Saturday 7th January 2023 – Saturday 14th January 2023

JANUARY IS THE MONTH OF THE MOST HOLY NAME OF JESUS

Dear parishioners,

POPE BENEDICT XVI. IN THANKSGIVING.

The death of Pope Benedict, Joseph Ratzinger, is the loss of a spiritual father. Calling him ‘Holy Father’ was not just a title for many of us when applied to him. We meant it. And although we had the continuous and aching wound of his absence since his retirement, knowing he has died, leaves us feeling like spiritual orphans and makes deeper the wound caused by his retirement ten years ago. Selfishly, his retirement had left many of us bereft. Why did he do it? Dr Taylor Marshall put it rather colourfully, he was like a dad we all loved deeply, who then leaves us to the care of cruel step- father. It left us confused. These are of course feelings, which I can’t comment on, but all bereavement is an expression of feeling, of what we ourselves have lost. Yes, it is often said, that when a loved one dies, we weep for ourselves. And that is in the end true, because we believe in God, we trust in him, and ultimately, we pray and hope those we love will make the journey - through God’s mercy and the help of our prayers - to Heaven. Why weep about that ? You will hear it said ‘they’re better off’. Well yes, that is certainly our Christian hope. And although we may lose a spiritual father in this life, we are not orphans either, as Archbishop John wrote in his pastoral letter to us last Sunday:

‘St Paul recalls that we have each been adopted into a new life in Christ. We are sons and daughters of God, in and through God’s Son. We are brothers and sisters in Christ, sharing one Heavenly Father. In a related sense, Mary is also spiritually our heavenly Mother. As brothers and sisters in Christ, we have God as our common Father. As brothers and sisters in Christ, we also share one holy Mother. There are no orphans in Christ’.

These words, written before the death in this world of a true spiritual father to us, were prophetically comforting.

What can I personally say of Pope Benedict? I remember when he was elected the peace and joy I felt because the Holy Spirit had given us a safe pair of hands to steer the ark of the Church. I met him, or perhaps it would be better say I saw him, at Oscott seminary in Birmingham on his remarkable state visit to the UK. I remember one of my fellow seminarians calling out to him ‘I love you Holy Father’ as he left the group photo and headed to his limo for the airport . Well I couldn’t quite do that, but I said it in my heart. I can’t say more about him and his life that is not in public record, you can read about it, and because of course I did not know him personally, I can only talk about his legacy which I have lived through. Firstly, his writing. God’s light poured upon his mind and he wrote the most amazing theology in the most fine prose. His book on eschatology (the end things) which I read at my Seminary (alas no more) helped me greatly and his encyclicals as pope were lucid and written from pure love of God and the church.

And the latter point is important. For the first way God reveals himself to humanity is through The Catholic Church. This is what we believe, but nowadays sounds like a bold statement. That’s why our buildings, all our music, all our architecture, all our art, all our liturgy, need to be beautiful because God is beauty. Pope Benedict believed this, and he loved the sacred tradition of The Church, which for two thousand years has communicated the beauty of God: our liturgy should be a window into the beauty of heaven. Long before he became pope, in those nineteen seventies, Joseph Ratzinger had become disturbed by the radical and revolutionary throwing out of two thousand years of sacred tradition, catholic teaching and the ugly secularizing of the Liturgy. However, Ratzinger was no reactionary and had been an influential and forward thinking Father at Vatican II. The Council Fathers had never intended to create a rupture with what had gone before and indeed, in the Council document on the Mass, the continuity with the Mass of the Ages is clearly written and can be read by all.

As Pope Paul VI stated, Vatican II was a pastoral council, called to find ways the Church could engage better with the modern world. It was never the intention of the Council Fathers to let worldly and protestant belief into the church. Nowhere in the Council was The Church asked to undress and destroy the altars, have the priest face the people, give up confession, let laity distribute holy communion in the mass, lessen the ‘sacrificial aspect’ of the Liturgy, adopt the custom of receiving communion in the hands while standing - intiated by protestants to deny belief in the Real Presence, have dancing, jumping and rock bands at the altar, abandon our sacred music, language, litanies, processions, novenas, vestments, sacred vessels made with precious metals, images, tabernacle veils, women’s head coverings in church, religious habits or given permission to deviate from the Church’s wording of the Liturgy. And nowhere in Vatican II were we called to change Catholic beliefs, ethics or Christian morality. It is often said that Vatican II was called to find ways for the Church to go into the world and preach the gospel, not to let the world into the church so that the Church becomes more like this world. That is not what the Lord commanded when he began the mission of The Church.

So Cardinal Ratzinger, supporting the papacy of pope John Paul II, began the work of restoration, not to take us back to the 1950s, but to bring The Church back to herself and so to Christ, so that the developments in the mass, including the increased use of the vernacular, were in a single line of continuity with the Mass of the Ages. This became known as the hermeneutic of continuity. It means, that the new form of the mass must be recognisable, looking and feeling like the old form, and not appearing and sounding so different it could be from a modern protestant church. This continuity is simply implemented, if the actual rubrics (instructions) for saying the new mass are observed, rather than following the radical individualistic interpretations of the seventies.

Unfortunately, many chose to misunderstand this work and considered Cardinal Ratzinger a hardline conservative. This totally misunderstood him and ignored his own writings and liturgical practice which had simply held to Catholic Teaching, in times when secular and non -catholic belief and practices were beginning to flood the church, leading to that ‘watered down Catholicism’ that has failed to nurture new generations in the faith. In this way, Cardinal Ratzinger directed catholic priests to teach what The Church teaches. This is hardly much to ask. Professors in a catholic university should also not write against catholic dogma. This also is hardly hardline! If you propose the abolition of the Union in the Conservative and Unionist party, you are not a conservative, and if you are against Scottish independence in the SNP, then you are in the wrong party. If you deny the Virgin Birth or the Real Presence of Christ in the Mass, or promote marriage of people of the same sex, you quite simply do not hold Catholic belief. If you want the label ‘catholic’, then teach what the church teaches. Is that too much to ask?

A cultured man who loved the arts and was a good musician, Pope Benedict XVI was a most liberal man in many ways, in his short and blessed papacy showing pastoral care to millions of Catholics throughout the world who love and cherish the Traditional Latin Mass. He actually listened to us and gave free permission for us to worship God in this timeless way, stating quite simply and categorically that this was because The Traditional Latin Mass has never been abrogated. In celebrating the Traditional Latin Mass, we believe that what has been of God through the Ages is still of God today. As a result of this, there were many new vocations to the priesthood and religious life and many families found their way back to leading a full catholic life in faith, practice and morals. In an era of crisis in the church in which few come forward for the priesthood and seminaries are closing (as mine has), and in many areas of the church’s life we must admit that the church is actually dying, traditionalism has been an area of the church’s life in which there have been green shoots of growth. This should be encouraged and celebrated, not suppressed, because vocations to the priesthood and religious life are a sure sign of the movement of the Holy Spirit in The Church. Pope Benedict will forever be loved and thanked for what he did for the Church in his pastoral care of those who love our Sacred Tradition. His papacy showed that authentic Catholicism is fruitful but, if we welcome the ways of the world into The Church, it will lead to The Church’s death in this world. This seems to be happening now, most notably through the novel ‘synod on synodality’ which is allowing expressions of heresy in what Cardinal Mueller has called, ‘a hostile takeover of the church’.

Pope Benedict’s liberalism is also shown in his opening wide the doors of the church in welcome to Anglican priests and their wives, allowing them to form the Ordinariate and to celebrate the Sacred Liturgy in their own form, bringing with them valued traditions from Anglicanism. For this, I think Pope Benedict will forever be remembered gratefully as the Spiritual Father of the Ordinariate of former Anglicans, both priests and laity, who are now in The Catholic Church.

This liberalism of Pope Benedict was in his pastoral generosity. He did not rule by grim diktat in a tyranny demanding absolute obedience, uniformity and conformity, but listened, then recognised and welcomed varied expressions and rites in the Catholic Church ( the novus ordo, the TLM, the Anglican usage, the Dominican usage, the Syro-malabar rite, the Maronite rite etc), encouraging the hope that they would all ‘inform’ each other for mutual benefit in the continuance of sacred Tradition. These varied rites and forms of the Mass are perhaps the greatest visible expression of the breadth and depth of truly colourful and vibrant catholicity, if allowed to flourish, and the belief in the continuance of true catholic tradition within this variety is where Pope Benedict, was also a true conservative.

Pope Benedict was a gracious and kind man, whose humility was not saved for when cameras and journalists were present so all could see it and declare it, but through a natural aversion to self -publicity. In the end, I believe it was his humility that led him to retire, for he did not believe the papacy belonged to him, and when it got too much and too painful for him to bear due to the faithlessness and sins of many around him, he humbly let it go and then led a monastic existence of quiet reflection and prayer.

Some commentators are saying that it is the almost unprecedented retirement of Pope Benedict that is his greatest legacy, but this is not so. Certainly his retirement was dramatic and newsworthy, but his greatest legacy will live on in the faith and practice of millions of Catholics – much less reported in the media, including the men and women called to the priesthood and religious life, inspired by the traditional faith he supported and encouraged. His greatest legacy is therefore his vision for Traditional Catholicism within the hermeneutic of continuity and the placing of Vatican II, not as a revolution, but part of a continuity of the Church’s history and development. This vision is now facing a new period of confusion and darkness. The response to this in retirement of The Pope Emeritus Benedict was to remain silent, but according to Pope Benedict’s secretary, Archbishop Ganswein who remained close to him to the end, the attack on Pope Benedict’s greatest legacy by his successor ‘broke his heart’.

However, no-one will destroy such a great legacy of writings and encyclicals, in addition to those who were given renewed courage by Pope Benedict to live in the faith and practice of the sacred traditions of the church and will never let them go. He inspired us to find ourselves again as Catholics after decades of revolutionary turbulence, and this cannot be taken from us. We thank God for Pope Benedict’s life and ministry and the great blessing of his papacy, and in my prayers for him, I now send him my love. May he rest in peace.

Watch and Listen to this lovely tribute: You Were Loved: The Rock That Would Not Be Shaken! A Tribute to Pope Benedict XVI by Mark Mallett

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJsfRZykNnw

‘Benedict’s papacy did not shake the world perhaps like his predecessor. Rather, his papacy will be remembered for the fact the world did not shake it’

God bless

Fr Jonathon

Parish notice board

DIOCESAN DIRECTORIES.

If you ordered a Diocesan Directory, these are now available in the sacristy after mass.

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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.

First Holy Communion & Confirmation 2023

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2023.

Session 2 on Saturday 14th January, 10.30 a.m. in the hall.

CONFIRMATION 2023.

Parents and Candidates meeting, Wednesday 11th January, 7.30 p.m. in the house.

Events

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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 Friday 6th January 2023.

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

Mass times and intentions

MASSES AND INTENTIONS FOR THE FIRST WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME

Instaurare Omnia in Christo: "restoring all things in Christ."

Saturday 7th January Requiem for Pope Benedict XVI

9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary in Latin.

+ 10.00 a.m. [Latin 1962] Pope Benedict XVI R.I.P.

+ 6.30 p.m. THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD. Vincent D’Souza TG. on his 90th Birthday. Happy Birthday Vince!

Sunday 8th January

8.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary

+9.00 a.m. [SUNG] The people of the parish.

+11.00 a.m. [SOLEMN. Latin with English. Missa de Angelis] Mary Bass T.G.

Monday 9th January feria.

The Daily Rosary at home.

+ New Year Mass at the Primary School for staff and children.

Tuesday 10th January feria.

9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary

10.00 a.m. Peter Braganza R.I.P.

Wednesday 11th January feria.

The Daily Rosary at home.

NO PUBLIC MASS TODAY.

Thursday 12th January St. Aelred of Rievaulx, Abbot.

9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary

+10.00 a.m. Maria Pereira R.I.P.

Friday 13th January feria.

9.30 a.m. Daily Rosary

+10.00 a.m. Brian Flannery W.B.

6.00 p.m. Parish Choir Practice. New members welcome.

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) Kay Edmonds R.I.P.

Monthly Devotion

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 22nd 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.