JULY IS THE MONTH OF THE MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
THE SEVENTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME Dear parishioners, ‘For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honouring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God's judgment upon yourself. (1 Corinthians 11:29). Thank you to the parishioner who sent me the Youtube link for ‘Priest Makes Amazing Declaration During Mass After Revelation Leaves Him Broken Down in Tears’. I am in unity with this priest, who is moved by the faith and devotion shown by the faithful when they receive the Lord at Holy Communion in the traditional Catholic way. Like him and all priests, we can also be hurt to tears when we see irreverence to Jesus, our Lord. However, it is not possible to make such a declaration. In the novus ordo mass of the modern Church we have been given a choice by the bishops: we can visibly demonstrate our belief in the Real Presence and our devotion to it by the traditional catholic way of receiving Holy Communion or not do so. In an individualistic age of seemingly personal choice in all things, such devotion must come from the individual and is not an external obligation. Some may claim that this is better than it used to be because the act of kneeling and receiving on the tongue is not obligatory, but must come from each communicant as a voluntary act. There is a lot to be said for this: an individual, family or parish practising this does so not out of obligation or because everyone else does it but out of a visible and truly voluntary expression of love for the Lord. Therefore, in many ways, this gives greater witness than if it is just an un-thought- about normal practice. Whilst the traditional way of receiving Holy Communion at novus ordo masses remains voluntary according to current regulations, nevertheless, in celebrations of the Traditional Latin Mass on Saturday mornings where communion kneeling and on the tongue is the normal practice, all are asked to receive Holy Communion in this traditional catholic way. This is in conformity with normal catholic practice through the ages and shows respect to our brothers and sisters for whom the modern and originally protestant practice of receiving in the hand at the Traditional Latin mass is completely alien and is like a wrong note played in a beautiful melody. Receiving in the traditional way at the Traditional Latin Mass also visibly demonstrates unity with all our Catholic brothers and sisters and the Saints who have shown reverence to the Lord in this way for nearly two millennia. Quite simply, for a catholic, it is the recognisably Catholic thing to do. What if someone does not make their communion in the traditional way at the Traditional Latin Mass? Personally, I would not want ever to refuse anyone on these grounds alone if such an act is not openly and deliberately in defiance of the Church’s tradition, in which case, such a person would need to consider whether they are making their communion in a spirit of humility before God. For some, it is a big step to receive communion the traditional way at any mass, even if deep down they are spiritually drawn to it, and unfamiliarity may cause a certain understandable reticence. What helps at the Traditional Latin Mass is that everyone receives this way, it is expected and so you would not be drawing attention to your own devotion. For some people too, kneeling is painful or difficult, and in such circumstances receiving on the tongue without kneeling while standing always shows great devotion too. God knows our limitations and at this intimate moment of communion with God, only he can judge what is going on inside of each one of us, as St Paul says ‘ For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honouring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God's judgment upon yourself. (1 Corinthians 11:29). What is even more important, if anything, than the manner of our receiving Holy Communion is our preparation before mass. For this, we all need to go to confession at least twice a year and not receive Holy Communion if we have committed a mortal sin or are living a life which is outside the laws of God (such as co-habiting with a partner outside of Christian marriage). It is indeed true, that to outwardly receive the Body of Christ in the most perfect and traditional manner but to be in mortal sin and unrepentant would be merely an exterior display of piety and completely fail to understand what St Paul in First Corinthians is saying. But judging by the high number of confessions on First Saturdays following the call of Our Lady of Fatima, many who receive the Lord with traditional reverence will also traditionally prepare with confession; many more indeed than before any other mass in this parish where one or two penitents would be more than usual. This is not because the Catholics on first Saturdays are greater sinners, but they know their need of the remedy for sin: confession in preparation for Holy Communion.
Therefore, reverence in receiving Holy Communion and due preparation by confession will often go together, for it shows a love of the Lord in the Eucharist both interiorly and exteriorly. In our everyday lives too, we all need to make our external acts in accord with our thoughts and our words and receiving Holy Communion in such a way with regular confession will help train the soul and give us the strength to live with such personal integrity, courage and humility before Almighty God. Our Lady calls us to reverence her Son again in the Eucharist. ‘In the end’ we are told, ‘my Immaculate Heart will triumph’: this I firmly believe and the teaching and practices of The Church on receiving Holy Communion and preparing for it with Confession, through the ages, have shown us how. DAY WITH MARY 1. Saturday 30th July 2022 from 11.00 a.m at St Anselm’s Church, Balham High Road, Tooting Bec SW17 2. Saturday 7th August 2022 from 12.10 p.m. meeting at the Friday Market in Walsingham and processing along the ‘Pilgrim’s Way’ to the National Shrine of England. 3. Saturday 13th Augsut 2022 from 9.30 a.m. at St.Saviour’s, Lewisham. MEETING YOUR PARISH PRIEST. Following the good reception of the invitation to speak about matters concerning you in the life of the parish and the positive response to our conversations last week, the invitation is extended to the evening of Monday 1st August and/or Monday 8th August. Please come by yourself or with a fellow parishioner who worships here and talk with your parish priest and a pastoral councillor. Please call or email the parish priest to make the appointment, or speak with a member of the pastoral council. VISITING THE SICK & HOUSEBOUND. ‘So vividly did St Camillus picture and honour the person of Christ in the sick that often when distributing food to them he thought of them as his ‘Christs’, and would beg of them grace and the remission of sins. Hence, he was as reverent before them as if he were really and truly in the presence of his Lord. Of nothing would he speak more frequently or fervently than of holy charity. He longed that it should take root in the heart of every man’ (from the ‘Life of St Camillus’ by a companion). Of your charity, please let the parish priest know if there is anyone housebound, sick and needing visiting. Visits cannot be made by the priest or arranged for another parishioner to visit, if it is not known who is sick and housebound, where they are and an appointment made. LONDON CARIBBEAN CATHOLIC CHAPLAINCY invites you to THE ALL LONDON CARRIBEAN PILGRIMAGE and MEMORIAL to FR CHARLES GAILLARD to AYLESFORD PRIORY on SUNDAY 31ST JULY 2022. SOLEMN MASS AT 12.00 noon. See notice board for details of coaches and contacts or pick up one of the flyers in the porch. THE LATIN MASS SOCIETY PILGRIMAGE FROM ELY TO WALSINGHAM. 25TH TO 28TH AUGUST. You are invited to join us for our annual pilgrimage to the Basilica shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham. Pilgrims arrive early on Thursday and after an early mass on Friday, begin the walk to Walsingham, arriving on Sunday. Family groups and individuals welcome. For more information & to register: www.lms.org.uk or call 020 7404 7284. ‘Children’s Liturgy’ on Sundays at 9.00 a.m. will be taking a summer break and will resume in the autumn term. 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. THURSDAY LUNCH CLUB There will be no lunch club on Thursday 28th July, Thursday 4th August, Thursday 11th August and will resume on Thursday 18th August. We welcome to the Church Hall for three weeks a summer camp for children. 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:
Robert Melville Cruikshank, aged 84, who died on Monday 6th June at Queen Elizabeth Hospital. His funeral was on Tuesday 28th June. Margaret Heffernan whose funeral was on Thursday 20th July at 11.30 p.m. Mario Pescatore, aged 89, who died on Friday 1st July 2022 and whose funeral will take place on Friday 19th August 2022 followed by committal at Eltham. May the divine assistance remain with them 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 SEVENTEENTH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME. Instaurare Omnia in Christo: "to restore all things in Christ." Saturday 23rd July St. Bridget, religious, patron of Europe, feast/ Our Lady’s Saturday. TC PLEASE NOTE THERE IS NO LATIN MASS TODAY. 10.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary + 11.00 a.m. Memorial Requiem for Michael McDonagh R.I.P. (28th July 1948 - 11th April 2020) with reception. 6.00 p.m. confessions + 6.30 p.m. SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY. (C) Lloyd & Sharon D’Souza T.G. Sunday 24th July 8.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary + 9.00 a.m. SUNG. With ‘children’s liturgy’. Erlinda Nethercott R.I.P. (who died 19th July aged 77) + 11.00 a.m. SOLEMN LATIN MASS (with English Readings/ missa orbis factor). The people of the parish. 7.00 p.m. Parish Social Evening in the Hall. All welcome. Monday 25th July St.James, apostle, feast.. 9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary + 10.00 a.m. Eileen Budd W.B.
Tuesday 26th July Ss Joachim & Anne, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary, memorial.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+10.00 a.m. Baby Finn W.B.
Wednesday 27th July feria.
Daily Rosary at home.
NO PUBLIC MASS TODAY.
Thursday 28th July feria.
9. 30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+10.00 a.m. William Muldowney R.I.P.
1.00 p.m. Thursday Lunch Club.
Friday 29th July Ss Mary, Martha and Lazarus, memorial.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+10.00 a.m. Holy Souls
6.00 p.m. Choir Practice.
Saturday 30th July St. Peter Chrisologus, bishop & doctor of the church /Our Lady’s Saturday. TC
NO LATIN MASS THIS MORNING
Confessions 6. 00 p.m.
.+ 6.30 p.m. EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME The Fernandes Family T.G.
JULY PRAYER: Act of consecration to the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ. To be said in church before the Blessed Sacrament, exposed or in the Tabernacle.
Blood of Jesus, inebriate me! O Jesus, my Beloved Saviour, ever present in the Tabernacle, to be the strength,, the joy and the food of souls, I come to consecrate myself to your Precious Blood, and to pledge you my sincere love and fidelity. Pierced with sorrow at the remembrance of your sufferings, the contemplation of the Cross, and the thought of the outrages and contempt lavished by ungrateful souls upon your dear Blood, I long, O my Jesus, to bring joy to your Heart, and to make you forget my sins, and those of the whole world, by consecrating my body and soul to your service. I desire, my Jesus, to live henceforth, only by your Blood and for your Blood. I now choose It as my greatest treasure and the dearest object of my love. O merciful Redeemer, deign to regard me as a perpetual adorer of your Most Precious Blood, and be pleased to accept my prayers, my deeds and my sacrifices, as so many acts of reparation and love. Heavenly Wine, giver of purity and strength, pour down upon my soul. Make of my heart a living chalice from which grace shall constantly flow on those that love you, and especially on poor sinners that offend you, Teach me to honour you, and to make you honoured by others. Give me power to draw to you cold and hardened hearts, that they may feel how infinitely your consolations surpass those of the world. O Blood of my Crucified Saviour, detach me from the world, and the spirit of the world. Make me love suffering and sacrifice, after the example of St. Brigid, who loved you so much. O Precious Blood, be my strength amid the trials and struggles of exile. Grant that at the hour of death I may be able to bless you for having been the comfort and the sanctification of my soul, before becoming, in Heaven, the everlasting object of my love and praise. Saints of God, who owe your happiness to the Blood of Jesus; Angelic spirits, who sing Its glory and power, august Virgin, who to It owes the privileges of your Immaculate Conception and Divine Maternity, help me to pay to the Precious Blood of my Redeemer a perpetual homage of adoration, reparation and thanksgiving. Amen. Blessings to you all. Fr Jonathon.