walsingham when Brothers Paschal and Maximillian were commissioned. Fr Hope Patten was remembered too as August sees the 50th anniversary of his death. When will he be in the Anglican Sanctorale?

I will remember many images from today, one that will last long is of a small group of Ordinands kneeling and praying the Rosary. Is it not great that our wing of the Church can still produce such men? Well done whoever you where, you gave this priest a very good example.

Here are some photos of the day.

VIII Sunday in Ordinary Time

What a short kept promise. I promised no blog during the holiday and here I am writing one in the first 24 hours of it. This was triggered by a contribution in today's Telegraph.(http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2023072/Church-of-England-faces-exodus-over-women-bishop-reforms.html)

Allowing for sensationalism this is still a very worrying presentation of facts. To start with we are guided by bishops who leak what seemed to be a confidential meeting. The bishops are set in a position of trust, but one or maybe more have leaked this to the press. Why? That is a far cry from the integrity shown by the bishop of Manchester. The culprit should be exposed and he must give reasons for his actions. But as I said this is just the starter.

Last Monday, buried as it was with the voting going on in Parliament, I read the satement by Affirming catholicism on the Manchester report. No surprise there. They want what we all know they want and are kind enough to decide what is best for us while ignoring what we are saying. The word patronising comes to mind. I was however very surprised to read in the Telegraph what the House of Bishops are proposing and how very similar it is to the Affirming statement. It is evident that the majority in the house of bishops (we do not know how close is the close mentioned by the Telegraph) are siding with this pressure group which exists to promote this innovation and now also to impose it on those who are faithful to Christ and his Church.

Some of you will rejoice reading these statements as you think that people like me should not have space in the Church of England. Others may feel disheartened and at pain, hurt by those who were appointed to be your shepherds and guardians of the faith. Others still, and I hope most of you, like me, will feel encouraged by these sad events. The innovators may try and try, they may even succeed but they shall never win! The beloved told us that the gates of hell shall not prevail, and having it from him we know it won't. These words and events will encourage us to put our case to the Church of England, it encourages us to be prophetic, stand and be counted and say the Truth. We do this because it goes against the virtue of justice to be forced out of one's Church. We do this, because we love the Church of Englan and it would be the poorer without us. These events and statements encourage us to come together and work harder. These events lead us to prayer, hope and trust in God. So if you are not already, think about joining Forward in Faith, this is the only organisation, whatever you think of it, that brings us together and enable us to plan together our pilgrimage of faith http://www.forwardinfaith.com/

I look forward to see many of you tomorrow in Walsingham!

Today the Church was open and ready by 8.30am to receieve the body of Margaret. Margaret died peacefully in her home on the day of Pentecost. She was a member of our congregation and supported the Mothers Union. Her son and daughter in law arrived just after 8.30am and we were joined by Fr Mark. At 8.45pm the hearse arrived and Margaret was laid in church in front of the High Altar. The Easter Candle was alight bearing witness to the Easter Faith which we celebrate. After the 'Miserere' and some prayers the coffin was sprinkled and covered with the Pall.

At 9am Fr Mark and I recited the Office of the Dead next to the coffin. Mass at 9.30am was celebrated in honour of St Urban I Pope & Martyr whose feast day it is. On Monday we received a sizeable relic of the Saint that will be divided between our four altars (see previous post of 21 May). A lady came to Mass to give thanks for a succesful operation on her husband David for whom we were praying.

Following a long conversation with a social worker I went to school where I was part of a team interviewing for a new teaching post. We had four applicants. In the meantime Fr Mark was giving communion to the housebound and visiting the sick in hospital.

By 1.30 Fr Mark and I were in church where everything was prepared for the funeral at 2pm. Servers, boat-boy, verger were all in place, books were distributed and refreshments in the Hall set up. It was a Mass of Requiem in which the main black chasuble was used for the first time in a Requiem Mass at the death of Queen Victoria. A good congregation turned up for the Mass which was indeed a celebration of Easter hope and faith. During communion two of the grandaughters of Margaret played the Ave Maria of Gonoud, one on the organ and the other on the flute. A very good spread was provided after Mass in the hall and people had the opportunity to renew old acquaintances.

I had to cut all this short to go back to school where a decision making meeting was held, as I write, the job is being offered to the succesful candidate. It was a difficult decision to come to, but I believe it is the right one.

Vespers will be offered privately tonight and it shall bring to an end a very busy day for Fr Mark and I, but also the blessing to know that we have done our best in washing the feet of his people.

My family and I will commence our post Easter break tomorrow and I have promised myself to keep away from the blog too. I shall update again once this week is over.

Corpus Christi

Here are some photographs of the wonderful celebration we had tonight on this solemnity of Corpus Christi. Presiding and Preaching was the Rt Revd Keith Newton SSC, Lord Bishop of Richborough. (More images under Recent Events in Parish Website)

After the sermon the bishop admitted two new members to the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament. The following pictures are shots of the procession. The canopy was carried by extarordinary ministers of Holy Communion while the torches by members of the Mothers Union. Four young members of our congregation were the flower girls and a boy was roped in to help with the bells.


The empty church as the procession was in the grounds, followed by Benediction in the Parish Hall and a good party offered to us by the local ward of CBS. Many thanks to the secretary of our Ward, Dr Turner.

No day is like any other, this is true everywhere and especially so here at St John's.

Monday started with Lauds and Mass followed by that wonderful time called Sacred Space. People come in Church to adore our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament for two hours.
During Mass a young couple walked in church. He had a beer can in one hand and a huge massive dog in the other. They came up for a blessing and afterwords I had the opportunity to have a chat with them. They are very pleasent really and it is a sadness that sometimes people loose way in life.

Back home to find a new mother asking about Baptism. The baby arrived as they moved in the Parish and there is alot of joy in mother and daughter. They left with a medal of Our Lady in hand and a firm promise that they will come to church on Sunday. I believe this one.

The post arrived as I was preparing a sermon for a funeral. I had to sign for a box which I immediately realised its holy contents. A dear friend of mine sent me some relics. A major relic comes from St Urbanus I Pope & Martyr (picture left). It is authenticated. It will be divided between the four altars who each have now an antimension waiting for the relic and the consecration from our bishop. The antimension (picture left below) is the Eastern equivalent of the Latin altar stone.

In the afternoon the Office of Readings and Vespers was prayed in church and back home the booklets for Corpus Christi were all printed.

On Tuesday the day started with a visit to a local nursing home to see a lady who has moved there from Sevenoaks hospital. This was followed by a staff meeting, a visit from the Diocesan Surveyor and a funeral visit. I also did some work on a letterhead and e-mail account/mini web-page for Forward in Faith Rochester as last Sunday I have been elected as Clerical Chairman for FiF in Rochester diocese. The evening was practically dedicated to print orders of service for a funeral Mass we shall have on Friday for one of our congregation.

Today started with the sharing of Lauds with Fr Mark. Fr Mark made his way to school for the School Mass and I to the Kent & Sussex Crematorium for the funeral of John who lived in this Parish. The flowers on his coffin came from the garden he loved so much. The day before he died he managed to see the fox he always fed from his bedroom window. I am sure that God looks after those that look after his creatures.

This afternoon will see more final touches for the great service of Corpus tomorrow and the funeral on Friday, and after the first Vespers of Corpus I will go to school for a Governor's meeting.

I will update the post as soon as I can after the Mass and Procession of Corpus Christi.

The Most Holy Trinity

Another week end over at St John’s. Friday’s visit to the hospital brought me in touch with a lady who has lived several years in this country but is an Armenian Christian. Her faith is really moving and her dedication to the Armenian Church equally impressive. She spoke so passionately about Armenia being the first Christian nation ever and how much her faith is intertwined with culture. Her outlook in life is informed and directed from the faith. What an example. Another patient at the hospital is the great grandson of an Anglo-Catholic priest who suffered in the East-end of London from the hands of the Mr Kensit brigade. He was presented with a difficult reality but he is accepting it and leaving it in the hands of God. His family and he are very much in my prayers. I gave out to some patients medals of Our Lady and they received them so gladly. Many times these medals unlock a secret and hidden gate and lead to conversations that many a times change into prayers of thanksgiving and confession. I consider these medals as little seeds that need sowing, the discipline is not to expect any reaping, but when it happens give thanks to God from whom all good things proceed.
In the afternoon I enjoyed Sacred Space. This is the time (twice a week here) when we expose the Blessed Sacrament on the High Altar for adoration. On Friday this ends with the Office of Readings, Vespers and Benediction. Fr Mark and I where joined by a member of the congregation whose life of prayer is an inspiration for me. At the same time Stuart was busy in the office producing the weekly pew sheets. So we had both Martha and Mary!
After Mass on Saturday morning the final preparations for Sunday were made. At home the final touches for the Corpus Christi liturgy book were done and also the first draft for the Funeral Mass of Margaret who died a week ago today. A little bit of reading and then some friends arrived and we had a very good afternoon and evening.
I have learnt from a communication from our Archdeacon that the Bishop of Rochester was to be the focus of a protest by a group called IDAHO. Reading their website I am confused a little bit. They expect Bishop Michael to go and greet personally Gene Robinson from “The Episcopal Church” (is this the only Episcopal church in America; is it still a church?) Why should Bishop Michael be asked to do this especially when Gene Robisnson, as far as I know, was not invited to Lambeth? This group also seems to take issue with Bishop Michael’s stand on the teaching of the Bible and the Tradition of the Church as regards sex (there you go again). Why should a Bishop of the Church of God be made a target of protest when he stands for the Faith received from the Saints? Is freedom of speech a one way traffic only? Then again, the Beloved Voice said something on the lines that we are not of the world and the world will not understand us. Bishop Michael must be on the right track! This blog salutes Bishop Michael and is full of admiration towards him: Thank you Bishop for standing up for the Faith – we are behind you on this and our prayers are with you. Bishop Michael, being a very courteous person, has issued a statement on Friday, the day before the protest was scheduled for – did it happen? The statement is this:

Statement regarding the demonstration on 17 May 2008

I acknowledge and respect the equal dignity of all - regardless of race, gender or sexual orientation. There is no place for the harassment or persecution of anyone for whatever reason.

We are thankful that in this country there is freedom of meeting and expression for all.

The Bible and the Church teach that the proper expression of our sexuality is in the context of marriage. This has to do with God’s purposes in creating us, respect for persons and the importance of the family as a basic unit of society.

+Michael Roffen:

The May 2008 Communications Update from the Church of England was very interesting because of what was left unmentioned. A list of very interesting items like investments of the Church Commissioners (do I have a pension?); a plea to stop spinning (no not the Alistair Campbell type but as in Spin Dryer) and even an item about Women Bishops which I promised myself to read only after I write this blog. But absolute silence on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (HFE) Bill. Goodness me if standing up for life and defending it comes after spin dryers and climate change – who are we saving the planet for? Dear Reader, if you have done nothing yet I beg you to send an e-mail to your MP and ask him to go to Parliament on Tuesday and vote NO! Some people are presenting this as Church vs Science. They are trying to stir an old phantom to save their position – that in itself says a lot. This is an argument between Science and Science and we Christians MUST stand up for the Culture of Life!
It was a joy (as ever) to celebrate Early Mass today which I offered for a friend. Good attendance and a quiet, reflective mood. The shining sun helped a lot. I enjoyed meeting the faithful after Mass two of whom are looking forward to join the Holy Land Pilgrimage in 2009.
Fr Mark, Frances and I shared Lauds and saw that all was in place. The choir rehearsed today’s anthem and some Music for Corpus Christi on Thursday. If you do not live far away do consider joining us on Thursday at 8pm. The celebrant and preacher will be the Bishop of Richborough.
Fr Mark celebrated the Sung Mass and I preached. We considered the Trinity as being a Mystery of Love before being a Mystery of Faith and that the language of love is the language that best speaks to God and about God in order for us to fulfil the commission given to us in today’s Gospel of making disciples in all nations.
I enjoyed meeting parishioners and even welcoming two new families. During drinks in the Hall we also had a plant sale organised by the Edmeads in aid of the Walsingham Cell; my wife Claudia brought some tomatoes – are we going green? Better not ask.
In the afternoon Fr Mark kindly covered the hospital visit, Rosary and Benediction so that I could go to the Forward in Faith (Rochester) AGM. The AGM started with a reading, a homily by Fr Bill Beer, an outdoor procession of Our Lady and Benediction. This was followed by strawberry tea in the Hall (very English!) and the AGM itself. Jim Cheesman, the Lay Chairman, led the meeting and gave a very encouraging talk to those present. Fr David Herbert, the FiF Regional Dean, is retiring from his Parish next April so this was his last AGM. He was thanked for his hard work and inspiration and all those present showed their admiration by a very hearty applause.
Tomorrow morning we shall have Sacred Space between 10 and Noon. I am looking forward for some space in silence with the Lord, amidst all the hassle and bustle, amidst all the plans and projects, it is important to guard oneself from what Pius XII described as the heresy of the apostolate. As we prepare for Corpus I must learn more to “be still and know…”

St Matthias, Apostle

The memory of the French choir and the joys of Pentecost seem to be fading away into the distance. The feeling of gratefulness for these joys is still very present. To my great annoyance I discovered a fact about a member of the choir which I really wish I knew before they came. I am told that Jean-Claude is a relative of St Therese of Lisieux, the newest Doctor of the Church! If only I knew that in my congregation I had the relative of the Little Flower, I think I would have put him on the altar with the other relics… Roger has already worked out how Jean-Claude is related to this great saint. (Photo of Jean-Claude to the right)

I spent some time on Monday, after planning my sermon for Trinity Sunday, following up what exactly did Cardinal Walter Kasper say to Anglicans. The cardinal did not say this directly to the Archbishop but it seems they were comments to a reporter of the Catholic Herald. Various reports present slightly different versions. What promises to be an engaging piece by Anna Arco (in the Catholic Herald) quickly gives way to the usual speculation and superficiality which sadly seem to show that sensationalism has a firm grip on the Catholic Herald too.
What is the Cardinal (photo below left) saying? He is asking the Anglican Church to take a decision, to stop sitting on the proverbial fence and give up the myth of the Via Media, a myth which has attempted to make a virtue out of comprehensiveness. Cardinal Kasper asks us to decide if we are with the Churches of the first millennium or those of the Reformation. Some have interpreted this, or better still boiled it down to a more headline sounding question: It is time to decide if your Church is Catholic or Protestant?
My, my. Is that a fair question to ask? Looking at the question from where I stand in the Church of England (that part compatible with Roman Catholicism, as Fr Aidan Nicholls OP aptly puts it) I think it is a question we can not answer but only in one way, and I think that even those who are elsewhere in the rainbow of colours that make up the Anglican “comprehensiveness” have no choice but one if they are to remain faithful to their inheritance. The declaration of assent, now even attached on the front of Common Worship, states clearly that the C of E is part of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. So at the heart of our existence, if we want to remain what we are, we are Catholic, period. We experience this catholicity in the light of the upheavals of the Reformation where all concepts and definitions were being re-visited. Reformation is in the blood stream of Anglicans, so how can we choose? We are Reformed Catholics at heart, but that state of being has been shaped and informed by 500 years of witness and experience. So is the question related to the basic malaise of our day: relativism? What does the Cardinal mean by the choice of first millennium churches to those of the Reformation? Does he mean standing with the faith we received from the Twelve or marrying the spirit of this passing age? As Catholic Anglicans we do not have a choice but to remain faithful to our inheritance and to continue to receive that historic order of bishops, priests and deacons. Those who in the C of E have numerical advantage must be gracious to us, on our part we need to have the courage to stand fast and secure a structural solution, and as a priest friend of mine once said after that we either swim or sink. Mindful of the promise of Jesus that he will be with us always to the end of time I am more than confident. We need the freedom to bear witness to the Gospel without this mental and emotional burden of our place within the C of E. We can continue to be Catholic Anglicans, we have a lot to contribute to the wider Church. We have a Gospel to proclaim and we are being side tracked to our own peril. How true are those words of Dr Spenser in his introduction to 1604 edition of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity by Hooker. Spenser says: “This unhappy controversy, about the received ceremonies and discipline of the Church of England, which had so long time withdrawn so many of her ministers from their principal work, and employed their studies in contentious oppositions; hath by the unnatural growth and dangerous fruits thereof, made known to the world, that it never received the blessing from the Father of peace. For whose experience doth not find, what confusion of order, and breach of the sacred bond of love, hath sprung from this dissension; how it hath rent the body of the church into divers parts, and divided her people into divers sects; how it hath taught the sheep to despise their pastors, and alienated the pastors from the love of their flocks…So much better were it in these our dwellings of peace, to endure any inconvenience whatsoever in the outward frame, than in desire of alteration, thus to set the whole house on fire.” It seems that this was written yesterday rather than 400 years ago.

Today sees the National Lobby of Parliament at Westminster organised by Pro-Life supporters in the wake of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (HFE) Bill. On this one no Christian can sit on the fence, we need to do something now. Pray for this Lobby which takes place today at 12.30pm. Pray and do something about it, do it now! The web sites http://www.passionforlife.org.uk/ and http://www.ccfon.org/ will give you lots of practical ideas.

Back to the Parish, yesterday, feast day of Our Lady of Fatima, we had another in the series of Credo ’08. Canon David Herbert SSC, Vicar of St George’s Bickley, spoke about the passion, death and burial of Jesus. He discussed with us the doctrine of Atonement and its relation to the Incarnation. Many engaged with the speaker in the question and comment time as they found this very stimulating. On our way out a lady said to me how glad she was that she is attending Credo ’08 as she is learning so much about her faith – Laus Deo.

Thanks for your prayers for David, in the next day or so he shall return to Sevenoaks hospital, and that is good news indeed. Please keep praying for the soul of Margaret Griffiths who died last Sunday evening, and also remember her bereaved family. Margaret was a faithful member of this congregation, the smile on her face always brought joy wherever she was, I am sure that the Good Shepherd is now extending to her a warm smile just as she offered to us when she was here on earth.

The Great Day of Pentecost

After Mass on Friday morning I went to the usual hospital visits while Fr Mark took communion to the housebound. I had Mark with me on my visit. Mark is a potential ordinand from the Parish of St Nicholas in Sevenoaks. He is a thoughtful and prayerful young man and I wish him well in the selection process.

Another meeting with a potential ordinand in the early afternoon then in church for Vespers and Benediction. Stuart was busy doing and printing the Pew Sheets. After Vespers I had a quick chat with my gardener and the member of the French choir who is staying with us. This was followed by a meeting with Jackie, one of the Parish Pastoral Assistants. Jackie is working on a scheme for parents of babies in the congregation and is putting together an exciting plan. Dealing with some correspondence brought the day to an end.
At hospital I visited David and on my way out Mark and I met his wife. He was moved to the Kent & Sussex Hospital late on Friday evening, where he still is. Please keep him and his family in your prayers.

Saturday was a very glorious day indeed, the sun shone and the temperature rose. After the morning Mass Fr Mark and I prepared everything for Sunday. Back home some e-mails to answer and then preparations for the evening. The choir used the Vicarage Garden to treat the French choir for a BBQ. The afternoon was very active with chairs, tables, BBQ sets and a thousand things finding their way to the Vicarage.

(photos to the left)

At 7pm the concert started. All enjoyed the high standard of the choir and the joy they brought. During the interval all had chance to enjoy a glass of wine and a chat. The concert ended with both choirs performing together Faure’s “Cantique de Jean Racine”. The French choir enjoyed the meal afterwards.
This concert was also the launch of the appeal for the window by Carolyn Benyon depicting Pentecost. It really started in style and raised just over £300 towards the £7k we need. Donations are now being gratefully received. (Design of the proposed window above)

The glorious day of Pentecost started with the Early Mass which I have celebrated. Fr Mark was away this morning celebrating and preaching at St Barnabas Tunbridge Wells. After the recitation of the Office all was in place for the Sung Mass. Roger, our reader, gave us a very good sermon on the gospel of the day. The music was good and the attendance great. The numbers of the choir were swelled by some of the French choir for the anthem. Banns of Marriage were read during which we paused in prayer for the three couples present who will be married this summer. Following the joy of catching up with folk after Mass there was a quick and very productive standing committee meeting.

My family and I enjoyed a quick lunch in the garden – today the weather is hotter and better than in Malta!

After lunch I visited the hospital and had time to chat with some of the dedicated staff with which we are blessed. I was also blessed by meeting a couple who this coming August will celebrate the 60th anniversary of their marriage, their love and joy looks like that of a couple about to be married. I also enjoyed my chat with Betty who comes from Hull. Betty is full of life and joy, a very gentle lady. On Tuesday she will be moved to a nursing home in the Parish where she will be near to her family. Understandably Betty is hesitant about her move, can you join me in saying a prayer for her? I walked in front of David’s room and it was sad to see it empty knowing that he is at another hospital. I thought of him and his family during Mass and also at the Rosary.

The devotion of the Rosary is truly a deep and fruitful one that enables us to enter into new depths as we meditate the Mysteries of our Salvation. We had exposition at 6pm, the Rosary with sung verses at each mystery; we chanted the Salve and ended with Benediction.

Our Youth Group: BOBs, met this evening and enjoyed their games and a good video. (Photo above)

The day of Pentecost ended with a very sad note. A member of our congregation died peacefully in her home this afternoon. Fr Mark went straight away to give conditional absolution and anointing. I followed him and blessed the body. On this birthday of the Church, one of our numbers has been admitted into the Church Triumphant – may she rest in peace and may the Spirit of all consolation descend on her family.

Our Lady of Greatness (III)

As promised here are some photographs of the devotions kept in honour of Our Lady of Greatness.
The French choir Les Jeudistes have arrived and there is a photograph of them as they were entertained for a delicious supper at Roger's and Lindsay's home.

Our Lady of Greatness (II)

When Fr Mark visited Gloucester House Nursing Home for their bi-monthly communion, he took with him some holy cards of Our Lady of Greatness. Fr Mark told them the story of how all this came about. They were all fascinated about it and appreciated the card and joyfully recited the prayer. It is wonderful to see how the local history is enabling us in establishing devotion towards the Mother of the Lord.
After the recitation of the Divine Office, Father Mark led us in the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary and concluded the Office by the recitation of the new prayer to Our Lady of Greatness. A short time later the French choir “Les Jeudistes” arrived in church and joined our choir in their first rehearsal for the concert on Saturday. Our choir then stayed over for our evening devotion to Our Lady of Greatness. Marigold and Carol gave us a very good explanation of the origins of Holy Wells and how our own one might have looked like. It was a very good and informative exposition. This was followed by a Marian hymn, an abridged version of the Akathist of Our Lady and a final Marian hymn. More people then I ever expected turned up for these devotions and I ran out of books eight minutes before we started.
Here below are some lines that long ago have been written about the Holy Well and Shrine of Our Lady of Greatness.
However, before that a story that impressed me very much concerns two young girls of primary school age who have recently moved from Eastern Europe. They always stop in front of the church to say their prayers on their way to school and back. Yesterday they left next to the church door some flowers. Fr Mark brought the flowers in which were quickly put in a vase next to Our Lady as we recited her first Vespers. Was not that a wonderful homage to Our Lady?
Photos of the event will be posted as they are available. The following is from an article in the parish Magazine of May 08 written by the Mrs Cheesman.

When describing Greatness Jane Edwards wrote in her diary:
‘There was formerly a hospital or chapel dedicated to St John and an Oratory
or Chantry dedicated to Our Lady of Greatness, near which is a chalybeate
spring which flows into an antique cistern. I have the lines, which were written many years ago, on this spring, which was covered with a Chapel, but now in ruins, it was called Our Lady’s Well, near Greatness, and reads thus:

Fount of the woods! Thou art hid no more
From Heaven’s clear eyes as in days of yore.
For the roof hath sunk from the mossy walls
And the sun’s free glance on thy slumber falls,
And the dim trees’ shadows across the grass.
And the boughs are swayed o’er thy dewy glass
And the reddening leaves on the breast are blown
And the autumn winds hath a stormy tone
And the bubbles rise to the flashing rain
Bright fount! Thou art nature’s own again.

Fount of the vale! Thou art sought no more
By the pilgrim’s foot as in days of yore!
When he came from afar his beads to tell
And to chant his hymn at Our Lady’s Well.
There is heard no Ave through thy shady bowers
Thou art glancing lone midst thy water flowers
But the herd may drink from thy gushing wave
And there may the reaper his forehead lave
And the woodman seek thee not in vain
Bright fount! Thou art nature’s own again.

Font of the Virgin’s curried shrine!
A voice that speaks of the past is thine.
It mingles the tone of a thoughtful sigh
With the notes that ring through a laughing sky
And the sound of the breeze it will just be heard
Midst the mirthful song of the summer bird.
Tis that all on earth is of Time’s Domain,
He hath made thee nature’s own again.’

Font of the Chapel! With ages grey
Thou art springing freely amidst decay
Thy silts are closed, and cross lies low
And the changed hours breathe o’er thee now,
Yet if at thine Altar one holy thought
In man’s deep spirit of old hath wrought,
If peace to the mourner hath been given
Or prayer from a chastened breast to heaven,
Be the spot still hallowed while time shall say
Who hath made thee nature’s own again.’

Our Lady of Greatness

All around the globe are havens of peace and joy to which millions flock each year – shrines dedicated to Our Lady the Mother of God. Many of these shrines are so tied with the history of a local area that they become known after the place name, famous examples surely are Our Lady of Lourdes and Our Lady of Walsingham. Some are more famous than others. Some are international; others national and others still local shrines.

Here in Sevenoaks we had a local shrine complete with Holy Well. It was known as Our Lady of Greatness taking its name from the area. It was situated near the pilgrims’ way towards Canterbury and very near the Hospital of Saint John the Baptist, also dissolved by that most cheerful of Monarchs, Henry VIII.

The area where the Spring of Our Lady was is still there, however so far we did not get access to it. Below is a photograph from a 1910 Map of the area.

Above is the photograph of Our Lady of Greatness in the place of honour for her feast day. Mass in her honour was celebrated at the usual time of 9.30am. I have just come back from Rosary at noon which started with the Regina Coeli and ended with the sung Salve and the Prayer to our Lady of Greatness which is attached below.

Later on we have Office of Readings, Vespers and Litany of the BVM and at 7.30pm we have a talk about the history of the Our Lady’s Spring and an abridged version of the Akathist Hymn in honour of Our Lady. I shall keep you posted.

Our Lady has already been answering our prayers. A member of the congregation had to go for some results at hospital today and I have just found a message from him saying that he is literally just out from the hospital and that all is well. Another candle to Our Lady of Greatness!

Prayer to Our Lady of Greatness

Blessed Mary, you have been blessed and favoured by God.

You became not only the Mother of Jesus, but ours as well.

We come to you today as your loving children.

Watch over us and take care of us,

as you did with all our forbears

who venerated you here in Sevenoaks.

As you held the child Jesus in your loving arms,

so take us in your arms.

Be a mother ready at every moment to help us.

Intercede for us, dear Mother,

in obtaining pardon for our sins,

love for Jesus,

and the grace always to call upon you,

Our Lady of Greatness.

Amen.