Saturday 14th January 2023 – Saturday 21st January 2023
- jonathonrouth
- Jan 14, 2023
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 16, 2023
Second Week of Ordinary Time
JANUARY IS THE MONTH OF THE MOST HOLY NAME OF JESUS
Dear parishioners,
Below is the obituary to Pope Benedict XVI by Bishop Athanasius Schneider released last week. It contains and endorses, more succinctly than my tribute last week, thoughts and feelings at one with my own, which also reflect a strong current of opinion in the Church at present. I recommend this to you.
The legacy of the pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI. By Bishop Athanasius Schneider
With the passing away of Pope Benedict XVI, many Catholics felt that they lost a clear and sure point of reference for their faith. One can have the sensation of orphaned children. We can say that Pope Benedict XVI was a pope, who put at the centre of his personal life and of the life of the Church the supernatural view of the faith and of the perennial validity of the holy Tradition of the Church, which constitutes the source and the pillar of our Faith together with Holy Scripture. In this sense, the greatest and most beneficial act of his pontificate was the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum with the full restoration of the traditional Latin liturgy in all its expression: Holy Mass, sacraments and all the other sacred rites. This pontifical act will go down in history as epoch-making. Pope Benedict XVI states that the traditional rite of the Holy Mass was never abrogated and should remain always in the Church, because what was holy for our fore-fathers and the Saints must be holy for us and the future generations as well. In that time, as it was after the II Vatican Council, when there was within the Church an almost general movement of a radical rejection of the millennium old liturgical rite of the Holy Mass and therefore a rupture with the principle of the Tradition itself, the pontificate of Benedict XVI was worthwhile for having issued the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum which began the healing of that wound in the Body of the Church; the wound which was caused by the attitude of rejection and hatred of the venerable and millennium-old rule of the prayer of the Church. In his spiritual testament, Pope Benedict XVI left us among others the following substantial short phrase, which I consider the most important of all: Stand firm in the faith! Do not be confused! We witness in our day, in the life of the Church, a process of a dilution of the Catholic Faith and of adapting it to the spirit of heretics, unbelievers and apostates by the specious and euphonic name of ‘synodality’ and by abusing the canonical institution of a synod. Such a situation is demoralizing for all true Catholics. Therefore, the legacy of Pope Benedict XVI, which is expressed in the words “Stand firm in the faith! Do not be confused!” and in his epoch-making Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum, remains a light, an encouragement and a consolation. This pope was strong in faith, a true lover of the non-perishable beauty and firmness of the traditional rite of the Holy Mass, he gave primacy to prayer, to the supernatural view and to eternity. This legacy will overcome thanks to the intervention of Divine Providence, which never abandons His Church, the current enormous doctrinal confusion, the creeping apostasy especially among a worldly and unbelieving caste of theologians, who are the new scribes and among a creeping apostasy of not a few high ranking clergy, who are the new Sadducees. Pope Benedict XVI made shine brightly his episcopal motto “Collaboratores veritatis”, i.e. collaborators of the truth. With this motto he wants to say to each faithful Catholic, to each priest, to each bishop, to each cardinal and to Pope Francis as well: what really counts is the unshakable fidelity to the Catholic Truth, to the constant and venerable liturgical tradition of the Church and the primacy of God and eternity. May God accept the prayers and spiritual sufferings, which Pope Benedict XVI offered in his retired life, and grant for the future of the Church fully Catholic and fully Apostolic bishops and popes. For, as Saint Paul said: “We cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth” (2 Cor. 13:8).
English is not Bishop Archbishop Schneider’s first language, which explain some features of his style. His superb book on the mass, called ‘The Catholic Mass’ which contains many thoughts in line with Pope Benedict’s ‘hermeneutic of continuity’ is available from St Paul’s Bookshop (on line or the catholic bookshop next to Westminster Cathedral) or through Amazon.
Prayer cards for Pope Benedict from the Archdiocese are available for you in the Porch (narthex).
That’s all. God bless
Fr. Jonathon
PARISH NOTICE BOARD
PEACE SUNDAY
As the Catholic Movement for Peace, Pax Christi relies on your support to continue its work of peace making.
‘The work of PAX CHRISTI is based on the gospel and inspired by faith. Our vision is of a world where people can live in peace, without fear of violence in all its forms. Rooted in Catholic Christianity, we work with all who share our values to abolish war and create communities of peace and justice’
Please pick of up your Pax Christi donation envelopes and return them next week.
WHITE FLOWER APPEAL 2023 The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) will be holding its annual appeal next weekend.
SPUC wants a world where abortion is unthinkable, and is raising awareness of the widespread problem of abortion coercion.
According to an independent poll, 87% of GPs are concerned that the Government's ''pills by post'' scheme leaves women vulnerable to coerced abortion. SPUC is calling on the Prime Minister to condemn this abhorrent tragedy.
Please be as generous as you can to help SPUC defend unborn babies and their mothers by highlighting this urgent crisis.
DIOCESAN DIRECTORIES.
If you ordered a Diocesan Directory, these are now available in the sacristy after mass.
FOOD BANK. Don’t forget the Food Bank collection crate in the Church Porch! People are not managing to afford the basic essentials of life. If you can contribute some long life milk, canned food, packets of pasta, toilet rolls or any other non-perishable basics, you will be helping our neighbours in great need.
UPCOMING EVENTS
THURSDAY LUNCH CLUB takes place from 12.30 p.m. this Thursday.
CANDLEMAS 2023 Buy candles now which you may be using for prayer in the year ahead and they can be blessed at the FEAST OF THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD, 2nd FEBRUARY 2023 with the church candles; mass at 7.00 p.m.
PARISH PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES in October. Please contact the parish office if you are interested in joining us.
PARISH PILGRIMAGE TO WALSINGHAM in May (summer half term) Please contact the parish office if you are interested in joining us. There has been a good response and there are only a few rooms left.
Escorted Pilgrimage to Knock Shrine, Ireland, 15th March 2023. £699.00 per person sharing. Price includes flight, all transfers, 4 nights’ in Knock House Hotel with full board. All entertainment and excursions included. Day trips to Westport, Ballintubber Abbey, Croagh Patrick, Fr. Peyton Centre & National Museum. Special St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations. Single supplement £150.00. Contact Patricia on 01268 762 278 or 07740 175557 or email knockpilgrimages@gmail.com.
MONTHLY DEVOTIONS will take place on Sunday 29th January 4.00 p.m. with the Parish Rosary, Litany of the Holy Name and Benediction. ( change of date, previously listed at 22nd)
NOTICES FOR THE YOUTH OF OUR PARISH
CHURCH for CHILDREN.
The ‘children’s liturgy’ resumes in the hall at the 9 o’clock mass this Sunday.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2023.
Session 3 on Saturday 21st January, 10.30 a.m. in the hall.
CONFIRMATION 2023.
Attend Devotions to the Holy Name of Jesus with Parish Rosary & Benediction on Sunday 29th January at 4.00 p.m.
DEATHS
For all our brothers and sisters who ate the Body of Christ, the bread of Life, that they may be raised up on the Last Day. (Drawn from the intercession of the Funeral Mass)
Please pray for the soul of:
Michel Vidal, who died in France on Monday 19th December aged 62 and whose funeral requiem has been held in France. He will have a Requiem at St. Thomas More on Friday 27th January followed by the burial of ashes at Hillview Cemetery.
Teresa Bridget Crump who died on Thursday 29th December 2023, aged 77. Her funeral is at 10.00 a.m. on Friday 3rd February 2023 followed by committal at Eltham Crematorium.
Patricia Maureen Lee who died on Monday 2nd January 2023, aged 88. Her funeral is at 11.30 a.m. on Tuesday 7th February 2023 with committal at Plumstead Cemetery.
Mary Etheridge, who died on 6th January 2023.
Bernard O'Brien. Details to follow.
May the divine assistance remain with her always, and may their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.
MASSES AND INTENTIONS FOR THE SECOND WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME
Instaurare Omnia in Christo: "restoring all things in Christ."
Saturday 14th January St. Hilary, bishop & confessor with comm. of St Felix, martyr [T.C.]
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. [Latin 1962] Anika Braganca TG on her birthday.
+ 6.30 p.m. SECOND SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (A) (‘Peace Sunday’) Kay Edmonds R.I.P.
Sunday 15th January
8.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+9.00 a.m. [SUNG] with ‘Children’s Liturgy’ in the Hall. Chacko Joseph & Thresiamma Chacko R.I.P.
+11.00 a.m. [SOLEMN. Latin with English. Missa Orbis Factor] The people of the parish.
Monday 16th January feria.
9.30 a.m.The Daily Rosary
10.00 a.m. Ruffie Fernandes TG
Tuesday 17th January St. Anthony, abbot, memorial.
The Daily Rosary at home.
NO PUBLIC MASS TODAY
Wednesday 18th January feria.
The Daily Rosary at home.
NO PUBLIC MASS TODAY.
+ 6.00 p.m. at St George’s Cathedral. Thanksgiving mass for the ministry of Bishop Pat.
Thursday 19th January St. Wulfstan, bishop.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+10.00 a.m. Bernard O'Brien R.I.P.
Friday 20th January St. Fabian, pope & martyr.
9.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
+10.00 a.m. William Hurt R.I.P.
6.00 p.m. Parish Choir Practice. New members welcome.
Saturday 21st January St. Agnes, virgin & martyr. [T.C.]
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. [Latin 1962]
+ 6.30 p.m. THIRD SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (A) Bob Penny W.B.
JANUARY INVOCATION TO THE HOLY NAME OF JESUS.
JANUARY INVOCATIONS TO THE HOLY NAME OF JESUS.
THE LITANY OF THE HOLY NAME (one of the official litanies of the church for public recitation). If you are saying this litany on your own, say it slowly with the breath. Breathe in for the invocation and out at each response. You can listen to this litany on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgrzS9Kexrw and you will be able to join in a public recitation at St Thomas More at ‘An Hour in Peace with the Lord’ on Sunday 29th January at 4.00 p.m, concluding with Benediction.
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, hear us. Jesus, graciously hear us.
God the Father of heaven, have mercy. God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy. God the Holy Spirit, have mercy.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy.
Jesus, Son of the living God, Jesus, Splendour of the Father, Jesus, Brightness of eternal light, Jesus, King of glory, Jesus, Sun of justice, Jesus, Son of the virgin Mary, have mercy on us.
Jesus most lovable, Jesus, most adorable, Jesus, most admirable, Jesus, the mighty God, Jesus, Father of the world to come, Jesus, Angel of great counsel, Jesus, most powerful, Jesus, most patient, Jesus, most obedient. Jesus, meek and humble of heart, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Lover of chastity, Jesus, Lover of us, Jesus, God of peace, Jesus, Author of life, Jesus, example of all virtues, Jesus, zealous Lover of souls, Jesus, our God, Jesus, our Refuge, Jesus, Father of the poor, Jesus, Treasure of the faithful, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Good Shepherd, Jesus, True Light, Jesus, Eternal Wisdom, Jesus, Infinite Goodness, Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, Jesus, Joy of angels, Jesus, Master of apostles, Jesus, Teacher of evangelists, Jesus, Strength of martyrs, Jesus, Light of confessors, Jesus, Purity of virgins, Jesus, Crown of all saints,
Be merciful to us: Spare us, O Jesus, Be merciful to us: Hear us, O Jesus.
From all evil, From all sin, From your wrath, From the snares of the devil, From the spirit of fornication, From everlasting death,
From neglect of your holy inspirations, Lord Jesus, deliver us.
Through the mystery of your holy Incarnation, through your nativity, through your divine infancy, through your sacred life, through your labours, through your agony and passion, through your cross and dereliction, through your pains and torments, through your death and burial, through your glorious resurrection, through your ascension, through your joys and glory, in the day of judgment,
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: Spare us, Lord Jesus. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: Hear us, Lord Jesus. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: Have mercy on us, Lord Jesus.
Christ Jesus, hear us. Christ Jesus, graciously hear us.
V. May the name of the Lord be praised R. Now and forever.
Let us pray. O Lord Jesus Christ, you said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Mercifully hear our prayers and give us your gift of divine charity ,that we may always love you with all our heart, and always praise your holy name; for you live and reign, one God, now and forever. Amen.
God bless
Fr Jonathon